TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
dentially escaped being totally destroyed, for 
had the fire once communicated with it, all exer- 
tions to save any thing must have been rendered 
ineffectual, by the parched state of the straw or 
long grass of which it was entirely composed, 
and the quantity of gunpowder which was in 
almost every package ; a circumstance that 
alone would have deterred every person from 
approaching it had it taken fire, and in the 
event of which we should have been deprived 
of the very means of subsistence. 
Almamy Amady had continued to decline 
daily since his return from the Senegal, and died 
on the 8th January, leaving the succession 
which, consistent with the law and custom of 
the country ought to descend to the eldest male 
branch of the family, to be disputed by three 
persons; one, his own cousin, Malick Samba To- 
many, being the lawful heir, and two of his ne- 
phews, Tomany Moody and Moosa Yeoro, all 
men advanced in years, and each possessed of 
considerable influence in the country. Moosa 
Yeoro, however, was at first unwilling to oppose 
the right heir, and would have certainly declined 
doing so, both from motives of respect for the 
person, who was much older than himself, and 
want of confidence in his own popularity, had 
not Tomany Moody induced him to it by proffers 
