Chapter XIX: Appendix: I

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ITINERARY.

FROM WHYDAH TO AGBOME.

CORRECTED BY CAPTAIN GEORGE, R.N., Royal Geographical Society of London,
and EDWIN DUNKIN, ESQ., Greenwich Observatory.

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INSTRUMENTS.

1. ANEROID A (Pocket: Spencer, Browning & Co., London).

On first floor of Fort Whydah, 30·60, temp. 80°.

On return, after two months, 30·30, „ 91°.

2. ANEROID B (Full size: Negretti & Zambra, London).

On first floor of Fort Whydah, 30·45, temp. 80°.

On return 30·20, „ 91°.

FIRST DAY—DECEMBER 14, 1863.

From Fort Whydah to Toli, 3h. = 11 miles.

Stage 1.—From Whydah Fort to Savi, 1h. 30m. = 5 miles.

Started 8.20 A.M. In five minutes, out of town. After fifteen minutes more, to Agbana water. In twenty minutes, to deep copse. At 9.50 A.M., Savi (Xavier of Mr. Norris).

Aneroid A, at 10 A.M., 30·50, temp. 85°.

„ B, „ „ 30·50, „ „

Altitude of Savi = 44 feet.

Stage 2.—From Savi to Toli (halfway to Allada), 1h. 30m. = 6 miles.

Started 2.30 P.M. Passed the Custom House, crossed the Savi swamp in five minutes. Then Toli water. At 4 P.M., Toli (Toree of Mr. Norris).

Aneroid A, at 2.30 P.M., 30·35, temp. 92°.

„ B, „ „ 30·40, „ „

On return—

Aneroid A, at 6 A.M., 30·50, temp. 76°.

„ B, „ „ 30·35, „ „

Altitude of Toli = 180 feet.

SECOND DAY—DECEMBER 15, 1863.

From Toli to Allada, 3h. = 11 miles.

(Total from Whydah, 6h. = 22 miles.)

Stage 3.—From Toli to Azohwe, 1h. 45m. = 6 miles.

Started 6.45 A.M. Forest country, few clearings, path narrowed. At 8.25 A.M., Azohwe (Azohwee of Commander Forbes).

Aneroid A, at 9 A.M., 30·55, temp. 78°.

„ B, „ „ 30·30, „ „

On return—

Aneroid A, 30·00, temp. 950.

„ B, 30·07, „ „

Altitude of Azohwe = 144 feet.

Stage 4.—From Azohwe to Allada, 1h. 15m. = 5 miles.

Started 10.45 A.M. Land flat and wooded. Then large clearing. Denun, or Custom House. At 12, Allada (Ardra, or Alladah, of old writers).

Aneroid A, at noon, 30·30, temp. 85°.

„ B, „ 30·20, „ „

On return—

Aneroid A, at 6 A.M., 30·30, tem. 79°.

„ B, „ „ 30·15, „ „

Altitude of Allada = 284 feet.

THIRD DAY—DECEMBER 16, 1863.

From Allada to Akpwe, 4h. = 13·50 miles.

(Total from Whydah, 10h. = 35·50 miles).

Stage 5.—From Allada to Henvi, 2h. = 6·50 miles.

Started 6.40 A.M. Bush and clearings; hot road. After 1 hour = 3 miles, Attogon village.

Aneroid A, at 7·40 A.M., 30·30, temp. 80°.

„ B, „ „ 30·10, „ „

Altitude of Attogon = 316 feet.

Reached Henvi Asihwe at 8 A.M., 2·50 miles from Attogon.

Aneroid A, at 8·25 A.M., 30·25, temp. 79°.

„ B, „ „ 30·10, „ „

Altitude of Henvi Asihwe = 322 feet.

Reached Henvi Do-vo (Havee of Mr. Norris) at 8·45 A.M. Total time, 2h. = 6·50 miles.

Aneroid A, at 9 A.M., 30·30, temp. 80°.

„ B, „ „ 30·15, „ „

On return—

Aneroid A, at 9 A.M., 30·25, temp. 75°.

„ B, „ „ 30·10, „ „

Altitude of Henvi Do-vo = 287 feet.

