Travels in Western Africa, in 1845 & 1846, comprising a journey from Whydah, through the kingdom of Dahomey, to Adofoodia, in the interior

Type:

Book

Author:

John Duncan

Published:

1847

Publisher:

R. Bentley

INold caboceer and my guide both informed me, that, during the seven months' war in Gbowelley and the neighbouring mountains to the eastward, four hundred caboceers were killed, so that, allowing only a proportion of one hundred individuals to each caboceer, at least forty thousand men must have perished.After a great deal of remonstrance and per- suasion with the caboceer and my captain, a pro- mise was given that I should be allowed to examine the mountain, but upon condition that I would take my shoes off, so that I should incur less risk in climbing up the steep fissures, which are not wide enough to admit of more than one man in width.The old caboceer took the lead in ascend- ing, giving me his hand the whole of the way up ; and my own caboceer kept close behind me, fear- ing lest I might slip.In our ascent I observed many very large cotton-trees in the fissures, with scarcely any soil to support them.Monkeys were very numerous amongst the branches.After gaining the top, in a sort of hollow or basin, on one side of the dome-shaped summit, were the remains apparently of a large town.This place was truly the picture of desolation, and the ravages of war and famine presented themselves on all sides. Hundreds of luiman* This may appear an exaggeration, but I assure my readers, that I have had a large quantity taken from a very severe wound I received when in the Niger expedition.Dr. Williams and Dr. Thompson can corroborate my assertion.The African fly blows live maggots …

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