sd, Nagoo, and Arrada, whom the Fong have subdued. The
Fong of Oldendorp appear to be the Foy or Fouin of Dalzel,
names which, according to that writer, belong to the Daho-
map. people, and to their ancient country.*
Dalzel informs us, that there is another powerful nation to
the northTeastward of Dahomeh, who haye occasionally oyer-
run that country with numerous armies of cavalry. They are
termed, according to him, Ayoes or Okyou. He conjectures
them to be the Gago of Leo Africanus. Eyeo or Yarriba is
well known to lie in the same direction with respect to Da-
homeh. Its inhabitants are probably the Ayoes of Dalzel.
In their persons the Whidahs are described, and the description
seems to apply equally to all the nations of this
race, as generally tall, well-made, straight, and robust. Their
complexion is black, but not so jet and glossy as that of the
people on the Gold Coast, and still less so than that of the
Negroes on the Senegal and Gambia. They excel all other
Negroes in industry and vigilance/’f
The whole coast of Guinea is remarkably flat and low, and
the country continues to have little elevation to a great distance
in the interior. At the meridian of Whidah the flat
and sandy plain, intersected only by rivers and morasses,
displays no perceptible character for the space of one hundred
and fifty miles from the shore of the Bight of Benin.
Norris could obtain no account of chains of hills even beyond
that region: the surface of the land consisted everywhere of
vast savannahs, interspersed with groupes of palm-treesthe
soil is fertile and well cultivated.^:
Section V II.—Natives of Benin, and the countries adjacent
on the Bights of Benin and Biafra, Races of Ibof
Binin, Moko.
We have less information respecting the native people of
Benin and the extensive line of coast from the river Benin or
Formosa to the rivers of Calabar, and thence southward to
the mouth of the Gaboon, than respecting the inhabitants of
most othpr parts of the African coast.
* Oldendorp, p. 282. -}* Modem Universal History.
$ Ritter, Erdkunde Hochafrika.
This coast' is* everywhere low, and? confined cither by sandy
deserts or morasses ; the interior is in many places elevated.
In the 4ft of northern latitude,-between the liver Camaroaes
and the Rio', del Rey* a highland negjbh*termed by the
Spaniards Alta Tierra de Ambosi) has feecni compared, by
voyagers, in respect to height,-fp the .mountain of Teneriffe,
The hilly country from which tiy river Gaboon issues, at the
distance of a few days’ journey from the sea«eoasV-js supposed
by Ritter to be.a part? of the-same highland tract.
Behind Calabar the country is inhabited bym< stout hardy
race of Negroes, termed,'as Barbot says, the Hackhous
Blacks.
The slaves sold at Calabar, brought from the inland countries,
are, according to the same writer, in%Éiii0®i tell men,
but weak and faint by reason of their ill food, which is yams
at best. u Great numbers are exported from that river., ten
ships sometimes loading at a time.” Barbot gives a tragical
account of the fate of these unfortunate beings. He -says,
“ whoever carries slaves from New Calabar river to the West
Indies had need to pray for a good passage. All the ships
that loaded slaves with the Albion frigate, lost, some half,
others two-thirds of them before they reached Barbadoes;
and such as were then alive died there as soOn .as landed, of
eke fumed to a very bad markef|i which, as he concludes, on
the tone of a slave-dealer, occasioned a loss of above per
cent, of the capital. The evil was chiefly occasioned by the
want of proper food and water to subsist the slaves, as well
as other ill-management. ’ ’
The inland country above the coast-is inhabited; by the
Eboes or Ibos, a people well known by name ini the Bug?
lish colonies. The territory of the Eboes is more elevated
than the maritime tracts, but is thickly wooded. They have
been described by Mr. Oldfield, in a late memoir .on the
diseases of the natives of the hanks of the Niger. He says
“ that they are a fine race of people, and very superior to
their neighbours who occupy the country of lower level,
which borders on the sea.” They are tall and robust, capable
of enduring great fatigüèy "frequently paddling large
canoes for forty-eight hours without taking food. Their diet