INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 
CHAPTER XVIII. 
Inhospitable Reception at Taffara. — A Negro Funeral at Sooba. — 
The Author continues his Route through several Villages along 
the Banks of the Niger, until he comes to Koolikorro. — Supports 
himself by writing Saphies — reaches Maraboo — loses the Road; 
and after many difficulties arrives at Bammakoo. — Takes the 
Road for Sibidooloo — meets with great Kindness at a Village 
called Kooma ; — is afterwards robbed, stripped, and plundered 
by Banditti. — The Author's Resource and Consolation under 
exquisite Distress. — He arrives in Safety at Sibidooloo. 
On my arrival at Taffara, I inquired for the Dooty, but was 
informed that he had died a few days before my arrival, and 
that there was, at that moment, a meeting of the chief men for 
electing another; there being some dispute about the succes- 
sion. It was probably owing to this unsettled state of the town, 
that I experienced such a want of hospitality in it ; for though 
I informed the inhabitants that I should only remain with them 
for one night, and assured them that Mansong had given me 
some Kowries to pay for my lodging, yet no person invited me 
to come in ; and I was forced to sit alone, under the Ben- 
tang tree, exposed to the rain and wind of a tornado, which 
lasted with great violence until midnight. At this time the 
stranger, who had assisted me in crossing the river, paid me a 
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