INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 95 
soliciting his protection, lie appeared perfectly satisfied; but 
said it was not in his power at present to afford me much as- 
sistance ; for that all sort of communication between Kaarta 
and Bambarra had been interrupted for some time past ; and 
as Mansong, the King of Bambarra, with his army, had en- 
tered Fooladoo in his way to Kaarta, there was but little hope 
of my reaching Bambarra by any of the usual routes, inasmuch 
as, coming from an enemy's country, I should certainly be plun- 
dered, or taken for a spy. If his country had been at peace, 
he said, I might have remained with him until a more favourable 
opportunity offered ; but, as matters stood at present, he did 
not wish me to continue in Kaarta, for fear some accident 
should befal me, in which case my countrymen might say that 
he had murdered a white man. He would therefore advise me 
to return into Kasson, and remain there until the war should 
terminate, which would probably happen in the course of three or 
four months ; after which, if he was alive, he said, he would be 
glad to see me, and if he was dead, his sons would take care 
of me. 
This advice was certainly well meant on the part of the king; 
and perhaps I was to blame in not following it ; but I reflected 
that the hot months were approaching, and J dreaded the 
thoughts of spending the rainy season in the interior of Africa. 
These considerations, and the aversion I felt at the idea of re- 
turning without having made a greater progress in discovery, 
made me determine to go forwards; and though the king could 
not give me a guide to Bambarra, I begged that he would allow 
a man to accompany me as near the frontiers of his kingdom as 
