i68 
TRAVELS IN THE 
the face of nature, and gave a pleasant coolness to the air. This 
was the first rain that had fallen for many months. 
As every attempt to redeem my boy had hitherto been unsuc- 
cessful, and in all probability would continue to prove so, whilst 
I remained in the country ; I found that it was necessary for 
me to come to some determination concerning my own safety, 
before the rains should be fully set in ; for my landlord, seeing 
no likelihood of being paid for his trouble, began to wish me 
away ; and Johnson, my interpreter, refusing to proceed, my 
situation became very perplexing. If I continued where I was, 
I foresaw that I must soon fall a victim to the barbarity of the 
Moors ; and yet if I went forward singly, it was evident that I 
must sustain great difficulties, both from the want of means to 
purchase the necessaries of life, and of an interpreter to make 
myself understood. On the other hand, to return to England 
without accomplishing the object of my mission, was worse than 
either. I therefore determined to avail myself of the first op- 
portunity of escaping, and to proceed directly for Bambarra, as 
soon as the rains had set in for a few days, so as to afford me 
the certainty of finding water in the woods. 
Such was my situation, when, on the evening of the 24th of 
June, I was startled by the report of some muskets close to the 
town, and inquiring the reason, was informed that the Jarra 
army had returned from fighting Daisy, and that this firing 
was by way of rejoicing. However, when the chief men of the 
town had assembled, and heard a full detail of the expedition, 
they were by no means relieved from their uneasiness on 
Daisy's account. The deceitful Moors having drawn back from 
