INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 6$ 
laws and customs of their country ; I had indeed entered the 
king's frontier, without knowing that I was to pay the duties 
beforehand, but I was ready to pay them now : which I thought 
was all they could reasonably demand. I then tendered them, 
as a present to the king, the five drams of gold which the King 
of Bondou had given me ; this they accepted, but insisted on 
examining my baggage, which I opposed in vain. The bun- 
dles were opened ; but the men were much disappointed in 
not finding in them so much gold and amber as they expected : 
they made up the deficiency, however, by taking whatever 
things they fancied ; and after wrangling and debating with 
me till sunset, they departed ; having first robbed me of half 
my goods. These proceedings dispirited my people, and our 
fortitude was not strengthened by a very indifferent supper, 
after a long fast. Madiboo begged me to turn back ; Johnson 
laughed at the thoughts of proceeding without money, and the 
blacksmith was afraid to be seen, or even to speak, lest any one 
should discover him to be a native of Kasson. In this dispo- 
sition, we passed the night by the side of a dim fire, and our 
situation the next day was very perplexing : it was impossible 
to procure provisions without money, and I knew that it I pro- 
duced any beads or amber, the king would immediately hear 
of it, and I should probably lose the few effects I had conceal- 
ed. We therefore resolved to combat hunger for the day ; and 
wait some favourable opportunity of purchasing or begging 
provisions. 
Towards the evening, as I was sitting upon the Bentang, 
chewing straws, an old female slave, passing by with a basket 
