Travels into the Interior of Africa by Mungo Park, Anthony Sattin Read Free Book Online Page B

which, I was assured, we might reach early in the evening.
    We departed accordingly, but it was eight o’clock at night before we came to the watering-place; and being now sufficiently fatigued with so long a day’s journey, we kindled a large fire, and lay down, surrounded by our cattle on the bare ground, more than a gunshot from any bush – the Negroes agreeing to keep watch by turns to prevent surprise.
    I know not indeed that any danger was justly to be dreaded, but the Negroes were unaccountably apprehensive of banditti during the whole of the journey. As soon therefore as daylight appeared, we filled our soofroos (skins) and calabashes at the pool, and set out for Tallika, the first town in Bondou, which we reached about eleven o’clock in the forenoon (the 13th of December). I cannot, however, take leave of Woolli, without observing that I was everywhere well received by the natives; and that the fatigues of the day were generally alleviated by a hearty welcome at night; and although the African mode of living was at first unpleasant to me, yet I found at length that custom surmounted trifling inconveniences, and made everything palatable and easy. 
    * The term which signifies a man of free condition, is Horia; that of a slave, Jong .
    * Medina, in the Arabic, signifies a city. The name is not uncommon among the Negroes, and has probably been borrowed from the Mahomedans.
    † It may seem from hence that the king was a Mahomedan; but I was assured to the contrary. He joined in prayer on this occasion probably from the mere dictates of his benevolent mind; considering perhaps that prayers to the Almighty, offered up with true devotion and sincerity, were equally acceptable whether from Bushreen or Pagan.
    * I believe that similar charms or amulets, under the names of domini, grigri, fetich, etc, etc, are common in all parts of Africa.

Chapter 4
     
     
    Some account of the inhabitants of Tallika – The Author proceeds for Fatteconda – Incidents on the road – Crosses the Neriko – Arrives at Koorkarany – Reaches the river Falemé – Fishery on that river – Proceeds along its bank to Naye or Nayemow – Crosses the Falemé, and arrives at Fatteconda – Has an interview with Almami, the sovereign of Bondou – Description of the king’s dwelling – Has a second interview with the king, who begs the Author’s coat – Author visits the king’s wives – Is permitted to depart on friendly terms – Journey by night – Arrives at Joag – Some account of Bondou and its inhabitants, the Foulahs.
     
    T ALLIKA, THE FRONTIER TOWN of Bondou towards Woolli, is inhabited chiefly by Foulahs of the Mohammedan religion, who live in considerable affluence, partly by furnishing provisions to the coffles , or caravans, that pass through the town, and partly by the sale of ivory, obtained by hunting elephants; in which employment the young men are generally very successful. Here, an officer belonging to the king of Bondou constantly resides, whose business it is to give timely information of the arrival of the caravans, which are taxed according to the number of loaded asses that arrive at Tallika.
    I took up my residence at this officer’s house, and agreed with him to accompany me to Fatteconda, the residence of the king, for which he was to receive five bars; and before my departure I wrote a few lines to Dr Laidley, and gave my letter to the master of a caravan bound for the Gambia. This caravan consisted of nine or ten people with five asses loaded with ivory. The large teeth are conveyed in nets, two on each side of the ass; the small ones are wrapped up in skins, and secured with ropes.
     
    December 14th – We left Tallika, and rode on very peaceably for about two miles, when a violent quarrel arose between two of my fellow-travellers, one of whom was the blacksmith, in the course of which they bestowed some opprobrious terms upon each other; and it is worthy of remark, that an African will sooner forgive