Great African Travellers: From Mungo Park to Livingstone and StanleyKingston, William Henry Giles
History
Great African Travellers: From Mungo Park to Livingstone and Stanley
Kingston, William Henry Giles
Africa -- Description and travel; Africa -- Discovery and exploration; Explorers
Travelling along the banks of the river, the footprints of a lion quite
fresh in the mud were seen. His companion, therefore, proceeded with
great circumspection, insisting that Park should walk before him. This
he declined doing, when his guide threw down the saddle and left him
alone. He therefore continued his course along the bank, and believing
that the lion was at no great distance, he became much alarmed, and took
a long circuit through the bushes.
He at last arrived at Modiboo. While conversing with the _dooty_ of the
place he heard a horse neigh in one of the huts. The _dooty_ inquired
with a smile if he knew who was speaking to him. He explained himself
by telling Park that his horse was still alive and somewhat recovered
from his fatigue, and that he must take the animal with him.
Though tolerably well treated at the villages where he stopped, he in
vain endeavoured to obtain a guide. The rains were now falling, and the
country, it was supposed, would soon be completely flooded. He heard
that a report had been abroad that he had come to Bambarra as a spy and
that, as Mansong had not admitted him into his presence, the _dooties_
of the different towns might treat him as they pleased.
A little before sunset of the 11th of August he reached Sansanding.
Here even Mamadi, who had formerly been so kind to him, scarcely gave
him a welcome, and everyone seemed to shun him. Mamadi, however, came
privately to him in the evening, and told him that Mansong had
despatched a canoe to bring him back, and advised him to set off from
Sansanding before daybreak, cautioning him not to stop at any town near
Sego. He therefore resumed his journey on the 12th, and in the
afternoon reached the neighbourhood of Kabba.
As he approached, one of several people who were standing at the gate
ran towards him and, taking his horse by the bridle, led him round the
walls of the town and, pointing to the west, told him to go along or it
would be the worse for him. He in vain represented the danger of being
benighted in the woods, exposed to the inclemency of the weather and the
fury of wild beasts. "Go along," was the only answer he received. He
found that these negroes had acted thus from kindness, as the king's
messengers who had come to seize him were inside the town.
Being repulsed from another village, he went on till he reached a small
one somewhat out of the road, and sat down under a tree by a well. Two
or three women came to draw water and, perceiving the stranger, enquired
where he was going. On Park telling them to Sego, one of them went in
to acquaint the _dooty_. In a little time the _dooty_ sent for him, and
permitted him to sleep in a large hut.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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