From this gentleman he received the greatest attention, and was invited to remain in his house till an opportunity offered of continuing his journey into the interior. "While waiting the occurrence of this opportunity, Park set about acquiring all the information he could procure regarding the countries which he was about to visit. He studied also the Mandingo language, which is in general use in this part of Africa. In the midst of these labours, however, he was seized with fever, having incautiously exposed himself to the night dew while observing an eclipse of the moon. Having ventured abroad too soon, he had a relapse, which again confined him to his bed. Fortunate indeed was it that he was all this while under the hospitable roof of Dr. Laidley. The care and attention of this gentleman,' says Park, in his journal, 'contributed greatly to alleviate my sufferings; his company and conversation beguiled the tedious hours during that gloomy season when the rain falls in torrents, when suffocating heats oppress by day, and the night is spent by the terrified traveller in listening to the croaking of frogs, of which the numbers are beyond imagination, the shrill cry of the jackal, and the deep howling of the hyena-a dismal concert, interrupted only by the roar of such tremendous thunder as no person can form a conception of but those who have heard it.' "Availing himself of his restoration to health, and the return of the dry season, Park now resolved to set out on his journey. He was attended by a negro, to act as interpreter, who spoke both English and Mandingo, having acquired the former during a residence in England, and a boy slave of Dr. Laidley's, who, in order to stimulate him to behave well, was promised his freedom on his return, in case Park should report favourably of his conduct. "His European friends, who had insisted on accompanying him a couple of days on his journey, parted from him at Jindey, and here, for the first time, Park found himself alone in this great enterprise, and he rode off slowly into the woods, indulging in the most gloomy reflections. Before him spread out a boundless forest, and a country, the inhabitants of which were strangers to civilized life, and to most of whom a white man was an object of curiosity or plunder. Agitated and cast down by such desponding thoughts, he rode on for about three miles, when his reverie was suddenly interrupted by a body of people, who stopped the asses on which his attendants were mounted, demanding in the name of the king of Walli payment of the customs which are usually levied on traders passing through his territory. Finding it in vain to resist, and having presented them with four bars of tobacco for the king's use, he was allowed to proceed. "Nothing remarkable occurred til our traveller arrived at Fatteconda, the capital of Bondou, where he had scarcely arrived before he was sent for by the king, who was desirous to see him. As Park had heard that this monarch had treated Major Houghton with great unkindness, and caused him to be plundered, it was not without a feeling of apprehension that he was ushered into his presence. He found him seated under a tree, and, after explaining to his majesty the object of his journey, he presented him with a quantity of gunpowder, some tobacco, and an umbrella. With the latter article he was particularly delighted, repeatedly furling and unfurling it, to the great admiration of himself and his attendants, who could not for some time understand the use of such an article. "By way of preserving from plunder part of his wardrobe, Park dressed himself in the best coat which it afforded. This article, however, ornamented as it was with yellow gilt buttons, so captivated the king's fancy that, after making a long speech on the liberality of the whites, he asked our traveller to make him a present of the coat, assuring him at the same time that |