338 MR park's first journey. 
is termed the Alkaid on the coast, and were in- 
vited to attend the public dances in the evening. 
But, during the night, a party of horse arrived 
from the king of Kajaaga, and being joined by 
others in the morning, surrounded Mr Park with 
their muskets in their hands, and informed him, 
that, having entered the country without paying 
the duties, his people, cattle, and baggage, were 
forfeited, and that they were ordered to conduct 
him immediately to Maana, the residence of the 
king. As resistance was impossible, he affected 
to comply with this peremptory order ; but, after 
consulting his landlord, who represented in strong 
terms the avarice of the Serawoolli prince, he re- 
solved, if possible, to conciliate the messengers, 
which he effected with the loss of half his proper- 
ty. During the remainder of the day, he and his 
attendants were obliged to fast, as he was plun- 
dered of his money, and durst not produce his re- 
maining effects, lest they should attract the avarice 
of the king. In this situation, while he was sitting 
on the bentang, chewing straws, he was accosted 
by an aged female slave, who inquired if he had 
got his dinner. As he imagined she only mocked 
him, he did not reply, but his boy answered, that 
the king's people had robbed him of his money ; 
when the benevolent slave took a basket from her 
head, presented him with a few handfuls of earth- 
nuts, and departed before he had time to thank 
