THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES / .:yar. J'uM/.di r/ .l/,r,7 ■>,/■ /.;,/i'/''. /'>• Ji'/iii Mi/rmv.AlhrinarU StirrJ .LvuUv)! . TRAVELS IN THE INTERIOR DISTRICTS OF AFRICA: PERFORMED IN THE YEARS 1795, 1796, AND 1797- WITH AN ACCOUNT OF A SUBSECIUENT MISSION TO THAT COUNTRY IN 1805. By MUNGO PARK, Surgeox. TO WHICH IS ADDED AN ACCOUNT OF THE LIFE OF MR. PARK. A NEW EDITION. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. I. TRAVELS IN 1795, 1796, AND 1797- WITH AN APPENDIX, CONTAINING GEOGRAPHICAL ILLUSTRATIONS OF AFRICA. By major RENNELL. egens Libyae deserta peragro. Virg. LONDON PRINTED FOR JOHN MTRRAy, ALBEMARLE-STREET, BY WILLIAM BULMER AND CO. CLEVELAND-ROW. 1816. K>[\LD ■URL ,>K Dt- Vt 1 TO THE NOBLEMEN AND GENTLEMEN, ASSOCIATED FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXPLORING THE INTERIOR REGIONS OF AFRICA, THIS JOURNAL OF TRAVELS ON THAT CONTINENT, PERFORMED UNDER THEIR PATRONAGE, IS, WITH ALL HUMILITY, INSCRIBED, BY THEIR FAITHFUL AND OBLIGED HUMBLE SERVANT, Jpril 10th, 1799. MUNGO PARK. 610301 PREFACE. J/he following- Journal, drawn up from original minutes and notices made at the proper moment and preserved with great difficulty, is now offered to the Public by the direction of my noble and honourable employers, the Members of the African Association. I regret that it is so little commensurate to the patronage I have received. As a composition, it has nothing^ to recommend it, but truth. It is a plain, unvarnished tale ; without pretensions of any kind, except that it claims to en- large, in some degree, the circle of African geography. For this purpose my services were offered, and accepted by the Association ; and I trust, I have not laboured altogether in vain. The work, however, must speak for itself; and I should not have thought any preliminary observations neces- sary, if I did not consider myself called upon, both by justice and gratitude, to offer those which follow. Immediately after my return from Africa, the acting Committee of the Association,* taking notice of the time it would require to prepare an account in detail, as it * This Committee consists of tlie following Noblemen and Gentlemen; Earl of Moira, Lord Bishop of Landaif, Right Hon. Sir Joseph Banks, President of the vili PREFACE. now appears ; and being desirous of gratifying, as speedily as possible, the curiosity which many of the Members were pleased to express concerning my discoveries, determined that an epitome; or abridgment of my travels, should be forthwith prepared from such materials and oral communi- cations as I could furnish, and printed for the use of the Association ; and also, that an engraved Map of my route should accompany it. A memoir, thus supplied and improved, was accordingly drawn up in two parts by Members of the Association, and distributed among the Society : the first part consisting of a narrative, in abstract, of my travels, by Bryan Edwards, Esq. ; the second, of Geographical Illustrations of my progress, by Major James llenneli, F. R. S. Major Rennell was pleased also to add, not only a Map of my Route, constructed in conformity to my own observations and sketches (when freed from those errors, which the Major's su- perior knowledge, and distinguished accuracy in geographical researches, enabled him to discover and correct), but also a General Map, shewing the progress of discovery, and im- provement in the geography of North Africa ; together with Royal Society ; Andrew Stewart, Esq. F. R. S. and Bryan Edwards, Esq. F. R. S. Concerning the original institution of the Society itself, and the progress of disco- very, previous to my expedition, the fullest information has already been given in the various publications which the Society have caused to be made. PREFACE. IX a Chart of the lines of magnetic variation, in the seas around that immense continent. Availing myself therefore, on the present occasion, of assist- ance like this, it is impossible that I can present my self before the Public, without expressing how deeply and gratefully sensible I am of the honour and advantage which I derive from the labours of those Gentlemen ; for Mr. Edwards ha? kindly permitted me to incorporate, as occasion offered, the whole of his narrative into different parts of my work ; and Major Rennell, with equal good will, allows me not only to embellish and elucidate my travels, with the Maps before- mentioned, but also to subjoin his Geographical Illustrations entire. ~ Thus aided and encouraged, I should deliver j;his volume to the world, with that confidence of a favourable reception, which no merits of my own could authorize me to claim ; were I not apprehensive that expectations liave been formed, by some of my subscribers, of discoveries to be unfolded, which I have not made, and of wonders to be related, of which I am utterly ignorant. There is danger that those who feel a dis- appointment of this nature, finding less to astonish and amuse in my book, than they had promised to themselves beforehand, will not even allow me the little merit which I really possess Painful as this circumstance may prove to my feelings, I shal 1 VOL. I. b X PREFACE. console myself under it, if the distinguished persons, under whose auspices I entered on my mission, shall allow that I have executed the duties of it to their satisfaction ; and that they consider the Journal which I have now the honour to present to them, to be, what I have endeavoured to make it, an honest and faithful report of my proceedings and observa- tions in their service, from the outset of my journey to its termination. M. P. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. The Author's Motives for undertaking the Voyage — his Instructions and Departure — arrives at Jil/ifree, on the Gambia River — proceeds to Fintain. — Some Account of the Feloops. — Proceeds upthe Riverfor Jonkakonda — arrives at Dr. Laidleys. — Some Account of Pisania, and the British Factory established at that Place. — The Author's Employment during his Stay at Pisania — his Sickness and Recovery — the Country described — prepares to set out for the Interior. - page 1 CHAPTER II. Description of the Feloops, the Jaloffs,the Foulahs, and Mandingoes. — Some Account of the Trade between the Nations of Europe and the Natives of Africa by the Way of the Gambia, and between the Native Inhabitants of the Coast and the Nations of the interior Countries — their Mode of selling and buying, Sfc. p. \\ CHAPTER HI. The Author sets out from Pisania — his Attendants — reaches Jindey. — Story related by a Mandingo Negro. — Proceeds to Medina, the Capital of IVoolli. — Interview with the King. — Sophies or Charms. — Proceeds to Kolor. — Description of Mum- bo Jumbo — arrives at Koqjar — wrestling Match.-~Crosses the IVilderness, and arrives at Tallika, in the Kingdom of Bondou. - - p. 28 CHAPTER. IV Some Account of the Inhabitants of Tallika. — The Author proceeds for Fatteconda — Incidents on the Road. — Crosses the Neriko, arrives at Koorkarany — reaches the River Falemi — Fishery on that River— Proceeds along its Bank to Naye or NayemoT'^ — crosses the Faleme and arrives at Fatteconda.-' Hai an Interview xii CONTENTS. with Jlmami,the Sovereign of Bondou.—Desaiption of the King's Dredling— has a second Interview with the King, who begs the Author's Coat- — Author visits the King's Wives — is permitted to depart on friendly Terms. — Journey by Jiiigftt — arrives at Joag. — Some Account of Bondou and its Inhabitants the Foulahs. ...... page 45 CHAPTER V. Account of Kajaaga. — SerawooUies — their Planners and Language. — Account of Joag.— The Author is ill treated, and robbed of half of his Effects, by Order of Batcheri, the King. — Charity of a female Slave. — The Author is visited by Demba Sego, Nephew of the King of Kasson, who offers to conduct him in safety to that Kingdom.—Offer accepted.— The Author and his Protector, with a nume- rous Retinue, set out and reach Samee, on the Banks of the Senegal. — Proceed to Kayee, and crossing the Senegal, arrive in the Kingdom of Kasson. p. 61 CHAPTER VI. Arrival at Teesee — Interview with Tiggity Sego, the King's Brother — the Author's detention at Teesee — Some Account of that Place and its Inhabitants — incidents which occurred there, — Rapacious Conduct of Tiggity Sego towards the Author on his Departure. — Sets out J'or Kooniakary, the Capital of the Kingdom, — Inci' dents on the Road, and Arrival at Kooniakary. - - p. 72 CHAPTr^R VH. The Author admitted to an Audience of the King of Kasson, whom he finds well disposed towards him. — Incidents during the Author's Slay at Kooniakary. — Departs ihenc&for Kemmoo, the Capital of Kaarta, — Is received with great Kindness by the King of Kaarta, who dissuades him from prosecuting his Jour- ney, on Account of approaching Hostilities with the King of Bambarra, — The Author determines, notwithstanding, to proceed; and the usual Routes being obstructed, takes the Path to Ludamar, a Moorish Kingdom — Is accommodated by the King icith a Guide to Jarra, the frontier Toicn of the Moorish Territo- ries; and sets out for that Place, accompanied by three of the King's Sotis, and 200 Horsemen. - - - - - p, 8S CONTENTS, xii CHAPTER VIII. JoitrueTj from Kemmoo to Tunitigkedij. — Some Account of the Lotus — A Youth murdered bj/ (he Moors — interesting Scene at his Death — Author passes through Siinbing.—Some Particulars concerning Major Houghton. Author reaches Jarra — Situation of the surrounding States at the Period of his Arrival there, and a brief Account of the War between Kaarta and Bambarra. - p. 96 CHAPTER IX. Some Acount of Jarra, and the Moorish Inhabitants.— The Author applies for, and obtains Permission fum AH, the Moorish Chief or Sovereign of Ludamar,to pass through his Territories. — Departs from Jarra, and arrives at Deena — ill treated bj/ the Moors. — Proceeds to Sampaka— finds a Negro who makes Gun- powder.~ Continues his Journey to Samee, where he is seized bi/ some Moors who are sent for that Purpose by AH — as conveyed a Prisoner to the Moorish Camp at Benowm, on the Borders of the Great Desert. - - ' P- 1^9 CHAPTER X. Various Occurrences during the Author's confinement at Benowm— is visited bij some Moorish Ladies. — A Funeral and IVedding. — The Author receives an extraor- dinary Present from ihe Bride. — Other Circumstances illustrative of the Moorish ' Character and Manners. - '- - - p. 124 CHAPTER Xr. Occurrences at the Camp continued. — Information collected by the]Author, concern' ing Houssa and Tombuctoo ; and the situation of the latter. — The Route described from Morocco to Benowm- — The Author's Distress from Hunger. — AH removes his Camp to the Northward — The Author is carried Prisoner to the new Encampment, and is presented to Queen Fatima. — Great Distress from the Wan of Water. - ' - ' ~ P' 135 xiv CONTENTS. CHAPTER XII. Containing some further miscellaneous Reflections on the Moorish Character, and Manners. — Observations concerning the Great Desert, its Animals, wild and domestic, Sfc. 8fc. - - - - - - page 146 CHAPTER XIII. Jli departs Jor Jurra, and the Author allozved to follow him thither. The Author's faithful Servant, Demba, is seized by AKs Order, and sent back into Slavery. — Ali returns to his Camp, and permits the Author to remain at Jarra, uho, theticeforuard, meditates his Escape. — Daisy, King of Kaarta, approaching uith his Army towardf, Jarra, the Inhabitants quit the town, and the Author accompanies them in their Flight. — A Party of Moors overtake him at Queira, — He gets away from them at Daybreak : — is again pursued by another Party, and robbed; butjinally effects his Escape. p. 158 CHAPTER. XIV. The Author feels great Joy at his Deliverance, and proceeds through the Wilderness, E. S. E.; but finds his Situation very deplorable. — Suffers greatly from Thirst} and faints on the Sand: — recovers, and makes another Effort to push forward. Is providentially relieved by a Fall of Rain. — Arrives at a Foulah Village, where he is refused Relief by the Dooty; but obtains Food from a poor JVoman. — Continues his Journey through the Wilderness, and the next Day I glits on another Foulah Village, where he is hospitably received by one of the Shepherds. — Arrives on the third Day at a Negro tozin called Wawra, tributary to the King of Bambarra. - - - - p. 172 CHAPTER XV. 'The Author proceeds to Wassiboo — is joined by some fugitive Kaartans, who accom- pany him in his Route through Bambarra — Discovers the Niger. — Some Account of Sego, the Capital of Bambarra. — Mansong, the King, refuses to see the Author, but sends him a Present. —Great Hospitality of a Negro Woman, p. 181 CONTENTS. XV CHAPTER XVI. Departure from Sego, and Arrival at Kabba.— Description of the Shea, or vegetable Butter Tree. — The Author and his Guide arrive at Sansanding. Behaviour of the Moors at that Place. — The Author pursues his Journey ta the Eastward. — Incidents on the Road. — Arrives at Modiboo, and proceeds for Kea ; but obliged to leave his Horse by the Hay, — Embarks at Kea in a Fisherman s Canoe for Moorzan; is conveyed from (hence across the Aiger to Silla. — Determines to, proceed no further Eastward. — Some Account of the further course of the Niger and the Towns in its Ficinage, towards the East. - page 197 CHAPTER XVn. The Author returns Westzcard — Arrives at Modiboo, and recovers his Horse — finds great Difficulty in travelling, in consequence of the Rains, and the overflow- ing of the River; — is informed that the King of Bambarra had sent Persons to apprehend him:, — avoids Sego, and Prosecutes his Journey along the Banks of the Niger. — Incidents on the Road. — Cruelties attendant on African Wars. — The Author crosses the River Frina, and arrives at Taffiira. - p. 213 CHAPTER xvirr. Inhospitable Reception at Taffara. — A Negro Funeral at Sooha. — The Author continues his Route through several Villages along the Banks of the Niger, until he comes to Koolikorro — Supports himself by writing Saphies — reaches Maraboo — loses the Road; — and after many difficulties arrives at Bammakoo . — Takes the Road for Sibidootoo — meets with great Kindness at a Village called Kooma ; — is afterwords robbed, stripped, and plundered by Banditti. — The Author's Resource and Consolation under exquisite Distress. — He arrives in Safety at Sibidooloo. p. 227 CHAPTER XIX. Government of Manding. — The Author s Reception by the Mansa, or chief Man if Sibidooloo, who takes Measures for the Recovery of his Horse and Effects. — xvi CONTENTS. The Author removes to Wonda ;— great Scarcity, and its afflicting Consequences. — The Author recovers his Horse and Clothes — presents his Horse to the Mansa ; and prosecutes his Journey to Kamalia — some Account of that Tozen, — The Author's kind Reception by Karfa Taura, a Slatee, who proposes to go to the Gambia in the next dry Season, with a Caravan of Slaves — The Author's Sick- fiess, and Determination to remain and accompany Karfa. - page 239 CHAPTER XX. Of the Climate and Seasons. — Winds. — Vegetable Productions. — Population, — General Observations on the Character and Disposition of the Mandingoes ; and a summary Account of their Manners and Habits of Life, their Marriages, Sfc. p. 252 CHAPTER XXI. 2'he Account of the Mandingoes continued. — Their Notions in respect of the Pla- netary Bodies, and the Figure of the Earth. — Their religious Opinions, and Belief in a Future State. — Their Diseases and Methods of Treatment . — Their Funeral Ceremonies, Amusements, Occupations, Diet, Arts, Manufactures, Sfc. p. 265 CHAPTER XXn. Observations concerning the State and Sources of Slavery in Africa. - p. 280 CHAPTER XXni. Of Gold-dust, and the Manner in zchich it is collected. — Process of Washing it. — Its Value in Africa. — Of Ivory. — Surprise of the Negroes at the Eagerness of the Europeans for this Commodity. — Scattered Teeth frequently picked up in the Woods. — Mode of Hunting the Elephant. — Some Reflections on the unimproved State of the Country, t^c. - - - - p. 291 CHAPTER XXIV. Transactions at Kamalia resumed. — Arabic MSS. in Use among the Mahomedan Negroes. — Reflections concerning the Conversion and Education of the Negro CONTENTS. xTii Children. — Return of the Author's Benefactor, Karfa. — Further Account of the Purchase and Treatment of Slaves. — Fast of Rhamadan, how observed by the Negroes Author's anxiety for the Day of Departure.— -The Caravan sets out — Account of it on its Departure, and Proceedings on the Road, until its Arrival at Kinytakooro. - - - - ~ P- ^05 CHAPTER XXV, The Coffle crosses the Jallonka Wilderness. — Miserable Fate of one of the female Slaves; — arrives at Sooseeta; proceeds to Manna. — Some Account of the Jallon- kas. — Crosses the main Stream of the Senegal. — Bridge of a singular Construc- tion.'— Arrives at Mallacotta. — Remarkable Conduct of the King of the Jaloff's. p. 320 CHAPTER XXVI. The Caravan proceeds to Konkodoo, dnd crosses the Faleme River. — Its arrival at Baniserile, Kirwani,and Tambacunda. — Incidenl.son the Road — A matrimonial Case. — Specimen oj the Shea Tree. — The Caravan proceeds through many Toiens and Villages, and arrives at length on the Banks of the Gambia. — Passesthrough Medina, the Capital of IVoolli, and finally stops at Jindey. — The Author, accom- panied by Karfa, proceeds to Pisania. — yartous Occurrences previous to his De- parture fom Africa, — fakes his Passage in an American Ship. — Short Account of his Voyage to Great Britain by the Way of the West Indies, p. 335 VOL. 1. c XV ii CONTENTS. APPENDIX. CHAPTER I. Concerning iJte Ideas enlertuined by the Ancient Geographers, as tcellas the Moderns, dozen to the Times of Delisle and D'Jnville, respecting the Course of the River Niger. . - - _ _ page 365 CHAPTER n. Concerning the Geographical Discoveries of Mr. Park. - p. 375 CHAPTER HI. Construction of the Geography of Mr. Park's Expedition into Africa. p, S85 CHAPTER. IV. The Construction of the Geography continued. - - P- ^98 CHAPTER V. Construction of the New Map of North Africa. — New Arrangement of the Courseof the Nile — Its distant Fountain yet unexplored by Europeans. — A central Position in Africa, determined. — Edrisi's Line of Distance, consistent, —Errors oj Leo. j9. 414 CHAPTER VI. 2'Ae Subject continued — Course of the River Niger, at large — has no Communication with the Nile — Ptolemy's Description of it consistent. - p. 434 CHAPTER VH. Observations on the physical and political Geiography oJ North Africa — Naturally divisible into three Parts — Productive in Gold — Boundary of the Moors and Negroes— the Foulahs, the LeucaBlhiopes of the Ancients. - p. 447 Tlie following African Words, recurring very frequently in the course of the Narrative, it is thought necessary to prefix an Explanation cf them for the Reader's convenience. Mnnsa. A king or chief governor. Alkaid. The head magistrate of a town or province, whose office is commonly hereditary. Dooty. Another name for liie chief magisUate of a town or province : liiis word is used only in the interior countries. Palaver. A Court of justice; a public meeting of any kind. Bushreen. A mussulman. Kajir. A Fngan native; an unbehever. "-Sonukee. Another term for an unconverted native ; it signifies one who drinks sirotiij liquors, and is used by way of reproach. Slatees Free black merchants, who trade chiefly in slaves. ' Coffie iir Culfila. A caravan of slaves, or a company of people travelling with an v kind ot nierclianthze. Bar. Non^nial money ; a single bar is equal in value to two shillings sterling, or thereabouts. Minkalli. A quantity of gold, nearly equal in value to ten shillings sterling. Kozeries. Small shells, which pass for money in the Interior. Korree. A watering |)lacc, where shepherds keep their cattle, Bentang. A sort of stage, erected in every town, answering the purpose of a town hall. Bahoii. A room in which strangers are commonly lodged. Soofruo. A skin for containing water. Sap/lie. An amulet or charm. Kouskous. A dish pre()ared from boiled corn. Sfiea-luii/ou. Vegetable butter. Calabash. A species of gourd, of which the Negroes make bowls and dishes. Paddle. A sort of hoe used in husbandry. DIRECTIONS FOR PLACING THE PLATES. Portrait _ - _ to face the Title Route of Mr. Park . _ - Chap. I. Rliamnus Lotus . _ _ - page 97 View of Ali's Tent - - - - 119 View of Kamalia _ _ _ _ 246 View of a Bridge - - - - 329 Shea, or the Butter Tree - - - 341 APPENDIX. Map of Nortli Africa . - _ Chap. I. Chart oi Variations - ^ - page 390 INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 3 Senegambia, and whose countenance in that capacity it was thought might have served and protected me ; but Govern- ment afterwards rescinded his appointment, and I lost that advantage. The kindness of the Committee, however, sup- plied all that was necessary. Being favoured by the Secre- tary of the Association, the late Henry Beaufoy, Esq. with a recommendation to Dr. John Laidley (a gentleman who had resided many years at an English factory on the banks of the Gambia) and furnished with a letter of credit on him for j(^200. I took my passage in the brig Endeavour, a small vessel trading to the Gambia for bees-wax and ivory, com- manded by Captain Richard Wyatt, and I became impatient for my departure. My instructions were very plain and concise. I was di- rected, on my arrival in Africa, " to pass on to the river Niger, either by the way of Bambouk, or by such other route as should be found most convenient. That I should ascertain the course, and, if possible, the rise and termination of that river. That I should use ray utmost exertions to visit the principal towns or cities in its neighbourhood, particularly Tombuctoo and Houssa ; and that I should be afterwards at liberty to return to Europe, either by the way of the Gambia, or by such other route, as, under all the then exist- ing circumstances of my situation and prospects, should appear to uie to be most advisable." We sailed from Portsmouth on the 22d day of May, 1795. On the 4th of June we saw the mountains over Mogadore, on the coast of Africa ; and on the 21st of the same month, after a pleasant voyage of thirty days, we anchored at Jillifree, a town on the northern bank of the river Gambia, opposite 4 TRAVELS IN THE to James's Island, where the English had formerly a small fort, a •] The kingdom of Barra, in which the town of Jillifree is situated, produces great plenty of the necessaries of life : but the chief trade of the inhabitants is in salt ; which com- modity they carry up the river in canoes as high as Barra- conda, and bring down in return Indian corn, cotton cloths, elephants' teeth, small quantities of gold dust, &c. The number of canoes and people constantly employed in this trade, make the King of Barra more formidable to Europeans than any other chieftain on the river ; and this circumstance probably encouraged him to establish those exorbitant duties, which traders of all nations are obliged to pay at entry, amounting to nearly £20. on every vessel, great and small. These duties, or customs, are generally collected in person by the Alkaid, or governor of Jillifree, and he is attended on these occasions by a numerous train of dependants, among whom are found many who, by their frequent intercourse with the English, have acquired a smattering of our lan- guage ; but they are commonly very noisy, and very trouble- some ; begging for everything they fancy with such ear- nestness and importunity, that traders, in order to get quit of them, are frequently obliged to grant their requests. On the 23d we departed from Jillifree, and proceeded to Vintain, a town situated about two miles up a creek on the southern side of the river. This is much resorted to by Europeans, on account of the great quantities of bees-wax which are brought hither for sale : the wax is collected in the woods by the Feloops, a wild and unsociable race of people ; their country, which is of considerable extent. INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 5 abounds in rice; and the natives su|ply the traders, both on the Gambia, and Cassamansa rivers, with that article, and also with goats and poultry, on very reasonable terms. The honey which they collect is chiefly used by themselves in making a strong intoxicating liquor, much the same as the mead, which is produced from honey in Great Britain. In their traffic with Europeans, the Feloops generally employ a factor, or agent, of the Mandingo nation, who speaks a little English, and is acquainted with the trade of the river. This broker makes the bargain ; and, with the connivance of the European, receives a certain part only of the payment ; which he gives to his employer as the whole ; the remainder (which is very truly called the cheating mo- ney,) he receives when the Feloop is gone, and appropriates to himself, as a reward for his trouble. The language of the Feloops is appropriate and peculiar ; and as their trade is chiefly conducted, as hath been ob- served, by Mandingoes, the Europeans have no inducement to learn it. The numerals are as follow : One Enory. Two Sickaba, or Coohahn. Three Sisajee. Four Sibakeer. Five Foofuck. Six Footuck-Enory. Seven Footuck-Cookaba. Eight Footuck-Sisajee. Nine Footuck-Sibakeer. Teji Sibankonyen. On the 26th we left Vintain, and continued our course up 6 TRAVELS IN THE the river, anchoring whenever the tide failed us, and fre- quently towing the vessel with the boat. The river is deep and muddy ; the banks are covered with impenetrable thickets of mangrove ; and the whole of the adjacent coun- try appears to be flat and swampy. The Gambia abounds with fish, some species of which are excellent food ; but none of them that I recollect are known in Europe. At the entrance from the sea, sharks are found in great abundance ; and higher up, alligators, and the hippopotamus (or river horse) are very numerous. The latter might with more propriety be called the river-elephant, being of an enormous and unwieldy bulk, and his teeth furnish good ivory. This animal is amphibious, with short and thick legs, and cloven hoofs : it feeds on grass, and such shrubs as the banks of the river afford, boughs of trees, &c. seldom venturing far from the water, in which it seeks refuge on hearing the approach of man. I have seen many, and always found them of a timid and inoffensive disposition. In six days after leaving Vintain, we reached Jonka- konda, a place of considerable trade, where our vessel was to take in part of her lading. The next morning, the several European traders came from their different factories to re- ceive their letters, and learn the nature and amount of the cargo ; and the captain dispatched a messenger to Dr.Laidley to inform him of my arrival. He came to Jonkakonda the morning following, when I delivered him Mr. Beaufoy's letter, and he gave me a kind invitation to spend mytinie at his house until an opportunity should offer of prosecuting my journey. This invitation was too acceptable to be re- fusedj and being furnished by the doctor with a horse and INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 7 guide, I set out from Jonkakonda at day-break on the 5th of July, and at eleven o'clock arrived at Pisania, where I was accommodated with a room, and other conveniencies in the Doctor's house. Pisania is a small village in the King of Yany's domi- nions, established by British subjects as a factory for trade, and inhabited solely by them and their black servants. It is situated on the banks of the Gambia, sixteen miles above Jonkakonda. The white residents, at the time of my arrival there, consisted only of Dr. Laidley, and two gentlemen who were brothers, of the name of Ainsley ; but their domestics were numerous. They enjoyed perfect security under the king's protection, and being highly esteemed and respected by the natives at large, wanted no accommodation or comfort which the country could supply ; and the greatest part of the trade in slaves, ivory, and gold, was in their hands. Being now settled for some time at my ease, ray first object was to learn the Mandingo tongue, being the language in almost general use throughout this part of Africa ; and without which I was fully convinced that I never could acquire an extensive knowledge of the country or its inhabi- tants. In this pursuit I was greatly assisted by Dr. Laidley, who, by a long residence in the country, and constant inter- course with the natives, had made himself completely master of it. Next to the language, my great object was to collect information concerning the countries I intended to visit. On this occasion I was referred to certain traders called Slatees. These are free black merchants, of great consideration in this part of Africa, who come down from the interior countries chiefly with enslaved Negroes for sale ; but I soon disco- 8 TRAVELS IN THE vered that very little dependance could be placed on the accounts they gave ; for they contradicted each other in the most important particulars, and all of them seemed extremely unwilling that I should prosecute my journey. These cir- cumstances increased my anxiety to ascertain the truth from my own personal observations. In researches of this kind, and in observing the manners and customs of the natives, in a country so little known to the nations of Europe, and furnished with so many striking and uncommon objects of nature, my time passed not unplea- santly ; and I began to flatter myself that I had escaped the fever, or seasoning, to which Europeans, on their first arrival in hot climates, are generally subject. But, on the 31st of July, I imprudently exposed myself to the night dew, in ob- serving an eclipse of the moon, with a view to determine the longitude of the place ; the next day I found myself attacked with a smart fever and delirium ; and such an illness fol- lowed, as confined me to the house during the greatest part of August. My recovery was very slow : but I embraced every short interval of convalescence to walk out, and make myself acquainted with the productions of the country. In one of those excursions, having rambled farther than usual, in a hot day, I brought on a return of my fever, and on the 10th of September I was again confined to my bed. The fever, however, was not so violent as before ; and in the course of three weeks I was able, when the weather would permit, to renew my botanical excursions ; and when it rained, I amused myself with drawing plants, &c. in my chamber. The care and attention of Dr. Laidley contributed greatly to alleviate my sufferings ; his company and conver- INTERIOR OP AFRICA. H sation beguiled the tedious hours during that gloomy season, when the rain falls in torrents; when suffocating heats oppress by day, and when the night is spent by the terrified traveller in listening to the croaking of frogs (of which the numbers are beyond imagination,) the shrill cry of the jackal), and the deep howling of the hyaena ; a dismal concert, inter- rupted only by the roar of such tremendous thunder as no person can form a conception of but those who have heard it. The country itself being an immense level, and very generally covered with woods, presents a tiresome and gloomy uniformity to the eye ; but although nature has denied to ' the inhabitants the beauties of romantic landscapes, she has bestowed on them, with a liberal hand, the more important blessings of fertility and abundance. A little attention to cultivation procures a sufficiency of corn ; the fields atFord a rich pasturage for cattle ; and the natives are plentifully supplied with excellent fish, both from the Gambia river and the Walli creek. The grains which are chiefly cultivated are Indian corn, [zea mays) ; two kinds of holcus spicatus, called by the natives soono and sanio: holcus niger,^ndi holcus hicolor; the former of which they have named bassi woolima, and the latter bassi qui. These, together with rice, are raised in considerable quantities : besides which the inhabitants, in the vicinity of the towns and villages, have gardens which produce onions, calavances, yams, cassavi, ground-nuts, pompions, gourds, water melons, and some other esculent plants. I observed, likewise, near the towns, small patches of cotton and indigo. The former of these articles supplies them with clothing, and with the latter they die their cloth VOL. I. C 10 TRAVELS IN THE of an excellent blue colour, in a manner that will hereafter be described. In preparing- their corn for food,, the natives use a large M'ooden mortar called a jmloon, in which they bruise the seed until it parts with the outer covering or husk, which is then separated from the clean corn, by exposing it to the wind ; nearly in the same manner as wheat is cleared from the chaff in England. The corn thus freed from the husk, is returned to the mortar, and beaten into meal ; which is dressed variously in different countries ; but the most com- mon preparation of it among the nations of the Gambia, is a rsort of pudding, which they call kouskous. It is made by first moistening the flour with water, and then stirring and shaking it about in a large calabash, or gourd, till it adheres together in small granules, resembling sago. It is then put into an earthen pot, whose bottom is perforated with a number of small holes ; and this pot being placed npon another, the two vessels are luted together, either with a paste of meal and water, or with cow's dung, and placed upon the fire. In the lower vessel is commonly some animal food and water, the steam or vapour of which ascends through the perfora- tions in the bottom of the upper vessel, and softens and prepares the kouskous, which is very much esteemed through- out all the countries that I visited. I am informed, that the same manner of preparing flour, is very generally used on the Barbary coast, and that the dish so prepared, is there called by the same name. It is therefore, probable, that the Negroes borrowed the practice from the Moors. For gratifying a taste for variety, another sort of pudding, called nealing, is sometimes prepared from the meal of corn ; INTERIOR OP AFRICA. 11 and they have also adopted two or three different modes of dressing their rice. Of vegetable food, therefore, the natives have no want ; and although the common class of people are but sparingly supplied with animal food, yet this article is not wholly withheld from them. Their domestic animals are nearly the same as in Europe. Swine are found in the woods, but their flesh is not esteemed : probably the marked abhorrence in which this animal is held by the votaries of Mahomet has spread itself among the Pagans. Poultry of all kinds (the turkey excepted) is every where to be had. The Guinea fowl and red partridge abound in the fields ; and the woods furnish a small species of ante- lope, of which the venison is highly and deservedly prized. Of the other wild animals in the Mandingo countries, the most common are the hyaena, the panther, and the elephant. Considering the use that is made of the latter in the East Indies, it may be thought extraordinary, that the natives of Africa have not, in any part of this immense continent, acquired the skill of taming this powerful and docile creature, and applying his strength and faculties to the service of man. When I told some of the natives that this was actually done in the countries of the East, my auditors laughed me to scorn, and exclaimed, Tobauho fonnio / (a white man's lie). The Negroes frequently find means to destroy the elephant by fire-arms ; they hunt it principally for the sake of the teeth, which they transfer in barter to those who sell them again to the Europeans. The flesh they eat, and consider it as a great delicacy. The usual beast of burthen in all the Negro territories is the ass. The application of animal labour to the purposes of 12 TRAVELS IN THE agriculture is no where adopted ; the plough therefore, is wholly unknown. The chief implement used in husbandry is the hoe, which varies in form in different districts; and the labour is universally performed by slaves. On the 6th of October the waters of the Gambia were at the greatest height, being fifteen feet above the high-water mark of the tide ; after which they began to subside ; at first slowly, but afterwards very rapidly ; sometimes sinking more than a foot in twenty-four hours : by the beginning of November the river had sunk to its former level, and the tide ebbed and flowed as usual. When the river had subsided, and the atmosphere grew dry, I recovered apace, and began to think of my departure ; for this is reckoned the most proper season for travelling ; the natives had completed their harvest, and provisions were every where cheap and plentiful. Dr. Laidley was at this time employed in a trading voyage at Jonkakonda. I wrote to him to desire that he would use his interest with the slatees, or slave-merchants, to procure me the company and protection of the first cojfie (or caravan) that might leave Gambia for the interior country : and in the mean time I requested him to purchase for me a horse and two asses. A i^vf days afterwards the Doctor returned to Pisania, and informed me that a coffle would certainly go for the interior in the course of the dry season ; but that as many of the merchants belonging to it had not yet completed their assortment of goods, he could not say at what time they would set out. As the characters and dispositions of the slatees, and people that composed the caravan were entirely unknown to me, and as they seemed rather averse to my purpose, and unwill- INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 13 ing to enter into any positive engagements on my account ; and the time of their departure being withal very uncertain, I resolved, on further deliberation, to avail myself of the dry season, and proceed without them. Dr. Laidley approved my determination, and promised me every assistance in his power, to enable me to prosecute my journey with comfort and safety. This resolution having been formed, I made preparations accordingly. And now, being about to take leave of my hospitable friend, (whose kindness and solicitude continued to the moment of my departure,*) and to quit for many months, the countries bordering on the Gambia, it seems proper, before I proceed with ray narrative, that I should, in this place, give some account of the several Negro nations which inhabit the banks of this celebrated river, and the commercial intercourse that subsists between them, and such of the nations of Europe, as find their advantage in trading to this part of Africa. The observations which have occurred to me on both these subjects will be found in the following Chapter. * Dr. Laidley, to my infinite regret, has since paid the debt of nature. He left Africa in the latter end of l797j intending to return to Great Britain by way of the West Indies ; and died soon after his arrival at Barbadoes. 14 TRAVELS IN THE CHAPTER II. Description of the Feloops, the Jaloffs, the Foulahs, and Mandingoes. — Some Account of the Trade between the Nations of Europe and the Natives of Africa by the JVay of the Gambia, and between the native Inhabitants of the Coast and the Nations of the interior Countries — their Mode of selling and buying, &c. Ihe natives of the countries bordering on the Gambia, though distributed into a great many distinct governments, may, I think, be divided into four great classes ; the Feloops, the Jaloffs, the Foulahs, and the Mandingoes. Among all these nations, the religion of Mahomet has made, and con- tinues to make considerable progress ; but in most of them, the body of the people, both free and enslaved, persevere in maintaining the blind but harmless superstitions of their ancestors, and are called by the Mahomedans hafirs, or infidels. Of the Feloops I have little to add to what has been ob- served concerning them in the former Chapter, They are of a gloomy disposition, and are supposed never to forgive an injury. They are even said to transmit their quarrels as deadly feuds to their posterity ; insomuch that a son considers it as incumbent on him, from a just sense of filial obligation, to become the avenger of his deceased father's wrongs. If a man loses his life in one of those sudden quarrels, which perpetually occur at their feasts, when the whole party is INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 15 intoxicated with iiif ad, his son, or the eldest of his sons (if he has more than one), endeavours to procure his father's sandals, which he wears once a year, on the anniversary of his father's death, until a fit opportunity offers of avenging his fate, when the object of his resentment seldom escapes his pursuit. This fierce and unrelenting disposition is, how- ever, counterbalanced by many good qualities ; they display the utmost gratitude and affection towards their benefactors ; and the fidelity with which they preserve whatever is intrusted to them is remarkable. During the present war they have, more than once taken up arms to defend our merchant vessels from French privateers; and English property of considerable value, has frequently been left at Vintain, for a long time, entirely under the care of the Feloops ; who have uniformly manifested on such occasions the strictest honesty and punc- tuality. How greatly is it to be wished, that the minds of a people so determined and faithful, could be softened and civilized by the mild and benevolent spirit of Christianity ! The JalofTs (or Yaloffs) are an active, powerful, and warlike race, inhabiting great part of that tract which lies between the river Senegal and the Mandingo States on the Gambia ; yet they differ from the Mandingoes, not only in language, but likewise in complexion and features. The noses of the Jaloffs are not so much depressed, nor the lips so protuberant, as among the generality of Africans ; and although their skin is of the deepest black, they are considered by the white traders, as the most sightly Negroes in this part of the Continent. They are divided into several independent states or king- doms ; which are frequently at war either with their neigh- 16 TRAVELS IN THE bours, or with each other. In their manners, superstitions, and government, however, they have a greater resemblance to the Mandingoes (of whom I shall presently speak) than to any other nation ; but excel them in the manufacture of cotton cloth ; spinning the wool to a finer thread, weaving it in a broader loom, and dying it of a better colour. Their language is said to be copious and significant ; and is often learnt by Europeans trading to Senegal. I cannot say much of it from my own knowledge ; but have preserved their numerals, which are these. One Wean. Two Yar. Three YaL Four Yanet. Five Judoni. Six Judom wean. Seven Judom Yar. Eight Judom Yat. Nine Judom Yanet. Ten Fook. Eleven Fooh aug wean, Sfc. The Foulahs (or Pholeys), such of them at least as reside near the Gambia, are chiefly of a tawny complexion, with soft silky hair, and pleasing features. They are much attached to a pastoral life, and have introduced themselves into all the kingdoms on the windward coast as herdsmen and husbandmen, paying a tribute to the sovereign of the country for the lands which they hold. Not having many opportunities, however, during my residence at Pisania, of improving my acquaintance with these people, I defer entering INTERIOR OP AFRICA. 17 at large into their character, until a fitter occasion occurs, which will present itself when I come to Bondou. TheMandingoes, of whom it remains to speak, constitute in truth, the bulk of the inhabitants in all those districts of Africa which I visited ; and their language, with a few ex- ceptions, is universally understood, and very generally spoken, in that part of the continent. Their numerals are these :* One Killin. Two Foola. Three Sahba. Four Nani. Five Looloo. Six JVoro. Seven Oronglo. Eight Sie. Nine Conunta. Ten Tang-. Eleven Tan ning Killin, Sfc. They are called Mandingoes, I conceive, as having, origi- nally, migrated from the interior state of Handing, of which some account will hereafter be given ; but, contrary to the present constitution of their parent country, which is repub- lican, it appeared to me that the government in all the Mandingo states, near the Gambia, is monarchical. The power of the sovereign is, however, by no means unlimited. In all affairs of importance, the king calls an assembly of the principal men, or elders, by whose councils he is directed, * In the Travels of Francis Moore, the reader will find a pretty copious vocabulary of the Mandingo language, which in general is correct. VOL. I. D 18 TRAVELS IN THE and without whose advice he can neither declare war, nor conclude peace. In every considerable town there is a chief magistrate, called the Alkaid, whose office is hereditary, and whose business it is to preserve order, to levy duties on travellers, and to preside at all conferences in the exercise of local jurisdiction and the administration of justice. These courts are composed of the elders of the town (of free condition), and are termed palavers ; and their proceedings are con- ducted in the open air with sufficient solemnity. Both sides of a question are freely canvassed, witnesses are publicly examined, and the decisions which follow generally meet with the approbation of the surrounding audience. As the Negroes have no written language of their own, the general rule of decision is an appeal to ancient custom ; but since the system of Mahomet has made so great progress among them, the converts to that faith have gradually intro- duced, with the religious tenets, many of the civil institutions of the Prophet ; and where the Koran is not found sufficiently explicit, recourse is had to a commentary called Al Sharra, containing, as I was told, a complete exposition or digest of the Mahomedan laws, both civil and criminal, properly arranged and illustrated. This frequency of appeal to written laws, with which the Pagan natives are necessarily unacquainted, has given rise in their palavers to (what I little expected to find in Africa) professional advocates, or expounders of the law, who are allowed to appear and to plead for plaintiff or defendant, much in the same manner as council in the law courts of Great Britain. Thej^ are Mahomedan Negroes, who have INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 19 made, or affect to have made, the laws of the Prophet their peculiar study; and if I may judge from their harangues, which I frequently attended, I believe that in the forensic qualifications of procrastination and cavil, and the arts of confounding and perplexing a cause, they are not always sur- passed by the ablest pleaders in Europe. While I was at Pisania a cause was heard which furnished the Mahomedan lawyers with an admirable opportunity of displaying their professional dexterity. The case was this : an ass belonging to a Serawoolli Negro (a native of an interior country near the river Senegal) had broke into a field of corn belonging to one of the Mandingo inhabitants, and destroyed great part of it. The Mandingo having caught the animal in his field, immediately drew his knife and cut its throat. The Sera- woolli thereupon called a palaver (or in European terms, brought an action) to recover damages for the loss of his beast, on which he set a high value. The defendant con- fessed he had killed the ass, but pleaded a set off, insisting that the loss he had sustained by the ravage in his corn, was equal to the sum demanded for the animal. To ascertain this fact was the point at issue, and the learned advocates con- trived to puzzle the cause in such a manner, that after a hearing of three days, the court broke up without coming to any determination upon it ; and a second palaver was, I suppose, thought necessary. The Mandingoes, generally speaking, are of a mild, sociable, and obliging disposition. The men are commonly above the middle size, well shaped, strong, and capable of enduring great labour ; the women are good-natured, sprightly and agreeable. The dress of both sexes is composed 20 TRAVELS IN THE of cotton cloth, of their own manufacture ; that of the men is a loose frock, not unlike a surplice, with drawers which reach half way down the leg ; and they wear sandals on their feet, and white cotton caps on their heads. The women's dress consists of two pieces of cloth, each of which they wrap round the waist, which hanging down to the ancles answers the purpose of a petticoat : the other is thrown negligently over the bosom and shoulders. This account of their clothing is indeed nearly applicable to the natives of all the different countries in this part of Africa ; a peculiar national mode is observable only in the head dresses of the women. Thus, in the countries of the Gambia, the females wear a sort of bandage, which they call Jalla. It is a narrow stripe of cotton cloth, wrapped many times round, immediately over the forehead. In Bondou the head is encircled with strings of white beads, and a small plate of gold is worn in the middle of the forehead. In Kasson, the ladies decorate their heads in a very tasteful and elegant manner, with white sea-shells. In Kaarta and Ludamar, the women raise their hair to a great height by the addition of a pad (as the ladies did formerly in Great Britain), which they decorate Avith a species of coral, brought from the Red sea by pilgrims re- turning from Mecca, and sold at a great price. In the construction of their dwelling houses, the Man- dingoes also conform to the general practice of the African nations on this part of the continent, contenting themselves with small and incommodious hovels. A circular mud wall about four feet high, upon which is placed a conical roof, composed of the bamboo cane, and thatched with grass, INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 21 forms alike the palace of the king, and the hovel of the slave. Their household furniture is equally simple. A hurdle of canes placed upon upright stakes, about two feet from the ground, upon which is spread a mat or bullock's hide, answers the purpose of a bed : a water jar, some earthen pots for dressing their food, a few wooden bowls and cala- bashes, and one or two low stools, compose the rest. J As every man of free condition has a plurality of wives, it is found necessary (to prevent, I suppose, matrimonial dis- pute,) that each of the ladies should be accommodated with a hut to herself; and all the huts belonging to the same family are surrounded by a fence, constructed of bamboo canes split and formed into a sort of wickerwork. The whole inclosure is called a sirk, or surk. A number of these inclo- sures, with narrow passages between them, form what is called a town ; but the huts are generally placed without any regularity, according to the caprice of the owner. The only rule that seems to be attended to, is placing the door towards the south-west, in order to admit the sea breeze. In each town is a large stage called the Bentang, which answers the purpose of a public hall or town-house ; it is composed of interwoven canes, and is generally sheltered from the sun by being erected in the shade of some large tree. It is here that all public affairs are transacted and trials conducted : and here the lazy and indolent meet to smoke their pipes, and hear the news of the day. In most of the towns the Mahoraedans have also a missura, or mosque, in which they assemble and offer up their daily prayers, according to the rules of the Koran. In the account which I have thus £?iven of the natives. 22 TRAVELS IN THE the reader must bear in mind, that my observations apply chiefly to persons of free condition, who constitute, I suppose, not more than one-fourth part of the inhabitants at large ; the other three-fourths are in a state of hopeless and here- ditary slavery ; and are employed in cultivating the land, in the care of cattle, and in servile oflices of all kinds, much in the same manner as the slaves in the West Indies. I was told, however, that the Mandiugo master can neither deprive his slave of life, nor sell him to a stranger, without first calling a palaver on his conduct ; or in other words, bringing him to a public trial ; but this degree of protection is extended only to the native or domestic slave. Captives taken in war, and those unfortunate victims who are condemned to slavery for crimes or insolvency, and, in short, all those unhappy people who are brought down from the interior countries for sale, have no security whatever, but may be treated and disposed of in all respects as the owner thinks proper. It sometimes happens, indeed, when no ships are on the Coast, that a humane and considerate master, incorporates his pur- chased slaves among his domestics ; and their offspring at least, if not the parents, become entitled to all the privileges of the native class. The preceding remarks concerning the several nations that inhabit the banks of the Gambia, are all that I recollect as necessary to be made in this place, at the outset of my journey. With regard to the Mandingoes, however, many particulars are yet to be related ; some of which are neces- sarily interwoven into the narrative of my progress, and others will be given in a summary, at the end of my work ; together with all such observations as I have collected on the INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 23 country and climate, which I could not with propriety insert in the regular detail of occurrences. What remains of the present Chapter will therefore relate solely to the trade which the nations of Christendom have found means to establish witli the natives of Africa, by the channel of the Gambia ; and the inland traffic which has arisen, in con- sequence of it, between the inhabitants of the Coast, and the nations of the interior countries. The earliest European establishment on this celebrated river was a factory of the Portuguese ; and to this must be ascribed the introduction of the numerous words of that language which are still in use among the Negroes. The Dutch, French, and English, afterwards successively pos- sessed themselves of settlements on the coast : but the trade of the Gambia became and continued for many years, a sort of monopoly in the hands of the English. In the travels of Francis Moore is preserved an account of the Royal African Company's establishments in this river, in the year 1730: at which time James's factory alone consisted of a governor, deputy governor, and two other principal officers ; eight factors, tliirteen writers, twenty inferior attendants and tradesmen ; a company of soldiers, and thirty-two Negro servants, besides sloops, shallops, and boats, with their crews; and there were no less than eight subordinate fjactories in other parts of the river. The trade with Europe, by being afterwards laid open, was almost annihilated ; the share which the subjects of England at this time hold in it, supports not more than two or three annual ships ; and I am informed that the gross value of British exports is under o£20,000. The French and Danes 24 TRAVELS IN THE still maintain a small share, and the Americans have lately sent a few vessels to the Gambia by way of experiment. The commodities exported to the Gambia from Europe consist chiefly of fire-arms and ammunition, iron ware, spi- rituous liquors, tobacco, cotton caps, a small quantity of broad cloth, and a few articles of the manufacture of Manchester ; a small assortment of India goods, with some glass beads, amber, and other trifles : for which are taken in exchange slaves, gold dust, ivory, bees-wax, and hides. Slaves are the chief article, but the whole number which at this time are annually exported from the Gambia by all nations, is sup- posed to be under one thousand. Most of these unfortunate victims are brought to the Coast in periodical caravans ; many of them from very remote inland countries ; for the language which they speak is not understood by the inhabitants of the maritime districts. In a subsequent part of my work I shall give the best information I have been able to collect concerning the manner in which they are obtained. On their arrival at the Coast, if no imme- diate opportunity offers of selling them to advantage, they are distributed among the neighbouring villages, until a slave ship arrives, or until they can be sold to black traders, who sometimes purchase on speculation. In the meanwhile, the poor wretches are kept constantly fettered, two and two of them being chained together, and employed in the labours of the field : and I am sorry to add, are very scantily fed, as well as harshly treated. The price of a slave varies according to the number of purchasers from Europe and the arrival of caravans from the interior ; but in general I reckon, that a young and healthy male, from sixteen to twenty-five years INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 25 of age, may be estimated on the spot from ^18. to oC20. sterling-. The Negro slave merchants, as T have observed in the former Chapter, are called Slatees ; wlio, besides slaves, and the merchandize which they bring for sale to the whites, supply the inhabitants of the maritime districts with native iron, sweet smelling gums and frankincense, and a commodity called Shea-toulou, which literally translated, signifies tree butter. This commodity is extracted by means of boiling water, from the kernel of a nut, as will be more particularly described hereafter ; it has the consistence and appearance of butter ; and is in truth an admirable substitute for it. It forms an important article in the food of the natives, and serves also for every domestic purpose in which oil would otherwise be used. The demand for it is therefore very great. In payment of these articles, the maritime states supply the interior countries with salt, a scarce and valuable commodity, as I frequently and painfully experienced in the course of my journey. Considerable quantities of this article, however, are also supplied to the inland natives by the Moors ; who obtain it from the salt pits in the Great Desart, and receive in return corn, cotton cloth, and slaves. In thus bartering one commodity for another, many incon- veniencies must necessarily have arisen at first from the want of coined money, or some other visible and determinate medium, to settle the balance, or difference of value, between different articles, to remedy which the natives of the interior make use of small shells called kotvries, as will be shewn hereafter. On the Coast, the inhabitants have adopted a practice which I believe is peculiar to themselves. VOL. I. E 26 TRAVELS IN THE In their early intercourse with Europeans, the article that attracted most notice was iron. Its utility, in forming the instruments of war and husbandry, made it preferable to all others ; and iron soon became the measure by which the value of all other commodities was ascertained. Thus a cer- tain quantity of goods of whatever denomination, appearing to be equal in value to a bar of iron, constituted, in the trader's phraseology, a bar of that particular merchandize. Twenty leaves of tobacco, for instance, were considered as a bar of tobacco ; and a gallon of spirits (or rather half spirits and half water), as a bar of rum ; a bar of one commodity being reckoned equal in value to a bar of another commodity. As, however, it must unavoidably happen, that according to the plenty or scarcity of goods at market in proportion to the demand, the relative value would be subject to continual fluctuation, greater precision has been found necessary ; and at this time, the current value of a single bar of any kind is fixed by the whites at two shillings sterling. Thus, a slave, whose price is ^£15. is said to be worth loO bars. In transactions of this nature, it is obvious that the white trader has infinitely the advantage over the African, whom, therefore, it is difficult to satisfy ; for, conscious of his own ignorance, he naturally becomes exceedingly suspicious and wavering ; and indeed so very unsettled and jealous are the Negroes in their dealings with the whites, that a bargain is never considered by the European as concluded, until the purchase money is paid, and the party has taken leave. Having now brought together such general observations on the country, and its inhabitants, as occurred to me during my residence in the vicinage of the Gambia, I shall detain the INtERIOU OP AFRICA. 27 reader no longer with introductory matter, but proceed, in the next Chapter, to a regular detail of the incidents which happened, and the reflections which arose in my mind, in the course of my painful and perilous journey, from its commence-, ment, until my return to the Gambia. 28 TRAVELS IN THJ3 CHAPTER III. The Author sets out from Pisania — his Attendajits — reaches Jindey. Story related by a Mandmgo Negro. — Proceeds to Medina, the Capital of Woolli. — Interview zvith theKifig. — Saphies or Charms. — Proceeds to Kolor. — Description of Mumbo Jumbo — arrives at Koojar — wrestling Match — Crosses the fVilderness, and arrives at Tallika, in the Kingdom of Bondou. On the 2d of December, 1796, I took my departure from the hospitable mansion of Dr. Laidley. I was fortunately pro- vided with a Negro servant, who spoke both the English and Mandingo tongues. His name was Johnson. He was a native of this part of Africa; and having in his youth been conveyed to Jamaica as a slave, he had been made free, and taken to England by his master, where he had resided many years ; and at length found his way back to his native country. As he was known to Dr. Laidley, the Doctor re- commended him to me, and I hired him as my interpreter, at the rate of ten bars monthly, to be paid to himself, and five bars a month to be paid to his wife during his absence. Dr. Laidley furthermore provided me with a Negro boy of his own, named Demba; a sprightly youth, who besides Man- dingo, spoke the language of the Serawoollies, an inland people (of whom mention will hereafter be made), residing on the banks of the Senegal ; and to induce him to behave well, the Doctor promised him his freedom on his return, in INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 29 case I should report favourably of his fidelity and services. I was furnished witli a horse for myself, (a small, but very hardy and spirited beast, which cost me to the value of <£7..105. and two asses for my interpreter and servant. My baggage was light, consisting chiefly of provisions for two days ; a small assortment of beads, amber, and tobacco, for the pur- chase of a fresh supply, as I proceeded : a few changes of linen, and other necessary apparel, an umbrella, a pocket sextant, a magnetic compass, and a thermometer ; together with two fowling pieces, two pair of pistols, and some other small articles. A freeman (a Bushreen or Mahomedan), named Madiboo, who was travelling to the kingdom of Bambarra, and two Slatees, or slave merchants of the Serawoolli nation, and of the same sect, who were going to Bondou, offered their services as far as they intended respectively to proceed ; as did likewise a Negro named Tami, (also a Mahomedan,) a native of Kasson, who had been employed some years by Dr. Laidley as a blacksmith, and was returning to his native country with the savings of his labours. All these men travelled on foot, driving their asses before them. Thus I had no less than six attendants, all of whom had been taught to regard me with great respect ; and to consider that their safe return hereafter, to the countries on the Gambia, would depend on my preservation. Dr, Laidley himself, and Messrs. Ainsley, with a number of their domestics, kindly determined to accompany me the two first days ; and, I believe, they secretly thought they should never see me afterwards. We reached Jindey the same day, having crossed the Walli 30 TRAVELS IN THE creek, a branch of the Gambia, and rested at the house of a black woman, who had formerly been the chere amie of a white trader named Hewett ; and who, in consequence thereof, was called, by way of distinction, Seniora. In the evening we walked out to see an adjoining village, belonging to a Slatee named JemafFoo Mamadoo, the richest of all the Gambia traders. We found him at home ; and he thought so highly of the honour done him by this visit, that he pre- sented us with a fine bullock, which was immediately killed, and part of it dressed for our evening's repast. The Negroes do not go to supper till late, and in order to amuse ourselves while our beef was preparing, a Mandingo was desired to relate some diverting stories ; in listening to which, and smoking tobacco, we spent three hours. These stories bear some resemblance to those in the Arabian Nights Entertainments ; but, in general, are of a more ludicrous cast. I shall here abridge one of them for the reader's amusement. " Many years ago (said the relator), the people of Dooraa- sansa (a town on the Gambia), were much annoyed by a lion, that came every night, and took away some of their cattle. By continuing his depredations, the people were at length so much enraged, that a party of them resolved to go and hunt the monster. They accordingly proceeded in search of the common enemy, which they found concealed in a thicket ; and immediately firing at him, were lucky enough to wound him in such a manner, that, in springing from the thicket towards the people, he was thrown among the grass, and was unable to rise. The animal, however, manifested such ap- pearance of vigour, that nobody cared to approach him singly ; INTERIOR OP AFRICA. 31 and a consultation was held, concerning the Jproperest means of taking him alive ; a circumstance, it was said, which, while it furnished undeniable proof of their prowess, would turn out to great advantage, it being resolved to convey him to the Coast, and sell him to the Europeans. While some persons proposed one plan, and some another, an old man offered a scheme. This was, to strip the roof of a house of its thatch, and to carry the bamboo frame (the pieces of which are well secured together by thongs), and throw it over the lion. If, in approaching him, he should attempt to spring upon them, they had nothing to do but to let down the roof upon themselves, and fire at the lion through the rafters. " This proposition was approved and adopted. The thatch was taken from the roof of a hut, and the lion-hunters, sup- porting the fabric, marched courageously to the field of battle ; each person carrying a gun in one hand, and bearing his share of the roof on the opposite shoulder. In this man- ner they approached the enemy ; but the beast had by this time recovered his strength ; and such was the fierceness of his countenance, that the hunters, instead of proceeding any further, thought it prudent to provide for their own safety, by covering themselves with the roof. Unfortunately, the lion was too nimble for them ; for, making a spring while the roof was setting down, both the beast and his pursuers were cauoht in the same catje, and the lion devoured them at his leisure, to the great astonishment and mortification of the people of Doomasansa ; at which place it is dangerous even at this day to tell the story ; for it is become the subject of laughter and derision in the neighbouring countries, and 32 TRAVELS IN THE nothing will enrage an inhabitant of that town so much as y desiring him to catch a lion alive." About one o'clock in the afternoon of the 3d of December, I took my leave of Dr. Laidley and Messrs. Ainsley, and rode slowly into the woods. I had now before me a bonnd- less forest, and a country, the inhaljitants of which were strangers to civilized life, and to most of whom a white man was the object of curiosity or plunder. I reflected that I had parted from the last European I might probably behold, and perhaps quitted forever the comforts of Christian society. Thoughts like these would necessarily cast a gloom over the mind, and I rode musing along for about three miles, when I was awakened from my reverie by a body of people, who came running up and stopped the asses, giving me to under- stand that I must go with them to Peckaba, to present myself to the King of Walli, or pay customs to them. I endeavoured to make them comprehend that the object of my journey not being traffic, I ought not to be subjected to a tax like the Slatees, and other merchants who travel for gain ; but I reasoned to no purpose. They said it was usual for travellers of all descriptions to make a present to the King of Walli, and without doing so I could not be permitted to proceed. As they were more numerous than my attendants, and withal very noisy, I thought it prudent to comply with their demand, and having presented them with four bars of tobacco, for the king's use, I was permitted to continue my journey, and at sunset reached a village near Kootacunda, where we rested for the night. In the morning of December 4th, I passed Kootacunda, the last town of Walli, and stopped about an hour at a small INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 33 adjoining village to pay customs to an officer of the King of Woolli : we rested the ensuing night at a village called Taba- jang ; and at noon the next day (December 6th) we reached Medina, the capital of the King of Woolli's dominions. The kingdom of Woolli is bounded by Walli on the west, by the Gambia on the south, by the small river AValli on the north-west, by Bondou on the north-east, and on tlie east by the Simbani wilderness. The country every where rises into gentle acclivities, which are generally covered with extensive woods, and the towns are situated in the intermediate valleys. Each town is sur- rounded by a tract of cultivated land, the produce of which, I presume, is found sufficient to supply the wants of the inha- bitants ; for the soil appeared to me to be every where fertile, except near the tops of the ridges, where the red iron stone, and stunted shrubs sufficiently marked the boundaries be- tween fertility and barrenness. The chief productions are cotton, tobacco, and esculent vegetables ; all which are raised in the valleys, the rising grounds being appropriated to different sorts of corn. The inhabitants are Mandingoes ; and, like most of the Mandingo nations, are divided into two great sects, the Mahomedans, who are called Bushreens, and the Pagans, who are called indiscriminately, Kajirs (unbelievers), and Sonakies {i. e. men who drink strong liquors.) The Pagan natives are by far the most numerous, and the government of the country is in their hands ; for though the most respectable among the Bushreens are frequently consulted in affairs of importance, yet they are never permitted to take any share in the executive government, which rests solely in the hands VOL. I. F 34 TRAVELS IN THE of the Mansa, or sovereign, and great officers of tlie state. Of these, the first in point of rank is the presumptive heir of the crown, who is called the Farbanna ; next to him are the Alkaids, or provincial governors, who are more frequently called Keamos. Then follow the two grand divisions of free- men and slaves :* of the former, the Slatees, so frequently mentioned in the preceding pages, are considered as the principal : but in all classes great respect is paid to the au- thority of aged men. On the death of the reigning monarch, his eldest son (if he has attained the age of manhood) succeeds to the regal authority. If there is no son, or if the son is under the age of discretion, a meeting of the great men is held, and the late monarch's nearest relation (commonly his brother), is called to the government, not as regent, or guardian to the infant son, but in full right, and to the exclusion of the minor. The charges of the government are defrayed by occasional tributes from the people, and by duties on goods transported across the country. Travellers, on going from the Gambia towards the interior, pay customs in European merchandize. On returning they pay in iron and shea-toulou : these taxes are paid at every town. Medina,f the capital of the kingdom, at which I was now arrived, is a place of considerable extent ; and may contain from eight hundred to one thousand houses. It is fortified in the common African manner, by a surrounding high wall * The term, which signifies a man of free condition, is Horia; that of a slave, Jong. + Medina in the Arabic signifies a city ; the name is not uncommon among tiie Negroes, and has probably been borrowed from the Mahomedans. INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 35 built of clay, and an outward fence of pointed stakes and prickly bushes ; but the walls are neglected, and the outward fence has suffered considerably from the active hands of busy housewives, who pluck up the stakes for firewood. I obtained a lodging at one of the king's near relations, who apprized me, that at my introduction to the king, I must not presume to shake hands xcith him. It was not usual, he said, to allow this liberty to strangers. Thus instructed, I went in the afternoon to pay my respects to the sovereign ; and ask permission to pass through his territories to Bondou. The king's name was Jatta. He was the same venerable old man of whom so favourable an account was transmitted by Major Houghton. I found him seated upon a mat before the door of his hut: a number of men and women were arranged on each side who were singing and clapping their hands. I saluted him respectfully, and informed him of tlie purport of my visit. The king graciously replied, that he not only gave me leave to pass through his country, but would offer up his prayers for my safety. On this, one of my attendants, seem- ingly in return for the king's condescension, began to sing, or rather to roar, an Arabic song ; at every pause of which, the king himself, and all the people present, struck their hands against their forehead, and exclaimed, with devout and aflecting solemnity, Amen, Amen I* The king told me, furthermore, that I should have a guide the day following, * It may seem from hence that the king was a Mahomedan ; but I was assured to the contrary. He joined in prayer on this occasion probably from the mere dictates of his benevolent mind ; considering, perhaps, that prayers to the Almiglity, offered up with true devotion and sincerity, were equally acceptable, whether from Bushreen or Pagan. 36 TRAVELS IN THE who would conduct me safely to the frontier of his kingdom. I then took ray leave, and in the evening sent the king an order upon Dr. LaidJey for three gallons of rum, and re- ceived in return great store of provisions. December 6th, early in the morning, I went to the king a second time, to learn if the guide was ready. I found his majesty sitting upon a bullock's hide, warming himself before a large fire ; for the Africans are sensible of the smallest variation in the temperature of the air, and frequently com- plain of cold when a European is oppressed with heat. He received me with a benevolent countenance, and tenderly entreated me to desist from my purpose of travelling into the interior ; telling me that Major Houghton had been killed in his route, and that if I followed his footsteps, I should pro- bably meet with his fate. He said that I must not judge of the people of the eastern country by those of Woolli : that the latter were acquainted with white men, ajid respected them ; whereas the people of the east had never seen a white man, and would certainly destroy me. I thanked the king for his affectionate solicitude, but told him that I had con- sidered the matter, and was determined, notwithstanding all dangers, to proceed. The king shook his head, but desisted from further persuasion ; and told me the guide should be ready in the afternoon. About two o'clock, the guide appearing, I went and took my last farewell of the good old king, and in three hours reached Konjour, a small village, where we determined to rest for the night. Here I purchased a fine sheep for some beads, and my Seravvoolli attendants killed it with all the ceremonies prescribed by their religion : part of it was dressed INTERIOR OP AFRICA, 37 for supper : after which a dispute arose between one of the Serawoolli Negroes and Johnson, my interpreter, about the sheep's liorns. The former claimed the horns as his perqui- site, for having- acted the part of our butcher, and Johnson contested the claim. I settled the matter by giving a horn to each of them. This trifling incident is mentioned as intro- ductory to what follows : for it appeared on inquiry that these horns were highly valued, as being easily convertible into portable sheaths, or cases, for containing and keeping secure certain charms or amulets called saphies, which the Negroes constantly wear about them. These saphies are prayers or rather sentences, from the Koran, which the Mahomedan priests write on scraps of paper, and sell to the simple natives, who consider them to possess very extraordinary virtues. Some of the Negroes wear them to guard themselves against the bite of snakes or alligators ; and on this occasion the saphie is commonly inclosed in a snake's or alligator's skin, and tied round the ancle. Others have recourse to them in time of war, to protect their persons against hostile weapons ; but the common use to which these amulets are applied is to prevent or cure bodily diseases ; to preserve from hunger and thirst ; and generally to conciliate the favour of su- perior powers under all the circumstances and occurrences of life.* In this case it is impossible not to admire the wonderful contagion of superstition ; for, notwithstanding that the ma- jority of the Negroes are Pagans, and absolutely reject the doctrines of Mahomet, I did not meet with a man, whether a * I believe that similar charms or amulets under tiie names of domini. grigri, fetich, &c. &c. are common in all parts of Africa. 38 TRAVELS IN THE Bushreen or Kafir, who was not fully persuaded of the powerful efficacy of these amulets. The truth is, that all the natives of this part of Africa consider the art of writing as borderini? on magic; and it is not in the doctrines of the prophet, but in the arts of the magician, that their confidence is placed. It will hereafter be seen that I was myself lucky enough, in circumstances of distress, to turn the popular cre- dulity in this respect to good account. On the 7th I departed from Konjour, and slept at a village called Malla (or Mallaing) ; and on the 8th about noon I arrived at Kolor, a considerable town ; near the entrance into which I observed, hanging upon a tree, a sort of masquerade habit, made of the bark of trees, which T was told on enquiry belonged to mumbo jumbo. This is a strange bugbear, com- mon to all the Mandingo towns, and much employed by the Pagan natives in keeping their women in subjection ; for as the Kafirs are not restricted in the number of their wives, every one marries as many as he can conveniently maintain ; and as it frequently happens that the ladies disagiee among themselves, family quarrels sometimes rise to such a height, that the authority of the husband can no longer preserve peace in his household. In such cases the interposition of Mumbo Jumbo is called in, and is always decisive. This strange minister of justice (who is supposed to be either the husband himself, or some person instructed by him), disguised in the dress that has been mentioned, and armed with the rod of public authority, announces hisconiing (when- ever his services are required) by loud and dismal screams in the woods near tlie town. He begins the pantomime at the approach of night ; and as soon as it is dark he enters the INTBRIOll OF AFRICA. 39 town, and proceeds to the Bentang, at which all the inhabi- tants immediately assemble. It inny easily be supposed that this exhibition is not much relished by the women ; for as the person in disguise is en- tirely unknown to them, every married female suspects that the visit may possibly be intended for herself; but they dare not refuse to appear when they are summoned ; and the ceremony commences with songs and dances, which continue till midnight about which time Mumbo fixes on the oflender. This unfortunate victim being thereupon immediately seized, is stripped naked, tied to a post, and severely scourged with Mumbo's rod, amidst the shouts and derision of the whole assembly ; and it is remarkable, that the rest of the women are the loudest in their exclamations on this occasion against their unhappy sister. Daylight puts an end to this indecent . and unmanly revel. December 9th. As there was no water to be procured on the road, we travelled with great expedition until we reached Tambacunda ; and departing from thence early the next morning, the 10th, we reached in the evening Kooniakary, a town of nearly the same magnitude as Kolor. About noon on the 1 1th we arrived at Koojar, the frontier town of Woolli, towards Bondou, from which it is separated by an intervening wilderness of two day's journey. The guide appointed by the king of Woolli being now to return, I presented him with some amber for his trouble: and having been informed that it was not possible at all times to procure water in the Wilderness, I made enquiry for men who would serve both as guides and water-bearers during my journey across it. Three Negroes, elephant-hunters, offered 40 TRAVELS IN THE their services for these purposes, which I accepted, and paid them three bars each in advance, and the day being far spent, I determined to pass the night in my present quarters. The inhabitants of Koojar, though not wholly unaccus- tomed to the sight of Europeans (most of them having occa- sionally visited the countries on the Gambia) beheld me with a mixture of curiosity and reverence, and in the evening invited me to see a neohering, or wrestling match at the Bentang. This is an exhibition very common in all the Mandingo countries. The spectators arranged themselves in a circle, leaving the intermediate space for the wrestlers, who were strong active young men, full of emulation, and accus- tomed 1 suppose from their infancy to this sort of exertion. Being stripped of their clothing, except a short pair of drawers, and having their skin anointed with oil, or shea butter, the combatants approached each other on all fours, parrying with, and occasionally extending a hand for some time, till at length one of them sprang forward, and caught his rival by the knee. Great dexterity and judgment were now displayed ; but the contest was decided by superior strength ; and I think that few Europeans would have been able to cope with the conqueror. It must not be unobserved that the combatants were animated by the music of a drum, by which their actions were in some measure regulated. The wrestling was succeeded by a dance, in which many performers assisted, all of whom were provided with little bells, which were fastened to their legs and arms ; and here too the drum regulated their motions. It was beaten with a crooked stick, which the drummer held in his right hand, occasionally using his left to deaden the sound, and thus vary INTKRIOR OF AFRICA. 