INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 327 
were both affected with vomiting, by which it was discovered 
that they had eaten clay. This practice is by no means uncommon 
amongst the Negroes ; but whether it arises from a vitiated 
appetite, or from a settled intention to destroy themselves, I 
cannot affirm. They were permitted to lie down in the 
woods, and three people' remained with them until they had 
rested themselves ; but they- did not arrive at the town until 
past midnight; and were then so much exhausted^that -the 
Slatee gave up all thoughts of taking them across the woods 
in their present condition, and determined to return with them 
to Bala, and wait for another opportunity. 
As this was the first town beyond the limits of Manding, 
greater etiquette than usual was observed. Every person was 
ordered to keep in his proper station, and we marched towards 
the town in a sort of procession, nearly as follows. In front, 
five or six singing men, all of them belonging to the cofHe ; 
these were followed by the other free people ; then came the 
slaves fastened in the usual way by a rope round their necks, 
four of them to a rope, and a man with a spear between 
each four ; after them came the domestic slaves, and in the 
rear the women of free condition, wives of the Slatees, &c. In 
this manner we proceeded, until we came within a hundred 
yards of the gate ; when the singing men began a loud song, 
well calculated to flatter the vanity of the inhabitants, by ex- 
tolling their known hospitality to strangers, and their particular 
friendship for the Mandingoes. When we entered the town 
we proceeded to the Bentang, where the people gathered 
round us to hear our dentegi (history) ; this was related 
