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
There being no moon, it was remarkably dark, so that I was obliged to
lead my horse, and direct my way by the compass, which the lightning
enabled me to observe. In this manner I travelled with tolerable
expedition until past midnight, when the lightning becoming more distant,
I was under the necessity of groping along, to the no small danger of my
hands and eyes. About two o’clock my horse started at something, and
looking round, I was not a little surprised to see a light at a short
distance among the trees; and supposing it to be a town, I groped along
the sand in hopes of finding corn-stalks, cotton, or other appearances of
cultivation, but found none. As I approached I perceived a number of
other lights in different places, and began to suspect that I had fallen
upon a party of Moors. However, in my present situation, I was resolved
to see who they were, if I could do it with safety. I accordingly led my
horse cautiously towards the light, and heard by the lowing of the cattle
and the clamorous tongues of the herdsmen, that it was a watering-place,
and most likely belonged to the Moors. Delightful as the sound of the
human voice was to me, I resolved once more to strike into the woods, and
rather run the risk of perishing of hunger than trust myself again in
their hands; but being still thirsty, and dreading the approach of the
burning day, I thought it prudent to search for the wells, which I
expected to find at no great distance.
In this purpose I inadvertently approached so near to one of the tents as
to be perceived by a woman, who immediately screamed out. Two people
came running to her assistance from some of the neighbouring tents, and
passed so very near to me that I thought I was discovered, and hastened
again into the woods.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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