INTERIOR OF AFRICA. ' I97 
who informed me that the king could not possibly see me, 
until he knew what had brought me into his country; and 
that I must not presume to cross the river without the king's 
permission. He therefore advised me to lodge at a distant village, 
to which he pointed, for the night ; and said that in the morning 
he would give me further instructions how to conduct myself. 
This was very discouraging. However, as there was no remedy, 
I set off for the village; where I found, to my great mortifi- 
cation, that no person would admit me into his house. I was 
regarded with astonishment and fear, and was obliged to sit 
all day without victuals, in the shade of a tree; and the night 
threatened to be very uncomfortable, for the wind rose, and 
there was great appearance of a heavy rain ; and the wild beasts 
are so very numerous in the neighbourhood, that I should have 
been under the necessity of climbing up the tree, and resting 
amongst the branches. About sunset, however, as I was pre- 
paring to pass the night in this manner, and had turned my 
horse loose, that he might graze at liberty, a woman, returning 
from the lahours of the field, stopped to observe me, and per- 
ceiving that I was weary and dejected, inquired into my 
situation, which I briefly explained to her; whereupon, with 
looks of great compassion, she took up my saddle and bridle, and 
told me to follow her. Having conducted me into her hut, 
she lighted up a lamp, spread a mat on the floor, and told me 
I might remain there for the night. Finding that I was very 
hungry, she said she would procure me something to eat. She 
accordingly went out, and returned in a short time with a very 
fine fish ; which, having caused to be half broiled upon some 