41 the music. The drum is likewise applied on these occasions to keep order among the spectators, by imitating the sound of certain Mandingo sentences: for example, when the wrestling match is about to begin, the drummer strikes what is understood to signify all h(e see, — sit all down ; upon which the spectators immediately seat themselves ; and when the combatants are to begin, he strikes amuta amuta, — take hold, take hold. In the course of the evening I was presented, by way ot refreshment, with a liquor which tasted so much like the strong beer of my native country (and very good beer too,) as to induce me to inquire into its composition ; and I learnt, with some degree of surprise, that it was actually made from corn which had been previously malted, much in the same mftnner as barley is malted in Great Britain : a root yielding a grateful bitter, was used in lieu of hops, the name of which I have forgot: but the corn which yields the wort, is the holcus spicatus of botanists. Early in the morning (the 12th,) I found that one of the elephant-hunters had absconded with the money he had re- ceived from me in part of wages ; and in order to prevent the other two from following his example, I made them instantly fill their calabashes (or gourds) with water, and as the sun rose I entered the Wilderness that separates the kingdoms of Woolli and Bondou. We had not travelled more than a mile before my attend- ants insisted on stopping that they might prepare a saphie, or charm, to insure us a safe journey. This was done by mut- tering a few sentences, and spitting upon a stone, which was thrown before us on the road. The same ceremony was VOL. 1. G 42 TRAVELS IN THE repeated three times, after which the Negroes proceeded with the greatest confidence ; every one being firmly persuaded that the stone (like the scape goat) had carried with it every thing that could induce superior powers to visit us with misfortune. We continued our journey M'ithout stopping any more until noon, when we came to a large tree, called by the natives Neema Taba. It had a very singular appearance, being decorated with innumerable rags or scraps of cloth, which persons travelling across the wilderness had, at different times, tied to the branches ; probably, at first, to inform the traveller that water was to be found near it ; but the custom has been so greatly sanctioned by time, that nobody now presumes to pass without hanging up something. I followed the example, and suspended a handsome piece of cloth on one of the boughs ; and being told that either a well, or pool of water, was at no great distance, I ordered the Negroes to unload the asses, that we might give them corn, and regale ourselves with the provisions we had brought. In the mean time I sent one of the elephant hunters to look for the well, intending if water was to be obtained, to rest here for the night. A pool was found, but the water was thick and muddy, and the Negro discovered near it the remains of a fire recently ex- tinguished, and the fragments of provisions ; which afforded a proof that it had been lately visited, either by travellers or banditti. The fears of my attendants supposed the latter ; and believing that robbers lurked near us, I was persuaded to change my resolution of resting here all night, and proceed to another watering place, which I was assured we might reach early in the evening. INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 43 We departed accordingly, but it was eight o'clock at night before we came to the watering place ; and being now suffi- ciently fatigued with so long a day's journey, we kindled a large fire, and lay down, surrounded by our cattle, on the bare ground, more than a gun-shot from any bush ; the Negroes agreeing to keep watch by turns to prevent surprise. Iknow not indeed that any danger was justly to be dreaded, but the Negroes were unaccountably apprehensive of banditti during the whole of the journey. As soon therefore as day- light appeared, we filled our soofroos (skins) and calabashes at the pool, and set out for Tallika, the first town in Bondou, which we reached about eleven o'clock in the forenoon (the 13th of December.) I cannot, however, take leave of Woolli, without observing that I was everywhere well received by the natives ; and that the fatigues of the day were generally alleviated by a hearty welcome at night ; and although the African mode of living was at first unpleasant to me, yet I found, at length, that custom surmounted trifling inconveni- ences, and made every thing palatable and easy. 44 TRAVELS IN THE CHAPTER IV. Some Account of the Inhabitants of Tallika. — The Author proceeds for Fatteconda — Incidents on the Road. — Crosses the Neriko, arrives at Koorkarany — reaches the River Faleme — Fishery on that River — proceeds along its Bank to J^aye or J^ayemow — crosses the Faleme, and arrives at Fatteconda. — Has an Interview with Almami, the Sovereign of Bondou. — Description of the King's Dwelling — has a second Interview with the King, who begs the Author's Coat. — Author visits the King's Wives — is permitted to depart on friendly Terms. — Journey by Night — arrives at Joag. — Som£ Account of Bondou and its Inhabitants the Foulahs. Tallika, the frontier town of Bondou towards Woolli, is inhabited chiefly by Foulahs of the Mahomedan religion, who live in considerable affluence, partly by furnishing provisions to the coffles, or caravans, that pass through the town, and partly by the sale of ivory, obtained by hunting elephants ; in which employment the young men are generally very suc- cessful. Here, an officer belonging to the King of Bondou constantly resides, whose business it is to give timely informa- tion of the arrival of the caravans ; which are taxed accord- ing to the number of loaded asses that arrive at Tallika. I took up my residence at this oflicer's house, and agreed with him to accompany me to Fatteconda, the residence of the king, for which he was to receive five bars ; and before my departure I wrote a few lines to Dr. Laidley, and gave my INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 45 letter to the master of a caravan bound for the Gambia. This caravan consisted of nine or ten people with five asses loaded with ivory. The large teeth are conveyed in nets, two on each side of the ass ; the small ones are wrapped up in skins, and secured with ropes. December 14th. We left Tallika, and rode on very peace- ably for about two miles, when a violent quarrel arose between two of my fellow-travellers, one of whom was the blacksmith, in the course of which they bestowed some opprobrious terms upon each other ; and it is worthy of remark, that an African will sooner forgive a blow, than a term of reproach applied to his ancestors ; " Strike me, but do not curse ray mother," is a common expression even among the slaves. This sort of abuse, therefore, so enraged one of the disputants, that he drew his cutlass upon the blacksmith, and would certainly have ended the dispute in a very serious manner, if the others had not laid hold of him, and wrested the cutlass from him. I was obliged to interfere, and put an end to this disagreeable business, by desiring the blacksmith to be silent, and telling the other, who I thought was in the wrong, that if he at- tempted in future to draw his cutlass, or molest any of my attendants, I should look upon him as a robber, and shoot him without further ceremony. This threat haid the desired effect, and we marched sullenly along till the afternoon, when we arrived at a number of small villages scattered over an open and fertile plain ; at one of these, called Ganado, we took up our residence for the night : here an exchange of presents and a good supper terminated all animosities among my attendants ; and the night was far advanced before any of us thought of going to sleep. We were amused by an 46 TRAVELS IN THE itinerant singing man* who told a number of diverting stories, and played some sweet airs, by blowing his breath upon a bowstring, and striking it at the same time vvith a stick. December 15th. At daybreak my fellow travellers, the Serawoollies, took leave of me, with many prayers for my safety. About a mile from Ganado, we crossed a considera- ble branch of the Gambia called Neriko. The banks were steep, and covered with mimosas ; and I observed in the mud a number of large muscles, but the natives do not eat them. About noon, the sun being exceedingly hot, we rested two hours in the shade of a tree, and purchased some milk and pounded corn from some Foulah herdsmen, and at sunset reached a town called Koorkarany, where the blacksmith had some relations ; and here we rested two days. Koorkarany is a Mahomedan town, surrounded by a high wall, and is provided with a mosque. Here I was shown a number of Arabic manuscripts, particularly a copy of the book before mentioned called Al Sharra. The Maraboo, or priest, in whose possession it was, read and explained to me in Mandingo, many of the most remarkable passages ; and in return I showed him Richardson's Arabic grammar, which he very much admired. On the evening of the second day (Dec. 17th) we departed from Koorkarany. We were joined by a young man who was travelling to Fatteconda for salt ; and as night set in we reached Dooggi, a small village about three miles from Koorkarany. * These are a sort of travelling bards and musicians, who sing extempore songs in praise of those who employ them. A fuller account of them will be given hereafter. INTERIOR OP AFRICA. 47 Provisions were here so cheap that I purchased a bullock for six small stones of" amber ; for 1 found my company - increase or diminish according to the good fare they met with. Dec. 18th. Early in the morning we departed from Dooggi, and being joined by a number of Foulahs and other people, made a formidable appearance ; and were under no appre- hension of being plundered in the woods. About eleven o'clock one of the asses proving very refractory, the Negroes took a curious method to make him tractable. They cut a forked stick, and putting the forked part into the ass's mouth, like the bit of a bridle, tied the two smaller parts together above his head, leaving the lower part of the stick of suffi- cient length to strike against the ground if the ass should attempt to put his head down. After this, the ass walked along quietly, and gravely enough, taking care, after some practice, to hold his head sufficiently high to prevent the stones or roots of trees from striking against the end of the stick, which experience had taught him would give a severe shock to his teeth. This contrivance produced a ludicrous appearance, but my fellow-travellers told me it was con- stantly adopted by the Slatees, and always proved effectual. In the evening we arrived at a few scattered villages, sur- rounded with extensive cultivation ; at one of which, called Buggil, we passed the night in a miserable hut, having no other bed than a bundle of corn stalks, and no provisions but what we brought with us. The wells here are dug with great ingenuity, and are very deep. I measured one of the bucket ropes, and found the depth of the well to be twenty- eight fathoms. 48 TRAVELS IN THE Dec. 19th. We departed from Buggil, and travelled along a dry, stony height, covered with mimosas, till mid-day ; when the land sloped towards the east, and we descended into a deep valley, in which I observed abundance of whin- stone, and white quartz. Pursuing our course to the eastward, along this valley, in the bed of an exhausted river course, we came to a large village, where we intended to lodge. We found many of the natives dressed in a thin French gauze, which they called Byqui; this being a light airy dress, and well calculated to display the shape of their persons, is much esteemed by the ladies. The manners of these females, how- ever, did not correspond with their dress ; for they were rude and troublesome in the highest degree; they surrounded me in numbers, begging for amber, beads, &c. ; and were so vehement in their solicitations, that I found it impossible to resist them. They tore my cloak, cut the buttons from my boy's clothes, and were proceeding to other outrages, when I mounted my horse and rode off, followed for half a mile by a body of these harpies. In the evening we reached Soobrudooka, and as my com- pany was numerous, (being fourteen) I purchased a sheep, and abundance of corn for supper ; after which we lay down by the bundles, and passed an uncomfortable night in a heavy dew. Dec. 20th. We departed from Soobrudooka, and at two o'clock reached a large village situated on the banks of the Faleme river, which is here rapid and rocky. The natives were employed in fishing in various ways. The large fish were taken in long baskets made of split cane, and placed in a strong current, which was created by walls of stone built INTERIOR OP AFRICA. 49 across the stream, certain open places being left, through which the water rushed with great force. Some of these baskets were more than twenty feet long, and when once the fish had entered one of them, the force of the stream prevented it from returning. The small fish were taken in great numbers in hand-nets, which the natives weave of cotton, and use with great dexterity. The fish last mentioned are about the size of sprats, and are prepared for sale in different ways ; the most common is by pounding them entire as they come from the stream, in a wooden mortar, and exposing them to dry in the sun, in large lumps, like sugar loafs. It may be supposed that the smell is not very agreeable ; but in the Moorish countries to the north of the Senegal, where fish is scarcely known, this preparation is esteemed as a luxury, and sold to considerable advantage. The manner of using it by the natives is, by dissolving a piece of this black loaf in boiling water and mixing it with their kouskous. I thought it very singular at this season of the year to find the banks of the Falem6 every where covered with large and beautiful fields of corn ; but on examination I found it was not the same species of grain as is commonly cultivated on the Gambia ; it is called by the natives Manio, and grows in the dry season ; is very prolific, and is reaped in the month of January. It is the same which, from the depending posi- tion of the ear, is called by botanical writers holcus eernuus. On returning to the village, after an excursion to the river side, to inspect the fishery., an old Moorish shereeff" came to bestow his blessing upon ine, and beg some paper to write saphies upon. This man had seen Major Houghton in the kingdom of Kaarta, and told me that he died in the country VOL. I. H 50 TRAVELS IN THE of the Moors. I gave him a few sheets of paper, and he levied a similar tribute from the blacksmith ; for it is custo- mary for young Mussulmen to make presents to the old ones, in order to obtain their blessing, wliich is pronounced in Arabic, and received with great humility. About three in the afternoon we continued our course along the bank of tlie river, to the northward, till eight o'clock, when we reached Nayemow : here the hospitable master of the town received us kindly, and presented us with a bullock. In return, I gave him some amber and beads. Dec. 21st. In the morning, having agreed for a canoe to carry over my bundles, I crossed the river, which came up to my knees as I sat on my horse ; but the water is so clear, that from the higli bank, the bottom is visible all the way over. About noon we entered Fatteconda, the capital of Bondou : and in a little time received an invitation to the house of a respectable Slatee : for as there are no public houses in Africa, it is customary for strangers to stand at the Bentang, or some other place of public resort, till they are invited to a lodging by some of the inhabitants. We accepted the offer ; and in an hour afterwards, a person came and told me that he was sent on purpose to conduct me to the king, who was very desirous of seeing me immediately, if I was not too much fatigued. I took my interpreter with me, and followed the messenger till we got quite out of the town, and crossed some corn tields; when suspecting some trick, I stopped, and asked the guide whither he was going. Upon which he pointed to a man sitting under a tree at some little distance ; and told me that INTERIOR OP AFRICA. 51 the king frequently gave audience in that retired manner, in order to avoid a crowd of people ; and that nobody but myself and my interpreter must approach liim. When I advanced, the king desired me to come and sit by him upon the mat ; and after hearing my story, on which he made no observation, he asked if I wished to purchase any slaves, or gold : being answered in the negative, he seemed rather sur- prised ; but desired me to come to him in the evening, and he would give me some provisions. This monarch was called Almami ; a Moorish name, though I was told that he was not a Mahomedan, but a Kafir, or Pagan. I had heard that he had acted towards Major Houghton with great unkindness, and caused him to be plundered. His behaviour, therefore, towards myself at this interview, though much more civil than I expected, was far from freeing me from uneasiness. I still apprehended some double dealing ; and as I was now entirely in his power, I thought it best to smooth the way by a present ; accordingly I took with me in the evening, one canister of gunpowder, some amber, tobacco, and my umbrella : and as I considered that my bundles would inevitably be searched, I concealed some few articles in the roof of the hut where I lodged, and I put on my new blue coat, in order to preserve it. All the houses belonging to the king and his family are surrounded by a lofty mud wall, which converts the whole into a kind of citadel. The interior is subdivided into dif- ferent courts. At the first place of entrance I observed a man standing with a musket on his shoulder; and I found the way to the presence very intricate, leading through many passages, with centinels placed at the difi'erent doors. When 62 TKAVELS IN THE we came to the entrance of the court in which the king resides, both my guide and interpreter, according to custom, took off their sandals ; and the former pronounced the king's name aloud, repeating it till he was answered from within. We found the monarch sitting upon a mat, and two atten- dants with him. I repeated what I had before told him con- cerning the object of my journey, and my reasons for passing through his country. He seemed, however, but half satisfied. The notion ,of travelling for curiosity was quite new to him. He thought it impossible, he said, that any man in his senses would undertake so dangerous a journey, merely to look at the country and its inhabitants : however, when I offered to shew him the contents of my portmanteau, and every thing belonging to me, he was convinced : and it was evident that his suspicion had arisen from a belief, that every white man must of necessity be a trader. When I had delivered my presents, he seemed well pleased, and was particularly de- lighted with the umbrella, which he repeatedly furled and unfurled, to the great admiration of himself and his two attendants ; who could not for some time comprehend the use of this wonderful machine. After this I was about to take my leave, when the king, desiring me to stop awhile, began a long preamble in favour of the whites ; extolling their immense wealth, and good dispositions. He next proceeded to an eulogium on my blue coat, of which the yellow buttons seemed particularly to catch his fancy ; and he concluded by intreating me to present him with it ; assuring me, for my consolation under the loss of it, that he would wear it on all public occasions, and inform every one who saw it, of my great liberality towards him. The request of an African INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 53 prince, in his own dominions, particularly when made to a stranger, comes little short of a command. It is only a way of obtaining by gentle means, what he can, if he pleases, take by force ; and as it was against my interest to offend him by a refusal, I very quietly took off my coat, the only good one in my possession, and laid it at his feet. In return for my compliance, he presented me with great plenty of provisions, and desired to see me again in the morning. I accordingly attended, and found him sitting upon his bed. He told me he was sick, and wished to have a little blood taken from him ; but I had no sooner tied up his arm, and displayed the lancet, than his courage failed ; and he begged me to postpone the operation till the after- noon, as he felt himself, he said, much better than he had been, and thanked me kindly for my readiness to serve him. He then observed that his women were very desirous to see me, and requested that I would favour them with a visit. An attendant was ordered to conduct me ; and I had no sooner entered the court appropriated to the ladies, than the whole seraglio surrounded me ; some begging for physic, some for amber: and all of them desirous of trying that great African specific, blood-letting. They were ten or twelve in number, most of them young and handsome, and wearing on their heads ornaments of gold, and beads of amber. They rallied me with a good deal of gaiety on different subjects ; particularly upon the whiteness of my skin, and the prominency of my nose. They insisted that both were artificial. The first, they said, was produced when I was an infant, by dipping me in milk ; and they insisted that my nose had been pinched every day, till it had acquired its 54 TRAVELS IN THE present unsightly and unnatural conformation. On my paVt, without disputing my own deformity, I paid them many compliments on African beauty. I praised the glossy jet of their skins, and the lovely depression of their noses ; but they said that flattery, or (as they emphatically termed it) honey- mouth, was not esteemed in Bondou. In return, however, for my company or my compliments (to which, by the way, they seemed not so insensible as they affected to be), they presented me with a jar of honey and some fish, which were sent to my lodging ; and I was desired to come again to the king a little before sunset. I carried with me some beads and writing paper, it being usual to present some small offering on taking leave ; in return for which, the king gave me five drachms of gold ; observing, that it was but a trifle, and given out of pure friendship ; but would be of use to me in travelling, for the purchase of provisions. He seconded this act of kindness by one still greater ; politely telling me, that though it was customary to examine the baggage of every traveller passing through his country, yet, in the present instance, he would dispense with that ceremony ; adding, I was at liberty to depart when I pleased. Accordingly on the morning of the 23d, we left Fatteconda, and about eleven o'clock came to a small village, where we determined to stop for the rest of the day. In the afternoon my fellow travellers informed me, that as this was the boundary between Bondou and Kajaaga, and dangerous for travellers, it would be necessary to continue our journey by night, until we should reach a more hospitable part of the country. I agreed to the proposal, and hired two INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 55 people for guides thvouglj the woods ; and as soon as the people of the village were gone to sleep (the moon shining bright) we set out. The stillness of the air, the howling of the wild beasts, and the deep solitnde of the forest, made the scene solemn and impressive. Not a word was uttered by any of us, but in a whisper ; all were attentive, and every one anxious to show his sagacity, by pointing out to me the wolves and hyaenas as they glided, like shadows, from one thicket to another. Towards morning, we arrived at a village called Kimmoo, where our guides awakened one of their acquaintances, and we stopped to give the asses some corn, and roast a few ground-nuts for ourselves. At day-light we resumed our journey, and in the afternoon arrived at Joag in the kingdom of Kajaaga. Being now in a country, and among a people, differing in many respects from those that have as yet fallen under our observation, I shall, before I proceed further, give some account of Bondou (the territory we have left), and its inha- bitants, the Foulahs, the description of whom I purposely re- served for this part of my work. Bondou is bounded on the east by Bambouk ; on the south-east, and south, by Tenda, and the Simbani Wilder- ness ; on the south-west by WooUi ; on the west, by Foota Torra ; and on the north, by Kajaaga. The country, like that of Woolli, is very generally covered with woods, but the land is more elevated, and towards the Faleme river, rises into considerable hills. In native fertility the soil is not surpassed, I believe, by any part of Africa. From the central situation of Bondou, between the Gam- bia and Senegal rivers, it is become a place of great resort ; 56 TRAVELS IN THE both for the Slatees, who generally pass through it, in going from the coast to the interior countries ; and for occasional traders, who frequently come hither from the inland coun- tries, to purchase salt. These different branches of commerce are conducted prin- cipally by Mandingoes and Serawoollies, who have settled in the country. These merchants likewise carry on a consi- derable trade with Gedumah, and other Moorisli countries, bartering corn and blue cotton cloths for salt ; which they again barter in Dentila and other districts for iron, shea- butter, and small quantities of gold-dust. They likewise sell a variety of sweet smelling gums packed up in small bags, containing each about a pound. These gums, being thrown on hot embers, produce a very pleasant odour, and are used by the Mandingoes for perfuming their huts and clothes. The customs, or duties on travellers, are very heavy : in almost every town an ass load pays a bar of European mer- chandize ; and at Fatteconda, the residence of the king, one Indian baft, or a musquet, and six bottles of gunpowder, are exacted as a common tribute. By means of these duties, the King of Bondou is well supplied with arms and ammu- nition ; a circumstance which makes him formidable to the neighbouring states. The inhabitants differ in their complexions and national manners from the Mandingoes and Serawoollies, with whom they are frequently at war. Some years ago the King of Bondou crossed the Faleme river with a numerous army, and after a short and bloody campaign totally defeated the forces of Samboo, King of Bambouk, who was obliged to INTERIOR OV AFRICA. O/ sue for peace, and surrender to him all the towns along the eastern bank of the Faleme. The Foulahs in general (as has been observed in a former Chapter) are of a tawny complexion, with small features, and soft silky hair ; next to the Mandingoes they are un- doubtedly the most considerable of all the nations in this part of Africa. Their original country is said to be Foola- doo (which signifies the country of the Foulahs) ; but they possess at present many other kingdoms at a great distance from each other ; their complexion, however, is not exactly the same in the diflerent districts ; in Bondou, and the other kingdoms which are situated in the vicinity of the Moorish territories, they are of a more yellow complexion than in the southern states. The Foulahs of Bondou are naturally of a raild and gentle disposition, but the uncharitable maxims of the Koran have made theui less hospitable to strangers, and more reserved in their behaviour than the Mandingoes. They evidently consider all the Negro natives as their inferiors ; and when talking of different nations, always rank themselves among the white people. Their government differs from that ofthe Mandingoes chiefly in this, that tliey are more immediately under the influence of the Mahomedan laws : for all the chief men (the king excepted) and a large majority of the inhabitants of Bondou, are Mus- sulmen, and the authority and laws of the Prophet, are every where looked upon as sacred and decisive. In the exercise of their faith, however, they are not very intolerant towards such of their countrymen as still retain their ancient super- stitions. Religious persecution is not known among them, VOL. I. I 58 TRAVELS IN THE nor is it necessary; for the system of Mahomet is made to extend itself by means abundantly more efficacious. By establishing small schools in the different towns, where many of the Pagan as well as Mahomedan children are taught to read the Koran, and instructed in the tenets of the Prophet, the Mahomedan priests fix a bias on the minds, and form the character of their young disciples, which no ac- cidents of life can ever afterwards remove or alter. Many of these little schools I visited in my progress through the coun- try, and observed with pleasure the great docility and sub- missive deportment of the children, and heartily wished they had had better instructors, and a purer religion. With the Mahomedan faith is also introduced the Arabic language, with which most of the JFoulahs have a slight ac- quaintance. Their native tongue abounds very much in li- quids, but there is something unpleasant in the manner of pronouncing it. A stranger on hearing the common conver- sation of two Foulahs, would imagine that they were scold- ing each other. Their numerals are these : — One Go. Two Deeddee. Three Tettee. Four Nee. Five Joiiee. Six Jego. Seven Jedeeddee. Eight Je Tettee. Nine Je Nee. Ten —— Sappo. The industry of the Foulahs, in the occupations of pastu- INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 59 rage and agriculture is every where remarkable. Even on the banks of the Gambia, the greater part of the corn is raised by them ; and their herds and flocks are more nume- rous and in better condition than those of the Mandingoes ; but in Bondou they are opulent in a high degree, and enjoy all the necessaries of life in the greatest profusion. They disjday great skill in the management of their cattle, making them extremely gentle by kindness and familiarity. On the approach of night, they are collected from the woods, and se- cured in folds, called korrees, which are constructed in the neighbourhood of the different villages. In the middle of each korree is erected a small hut, wherein one or two of the herdsmen keep watch during the night to prevent the cattle from being stolen, and to keep up the fires which are kindled round the korree to frighten away the wild beasts. The cattle are milked in the mornings and evenings : the milk is excellent ; but the quantity obtained from any one cow is by no means so great as in Europe. The Foulahs use the milk chiefly as an article of diet, and that, not until it is quite sour. The cream which it affords is very thick, and is converted into butter by stirring it violently in a large cala- bash. This butter, when melted over a gentle fire, and freed from impurities, is preserved in small earthen pots, and forms a part in most of their dishes; it serves likewise to anoint their heads, and is bestowed very liberally on their faces and arms. But although milk is plentiful, it is somewhat remarkable that the Foulahs, and indeed all the inhabitants of this part of Africa, are totally unacquainted with the art of making cheese. A firm attachment to the customs of their ancestors, 60 TRAVELS IN THE makes them view with an eye of prejudice every thing that looks like innovation. The heat of the climate and the great scarcity of salt, are held forth as unanswerable objections ; and the whole process appears to them too long and trou- blesome, to be attended with any solid advantage. Besides the cattle, which constitute the chief wealth of the Foulahs, they possess some excellent horses, the breed of which seems to be a mixture of the Arabian with the original African. INTEIWOR OP AFRICA. 61 CHAPTER V. Account ofKdjaaga — Serawoollies — their Manners and Language . — Account ofJoag. — The Author is ill treated, and robbed of Half of his Effects, by order of Batcheri, the King. — Charity of a female Slave. — The Author is visited by Demba Sego, Nephew of the King of Kasson, who offers to conduct him in safety to that King- dom. — Offer accepted. — The Author and his Protector, with a nu- merous Retin tie set out and reach Samee, on the Banks of the Sene- gal. — Proceed to Kayee, and crossing the Senegal, arrive in the Kingdom of Kasson. 1 HE kingdom of Kajaaga, in which I was now arrived, is called by the French, Gallam ; but the name that I have adopt- ed is universally used by the natives. This country is boun- ded on the south-east and south by Bambouk ; on the west by Bondou and Foota Torra ; and on the north by the river Senegal. The air and climate are, I believe, more pure and salubrious than at any of the settlements towards the coast ; the face of the country is every where interspersed with a pleasing variety of hills and vallies ; and the windings of the Senegal river, which descends from the rocky hills of the interior, make the scenery on its banks very picturesque and beautiful. The inhabitants are palled Serawoollies, or (as the French write it) Seracolets. Their complexion is a jet black: they are not to be distinguished in this respect from the Jalofis. 62 TRAVELS IN THE Tlie government is monarchical ; and the regal authority, from what I experienced of it, seems to be sufficiently for- midable. The people themselves, however, complain of no oppression ; and seemed all very anxious to support the king, in a contest he was going to enter into with the sovereign of Kasson. The Serawoollies are habitually a trading people ; they formerly carried on a great commerce with the French in gold and slaves, and still maintain some traffic in slaves with the British factories on the Gambia. They are reckoned tolerably fair and just in their dealings, but are indefatigable in their exertions to acquire wealth, and they derive consi- derable profits by the sale of salt, and cotton cloth, in distant countries. When a Serawoolli merchant returns home from a trading expedition, the neighbours immediately assemble to congratulate him upon his arrival. On these occasions the traveller displays his wealth and liberality, by making a few presents to his friends ; but if he has been unsuccessful, his levee is soon over ; and every one looks upon him as a man bf no understanding, who could perform a long journey, and (as they express it) bring back nothing but the hair upon his head. 'Their language abounds much in gutturals, and is not so harmonious as that spoken by the Foulahs ; it is, however, well worth acquiring by those who travel through this part of the African continent ; it being very generally understood in. the kingdoms of Kasson, Kaarta, Ludamar, and the northern parts of Bambarra. In all these countries the Serawoollies are the chief traders. Their numerals are. INTERIOR OP AFRICA. 63 One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine Ten Twenty Hani. Fillo. Sicca. Narrate. Karrago. Toomo. Nero. Sego. Kahbo. Tamo. Tamo dijillo. We arrived at Joag-, the frontier town of this kingdom, on the 24th of December ; and took up our residence at the house of the chief man, who is here no longer known by the title of Alkaid, but is called the Dooty. He was a rigid Mahomedan, but distinguished for his hospitality. This town may be supposed on a gross computation, to contain two thousand inhabitants. It is surrounded by a high wall, in which are a number of port holes, for musquetry to fire through, in case of an attack. Every man's possession is likewise surrounded by a wall ; the whole forming so many distinct citadels ; and amongst a people unacquainted with the use of artillery, these walls answer all the purposes of stronger fortifications. To the westward of the town is a small river, on the banks of which the natives raise great plenty of tobacco and onions. The same evening Madiboo the Bushreen, who had ac- companied me from Pisania, went to pay a visit to his father and mother, who dwelt at a neighbouring town called Dra- nianet. He was joined by my other attendant, the black- 64 TRAVCLS IN THE smith ; and as soon as it was dark, I was invited to see the sports of the inliabitants. it being their custom on the arrival of strangers, to welcome them b^ diversions of different kinds. I found a great crowd surrounding a party who were dancing by the light of some large fires to the music of four drums, >^hich were beat with great exactness and uniformity. The dances, however, consisted more in wanton gestures, than in muscular exertion or graceful attitudes. The ladies vied with each other in displaying the most voluptuous movements imaginable. December 25th. About two o'clock in the morning a number of horsemen came into the town, and having awakened my landlord, talked to him for some time in the Serawoolli tongue ; after which they dismounted, and came to the Ben- tang, on which I had made my bed. One of them, thinking that I was asleep, attempted to steal the musquet that lay by me on the mat ; but finding that he could not effect his pur- pose undiscovered, he desisted ; and the strangers sat down by me till daylight. I could now easily perceive, by the countenance of my in- terpreter, Johnson, that something very unpleasant was in agitation. T was likewise surprised to see Madiboo and the blacksmith so soon returned. On inquiring the reason, Ma- diboo informed me that as they were dancing at Dramanet, ten horsemen, belonging to Batcheri, king of the country, with his second son at their head, had arrived there, inquiring if the white man had passed: and on being told that I was at Joag, they rode off without stopping. Madiboo added, that on hearing this, he and the blacksmith hastened back to give me notice of their coming. Whilst I was listening to INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 65 this narrative, the ten horsemen mentioned by Madiboo arrived ; and coming to the Bentang, dismounted and seated themselves with those who had come before, the whole being about twenty in number, forming a circle round me, and each man holding his niusquet in his hand. I took this opportu- nity to observe to my landlord, that as 1 did not understand the Serawoolli tongue, I hoped, whatever the men had to say they would speak in Mandingo. To this they agreed ; and a short man, loaded with a remarkable number of saphies, opened the business in a very long harangue, informing me that I had entered the king's town without having first paid the duties, or giving any present to the king, and that, ac- cording to the laws of the country, my people, cattle, and baggage, were forfeited. He added, that they had received orders from the king to conduct me to Maana,* the place of his residence ; and if I refused to come with them, their orders were to bring me by force ; upon his saying which, all of them rose up and asked me if I was ready. It would have been equally vain and imprudent in me to have resisted or irritated such a body of men ; 1 therefore affected to com- ply with their commands, and begged them only to stop a little until I had given my horse a feed of corn, and settled matters with my landlord. The poor blacksmith, who was a native of Kasson, mistook this feigned compliance for a real intention, and taking me away from the company, told me that he had always behaved towards me as if I had been his father and master ; and he hoped I would not entirely ruin him, by going to Maana ; adding, that as there was every * Maana is within a sliort distance of tlie ruins of Fort St. Joseph, on the Senegal river, formerly a French factory. VOL. I. K 66 TRAVELS IN THE reason to believe a war would soon take place between Kasson and Kajaaga, he should not only lose his little pro- perty, the savings of four years' industry, but should certainly be detained and sold as a slave, unless his friends had an opportunity of paying two slaves for his redemption. I saw this reasoning in its full force, and determined to do my utmost to preserve the blacksmith from so dreadful a fate. I therefore told the king's son that I was ready to go with him, upon the condition that the blacksmith, who was an inhabi- tant of a distant kingdom, and entirely unconnected with me, should be allowed to stay at Joag till my return : to this they all objected ; and insisted, that as we had all acted contrary to the laws, we were all equally answerable for our conduct. I now took my landlord aside, and giving him a small present of gunpowder, asked his advice in so critical a situa- tion : he was decidedly of opinion that I ought not to go to the king : he was fully convinced, he said, that if the king should discover any thing valuable in my possession, he would not be over scrupulous about the means of obtaining it. This made me the more solicitous to conciliate matters with the king's people ; and I began by observing, that what I had done did not proceed from any want of respect towards the king, nor from any wish to violate his laws, but wholly from my own inexperience and ignorance, being a stranger, totally unacquainted with the laws and customs of their country : I had indeed entered the king's frontier, without knowing that I was to pay the duties beforehand, but I was ready to pay them now ; which I thought was all they could reasonably demand. I then tendered them, as a present to the king, the five drachms of gold which the king of Bondon had given INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 67 me: this they accepted, but insisted on examining my bag- gage, which I opposed in vain. The bundles were opened ; but the men were much disappointed in not finding in them so much gold and amber as they expected ; they made up the deficiency, however, by taking whatever things they fancied ; and after wrangling and debating with me till sunset, they departed ; having first robbed me of half my goods. These proceedings dispirited my people, and our fortitude was not strengthened by a very indifferent supper, after a long fast. Madiboo begged nie to turn back ; Johnson laughed at the thoughts of proceeding without money, and the blacksmith was afraid to be seen, or even to speak, lest any one should discover him to be a native of Kasson. In this disposition we passed the night by the side of a dim fire, and our situation the next day was very perplexing: it was impossible to procure provisions without money, and I knew that if I produced any beads or amber, the king would imme- diatel}' hear of it, and I should probably lose the few effects I had concealed. We therefore resolved to combat hunger for the day, and wait some favourable opportunity of pur- chasing or begging provisions. Towards evening, as I was sitting upon the Bentang, chew- ing straws, an old female slave, passing by with a basket upon her head, asked me if I had got my dinner. As I thought she only laughed at me, I gave her no answer ; but my bo}', who was sitting close by, answered for me ; and told her, that the King's people had robbed me of all my money. On hearing this, the good old woman, with a look of unaffected benevolence, immediately took the basket from her head, and shewing me that it contained ground nuts, asked me if I 68 TRAVELS IN THE could eat them ; being answered in the affirmative, she pre- sented me with a few handfiils, and wali-ied away, before I had time to thank her for this seasonable su|)plv. This trifling circumstance gave me peculiar satisfaction. I reflected with pleasure on the conduct of this poor untutored slave, who, without examining into my character or circumstances, listened implicitly to the dictates of her own heart. Expe- rience had taught her that hunger was painful, and her own clistresses made her commiserate those of others. The old woman had scarcely left me, when I received in- formation that a nephew of Demba Sego Jalla, the Mandingo King of Kasson, was going to pay me a visit. He had been sent on an embassy to Batcheri, King of Kajaaga, to endea- vour to settle the disputes which had arisen between his uncle and the latter ; but after debating the matter four dajs without success, he was now on his return ; and hearing that a white man was at Joag, in his way to Kasson, curiosity brought him to see me. I represented to him my situation and distresses ; when he frankly offered me his protection, and said he would be my guide to Kasson (provided I would set out the next morning), and be answerable for my safety. I readily and gratefully accepted his offer ; and was ready, with my attendants, by daylight on the morning of the 27th of December. My protector, whose name was Demba Sego, probably after his uncle, had a numerous retinue. Our company at leaving Joag, consisted of thirty persons and six loaded asses; and we rode on cheerfully enough for some hours, without any remarkable occurrence, until we came to a species of tree, for which my interpreter Johnson, had made frequent INTBRIOR OF AFRICA. 69 inquiry. On finding it, he desired us to stop : and producing a white chicken, which he had purchased at Joag for the purpose, he tied it by the leg to one of tlie branches, and then told us we might now safely proceed, for that our journey w.ould be prosperous. This circumstance is mentioned merely to illustrate the disposition of the Negroes, and to shew the power of superstition over their minds ; for although this man had resided seven years in England, it was evident that he still retained the prejudices and notions he had imbibed in his youth. He meant this ceremony, he told me, as an offering, or sacrifice, to the spirits of the woods: who were, he said, a powerful race of beings of a white colour, with long flowing hair. I laughed at his folly, but could not condemn the piety of his motives. At noon we had reached Gungadi, a large town, where we stopped about an hour, until some of the asses that had fallen behind came up. Here I observed a number of date trees, and a mosque built of clay, with six turrets, on the pinnacles of which were placed six ostrich eggs. A little before sunset we arrived at the town of Samee, on the banks of the Senegal, which is here a beautiful, but shallow river, moving slowly over a bed of sand and gravel. The banks are high, and covered with verdure ; the country is open and cultivated ; and the rocky hills of Felow and Bambouk, add much to the beauty of the landscape. December 28. We departed from Samee, and arrived in the afternoon at Kayee, a large village, part of which is situated on the north, and part on the south side of the river. A little above this place is a considerable cataract, where the river flows over a ledge of whin-stone rock, with great force : 70 TRAVELS IN THE below tliis, the river is remarkably black and deep ; and here it was proposed to make our cattle swim over. After hallooing, and firing- some musquets, the people on the Kasson side observed us, and brought over a canoe to carry our baggage.. I did not, however, think it possible to get the cattle down the bank, which is here more than forty feet above the water ; but the Negroes seized the horses, and launched them one at a time, down a sort of trench or guUey that was almost per- pendicular, and seemed to have been worn smooth by this sort of use. After the terrified cattle liad been plunged in this manner to the water's edge, every man got down as well as he could. The ferryman then taking hold of the most steady of the horses by a rope, led him into the water, and paddled the canoe a little from the brink ; upon which a general attack commenced upon the other horses, who finding themselves pelted and kicked on all sides, unanimously plunged into the river, and followed their companion. A few boys swam in after them ; and by laving water upon them when they attempted to return, urged them onwards, and we had the satisfaction in about fifteen minutes, to see them all safe on the other side. It was a matter of greater difficulty to manage the asses : their natural stubbornness of disposition made them endure a great deal of pelting and shoving before they would venture into the water ; and when they had reached the middle of the stream, four of them turned back, in spite of every exertion to get them forwards. Two hours were spent in getting the whole of them over ; an hour more was employed in transporting the baggage ; and it was near sunset before the canoe returned, when Demba Sego and myself embarked in this dangerous passage-boat, which INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 71 the least motion was like to overset. The king's nephew thought this a proper time to have a peep into a tin box of mine, that stood in the fore part of the canoe ; and in stretch- ing out his hand for it, he unfortunately destroyed the equi- librium, and overset the canoe. Luckily we were not far advanced, and got back to the shore without much difficulty ; from whence, after wringing the water from our clothes, we took a fresh departure, and were soon afterwards safely landed in Kasson. 72 TRAVELS IN THE CHAPTER VI. Arrival at Teesee. — Interview with Tiggity Sego, the King's Brother — The Author's Detention at Teesee — some Account of that Place and its Inhabitants — Incidents which occurred there. — Rapacious Conduct of Tiggity Sego toward the Author on his Departure. — Sets out for Koo7iiakary, the Capital of the Kingdom. — Incidents on the Road, and Arrival at Kooniakary. W E no sooner found ourselves safe in Kasson, than Demba Sego told me that we were now in his uncle's dominions, and he hoped I would consider, being now out of danger, the obligation I owed to him, and make him a suitable return for the trouble he had taken on my account, by a handsome present. This, as he knew how much had been pilfered from me at Joag, was rather an unexpected proposition ; and I began to fear that I had not much improved my condition by crossing the water ; but as it would have been folly to complain, I made no observation upon his conduct, and gave him seven bairs of amber, and some tobacco, with which he seemed to be content. After a long day's journey, in the course of which I observed a number of large loose nodules of white granite, we arrived at Teesee on the evening of Dec. 29th, and were accommo- dated in Demba Sego's hut. The next morning he introduced me to his father Tiggity Sego, brother to the King of Kasson, chief of Teesee. The old man viewed me with great earnest- INTERIOR OP AFRICA. 73 ness, having never, he said, beheld but one white man before, whom by his description T immediately knew to be Major Houghton. I related to him, in answer to his inquiries, the motives that induced me to explore the country. But he seemed to doubt the truth of what I asserted ; thinking, I believe, that I secretly meditated some project which I was afraid to avow. He told me, it would be necessary I should go to Kooniakary, the residence of the king, to pay my re- spects to that prince, but desired me to come to him again before I left Teesee. In the afternoon one of his slaves eloped ; and a general alarm being given, every person that had a horse rode into the woods, in the hopes of apprehending him ; and Demba Sego begged the use of my horse for the same purpose. I readily consented ; and in about an hour they all returned with the slave, who was severely tiogged, and afterwards put in irons. On the day following (Dec. 31.) Demba Sego was ordered to go with twenty horsemen to a town in Gedumah, to adjust some dispute with the Moors, a party of whom were supposed to have stolen three horses from Teesee. Demba begged, a second time, the use of my horse ; adding, that the sight of my bridle and saddle would give him consequence among the Moors. This request also I readily granted, and he promised to return at the end of three days. During his absence I amused myself with walking about the town, and conversing with the natives, who attended me every where with great kindness and curiosity, and supplied me with milk, eggs, and what other provisions I wanted, on very easy terms. Teesee is a large unwalled town, having no security against VOL. I. L 74 TRAVELS IN THE the attack of an enemy, except a sort of citadel, in which Tiggity and his family constantly reside. This town, ac- cording- to the report of the natives, was formerly inhabited only by a few Foulah shepherds, who lived in considerable affluence by means of the excellent meadows in the neigh- bourhood, in which they reared great herds of cattle. But their prosperity attracting the envy of some Mandingoes, the latter drove ont the shepherds, and took possession of their lands. The present inhabitants, though they possess both cattle and corn in abundance, are not over nice in articles of diet; rats, moles, squirrels, snakes, locusts, &c. are eaten without scruple by the highest and lowest. My people were one evening invited to a feast given by some of the townsmen, where after making a hearty meal of what they thought fish and kouskous, one of them found a piece of hard skin in the dish, and brought it along with him, to shew me what sort of fish they had been eating. On examining the skin, I found they had been feasting on a large snake. Another custom still more extraordinary is, that no woman is allowed to eat an egg. This prohibition, whether arising from ancient superstition, or from the craftiness of some old Bushreen who loved eggs himself, is rigidly adhered to, and nothing will more affront a woman of Teesee than to offer her an egg. The custom is the more singular, as the men eat eggs without scruple in the presence of their wives, and I never observed the same prohibition in any other of the Mandingo countries. The third day after his son's departure Tiggity Sego held a palaver on a very extraordinary occasion, which I attended; and the debates on both sides of the question displayed much INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 75 ingenuity. The case was. this: a young man, a Kafir, of considerable affluence, who had recently married a young and handsome wife, applied to a very devout Bushreen, or Mus- sulman priest of his acquaintance, to procure him saphies for his protection during the approaching war. The Bushreen complied with the request ; and in order, as he pretended, to render the saphies more efficacious, enjoined the young man to avoid any nuptial intercourse with his bride for the space of six weeks. Severe as the injunction was, the Kafir strictly obeyed; and without telling his wife the real cause, absented himself from her company. In the mean time it began to be whispered atTeesee, that the Bushreen, who always performed his evening devotions at the door of the Kafir's hut, was more intimate with the young wife than he ought to be. At first, the good husband was unwilling to suspect the honour of his sanctified friend, and one whole month elapsed before any jealousy rose in his mind ; but hearing the charge repeated, he at last interrogated his wife on the subject, who frankly confessed that the Bushreen had seduced her. Hereupon the Kafir put her into confinement, and called a palaver upon the Bushreen's conduct. The fact was clearly proved against him ; and he was sentenced to be sold into slavery, or to find two slaves for his redemption, according to the pleasure of the complainant. The injured husband, however, was unwilling to proceed against his friend to such extremity, and desired rather to hai^ him publicly flogged before Tiggity Sego's gate. This was agreed to, and the sentence was immediately executed. The culprit was tied by the hands to a strong stake ; and a long black rod being brought forth, the executioner, after flourishing it round his head for some time, applied it with 76 TRAVELS IN THE such force and dexterity to the Bushreen's back, as to make him roar until the woods resounded with his screams. The surrounding multitude, by their hooting and laughing, ma- nifested how much they enjoyed the punishment of this old gallant ; and it is worthy of remark, that the number of stripes was precisely the same as are enjoined by the mosaic law, forty, save one. As there appeared great probability that Teesee, from its being a frontier town, would be much exposed, during the war, to the predatory excursions of the Moors of Gedumah, Tiggity Sego had, before my arrival, sent round to the neigh- bouring villages to beg or to purchase as much provisions as would afford subsistence to the inhabitants for one whole year, independently of the crop on the ground, which the Moors might destroy. This project was well received by the country people, and they fixed a day on which to bring all the provisions they could spare to Teesee, and as my horse was not yet returned, I went in the afternoon of January 4th, 1796, to meet the escort with the provisions. It was composed of about 400 men, marching in good order, with corn and ground nuts in large calabashes upon their heads. They were preceded by a strong guard of bowmen, and followed by eight musicians or singing men. As soon as they approached the town, the latter began a song, every verse of which was answered by the company, and succeeded by a few strokes on the large drums. In this manner they proceeded, amidst the acclamations of the populace, till they reached the house of Tiggity Sego, where the loads were deposited ; and in the evening they all assembled under the Bentang tree, and spent the night in dancing and merriment. INTERIOR OF AFRICA. /7 Many of these strangers remained at Teesee for three days, during which time I was constantly attended by as many of them as could conveniently see me ; one party giving way to another, as soon as curiosity was gratified. On the 5th of January an embassy of ten people belonging to Almami Abdulkader, King of Foota Torra, a country to the west of Bondou, arrived at Teesee ; and desiring Tiggity Sego to call an assembly of the inhabitants, announced publicly their king's determination to this effect : " That unless all the people of Kasson would embrace the Mahomedan religion, and evince their conversion by saying eleven public prayers, he (the King of Foota Torra) could not possibly stand neuter in the present contest, but would certainly join his arms to those of Kajaaga." A message of this nature, from so power- ful a prince, could not fail to create great alarm ; and the in- habitants of Teesee, after a long consultation, agreed to con- form to his good pleasure, humiliating as it was to them. Ac- cordingly, one and all publiclyoffered up eleven prayers, which were considered a sufficient testimony of their having renoun- ced Paganism, and embraced the doctrines of the Prophet. It was the 8th of January before Demba Sego returned with my horse ; and being quite wearied out with the delay, I went immediately to inform his father, that I should set out for Koo- niakary early the next day. The old man made many frivo- lous objections : and at length gave me to understand, that I must not think of departing, without first paying him the same duties he was entitled to receive from all travellers ; besides which, he expected he said, some acknowledgment for his kindness towards me. Accordingly, on the morning of the 9th, my friend Demba, with a number of people, came to me, and 78 TRAVELS IN THE said that they were sent by Tiggity Sego for my present, and wished to see what goods I had appropriated for that purpose. I knew that resistance was hopeless, and complaint unavail- ing ; and being in some measure prepared, by the intimation I had received the night before, I quietly offered hnn seven bars of amber, and five of tobacco. After surveying these ar- ticles for some time very coolly, Demba laid them down, and told me, this was not a present for a man of Tiggity Sego's consequence, who had it in his own power to take whatever he pleased from me. He added, that if I did not consent to make him a larger offering, he would carry all my baggage to his father, and let him choose for himself. I liad not time for reply; for Demba and his attendants immediately began to open my bundles, and spread the different articles upon the floor, where they underwent a more strict examination than they had done at Joag. Every thing that pleased them, they took without scruple ; and amongst other things, Demba seized the tin box, which had so much attracted his attention in crossing the river. Upon collecting the scattered remains of my little fortune after these people had left me, I found that, as at Joag, I had been plundered of half, so here, without even the shadow of accusation, I was deprived of half the remain- der. The blacksmith himself, though a native of Kasson, had also been compelled to open his bundles, and take an oath that the different articles they contained were his own exclu- sive property. There was, however, no remedy ; and having been under some obligation to Demba Sego for his attention towards me in the journey from Joag, I did not reproach him for his rapacity, but determined to quit Teesee at all events the next morning. In the meanwhile, in order to raise the droop- INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 79 ing spirits of my attendants, I purchased a fat sheep, and had it dressed for our dinner. Early in the morning- of January 10th, therefore, I left Tee- see, and about niid-day ascended a ridge, from whence we had a distant view of tlie hills round Kooniakary. In the evening we reached a small village, where we slept, and departing from thence the next morning, crossed in a few hours a nar- row but deep stream called Krieko, a branch of the Senegal. About two miles farther to the eastward, we passed a large town called Madina ; and at two o'clock came in sight of Jumbo, the blacksmith's native town, from whence he had been absent more than four years. Soon after this, his bro- ther, who had by some means been apprized of his coming, came out to meet him, accompanied by a singing man : he brought a horse for the blacksmith, that he might enter his native town in a dignified manner ; and he desired each of us to put a good charge of powder into our guns. The singing man now led the way, followed by the two brothers ; and we were presently joined by a number of people from the town, all of whom demonstrated great joy at seeing their old ac- quaintance the blacksmith, by the most extravagant jumping and singing. On entering the town, the singing man began an extempore song in praise of the blacksmith, extolling his courage in having overcome so many difficulties ; and conclu- ding with a strict injunction to his friends to dress him plenty of victuals. When we arrived at the blacksmith's place of residence, we dismounted and fired our musquets. The meeting between him and his relations was very tender ; for these rude children of nature, free from restraint, display their emotions in the 80 TRAVELS IN THE strongest and most expressive manner. Amidst these trans- ports, the blacksmith's aged mother was led forth, leaning upon a staff. Every one made way for her : and she stretched out her hand to bid her son welcome. Being totally blind, she stroked his hands, arms, and face, with great care, and seemed highly delighted that her latter days were blessed by his re- turn, and that her ears once more heard the music of his voice. From this interview I was fully convinced, that what- ever difference there is between the Negro and European in the conformation of the nose and the colour of the skin, there is none in the genuine sympathies and characteristic feelings of our common nature. During tlie tumult of these congratulations, I had seated myself apart, by the side of one of the huts, being unwilling to interrupt the flow of filial and parental tenderness ; and the attention of the company was so entirely taken up with the blacksmith, that I believe none of his friends had observed me. When all the people present had seated themselves, the blacksmith was desired by his father to give them some account of his adventures ; and silence being commanded, he began ; and after repeatedly thanking God for the success that had attended him, related every material occurrence that had hap- pened to him from his leaving Kasson to his arrival at the Gambia ; his employment and success in those parts ; and the dangers he had escaped in returning to his native country. In the latter part of his narration, he had frequently occasion to mention me ; and after many strong expressions concern- ing my kindness to him, he pointed to the place where I sat, and exclaimed, affilleibi siring, " see him sitting there." In a moment all eyes were turned upon me ; I appeared like a INTERIOR OP AFRICA. 81 being dropped from tlie clouds ; every one was surprised that they had not observed me before ; and a few women and children expressed great uneasiness at being so near a man of such an uncommon appearance. By degrees, however, their apprehensions subsided ; and when the blacksmith assured them that I was perfectly inoffensive, and would hurt nobody, some of them ventured so far as to examine the texture of my clothes ; but many of them were still very suspicious ; and when by accident I happened to move myself, or look at the j'oung children, their mothers would scamper off with them with the greatest precipitation. In a few hours, however, they all became reconciled to me. With these worthy people I spent the remainder of that, and the whole of the ensuing day, in feasting and merriment ; and the blacksmith declared he would not quit me during my stay at Kooniakary, for which place we set out early on the morning of the 14th of January, and arrived about the middle of the day at Soolo, a small village three miles to the south of it. As this place was somewhat out of the direct road, it is necessary to observe, that I went thither to visit a Slatee, or Gambia trader, of great note and reputation, named Salim Daucari. He was well known to Dr. Laidley, who had trusted him with effects to the value of five slaves, and had given me an order for tlie whole of the debt. We luckily found him at home, and he received me with great kindness and attention. It is remarkable, however, that the King of Kasson was, by some means, immediately apprized of my motions; for I had been at Soolo but a few hours before Sambo Sego, his VOL. I. M 82 TRAVELS IN THE second son, came thither with a party of horse, to enquire what had prevented me from proceeding to Kooniakary, and waiting immediately upon the king, who he said was impatient to see me. Salim Daucari made my apology, and promised to accompany me to Kooniakary the same evening : we ac- cordingly departed from Soolo at sunset, and in about an hour entered Kooniakary. But as the king had gone to sleep, we deferred the interview till next morning, and slept at the hut of Sambo Sego. My interview with the king, and the incidents which occurred to me in the kingdoms of Kasson and Kaarta, will be the subject of the ensuing Chapter. INTERIOR OP AFRICA. H3 CHAPTER VII. The Author admitted to an Audience of tlie King of Kasson, whom he finds well disposed towards him. — Incidents during the Author's Stay at Kooniakary. — Departs thence for Kemmoo, the Capital of Kaarta. — Is received with great Kindness by the King of Kaarta, who dissuades him from prosecuting his Journey, on Account of approaching Hostilities with the King of Bambarra. — The Author determines, nottvithstanding , to proceed: and the usual route being obstructed, takes the Path to Ludamar, a Moorish Ki?igdofn. — Is accommodated by the King with a guide to Jarra, the frontier Town of the Moorish Territories ; atid sets out for that Place, accompanied by three of the King's Sons, and 200 Horsemen. About eiglit o'clock in the morning of January 15, 1796, we went to an audience of the king(Demba SegoJalla) ; but the crowd of people to see me was so great, that I could scarcely get admittance. A passage being at length obtained, I made my bow to the monarch, whom we found sitting upon a mat, in a large hut : he appeared to be a man of about sixty years of age : his success in war, and the mildness of his behaviour in time of peace, had much endeared him to all his subjects. He surveyed me with great attention ; and when Salim Daucari explained to him the object of my journey, and my reasons for passing through his country, the good old king appeared not only perfectly satisfied, but promised me every assistance in his power. He informed me that he had 84 TRAVELS IN THE seen Major Hougbton, and presented him with a white horse; but after crossing the kingdom of Kaarta, he had lost his life among the Moors ; in what manner he could not inform me. When this audience was ended we returned to our lodging, and I made up a small present for the king, out of tlie few effects that were left me; for I had not yet received any thing from Salim Daucari. This present, though inconsiderable in itself, was well received by the king, who sent me in return a ]^rge white bullock : the sight of this animal quite delighted rtiy attendants; not so much on account of its bulk, as from its being of a white colour, which is considered as a particular mark of favour. But although the king himself was well dis- posed towards me, and readily granted me permission to pass through his territories, I soon discovered that very great and unexpected obstacles were likely to impede my progress. Besides the war which was on the point of breaking out be- tween Kasson and Kajaaga, I was told that the next kingdom of Kaarta, through which my route lay, was involved in the issue ; and was furthermore threatened with hostilities on the part of Bambarra. The king himself informed me of these circumstances, and advised me to stay in the neighbourhood of Kooniakary, till such time as he could procure proper information respecting Bambarra, which he expected to do in the course of four or tive days, as he had already, he said, sent four messengers into Kaarta for that purpose. I readily submitted to this proposal, and went to Soolo, to stay there till the return of one of those messengers. This afforded me a favourable opportunity of receiving what money Salim Daucari could spare me o\\ Dr. Laidley's account. I suc- ceeded in receiving the value of three slaves, chiefly in gold INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 86 dust ; and being anxious to proceed as quickly as possible, I begged Daucari to use his interest with irtie king to allow me a guide by the way of Fooladoo, as I was informed that the war had already commenced between the Kings of Bambarra and Kaarta. Daucari accordingly set out for Kooniakary on the morning of the 20th, and the same evening returned with the king's answer, which was to this purpose ; that the king had many years ago, made an agreement with Daisey, King of Kaarta, to send all merchants and travellers through his dominions ; but that if I wished to take the route through Fooladoo, I had his permission so to do ; though he could not, consistently with his agreement, lend me a guide. Having felt the want of regal protection in a former part of my journey, I was unwilling to hazard a repetition of the hard- ships I had then experienced, especially as the money I had received was probably the last supply that T should obtain ; I therefore determined to wait for the return of the messengers from Kaarta. In the interim, it began to be whispered abroad that I had received plenty of gold from Salim Daucari ; and on the morning of the 23d, Sambo Sego paid me a visit with a party of horsemen. He insisted upon knowing the exact amount of the money I had obtained ; declaring, that whatever the sum was, one half of it must go to the king ; besides which, he intimated that he expected a handsome present for him- self, as being the king's son : and for his attendants, as being the king's relations. The reader will easily perceive, that if all these demands had been satisfied, I should not have been overburdened with money ; but though it was very mortify- ing to me to comply with the demands of injustice, and so 86 TRAVELS IN THE arbitrary an exaction, yet thinking it was highly dangerous to make a foolish resistance, and irritate the lion when within the reach of his paw, I prepared to submit ; and if Salim Daucari had not interposed, all my endeavours to mitigate this oppressive claim would have been of no avail. Salim at last prevailed upon Sambo to accept sixteen bars of Euro- pean merchandize, and some powder and ball, as a complete payment of every demand that could be made upon me in the kingdom of Kasson. January 26th, in the forenoon, I went to the top of a high hill to the southward of Soolo,whe''e I had a most enchanting prospect of the country. The number of towns and villages, and the extensive cultivation around them, surpassed every thing I had yet seen in Africa, A gross calculation may be formed of the number of inhabitants in this delightful plain, by considering, that the King of Kasson can raise four thousand fighting men by the sound of his war drum. In traversing the rocky eminences of this hill, which are almost destitute of vegetation, I observed a number of large holes in the crevices and fissures of the rocks, where the wolves and hyaenas take refuge during the day. Some of these animals paid us a visit on the evening of the 27th : their approach was discovered by the dogs of the village ; and on this occa- sion it is remarkable, that the dogs did not bark, but howl in the most dismal manner. The inhabitants of the village no sooner heard them than, knowing the cause, they armed themselves ; and providing bunches of dry grass, went in a body to the inclosure in the middle of the village where the cattle were kept. Here they lighted the bunches of grass, and, waving them to and fro, ran hooping and hallooing INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 87 towards the hills. This mancEuvre had the desired effect of frightening- the wolves away from the village ; but on exa- mination we found that they had killed five of the cattle, and torn and wounded many others. February 1st. The messengers arrived from Kaarta, an TRAVELS IN THE refused to fulfil his engagement; which so enraged Mansong, that he marched part of his army to Funingkedy, with a view to surprise the camp of Benowm; but the Moors having received intelligence of his design, fled to the northward ; and Mansong, without attempting any thing farther, returned to Sego. This happened while I was myself in captivity in Ali's camp, as will hereafter be seen. As the King of Kaarta had now got quit of his most formidable antagonist, it might have been hoped that peace would have been restored to his dominions ; but an extraor- dinary incident involved him, immediately afterward, in hostilities with Kasson ; the king of which country dying about that time, the succession was disputed by his two sons. The younger (Sambo Sego, my old acquaintance) prevailed ; and drove his brother from the country. He fled to Gedin- gooma : and being pursued thither, Daisy, who had lived in constant friendship with both the brothers, refused to deliver him up ; at the same time declaring that he would not sup- port his claim, nor any way interfere in the quarrel. Sambo Sego, elated with success, and proud of the homage that was paid him as sovereign of Kasson, was much displeased with Daisy's conduct, and joined with some disafliected fugitive Kaartans in a plundering expedition against him. Daisy, who little expected such a visit, had sent a number of people to Joko, to plant corn, and collect together such rattle as they might find straying in the woods in order to supply his army. All these people fell into the hands of Sambo Sego, who carried them to Kooniakary, and afterwards sent them in caravans, to be sold to the French at Fort Louis, on the river Senegal. INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 107 This attack was soon retaliated ; for Daisy, who was now in distress for want of provisions, thought he was justified in supplying himself from the plunder of Kasson. He accor- dingly took with him eight hundred of his best men, and marching secretly through the woods, surprised, in the night, three large villages near Kooniakary, in which many of his traitorous subjects, who were in Sambo's expedition, had taken up their residence ; all these, and indeed all the able men that fell into Daisy's hands, were immediatly put to death. After this expedition, Daisy began to indulge the hopes of peace ; many of his discontented subjects had returned to their allegiance^ and were repairing the towns which had been desolated by the war ; the rainy season was approach- ing: and every thing wore a favourable appearance, when he was suddenly attacked from a different quarter. The Jowers, Kakaroos, and some other Kaartans, who had deserted from him at the commencement of the war, and had shewn a decided preference to Mansong and his army during the whole campaign, were now afraid or ashamed to ask for- giveness of Daisy, and being very powerful in themselves, joined together to make war upon him. They solicited the Moors to assist them in their rebellion (as will appear hereaf- ter), and having collected a considerable army, they plun- dered a large village belonging to Daisy, and carried off a number of prisoners. Daisy immediately prepared to revenge this insult ; but the Jowers, and indeed almost all the Negro inhabitants of Luda- mar, deserted their towns, and fled to the eastward ; and the rainy season put an end to the war of Kaarta, which had 108 TRAVELS IN THE enriched a few individuals, but destroyed the happiness of thousands. Such was the state of affairs among the nations in the neigh- bourhood of Jarra, soon after the period of my arrival there. I shall now proceed, after giving some description of that place, with the detail of events as they occurred. INTERIOR OP AFRICA. 109 CHAPTER IX. Some Account of Jarra, and the Moorish Inhabitants. — The Author applies for, and obtains Permissionfrom Ali, the Moorish Chief or Sovereign of Ludumar, to pass through his Territories. — Departs from Jarra, ajid arrives at Deena — ill treated by the Moors. — Pro- ceeds to S amp aka— finds a Negro who makes Gunpowder.