Stage 6.—From Henvi to Akpwe, 2h. = 7 miles.

Started 10 A.M. After 50m., Whe-gbo. Forest land to edge of Agrimé swamp. At 2 P.M., Akpwe (Appoy of Norris, Apoy of History).

Aneroid A, at 2 P.M., 30·05, temp. 94°.

„ B, „ „ 30·00, „ „

Next morning—

Aneroid A, at 5 P.M., 30·25, temp. 71°.

„ B, „ „ 30·02, „ „

Altitude of Akpwe = 417 feet.

FOURTH DAY.—DECEMBER 17, 1863.

From Akpwe to Agrime, 3h. = 11 miles.

(Total from Whydah, 13h. = 46·50 miles.)

Stage 7.—From Akpwe to Wondonun, 1h. 15m. = 5 miles.

Started 5.20 A.M. After 15 minutes = 1 mile, of good path, began the Agrimé swamp. Two bad places, but no mud, at 6.45 P.M. Wondonun (name not mentioned in History).

Aneroid A, at 7.15 A.M., 30·50, temp. 83°.

„ B, „ „ 30·30, „ „

Altitude of Wondonun = 134 feet.

Stage 8.—From Wondonun to Agrimé.

Started 7.45 A.M. After nearly 1h. = 2·50 miles, to little village, Aiveji. Country improves, becomes more open, and rises northwards. At 9.25 A.M., Agrimé.

Time, 1h. 40m. = 6 miles.

Total march, 3h. = 11 miles.

Aneroid A, at 9 A.M., 30·50, temp. 83°.

„ B, „ „ 30·30, „ „

On the next day—

Aneroid A, at 4 P.M., 30·25, temp. 84°.

„ B, „ „ 30·15, „ „

Altitude of Agrimé = 232 feet.

FIFTH DAY—DECEMBER 18, 1863.

From Agrimé to Kana = 1h. 30m. = 6 miles.

(Total from Whydah, 14h. 30m. = 52·50 miles)

Stage 9.—Started 5·30 P.M. Road, hitherto north with easting, became north with westing. After 50 m., at Fetish place, and 10 m. more to Zogbodomen village. At 7 P.M. entered Kana (Calmina of History).

At Kana, in English House, December 19.

Aneroid A, at 8.30 A.M., 30·30, temp. 81°.

„ B, „ „ 20·20, „ „

Altitude of Kana = 271 feet.

SIXTH DAY—DECEMBER 20, 1863.

From Kana to Agbome = 2h. = 7½ miles.

(Total from Whydah, 16h. 30m. = 60 miles, and from the roads of
Whydah[281] = 62 miles).

Stage 10.—Started 3 P.M. Excellent road. At 3.50 P.M., Adan-we Palace. At 4.45 P.M. reached the Kana Gate of Agbome (Agbomey of History). At 6 P.M. (slow walking) reached English house.

At Agbome, in English House, room facing eastward, mean of 60 observations—

Aneroid A, 29·65 }

} Average temperature (except when harmattan was

„ B, 29·55 } blowing) 81°.

By B. P. Ther. (good observations), 211° 25′, temp. 92°.

Altitude of Agbome = 1065 feet.

N.B.—The Aneroids seldom varied more than 0·05 above or below 29·65 and 29·55.

The difference between dry and wet bulbs was from 4° to 10°.

The Preface to the History places Agbome in N. lat. 7° 59′.

The History places it in N. lat. 9° 50′.

My observations of Sirius, corrected by Captain George, give a mean of N. lat. 7°.

My sketch-map places Agbome four miles to the east of Whydah, _i.e._, E. long. 2° 4′ 0″. Mr. Townsend makes Abeokuta in N. lat. 7° 8′ 0″, and in E. long. 3° 20′ 0″. This would give an interval of 1° 15′ 0″ = 75 geographical miles, between Agbome and Abeokuta, agreeing with the reports of the people that the distance can easily be done in a week.

[Footnote 281: According to Norris, N. lat. 6° 19′ 0″.

According to Captain Phillips (1694), N. lat. 6° 10′.

According to Norris, E. long. 2°.]