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
We left Goodeerie at half after five in the evening of the 18th June,
and halted for the night at the village where Almamy had been. We
were under the disagreeable necessity (now, for the first time,)
of leaving one of the party behind (Private Pickard), who was
reduced to such a state of debility and emaciation from dysentery,
that he was not only unable to ride, but reported, by Mr. Dochard,
as unlikely to recover. Two men were left with him, and directed,
in case of his getting better in a few days, to bring him forward to
Boolibany, where we intended halting, to procure provisions; and in
case of his death to bury him, and follow us with as much expedition
as possible. A supply of the means of procuring subsistence was
given them, and I really felt much at abandoning to his fate one of
the most active and useful men we had.
Messrs. Nelson and Pilkington were also in a very bad state of health,
and many of the European soldiers, although not decidedly unwell,
were occasionally complaining of headaches and pains in their limbs,
indicating the approach of fever and dysentery.
Much rain had already fallen, and vegetation was going on most
rapidly in consequence of the intense heat of the sun and humidity
of the soil. To the north of Goodeerie, was a range of high hills,
covered with wood, and running from NE. to SW. About half way between
where we left and it, we crossed the partly dry bed of a torrent,
which, at this time, comes from some hills lying south of east from
our path, and running, with many windings, to the west of north,
to empty itself into the Senegal.
We left Goodeerie (there are many towns of the same name in that
district, named after a people who came from a town in Galam formerly
so called,) at seven o’clock on the morning of the 19th; and after
a march of five hours and a half to the north of east, over a well
cultivated and thickly inhabited country, we arrived at a large
town, or rather a large collection of small villages, called Baigh
Baigh, beautifully situated on eminences rising gently on either
side of a narrow valley, in which ran a considerable torrent of
water, collected by the neighbouring hills, and contributing to
the periodical overflowing of the Senegal. The corn grounds were
beginning to look green, and the entire face of the country, which
had for some months presented a most arid and fatiguing prospect,
was now progressively assuming all the varied gaiety of spring. The
natives, too, were busily employed in cultivation, which, in Africa,
is indiscriminately carried on by men and women.
Many of our men did not come up before night. The march was a long
one, and the day excessively hot and calm, with every appearance of
rain, of which we had a smart fall during the night.
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