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
Whilst my horse was feeding the people began to assemble, and one of them
whispered something to my hostess which very much excited her surprise.
Though I was not well acquainted with the Foulah language, I soon
discovered that some of the men wished to apprehend and carry me back to
Ali, in hopes, I suppose, of receiving a reward. I therefore tied up the
corn; and lest any one should suspect I had run away from the Moors, I
took a northerly direction, and went cheerfully along, driving my horse
before me, followed by all the boys and girls of the town. When I had
travelled about two miles, and got quit of all my troublesome attendants,
I struck again into the woods, and took shelter under a large tree, where
I found it necessary to rest myself, a bundle of twigs serving me for a
bed, and my saddle for a pillow.
_July_ 4.—At daybreak I pursued my course through the woods as formerly;
saw numbers of antelopes, wild hogs, and ostriches, but the soil was more
hilly, and not so fertile as I had found it the preceding day. About
eleven o’clock I ascended an eminence, where I climbed a tree, and
discovered, at about eight miles’ distance, an open part of the country,
with several red spots, which I concluded were cultivated land, and,
directing my course that way, came to the precincts of a watering-place
about one o’clock. From the appearance of the place, I judged it to
belong to the Foulahs, and was hopeful that I should meet a better
reception than I had experienced at Shrilla. 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 _Nazarani_, 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
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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