236 Mr. Park's journey Into Africa. 



The multitude gazed on the ftranger with filent wonder; 

 and he distinguished with concern many Moors among them. 

 In the mean time, information that a white man was waiting 

 for a paflage was conveyed to the king; who immediately 

 fent a meffenger to inquire what brought. him to Sego, and 

 what he wanted ? Our traveller, having given the bed an- 

 fwer he could as to the motives of his journey, added, that 

 he was there in his way to Jenne, and, having been robbed 

 of all he pofTefTed, implored the king's bounty and protec- 

 tion. The meffenger told him to go to a did ant village, 

 which he pointed out, and wait for the king's farther orders. 

 Mr. Park complied with thefe directions, but found that 

 the inhabitants of the village were either averfe or afraid to 

 give him lodging or entertainment ; and having turned his 

 horfe loofe, he fought (belter from a ftorm of thunder and 

 rain under a tree. At length, as night approached, the kind- 

 nefs and humanity inherent in the female fex, to which he 

 had often been indebted on former occafions, came to his 

 relief on the prefent. A poor negro woman returning from 

 .the labours of the field obferved that he was wet, weary 

 and dejected, and, taking up his faddle and bridle, told him 

 to follow her. She led him to her cottage, lighted' up a 

 lamp, procured him an excellent fupper of fifh, and plenty 

 of corn for. his horfe; after which, flie fpread a mat upon 

 the floor, and faid he might remain there for the night. 

 For this well-timed bounty our traveller prefented her with 

 two of the four brafs buttons which remained on his waift- 

 coat, Mr. Park relates that this good woman, having per- 

 formed the rites of hofpitality herfelf, called in the female 

 part of her family, and made them fpin cotton for a great 

 part of the night. They lightened their labour by fongs : 

 one of which mud have been compofed extempore ; for our 

 traveller was himfelf the fubjecT: of it ; and the air was, in 

 his opinion, the fweeteft and mod plaintive he had ever 

 heard. The words, as may be expected, were fimple, and 

 may be literally tranflated as follows : " The winds roared, 



and 



