NARRATIVE. 217 



We returned to Eathurst by the beach, and taking advantage 

 of the low tide, were able to ride across the second creek, (the 

 water being only up to our horse's knees) and thereby lessened the 

 difficulties of the path. To those who ride on horseback, the 

 neighbourhood of Bathurst is very easy of access. Frequent 

 shooting parties are made by the gentlemen there, who generally 

 find deer, hares, partridges, pigeons, and guinea-fowls for their 

 sport, and certainly, if it were more healthy, sufficient amusement 

 might be found to render the place agreeable; at low tide the 

 beach is firm enough to ride on, and has even served for a race 

 course. 



The httle specimens of Arabic literature in the Appendix, were 

 supplied me by Dongo Kary, a native of Senegal, and a learned 

 Marrabout : the originals " prove, that the western dialect ap- 

 proaches nearer to the learned Arabic, than the eastern ; the 

 character is somewhat diffijrent, but not sufficiently so to cause 

 any great difficulty: we understood our ]Marrabout quite well, and 

 his pronunciation always accorded with the spelling of the word ; 

 his accent was not difficult to acquire, and his Ghrain was much 

 less guttural than that of the OrientaHsts. 



My readers will easily perceive, from the foregoing little sketch, 

 the difference of customs, the striking inferiority of the in- 

 habitants of this part of Africa, to those north and east of the 

 leeward coast. Mr. Bowdich's " Mission to Ashantee" is a detail 



of most women. I am indeed grieved to state, that although the ladies have returned 

 in safety, the gentlemen have both become victims to the fever, but I earnestly trust, 

 that the Committee will not even now be discouraged, but will make a second trial in 

 a situation which affords a better chance for life. 



* I have been deterred from publishing these originals, iiom the necessity ol' having 

 a new type, an expense I could by no means afford, and which would be scarcely 

 worth while for the trifles I have collected ; I have, however, drawn the diHerent 

 characters in lithography, and can supply any one who wishes for them, with a 

 large collection of phrases. 



•i V 



