When I Had Got Out, The Stranger, Who Had Never
Before Seen A European, Seemed Wonderfully Surprised.
He twice put his
hand to his mouth, exclaiming in a low tone of voice, "God preserve me!
who
Is this?" But when he heard me speak the Bambarra tongue, and found
that I was going the same way as himself, he promised to assist me in
crossing the river; the name of which he told me was Frina. He then went
a little way along the bank and called to some person, who answered from
the other side. In a short time, a canoe with two boys, came paddling
from among the reeds. These boys agreed, for fifty Kowries, to transport
me and my horse over the river, which was effected without much
difficulty, and I arrived in the evening at Taffara, a walled town; and
soon discovered that the language of the natives was improved from the
corrupted dialect of Bambarra to the pure Mandingo.
CHAPTER XVIII.
_Inhospitable reception at Taffara. - A Negro funeral at Sooha. - The
Author continues his route through several villages along the banks of
the Niger, until he comes to Koolikorro. - Supports himself by writing
saphies - reaches Maraboo - loses the road; and, after many difficulties,
arrives at Bammakoo. - Takes the road for Sibidooloo - meets with great
kindness at a village called Kooma; - is afterwards robbed, stripped, and
plundered by banditti. - The Author's resource and consolation under
exquisite distress. - He arrives in safety at Sibidooloo._
On my arrival at Taffara, I inquired for the Dooty, but was informed that
he had died a few days before my arrival, and that there was, at that
moment, a meeting of the chief men for electing another, there being some
dispute about the succession.
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