138 Travels through the 



by a Moor, who had orders from the king to Watch his md^' 

 tions. Finding it difficult, therefore, to put his defign in exe- 

 cution, he refolved to purfue another plan : he went no more 

 abroad, but remained at home, pretending to be fick. The 

 officer who had the care of the Moors having inquired, the 

 fccond day after, what was the matter with him, he replied, 

 that he apprehended being attacked by a fever. When thi^ 

 was told to the king, his majefty eonfulted one of the priefts 

 in what manner Bamberger could be cured; and the prieft, 

 ftiuch to our traveller's fatisfa6lion, replied, that it would b(5 

 necellary for him to bathe feveral times a day. Inconse- 

 quence of this prcfcription he was ordered by the king to 

 bathe in a fmall lake before the city under the. care of a 

 Moor. This he did for eight days vyithout any hope of being 

 able to tfftS. his efcape; but on the ninth day, after going 

 out, he pretended to be exceedingly weak, and faid he had 

 obtained leave on that account to remain abroad till the even-^ 

 ing. His attendant, believing that he fpoke the truth, in- 

 formed him that he would in the mean time go back to the 

 fkav^i^/and return for him in the evening. Scarcely, how- 

 ever, was the Moor out of fight, when our traveller fet off as 

 fail as he could, taking the road to the capital of Feene, at 

 which he arrived on the 20til of September, and where he 

 Remained feme months. 



This city is iituated on a barren eminence, which in the 



rainy feafon, that is to fay, in the months of June and July, 



is fo entirely furrounded with water that it is impoffible to 



walk from it the diflance of half a mile. Thofe whofe bufi- 



nefs or occupations render it neceflkry for them to proceed 



further, muft employ camels or horfes; but the water is fo 



deep that they are often in danger of being drowned. The city^ 



which is well built according to the African mode^ is about two 



milesin circumference. It contains four principal ftreets, which 



crofs each other, forming at the place of their interfe6lion 



a market ; where there are expofed for fale, not Only the pro- 



duAions of Africa, but European articles, brought thither by 



^caravans, fuch as looking-glaflcs, buttons, needles, toys, &c. 



.u'hich are fold chiefly for money or bullion. The caitle lies 



op, the weft, and is furrounded by a wall, which on one fide 



