The negroes, thus deserted by
the Moors, and fully apprised that the king of Kaarta would show
them as little clemency as he had shown the inhabitants of Kasson,
resolved to collect all their forces, and hazard a battle before the
king, who was now in great distress for want of provisions, should
become too powerful for them. They therefore assembled about eight
hundred effective men in the whole, and with these they entered
Kaarta on the evening of the 18th of June.
June 19. - This morning the wind shifted to the south-west; and about
two o'clock in the afternoon we had a heavy tornado, or thunder-
squall, accompanied with rain, which greatly revived the face of
nature, and gave a pleasant coolness to the air. This was the first
rain that had fallen for many months.
As every attempt to redeem my boy had hitherto been unsuccessful,
and in all probability would continue to prove so whilst I remained
in the country, I found that it was necessary for me to come to some
determination concerning my own safety before the rains should be
fully set in; for my landlord, seeing no likelihood of being paid
for his trouble, began to wish me away - and Johnson, my interpreter,
refusing to proceed, my situation became very perplexing.
