TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
203 
sheep, and goats, together with an abundant 
supply of corn for their horses, all which they 
secured within the half-ruined walls of a part 
of the town ; and, having repaired that part of 
them, and supposing that Almamy would never 
dare to face them, sat down to amuse themselves 
with their captive ladies, occasionally sending 
small parties in different directions through the 
country to collect cattle, corn, &c., and pick up 
all stragglers. In this state they thought of no- 
thing but plunder, in their pursuit of which, and 
their wanton and barbarous cruelties to the poor 
defenceless inhabitants who came within their 
merciless grasp, they expended their small store 
of ammunition. 
Modiba, whose avarice was as great as his 
cruelty, made many attempts to reduce Alma- 
my's palace, but always failed, in consequence 
of an ill-judged threat to all those he brought 
against it, that if any of them should lay hands 
on the smallest particle of the treasure he fan- 
cied it contained, he would take off their heads. 
This, instead of urging his men to great ex- 
ertions, had the very opposite effect, and deter- 
red them from exposing their lives for an object, 
the attainment of which could be of no advan- 
tage to a people who enter the field of war from 
no other motive than that of acquiring riches. 
The consequence was, the chiefs gave it as their 
