through. The river Senegal was
crossed, and a country entered, that of Bambarra, where only women
could be found. Every man, even the children and the aged, had gone
away with the army. At the ill-sounding place Ourigiague, just beyond,
they were royally entertained. A whole bullock was roasted for them.
So, too, at Medina, where they were forced to waste twelve days and
devour five sheep, because one of Isaaco's servants made off with the
aforesaid mare and Isaaco's precious musket. A trustier servant was
despatched on his trail. In due time he returned with the mare and the
musket, and preferred not to say what had happened to the thief. The
petty kingdom of Casso, which they came to next, proved very trying.
There were six rivers to cross, full (says Isaaco) of alligators and
hippopotami. There was the forbidding rock of Tap-Pa in the desert of
Maretoumane to get by. And there was the mountain of Lambatara, on the
top of which they were attacked by a cloud of bees. Maddened with the
stings, the Negroes ran everywhere; the mules broke loose and threw
their packs down the hill. Poor Isaaco had to collect them all,
physick the dying and distressed, and number the living and the lost.
At nightfall he slept like a log "under a monkey-bread tree." The
following day was darkened by an ominous message from the King of
Bambarra. There was evidently trouble brewing ahead. To gain some
friendship in the capital, Isaaco decided to bribe. To Sabila, the
Chief of the King's slaves, he sent a pair of scissors, a snuff-box,
and a looking-glass, and desired to be his friend. And to his old
friend Allasana Bosiara, then ambassador at Bambarra from the King of
Sego, he sent a piece of silver "as a mark of being near him," and
begged him not to leave until he was in safety. As he drew nearer,
other signs made Isaaco convinced that "something unpleasant was
planning." He was refused lodgings and water by the chiefs. A friendly
merchant who had travelled under his protection was secretly warned to
take himself and his goods away before it was too late. Thereupon
Isaaco retired to another monkey-bread tree, ringed his little company
about with muskets, double-barrelled guns, and assegais and "waited
for what should happen." The following morning the King tempted them
away with the friendliest of welcomes and gave them lodging and water
at Wassaba, near the Royal Palace. His suggestion, however, that
Isaaco should sleep separately from his