— Co7i- tinues his Journey to Samee, zvhere he is seized by some Moors who are sent for that Purpose by Ali. — Is conveyed a Prisoner to the Moorish Camp at Benowm, on the Borders of the Great Desert. The town of Jarra is of considerable extent : the houses are built of clay and stone intermixed ; the clay answering the purpose of mortar. It is situated in the Moorish kingdom of Ludamar ; but the major part of the inhabitants are Negroes, from the borders of the southern states, who prefer a preca- rious protection under the Moors, which they purchase by a tribute, rather than continue exposed to their predatory hos- tilities. The tribute they pay is considerable : and they ma- nifest towards their Moorish superiors the most unlimited obedience and submission, and are treated by them with the utmost indignity and contempt. The Moors of this, and the other states adjoining the country of the Negroes, resemble in their persons the Mulattoes of the West Indies to so great a degree, as not _easily to be distinguished from them ; and in truth, the present generation seem to be a mixed race between the Moors (properly so called) of the North, and the Negroes 110 TRAVELS IN THE of the South, possessing many of tlie worst qualities of both nations. t Of the origin of these Moorish tribes, as distinguished from the inhabitants of Barbary, from whom they are divided by the Great Desert, nothing farther seems to be known than what is related by John Leo, the African ; whose account may be abridged as follows. V~ Before the Arabian Conquest, about the middle of the se- venth century, all the inhabitants of Africa, whether they were descended from Numidians, Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, or Goths, were comprehended under the general name of Mauri, or Moors. All these nations were converted to the religion of Mahomet, during the Arabian em- pire under the Kaliphs. About this time many of the Numi- dian tribes, who led a wandering life in the Desert, and sup- ported themselves upon the produce of their cattle, retired southward across the Great Desert, to avoid the fury of the Arabians : and by one of those tribes, says Leo (that of Zan- haga), were discovered and conquered the Negro nations on the Niger. By the Niger, is here undoubtedly meant the river of Senegal, which in the Mandingo language is called Sajing, or the Black River. To what extent these people are now spread over the Afri- can continent it is difficult to ascertain. There is reason to believe, that their dominion stretches from West to East, in a narrow line or belt, from the mouth of the Senegal (on the northern side of that river) to the confines of Abyssinia. They are a subtile and treacherous race of people ; and take every opportunity of cheating and plundering the credulous and , unsuspecting Negroes. But their manners and general habi t INTERIOR OP AFRICA. Ill of life will be best explained as incidents occur in the course of my narrative. On my arrival at Jarra, I obtained a lodging at the house of Daman Jumma, a Gambia Slatee. This man had formerly borrowed goods from Dr. Laidley, who had given me an order for the money, to tlie amount of six slaves ; and though the debt was of five years' standing, he readily acknowledged it, and promised me what money he could raise. He was afraid, he said, in his present situation, he could not pay more than two slaves' value. He gave me his assistance, however, in exchanging my beads and amber for gold, which was a more portable article, and more easily concealed from the Moors. The difficulties we had already encountered, the unsettled state of the country, and, above all, the savage and over- bearing deportment of the Moors, had so completely frightened my attendants, that they declared they would rather relinquish every claim to reward, than proceed one step farther to the eastward. Indeed the danger they incurred of being seized by the Moors, and sold into slavery, became every day more apparent; and I could not condemn their apprehensions. In this situation, deserted by my attendants, and reflecting that my retreat was cut off" by the war behind me, and that a Moorish country often days journey lay before me, I applied to Daman to obtain permission from Ali, the chief or sove- reign of Ludamar, that I might pass through his country unmolested, into Bambarra ; and I hired one of Daman's slaves to accompany me thither, as soon as such permission should be obtained. A messenger was dispatched to Ali, who at this time was encamped near Benowm ; and as a 112 TRAVELS IN THE present was necessary in order to insure success, I sent him five garments of cotton cloth, which I purchased of Daman, for one of my fowling pieces. Fourteen days elapsed in settling this atFair ; but, on the evening of the 26th of February, one of All's slaves arrived with directions, as he pretended, to conduct me in safety as far as Gooraba ; and told me I was to pay him one garment of blue cotton cloth for his attendance. My faithful boy observing that I was about to proceed without him, resolved to accompany me; and told me, that though he wished me to turn back, he never had entertained any serious thoughts of deserting me, but had been advised to it by Johnson, with a view to induce me to return mmediately for Gambia, Feb. 27th. I delivered most of my papers to Johnson, to convey them to Gambia as soon as possible, reserving a duplicate for myself, in case of accidents. I likewise left in Daman's possession a bundle of clothes and other things that were not absolutely necessary ; for I wished to diminish my baggage as much as possible, that the Moors might have fewer inducements to plunder us. Things being thus adjusted, we departed from Jarra, in the forenoon, and slept at Troomgoomba, a small walled village, inhabited by a mixture of Negroes and Moors. On the day following (Feb. 28th) we reached Ctuira ; and on the 29th, after a toilsome journey over a sandy country, we came to Compe, a watering place belonging to the Moors ; from whence on the morning following, we proceeded to Deena, a large town, and, like Jarra, built of stone and clay. The Moors are here in greater proportion to the Negroes than at Jarra. They assembled round the hut of the Negro where I INTERIOR OF AFRICA, ll.J lodged, and treated me witli the greatest insolence : they hissed, shouted, and abnsed me ; they even spit in my face, with a view to irritate me, and afford them a pretext for seizing n>y baggage. But finding such insults had not the desired effect, they had recourse to the final and decisive argument, that I was a Christian, and of course that my property was lawful plunder to the followers of Mahomet. They accordingly opened my bundles and robbed me of every thing they fancied. My attendants finding that every body could rob me with impunity, insisted on returning to Jarra. The day following (March 2d) I endeavoured, by all the means in my power, to prevail upon my people to go on ; but they still continued obstinate; and having reason to fearsome further insult from the fanatic Moors, I resolved to proceed alone. Accordingly the next morning, about two o'clock, I departed from Deena. It was moonlight; but the roaring of the wild beasts made it necessary to proceed with caution. When I had reached a piece of rising ground about half a mile from the town, I heard somebody halloo, and looking back saw my faithful boy running after me. He informed me, that Ali's man had gone back to Benowm, and that Daman's Negro was about to depart for Jarra; but he said he had no doubt, if I would stop a little, that he could persuade the latter to accompany us. 1 waited accordingly, and in about an hour the boy returned with the Negro ; and we continued travelling over a sandy country, covered chiefly with the Asclepias giganteo, until mid-day, when we came to a number of deserted huts ; and seeing some appearances of water at a little distance, I sent the boy to fill a soofroo ; but as he was examining the place for water, the roaring of a VOL. I. Q 114 TRAVELS IN THE lion, that was probably on the same pursuit, induced the frightened boy to return in haste, and we submitted patiently to the disappointment. In the afternoon we reached a town inhabited chiefly by Foulahs, called Samamingkoos. Next morning (March 4th) we set out for Sampaka, which place we reached about two o'clock. On the road we observed immense quantities of locusts : the trees were quite black with them. These insects devour every vegetable that comes in their way, and in a short time completely strip a tree of its leaves. The noise of their excrement falling upon the leaves and withered grass, very much resembles a shower of rain. When a tree is shaken or struck, it is astonishing to see what a cloud of them will fly oflT. In their flight they yield to the current of the wind, which at this season of the year is always from the north-east. Should the wind shift, it is difficult to conceive where they could collect food, as the whole of their course was marked with desolation. Sampaka is a large town, and, when the Moors and Bam- barrans were at war, was thrice attacked by the former ; but they were driven off with great loss, though the King of Bambarra was afterwards obliged to give up this, and all the other towns as far as Goomba, in order to obtain a peace. Here I lodged at the house of a Negro who practised the art of making gunpowder. He shewed me a bag of nitre, very white, but the crystals were much smaller than common. They procure it in considerable quantities from the ponds which are filled in the rainy season, and to which the cattle resort for coolness during the heat of the day. When the water is evaporated, a white efilorescence is observed on the mud, which the natives collect and purify in such a manner INTERIOR OP AFRICA. 115 as to answer their purpose. The Moors supply them with sulphur from the Mediterranean ; and the process is com- pleted by pounding the different articles together in a wooden mortar. The grains are very unequal, and the sound of its explosion is by no means so sharp as that produced by Eu- ropean gunpowder. ^ March 5th. We departed from Sampaka at daylight. About noon we stopped a little at a village called Dangali ; and in the evening arrived at Dalli. We saw upon the road two large herds of camels feeding. When the Moors turn their camels to feed, they tie up one of their fore legs, to prevent their straying. This happened to be a feast day at Dalli, and the people were dancing before theDooty's house. But when they were informed that a white man was come into the town, they left off" dancing, and came to the place where I lodged, walking in regular order, two and two, with the music before them. They play upon a sort of flute; but instead of blowing into a hole in the side, they blow obliquely over the end, which is half shut by a thin piece of wood: they govern the holes on the side with their fingers, and play some simple and very plaintive airs. They continued to dance and sing until midnight; during which time I was surrounded by so great a crowd, as made it necessary for me to satisfy their curiosity by sitting still. March 6th. We stopt here this morning because some of the townspeople, who were going for Goomba on the day following, wished to accompany us : but in order to avoid the crowd of people which usually assembled in the evening, we went to a Negro village to the east of Dalli, called Samee, where we were kindly received by the hospitable Dooty, who 116 TRAVELS IN THE on this occasion killed two fine sheep, and invited his friends to come and feast with him, March 7th. Our landlord was so proud of the honour of entertaining a white man, that he insisted on my staying with him and his friends until the cool of the evening, when he said he would conduct me to the next village. As I was now within two day.s' journey of Goomba, I had no appre- hensions from the Moors, and readily accepted the invitation. I spent the forenoon very pleasantly with these poor Negroes : their company was the more acceptable, as the gentleness of their manners presented a striking contrast to the rudeness and barbarity of the Moors. They enlivened their conversa- tion by drinking a fermented liquor made from corn; the same sort of beer that I have described in a former chapter ; and better I never tasted in Great Britain. In the midst of this harmless festivity, I flattered myself that all danger from the Moors was over. F'ancy had already placed me on the banks of the Niger, and presented to my imagination a thousand delightful scenes in my future pro- gress, when a party of Moors nnexpectedly entered the hut, and dispelled the golden dream. They came, they said, by Ali's orders, to convey me to his camp at Benowm. If I went peaceably, they told me I had nothing to fear; but if I refused, they had orders to bring me by force. I was struck dumb by surprise and terror, which the Moors observing, endeavoured to calm my apprehensions, by repeating the assurance that I had nothing to fear. Their visit, they added, was occasioned by the curiosity of Ali's wife, Fatima, who had heard so much about Christians, that she was very anxious to see one : as soon as her curiosity should be satisfied, INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 117 they had no doubt, they said, that Ali would give me a liandsome present, and send a person, to conduct me to Bambarra. Finding entreaty and resistance equally fruitless, I prepared to foUow the messengers, and took leave of ,my landlord and his company with great reluctance. Accom- panied by my faithful boy (for Daman's slave made his escape on seeing the Moors), we reached Dalli in the evening, where we were strictly watched by the Moors during the night. March 8th. We were conducted by a circuitous path through the woods to Dangali, where we slept. March 9th. We continued our journey, and in the after- noon arrived at Sampaka. On the road we saw a party of Moors, well armed, who told us that they were hunting for a runaway slave; but the townspeople informed us, that a party of Moors had attempted to steal some cattle from the town in the morning, but were repulsed ; and on their describing the persons, we were satisfied that they were the same banditti that we had seen in the woods. Next morning (March 10th) we set out for Samamingkoos. On the road we overtook a woman and two boys, with an ass; she inforuK-d us that she was going for Bambarra, but had been stopped on the road b}' a party of Moors, who had taken most of her clothes, and some gold from her: and that she would be under the necessity of returning to Deena, till the fast moon was over. The same evening the new moon was seen, which ushered in the month Rhamadan. Large fires were made in different parts of the town, and a greater quantity of victuals than usual dressed upon the occasion. March 11th. By daylight- the Moors were in readiness; 118 TRAVELS IN THE but as I had suffered much from thirst on the road, I made my boy fill a soofroo of water for my own use; for the Moors assured me that they should not taste either meat or drink until sunset. However, I found that the excessive heat of the sun, and the dust we raised in travelling, overcame their scruples, and made my soofroo a very useful part of our baggage. On our arrival at Deena, I went to pay my re- spects to one of Ali's sons. I found him sitting in a low hut, with five or six more of his companions, washing their hands and feet, and frequently taking water into their mouths, gargling, and spitting it out again. I was no sooner seated, than he handed me a double-barrelled gun, and told me to dye the stock of a blue colour, and repair one of the locks. I found great difficulty in persuading him that I knew nothing about the matter. However, says he, if you cannot repair the gun, you shall give me some knives and scissars immediately ; and when my boy, who acted as interpreter, assured him that I had no such articles, he hastily snatched up a musquet that stood by him, cocked it, and putting the muzzle close to the boy's ear, would certainly have shot him dead upon the spot, had not the Moors wrested the musquet from him, and made signs for us to retreat. The boy, being terrified at this treat- ment, attempted to make his escape in the night ; but was prevented by the vigilance of the Moors, who guarded us with strict attention ; and at night always went to sleep by the door of the hut, in such a situation that it was almost impossible to pass, without stepping upon them. March 12th. We departed from Deena towards Benowm, and about nine o'clock came to a Korree, whence the Moors were preparing to depart to the southward, on account of the ^ & < =1 kO < INTERIOR OP AFRICA. 119 scarcity of water; here we filled our soofroo, and continued our journey over a hot sandy country, covered with small stunted shrubs, until about one o'clock, when the heat of the sun obliged us to stop. But our water being expended, we could not prudently remain longer than a few minutes to collect a little gum, which is an excellent succedaneum for water ; as it keeps the mouth moist, and allays, for a time, the pain in the throat. About five o'clock we came in sight of Benowm, the resi- dence of Ali. It presented to the eye a great number of dirty looking tents, scattered without order, over a large space of ground ; and among the tents appeared large herds of camels, cattle, and goats. We reached the skirts of the camp a little before sunset, and, with much entreaty, procured a little water. My arrival was no sooner observed, than the people who drew water at the wells threw down their buckets ; those in the tents mounted their horses, and men, women, and children, came running or galloping towards me. I soon found myself surrounded by such a crowd, that I could scarcely move ; one yjulled my clothes, another took off my hat, a third stopped me to examine my waistcoat buttons, and a fourth called out, la illuh el allah 31ahamet rasoirl allahi* and signified, in a threatening manner, that I must repeat those words. We reached at length the king's tent, where we found a great number of people, men and women, assembled. Ali was sitting upon a black leather cushion, clipping a few hairs from his upper lip ; a female attendant Ijolding up a looking-glass before him. He appeared to be an old man, of the Arab cast, with a long white beard; and * See page 100. •120 TRAVELS IN THE he had a sullen and indignant aspect. He surveyed me witli attention, and enquired of the Moors if I could speak Arabic: being answered in the negative, he appeared much surprised, and continued silent. The surrounding attendants, and especially the ladies, were abundantly more inquisitive : they asked a thousand questions ; inspect6«Jl^ every part of my apparel, searched my pockets, and obliged me to unbutton my waistcoat, and display the whiteness of my skin : they even counted my toes and fingers, as if they doubted whether I was in truth a human being. In a little time the priest announced evening prayers; but before the people departed, the Moor, who had acted as interpreter, informed me that Ali was about to present me with something to eat ; and looking round, I observed some boys bringing a wild hog, which they tied to one of the tent strings, and Ali made signs to me to kill and dress it for supper. Though I was very hungry, I did not think it prudent to eat any part of an animal so much detested by the Moors, and therefore told him that I never eat such food. They then untied (he hog, in hopes that it would run immediately at me ; for they believe that a great enmity subsists between hogs and Christians; but in this they were disappointed ; for the animal no sooner re- gained his liberty, than he began to attack indiscriminately every person that came in his way, and at last took shelter under the couch upon which the King was sitting. The assembly being thus dissolved, I was conducted to the tent of Ali's chief slave, but was not permitted to enter, nor allowed to touch any thing belonging to it. I requested something to eat, and a little boiled corn, with salt and water, was at length sent me in a wooden bowl ; and a mat was spread INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 121 upon the sand before the tent, on which I passed the night, surrounded by the curious multitude. At sunrise, Ali, with a tew attendants, came on horseback to visit me, and signified that he had provided a bnt for me, where I would be sheltered from the sun. I was accordingly conducted thither, and found the hut comparatively cool and pleasant. It was constructed of corn stalks set up on end, in the form of a square, with a flat roof of the same materials, supported by forked sticks : to one of which was tied the wild hog before mentioned. This animal had certainly been placed there by Ali's order, out of derision to a Christian ; and I found it a very disagreeable inmate, as it drew together a number of boys, who amused themselves by beating it with sticks, until they hail so irritated the hog that it ran and bit at every person within its reach. I was no sooner seated in this my new habitation, than the Moors assembled in crowds to behold me ; but I found it rather a troublesome levee, fori was obliged to take off one of my stockings, and show them my foot, and even to take off my jacket and waistcoat, to show them how my clothes were put on and off": they were much delighted with the curious contrivance of buttons. All this was to be repeated to every succeeding visitor ; for such as had already seen these won- ders, insisted on their friends seeing the same ; and in this manner I was employed, dressing and undressing, button- ing and unbuttoning, from noon to night. About eight o'clock, AH sent me for supper some kouskous and salt and water, which was very acceptable, being the only victuals I had tasted since morning. I observed that, in the night, the Moors kept regular watch, VOL. I, R 122 TRAVELS IN THE and frequently looked into tlie hut, to see if I was asleep, and if it was quite dark, they would light a wisp of grass. About two o'clock in the morning, a Moor entered the hut, probably with a view to steal something, or perhaps to murder me ; and groping about, he laid his hand upon my shoulder. As night visitors were at best but suspicious characters, I sprang up the moment he laid his hand upon me ; and the Moor, in his haste to get off, stumbled over my boy, and fell with Iiis face upon the wild hog, which returned the attack by biting the Moor's arm. The screams of this man alarmed the people in the king's tent, who immediately conjectured that I had made my escape, and a number of them mounted their horses and prepared to pursue me. I observed upon this occasion that Ali did not sleep in his own tent, but came galloping upon a white horse from a small tent at a considerable dis- tance : indeed, the tyrannical and cruel behaviour of this man made him so jealous of every person around him, that even his own slaves and domestics knew not where he slept. When the Moors had explained to him the cause of this outcry, they all went away, and I was permitted to sleep quietly until morning. March 13th. With the returning day commenced the same round of insult and irritation : the boys assembled to beat the hog, and the men and women to plague the Christian. It is impossible for me to describe the behaviour of a people who study mischief as a science, and exult in the miseries and mis- fortunes of their fellow creatures. It is sufficient to observe that the rudeness, ferocity, and fanaticism, which distinguish the Moors from the rest of mankind, found here a proper sub- ject whereon to exercise their propensities. I was a stranger. INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 123 I was unprotected, and I was a Christian ; each of these cir- cumstances is sufficient to drive every spark of humanity from the heart of a Moor ; but when all of them, as in my case, were combined in the same person, and a suspicion prevailed withal, that I had come as a spif into the country, the reader w ill easily imagine that, in such a situation, I had every thing to fear. Anxious, however, to conciliate favour, and if possi- ble, to afford the Moors no pretence for ill treating me, I readily complied with every command, and patiently bore every insult ; but never did any period of my life pass away so heavily : from sunrise to sunset, was I obliged to suffer, with an unruffled countenance, the insults of the rudest sa- vages on earth. 124 TRAVELS IN THE CHAPTER X. Various Occurrences during the Autlior's Confinement at Benozon — is visited by some Moorish Ladies. — A Funeral and Wedding. — The Author receives an extraordinary Present from the Bride. — Other Circumsi'ances illustrative of the Moorish Character and Manners. 1 HE Moors, though very indolent themselves, are rigid task- masters, and keep every person under them in full employ- ment. My boy Demba was sent to the woods to collect withered grass for Ali's horses ; and after a variety of projects concerning mjself, they at last found out an employment for me ; this was no other than the respectable oflice of barber. I was to make my first exhibition in this capacity in the royal presence, and to be honoured with the task of shaving the head of the young prince of Ludamar. I accordingly seated myself upon the sand, and the boy, with some hesitation, sat down beside me. A small razor, about three inches long, was put into my hand, and I was ordered to proceed ; but whe- ther from my own want of skill, or the improper shape of the instrument, I unfortunately made a slight incision in the boy's head, at the very commencement of the operation ; and the King observing the awkward manner in which I held the razor, concluded that his son's head was in very improper hands, and ordered me to resign the razor, and walk out of the tent. This I considered as a very fortunate circumstance ; INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 125 for I had laid it down as a rule, to make myself as useless and insignificant as possible, as the only means of recovering my liberty. March 18. Four Moors arrived from Jarra with Johnson my interpreter, having seized him before he had received any intimation of my confinement: and bringing with them a bundle of clothes that I had left at Damau Jumma's house, for my use in case I should return by the way of Jarra. Jolin- son was led into Ali's tent and examined ; the bundle was opened, and I was sent for to explain the use of the different articles. I was happy, however, to find that Johnson had committed my papers to the charge of one of Daman's wives. When I had satisfied Ali's curiosity respecting the different articles of apparel, the bundle was again tied up, and put into a large cow-skin bag, that stood in a corner of the tent. The same evening Ali sent three of his people to inform me, that there were many thieves in the neighbourhood, and that to prevent the rest of my things from being stolen, it was necessary to convey them all into his tent. My clothes, in- struments, and every tiling that belonged to me, were ac- cordingly carried away ; and though the heat and dust made clean linen very necessary and refreshing, I could not procure a single shirt out of the small stock I had brought along with me. Ali was however disappointed, by not find- ing among my effects the quantity of gold and amber that he expected ; but to make sure of every thing, he sent the same people on the morning following, to examine whether 1 had any thing concealed about my person. They, with their usual rudeness, searched every part of my apparel, and stripped me of all my gold, amber, my watch, and one of my 120 TRAVELS IN THE pocket compasses; I had fortanatcly, in the night, buried the other compass in the sand ; and this, with the clothes I had on, was all that the tyranny of Aii had now left me. The gold and amber were highly gratifying to Moorish avarice, but the pocket compass soon became an object of superstitious curiosity. Ali was very desirous to be informed, why that small piece of iron, the needle, always pointed to the Great Desert; and I found myself somewhat puzzled to answer the question. To have pleaded my ignorance would have created a suspicion that I wished to conceal the real truth from him ; I therefore told him, that my mother resided far beyond the sands of Sahara, and that whilst she was alive the piece of iron would always point that way, and serve as a guide to conduct me to her, and that if she was dead, it would point to her grave. Ali now looked at the compass with redoubled amazement; turned it round and round repeatedly; but observing that it always pointed the same way, he took it up with great caution and returned it to me, manifesting that he thought there was something of magic in it, and that he was afraid of keeping so dangerous an instrument in his possession. March 20th. This morning a council of chief men was held in All's tent respecting me; their decisions, though they were all unfavourable to me, were differently related by different persons. Some said that they intended to put me to death ; others, that I was only to lose my right hand : but the most probable account was that which I received from Ali's own son, a boy about nine years of age, who came to me in the evening, and, with much concern, informed me that his uncle had persuaded his father to put out my eyes. INTRRrOR OP AFRICA. IS* wliicli, they said, resembled those of a cat, and that all the Bushieens had approved of this measure. His father, how- ever, he said, would not put the sentence into execution until Fatima, the queen, who was at present in the north, had seen me. March 21st. Anxious to know my destiny, I went to the king early in the mornints; ; and as a number of Bushreens were assembled, I thought this a favourable oj)portunity of discovering their intentions. I therefore began by begging his permission to return to Jarra, which was flatly refused ; his wife, he said, had not yet seen me, and I must stay uiitil she came to Benowm, after which I should be at liberty to depart; and that my horse, which had been taken away from me the day after I arrived, should be again restored to me. Unsatisfactory as this answer was, I was forced to appear pleased ; and as there was little hopes of making my escape, at this season of the year, on account of the excessive heat, and the total want of water in the woods, I resolved to wait patiently nntil tlie rains had set in, or until some more favourable op- portunity should present itself; — but hope deferred maketk the heart sick. This tedious procrastination from day to day, and the thoughts of travelling through the Negro kingdoms in the rainy season, which was now fast approaching, made me very melancholy; an YOJu. I. S 130 TRAVELS IN THE I could never ascertain whether this was done from motives of religion, or by way of ornament. The curiosity of the Moorish ladies had been very troublesome to me ever since my arrival at Benowm ; and on the evening of the 25th (whether from the instigation of others, or impelled by their own ungovernable curiosity, or merely out of frolic, I cannot affirm) a party of them came into my hut, and gave me plainly to understand that the object of their visit was to ascertain, by actual inspection, whether the rite of circumcision ex- tended to the Nazarenes, (Christians,) as well as to the fol- lowers of Mahomet. The reader will easily judge of my surprise at this unexpected declaration; and in order to avoid the proposed scrutiny, I thought it best to treat the business jocularly. I observed to them, that it was not customary in my country to give ocular demonstration in such cases, before so many beautiful women ; but that if all of them would retire, except the young lady to whom I pointed (selecting the youngest and handsomest), I would satisfy her curiosity. The ladies enjoyed the jest, and went away laughing heartily ; and the young damsel herself to whom I had given the pre- ference (though she did not avail herself of the privilege of inspection), seemed noway displeased at the compliment; for she soon afterwards sent me some meal and milk for my supper. March 28th. This morning a large herd of cattle arrived from the eastward ; and one of the drivers, to whom Ali had lent my horse, came into my hut with the leg of an antelope as a present, and told me that my horse was standing before All's tent. In a little time Ali sent one of his slaves to inform me, that, in the afternoon, I must be in readiness to INTEllIOR OF AFRICA. 131 ride out with him, as he intended to shew me to some of his women. About four o'clock, Ali, with six of his courtiers, came riding- to my hut, and told me to follow them. I readily complied. But here a new difhculty occurred ; the IMoors, accustomed to a loose and easy dress, could not reconcile themselves to the appearance of my nankeen breeches, which they said were not only inelegant, but, on account of their tightness, very indecent ; and as this was a visit to ladies, Ali ordered my boy to bring out the loose cloak which I had always worn since my arrival at Benowm, and told me to wrap it close round me. We visited the tents of four different ladies, at every one of which I was presented with a bowl ot milk and water. All these ladies were remarkably corpulent, which is considered here as the highest mark of beauty. They were very inquisitive, and examined my hair and skin with great attention ; but affected to consider me as a sort of inferior being to themselves, and would knit their brows, and seem to shudder, when they looked at tlie whiteness of my skin. In the course of this evening's excursion, mv dress and appearance afforded infinite mirth to the company, who galloped round me as if they were baiting a wild animal; twirling their muskets round their heads, and exhibiting various feats of activity and horsemanship, seemingly to dis- play their superior prowess over a miserable captive. The Moors are certainly very good horsemen. They ride without fear ; their saddles being high before and behind, afford them a very secure seat : and if they chance to fall, the whole country is so soft and sandy, that they are very seldom hurt. Their greatest pride, and one of their principal 132 TRAVELS IN THE amusements is to put the horse to his full speed, and tlien stop him with a sudden jerk, so as frequently to bring him down upon his haunches. AH always rode upon a milk-white horse, with its tail dyed red. He never walked, unless when he went to say his prayers ; and even in the night, two or three horses were always kept ready saddled, at a little dis- tance from his own tent. The Moors set a very high value upon their horses ; for it is by their superior fleetness, that they are enabled to make so many predatory excursions into the Negro countries. They feed them three or four times a day, and generally give them a large quantity of sweet milk in the evening, which the horses appear to relish very much. April 3d. This forenoon a child, which had been some time sickly, died in the next tent; and the mother and rela- tions immediately began the death howl. They were joined by a number of female visitors, who came on purpose to assist at this melancholy concert. 1 had no opportunity of seeing the burial, which is generally performed secretly in the dusk of the evening, and frequently at only a few yards distance from the tent. Over the grave, they plant one particular shrub ; and no stranger is allowed to pluck a leaf, or even to touch it; so great a veneration have they for the dead. April 7th. About four o'clock in the afternoon, a whirl- wind passed through the camp with such violence that it overturned three tents, and blew down one side of my hut. These whirlwinds come from the Great Desert, and, at this season of the year, are so common, that I have seen five or six of them at one time. They carry up quantities of sand to an amazing height, which resemble, at a distance, so many moving pillars of smoke. IXTERIOR OF AFRICA. I;j3 The scorching heat of the sun, upon a dry and sandy country, makes the air insufFerably hot. AH having robbed me of my thermometer, I had no means of forming a com- parative judgment ; but in the middle of the day, when the beams of the vertical sun are seconded by the scorching wind from the Desert, the ground is frequently heated to such a degree., as not to be borne by the naked foot ; even the Negro slaves will not run from one tent to another without their sandals. At this time of the day, the Moors lie stretched at length in their tents, either asleep, or unwilling to move ; and I have often felt the wind so hot, that I could not hold my hand in the current of air, which came through the cre- vices of ray hut, without feeling sensible pain. April 8th. This day the wind blew from the south-west, and in the night there was a heavy shower of rain, accom- panied with thunder and lightning. April 10th. In the evening the Tabala, or large drum, was beat to announce a wedding, which was held at one of the neighbouring tents. A great number of people of both sexes assembled, but without that mirth and hilarity which take place at a Negro wedding : here was neither singing, nor dancing; nor any other amusement that I could perceive. A woman was beating the drum, and the other women joining at times like a chorus, by setting up a shrill scream ; and at the same time, moving their tongues from one side of the mouth to the other with great celerity. I was soon tired, and had returned into my hut, where I was sitting almost asleep, when an old woman entered, with a wooden bowl in her hand, and signified that she had brought me a present from the bride. Before I could recover from the surprise which 134 TRAVELS IN THE this message created, the woman discharged the contents of the bowl full in my face. Finding that it was the same sort of holy water, with which, among the Hottentots, a priest is said to sprinkle a new married couple, I began to suspect that the old lady was actuated by mischief, or malice ; but she gave me seriously to understand, that it was a nuptial benediction fr-om the bride's own person; and which, on such occasions, is always received by the young unmarried Moors as a mark of distinguished favour. This being the case, I wiped my face, and sent my acknowledgments to the lady. The wedding drum continued to beat, and the women to sing, or rather whistle, all night. About nine in tlie morning, the bride was brought in state from her mother's tent, attended by a number of women who carried her tent (a present from the husband) some bearing up the poles, others holding by the strings ; and in this manner they marched, whistling as formerly, until they came to the place appointed for her resi- dence, where they pitched the tent. The husband followed, with a number of men leading four bullocks, which they tied to the tent strings: and having killed another and distributed the beef among the people, the ceremony was concluded. INTERIOR or AFRICA. 1-35 CHAPTER XI. Occurrences at the Camp continued. — Information collected by the Author, concerning Houssa and Tomhuctoo ; and the Situation of the latter. — The Route described from Morocco to Benowm. — The Author's Distress from Hunger. — Ali removes his Camp to the Northward. — The Author is carried Prisoner to the new Encamp- ment, and is presented to Queen Fatima. — Great Distress from the fVant of JFater. One whole month had now elapsed since I was led into cap- tivity ; during which time each returning day brought me fresh distresses. I watched the lingering course of the sun with anxiety, and blessed his evening beams as they shed a yellow lustre along the sandy floor of my hut ; for it was then that my oppressors left me, and allowed me to pass the sultry night in solitude and reflection. About midnight, a bowl of konskous with some salt and water, was brought for me and my two attendants : this was our common fare, and it was all that was allowed us, to allay the cravings of hunger, and support nature for the whole of the following day : for it is to be observed, that this was the Mahomedan Lent ; and as the Moors keep the fast with a re- ligious strictness, they thought it proper to compel me, though a Christian, to a similar observance. Time, however, some- what reconciled me to my situation : I found that I could bear hunger and thirst better than I expected : and at length, I endeavoured to beguile the tedious hours, by learning to 136 TRAVRLS IN THE write Arabic. The people who came to see me, soon made me acquainted with the characters ; and I discovered, that by engaging their attention in tisis way, they were not so troublesome as otherwise they would have been : indeed when I observed any person whose countenance I thought bore malice towards me, I made it a rule to ask him, either to write in the sand himself, or to decipher what I had al- ready written ; and the pride of shewing his superior attain- ments, generally induced him to comply with my request. April 14th. As Queen Fatima had not yet arrived, Ali pro- posed to go to the north, and bring her back v»'ith him : but as the place was two days' journey from Benowm, it was ne- cessary to have some refreshment on the road ; and Ali, sus- picious of those about him, was so afraid of being poisoned that he never eat any thing but what was dressed under his own immediate inspection. A fine bullock was therefore killed, and the flesh being cut up into thin slices, was dried in the sun : and this, with two bags of dried kouskous, formed his travelling provisions. Previous to his departure, the black people of the town of Senowm came, according to their annual custom, to shew their arms, and bring their stipulated tribute of corn and cloth. They were but badly armed : twenty-two with musquets, forty or fifty with bows and arrows ; and nearly the same number of men and boys, with spears only: they arranged themselves before the tent, where they waited until their arms were examined and some little disputes settled. About midnight on the 16th, Ali departed quietly from Be- nowm, accompanied by a few attendants. He was expected to return in the course of nine or ten days. INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 137 April 18th. Two days after the departure of Ali, a Shereef arrived with salt, and some other articles from VV^alet, the capital of the kingdom of Biroo. As there was no tent appro- priated for him, he took up his abode in the same hut with me. He seemed to be a well informed man, and his acquaint- ance both with the Arabic and Bambarra tongues, enabled him to travel, with ease and safety, through a number of kingdoms ; for though his place of residence was Walet, he had visited Houssa, and had lived some years at Tombuctoo. Upon my inquiring so particularly about the distance from Walet to Tombuctoo, he asked me if I intended to travel that way ; and being answered in the affirmative, he shook his head, and said, it would not do; for that Christians were looked upon there as the devil's children, and enemies to the Prophet. From him I learnt the following particulars; that Houssa was the largest town he had ever seen ; that Walet was larger than Tombuctoo ; but being remote from the Niger, and its trade consisting chietly of salt, it was not so much resorted to by strangers ; that between Benowm and Walet was ten days' journey ; but the road did not lead through any remarkable towns, and travellers supported them- selves by purchasing milk from the Arabs who keep their herds by the watering places ; two of the days' journies were over a sandy country, without water. From Walet to Tom- buctoo was eleven days more ; but water was more plentiful, and the journey was usually performed upon bullocks. He said there were many Jews at Tombuctoo, but they all spoke Arabic, and used the same prayers as the Moors. He fre- quently pointed his hand to the south-east quarter, or rather the east by south ; observing, that Tombuctoo was situated VOL. I. T 138 TRAVELS IN THE in that direction ; and though I made him repeat this infor- mation, again and again, I never found him to vary more than half a point, which was to the southward. April 24th. This morning Shereef Sidi Mahomed Moora Abdalla, a native of Morocco, arrived with five bullocks loaded with salt. He had formerly resided some months at Gibraltar, where he had picked up as much English as ena- bled him to make himself understood. He informed me, that he had been five months in coming from Santa Cruz ; but that great part of the time had been spent in trading. When I requested him to enumerate the clays employed in travelling from Morocco to Benowm, he gave them as follows ; — to Swera, three days ; to Agadier, three ; to Jiniken, ten ; to Wadenoon, four ; to Lakeneigh, five ; to Zeeriwin-zeriman, five ; to Tisheet, ten ; to Benowm, ten ; in all fifty dajs ; but travellers usually rest a long while at Jiniken and Tisheet ; at the latter of which places they dig the rock salt, which is so great an article of commerce with the Negroes. In conversing with these Shereefs, and the different stran- gers that resorted to the camp, I passed my time with rather less uneasiness than formerly. On the other hand, as the dressing of my victuals was now left entirely to the care of Ali's slaves, over whom I had not the smallest control, I found myself but ill supplied, worse even than in the fast month ; for two successive nights they neglected to send us our accustomed meal, and though my boy went to a small Negro town near the camp, and begged with great diligence from hut to hut, he could only procure a few handfuls of ground nuts, which he readily shared with me. Hunger, at first, is certainly a very painful sensation ; but when it has INTERIOR OP AFRICA. 139 continued for some time, tliis pain is succeeded by languor and debility; in which case, a draught of water, by keeping the stomach distended, will greatly exhilarate the spirits, and remove for a short time every sort of uneasiness. Johnson and Demba were very much dejected. They lay stretched upon the sand, in a sort of torpid slumber : and even Avhen the kouskous arrived, I found some difficulty in awakening them. I felt no inclination to sleep, but was affected with a deep convulsive respiration, like constant sighing: and, what alarmed me still more, a dimness of sight, and a tendency to faint when I attempted to sit up. These symptoms did not go off until some time after I had received nourishment. We had been for some days in daily expectation of Ali's return from Saheel (or the north country) with his wife Fatima. In the meanwhile Mansong, King of Bambarra, as I have related in Chapter VIII. had sent to Ali for a party of horse to assist in storming Gedingooma. With this demand Ali had not only refused to comply, but had treated the mes- sengers with great haughtiness and contempt ; upon which Mansong gave up all thoughts of taking the town^ and pre- pared to chastise /Vli for his contumacy. Things were in this situation when, on the 29th of April, a messenger arrived at Benowm with the disagreeable intelli- gence that the Bambarra army was approaching the frontiers of Ludamar. This threw the whole country into confusion ; and in the afternoon Ali's son with about twenty horsemen arrived at Benowm. He ordered all the cattle to be driven away immediately, all the tents to be struck, and the people to hold themselves in readiness to depart at daylight the next morning. 140 TRAVELS IN THE April 30tli. At daybreak the whole camp was in motion. The baggage was carried upon bullocks, the two tent poles being placed one on each side, and the diflerent wooden arti- cles of the tent distributed in like manner ; the tent cloth was thrown over all, and upon this was commonly placed one or two women ; for the Moorish women are very bad walkers. The king's favourite concubines rode upon camels, with a sad- dle of a particular construction, and a canopy to shelter them from the sun. We proceeded to the northvt'ard until noon, when the king's son ordered the whole company except two tents to enter a thick low wood, which was upon our right. I was sent along with the two tents, and arrived in the even- ing at a Negro town called Farani : here we pitched the tents in an open place, at no great distance from the town. The hurry and confusion which attended this decampment, prevented the slaves from dressing the usual quantity of vic- tuals ; and lest their dry provisions should be exhausted before they reached their place of destination, (for as yet none but Ali and the chief men knew whither we were going,) they thought proper to make me observe this day as a day of fasting. May 1st. As I had some reason to suspect that this day was also to be considered as a fast, I went in the morning to the Negro town of Farani, and begged some provisions from the Dooty, who readily supplied my wants, and desired me to come to his house every day during my stay in the neigh- bourhood. These hospitable people are looked upon by the Moors as an abject race of slaves, and are treated accord- ingly. Two of Ali's household slaves, a man and a woman, who had come along with the two tents, went this morning INTERIOR OP AFRICA. 141 to water the cattle froui the town wells, at which there beffan to be a great scarcity. When the Negro women observed the cattle approacliing, they took up their pitchers and ran with all possible haste towards the town, but before they could enter the gate, they were stopped by the slaves, who com- pelled them to bring back the watei- they had drawn for their own families, and empty it into the troughs for the cattle. When tliis was exhausted, they were ordered to draw water until such time as the cattle had all drank ; and the woman slave actually broke two Avooden bowls over the heads of the black girls, because they were somewhat dilatory in obeying her commands. May 3d. We departed from the vicinity of Farani, and after a circuitous route through the woods, arrived at Ali's camp in the afternoon. This encampment was larger than that of Benowm, and was situated in the middle of a thick wood about two miles distant from a Negro town, called Bubnker. I immediately waited upon Ali, in order to pay my respects to Queen Fatima, who had come with him from Saheel. He seemed much pleased with my coming; shook hands with me, and informed his wife that I was the Christian. She was a woman of the Arab cast, with long black hair, and remarkably corpulent. She appeared at first rather shocked at the thought of having a Christian so near her ; but when I had (by means of a Negro boy, who spoke the Mandingo and Arabic tongues) answered a great many questions, which her curiosity suggested, respecting the country of the Christians, she seemed more at ease, and pre- sented me with a bowl of milk ; which I considered as a very favourable omen. 142 TRAVELS IN THE The heat was now almost insufferable ; all nature seemed sinking under it. The distant country presented to the eye a dreary expanse of sand, with a few stunted trees and prickly bushes, in the shade of which the hungry cattle licked up the withered grass, while the camels and goats picked off the scanty foliage. The scarcity of water was greater here than at Benowm. Day and night the wells were crowded with cattle, lowing and fighting with each other to come at the troughs : excessive thirst made many of them furious : others being too weak to contend for the water, endeavoured to quench their thirst by devouring the black mud from the gutters near the wells; which they did with great avidity, though it was commonly fatal to them. This great scarcity of water was felt severely by all the people of the camp, and by none more than myself; for though Ali allowed me a skin for containing water, and Fatima, once or twice, gave me a small supply, when I was in distress, yet such was the barbarous disposition of the Moors at the wells, that when my boy attempted to fill the skin, he commonly received a sound drubbing for his pre- sumption. Every one was astonished that the slave of a Christian should attempt to draw water from wells which had been dug by the followers of the Prophet. This treatment, at length, so frightened the boy, that I believe he would sooner have perished with thirst, than attempted again to fill the skin ; he therefore contented himself with begging water from the Negro slaves that attended the camp; and I followed his example, but with very indifferent success; for though I let no opportunity slip, and was very urgent in my solicita- tions, both to the Moors and the Negroes, I was but ill INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 143 supplied, and frequently passed the niglit in the situation of Tantalus. No sooner had I shut my eyes, than fancy would convey me to the streams and rivers of my native land ; there, as I wandered along the verdant brink, I surveyed the clear stream with transport, and hastened to swallow the delightful draught; — but alas! disappointment awakened me; and I found myself a lonely captive, perishing of thirst amidst the wilds of Africa ! One night, having solicited in vain for water at the camp, and being quite feverish, I resolved to try my fortune at the wells, which were about half a mile distant from the camp. Accordingly, I set out about midnight, and being guided by the lowing of the cattle, soon arrived at the place ; where I found the Moors very busy drawing water. I requested per- mission to djink, but was driven away with outrageous abuse. Passing, however, from one well to another, I came at last to one where there was only an old man and two boys. I made the same request to this man, and he immediately drew me up a bucket of water ; but, as I was about to take hold of it, he recollected that I was a Christian, and fearing that his bucket might be polluted by my lips, he dashed the water into the trough, and told me to drink from thence. Though this trough was none of the largest, and three cows were already drinking in it, I resolved to come in for my share ; and kneeling down, thrust my head between two of the cows, and drank with great pleasure, until the water was nearly exhausted, and the cows began to contend with each other for the last mouthful. In adventures of this nature I passed the sultry month of May, during which no material change took place in my 144 TRAVELS IN THE situation. Ali still considered me as a lawful prisoner; and Fall ma. though slie allowed me a larger quantity of victuals than I had been accustomed to receive at Benown, had as yet said nothing on the subject of my release. In the meantime the frequent changes of the wind, the gathering clouds, and distant lightning, with other appearances of approaching rain, indicated that the wet season was at hand ; when the Moors annually evacuate the country of the Negroes, and return to the skirts of the Great Desert. This made me con- sider that my fate was drawing towards a crisis, and I resolved to wait for the event without any seeming uneasiness ; but circumstances occurred which produced a change in my favour, more suddenly than I had foreseen, or had reason to expect. The case was this ; the fugitive Kaartans, who had taken refuge in Ludamar, as I have related in Chapter VIII. finding that the Moors were about to leave them, and dreading the resentment of their own sovereign, whom they had so basely deserted, offered to treat with Ali, for two hundred Moorish horsemen, to co-operate with them in an effort to expel Daisy from Gedingooma ; for until Daisy should be vanquished or humbled, they considered that they could neither return to their native towns, nor live in security in any of the neighbouring kingdoms. With a view to extort money from these people, by means of this treaty, Ali dis- patched his son to Jarra, and prepared to follow him in the course of a few days. This was an opportunity of too great consequence to me, to be neglected. I immediately applied to Fatima (who, I found, had the chief direction in all affairs of state), and begged her interest with Ali, to give me permis- sion to accompany him to Jarra. This request, after some INTERIOR OP AFRICA. 145 hesitation, was favourably received. Fatima looked kindly on me, and, I believe, was at length moved with compassion towards me. My bundles were brought from the large cow- skin bag that stood in the corner of Ali's tent, and I was ordered to explain the use of the different articles, and shew the method of putting on the boots, stockings, &c. ; with all which I cheerfully complied, and was told that, in the course of a few days, I should be at liberty to depart. Believing, therefore, that I should certainly find the means of escaping from Jarra, if I should once get thither ; I now freely indulged the pleasing hope that my captivity would soon terminate ; and happily not having been disappointed in this idea, T shall pause in this place, to collect and bring into one point of view such observations on the Moorish cha- racter and country, as I had no fair opportunity of introducing into the preceding narrative. VOL. I. U 146 TRAVELS IN THE CHAPTER XII. Co7itainmg some further miscellaneous Rejlectmis on the Moorish Character, and Manners. — Observations concerning the Great Desert, its Animals, wild and domestic, &c. &c. 1 HE Moors of this part of Africa are divided into many separate tribes ; of wliich the most formidable, according to what was reported to me, are those of Trasart and II Braken, which inhabit the northern bank of the Senegal river. The tribes of Gedumah, Jafnoo, and Ludamar, though not so numerous as the former, are nevertheless very powerful and warlike : and are each governed by a chief, or king, who exercises absolute jurisdiction over his own horde, without acknowledging allegiance to a common sovereign. In time of peace, the employment of the people is pasturage. The Moors, indeed, subsist chiefly on the flesh of their cattle; and are always in the extreme of either gluttony or abstinence. In consequence of the frequent and severe fasts which their religion enjoins, and the toilsome journies, which they some- times undertake across the Desert, they are enabled to bear both hunger and thirst with surprising fortitude ; but when- ever opportunities occur of satisfying their appetite, they generally devour more at one meal, than would serve an European for three. They pay but little attention to agricul- ture : purchasing their corn, cotton-cloth, and other neces- saries, from the Negroes, in exchange for salt, which they dig from the pits in the Great Desert. INTERIOR OF AFRICA. ]47 The natural barrenness of the country is such, that it fur- nishes but few materials for manufacture. The Moors, however, contrive to weave a strong cloth, with which they cover their tents : the thread is spun by their women, from the hair of goats ; and they prepare the hides of their cattle, so as to furnish saddles, bridles, pouches, and other articles of leather. They are likewise sufficiently skilful, to convert the native iron, which they procure from the Negroes, into spears and knives, and also into pots for boiling their food ; but their sabres and other weapons, as well as their fire-ai-ms and ammunition, they purcliase from the Europeans, in exchange for the Negro slaves, which they obtain in their predatory excursions. Their chief commerce of this kind is with the French traders, on the Senegal river. The Moors are rigid Mahomedans, and possess, with the bigotry and superstition, all the intolerance of their sect. They have no mosques at Benowm, but perform their devo- tions in a sort of open shed, or inclosure made of mats. The priest is, at the same time, schoolmaster to the juniors. His pupils assemble every evening before his tent : where by the light of a large tire made of brush-wood and cow's dung, they are taught a tew sentences from the Koran, and are initiated into the principles of their creed. Their alphabet differs but little from that in Richanison's Arabic Grammar. They always write with the vowel points. Their priests even affect to know something of foreign literature. The priest of Benowm assured me, that he could read the writings of the Christians : he shewed me a number of barbarous characters, which he asserted were the Roman alphabet: and he pro- duced another specimen, equally unintelligible, which he 148 TRAVELS IN THE declared to be the Kallam il Tndi, or Persian. His library consisted of nine volumes in quarto ; most of them, I believe, were books of religion ; for the name of Mahomet appeared in red letters, in almost every page of each. His scholars vrrote their lessons upon thin boards; paper being too ex- pensive for general use. The boys were diligent enough, and appeared to possess a considerable share of emulation ; carrying their Ixiu ds slung over their shoulders, when about their common employments. When a boy has committed to memory a few of their prayers, and can read and write certain parts of the Koran, he is reckoned sufficiently instructed ; and with this slender stock of learning, commences his career of life. Proud of his acquirements, he surveys with contempt the unlettered Negro ; and embraces every opportunity of displaying his superiority over such of his countrymen, as are not distinguished by the same accomplishments. The education of the girls is neglected altogether: mental accomplishments are but little attended to by the women ; nor is the want of them considered by the men as a defect in the female character. They are regarded, I believe, as an inferior species of animals; and seem to be brought up for no other purpose, than that of administering to the sensual pleasures of their imperious masters. Voluptuousness is, therefore, considered as their chief accomplishment, and slavish submission as their indispensable duty. The Moors have singular ideas of feminine perfection. The gracefulness of figure and motion, and a countenance enli- vened by expression, are by no means essential points in their standard : with them, corpulence and beauty appear to be terms nearly synonymous. A woman, of even moderate INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 149 pretensions must be one who cannot walk without a slave under each arm to support her ; and a perfect beauty is a load for a camel. In consequence of this prevalent taste for unwieldiness of bulk, the Moorish ladies take great pains to acquire it early in life; and for this purpose, many of the young girls are compelled by their mothers to devour a great quantity of kouskous, and drink a large bowl of camel's milk every morning. It is of no importance whether the girl has an appetite or not ; the kouskous and milk must be swallowed : and obedience is frequently enforced by blows. I have seen a poor girl sit crying, with a bowl at her lips, for more than an hour ; and her mother, with a stick in her hand, watching her all the while, and using the stick without mercy, when- ever she observed that her daughter was not swallowing; this singular practice, instead of producing indigestion and disease, soon covers the young lady with that degree of plumpness, which, in the eye of a Moor, is perfection itself. As the Moors purchase all their clothing from the Negroes, the women are forced to be very economical in the article of dress. In general, they content themselves with a broad piece of cotton cloth, which is wrapped round the middle, and hangs round like a pettrcoat, almost to the ground: to the upper part of this, are sewed two square pieces, one before and the other behind, which are fastened together over the shoulders. The head-dress, is commonly a bandage of cotton cloth, with some parts of it broader than others, which serve to conceal the face when they walk in the sun ; frequently, however, when they go abroad, they veil themselves from head to foot. The employment of the women varies, according to their 150 TRAVELS IN THE degrees of opulence. — Queen Fatima, and a few others of high rank, like the great ladies in some parts of Europe, pass their time chiefly in conversing with their visitors, performing their devotions, or admiring their charms in a looking glass. The women of inferior class employ themselves in different domestic duties. They are very vain and talkative ; and when any thing puts them out of humour, they commonly vent their anger upon their female slaves, over whom they rule with severe and despotic authority ; which leads me to observe, that the condition of these poor captives is deplorably wretched. At daybreak, they are compelled to fetch water from the wells, in large skins called girbas; and as soon as they have brought water enough to serve the family for the day, as well as the horses (for the Moors seldom give their horses the trouble of going to the wells), they are then em- ployed in pounding the corn, and dressing the victuals. This being always done in the open air, the slaves are ex- posed to the combined heat of the sun, the sand, and the .fire. In the intervals it is their business to sweep the tent, churn the milk, and perform other domestic offices. With all this they are badly fed, and oftentimes cruelly punished. The men's dress among the Moors of Ludamar, differs but little from that of the Negroes (which has been already de- scribed,) except that they have all adopted that characteristic of the Mahomedan sect, the turban; which is here universally made of white cotton cloth. Such of the Moors as have long beards, display them with a mixture of pride and satisfaction, as denoting an Arab ancestry. Of this number was Ali himself: but among the generality of the people, the hair is short andbushy, and universally black. And here I may be INTERIOR OP AFRICA. 151 penuitted to observe, that if any one circumstance excited among them favourable thoughts towards my own person, it was my beard ; which was now grown to an enormous length, and was always beheld with approbation or envy. I believe in my conscience, they thought it too good a beard for a Christian. The only diseases which I observed to prevail among the Moors, were the intermittent fever, and dysentery ; for the cure of which, nostrums are sometimes administered by their old women ; but, in general, nature is left to her own operations. Mention was made to me of the small-pox, as being some- times very destructive ; but it had not, to my knowledge, made its appearance in Ludamar while I was in captivity. That it prevails, however, among some tribes of the Moors, and that it is frequently conveyed by them to the Negroes in the southern states, I was assured, on the authority of Dr, Laid- ley : who also informed me, that the Negroes on the Gambia practise inoculation. The administration of criminal justice, as far as I had op- portunities of observing, was prompt and decisive. For, al- though civil rights were but little regarded in Ludamar, it was necessary, when crimes were committed, that examples should sometimes be made. On such occasions, the offender was brought before Ali, who pronounced, of his sole autho- rity, what judgment he thought proper. But I understood that capital punishment was seldom or never inflicted, except on the Negroes. Although the wealth of the Moors consists chiefly in their numerous herds of cattle : yet, as the pastoral life does not afford full employment, the majority of the people are perfectly / 152 TRAVELS IN THE idle, and spend the day in trifling conversation about their horses, or in laying schemes of depredation on the Negro villages. The usual place of rendezvous for the indolent, is the King's tent ; where great liberty of speech seems to be exer- cised by the company towards each other ; while in speaking of their chief they express but one opinion. In praise of their sovereign, they are unanimous. Songs are composed in his honour, which the company frequently sing in concert ; but they are so loaded with gross adulation, that no man but a Moorish despot, could hear them without blushing. The king is distinguished by the fineness of his dress: which is com- posed of blue cotton cloth, brought from Tombuctoo, or white linen or muslin from Morocco. He has likewise a larger tent than any other person, with a white cloth over it ; but, in his usual intercourse with his subjects, all distinctions of rank are frequently forgotten. He sometimes eats out of the same bowl with his camel driver, and reposes himself, during the heat of the day, upon the same bed. The expenses of his government and househohl are defrayed by a tax upon his Negro subjects, which is paid by every householder, either in corn, cloth, or gold dust ; a tax upon the different Moorish Korrees, or watering places, which is commonly levied in cattle ; and a tax upon all merchandize which passes through the kingdom, and is generally collected in kind. But a con- siderable part of the king's revenue arises from the plunder of individuals. The Negro inhabitants of Ludamar, and the travelling merchants, are afraid of appearing rich ; for Ali, who has spies stationed in the different towns, to give him information concerning the wealth of his subjects, frequently INTERIOR OP AFRICA. 153 invents some frivolous plea for seizing their property, and reducing the opulent to a level with their fellow citizens. Of the number of All's Moorish subjects, I had no means of forming a correct estimate. The military strength of Lu- damar consists in cavalry. They are well mounted, and appear to be very expert in skirmishing and attacking by surprise. Every soldier furnishes his own horse, and finds his accoutre- ments, consisting of a large sabre, a double barrelled gun, a small red leather bag for holding his balls, and a powder horn slung over the shoulder. He has no pay, nor any remunera- tion but what arises from plunder. This body is not very numerous, for when Ali made war upon Bambarra, I was in- formed that his whole force did not exceed two thousand cavalry. They constitute, however, by what I could learn, but a very small proportion of his Moorish subjects. The horses are very beautiful, and so highly esteemed, that the Negro princes will sometimes give from twelve to fourteen slaves for one horse. Ludamar has for its northern boundary, the Great Desert of Sahara. From the best inquiries I could make, this vast ocean of sand, which occupies so large a space in Northern Africa, may be pronounced almost destitute of inhabitants : except where the scanty vegetation which appears in certain spots, affords pasturage for the flocks of a tew miserable Arabs, who wander from one well to another. In other places, where the supply of water and pasturage is more abundant, small parties of the Moors have taken up their residence. Here they live, in independent poverty, secure from the tyran- nical government of Barbary. But the greater part of the Desert, being totally destitute of water, is seldom visited by VOL. I. X 154 TRAVELS IN THE any human being: unless where the trading caravans trace out their toilsome and dangerous route across it. In some parts of this extensive waste, the ground is covered with low stunted shrubs, which serve as landmarks for the caravans, and furnish the camels with a scanty forage. In other parts the disconsolate wanderer, wherever he turns, sees nothing around him but a vast interminable expanse of sand and sky; a gloomy and barren void, where the eye finds no particular object to rest upon, and the mind is filled with painful ap- prehensions of perishing with thirst. " Surrounded by this solitude, the traveller sees the dead bodies of birds, that the violence of the wind has brought from happier regions ; and as he ruminates on the fearful length of his remaining pas- sage, listens with horror to the voice of the driving blast ; the only sound that interrupts the awful repose of the Desert."* The few wild animals, which inhabit these melancholy re- gions, are the antelope and the ostrich : their swiftness of foot enabling them to reach the distant watering-places. On the skirts of the Desert, where water is more plentiful, are found lions, panthers, elephants, and wild boars. Of domestic animals, the only one that can endure the fa- tigue of crossing the Desert, is the camel. By the particular conformation of the stomach, he is enabled to carry a supply of water sufficient for ten or twelve days ; his broad and yielding foot, is well adapted for a sandy cour.try ; and by a singular motion of his upper lip, he picks the smallest leaves from the thorny shrubs of the Desert as he passes along. The camel is, therefore, the only beast of burthen employed by the trading caravans, which traverse the Desert in different * Proceedings of the African Association, Part I. INTERIOR OP AFRICA. 155 directions, from Barbary to Nigritia. As this useful and do- cile creature has been sufKciently described by systematical writers, it is unnecessary for me to enlarge upon his properties. I shall only add, that his flesh, though to my own taste dry and unsavoury, is preferred by the Moors to any other ; and that the milk of the female is in universal esteem, and is indeed sweet, pleasant, and nutritive. I have observed that the Moors, in their complexion, resem- ble the Mulattoes of the West Indies; but they have some- thing unpleasant in their aspect, which the Mulattoes have not. I fancied that I discovered in the features of most of them, a disposition towards cruelty and low cunning ; and I could never contemplate their physiognomy without feeling sensible uneasiness. From the staring wildness of their eyes, a stranger would immediatly set them down as a nation of lunatics. The treachery and malevolence of their character, are manifested in their plundering excursions against the Negro villages. Oftentimes, without the smallest provocation, and sometimes, under the fairest professions of friendship, they will suddenly seize upon the Negroes' cattle, and even on the inhabitants themselves. The Negroes very seldom retaliate. The enterprising boldness of the 3Ioors, their knowledge of the country, and, above all, the superior fleet- ness of their horses, make them such formidable enemies, that the petty Negro states which border upon the Desert, are in continual terror while the Moorish tribes are in the vicinity, and are too much awed to think of resistance. Like the roving Arabs, the Moors frequently remove from one place to another, according to the season of the year, or the convenience of pasturage. In the month of February, 156 TRAVELS IN THE when the heat of the sun scorches up every sort of vegetation in the Desert, they strike their tents, and approach the Negro country to the south ; where they I'eside until the rains com- mence in the month of July. At this time, having purchased corn, and other necessaries from the Negroes, in exchange for salt, they again depart to the northward, and continue in the Desert until the rains are over, and that part of the country becomes burnt up and barren. This wandering and restless way of life, while it inures them to hardships, strengthens, at the same time, the bonds of their little society, and creates in them an aversion towards strangers, which is almost insurmountable. Cut oif from all intercourse with civilized nations, and boasting an advantage over the Negroes, by possessing, though in a very limited de- gree, the knowledge of letters, they are at once the vainest and proudest, and perhaps the most bigotted, ferocious, and intolerant of all the nations on the earth : combining in their character, the blind superstition of the Negro, with the savage cruelty and treachery of the Arab. It is probable that many of them had never beheld a white man before my arrival at Benowm ; but they had all been taught to regard the Christian name with inconceivable ab- horrence, and to consider it nearly as lawful to murder a Eu- ropean, as it would be to kill a dog. The melancholy fate of Major Houghton, and the treatment T experienced during my confinement among them, will, I trust, serve as a warning to future travellers to avoid this inhospitable district. The reader may probably have expected from me a more detailed and copious account of the manners, customs, super- stitions, and prejudices, of this secluded and singular people ; INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 157 but it must not be forgotten, that the wretchedness of my situation among them, aflbrded me but few opportunities of collecting information. Some particulars, however, might be added in this place ; but being equally applicable to the Ne- groes of the Southward, they will appear in a subsequent page. 158 TRAVELS IN THE CHAPTER XIII. Ali departs for Jarra, and the Author allowed to follow him thither. — The Author's faithful Servant, Demba, seized by Ali's Order, and sent back into Slavery. — Ali returns to his Camp, and permits the Author to remain at Jarra, zvho, thenceforward, meditates his Escape. — Daisy, Kiiig of Kaarta, approaching with his Army towards Jarra, the Inhabitatits quit the Town, and the Author accompanies them in their Flight. — A Party of Moors overtake him at Queira. — He gets away from them at Day-break : —is again pursued by another Party, and robbed; but finally effects his Escape. llAViNG, as hath been related, obtained permission to accoinj)any Ali to Jarra, I took leave of Queen Fatima, who with much grace and civility, returned me part of my apparel : and the evening before my departure, my horse, with the saddle and bridle, were sent me by Ali's order. Early on the morning of the 26th of May, I departed from the camp of Bubaker, accompanied by my two attendants, Johnson and Demba, and a number of Moors on horseback ; Ali, with about fifty horsemen, having gone privately from the camp during the night. We stopped about noon at Farani, and were there joined by twelve Moors riding upon camels, and with them we proceeded to a watering-place in the woods, where we overtook Ali and his fifty horsemen. They were lodged in some low shepherds' tents near the INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 159 wells. As the company was numerous, the tents could scarcely accommodate us all ; and I was ordered to sleep in the open space, in the centre of the tentsj where every one might observe my motions. During the night, there was much lightning from the north-east ; and about day-break a very heavy sand-wind commenced, which continued with great violence until four in the afternoon. The quantity of sand which passed to the westward in the course of this day, must have been prodigiously great. At times it was impos- sible to look up ; and the cattle were so tormented by the particles lodging in their ears and eyes that they ran about like mad creatures, and I was in continual danger of being trampled to death by them. May 28th. Early in the morning, the Moors saddled their horses, and Ali's chief slave ordered me to get in readiness. In a little time the same messenger returned, and taking my boy by the shoulder, told him in the Mandingo language, that " Ali was to be his master in future :" and then turning to me, " the business is settled at last (said he) : the boy, and every thing but your horse, goes back to Bubaker; but you may take the old fool (meaning Johnson the interpreter) with you to Jarra." I made him no answer; but being shocked beyond description at the idea of losing the poor boy, I hastened to Ali, who was at breakfast before his tent, sur- rounded by many of his courtiers. I told him (perhaps in rather too passionate a strain), that whatever imprudence I had been guilty of, in coming into his country, I thought I had already been sutficiently punished for it, by being so long detained ; and then plundered of all my little property ; which, however, gave me no uneasiness, when compared with 160 TRAVELS IN THE what lie had just now done to me. I observed, that the boy which he had now seized upon, was not a slave, and had been accused of no offence ; he was indeed one of iny attendants ; and his faithful services in that station, had pro- cured him his freedom ; his fidelity and attachment had made him follow me into my present situation ; and as he looked up to me for protection, I could not see him deprived of his liberty, without remonstrating against such an act, as the height of cruelty and injustice. Ali made no reply, but with a haughty air and malignant smile, told his interpreter, that if I did not mount my horse immediately, he would send me back likewise. There is something in the frown of a tyrant which rouzes the most secret emotions of the heart ; I could not suppress my feelings ; and for once entertained an indignant wish to rid the world of such a monster. Poor Demba was not less affected than myself; he had formed a strong attachment towards me, and had a cheerful- ness of disposition, which often beguiled the tedious hours of captivity : he was likewise a proficient in the Bambarra tongue, and promised on that account to be of great utility to me in future. But it was in vain to expect any thing favourable to humanity, from people who are strangers to its dictates. So having shaken hands with this unfortunate boy, and blended my tears with his, assuring him, however, that I would do my utmost to redeem him, I saw him led off by three of Ali's slaves, towards the camp at Bubaker. When the Moors had mounted their horses, I was ordered to follow them ; and after a toilsome journey through the woods, in a very sultry day, we arrived in the afternoon at a walled village, called Doombani ; where we remained two INTERIOR OP AFRICA. 161 days, waiting for tlie arrival of some horsemen from the northward. On the 1st of June we departed from Doombani towards Jarra. Our company now amounted to two hundred men, all on horseback ; for the Moors never use infantry in their wars. They appeared capable of enduring great fatigue ; but from their total want of discipline our journey to Jarra was more like a fox-cliase, than the march of an army. At Jarra, I took up my lodging at the house of my old acquaintance, Daman Jumma ; and informed him of every thing that had befallen me. I particularly requested him to use his interest with Ali, to redeem my boy, and promised him a bill upon Dr. Laidley, for the value of two slaves, the moment he brought him to Jarra. Daman very readily undertook to negociate the business ; but found that Ali con- sidered the boy as my principal interpreter, and was unwilling to part with him, lest he should fall a second time into my hands, and be instrumental in conducting me to Bambarra. Ali therefore put off the matter from day to day ; but withal told Daman, that if he wished to purchase the boy for him- self, he should have him thereafter, at the common price of a slave ; which Daman agreed to pay for him, whenever Ali should send him to Jarra. The chief object of Ali, in this journey to Jarra, as I have already related, was to procure money from such of the Kaartans as had taken refuge in his country. Some of these had solicited his protection, to avoid the horrors of war ; but by far the greatest number of them were dissatisfied men, who wished the ruin of their own sovereign. These people no sooner heard that the Bambarran army had returned to VOL. I. Y 162 TRAVELS IN THE Sego without subduing Daisy, as was generally expected, than they resolved to make a sudden attack, themselves upon him, before he could recruit his forces, which were now known to be much diminished by a bloody campaign, and in great want of provisions. With this view, they solicited the Moors to join them, and offered to hire of Ali two hundred horse- men ; which Ali with the warmest professions of friendship, agreed to furnish, upon condition that they should previously supply him witli four hundred head of cattle, two hundred garments of blue cloth, and a considerable quantity of beads and ornaments. The raising this impost somewhat perplexed them ; and in order to procure the cattle, they persuaded the king to demand one-half the stipulated number from the people of Jarra ; promising to replace them in a short time. Ali agreed to this proposal, and the same evening (June 2d) the drum was sent through the town ; and the crier announced that if any person suffered his cattle to go into the woods, the next morning, before the king had chosen his quota of them, his house should be plundered, and his slaves taken from him. The people dared not disobey the proclamation ; and next morning about two hundred of their best cattle were selected, and delivered to the Moors ; the full comple- ment was made up afterwards, by means equally unjust and arbitrary. June 8th. In the afternoon, Ali sent his chief slave to inform me, that he was about to return to Bubaker ; but as he would only stay there a few days, to keep the approaching festival [Manna Salee), and then return to Jarra., I had per- mission to remain with Daman until his return. This was joyful news to me ; but I had experienced so many disappoint- INTERIOR OP AFRICA. 