LAST MISSION TO AFRICA. 97 
went with them to the town, where they wfent through 
some movements, and fired, 
July 13th. — Very desirous to be gone, as we found the 
people thieves to a man ; in fact we have never yet been 
at a place where so much theft and impudence prevails. 
This can only be accounted for, by considering thatMansa 
Numma is the reputed father of more than thirty children ; 
and as they all consider themselves as far above the com- 
mon people, they treat every person with contempt, and 
even steal in the most open manner. By the side of the 
river are a great number of human bones (more than thirty 
skulls.) On enquiring the reason, I was informed that 
Mansa Numma always inflicted capital punishments him- 
self, and that the bones I saw were those of criminals. I 
had reason to regret, that capital punishments seldom or 
never extend to the real or reputed descendants of the 
King, 
July 14th. — As soon as day dawned, struck the tents 
and loaded the asses. The townspeople gathered round 
us in crowds. They had stolen during our stay here four 
great coats, a large bundle of beads, a musket, a pair of 
pistols, and several other things. Before we had advanced 
a musket shot from the town (though we had one of the 
King's sons on horseback as a protector), one of the towns- 
people carried away a bag from one of the asses, con- 
VOL. II. o 
