INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 33I 
When we had finished our supper of kouskous, moistened with 
some boiling water, and put the slaves in irons, we all lay 
down to sleep ; but we were frequently disturbed in the night 
by the howling of wild beasts ; and we found the small brown 
ants very troublesome. 
April 24th. Before daybreak the Bushreens said their 
morning prayers, and most of the free people drank a little 
moening (a sort of gruel), part of which was likewise given 
to such of the slaves as appeared least able to sustain the fa- 
tigues of the day. One of Karfa's female slaves was very sulky, 
and when some gruel was offered to her, she refused to drink 
it. As soon as day dawned we set out, and travelled the whole 
morning over a wild and rocky country, by which my feet 
were much bruised ; and I was sadly apprehensive that I should 
not be able to keep up with the coffle during the day ; but I was, 
in a great measure, relieved from this anxiety, when I observed 
that others were more exhausted than myself. In particular, 
the woman slave, who had refused victuals in the morning, began 
now to lag behind, and complain dreadfully of pains in her legs. 
Her load was taken from her, and given to another slave, and 
she was ordered to keep in the front of the coffle. About eleven 
o'clock, as we were resting by a small rivulet, some of the people 
discovered a hive of bees in a hollow tree, and they were proceed- 
ing to obtain the honey, when the largest swarm I ever beheld, 
flew out, and attacking the people of the coffle, made us fly in 
all directions. I took the alarm first, and I believe was the only 
person who escaped with impunity. When our enemies thought 
fit to desist from pursuing us, and every person was employed 
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