52 TRAVELS IN THE 
On returning to the village, after an excursion to the river 
side, to inspect the fishery, an old Moorish shereeff came to be- 
stow his blessing upon me, and beg some paper to write saphies 
upon. This man had seen Major Houghton in the kingdom of 
Kaarta, and told me that he died in the country of the Moors. 
I gave him a few sheets of paper, and he levied a similar tribute 
from the blacksmith ; for it is customary for young Mussulmen 
to make presents to the old ones, in order to obtain their bless- 
ing, which is pronounced in Arabic, and received with great 
humility. 
About three in the afternoon we continued our course along 
the bank of the river, to the northward, till eight o'clock, when 
we reached Nayemow ; here the hospitable master of the town 
received us kindly, and presented us with a bullock. In return, 
I gave him some amber and beads. 
Dec. 21st. In the morning, having agreed for a canoe to carry 
over my bundles, I crossed the river, which came up to my 
knees, as I sat on my horse ; but the water is so clear, that from 
the high bank, the bottom is visible all the way over. 
About noon we entered Fatteconda, the capital of Bondou ; 
and in a little time received an invitation to the house of a re- 
spectable Slatee : for as there are no public houses in Africa, it is 
customary for strangers to stand at the Bentang, or some other 
place of public resort, till they are invited to a lodging by some 
of the inhabitants. We accepted the offer ; and in an hour 
afterwards, a person came and told me that he was sent on 
purpose to conduct me to the king, who was very desirous of 
seeing me immediately, if I was not too much fatigued. 
