Travels in the Interior of Africa — Volume 01Park, Mungo
History
Travels in the Interior of Africa — Volume 01
Park, Mungo
Africa -- Discovery and exploration; Niger River
As there appeared great probability that Teesee, from its being a
frontier town, would be much exposed during the war to the predatory
incursions of the Moors of Gedumah, Tiggity Sego had, before my arrival,
sent round to the neighbouring villages to beg or to purchase as much
provisions as would afford subsistence to the inhabitants for one whole
year, independently of the crop on the ground, which the Moors might
destroy. This project was well received by the country people, and they
fixed a day on which to bring all the provisions they could spare to
Teesee; and as my horse was not yet returned, I went, in the afternoon of
January 4th, 1796, to meet the escort with the provisions.
It was composed of about 400 men, marching in good order, with corn and
ground nuts in large calabashes upon their heads. They were preceded by
a strong guard of bowmen, and followed by eight musicians or singing men.
As soon as they approached the town the latter began a song, every verse
of which was answered by the company, and succeeded by a few strokes on
the large drums. In this manner they proceeded, amidst the acclamations
of the populace, till they reached the house of Tiggity Sego, where the
loads were deposited; and in the evening they all assembled under the
bentang tree, and spent the night in dancing and merriment.
On the 5th of January an embassy of ten people belonging to Almami
Abdulkader, king of Foota-Torra, a country to the west of Bondou, arrived
at Teesee; and desiring Tiggity to call an assembly of the inhabitants,
announced publicly their king’s determination to this effect:—‘That
unless all the people of Kasson would embrace the Mohammedan religion,
and evince their conversion by saying eleven public prayers, he, the king
of Foota-Torra, could not possibly stand neuter in the present contest,
but would certainly join his arms to those of Kajaaga.’ A message of
this nature from so powerful a prince could not fail to create great
alarm; and the inhabitants of Teesee, after a long consultation, agreed
to conform to his good pleasure, humiliating as it was to them.
Accordingly, one and all publicly offered up eleven prayers, which were
considered a sufficient testimony of their having renounced paganism, and
embraced the doctrines of the prophet.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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