}a Travels through the ■ 



of Julvy about noon, aii officer came to the capital from the 

 enemy, attended by four Moors, bringing with him the de- 

 claration of \\-ar. It was written on a narrow flip of white 

 Icath 1 on two long fticks. On delivering it^ hefaid 



that tlic kmg his mailer would come here and fetch it back. 

 Our king put on a very friendly countenance,, gave the officer 

 the bed entertainment his palace afforded, but iflued private 

 orders for his own army to be kept in readinefs to march ; 

 paying to the officer, that when the valleys and plains were 

 free from water, he would take back the fticks himfelf ; that 

 is, would begin the war. 



' '^ On the 25th, before fun-rife, the infantry was in full 

 march, and at noon was followed by half of the cavalry. 

 The enemy's officer purpofed tofet out on his return that fame 

 day; but the king entreated him to remain, promifing to ac- 

 company him on the follosving day, to prevent his being 

 attacked. On the 24th, at noon, the king fet out with his 

 officers and the one belonging to the enemy, taking me alfo 

 among his body-guard. On the firft day we arrived at Taa- 

 hafa, a fmall town of two hundred huts, where we were 

 joined by five hundred INIoors. Faffing the Niger on the 

 25lh, we were in extreme danger of our lives, infomuch that 

 we could not prevent the lofs of twenty men who perifhed in 

 the floods, as the river was too much fwollen, and yet the 

 cavalry who could not be carried over, were forced to fwim 

 acrofs with their horfes. We now reached Maatoh, a vil- 

 lage of forty huts, in the valley through which the Niger 

 flows, 



'' On the 26th and 27th, we marched over a chain of moun- 

 tains towards the eaft, ad\ ancing on the 28th at noon to the 

 Krahoto, or Gold-mountains. Here, making halt, we fent 

 the hodile officer to his king, commiffioning him to tell him, 

 that king Maonaouffiiy wa.^^ come into his country with hig 

 forces to vilit him. The officer had ivvtnty nrcn to efcort 

 him as. far as Kahfuto, a fmall town in \'angava. As fooii 

 as he was gone, accounts were brought that the infantry 

 were already on the;enen:iy's ground, wliere they waited fof 

 further orders. An jSuropean army'j, that ex'cepted which 

 iBonaparte led over the ptodigious inouiitain.^ of Switzerland, 



"^ won Id 



