252 TRAVELS IN THE 
up the Negro's bow and quiver, the rattling of which made 
the man withdraw : and my companion looking out, assured me 
that it was the Mansa himself, and advised me to keep awake 
until the morning. I closed the door, and placed a large piece 
of wood behind it ; and was wondering at this unexpected visit, 
when somebody pressed so hard against the door, that the 
Negro could scarcely keep it shut. But when I called to him to 
open the door, the intruder ran off, as before. 
Sept. 16th. As soon as it was light, the Negro, at my re- 
quest, went to the Mansa's house and brought away my spear. 
He told me that the Mansa was asleep, and lest this inhospi- 
table chief should devise means to detain me, he advised me 
to set out before he was awake ; which I immediately did ; and 
about two o'clock reached Kamalia, a small town, the appear- 
ance of which is represented in the annexed Plate, situated at 
the bottom of some rocky hills, where the inhabitants collect 
gold in considerable quantities. The Bushreens here live 
apart from the Kafirs, and have built their huts in a scattered 
manner, at a short distance from the town. They have a place 
set apart for performing their devotions in, to which they give 
the name of mis sura, or mosque ; but it is in fact nothing more 
than a square piece of ground made level, and surrounded with 
the trunks of trees, having a small projection towards the east, 
where the Marraboo, or priest, stands, when he calls the people 
to prayers. Mosques of this construction are very common 
among the converted Negroes ; but having neither walls nor 
roof, they, can only be used in fine weather. When it rains, 
the Bushreens perform' their devotions in their huts. 
