INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 53 
I took my interpreter with me, and followed the messenger 
till we got quite out of the town, and crossed some corn fields; 
when suspecting some trick I stopped, and asked the guide whi- 
ther he was going. Upon which he pointed to a man sitting 
under a tree at some little distance ; and told me that the king 
frequently gave audience in that retired manner, in order to avoid 
a crowd of people ; and that nobody but myself and my inter- 
preter must approach him. When I advanced, the king desired 
me to come and sit by him upon the mat; and after hear- 
ing my story, on which he made no observation, he asked if 
I wished to purchase any slaves, or gold : being answered in 
the negative, he seemed rather surprised ; but desired me to 
come to him in the evening, and he would give me some pro- 
visions. . 
This monarch was called Almami ; a Moorish name, though 
I was told that he was not a Mahomedan, but a Kafir, or 
Pagan. I had heard that he had acted towards Major Houghton 
with great unkindness, and caused him to be plundered. His 
behaviour, therefore, towards myself at this interview, though 
much more civil than I expected, was far from freeing me from 
uneasiness. I still apprehended some double dealing ; and as I 
was now entirely in his power, I thought it best to smooth the 
way by a present ; accordingly I took with me in the evening, 
one cannister of gunpowder, some amber, tobacco, and my um- 
brella ; and as I considered that my bundles would inevitably 
be searched, I concealed some few articles in the roof of the 
hut wliere I lodged, and I put on my new blue coat, in order 
to preserve it. 
