INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 2I9 
more, the Dooty permitted me to sleep in the same hut with one 
of his slaves. This poor Negro, perceiving that I was sickly, 
and that my clothes were very ragged, humanely lent me a 
large cloth to cover me for the night. 
July 31st. The Dooty 's brother being going to Modiboo, I 
embraced the opportunity of accompanying him thither, there 
being no beaten road. He promised to carry my saddle, which 
I had left at Kea when my horse fell down in the woods, as I 
now proposed to present it to the King of Bambarra. 
We departed from Kea at eight o'clock, and about a mile to 
the westward observed, on the bank of the river, a great num- 
ber of earthen jars, piled up together. They were very neatly 
formed, but not glazed ; and were evidently of that sort of pot- 
tery which is manufactured at Downie (a town to the west of 
Tombuctoo), and sold to great advantage in different parts of 
Bambarra. As we approached towards the jars, my companion 
plucked up a large handful of herbage, and threw it upon them ; 
making signs for me to do the same, which I did. He then, 
with great seriousness, told me that these jars belonged to some 
supernatural power; that they were found in their present 
situation about two years ago; and as no person had claimed 
them, every traveller as he passed them, from respect to the 
invisible proprietor, threw some grass, or the branch of a tree, 
upon the heap, to defend the jars from the rain. 
Thus conversing, we travelled in the most friendly manner 
until, unfortunately, we perceived the footsteps of a lion, quite 
fresh in the mud, near the river side. My companion now pro- 
ceeded with great circumspection ; and at last, coming to some 
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