116 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
lay, determined on giving those insatiable ras- 
cals as much as we could afford, and thereby, if 
possible, get rid of them. The rains had already 
commenced, and no time was to be lost, which 
could, in any way, consistently with the future 
safety of the expedition, be avoided. 
Having selected an enormous present, we 
despatched Mr. Partarrieau to lay it before 
his majesty, and it was not until the 9th that 
he returned, having, in some measure, satisfied 
the avaricious appetite of the great man, who, 
however, still said much about receiving six 
bottles of gunpowder and a musket for each 
ass load ; and insinuated that he had been in- 
formed we had loads composed entirely of gold 
and silver. Fresh demands were continually 
made, and we were not able, before the 13th, 
finally to settle with him. This was done by 
our giving him an order on the Gambia for one 
hundred and twenty bottles of gunpowder^ 
twenty common guns and a blunderbuss. 
He came to see us in a friendly way, as he 
said, on the 14th, accompanied by a host of mi- 
nisters, chiefs, &c., who all expected no doubt 
to receive something. On this occasion he ap- 
peared to be perfectly satisfied with what had 
been given him and his followers, and promised 
we should have a guide wherever we wished ta 
