Page:A pilgrimage to my motherland.djvu/120

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TO MY MOTHERLAND.
111

torn, their hats stolen. There was no alternative, so they passively submitted.

In a few minutes the Balagun arrived, and sent the captives in charge of a few armed men to Ibadan. Arriving there, they were immediately taken before Ogumola, the chief of the city, who after much questioning, suffered them to depart. The timely interference of the Rev. Mr. Hinderer of the Church Mission, stationed at Ibadan, conduced much to their being dismissed with so little trouble. The circumstance of Mr. Stone's riding Arey's war-horse, looking, as well as the other horse, so martial in his caparison, induced the soldiers to regard him and his companion as spies, and hence the cause of their capture; and it was only after good evidence was afforded, that the horse was purchased from the Arey, and also that their mission without the walls of Ijaye was a peaceable one, that they were dismissed.

Not wishing to return by the same road, they attempted to pass through Iwo and Oyo, to Ijaye, but arriving at Iwo, they learned that the road to Oyo was in possession of soldiers who would not suffer any one to pass; on this account they were obliged to proceed to Ogbomishaw. They arrived as before narrated, hungry, tired, and pitifully distressed in mind, particularly Mr. Stone, on account of his wife, who must