Page:A pilgrimage to my motherland.djvu/135

This page has been validated.
126
A PILGRIMAGE

usual place of abode at the Baptist Mission House. After making several fruitless efforts to procure carriers, he was at length favored by the king with the protection of a detachment of soldiers going to join the Ibadans against Kumi, Arey of Ijaye, a few of them being also detailed to the duty of carriers, an office they seemed to regard as derogatory to the dignity of soldiers, judging from the trouble they gave him. The king also sent with him a special messenger to indicate that he was the king's friend, and as such should receive proper consideration. He made the journey through Iwo and Ibadan. When he arrived at the latter place he could only procure carriers for a portion of our things, the Rev. Mr. Hinderer, with whom the Doctor sojourned at Ibadan, kindly consenting to take care of the rest for us. The reader will remember that we had already left a large portion of our property at Ijaye, which though safe, we could not procure, as we were unable to enter the city. From both these circumstances we lost most of our collections, and also some fine photographs.

By the first of April we had completed our arrangements, and were to leave on the morning of the third for Lagos. Carriers were engaged for the journey, as we intended to travel by land, it being the dry season; but when the time arrived we were as usual put off