Travels in the Interior of Africa, vol 2 | Page 8

persisted,
and, after a few high words and menacing looks, threw down the saddle
and went away. This very much disconcerted me; but as I had given up
all hopes of obtaining a horse, I could not think of encumbering myself
with the saddle, and, taking off the stirrups and girths, I threw the
saddle into the river. The negro no sooner saw me throw the saddle into
the water than he came running from among the bushes where he had
concealed himself, jumped into the river, and by help of his spear,
brought out the saddle and ran away with it. I continued my course
along the bank; but as the wood was remarkably thick, and I had reason

to believe that a lion was at no great distance, I became much alarmed,
and took a long circuit through the bushes to avoid him.
About four in the afternoon I reached Modiboo, where I found my
saddle. The guide, who had got there before me, being afraid that I
should inform the king of his conduct, had brought the saddle with him
in a canoe.
While I was conversing with the dooty, and remonstrating against the
guide for having left me in such a situation, I heard a horse neigh in one
of the huts; and the dooty inquired with a smile if I knew who was
speaking to me. He explained himself by telling me that my horse was
still alive, and somewhat recovered from his fatigue; but he insisted
that I should take him along with me, adding that he had once kept a
Moor's horse for four months, and when the horse had recovered and
got into good condition, the Moor returned and claimed it, and refused
to give him any reward for his trouble.
August 1.--I departed from Modiboo, driving my horse before me, and
in the afternoon reached Nyamee; where I remained three days, during
which time it rained without intermission, and with such violence that
no person could venture out of doors.
August 5.--I departed from Nyamee; but the country was so deluged
that I was frequently in danger of losing the road, and had to wade
across the savannas for miles together, knee-deep in water. Even the
corn ground, which is the driest land in the country, was so completely
flooded that my horse twice stuck fast in the mud, and was not got out
without the greatest difficulty.
In the evening of the same day I arrived at Nyara, where I was well
received by the dooty; and as the 6th was rainy I did not depart until the
morning of the 7th; but the water had swelled to such a height, that in
many places the road was scarcely passable, and though I waded
breast-deep across the swamps I could only reach a small village called
Nemaboo, where however, for a hundred kowries, I procured from
some Foulahs plenty of corn for my horse and milk for myself.
August 8.--The difficulties I had experienced the day before made me
anxious to engage a fellow-traveller, particularly as I was assured that,
in the course of a few days, the country would be so completely
overflowed as to render the road utterly impassable; but though I
offered two hundred kowries for a guide, nobody would accompany me.

However, on the morning following, August 9th, a Moor and his wife,
riding upon two bullocks, and bound for Sego with salt, passed the
village, and agreed to take me along with them; but I found them of
little service, for they were wholly unacquainted with the road, and
being accustomed to a sandy soil, were very bad travellers. Instead of
wading before the bullocks to feel if the ground was solid, the woman
boldly entered the first swamp, riding upon the top of the load; but
when she had proceeded about two hundred yards the bullock sunk into
a hole, and threw both the load and herself among the reeds. The
frightened husband stood for some time seemingly petrified with horror,
and suffered his wife to be almost drowned before he went to her
assistance.
About sunset we reached Sibity, but the dooty received me very coolly;
and when I solicited for a guide to Sansanding he told me his people
were otherwise employed. I was shown into a damp old hut, where I
passed a very uncomfortable night; for when the walls of the huts are
softened by the rain they frequently become too weak to support the
weight of the roof. I heard three huts fall during the night, and was
apprehensive that the hut I lodged in would be the fourth. In the
morning, as I went to pull some grass for my horse, I counted fourteen
huts which had fallen in this