fOEf Mr. Park's Journey into African 



condition, and one of them once privately fent him a fmaft 

 fupply of meal and milk ; but their kindnefs extended no 

 farther. If they pitied his fituation, it is probible that they 

 dared not adminifter to his wants; and his diftrefs at length 

 became almoft infurmountable. He was allowed a fingle 

 meal ofloufcous, a preparation of boiled corn, once in twenty- 

 four hours. All his effecls were taken from him, and he 

 was r.ot even indulged with a change of linen out of the 

 few fliirts he had brought in his portmanteau : opprefTed at 

 the fame time with a burning fever, his fituation was truly 

 deplorable. " In this condition, from fun-rife to fun-fet," 

 fays he, " was I obliged to fufler with an unruffled counte- 

 nance the infults of the rudeft favages on earth. 



In eight or ten weeks, however, circumftances occurred, 

 which, contrary to their firft appearance, changed our 

 traveller's fituation for the better, and in the end produced 

 his ^deliverance, Tn the war which prevailed between the 

 kings of Bambara and Kaarta, the Moors at firft took no. 

 aclive part ; but AH having afterwards engaged to fend 200 

 hoi re tc tiie affiftance of the fugitive Kaartans, he became 

 k at the approach of the king of Bambara towards 

 Jen ■ n : brol e up his camp, and fixed his tent in a country 

 north. Mr. Park was compelled to follow him, and, 

 3ftu a month's confinement at the new camp, was led by 

 AH to Jarra. At this place he had the mortification to fee 

 the poor boy who had attended him from the Gambia taken 

 from him, by Ali's command, for the avowed purpofe of 

 being fold into flaverv. After this cruel circumitance, and 

 the certain information which he received from Ali's own 

 fon (a youth of ten years of age, who had conceived fome- 

 thing like friendship for Park, or pity for his misfortunes), 

 that it was in contemplation to deprive Park himfelf of his. 

 lif-, or put out his eyes, he determined rather to rifk perifh- 

 ing in the woods, of hunger, or by the fury of the wild beafts, 

 than to remain any longer with a horde of faithlefs bar- 

 barianSj whoi'e tendereft mercies were cruelty, and from 



whofe 



