PRINCE OF THE LANDAMAS. 151 
Musulman 3 he drinks spirits^ and so do his subjects. My 
visit did not appear to interest him much ; he told me jok- 
ingly that he thought I was a christian ; but they assured 
him of the contrary, and added, that I was a real Arab. He 
did not speak to me, but he could not take his eyes off my 
Arabian costume, which seemed to surprise him. 
The news of my arrival, soon spread in the neighbour- 
hood, and some of the inhabitants, attracted by curiosity, 
came to visit me. They all shook hands with me in token 
of peace. Amongst the crowd was a Man dingo, who had 
been settled for some time in that country ; he had tra- 
velled amongst the Moors of the Senegal, and acquired 
some knowledge of the language, in which he asked me 
several questions. I answered them, and begged him to tell 
the prince that I had been taken prisoner by the christians 
when very young; that I had been long away from my native 
land ; and that, being now free, I was returning to my rela- 
tions. This Mandingo interpreted my words very faithfully, 
and told the prince and his ministers that they were very 
fortunate, and ought to thank God for having sent to them 
an Arab from the prophet's own country, to open to them the 
gates of heaven ; and lastly, that they had that day seen what 
their ancestors had never beheld. After this short conversation 
we took leave of the prince and returned to Mr. Tudsberry's. 
A few days before this time a caravan had arrived at 
Rebeca from Kankan, with a large quantity of gold. 1 soon 
made acquaintance with the chiefs ; they were not a little 
surprised when they heard the object of my journey, and 
congratulated me on my attachment to Islamism, assuring 
me that the chief of Tembo would be happy to see me, and 
anxious to forward my plans. I said prayers with my new 
friends, after which they received me as a true Musulman, 
and gave me part of their supper, which consisted of boiled 
rice. 
As it was then the time of the Ramadan, I pretended 
