24P TRAVELS IN THE 
after this I gained the summit of a hill, from whence I had an 
extensive view of the country. Towards the south-east, appear- 
ed some very distant mountains, which I had formerly seen 
from an eminence near Marraboo, where the people informed 
me, that these mountains were situated in a large and powerful 
kingdom called Kong ; the sovereign of which could raise a 
much greater army than the King of Bambarra. Upon this 
height the soil is shallow ; the rocks are iron-stone and schistus, 
with detached pieces of white quartz. 
A little before sunset, I descended on the north-west side of 
this ridge of hills, and as I was looking about for a convenient 
tree, under which to pass the night (for I had no hopes of 
reaching any town), I descended into a delightful valley, and 
soon afterwards arrived at a romantic village called Kooma. 
This village is surrounded by a high wall, and is the sole pro- 
perty of a Mandingo merchant, who fled hither with his 
family, during a former war. The adjacent fields yield him 
plenty of corn, his cattle roam at large in the valley, and the 
rocky hills secure him from the depredations of war. In this 
obscure retreat he is seldom visited by strangers, but whenever 
this happens he makes the weary traveller welcome. I soon 
found myself surrounded by a circle of the harmless villagers. 
They asked a thousand questions about my country ; and, in 
return for my information, brought corn and milk for myself, 
and grass for my horse ; kindled a fire in the hut where I was 
to sleep, and appeared very anxious to serve me. 
Aug. 25th. I departed from Kooma, accompanied by two 
shepherds, who were going towards Sibidooloo. The road was 
