MR PARK'S FIRST JOURNEY. 
359 
for the arrival of some Mandingoes who were go- 
ing to Bambarra, when Ali's chief slave arrived 
with four Moors to conduct him to Bubaker. Two 
of them proposed to secure his horse ; but, as it 
appeared impossible to escape upon such an ani- 
mal, they neglected this precaution. At this alarm- 
ing intelligence, Mr Park resolved to attempt 
an escape ; and, packing up his clothes, which now 
consisted of two shirts, two pocket-handkerchiefs, 
and two pair of trowsers, an upper and under 
waistcoat, a cloak, a hat, and a pair of half-boots, 
as soon as the Moors were asleep, he stepped over 
the Negroes, who were sleeping in the open air, 
mounted his horse in great perturbation, and de- 
parted. When he had advanced a few miles, he 
saw himself pursued by three Moors, who were 
hooping and brandishing their double-barrelled 
guns. Mr Park now lost all hope of escaping, 
and resigned himself to his fate with the in- 
difference of despair ; but his pursuers were con- 
tented with plundering him of his cloak. At 
the departure of the Moors, he entered the wil- 
derness, directing his course E. S. E. by the com- 
pass ; the heat of the sun was increased by the 
reflection of the sand, and the ridges of the hills 
seemed to fluctuate like the sea, in the ascending 
vapour. Mr Park began to grow faint with thirst, 
and the horse restive from fatigue. Often did he 
climb the tallest trees, to look for the ascending 
