INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 13 
company and protection of the first cqffle (or caravan,) that 
might leave Gambia for the interior country ; and in the mean 
time I requested him to purchase for me a horse, and two asses. 
A few day afterwards the Doctor returned to Pisania, and in- 
formed me that a coffle would certainly go for the interior, in 
the course of the dry season ; but that as many of the mer- 
chants belonging to it had not yet completed their assortment 
of goods, he could not say at what time they would set out. 
As the characters and dispositions of the slatees, and people that 
composed the caravan, were entirely unknown to me, and as 
they seemed rather averse to my purpose, and unwilling to enter 
into any positive engagements on my account ; and the time of 
their departure being withal very uncertain, I resolved, on fur- 
ther deliberation, to avail myself of the dry season, and proceed 
without them. 
Dr. Laidley approved my determination, and promised me 
every assistance in his power, to enable me to prosecute my 
journey with comfort and safety. 
This resolution having been formed, I made preparations 
accordingly. And now, being about to take leave of my hospi- 
table friend, (whose kindness and solicitude continued to the 
moment of my departure,*) and to quit, for many months, the 
countries bordering on the Gambia, it seems proper, before I 
proceed with my narrative, that I should, in this place, give some 
account of the several Negro nations which inhabit the banks 
* Dr. Laidley, to my infinite regret, has since paid the debt of nature. He 
left Africa in the latter end of 1797, intending to return to Great Britain by way 
of the West Indies ; and died soon after his arrival at Barbadoes. 
