I Was Furnished With A Horse For Myself
(A Small But Very Hardy And Spirited Beast, Which Cost Me To The
Value Of 7 Pounds 10s), 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
purchase 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 free man (a bashreen, or Mohammedan) named Madiboo, who was
travelling to the kingdom of Bambara, 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
Mohammedan), 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 first two days; and
I believe they secretly thought they should never see me afterwards.
We reached Jindey the same day, having crossed the Walli creek, a
branch of the Gambia, and rested at the house of a black woman, who
had formerly been the paramour 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 Momadoo, 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 presented 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.
About one o'clock in the afternoon of the 3rd of December, I took my
leave of Dr. Laidley and Messrs. Ainsley, and rode slowly into the
woods. I had now before me a boundless forest, and a country, the
inhabitants of which were strangers to civilised life, and to most
of whom a white man was the object of curiosity or plunder.
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