All These Men Travelled On Foot,
Driving Their Asses Before Them.
Thus I had no less than six attendants, all of whom had been taught
to regard me with great respect, and to consider that their safe
return hereafter to the countries on the Gambia would depend on my
preservation.
Dr. Laidley himself, and Messrs. Ainsley, with a number of their
domestics, kindly determined to accompany me the first two days; and
I believe they secretly thought they should never see me afterwards.
We reached Jindey the same day, having crossed the Walli creek, a
branch of the Gambia, and rested at the house of a black woman, who
had formerly been the paramour of a white trader named Hewett, and
who, in consequence thereof, was called, by way of distinction,
seniora. In the evening we walked out to see an adjoining village,
belonging to a slatee named Jemaffoo Momadoo, the richest of all the
Gambia traders. We found him at home, and he thought so highly of
the honour done him by this visit, that he presented us with a fine
bullock, which was immediately killed, and part of it dressed for
our evening's repast.
The negroes do not go to supper till late, and, in order to amuse
ourselves while our beef was preparing, a Mandingo was desired to
relate some diverting stories, in listening to which, and smoking
tobacco, we spent three hours. These stories bear some resemblance
to those in the Arabian Nights' Entertainments, but, in general, are
of a more ludicrous cast.
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