hiterior Farts of Africa. 6^ 



jng their language// fays our traveller, *^ I could not anfvver 

 their interrogatories, and . therefore flood filent. This con- 

 firmed them in the opinion that I was aChriftian, and there- 

 fore they told my companions (as I was afterwards informed) 

 that they would not fuffer me to enter the town. My at- 

 tendants would have confented to my being font back with 

 all their hearts, had they not been afraid of loling all hopes 

 of the gratuity they expected to receive for bringing me ; 

 accordingly they refufed to comply, and the difpute was per- 

 tinacioufly carried on on both tides, till at length we began 

 to capitulate. Our guides were difpatched over the river to 

 the little town of Boofu, while I remained in cuftody of the 

 others. Here at this river a guard is conftantly ftationed to 

 keep a look-out concerning fufpicious perfons who apply to 

 be ferried over, aiid to deliver them up to the king. Thefe 

 people, however, frequently go beyond their duty, by occa- 

 fionally fcizing a man and felling him to the flave-dealers, 

 or fending fuch Chriflians as they can kidnap to the Chriftian. 

 merchants on the coaft, from whom they obtain a confider- 

 able ranfom. In the evening of the next day our meifenger 

 returned in company with three armed Moors on horfeback. 

 Thefe were to ferve as our efcort ; and accordingly at break 

 of day attended us over the river, for which the fare of each 

 perfon was fix zimpos. We foon came to Boofu, a fmall 

 lively town of about two hundred houfes and a hundred huts 

 fituated half a day's journey from Haouffa. The trading ca- 

 ravans that go from Haoufla, Feene, Sille, artd Tambuko, to 

 Vangara, and into the kingdom of Mohopharo, flop here to 

 farnifli themfelves with provifions and provender for the 

 horfes, which are here much cheaper than at Haotifla. Wc 

 were carried to the akomoni, or judge, who firft entertained 

 us with victuals, and then inquired, by means of an in^r- 

 i^ireter, concerning the purport of my journey. Having an- 

 fwered all his queltions, he began to negotiate with my con- 

 du6lors, offering them fix hundred zimpos for my perfon, in 

 the diefign of felling me licreafter, as a (lave, at a much hioher 

 price. But his ofier was reje6f ed ; my cOndiidtors referring 

 to the order of the klFig, to bring all wayfaring foreioncrs to 

 liim. We ^^ put under convoy of fix armed men_, to 



;• Vol., !X, ' I b^ 



