He was the same
venerable old man of whom so favourable an account was transmitted
by Major Houghton.
I found him seated upon a mat before the door of
his hut; a number of men and women were arranged on each side, who
were singing and clapping their hands. I saluted him respectfully,
and informed him of the purport of my visit. The king graciously
replied, that he not only gave me leave to pass through his country,
but would offer up his prayers for my safety. On this, one of my
attendants, seemingly in return for the king's condescension, began
to sing, or rather to roar an Arabic song, at every pause of which
the king himself, and all the people present, struck their hands
against their foreheads, and exclaimed, with devout and affecting
solemnity, "Amen, amen!" The king told me, furthermore, that I
should have a guide the day following, who would conduct me safely
to the frontier of his kingdom - I then took my leave, and in the
evening sent the king an order upon Dr. Laidley for three gallons of
rum, and received in return great store of provisions.
December 6. - Early in the morning I went to the king a second time,
to learn if the guide was ready. I found his Majesty seated upon a
bullock's hide, warming himself before a large fire, for the
Africans are sensible of the smallest variation in the temperature
of the air, and frequently complain of cold when a European is
oppressed with heat.
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