- 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
precincts of a watering-place about one o'clock. From the
appearance 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 greyhound, and was instantly followed by her
children.
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