I
Reflected That I Had Parted From The Last European I Might Probably
Behold, And Perhaps Quitted For Ever The Comforts Of Christian
Society.
Thoughts like these would necessarily cast a gloom over my
mind; and I rode musing along for about three
Miles, when I was
awakened from my reverie by a body of people, who came running up,
and stopped the asses, giving me to understand that I must go with
them to Peckaba, to present myself to the king of Walli, or pay
customs to them. I endeavoured to make them comprehend that the
object of my journey not being traffic, I ought not to be subjected
to a tax like the slatees, and other merchants, who travel for gain;
but I reasoned to no purpose. They said it was usual for travellers
of all descriptions to make a present to the king of Walli, and
without doing so I could not be permitted to proceed. As they were
more numerous than my attendants, and withal very noisy, I thought
it prudent to comply with their demand; and having presented them
with four bars of tobacco, for the king's use, I was permitted to
continue my journey, and at sunset reached a village near
Kootacunda, where we rested for the night.
In the morning of December 4th I passed Kootacunda, the last town of
Walli, and stopped about an hour at a small adjoining village to pay
customs to an officer of the king of Woolli; we rested the ensuing
night at a village called Tabajang; and at noon the next day
(December 5th) we reached Medina, the capital of the king of
Woolli's dominions.
The kingdom of Woolli is bounded by Walli on the west, by the Gambia
on the south, by the small river Walli on the north-west, by Bondou
on the north-east, and on the east by the Simbani wilderness.
The inhabitants are Mandingoes, and, like most of the Mandingo
nations, are divided into two great sects - the Mohammedans, who are
called bushreens, and the pagans, who are called indiscriminately
kafirs (unbelievers) and sonakies (i.e., men who drink strong
liquors). The pagan natives are by far the most numerous, and the
government of the country is in their hands; for though the most
respectable among the bushreens are frequently consulted in affairs
of importance, yet they are never permitted to take any share in the
executive government, which rests solely in the hands of the mansa,
or sovereign, and great officers of the state. Of these, the first
in point of rank is the presumptive heir of the crown, who is called
the farbanna. Next to him are the alkaids, or provincial governors,
who are more frequently called keamos. Then follow the two grand
divisions of free-men and slaves; of the former, the slatees, so
frequently mentioned in the preceding pages, are considered as the
principal; but, in all classes, great respect is paid to the
authority of aged men.
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