CHAPTER XV - NEGRO CURIOSITY; A MESSAGE FROM THE KING
Wawra is a small town surrounded with high walls, and inhabited by a
mixture of Mandingoes and Foulahs.
The inhabitants employ
themselves chiefly in cultivating corn, which they exchange with the
Moors for salt. Here, being in security from the Moors, and very
much fatigued, I resolved to rest myself; and meeting with a hearty
welcome from the dooty, whose name was Flancharee, I laid myself
down upon a bullock's hide, and slept soundly for about two hours.
The curiosity of the people would not allow me to sleep any longer.
They had seen my saddle and bridle, and were assembled in great
numbers to learn who I was and whence I came. Some were of opinion
that I was an Arab; others insisted that I was some Moorish Sultan,
and they continued to debate the matter with such warmth that the
noise awoke me. The dooty (who had formerly been at Gambia) at last
interposed in my behalf, and assured them that I was certainly a
white man; but he was convinced from my appearance that I was a poor
one.
July 6. - It rained very much in the night, and at daylight I
departed in company with a negro who was going to a town called
Dingyee for corn; but we had not proceeded above a mile before the
ass upon which he rode threw him off, and he returned, leaving me to
prosecute the journey by myself.
I reached Dingyee about noon, but the dooty and most of the
inhabitants had gone into the fields to cultivate corn.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 152 of 167
Words from 41726 to 41995
of 45803
