478 



APPENDIX III. 



has an agreeable countenance ; I imagined his age to be 

 about 35. He was dressed in a long, dirt}^, yellowish- 

 coloured gown with a greasy turban on his head, and 

 filthy loose slippers on his feet, and in the left hand 

 carried a sabre, the handle of which was of black wood 

 ornamented with gold and silver. Being seated, a tin 

 goblet of sugar and water, the favourite beverage of the 

 country, was handed to each, which having drunk, the 

 presents, with the letters from government, were delivered 

 by Captain Smee, who complimented the Sooltan in the 

 name of Mr Duncan and the Honourable Company. lie 

 returned the comjDliments, but did not at that time open 

 the letters. A conversation afterwards ensued, in which 

 the objects of the voyage were stated, with a request for all 

 the information in his power respecting them ; but he 

 seemed dissatisfied with the explanation of our views, 

 which he probably suspected concealed designs of a dan- 

 gerous nature, and appeared to stand very much on the 

 reserve. To our interrogations about the unfortunate Mr 

 Park ^ and his associates, he only answered, * How can I 

 speak of the man ? I never saw him.' Ilcgarding the 

 rivers on the coast he confessed Rogues River to be of 

 immense extent, tliat its sources were far beyond his 

 knowledge, commonly believed to be in Europe, or, as he 

 expressed it, * in our country that a great number of 

 slaves were brought down it to Brova ; but as to the 

 towns, state of the country, or people which dwell on its 

 banks, he said he was totally ignorant. At my sug- 

 gestion it was proposed to introduce the vaccine or inocu- 



* Englishmen at the time were full of the fate of Mr Park, and 

 they knew little of Africa, who expected the people of Patta to hare 

 heard of the Niger. 



2 Probably meaning Abyssinia. 



