48 TRAVELS IN THE 
my attendants ; and the night was far advanced before any of 
us thought of going to sleep. We were amused by an itinerant 
singing man,* who told a number of diverting stories, and 
played some sweet airs, by blowing his breath upon a bow- 
string, and striking it at the same time with a stick. 
December 15th. At daybreak my fellow-travellers, the Sera- 
woollies, took leave of me, with many prayers for my safety. 
About a mile from Ganado, we crossed a considerable branch 
of the Gambia, called Neriko. The banks were steep, and cover- 
ed with mimosas ; and I observed in the mud a number of large 
muscles, but the natives do not eat them. About noon, the sun 
being exceedingly hot, we rested two hours in the shade of a 
tree, and purchased some milk and pounded corn from some 
Foulah herdsmen, and at sunset reached a town called Koor- 
karany, where the blacksmith had some relations ; and here w6 
rested two days. 
Koorkarany is a Mahomedan town, surrounded by a high 
wall, and is provided with a mosque. Here I was shewn a 
number of Arabic manuscripts, particularly a copy of the book 
before mentioned called Al Shara. The Marahoo, or priest, in 
whose possession it was, read and explained to me in Man- 
dingo, many of the most remarkable passages; and in return I 
shewed him Richardson's Arabic grammar, which he very much 
admired. 
On the evening of the second day (Dec. 17th) we departed 
♦ These are a sort ot travelling bards and musicians, who sing extempore 
songs in praise of those who employ them. A fuller account of them will be giveil 
hereafter. 
