44 TRAVELS IN THE 
being told that either a well, or pool of water, was at no 
great distance, I ordered the Negroes to unload the asses, that 
we might give them corn, and regale ourselves with the pro- 
visions we had brought. In the mean time, I sent one of the 
elephant hunters to look for the well, intending, if water was to 
be obtained, to rest here for the night. A pool was found, but 
the water was thick and muddy, and the Negro discovered near 
it the remains of a fire recently extinguished, and the fragments 
of provisions, which afforded a proof that it had been lately 
visited, either by travellers or banditti. The fears of my atten- 
dants supposed the latter ; and believing that robbers lurked 
near us, I was persuaded to change my resolution of resting 
here all night, and proceed to another watering place, which I 
was assured we might reach early in the evening. 
We departed accordingly, but it was eight o'clock at night 
before we came to the watering place ; and being now suffi- 
ciently fatigued with so long a day's journey, we kindled a large 
fire, and lay down, surrounded by our cattle, on the bare ground, 
more than a gun-shot from any bush ; the Negroes agreeing to 
keep watch by turns to prevent surprise. 
I know not indeed that any danger was justly to be dreaded, 
but the Negroes were unaccountably apprehensive of banditti, 
during the whole of the journey. As soon therefore as daylight 
appeared, we filled our soqfros (skins) and calabashes at the 
pool, and set out for Tallika, the first town in Bondou, which we 
reached about eleven o'clock in the forenoon (the 13th of 
December). I cannot, however, take leave of Woolli, without 
observing that I was every where well received by the natives ; 
