68 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
fowl and two bottles of milk, or, as they call it, 
giving us service, that is a complimentary visit, 
which we returned in the evening. W e found 
him seated in a large circular mud hut, sur- 
rounded by about twenty five boys, from the 
age of seven to fourteen, learning to read and 
write Arabic. The Koran v^as the only book 
from which they were taught, and their educa- 
tion was generally considered completed when 
they could read and expound any passage in 
it. The most of the people there are Mahome- 
dans. 
The old gentleman received us kindly, and 
conducted us to the Alcaid, or chief, a venera- 
ble looking old man, who, on our informing him 
of the object of our travelling in his country, 
said that he perfectly recollected seeing Mr. 
Park when he last went to the east, but was ex- 
tremely sorry to hear he never returned to his 
own country, a fate which he prayed to God 
might not be ours. We made him a small pre- 
sent, and one to the priest, for which they ap- 
peared very grateful. Two of the European 
and one of the native soldiers had attacks of in- 
termittent fever this day, but were nevertheless 
able to come on. 
Mr. Partarrieau joined us in the afternoon, 
bringing with him only one camel ; the other 
having died before it reached Kayaye, he was 
