32 
MUNGO PARK'S 
child sat crying with us under the tree, his Negroes were 
very much dejected, and seemed to consider the matter as 
quite hopeless. We could have gone in the night and 
burnt the town. By this we should have killed a great 
many innocent people, and most probably should not have 
recovered our guide. I therefore thought it most advis- 
able (having consulted with Mr. Anderson and Lieutenant 
Martyn) to wait till morning ; and then, if they persisted 
in detaining our guide, to attack them in open day ; a 
measure which would be more decisive, and more likely 
to be attended with success than any night skirmishes. 
We accordingly placed double sentries during the night, 
and made every man sleep with his loaded musquet at i 
hand. We likewise sent two people back to Jallacotta, to 
inform the Dooty of the treatment we had received from 
Faranba, though at one of the towns belonging to the 
King of Woolli. 
May 21st. — Early in the morning our guide was libe- 
rated, and sent back to us ; and about ten o'clock a num- 
ber of Faranba's people came and told me that Faranba 
did not wish to quarrel with me, but could not think of 
allowing a coffle to pass without paying the customary 
tribute ; but as I had refused to do that the evening before, 
if I would now carry over to Bady such articles as I meant 
to give him, every thing would be amicably settled. I 
