Eighty-five slaves were in a pen formed of dura stalks _( Holcus sorghum_).

The majority were boys of about eight or ten years of age; others were grown men and women.

Nearly all were in the taming-stick; a few of the younger ones were in thongs, the thong passing round the neck of each.
Several pots were on the fires cooking dura and beans.

A crowd went with us, expecting a scene, but I sat down, and asked a few questions about the journey, in front.

The slave-party consisted of five or six half-caste coast Arabs, who said that they came from Zanzibar; but the crowd made such a noise that we could not hear ourselves speak.