LAST MISSION TO AFRICA. 49: 
June 5th. — Employed in purcliasing rice, having re- 
ceived information that there was a great scarcity of that 
article to the eastwards. Bought the rice both here and at 
Julifunda with small amber No. 5 ; and I found that 
though a scarcity existed almost to famine, T could purchase 
a pound of clean rice for one bead of amber, value 2d. 
sterling. 
Purchased three ass loads, and on the 6th purchased two 
ass loads more, making in all 7501b. of rice. Tliis day one 
of our guide's people went away to purchase slaves at 
Laby in Foota Jalla, distant three long days travel. The 
people here assured me it was only three days travel from 
Badoo to Laby. Had a squall with thunder and rain 
during the night. As the loads were put into the tent, 
they were not wetted, but one of our carpenters, (old ' 
James,) who had been sick of the dysentei-y ever since we 
crossed the Nerico, and was recovering, became greatly 
worse. Observed mer. alt. of © 161° 8' latitude 13° 35'. 
Dentila is famous for its iron ; the flux used for smelting 
the iron is the ashes of the bark of the Kino tree. These 
ashes are as white as flour: they are not used in dying 
blue, and must therefore have something peculiar in them- , 
I tasted them : they did not appear to me to have so much 
alkali as the mimosa ashes, but had an austere tasle. The 
people told me, if I eat them, I would certainly die. 
VOL. II. H 
