- As my horse was grazing near the brink of a well the
ground gave way and he fell in.
The well was about ten feet in
diameter, and so very deep that when I saw my horse snorting in the
water I thought it was impossible to save him. The inhabitants of
the village, however, immediately assembled, and having tied
together a number of withes, {3} they lowered a man down into the
well, who fastened those withes round the body of the horse; and the
people, having first drawn up the man, took hold of the withes and,
to my surprise, pulled the horse out with the greatest facility.
The poor animal was now reduced to a mere skeleton, and the roads
were scarcely passable, being either very rocky, or else full of mud
and water. I therefore found it impracticable to travel with him
any farther, and was happy to leave him in the hands of one who, I
thought, would take care of him. I accordingly presented him to my
landlord, and desired him to send my saddle and bridle as a present
to the mansa of Sibidooloo, being the only return I could make him
for having taken so much trouble in procuring my horse and clothes.
I now thought it necessary, sick as I was, to take leave of my
hospitable landlord. On the morning of September 8th, when I was
about to depart, he presented me with his spear, as a token of
remembrance, and a leather bag to contain my clothes.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 48 of 167
Words from 12989 to 13248
of 45368
