228 
TRAVELS IN THE 
was exhausted, I endeavoured to purchase a fresh supply; but 
was informed that corn was become very scarce all over the 
country ; and though I offered fifty Kowries for a small quan- 
tity, no person would sell me any. As I was about to depart, 
however, one of the villagers (who probably mistook me for 
some Moorish shereef) brought me some as a present; only 
desiring me in return, to bestow my blessing upon him; 
which I did in plain English, and he received it with a thou- 
sand acknowledgments. Of this present I made my dinner; 
and it was the third successive day that I had subsisted entirely 
upon raw corn. 
In the evening I arrived at a small village called Song, the 
surly inhabitants of which would not receive me, nor so 
much as permit me to enter the gate; but as lions were very 
numerous in this neighbourhood, and I had frequently, in the 
course of the day, observed the impression of their feet on the 
road, I resolved to stay in the vicinity of the village. Having 
collected some grass for my horse, I accordingly lay down 
under a tree by the gate. About ten o'clock I heard the hol- 
low roar of a lion at no great distance, and attempted to open 
the gate ; but the people from within told me, that no person 
must attempt to enter the gate without the Booty's permission. 
I begged them to inform the Dooty that a lion was approach- 
ing the village, and I hoped he would allow me to come within 
the gate. I waited for an answer to this message with great 
anxiety ; for the lion kept prouling round the village, and once 
advanced so very near me, that I heard him rustling among 
the grass, and climbed the tree for safety. About midnight 
