34^ ' ' TRAVELS IN THE 
woolli, who had been left in the woods to take care of the fatigued 
slave, returned and told us that he was dead: the general opi- 
nion, however, was that he himself had killed him, or left him to 
perish on the road ; for the Serawoolhes are said to be infi- 
nitely more cruel in their treatment of slaves than the Man- 
jcJingoes. We remained at Baniserile two days, in order to 
purchase native iron, Shea-butter, and some other articles for 
sale on the Gambia ; and here the Slatee who had invited me 
to his house, and who possessed three slaves, part of the coffle, 
having obtained information that the price on the Coast was 
very low, determined to separate from us, and remain, with his 
slaves, where he was, until an opportunity should offer of dis- 
posing of them to advantage; giving us to understand that he 
should complete his nuptials, v/ith the young woman before 
mentioned, in the meantime. 
May i6th. We departed from Baniserile, and travelled 
through thick woods until noon, when we saw at a distance, 
the town of Julifunda, but did not approach it; as we proposed 
to rest for the night at a large town called Kirwani, which we 
reached about four o'clock in the afternoon. This town stands 
in a valley, and the country, for more than a mile round it, is 
cleared of wood, and well cultivated. The inhabitants appear 
to be very active and industrious, and seem to have carried 
the system of agriculture to some degree of perfection ; for 
they collect the dung of their cattle into large heaps during 
the dry season, for the purpose of manuring their land with it 
at the proper time. I saw nothing like this in any other part 
of Africa. Near the town are several smelting furnaces, from 
