LAST MISSION TO AFRICA. 144 
certainly is larger even here than either the Senegal or the 
Gambia. We descended with difficulty down the steep 
side of the hill towards Bambakoo, which place we reached 
at half past six o'clock, and pitched onr tents under a tree 
near the town. Of thirty-four soldiers and four carpenters, 
who left the Gambia, only six soldiers and one carpenter 
reached the Niger. 
During the night the wolves carried away two large 
cloth bundles from the tent door to a considerable distance ; 
where they eat off the skins with which they were covered, 
and left them. 
August 20th — Received a bullock from the Dooty as a 
present. It was in the afternoon, and we fastened it to 
the tree close to the tent, where all the asses were tied. 
As soon as it was dark the wolves tore its bowels out, 
though within ten yards of the tent door where we were 
all sitting. The wolves here are the largest and most fero- 
cious we have yet seen. 
August 21st. — Dried a bundle of beads, the strings of 
which were all rotten with the rain. Opened a leather bag 
which contained about thirty pounds of gunpowder for 
present use. Found it all wet and damaged. Spread it 
out in the sun ; resolved to make something of it. Spoke 
for a canoe to carry down the baggage to Marraboo, the 
river being navigable over the rapids at this season. In 