163 ments, that I was unwilling to indulge the hope of its being true, until Johnson came and told me that Ali, with part of the horsemen, were actually gone from the town, and that the rest were to follow him in the morning. June 9th. Early in the morning, the remainder of the Moors departed from the town. They had, during their stay, committed many acts of robbery ; and this morning, with the most unparalleled audacity, they seized upon three girls, who were bringing water from the wells, and carried them away into slavery. The anniversary of Banna Salee, at Jarra, very well deserved to be called a festival. The slaves were all finely clad on this occasion, and the householders vied with each other in providing large quantities of victuals, which they distributed to all their neighbours with the greatest profu- sion; hunger was literally banished from the town; man, woman and child, bond and free, all had as much as they could eat. June 12. Two people, dreadfully wounded, were disco- vered at a watering-place in the woods ; one of them had just breathed his last, but the other was brought alive to Jarra. On recovering a little, he informed the people, that he had fled through the woods from Kasson ; that Daisy had made war upon Sambo, the king of that country ; had sur- prised three of his towns, and put all the inhabitants to the sword. He enumerated by name, many of the friends of the Jarra people, who had been murdered in Kasson. This intelligence made the death-howl universal in Jarra, for the space of two days. This piece of bad news was followed by another, not less 164 TRAVELS IN THE distressing. A number of runaway slaves arrived from Kaarta on the 14th, and reported that Daisy, having received information concerning the intended attack upon him, was about to visit Jarra. This made the Negroes call upon Ali for the two hundred horsemen, which he was to furnish them, according to engagement. But Ali paid very little attention to their remonstrances ; and at last plainly told them that his cavalry were otherwise employed. The Negroes, thus deserted by the Moors, and fully apprised that the King of Kaarta would show them as little clemency, as he had shown the inhabitants of Kasson, resolved to collect all their forces, and hazard a battle, before the king, who was now in great dis- tress for want of provisions, should become too powerful for them. They therefore assembled about eight hundred effective men in the whole ; and with these they entered Kaarta, on the evening of the 18th of June. June 19. This morning the wind shifted to the south- west ; and about two o'clock in the afternoon nve had a heavy tornado, or thunder squall, accompanied with rain, which greatly revived tlie face of nature, and gave a pleasant coolness to the air. This was the first rain that had fallen for many months. As every attempt to redeem my boy had hithertoo been unsuccessful, and in all probability would continue to prove so, whilst I remained in the country : I found that it was necessary for me to come to some determination concerning my own safety, before the rains should be fully set in ; for my landlord, seeing no likelihood of being paid for his trouble, began to wish me away ; and Johnson, my inter- preter, refusing to proceed, my situation became very per- INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 165 plexing. If I continued where I was, I foresaw that I must soon fall a victim to the barbarity of the Moors ; and yet if I went forward singly, it was evident that 1 must sustain great difficulties, both from the want of means to purchase the necessaries of life, and of an interpreter to make myself understood. On the other hand, to return to England without accomplishing the object of my mission, was worse tliaii either. I therefore determined to avail myself of the first opportunity of escaping, and to proceed directly for Bambarra, as soon as the rains had set in for a few days, so as to afford me the certainty of findings water in the woods. Such was my situation, when, on the evening of the 24th of June, I was startled by the report of some musquets close to the town, and inquiring the reason, was informed that the Jarra army had returned from fighting Daisy, and that this firing was by way of rejoicing. However, when the chief men of the town had assembled, and heard a full detail of the expedition, the}' were by no means relieved from their uneasiness on Daisy's account. The deceitful Moors having drawn back from the confederacy, after being hired by the Negroes, greatly dispirited tlie insurgents ; who instead of finding Daisy with a few friends concealed in the strong fortress of Gedingooina, had found hiui at a town near Joka, in the open country, surrounded by so numerous an army, that every attempt to attack him was at once given up : and the confederates only thought of enriching themselves, by the plunder of the small towns in the neighbourhood. They accordingly fell upon one of Daisy's towns, and carried off the whole of the inhabitants ; but lest intelligence of this might reach Daisy, and induce him to cut off their retreat. 166 TRAVKLS m THE they returned through the woods by night, bringing with them the slaves and cattle which they had captured. June 26tii. This afternoon a spy from Kaarta brought the alarming intelligence, that Daisy had taken Simbing in the morning, and would be in Jarra some time in the course of the esjsuing day. A number of people were immediately stationed on the tops of tlie rocks, and in the different passages leading into the town, to give early intelligence of Daisy's motion;;^, and the women set about making the necessary preparations for quitting the town as soon as possible. They continued beating corn, and packing up different articles, during the night ; and early in the morning, nearly one half of the townspeople took the road for Bambarra, by the way of Deena. Their departure was very affecting ; the women and children crying ; the men sullen and dejected ; and all of them looking back with regret on their native town, and on the wells and rocks, beyond which their ambition had never tempted them to stray, and where they had laid all their plans of future happiness ; all of which they were now forced to abandon, and to seek shelter among strangers. June 27th. About eleven o'clock in the forenoon, we were alarmed by the centinels, who brought information that Daisy was on his march towards Jarra, and that the confederate army had fled before him without firing a gun. The terror of the townspeople on this occasion is not easily to be described. — Indeed, the screams of the women and children, and the great hurry and confusion that every where prevailed, made me suspect that the Kaartans had already entered the town ; and although I had every reason to be pleased with INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 167 Daisy's behaviour to me when I was at Kemmoo, I had no wish to expose myself to the mercy of his army, who might, in the general confusion, mistake me for a Moor. I therefore mounted my horse, and taking a large bag of corn before me, rode slowly along with the townspeople, until we reached the foot of a rocky hill, where I dismounted, and drove my horse up before me. When I had reached tlie summit I sat down, and having a full view of the town, and the neigh- bouring country, could not help lamenting the situation of the poor inhabitants, who were thronging after me, driving their sheep, cows, goats, &c, and carrying a scanty portion of provisions, and a few clothes. There was a great noise and crying every where upon the road ; for many aged people and children were unable to walk, and these, with the sick, were obliged to be carried, otherwise they must have been left to certain destruction. About five o'clock we. arrived at a small farm, belonging to the Jarra people, called Kadeeja ; and here I found Daman and Johnson employed in filling large bags of corn, to be carried upon bullocks, to serve as provisions for Daman's family on the road. June 28th. At daybreak, we departed from Kadeeja : and, having passed Troongoomba, without stopping, arrived in the afternoon at Queira. I remained here two days, in order to recruit my horse, which the Moors had reduced to a perfect Rosinante, and t© wait for the arrival of some Mandingo Negroes, who were going for Bambarra in the course of a few days. On the afternoon of the 1st of July, as I was tending ray horse in the fields, Ali's chief slave and four Moors arrived at 168 TRAVELS IN THE Queira, and took up their lodging at the Dooty's house. My interpreter Johnson, who suspected the nature of this visit, sent two boys to overhear their conversation : from which he learnt that they were sent to convey me back to Bubaker. The same evening, two of the Moors came privately to look at my horse, and one of them proposed taking it to the Dooty's hut, but the other observed that such a precaution was unnecessary, as I could never escape upon such an animal. They then inquired where I slept, and returned to their companions. All this was like a stroke of thunder to me, for I dreaded nothing so much as confinement again among the Moors ; from whose barbarity I had nothing but death to expect. I therefore determined to set off immediately for Bambarra ; a measure which I thought otFered almost the only chance of saving my life, and gaining the object of my mission. I communicated the design to Jolinson, who, although he applauded my resolution, was so far from shewing any incli- nation to accompany me, that he solemnly protested, he would rather forfeit his wages, than go any farther. He told me that Daman had agreed to give him half the price of a slave for his service, to assist in conducting a coffle of slaves to Gambia, and that he was determined to embrace the opportunity of returning to his wife and family. Having no hopes therefore of persuading him to accompany me, I resolved to proceed by myself. About midnight I got my clothes in readiness, which consisted of two shirts, two pair of trowsers, two pocket-handkerchiefs, an upper and under waistcoat, a hat, and a pair of half boots ; these, with a cloak, constituted my whole wardrobe. — And I had not INTERIOR OP AFRICA. 169 one single bead, nor any other article of value iu my possession, to purchase victuals for myself, or corn for my horse. About daybreak, Johnson, who had been listening to the Moors all night, came and whispered to me that they were asleep. The awful crisis was now arrived, when I was again either to taste the blessing of freedom, or languish out my days in captivity. A cold sweat moistened my forehead as I thought on the dreadful alternative, and reflected, that one way or the other, my fate must be decided in the course of the ensuing day. But to deliberate, was to lose the only chance of escaping. So taking up my bundle, I stepped gently over the Negroes, who were sleeping in the open air, and having mounted my horse, I bade Johnson farewell, desiring him to take particular care of the papers I had entrusted him with, and inform my friends in Gambia that he had left me in good health, on my way to Bambarra. I proceeded with great caution ; surveying each bush, and frequently listening and looking behind me for the Moorish horsemen, until I was about a mile from the town, when I was surprised to find myself in the neighbourhood of a Korree, belonging to the Moors. The shepherds followed me for about a mile, hooting and throwing stones after me ; and when I was out of their reach, and had began to indulge the pleasing hopes of escaping, I was again greatly alarmed to hear somebody holla behind me; and looking back, I saw three Moors on horseback, coming after me at full speed : whooping and brandishing their double-barrelled guns. I knew it was in vain to think of escaping, and therefore turned back and met them ; when two of them caught hold VOL. I. Z 170 TRAVELS IN THE of my bridle, one on each side, and the third, presenting his musket, told me I must go back to Ali. When the human mind has for some time been fluctuating between hope and despair, tortured with anxiety, and hurried from one extreme to another, it affords a sort of gloomy relief to know the worst that can possibly happen ; such was my situation. An indifference about life, and all its enjoy- ments, had completely benumbed my faculties, and I rode back with the Moors with apparent unconcern. But a change took place much sooner than I had any reason to expect. In passing through some thick bushes, one of the Moors ordered me to untie my bundle, and shew them the contents. Having examined the different articles, they found nothing worth taking, except my cloak, which they con- sidered as a very valuable acquisition, and one of them pulling it from me, wrapped it about himself This cloak had been of great use to me ; it served to cover me from the rains in the day, and to protect me from the musketoes in the night : I therefore earnestly begged him to return it, and followed him some little way to obtain it ; but without paying any attention to my request, he and one of his companions rode off with their prize. When I attempted to follow them, the third, who had remained with me, struck my horse over the head, and presenting his musket, told me I should pro- ceed no further. I now perceived that these men had not been sent by any authority to apprehend me, but had pursued me solely in the view to rob and plunder me. Turning my horse's head there- fore once more towards the east, and observing the Moor follow the track of his confederates, I congratulated myself INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 171 on having escaped with my life, though in great distress, from such a horde of barbarians. I was no sooner out of sight of the Moor, than I struck into the woods, to prevent being pursued, and kept pushing on, with all possible speed, until I found myself near some high rocks, which I remembered to have seen in my former route from Queira to Deena: and directing my course a little to the northward, I fortunately fell in with the path. 172 TRAVELS IN THE CHAPTER XIV. The Author feels great Joy at his De/iverafice, and proceeds through the Wilderness ; but fields his situation very deplorable. — Suffers greatly from Thirst, and faints on the Sand : — recovers, and makes another Effort to push forward. — Is providentially relieved by a fall of Rain. — Arrives at a Foulah Village, where he is refused Relief by the Dooty ; but obtains Food from a poor Woman. — Continues his Journey through the Wilderness, and the next Day lights on another Foulah Village, where he is hospitably received by one of the Shepherds. — Arrives on the third Day at a Negro Tow?i called Wawra, tributary to the King of Bambarra. It is impossible to describe the joy that arose in my mind, when I looked around and concluded that I was out of danger. I felt like one recovered from sickness : I breathed freer ; I found unusual lightness in my limbs ; even the Desert looked pleasant ; and I dreaded nothing so much as falling in with some wandering parties of Moors, who might convey me ])ack to the land of thieves and murderers, from which I had just escaped. I soon became sensible, however, that my situation was very deplorable ; for I had no means of procuring food, nor prospect of finding water. About ten o'clock, perceiving a herd of goats feeding close to the road, I took a circuitous route to avoid being seen ; and continued travelling through the Wilderness, directing my course, by compass, nearly INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 173 east-south-east, in order to reach, as soon as possible, some town or village of the kingdom of Bambarra. A little after noon, when the burnina; heat of the sun was reflected with double violence from the hot sand, and the dis- tant ridges of the hills, seen through the ascending vapour, seemed to wave and fluctuate like the unsettled sea, I became faint with thirst, and climbed a tree in hopes of seeing distant smoke, or some other appearance of a human habitation ; but in vain : nothing appeared all around but thick underwood, and hillocks of white sand. About four o'clock, I came suddenly upon a large herd of goats, and pulling my horse into a bush, I watched to observe if the keepers were Moors or Negroes. In a little time I per- ceived two Moorish boys, and with some difficulty persuaded them to approach me. They informed me that the herd be- longed to Ali, and that they were going to Deena, where the water was more plentiful, and where they intended to stay, until the rain had filled the pools in the Desert. They shewed me their empty water-skins, and told me that they had seen no water in the woods. This account afforded me but little consolation ; however, it was in vain to repine, and I pushed on as fast as possible, in hopes of reaching some watering- place in the course of the night. My thirst was by this time become insufferable ; my mouth was parched and inflamed ; a sudden dimness would frequently come over my eyes, with other symptoms of fainting ; and my horse being very much fatigued, I began seriously to apprehend that I should perish of thirst. To relieve the burning pain in my mouth and throat, I chewed the leaves of different shrubs, but found them all bitter, and of no seiTice. 174 TRAVELS IN THE A little before sunset, having reached the top of a gentle rising, I climed a high tree, from the topmost branches of which I cast a melancholy look over the barren Wilderness, but without discovering the most distant trace of a human dwelling. The same dismal uniformity of shrubs and sand every where presented itself, and the horizon was as level and uninterupted as that of the sea. Descending from the tree, I found my horse devouring the stubble and brushwood with greafavidity ; and as I was now too faint to attempt walking, and my horse too much fatigued to carry me, I thought it but an act of humanity, and perhaps the last I should ever have it in my power to perform, to take off his bridle and let him shift for himself; in doing which I was suddenly affected with sickness and giddiness ; and fall- ing upon the sand, felt as if the hour of death was fast approaching. " Here then, (thought I,) after a short but iri- " effectual struggle, terminate all my hopes of being useful in " my day and generation : here must the short span of my " life come to an end." — I cast (as I believed) a last look on the surrounding scene, and whilst I reflected on the awful change that was about to take place, this world with its enjoy- ments seemed to vanish from my recollection. Nature, how- ever, at length resumed its functions ; and on recovering my senses, I found myself stretched upon the sand, with the bridle still in my hand, and the sun just sinking behind the trees. I now summoned all my resolution, and determined to make another effort to prolong my existence. And as the evening was somewhat cool, I resolved to travel as far as my limbs would carry me, in hopes of reaching (my only resource) a watering-place. With this view, I put the bridle on my hor^e. INTERIOR OP AFRICA. 175 and driving Inm before me, went slowly along for about an hour, when I perceived some lightning from the north-east ; a most delightful sight ; for it promised rain. The darkness and lightning increased very rapidly ; and in less than an hour I heard the wind roaring among the bushes. I had al- ready opened my mouth to receive the refreshing drops which I expected ; but I was instantly covered with a cloud of sand driven with such force by the wind, as to give a very disa- greeable sensation to my face and arms ; and I was obliged to mount my horse, and stop under a bush, to prevent being suffocated; The sand continued to fly in amazing quantities for near an hour, after which I again set forward, and travel- led with difficulty until ten o'clock. About this time I was agreeably surprised by some very vivid flashes of lightning, followed by a few heavy drops of rain. In a little time the sand ceased to fly, and I alighted, and spread out all my clean clothes to collect the rain, which at length I saw would cer- tainly fall. For more than an hour it rained plentifully, and I quenched my thirst, by wringing and sucking my clothes. There being no moon, it was remarkably dark, so that I was obliged to lead iny horse, and direct my way by the com- pass, which the lightning enabled me to observe. In this manner I travelled, with tolerable expedition, until past mid- night ; when the lightning becoming more distant, I was under the necessity of groping along, to the no small danger of my hands and eyes. About two o'clock my horse started at something, and looking round I was not a little surprised to see a light at a short distance among the trees, and suppos- ing it to be a town, I groped along the sand in hopes of find- ing corn-stalks, cotton, or other appearances of cultivation* 176 TRAVELS IN THE but found none. As I approached, I perceived a number of other lights in different places, and began to suspect that I had fallen upon a party of Moors. However, in my present situa- tion I was resolved to see who they were, if I could do it with safety. I accordingly led my horse cautiously towards the light, and heard by the lowing of the cattle, and the clamor- ous tongues of the herdsmen, that it was a watering-place, and most likely belonged to the Moors. Delightful as the sound of the human voice was to me, I resolved once more to strike into the woods, and rather run the risk of perishing of hunger, than trust myself again in their hands ; but being still thirsty, and dreading the approach of the burning day, I thought it prudent to search for the wells, which I expected to find at no great distance. In this pursuit, I inadvertently approached so near to one of the tents as to be perceived by a woman, who immediately screamed out. Two people came running to her assistance from some of the neighbouring tents, and passed so very near to me, that I thought I was discover- ed ; and hastened again into the woods. About a mile from this place, I heard a loud and confused noise somewhere to the right of my course, and in a short time was happy to find it was the croaking of frogs, which was heavenly music to my ears. I followed the sound, and at day- break arrived at some shallov? muddy pools, so full of frogs, that it was difiicult to discern the water. The noise they made frightened my horse, and I was obliged to keep them quiet by beating the water with a branch until he had drank. Having here quenched my thirst, I ascended a tree, and the morning being calm, I soon perceived the smoke of the watering-place which I had passed in the night ; and observed another pillar INTERIOR OP AFRICA. 177 of smoke east-south-east, distant 12 or 14 miles. Towards this I directed my route, and reached the cultivated ground a little before eleven o'clock ; where seeing a number of Ne- groes at work planting corn, I enquired the name of the town; and was informed that it was a Foulah village, belonging to Ali, called Shrilla. I had now some doubts about entering it; but my horse being very much fatigued, and the day growing hot, not to mention the pangs of hunger which be- gan to assail me, I resolved to venture ; and accordingly rode up to the Booty's house, where I was unfortunately denied admittance, and could not obtain even a handful of corn either for myself or horse. Turning from this inhospitable door, I rode slowly out of the town, and perceiving some low scat- tered huts without the walls, I directed my route towards them; knowing that in Africa, as well as in Europe, hospitality does not always prefer the highest dwellings. At the door of one of these huts, an old motherly-looking woman sat, spinning cotton ; I made signs to her that I was hungry, and inquired if she had any victuals with her in the hut. She immediately laid down her distaff, and desired me, in Arabic, to come in. When I had seated myself upon the floor, she set before me a dish of kouskous, that had been left the preceding night, of which I made a tolerable meal ; and in return for this kind- ness I gave her one of my pocket handkerchiefs ; begging at the same time, a little corn for my horse, which she readily brought me. Overcome with joy at so unexpected a deliverance, I lifted up my eyes to heaven, and whilst ray heart swelled with gra- titude, I returned thanks to that gracious and bountiful Being VOL. I. A a 178 TRAVELS IN THE whose power had supported me under so many dangers, and had now spread for me a table in the Wilderness. Whilst my horse was feeding the people began to assemble, and one of them whispered something to my hostess, which very much excited her surprise. Though I was not well ac- quainted with the Foulah language, I soon discovered that some of the men wished to apprehend and carry me back to Ali, in hopes, I suppose,- of receiving a reward. I therefore tied up the corn ; and lest any one should suspect I had ran away from the Moors, I took a northerly direction, and went cheerfully along, driving my horse before me, followed by all the boys and girls of the town. When I had travelled about two miles, and got quit of all my troublesome at- tendants, I struck again into the woods, and took shelter under a large tree, where I found it necessary to rest my- self; a bundle of twigs serving me for a bed, and my saddle for a pillow. I was awakened about two o'clock by three Foulahs, who, taking me for a Moor, pointed to the sun, and told me it was time to pray. Without entering into conversation with them, I saddled my horse and continued my journey. I tra- velled over a level, but more fertile country, than I had seen for some time, until sunset, when, coming to a path that took a southerly direction, I followed it until midnight, at which time I arrived at a small pool of rain water, and the wood being open, I determined to rest by it for the night. Having given my horse the remainder of the corn, I made my bed as formerly : but the musketoes and flies from the pool prevented sleep for some time, and I was twice disturbed in the night INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 179 by wild [beasts, which came very near, and whose bowlings kept the horse in continual terror. July 4th. At daybreak I pursued my course through the woods as formerly ; saw numbers of antelopes, wild hogs, and ostriches ; but the soil was more hilly, and not so fertile as I had found it the preceding day. About eleven o'clock I ascended an eminence, where I climbed a tree, and discovered, at about eight miles distance, an open part of the country, with several red spots, which I concluded were cultivated land ; and directing my course that way, came to the pre- cincts of a watering-place, about one o'clock. From the ap- pearance of the place, I judged it to belong to the Foulahs, and was hopeful that I should meet a better reception than I had experienced at Shrilla. In this I was not deceived ; for one of the shepherds invited me to come into his tent, and partake of some dates. This was one of those low Foulah tents in which there is room just sufficient to sit upright, and in which the family, the furniture, &c. seem huddled together like so many articles in a chest. When I had crept upon my hands and knees into this humble habitation, I found that it contained a woman and three children ; who together with the shepherd and myself, completely occupied the floor. A dish of boiled corn and dates was produced, and the master of the family, as is customary in this part of the country, first tasted it himself, and then desired me to follow his example. Whilst I was eating, the children kept their eyes fixed upon me ; and no sooner did the shepherd pronounce the word Nazarani, than they began to cry, and their mother crept slowly towards the door, out of which she sprang like a grey- hound, and was instantly followed by her children, so fright- 180 TRAVELS IN THE ened were they at the very name of a Christian, that no intreaties could induce them to approach the tent. Here I purchased some corn for my horse in exchange for some brass buttons ; and having thanked the shepherd for his hospitality, struck again into the woods. At sunset, I came to a road that took the direction for Bambarra, and resolved to follow it for the night ; but about eight o'clock, hearing some people com- ing from the southward, I thought it prudent to hide myself among some thick bushes near the road. As these thickets are generally full of wild beasts, I found my situation rather un- pleasant ; sitting in the dark, holding my horse by the nose, with both hands, to prevent him from neighing, and equally afraid of the natives without, and the wild beasts within. My fears, however, were soon dissipated ; for the people, after looking round the thicket, and perceiving nothing, went away, and I hastened to the more open parts of the wood, where I pursued my journey E. S. E. until midnight; when the joy- ful cry of frogs induced me once more to deviate a little from my route, in order to quench my thirst. Having accomplished this, from a large pool of rain water ; I sought for an open place, with a single tree in the midst, under which I made my bed for the night. I was disturbed by some wolves towards morning, which induced me to set forward a little before day: and having passed a small village called Wassalita, I came about ten o'clock (July 5th,) to a Negro town called Wawra, which properly belongs to Kaarta, but was at this time tribu- tary to Mansong, King of Bambarra. INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 181 CHAPTER XV. The Atithor proceeds to JVassihoo — is joined by some fugitive Kaartans, ■who accompany him in his Route through Bambatra. — Discovers the Niger. — Some Account of Sego, the Capital of Bambarra. — Mansong, the King, refuses to see the Author, but sends him a Present. — Great Hospitality of a Negro JVoman. Wawra is a small town surrounded with high walls, and inhabited by a mixture of Mandingoes and Fonlahs. The inhabitants employ themselves chiefly in cultivating corn, which they exchange with the Moors for salt. Here, being in security from the Moors, and very ranch fatigued, I resolved to rest myself; and meeting with a hearty welcome from the Dooty, whose name was Flancharee, I laid myself down upon a bullock's hide, and slept soundly for about two hours. The curiosity of the people would not allow me to sleep any longer. They had seen my saddle and bridle, and were assembled in great number to learn who I was, and whence I came. Some were of opinion that I was an Arab ; other? insisted that I was some Moorish Sultan ; and they continued to debate the matter with such warmth, that the noise awoke me. The Dooty (who had formerly been at Gambia) at last interposed in my behalf, and assured them that I was certainly a white man ; but he was convinced, from my appearance, that I was a very poor one. In the course of the day, several women, hearing that I 182 TRAVELS IN THE was going to Sego, came and begged me to inquire of Man- song, the king, what was become of their children. One woman, in particular, told me that her son's name was Mamadee ; that he was no Heathen, but prayed to God morning and evening, and had been taken from her about three years ago, by Mansong's army ; since which she had never heard of him. She said, she often dreamed about him; and begged me, if I should see him, either in Bambarra, or in my own country, to tell him, that his mother and sister were still alive. In the afternoon, the Dooty examined the contents of the leather bag, in which I had packed up my clothes ; but finding nothing that was worth taking, he returned it, and told me to depart in the morning. July 6th. It rained very much in the night, and at day- light I departed, in company with a Negro, who was going to a town called Dingyee for corn : but we had not proceeded above a mile, before the ass upon which he rode kicked him off, and he returned, leaving me to prosecute the journey by myself. I reached Dingyee about noon ; but the Dooty and most of the inhabitants had gone into the fields to cultivate corn. An old Foulah, observing me wandering about the town, desired me to come to his hut, where I was well entertained; and the Dooty, when he returned, sent me some victuals for myself, and corn for my horse. July 7th. In the morning, when I was about to depart, my landlord, with a great deal of diffidence, begged me to give him a lock of my hair. He had been told, he said, that white men's hair made a saphie, that would give to the possessor all the knowledge of white men. I had never INTERIOR OP AFRICA. 183 before heard of so simple a mode of education, but instantly complied with the request ; and my landlord's thirst for learning was such, that, with cutting and pulling, he cropped one side of my head pretty closely ; and would have done the same with tlie other, had I not signified my disapproba- tion by putting on my hat, and assuring him, that I wished to reserve some of this precious merchandize for a future occasion. I reached a small town called Wassiboo, about twelve o'clock, where I was obliged to stop until an opportunity should offer of procuring a guide to Satile, which is distant a very long day's journey, through woods without any beaten patl). I accordingly took up my residence at the Dooty's house, where I staid four days ; during which time I amused myself by going to the fields with the family to plant corn. Cultivation is carried on here on a very extensive scale; and, as the natives themselves express it, " hunger is never known." In cultivating the soil, the men and women work together. They use a large sharp hoe, much superior to that used in Gambia : but they are obliged, for fear of the Moors, to carry their arms with tljem to the field. The master, with the handle of his spear, marks the field into regular plats, one of which is assigned to every three slaves. On the evening of the 11 th, eight of the fugitive Kaartans arrived at Wassiboo. They had found it impossible to live under the tyrannical government of the Moors, and were now going to transfer their allegiance to the King of 13anibarra. They offered to take me along with them as far as Satile ; and I accepted the offer. July 12th. At daybreak we set out, and travelled with 184 TRAVELS IN THE uncommon expedition until sunset: we stopped only twice in the course of the day ; once at a M'atering-place in the woods, and another time at the ruins of a town, formerly belonging to Daisy, called Illa-Compe (the corn town). When we arrived in the neighbourhood of Satil^, the people who were employed in the corn fields, seeing so many horse- men took us for a party of Moors, and ran screaming away from us. The whole town was instantly alarmed, and the slaves were seen, in every direction, driving the cattle and horses towards the town. It Avas in vain that one of ©ur company galloped up to undeceive them : it only frightened them the more ; and when we arrived at the town, we found the gates shut, and the people all under arms. After a long parley, we were permitted to enter ; and, as there was every appearance of a heavy tornado, the Dooty allowed vis to sleep in his baloon, and gave us each a bullock's hide for a bed. July 13th. Early in the morning we again set forward. The roads were wet and slippery, but the country was very beautiful, abounding with rivulets, which were increased by the rain into rapid streams. About ten o'clock we came to the ruins of a village, which had been destroyed by war about six months before: and in order to prevent any town from being built there in future, the large Bentang tree, under which the natives spent the day, had been burnt down ; the wells filled up ; and every thing that could make the spot desirable, completely destroyed. About noon, my horse was so much fotigued that I could not keep up with my companions ; I therefore dismounted, and desired them to ride on, telling them, that I would follow as soon as my horse had rested a little. But I found them INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 185 unvvilliug to leave me ; the lions, they said, were very numerous in those parts, and though they might not so readily attack a body of people, they would soon find out an individual ; it was therefore agreed, that one of the company should stay with me, to assist in driving my horse, while the others passed on to Galloo, to procure lodgings, and collect grass for the horses before night. Accompanied by this worthy Negro, I drove my horse before me imtil about four o'clock, when we came in sight of Galloo, a considerable town, standing in a fertile and beautiful valley, surrounded with high rocks. As my companions had thoughts of settling in this neigh- bourhood, they had a fine sheep given them by the Dooty ; and I was fortunate enough to procure plenty of corn for my horse. Here they blow upon elephants' teeth when they announce evening prayers, in the same manner as at Kemmoo. Early next morning (July 14th), having first returned many thanks to our landlord for his hospitality, while my fellow-travellers offered up their prayers that he might never want, we set forward ; and about three o'clock arrived at Moorja: a large town, famous for its trade in salt, which the Moors bring here in great quantities, to exchange for corn and cotton cloth. As most of the people here are Mahomedans, it is not allowed to the Kafirs to drink beer, which they call JVeo-dollo (corn spirit,) except in certain houses. In one of these I saw about twenty people sitting round large vessels of this beer, with the greatest conviviality ; many of them in a state of intoxication. As corn is plentiful, the inhabitants are very liberal to strangers ; I believe we had as much corn VOL. I. B b 186 TRAVELS m TUG and milk sent us by ditferent people, as would have been sufficient for three times our number ; and though we remained here two days, we experienced no diminution of their hospitality. On the morning of the 16th, we again set forward, accom- panied by a coffle of fourteen asses, loaded with salt, bound for Sansanding. The road was particularly romantic, between two rocky hills ; but the Moors sometimes lie in wait here to plunder strangers. As soon as we had readied the open country, the master of the salt coffle thanked us for having staid with him so long, and now desired us to ride on. The sun was almost set before we reached Datliboo. In the evening we had a most tremendous tornado. The house in which we lodged, being flat-roofed, admitted the rain in streams ; the floor was soon ankle deep, the fire extinguished, and we were left to pass the night upon some bundles of fire wood, that happened to lie in a corner. July 17th. We departed from Datliboo ; and about ten o'clock passed a large coffle returning from Sego, with corn hoes, mats, and other household utensils. At five o'clock we came to a large village, where we intended to pass the night, but the Dooty would not receive us. When we departed from this place, my horse was so much fatigued that I was under the necessity of driving him, and it was dark before we reached Fanimboo, a small village ; the Dooty of which no sooner heard that I was a white man, than he brought out three old muskets, and was much dis- appointed when he was told that I could not repair them. July 18th. We continued our journey ; but, owing to a light supper the preceding night, we felt ourselves rather INTERIOR OP AFRICA. 187 hungry this morning, and endeavoured to procure some corn at a village ; but without success. The towns were now more numerous, and the land that is not employed in cultivation affords excellent pasturage for large herds of cattle ; but owing to the great concourse of people daily going to and returning from Sego, the inhabitants are less hospitable to strangers. My horse becoming weaker and weaker every day, was now of very little service to me : I was obliged to drive him before me for the greater part of the day ; and did not reach Geosorro until eight o'clock in the evening. I found my companions wrangling with the Dooty, who had absolutely refused to give or sell them any provisions ; and as none of us had tasted victuals for the last twenty-four hours, we were by no means disposed to fast another day, if we could help it. But finding our entreaties without effect, and being very much fatigued, I fell asleep, from which I was awakened, about midnight, witli the joyful information " kinnenata" (the victuals is come). This made the remainder of the night pass away pleasantly; and at daybreak, July 19th, we resumed our journey, proposing to stop at a village called Doolinkeaboo, for the night following. My fellow travellers, having better horses than myself, soon left me, and I was walking barefoot, driving my horse, when I was met by a coffle of slaves, about seventy in number, coming from Sego. They were tied together by their necks with thongs of a bullock's hide, twisted like a rope; seven slaves upon a thong ; and a man with a musket between every seven. Many of the slaves were ill conditioned, and a great number of them women. In the rear came Sidi Mahomed's servant. 188 TRAVELS IN THE whom I remembered to have seen at the camp of Benowm : be presently knew me, and told me that these slaves were going to Morocco, by the way of Ludamar, and the Great Desert. In the afternoon, as 1 approached Doolinkeaboo, I met about twenty Moors on horseback, the owners of the slaves I had seen in the morning; they were well armed with muskets, and were very inquisitive concerning me, but not so rude as their countrymen generally are. From them I learned that Sidi Mahomed was not at Sego, but had gone to Kancaba for gold-dust. When I arrived at Doolinkeaboo, I was informed that my fellow-travellers had gone on ; but my horse was so much fatigued that I could not possibly proceed after them. The Dooty of the town at mj request, gave me a draught of water, which is generally looked upon as an earnest of greater hospitality ; and I had no doubt of making up for the toils of the day, by a good supper and a sound sleep : unfortunately, I had neither one nor the other. The night was rainy and tempestuous, and the Dooty limited his hospitality to the draught of water. July 20th. In the morning, I endeavoured, both bj' entreaties, and threats, to procure some victuals from the Dooty, but in vain. I even begged some corn from one of his female slaves, as she was washing it at the well, and had the mortification to be refused. However, when the Dooty was gone to the fields, his wife sent me a handful of meal, which I mixed with water, and drank for breakfast. About eight o'clock, I departed from Doolinkeaboo, and at noon stopped a few minutes at a large Korree ; where I had some INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 181) milk given me by tlie Foulahs. And hearing that two Negroes were going from thence to Sego, I was happy to have their company, and we set out immediately. About four o'clock we stopped at a small village, where one of the Negroes met with an acquaintance, who invited us to a sort of public entertainment, which was conducted with more than common propriety. A dish made of sour milk and meal, called Sinkatoo, and beer made from their corn, was dis- tributed with great liberality; and the women were admitted into the society : a circumstance I had never before observed in Africa. There was no compulsion ; every one was at liberty to drink as he pleased : they nodded to each other when about to drink, and on setting down the calabash, commonly said berka, (thank you.) Both men and women appeared to be somewhat intoxicated, but they were far from being quarrelsome. Departing from thence, we passed several large villages, where I was constantly taken for a Moor, and became the subject of much merriment to the Bambarrans ; who, seeing me drive my horse before rne, laughed heartily at my appearance. — He has been at Mecca, says one ; you may see that by his clothes : another asked if my horse was sick ; a third wished to purchase it, &c. ; so that I believe the very slaves were ashamed to be seen in my company. Just before it was dark, we took up our lodging for the night at a small village, where I procured some victuals for myself and some corn for my horse, at the moderate price of a button ; and was told that I should see the Niger (which the Negroes call Joliba or the great water), early the next day. The lions are here very numerous: the gates are shut a little after sunset. 190 TRAVELS IN THE and nobody allowed to go out. The thoughts of seeing the Niger in the morning, and the troublesome buzzing of mus- ketoes, prevented me from shutting my eyes during the night; and I had saddled my horse, and was in readiness before daylight ; but, on account of the wild beasts, we were obliged to wait until the people were stirring, and the gates opened. This happened to be a market day at Sego, and the roads were everywhere filled with people carrying different articles to sell. We passed four large villages, and at eight o'clock saw the smoke over Sego. As we approached the town, I was fortunate enough to overtake the fugitive Kaartans, to whose kindness I had been so much indebted in my journey through Bambarra. They readily agreed to introduce me to the king ; and we rode together through some marshy ground, where, as I was anxiously looking around for the river, one of them called out, geo ajffilli (see the water) ; and looking forwards, I saw with infinite pleasure the great object of my mission ; the long sought for majestic Niger, glittering to the morning sun, as broad as the Thames at Westminster, and flowing slowly to the eastward. I hastened to the brink, and, having drank of the water, lifted up ray fervent thanks in prayer, to the Great Ruler of all things, for having thus far crowned my endeavours with success. The circumstance of the Niger's flowing towards the east, and its collateral points, did not, however, excite ray surprise; for although I had left Europe in great hesitation on this subject, and rather believed that it ran in the contrary direc- tion, I had made such frequent enquiries during my progress, concerning this river ; and received from Negroes of diflerent INTERIOR OP AFRICA. 191 nations, such clear and decisive assurances that its general course was towards the rising sun, as scarce left any doubt on my mind; and more especially as I knew that Major Houghton had collected similar information, in the same manner. Sego, the capital of Bambarra, at which I had now arrived, consists, properly speaking, of four distinct towns ; two on the northern bank of the Niger, called Sego Korro, and Sego Boo ; and two on the southern bank, called Sego Soo Korro, and Sego See Korro. They are all surrounded with high mud walls ; the houses are built of clay, of a square form, with flat roofs ; some of them have two stories, and many of them are white-washed. Besides these buildings, Moorish mosques are vSeen in every quarter ; and the streets, though narrow, are broad enough for every useful purpose, in a country where wheel carriages are entirely unknown. From the best inquiries I could make, I have reason to believe that Sego contains altogether about thirty thousand inhabitants. The King of Bambarra constantly resides at Sego See Korro ; he emplo3^s a great many slaves in conveying people over the river, and the niouey they receive (though the fare is only ten Kowrie shells fore;ich individual) furnishes a considerable revenue to the king, in the course of a year. The canoes are of a singidar construction, each of them being formed of the trunks of two large trees, rendered concave, and joined together, not side by side, but end ways; the junction being exactly across the middle of the canoe: they are tiierefore very long and disproportionably narrow, and have neither decks nor masts ; they are, however, very roomy ; for I observed in one of them four horses, and several people 192 TRAVELS IN THE crossing over the river. When we arrived at this ferry, with a view to pass over to that part of the town in which the king resides, we found a great number waiting for a passage ; they looked at me with silent wonder, and I distinguished, with concern, many Moors among them. There were three different places of embarkation, and the ferrymen were very diligent and expeditious ; but, from the crowd of people, I could not immediately obtain a passage ; and sat down upon the bank of the river, to wait for a more favourable oppor- tunity. The view of this extensive city ; the numerous canoes upon the river ; the crowded population and the cultivated state of the surrounding country, formed altogether a prospect of civilization and magnificence, which I little expected to find in the bosom of Africa. I waited more tlian two hours without having an oppor- tunity of crossing the river ; during which time the people who had crossed, carried information to Mansong the King, that a white man was waiting for a passage, and was coining to see him. He immediately sent over one of his chief men, who informed me that the king could not possibly see me until he knew what had brought me into his country ; and that I must not presume to cross the river without the king's permission. He therefore advised me to lodge at a distant village, to which he pointed, for the night ; and said that in the morning he would give rae further instructions how to conduct myself This was very discouraging. However, as there was no remedy, I set off for the village ; where I found, to my great mortification, that no person would admit me into his house. I was regarded with astonishment and fear, and was obliged to sit all day without victuals, in the shade of a INTERIOR OP AFRICA. 193 tree ; and the night threatened to be very uncomfortable, for the wind rose, and there was great appearance of a heavy rain ; and the wild beasts are so very numerous in the neigh- bourhood that I should have been under the necessity of climbing up the tree, and resting among the branches. About sunset, however, as I was preparing to pass the night in this manner, and had turned my horse loose, that he might graze at liberty, a woman, returning from the labours of the field, stopped to observe me, and perceiving that I was weary and dejected, inquired into my situation, which I briefly explained to her: whereupon, with looks of great compassion, she took up my saddle and bridle, and told me to follow her. Having conducted me into her hut, she lighted up a lamp, spread a mat on the floor, and told me I might remain there for the night. Finding that I was very hungry, she said she would procure me something to eat. She accordingly went out, and returned in a short time with a very fine fish ; which having caused to be half broiled vij on some embers, she gave me for supper. The rites of hospitality being thus performed towards a stranger in distress, my worthy benefactress (pointing to the mat, and telling me I might sleep there without apprehen- sion) called to the female part of her family, who had stood gazing on me all the while in fixed astonishment, to resume their task of spinning cotton ; in which they continued to employ themselves great part of the night. They lightened their labour by songs, one of which was composed extempore; for T was myself the subject of it. It was sung by one of the young women, the rest joining in a sort of chorus. The air was sweet and plaintive, and the words, literally translated, were these. — " The winds roared, and the rains fell. — The VOL. I. C c 194 TRAVELS IN THE *' poor white man, faint and weary, came and sat under our " tree. — He has no mother to bring- him milk ; no wife to " grind his corn. Chorus. Let us pity the white man ; no " mother has he, &c. &c." — Trifling as this recital may appear to the reader, to a person in my situation, the circumstance was affecting in the highest degree. I was oppressed by such unexpected kindness ; and sleep fled from my eyes. In the morning I presented my compassionate landlady with two of the four brass buttons which remained on my waistcoat : the only recompense I could make her. July 21st. I continued in the village all this day, in con- versation with the natives, who came in crowds to see me ; but was rather uneasy towards evening, to find that no message had arrived from the king; the more so, as the people began to whisper, that Mansong had received some very unfavourable accounts of me, from the Moors and Slatees residing at Sego ; who it seems were exceedingly suspicious concerning the motives of my journey. I learnt that many consultations had been held with the king, con- cerning my reception and disposal : and some of the villagers frankly told me, that I had many enemies, and must expect no favour. July 22d. About eleven o'clock, a messenger arrived from the king; but he gave me very little satisfaction. He inquired particularly if I had brought any present ; and seemed much disappointed when he was told that I had been robbed of every thing by the Moors. When I proposed to go along with him, he told me to stop until the afternoon, when the king would send for me. July 23d. In the afternoon another messenger arrived from INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 195 Mausong with a bag in his hands. He told me it was the king's pleasure that I shonld depart forthwith from the vicinage of Sego : but that Mansong, wishing to relieve a white man in distress, had sent me five thousand Kowries,* to enable me to purchase provisions in the course of my journey ; the messenger added that if my intentions were really to proceed to Jenne, he had orders to accompany me as a guide to Sansanding. I was, at first, puzzled to account for this behaviour of the king ; but from the conversation I had with the guide, I had afterward reason to believe that Mansong would willingly have admitted me into his presence at Sego ; but was apprehensive he might not be able to pro- tect me, against the blind and inveterate malice of the Moorish inhabitants. His conduct, therefore, was at once prudent and liberal. The circumstances under which I made ray appearance at Sego, were undoubtedly such as might create in the mind of the king, a well warranted suspicion that I wished to conceal ihe true object of my journey. He argued, probably, as my guide argued : who, when he was told, that I had come from a great distance, and through many dangers, to behold the Joliba river, naturally inquired, if there were no rivers in my own country, and whether one river was not like another. Notwithstanding this, and in * Mention has already been made of these little shells (p. 25) which pass current as raoney, in many parts of the East Indies, as well as Africa. In Bambarra, and the adjacent countries, where the necessaries of life are very cheap, one hundred of them would commonly purchase a day's provision for myself, and com for my horse. I reckoned about two hundred and fifty Kowries, equal to one shilling. 196 TRAVELS IN THE spite of the jealous niacliinations of the Moors, this benevolent prince thought it sufficient, that a white man was found in his dominions, in a condition of extreme wretchedness ; and that no other plea was necessary to entitle the sufferer to his bounty. , ■ INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 197 CHAPTER XVI. Departure from Sego, and Arrival at Kabba. — Description of .the Shea or vegetable Butter Tree. — The Author and his Guide arrive at Satisaiiding . — Behaviour of the Moors at that Place. — Th Au- thor pursues his Journey to the Eastward.— Incidetits on the Road. — Arrives at Modiboo, a7id proceeds for Kea; but obliged to leave his Horse by the fVay. — Embarks at Kea in a Fisherman's Canoe for Moorzan ; is conveyed from thence across the Niger to Silla. — Determines to proceed no further Eastward. — Some Accowit of the further Course of the Niger, and the Towns in its Vicinage, to- wards the East. Ijeing, in the manner that has been related, compelled to leave Sego, I was conducted the same evening to a village about seven miles to the eastward, with some of the inhabitants of which my guide was acquainted, and by whom we were well received.* He was very friendly and communicative, and spoke highly of the hospitality of his countrymen ; but withal told me, that if Jenne was the place of my destination, which he seemed to have hitherto doubted, I had undertaken an enterprize of greater danger than probably I was apprized of; for, although the town of Jenne was, nominally, a part of the King of Bambarra's dominions, it was in fact, he said, a city of the Moors ; the leading part of the inhabitants being Bush- * I should have before observed, that I found the language of Bambarra, a sort of corrupted Mandingo. After a little practice, I understood, and spoke it without dif- ficulty. 198 TRAVELS IN THE reens, and even the Governor himself, though appointed by Mansong, of the same sect. Thus was I in danger of falling a second time into the hands of men who would consider it not only justifiable, but meritorious, to destroy me ; and this reflection was aggravated by the circumstance that the danger increased, as I advanced in my journey : for I learned that the places beyond Jenne M'ere under the Moorish influence, in a still greater degree than Jenne itself: and Tombuctoo, the great olyect of my search, altogether in possession of that sa- vage and merciless people, who allow no Christian to live there. But I had now advanced too far to think of returning to the westward, on such vague and uncertain information, and de- termined to proceed ; and being accompanied by the guide, I departed from the village on the morning of the 24th. About eight o'clock, we passed a large town called Kabba, situated in the midst of a beautiful and highly cultivated country ; bearing a greater resemblance to the centre of England, than to what I should have supposed had been the middle of Africa. The people were every where employed in collecting the fruit of the Shea trees, from which they prepare the vegetable butter mentioned in former parts of this work. — These trees grow in great abundance all over this part of Bambarra. They are not planted by the natives, but are found grow- ing naturally in the woods ; and in clearing wood land for cultivation, every tree is cut down but the Shea. The tree itself, very much resembles the American oak ; and the fruit, from the kernel of which, being first dried in the sun, the butter is prepared, by boiling the kernel in water, has somewhat the appearance of a Spanish olive. The kernel is enveloped in a sweet pulp, under a thin green rind ; and the INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 199 butter produced from it, besides the advantage of its keeping the whole year without salt, is whiter, firmer, and, to my pa- late, of a richer flavour than the best butter I ever tasted made from cow's milk. The growth and preparation of this commo- dity, seem to be among the first objects of African industry in this and the neighbouring states; and it constitutes a main article of their inland commerce. We passed, in the course of the day, a great many villages inhabited chiefly by fishermen ; and in the evening about five o'clock arrived at Sansanding ; a very large town, con- taining, as I was told, from eight to ten thousand inhabitants. This place is much resorted to by the Moors, who bring salt from Beeroo, and beads and coral from the Mediterranean, to exchange here for gold-dust, and cotton-cloth. This cloth they sell to great advantage in Beeroo, and other Moorish countries, where, on account of the want of rain, no cotton is cultivated. I desired my guide to conduct me to the house in which we were to lodge, by the most private way possible. We accord- ingly rode along between the town and the river, passing by a creek or harbour, in which I observed twenty large canoes, most of them fully loaded, and covered with mats, to prevent the rain from injuring the goods. As we proceeded, three other canoes arrived, two with passengers, and one with goods. I was happy to find that all the Negro inhabitants took me for a Moor ; under which character I should probably have passed unmolested, had not a Moor, who was sitting by the river side, discovered the mistake, and setting up a loud exclamation, brought together a number of his countrymen. When I arrived at the house of Counti Mamadi, the Dooty 200 TRAVELS IN THE of the town, I was surrounded with hundreds of people, speak- ing a variety of different dialects, all equally unintelligible to me. At length, by the assistance of my guide, who acted as interpreter, I understood that one of the spectators pretended to have seen me atone place, and another at some other place ; and a Moorish woman absolutely swore that she had kept my house three 3'ears atGallam, on the river Senegal. It was plain that they mistook me for some either person ; and I desired two of the most confident, to point towards the place where they had seen me. They pointed due south ; hence I think it probable that they came from Cape Coast, where they might have seen many wliite men. Their language was different from any I had yet heard. The Moors now assembled in great numbers ; with their usual arrogance, compelling the Negroes to stand at a distance. They immediately began to question me concerning my religion ; but finding that I was not master of the Arabic, they sent for two men, whom they call Ilkuidi (Jews), in hopes that they might be able to converse with me. These Jews, in dress and appearance, very i)iuch resemble the Arabs ; but though they so far conform to the religion of Mahomet, as to recite, in public, prayers from the Koran, they are but little respected by the Negroes; and even the Moors themselves allowed, that though I was a Christian, I was a better man than a Jew. They, however, insisted that, like the Jews, I must conform so far as to repeat the 3Iahomedan prayers ; and when I attempted to wave the subject, by telling them that 1 could not speak Arabic, one of them, a Shereef from Tuat, in the Great Desert, started up and swore by the Prophet, that if I refused to go to the mosque, he would be one that would assist in carrying me INTKRIOR OF AFRICA. 201 thither. And there is no doubt but this threat would have been immediately executed, had not my landlord inter- posed in my behalf. He told them, that I was the king's stranger, and he could not see me ill treated, whilst I was under his protection. He therefore advised them to let me alone for the night ; assuring them, that, in the morning, I should be sent about my business. This somewhat appeased their clamour; but they compelled me to ascend a high seat, by the door of the mosque, in order that every body might see me ; for the people had assembled in such numbers as to be quite ungovernable ; climbing upon the houses, and squeezing each other, like the spectators at an execution. Upon this seat I remained until sunset, when I was conducted into a neat little hut, with a small court before it; the door of which Counti Mamadi shut, to prevent any person from disturbing me. But this precaution could not exclude the Moors. They climbed over the top of the mud-wall, and came in crowds into the court, in order, they said, to see me perform my evening' devotions, and eat eggs. The former of these ceremonies, I did not think proper to comply with ; but I told them I had no objection to eat eggs, provided they would bring me eggs to eat. My landlord immediately brought me seven hen's eggs, and was much surprised to find that I could not eat them raw ; for it seems to be a prevalent opinion among the inhabitants of the interior, that Europeans subsist almost entirely on this diet. When I had succeeded, in persuading my landlord that this opinion was without foundation, and that I would gladly partake of any victuals which he might think proper to send me ; he ordered a sheep to be killed, and part of it to be dressed for my supper. VOL. I. D d 202 TRAVELS IN THE About midnight, when the Moors had left me, he paid me a visit, and with much earnestness, desired rae to write him a saphie. " If a Moor's saphie is good, (said this hospitable old man), " a white man's must needs be better." I readily furnished him with one, possessed of all the virtues I could concentrate ; for it contained the Lord's prayer. The pen with which it was written was made of a reed ; a little charcoal and gum-water made very tolerable ink, and a thin board answered the purpose of paper. July 25th. Early in the morning, before the Moors were assembled, I departed from Sansanding, and slept the ensuing night at a small town called Sibili ; from whence, on the day following, I reached Nyara, a large town at some distance from the river, where I halted the 27th, to have my clothes washed, and recruit my horse. The Dooty there has a very commodious house, flat roofed, and two stories high. He shewed me some gunpowder of his own manufacturing : and pointed out as a great curiosity a little brown monkey, that was tied to a stake by the door, telling me that it came from a far distant country, called Kong. July 28th. I departed from Nyara, and reached Nyamee about noon. This town is inhabited chiefly by Foulahs, from the kingdom of Masina. The Dooty (I know not why), would not receive me, but civilly sent bis son on horseback, to conduct me to Modiboo ; which, he assured me, was at no great distance. We rode nearly in a direct line through the woods ; but in general went forwards with great circumspection. I observed that my guide frequently stopped, and looked under the bushes. On inquiring the reason of this caution, he told me INTERIOR OP AFRICA. 203 that lions were very numerous in that part of the country, and frequently attacked people travelling through the woods. While he was speaking, my horse started, and looking round, I observed a large animal of the camelopard kind, standing at a little distance. The neck and fore legs were very long ; the head was furnished with two short black horns, turning backwards; the tail, which reached down to the ham joint, had a tuft of hair at the end. The animal was of a mouse colour; and it trotted away from us in a very sluggish manner ; moving its head from side to side, to see if we were pursuing it. Shortly after this, as we were crossing a large open plain, where there were a few scattered bushes, my guide, who was a little way before me, wheeled his horse round in a moment, calling out something in the Foulah language, which I did not understand. I inquired in Man- dingo what he meant; Wara billi hilli, a very large lion, said he ; and made signs for me to ride away. But my horse was too much fatigued : so we rode slowly past the bush, from which the animal had given us the alarm. Not seeing any thing myself, however, I thought my guide had been mistaken, when the Foulah suddenly put his hand to his mouth, exclaiming, Soubah an alluhi (God preserve us !) and to my great surprise I then perceived a large red lion, at a short distance from the bush, with his head couched between his fore paws. I expected he would instantly spring upon me, and instinctively pulled my feet from my stirrups to throw myself on the ground, that my horse might become the victim rather than myself. But it is probable that the lion was not hungry ; for he quietly suffered us to pass, though we were fairly within his reach. My eyes were so rivetted 204 TRAVELS IN THE upon this sovereign of the beasts, that I found it impossible to remove them, until we were at a considerable distance. We now took a circuitous route, through some swampy ground, to avoid any more of these disagreeable rencounters. At sunset we arrived at Modiboo, a delightful village on the banks of the Niger, commanding a view of the river for many miles, both to the east and west. The small green islands (the peaceful retreat of some industrious Foulahs, whose cattle are here secure from the depredations of wild beasts,) and the majestic breadth of the river, which is here much larger than at Sego, render the situation one of the most enchanting in the world. Here are caught great plenty of fish, by means of long cotton nets, which the natives make themselves ; and use nearly in the same manner as nets are used in Europe. I observed the head of a crocodile lying upon one of the houses, which they told me had been killed by the shepherds, in a swamp near the town. These animals are not uncommon in the Niger ; but 1 believe they are not oftentimes found dangerous. They are of little account to the traveller, when compared with the amazing swarms of musquetoes, which rise from the swamps and creeks, in such numbers as to harrass even the most torpid of the natives ; and as my clothes were now almost worn to rags, I was but ill prepared to resist their attacks. I usually passed the night, without shutting my eyes, walking backwards and forwards, fanning myself with my hat; their stings raised numerous blisters on my legs and arms ; which, together with the want of rest, made me very feverish and uneasy. July 29th. Early in the morning, my landlord observing that I was sickly, hurried me away ; sending a servant with INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 20j me as a guide to Kea. But though T was little able to walk, my horse was still less able to carry »ie ; and about six miles to the east of Modiboo, in crossing some rough clayey ground, he fell ; and the united strength of the guide and myself, could not place him again upon his legs. I sat down for some time, beside this worn-out associate of my adventures ; but finding him still unable to rise, I took off the saddle and bridle, and placed a quantity of grass before him. I surveyed the poor animal, as he lay panting on the ground, with sympathetic emotion ; for I could not suppress the sad appre- hension, that I should myself, in a short time, lie down and perish in the same manner, of fatigue and hunger. With this foreboding, I left my poor horse ; and with great reluc- tance followed my guide on foot, along the bank of the river, until about noon ; when we reached Kea, which I found to be nothing more than a small fishing village. The Dooty, a surly old nian, who was sitting by the gate received me very coolly : and when I informed him of my situation, and begged his protection, told me, with great indifference, that he paid very little attention to fine speeches, and that I should not enter his house. My guide remonstrated in my favour, but to no purpose ; for the Dooty remained inflexible in his determination. I knew not where to rest my wearied limbs, but was happily relieved by a fishing canoe, belonging to Silla, which was at that moment coming down the river. The Dooty waved to the fisherman to come near, and desired him to take charge of me as far as Moorzan. The fisherman, after some hesitation, consented to carry me; and I embarked in the canoe, in company with the fisherman, his wife, and a boy. The Negro who had conducted me from 206 TRAVELS IN THE Modiboo, now left me ; I requested him to look to my horse on his return, and take care of him if he was still alive, which he promised to do. Departing from Kea, we proceeded about a mile down the river, when the fisherman paddled the canoe to the bank, and desired me to jump out. Having tied the canoe to a stake, he stripped off his clothes, and dived for such a length of time, that I thought he had actually drowned himself, and was surprised to see his wife behave with so much indifference upon the occasion ; but my fears were over when he raised up his head astern of the canoe, and called for a rope. With this rope he dived a second time, and then got into the canoe, and ordered the boy to assist him in pulling. At length, they brought up a large basket, about ten feet in diameter, con- taining two fine fish which the fisherman (after returning the basket into the water), immediately carried ashore, and hid in the grass. We then went a little further down, and took up another basket, in which was one fish. The fisherman now left us, to carry his prizes to some neighbouring market; and the woman and boy proceeded with me in the canoe, down the river. About four o'clock we arrived at Moorzan, a fishing town on the northern bank ; from whence I was conveyed across the river to Silla, a large town ; where I remained until it was quite dark, under a tree, surrounded by hundreds of people. But their language was very different from the other parts of Bambarra ; and I was informed that in my progress eastward, the Bambarra tongue was but little understood, and that when I reached Jenne, I should find that the majority of the inhabitants spoke a different language. INTERIOR OP AFRICA. 207 called Jennc Kummo, by tlie Negroes ; and Kulam Soudan, by the Moors. With a great deal of intreaty, the Dooty allowed me to come into his baloon, to avoid the rain ; but the place was very damp, and I had a smart paroxysm of fever during the night. Worn down by sickness, exhausted with hunger and fatigue; half naked, and without any article of value, by which I might procure provisions, clothes, or lodging ; I began to reflect seriously on my situation. I was now con- vinced by painful experience, that the obstacles to my further progress were insurmountable. The tropical rains were already set in, with all their violence ; the rice grounds and swamps were every where overflowed ; and, in a few days more, travelling of everj' kind, unless by water, would be completely obstructed. The Kowries which remained of the King of Bambarra's present, were not suflicient to enable me to hire a canoe for any great distance ; and I had but little hopes of subsisting by charity, in a country where the Moors have such influence. But above all, I perceived that I was advancing, more and more, within the power of those merciless fanatics ; and from my reception both at Sego and Sansanding, I was apprehensive, that, in attempting to reach even Jenne (unless under the protection of some man of consequence amongst them, which I had no means of obtaining), I should sacrifice my life to no purpose ; for my discoveries would perish with me. The prospect either way was gloomy. In returning to the Gambia, a journey on foot of many hundred miles, presented itself to ray contemplation, through regions and countries unknown. Nevertheless, this seemed to be the only alternative ; for I saw inevitable 208 TRAVELS IN THE destruction in attempting- to proceed to the eastward. With this conviction on my mind, I hope my readers will acknow- ledge, that I did right in going no farther. I had made every effort to execute my mission in its fullest extent, which prudence could justify. Had there been the most distant prospect of a successful termination, neither the unavoidable hardships of the journey, nor the dangers of a second captivity, should have forced me to desist. This, however, necessity compelled me to do ; and whatever may be the opinion of my general readers on this point, it affords me inexpressible satisfaction, that my honourable employers have been pleased, since my return, to express their full approbation of my conduct. Having thus brought my mind, after much doubt and perplexity, to a determination to return westward : I thought it incumbent on me, before I left Silla, to collect from the Moorish and Negro traders, all the information I could, con- cerning the further course of the Niger eastward ; and the situation and extent of the kingdoms in its vicinage ; and the following few notices I received from such various quarters, as induce me to think they are authentic. Two short daj's' journey to the eastward of Silla, is the town of Jenn6, which is situated on a small island in the river: and is said to contain a greater number of inhabitants than Sego itself, or any other town in Bambarra. At the distance of two days more, the river spreads into a consider- able lake, called Dihbie (or the dark lake), concerning the extent of which, all tlie information I could obtain was, that in crossing it, from west to east, the canoes lose sight of land one whole day. From this lake the water issues in many INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 209 different streams, whicli terminate in two large branches, one whereof flows towards the north-east, and the other to the east; but these branches join at Kabra, which is one day's journey to the southward of Tombuctoo, and is the port or shipping-place of that city. The tract of land which the two streams encircle, is called Jinbala, and is inhabited by Negroes ; and the whole distance, by land, from Jenne to Tombuctoo, is twelve days' journey. From Kabra, at the distance of eleven days* journey, down the stream, the river passes to the southward of Houssa, which is two day's journey distant from the river. Of the further progress of this great river, and its final exit, all the natives with whom I conversed, seemed to be entirely ignorant. Their commercial pursuits seldom induce them to travel further than the cities of Tombuctoo and Houssa ; and as the sole object of those journies is the acquirement of wealth, they pay but little attention to the course of rivers, or the geography of countries. It is, however, highly probable that the Niger affords a safe and easy communication between very remote nations. All my informants agreed, that many of the Negro merchants who arrive at Tombuctoo and Houssa, from the eastward, speak a different language from that of Bambarra, or any other kingdom with which they are acquainted. But even these merchants, it would seem, are ignorant of the ter- mination of the river, for such of them as can speak Arabic, describe the amazing length of its course in very general terms ; saying only that they believe it runs to the world's end. The names of many kingdoms to the eastward of Houssa, are familiar to the inhabitants of Bambarra. I was shewn quivers VOL. I. E e 210 TRAVELS IN THE and arrows of very curious workmanship, which I was in- formed came from the kingdom of Kassina. On the northern bank of the Niger, at a short distance from Silla, is the kingdom of Masina, which is inhabited by Foulahs. They employ themselves there, as in other places, chiefly in pasturage, and pay an annual tribute to the King ofBambarra, for the lands which they occupy. To the north-east of Masina, is situated the kingdom of Tombuctoo, the great object of European research : the capital of this kingdom being one of the principal marts for that ex- tensive commerce which the Moors carry on with the Negroes. The hopes of acquiring wealth in this pursuit, and zeal for propagating their religion, have filled this extensive city with Moors and Mahomedan converts ; the king himself, and all the chief officers of state are Moors ; and they are said to be more severe and intolerant in their principles than any other of the Moorish tribes in this part of Africa. I was informed by a venerable old Negro, that when he first visited Tombuctoo, he took up his lodging at a sort of public inn, the landlord of which, when he conducted him into his hut, spread a mat on the floor, and laid a rope upon it ; saying, " if you are a Mus- " sulman you are my friend, sit down ; but if you are a Kafir, " you are my slave ; ^»d with this rope I will lead you to •' market." The present King of Tombuctoo is named Abu Abrahima ; he is reported to possess immense riches. His wives and concul:)ines are said to be clothed in silk, and the chief officers of state live in considerable splendour. The whole expence of his government is defrayed, as I was told, by a tax upon merchandize, which is collected at the gates of the city. The city of Houssa (the capital of a large kingdom of the INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 211 same name, situated to the eastward of Tombuctoo,) is another great mart for Moorish commerce. I conversed with many merchants who had visited that city ; and they all agreed that it is larger, and more populous, than Tombuctoo. The trade, police, and government, are nearly the same in both : but in Houssa, the Negroes are in greater proportion to the Moors, and have some share in the government. Concerning the small kingdom of Jinbala, I was not able to collect much information. The soil is said to be remarkably fertile, and the whole country so full of creeks and swamps, that the Moors have hitherto been baflled in every attempt to subdue it. The inhabitants are Negroes, and some of them are said to live in considerable affluence, particularly those near the capital ; which is a resting-place for such merchants as transport goods from Tombuctoo to the western parts of Africa. To the southward of Jinbala, is situated the Negro kingdom of Gotto, which is said to be of great extent. It was formerly divided into a number of petty states, which were governed by their own chiefs; but their private quarrels invited inva- sion from the neighbouring kingdoms. At length a politic chief, of the name of Moosee, had address enough to make them unite in hostilities against Bambarra ; and on this occa- sion he was unanimously chosen general ; the ditferent chiefs consenting for a time to act under his command. Moosee im- mediately dispatched a fleet of canoes, loaded with provisions, from the banks of the lake Dibbie up the Niger, towards Jenne, and with the whole of his army pushed forwards into Bambarra. He arrived on the banks of the Niger opposite to Jenne, before the townspeople had the smallest intimation 212 TRAVELS IN THE of his approach : his fleet of canoes joined him the same day, and having landed the provisions, he embarked part of his army, and in the night took Jenne by storm. This event so terrified the King of Bambarra, that he sent messengers to sue for peace, and in order to obtain it, consented to de- liver to Moosee, a certain number of slaves every year ; and return every thing that had been taken from the inhabitants of Gotto. Moosee, thus triumphant, returned to Gotto, where he was declared king, and the capital of the country is called by his name. On the west of Gotto, is the kingdom of Baedoo, which was conquered by the present king of Bambarra about seven years ago, and has continued tributary to him ever since. West of Baedoo, is Maniana ; the inhabitants of which, according to the best information I was able to collect, are cruel and ferocious : carrying their resentment towards their enemies, so far as never to give quarter ; and even to indulge themselves with unnatural and disgusting banquets of human flesh. I am well aware that the accounts which the Negroes give of their enemies, ought to be received with great caution ; but I heard the same account in so many different kingdoms, and from such variety of people, whose veracity I had no oc- casion to suspect, that I am disposed to allow it some degree of credit. The inhabitants of Bambarra, in the course of a long and bloody war, must have had frequent opportunities of satisfying themselves as to the fact ; and if the report had been entirely without foundation, I cannot conceive why the term Madummulo (man eaters), should be applied exclusively to the inhabitants of Maniana. INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 213 CHAPTER XVII. The Author returns JVestzvard — arrives at Modiboo, and recovers his Horse^inds great Difficulty in travelling, in consequence of the Rains, and the overflowing of the River; — is informed that tlie King of Bambarra had sent Persons to appreliend him ; — avoids Sego, arid prosecutes his Journey along the banks of the JViger. — Incidents on the Road — Cruelties attendant on African fVars.