chance of forcing a passage
through. There was no Isaaco to try the magic of conciliation. Once
indeed, when they had beaten off sixty canoes with appalling
slaughter, Amady ventured to remonstrate. "Martin," he said, taking
hold of his arm, "let us cease firing: we have killed too many
already." "On which," he comments, "Martin wanted to kill me and would
have done so had not Mr. Park intervened." The troubles thickened. The
news of their coming had evidently been spread in advance. Just beyond
Gotoigega they encountered a whole army, comprised of the Poule
nation, such beasts themselves, that (says Amady) they possess no
beasts of any other kind. They were suffered to go by in ominous
silence--only to fall foul of a squadron of hippopotami, who nearly
washed them over. At an island just beyond, Amady was landed to forage
for milk; but there was no milk to be had, not even the milk of human
kindness. The natives took him prisoner and decided he should be done
to death. But Mungo Park was watching; and by a fortunate chance two
canoes full of natives, bringing fresh provisions for sale, had come
alongside at that moment. Mungo Park made it abundantly clear that he
would kill every man-jack of them if a hair of Amady's head were
touched. So the prisoners were exchanged. It was a narrow escape for
Amady; and the uneasiness it caused was increased by the constant
cries from the shore, "Amady Fatouma, how can you pass through our
country without giving us anything?" "I seriously promised," he
observed, "never to pass there again without making considerable
charitable donations to the poor." As they came to the frontiers of
Haoussa another large army of Moors watched them from a mountain.
Fortunately they had no fire-arms, and could do no harm. On reaching
Yaour, the first place of any size in Haoussa, Amady was landed, as
his bargain was to bring the party only so far. In addition to his
pay, he conveyed Mungo Park's presents to the King; but, instead of
delivering these in person, gave them to the Chieftain of Yaour, who
promised to forward them. A little slip, it seems, but fraught with
deadly consequence. The Chieftain, finding out from Mungo Park that he
did not intend to return that way, determined to keep the presents
for himself. The next morning, as Amady was paying his court to the
King and expecting the presents to come, two horsemen rode in from
Yaour and said: "We are sent from the Chief to let you know that the