Great African Travellers | Page 8

trough was none of the largest,
and three cows were already drinking in it, Park knelt down, and,
thrusting his head between two of the cows, drank with intense pleasure
till the water was nearly exhausted.
The rainy season was now approaching, when the Moors evacuate the
country of the negroes and return to the skirts of the Great Desert.
Ali looked upon Park as a lawful prisoner, and though Fatima allowed
him food and otherwise treated him kindly, she had as yet said nothing
about his release.

Fortunately for him, Ali had resolved to send an expedition to Jarra, of
two hundred Moorish horsemen, to attack Daisy. Park obtained
permission to accompany them, and, through the influence of Fatima,
he also received back his bundle of clothes and his horse.
On the 26th of May, accompanied by Johnson and his boy Demba, he
set out with a number of Moors on horseback, Ali having gone on
before. On his way Ali's chief slave came up and told Demba that Ali
was to be his master in future; then, turning to Park, said, "The boy
goes back to Bubaka, but you may take the old fool," meaning Johnson,
"with you to Jarra." Park in vain pleaded for Demba, but the slave only
answered that if he did not mount his horse he would send him back
likewise. Poor Demba was not less affected than his master. Having
shaken hands with the unfortunate boy, and assured him that he would
do everything in his power to redeem him, Park saw him led off by
three of Ali's slaves.
At Jarra he took up his lodgings in the house of an old acquaintance,
Dayman, whom he requested to use his influence with Ali to redeem
the boy, and promised him a bill on Dr Laidley for the value of two
slaves the moment he brought him to Jarra.
Ali, however, considering the boy to be Park's principal interpreter,
would not liberate him, fearing that he would be instrumental in
conducting him to Bambarra.
Still Park was eager, if possible, to continue his journey, but Johnson
refused to proceed further. At the same time he foresaw that he must
soon fall a victim to the Moors if he remained where he was, and that if
he went forward singly he must encounter great difficulties, both from
the want of an interpreter and the means of purchasing food. On the
other hand he was very unwilling to return to England without
accomplishing his mission. He therefore determined to escape on the
first opportunity at all risks. This arrived sooner than he expected.
On the 26th of June news was brought that Daisy had taken Simbug,
and would be at Jarra the next day. Hearing this, the people began
packing up their property and beating corn for their journey, and early

in the morning nearly half had set off--the women and children crying,
the men looking sullen and dejected.
Though Park was sure of being well treated could he make himself
known to Daisy, yet as he might be mistaken for a Moor in the
confusion, he thought it wisest to mount his horse with a large bag of
corn before him, and to ride away with the rest of the townspeople.
He again fell in with his friend Dayman and Johnson. They pushed on
two days' journey to the town of Queira.
While Park was out tending his horse in the fields on the 1st of July,
Ali's chief slave and four Moors arrived at Queira, and Johnson, who
suspected the object of their visit, sent two boys to overhear their
conversation. From them he learned that the Moors had come to convey
Park back to Bubaka. This was a terrible stroke to him, and, now
convinced that Ali intended to detain him for ever in captivity, or
perhaps to take his life, he determined at all risks to attempt making his
escape. He communicated his design to Johnson, who, though he
approved of it, showed no inclination to accompany him. Park therefore
resolved to proceed by himself, and to trust to his own resources.
CHAPTER THREE.
MUNGO PARK'S TRAVELS CONTINUED.
PARK ESCAPES AT NIGHT--PURSUED BY MOORS AND
ROBBED--FEARFUL SUFFERING; FROM THIRST--FINDS
WATER--KINDLY TREATED BY AN OLD
WOMAN--WANDERINGS IN THE FOREST--REACHES
BAMBARRA--ILL-TREATED--REACHES THE NIGER--ARRIVES
AT SEGO, THE CAPITAL--THE KING REFUSES TO SEE
HIM--SENT TO A DISTANT VILLAGE--ALMOST STARVING--A
COMPASSIONATE WOMAN TAKES HIM INTO HER HOUSE
AND FEEDS HIM--KING MANSONG ORDERS HIM TO QUIT
THE COUNTRY--ENTERS SANSANDING ON THE NIGER--THE
MOORS THREATEN HIM FOR BEING A CHRISTIAN-- WRITES
CHARMS FOR HIS HOST--PROCEEDS--FOLLOWED BY A

LION--HIS HORSE FALLS SICK, AND, LEAVING THE ANIMAL,
HE PROCEEDS ON FOOT--PROCEEDS DOWN THE NIGER TO
MOORZAN--DETERMINES TO RETURN--FINDS HIS HORSE
ALIVE--RAINY SEASON COMMENCES--AGAIN REACHES
SANSANDING--INHOSPITABLY TREATED-- REPULSED FROM
NUMEROUS PLACES--SWIMS SEVERAL RIVERS--BETTER
TREATED