INTERIOR OF AFRICA. lit) 
me, I had nothing to fear ; but if I refused, they had orders to 
bring me by force. I was struck dumb by surprise and terror, 
which the Moors observing, endeavoured to cahn my appre- 
hensions, by repeating the assurance that I had nothing to fear. 
Their visit, they added, was occasioned by the curiosity of Ali's 
wife, Fatima, who had heard so much about Christians, that she 
was very anxious to see one : as soon as her curiosity should 
be satisfied, they had no doubt, they said, that Ah would give 
me a handsome present, and send a person to conduct me to 
Bambarra. Finding entreaty and resistance equally fruitless, 
I prepared to follow the messengers, and took leave of my land- 
lord and his company with great reluctance. Accompanied by 
my faithful boy (for Daman's slave made his escape on seeing 
the Moors), we reached Dalli in the evening ; where we were 
strictly watched by the Moors during the night. 
March 8th. We were conducted by a circuitous path through 
the woods to Dangali, where we slept. 
March 9th. We continued our journey, and in the afternoon 
arrived at Sampaka. On the road we saw a party of Moors, 
well armed, who told us that they were hunting for a runaway 
slave ; but the townspeople informed us, that a party of Moors 
had attempted to steal some cattle from the town in the morn- 
ing, but were repulsed ; and, on their describing the persons, 
we were satisfied that they were the same banditti that we had 
seen in the woods. 
Next morning (March 10th) we set out for Samaning Koos. 
On the road we overtook a woman and two boys, with an ass : 
she informed us that she was going for Bambarra, but had been 
