364 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
Chap. XLIX. 
that messengers had arrived from the lieutenant- 
governor, in order to prevent my proceeding; and 
upon his asking me what I intended to do, I told him 
that I would divide the time which I should be obliged 
to wait between this place, Jogode, and Klesem, but 
that, if I should be compelled to wait too long, I 
should feel rather inclined to return to Logon. They 
rejected my proposal, and requested that I should 
stay in Mele, saying that the inhabitants of the vil- 
lage had promised to supply me with rice and fish, 
and that I ought not to stir from here. While I 
was quietly expostulating with him upon this treat- 
ment, telling him that this was almost impossible, the 
place being too badly provided, and that they might 
at least allow me to remain half the time in the 
neighbouring village of Klesem, gradually more and 
more people entered my tent, and, suddenly seizing 
me, put my feet in irons. 
Perhaps the unexpectedness of such an occurrence 
was rather fortunate ; for if I had in the least divined 
their purpose, I might have made use of my arms. 
But taken by surprise and overpowered as I was, I re- 
signed myself in patience, and did not speak a word. 
The people not only carried away my arms, but also 
all my luggage ; and, what grieved me most, they 
even seized my chronometer, compass, and journal. 
Having then taken down my tent, they carried me to 
an open shed, where I was guarded by two servants 
of the lieutenant-governor. 
After all this trying treatment, I had still to hear a 
