LA3T MISSION TO AFRICA. 139 
very weak, it was not long before I had to dismount and 
put a load on my horse. Only one of the soldiers able to 
drive an ass. Road very bad ; did not reach Toniba till 
sun set, being a distance of eighteen or twenty miles S. E. 
by S. Mr. Anderson's bearers halted with him at a village 
on the road, where there was some good beer. As soon as 
we had pitched the tent, it began to rain, and rained all 
night ; the soldiers run all into the village. I passed a 
very disagreeable night, having to keep our asses from 
eating the people's corn, which caused me to keep walking 
about almost the whole night. 
In case it should escape my memory, I take this oppor- 
tunity of observing, that the standard law of Africa runs 
thus : If an ass should break a single stem of corn, the 
proprietor of the corn has a right to seize the ass ; and if 
the owner of the ass will not satisfy him for the damage he 
thinks he has sustained, he can retain the ass. He cannot 
sell or work him, but he can kill him ; and as the Bam- 
barrans esteem ass-flesh as a great luxury, this part of the 
law is often put in force. 
August 19th.— Mr. Anderson's bearers having brought 
him forward early in the morning, we immediately loaded 
the asses, and departed from Toniba (Sergeant M'Keal 
appears to be slightly delirious). We kept ascending the 
mountains to the South of Toniba till three o'clock, at 
