LAST MISSION TO AFRICA. 51 
From the time of oar crossing the Samakoo to our halt- 
ing place, we travelled without any road ; our guide being 
apprehensive that as there existed a war a little to the south, 
and the people were in arms ; they might attempt to cut 
off some of the fatigued asses in our rear, 
frln the afternoon resumed our march, and travelled 
without any road over a wild and rocky country. Obliged 
to leave two of the asses on the road, and load all the 
horses. We did not reach the watering place till quite 
dark, and were obliged to fire muskets frequently to 
prevent us from straying from each other. 
Jurie 8th.— Early in the morning resumed our march, 
and about two miles to the east came to the brow of a hill^ 
from whence we could distinguish the course of the Faleme 
river by the range of dark green trees which grew on its 
borders. The carpenter unable to sit upright, and fre- 
quently threw himself from the ass, wishing to be left to 
die. Made two of the soldiers carry him by force and hold 
him on the ass. At noon reached Madina, and halted by 
the side of the Faleme river; which at this season is a little 
discoloured by the rain, but not sensibly swelled. The 
general course of this river as pointed out by the natives is 
from thevsouth-east quarter ; the distance to its source is 
six ordinary days travel. The bed of the river here is 
rocky, except at the crossing place, where it is a mixture 
of sand and gravel. The river abounds in fish, some of 
