The Natives Sullenly Withdrew To A Greater Distance, And Commenced
Blowing Their Whistles, And Making A Peculiar Shrill Cry Which Is Used
By Them Generally In Derision And Contempt Of An Enemy.
The last words
we distinguished as they increased their distance, were a threat to
exterminate us during the night, if we dared to remain in their country.
It appeared hopeless to attempt a peaceful communication with the Baris.
This portion of the country to the south of Regiaf was immensely
populous, and the natives were more dreaded by the slave-traders than
any other. I now determined to examine some of the villages.
Having extended the men in line so as to cover about half a mile, I
ordered the advance towards the hill of Regiaf, with strict orders that
no soldier was to enter a hut; but they were simply to examine the
villages as they passed through, by tapping the numerous wicker googoos
or granaries with their hands, to prove whether they were full, These
neat little granaries contained generally about forty bushels, but they
varied in size: some would have held more than double that quantity.
The natives watched us in considerable numbers from all points. In this
manner we examined twenty or thirty villages, each of which contained at
least fifteen googoos, nearly all of which were quite full of corn. The
entire country was overflowing with dhurra and sesame. As far as the eye
could reach were innumerable villages, all of which we knew were stores
of abundance, by the samples we had already examined.
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