INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 93 
I had wandered a little from my people, and being uncer- 
tain whether they were before or behind me, I hastened to a 
rising ground to look about me. As I was proceeding towards 
this eminence, two Negro horsemen, armed with muskets, came 
galloping from among the bushes : on seeing them I made a 
full stop ; the horsemen did the same, and all three of us seemed 
equally surprised and confounded at this interview. As I ap- 
proached them their fears increased, and one of them, after 
casting upon me a look of horror, rode off at full speed ; the 
other, in a panic of fear, put his hand over his eyes, and conti- 
nued muttering prayers until his horse, seemingly without the 
rider's knowledge, conveyed him slowly after his companion. 
About a mile to the westward, they fell in with my attendants, 
to whom they related a frightful story : it seems their fears had 
dressed me in the flowing robes of a tremendous spirit, and one 
of them affirmed, that when I made my appearance, a cold blast 
of wind came pouring down upon him from the sky like so 
much cold water. About noon we saw at a distance the capi- 
tal of Kaarta, situated in the middle of an open plain, the coun- 
try for two miles round being cleared of wood, by the great 
consumption of that article for building and fuel, and we entered 
the town about two o'clock in the afternoon. 
We proceeded, without stopping, to the court before the king's 
residence ; but I was so completely surrounded by the gazing 
multitude, that I did not attempt to dismount, but sent in the land- 
lord and Madi Konko's son, to acquaint the king of my arrival. 
In a little time they returned, accompanied by a messenger from 
the king, signifying that he would see me in the evening ; and in 
