164 
MUNGO PARK'S 
November 14th. — The schooner is now nearly ready for 
our departure ; I only wait for Isaaco's return from Sego, 
that I may give him this paper in charge. 
November 15th — ^Isaaco returned ; and told us that 
Mansong was anxious that I should depart as soon as pos- 
sible, before the Moors to the East had intimation of my 
coming. Bought bullock hides to form an awning to 
secure us from the spears and arrows of the Surka or 
Soorka and MaJiinga who inhabit the North bank of the 
river betwixt Jinnie and Tombuctoo. 
November 16. — All ready and we sail to-morrow morn- 
ing, or evening. I will therefore conclude this long epistle 
with some miscellaneous information. 
Variation of the compass. o / 
West of the Faleme river - - 14 11 West. 
At Badoo, near Sibikillin - - 14 56 
Near the Bafing - - - 16 30 
At Marraboo on the Niger - - 16 36 
At Yamina - - - - 17 11 
At Sansanding - - - 17 40 
In case any one should be inclined to doubt the accu- 
racy of the latitudes taken by the back observation with 
Troughton's pocket sextant ; I think it proper to mention 
that I have observed at Sansanding alternately with the 
horizon of the river, and the hack observation in water and 
