and Gambia; and as the account is somewhat singular, I shall here abridge it for the reader's information. The King of Foota Torra, inflamed with a zeal for propagating his religion, had sent an embassy to Damel, similar to that which he had sent to Kasson, as related in page 79. The ambassador, on the present occasion, was accompanied by two of the principal Bushreens, who carried each a large knife, fixed on the top of a long pole. As soon as he had procured admission into the presence of Damel, and announced the pleasure of his sovereign, he ordered the Bushreens to present the emblems of his mission. The two knives were accordingly laid before Damel, and the ambassador explained himself as follows: "With this. knife (said he) Abdulkader will con"descend to shave the head of Damel, if Damel will embrace "the Mahomedan faith; and with this other knife, Abdulkader "will cut the throat of Damel, if Damel refuses to embrace "it-take your choice." Damel coolly told the ambassador that he had no choice to make: he neither chose to have his head shaved, nor his throat cut; and with this answer the ambassador was civilly dismissed. Abdulkader took his measures accordingly, and with a powerful army invaded Damel's country. The inhabitants of the towns and villages filled up their wells, destroyed their provisions, carried off their effects, and abandoned their dwellings, as he approached. By this means he was led on from place to place, until he had advanced three day's journey into the country of the Jaloffs. He had, indeed, met with no opposition; but his army had suffered so much from the scarcity of water, that several of his men had

died by the way. This induced him to direct his march towards a watering place in the woods, where his men having quenched their thirst, and being overcome with fatigue, lay down carelessly to sleep among the bushes. In this situation. they were attacked by Damel before daybreak, and completely routed. Many of them were trampled to death as they lay asleep, by the Jaloff horses; others were killed in attempting to make their escape; and a still greater number were taken prisoners. Among the latter, was Abdulkader himself. This ambitious, or rather frantic prince, who, but a month before, had sent the threatening message to Damel, was now himself led into his presence as a miserable captive. The behaviour of Damel, on this occasion, is never mentioned by the singing men, but in terms of the highest approbation; and it was, indeed, so extraordinary, in an African prince, that the reader may find it difficult to give credit to the recital. When his royal prisoner was brought before him in irons, and thrown the ground, the magnanimous Damel, instead of setting his foot upon his neck, and stabbing him with his spear, according to custom in such cases, addressed him as follows. "Abdulka"der, answer me this question. If the chance of war had placed "me in your situation, and you in mine, how would you have “treated me ?” “I would have thrust my spear into your heart;" returned Abdulkader with great firmness," and I know that a "similar fate awaits me." "Not so, (said Damel), my spear is “indeed red with the blood of your subjects killed in battle, and "I could now give it a deeper stain, by dipping it in your own; “but this would not build up my towns, nor bring to life the

upon

"thousands who fell in the woods. I will not therefore kill you in cold blood, but I will retain you as my slave, until I "perceive that your presence in your own kingdom will be no longer dangerous to your neighbours; and then I will con"sider of the proper way of disposing of you." Abdulkader was accordingly retained, and worked as a slave, for three months; at the end of which period, Damel listened to the solicitations of the inhabitants of Foota Torra, and restored to them their king. Strange as this story may appear, I have no doubt of the truth of it; it was told me at Malacotta by the Negroes; it was afterwards related to me by the Europeans on the Gambia; by some of the French at Goree; and confirmed by nine slaves, who were taken prisoners along with Abdulkader, by the watering place in the woods, and carried in the same ship with me to the West Indies.

CHAPTER XXVI.

The Caravan proceeds to Konkadoo, and crosses the Falemé River-Its Arrival at Baniserile, Kirwani, and Tambacunda. -Incidents on the Road.-A matrimonial Case.-Specimen of the Shea Tree.-The Caravan proceeds through many Towns and Villages, and arrives at length on the Banks of the Gambia, -passes through Medina, the Capital of Woolli, and finally stops at findey.-The Author, accompanied by Karfa, proceeds to Pisania. Various Occurrences previous to his Departure from Africa,-takes his Passage in an American Ship.-Short Account of his Voyage to Great Britain by the Way of the West Indies.

ON

N the 7th of May, we departed from Malacotta, and having crossed the Ba lee," Honey river," a branch of the Senegal, we arrived in the evening at a walled town called Bintingala ; where we rested two days. From thence, in one day more, we proceeded to Dindikoo, a small town situated at the bottom of a high ridge of hills, from which this district is named Konkodoo, "the country of mountains." These hills are very productive of gold. I was shewn a small quantity of this metal, which had been lately collected: the grains were about the usual size, but much flatter than those of Manding, and were

Y y

found in white quartz, which had been broken to pieces by hammers. At this town I met with a Negro, whose hair and skin were of a dull white colour. He was of that sort which are called in the Spanish West Indies Albinos, or white Negroes. The skin is cadaverous and unsightly, and the natives considered this complexion (I believe truly) as the effect of disease.

May 11th. At daybreak we departed from Dindikoo, and after a toilsome day's travel, arrived in the evening at Satadoo, the capital of a district of the same name. This town was formerly of considerable extent; but many families had left it in consequence of the predatory incursions of the Foulahs of Foota Jalla, who made it a practice to come secretly through the woods, and carry off people from the corn-fields, and even from the wells near the town. In the afternoon of the 12th, we crossed the Falemé river, the same which I had formerly crossed at Bondou in my journey eastward. This river, at this season of the year, is easily forded at this place, the stream being only about two feet deep. The water is very pure, and flows rapidly over a bed of sand and gravel. We lodged for the night at a small village called Medina, the sole property of a Mandingo merchant, who, by a long intercourse with Europeans, had been induced to adopt some of their customs, His victuals were served up in pewter dishes, and even his houses were built after the fashion of the English houses on the Gambia.

May 13th. In the morning, as we were preparing to depart, a coffie of slaves belonging to some Serawoolli traders, crossed the river, and agreed to proceed with us to Baniserile, the capital