—^ The Author crosses the River Frina, and arrives at Tafiara. Having, for the reasons assigned in the last Chapter, deter- mined to proceed no farther eastward than Silla, I acquainted the Dooty with my intention of returning to Sego, proposing to travel along the southern side of the river ; but he informed me, that from the number of creeks and swamps on that side, it was impossible to travel by any other route than along the northern bank ; and even that route, he said, would soon be impassable, on account of the overflowing of the river. How- ever, as he commended my determination to return westward, he agreed to speak to some one of the fishermen to carry me over to Moorzan. I accordingly stepped into a canoe about eight o'clock in the morning of July 30th, and in about an hour was landed at Moorzan. At this place I hired a canoe for sixtj' Kowries, and in the afternoon arrived at Kea ; where, for forty Kowries more, the Dooty permitted me to sleep in the same hut with one of his slaves. This poor Negro, perceiving that I was sickly, and that my clothes were very ragged, humanely lent me a large cloth to cover me for the night. 214 TRAVELS IN THE July 31st. The Dooty's brother being going to Modiboo, I embraced the opportunity of accompanying him thither, there being no beaten road. He promised to carry my saddle, which I had left at Kea when my horse fell down in the woods, as I now proposed to present it to the king of Bambarra. We departed from Kea at eight o'clock, and about a mile to the westward observed, on the bank of the river, a great number of earthen jars, piled up together. They were very neatly formed, but not glazed ; and were evidently of that sort of pottery which is manufactured at Downie (a town to the west of Tombuctoo), and sold to great advantage in different parts of Bambarra. As we approached towards the jars, my companion plucked up a large handful of herbage, and threw it upon them ; making signs for me to do the same, which I did. He then with great seriousness, told me that these jars belonged to some supernatural power ; that they were found in their present situation about two years ago : and as no person had claimed them, every traveller as he passed them, from respect to the invisible proprietor, threw some grass, or the branch of a tree, upon the heap, to defend the jars from the rain. Thus conversing, we travelled in the most friendly manner until, unfortunately, we perceived the footsteps of a lion, quite fresh in the mud, near the river side. My companion now proceeded with great circumspection ; and at last, coming to some thick wndervvood, he insisted that I should walk before him. I endeavoured to excuse myself, by alleging that I did not know the road ; but he obstinately persisted ; and after a few high words and menacing looks, threw down the saddle INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 215 and went away. This very much disconcerted me : but as I liad given up all hopes of obtaining a liorse, I could not think of encumbering myself with the saddle: and taking off the stirrups and girths, I threw the saddle into the river. The Negro no sooner saw me throw the saddle into the water, than he came running from among the bushes where he had con- cealed himself, jum|)ed into the river, and by help of his spear, brought out the saddle, and ran away with it. I con- tinued my course along the bank ; but as the wood was remarkably thick, and I had reason to believe that a lion was at no great distance, I became much alarmed, and took a long circuit through the bushes to avoid him. About four in the afternoon I reached Modiboo, where I found my saddle. The guide, who had got there before me, being afraid that I should inform the king of his conduct, had brouyht the saddle with him in a canoe. While I was conversing with the Dooty, and remonstrating against the guide for having left me in such a situation, I heard a horse neigh in one of the huts ; and theDooty inquired, with a smile, if I knew who was speaking to me ? He ex- plained himself, by telling me that my horse was still alive, and somewhat recovered from his fatigue ; but he insisted that I should take him along with me ; adding, that he had once kept a Moor's horse for four months, and when the horse had recovered and got into good condition, the Moor returned and claimed it, and refused to give him any reward for his trouble. August 1st. I departed from Modiboo, driving my horse before me : and in the afternoon reached Nyamee, where I remained three days ; during which time it rained without 216 TRAVELS IN THE intermission, and with such violence, that no person could venture out of doors. Aug. 5th. I departed from Nyamee ; but the country was so deluged, that I was frequently in danger of losing the road, and had to wade across the savannahs for miles together, knee deep in water. Even the corn ground, which is the driest land in the country, was so completely flooded, that my horse twice stuck fast in the mud, and was not got out without the greatest difficulty. In the evening of the same day I arrived at Nyara, where I was well received by the Dooty ; and as the 6th was rainy, I did not depart until the morning of the 7th ; but the water had swelled to such a height, that in many places the road was scarcely passable ; and though I waded breast deep across the swamps, I could only reach a small village called Nemaboo, where, however, for an hundred Kowries, I pro- cured from some Foulahs, plenty of corn for my horse, and milk for myself. Aug. 8th. The difficulties I had experienced the day before, made me anxious to engage a fellow-traveller ; par- ticularly as 1 was assured, that, in the course of a few days, the country would be so completely overflowed, as to render the road utterly impassable; but though I ofl\?red two hundred Kowries for a guide, nobody would accompany me. However, on the morning following, (August 9th,) a Moor and his wife, riding upon two bullocks, and bound for Sego with salt, passed the village : and agreed to take me along with them : but I found them of little service ; for they were wholly unacquainted with the road, and being accustomed to a sandy soil, were very bad travellers. Instead of wading INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 217 before the bullocks, to feel if the ground was solid, the woman boldly entered the first swamp, riding upon the top of the load ; but when she had proceeded about two hundred yards, the bullock sunk into a hole, and threw both the load and herself among the reeds. The frightened husband stood for some time seemingly petrified with horror, and suffered his wife to be almost drowned before he went to her assistance. About sunset we reached Sibity : but the Dooty received me very coolly ; and when I solicited for a guide to Sansanding, he told me his people were otherwise employed. I was shewn into a damp old hut, where I passed a very uncomfortable night ; for when the walls of the hut are softened by the rain, they frequently become too weak to support the weight of the roof. I heard three huts fall during the night, and was apprehensive that the hut I lodged in would be the fourth. In the morning, as I went to pull some grass for my horse, I counted fourteen huts which had fallen in this manner, since the commencement of the rainy season. It continued to rain with great violence all the 10th ; and as the Dooty refused to give me any provisions, I purchased some corn, which I divided with ui}' horse. Aug. 11th. The Dooty compelled me to depart from the town, and I set out for Sansanding, without any great hopes of faring better there than I had done at Sibity ; fori learned from people who came to visit me, that a report prevailed, and was universally believed, that I had come to Bambarra as a spy ; and as Mansong had not admitted me into his presence, the Dooties of the different towns were at liberty to treat me in what manner they pleased. From repeatedly VOL. I. F f 218 TRAVELS IN THE hearing the same story, I liad no doubt of the trutli of it ; but as there was no alternative, I determined to proceed, and a little before sunset I arrived at Sansanding. My reception was what I expected. Counti Mamadi, who had been so kind to me formerly, scarcely gave me welcome. Every one wished to shun me, and my landlord sent a person to inform me, that a very unfavourable report was received from Sego concerning me, and that he wished me to depart early in the morning. About ten o'clock at night, Counti Mamadi him- self came privately to me, and informed me, that Mansong had dispatched a canoe to Jenne to bring me back ; and he was afraid I should find great difficulty in going to the west country. He advised me, therefore, to depart from Sansanding before daybreak ; and cautioned me against stopping at Dig- gani, or any town near Sego. Aug. 12. I departed from Sansanding, and reached Kabba in the afternoon. As I approached the town, I was surprised to see several people assembled at the gate ; one of whom, as I advanced, came running towards me and taking my horse by the bridle, led me round the walls of the town ; and then pointing to the west, told me to go along, or it would fare worse with me. It was in vain that I represented the danger of being benighted in the woods, exposed to the inclemency of the weather, and to the fury of wild beasts. " Go along," was all the answer ; and a number of people coming up, and urging me in the same manner with great earnestness, I suspected that some of the king's messengers, who were sent in search of me, were in the town ; and that these Negroes, from mere kindness, conducted me past it with a view to facilitate my escape. I accordingly took the road for Sego^ INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 219 with the uncomfortable prospect of passing the night on the branches of a tree. After travelling about three miles, I came to a small village near the road. The Dooty was splitting sticks by the gate ; but I found I could have no admittance ; and when I attempted to enter, he jumped up, and with the stick he held in his hand threatened to strike me off the horse, if I presumed to advance another step. At a little distance from this village (and farther from the road), is another small one. I conjectured, that being rather out of the common route the inhabitants might have fewer objections to give me house room for the night ; and having crossed some corn fields, I sat down under a tree by the well. Two or three women came to draw water ; and one of them perceiving I was a stranger, inquired whither I was going. I told her I was going for Sego, but being benighted on the road, I wished to stay at the village until morning ; and begged she would acquaint the Dooty with my situation. In a little time the Dooty sent for me, and permitted me to sleep in a large baloon, in one corner of which was constructed a kiln for drying the fruit of the Shea trees : it contained about half a cart-load of fruit, under which was kept up a clear wood fire. I was informed, that in three days the fruit would be ready for pounding and boiling ; and that the butter thus manufactured, is preferable to that which is prepared from fruit dried in the sun ; especially in the rainy season ; when the process by insolation is always tedious, and oftentimes inefl^ectual. Aug. 13th. About ten o'clock I reached a small village within half a mile of Sego, where I endeavoured, but in vain, to procure some provisions. Every one seemed anxious to 220 TRAVELS IN THE avoid me ; and I could plainly perceive, b}' the looks and behaviour of Ihe inhabitants, that some very unfavourable accounts had been circulated concerning me. I was again informed, that Mansong had sent people to apprehend me ; and the Dooty's son told me I had no time to lose, if I wished to get safe out of Bambarra. I now fully saw the danger of my situation, and determined to avoid Sego altogether. I accordingly mounted my horse, and taking the road for Diggani, travelled as fast as I could, until I was out of sight of the villagers, when I struck to the westward, through high grass and swampy ground. About noon, I stopped under a tree, to consider what course to take ; for I had now no doubt but that the Moors and Slatees had misinformed the king respecting the object of my mission, and that the people were absolutely in search of me to convey me a prisoner to Sego. Sometimes I had thoughts of swimming my horse across the Niger, and going to the southward for Cape Coast ; but re- flecting that I had ten days to travel before I should reach Kong, and afterward an extensive country to traverse, inhabited by various nations, with whose language and manners I was totally unacquainted, I relinquished this scheme, and judged, that I should better answer the purpose of my mission, by proceeding to the westward along the Niger, endeavouring to ascertain how far the river was navi- gable in that direction. Having resolved upon this course, I proceeded accordingly ; and a little before sunset arrived at a Foulah village called Sooboo, where, for two hundred Kowries, I procured lodging for the night. Aug, 14th. I continued my course along the bank of the river, through a populous and well cultivated country. I INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 221 passed a walled town called Kamalia,* without stopping ; and at noon rode through a large town called Samee, where there happened to be a market, and a number of people assembled in an open place in the middle of the town, selling cattle, cloth, corn, &c. I rode through the midst of them without being much observed ; every one taking me for a Moor. In the afternoon I arrived at a small villasre called Binni, where I agreed with the Booty's son, for one hundred Kowries, to allow me to stay for the night ; but when the Dooty returned, he insisted that I should instantly leave the place ; and if his wife and son had not interceded for me, I mnst have complied. Aug. loth. About nine o'clock I passed a large town called Sai, which very much excited ray curiosity. It is completely surrounded by two very deep trenches, at about two hundred yards distant from the walls. On the top of the trenches are a number of square towers ; and the whole has the appear- ance of a regular fortification. Inquiring into the origin of this extraordinary entrenchment, I learned from two of the townspeople the following particulars ; which, if true, furnish a mournful picture of the enormities of African wars. About fifteen years ago, when the present King of Bambarra's father desolated Maniana, the Dooty of Sai had two sons slain in battle, fighting in the king's cause. He had a third son living; and when the king demanded a further reinforce- ment of men, and this youth among the rest, the Dooty refused to send him. This conduct so enraged the king, that when he returned from Maniana, about the beginning of the rainy season, and found the Dooty protected by the inha- * There is another town of this name hereafter to be mentioned. 222 TRAVELS IN THE bitants, he sat down before Sai with his army, and surrounded the town with the trenches I had now seen. After a siege of two months, the townspeople became involved in all the horrors of famine ; and whilst the king's army were feasting in their trenches, they saw with pleasure, the miserable inha- bitants of Sai devour the leaves and bark of the Bentang tree that stood in the middle of the town. Finding, however, that the besieged would sooner perish than surrender, the king had recourse to treachery. He promised, that if they would open the gates, no person should be put to death, nor suffer any injury but the Dooty alone. The poor old man determined to sacrifice himself, for the sake of his fellow citizens, and immediately walked over to the king's army, where he was put to death. His son, in attempting to escape, was caught and massacred in the trenches ; and the rest of the towns- people were carried away captives, and sold as slaves to the different Negro traders. About noon I came to the village of Kaimoo, situated upon the bank of the river ; and as the corn I had purchased at Sibili, was exhausted, I endeavoured to purchase a fresh supply ; but was informed that corn was become very scarce all over the country ; and though I offered fifty Kowries for a small quantity, no person would sell me any. As I was about to depart, however, one of the villagers (who probably mistook me for a Moorish shereef) brought me some as a present ; only desiring me in return, to bestow my blessing upon him ; which I did in plain English, and he received it with a thousand acknowledgments. Of this present I made my dinner ; and it was the third successive day that I had subsisted entirely upon raw corn. INTERIOR OP AFRICA. 223 In the evening I arrived at a small village called Song, the surly inhabitants of which would not receive me, nor so much as permit me to enter the gate ; but as lions were very numerous in this neighbourhood, and T had frequently, in the course of the day, seen the impression of their feet on the road, I resolved to stay in the vicinity of the village. Having collected some grass for my horse, I accordingly lay down under a tree by the gate. About ten o'clock I heard the hollow roar of a lion at no great distance, and attempted to open the gate ; but the people from within told me, that no person must attempt to enter the gate without the Dooty's permission. I begged them to inform the Dooty that a lion was approaching the village, and I hoped he would allow me to come within the gate. I waited for an answer to this message with great anxiety ; for the lion kept prowling round the village, and once advanced so very near me, that I heard him rustling among the grass, and climbed the tree for safety. About midnight the Dooty with some of his people opened the gate, and desired me to come in. They were convinced, they said, that I was not a Moor ; for no Moor ever waited any time at the gate of a village, without cursing the inhabitants. Aug. ]6th. About ten o'clock I passed a considerable town, with a mosque, called Jabbe. Here the country begins to rise into hills, and I could see the summits of high moun- tains to the westward. I had very disagreeable travelling all this day, on account of the swampiness of the roads ; for the river was now risen to such a height, as to overflow great part of the flat land on both sides : and from the muddiness of the water, it was difficult to discern its depth. In crossing 224 TRAVELS IN THE one of these swamps, a little to the westward of a town called Gangu, my horse being- up to the belly in water, slipt sud- denly into a deep pit, and was almost drowned before he could disengage his feet from the stiff clay at the bottom. Indeed both the horse and his rider were so completely covered with mud, that in passing the village of Callimana, the people compared us to two dirty elephants. About noon I stopped at a small village near Yamina, where I purchased some corn, and dried my papers and clothes. The town of Yamina, at a distance, has a very fine appear- ance. It covers nearly the same extent of ground as Sansan- ding ; but having been plundered by Daisy, King of Kaarta, about four y6ars ago, it has not yet resumed its former prosperity ; nearly one half of the town being nothing but a heap of ruins : however, it is still a considerable place, and is so much frequented by the Moors, that I did' not think it safe to lodge in it : but, in order to satisfy myself respecting its population and extent, I resolved to ride through it ; in doing which I observed a great many Moors sitting upon the Bentangs, and other places of public resort. Every body looked at me with astonishment ; but as I rode briskly along, they had no time to ask questions. I arrived in the evening at Farra, a walled village ; where, without much difficulty, I procured a lodging for the night.^ Aug. 17th. Early in the morning I pursued my journey, and at eight o'clock passed a considerable town called Balaba: after which the road quits the plain, and stretches along the side of the hill. I passed in the course of this day the ruins of three towns ; the inhabitants of which were all carried away by Daisy, King of Kaarta, on the same day that he INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 225 took and plundered Yamina. Near one of these ruins I climbed a tamarind tree, but found the fruit quite green and sour ; and the prospect of the country was by no means inviting ; for the high grass and bushes seemed completely to obstruct the road, and the low lands were all so flooded by the river, that the Niger had the appearance of an extensive lake. In the evening I arrived at Kanika, where the Dooty, who was sitting upon an elephant's hide at the gate, received me kindly ; and gave me for supper, some milk and meal ; which I considered (as to a person in my situation it really was) a very great luxury. Aug. 18th. By mistake I took the wrong road, and did not discover my error until I had travelled near four miles ; when coming to an eminence, I observed the Niger con- siderably to the left. Directing my course towards it, I travelled through long grass and bushes, with great difficulty, until two o'clock in the afternoon ; when I came to a com- paratively small, but very rapid river ; which I took at first for a creek, or one of the streams of the Niger. However, after I had examined it with more attention, I was convinced that it was a distinct river; and as the road evidently crossed it (for I could see the pathway on the opposite side), I sat down upon the bank, in hopes that some traveller might arrive, who would give me the necessary information con- cerning the fording place ; for the banks were so covered with reeds and bushes, that it would have been almost impossible to land on the other side, except at the pathway ; which, on account of the rapidity of the stream, it seemed very difficult to reach. No traveller, however, arriving, and there being a great appearance of rain, I examined the grass and bushes, VOL. I. O s 226 TRAVELS IN THE for some way up the bank, and determined upon entering the river considerably above the pathway, in order to reach the other side before the stream had swept me too far down. With this view I fastened my clothes upon the saddle, and was standing up to the neck in water, pulling my horse by the bridle to make him follow me, when a man came acci- dentally to the place, and seeing me in the water, called to me with great vehemence to come out. The alligators, he said, would devour both me and my horse, if we attempted to swim over. When I had got out, the stranger, who _^had never before seen a European, seemed wonderfully surprised. He twice put his hand to his mouth, exclaiming in a low tone of voice, " God preserve me! who is this?" but when he heard me speak the Bambarra tongue, and found that I was going the same way as himself, he promised to assist me in crossing the river ; the name of which, he told me, was Frina. He then went a little way along the bank, and called to some person, who answered from the other side. In a short time, a canoe with two boys, came paddling from among the reeds : these boys agreed for fifty Kowries, to transport me and my horse over the river, which was effected without much difficulty ; and I arrived in the evening at Taffara, a walled town ; and soon discovered that the language of the natives was improved, from the corrupted dialect of Bambarra, to the pure Mandingo. INTERIOR OP AFRICA. 227 CHAPTER XVIir. Inhospitable Reception at Taffara. — A Negro Funeral at Sooha. — The Author continues his route through several Villages along the Banks of the Niger, until he comes to Koolikorro. — Supports himself by writing Saphies — reaches Maraboo — loses the Road; and after many difficulties arrives at Bammakoo. — Takes the road for Sibidooloo — meets with great Kindness at a Village called Kooma; — is aftei-wards robbed, stripped, and plundered by Ban- ditti. — The Author's Resource and Consolation under exquisite Distress. — He arrives in Safety at Sibidooloo. On my arrival at Tatfara, I inquired for the Dooty, but was informed that he had died a iew days before ray arrival, and that there was, at that moment, a meeting of the chief men for electing another; there being some dispute about the succession. It was probably owing to this unsettled state of the town, that I experienced such a want of hospitality in it; for though I informed the inhabitants that I should only remain with them for one night, and assured them that Mansong had given me some Kowries to pay for my lodging, yet no person invited me to come in ; and I was forced to sit alone under the Ben tang tree, exposed to the rain and wind of a tornado, which lasted with great violence until midnight. At this time, the stranger, who had assisted me in crossing the river, paid me a visit, and observing that I had not found a lodging, invited me to take part of his supper, which he 228 TRAVELS IN THE had brought to the door of his hut : for being a guest himself he could not, without his landlord's consent, invite me to come in. After this, I slept upon some wet grass in the cor- ner of a court. My horse fared still worse than myself; the corn I had purchased being all expended, and I could not procure a supply. Aug. 20th. I passed the town of Jaba, and stopped a few minutes at a village called Somino, where I begged and ob- tained some coarse food, which the natives prepare from the husks of corn, and call Boo. About two o'clock I came to the village of Sooha, and endeavoured to purchase some corn from the Dooty, who was sitting by the gate ; but without success. I then requested a little food by way of charity, but was told he had none to spare. Whilst I was examining tlie counte- nance of this inhospitable old man, and endeavouring to find out the cause of the sullen discontent, which was visible in his eye, he called to a slave who was working in the corn field at a little distance, and ordered him to bring his hoe along with him. The Dooty then told him to dig a hole in the ground, pointing to a spot at no great distance. The slave, with his hoe, began to dig a pit in the earth ; and the Dooty, who ap- peared to be a man of a very fretful disposition, kept mutter- ing and talking to himself until the pit was almost finished, when he repeatedly pronounced the words dankatoo (good for nothing); janJira lemen (a real plague); which expressions I thought could be applied to nobody but myself; and as the pit had very much the appearance of a grave, I thought it prudent to mount my horse, and was about to decamp, when the slave, who had before gone into the village, to my surprise, returned with the corpse of a boy about nine or ten years of INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 229 age, quite naked. The Negro carried the body by a leg and an arm, and threw it into the pit with a savage indifference, which I had never before seen. As he covered the body with earth, the Dooty often expressed himself, naphula attiniata (money lost); whence I concluded that the boy had been one of his slaves. Departing from this shocking scene, I travelled by the side of the river until sunset, when I came to Koolikorro ; a con- siderable town, and a great market for salt. Here I took up ray lodging at the house of a Bambarran, who had formerly been the slave of a Moor, and in that character had travelled to Aoran, Towdinni, and many other places in the Great De- sert ; but turning Mussulman, and his master dying at Jenne, he obtained his freedom, and settled atthis place, where he carries on a considerable trade in salt, cotton-cloth, &c. His knowledge of the world has not lessened that superstitions confidence in saphies and charms, which h^had imbibed in his earlier years ; for when he heard that I was a Christian, he imuiediately thought of procuring a saphie ; and for this purpose brought out his walha, or writing board ; assuring rae, that he would dress me a supper of rice, if I would write him a saphie to protect him from wicked men. The proposal was of too great consequence to me to be refused ; I therefore wrote the board full from top to bottom, on both sides ; and my landlord, to be certain of having the whole force of the charm, washed the writing from the board into a calabash with a little water, and having said a few prayers over it, drank this powerful draught ; after which, lest a single word should escape, he licked the board until it was quite dry. A saphie writer was a man of too great consequence to be 230 TRAVELS IN THE long concealed ; the important information was carried to the Dooty, who sent his son with half a sheet of writing paper, desiring me to write him a naphula saphie (a charm to procure wealth). He brought me, as a present, some meal and milk, and when I had finished the saphie, and read it to him with an audible voice, he seemed highly satisfied with his bargain, and promised to bring me in the morning some milk for my breakfast. When I had finished my supper of rice and salt, I laid myself down upon a bullock's hide, and slept very quietly until morning ; this being the first good meal and refreshing sleep that I had enjoyed for a long time. Aug. 21st. At daybreak I departed from Koolikorro, and about noon passed the villages of Kayoo, and Toolumbo. In the afternoon I arrived at Maraboo; a large town, and, like Koolikorro, famous for its trade in salt. I was conducted to the house of a Kaartan, of the tribe of Jower, by whom I was well received. This man had acquired a considerable property in the slave trade : and from his hospitality to strangers, was called by way of pre-eminence, Jattee (the landlord); and his house was a sort of public inn for all travellers. Those who had money were well lodged, for they always made him some return for his kindness ; but those who had nothing to give, were content to accept whatever he thought proper ; and as I could not rank myself among the monied men, I was happy to take up my lodging in the same hut with seven poor fel- lows who had come from Kancaba in a canoe. But our land- lord sent us some victuals. Aug, 22d. One of the landlord's servants went with me a little way from the town to shew me what road to take ; but whether from ignorance or design I know not, he directed pie INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 231 wrong ; and I did not discover my mistake until the day was far advanced : wlien, coining to a deep creek, I had some thoughts of turning back ; but as by that means, I foresaw that I could not possibly reach Banimakoo before night, I re- solved to cross it ; and leading my horse close to the brink, I went behind him, and pushed him headlong into the water ; and then taking the bridle in my teeth, swam over to the other side. This was the third creek I had crossed in this manner, since I had left Sego : but having secured my notes and memorandums in the crown of my hat, I received little or no inconvenience from such adventures. The rain and heavy dew kept my clothes constantly wet ; and the roads being very deep and full of mud, such a washing was sometimes pleasant, and oftentimes necessary. I continued travelling, through high grass, without any beaten road, and about noon came to the river ; the banks of which are here very rocky, and the force and roar of the water were very great. The King of Bambarra's canoes, however, frequently pass these rapids, by keeping close to the bank ; persons being stationed on the shore with ropes fastened to the canoe, while others push it forward with long poles. At this time, however, it would, I think, have been a matter of great difficulty for any European boat to have crossed the stream. About four o'clock in the af- ternoon, having altered my course from the river towards the mountains, I came to a small pathway, which led to a village called Frookaboo, where I slept. Aug. 23. Early in the morning I set out for Bammakoo, at which place I arrived about five o'clock in the afternoon. I had heard Bammakoo much talked of as a great market for salt, and I felt rather disappointed to find it only a middling 232 TRAVELS IN THE town, not quite so large as Marraboo ; however, the smallness of its size, is more than compensated by the riches of its inha- bitants ; for when the Moors bring their salt through Kaarta or Bambarra, they constantly rest a few days at this place ; and the Negro merchants here, who are well acquainted with the value of salt in different kingdoms, frequently purchase by wholesale, and retail it to great advantage. Here I lodged at the house of a Sera-Woolli Negro, and was visited by a number of Moors. They spoke very good Mandingo, and were more civil to me than their countrymen had been. One of them had travelled to Rio Grande, and spoke very highly of the Chris- tians. He sent me in the evening some boiled rice and milk. I now endeavoured to procure information concerning my route to the westward, from a slave merchant who had resided some years on the Gambia. He gave me some imperfect ac- count of the distance, and enumerated the names of a great many places that lay in the way ; but withal told me, that the road was impassable at this season of the year; he was even afraid, he said, that I should find great difficulty in pro- ceeding any farther ; as the road crossed the Joliba at a town about half a day's journey to the westward of Bammakoo ; and there being no canoes at that place large enough to receive my horse, I could not possibly get him over for some months to come. This was an obstruction of a very serious nature ; but as I had no money to maintain myself even for a few days, I resolved to push on, and if I could not convey my horse across the river, to abandon him, and swim over myself. In thoughts of this nature I passed the night, and in the morning consulted with my landlord how I should surmount the present difficulty. He informed me that one road still INTKUIOR OP AFRICA. 233 remained, which was indeed very rocky, and scarcely passable for horses ; bnt that if I liad a proper guide over the hills to a town called Sibilooloo, he had no doubt, but with patience and caution, I might travel forwards through Manding. I. immediately applied to the Dooty, and was informed that a Jilli Kea (singing man) was about to depart for Sibidooloo, and would shew me the road over the hills. With this man, who undertook to be my conductor, I travelled up a rocky glen about two miles, when we came to a small village ; and here my musical fellow-traveller found out that he had brought me the wrong road. He told me that the horse road lay on the other side of the hill, and throwing his drum upon his back, mounted up the rocks, where indeed no horse could follow him, leaving me to admire his agility, and trace out a roadfor myself. As I found it impossible to proceed, I rode back to the level ground, and directing my course to the east- ward, came about noon to another glen, and discovered a path on which I observed the marks of horses feet : following this path, I came in a short time to some shepherds' huts, where I was inf(»rmed that I was in the right road, but that I could not possibly reach Sibidooloo before night. Soon after this I gained the summit of a hill, from whence I had an extensive view of the country. Towards the south-east, appeared some very distant mountains, which I had formerly seen from an eminence near Marraboo, where the people informed me, that these mountains were situated in a large and powerfnl kingdom called Kong ; the sovereign of which could raise a much greater army than the king of Bambarra. Upon this height the soil is shallow ; the rocks are iron-stone and schis- tus, with detached pieces of white quartz. VOL. r. H h 234 TRAVELS IN THE A little before sunset, I descended on the north-west side of this ridge of hills, and as I was looking about for a convenient tree under which to pass the night (for I had no hopes of reaching any town), I descended into a delightful valley, and soon afterwards arrived at a romantic village called Kooma. This village is surrounded by a high wall, and is the sole property of a Mandingo merchant, who fled hither with his family during a former war. The adjacent fields yield him plenty of corn, his cattle roam at large in the valley, and the rocky hills secure him from the depredations of war. In this obscure retreat he is seldom visited by strangers, but when- ever this happens, he makes the weary traveller welcome. I soon found myself surrounded by a circle of the harmless villagers. They asked me a thousand questions about my country ; and, in return for my information, brought corn and milk for myself, and grass for my horse : kindled a fire in the hut where I was to sleep, and appeared very anxious to serve me. Aug. 25th. I departed from Kooma, accompanied by two shepherds, who were going towards Sibidooloo. The road was very steep and rocky, and as my horse had hurt his feet much in coming from Bammakoo, he travelled slowly and with great difficulty ; for in many places the ascent was so sharp, and the declivities so great, that if he had made one false step, he must inevitably have been dashed to pieces. The shepherds being anxious to proceed, gave themselves little trouble about me or my horse, and kept walking on at a considerable distance. It was about eleven o'clock, as I stopped to drink a little water at a rivulet (my companions being near a quarter of a mile before me), that I heard some INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 235 people calling to each other, and presently a loud screaming, as from a person in great distress. I immediately conjectured that a lion had taken one of the shepherds, and mounted my horse to have a better view of what had happened. The noise, however, ceased ; and I rode slowly towards the place from whence I thought it had proceeded, calling out; but without receiving any answer. In a little time, however, I perceived one of the shepherds lying among the long grass near the road ; and though I could see no blood upon him, I concluded he was dead. But when I came close to him, he whispered me to stop ; telling me that a party of armed men had seized upon his companion, and shot two arrows at himself as he was making his escape. I stopped to consider what course to take, and looking round, saw at a little dis- tance a man sitting upon the stump of a tree ; I distinguished also the heads of six or seven more, sitting among the grass, with muskets in their hands. I had now no hopes of escaping, and therefore determined to ride forward towards them. As I approached them, I was in hopes they were elephant hunters : and by way of opening the conversation, inquired if thej' had shot any thing ; but without returning an answer, one of them ordered me to dismount ; and then, as if recol- lecting himself, waved with his hand for me to proceed. I accordingly rode past, and had with some difficulty crossed a deep rivulet, when I heard somebody holloa ; and looking behind, saw those I had taken for elephant hunters, running after me, and calling out to me to turn back. I stopped until they were all come up ; when they informed me that the King of the Foulahs had sent them on purpose to bring me, my horse, and every thing that belonged to me, to 236 TRAVELS IN THE Fooladoo ; and that therefore I must turn back, and go along with them. Without hesitating a moment, I turned round and followed them, and we travelled together near a quarter of a mile, without exchanging a word ; when coming to a dark place of the wood, one of them said, in the Mandingo language, " this place will do;" and immediately snatched my hat from my head. Though I was by no means free of apprehension, yet I resolved to shew as few signs of fear as possible, arid therefore told them that unless my hat was returned to me, I should proceed no further. But before I had time to receive an answer, another drew his knife, and seizing upon a metal button which remained upon my waist- coat, cut it off, and put it into his pocket. Their intentions were now obvious ; and I thought that the easier they were permitted to rob me of every thing, the less I had to fear. I therefore allowed them to search my pockets without resistance, and examine every part of my apparel, which they did with the most scrupulous exactness. But observing that I had one waistcoat under another, they insisted that I should cast them both off; and at last, to make sure work, stripped me quite naked. Even my half boots (though the sole of one of them was tied on to my foot with a broken bridle rein), were minutely inspected. Whilst they were examining the plunder, I begged them, with great earnestness, to return my pocket compass ; but when I pointed it out to them, as it was lying on the ground, one of the banditti, thinking I was about to take it up, cocked his musket, and swore that he would lay me dead on the spot, if I presumed to put my hand upon it. After this, some of them went away with my horse, and the remainder stood considering whether they INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 237 should leave me quite naked, or allow me something to shelter me from the sun. Humanity at last prevailed : they returned me the worst of the two shirts, and a pair of trowsers ; and, as they went away, one of them threw back my hat, in the crown of which I kept my memorandums ; and this was probably the reason they did not wish to keep it. After they were gone, I sat for some time looking around me with amazement and terror. Which ever way I turned, nothing appeared but danger and difficulty. I saw myself in the midst of a vast wilderness in the depth of the rainy season, naked and alone ; surrounded by savage animals, and men still more savace. I was five hundred miles from the nearest European settlement. All these circumstances crowded at once on my recollection ; and I confess that my spirits began to fail me. I considered my fate as certain, and that I had no alternative, but to lie down and perish. The influence of religion, howevei*, aided and supported me. I reflected that no human prudence or foresight, could possibly have averted my present suflTerings. I was indeed a stranger in a strange land, yet I was still under the protecting eye of that Providence who has condescended to call himself the stranger's friend. At this moment, painful as my reflections were, the extraordinary beauty of a small moss in fructifica- tion, irresistiblj' caught my eye. I mention this to shew from what trifling circumstances the mind will sometimes derive consolation ; for though the whole plant was not larger than the top of one of my fingers, I could not con- template the delicate conformation of its roots, leaves, and capsula, without admiration. Can that Being (thought I), who planted, watered, and brought to pertection, in this 238 TRAVELS IN THE obscure part of the world, a thing which appears of so small importance, look with unconcern upon the situation and sufferings of creatures formed after his own image ? — surely not ! Reflections like these, would not allow me to despair. I started up, and disregarding both hunger and fatigue, travelled forwards, assured that relief was at hand ; and I was not disappointed. In a short time I came to a small village, at the entrance of which I overtook the two shep- herds who had come with me from Kooma. They were much surprised to see me ; for they said, they never doubted that the Foulahs, when they had robbed, had murdered me. Departing from this village, we travelled over several rocky ridges, and at sunset arrived at Sibidooloo ; the frontier town of the kingdom of Handing. INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 239 CHAPTER XIX. Government of Handing. — The Author's Reception by the Mansa, or chief Man of Sibidooloo, who takes Measures for the Recovery of his Horse and Effects. — the Author removes to Wonda ; — great Scarcity, and its afflicting Consequences. — The Author recovers his Horse and Clothes. — presents his Horse to the Mansa: ajid pro- secutes his Journey to Katnalia — Some Account of that Town. — 77!^ Author's ki?id Reception by Karfa Taura, a Slatee, who proposes to go to the Gambia in the next dry Season, with a Caravan of Slaves. — The Author's Sickness, and Determination to remain and accompany Karfa. 1 HE town of Sibidooloo is situated in a fertile valley, sur- rounded with high rocky hills. It is scarcely accessible for horses, and during the frequent wars between the Bambarrans, Foulahs, and Mandingoes, has never once been plundered by an enemy. When I entered the town, the people gathered round me, and followed me into the baloon ; where I was presented to the Dooty or chief man, who is here called Mansa, which usually signifies king. Nevertheless, it appeared to me that the government of Manding was a sort of republic, or rather an oligarchy ; every town having a particular Mansa, and the chief power of the state, in the last resort, being lodged in the assembly of the whole body. I related to the Mansa, the circumstances of my having been robbed of my horse and apparel : and my story was confirmed by 240 TRAVELS IN THE the two shepherds. He continued smoking his pipe all the time I was speaking ; but I Iiad no sooner finished, than taking his pipe from his mouth, and tossing up the sleeve of his coat with an indignant air, " sit down (said he), you shall " have every thing restored to you ; I have sworn it:" — and then turning to an attendant, " give the white man (said he) " a draught of water ; and with the first light of the morning " go over the hills, and inform the Dooty of Bammakoo, that " a poor white man, the King of Bambarra's stranger, has " been robbed by the King of Fooladoo's people." I little expected, in my forlorn condition, to meet with a man who could thus feel for my sufi*erings. I heartily thanked the Mansa for his kindness, and accepted his invitation to remain with him until the return of the messenger. I was conducted into a hut, and had some victuals sent me ; but the crowd of people, which assembled to see me, all of whom commiserated my misfortunes, and vented impreca- tions against the Foulahs, prevented me from sleeping until past midnight. Two days I remained without hearing any intelligence of my horse or clothes ; and as there was at this time a great scarcity of provisions, approaching even to famine, all over this part of the country, I was unwilling to trespass any farther on the Mansa's generosity, and begged permission to depart to the next village. Finding me very anxious to proceed, he told me that I might go as far as a town called Wonda, where he hoped T would remain a few days, until I heard some account of my horse, &c. ^ I departed accordingly on the next morning of the 28th, and stopped at some small villages for refreshment. I was presented atone of them with a dish which I had never before INTERIOR OP AFRICA. 241 seen. It was composed of the blossoms or antherce of the maize, stewed in milk and water. It is eaten only in time of great scarcity. On the 30th, about noon, I arrived at Wonda ; a small town with a mosque, and surrounded by a high wall. The Mansa, who was a Mahometlan, acted in two capacities: as chief magistrate of the town, and schoolmaster to the chil- dren. He kept his school in an open shed, where I was desi- red to take up my lodging, until some account should arrive from Sibidooloo, conc^erning my horse and clothes ; for though the horse was of little use to me, yet the few clothes were es- sential. The little raiment upon me could neither protect me from the sun by day, nor the dews and musquetoes by night: indeed, my shirt was not only worn thin, like a piece of mus- lin, but withal was so very dirty, that I was happy to embrace an opportunity of washing it ; which having done, and spread it upon a bush, I sat down naked, in the shade, until it was dry. Ever since the commencement of the rainy season, my health had been greatly on the decline. I had often been affected with slight paroxysms of fever; and from the time of leav- ing Bammakoo, the symptoms had considerably increased. As I was sitting in the manner described, the fever returned with such violence, that it very much alarmed me ; the more so, as I had no medicine to stop its progress, nor any hope of obtaining that care and attention which my situation required. I remained at Wonda nine days ; during which time I ex- perienced the regular return of the fever every day. And though I endeavoured as much as possible to conceal my dis- tress from my landlord, and frequently lay down the whole day, out of his sight, in a corn field ; conscious how burthensome VOL. I. I i 242 TRAVELS IN THE I was to liini and his family, in a time of such scarcity ; yet I found that he was apprized of my situation : and one morning as I feigned to be asleep by the tire, he observed to his wife, that they were likely to find me a very troublesome and charge- able guest ; for that, in my present sickly state, they should be obliged, for the sake of their good name, to maintain me until I recovered, or died. The scarcity of provisions was certainly felt at this time most severely by the poor people, as the following circum- stance most painfully convinced me. Every evening during my stay, I observed five or six women come to the Mansa's house, and receive each of them a certain quantity of corn. As I knew how valuable this article was at this juncture, I inquired of the Mansa, whetlier he maintained these poor wo- men from pure bounty, or expected a return when the harvest should be gathered in. " Observe that boy," said he, (pointing to a fine child, about five years of age); " his mother has " sold him to me, for forty days' provision for herself and the " rest of her family. I have bought another boy in the same " manner." Good God, thought I, what must a mother sutler, before she sells her own child ! I could not get this melancholy subject out of my mind, and the next night, when the women returned for their allowance, I desired the boy to point out to me his mother, which he did. She was much emaciated, but had nothing cruel or savage in her countenance ; and when she had received her corn, she came and talked to her son, with as much cheerfulness as if he had still been under her care. Sept. 6th. Two people arrived from Sibidooloo, bringing with them my horse and clothes ; but I found that my pocket INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 243 compass was broken to pieces. This was a great loss, which I could not repair. Sep. 7th. As iny horse was grazing near the brink of a well, the ground gave way, and he fell in. The well was about ten feet diameter, and so very deep, that when I saw my horse snorting in the water, I thought it was impossible to save him. The inhabitants of ihe village, however, imme- diately assenibied, and having tied together a number of withes* they lowered a man down into the well, who fastened those withes round the body of the horse ; and the people, having first drawn up the man, took hold of the withes, and to my great surprise pulled the horse out with the greatest facility. The poor animal was now reduced to a mere skele- ton, and the roads were scarcely passable, being either very rocky, or else full of mud and water ; I therefore found it im-"" practicable to travel with him any farther, and was happy to leave him in the hands of one who I thought would take care of him. I accordingly presented him to my landlord; and desired him to send my saddle and bridle, as a present to the Mansa of Sibidooloo ; being the only return I could make him for having taken so much trouble in procuring my horse and clothes. I now thought it necessary', sick as I was, to take leave of my hospitable landlord. On the morning of Sept. 8th, when I was about to depart, he presented me with his spear as a token of remembrance, and a leather bag to contain my clothes. Having converted my half boots into sandals, I tra- velled with more ease, and slept that night at a village called Ballanti. On 'the 9th, I reached Nemacoo ; but the Mansa * From a plant called kabba, that climbs like a vine upon the trees. 244 TRAVELS IN THE of the village tliouglit fit to make me sup upon the camelion's dish. By way of apology, however, he assured me the next morning, that the scarcity of corn was such, that he could not possibly allow me any. I could not accuse him of unkind- ness, as the people actually appeared to be starving. Sept. 10th. It rained hard all day, and the people kept themselves in their huts. In the afternoon I was visited by a Negro, named Modi Lemina Taura, a great trader, who sus- pecting my distress, brought me some victuals ; and pro- mised to conduct me to his house at Kinyeto the day fol- lowing Sept. 11th. I departed from Nemacoo, and arrived at Kin- yeto in the evening ; but having hurt my ankle in the way, it swelled and inflamed so much that I could neither walk, nor set my foot to the ground, the next day, without great pain. My landlord observing this, kindly invited me to stop with him a few days ; and I accordingly remained at his house until the 14th ; by which time I felt much relieved, and could walk with the help of a staff. I now set out, thanking my landlord for his great care and attention ; and being accom- panied by a young man, who was travelling the same way, I proceeded for Jerijang, a beautiful and well cultivated district, the Mansa of which is reckoned the most powerful chief of any in Manding. On the 15th, I reached Dosita, a large town, where I staid one day on account of the rain ; but continued very sickly, andw as slightly delirious in the night. On the 17th, I set out for Mansia, a considerble town, where small quantities of gold are collected. The road led over a high rocky hill, and my strength and spirits were so much exhausted, that INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 245 before I conld reach the top of the hill I was forced to lie down three times, being very faint and sickly. I reached Mansia in the afternoon. The Mansa of this town had the character of being very iniiospitable ; he, however, sent me a little corn for my supper, but demanded something in return ; and when I assured him that I had nothing of value in my possession, he told me (as if in jest), that my white skin should not defend me, if I told him lies. He then shewed me the hut wherein I was to sleep ; but took away my spear, saying that it should be returned to me in the morning. This trifling circumstance, when joined to the character I had heard of the man, made me rather suspicious of him ; and I privately desired one of the inhabitants of the place, who had a bow and quiver, to sleep in the same hut with me. About midnight, I heard somebody approach the door, and observing the moonlight strike suddenly into the hut, I started up, and saw a man stepping cautiously ever the threshold. I inimediately snatched up the Negro's bow and quiver, the rattling of which made the man withdraw ; and my companion looking out, assured me that it was the Mansa himself, and advised me to keep awake until the morning. I closed the door, and placed a large piece of wood behind it ; and was wondering at this unexpected visit, when somebody pressed so hard against the the inhabitants. I hud fre- quently, in the course of my journey, observed parties of this description, but they were all males. I had, tiowever, an op- portunity of seeing a female Solimana, at Kamalia. In the course of the celebration, it frequently happens that some of the young women get married. If a man takes a fancy to ;iny one of them it is not considered as absolutely ne- cessary, that he should make an overture to the girl herself The first object is to agree with the parents, concerning the recoupense to be given them, for the loss of the company and services of their daughter. The value of two slaves is a common price, unless the girl is thought very handsome ; in 260 TRAVELS IN THE which case, the parents will raise their demand very conside- ral)ly.- If the lover is rich enoui^h, and willing to give the sum demanded, he then communicates his wishes to the dam- sel ; but her consent is by no means necessary to the match ; for if the parents agree to it, and eat a few kolla-nuts, which are presented by the suitor as an earnest of the bargain, the young lady must either have the man of (heir choice, or con- tinue unmarried, for she cannot afterwards be given to another. If the parents should attempt it, the lover is then authorized by the laws df the country, to seize upon the girl as his slave. When the day for celebrating the nuptials is fixed on, a select number of people are invited to be present at the wed- ding : a bullock or goat is killed, and great plenty of victuals dressed for the occasion. As soon as it is dark, the bride is conducted into a hut, where a company of matrons assist in arranging the wedding dress, 'which is always white cotton, and is put on in such a manner as to conceal the bride from head to foot. Thus arrayed, she is seated upon a mat, in the middle of the floor, and the old women place themselves in a circle round her. They then give her a series of instructions, and point out, with great propriety, what ought to be her fu- ture conduct in life. This scene of instruction, however, is frequently interrupted by girls, who amuse the company with songs and dances, which are rather more remarkable for their gaiety than delicacy. While the bride remains within the hut with the women, the bridegroom devotes his attention to the guests of both sexes, who assemble without doors, and by distributing among them small presents of kolla-nuts, and seeing that every one partakes of the good cheer which is provided, he contributes much to the general hilarity of the INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 2GI evening. When supper is ended, the company spend the remainder of the night in singing and dancing, and seldom separate until day break. About midniglit, the bride is pri- vately conducted by the women into the hut which is to be her future residence ; and the bridegroom, upon a signal given, retires from his company. The new married couple, however, are always disturbed towards morning by the women, who assemble to inspect the nuptial sheet (according to the man- ners of the ancient Hebrews, as i-ecorded in scripture), and dance round it. This ceremony is thought indispensably ne- cessary, nor is the marriage considered as valid without it. The Negroes, as hath been frequently observed, whether Mahomedan or Pagan, allow a plurality of wives. The Mahomedans alone, are by their religion confined to four ; and as the husband commonly pays a great price for each, he requires from all of them the utmost- deference and submis- sion, and treats them more like hired servants than com- panions. They have, however, the management of domestic affairs, and each in rotation is mistress of the household, and has the care of dressing the victuals, overlooking the female slaves, &c. But though the African husbands are possessed of great authorit}' over their wives, I did not observe, that in general they treat them with cruelty ; neither did I perceive that mean jealousy in their dispositions, which is so prevalent among the Moors. They permit their wives to partake of all public diversions, and this indulgence is seldom abused ; for though the Negro women are very cheerful and frank in their behaviour, they are by no means given to intrigue: I believe that instances of conjugal infidelity are not common. When, the wives quarrel among themselves, a circumstance which 262 TRAVELS IN THE from the nature of their situation, must frequently happen, the husband decides between them ; and sometimes finds it necessary to administer a little corporal chastisement, before tranquillity can be restored. But if any one of the ladies com- plains to the chief of the town, that her husband has unjustly punished her, and shewn an undue partiality to some other of his wives, the affair is brought to a public trial. In these joa- lavers, however, which are conducted chiefly by married men, I was informed that the complaint of the wife, is not always considered in a very serious light ; and the complainant her- self, is sometimes, convicted of strife and contention, and left without remedy. If she murmurs at the decision of the court, the magic rod of Mumbo Jumbo soon puts an end to the business. The children of the Mandingoes are not always named after their relations ; but frequently in consequence of some remark- able occurrence. Thus, my landlord at Kamalia, was called Karfa, a word signifying to replace ; because he was born shortly after the death of one of his brothers. Other names are descriptive of good or bad qualities ; as Modi, " a good man ;" Fadibba, " father of the town," &c. : indeed the very names of their towns have something descriptive in them ; as Sibidooloo, " the town of ciboa trees ;" Kenneyeto, " victuals here;" Z)osi/a, "lift your spoon." Others seem to be given by way of reproach, as JBammakoo, " wash a crocodile ;" Karan- kalla, " no cup to drink from," &c. A child is named, when it is seven or eight days old. The ceremony commences by shav- ing the infant's head ; and a dish caUedDega, made of pounded corn and sour milk, is prepared for the guests. If the parents are rich, a sheep or a goat is commonly added. The feast is INTERIOR OP AFRICA. 263 called Ding koon lee, " the child's head shaving." Dnriug my stay at Kamalia, I was present at four different feasts of this kind, and the ceremony was the same in each, whether the child belonged to a Bushreen or a Kafir. The .schoolmas- ter, who officiated as priest on these occasions, and who is ne- cessarily a Bu.shreen, first said a long prayer over the dega ; during which every person present took hold of the brim of the calabash with his right hand. After this, the schoolmas- ter took the child in his arms, and said a second prayer; in which he repeatedly solicited the blessing of God upon the child, and upon all the company. When this prayer was ended, he whispered a few sentences in the child's ear, and spit three times in its face ; after which he pronounced its name aloud, and returned the infant to the mother. This part of the ceremony being ended, the father of the child di- vided the dega\\\io?L number of balls, one of which he distri- buted to every person present. And inquiry was then made, if any person in the town was dangerously sick, it being usual, in such cases, to send the party a large portion of the dega ; which is thought to possess great medical virtues.* Among the Negroes every individual, besides his own pro- per name, has likewise a kontong, or surname, to denote the family or clan to which he belongs. Some of these families are very numerous and powerful. It is impossible to enume- rate the various kontongs which are found in differents parts of the country ; though the knowledge of many of them is of great service to the traveller : for as every Negro plumes him- * Soon after baptism, the children are marlone minkalli. 298 TRAVELS IN THE ininkalli ;) — a chicken, one teelee-kissi — a sheep, three teelee- kissi — a bullock, one minkalli — ahorse, from ten to seventeen niinkallies. The Negroes weigh the gold in small balances, which they always carry about them. They make no difference in point of value, between gold dust and wrought gold. In bartering one article for auother, the person who receives the gold, always weighs it with his own teelee-kissi. These beans are sometimes fraudulently soaked in Shea-butter, to make them heavy ; and I once saw a pebble ground exactly into the form of one of them : but such practices are not very common. Having now related the substance of what occurs to my recollection concerning the African mode of obtaining gold from the earth, and its value in barter, I proceed to the next article, of which I proposed to treat, namely, ivory. Nothing creates a greater surprise among the Negroes on the sea coast, than the eagerness displayed by the European traders to procure elephants' teeth ; it being exceedingly difficult to make them comprehend to what use it is applied. Although they are shewn knives with ivory hafts, combs, and toys of the same material, and are convinced that the ivory thus manufactured, was originally parts of a tooth, they are not satisfied. They suspect that this commodity is more frequently converted in Europe, to purposes of far greater importance ; the true nature of which is studiously con- cealed from them, lest the price of ivory should he enhanced. They cannot, they say, easily persuade themselves, that ships would be built, and voyages undertaken, to procure an article, which had no other value than that of furnishing INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 299 handles to knives, &c. when pieces of wood would answer the purpose equally well. Elephants are very numerous in the interior of Africa, but they appear to be a distinct species from those found in Asia. Blumenbach, in his figures of objects of natural history, has given good drawings of a grinder of each ; and the variation is evident. M. Cuvier also has given in the Magazin Encjj- clopedique, a clear account of the diiference between them. As I never examined the Asiatic elephant, I have chosen rather to refer to those writers, than advance this as an opinion of my own. It has been said that the African elephant is of a less docile nature than the Asiatic, and incapable of being tamed. The Negroes certainly do not at present tame them ; but when we consider that the Cartha- ginians had always tame elephants in their armies, and actually transported some of them to Italy in the course of the Punic wars : it seems more likely that they should have possessed the art of taming their own elephants, than have submitted to the expense of bringing such vast animals from Asia. Perhaps, the barbarous practice of hunting the African elephants for the sake of their teeth, has rendered them more untractable and savage, than they were found to be in former times. The greater part of the ivory which is sold on the Gambia and Senegal rivers, is brought from the interior country. The lands towards the Coast are too swampy, and too much intersected with creeks and rivers, for so bulky an animal as the elephant to travel through, without being discovered ; and when once the natives discern the marks of his feet in the earth, the whole village is up in arms. The thoughts of 300 TRAVELS IN THE feasting on liis flesh, making sandals of his hide, and selling the teeth to the Europeans, inspire every one with courage ; and the animal seldom escapes from his pursuers ; but in the plains of Bambarra and Kaarta, and the extensive wilds of Jallonkadoo, the elephants are very numerous ; and, from the great scarcity of gunpowder in those districts, they are less annoyed by the natives. Scattered teeth are frequently picked up in the woods, and travellers are very diligent in looking for them. It is a common practice with the elephant, to thrust his teeth under the roots of such shrubs and bushes as grow in the more dry and elevated parts of the country where the soil is shallow. These bushes he easily overturns, and feeds on the roots, which are in general more tender and juicy than the hard woody branches, or the foliage ; but when the teeth are partly decayed by age, and the roots more firmly fixed, the great exertions of the animal, in this practice, frequently causes them to break short. At Kamalia I saw two teeth ; one, a very large one ; which were found in the woods, and which were evidently broken off in this manner. Indeed it is difficult otherwise to account for such a large proportion of broken ivory, as is daily otfered for sale, at the different factories ; for when the elephant is killed in hunting, unless he dashes himself over a precipice, the teeth are always ex- tracted entire. There are certain seasons of the year when the elephants collect into large herds, and traverse the country in quest of food or water ; and as all that part of the country to the north of the Niger, is destitute of rivers, whenever the pools in the woods are dried up, the elephants approach towards INTERIOR OP AFRICA. 301 the banks of that river. Here they continue until the com- mencement of the rainy season, in the months of June or July ; and during this time they are much hunted by such of the Bambarrans as have gunpowder to spare. The elephant hunters seldom go out singly: a party of four or five join together ; and having each furnished himself with powder and ball, and a quantity of corn-meal in a leather bag, suf- ficient for five or six days' provision, they enter the most unfrequented parts of the wood, and examine with great care every thing that can lead to the discovery of the elephants. In this pursuit, notwithstanding the bulk of the animal, very great nicety of observation is required. The broken branches, the scattered dung of the animal, and the marks of his feet, are carefully inspected ; and many of the hunters have, by long experience, and attentive observation, become so expert in their search, that as soon as they observe the footmarks of an elephant, they will tell almost to a certainty at what time it passed, and at what distance it will be found. When they discover a herd of elephants, they follow them at a distance, until they perceive some one stray from the rest, and come into such a situation as to be fired at, with advantage. The hunters then approach with great caution, creeping amongst the long grass, until they have got near enough to be sure of their aim. They then discharge all their pieces at once, and throw themselves on their faces among the grass. The wounded elephant immediately applies his trunk to the different wounds, but being unable to extract the balls, and seeing nobody near him, becomes quite furious, and runs about amongst the bushes, until by fatigue and loss of blood he has exhausted himself, and affords the hunters an 302 TRAVELS IN THE opportunity of firing a second time at him, by which he is generally brought to the ground. The skin is now taken off, and extended on the ground with pegs, to dry ; and such parts of the flesh as are most esteemed, are cut up into thin slices, and dried in the sun, to serve for provisions on some future occasion. The- teeth are struck out with a light hatchet, which the hunters always carry along with them ; not only fur that purpose, but also to enable them to cut down such trees as contain honey ; for though they carry with them only five or six days' provisions, they will remain in the woods for months, if they are suc- cessful ; and support themselves upon the flesh of such elephants as they kill, and wild honey. The ivory thus collected, is seldom brought down to the Coast by the hunters themselves. They dispose of it to the itinerant merchants, who come annually from the Coast with arms and ammunition to purchase this valuable ciuumodity. Some of these merchants will collect ivory in the course of one season, sufficient to load four or five asses. A great quantity of ivory is likewise brought Irom (he interior, by the slave coffles ; there are, however, some Slatees, of the Maho- medan persuasion, who from motives of religion, will not deal in ivory, nor eat of the flesh of the elephant, unless it has been killed with a spear. The quantity of ivory collected in this part of Africa, is not so great, nor are the teeth in general, so large as in the countries nearer the Line: few of them weigh more than 80 or 100 pounds; and upon an average a bar of European merchandise may be reckoned as the price of a pound of ivory. I have now, I trust, in this and the preceding Chapters, INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 303 explained with sufficient minuteness, the nature and extent of the commercial connection which at present prevails, and lias l(»ng subsisted, between the Negro natives of those parts of Africa which I visited, and the nations of Europe ; and it appears that slaves, gold, and ivory, together with the few articles enumerated in the beginning of my work, viz. bees- wax and honey, hides, gums, and dye woods, constitute the whole catalogue of exportable commodities. Other produc- tions, however, have been incidentally noticed as the growth of Africa ; such as grain of different kinds, tobacco, indigo, cotton-wool, and perhaps a few others ; but all of these (which can only be obtained by cultivation and labour), the natives raise sufficient only for their own immediate expen- diture ; nor, under the present system of their laws, manners, trade and government, can any thing farther be expected from them. It cannot, however, admit of a doubt, that all the rich and valuable productions, both of the East and West Indies, might easily be naturalized, and brought to the utmost perfection, in the tropical parts of this immense con- tinent. Nothing is wanting to this end, but example, to enlighten the minds of the natives; and instruction, to enable them to direct their industry to proper objects. It was not possible for me to behold the wonderful fertility of the soil, the vast herds of cattle, proper both for labour and food, and a variety of other circumstances favourable to colonization and agriculture ; and reflect, withal, on the means which presented themselves of a vast inland navigation, without lamenting that a country, so abundantly gifted and favoured by nature, should remain in its present savage and neglected state. Much more did I lament, that a people of manners 304 TRAVELS IN THE and disposition so gentle and benevolent, should either be left as they now are, immersed in the gross and uncomfortable blindness of pagan superstition, or permitted to become con- verts to a system of bigotry and fanaticism ; which, without enlightening the mind, often debases the heart. On this subject many observations might be made ; but the reader will probably think that I have already digressed too largely ; and I now, therefore, return to my situation at Kamalia. INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 305 CHAPTER XXIV. Transactions at Kamalia resumed.-— Arabic MSS. in Use among the Mahomedan Negroes. — Reflections concerning the Conversion and Education of the Negro Children. — Return of the Author's Benefactor, Karfa. — Further Account of the Purchase and Treat- ment of Slaves. — Fast ofRhamadan, how observed by the Negroes. — Author's Anxiety for the Day of Departure. — The Caravan sets out. — Accou7it of it on its Departure, and Proceedings 071 the Road until its airival at Kinytakooro. 1 HE sclioolniaster, to whose care I was entrusted during the absence of Karfa. was a man of a mild disposition, and gentle manners ; his name was Fankooma ; and although he him- self adhered strictly to the religion of Mahomet, he was by no means intolerant in his principles towards others who differed from him. He spent much of his time. in reading ; and teaching appeared to be his pleasure, as well as em- ployment. His school consisted of seventeen boj s, most of whom were sons of Kalirs ; and two girls, one of whom was Karfa's own daughter. The girls received their instructions in the daytime, but the boys always had their lessons by the light of a large fire before daybreak, and again late in the evening ; for being considered during their scholarship, as the domestic slaves of the master, they were employed in planting corn, bringing fire-wood, and in other servile offices through the day. Exclusive of the Koran, and a book or two of commentaries VOL. I. R r 306 TRAVELS IN THE thereon, the school inast»^r possesed a variety of manuscripts, which had partly been purchased from the trading- Moors, and partly borrowed from Bushreens in the neighbourhood, and copied with great care. Other MSS. had been produced to me at different places in the course of my journey ; and on recounting those 1 had before seen, and those which were now shewn to me, and interrogating the schoolmaster on the subject, I discovered that the Negroes are in possession (among others), of an Arabic version of the Pentateuch of Moses, which they call Taureta la Moosa. This is so highly- esteemed, that it is often sold for the value of one prime slave. They have likewise a version of the Psalms of David [Zabora Dawidi); and, lastly, the Book of Isaiah, which they call Lingeeli la Isa, and it is in very high esteem. I suspect, indeed, that in all these copies, there are interpolations of some of the peculiar tenets of Mahomet, for I could distin- guish in many passages the name of the Prophet. It is pos- sible, however, that this circumstance might otherwise have been accounted for, if my knowledge of the Arabic had been more extensive. By means of those books, many of the con- verted Negroes have acquired an acquaintance with some of the remarkable events recorded in the Old Testament. The account of our first parents ; the death of Abel ; the deluge; the lives of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob ; the story of Joseph and his brethren ; the history of Moses, David, Solomon, &c. All these have been related to me in the Mandingo language with tolerable exactness, by different people ; and my surprise was not greater on hearing these accounts from the lips of the Negroes, than theirs, on finding that I was already acquain- ted with them ; for although the Negroes in general have a INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 307 very great idea of the wealth and power of tlie Europeans, I am afraid that the Mahomedan converts among them, think but very lightly of our superior attainments in religious knowledge. The white traders in the maritime districts, take no pains to counteract this unhappy prejudice ; always per- forming their own devotions in secret, and seldom conde- scending to converse with the Negroes in a friendly and instructive manner. To me, therefore, it was not so much the subject of wonder as matter of regret, to observe, that while the superstition of Mahomet has, in this manner, scattered a few faint beams of learning among these poor people, the precious light of Christianity is altogether excluded. I could not but lament, tliat although the Coast of Africa has now been known and frequented'by the Europeans for more than two hundred years, yet the Negroes still remain entire stran- gers to the doctrines of our holy religion. We are anxious to draw from obscurity the opinions and records of antiquity, the beauties of Arabian and Asiatic literature, Sec. ; but while our libraries are thus stored with the learning of various coun- tries, we distribute with a parsimonious hand, the blessings of religious truth, to the benighted nations of the earth. The natives of Asia derive but little advantage in this respect from an intercourse with us ; and even the poor Africans, whom we atfectto consider as barbarians, look upon us, 1 fear, as little better than a race of formidable but ignorant hea- thens. When I produced Richardson's Arabic Grammar to some Slatees on the Gambia, they were astonished to think that any European should understand and write the sacred language of their religion. At first they suspected thai: it might have been written by some of the slaves carried from 308 TRAVELS IN THE the Coast ; but on a closer examination, they were satisfied that no Bushreen could write such beatiful Arabic ; and one of them offered to give me an ass, and sixteen bars of goods, if I would part with the book. Perhaps, a short and easy in- troduction to Christianity, such as is found in some of the catechisms for children, elegantly printed in Arabic, and distributed on different parts of the Coast, might have a won- derful effect. The expence would be but trifling ; curiosity would induce many to read it ; and the evident superiority which it would posses over their present manuscripts, both in point of elegance and cheapness, might at last obtain it a place among the school books of Africa. The reflections which I have thus ventured to submit to my readers on this important subject, naturally suggested them- selves to my mind on perceiving the encouragement which was thus given to learning, (such as it is,) in many parts of Africa. I have observed, that the pupils at Kamalia were most of them the children of Pagans ; their parents, therefore, could have had no predilection for the doctrines of Mahomet. Their aim was their children's improvement ; and if a more enlightened system had presented itself, it would probably have been preferred. The children, too, wanted not a spirit of emulation ; which it is the aim of the tutor to encourage. When any one of them has read through the Koran, and per- formed a certain number of public praters, a feast is prepared by the schoolmaster, and the scholar undergoes an examina- tion, or (in European terms,) takes out his degree. I attended at three different inaugurations of this sort, and heard with pleasure, the distinct and intelligent answers which the scho- lars frequently gave to the Bushreens, who assembled on INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 309 those occasions, and acted as examiners. When the Bush- reens had satisfied themselves respecting the learning and abilities of the scholar, the last page of the Koran was put into his hand, and he was desired to read it alond : after the boy had finished this lesson, he pressed the paper against his fore- head, and pronounced the word Amen; upon which all the Bushreens rose, and shaking him cordially by the hand, be- stowed upon him the title of Bushreen. When a scholar has undergone this examination, his parents are informed that he has completed his education, and that it is incumbent on them to redeem their son, by giving to the schoolmaster a slave, or the price of a slave, in exchange ; which is always done, if the parents can atford to do it ; if not, the boy remains the domestic slave of the school- master until he can, by his own industry, collect goods suffi- cient to ransom himself. About a week after the departure of Karfa, three Moors ar- rived at Kamalia with a considerable quantity of salt, and other merchandize, which they had obtained on credit, from a merchant of Fezzan, who had lately arrived at Kancaba. Their engagement was to pay him his price when the goods were sold, which they expected would be in the course of a month. Being rigid Bushreens, they were accommodated with two of Karfa's huts and sold their goods to very great advantage. On the 24th of January, Karfa returned to Kamalia with a number of people, and thirteen prime slaves which he had purchased. He likewise brought with him a young girl whom he had married at Kancaba, as his fourth wife, and had given her parents three prime slaves for her. She was kindly 310 TRAVELS IN THE received at the doorof thebaloon by Karta's other wives, who conducted their new acquaintance and co-partner into one of the best huts, which they had caused to be swept and white- washed, on purpose to receive her.