“About two miles beyond the river Malageea, which I crossed near its source, I fell in with an outlying picket of the Soolimas, consisting of about fifty men, with sentries regularly posted, to whom I was obliged to explain my purpose before the chief of the guard would permit me to pass: another mile west brought me to a stronger guard of about one hundred and fifty men; and a mile and a-half farther to a large savannah or plain where the whole army was encamped. It was now nearly nine o’clock, and being very faint and feverish, I was glad to take refuge from the rays of the morning sun, which, in this part of Africa is the most oppressive time of the day, under a few bundles of dried grass thrown loosely upon three sticks fixed apart in the ground at equal distances, the tops being drawn together and fastened after the manner of military triangles. These temporary dwellings, when well constructed, form no bad imitation of, or substitute for, bell-tents, possessing this advantage, that they can be erected with little trouble, and no expense, in a short time, whenever an army takes up a position. From this covering I had a view of the whole encampment, which exhibited the appearance and bustle of a well attended fair, rather than the regularity and discipline of military quarters. Tents constructed as above described, were to be seen covering the savannah as far as the trees, windings, and other obstacles, would permit the eye to reach; and the distinguishing flags of the various and numerous tribes were everywhere to be observed waving over the habitations of their respective chiefs. Music, a horrid din of a variety of barbarous instruments broke on the ear from every direction; while parties of men, grotesquely habited in war dresses, were here and there descried, brandishing their cutlasses, and capering with the most extravagant gestures, to the time of the various sounds produced. The novelty of the scene attracted my attention for a while,—but fatigue, arising from the ague of the preceding night, at length overcame my curiosity. About noon I was awoke by one of my followers, who acquainted me that Amara was ready to hold a palaver with me, and desired my immediate attendance. In my way to his tent I visited Satin Lai, a designing Mandingo chief, possessing much power; he had been mainly instrumental in putting Amara on the throne, and was at this time the only staunch adherent to the king, who, by following too implicitly his advice, had lowered himself considerably in the opinion of his head men, who form the principal strength of an African king. I found Satin Lai, a good-looking man, apparently between sixty and seventy years of age, about five feet ten inches in height, affable in his deportment, with a mild and amiable countenance which is said to be rather at variance with his actions. He was performing the office of a commissary, surrounded by several hundred baskets of white rice, which he was