Mr. Park's Journey into Africa. 237 



and the rain fell. The poor white man, faint and weary, 

 came and fat under our tree. He has no mother to bring 



him milk — no wife to grind his corn." Chorus. " Let 



us pity the white man ; no mother has he, &c. &c." 



Mr. Park continued all the next day in the village, with- 

 out receiving any orders from the king, and found himfelf 

 the object of univerfal inquiry. He loon heard enough, 

 however, to convince him, that the Moors and Slatees or 

 flave traders, refiding in Sego, were exceedingly fufpicious 

 concerning the motives of his journey, and in the higheft 

 degree hoftile towards him. He learnt that many confulta- 

 tions had been held with the king concerning his reception 

 and difpofal ; and the villagers openly told him that he had 

 many enemies, and mud expect no favour. 



On the third day the" meffenger arrived ; and, bringing a 

 bag in his hands, fignified to our traveller that he mult de- 

 part forthwith from the vicinage of Sego ; but that Manfon* 

 the king, wifhing to relieve a white man in diftrefs, had 

 fent him 5CC0 kowries * to enable him to purchafe provi- 

 fions in the courfe of his journey. The meflenger added, 

 that if Park's intentions were really to proceed to jenne, he 

 had orders to accompany him as a guide to Sanfanding. 



Being thus compelled to leave Sego, Mr. Park applied 

 himfelf to colleit all the information he could from his 

 guide. Though.it was evident that this man was fent prin- 

 cipally in the view of discovering the motives and object of 

 his journey, he was found to be very friendly and commu- 

 nicative. By him Mr. Park was frankly told, that if Jenne 

 was the place of his defLination, he had undertaken an en- 

 terprife of greater danger than probably he was apprifed 

 of; for, although the town of Jenne was nominally a part 

 of the king of Bambara's dominions, it was in fact a city of 



* Kowries or cowries are finall fhells which in Africa and many parts 

 •f the Eaft Indies pals current as money. In Cimbara a hundred of 

 them would purchafe a day's provifior for a traveller, and corn for his 



horfe, 



the 



