About Ten O'clock At Night Counti
Mamadi Himself Came Privately To Me, And Informed Me That Mansong
Had Despatched A Canoe To Jenne To Bring Me Back; And He Was Afraid
I Should Find Great Difficulty In Going To The West Country.
He
advised me therefore to depart from Sansanding before daybreak, and
cautioned me against stopping at Diggani, or any town near Sego.
August 12. - I departed from Sansanding, and reached Kabba in the
afternoon. As I approached the town I was surprised to see several
people assembled at the gate, one of whom, as I advanced, came
running towards me, and taking my horse by the bridle, led me round
the walls of the town, and then, pointing to the west, told me to go
along, or it would fare worse with me. It was in vain that I
represented the danger of being benighted in the woods, exposed to
the inclemency of the weather and the fury of wild beasts. "Go
along!" was all the answer; and a number of people coming up and
urging me in the same manner, with great earnestness, I suspected
that some of the king's messengers, who were sent in search of me,
were in the town, and that these negroes, from mere kindness,
conducted me past it with a view to facilitate my escape. I
accordingly took the road for Sego, with the uncomfortable prospect
of passing the night on the branches of a tree. After travelling
about three miles, I came to a small village near the road. The
dooty was splitting sticks by the gate, but I found I could have no
admittance, and when I attempted to enter, he jumped up, and with
the stick he held in his hand, threatened to strike me off the horse
if I presumed to advance another step.
At a little distance from this village (and further from the road)
is another small one. I conjectured that, being rather out of the
common route, the inhabitants might have fewer objections to give me
house-room for the night; and having crossed some cornfields, I sat
down under a tree by the well. Two or three women came to draw
water, and one of them, perceiving I was a stranger, inquired
whither I was going. I told her I was going for Sego, but being
benighted on the road, I wished to stay at the village until
morning, and begged she would acquaint the dooty with my situation.
In a little time the dooty sent for me, and permitted me to sleep in
a large baloon.
August 13. - About ten o'clock I reached a small village within half
a mile of Sego, where I endeavoured, but in vain, to procure some
provisions. Every one seemed anxious to avoid me; and I can plainly
perceive, by the looks and behaviour of the inhabitants, that some
very unfavourable accounts had been circulated concerning me. I was
again informed that Mansong had sent people to apprehend me, and the
dooty's son told me I had no time to lose if I wished to get safe
out of Bambarra.
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