LAST MISSION TO AFRICA. 
99 
some doubts about shooting him, and called to me if he 
should fire. Luckily I did not hear him, or I might pos- 
sibly have recovered my musket, at the risk of a long 
palaver, and perhaps the loss of half our baggage. The 
thief accordingly made his escape amongst the rocks, and 
when I returned to my horse, I found the other of the 
royal descendants had stolen my great coat. 
I went and informed the King's son, whom we had hired 
as a guide, of what had happened ; and requested to know 
how I should act if any of the people should steal from 
the baggage. He assured me that after what had hap- 
pened, I should be justified in shooting the first that at- 
tempted to steal from the loads. Made such of the soldiers 
as were near me load their muskets and be ready. The sky 
became cloudy, and by the time that we had advanced 
about five miles from the town, we experienced a very 
heavy tornado. During the rain another of Numma's sons 
snatched up and run off with one of the soldiers muskets 
and a pair of pistols, which he had laid down while he was 
reloading his ass. 
We halted amongst the rocks and put off the loads, all 
very wet. Turned the asses to feed, and cooked some 
rice, although it rained very heavily. One of the negro 
boys gave the alarm that three people were driving away 
our asses. I followed with some of our people : the thieves 
