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Updated: June 20, 2025
Clapperton's second journey Arrival at Badagry Yariba and its capital Katunga Boussa Attempts to get at the truth about Mungo Park's fate "Nyffé," Yaourie, and Zegzeg Arrival at Kano Disappointments Death of Clapperton Return of Lander to the coast Tuckey on the Congo Bowditch in Ashantee Mollien at the sources of the Senegal and Gambia Major Grey Caillié at Timbuctoo Laing at the sources of the Niger Richard and John Lander at the mouth of the Niger Cailliaud and Letorzec in Egypt, Nubia, and the oasis of Siwâh.
In this respect, the chiefs and governors are all alike, from Badagry to the metropolis of Yaoorie. On the 31st, a messenger with a canoe arrived from the king of Wowow, but it was so very small, that it was wholly inadequate for their purpose. This was a most provoking circumstance, because a larger canoe was to be procured, which could not be done without a considerable loss of time.
Thus we find, that on the day subsequent to that on which John Lander had written his rhapsody on the agreeables of Badagry, the noise and jargon of their guests pursued them even in their sleep, and their dreams were disturbed by fancied palavers, which were more unpleasant and vexatious, if possible, in their effects than real ones.
A custom very similar to this prevails at Yarriba, at Badagry, Cape Coast Castle, and along the western coast generally; the natives of those places never take a glass of spirits without spilling a quantity of it on the ground as "a fetish." In the morning, they observed a branch of the river running off in a westerly direction, the course of the main body being southwest.
The dancers were liberally supplied with country beer, and like most amusements of the kind, this one ended in wrangling and intoxication. The fellows who accompanied them as guides from Badagry, and who, in their native place would sell their birthright for a glass of rum, had now washed themselves, and thrown aside their rags, appearing in all public places in borrowed finery.
An anecdote is related of king Adahoouza, who, on a successful attack upon Badagry, having a great number of victims to sacrifice, ordered their heads to be applied to the above purpose.
"Ye, who have known what 'tis to dote upon A few dear objects, will in sadness feel Such partings break the heart they fondly hoped to heal." There was far less feeling and tenderness, though more words and much greater noise in taking their farewell of the two old messengers that had accompanied them from Badagry, and who, with their Jenna guides, were to return home on the following day.
During the stay of the Landers at Badagry, the thermometer of Fahrenheit ranged between 86° and 94° in their hut, but being oftener stationary nearer the latter, than the former. It was on Tuesday, the 31st March, that the Landers bade adieu to the chief of Badagry, and during the whole of that day they were employed packing up their things preparatory to their departure.
It appeared as rather a strange circumstance to Richard Lander, that the chief or governor of almost every town through which they had passed since leaving Badagry, who was alive and well on his return to the coast three years ago, had been either slain in war or had died from natural causes. Scarcely one of them was alive on his present expedition.
In their persons, they are much more agreeable, than those who reside near the sea. European goods are brought hither from Dahomey and Badagry, but more especially from Lagos, and are daily exposed for sale in the markets of Jadoo and Egga.
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