to sport and roll themselves on the ground, but this could not be effected without immense labour, and difficulty, and panting, and puffing, and straining; for like that paragon of knighthood Sir John Falstaff, they could not be compared to any thing so appropriately as huge hummocks of flesh.  There they lay wallowing in the mire, like immense turtles floundering in the sea, till Ebo desired them to rise.  A very considerable number of bald-headed old men were observed among the individuals present, their hair or rather wool, having been most likely rubbed off by repeated applications of earth, sand, gravel, filth, or whatever else might be at hand, when the prince happened to make his appearance.

The conference being brought to a close, a kid, a calabash of caffas, and two thousand kowries were presented to the Landers, and cheered by a flourish of music, they laughed in concert as a mark of politeness, and shook hands with the king, and walked away to their own dwelling, which had been repaired, and thoroughly cleansed for their use.  The latter operation was particularly necessary, as previously to their inhabiting it, it had been occupied by a multitude of domestic animals, sheep, pigs, goats, fowls, guinea fowls, bullocks, in fine, it had been a kind of stable, where Ebo, the principal eunuch, kept his stock of animals.  Here, however, they were glad to lie down to repose their aching limbs, although the stench arising from some parts of the hut was almost insupportable.  In the evening, the king returned their visit, and immediately took a fancy to John Lander’s bugle horn, which was very readily given him.  He appeared to be greatly pleased with the present, turning about and inspecting every part of it, with the greatest curiosity.  It appeared to him, however, to be immaterial as to which end the mouth was to be applied, for he put the lower part of the instrument to his mouth, and drawing up his breath to its full extent, sent such a puff of wind into it, as would have been sufficient for a diapason pipe of an organ; not hearing, however, the accustomed sound, he delivered the instrument to John Lander, who brought out of it the shrillest note which he could, which set the king and his eunuchs into a violent laugh, and he expressed his delight to the donors of so valuable a present, assuring them that it made his heart glad to see them, and hoped that they would make themselves quite comfortable whilst they remained at Katunga.  They now shook hands, made a bow, not one that would have been deemed a very elegant one amongst the courtiers of St. James’, and the sovereign departed, followed by a suite of wives, eunuchs, and other attendants.  Ebo inquired if there were any thing further that they wished to be done to their residence, to render their stay as agreeable as possible.  Their yard adjoined that of Ebo, with which it communicated by a door way, without a door, so that it enabled the travellers to have frequent opportunities of seeing his numerous