24 
THE AUTHOR ANNOYED. 
the cowries, he threw out threats against me, and went so 
far as to pull me by the legs to make me leave the boat. 
He collected what articles belonged to me and threw them 
on deck, accompanying the action with many violent and 
rude expressions. He intimated that he would drive me 
among the slaves, and thus insulted me in a thousand differ- 
ent ways. 
When I went on shore he objected to my going in 
the small boat. I knew not to whom I could complain of 
all these vexations, for there was no person on board who 
could protect me. At last the young Foulah obtained his 
consent to my going in the little canoe, to be put on 
shore along with some slaves. On landing, I seated myself 
under the shade of a mimosa, and, reflecting sorrowfully on 
the disagreeable situation in which I should be placed during 
the voyage if 1 did not lend him the cowries, I resolved to 
make that sacrifice. He came on shore to me, and assailed 
me with fresh reproaches, insisting at the same time that I 
certainly ought to place confidence in him, and assuring me 
that he would repay the debt on the arrival of his master. 
Though my resources were greatly diminished, and I felt 
that the strictest economy was indispensible, I promised for 
the sake of peace to lend him a thousand cowries. From 
that moment our quarrel terminated. His example was 
however followed by one of his comrades. These two 
negroes completely abused the advantage which circum- 
cumstances had given them over me ; and when we arrived 
at Timbuctoo I found it impossible to procure repayment. 
About three o'clock in the afternoon, while we were pro- 
ceeding on our voyage, the canoe, which had put off from 
the shore with the slaves to bring them on board, sunk in 
consequence of being leaky and overloaded. The poor 
women, embarrassed by the weight of the pagnes about their 
loins, were in the greatest danger : but prompt assistance 
was given and every one was got on board without any 