* My clothes were by this time become so very ragged, that I was almost ashamed to appear out of doors ; but Karfa on the day after his arrival, generously presented me with such a garment and trowsers, as are commonly worn in the country. The slaves which Karfa had brought with him were all of them prisoners of war ; they had been taken by the Bambar- ran army in the kingdoms of Wassela and Kaarta, and carried to Sego, where some of them had remained three years in irons. From Sego they were sent, in company with a num- ber of other captives, up the Niger in two large canoes, and offered for sale at Yaraina, Bammakoo, and Kancaba ; at which places the greater number of the captives were bartered for gold-dust, and the remainder sent forward to Kankaree. Eleven of them confessed to me that they had been slaves from their infancy ; but the other two refused to give any ac- count of their former condition. They were all very inquisi- tive ; but they viewed meat first with looks of horror, and repeatedly asked if my countrymen were cannibals. They were very desirous to know what became of the slaves after they had crossed the salt water. 1 told them, that they were employed in cultivating the land ; but they would not believe me ; and one of them putting his hand upon the ground, said with great simplicity, " have you really got such ground as " this to set your feet upon ?" A deeply rooted idea that the * The Negroes white-wash their huts with a mixture of bone ashes and water, to which is commonly added a little gum; INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 311 whites purchase Negroes for the purpose of devouring- them, or of selling them to others, that they may be devoured here- after, naturally makes the slaves contemplate a journey towards the Coast with great terror ; insomuch that the Sla- tees are forced to keep them constantly in irons, and watch them very closely to prevent their escape. They are com- monly secured, by putting the right leg of one, and the left of another, into the same pair of fetters. By supporting the fetters with a string, they can walk, though very slowly. Every four slaves are likewise fastened together by the necks, with a strong rope of twisted thongs ; and in the night an additional pair of fetters is put on their hands, and sometimes a light iron chain passed round their necks. Such of them as evince marks of discontent, are secured in a different manner. A thick billet of wood is cut about three feet long, and a smooth notch being made upon one side of it, the ankle of the slave is bolted to the smooth part by means of a strong iron staple, one prong of which passes on each side of the ankle. All these fetters and bolts are made from native iron ; in the present case they were put on by the blacksmith as soon as the slaves arrived from Kancaba, and were not taken oif until the morning on which the coffle departed for Gambia. In other respects, the treatment of the slaves during their stay at Kamalia, was far from being harsh or cruel. They were led out in their fetters every morning, to the shade of the tamarind tree, where they were encouraged to play at games of hazard, and sing diverting songs, to keep up their spirits ; for though some of them sustained the hardships of their situation with amazing fortitude, the greater part were 312 TRAVELS IN TUB very much dejected, and would sit all day in a sort of sullen melancholy, with their eyes fixed upon the ground. In the evening, their irons were examined, and their hand fetters put on ; after which they were conducted into two large huts, where they were guarded during the night by Karfa's domestic slaves. But notwithstanding all this, about a week after their arrival, one of the slaves had the address to procure a small knife, with which he opened the rings of his fetters, cut the rope, and made his escape : more of them would probably have got off, had they assisted each other ; but the slave no sooner found himself at liberty, ihan he refused to stop and assist in breaking the chain which was fastened round the necks of his companions. As all the Slatees and slaves belonging to the coffle were now assembled, either at Kamalia, or some of the neighbour- ing villages, it might have been expected that we should have set out immediately for Gambia ; but though the day of our departure was frequently fixed, it was always found expedient to change it. Some of the people had not prepared their dry provisions ; others had gone to visit their relations, or collect some trifling debts; and, last of all, it was neces- sary to consult whether the day would be a lucky one. On account of one of these, or other such causes, our departure was put off, day after day, until the month of February was far advanced ; after which all the Slatees agreed to remain in their present quarters, until the fast moon was over. And liere I may remark, that loss of time is an object of no great importance in the eyes of a Negro. If he has any thing of consequence to perform, it is a matter of indifference to him whether he does it to-day or to morrow, or a month or two INTERIOR OP AFRICA. 313 hence : so long as he can spend the present moment with any degree of comfort, he gives himself very little concern abovit the future. The fast of Rhamadan was observed with great strictness, by all the Bushreens ; but instead of compelling me to follow their example, as the Moors did on a similar occasion, Karfa frankly told me that I was at liberty to pursue my own inclination. In order, however, to manifest a respect for their religious opinions, I voluntarily fasted three days, which was thought sufficient to screen me from the reproachful epithet of Kafir, During the fast, all the Slatees belonging to the coffle assent bled every morning in Karfa's house, where the schoolmaster read to them some religious lessons, from a large folio volume, the author of which was an Arab, of the name oi Sheiffa. In the evening, such of the women as had embraced Mahomedanism assembled, and said their prayers publicly at the Misura. They were all dressed in white, and went through the different prostrations, prescribed by their religion, with becoming solemnity. Indeed, during the whole fast of Rhamadan, the Negroes behaved themselves with the greatest meekness and humility ; forming a striking contrast to the savage intolerance and brutal bigotry, which at this period characterise the Moors. When the fast month was almost at an end, the Bushreens assembled at the Misura, to watch for the appearance of the new moon ; but the evening being rather cloudy, they were for sometime disappointed, and a number of them had gone home with a resolution to fast another day, when on a sudden this delightful object showed her sharp horns from behind a cloud, and was welcomed with the clapping of VOL. I. S s 314 TRAVELS IN THE hands, beating of drums, firing muskets, and other marks of rejoicing. As this moon is reckoned extremely lucky, Karfa gave orders that all the people belonging to the coffle should immediately pack up their dry provisions, and hold them- selves in readiness: and on the 16th of April, the Slatees held a consultation, and fixed on the 19th of the same month, as the day on which the coffle should depart from Kamaliat This resolution freed me from much uneasiness ; for our de- parture had already been so long deferred, that I was appre- hensive it might still be put off until the commencement of the rainy season ; and although Karfa behaved towards me with the greatest kindness, I found my situation very unpleasant. The Slatees were unfriendly to me ; and the trading Moors, who were at this time at Kamalia, continued to plot mischief against me, from the first day of their arrival. Under these circumstances, I reflected, that my life in a great measure depended on the good opinion of an individual, who was daily hearing malicious stories concern- ing the Europeans ; and I could hardly expect that he would always judge with impartiality between me and his country- men. Time had, indeed, reconciled me, in some degree, to their mode of life; and a smoky hut, or a scanty supper, gave me no great uneasiness ; but I became at last wearied out with a constant state of alarm and anxiety, and felt a painful longing for the manifold blessings of civilized society. On the morning of the 17th, a circumstance occurred, which wrought a considerable change in my favour. The three trading Moors who had lodged under Karfa's protection, ever since their arrival at Kamalia, and had gained the esteem of all the Bushreens, by an appearance of great sanctity. INTERIOR OP AFRICA. 315 suddenly packed up their effects, and, without once thanking Karfa for his kindness towards them, marched over the hills to Bala. Every one was astonished at this unexpected removal ; hut the affair was cleared up in the evening by the arrival of the Fezzan merchant from Kancaba (mentioned in p. 309) ;who assured Karfa, that these Moors had borrowed all their salt and goods from him, and had sent for him to come to Kamalia, and receive payment. When he was told that they had fled to the westward, he wiped a tear from each eye with the sleeve of his cloak, and exclaimed, " these " shinukas (robbers) are Mahomedans, but they are not men ; " they have robbed me of two hundred miukallies." From this merchant, I received information of the capture of our Mediterranean convoy by the French, in October 1795. April 19th. The long wished-for day of our departure was at length arrived ; and the Slatees having taken the irons from their slaves, assembled with them at the door of Karfa's house, where the bundles were all tied up, and every one had his load assigned him. The coffle, on its departure from Kamalia, consisted of twenty-seven slaves for sale, the property of Karfa and four other Slatees ; but we were after- wards joined by five at Maraboo, and three at Bala ; making in all thirty-tive slaves. The free men were fourteen in number, but most of them had one or two wives and some domestic slaves, and the schoolmaster, who was now upon his return for Woradoo, the place of his nativity, took with him eight of his scholars, so that the number of free people and domestic slaves amounted to thirty-eight, and the whole amount of the coffle was seventy-three. Among the freemen were six Jilli keas (singing men), whose musical talents were 316 TRAVELS IN THE frequently exerted either to divert our fatigue, or obtain us a welcome from strangers. When we departed from Kamalia, we were followed for about half a mile, by most of the inha- bitants of the town, some of them crying, and others shaking hands with their relations, who were now about to leave them ; and when we had gained a piece of rising ground, from which we had a view of Kamalia, all the people belonging to the coffle were ordered to sit down in one place, with their faces towards the west, and the townspeople were desired to sit down in another place, with their faces towards Kamalia. In this situation, the schoolmaster, with two of the principal Slatees, having taken their places between the two parties, pronounced a long and solemn prayer ; after which, they walked three times round the coffle, making an impression in the ground with the ends of their spears, and muttering some- thing by way of charm. When this ceremony was ended, all the people belonging to the cofHe sprang up, and without taking a formal farewell of their friends, set forwards. As many of the slaves had remained for years in irons, the sudden exertion of walking quick, with heavy loads upon their heads, occasioned spasmodic contractions of their legs ; and we had not proceeded above a mile, before it was found necessary to take two of them from the rope, and allow them to walk more slowly until we reached Maraboo, a walled village, where some people were waiting to join the coffle. Here we stopt about two hours, to allow the strangers time to pack up their provisions, and then continued our route to Bala, which town we reached about four in the afternoon. The inhabi- tants of Bala, at this season of the year, subsist chiefly on tish, which they take in great plenty from the streams in the INTKRIOR OF AFRICA. 317 neighbourhood. We remained here until the afternoon of the next day, the 20th, when we proceeded to Worumbang, the frontier village of Manding towards Jallonkadoo. As we proposed shortly to enter the Jallonka Wilderness, the people of this village furnished us with great plenty of provisions ; and on the morning of the 21st, we entered the woods to the westward of Worumbang. After having tra- velled some little way, a consultation was held whether we should continue our route through the Wilderness, or save one day's provisions by going to Kinytakooro, a town in Jallonkadoo. After debating the matter for some time, it was agreed that we should take the road for Kinytakooro ; but as that town was a long day's journey distant, it was neces- sary to take some refreshment. Accordingly every person opened his provision bag, and brought a handful or two of meal, to the place where Karfa and the Slatees were sitting. When every one had brought his quota, and the whole was properly arranged in small gourd shells, the schoolmaster otfered up a short prayer ; the substance of which was, that God and the holy Prophet might preserve us from robbers and all bad people, that our provisions might never fail us, nor our limbs become fatigued. This ceremony being ended, every one partook of the meal, and drank a little water; after which we set forward (rather running than walking), until we came to the river Kokoro, a branch of the Senegal, where we halted about ten minutes. The banks of this river are very high ; and from the grass and brushwood which had been left by the stream, it was evident that at this place, the water had risen more than twenty feet perpendicular, during the rainy season. At this time it was only a small stream 318 TRAVELS IN THE such as would turn a mill, swarming with fish ; and on account of the number of crocodiles, and the danger of being carried past the ford by the force of the stream in the rainy season it is called Kohoro (dangerous). From this place we continued to travel with the greatest expedition, and in the afternoon crossed two small branches of the Kokoro. About sunset we came in sight ofKinytakooro, a considerable to\vn, nearly square, situated in the middle of a large and well cul- tivated plain : before we entered the town we halted, until the people who had fallen behind came up. During this day's travel, two slaves, a woman and a girl belonging to a Slatee of Bala, were so much fatigued, that they could not keep up with the coffle ; they were severely whipped, and dragged along until about three o'clock in the afternoon, when they were both affected with vomiting, by which it was discovered that they had eaten clay. This practice is by no means uncommon amongst the Negroes; but whether it arises from a vitiated appetite, or from a settled intention to destroy themselves, I cannot affirm. They were permitted to lie down in the woods, and three people remained with them until they had rested themselves ; but they did not arrive at the town until past midnight ; and were then so much ex- hausted, that the Slatee gave up all thoughts of taking them across the woods in their present condition, and determined to return with them to Bala, and wait for another oppor- tunity. As this was the first town beyond the limits of Manding, greater etiquette than usual was observed. Every person was ordered to keep in his proper station, and we marched towards the town in a sort of procession, nearly as follows. INTERIOR OP AFRICA. 319 In front, five or six singing men, all of tliem belon'ging to the coffle : these were followed by the other free people ; then came the slaves fastened in the usual way by a rope round their necks, four of them to a rope, and a man with a spear between each four; after them came the domestic slaves, and in the rear the women of free condition, wives of theSlatees, &c. In this manner we proceeded, until we came within a hundred yards of the gate, when the singing men began a loud song, well calculated to flatter the vanity of the inha- bitants, by extolling their known hospitality to strangers, and their particular friendship for the Mandingoes. When we entered the town we proceeded to the Bentang, where the people gathered round us to hear our dentegi (history) ; this was relatetl publickly by two of the singing men ; they enumerated every little circumstance which had happened to the coffle ; beginning with the events of the present day, and relating every thing in a backward series, until they reached Kamalia. When this history was ended, the master of the town gave them a small present; and all the people of the coffle, both free and enslaved, were invited by some person or other, and accommodated with lodging and pro- visions for the night. 320 TRAVELS IN THE CHAPTER XXV. The Coffle crosses theJallonka Wilderness. — Miserable Fate of ojie of the female Slaves; — arrives at Sooseeta ; proceeds to Manna.— Some Account of the Jallonkas. — Crosses the main Stream of the Senegal. — Bridge of a singular Co7istruction. — Arrives at Malacotta. — Remarkable Conduct of the Ki?ig of the Jaloffs. VV E continued at Kinytakooro until noon of the 22d of April, when we removed to a village about seven miles to the westward ; the inhabitants of which being apprehensive of hostilities from the Foulahs of Fooladoo, were at this time employed in constructing small temporary huts among the rocks, on the side of a high hill close to the village. The situation was almost impregnable, being every where sur- rounded with high precipices, except on the eastern side, where the natives had left a pathway sufficient to allow one person at a time to ascend. Upon the brow of the hill, im- mediately over this path, I observed several heaps of large loose stones, which the people told me were intended to be thrown down upon the Foulahs, if they should attempt the hill. At daybreak, on the 23d, we departed from this village, and entered the Jallonka Wilderness. We passed, in the course of the morning, the ruins of two small towns, which had lately been burnt by the Foulahs. The fire must have been very intense ; for I observed that the walls of many of INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 321 the hilts were sliglitly vitrified, and appeared at a distance as it covered with a red varnish. About ten o'clock we came to the river Wonda, which is somewhat larger than the river Kokoro ; but the stream was at this time rather muddy, which Karfa assured me was occasioned by amazing shoals of fish. They were indeed seen in all directions, and in such abundance, that I fancied the water itself tasted and smelt fishy. As soon as we had crossed the river, Karfa gave orders that all the people of the coflle should in future keep close together, and travel in their proper station ; the guides and young men were accordingly placed in the van, the women and slaves in the centre, and the free men in the rear. In this order, we travelled with uncommon expedition, through a woody, but beautiful country, interspersed with a pleasing variety of hill and dale, and abounding with par- tridges, guinea-fowls, and deer, until sunset ; when we arrived at a most romantic stream called Co-meissang. My arms and neck having been exposed to the sun during the whole day, and irritated by the rubbing of my dress in walk- ing, were now very much inflamed and covered with blisters ; and I was happy to embrace the opportunity, while the coffle rested on the bank of this river to bathe myself in the stream. This practice, together with the cool of the evening, much diminished the inflammation. About three miles to the westward of the Co-meissang we halted in a thick wood, and kindled our fires for the night. We were all, by this time, very much fatigued ; having, as I judged, travelled this day thirty miles; but no person was heard to complain. Whilst supper was preparing, Karfa made one of the slaves break some branches from the trees for my bed. When we VOL. I. T t 322 TRAVELS IN THE had finished our supper of kouskous, moistened with some boiling water, and put the slaves in irons, we all lay down to sleep ; but we weve frequently disturbed in the night by the howling of wild beasts ; and we found the small brown ants very troublesome. April 24th. Before daybreak the Bushreens said their morn- ing prayers, and most of the free people drank a little moe- ning (a sort of gruel), part of which was likewise given to such of the slaves as appeared least able to sustain the fatigues of the day. One of Karfa's female slaves was very sulky, and when some gruel was offered to her,* she refused to drink it. As soon as day dawned we set out, and travelled the whole morning over a wild and rocky country, by which my feet were very much bruised ; and I was sadly apprehensive that I should not be able to keep up with the coffle during the day j but I was in a great measure, relieved from this anxiety, when I observed that others were more exhausted than myself. In particular the woman slave, who had refused victuals in the morning, began now to lag behind, and complain dread- fully of pains in her legs. Her load was taken from her, and given to another slave, and she was ordered to keep in the front of the coffle. About eleven o'clock, as we were resting by a small rivulet, some of the people discovered a hive of bees in a hollow tree, and they were proceeding to obtain the honey, when the largest swarm I ever beheld, tlew out, and attacking the people of the cofHe, made us tly in all directions. I took the alarm first, and I believe was the only person who escaped with impunity. When our enemies thought fit to desist from pursuing us, and every person was employed in picking out the stings he had received, it was discovered that INTERIOR OP AFRICA. 323 the poor woman abovementioned, whose name was Nealee, was not come np ; and as many of the slaves in tlieir retreat had left their bundles behind them, it became necessary for some persons to return, and bring them. In order to do this with safety, fire was set to the grass a considerable way to the eastward of the hive, and the wind driving the fire furiously along, the party pushed through the smoke, and recovered the bundles. They likewise brought with them poor Nealee whom they found lying by the rivulet. She was very much exhausted, and had crept to the stream, in hopes to defend herself from the bees by throwing water over her body, but this proved ineffectual ; for she was stung in the most dread- ful manner. When the Slatees had picked out the stings as far as they could, she was washed with water, and then rubbed, with bruised leaves ; but the wretched woman obstinately refused to proceed any farther ; declaring that she would rather die than walk another step. As entreaties and threats were used in vain, the whip was at length applied : and after bearing patiently a few strokes, she started up, andValked with tole- rable expedition for four or five hours longier, when she made an attempt to run away from the coffle, but was so very weak, that she felF down in the grass. Tliough she was unable to rise, the whip was a second time applied, but without effect; upon which Karfa desired two of the Slatees to place her upon the ass which carried our dry provisions ; but she could not sit erect ; and the ass being very refractory, it was found im- possible to carry her forward in that manner. The Slatees however were unwilling to abandon her, the day's journey being nearly ended ; they therefore made a sort of litter of bamboo canes, upon which she was placed, and tied on it with 324 TRAVELS IN TUB slips of bark : tliis litter was carried upon the heads of two slaves, one walking before the other, and they were followed by two others, who relieved them occasionally. In this man- ner the woman was carried forward until it was dark, when we reached a stream of water, at the foot of a high hill called Gankaran-Kooro ; and here we stopt for the night, and set about preparing our supper. As we had eat only one hand- ful of meal since the preceding night, and travelled all day in a hot sun, many of the slaves, who had loads upon their heads, were very much fatigued : and some of them snapt their fingers, which among the Negroes is a snre sign of des- peration. The Slatees immediately put them all in irons ; and such of them as had evinced signs of great despondency, were k^t apart from the rest, and had their hands tied. In the morning they were found greatly recovered. April 25th. At daybreak poor Nealee was awakened, but her limbs were now become so stiff and painful, that she could neither walk nor stand ; she was therefore lifted, like a corpse, upon tlie back of the ass ; and the Slatees endeavoured to se- cure her in that situation, by fastening her hands together under the ass's neck and her feet under the belly, with long- slips of bark ; but the ass was so very unruly, that no sort of treatment could induce him to proceed with his load : and as Nealee made no exertion to prevent herself from falling, she was quickly thrown off, atid had one of her legs much bruised. Every attempt to carry her forward being thus found ineffec- tual, the general cry of the coffle was, kaiig-tegi, kang-tegi, "cut her throat, cut her throat ;" an operation I did not wish to see performed, and therefore marched onwards with the foremost of the coffle. I had not walked above a mile when INTERIOR OP AFRICA. 325 one of Karfa's domestic slaves came up to me, with poor Nea- lee's garment upon the end of his bow, and exclattned Nealee affeeleeta (Nealee is lost.) I asked him whether the Slatees had given him the garment as a reward for cutting her throat; he replied, that Karfa and the schoolmaster would not consent to that measure, but had left her on the road ; where undoubtedly she soon perished, and was probably devoured by wild beasts. The sad fate of this wretched woman, notwithstanding the outcry before mentioned, made a strong impression on the minds of the whole coffle, and the schoolmaster fasted the whole of the ensuing day, in consequence of it. We proceeded in deep silence, aud soon afterward crossed the river Furkooraah, which was about as large as the river Wonda. We now tra- velled with great expedition, every one being apprehensive he might otherwise meet with the fate of poor Nealee. It was however with great difficulty that I could keep up, al- though I threw away my spear, and every thing that could in the least obstruct me. About noon we saw a large herd of elephants, but they suffered us to pass unmolested, and in the evening we halted near a thicket of bamboo, but found no water ; so that we were forced to proceed four miles farther to a small stream, where we stopt for the night. We had marched this day, as I judged, about twenty-six miles. April 26th. This morning two of the schoolmaster's pupils complained much of pains in their legs, and one of the slaves walked lame, the soles of his feet being very much blistered and indamed ; we proceeded notwithstanding, and about eleven o'clock began to ascend a rocky hill called lioki-Kooro, and it was past two in the afternoon before we reached the 326 TRAVELS IN THE level ground on the other side. This was the most rocky road we had yet encountered, and it hurt our feet much. In a short time we arrived at a pretty large river called Boki, which we forded : it ran smooth and clear over a bed of whinstone. About a mile to the westward of the river, we came to a road which leads to the north-east towards Gadou, and seeing the marks of many horses' feet upon the soft sand, the Slatees conjectured that a party of plunderers had lately rode that way, to fall upon some town of Gadou ; and lest they should discover, upon their return, that we had passed, and attempt to pursue us by the marks of our feet, the coffle was ordered to disperse, and travel in a loose manner through the high grass and bushes. A little before it was dark, having crossed the ridge of hills to the westward of the river Boki, we came to a Avell called cullong- qui (white sand well), and here we rested for the night. April 27th. We departed from the well early in the morn- ing, and walked on, with the greatest alacrity, in hopes of reaching a town before night. The road, during the forenoon, led through extensive thickets of dry bamboos. About two o'clock we came to a stream called Nunkolo, where we were each of us regaled with a handful of meal, which, according to a superstitious custom, was not to be eaten until it was first moistened with water from this stream. About four o'clock we reached Sooseeta, a small Jallonka village, situated in the district of Kullo, which comprehends all that tract of country lying along the banks of the Black river, or main branch of the Senegal. These were the first human habitations we had seen, since we left the village to the westvv ard of Kinytakooro ; having travelled in the course of the last five days, upwards INTERIOR OP AFRICA. 327 of one hundred miles. Here, after a great deal of entreaty, we were provided with huts to sleep in ; but the master of the village plainly told us that he could not give us any provi- sions, as there had lately been a great scarcity in this part of the country. He assured us, that before they had gathered in their present crops, the whole inhabitants, of Kullo had been for twenty-nine days without tasting corn ; during which time, they supported themselves entirely upon the yellow powder which is found in the pods of the nitta, so called by the natives, a species of mimosa ; and upon the seeds of the bamboo cane, which when properly pounded and dressed, taste very much like rice. As our dry provisions were not yet exhausted, a considerable quantity of kouskous was dressed for supper, and many of the villagers were invited to take part of the repast ; but they made a very bad return for this kindness; for in the night they seized upon one of the schoolmaster's boys, who had fallen asleep under the Bentang tree, and carried him away. The boy fortu- nately awoke before he was far from the village, and setting up a loud scream, the man who carried him, put his hand upon his mouth, and ran with him into the woods ; but afterward understanding that he belonged to the school- master, whose place of residence is only three days' journey^ distant, he thought, I suppose, that he could not retain him as a slave without the schoolmaster's knowledge ; and there- fore stripped oif the boy's clothes, and permitted him to return. April 28th. Early in the morning we departed from Soo- seeta, and about ten o'clock came to an unwalled town called Manna, the inhabitants of which were ejnployed in col- 328 TRAVELS IN THE lecting the fruit of the nitta trees, which are very numerous in this neighbourhood. The pods are long and narrow, and contain a few black seeds enveloped in the fine mealy powder before mentioned ; the meal itself is of a bright yellow colour, resembling the flour of sulphur, and has a sweet mucilagi- nous taste : when eaten by itself it is clammy, but when mixed with milk or water, it constitutes a very pleasant and nou- rishing article of diet. The language of the people of Manna is the same that is spoken all over that extensive and hilly country called Jal- lonkadoo. Some of the words have a great affinity to the Mandingo, but the natives themselves consider it as a distinct language : their numerals are these. One Kidding. , Two Fidding. Three Sana. Four Nani. Five Soolo. Six ' Seni. Seven — r- Soolo majidding. Eight Soolo ma sarra. Nine Soolo ma nani. Ten iY^#. The Jallonkas, like the Mandingoes, are governed by a number of petty chiefs, who are in a great measure, indepen- dent of each other; they have no common sovereign; and the chiefs are seldom upon such terms of friendship as to assist each other, even in war time. The chief of Manna, with a number of his people, accompanied us to the Banks of the Bafing, or Black river (a principal branch of the Senegal), INTERIOR OP AFRICA. 329 which we crossed upon a bridge of bamboos, of a very sin- gular construction. The river at this place is smooth and deep, and has very little current. Two tall trees, when tied together by the tops, are sufficiently long to reach froui one side to the other ; the roots resting upon the rocks, and the tops floating in the water. When a few trees have been placed in this direction, they are covered with dry bamboos, so as to form a floating bridge, with a sloping gangway at each end, where the trees rest upon the rocks. This bridge is carried away every year by the swelling of the river in the rainy season, and is constantly rebuilt by the inhabitants of Manna, who, on that account, expect a small tribute from every passenger. In the afternoon we passed several villages, at none of which could we procure a lodging ; and in the twilight we received information that two hundred Jallonkas had as- sembled near a town called Melo, with a view to plunder the coffle. This induced us to alter our course, and we travelled with great secrecy until midnight, when we ap- proached a town called Koba. Before we entered the town, the names of all the people belonging to the coffle were called over, and a freeman and three slaves were found to be missing. Every person immediately concluded that the slaves had murdered the freeman, and made their escape. It was there- fore agreed that six people should go back as far as the last village, and endeavour to find his body, or collect some in- formation concerning the slaves. In the meantime the coflle was ordered to lie concealed in a cotton field near a large nitta tree, and nobody to speak except in a whisper. It was towards morning before the six men returned, having heard VOL. I. II u 330 TRAVELS IN THE nothing of the man or the slaves. As none of us had tasted victuals for the last twenty-four hours, it was agreed that we should go into Koba, and endeavour to procure some provi- sions. We accordingly entered the town before it was quite day, and Karfa purchased from the chief man, for three strings of beads, a considerable quantity of ground nuts, which we roasted and eat for breakfast ; we were afterwards provided with huts, and rested here for the day. About eleven o'clock, to our great joy and surprise, the freeman and slaves, who had parted from the coffle the pre- ceding night, entered the town. One of the slaves, it seems, had hurt his foot, and the night being very dark, they soon lost sight of the coffle. The freeman, as soon as he found himself alone, with the slaves, was aware of his own danger, and insisted on putting them in irons. The slaves were at first rather unwilling to submit, but when he threatened to stab them one by one with his spear, they made no further resistance ; and he remained with them among the bushes until morning, when he let them out of irons, and came to the town in hopes of hearing which route the coffle had taken. The information that we received concerning the Jallonkas, who intended to rob the coffle, was this day confirmed, and we were forced to remain here until the afternoon of the 30th : when Karfa hired a number of people to protect us, and we proceeded to a village called Tinkingtang. Departing from this village on the day following, we crossed a high ridge of mountains to the west of the Black river, and travelled over a rough stony country until sunset, when we arrived at Lingicotta, a small village in the district of Woradoo. Here we shook out the last handful of meal from our dry provision IHTTERIOR op AFRICA. 331 Ijags ; this being the second day (since we crossed the Black river) that we had travelled from morning until night, without tasting one morsel of food. May 2d. We departed from Lingicotta ; but the slaves being very much fatigued, we halted for the night at a village about nine miles to the westward, and procured some provi- sions through the interest of the schoolmaster; who now sent forward a messenger to Malacotta, his native town, to inform his friends of his arrival in the country, and to desire them to provide the necessary quantity of victuals to entertain the coffle for two or three days. May 3d. We set out for Malacotta, and about noon arrived at a village, near a considerable stream of water which flows to the westward ; here we determined to stop for the return of the messenger which had been sent to Malacotta the day before ; and as the natives assured me there were no crocodiles in this stream, I went and bathed myself. Very few people here can swim ; for they came in numbers to dissuade me from venturing into a pool, where they said the water would come over my liead. About two o'clock the messenger returned from Malacotta; and the schoolmaster's elder brother being impatient to see him, came along with the messenger to meet him at this village. The interview between the two brothers, who had not seen each other for nine years, was very natural and affecting. They fell upon each other's neck, and it was some time before either of them could speak. At length, when the schoolmaster had a little recovered himself, he took his brother by the hand, and turning round, " This is the man" (said he, pointing to Karfa) " who has been my father in Manding; I would \ 332 TRAVELS IN THE " have pointed him out sooner to you, but my heart was too " full." We reached Malacotta in the evening, where we were well received. This is an unvvalled town ; the huts for the most part are made of split cane, twisted into a sort of wicker-work, and plastered over with mud. Here we remained three days, and were each day presented with a bullock from the school- master ; we were likewise well entertained by the townspeo- ple, who appear to be very active and industrious. They make very good soap, by boiling ground nuts in water and then adding a ley of wood ashes. They likewise manufacture excellent iron, which they carry to Bondou to barter for salt. A party of the townspeople had lately returned from a trad- ing expedition of this kind, and brought information con- cerning a war between Almami Abdulkader, King of Foota Torra, and Damel, King of the Jaloffs. The events of this war soon became a favourite subject with the singing men, and the common topic of conversation in all the kingdoms bordering upon the Senegal and Gambia ; and as the account is somewhat singular, I shall here abridge it for the reader's information. The King of Foota Torra, inflamed with a zeal for propagating his religion, had sent an embassy to Damel, similar to that which he had sent to Kasson, as related in page 77. - The ambassador, on the present occasion, was ac- companied by two of the principal Bushreens, who carried each a large knife, fixed on the top of a long pole. As soon as he had procured admission into the presence of Damel, and an- nounced the pleasure of his sovereign, he ordered the Bush- reens to present the emblems of his mission. The two knives were accordingly laid before Damel, and the ambassador INTERIOR OP AFRICA. 333 explained himself as follows : " With this knife, (said he) " Abdulkader will condescend to shave the head of Daniel, if " Daniel will embrace the Mahomedan faith ; and with this " other knife, Abdulkader will cut the throat of Daniel, if " Darnel refuses to embrace it : — take your choice," Damel coolly told the ambassador that he had no choice to make : he neither chose to have his head shaved, nor his throat cut.: and with this answer the ambassador was civilly dismissed. Abdulkader took his measures accordingly, and with a pow- erful army invaded Damel's country. The inhabitants of the towns and villages filled up their wells, destroyed their provi- sions, carried off their effects, and abandoned their dwellings, as he approached. By this means he was led on from place to place, until he had advanced three days journey into the country of the Jaloffs. He had, indeed, met with no opposi- tion ; but his army had suffered so much from the scarcity of water, that several of his men had died by the way. This induced liim to direct his march towards a watering place in the woods, where his men, having quenched their thirst, and being overcome with fatigue, lay down carelessly to sleep among the bushes. In this situation they were attacked by Darnel before daybreak, and completely routed. 3Iany of them were trampled to death as they lay asleep, by the Jaloff horses ; others were killed in attempting to make their escape, and a still greater number were taken prisoners. Among the latter, was Abdulkader himself. This ambitious or rather frantic prince, who, but a month before had sent the threaten- ing message to Damel, was now himself led into his presence a miserable captive. The behaviour of Damel, on this occa- sion, is never mentioned by the singing men, but in terms of 334 TRAVELS IN THE the highest approbalrion ; and it was indeed, so extraordinary, in an African prince, that the reader may find it difficult to give credit to the recital. When his royal prisoner was brought before him in irons, and thrown upon the ground, the magnanimous Damel, instead of setting his foot upon his neck, and stabbing him with his spear, according to custom in such cases, addressed him as follows. " Abdulkader, an- " swerme this question. If the chance of war had placed me " in your situation, and you in mine, how would you have " treated me?" " I would have thrust my spear into your " heart," returned Abdulkader with great firmness ; " and I " know that a similar fate awaits me." " Not so, (said Damel) " my spear is indeed red with the blood of your subjects killed " in battle, and I could now give it a deeper stain, by dip- " ping it in your own ; but this would not build up my " towns, nor bring to life the thousands who fell in the woods. " I will not therefore kill you in cold blood, but I will retain " you as my slave, until I perceive that your presence in your " own kingdom will be no longer dangerous to your neigh- " hours ; and then I will consider of the proper way of dispos- " ing of you." Abdulkader was accordingly retained, and worked as a slave for three months ; at the end of which period, Damel listened to the solicitations of the inhabitants of Foota Torra, and restored to them their king. Strange as this story may appear, I have no doubt of the truth of it : it was tol(T nie at Malacotta l>y the Negroes ; it was afterwards related to me by the Europeans on the Gambia ; by some of the French at Goree ; and confirmed by nine slaves, who were taken prisoners along with Abdulkader, by the water- ing plaee in the woods, and carried in the same ship with me to the West Indies. INTERIOR or AFRICA. 335 CHAPTER XXVI. The Caravan proceeds to Konkadoo, and crosses the Faleme River. — Its Arrival at Baniserik, K/j-zv^Jini, and Tambacunda. — Incidents on the Road. — A matrimonial Case. — The Caj-avan proceeds through many Towns and Villages, and arrives at length o?i the Banks of the Gambia, — passes through Medina, the Capital of PVoolli, and finally stops at Jindey. — The Author, accompanied by Karf a, pro- ceeds to Pisania. — Various Occurrences previous to his Departure from Africa — takes his Passage in an American Ship. — Short Ac- count of his Voyage to Great Britain by Way of the West Indies. ONthe7th of May we departed from Malacotta, and having crossed the lia lee, " Honey river," a branch of the Senegal, we arrived in tlie evening at a walled town called Bintingala ; where we rested two days. From thence, in one day more, we proceeded to Dindikoo, a small town situated at the bottom of a high ridge of hills, from which this district is named Konkadoo," the country of mountains." These hills are very productive of gold. I was shewn a small quantity of this metal, which had been lately collected : the grains were about the usual size, but much flatter than those of Manding, and were found in white quartz, which had been broken to pieces by hammers. At this town I met with a Negro, whose hair and skin were of a dull white colour. He was of that sort which are called in the Spanish West Indies Albinos, or white Negroes. The skin is cadaverous and unsightly, and the 336 TRAVELS IN THE Natives considered this complexion ( I believe truly ) as the effect of disease. May 11th. At daybreak we departed from Dindikoo, and after a toilsome day's travel, arrived in the evening at Sata- doo, the capital of a district of the same name. This town was formerly of considerable extent ; but many families had left it in consequence of the predatory incursions of the Fou- lahs of Foota Jalla, who made it a practice to come secretly through the woods, and carry off people from the corn tields, and even from the wells near the town. In the afternoon of the 12th, we crossed the Faleme river, the same which I had formerly crossed at Bondou in ray journey eastward. This river, at this season of the year, is easily forded at this place, the stream being only about two feet deep. The water is very pure, and flows rapidly over a bed of sand and gravel. We lodged for the night at a small village called Medina, the sole property of a Mandingo merchant, who, by a long intercourse with Europeans, has been induced to adopt some of their cus- toms. His victuals were served up in pewter dishes, and even his houses were built after the fashion of the English houses on the Gambia. May 13th. In the morning, as we were preparing to depart, a coffle of slaves belonging to some Serawoolli traders, crossed the river, and agreed to proceed with us to Baniserile, the capital of Dentila ; a very long day's journey from this place. We accordingly set out together, and travelled with great ex- pedition through the woods until noon ; when one of the Se- rawoolli slaves dropt the load from his head, for which he was smartly whipped. The load was replaced ; but he had not proceeded above a mile before he let it fall a second time, for INTEUIOR OF AFRICA. 337 which he received the same punishment. After this he travelled in great pain until about two o'clock, when we stopt to breathe a little, by a pool of water, the day being remarkably hot. The poor slave was now so completely exhausted that his master was obliged to release him from the rope, for he lay motionless on the ground. A Serawoolli therefore undertook to remain with him, and endeavour to bring him to the town during the cool of the night ; in the meanwhile we continued our route, and after a very hard day's travel, arrived at Baniserile late in the evening. One of our Slatees was a native of this place, from which he had been absent three years. This man invited me to go with him to his house ; at the gate of which his friends met him, with many expressions of joy : shaking hands with him, embracing him, and singing and dancing before him. As soon as he had seated himself upon a mat, by the threshold of his door, a young woman (his intended bride) brought a little water in a calabash, and kneeling down before him, desired him to wash his hands; when he had done this, the girl with a tear of joy sparkling in her eyes, drank the water; this being considered the greatest proof she could give him of her fidelity and attachment. About eight o'clock the same evening, the Serawoolli, who had been left in the woods to take care of the fatigued slave, returned and told us that he was dead ; the general opinion, however, was tluit he himself had killed him, or left him to perish on the road ; for the Serawoollies are said to be infinitely more cruel in their treat- ment of slaves than the Mandingoes. We remained at Bani- serile two days, in order to purchase native iron, Shea-butter, and some other articles for sale on the Gambia ; andhere the VOL. I. X X 338 TRAVELS IN THE Slatee who had invited me to his house, and who possessed three slaves, part of the coffle, having obtained information that the price on the Coast was very low, determined to separate from us, and remain with his slaves, where he was, until an opportunity should olFer of disposing of them to advantage ; giving us to understand that he should complete his nuptials, with the young woman before mentioned, in the mean time. May 16th. We departed from Baniserile, and travelled through thick woods until noon, when we saw, at a distance, the town of Julifunda, but did not approach it; as we pro- posed to rest for the night at a large town called Kirwani, which we reached about four o'clock in the afternoon. This town stands in a valley, and the country, for more than a nule round it, is cleared of wood and well cultivated. The inhabitants appear to be very active and industrious, and seem to have carried the system of agriculture to some degree of perfection ; for they collect the dung of their cattle into large heaps during the dry season, for the purpose of manur- ing their land with it at the proper time. I saw nothing like this in any other part of Africa. Near the town are several smelting furnaces, from which the natives obtain very good iron. They afterwards hammer the metal into small bars, about a foot in length and two inches in breadth, one of which bars is sufficient to make two Mandingo corn hoes. On the morning after our arrival, we were visited by a Slatee of this place, who informed Karfa, that among some slaves he had lately purchased, was a native of Foota Jalla ; and as that country was at no great distance, he could not safely employ him in the labours of the field, lest he should effect INTERIOR OP AFRICA. 339 his escape. The Slatee was therefore desirous of exchanging- this slave for one of Karfa's, and offered some cloth and Shea- butter, to induce Karfa to comply with the proposal, which was accepted. The Slatee thereupon sent a boy to order the slave in question to bring him a few ground nuts. The poor creature soon afterwards entered the court in which we were sitting, having no suspicion of what was negociating, until the master caused the gate to be shut, and told him to sit down. The slave now saw his danger, and perceiving the gate to be shut upon him, threw down the nuts, and jumped over the fence. He was immediately pursued and overtaken by the Slatees, who brought him back, and secured him in irons, after which one of Karfa's slaves was released and delivered in exchange. The unfortunate captive was at first very much dejected, but in the course of a few days his me- lancholy gradually subsided ; and he became at length as cheerful as any of his companions. Departing from Kirwani on the morning of the 20th, we entered the Tenda Wilderness of two day's journey. The woods were very thick, and the country slielved towards the south-west. About ten o'clock we met a coffle of twenty-six people, and seven loaded asses, returning from the Gambia. Most of tlie men were armed with muskets, and had broad belts of scarlet cloth over their shoulders, and European hats upon their heads. They informed us that there was very little demand for slaves on the Coast, as no vessel had arrived for some months past. On hearing this, the Seravvoollies, who had travelled with us from the Falenje river, separated themselves and their slaves from the coffle. They had not, they said, the means of maintaining their slaves in Gamjjia, 340 TRAVELS IN THE until a vessel should arrive ; and were unwilling to sell them to disadvantage ; they therefore departed to the northward for Kajaaga. We continued our route through the Wilder- ness, and travelled all day through a rugged country, covered with extensive thickets of bamboo. At sunset, to our great joy, we arrived at a pool of water near a large tabba tree, whence the place is called Tabba-gee, and here we rested a few hours. The water at this season of the year is by no means plentiful in these woods ; and as the days were in- sutFerably hot, Karfa proposed to travel in the night. Accord- ingly, about eleven o'clock, the slaves were taken out of their irons, and the people of the coffle received orders to keep close together ; as well to prevent the slaves from attempting to escape, as on account of the wild beasts. We travelled with great alacrity until daybreak, when it was discovered that a free woman had parted from the coffle in the nigli4; : her name was called until the woods resounded ; but no answer being given, we conjectured that she had either mis- taken the road, or that a lion had seized her unperceived. At length it was agreed that four people should go back a few miles to a small rivulet, where some of the coffle had stopt to drink, as we passed it in the night ; and that the coffle should wait for their return. The sun was about an hour high before the people came back with the woman, whom they found lying fast asleep by the stream. We now resumed our journey, and about eleven o'clock reached a walled town called Tambacnnda, where we were well received. Here we remained four days, on account of a palaver which was held on the following occasion : Modi Lemina, one of the Slatees belonging to the coffle, had formerly married a woman of this ?-ea ^r'r ,7 -' Cuuiter- ^r^t INTERFOR OF AFRICA. 341 town, vvlio liad borne him two children ; he afterwards went to Manding, and remained fhere eight years, withont send- ing any account of himself, during all that time, to his deserted wife ; who seeing no prospect of his return, at the end of three years had married another man, to whom she had like- wise borne two children. Lemina now claimed his wife ; but the second husband refused to deliver her up ; insisting that by the laws of Africa, when a man has been three years ab- sent from his wife, without giving her notice of his being alive, the woman is at liberty to marry again. After all the circumstances had been fully investigated in an assembly of the chief men, it was determined that the wife should make her choice, and be at liberty either to return to the first hus- band, or continue with the second, as she alone should think proper. Favourable as this determination was to the lady, she found it a difficult matter to make up her mind, and requested* time for consideration : but I think I could perceive that /irat love would carry the day. Lemina was indeed somewhat older than his rival, but he was also much richer. What weight this circumstance had in the scale of his wife's aftec- tions, I pretend not to sa}'. On the morning of the 26th, as we departed from Tamba- cunda, Karfa observed to me that there were no Shea trees farther to the westward than this town. I had collected and brought with me from Manding the leaves and flowers of this tree ; but they, were so greatly bruised on the road that I thought it best to gather another specimen at this place. The appearance of the fruit evidently places the Shea tree in the natural order of Sapotce, and it has some resemblance to the mudhuca tree, described by Lieutenant Charles Hamilton, in 342 TRAVELS IN THE the Asiatic Researches, Vol. I. page 300, About one o'clock we reached Sibikiilin, a walled village, but the inhabitants having the character of inhospitality towards strangers, and of being much addicted to theft, we did not think proper to enter the gate. We rested a short time under a tree, and then continued our route until it was dark, when we halted for the night by a small stream running towards the Gambia. Next day the road led over a wild and rocky country, every where rising into hills, and abounding with monkies and wild beasts. In the rividets among the hills, we found plenty of fish. This was a very hard day's jou-rney, and it was not until sun- set, that we reached the village of Koomboo, near to which are the ruins of a large town formerly destroyed by war. The inhabitants of Koomboo, like those of Sibikiilin, have so bad a reputation, that strangers seldom lodge in the village ; we accordingly rested for the night in the fields, where we erect- ed temporary huts for our protection, there being great ap- pearance of rain. May 28th. We departed from Koomboo, and slept at a Foulah town about seven miles to the westward; from which on the day following having crossed a considerable branch of the Gandjia, called Neola Koba, we reached a well inhabited part of the country. Here are several towns within sight of each other, collectively called Tenda, but each is distinguished also by its particular name. We lodged at one of them called Koba Tenda, where we remained the day following, in order to procure provisions for our support in crossing the Simbani woods. On the 30th we reached Jallacotta ; a considerable town, but much infested by Foulah banditti, who come through the woods from Bondou, and steal every thing they INTERIOR OP AFRICA. 343 can lay their hands on. A few days before out arrival, they had stolen twenty head of cattle, and on the day following made a second attempt : but were beaten oiY, and one of them taken prisoner. Here, one of the slaves belonging to the coHle, who had travelled with great difficulty for the last three days, was found unable to proceed any farther : l^is master (a singing man) proposed therefore to exchange him for^a young girl, belonging to one of the townspeople. The poor girl was ignorant of her fate, until the bundles were all tied up in the morning, and the coffle ready to depart ; when, coining with some other young women to see the coflfle set oat, her master took her by the hand, and delivered her to the singing man. Never was a face of serenity more suddenly changed into one of the deepest distress : the terror she manifested on having the load put upon her head, and the rope fastened round her neck, and the sorrow with which she bade adieu to her com- panions, were truly affecting. About nine o'clock, we crossed a large plain covered with ciboa trees (a species of palm), and came to the river Nerico, a branch of the Gambia, This was but a small river at this time, but in the rainy season it is of- ten dangerous to travellers. As soon as we had crossed this river, the singing men began to vociferate a particular song, expressive of their joy at having got safe into the west coun- try, or, as they expressed it, the land of the setting sun. The countrv was found to be verv level, and the soil a mixture of clay and sand. In the afternoon it rained hard, and we had recourse to the common Negro umbrella, a large ciboa leaf, which beingplaced upon the head, completely defends the whole body from the rain. We lodged for the night under the shade of a large tabba tree, near the ruins of a village. On the morn- 434 TRAVELS IN THE ing following, we crossed a stream called NoulicOj and about two o'clock, to my infinite joy, I saw myself once more on the banks of the Gambia, which at this place being deep and smooth, is navigable ; but the people told me that a little lower down, the stream is so shallo\y that the coffles frequently cross it on foot. On the south side of the river opposite to this place, is a large plain of clayey ground, called Toombi Toorila. It is a sort of morass, in which people are frequently lost, it being more than a day'sjourney across it. In the after- noon we met a man and two women, with bundles of cotton cloth upon their heads. They were going, they said, for Den- tila, to purchase iron, there being a great scarcity of that ar- ticle on the Gambia. A little before it was dark, m e arrived at a village in the kingdom of WooUi, called Seesukunda. Near this village there are great plenty of nitta trees, and the slaves in passing along had collected large bunches of the fruit ; but such was the superstition of the inhabitants, that they would not permit any of the fruit to be brought into the village. They had been told, they said, that some catastrophe would happen to the place when people lived upon nittas, and neglected to cultivate corn. June 2nd. We departed from Seesukunda, and passed a number of villages, at none of which was the coffle permitted to stop, although we were all very much fatigued: it was four o'clock in the afternoon before we reached Baraconda, where we rested one day. Departing from Baraconda on the morn- ing of the 4th, we reached in a few hours Medina, the capital of the king of Woolli's dominions, from whom the reader may recollect I received an hospitable reception in the beginning of December 1795, in my journey eastward.* I immediately * Vide p. 35. INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 345 inquired concerning the health of my good old benefactor, and learnt with great concern that he was dangerously ill. As Karfa would not allow the coffle to stop, I could not pre- sent my respects to the King in person ; but I sent him word by the officer to whom we paid customs, that his prayers for my safety had not been unavailing. We continued our route until sunset, when we lodged at a small village a little to the westward of Kootakunda, and on the day following arrived at Jindey ; where, eighteen months before, I had parted from my friend Dr. Laidley : an interval, during which I had not beheld the face of a Christian, nor once heard the delightful sound of my native language. Being now arrived within a short distance of Pisania, from whence my journey originally commenced, and learning that my friend Karfa was not likely to meet with an immediate opportunity of selling his slaves on the Gambia : it occurred to me to suggest to him that he would find it for his interest to leave them at Jindey, until a market should offer. Karfa agreed with me in this opinion ; and hired, from the chief man of the town, huts for their accommodation and a piece of land on which to employ them, in raising corn, and other provisions for their maintenance. With regard to himself, he declared that he would not quit me until my departure from Africa. We set out accordingly, Karfa, myself, and one of the Foulahs belonging to the coffle, early on the morning of the 9th ; but akhough I was now approaching the end of my tedious and toilsome journey : and expected ir another day, to meet witli countrymen and friends, I could not part, for the last time, with my unfortunate fellow travellers, doomed, as I knew most of them to be, to a life of captivity and slavery, in a foreign land, VOL. I. Y y 346 TRAVELS IN THE Avithout great emotion. During a wearisome peregrination of more than five hundred British miles, exposed to the burning rays of a tropical sun, these poor slaves, amidst their own in- finitely greater sufferings would commiserate mine ; and fre- quently, of their own accord, bring water to quench my thirst, and at night collect branches and leaves to prepare me a bed in the Wilderness. We parted with reciprocal expressions of regret and benediction. My good wishes and prayers were all I could bestow upon them ; and it afforded me some con- solation to be told, that they were sensible I had no more to give. My anxiety to get forward admitting of no delay on the road, we reached Tendacunda in the evening, and were hos- pitably received at the house of an aged black female called Seniora Camilla, a person who had resided many years at the English factory, and spoke our language. I was known to her before I had left the Gambia, at the outset of my journey, but my dress and figure were now so different from the usual appearance of an European, that she was very excusable in mistaking me for a Moor. When I told her my name and country, she surveyed me with great astonishment, and seemed unwilling to give credit to the testimony of her senses. She assured me that none of the traders on the Gambia ever ex- pected to see me again ; having been informed long ago, that the Moors of Ludamar had murdered me, as they had mur- dered Major Houghton. I inquired for my two attendants, Johnson and Demba, and learnt with great sorrow, that nei- ther of them was returned. Karfa, who had never before heard people converse in English, listened to us with great attention. Every thing he saw seemed wonderful. The fur- INTERIOR OP AFRICA. 347 iiituieof tlie house, the chairs, &c. and particularly beds with curtains, were objects of his great admiration ; and he asked me a thousand questions concerning the utility and necessity of different articles ; to some of which I found it difficult to give satisfactory answers. On the morning of the 10th, Mr. Robert Ainsley, having learnt that I was at Tendacunda, came to meet me, and politely offered me the use of his horse. He informed me that Dr. Laidley had removed all his property to a place called Kayee, a little farther down the river, and that he was then gone to Doomasansa with his vessel, to purchase rice ; but would return in a day or two. He therefore invited me to stay with him at Pisania, until the Doctor's return. I accepted the invitation, and being accompanied by my friend Karfa, reached Pisania about ten o'clock. Mr. Ainsley's schooner was lying at anchor before the place. This was the most surprising object which Karfa had yet seen. He could not easily comprehend the use of the masts, sails, and rigging ; nor did he conceive that it was possible, by any sort of con- trivance, to make so large a body move forwards by the common force of the wind. The manner of fastening together the different planks which composed the vessel, and filling up the seams so as to exclude the water, was perfectly new to him ; and I found that the schooner with her cable and anchor, kept Karfa in deep meditation the greater part of the day. About noon, on the 12th, Dr. Laidley returned from Doo- masansa, and received me with great joy and satisfaction, as one risen from the dead. Finding that the wearing apparel which I had left under his care was not sold nor sent to 348 TRAVELS IN THE England, I lost no time in resuming the English dress ; and disrobing my chin of its venerable incumbrance. Karfa sur- veyed me in my British apparel with great delight ; but re- gretted exceedingly that I had taken off my beard ; the loss of which, he said, had converted me from a man into a boy. Dr. Laidley readily undertook to discharge all the pecuniary engagements I had entered into since my departure from the Gambia, and took my draft upon the Association for the amount. My agreement with Karfa (as I have already related), was to pay him the value of one prime slave, for which 1 had given him my bill upon. Dr. Laidley, before we departed from Kamalia : for, in case of my death on the road, I was unwilling that my benefactor should be a loser. But this good creature had continued to manifest towards me so much kindness, that I thought I made him but an inadequate recompense, when I told him that he was now to receive double the sum I had originally promised ; and Dr. Laidley assured him that he was ready to deliver the goods to that amount, whenever he thought proper to send for them. Karfa was overpowered by this unexpected token of my gratitude, and still more so, when he heard that I intended to send a handsome present to the good old schoolmaster, Fankooma, at Malacotta. He promised to carry up the goods along with his own ; and Dr. Laidley assured him that he would exert himself in assisting him to dispose of his slaves to the best advantage the moment a slave vessel should arrive. These and other instances of attention and kindness shewn him by Dr. Laidley, were not lost upon Karfa. He would often say to me, " my journey has indeed been prosperous ! " But, observing the improved state of our manufactures, and our INTERIOR OP AFRICA. 349 manifest superiority in the arts of civilized life, he would sometimes appear pensive, and exclaim with an involuntary sigh, fato fing inta feng, " black men are nothing." At other times, he would ask me with great seriousness, what could possibly have induced me, who was no trader, to think of exploring so miserable a country as Africa ? He meant by this to signify that, after what I must have witnessed in my own country, nothing in Africa could in his opinion deserve a moment's attention. I have preserved these little traits of character in this worthy Negro, not only from regard to the man, but also because they appear to me to demonstrate that he possessed a mind above his condition : and to such of my readers as love to contemplate human nature in all its varieties, and to trace its progress from rudeness to refinement, I hope the account I have given of this poor African will not be unacceptable. No European vessel had arrived at Gambia for many months previous to my return from the interior ; and as the rainy season was now setting in, I persuaded Karfa to return to his people at Jindey. He parted with me on the 14th with great tenderness ; but as I had little hopes of being able to quit Africa for the remainder of the year, I told him, as the fact was, that I expected to see him again before my departure. In this, however, I was luckily disappointed ; and my narra- tive now hastens to its conclusion ; for on the ]5lh, the ship Charlestown, an American vessel, commanded by Mr. Charles Harris, entered the river. She came for slaves, in- tending to touch at Goree to fill up: and to proceed from thence to South Carolina. As the European merchants on the Gambia, had at this time a great many slaves on hand. 350 TRAVELS IN THE they agreed with the captain to purchase the whole of his cargo, consisting chiefly of rum and tobacco, and deliver him slaves to the amount, in the course of two days. This afforded me such an opportunity of returning (though by a circuitous route) to my native country, as I thought was not to be neglected. I therefore immediately engaged my pas- sage in this vessel for America; and having taken leave of Dr. Laidley, to whose kindness I was so largely indebted, and my other friends on the river, I embarked atKayee on the 17th day of June. Our passage down the river was tedious and fatiguing ; and the weather was so hot, moist, and unhealthy, that before our arrival at Goree, four of the seamen, the surgeon, and three of the slaves had died of fevers. At Goree we were detained for want of provisions, until the beginning of October. The number of slaves received on board this vessel, both on the Gambia, and at Goree, was one hundred and thirty ; of whom about twenty-five had been, I suppose, of free condi- tion in Africa ; as most of them being Bushreens, could write a little Arabic. Nine of them had become captives in the religious war between Abdulkader and Darnel, mentioned in the latter part of the preceding Chapter; two of the others had seen me as I passed through Bondou, and many of them had heard of me in the interior countries. My conversation with them, in their native language, gave them great comfort; and as the surgeon was dead, I consented to act in a medical capacity in his room, for the remainder of the voyage. They had in truth need of every consolation in my power to bestow; not that I observed any wanton acts of cruelty practised either by the master, or the seamen, towards them ; but the INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 351 mode of confining and securing Negroes in the American slave ships, (owing chiefly to the weakness of their crews,) being abundantly more rigid and severe than in British ves- sels employed in the same trafiic, made these poor creatures to suffer greatly, and a general sickness prevailed amongst them. Besides the three who died on the Gambia, and six or eight while we remained at Goree, eleven perished at sea, and many of the survivors were reduced to a very weak and emaciated condition. In the midst of these distresses, the vessel, after having been three weeks at sea, became so extremely leaky, as to require constant exertion at the pumps. It was found neces- sary, therefore, to take some of the ablest of the Negro men out of irons, and employ them in this labour ; in which they were often worked beyond their strength. This produced a complication of miseries not easily to be described. We were, however, relieved much sooner than I expected ; for the leak continuing to gaia upon us, notwithstanding our utmost exertions to clear the vessel, the seamen insisted on bearing away for the West Indies, as affording the only chance of saving our lives. Accordingly, after some objections on the part of the master, we directed our course for Antigua, and fortunately made that island in about thirty-five days after our departure from Goree. Yet even at this juncture we narrowly escaped destruction ; for, on approaching the north- west side of the island, we struck on the Diamond Rock, and got into St. John's harbour with great difiiculty. The vessel was afterwards condemned as unfit for sea, and the slaves, as I have heard, were ordered to be sold for the benefit of the owners. 352 TRAVELS, <^' /' i ci — t~r a 33u o — I — o — I — o — ■— o — ■— o- •o- <> o 'm ^4^^^^,,,^^^^^^ _ roar d, the rain f^llf; St, ihe white mnnvtildtd to the V.lstrhefnt hin^ Et^: f^Pf^ ^ ^:^:}=±^)^-^^m^h:^ ^^^l down beneath our tret, for weary, fad pndfi'ii.t was he, and ahl no ¥-=5=i44^^i^ aF=g: ^ l^i^^ wife or mothers care, for him the milk or com prep are;for him the m ri^^^ h 'ikf^iti Chorus ^^-t-^f^ ii^*fe i — 1 milk or corn prepare. Tne white mrri fnnll our pit^ -i^_JW4^i3d ^=t ^- /' -f ^ H^ -*^ ^ -J-' ^i- -i- • ! fnuie; ;.l3 si no v» ife or moAcrV CJire, the mill: ( r ccrr fr,r hit" pi ^ §-^^^^ ^U^^Mii a: i "i^^« -i * i~* -iL J^ ■|^g ^ ^^ ^4a^MEEJ^:fi^^:rj=jz^j^^ -parej tne milk or corn frr him prepare. N I' 1 nt "; ^ ■=fs: izr=i=|.: 1 I I -0- -#- -f :«: ^ 1 ' ^ APPENDIX, GEOGRAPHICAL ILLUSTRATIONS OF MR. PARK'S JOURNEY. BY MAJOR RENNELL. GEOGRAPHICAL ILLUSTRATIONS. CHAPTER I. Concerning the Ideas entertained by the Ancient Geographers, as well as the Moderns, down to the Times ofDelish and D'Anville, respect- ing the Course of the River Niger. 1 HE late journey of Mr. Park, into the interior of Western Africa, has brought to our knowledge more important facts respecting its Geography (both moral and physical), than have been collected by any former traveller. By pointing out to us the positions of the sources of the great rivers Senegal, Gambia, and Niger,* we are instructed where to look for the elevated parts of the country ; and even for the most elevated point in the western quarter of Africa, by the place from whence the Niger and Gambia turn in opposite directions to the east and west. We are taught, moreover, the common boundary of the desert * 1 here use the word Niger, as being the best understood by Europeans ; but the proper name of this river in the country seems to be Guin or Jin. (Hartman's Edrisi, p. 3'i. 48. 51.) At the same lime, it is more commonly designed by the term Joliba, meaning the Great Water, or great river. In Hke manner, the Ganges has two names, Padda, the proper name ; Gonga, the great river. Tlie Moors and Arabs call it Neel Abeed, the River of Slaves ; but they have also a name to express the great water, that is, Neel Kibbeer. Neei appears to be employed in Africa, as Gonga in India, to express any great river. By Niger, the ancients meant merely to express the River of the Black people, or Ethio- pians. The term was Roman : for the Greeks believed it to be the head, or a branch, of the Egyptian Nile. 366 APPENDIX. and fruitful parts of the country, and of the Moors and Negroes ; which latter is the more interesting, as it may be termed a boundary in moral geography ; from the opposite qualities of mind, as well as of body, of the Moors and Negroes : for that physical geography gives rise to habits, which often determine national character, must be al- lowed by every person, who is a diligent observer of mankind. It must be acknowledged, that the absolute extent of Mr. Park's progress in Africa, compared with the amazing size of that continent, appears but small, although it be nearly 1100 British miles in a direct line, reckoned from its western extremity, Cape Verd. But consi- dered in itself, it is no inconsiderable line of travel ; being more exten- sive than the usual southern tour of Europe. But moreover, it affords a triumph to the learned, in that it confirms some points of fact, both of geography and natural history, which have appeared in ancient authors, but to which our own want of knowledge has denied credit. I allude more particularly to the course of the M- ger, and the history of the Lotophagi. That the Greeks and Romans, Avho had formed great establishments in Africa, and the latter in parti- cular, who had penetrated to the Niger,* should have had better opportunities of knowing the interior part of the country, than we, who live at a distance from it, and possess only a few scattered factories near the sea coast, is not to be wondered at : but the proof of such facts should teach us to be less hasty in decrying the authority of ancient au- thors ; since the fault may arise from a want of comprehension on our parts, or from an assumption of false principles on theirs. Few geographical facts have been more questioned in modern times, tlian the course of the great inland river of Africa, generally understood by the name of Niger ; some describing it to run to the icest, others to the easl ; but of these opinions, I believe the former has been espoused by the most numerous party, by far.-l* Although Mr. Park's authority, * Pliny, lib. v. c. 4. t M. J. Lalande, almost at the moment of Mr. Park's investigation, has determined its APPENDIX. 367 founded on ocular demonstration, sets this question ybr ever at rest, by determining the course of the river to be from loest to east, as Major Houghton's information had previously induced a belief of, yet it may not be amiss to trace the history of the opinions, concerning the course of this celebrated river, from the earliest date of profane history, Herodotus,* more than twenty-two centuries ago, describes, from the information of the Africans, a great river of Africa, far removed to the south of the Great Desert, and abounding with crocodiles. That it flowed from west to east, dividing Africa, in like manner as the Da- nube does Europe. That the people from the borders of the Mediter- ranean, who made the discovery, were carried to a great city on the banks of the river in question ; and that the people of this quarter were black; that is, much blacker than tlieir visitors. Our author, indeed, took this river to be the remote branch of the Egyptian Nile, and rea- sons on the circumstance, accordingly: but even this argument serves to express in a more forcible manner, the supposed direction of its course. Pliny also believed that the Nile came from the west ; but he is far from identifying it with the Niger, which he describes as a distinct river. But we have at least his negative opinion respecting its western course ; for he speaks of the Bamboius river as running into the Western ocean ; meaning to express by it either the Gambia or Senegal river, and not the Niger.i' Ptolemy is positive in describing the Niger as a separate stream from the Senegal and Gambia, which two rivers are designed by him under the names oi Daradus and Slachir ; and they are by no means ill expressed ; falling into the sea on different sides of the Arsinarium course to be to the west ; notwithstanding the forcible reasoning of his countryman D'Anville. (M^oioire sur I'lnt^rieur de I'Afrique.) Mr. Bruce was of th« same opinion. Vol. iii. p. 720. 