$6 TRAVELS IN THE 
Medina* the capital of the kingdom, at which I was now 
arrived, is a place of considerable extent ; and may contain 
from eight hundred to one thousand houses. It is fortified in 
the common African manner, by a surrounding high wall built 
of clay, and an outward fence of pointed stakes and prickly 
bushes ; but the walls are neglected, and the outward fence 
has suffered considerably from the active hands of busy house- 
wives, who pluck up the stakes for fire wood. I obtained a 
lodging at one of the king's near relations, who apprized me, 
that at my introduction to the king, I must not presume to 
shake hands with him. It was not usual, he said, to allow this 
liberty to strangers. Thus instructed, I went in the afternoon 
to pay my respects to the sovereign ; and ask permission to 
pass through his territories to Bondou. The king's name was 
Jatta. He was the same venerable old man of whom so fa- 
vourable an account was transmitted by Major Houghton. I 
found him seated upon a mat before the door of his hut : a 
number of men and women were arranged on each side, who 
were singing and clapping their hands. I saluted him respect- 
fully, and informed him of the purport of my visit. The king 
graciously replied, that he not only gave me leave to pass 
through his country, but would offer up his prayers for my 
safety. On this, one of my attendants, seemingly in return for 
the king's condescension, began to sing, or rather to roar, an 
Arabic song ; at every pause of which, the king himself, and 
all the people present, struck their hands against their fore- 
* Medina in the Arabic signifies a city ; the name is not uncommon among 
the Negroes, and has probably been borrowed from the Mahomedans. 
