INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 75 
Teesee. The old man viewed me with great earnestness, having 
never, he said, beheld but one white man before, whom by his 
description I immediately knew to be Major Houghton. I re- 
lated to him, in answer to his inquiries, the motives that indu- 
ced me to explore the country. But he seemed to doubt the truth 
of what I asserted ; thinking, I believe, that I secretly meditated 
some project which I was afraid to avow. He told me, it would 
be necessary I should go to Kooniakary, the residence of the 
king, to pay my respects to that prince ; but desired me to come 
to him again before I left Teesee. 
In the afternoon one of his slaves eloped ; and a general alarm 
being given, every person that had a horse rode into the woods, 
in the hopes of apprehending him; and Demba Sego begged 
the use of my horse for the same purpose. I readily consented ; 
and in about an hour they all returned with the slave, who was 
severely flogged, and afterwards put in irons. On the day fol- 
lowing (Dec. 31.) Demba Sego was ordered to go with twenty 
horsemen to a town in Gedumah, to adjust some dispute with 
the Moors, a party of whom were supposed to have stolen three 
horses from Teesee. Demba begged, a second time, the use of 
my horse ; adding, that the sight of my bridle and saddle would 
give him consequence among the Moors. This request also I 
readily granted, and he promised to return at the end of three 
days. During his absence I amused myself with walking about 
the town, and conversing with the natives, who attended me 
every where with great kindness and curiosity, and supplied me 
with milk, eggs, and what other provisions I wanted, on very 
easy terms. 
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