As being the king's son, and for his attendants, as being
the king's relations. I prepared to submit; and if Salim Daucari
had not interposed all my endeavours to mitigate this oppressive
claim would have been of no avail. Salim at last prevailed upon
Sambo to accept sixteen bars of European merchandise, and some
powder and ball, as a complete payment of every demand that could be
made upon me in the kingdom of Kasson.
January 26. - In the forenoon I went to the top of a high hill to the
southward of Soolo, where I had a most enchanting prospect of the
country. The number of towns and villages, and the extensive
cultivation around them, surpassed everything I had yet seen in
Africa. A gross calculation may be formed of the number of
inhabitants in this delightful plain by considering that the king of
Kasson can raise four thousand fighting men by the sound of his war-
drum. In traversing the rocky eminences of this hill, which are
almost destitute of vegetation, I observed a number of large holes
in the crevasses and fissures of the rocks, where the wolves and
hyaenas take refuge during the day.
February 1. - The messengers arrived from Kaarta, and brought
intelligence that the war had not yet commenced between Bambarra and
Kaarta, and that I might probably pass through Kaarta before the
Bambarra army invaded that country.
February 3. - Early in the morning two guides on horseback came from
Kooniakary to conduct me to the frontiers of Kaarta. I accordingly
took leave of Salim Daucari, and parted for the last time from my
fellow-traveller the blacksmith, whose kind solicitude for my
welfare had been so conspicuous, and about ten o'clock departed from
Soolo. We travelled this day through a rocky and hilly country,
along the banks of the river Krieko, and at sunset came to the
village of Soomo, where we slept.
February 4. - We departed from Soomo, and continued our route along
the banks of the Krieko, which are everywhere well cultivated, and
swarm with inhabitants. At this time they were increased by the
number of people that had flown thither from Kaarta on account of
the Bambarra war. In the afternoon we reached Kimo, a large
village, the residence of Madi Konko, governor of the hilly country
of Kasson, which is called Sorroma. From hence the guides appointed
by the king of Kasson returned, to join in the expedition against
Kajaaga; and I waited until the 6th before I could prevail on Madi
Konko to appoint me a guide to Kaarta.
February 7. - Departing from Kimo, with Madi Konko's son as a guide,
we continued our course along the banks of the Krieko until the
afternoon, when we arrived at Kangee, a considerable town.
