July 21. - I continued in the village all this day in conversation
with the natives, who came in crowds to see me, but was rather
uneasy towards evening to find that no message had arrived from the
king, the more so as the people began to whisper that Mansong had
received some very unfavourable accounts of me from the Moors and
slatees residing at Sego, who, it seems, were exceedingly suspicious
concerning the motives of my journey. I learned that many
consultations had been held with the king concerning my reception
and disposal; and some of the villagers frankly told me that I had
many enemies, and must expect no favour.
July 22. - About eleven o'clock a messenger arrived from the king,
but he gave me very little satisfaction. He inquired particularly
if I had brought any present, and seemed much disappointed when he
was told that I had been robbed of everything by the Moors. When I
proposed to go along with him, he told me to stop until the
afternoon, when the king would send for me.
July 23. - In the afternoon another messenger arrived from Mansong,
with a bag in his hands. He told me it was the king's pleasure that
I should depart forthwith from the vicinage of Sego; but that
Mansong, wishing to relieve a white man in distress, had sent me
five thousand kowries, to enable me to purchase provisions in the
course of my journey:
