etely worn-out,
his shirt being like a piece of muslin and dirty in the extreme.
He here spent nine days suffering much from fever. On the 6th two
people arrived from Sibidooloo, bringing his horse and clothes, but his
pocket compass, greatly to his vexation, was broken to pieces.
Every day he observed several women come to the house to receive a
certain quantity of corn. Knowing how valuable this article was at the
present juncture, he enquired of his host whether he maintained these
poor women from pure bounty or expected a return when the harvest should
be gathered in.
"Observe that boy," said he, pointing to a fine child about five years
of age. "His mother has sold him to me for forty days' provisions for
herself and the rest of her family. I have bought another boy in the
same manner."
Sick as he was, Park thought it necessary to take his leave of his
hospitable landlord, to whom he presented his horse as the only
recompense he could make, desiring him to convey his saddle and bridle
as a present to Mansa of Sibidooloo. As he was about to set out, his
host begged him to accept his spear as a token of remembrance and a
leather bag to contain his clothes. Having converted his half-boots
into sandals, he travelled with more ease.
Although the people were suffering great distress from the failure of
the crops, he was in general most hospitably treated. His landlord at
Kinyeto, observing that he had hurt his ankle, insisted on his remaining
several days till he could walk with the help of a staff.
Notwithstanding suffering from fever and exposed to constant rain, he
continued his journey, narrowly escaping being detained at the town of
Mansia by the inhospitable chief, who insisted on being paid for the
small amount of food he had provided.
On September 16th he reached the town of Kamalia. He was here conducted
to the house of a Bushreen, Kafa Taura. He was collecting a caravan of
slaves to convey to the European settlements on the Gambia, as soon as
the rains should be over. He found Kafa seated in his house surrounded
by several _slatees_ who proposed joining the caravan. He was reading
to them from an Arabic book, and enquired if his guest understood it.
On being answered in the negative, he desired one of the _slatees_ to
fetch a curious little book which had been brought from the west
country. It proved to be a book of Common Prayer, and Kafa expressed
great joy on hearing that Park coul
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