362 THE KONG MOUNTAINS. 
where I saw several fine plantations of tobacco^ of which the 
inhabitants consume a great quantity. We rested for a 
moment under the shade of a bombax^ and refreshed our- 
selves with a calabashful of water, given to us by the inha- 
bitants, who pressed eagerly round me, and kept their eyes 
fixed upon me. The morning's journey had fatigued me, for 
I was still weak, and could scarcely walk ; which sufficiently 
proved that, if I had followed my incHnation to set off 
sooner, I should not have been able to accomplish the 
journey. We took our leave of these inquisitive people, and 
proceeded towards the S. E. over a country covered with 
large rocks of quartz. We saw some Bambaras preparing 
the ground for the purpose of planting yams. 
After proceeding about ten miles, we arrived about two 
o'clock in the afternoon at Kimba, a small village where the 
caravan bound to Jenne was waiting. At the distance of 
about two miles from this village there is a chain of moun- 
tains extending from N. E, to S. W. and as high as those 
we crossed in the morning. 1 at first imagined that these 
might be the Kong mountains, mentioned by Mungo Park, 
though it is impossible to suppose that he saw them, as they 
are low, and at a considerable distance from Sego. I may 
also observe that Kong is not the name, which the natives 
give to these mountains, for among the Mandingoes, Kong 
or Kongke signifies mountain. Park, no doubt, confounded 
the general with the particular name. The country is en- 
tirely covered with hills. In the village I saw some tobacco 
growing. As my breakfast had been but slight, I went up to 
a Bambara, whom I saw sitting in his hut with a calabash 
of yams, and asked him to sell me a few of them for some 
glass trinkets which I shewed him. The good negro imme- 
diately took out a handful of yams, which he put into a calabash 
with some sauce, and gave it to me. I presented him with 
some glass beads in payment, which he was at first reluctant 
to accept, but I forced him to take them as a present for hia 
