Travels Of Richard And John Lander Into The Interior Of Africa For The Discovery Of The Course And Termination Of The Niger By Robert Huish
- Page 398 of 587 - First - Home
The governor of the town
presented them with a pig, and a quantity of country beer, and they
also received little presents of provisions from a few of the people.
May the 9th was on a Sunday, and they were invited to witness an
exhibition of tumbling; it was with great reluctance that the
invitation was accepted, not only on account of the sanctity of the
day, but for the delay which it would occasion them. They, however,
considered it politic to lay aside their religious scruples, and they
attended the exhibition mounted on their horses. As soon as it was
over, they were escorted out of the town by beat of drum, preceded by
an armed horseman, and an unarmed drummer, and continued their
journey, followed by a multitude of the inhabitants.
They passed through a very large walled town called Esalay, about six
miles from Shea, but its wall was dilapidated, and the habitations of
the people in ruins, and almost all deserted. This town, which was
not long since well inhabited, has been reduced to its present
desolate and miserable state, by the protection which its ruler
granted to an infamous robber, whose continued assaults on
defenceless travellers, and his cruelty to them, at length attracted
the notice of the king of Katunga. But previously to this, the
inhabitants of another town not far off, many of whom had at
different times suffered from his bold attacks, called in a number of
Borgoo men, who bore no better reputation for honesty than the robber
himself, and resolved to attempt the capture of the ruffian in his
strong hold, without any other assistance. Their efforts, however,
were unavailing; the governor, entrenched in his walled town, and
supported by his people, sheltered the miscreant and compelled his
enemies to raise the siege. About this time a messenger arrived at
Esalay from the king of Katunga, with commands for the governor to
deliver up the robber to punishment, but instead of obeying them, he
privately warned the man of his danger, who took immediate advantage
of it, and made his escape to Nouffie. The governor was suspected of
aiding the escape of the robber, and a second messenger soon after
arrived from Katunga, with orders for the guilty chief either to pay
a fine to the king, of 120,000 kowries, or put a period to his
existence by taking poison. Neither of these commands suiting the
inclination of the governor of Esalay, he appointed a deputy, and
privately fled to the neighbouring town of Shea, there to await the
final determination of his enraged sovereign. The Landers saw this
man at Shea, dressed in a fancifully made tobe, on which a great
number of Arab characters were stitched. He walked about at perfect
liberty, and did not seem to take his condition much to heart. The
inhabitants of Esalay, however, finding that their ruler had deserted
them, that they were threatened by the king of Katunga, and that the
Borgoo men emboldened by the encouragement they received from that
monarch, were also lurking about the neighbourhood, and ready to do
them any mischief, took the alarm, and imitating the example of their
chief, most of them deserted their huts, and scattered themselves
amongst the different towns and villages in the neighbourhood.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 398 of 587
Words from 209168 to 209728
of 309561