28 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA 
distance from it, where he was surrounded by 
his followers to the number of three hundred 
armed men, sent to summon Captain Campbell to 
appear before him. This was complied with, 
when, after the usual compliments, he stated 
that he had been sent by Almamy to ascertain 
and make a faithful report on the state and num- 
bers of the expedition, and the objects it had in 
view in entering the country, which he said the 
king suspected had all been misrepresented by 
the former messengers. This he repeated several 
times, and concluded by advising us to wait 
with patience until he returned to Almamy, 
when arrangements agreeable to our wishes 
would be effected. He left us on the 8th, after 
having examined with the most scrutinizing cu- 
riosity every thing in or about our .camp. 
Every day brought us some messenger from the 
king, but none of them were the bearers of any 
satisfactory answer. One stated that we were or- 
dered to return to Kakundy, and another, that 
the king had received a letter from Mahomedoo 
Mariama, informing him that our object in en- 
tering the country was the subA^ersion of their 
religion, for which purpose we had provided 
ourselves with machines that could kill at any 
distance, and that we were accompanied by one 
hundred large dogs, each able to fight one hun- 
dred men. These, with other similar reports, 
