70 TRAVELS IN THE 
upon her head, asked me if I had got my dinner. As I thought 
she only laughed at me, I gave her no answer ; but my boy, 
who was sitting close by, answered for me ; and told her, that 
the King's people had robbed me of all my money. On hear- 
ing this, the good old woman, with a look of unaffected bene- 
volence, immediately took the basket from her head, and shew- 
ing me that it contained ground nuts, asked me if I could eat 
them ; being answered in the affirmative, she presented me 
with a few handfuls, and walked away, before I had time to 
thank her for this seasonable supply. This trifling circumstance 
gave me peculiar satisfaction. I reflected with pleasure on the 
conduct of this poor untutored slave, who, without examining 
into my character or circumstances, listened implicitly to the 
dictates of her own heart. Experience had taught her that 
hunger was painful, and her own distresses made her commi- 
serate those of others. 
The old woman had scarcely left me, when I received infor- 
mation that a nephew of Demba Sego Jalla, the Mandingo King 
of Kasson, was coming to pay me a visit. He had been sent 
on an embassy to Batcheri, King of Kajaaga, to endeavour to 
settle the disputes which had arisen between his uncle and the 
latter ; but after debating the matter four days without suc- 
cess, he was now on his return ; and hearing that a white man 
was at Joag, in his way to Kasson, curiosity brought him to see 
me. I represented to him my situation and distresses ; when 
he frankly offered me his protection, and said he would be my 
guide to Kasson (provided I would set out the next morning), 
and be answerable for my safety. I readily and gratefully 
