18 
MUNGO PARK'S 
May 14th. — Halted at Kussai, about four miles east of 
Kanipe. This is the same village as Seesekunda, but the 
inhabitants have changed its name. Here one of the sol- 
diers, having collected some of the fruit of the Nitta trees, 
was eating them, when the chief man of the village came 
out in a great rage, and attempted to take them from 
him ; but finding that impracticable, he drew his knife, 
and told us to put on our loads, and get away from the 
village. Finding that we only laughed at him, he became 
more quiet ; and when I told him that we were unac- 
quainted with so strange a restriction, but should be care- 
ful not to eat any of them in future ; he said that the 
thing itself was not of great importance, if it had not 
been done in sight of the women. For, says he, this 
place has been frequently visited with famine from want 
of rain, and in these distressing times the fruit of the 
Nitta is all we have to trust to, and it may then be opened 
without harm ; but in order to prevent the women and 
children from wasting this supply, a toong is put upon 
the Nittas, until famine makes its appearance. The word 
toong is used to express any thing sealed up by magic. 
Bought two asses. As we entered the Simbani woods 
from this town, Isaaco was very apprehensive that we 
might be attacked by some of the Bondou people, there 
being at this time a hot war between two brothers about 