724. * Euterpe, c. 32. t Lib. v. c. 9. 368 APPENDIX. promontory, or Cape Verd* The Niger of Ptolemy is made to extend from west to east, over half the breadth of Africa, between the Atlan- tic ocean, and the course of the Nile. These may suffice for the ancient authorities, which in very early times fixed the course of the Niger in the systems of geography, to be from west to east. Who it was that first led the way, in the opposite opinion, I know not ; but we find Edrisi, in the twelfth century, not only conducting the Nile of the Negroes, or Niger, uesttvard, and into the Atlantic, but also deriving it from the Egyptian Nile ; which is dia- metrically opposite to the opinion of Herodotus. Such an opinion marks the very imperfect state of his knowledge of African geography ; and should induce a degree of caution in receiving other opinions of the same author, where they rest absolutely on his own authority. It is very probable that the waters which collect on the n-esf of Nubia, may run to the tvest, and be lost in lakes : and it is pos- sible, though very improbable, that a branch of the Nile may take the same course : but fortified by the present state of our knowledge, v\'e may certainly pronounce the general scope of the intelligence commu- nicated by Edrisi, respecting the course of the Niger, to be erroneous. I conceive, however, that his error may easily be accounted for, in this way. He was probably told, that the waters on the west of Nubia, &c. ran to the westward. He also knew that a great river (the Senegal) discharged itself into the Atlantic, nearly in the same parallel; and moreover, that a great river, whose line of direction lay between the east and west, and between Nubia and the just mentioned embouchure, watered a very extensive tract, in the midland part of Africa. Now, what so natural (admitting the fact of the western waters from Nubia, and which I trust, I shall go near to prove in the sequel) as to suppose, when he had found a head, and a tail of a great river, together with a long extent of course of a river between them, that they were parts of * Probably a corruption of Setihagi ; or Asienhagi, as the early Portuguese discoverers write it. These were a great tribe. APPENDIX. 369 each other 1 It must also be taken into the account, that he supposed the continent of Africa to be about 1000 miles narrower than it really is, in the line between Nubia and the month of the Senegal. Abulfeda followed Edrisi in the same opinion, respecting the Niger; which he calls a ttcin river with that of Egypt. He also calls it the iV«7e of Gana. Abulfeda also knew, and has described, the general form of the continent of Africa : and, of course knew that it was sur- rounded by the sea.* But his descriptions are limited to the north- and north-east parts. He wrote in the fourteenth century. It was Edrisi, probably, who influenced and determined the opinions of the moderns, respecting this question. An author, long supposed to be of the same region with that which he describes,^ and who had entered more into the detail of the African geography, than any other, would, according to the usual mode of decision, on such pretensions, be preferred to those who went before him and had treated the subject in a more general way. Mankind had no criterion by which to judge of the truth. Since then the Arabian geographer, who had written the most exten- sively on the subject, had conducted the Niger into the Atlantic, we cannot wonder that the early Portuguese discoverers, who doubtless learnt from the Arabian authors the particulars of African geography, should adopt the same idea ; and that they should regard the Senegal river as the Niger ; as we find it, in the histories of their discoveries in the fifteenth century. The Portuguese, who at this period took the lead, in matters of navigation and discovery, might well be expected to set the fashion, in what related to African geography. So that in despite of Ptolemy, and of the ancients in general, the great inland river of Africa was described to run to the west ; and to form the head of the Senegal river. Nay more, it was at last supposed to be the pa- rent stock of all the great western rivers of Africa. * This was previous to the Portuguese discoveries, t He was commonly called the Nubian Geographer. VOL. I. 3 B 370 APPENDIX. Sanuto, whose Geography of Africa, is dated 1588, describes one branch of the Niger to be the Rio Grande, the other the river of Ses- tos ; regarding tlie Senegal as a different river. M. Delisle's map of Afiica (1707) gives the Niger a direct course through Africa, from Bornou, in the east, and terminating in the river of Senegal on the west. But in his maps of ]722 and 1727, this was corrected : the source of the Senegal was placed at a shallow lake named Maheria, between the 14th and 15th degrees of longitude east of Cape Verd ; and in latitude 12°; whilst the river of Tombuctoo, isamed Guien, was described to issue from another lake, in the same neighbourhood, and to flow towards Bornou, where it terminated in a third lake. The cause of this change, may be easily traced, in the intelligence collected by the French traders and settlers in Gallam :* the sub- stance of which is to be found in Labat's collection, published in 1728 ; although the detail differs in some points. He says, Vol. ii. p. 161, et seq. that the Mandinga merchants report that the Niger (by which he always means the Senegal river) springs from the lake Maberia, whose situation could not be ascertained. That the Gambia river was a branch of the Niger , separating from it at Baracota (a position also unknown) and that it passed through a marshy lake, in its way to Baraconda ; where the English and Portuguese had settlements. That the Niger, at a point below Baracota, sent forth another branch, namely the Faleme river ; which encompassed the country of Bambouk, and after- wards joined the Niger in the country of Gallam. And finally, that the same Niger, by its separation into two branches, formed a very considerable island above Kasson. It may be remarked, that a belief of these circumstances, manifests a gross state of ignorance respecting the interior of the country ; since such derivations from rivers are found only in alluvial tracts : and it happens, that scarcely any levels vary * Gallam is one of the names of the country iu wliich Fort St Joseph is situated ; and is often applied to the settlement itself. APPENDIX. 371 more than those, through wliich the rivers in question pass ; as will ap- pear in the sequel. They likewise report (p. 163) that on the east of the lake Maberia lies the kingdom of Omnbala; within which, is the river of Guien, which passes near the city of Tonihuctoo. Again (Vol. iii. p. 361 to 364) it is said that Torabuctoo is not situated on the bank of the Niger, but at about 6 leagues inland from it : and that in passing to it, from Gallam (which is reported to be a journey of thirty-two days only) they go through Timbi, five journies short of Torabuctoo ; where they leave the bank of the river, to avoid too great a detour. Labat does not state in positive terms that the Niger or river of Se- negal aflfords a continuous navigation, from the falls of Govinea (above Gallam) to Tombuctoo : but that he believed it, is strongly implied, by what appears afterwards, in p. 367, 368 ; that is, a project of a trade to Tombuctoo ; " by keeping an establishment of vessels above the falls ; which vessels might ascend the Niger to a point opposite to Tombuctoo, thereby saving the great expence and fatigue of a land journey." Here then, we trace the idea of the lake of Maberia, the supposed head of the Niger ; and the river of Tombuctoo, under the name of Guien ; and moreover, (although these are not expressly said to com- municate) a continued navigation from Gallam to Tombuctoo. But it must surely have struck those on the spot, to inquire whether any boats ever descended from Tombuctoo to the falls of Govinea? It is certain that Delisle, (as well as D'Anville, whose general ideas are much the same, in this particular*) regards the river Guien, as havino- no communication with the lake Maberia, but makes it flow from a different lake, at no great distance to the northward : so that these geographers so far understood the matter right ; and denied the » D'Anville differs from Delisle in extending very greatl)', the distance between Gal- lam and Tombuctoo ; and by representing the Maberia lake, as one source alone, and that the least distant, of those of the river Senegal. 872 APPENDIX. practicability of a continuous navigation to Tombuctoo : but then, they erred very greatly in placing the head of the Senegal, either so remotely, or rn the eastern quarter ; since it rises in the south-east. We must regard the geography of M. D'Anville, as the most per- fect of all, previous to the inquiries made by the African Association. The researches made under the direction of this Association, have al- ready established on record, from the reports of Major Houghton, and of Mr. Magra, although in a vague way, the general position of the sources of the Joliba, or Niger, in or near the country of Manding; as well as its easterly or north-easterly course, towards Tombuctoo; the position of Bammakoo, situated near the highest navigable point of its course ; of Sego, and Jenne, along its banks ; the separation of its wa- ters, into two channels, in the quarter of Tombuctoo ; together with a vague idea of the position of that city itself. It will be shewn, in the sequel, that Mr. Park's observations do not contradict, but establish these positions ; drawing them out of the obscurity in which, by the very nature of the information, they were necessarily involved ; and fix- ing, in some degree of just relative position and proportion, those particulars w^hich before remained at large, considered in a geographi- cal sense. Concerning the errors of former geographers, they are more easily detected than the causes of them. They must, however, be ascribed, partly to the ignorance of the African merchants ; but, in all probabi- lity, in a much greater part, to the want of understanding each other's language ; a defect that has led to many errors, that are oftentimes charged to the account of wilful falsehood, or, at least, to an indiffer- ence to the cause of truth. I can easily conceive that the caravan merchants, in passing from Tombuctoo to Gallara (or the contrary), might have deceived them- selves into a belief, that the principal rivers which they had either crossed or skirted in their way, might communicate with each other : for it appears clearly, by Mr. Park's observations, that the eastern APPENDIX. 373 branch of the Senegal, and the western branch of the Joliba. approach very near to each other, in the early part of their courses ; so that, dur- ing the whole journey, the merchants might never be farther distant from a river to the southward of them, than a few journies. As to the story, so long credited, of the Niger being the parent river, from whence all the western rivers were derived, we may remark, that ignorance, in every country through which large rivers take their course, is very ready to derive them all from o)ie source ; and that source very probably, a lake. Witliin our own times, the Burrampooter and Ava rivers were thus described in the maps. Pliny reports, that the Euphrates and Tigris are united in Armenia, by the medium of a lake :* and Edrisi, as we have seen, derived the Nile and Niger, from one and the same lake.+ It will ap()ear that the lake Maberia, taken by D'Anville and De- lisle for the lieaH of the Senegal river, or that which runs to the tcest, is meant for no other than the lake of Dibhie, formed by the river Joliba, or that which runs to the east ; and which Mr. Park's inquiries have brought to our knowledge. Again, we recognize the river Guien, or Guin, of Labat, of D'Anville, and of Delisle, in the northern branch of the same .Joliba, issuing out of the lake Dibbie ; and which, together with the southern branch from the same lake, forms an island, reported to be 90 or 100 miles in length, named Jinbala by Mr. Park. There is a town on the side of the northern branch, also named Jinbala ; but whether the island may take its name from this town, or from the river, whose proper name, from about this point, seems to be Guin, or Jin, 1 know not. M. D'Anville has described, in this position, the country of Guinbala, subject to Tonka Qnata : the same who is said by Labat to * Pliny, lib. vi. c. 2". t Tliomson believed it. After speaking of the Nile, he says, — His brother Niger too, and all the floods In which the full-form'd uiaids of Afric lave Their jetty limbs. Summer, Sll. 374 APPENDIX. be sovereign of the country which contains the lake of Maberia, and the river of Guien.* Here, then, we have an explication of the error of those, who, from the supposed information of the Mandinga merchants, supposed the lake Maberia (answering to the Dibbie of Park), to form the source of the Senegal river; and who took the river of Guin, or Jinbala, for a distinct river, instead of a branch, issuing from that lake. The Man- dingas might very truly have informed the French settlers, that the lake Maberia, and the rivers Joliba and Guin would convey them to Tom- buctoo ; but did they say also, that the river of Senegal would convey them to the lake Maberia? The French merchants, perhaps, taking 'or granted that the navigation was continuous, might never inquire whether their informants were speaking of one or of two rivers ; and the others might at the same time be speaking of two distinct rivers, and be ignorant of the prepossessions of their inquirers ! It may be added, that, whether from the difficulties that grevv out of the subject, when the geographical documents came to be analyzed, or whether it was from actual information, both Delisle and D'Aaville describe two lakes, near each other; one at the supposed head of the Senegal river, the other at that of the Tombuctoo river. I think it most probable, that it was occasioned by the want of their being made to comprehend, tiiat the waters ran easttcard to, and not icestward from the lake Maberia ; so that when they were told that the Tombuctoo ri- ver issued from a lake, they concluded it must be a different one from that at the head of the Senegal. Certain it is, however, that these geo- graphers believed, that the waters ran to the west, from this lake. I have now brought to a conclusion, what was meant to be said on the subject of the descriptions, and mistakes, of former geographers ; in the course of which it may be observed, that a period of twenty-two centuries has brouglit matters round again to the same point. And having thus cleared the ground, I next proceed to the more important part of the subject, the proper discoveries of Mr Park. * Labat, Vol ii. p. IGl. 163. and iii. p. 361. APPENDIX. CHAPTER II. Concerning the Geographical Discoveries of Mr. Park. ^iNCE the scope and design of Mr. Park's routes have been already set forth in the beginning of the present work, it would be useless to say more on that head ; and as the particular map of his progress will explain the relative circumstances of the Geography, nothing more will be necessary, than to call the attention of the reader to such par- ticulars as may not readily occur to him on inspection of the Map ; or which, from their nature, cannot well be inserted in it. The discoveries of this gentleman (as has been said before), give a new face to the physical geography of Western Africa, They prove, by the courses of the great rivers, and from other notices, that a belt of mountains, which extends from west to east, occupies the parallels between 10 and 11 degrees of north latitude, and at least between the 2d aiid 10th degrees of west longitude (from Greenwich). This belt, moreover, other authorities extend some degrees still farther to the west and south, in different branches, and apparently of less height. One of these, follows the upper part of the Gambia river ; another the Rio Grande, to a low point of its course ; and a third appears to shut up the western coast of Guinea.* Accordingly, this chain approaches ranch nearer to the equatorial parts of Africa, than was before sup- posed ; and thus we are enabled to understand fully what AbiilfedaT meant, when he said, that after the continent of Atrica has extended southward'^ from the Strait of Gibraltar, to the neighbourhood of the * Meaning Scrra Leona, I'iic. &c. i' Prolegomena. X Abulfeda in effect, Literallij meant southward ; for, like Ptokiiiy, and Strabo, he had no idea that the coast of Africa projected to the westward, beyond the Straits, but rather supposed it to trend to the eastward of south. 376 APPENDIX. Equator, it turns to the east, passing at the back of the mountains of Komri, which give rise to the Nile.* The mountains in question, then, ought to be those intended by Abulfeda ; who by the name Komri, evidently meant to express the Mountains of the Moon; from which Ptolemy derives the remote source of the Nile.t As Abulfeda sup- posed the source of the Nile to be very far to the south or south-west (in which I agree generally with him), this chain may be supposed to pass onward from the abovementioned quarter, to the east, and south of east, shutting up Abyssinia on the south. This, at least, seems the only way in which we can fairly understand Abulfeda ; in confirmation of whose description, a part of the ridge has been actually found by Mr. Paik.X According to Leo (p. 249), the country of Melli is bordered on the south by mountains ; and these must be nearly in the same parallel with the mountains of Kong, seen by Mr. Park. Mr. Beaufoy was informed that the countries on the south and south-west of the Niger, lying opposite to, and to the westward of, Kassina, were also mountainous and woody. In particular in the line between Kassina and Assentai, the country is said to be formed of a succession of liills, with woods of vast extent, and some mountains of a stupendous height.^ * When the above is considered, we can understand that Abulfeda supposed the bays of Benin and St. Thomas to be 11 or 12 degrees more to the east, than they really are ; and he might well suppose that " the sea came in at the back of the mountains that gave rise to the Nile." That the Nile of Egypt, and not the Niger, is meant, we learn in another place in the same author, where he speaks of the Egyptian Nile, and traces it to Egypt. Prolegomena, article Rivers. t Komri, or rather Kummeree, is the Arabic term for lunar ; and is the adjective of Kummer, the moon. [Mr. Hastings.] X The mountains of Kong were seen by Mr. Park ; but no other part of the chain. § African Association, 1790, and 1791, quarto ed. p. 117. 123; oclavo, 176. 186. Also quarto, 174 ; octavo, 260. As two editions of this work are in the hands of the public, I have referred to both througliout this work ; distinguishuig them respectively by Q. and O. APPENDIX. 377 As the source of the Nile is confessedly very far to the south of the parallel of 10 degrees north, this chain of raountiins, admitting it to . continue its general easterly course, must bend to the southward, after it passes Kong and Melli, in order to pass above the sources of the Nile ; the principal of which I conceive to be situated in the country of Darfoor. The highest part of the portion of this chain, pointed out by Mr. Park's discoveries, is situated between the 5th and 9th degrees of west longitude ; for within this space are situated the sources of the Gambia, which run to the west-north-west ; of the Senegal, running to the north- west; and of the Joliba (or Niger) to the east-north-east* There is, however, a general slope of the country, extending to a great distance northward, formed by a gradation of summits of lesser mountains and hills, as is shewn by the early part of the courses of the rivers ; in par- ticular, that of the Niger, which appears to run near 100 miles on a northerly course, before it turns finally to the eastward. A large portion of the tract bordering on the northern foot of the mountains, from whence the branches of- the Senegal river issue, is covered with thick forests. Mr. Park's track on his return lay through these woods ; one part of which is named the Jallonka Wilderness, in which no habitations were seen during five days of forced marching. The hardships endured, even by t\\& free men of this caravan, almost exceed belief. t The head of the principal branch of the Senegal river is about 80 geographical miles to the west of that of the Joliba; and the head of the Gambia, is again, about 100 west of the Senegal. The branches of the latter are very numerous, and intersect the country for about • The Rio Grande has its source very far to the south of this chain ; first running to the north, till it touches the foot of this very ridge of mountains, by which it is turned to the west. [Vide Mr. Watt's Plan and Journal.] t The caravan in question was composed chiefly of slaves going fromManding to the ports of the Gambia. VOL. I. 3 C 378 APPENDIX. 200 miles from east to west, in the line of the caravan route : and it was this circumstance that detained Mr. Park during a great part of the periodical rainy season, in Manding ; a state of things, perhaps little expected, in a country regarded here, as the most thirsty on the globe.* We may conclude that similar circumstances take place, with respect to the Joliba ; only that as its course is such as to intercept all the streams that descend from the Kong mountains on the south, whilst Mr, Park's travels along it, were confined to the northern bank, he had no opportunity of knowing it, any farther than by seeing various openings on that side ; and by being told that he could not possibly make his way there. No doubt, it receives some large streams also, when its course diverges far enough from the mountains as to allow the waters room to collect. At the lowest point to which Mr. Park traced it, and which (although about 420 British miles in direct distar.ee from its source) could only be reckoned the early part of its course, it was a very considerable body of water ; the largest, he says, that he had seea (in Africa,) and it abounded with crocodiles. The rainy season was but just begun; and the river might have been forded at Sego, where its bed expands to a vast breadth. Still, however, we must not estimate the bulk of the Niger, that Niger which was in the contemplation of Pliny and the Romans, by the measure of its bulk at Sego, and Silla,*!" If we suppose * There is in Africa, a rainy season ; and also a periodical change of wind, as in the same latitudes in India ; in effect, a Monsoon, t It may be conceived that the Romans, who, according to Pliny, (lib. v. 4), held the dominion of the countries as far as the Niger, penetrated to it by the route of Gadamis, Fezzan, Taboo, and Kassina, as the most direct, and convenient one, from the Mediter- ranean. There are very clear proofs of the conquest of the three former by Balbus. (Pliny, lib. v. 5.) It was known to Pliny that tlie Niger swelled periodically like the Nile, and at the same season ; wliich we have also in proof from Major Houghton's Report ; and from Mr. Park's Observations. Pliny says, moreover, that its productions wcFe the same with those of the Nile. (Lib. v. c. 8.) APPENDIX. 379 it to be the same river which passes by Kassina (and we know of no other), which place is 700 miles, or more, to the eastward of Silla, it would doubtless receive by the way great additional supplies of water, and be at least a much deeper river than where Mr. Park saw it. And here it may not be amiss to remark, for the use of those who are not conversant with the subject, that rivers make the greatest display of their waters, in proportion to their bulk, at a moderate distance from their sources ; and are often wider above, than below* There can be no doubt but that the Joliba, is a noble stream ; and the prince of the western rivers of Africa, as the Nile of the eastern : but the African rivers, however, rank lower than those of Asia and America. Mr. Park judged that the Senegal river below the falls o( F'low, or Felou (as Labat writes it), was about the bulk of the Tweed at Melross, in summer. This was indeed, in the dry season ; but as the river does not begin to swell periodically till many months after that, Mr. Park, did not of course see it, at its lowest pitch. And yet this was the assemblage of all the principal branches of the river, save the Faleme, which was itself about three feet deep at the same season. * In the Proceedings of the African Associatiou, (Q. p. 122 ; O. 183, et set].) the river of Kassina is described to run to the west, and to pass on to Tombuctoo ; where it is said to be named Gnewa; possibly intended for Joliba ; for the n and I are more commonly interchanged than the m and n.f It will very probably turn out that there is an error in the above statement, and that it runs from W to E in the country of Kassina as well as at Tombuctoo. It would seem also to be a larger river in the east than in the west ; a presumption in favour of an easterly course. But perhaps, the best argument is, that it certainly runs from Tombuctoo to the east. It must then either be one and the same river, or there must be a receptacle common to both, lying betvieen Tombuctoo and Kassina ! and \ve have not heard of any such. Much more will be said concerning this subject, in the latter part of the Memoir. t Abderachman Aga calls it Giilbi ; (or Julbee). Hartmann's Edrisi, quarto ed. p. 22. It is incumbent on me to acknowledge the obligations I owe to M. Hartmann, for his arrangement of the matter of Edrisi's Africa ; and for his invaluable Elucidations, and Notes, 380 APPENDIX. But the Senegal is even fordable in some places below the conflux of the Faleme, according to Labat :* for the Moors cross it in the dry season, and commit depredations on some of the lands to the south. However, almost the whole of the towns and villages are placed on the south side, with a view of being in security for the longest possible term. The Senegal river then, is by no means a very capital stream, except in the rainy season ; when, like all the other tropical rivers, its bed is filled, and very commonly will not contain the additional waters. Mr. Park observed by the mark of the highest point of swelling of the river Kokoro (or eastern branch of the Senegal), that it had been twenty feet higher than when he crossed it, in the line of the southern route. The main branch of this river, the Ba-fing, or Black River, was not fordable, and was crossed over a temporary bridge of a very singular construction. Alligators, or crocodiles are found in all these branches, at the height at which Mr. Park passed them. The Faleme river has also a remote source^, and drains a great ex- tent of country. Conccrnins: the Gambia Mr. Park had fewer notices. It is remark- able that the position pointed out to him for the source of this river, agrees very nearly with that found in Dr. Wadstrom's map ; from notices collected from another quarter. This is very satisfactory. I learn also from Dr. Afzelius that the distance across, between the approximating parts of the courses of the Gambia and Rio Grande, is four journies. Mr. Park crossed in his way^ six different streams that fall into the Gambia from the north-east. Amongst these the principal one is the Nerico, which flows from the quarter of Bondou ; and is reckoned the eastern boundary of a tract which the Africans of this region style the country of the West, expressed by that of the setting sun. This tract • See Labat, Vol. ii. p. 172, where the impediments to the navigation are described. They do not appear to arise from differences in the general level, but to a ledge of rocks. APPENDIX. 381 is on a lower level than that to the east ; is flat, and the soil composed of clay and sand. It appears that the whole tract through which Mr. Park returned is covered with wood, cleared only in certain inhabited spots ( Numidian fashion ) : of which the great tract, named the Jallonka Wilderness, is composed of primeval forests.* The Bambara and Kaarta countries are also exceedingly woody, but less so than the other tract ; and the woods are of an inferior growth. According to the ideas collected from Mr. Park's observations, the general levels of the countries, near the sources of the great rivers are thus distributed : Between the countries of Bondou and Neola on the west, Bambara and Kaarta on the east, the country forms a very elevated level, falling rapidly to the eastward ; but only by degrees, to the westward : and narrowing in breadth, from 330 miles in the south (in the line between Bambara and Neola) to the narrow space of GO or 70 in the north, between Kaarta and Kajaaga ; and probably diminishing to nothing, as it advances into the Great Desert ; thus forming a great triangular space, whose vertex is on the north of the little kingdom of Kasson. This vast upland tract is divided into other degrees of level, of which the highest comprises the eastern and largest part of the whole. The ea.stern boundary of this particular level, is, of course, that of the upper level, generally, in the part where it overlooks Kaarta and Bambara : and its termination, in the opposite quarter, is at a yreat descent, west of the principal branch of the Senegal river, in Woradoo ; from which place, the edge of it may be conceived to run northward, to join another descent of the same kind, which forms the falls o( Govinea, over which the great body of the Senegal river is precipitated, from this upper level, to the intermediate one, • Thomson seems to have understood this, when he says, beneath primeval trees, that cast Their ample shade o'er Niger's yellow stream. Summer, v. 705. 382 APPENDIX The upper level contains the political divisions of Manding, Jallon- kadu, Fooladu, Kasson, Gadou, and some other smaller states. And the second, or intermediate level, contains Bambouk, Konkadoo, Sata- doo, Dentila, and some others ; and is bounded on the south-west, by the great slope of country at Kirwanney, where the waters first begin to flow towards the west. On the north-west it is bounded by the great descent which forms the second or lower fall of the Senegal river, named Flow. This fall is about 30 miles below Govinea, 48 above Fort St. Joseph : and here the river being arrived at the lowest level of the country, continues navigable with little interruption to the sea.* The Faleme river of course, must run on a far lower level than the other heads of the Senegal river. The Gambia has a small impediment to its navigation at Barracon- da, in the country of Woolli : but although this is usually termed difall, Mr. Park vv^as informed that it did not impede the passage of canoes ; so that it ought more properly to be termed a rapide, according to the American phrase ; that is to say, a slope, down which the water runs, with more than ordinary rapidity, but which does not, however, totally impede the passage of canoes, or small boats. The Joliba (Niger) descends from the high level of Manding, into Bambara, on the eastward, with a rapid and furious course, at Bam- makoo, about 150 miles below its source ; after which it glides smoothly along, and affords an uninterrupted navigation to Houssa, and probably by Kassina to Wangarah ; by the two first of which places, a very large and navigable stream does certainly pass, under the same name as is applied by the Arabs and Moors to the Joliba, that is Neel Abeed, or River of Slaves : a name that marks the idea of ihe people of the country through which it flows, in the minds of those people. Mr. Watt was informed, when at Teembo, the capital of the Foulah kingdom, in 1794, that in the way from thence to Tombuctoo, (concern- ing which his inquiries were pointed) a part of the road, lay along the * Labat, Vol. ii. p. 172. See his description of the navigation. APPENDIX. 388 side of a Great Water to which they came in about thirty days from Teembo. There can be no question but that the Great Water was the Joliba river ; whose very name, as we have said, in the Mandiiig language literally imports the same meaning : or more properly, tlie Great River. Some have concluded that the Foulahs intended by it a great inland sea ; but this is highly improbable, although there are, no doubt, sucli in other quarters of Africa, which serve as receptacles for those rivers which do not reach the sea. But, in the present case, the distance itself points to the Joliba ; for a month's journey from Teembo, would reach beyond Yaraina, but fall short of Sego : and we are told from the same authority, that in order to go to Tombuctoo, they pass through the countries of Beliah, Bowriah, Manda, Sego, &c. Beliah, we know not the situation of, but may conceive it to lie on the north-east, or east-north-east of Teembo ; because Mr. Park points out Bowriah, under the name of Boori, adjacent to Manding, which is obviously recognized in the Manda of Mr. Watt ; and Sego, there can be no doubt about What is farther said concerning tfie great breadth of the water, may either apply to the lake Dibbie, or may be African hyperbole. The sense appears clear enough. I have extracted in a note, the intelligence concerning the Great Water : and also that concerning the Nyalas. Mr. Park has also heard of the Nyalas, or Gaimgays, but is clearly of opinion that the inter- preter of Mr. Watt, either misunderstood the story^, or was himself misinformed.* * " I had a good deal of conversation with some men of a particular tribe of Man- dingas called Nyalas. These are great travellers, and much respected by all the nations of Africa. It is from this nation that all the Gaungays or workers in leather, come ; and they are likewise employed as the speakers on all embassies : as they are not only good orators, but are so far privileged, that no one, not even kings, can take offence at any thing they say. Any one who travels with them, is sure of being protected ; and, to use their own terms, they can pass between contending armies, who will defer the battle till they have passed. I inquired about Tombuctoo," &c. — One of them said, that " about 384 APPENDIX. a month's journey beyond Teembo, we should come to a large Water, which our eyes would not be able to reach across ; but which to the taste was sweet and good : that we should then coast along, touching at difiFerent towns for refreshment ; but that there was one country inhabited by bad people, who would rob and murder us, if they could ; where we should not stop, but keep far out, at a distance from the shore ;" &c. They engaged to carry him thither for the price oifoitr slaves. [Watt's Journal, MS. p. 181.] APPENDIX. 385 CHAPTER III. Comtruclion of the Geography of Mr. Park's Ecpedition into Africa, 1 NEXT proceed to the detail of Mr. Park's geographical materials. Should it be objected that I have been too diffuse and particular, in this part, 1 can only say, that since the information itself could not, from its nature be correct, it became the more necessary to investigate it closely, and also to place, not only the resulthwi the rfetot/of the investigation, together with the original documents \hems>e\ves , in the form of notes, in the hands of the public, that the true grounds of the construction, might be known. For whether it may happen, that no further lights should ever be obtained, concerning the subject ; or whether some other tra- veller, more ybr^jma/e (for he cannot posses more zeal, enterprize, tem- per, or firmness) should complete Mr. Park's work ; in either case, the original documents, as well as the mode of working them up, should be recorded ; in \.\\e former , that we may know how to appreciate them; in the latter, how best to improve them. The successor of Mr. Park, cannot have too extensive a knowledge of the detail of his predecessor's ■work ; in order that he may know what parts require correction ; and how to avoid delays, from a useless attention to objects, that are already attained. Two new Maps have been constructed for the occasion. The one contains the Progress of Discovery and Improvement in various parts of North Africa ; the other, the Geography of Mr. Park's Expe- dition, as well as the result of his particular inquiries in the same quar- ter ; on a more extended scale. The present remarks and discussions refer particularly to the latter. In the construction of this map, it is first required to state tho.-^c VOL. I. 3 D 386 APPENDIX. points, on which Mr. Park's outset depends ; as also those which affect the position of Fort St. Joseph, near to which he passed ; as they dif- fer from the maps in present use. And, as some positions in the jour- ney of IVJess. Watt and Winterboltom, serve very mucli to aid the improvement of the geography, it will be proper to speak of them also. Cape Verd, and Fort St. Louis, at the mouth of the Senegal river, are placed according to the observations and results of M. Fleurieu.* Jillifrey,on the Gambia river is, from the mean of the longitudes set forth by D'Anville, D'Apres, and Woodville, and which do not differ amongst themselves, more than 4^ minutes. I' The detail of the coasts, as well as the lower parts of the rivers be- tween Cape Verd, and CapeVerga, are also from the charts of M. Woodville. That part between Cape Verd and latitude 18°, is ad- justed to M. Fleurieu's result of longitude, whilst the particulars are from D'Anville and Woodville. The course of the Rio Grande from the sea to the break near the river Dunso, is from Dr. Wadstrom's map. The Dunso river, crossed by Mr. Watt, appears evidently to be a continuation of the same river; several branches of which flow from the south-east. And the high tract of mountainous land beyond it, is no doubt a branch of the great ridge above commemorated, under the name of Komri, in the work of Abulfeda. The route of Mr. Watt is described from a sketch communicated by the late Mr. Beaufoy,X in which the scale appears, on a reference to * That is, Cape Verd in latitude 14° 48', longitude 17» 34' west of Greenwich; St. Louis in latitude l(;'-5' (by D'Anville), longitude 16° 8' by Fleurieu. t D'Anville 16° 9' 30' D'Apres 16 5 {•Mean, 16" Woodville 16 8 3 Latitude 13° 16' The public cannot but recollect the obligations due to this gentleman, on the score of APPENDIX. 387 the original journal, to be intended for British miles. I have regarded ihena accordingly ; whence Laby and Teembo are placed much nearer to the coast, than Dr. Wadstrom's map represents : for it appears by the Journal, that Kissy, at the head of the river of the same name, is no more than eight journies from Teembo. Nor has the map more than 120 geographic miles between them, admitting the scale to be British miles, as I have concluded.* The nearest point in Mr. Park's route falls at 112 G. miles, to the northward of the extreme point of Mr. Watt's ; and the river Gambia lay nearly midway between them. Thus, the map of Mr. Watt forms a most useful point of comparison ; and adds confirmation to the report of the natives, respecting the course of the Gambia; for Mr. Park was told, that it was crossed in the way from the Faleme river, to Footta Jallo, of which Teembo is the capital. Pisania, on the Gambia (called also Kuttijar Factory), the place of Mr. Park's outsett is stated by D'Anville to be 170 G. miles above his persevering industry, and laudable zeal, in the work of extending our knowledge of the interior parts of Afiica. Accordingly his loss to society, in this department, is likely to be felt for some time, if not for ever : the researches in Africa being a path of his own choosing ; a path which, more than any other person, he had contributed to open, and to render smooth ; and in which he seemed destined to succeed ! * Dr. Afzelius supposes that the town of Kissy may be, in direct distance, about 36 geographical miles to the north-east by east of Serra Leona. Hence, Teembo should be no more than 156 from Serra Leona.. On the general map it is 170. I have adhered (o the bearing lines on Mr. Watt's map; but think it probable that Teembo, and the whole route may be more to the south. t This is the residence of Dr. Laidley, a gentleman to whom Mr. Park and the Association are under great obligations. He received Mr. Park into his house, and treated him more like a child of the family than a stranger. He cured Mr. Park of a serious illness, which confined him for many weeks : and when Mr. Park was disappointed of the goods necessary for his expenccs, which were to have been sent out with Consul Willis, the Doctor supplied him with every possible necessary, he had occasion for ; taking his bills upon the Association for the amount. 888 APPENDIX. Jillifrey, by the difference of loDgitude ; but by M. Woodville's map, no more than 156 : which answers better to the statement of the land journey ; for Mr. Park was told that it was no more than 6| journies of a messenger.* Pisania then, is placed in longitude 13° 28', according to this result ; and in latitude 13" 35' north, according to Mr. Park's observation, by sextant. The causes of the apparent toanderings of Mr. Park having been ex- plained in the former part of this work, it will be no farther necessary to trace his course, than merely to explain the connection of the dif- ferent parts of the data for the general construction. Since the scale of the Map is fixed by the computed distances arising on the intervals of time employed in Mr. Park's route, it is possible that some readers may be startled at the idea of following such an apparently vague authority. Those, however, who have been much in the habit of observing their rate of travelling, will be easily convinced that distances may be approximated ; and those in particular who have been much accustomed to travel in countries, where time regulates the distance; or who have been in habits of working up geographical materials of this kind, will be the most easily convinced. It will of course be understood, that calculations of this kind can only be received from persons of judgment and experience : and also, that when opportu- nities of checking them, occur, they are always resorted to : after which, of course, no alternative remains, but to adopt the corrected distance. In the present case, the rate of travelling of camels, '\' does not apply ; as Mr. Park's journey outwards was made on horseback^ and his re- turn chiefly on foot. Nor are camels, indeed, in use in that line of route. The checks to be employed, are the number of journies re- * A journey of an ordinary traveller may be taken at about 17 geographical miles in direct distance ; that of messengers in India, is equal to about 25, or 100 English miles by the I'oad, in three da3s. t See Phil. Trans, for 1791. APPENDIX. 389 ported by the travelling merchants, from different points of Mr. Park's route to Sego and Torabuctoo ; and also those from the quarters of Morocco, Tunis, and Fezzan, to Tombuctoo ; using as a scale, the rate arising on the route between Fezzan and Egypt, Morocco and Jarra, as the best knoivn lines of distance. These, altogether, furnish such kind of authority as will, I trust, lead to a satisfactory conclusion ; as the general coincidence is certainly very striking. My mode of procedure has been, to calculate, in the first instance, Mr. Park's bearings and distances, and then to correct the bearings by his observed latitudes, as far as these e.vtcnd : and beyond that, I have taken his bearing by compass, and allowed the supposed quantity of variation. The result of these calculations, together with the addition of his line of distance from Sego to Tombuctoo, was then compared with tlie popular report of the distance between the several stations of Woolli, Fort St. Joseph, Bambouk, and Tombuctoo. It was found that these reports did*not materially differ from the aggregate distance given by Mr. Park ; although they fell short of it ; a difference vvhich might naturally have been expected, and vvhich I have ventured to alter. Tlie difference, however, does not exceed twenty-four geographic miles ; a mere trifle in African geography. The position of Tombuctoo, so obtained, differs only half a degree in latitude, and still less in lon- gitudcj from that arising from the intersection of the lines of distance from Morocco on the NW, and Fezzan on the NE: of which a par- ticular account will be given in the sequel. A great part of Mr. Park's geographical memorandums are totally lost: but fortunately his bearings by compass during a great part of the way, are preserved. In other parts, he has preserved only the calculation of latitude and longitude, arising from them ; which, how- ever, of course furnish the means of obtaining the bearings, if necessary. As he omitted to take observations to determine the quantity of the 390 APPENDIX. variation of the compass, after he lost the means of correcting his course by observations of latitude, which was at Jarra, about midway in his route :* it becomes a question of some importance, what quantity to allow on those long lines of distance between Jarra and Silla; Silla and Manding. It appears on inquiry, that the quantity of variation is no more known, any where tcithin the continent o( Africa, than within that of New Holland And it happens moreover, that the lines of equal quantities of variation, do not run across Africa with that degree of regularity and parallelism, which takes place over great part of the Atlantic and Indian oceans (at least this is what appears clearly to my judgment) : so that it became necessary to inquire, what quantity prevails in the surrounding seas ; and what the general direction, as well as the particular nature, and tendency, of the curves, of the lines of equal quantities? The variation lines on the globe have occupied a good deal of my attention at different periods of my life, and therefore the application of such new observations as the assiduity and kindness of my friends had procured for me on this occasion, was less difficult, than if the subject had been new to me. A dissertation on the subject would be out of place here; and therefore, I shall only give the result of my inquiries, in abstract ; after premising, that the theoretical part be- longing to the interior of Africa, is founded on a supposed continuation of those lines of equal quantities, whose tendency has been already ascertained, in the surrounding seas. I am perfectly aware, that some may regard the assumption as too great : but they will no doubt admit, at the same time, that it is difficult to conceive a more probable arrangement : and what is n)uch more to the purpose, is, that if we are compelled to abandon the system, in the gross, the quantity of variation in the line bi Mr. Park's travels, cannot be greatly different * The places of observation are marked on the Map by asterisks. APPENDIX. 391 from what we have assumed. For, whether the line of 18° in tlie south Atlantic, be a continuation of that in the nortli Atlantic, or of that in the Indian sea, much the same result will follow : only that in the former case, the quantity will be somewhat greater. It would appear, that between the East Indies and South America, Europe and South Africa, there are ybwr distinct sets of what may be termed concentric curves of variation lines, on the globe, and whose highest points of convexity are opposed to each other, within tlie great body of Xorlhern Africa. The accompanying sketch will bei«t explain it.* It would appear, moreover, that from the place of opposition of these curves, in Africa, where the quantity of variation is 18°, it decreases with great rapidity, and finally to nothing, in going easttcards to India, or south'U-estward to south America : and that from the same point, it increases, in going NNTV, towards Ireland, or to the opposite quarter, towards the coast oi Caffraria. But the change is not in any • This sketch is not pretended to be minutely accurate ; it being morally impossible to procure recent observations in every part, from the rapid change that takes place in the quantity of the variation, in one and the same spot. However, the observations that determine the course of the lines in the Atlantic (and which aie marked on tiie sketch) are from observations so late as \7d3. The same is to be said of those in the western quarter of the Mediterranean ; and those beyond the Cape of Good Hope, to longitude 30° east^ are of the year 1789. It is obvious that a critical knowledge of the qiiantitij of tlie variation in any particular place, and at a given time, is of less importance to the present question, tlian that of the hearing of the lines of equal quantities, at any recent period : and this object, is, I think, tolerably well obtained, by the materials before me. Any change that may have taken place since 1793, is in favour of a greater quantity of variation, witMn the limits of Mr. Park's travels. In the Atlantic, the increase appears to be about a degree in seven years. In the Indian ocean, less : and in the Red Sea, there seems to have been little alteration be- tween 1762, and 1776. The lines, as far as they are founded on authority, are continuous; but broken in the paits assumed. 392 , APPENDIX. proportion so rapid in the increase, in going north or south, as in the decrease, in going east or west. Such are the outlines of this system ; by which, if a person vvas to set out from Cape Verd, or Cape Blanco, to traverse Africa from W S W to E N E, to Upper or Lower Egypt, he would find at setting out, from 15f to \Q^ degrees of westerly variation, which would increase to 18° about the centre of the continent, and aftersvards decrease to a less quantity than at his setting out. Mr. Park's travels being comprized between Cape Verd and the centre of Africa, will therefore be in the quarter that has from 16 to 18 degrees ; and th-e part more particularly, where, from the want of observations of latitude, we must depend on his compass bearings, nearer 18° than 17°.* I shall now proceed to the detail of Mr. Park's materials. Leaving Pisania, Mr, Park proceeded eastward to Medina,*!- the capital of Woolli ; and thence to the E N E, through the countries of Bondou, Kajaaga, and Kasson ; the two latter of which are separated by the river of Senegal. In his way, he took observations of latitude at Kolor, Koorkoorany, and Joag, on this side the river : by which means we are enabled to correct the parallels. The distance at present is left as it stands in the Journal, with a view of correcting it afterwards. The result of these bearings and distances (the particulars of which appear * It is in proof of the existence of tliis quantity of variation, that, on closing Mr. Park's route at Woolli, there ai)peared to be only a small deficiency of distance on the Map, when 17° variation were allowed. Had the quantity allowed been less, this ought not to have happened, as Jarra is placed according to its latitude.]: t Major Houghton's point of outset in 1791 was Medina. His route falls into that of Mr. Park at several points, and finally brandies off from it about 30 miles short of the Falem6 river, which the Major crossed at Calcullo, near 20 miles higher up thaa Naye, where Mr. Park crossed it. X Mr. Park actually found ITt' of westerly variation, near Scgo, in 1805. APPENDIX. 39i below),* places Joag at 247 miles east of Pisania ; and the latitude, by two ditfcreiit observations, was found to be 14° 25'.'!' At Joag Mr. Park was informed that Dramanet, which is about 2i miles to the eastward of Fort St. Joseph, was 10 miles to the westtcard of him. That fort is said to be in 14° 34', or 9 min. north of Joag; so that it ought to lie to the north-west, rather than to the west : and accordingly, there is found in the map in Labat,X a place named Gacouva, no doubt meant for Joag, on the SE of St. Joseph ; and in point of distance answering to it. Other places in the same map of Labat, are also recognised in the route of Mr. Park ; so that the Hours G Miles direct Bearingsbj compass CouQtry. Lat. by Obs. REM.\RKS. * Pisania 1 _ . • _ 13° 35' to 1 6 16 SEbyE ^ani On these bearings 17° Jindey J westerly variation were Kootacunda 5 13 E allowed. The diflf. lat. Tabajang - 2i 6 EfN was then 89; ilepaiture Medina - H 15 ditto easterly 237. Hut the Konjour 3 8 EiS difF. lat. by ubs. being Mallaing - 2 6 EbyS ^Woolli only50,thecc)iirseshould Kolor - - 5 12 ENE - 13° 49' be E. Ill N. instead of Tambacunda 5| 11 SEbyE E. 20i, as before; and Kooniakarry 5 13 EbyN the departure 247. But Koojar - 3 9 E|N - I have finally corrected At a well - 13 34 Eby N 1 ^Voods the easting, by reducing Tallica - - 4 10 E it 24 miles, or to 223. Canada 4 10 EiN Koorkooiany 4i 12 ESE - 13° 53' Dooggi - 1 3 EbyN Buggil ^ 14 EiN >Rondou Soobroodka 7 18 EbyN Naye - 7 16 ENE Fattyacunda 3i 7 ditto Kim moo 44 12 ditto - 14° 25' Joag - - 6 16 1 EbyN I iajaaga t According to this result, Joag would be in longitude 9° 12', and Fort St. Joseph in 9° 21' ; which is about 38 min. more easterly than M. D'.\aville's Map of the Senegal allows ; of which more in the sequel. I In Vol. iv. p. 92. VOL. I. 3 E 392 APPENDIX. connection between it and the French settlement on the Senegal, is very clearly made out ; which is a circumstance of some importance in this geography. It M'ill appear that the reckoning kept by Mr. Park gave 89 min. difference of latitude between Pisania and Joag, whilst the observation gave 50 only About 9 minutes may be placed to the account of excess of distance, and 30 will then remain, on the whole distance of 253 geographic miles. In other words, the dead reckoning, corrected by allowing 17 degrees of westerly variation, gave a course of E 20°i N ; which, however, by the observations of latitude, is shewn to be E IT-s- N (or E by N) making a difference of 9i degrees. But this I regard as coming very near, considering the circumstances under which the reckoning was kept. From Joag we accompany Mr. Park to Kooniakarry and Jarra. The reckoning between the two fir.st gives about 23^ rain, difference of latitude, 55 of easting.* And hence the latitude of Kooniakarry will be 14° 48' by account ; but the observation taken at Jumbo, in its neighbourhood, giving only 14" 34', the account is 14 to the north ; equal to about a point and quarter in bearing. The same mode of correction has been applied here, as in the former part of the route ; that is, the ivUole distance has been (for the present) allowed ; with the difference of latitude by observation ; and hence Kooniakarry will fall 59| geograpl.ic miles to the east of Joag. * Joag to Sammee Kayee - Teesee Medina Jumbo - Kooniakarry } Hours G Miles direct 31 IS 9 18 \2 12 3 Bearings by compass. Eby N Ditto NE by N SE by E Ditto Eby S Lat. by observ. 14° 25' 1 1 1 I > 14° 34' I J Country. Kajaaga Kasson APPENDIX. 393 The route from Kooniakarry to Jarra* may be divided into two parts ; first, to Feesurali, a place of observation, south-eastward ; and secondly, to Jarra, north-eastward. The account to Feesurah agrees very nearly with the bearings and distance. The latitude by observation was 14° 5', and the easting from Kooniakarry, corrected, 47 miles. Then, to Jarra, the account also agrees very nearly ; the latitude was 15° 5', that is, just one degree north of Feesurah ; and the easting from thence 33 miles. The aggregate of easting, between Joag and Jarra, is then 139j miles.+ It may be observed, that throughout this journey, generally, the reckoning has been to the northward of the observations ; and that, by about ten degrees on the tvhole traverse, when 17 degrees of varia- tion have been allowed. It will hardly be supposed that the difference * The register of the bearings and distance between Kooniakarry and Jarra, being lost or mislaid, Mr. Park gave them from memory only ; but the observations of lati- tude at tvco places within that space, were preserved, as well as the latitude by account at two other places. G Miles Bearings by Lat. by direct compass. observ. Country. Kooniakarry to «.. 14° 34' >i Soomo — 17 SE|E Kasson Kanjee — 17 Do. 14° 10' f Leekarago — 8 1 Easterly J Feesurah - — 14 EbyS 14° 5'-^ Karancalla — 18 Easterly I Keminoo - iVIarina — 8 13 E by N Northerly Kaarta Toordah 8 Do. J Funingkeddy -r 12 NbyEiE Simbing Jarra «MH* 16 2 N by E NNE 15° 5' / Ludamar I-jt^ual to 144 min. of longitude ; wlience Joag being by account in long. Add 144 min. . . . Long, of Jarra, by Mr. Park's original calculation 9° 12 2 24 6 48 394 APPENDIX. arises from allowing too much variation by ten degrees ; but it is sin- gular, that the error should, in all cases but one, lie the same way. I do not by any means regard the error as considerable, circum- stances considered :* nor is it of any consequence in the parts where the observations of latitude serve to correct it : as between Pisania and Jarra. Mr. Park was plundered of his sextant at Jarra, which accident of course put an end to his observations of latitude ; and thus, unfortu- nately, left the remaining half (very nearly) of his geography in a state of uncertainty, as to parallel. This point, therefore, must be regarded as the most advanced geographical station, that rests on any certain basis of parallel. However, the remaining part of the route will not appear to be much out, when it is seen how nearly the bearing of Sego, as determined by Mr. Park, agreed with the line of direction pointed out from Jarra. It is, no doubt, a favourable circumstance, that the instrument was not lost at an earlier period, and before the commencement of the in- tricate route between the pass of the Senegal river and Jarra ; to which may be added, the advantage of a known parallel, from whence to set oif the very important bearing of Tombuctoo, In effect, the bearing was pointed out from Benowm, but tiiis place being nearly east from Jarra, and the bearing in question E^ N, no error of any magnitude can be looked for. Jarra (called also Yarra), has already appeared in the Maps drawn for the Association, and was originally taken from M. Delisle's Map ; but was neglected, or overlooked, by M. D'Anville. In the former Map it was placed somewhat more to the west, and in a higher parallel by about 5: of a degree. * Mr. Carniichael came within 6 or 7 degi'ces in the bearing between Aleppo and Bussorah, on a distance of 720 British miles. But tiie advantages were prodigiously in his favour ; the road being straight, the country open, and the camel walking an equable pace. (See Phil. Trans, for 1791.) APPENDIX. ii95 Between Jarra and Wassiboo, Mr. Park's reckoning, as it appears wrought up in his table of day's works, gives 41 niin. diff. of latitude N, and F 31' diff. longitude E ; which reduced to departure, in miles, is 89, and produces a course of E 26° S. But he allowed no variation after he left Jarra : and as I allow 17°, the course must be taken at E 9° S, distance 96i geographic miles. From this arises a diff. lat. of 16' only ; deimrture 95 : and, hence, Wassiboo sliould be in latitude 14° 49', and 96 east of Jarra.* Mr. Park was so lucky as to preserve his original bearinos,+ between Diff. Lat. S. Diff. Lon. E. 1 N. E. * Jarra to Queira - - - Sherilla Dama - _ - Wawra - - - Dingy ee Wassiboo || - Satile - - - Galloo - - - Moorja Datiliboo - - - Fanimboo Jiosorra - - - 11' 14 11 5 18 1 25' 40 4 8 7 7 31 1 21 14 1 38 24 18 • Doolinkeaboo Diggani§ - . _ Seracorro Sego - - . Lat. by account 13° 4' 1 Diff. lon. 4° 41' E j Sansanding Sibiti - - - Nyara - - _ Modiboo Silla Lat. by account 13° 22' "? Diff. lon. 1' 9' E 5 7 19 5 6 24 8 9 3 121 S 28 IE ION 3 H 2 15E 7 16 19 12 4N 9S 12 7 18N 69 E No variatipn was allowed in this calculation, t Original bearings between Wassiboo || and Diggani. § Places. Dist. Bearings. Wassiboo to Satile - - _ 30 SEbE Galloo - - _ 20 ESE Moorja - - - 15 Eb N Datiliboo 25 SEbE Fanimboo 35 ESE Jiosorra 20 ESE Doolinkeaboo 15 SEbE Lions . - . 18 SEbS X Diggani 7 South t On working these bearings over again, it appeared that Mr. Park had made a mistake ; and thence inferred a wrong position for Diggani, Sego, &c. in his table of 396 APPENDIX, Wassjboo, and Diggani (a place about 15' short of Sego); and these alone, on' oral! that were taken during the route. These give a course of E 27°^ S, 174 geographical miles ; so that when 17° of variation are allowed, the true course will be E lOj S ; the diff. lat. 31,7; departure 171,1 ; whence Diggani should be in lat. 14° 17', and 266,1 east of Jarra. Between Diggani and Sego (returning again to the table of latitude and longitude), Mr. Park's account gives E 43 S 15'; or corrected E 26 S, which gives diff. lat. 6,6 ; departure 13,5 : so that Sego, the capital town of Bambarra, falls, by this account, in lat. 14° 10' 30" and 279,6 east of Jarra.* In this position, it bears E lOi S from Jarra, distant 284 geographi- cal miles. It is important to mention, that whilst at Jarra, the bearing of Sego was pointed out to Mr. Park by compass, E S E, or E 22°j S. His route made it E 21°- S, or 5° more to the south. This difference, so trifling in a distance of about 330 of our miles, on a straight line (in other words, the distance from London to Edinburgh), is not worth investigating. If we could suppose the report of the natives to be true, it would place Sego nearly 25 minutes more to the north. For my own part, I do not believe that any person, from mere judgment, unassisted by geographical records, and so far removed as to be out of the hearing of carmon, and of the view of conflagrations (two circumstances that aid the most in fixing the line of direction between distant places), could ever come nearer than several degrees of the bearing of two places, that are 330 British miles asunder.t Having at length reached the banks of the long sought for river Ni- ger (or Joliba), near which the city of Tombuctoo stands, Mr. Park latitudes and longitudes. I mention this, to shew that he has acted fairly, in exposing his whole process ; and even his errors. * This being equal to 4° 47' difference of longitude, Sego, by Mr. Park's reckoning, would lie in 2» 1' west of Greenwich. t The infornaant might possibly be influenced by the bearing of tlmt portion of the road nearest to him, which is more easterly than the part towards Sego. APPENDIX. 397 proceeded along it several days' journey, towards the city in question, on a course E 15i N by compass, but corrected E 32^ N 70 G. miles, whicli giving a diff. lat. of 37^, departure 59, places Silla, the extreme point of his expedition, in latitude 14° 48'; and longitude by reckoning 0° 59' west of Greenwich ; but, as will be hereafter shewn, when cor- rected, 1° 24' west. Here, then, terminates his journey eastward, at a point somewhat more than 16 degrees east of Cape Verd, and pre- cisely in the same parallel. The line of distance arising from this dif- ference of longitude is about 941 G. miles, or 1090 British, within the western extremity of Africa ; a point which, although short by 200 miles of the desired station, Tombuctoo, the attainment of which would unquestionably have been attended with great eclat, was yet far beyond what any other European, whose travels have been communicated to the European world, had ever reached.* * It may not. be know tf) the generality of readers, that, in tlie former part of this century, Tombuctoo was as much the object of geographical research amongst the French, as it has been of late with the English. D'Anville was particularly anxious about it, as may be seen in the Mem. of the Academy of Inscrip. Vol. xxvi. p. 73. 398 APPENDIX. CHAPTER IV. The Construction of the Geography continued. At Silla, Mr. Park was informed that Tombuctoo was yet foiirteeu journies of the caravan distant from him ; and these he has calculated at 200 G. miles only, in a direct line from Silla ; as it appears that a bend in the course of the river, prevents a direct line of route towards it. As to the bearing, he unfortunately could not, as at Jarra, obtain a consistent account of it. The natives always pointed along the gene^ ral course of the river ; although, as it may be supposed, it occasionally deviated to the right and left. It has been seen, in the bearing of Sego, how nearly it was given by judgment j but then the two cases differ very widely. The route is entirely by land, from Jarra to Sego, by which the idea of the general line of direction is better preserved, than when broken into so many small parts, by a river navigation, the more ordinary mode of communication (as it appears) between Silla and Tombuctoo. There were, no doubt, people, could Mr. Park have been able to meet with them, who having made the journey by land, could have furnished him with better information : but the reader, who al- ready knows under what suspicious circumstances Mr. Park travelled in this quarter, will easily conceive that he was precluded from any communication with those, who alone could have given the informa- tion : that is, the Moorish merchants, and their dependants. The bearing of Tombuctoo from Benowm, was pointed out to Mr. Park, by a merchant of some consideration, who had resided at Walet, and had visited both Tombuctoo and Houssa. But the exceeding great distance of Tombuctoo and Benowm, (it being nearly twice the dis- ^ CHART (^'^z' Lines _e affffreffate of the 14. Two days below Jinne, the Joliba expands itself into a considerable lake, already mentioned by the name of Dibbie ; from whence the river again issues in a number of streams. These unite at a lower point, and then form two large branches, which separating widely from each other, form an island near 100 miles in length, whose name being Ginbala, or Jinbala, we recognize in it, the Guinbala country of M. D'Anville ; as in the northern branch of the river that bounds it, the river of Guin, mistaken by him for the original head of the Tom- buctoo river (or Niger); as he also mistook the lake of Dibbie for that 406 APPENDIX. of tlie Senegal river. Such were the errors in the African geogTaphy, to the date of the African Association : one of which errors conducted the Senegal river through 500 miles of the space which is, in reality, occupied by the Niger. The position of Houssa will be adjusted in the map of Africa. The important station of Tombuctoo, being adjusted, together with the positions dependent on it, 1 proceed with Mr. Park, on his return by the south, to his original point of outset in the west : taking it up at Sego, by which he passed in his way. Along this line, an account of the bearings by compass was kept, as well as circumstances would permit, until the instrument was rendered useless, by robbers, near Sibidooloo. This was, however, the most important part of the route, as it lay along the side of the Joliba, the knowledge of whose course is, by this means, prolonged to about 350 British miles. Mr. Park moreover committed to paper, a tracing of its general windings ; and obtained notices respecting the place of its source, during his long residence at Kamaliah, in the country of Man- ding, (commonly called Mandinga.) Kamaliah is about 40 G. miles SW of Sibidooloo ;* and to this place Mr. Park contrived to extend his line of bearings from Sego. He also learnt, that Jarra lay ten journies to the north-westward of Kamaliah ; which agrees satisfactorily to the result from Sego, as it leaves 154 G. miles, for the ten journies; and Kamaliah itself falls in lat. 12° 46'; 227| from Sego, in a direction of W 21 S ; corrected by the allowance of 17° variation. The town of Bamraako, where the Joliba first becomes navigable (or perhaps to which point it is navigable upwards, in a continuous course from Tombuctoo), lies about fifty miles short of Kamaliah. 1* It is reckoned by the natives, ten journies only from Sego.X * It lies nearly midway between the Joliba and Senegal rivers. t Bammako, by Mr. Park's original bearings, lies from Sego W 8° S, 17s G. miles : and Kamaliati W 7°y N- 51-}. These are corrected to W 25° S, and W 9"| S. X l'erhaj)s the long journies of the slave caravans, such as Mr. Park experienced, to the westward of this place. APPENDIX. 407 At Kamaliah the source of the Joliba (or Niger), was pointed out to Mr. Park, at a bearing of south, a very little west, seven journies distant ; and for these, he allows 108 G. miles. The name of the place is Sankary, and seems meant by the Songo of D'Anville ; which, however, he supposed to be at the source of the Gambia river, in the kingdom of Mandinga. Such were the crude ideas heretofore enter- tained of this geography. Here it may be proper to mention, that Mr. Park, whilst at Koonia- karry, in Kasson, in his way out, meditated a route to the south- eastward, through Kasson, Fooladoo, and Manding ; which route was to have brought him to the Joliba in twenty days. The place on the Joliba is not mentioned : possibly it might be Yamina. This route, however, he was not permitted to take. Had he pursued it, his per- sonal sufferings might probably have been less ; but our knowledge of the geography would probably have been less, also. It has been mentioned, that the space between Jarra and Kamaliah, is checked by the report of the road distance between them. It is proper also to state, as a further proof of the consistency of the respec- tive positions of Jarra and Kong, that the distance across, agrees generally with the report of the Shereef Imharamed, who says, that Yarba, (meant for Yarra, or Jarra,) is eighteen to twenty days journey to the NW of Gonjah, meaning Kong. (Proc. A(. Assoc, chap, xii.) Mr. Park was told that Kong, was ten journies to the southward, or SSW of Sego ; and he saw a part of the great ridge o{ blue mountains of Kong, as he coasted the Niger westward. These notices agree well with the Shereef's report. Between Kamaliah and Woolli, there is yet a greater degree of uncertainty respecting the data for the geographical construction ; for in this long line of near 400 geographical miles, the line of direction is collected from the places of the suu and stars ; the compass being useless, whilst the traveller was in motion. Besides, the rapidity of the march, and the height of the woods, were unfavourable to any VOL. I. 3 G 408 APPENDIX. attempts of that kind^ had bodily fatigue and hunger, left him either the inclination or the ability : for, in effect, it was one long forced march through the Jallonka Wilderness, under the terrors of famine, or being left behind to perish, by wild beasts. Under such circumstances, it was full as much as could reasonably be expected, to obtain some general idea of the line of direction, on which he travelled ; together with the proportional lengths of the several intervals, by keeping an account of the time ; leaving the absolute scale to be determined by the extent of the space. In this, he succeeded so well, that the middle part of the line, when produced to the capital of WooUi, appears to be no more than half a point out of the bearing ; as is shewn by Labat's map of Bambouk (Vol. iv. p. 92), in which the course of the river of Faleme, which Mr. Park crossed in his way home, as well as out, is described ; and affords much assistance in adjusting his position on that river, on his return. It is first necessary to state, that M. D'Anville, in his map of Senegal, &c.(1751) has totally disregarded the scale of Labat's map, as well as most of the bearings in it ; having preferred to it some other authority ; perhaps some tracing of the two rivers. M. D'Anville allows no more than thirty-seven geographical miles between the two passes Naye and Kayee on the Faleme and Senegal rivers ; when Mr. Park allows sixty-two. Now Labat's scale agrees with the latter : for he allows 28^^ French leagues for this interval, equal to 2,16 geographical miles per league, according to Mr. Park's calculation. The leagues were therefore probably of road measure : as a league in direct distance appears to be equal to 2,64. Hence M. D'Anville, seems to have misconceived the matter; and has applied the same erroneous scale to the course of the Faleme river, upwards ; which he has shortened by about twenty-six geographical miies; carrying that part no higher tlian to latitude 13°, which by the original (or rather the proportioned) scale, should be extended to 12° 34'. This Map of Labat, tjien, gives the position of Ferbanna on the APPENDIX. 409 Faleme river ;* as also the southera boimdviries of Botidou and Batn- bouk, with other particulars. Mr. Park, when at the pass of the Faleme river, between Satadoo and Medina,'^ obtained some general notices concerning his position, in respect of the above points. For he learnt that Ferbanna (Tenda) lay at some distance lower down the river : that Bondou (by the account of a fellow-traveller who was on his way thither) lay si.v journies to the northward ; and he learnt also the general position of Bambouk. To this may be added, that he kept on his right hand (to the N), and even touched the foot of it at Dindi- koo, a ridge of mountains, answering to that which, in Labat's map, crosses the Faleme above Ferbanna ; and which is also found precisely at the corresponding point, with Dindikoo, Moreover, it preserves in Labat, the same distance from the southern boundary of Bambouk, as that seen by Park. And finally, it appears, by the description of the southern route pointed out by the King of Bambouk (see Mem. 1793, p. 11.), that Mr. Park passed to the southward of Ferbanna, and yet not far from it. For the king's road, from Ferbanna (Tenda) led east- ward, through Concoudou (the Konkodoo of Park, a province) as also through Silloumana, Gangaran, Gadou, and Manding. Now there is every reasonable proof that (bating Ferbanna) this is the very route by which Mr. Park leturned. His route went through Gangaran (Gankaran), on the one hand, Konkodoo on the other, Sillou-Mana is very probably intended for Kullo-Manna,X a famous pass over the Black River, or main stream of the Senegal, where a bridge of a very singular construction is thrown across occasionally, for the use of the • Not the Ferbanna of Bambouk, at which Major Houghton resided ; but Ferbanna Tenda, through which the King of Bambouk described the southern route of the Slatees to lead, from Woolli to Manding. (See Mem. Af. Assoc. 1793 ; p. IJ.) t There are several places of this name. The one in question lies to the south of Bambouk. X Kullo is a province of Jallonkadoo, occupying both banks of the Ba-flng, or Black River ; and Manna the name of the tow n. [Park.] 410 APPENDIX. caravans. It is unlikely that bridges should occur at two places in the southern route, and more particularly as the one at Manna is placed there, because the steep rocky banks^ and narrow channel of the river, are peculiarly adapted to that kind of bridge. It may therefore be concluded, that from Konkodoo, the king's road, instead of turning to the SW to Satadoo, leads straight on to the west- v\^ard to Ferbanna, and thence into the Woolli road, either at Bane- serile or Kirvvanny ; being a branch, only of the great southern road, leading directly across the mountains ; whilst the other makes a bend to the south, to avoid them ; which bend, according to Mr. Park's description of his route, is so much like that in Labal's map above Ferbanna, that I cannot help suspecting the Dambanna of Labat to be meant for the Dindikoo of Mr. Park. I return to the construction of the route. Ferbanna, in Labat, is placed 33 leagues on a bearing of S 11° E from Cacullo, another pass on the same river Faleme, in latitude 13° 54', by Major Houghton's observation : and which is about 20 miles south of Naye, where Mr. Park crossed if in his way out. The 33 leagues according to the proportional scale furnished by Mr. Park's route (2,16 each) give 71^ G. miles for the distance of Ferbanna from Cacullo : or latitude 12° 46'. From this point, Labat describes the course of the river 24 miles higher up, in a SE by E direction. About this place, we may suppose that Mr. Park crossed the Faleme on his return ; since it agrees with the circumstances of the mountains, the bend of the road above described, and the distance of Bambouk and Bondou ; to which may be added, the general accordance of the bear- ing from Manding. Medina, a village, stood on the west bank of the Faleme, at the pass ; and Satadoo, the capital of the province, at two miles to the eastward of it. It is certain that neither Satadoo, nor Konkodoo, appear in Labat's map. In that, Macanna is the name of the country bordering on the south of Bambouk ; but Mr. Park calls it Konkodoo, which means the country of mountains ; and appears very APPENDIX. 411 characteristic. (These mountains extend through Bambouk and Kasson, and are productive in gold.) Again, Combregoudou in Labat, occupies the places of Satadoo and Dentila in Mr. Park's descriptions : and we must therefore conclude, that either these countries have more than one name, or have changed their names in the course of the century. On the vvJiole, it cannot well be doubted that the adjustment of the southern route, to the northern, in this place, is tolerably exact ; and it is indeed a matter of the first importance to the geography. One circumstance is very much in its favour : at Kirwanny on this route Mr. Park was told, that the course of the Gambia river lay three journies southward, or one journey within the boundary of Foota-Jallo : and Dr. Afzelius was informed, that the same river runs at the distance of four journies from the mountains which skirt the Rio Grande on the north-east. These notices accord perfectly with the relative positions of Kirwanny, and the course of the Rio Grande, which are about 112 G. miles asunder, on the construction. This adjustment, moreover, goes as well to the proportioning of the longitudinal distance, on the line between Kamaliah and Woolli, by means of the course of the river Faleme, extended from a known point in the northern route. On Mr. Park's original map, I find 201 G. miles on that portion of the southern line, east of the Faleme river; 181 on the west : whilst the respective intervals on my construction, are 2! ], and 185. But Mr. Park observed, that there was a greater portion of distance to be travelled through, on his return, than he had expected. His reckoning was, according to the sea phrase, ahead of the ship : which was, no doubt, occasioned by his omitting to take the variation of the compass into the account, after he had lost his sextant at Jarra. It appears on the examination of his journal, that between the river Faleme and Baraconda, in Woolli (a few miles short of Medina), they employed nine whole days, and part of a tenth ; a great part of which 412 APPENDIX. journey lay through the wildernesses of Tenda and Simbani. Six of the days are remarked to be either long or very long : and one in par- ticular was a very hard day s work. Allowing six miles for the fraction of the day, the nine whole ones require 19 G. miles of direct distance, each : and as the road diverged considerably from the direct line (to the southward, falling in with the Gambia pretty high up) they may be taken somewhat higher. The five forced marches through the Jallonka wilderness are also calculated at 19 each, direct : and which may produce 25 road miles : I should conceive those through the Tenda and Simbani wildernesses to be equal to 26, at a medium ; and some of them more than 30.* Thus I have brought the grand outline of Mr. Park's Geography to a conclusion ; and cannot do otherwise than sympathize with him in his feelings, when he arrived at" the hospitable door of Dr. Laidley," at Pisania, after an absence of eighteen months, unheard of, during the whole time ; whether enjoying the triumphs of exploring new paths ; whether pining in hopeless captivity, amongst the barbarous Moors of Jarra ;. or fostered by the kind hands of Mandinga Negroes. It remains that something should be said regarding the connection of Mr. Park's Geography with that of Labat, between the rivers Senegal and Faleme ; as well as concerning the positions oftheya//s of the Senegal river. Labat's scale has already been adjusted to Mr. Park's in p. 408, where 2,16 G. miles were found equivalent to one of Labat's leagues, in direct distance. Kayee, the pass on the Senegal river, where Mr. Park crossed it, is given at 16^ leagues above Fort St. Joseph, in Labat's Map, (Vol. iv, * Mr. Park seems to reckon 18 G. miles, in a direct distance, a long journey : and 16 to 17 seems to have been his ordinary rate, when left to himself. This is also the ordinary rate of travelling, with those wlio perform journies on foot, or yiiih loaded beasts. APPENDIX. 413 p. 92.) and the falls of F'low (Felou in Labat,) 5^ still higher up. Kayee may therefore be taken at 36 miles, and Flow 48, above St. Joseph ; the bearing a pnint or more to the southward of cast. F'low is the loioer fall, (below which the river continues navi"-able generally, to the sea,) and Govinea, the upper fall. The distance between them is very difierently represented, by different persons; but I believe, is from 12 to 14 leagues, perhaps 30 G. miles, direct. It i.s true that Labat says, in more than one place,* that they are 40 leagues asunder ; but as his Map (in Vol. iv. p. 92.) has less than 12 leagues ; and as INI. P. D. also says (p. 78.) 