TRAVRLS IN AFRICA, 
131 
take care of Pickard returned on the 23rd, 
having committed his body to the earth at that 
place on the ^Ist, the day of his death. 
On the 25th, not hearing any thing of the 
messenger's return or any more reports about 
the circumstance, I and all the officers waited 
on Almamy, to endeavour, if possible, to obtain 
leave to proceed. We found him seated in a large 
straw hut, in one of the inner courts of his palace, 
surrounded by some of his ministers and chiefs. 
He evaded giving a direct answer to our request, 
by relating some of his youthful achievements 
in a very jocular strain, until the call to prayers 
obliged us to leave his royal presence, and re- 
turn as we went, to submit to delay and disap- 
pointment for another day, which, however, 
only made things appear as less likely to be ar- 
ranged to our satisfaction than they had hitherto 
been. He asked those about him many ques- 
tions respecting the path through Kasson to 
Foolidoo, which he seemed to be well ac- 
quainted with, and made much objection when 
we had told him the disappointment we expe- 
rienced in his conduct to us, and the seeming 
disinclination on his part to forward our views, 
notwithstanding his promise to do so in conse- 
quence of the very large and handsome presents 
we had given him and his people. His son Saada 
told us "there was no use in much words, but 
K 2 
