Travels in Western Africa, in the years 1818, 19, 20, and 21, from the river Gambia, through Woolli, Bondoo, Galam, Kasson, Kaarta, and Foolidoo, to the river NigerGray, William, Major
History
Travels in Western Africa, in the years 1818, 19, 20, and 21, from the river Gambia, through Woolli, Bondoo, Galam, Kasson, Kaarta, and Foolidoo, to the river Niger
Gray, William, Major
Sudan (Region) -- Description and travel
While we were talking to Modiba on the best means of satisfying
Mansa, and at the same time those about him, the former made his
appearance, coming from the town, attended by about fifty people
singing and beating drums. He seated himself under a tree, at a short
distance from our camp, and sent Modiba, who had gone to meet him,
to let us know he came to pay his respects. When we went to him, he
beckoned me to sit beside him, which I did in apparent good humour;
after the usual salutations, he begged a piece of muslin to make a
dress. This was complied with, when he said, he had brought a bullock
for supper, but added that we did not shew ourselves inclined to
think well of him, in giving him so poor a present. This, with a
great deal more noisy irrelevant matter from himself and attendants,
took up nearly half an hour, much to our annoyance. He ended, however,
by telling us that he had left the settling of the affair to Modiba,
and returned to the town.
In order that more time should not be lost here, we made an addition
to the former present of forty-five bars, coral and dollars, and
gave it to Modiba to present, as all we would or could give him. He
was then drunk, and not to be seen.
In a short hour after this, Mansafarra, the king’s eldest son, came
galloping from the town into our camp, attended by five or six people,
armed with guns and spears, and, apparently in a great rage, said
that he was offended at our not paying him our respects in person,
and, although we might think little of him, he was, nevertheless,
of as much consequence in the country as his father. We endeavoured
to pacify him by appearing in good humour, and was going to give him
our hands, when he rode off, in as great a hurry as he came, having
first made one of his men throw down a pile of our arms, which was
standing near them. He was not contented with this indifference on
our part, and shortly returned on foot, attended as before. The first
person he met was Private Robinson, lying on the ground. To him he
gave two or three kicks, and would have fired his musket at him, had
he not been prevented by some of his own people. On this occasion,
we, with much difficulty, kept our temper, but as the fellow was
beastly drunk, and we were aware of the serious consequences that
might arise from any violence offered to one of the royal family,
we overlooked the insult, and merely directed the men to stand to
their arms, and take no notice of him. He did not like the appearance
things bore at that moment, and went off as before.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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