The Master, With The Handle Of His Spear,
Marks The Field Into Regular Plats, One Of Which Is Assigned To
Every Three Slaves.
On the evening of the 11th eight of the fugitive Kaartans arrived at
Wassiboo.
They had found it impossible to live under the tyrannical
government of the Moors, and were now going to transfer their
allegiance to the King of Bambarra. They offered to take me along
with them as far as Satile, and I accepted the offer.
July 12. - At daybreak we set out, and travelled with uncommon
expedition until sunset. We stopped only twice in the course of the
day, once at a watering-place in the woods, and at another time at
the ruins of a town formerly belonging to Daisy, called Illa-compe
(the corn-town). When we arrived in the neighbourhood of Satile,
the people who were employed in the corn-fields, seeing so many
horsemen, took us for a party of Moors, and ran screaming away from
us. The whole town was instantly alarmed, and the slaves were seen
in every direction driving the cattle and horses towards the town.
It was in vain that one of our company galloped up to undeceive
them; it only frightened them the more; and when we arrived at the
town we found the gates shut, and the people all under arms. After
a long parley we were permitted to enter, and, as there was every
appearance of a tornado, the dooty allowed us to sleep in his
baloon, and gave us each a bullock's hide for a bed.
July 13. - Early in the morning we again set forward. The roads were
wet and slippery, but the country was very beautiful, abounding with
rivulets, which were increased by the rain into rapid streams.
About ten o'clock we came to-the rains of a village which had been
destroyed by war about six months before.
About noon my horse was so much fatigued that I could not keep up
with my companions; I therefore dismounted, and desired them to ride
on, telling them that I would follow as soon as my horse had rested
a little. But I found them unwilling to leave me; the lions, they
said, were very numerous in those parts, and though they might not
so readily attack a body of people, they would soon find out an
individual; it was therefore agreed that one of the company should
stay with me to assist in driving my horse, while the others passed
on to Galloo to procure lodgings, and collect grass for the horses
before night. Accompanied by this worthy negro, I drove my horse
before me until about four o'clock, when we came in sight of Galloo,
a considerable town, standing in a fertile and beautiful valley
surrounded with high rocks.
Early next morning (July 14th), having first returned many thanks to
our landlord for his hospitality, while my fellow-travellers offered
up their prayers that he might never want, we set forward, and about
three o'clock arrived at Moorja, a large town, famous for its trade
in salt, which the Moors bring here in great quantities, to exchange
for corn and cotton cloth.
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