INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 33 
beast and his pursuers were caught in the same cage, and the 
lion devoured them at his leisure, to the great astonishment 
and mortification of the people of Doomasansa ; at which place 
it is dangerous even at this day to tell the story ; for it is be- 
come the subject of laughter and derision in the neighbouring 
countries, and nothing will enrage an inhabitant of that town 
so much as desiring him to catch a lion alive/' 
About one o'clock in the afternoon of the 3d of December, I 
took my leave of Dr. Laidley and Messrs. Ainsley, and rode 
slowly into the woods. I had now before me a boundless forest, 
and a country, the inhabitants of which were strangers to civi- 
lized life, and to most of whom a white man was the object of 
curiosity or plunder. I reflected that I had parted from the 
last European I might probably behold, and perhaps quitted for 
ever the comforts of Christian society. Thoughts like these 
would necessarily cast a gloom over the mind, and I rode mus- 
ing along for about three miles, when I was awakened from 
my reverie by a body of people, who came running up and 
stopped the asses, giving me to understand that I must go with 
them to Peckaba, to present myself to the King of Walli, or 
pay customs to them. I endeavoured to make them comprehend 
that the object of my journey not being traffic, I ought not to 
be subjected to a tax like the Slatees, and other merchants, who 
travel for gain ; but I reasoned to no purpose. They said it 
was usual for travellers of all descriptions to make a present to 
the King of Walli, and without doing so I could not be permit- 
ted to proceed. As they were more numerous than my attend- 
ants, and withal very noisy, I thought it prudent to comply 
F 
