Travels in the Interior of Africa — Volume 02Park, Mungo
History
Travels in the Interior of Africa — Volume 02
Park, Mungo
Africa -- Discovery and exploration; Niger River
About sunset we reached Sibity, but the dooty received me very coolly;
and when I solicited for a guide to Sansanding he told me his people were
otherwise employed. I was shown into a damp old hut, where I passed a
very uncomfortable night; for when the walls of the huts are softened by
the rain they frequently become too weak to support the weight of the
roof. I heard three huts fall during the night, and was apprehensive
that the hut I lodged in would be the fourth. In the morning, as I went
to pull some grass for my horse, I counted fourteen huts which had fallen
in this manner since the commencement of the rainy season.
It continued to rain with great violence all the 10th; and as the dooty
refused to give me any provisions, I purchased some corn, which I divided
with my horse.
_August_ 11.—The dooty compelled me to depart from the town, and I set
out for Sansanding without any great hopes of faring better than I had
done at Sibity; for I learned, from people who came to visit me, that a
report prevailed, and was universally believed, that I had come to
Bambarra as a spy; and as Mansong had not admitted me into his presence,
the dooties of the different towns were at liberty to treat me in what
manner they pleased. From repeatedly hearing the same story I had no
doubt of the truth of it; but as there was no alternative I determined to
proceed, and a little before sunset I arrived at Sansanding. My
reception was what I expected. Counti Mamadi, who had been so kind to me
formerly, scarcely gave me welcome. Every one wished to shun me; and my
landlord sent a person to inform me that a very unfavourable report was
received from Sego concerning me, and that he wished me to depart early
in the morning. About ten o’clock at night Counti Mamadi himself came
privately to me, and informed me that Mansong had despatched a canoe to
Jenné to bring me back; and he was afraid I should find great difficulty
in going to the west country. He advised me therefore to depart from
Sansanding before daybreak, and cautioned me against stopping at Diggani,
or any town near Sego.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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