I Heartily Thanked The Mansa For
His Kindness, And Accepted His Invitation To Remain With Him Until
The Return Of The Messenger.
I was conducted into a hut and had
some victuals sent me, but the crowd of people which assembled to
see me - all of whom commiserated my misfortunes, and vented
imprecations against the Foulahs - prevented me from sleeping until
past midnight.
Two days I remained without hearing any intelligence
of my horse or clothes; and as there was at this time a great
scarcity of provisions, approaching even to famine, all over this
part of the country, I was unwilling to trespass any farther on the
mansa's generosity, and begged permission to depart to the next
village. Finding me very anxious to proceed, he told me that I
might go as far as a town called Wonda, where he hoped I would
remain a few days until I heard some account of my horse, etc.
I departed accordingly on the next morning, the 28th, and stopped at
some small villages for refreshment. I was presented at one of them
with a dish which I had never before seen. It was composed of the
blossoms or antherae of the maize, stewed in milk and water. It is
eaten only in time of great scarcity. On the 30th, about noon, I
arrived at Wonda, a small town with a mosque, and surrounded by a
high wall. The mansa, who was a Mohammedan, acted in two
capacities - as chief magistrate of the town, and schoolmaster to the
children.
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