- I departed from Nyamee; but the country was so deluged
that I was frequently in danger of losing the road, and had to wade
across the savannas for miles together, knee-deep in water.
Even
the corn ground, which is the driest land in the country, was so
completely flooded that my horse twice stuck fast in the mud, and
was not got out without the greatest difficulty.
In the evening of the same day I arrived at Nyara, where I was well
received by the dooty; and as the 6th was rainy I did not depart
until the morning of the 7th; but the water had swelled to such a
height, that in many places the road was scarcely passable, and
though I waded breast-deep across the swamps I could only reach a
small village called Nemaboo, where however, for a hundred kowries,
I procured from some Foulahs plenty of corn for my horse and milk
for myself.
August 8. - The difficulties I had experienced the day before made me
anxious to engage a fellow-traveller, particularly as I was assured
that, in the course of a few days, the country would be so
completely overflowed as to render the road utterly impassable; but
though I offered two hundred kowries for a guide, nobody would
accompany me. However, on the morning following, August 9th, a Moor
and his wife, riding upon two bullocks, and bound for Sego with
salt, passed the village, and agreed to take me along with them; but
I found them of little service, for they were wholly unacquainted
with the road, and being accustomed to a sandy soil, were very bad
travellers.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 22 of 167
Words from 5729 to 6008
of 45368
