TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 117 
move, and in whatever direction we pleased. 
This, however, we could not obtain until the 
17th, and then he would not listen to our pur- 
suing any route but that through Kasson, the 
chief of which country was his friend, which we 
knew to be the case, but we feared he was only 
too much so, and ready to put in execution any 
plan Almamy might devise to annoy and delay 
us, and ultimately frustrate the object we had 
in view. 
Notwithstanding Almamy 's having sent his 
nephew to procure supplies for us, since our arri- 
val at Goodeerie we had been very scantily sup- 
plied with provisions, although large prices were 
offered, and men sent in all directions to collect 
corn, rice, or any kind of food that could be pro- 
cured. 
A fine moor boy, about eight years of age, a 
slave, was sent us by the king, to purchase bul- 
locks with, but hungry as we were we preferred 
remaining so, to eating that procured at the ex- 
pense of liberty to a fellow-creature, who, from 
his horrified appearance, no doubt thought we 
were going to eat him^ He spoke the language 
well, by which means we explained to him the 
happy change that hadtak en place in his situa- 
tion, but he did not appear to believe it for 
some days. 
In some instances the princes and chiefs who 