12 leagues : and as, moreover, the Kingof Kasson's residence is said to be miclway between the two falls ; and that residence appearing to be Kooniakarry, a place visited by Mr. Park; and which is no more than about 22' from the lower fall, and at \^' distant from the north bank of the river ; it cannot well be otherwise than that the two falls are within 30 G. miles of each other, And hence it may be concluded, that qiiatnr::e and not quarunte, was in the original manuscript. The distance between Kooniakarry and the Senegal river, 13 miles, points to WNW cour.se. or thereabouts, of the river between the falls; not much different from its general course, lower down. But as the Ba-fing, or principal arm of this river, must run almost directly to the north, from the place where IMr. Park crossed it in Jallonkadoo, it is highly probable, that the two great branches unite at no great distance above the upper fall ; for the same ridge of mountains that occasions the fall, may, perhaps, occasion a junction of the different streams above it The.se falls are said by Labat to be from 30 to 40 toises perpendicular ; or 180 to 240 French feet. We must recollect that P. Hinuepen states the fall of Niagara at 600 feet, which subsequent accounts have reduced to 150.1* The reader will, however, find very curious de- scriptions of these falls, and of the river itself, in Labat, Vol. ii. p. 156, 160. • Vol. ii. p. 156. Vol. iii. 290 and 35S. t See EUicotfs Letters in Europ. Mag-. Vol. .\xiv. 414 APPENDIX. CHAPTER V. Construction of the Nexo Map of North Africa* — New Arrangement of the Course of tiie Nile — Its distant Fountains yet unexplored by Europeans. — A central Position in Africa, determined. — Edrists Line of Distance, consistent. — Errors of Leo. In order that the reader may be enabled to judge of the improved state of the new map of North Africa, I shall set before him a list • Table of the principal latitudes and longitudes in the Map. In the Map. By M. Fleu- rieu. Con. de Temps. Bruce. Latitude. Longitude. Longitude. *Cadiz 36»21'N 6'1!>' W 6° 19' C. Spartel 35 48 5 57 6 2 5 54 C. Cantin 32 33 9 15 9 11 C. de Geer 30 28 9 64 10 31 9 53 C. Bajador 26 20 14 17 14 49 14 28 *I. Ferro - _ - 27 51 17 37 17 sir C. Blanco - 20 47 16 58 16 S8 *C. Verd 14 48 17 34 17 35 fC Palmas 4 30 7 41 tl. St. Thomas 18N C 37E Tunis - - . 36 44 10 20 Tripoly 32 54 13 15 13 20 Mourzouk 27 48 15 3 ♦Suez - - _ 30 2 32 28 Cairo _ . - 30 3 31 20 — — 31 29 Koseir 26 8 34 8 — — *31 4 Sennar - - - 13 35 33 30 30' Source of the Nile in | Abyssinia j 10 59 36 55 — ^ wHv *36 55 fC. Guardat'ui 11 43 51 12 Syene . - - 24 — 33 30 *33 SO * The longitudes thus marked, are from celestial observation, either at the place, or in the vicinage. t From timekeepers : the two first by Capt. Price, the latter by Capt. Richardson, APPENDIX. 415 of the authorities, together with an ontline of the construction. To enter into a detail of both, would require a volume : I shall therefore barely specify the authorities for the sea coasts, and for such parts of the interior as have been aforetimes described by geographers ; and confine the detail to modern discoveries, and to such parts, as those dis- coveries have helped to improve : and more especially to the points which determine the courses of the Niger and Nile. The western ands outhern coasts, from the Strait of Gibraltar to the Equator, have^ been newly constructed for the present purpose. M. Fleurieu's authorities have been followed in respect of Cape Verd, Cape Blanco, and the Canary Islands. The coasts of Morocco and Fez, rest on the authority of Don Tofino's charts, in the Spanish atlas : and between Morocco and Cape Blanco, various authorities have been admitted, in the different parts ; as it appeared to me, that M. Fleu- rieu had not rightly conceived the position of Cape Bajador. The coasts on the south and cast of Cape Verd, are drawn in confor- mity to the ideas of Captain Price. This gentleman, in the Royal Charlotte East India ship in 1793, had an opportunity of adjusting the longitudes of some important points ; which longitudes Mr. Dalryraple applied to the correction of the existing charts of the coast, and with his accustomed liberality and zeal for the improvement of science, per- mitted me to avail myself of the use of these corrections, previous to his own publication of them, in a different form. It is to the same in- valuable Journal of Capt. Price, that I am indebted for some of the most important notices respecting the variation of the compass, along the coastof Guinea, &c.; and without which notices, the approximation of the quantity of Variation in the interior of Africa, could not have been accomplished. (See above, page 390.) The result is, that the coast of Guinea has several degrees more of extent from east to west ; and that the breadth of South Africa at the Equator, is less, than M. D'Anville had supposed. No alteration has been made in the coasts within the Mediterranean, VOL. I. 3 H 416 APPENDIX. save in the form and position of the Gulf of Alexandretta, and the ad- jacent coasts. The Red Sea, or Arabian Gulf, as well as the tchole course of the Nile, have been re-constructed for the present purpose. For the for- mer, a great collection of new materials has been furnished by Mr. Dalrymple. This includes a new chart of the whole Gulf by Captain White^ made in 1795 : but I have not followed either that or any other single authority throughout : but have made such alterations as ap- peared to be warranted, on an examination and comparison of the dif- ferent materials. The upper part of the Gulf, between Suez and Yambo, is however, preserved entire, as Capt. White drew it. The position of the Gulf, is thus adjusted; Capt. White, by two observations of eclipses of Jupiter's first satel- lite, found the longitude of Suez to be 30° 28' 30" east of Greenwich : and a mean of 76 lunar observations differed less than a minute from the former. The difference of longitude between Suez and Mocha, near the en- trance of the Gulf, is, by the mean of five different accounts, 11° 4', which added to 32° 28' gives 43° 32' for the longitude of Mocha : and which is nearly a mean between the different results, by timekeepers. But until a greater number of celestial observations are taken at the mouth of the Gulf, its position cannot be deemed exact. Cape Guardafui, is placed by timekeeper observations, in 51 12' lon- gitude : 1 r 43' of latitude. The adjustment of the lower part of the course of the Nile, to the shores of the Red Sea, differs very much from M. D'Anville's map. He supposed that the Nile, in its course from the lower Cataract (near Syene) to Cairo, gradually approached towards the Arabian Gulf: but late observations shew that it runs nearly parallel to it, throughout that extent, which is about 7 degrees of latitude. Hence the distance across, between the port of Kosire and Ghinna, on the Nile, is much APPENDIX. 417 less than M. D'Anville supposed ; he having allowed about HOG. miles, altliough 90 is about the truth.* It may be proper to state, that the line between Kosire and Ghinna is by no means the shortest, that can be drawn between the Nile and the Red Sea, because it runs obliquely between them. The distance appears to be no greater than 72 rniles on an E N E course, from Ghinna to the nearest part of the coast. Cairo, by the mean of several accounts, is about 59 G. miles to the west of Suez, equal to P 8' of longitude. + So that Cairo should stand • Mr. Bruce reckoned 44f hours of the caravan (with camels) between Kosire and Kuft (that is Coptos), near Gliinna : Mr. Irwin 4G from Kosire to Banutc, situated at the Nile, at five hours above Ghinna. The camel's rate is 2i British miles by the road: consequently less than two G. miles in direct distance. M. Savary had much the same idea of the distance ; for he reckons it 33 French leagues. (Vol. ii. letter 2.) But his map has 70 G. miles only. Pocock's 90. Mr. Irwin reckons the bearing WNW from Kosire to Ghinna ; doubtless by compass. The variation might be 13 to 14 degrees : whence Ghinna would bear W 9* N from Kosire : Banute, which is stated to be about five hours to the south of Ghinna, will there- fore by this account bear 1"4- N of W fi-om Kosire. Mr. Irwin was certainly very near the mark ; though a little too muclj northerly. It appears that Banute is in lat. 25" 47' 30' in D'Anville, and is 8 min. N of Negada ; at which place, Mr. Bruce observed the latitude to be 25" 53' 30". Consequently D'Anville is 14 min. too far south in this part. Apply this to Banute, and we have 26° 1' 30'. Kosire lies in 26° 8', and Banute is then to the south of it, in reality, by several minutes. At Syene, Mr. Bruce 'a latitude is 11 min. north of D'Anville's. Not to qo into extremes, I have taken Banute at 5 min. S of Kosire, Ghinna 3 min. N of it ; or 26* 11'. D'Anville places Ghinna in 26" 1'. It was of importance tliat these parallels of the places should be adjusted. t The principal authorities are the following : M. Niebuhr reckoned between Suez and the Lake of the Pilgrims, situated at 6,9 G. miles E 38 N from Cairo, - - - -28'' 40" M. Volney, - - - - - 29 — Dr. Pocock, - - - - - 29 15 mean 28 58 Add from the Lake to Cairo, as it is usually reckoned, - 3 — or say 32 hours 31 58 418 APPENDIX. in 31° 20'. The Con. de Temps has 31° 29'; but it is probable that Suez is the best determined of the two places. Mr. Bruce had observations of longitude at Kosire and Syene (or As- suan). The first he gives at 34° 4': and Capl. White at 34° 3'. But as Capt. White gives its latitude at 26° 18', wliilst Mr. Bruce found it only 26° 8', we may suppose that the former did not approach the coast near enough to discriminate particulars. Mr. Bruce's parallel inter- sects the coast in Capt. White's chart, in Ion. 34° 8': and I have adop- ted that for the place of Kosire. Capt. White may perhaps have mis- taken the old for iieio Kosire. Syene is given at 33° 30' by Mr. Bruce, making 2° 10' east from Cairo ; whereas M. D'Anville has no more than 41 minutes of easting. Hence arises a difference of 12 degrees in the bearing : M. D'Anville's being about N 9 W; Bruce's N 21 W: or nearly parallel to th6 shore of the Red Sea. The longitude of Sennar is 33° 30' 3!j" according to Mr. Bruce. In this particular is found the widest difference between D'Anville and Bruce ; the former placing it no less than 3° 50' more to the west ; that is, D'Anville has it, 1° 41' icest of Cairo, Bruce 2° 9' ensl of it. In effect, then, the general course of the Nile below Sennar lies to the west oi nox\h, instead of the contrary, as described in the imperfect materials offered to M. D'Anville. For we cannot doubt the general truth of Mr. Bruce's geographical positions, although we may not be inclined to allow them every point of accuracy. In the observation of longitude at Kosire, we have seen that he comes very near to Capt, But as there are (besides the just mentioned 3 hours, in a direction of about 40' from the general line of direction) 3\ hours more between Suez and Ajerud, at much the same angle, a considerable reduction of the direct distance must take place, probably about 1 y liour : whence there remains 30j. And as Dr. Shaw states the general report of the distance to be 30 hours, it may be conceived that this is the actual distance, by the shortest route, which leaves the Lake and Ajerud to the north. And for tlicsc, 59 G. miles direct may be allowed. M. D'Anville allowed 60. APPENDIX. 419 White : and his longitude of Cairo, is more exact, or more in liarmony with Capt. Wliite's observations at Suez, than the longitude recorded in the Con. de Temps. We have moreover another observation of lon- gitude taken by Mr, Bruce at the eastern source of the Nile, 36° 55' 30", (lat. 10° 59'), from whence one route leads eastward to the shore of the Red Sea at Masua, another westward to Sennar. Admitting his observations to be ever so coarsely made, these routes must have afforded so considerable a check, to the distance between Masua and Sennar, as to have precluded any very great error, in a difference of longitude of about six degrees only ; so that there is little question but that M. D'Anville's statement is wrong. From Sennar, Mr. Bruce has a new and interesting route, northward to Syene. Dongola lay wide to the west of this route ; and he has not informed us on what authority it is placed in his map. Still, however, the change in the position of the Nile, must carry Dongola to the east- ward with it, of course ; and in Bruce's map it is found at 1° IS' diff. long, to the east of DAnville's ;* equal to 73 G. miles. The latitude of Dongola is also \ a degree to the south of the [nirallel assigned by D'Anville, that is, 19j instead of 20°. With respect to that of Sennar, D'Anville was right. In describing the western head of the Nile (and which has no exis- tence in Mr. Bruce's map), it may be thought that I have advanced into the regions of conjecture ; but I trust that I have not gone beyond the limits implied by the authorities. To enter into a detail of these, together with the deductions and combinations arising from them, would pccupy too much room here ; especially as they are designed for another placa. It may be sufficient to state, that the branch in question, called the White River, or Abiail,^ is admitted by Mr. Bruce himself, to be a more bulky stream than the Abyssinian branch. * That is, M. D. places it 36 min. west of Cairo : Mr. B. 42 min. east of it. t Tl\is must not be confounded with the Neel Abeed, the name ajiplied by the Arabs, to the Niger. 420 APPENDIX. That M. Maillet was told, that it holds a course which is distant from 12 to 20 journies from the eastern branch. That Ledyard was told at Cairo, by certain persons from Darfoor, that the Nile has its fountains in their country situated 55 journies to the westward of Sennar :* and whose frontier province, Kordofan, is placed by Bruce, adjoining to the west of the country of Sennar. And finally, that Ptolemy, Edrisi, and Abulfeda, all place the head of the Nile in a quarter far remote from Abyssinia. Ptolemy, in particular, has described the eastern source, in such a way, as that it cannot be taken for any other than the Abyssinian branch («. e. Bruce's Nile); and yet he at the same time describes a larger, and more distant, source, to proceed from the SW; answering to the White River. His Coloe lake, is clearly the Tzana of Bruce : and may possibly have been meant to express Galla, the name of the southern division of Abyssiiiia.l' Having completed this part of the subject, I proceed to the inland positions in the western and central parts of the continent. M. D'Anville has been followed in the geography of Barbary and Morocco, with the exception of an adjustment of the interior of the lat- ter, to the coasts ; which are drawn from the charts in the atlas of Don Tofino, in which the capes of Cantin, Geer, &c. are placed more to the east, in respect of the strait, than in D'Anville. The lower parts of the Senegal, Gambia, and Rio Grande, are from M. D'Anville's, and Dr. Wadstrom's Maps. Of Mr. Park's route and discoveries, it is needless to say more, than * .See Mr. Ledyard's communications in African Association, for 1790, — 91. He says 5.5 jouinies, or four or five hundred miles. There must, of course, be an error, either in the number of the journies, or of the miles, t Mr. Biuce has fallen into an error, which may mislead those who do not attend to his map. He says. Vol. iii. p. 720, that " the ground declines southward, from the parallel of five degrees north :" but in the map at tlie end of Vol. v. the waters, as we have just said, begin to flow southward, from the latitude of 8" north. I believe, with him, that farther to the west, the southern slope may not begin short of the 5th degree of latitude. API'KNUIX. -121 that tlie particular map which contains them, has been copied into this; forming a most important member of it. The routes and positions formerly introduced from materials col- lected by the African Association, in the northern part of the continent, are revised and reconstructed ; perhaps with more effect, as our know- ledge and experience of the subject increases. Fezzan is placed, as before, due south from Mesurata : its capital Mourzouk, being 1T| journies of the caravan, distant. Edrisi affords a slight check to the beariiuj, as well as to the distance, by means of AVadan, which lies nearly midway, and is five journies west of Sort, a known position on the coasl : and also eight journies of his scale from Zuela, a known position in Fezzan.* A description of the caravan routes from Tripoly, to Mourzouk, Egypt, and the Niger, will be found in the Proceedings of the Asso- ciation, published in 1790, and 1791 (chapters x. and xii.) The point on which the central and eastern positions depend, is Ghinny ; or Ghana, (as Edrisi and Abulfeda call it) a city, and capital of a kingdom situated nearly midway between the Indian Sea and the Atlantic, on the E and W ; and l)etwcen the Mediterranean and the Ethiopic Seas, on the N and S. Fortunately, this point, on which so many others depend, can be satisfactorily approximated : though by this, I do not mean to any degree of nicety, where an extent of 70 degrees, nearly, is in question. According to Edrisi, Ghana lies 37 journies from Germa, through Agadez, or Agadost. Germa, an ancient and ruined city of Fezzan, lies to the ESE of Mourzouk, about four journies.^ The position of Germa therefore will be about lat. 27° 25': Ion. 16° 20' E. Agadez in 25 of Edrisi's journies from Germa, X and is said to bear S by W, or SSW from the capital of Fezzan. § Again, Agadez is given at 48 * The day's journey of Edrisi is taken at 18 Arabic miles, or about 19 G. in direct distance. Strictly speaking, it should be 19,06, as 56| Arabic miles are equal to a degree. t Mr. Beaufoy's MSS. X Edrisi, p. 39. § Mr. Beaufoy's MSS. 422 APPENDIX. caravan journies fiom Gadamis, which latter is 24 such journics in a southerly direction from Tunis,* The road to Agadez makes a con- siderable angle, by passing through Tegerhy, situated 80 miles only, to the SW or WSW of Mourzouk :i' and hence the direct distance of 48 journies must undergo some diminution. The result places Agadez S by W :L W from Mourzouk, 479 G. miles distant ; which only ex- ceeds by six miles the distance arising on the 25 journies from Germa : and its position will be at a few minutes above the parallel of 20 degrees, and a little more than half a degree of longitude west of Tripoly. The position receives some further check, from the circum- stance of Tegerhy being midway between Kabes and Agadez. X Ghana is 12 days of Edrisis scale to the southward of Agadez, or about 229 G. miles. § It appears that Ghana lies somewhat to the east of the line which passes through Agadez from Germa; whence some little deduction should be made from the aggregate distance of 37 days, or 705 miles ; and I have therefore taken 700 as the general line of distance from Germa to Ghana. Mr. Matra was told, at Morocco, that Ghinny (Ghana of Edrisi) was 40 journies from Kabra, the port of Tombuctoo, along the bank of the Niger. These, taken at the caravan rate between Fezzan and Egypt ; Morocco and Jarra ; &c. that is at 16,3 per day, produce 652 G. miles. The intersection of this line with that from Germa, places Ghana in lat. 16° 10', Ion. 13° 2' E of Greenwich ; in which position it stands at 760 miles from the city of Benin, on the coast of Guinea.|| De Barros says, that when the Porlugueze first explored the Coast of Guinea (about 1469) tiie king of Benin held his kingdom of the king of Ogaiie, as his superior lord ; and that ambassadors were sent accordingly, to obtain a confirmation of his authority. The distance * Af. Assoc. 1793, p. 29. t Af. Assoc. 1790, Q. p. 89; O. p. 133. X Af. Assoc. 1793, page 29, et seq. k Edrisi, p. 39. II By some oversight, Ghana is placed in the map, too far to the east, by 8 minutes of longitude. APPENDIX. 423 of Ogane (doubtless meant for Ghana) from Benin, was stated to be 250 leagues of Portugal ; which being of 18 to a degree, are equal to about 833 G. miles. And if from these we deduct i for the inflections of the road, there remain 7 10 for the direct line ; which, as the reader will perceive, is very near the former result. Thus the determination of this important point, appears satisfactory.* Before I speak further concerning Ghana and Melli, with a view to identify them with the same countries mentioned by Leo, it will be proper to dose the line of distance eastward to Nubia. Between Ghana on the west, and Dongola on the east,'!' the interval on the map is about 1118 G. miles, in an E by N direction, nearly. Edrisi ijives a chain of distance between them : and altiiouo-h we cannot ascertain the exact bearing of the several parts, yet enough is known, to enable us to appro.ximate the general bent of it ; which is to the south ; and the degree of curvature seems to be such, as to increase the distance 50 or 60 miles ; say bb, and then the line of Edrisi may be taken at 1 173 G. miles.X Now as he reckons 66 journies, • I cannot learn with any degree of certainty, from wljencc tlie name Guinea, applied to the SW coast of Africa, is derived. Some have supposed it to be from the capital or country of the superior monarch, in the interior of the continent; but it is certain that the same name is applied by Sanuto (in 1588) to the coast between the river Gambia and Cape Mesurada. But Sanuto may have taken the idea from Leo, who was in an error with respect to the matter of Guinea, at large. t Placed as above on the authority of Mr. Bruce. X The chain of bearings and distances is thus ascertained: Edrisi allows 66 journies between Ghana and Dongola : of which 36 are between Ghana and Kauga ; 30 between the latter and Dongola (Damokla of Edrisi). Of the thirty-six, eighteen are clearly shewn to point eastward; partly by direct information, partly by the context. For Kauga is said to be 10 journies to the east of Seraegonda : (Ed. p. 13.) and between the latter and Sekinaia, 8 journies, is about E by S and W by N ; as we learn from the triangle formed by the points of Sekmara, Semegonda, and Regheliil ; the latter place being six days southward from the former, and nine from Semegonda. And lastly, the 18 journies between Ghana and Sekmara, are checked by the hearing and distance between Reghebil and Ghanara ; and the distance between Cihanara and Ghana. — (See VOL. I. 3 1 424 APPENDIX. each will be no more than IT^- : and his usual standard is 19, or H more. This difference may easily arise on some of the longer portions of the line ; which, although given in the aggregate, may be broken into several parts, and each of them inflected from the other in some degree. Such, for instance, may be the case of the line of 30 days between Dongola and Kauga ; although the bearing of it, on the whole, is SW by W, or WSW. Therefore the interval of space between Ghana and Dongola seems to be satisfactorily filled up. Or, if we take the whole number of computed journies between Pisaniaoa the Gambia river, and Dongola on the Nile, at 158 ; of which 92 are between Pisania and Ghana, 66 between the latter and Dongola ; there will be on the former, according to our construction, a ratio of about 16,6 G. miles per day, on the direct line ; and 16,9 on the latter. To the northward of this line, and in the quarter towards Nubia, are situated the countries or kingdoms of Bornou (or Kanem) Tagua, Kuku, Kuar, and Zagawa: and in the quarter towards Ghana, are Zanfara, and Zegzeg. Most of them are mentioned, as well by Leo,' as by Edrisi. There is a route to the capital of Bornou given in the Proceedings of the Association, 1790-91, by which it is placed at about SE ~ S the map). For Reghebil is said (Edrisi, p. 12.) to lie 11 journies to the east of Ghanara, Whilst the latter is also 1 1 journies from Ghana. The context shews, that if Sekmara Ts- 18 journies from Ghana, and Reghebil 6 days sojUh from Sekmara, whilst Ghanara pre- serves the relative position above desciibed; that Sekmara must lie to t!ie eastward of Ghana. Kauga ought unquestionably to lie to the southward of Dongola, by S| or 3 degrees. For it is 20 journies to the southward of Kuku, which is itself about the parallel of Tamalma, which is 12 journies from Matthan, the capital of Bornou ; northward. And this Matthan, as will be shewn presently, lies in the same parallel with Dongola. Thus, I may assume, without any great hazard, an easterly bearing between Ghana and Kauga; E 25 N between Kauga and Dongola. For the authorities for the above particulars, see Edrisi, pages 10, 11, 12, 13. It would be almost endless to note each separate authority. APPENDIX. 425 from Mourzouk, distant 660 G. irSles ; whence it falls on the map exactly in the same parallel with Don2:ola, and at 524 miles to the west of it: so that the country of Bornou occupies^ the middle space between Nubia and Ghana : Fezzan and Sennar.* There is little doubt that Bornou is the Kanem of Edrisi, said to border on Nubia. Angimi (or Gimi) in particular, one of its cities, is said to be near Nubia, on the eastjl" There is a city of the name of Kanem, in the way from Fezzan to the capital of Bornou, as we learn not only from Mr. Beaufoy's MSS. but from a note in Hartmann :% but this cannot be the capital of Kanem, intended by Edrisi; because neither the bearings nor the distances to it, from Dongola and Nubia agree ; and also, because the bearing and distance from Donsrola do agree exactlv to the capital pointed out, by Mr. Beaufoy : and which Edrisi names Matthan, or Matsan. This capital he places at 31 days journey to the west of Nubia, whose position, however, is too uncertain to reckon upon : but Abulfeda says that Zagua, or Zagara, is 20 journies west from Dongola ;§ and Matthan, according to Edrisi, is eight journies from Zagua, (p 15). It has already been noticed that the capital of Bornou falls in the same parallel with Dongola ; and here we learn that Zagua, is also in the same parallel with it ; consequently, the whole 28 journies from Dongola, may be taken on the same westerly bearing; and the result will be, a distance of 534 miles; differing only 10 from the interval on the map. Consequently, the Matthan of Edrisi may be taken for the capital of Bornou, pointed out by the above authority. The countries of Zagua (or Zagara) and Tagua, fill up the space between the kingdom of Bornou and Nubia. The former appears to be a small province, perhaps a dependency of Bornou. The situation * The capital of Bornou falls in lat. 24» 32'. Ion. 22° 57'- The empire is said to be very extensive ; and its sovereign more powerful than the Emperor of Morocco : Af. Assoc. 1?90, Q. p. 1.=.2 ; O. p. 229. t Edrisi, p. 14. X Hartmann's Edj-isi, page 63, note (u.) § Article Soudan. 426 APPENDIX. of its capital is iofferred above, to be eight journievS to the east of that ofBornou. Tagua lies between Zagua and Dongola, and its capital at 13 journies from IMatthan, (p. 15). Northward it extends to the tract of Al JVahat, the western province of Upper Egypt, Thus, its position cannot be mistaken. The country of Kuku (tliis must not be mistaken for Kauga) lies to the NW of Tagua ; NE ofBornou ; and joins on the NE to Al Wahat. This is an extensive country, bordering on the Desert of Libya, and partakes of its nature. Its capital of the same name is situated at 20 journies to the north of Kauga. It is also 14 to the eastward of Tamalma, which is itself 12 to the northivard of Matthan. Hence Kuku may be approximated in position. (Edrisi, page 13, et seq.) A river runs from N to S by Kuku, and is received into a lake at a great distance from Kuku ; perliaps the lake of Kauga : and the river itself may form a part of that, said to run near Angimi,* of which more in the sequel, Kuar, or Kawar, lies to the northward of Kuku and of Bornou ; and extends eastward to Al Waliat. It is bounded on the north by that extensive Desert which separates Egypt from Fezzan ; and which contains the wandering tribe of Lebeta or Levata ; as also various Oases, or fertile islands ; amongst the rest, those of Augela, Berdoa, Seewah, and that which contained the temple of Jupiter Atnmon. This Desert I regard as the proper Desert of Libya : and it may be a question whether the tribe of Lebeta, although now found in the interior of the country, may not have originally inhabited the sea coast ; and that the Greeks denominated Africa from them.'\' This was the * Angimi is a city eight days journey from Matthan, six from Zagua ; ant! towards Nubia and the Niger ; consequently to the SE of Matthan ; and apparently, not far to the northward of Kauga. Edrisi, p. 14. t Mr. Park mentions a wandering tribe named Libey, whom he had seen in his travels. He compares them, in respect of their habits and modes of life, to gipsies. APPENDIX. 427 part of Africa ihe nearest, and first colonized by the Greeks ; and it is a known fact, that the Adyrmachidts, and Nasatmnes, who, in the days of Herodotus, inhabited the coasts, were, at a succeeding period, found in the inland parts about Amman and Angela. The capita] of Kuar is by Edrisi placed adjacent to Fezzan ; but there is either some mistake in this, or I do not comprelicnd the matter riglitly. (Ed. p. 39, 40.) Tamalma, a city of Kuar, is only 12 days from Matlhan (p. 14.), so tliat the Desert of Bilma, or Bulma, must lie between it and Fezzan. Mederam Isa, another of its cities, is said to be only two days from Zuela, or Zawila, a city of Fezzan : and Izer, a third city, is placed in the same neighbourhood, and near a large lake. Either then, these cities belong to Fezzan, and are by mistake classed as belonging to Kuar ; or they really belouf, as well as Tamalma, (of which there is no doubt) to Kuar. I am inclined to the latter opinion, for the following reasons. In the catalogue of places, in Fezzan (in Af Assoc.) there is no mention either of Izer, Isa, Bulmala, or of a lake near the former. But there is a remarkable salt lake near Dumboo, on the northern frontier of Bornou, which from its relative position to Tamalma, may well be the one intended by Edrisi : especially as Bulmala, (p. 40) which may be meant for Bulma, occurs in the same neighbourhood. The salt lakes of Dumboo are said to be situated in the Desert of Bilma;* which Desert appears to be a prolongation of the Libyan Desert to the SW. Zanfara is said by Labat, to be 50 journies from Tombuctoo.'t' Leo places it between Wangara and Zegzeg; which latter, by the same authority, being to £he SE of Cano (or Ganat) Zanfara must neces- sarily border on the NE of Ghana; having Bornou on the east, Agadez • From the borders of these lakes, Kassina and other countries are supplied with salt, by the people of Agadez, who annually employ ICOO camels in this commerce. Af. Assoc. 1790, Q. p. 157. 1C7 ; and O. p. 236, 251. There is reason to suspect, that the great salt lake of Dumboo, is the Chelonides Palus ol Ptolemy. t Labat, Vol. iii. p.36 3. 428 APPENDIX, and Kassina (which we formerly erroneously spelt Cashnah) on the west. Here it may be proper to observe, that in the present political division of Africa, Kassina comprises generally the provinces between Fezzan and the Niger ; and that Zanfara is its eastern boundary. Of course Ghana, which in the 15th century was paramount in the centre of Africa, is now become a province of Kassina. To the south of the line between Ghana and Nubia, very few par- ticulars are known to Europeans. The knowledge of Edrisi, was limited to this line itself: and the only country known to him on the south of the Niger, was Melli, which he calls Lanilem. Nor did the knowledge of Leo, extend beyond the countries contiguous to the south bank of the Niger ; nor to any country west of Tombuctoo ; although by mistake, he places Ghana and Melli, there. This may serve to shew, that the people on the north side of the Niger, have very little communication with tliose, who live beyond the great belt of mountains, which runs across Africa, at about the 10th degree. Nor did the inquiries of Mr. Beaufoy produce any thing more than the names of certain of the adjacent countries ; the only one of which that can be placed, is Begarmee (perhaps the Begama of Edrisi) said to be 20 journies to the SE of Bornou, and separated from it by several small deserts.* It seems to be the country intended by the Gorham of D'Anville. Kororofa and Guber are said in Mr. Beaufoy 's MSS. to lie to the west of Begarmee ; the latter bordering on Wangara. Neither of these, can well be in a lower parallel than 11 or 12 degrees. But Darfoor, a country of considerable extent and population, and apparently the farthest removed of any that has a communication with Egypt, is pointed out to our notice by Mr. Ledyard, as has been already shewn.l* In the present limited state of our knowledge respecting the interior * African Association, 1790 ; Q. p. 155 ; O. p. 234. t A&icaa Association. See Ledyard's Communications, in Af. Assoc. 1790, 1791. APPENDIX. 429 of Africa, it would be mis-spending time to attempt to follow Leo, in his detail of provinces and nations, in the parts remote from the im- mediate scene of our discoveries ; or of the routes communicated to the Association. But it is of the utmost importance to the argument res- pecting the course of the Niger, that I should clear up some of his errors regarding the positions of Ghana (his Ginea) and 3IeUi. Leo says, p. 248, 249, that the merchants of his country (I conceive he means Barbary) call the country in question, Ghenoa ; that its pro- per inhabitants call it Genni : but the Portuguezo, and other Euro- peans, Ginea.* He says that it is situated to the uest of Tombuctoo, tlia.t is betv^een Tombuctoo and Gualata :1" that it has an extent of several hundred miles along the Niger, even to the place where it discharges itself into the sea. Again, says he, the kingdom of Melli borders on Ginea, southward ; and on the west, are vast forests, which extend to the sea. And finally, he places the kingdom of Gago to the east of Melli. Now nothing is more certain, than that the space on the west of Tombuctoo and Gago, is occupied by nations, very different from those of Gincn (by which Ghana is to be understood) and Melli : as also that the space assigned by Leo, to Ginea, is a remarkably dry, sandy, country ; being either adjacent to, or forming a part of the Sahara : whereas Ginea is described by him to be a tract, which, during the in- undations of the Niger, in July, August, and September, is inclosed like an island. It is however not improbable, that Leo, who it appears had visited Tombuctoo (but who certainly never saw the Niger, which is about 12 mdes beyond it), might confound the city of Jenne, which is situated in a small island in the Niger, and to the west of Tombuctoo, with the kingdom of Ghana (his Ginea), on the east: but as to Melli, that is * Abulfeda, Edrisi, and Ibn Al AVardi call it Ghaaa, and GaDah. t Gualata is described by Leo to be situated 500 miles from Tombuctoo towards Xun. 430 APPENDIX. quite out of the question, ia respect of any mistake of the like kind ; and could only be placed on the west of Gago, in order that it might pre- serve its southerly position in respect of Ginea. Thus one mistake seems to have produced the other. The position of Ghana (or Ginny according to Mr. Malra), at 40 journies to the eastward of Tonibnctoo, has been already detailed, in page 422. And this is, no doubt, the Ginea intended by those, from whom Leo collected his information respecting the country itself, whose geography he has so much erred in. The kingdom of Melli had been reported to Cadamosta, when he made inquires concerning the interior of Africa, about the year 1455. He was told that Tombuctoo, (whose general position was not ill de- scribed to him, at about GO journies inland from Arguin,*) was supplied with mineral salt from Tegazza, 40 journies to the westward. That the same salt mine supplied Melli, 30 journies beyond Tombuctoo, the salt passing through the latter place. + (We must here suppose that the capito/ of Melli, called by the same name as the coiuitry, is meant as the term of this journey). Hence we should naturally look for Melli on the eastward of Tombuctoo, as will presently appear, and not on the SW, as is expressed in Astley.'f) No doubt, SE was meant : for Edrisi has a city of the name of Malel, at 10 journies to the south of Berissa,§ and 32 from the city of Ghana : and this position actually falls at 30 journies to the E S E of Tombuctoo ; agreeing to the dis- tance reported by Cadamosta. But Edrisi does not call the country Melli, luit Lamlem. However, it can be no other than the Melli of Leo, and Cadamosta : for Edrisi says (p S and 1 1 ), that it is situated to the south of Ghana and Berissa * He was told that Hoden or Whaden, was 70 leagues east of Arguin, and Tegazza six journies from Hoden. Tombuctoo was 40 days from Ihence. Aslley, Vol. i. p. 20, and 577, 578. f Aslley, Vol. i. p. 578. Some lieniarks on the Salt Mines are added, at the end of this Chapter. :|: lb. Vol, ii, p. 74. § Berissa is 12 journies west of Ghana. Edrisi. APPENDIX. 431 aud has on the east the country of Wangara (Vancara), which agrees to the tract in which Malel is situated. Hartmanu supposes, (p. 39,) with great appearance of truth, that Lamlem is a transposition of Melli : and I have met with similar instances in the translation of Ara- bic words and numbers. Thus Leo's ideas were evidently wrong, res- pecting the situations of Ghana and Melli ; which lie to the easttcard of Tombuctoo, although he places them to the irest. The place of Melli is occupied, in his description, by Guber (vvlwch Mr. Beaufoy learnt, was to the south of Wangara) ; whilst that of Ghana remains unoccupied ; unless we suppose it to be included in the empire of Tom- buctoo, which is implied (p. 254), when he speaks of Wangara (Gu- angara) as being troubled oh the west by the King of Tombuctoo, and on the east by him of Bornou : and as he also speaks of Tombuctoo as the largest empire in Nigritia, (p. 4.) In the position of Wangara,* he is right ; for it lies between Zanfara, and Bornou : but he seems not to have known that it was intersected by the Niger, and formed of its alluvions, as Edrisi points out to us."!" But Leo learnt one important particular as a merchant, that the south- ern quarter of it, produced (/old, in abundance. As I shall have occa- sion to speak more fully of this country, when the course of the Niger comes under consideration, it will be unnecessary to say more of it, in this place. Kassina is removed by Leo, from the banks of the Niger, its proper situation, far inland, to the east of Cano, or Ganat,X (p- 253.) This is another proof of his writing from hearsay. Kassina is not heard of, in Edrisi ; it no doubt was included in Ghana, at that day. Leo is silent respecting Tokrur or Tekrur. This appears to have been the metropolis of the great central empire of Africa, in the time • Guangara, (Leo.) t Pages 11, and 12. * It lies to the SSW of Agadtz. Af. Ass. Q. p. 221 ; O. p. 326. M. D'AnvUle mis- took the Cano of Leo (p. 253.) situated at 500 miles from the Niger, for Ghana, liut the Ganat of our map, in the road from Fezzan to Agadez, must be meant. VOL. I. 3 K 432 APPENDIX. o£ Edrisi and Abulfeda ; and must have existed in later times ; as the Tukorol, to whose prince the Portugeze sent an ambassador about the year 1493, may be taken for the same place. It may, however, have been swallowed up in the empire of Tombuctoo, which was founded after the time of Edrisi, and before the date of Leo's writing. But as the" city of Tombuctoo gave name to the empire, so might Tokrur ; and this latter may have fallen so much to decay, as to be little known in the present times : and this may account for Mr. Park's not being able to learn any tidings of it. And finally, as Leo had not heard of Houssa, we may conclude that it is a city of a yet later date ; and which may possibly have superseded Tokrur. Such a fluctuation of names, serves as much to confound geographers in the political divi- sion of Africa, as the various opinions of those who have written on the physical geography, do, respecting the relative position of places, and the courses of its rivers. Remarks on the Positions of the Salt Mines in the Great Desert. Edrisi understood that all the salt consumed in the kingdoms of Ni- gritia (particularly along the course of the Niger), was brought from Ulil, situated at 16 journies to the westward of Sala, and erroneously supposed by him to be an island, situated in the ocean, near the mouth of the Niger.* But by the situation, one would suppose that the salt mines of Aroan, 10 journies to the NNW of Tombuctoo, and in the road to Morocco, were meant; and from whence Tombuctoo is at present supplied. It is not easy to guess how an inland salt mine should have been mistaken for an island, in the ocean : but it is certain that both Edrisi and Abulfeda, supposed the Niger to discharge itself into the sea, near the meridian of Tombuctoo Ibn Al Wardit speaks of * Edrisi, p. 7. + Hartmann's Edrisi, p. 29. APPENDIX. 433 Oulili, as the principal city of Soudan (or Nigritia), situated on the sea coast, and having extensive salt works, from which salt was carried to the other states of Nigritia. Mr. Park mentions the city of Walet, capital of Beeroo, which may perhaps be the Oulili intended by Ibn Al Wardi ;* but it has no salt pits ; for the inhabitants fetch salt from Shingarin, six journies to the northward of it :+ and Walet is more than 24 journies from Sala, in- stead of 16, as stated by Edrisi. Cadamosta and Leo, in the third and fourth centuries after Edrisi, X say, that the people of Tombuctoo had their salt from Tegazza, 40 journies to the westward of that city ; and that the salt was carried so far to the east as Melli, which is opposite to Kassina. By Tegazza, Tisheet,§ the salt mine of Jarra seems to have been meant ; but is far short of 40 journies from Tombuctoo. Now, if in the 12th century, salt was procurable so near to Tombuctoo as Aroan, or Shingarin (the salt pits of Walet), why should they have fetched it from a place 30 or 40 days distant, in the loth and IGth .* This requires explanation: for Edrisi states very particularly that salt was carried from Ulil in boats along the Niger, and distributed amongst the nations on its banks, from Sala to Kauga ! || Mr. Beanfoy, quoted as above, says,** that there is a salt lake, or lakes, in Boruou ; from whence Agadez, Ivassina, and certain states on the south of the Niger, are supplied. This at least implies that there are no salt mines in the Desert, in the quarter east of Tombutoo. • Oulili, Oualet ? t Mr. Park's MSS. X Edrisi wrote in the 12th century; Cadamosta inthe 15th, and Leo in fho Ifith. § Mr. Park's MSS. II Edrisi, p. 7. *• African Association, 1790; Q. p. 157, 167; and O. p. 236, 251. 434 APPENDIX. CHAPTER VI. Tlie Subject continued — Course of the Rivert Niger, at large — lias no Communication tcith the Nile — Ptolemy s Description of it consistent. 1 HE course of the Niger (or Joliba) as we have seen, is established, by ocular demonstration, as far as Silla ; and may, I conceive, be admit- ted, as far as Houssa, about 400 miles farther to the east, on the foun- dation of the information collected by Mr. Park ; since it agrees with the ideas communicated to Mr. Beaufoy, by an intelligent Moorish merchant, who had navigated the river : and as it agrees no less with the report of Mr. Magrah, obtained from Moorish merchants at Tunis ; and of Major Houghton from Bambouk. Thus, the first 700 G. miles of its course are from West to East ; or rather from WSW to ENE. There remains then, a space of more than double that distance, between Houssa and the nearest part of the Egyptian Nile, near Dongola ; and yet more, to the known parts of the White river, or Abiad, the SW branch of the Nile. I shall divide the matter respecting the course of this river, into three heads. 1. Respecting the continuity of its waters, from Houssa on the west, to Wangara on the east ; without regard to the direction of the stream. 2. Respecting the positive direction of the stream. And, 3, concerning its termination. 1. Respecting the Continuity of its Waters. Edrisi gives the most positive information concerning the course of the Niger, or Nile of the Negroes, from east to west ; deriving it from the same lake through which the Egyptian Nile passes ; and describ- ing it to terminate at 16 journies west of Sala (that is, a little to the west of the position occupied by Tombuctoo); and near the suppose^ APPENDIX. 435 island of Ulil before mentioned.* He thus cuts oflf about 1000 miles of the breadth of Africa. This was an error common to all the ancient geographers, as well as to those of Arabia : for Ptolemy places the mouth of the Senegal river only two degrees more to the west, than Edrisi does that of the Niger. Abulfeda believed, with Edrisi, that the Niger had a common source with the Nile, and ran westward.^* It is certain, that these opinions furnish no jiroofs of continuity of course : but it may be supposed that there was some foundation for them; especially as Edrisi says, that salt was carried upon the Nigeria boats from the island of Ulil, and distributed to the people on its banks, from Sala to Wangara, and Kauga.X Mr. Matrawas told^ that from Kabra, the port ofTombuctoo, " peo- ple sometimes travelled along the river the space of 40 days, to Ginny (Ghana) a large city ;" &c. The Moorish merchant, with whom Mr. Beaufoy conversed, and vs'hom he speaks of as a clear and intelligent man, says, " That the country of Guinea or Ginny, is on the same river with Houssa." (Mr. Beaufoy's MSS.) Edrisi, besides mentioning the cities of Sala, Tokrur, Berissa, Ghana, and Ghanara, all of which he says are situated on the Niger, remarks that the country of Wangara, to which Ghanara belongs, is surrounded by that river,§ as it would appear by means of a subdivision of its wa- ters ; for Gatterer says, that Ghanara, one of its cities, stands on the western arm of the Guin,|| by which name he mentions the Niger ; of which more presently. Now, as Wangara extends, according to Edrisi, 300 Arabic miles along the river,** this extent, together with the dis- tance of Wangara from Ghana, eight jouruieSj+f or 152 miles, makes * Page 7 of Edrisi, t Article Soudan. J Edrisi, page 7. f Mr. Beaufoy'3 MSS. § Edrisi, p. 7- 11. and 12. 11 Hartmann's Edrisi, p. 48, notes. ** Ediisi-, p. 11. ft lb. p. 11. 436 APPENDIX. up 496 G. miles of the course of this river, eastward from Ghana ; which being itself 500 miles east of Houssa, there will be 969 miles in direct distance, traced eastward of Houssa : or on the whole, as Houssa is 700 miles below the source, about 1670 G. miles of water-course from the head of the Niger, above Manding, to the eastern extremity of Wangara ! In addition to these authorities, I may state from Leo, that the people of Tombuctoo convey their merchandize in boats (or rather canoes) to Ginea, by the Niger: and that at Kabra they embark for Melli, also. But it is proper to be noticed, that he says (p. 249), that this communication with Ginea takes place in the rainy season only (July, August, September), wliich would imply a deficiency of water for navigation, at other seasons.* Leo, however, certainly never saw the Niger, although he seems to report himself an eye-witness of many particulars relating to it. His intelligence is therefore often to be suspected ; though it has probably happened, that being regarded as an original author, instead of a compiler, he has given weight to the systems of Edrisi and Abulfeda, respecting the course of the Niger. Gatlercr, as I have hinted before, calls the Niger, Guin, as well at Tokrur and Ghana, as at Wangara.i* Now we learn from Mr. Park, that the northern branch of the Niger, above Tombuctoo, passes by the town of Jinbala, and collect also from Labat, that it is named the river of Guin : and here we have the same name extended even to Wangara ; a presumptive proof of the prolongation of the same river ! Edrisi speaks of the same Niger, or Nile of the Negroes,X also, at Kauga, 10 journies to the east of Wangara; from which we collect that he must have supposed, that this emanation of the Egyptian Nile * If this report of Leo has any particular meaning, and as the river in question carries a great body of water at all seasons, one must suppose that there are falls or rapids, in the river, when in its low state. Time may discover. t Hartmann, p. 32, 48, 51. 1 Edrisi, p. 7, and 13. APPENDIX. 437 (as he supposed it to be) first ran to the north, and then turned to the west, through Nigritia. And if any consequence can be deduced from his account of the conveyance of salt, along the Niger to Kauga,wliere the catalogue of places supplied, ends, we should conclude that he supposed the navigable part of the river, ended at Kauga. Although there cau be no question that a river named Nile (or rather Neel), passes through the quarter of Kauga, Angimi, &c. since Edrisi, Abulfeda, and Leo, speak of it, yet it would be advancing too far within the region of conjecture, in this place, to attempt to decide whether it has any communication with the western waters. I shall therefore reserve this discussion till the last ; that it may not be allowed to have any weight in the decision of the great question con- cerning the continuity and direction of the Niger. Having therefore, as I conceive, established tlie fact of a continuation of the waters frona Manding to AVangara, 1 shall next proceed to mquire into the autho- rities for the direction of the stream. 2. The Direction of the Course of the Niger. Ocular demonstration has shewn, that its course is to the eastward, as far as Silla : and no reasonable doubt can be entertained that it continues the same course toHoussa,400 miles farther to the eastward, even if the information communicated to Mr. Park, could be doubted. For the Moorish merchant before quoted, told Mr. Beaufoy, that he had himself descended the Joliba, from Kabra to Houssa, although he had forgot the exact number of days employed in the navigation ; and whether it was 8 or 10 days, (Mr. Park was told 11). But one cir- cumstance dwelt on his mind ; which was,.that " by the favour of a brisk wind, they returned to Kabra, against the stream, in as short an interval as they went down." (This is no new fact to those who are accustomed to inland navigations, even of the natural kind.) The same Moor added, " that from Houssa, going still with the 438 APPENDIX. stream, boats went to Jinnee* and Ghinea ; near the latter of which Avas the sea, into which the Neel (or Niger) discharged itself." That this Ghinea lies to the eastward of Houssa and Tombuctoo, has been already shewn ; and that at the distance of 40 land journies. Edrisi says that the navigation from Ghana to Tirka (which latter is in the way to Wangara, admitted by the same authority to lie to the east of Ghanai') is tiilh the stream of the Niger : J and if this be true, it ought unquestionably to have the same direction all the way from Houssa. To these notices, of which the most full and positive, is that of an intelligent person who had visited the spot ; are to be opposed the reports of Edrisi and Abulfeda, who wrote at a distance, and from the information of others. As to Leo, although his declaration is in favour of the two Arabian geographers, yet his authority loses all its weight, bj his saying that the river runs to the west, by Tombuctoo ; a fact which, I presume, noone will be hardy enough to contend for. And I it will be found, that his descriptions do most completely do away his declaration: so that his testimony is turned against himself by the very context. For after saying that it runs towards the kingdoms of Ginea and Melli, he says also that they lie to the ivest, in respect of Tombuctoo. Now the contrary has already been made apparent, in page 429, et seq. ; so that in fact, Leo's descriptions go rather to prove, that the course of the Niger is to the east, than to the west. But after all, his descriptions are the result of hearsay, rather than of observa- tion : and it is plain, that his idea of the course of the Niger, was regulated by the supposed situation of the countries it ran through. Nor had he in his mind the Coast of Guinea, according to our acceptation • It is certain that one city of Jinn^ or Jinnee stands 7'. 444 APPENDIX. «aid to take its course southward, to the Nile.* Also, of a Nile near Angimi and Kauga, before spoken of And finally, Edrisil* says, that a branch of the Egyptian Nile, issuing from the great lake at Turai, in the south, forms the head of the Niger, or Nile of the Negroes. X Here it is well worth remarking, that Ptolemy describes a branch springing from the SE about the parallel of 10°, and amongst the Nubi, which branch flows into the Gir, a river distinct from the Niger, and appearing to answer to the river of Bornou, &c. This accords exactly with Edrisi's idea ; only that it does not flow from the same lake as the Nile, separated from it only by a mountain. But M. D'Anville, in my idea, interprets very fairly the scope of the intelligence furnished by Edrisi, by supposing that the sources of the two rivers (or the courses of them) were separated only by a ridge of mountains. § Leo says, that the head of the Niger is within 120 miles of the country of Bornou, and in the Desert of Seu :1| but these notices must be regarded as extremely vague. Certain it is, that if the eastern waters of Nigritia do not run into the Nile (of which, in our idea, there does not appear a shadow of pro- bability) they must either be evaporated in lakes, or lost in sands. The lake of Kauga offers itself in a position very convenient for the purpose, and a river taken by Edrisi for the Niger, is actually said to pass near it. It has also been shewn, that in the idea of Edrisi, the Kauga lake communicated with the western waters : but whether this is true, or otherwise, it is not possible to decide. I do not pretend to follow Ptolemy in his description of the rivers in * Edrisi, p. 13. t lb. p. 16. { It appears that a report of the same kind was communicated to Mi'. Beaufoy ; namely, that a branch of the Egijptian Nile ru7is into the Desert of BUma, (Af. Assoc. Q. p. 138 : O. p. 209.) There does not, however, appear to be any foundation for be- lieving that the Nile sends forth any branch above Egypt. All the notices of this kind may with more probability, be referred to a communication with the waters oi Kauga. § Mem. Inscrip. Vol. xxvi. p. 6C. |1 Page 2, 255. Appendix. 445 the interior of Africa, with that precision which M. D'Anville has attempted : but this circumstance is clear enough, that lie describes them to terminate, as well as to begin, tvithiii the continent. The same is to be said of Agathemerus, It is apparent, that Ptolemy lias carried the head of the Niger seven degrees too far to the north, and about four, or more, too far to the west: as also that his inland positions in Africa, as well along the Niger, as at a distance from it, are yet more to the west of the truth. But notwithstanding this geographical error, he proves that he knew many facts relating to the descriptive part of the subject. For instance, he places the source of the Niger, at the mountains of Mandnis, and amongst the nation of the Mandori. It has been seen, that the Joliba rises in the country adjacent to Manding. He marks also a large adjunct to the Niger, from amongst the Jfaurali, in the south, answer- ing to the river from Malel (or Melli) in Edrisi. To these may be added another particular of agreement. The Caphas mountains of Ptolemy seem meant for those of Knffaba, a country 9 or 10 journies to the eastward of Kong ; 18 short of Assentai (or Ashantee) near the Coast of Guinea.* But I have a doubt wliere to place Ptolemy's metropolis of Nigritia, in modern geography. His ideas, however, corroborate in the strongest manner, the present system of geography. Amongst the eastern waters, the Gir of Ptolemy, seems to be re- cognized in the river of Bornou, and its adjuncts: the Niger, in that of Tombuctoo and Wangara. The Panatjra of the same geographer answers to Wangara ; and his Libya Pains, which forms the termina- tion of the Niger, eastward, seems to be meant, either for the largest of the lakes, or for the lakes of that country (of which there are several), collectively. It is no impeachment of this opinion, that the Libya Palus is placed so far to the west as the meridian of Carthage, whilst the lakes of Wangara appear to be in that of Cyrene : for Ptolemy carries the river Gir, and the capital of the country which represents • Af. Assoc. 1790, ch, xii. 446 APPENDIJf. Bornou, into the centre of Africa ; by which he has shortened the course of the Niger, in the same proportion as he had extended that of the Gir, or Wad-al-Gazel. Modern geographers, to the time ofD'Anville, were guilty of the same kind of error : Ghana is about 6° too far west, in Delisle's map. It may be best to omit any farther remarks on Ptolemy, at present, and to wait the result of future discoveries. In the mean time, those who are curious to read M. D'Anville's Memoir on the subject of " the Rivers in the interior of Africa," will find it in the Mem. Acad. Inscrip. Vol. xxvi. APPENDIX. 447 CHAPTER VII. Observations on the physical and political Geography of North Africa — Naturally divisible into three Parts — Productive in Gold — Boun- dary of the Moors and Negroes — the Foulahs, the Leucaethiopes of the Ancients. 1 o our view, North Africa appears to be composed of three distinct parts or members. The first and smallest is a ferlile region along the Mediterranean, lying opposite to Spain, France, and Italy (com- monly distinguished by the name of Barbary); and which, could we suppose the western bason of the Mediterranean to have once been dry land, (bating a lake or recipient for the surrounding rivers), might be regarded as a part of Europe ; as possessing much more of the Euro- pean, than the African character. The SECOND part is what may be deemed the body of North Africa, comprised between the Red Sea, and Cape Verd, on the east and west; and having the Great Desert (or Sahara) and its members, on the north ; the Ethiopic ocean, and South Africa, on the opposite side. The prominent feature of this immense region, is a vast belt of elevated land, of great breadth, often swelling into lofty mountains, and running generally from west to east, about the tenth degree of latitude. Its western extremity seems to be C. Verd ; the mountains of Abyssinia, the eastern. To the north, its ramifications are neither numerous, nor extensive, if we except the elevated tract which turns the Nile to the northward, beyond Abyssinia. Towards the south, no particulars are known, save that a multitude of rivers, some of tlieni very large, de- scend from that side, and join the Atlantic and Ethiopic seas, from the VOL. I, 3 M 448 APPENDIX. Rio Grande on the west, to Cape Lopez on the east ; proving incon- testably that by far the greatest proportion of rain water falls on that side, during the periodical season of the SW vvinds ; which corresponds in all its circumstances with the same monsoon in India.* To the north of this belt, with the exception of the Egyptian Nile, the waters conform generally to the direction of the high land ; passing at no great distance (comparatively) from its base, to the right and left: as if the surface of the Sahara had a general dip to the southward.'!" These rivers, moreover, receive all their supplies from the south ; no streams of any bulk being collected in the Desert. In order to produce this effect, there must necessarily be a vast hol- low in the interior of Africa, between the high land of Nubia on the east, and Manding on the west ; and of which the mountains and Desert form the other two sides. Nor is this state of things unexampled in the other continents. In Asia, the hollow, to whose waters the Caspian and Aral serve as recipients, is no less extensive than the one just mentioned ; reckoning from the sources of the Wolga to those of the Oxus ; (which latter has ever communicated with the Caspian, either throughout the year, or during a part of it :) the diflference is, that in Asia, a greater portion of the hollow is filled up with water, than in Africa. The THIRD part is of course, the Great Desert (or Sahara), and its members; consisting of the lesser deserts of Bornou, Bilma, Barca, Sort, &c. This may be considered as an ocean of sand,X presenting * A ridge stretches to the soutli, through the middle of South Africa, and forms an impenetrable barrier between tlie two coasts. M. Cokkea de Serra informs me, that the Portugueze in Congo and Angola, have never been able to penetrate to the coast of the Indian ocean. Mr. Bruce learnt (Vol. iii. p. 668.) that a high chain of mountains from 6" runs south- ward through the middle of Africa. He supposes the gold of Sofala to be drawn from these mountains, (p. 669.) t Circumstances have shewn, that it declines to the eastward also. i " A wild expanse of lifeless sand and sky !" Thomson. APPENDIX. 449 a surface equal in extent to about one half of Europe, and having its gulfs, and bays ; as also its islands, fertile in groves and pastures, and in many instances containing a great population, subject to order and regular government. Tlie great body, or tcestern division of this OCEAN, comprized between Fezzan and the Atlantic, is no less than 50 caravan journies across, from north to south ; or from 750 to 800 G. miles ; and double that extent, in length : without doubt the largest desert in the world. Tliis division contains but a scanty portion of islands (or oases) and those also of small extent : but the eastern divi- sion has many ; and some of them very large. Fezzan, Gadamis, Taboo, Ghanat, Agadez, Augela, Berdoa, are amongst the principal ones : besides which, there are a vast number of small ones. In ef- fect, this is the part of Africa alluded to by Strabo,* when he says from Cneius Piso, that Africa maybe compared to a leopard's skin. I con- ceive the reason why the oases are more common here, than in the west, is, that the stratum of sand is shallower, from its surface, to that of the earth which it covers. In other words, that the water contained in that earth, is nearer to the surface; as in most of the oases it springs up spontaneously.^ Can any part of the cause be assigned to the prevalent easterly winds, which, by driving the finer particles of sand to leeward, may have heaped it up to a higher level in the Sahara, than else- where ?x * Page 130. t Water is found at the depth of a few feet, in Fezzan (.Afr. Assoc. Q p. 96 : O. p. 146). The same is said by Pliny, concerning this quarter of Africa ; lib. v. c. 5. But farther to tlie N W, on the edge of the Desert, and in the country of \^'adreag in particu- lar (Shaw, p. 135.), wells are dug to an amazing depth, and water mixed with fine sand, springs up suddenly, and sometimes fatally to the workmen. The Doctor tells us, that the people call this abyss of sand and water, " the sea below ground.'' Exactly the same state of things exists in the country round London, where the sand has in several cases nearly filled up the wells. (See Phil. Trans, for 1T97-) The famous well lately dug by Earl Spencer (at Wimbledon), of more than 560 feet in depth, has sereral hundred feet of sand in it. J Ships that have sailed at a great distance from the African coast, opposite to C. Blanco 450 APPENDIX. The springs, no doubt, have produced the oases themselves, by en- abling useful vegetables to flourish, and consequently population to be established. That tlie Desert has a dip towards the east, as well as the south, seems to be proved by the course of the Niger, also. More- over, the highest points of North Africa, that is to say, the mountains of Mandinga and Atlas, are situated very far to the west. The Desert, for the most part, abounds with salt. But we hear of salt mines only, in the part contiguous to Nigritia, from whence salt is drawn for the use of those countries, as well as of the Moorish states adjoining; there being no salt in the Negro countries south of the Niger.* There are salt lakes also, in the eastern part of the Desert. The great ridge of mountains, and its branches, are very productive in gold; but more particulaly in the quarters opposite to Manding and Bambouk on the west, and Wangara, on the east. It may perhaps ad- mit of a doubt, whether the gold is brought down at the present time, by the numerous fountains that form the heads of the Niger and Sene- gal rivers ; or whether it has been deposited in the lower parts of their beds, at an earlier period of the world ; and that the search, instead of being facilitated by the periodical floods, is, on the contrary, only to be pursued with eff'ect, when the VAaters are low. Tombuctoo is reckoned the mart of the Mandinga gold, from whence it is distributed over the northern quarters of Africa, by the mer- chants of Tunis, Tripoly, Fezzan, and Morocco ; all, of whom resort to and C. Bojador, have had their rigging filled with fine sand, when the wind blew strong ofiF shore. The accumulation of the Bissago shoals may have been partly owing to this cause also. . They occupy the position where a great eddy of the general southerly current takes place, between C. Verd and Sherbro'. • This quality of the African Desert was familiarly known to Herodotus (Melpom. c. 181, et seq.) He knew also that there was salt in abundance in the northern parts. But as it would appear that the inhabitants in that quarter can furnish themselves with salt of a better quality from the sea, the mines are not wrought. APPENDIX. 451 Tombuctoo. Most of it, no doubt, afterwards Guds its way into Europe. It may be remarked, also, tliat the Gold coast of Guinea (so called, doubtless, from its being- the place of tralRc for gold dust), is situated nearly opposite to Manding : but whether the gold brought thither, has been washed out of the mountains, by the northern or southern streams, I know not: it may be by both; for a part of the gold of Wangara is brought fo'. sale to the southern coast.* Degombah, another country, said to be very productive in gold,*?" must, by its situation, lie directly opposite to the Gold CoasI : for it lies immediately to the east of Kong (the Gonjid) of Mr. Beanfoy, and theConcheof D'Anville).X The peo- ple of Fezzan trade to Kong. The triangular hilly tract above commemorated, (p. 381) which * Some writers have said, tliat there are gold mines in the neighbourhood of Mina, on the Gold Coast ; others, that the gold is rolled dow n by the rivers to that neighbourhood. Both may l)i; true. It is difficult to conceive any oiher adequate cause, than the exchange of the gold of the inland countries, for the intioduction of so vast a quantity of kowry shells, which are carried from Kurope to the coast of (iuinea, and pass for small money in the countries along ihe Niger, fiom Bambarra to Kas^ina, both inclusive. I am informed from authority, that about 100 tuns of kowries are annually shipped from England alone, to Guinea. These are originally imported from the Maldive islands into Bengal ; and from Bengal into England. In Bengal, 2 »00, more or less, are equal to a shilling : and yet notwithstanding the incredible smallness of tljip denomination, some article in the market may be j)urchased for a single kowry. liut in the inland i)arts of Africa, they arc about ten times as dear ; varying from 220 to 2S0. Mr. Beaufoy was told that in Kassina, they were at the rate of about 250 : and Mr Park reports, tliat they are about the same price at Sego : but cheaper at Tombuctoo, which is about the centre of the kowry country- ; dearer towards ISIanding, which is the western extremity of it. Hence they are probably carried in the first instance to Tombuctoo, the gohl market : and thence distributed to the east and west. Their circulation seems to be confined between Bornou and Manding. In Bornou they have a coinage of base metal. t African Assoc. Q. p. 176 : O. p. 264. X Mr. Park says that Kong signifies mountain, in tiie Mandinga language ; which lan- ''uage is in vise from the frontier of Bambara, to the western sea. 462 APPENDIX, projects northward from the highest part of the belt, and contains Man- ding, Bambouk, &c. is also abundant in gold ; particularly in the quar- ter towards Bambouk, where it is found in mines ; and that chiefly in the middle level.* (See also, p. 382.) Wangara appears to have been, in its time, nearly as rich as Manding in this metal. The Arabs name it Belad al Tebr, or the country of gold. "^ Edrisi, Ibn Al Wardi, and Leo, bear testimony to its riches. They say that the gold is found in the sands, after the periodical inundation of the Niger (which is general over the country) is abated. X Leo, alone, § says, that the gold is found in the southern quarter of the kingdom ; which appears \ery probable, as the moun- tains lie on that side ; so that it may be concluded, that the gold sand has not been brought there by the Niger, but by smaller rivers that descend immediately from those mountains. That a part of Wangara is bounded by mountains, we learn from Edrisi : for the lake on which Reghebil stands, has mountains hanging over its southern shore. || It is supposed that most of the countries bordering on these moun- tains, share in the riches contained within them, by means of the rivulets. H But considering how amazingly productive in gold, the streams of this region are, it is wonderful that Pliny should not men- tion the Niger amongst the rivers that roll down golden sands : for although he speaks of the Tagus and others, in different quarters, no African river is mentioned.** And yet Herodotus knew that the Carthaginians bartered their goods for gold, with the Africans on the sea coast, beyond the Pillars of Hercules : which was contrived without the parties seeing each other.'hf * Labat, Vol. iv. ch. 2. t Bakui, and Herbelot ; article Vankara. X See Edrisi in particular, pages 11 and 12. § Page 254. || Edrisi, page 12. 1 Mr. Bruce, Vol. iii. p. 647, says the same of the mountains of Dyre and Tegla, which are a continuation of the great belt towards Abyssinia. ** Pliny, lib. xxxiii. c. 4. ft Melpomene, c. 196. Dr. Shaw (p. 302) speaks of the same mode of traffic, at present, between the Moors APPENDIX. 453 The common boundary of the Moors and Negroes, in Africa, forms a striking- feature, as well in tlie moral, as the political and physical, geography of this continent. The Moors, descendants of Arabs, inter- mixed with tiie various colonists of Africa, from the earliest to the latest times, overspread the habitable parts of the Desert, and the oases u itiiin it : and have pushed their conquests and establishments southward ; pressing on the Negro aborigines, who have in several instances retired to the southward of the great rivers ; but in others, preserve their footing on the side towards the Desert ; according to the strength, or openness of the situation. It is probable^ however," that the Negroes, who are an agricultural people, never possessed any considerable portion of the Desert, which is so much better suited to the pastoral life of the Moors. It appears as if matters had not under- gone much change in this respect, since the days of Herodotus ; who fixes the boundary of the Libyans and Ethiopians, in other words, of the Moors and Nkgkoes, near the borders" of the Niger; and he apparently pointed to the quarter in which Kassina or Ghana are now situated.* The Negroes in the western quarter of the continent, are of two distinct races, of which the least numerous are named Foulahs, or Fooi.AUs. These, although they partake much of the Negro form and complexion, have neillier ihan jetty colour, thick lips, or crisped hair. They have also a language distinct from the Mandinga, which is the prevailing one, in this quarter. The original country of the Foulahs is said to be a tract of no great extent along the eastern branch of the Senegal river; situated between Mandiiig and Kasson ; Bambouk and Kaarta : and vvhich bears the name ot Foola-doo, or the country of the Foulahs. But whether this and Negioes : whence the place of traffic ought to be very far removed from the Medi- terranean. Thiie is a similar story related by Cadamosta of the exchange of salt for gold, in Melli ; and by Dr. Wadstroin on the windward coast of Guinea. * See Euterpe, c. 32. ; and Melpomene, c. 197. 454 APPENDIX. be really the case, or whether they might not have come from the country within Serra Leona (called also the Fouhih country), may be a question ; of vi^hich more in the sequel. The Foulahs occupy, at least as sovereigns^ several provinces or kingdoms, interspersed throughout the tract, comprehended between the mountainous border of the country of Serra Leona, on the west, and thatof Tombuctoo, on the east ; as also, a large tract on the lower part of the Senegal river: and these provinces are insulated from each other in a very remarkable manner. Their religion is Mahomedanism, but with a great mixture of Paganism : and with less intolerance than is practised by the Moors. The principal of the Foulah States, is that within Serra Leona; and of which Teembo is the capital. The next, in order, appears to be that bordering on the south of the Senegal river, and on the Jaloffs : and which is properly named Siratik. Others of less note, are Bondou, with Foota-Torra, adjacent to it, lying between the rivers G -.mbia and Faleme ; Foola-doo, and Brooko, along the upper pait of the Senegal river ; Wassela, beyond the upper part of the Niger ; and Massina, lower down on the same river, and joining to Tombuctoo on the west. The Moors have in very few instances, established themselves on the south of the great rivers. They have advAnccd J'arthest in the south in the western quarter of Africa ; so that the common boundary of the two races, passes, in respect of the parallels on the globe, with a considerable degree of obliquity, to the north, in its way f om the river Senegal towards Nubia, and the Nile.* Mr. Park arranges the Moorish States which form Xhejrotitier towards Nigritia, together with the Negro states opposed to them, on the south, in the line of his pro- gress, in the following order : The small Moorish state of Gedumah, situated on the north bank * The common boundary of the Moors and Negroes, in the map of Mr, Park's route, is described by a blue line. APPENDIX. 455 of the Senegal river, and tlic last that touches on it,* is opposed to the small Negro kingdom of Kajaaga, on the south. This latter occupies the extremity of the navigable course of the Senegal, terminated in this place, by the cataract of F'low From this point, the Negro and Foulah states occupy both banks of the Senegal river, to its source : and beyond that, hotli banks of the Niger (or Joliba) likewise, to the lake Dibbie, situated beyond the term of Mr. Park's expedition. This space is divided, unequally, between Kasson, a hilly strong country, but of small extent ; and which has the Moors of Jaffnoo on the north : Kaarta, a considerable state, which has Ludaraar for its opposite (a country held by Ali, a Moorish prince, who is loaded with infamy on the score of maltreat- ment of the only two Europeans, who appear to have entered his country, in latter times): Bambara, of still more consideration, which has on the north, the Moorish kingdom of Beeroo, and Massina, a Foulah state. Here Mr. Park's personal knowledge ends ; but he learnt thatTom- buctoo and Houssa, which succeed in order, to Ma.ssina, and occupy both sides of the Niger, are Moorish states, though with the greatest proportion of Negro subjects : so that the river may be considered as the boundary of the two races in this quarter.t Of the co'inlries between Houssa and Kassina we are ignorant. The Desert seems to approach very near the river (Niger) in that (juarter, whence a Moorish population may be inferred. South of the river, we hear of Kaffaba, Gago, and other Negro countries ; but without any distinct notices of position ; and beyond these, Meili. Kassina and Bornou, two great empires on the north of the river, * The Moors appear to be masters of the northern bank of the Senegal through the greatest part of its navigable course : the Foulahs of the southern bank. t The Emperor of Morocco is said to have held, at one period, the sovereignty of some of the countries on the northern banks of the Senegal and Niger rivers. Labat, Vol. iii. p. 339, speaks of incursions made by his troops, VOL. I. 3 N 456 APPENDIX. appear to divide the largest portion of the remaining space, to the borders of Nubia ; and extend a great way to the north ; this region being composed of Desert and habitable country, intermixed ; but perhaps, containing the largest proportion of the latter. In both these empires, the sovereigns are Mahomedans, but the bulk of their sub- jects are said to adhere to their ancient worship ; that is to say, the lower orders are, almost universally, Negroes.* From what has appeared, perhaps the boundary of Nigritia, as it respects the Negro population, may be expressed generally, and with a few exceptions, as follows : beginning from the west, the extent upwards of the navigable course of the Senegal river, generally — thence, aline drawn to Silla; from Silla to Tombuctoo, Hous§a, and Berissa, along the river Niger; and thence through Asouda, Kanem, and Kuku, to Dongola, on the Nile. Leo,*!" enumerates j2 states, or kingdoms of Nigritia: but amongst these, he includes Gualata, a tract only 300 miles S of the river Nun : as also, Cano (Ganat), adjacent to Fezzan ; and Nubia. Kassina, Bornou, and Tombuctoo, are included, of course. J The kingdom of theFoulahs before mentioned, situated between the upper part of the Gambia river, and the coast of Serra Leona, and alonff the Rio Grande, has also a Maliomedan sovereign, but the bulk of the people appear to be of the ancient religion. It has been already said, that although they are a black people, they are less black than the Negroes, generally, and have neither crisped hair, nor thick lips : as also that they have a language distinct from the Mandinga. From these circumstances, added to that of situation, they appear clearly to * Af. Assoc. Q. p. 126 : O. p. 191. t Page 4. t The Arabs and Moors, call Nigritia by the general name of Soudan. By BelaA Soudan, or the country of Soudan, Abulfeda includes all the known part of Africa, south of the Great Desert, and Egypt. With him, Soudan is the southern quarter of the globe. D'Herbelot also allows it a wide range. Afnoo is another term for Nigritia, in use amongst the natives themselves. (See also Proceedings Af. Assoc. Q, p. 164: O. p. 246.) APPENDIX. 457 be the Leiiccethiopes of Ptolemy and Pliny. The former places them in the situation occupied by the Foulahs ; that is, in the parallel of 9 degrees north ; having to the north, the mountains of Ryssadius, which separate the courses of the Slachir and Nia rivers (Gambia and Rio Grande), and which therefore answer to the continuation of the great belt of high land, in our geography; in which there is, more- over, another point of agreement, the Caphas of Ptolemy, being the Caffaba of the map.* Ptolemy, by the name, evidently meant to describe a people less black than the generality of the Ethiopians ; and hence it may be gathered, that this nation had been traded with, and that some notices respecting itj had been communicated to him. It may also be re- marked, that the navigation of Hanno, terminated on this coast ; probably at Sherbro' river, or sound. And as this was also the term of the knowledge of Ptolemy, it may be justly suspected that this part of the coast was described from Carthaginian materials. "l" Those who have perused the Journal of Messrs. Watt and Winter- bottom, ihr ugh the Foulah country, in 1794, and recollect how flattering a picture they give of the urbanity and hospitality of the Foulahs, will be gratified on finding that this nation was known and distinguished from the rest of the Ethiopians, at a remote period of antiquity X The contrast between the Moorish and Negro characters, is as great, as that between the nature of their respective countries ; or between their form and complexion. The Moors appear to possess the vices of the Arabs, without their virtues ; and to avail themselves of an intolerant religion, to oppress strangers: whilst the Negroes, and * The Soluentii of Ptolemy may also be meant for the Sotimani of Mr. Park. + And it may also have been the scene of the traffic mentioned in page 453 ; as Dr. Wadsf lom speaks of such a custom in this quarter, at the present day. I Pliny (lib. v. c. 8 ) also speaks of the Leuccethiopes, but seems to place them on this side of Nigritia. May it not be, that certain tribes of Foulalis were then established, as at present, along the Senegal river ! 458 APPENDIX. especially the Mandingas, unable to comprehend a doctrine, that sub- stitutes opinion or belief, for the social duties, are content to remain in their humble state of ignorance. The hospitality shewn by these good people to Mr. Park, a destitute and forlorn stranger, raises them very high ill the scale of humanity : and I know of no fitter title to confer on them, than that of the Hindoos of Africa : at the same time, by no means intending to degrade the Mahomedans of India, by a com- parison with the African Moors. THE END. London : Printed by W. Balme and Co. Cleveland-row, St. James's. -f^ r University of California SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 305 De Neve Drive - Parking Lot 17 . Box 951388 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90095-1388 Return this material to the library from which it was bormwpri JAN 14 THE i.IBKAKl D 000 285 057 6