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
_Nazaram_, 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, so frightened were they at the very name of a
Christian, that no entreaties 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 coming 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
unpleasant; 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
joyful 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 fifth) to a Negro town called Wawra, which
properly belongs to Kaarta, but was at this time tributary to Mansong,
King of Bambarra.
CHAPTER XV.
_The Author proceeds to Wassiboo. - Is joined by some fugitive Kaartans,
who accompany 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._
Wawra is a small town surrounded with high walls, and inhabited by a
mixture of Mandingoes and Foulahs. 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 much 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 numbers to learn who I was, and
whence I came. Some were of opinion that I was an Arab; others 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 was going to
Sego, came and begged me to inquire of Mansong, 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 daylight 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.
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