4$ TRAVELS IN THE 
presents and a good supper terminated all animosities among 
my attendants ; and the night was far advanced before any of 
us thought of going to sleep. We were amused by an itinerant 
singing man y * who told a number of diverting stories, and 
played some sweet airs, by blowing his breath upon a bow- 
string, and striking it at the same time with a stick. 
December 15th. At daybreak my fellow-travellers, the Sera- 
woollies, took leave of me, with many prayers for my safety. 
About a mile from Ganado, we crossed a considerable branch 
of the Gambia, called Neriko. The banks were steep, and cover- 
ed with mimosas ; and I observed in the mud a number of large 
muscles, but the natives do not eat them. About noon, the sun 
being exceedingly hot, we rested two hours in the shade of a 
tree, and purchased some milk and pounded corn from some 
Foulah herdsmen, and at sunset reached a town called Koor- 
karany, where the blacksmith had some relations ; and here we 
rested two days. 
Koorkarany is a Mahomedan town, surrounded by a high 
wall, and is provided with a mosque. Here I was shewn a number 
of Arabic manuscripts, particularly a copy of the book before 
mentioned called Al Shara. The Maraboo, or priest, in whose 
possession it was, read and explained to me in Mandingo, many 
of the most remarkable passages ; and in return I shewed him 
Richardson's Arabic grammar, which he very much admired. 
On the evening of the second day (Dec. 17th) we departed 
* These are a sort of travelling bards and musicians, r who sing extempore 
songs in praise of those who employ them. A fuller account of them will be given 
hereafter. 
