The Moors
Are Here In Greater Proportion To The Negroes Than At Jarra.
They
assembled round the hut of the negro where I lodged, and treated me
with the greatest insolence; they hissed, shouted, and abused me;
they even spat in my face, with a view to irritate me, and afford
them a pretext for seizing my baggage.
But finding such insults had
not the desired effect, they had recourse to the final and decisive
argument, that I was a Christian, and of course that my property was
lawful plunder to the followers of Mohammed. They accordingly
opened my bundles, and robbed me of everything they fancied. My
attendants, finding that everybody could rob me with impunity,
insisted on returning to Jarra.
The day following (March 2nd), I endeavoured, by all the means in my
power, to prevail upon my people to go on, but they still continued
obstinate; and having reason to fear some further insult from the
fanatic Moors, I resolved to proceed alone. Accordingly, the next
morning, about two o'clock, I departed from Deena. It was
moonlight, but the roaring of the wild beasts made it necessary to
proceed with caution.
When I had reached a piece of rising ground about half a mile from
the town, I heard somebody halloo, and, looking back, saw my
faithful boy running after me. He informed me that Ali's men had
gone back to Benowm, and that Daman's negro was about to depart for
Jarra; but he said he had no doubt, if I would stop a little, that
he could persuade the latter to accompany us.
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