84 park's first jottrnet. 



single and defenceless traveller who, loaded with valuable 

 goods, passes through a succession ofpetty kingdoms where 

 law is unknown. At Fatteconda, which he reached on the 

 21st December, he was obliged to wait upon Almami the 

 kincr, who had already disgraced himself by the plunder of 

 Major Houghton. Being desirous to preserve a good new blue 

 coat, Mr. Park deemed it the wisest plan to wear it on his per- 

 son, fondly hoping that it would not be actually stripped oft' 

 his back. However, after the introductory ceremonial, the 

 king began a warm panegyric on the wealth and generosity of 

 the \vhites, whence he proceeded to the praises of the coat 

 and its yellow buttons, concluding with expressing the de- 

 light with which he should wear it for the sake of his guest. 

 He did not add, that if these hints were disregarded, it would 

 be seized by force ; but our traveller, being thoroughly con- 

 vinced that such was his intention, pulled oft' the coat, of 

 which he humbly requested his majesty's acceptance. The 

 king then abstained from farther spoil, and introduced him 

 as a curiosity to his female circle. The ladies, after a care- 

 ful survey, approved of his external appearance, with the 

 exception of the two deformities of a white skin and a high 

 nose ; but for these they made ample allowance, being 

 blemishes produced by the false taste of his mother, who 

 bad bathed him in milk when young, and, by pinching his 

 nose, elevated it into its present absurd height. Park flat- 

 tered them on their jet-black skins and beautifully flattened 

 noses ; but was modestly warned that honey-mouth was not 

 esteemed in Bondou. 



Another forest intervened between that kingdom and Ka- 

 jaaga, which he crossed by moonhght, when the deep 

 silence of the woods was interrupted only by the howling of 

 wolves and hyenas, which glided like shadows through 

 the thickets. Scarcely was he arrived at Joag, in Kajaaga, 

 when a party from Bacheri the king surrounded him, and 

 declared his property forfeited, in consequence of having 

 entered the country w- hout payment of the duties. Thus 

 he was stripped of all his goods except a small portion 

 which he contrived to hide. Unable to procure a meal, he 

 was sitting disconsolate xindeT z bcntang tree, v/hen an aged 

 female slave came up and asked if he had dined. Being 

 told th?t he had not, and had been robbed of every thing, 

 she presented several handfuls of nuts, and went off befora 



