INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 353 
have so bad a reputation, that strangers seldom lodge in the 
village ; we accordingly rested for the night in the fields, 
where we erected temporary huts for our protection, there be- 
ing great appearance of rain. 
May 28th. We departed from Koomboo, and slept at a 
Foulah town about seven miles to the westward ; from which 
on the day following, having crossed a considerable branch of 
the Gambia, called Neola Koba, we reached a well inhabited 
part of the country. Here are several towns within sight of 
each other, collectively called Tenda, but each is distinguished 
also by its particular name. We lodged at one of them called 
Koba Tenda, where we remained the day following, in order 
to procure provisions for our support in crossing the Simbani 
woods. On the 30th we reached Jallacotta ; a considerable town 
but much infested by Foulah banditti, who come through the 
woods from Bondou, and steal every thing they can lay their 
hands on. A few days before our arrival, they had stolen twenty 
head of cattle, and on the day following made a second attempt ; 
but were beaten off, and one of them taken prisoner. Here, one 
of the slaves belonging to the coffle, who had travelled with great 
difficulty for the last three days, was found unable to proceed 
any farther : his master (a singing man) proposed therefore to 
exchange him for a young slave girl, belonging to one of the 
townspeople. The poor girl was ignorant of her fate, until the 
bundles were all tied up in the morning, and the coffle ready to 
depart ; when, coming with some other young women to see the 
coffle set out, her master took her by the hand, and delivered her 
to the singing man. Never was a face of serenity more sud- 
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