As Most Of The People Here Are
Mohammedans, It Is Not Allowed To The Kafirs To Drink Beer, Which
They Call Neodollo (Corn Spirit), Except In Certain Houses.
In one
of these I saw about twenty people sitting round large vessels of
this beer with the greatest conviviality, many of them in a state of
intoxication.
On the morning of the 16th we again set forward, accompanied by a
coffle of fourteen asses, loaded with salt, bound for Sansanding.
The road was particularly romantic, between two rocky hills; but the
Moors sometimes lie in wait here to plunder strangers. As soon as
we had reached the open country the master of the salt coffle
thanked us for having stayed with him so long, and now desired us to
ride on. The sun was almost set before we reached Datliboo. In the
evening we had a most tremendous tornado. The house in which we
lodged being flat-roofed, admitted the rain in streams; the floor
was soon ankle-deep, the fire extinguished, and we were left to pass
the night upon some bundles of firewood that happened to lie in a
corner.
July 17. - We departed from Datliboo, and about ten o'clock passed a
large coffle returning from Sego with corn-hoes, mats, and other
household utensils. At five o'clock we came to a large village
where we intended to pass the night, but the dooty would not receive
us. When we departed from this place my horse was so much fatigued
that I was under the necessity of driving him, and it was dark
before we reached Fanimboo, a small village, the dooty of which no
sooner heard that I was a white man than he brought out three old
muskets, and was much disappointed when he was told that I could not
repair them.
July 18. - We continued our journey, but, owing to a light supper the
preceding night we felt ourselves rather hungry this morning, and
endeavoured to procure some corn at a village, but without success.
My horse becoming weaker and weaker every day, was now of very
little service to me; I was obliged to drive him before me for the
greater part of the day, and did not reach Geosorro until eight
o'clock in the evening. I found my companions wrangling with the
dooty, who had absolutely refused to give or sell them any
provisions; and as none of us had tasted victuals for the last
twenty-four hours, we were by no means disposed to fast another day
if we could help it. But finding our entreaties without effect, and
being very much fatigued, I fell asleep, from which I was awakened
about midnight with the joyful information Kinne nata! ("The
victuals are come") This made the remainder of the night pass away
pleasantly, and at daybreak, July 19th, we resumed our journey,
proposing to stop at a village called Doolinkeaboo for the night
following. My fellow-travellers, having better horses than myself,
soon left me, and I was walking barefoot, driving my horse, when I
was met by a coffle of slaves, about seventy in number, coming from
Sego.
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