210 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
veiling merchants with slaves arrived at the ca- 
pital from Sego. 
My anxiety for Mr. Dochard's safety, added 
to an intention I had of proposing to Almamy 
to be allowed to remove my camp to Baquelle, 
induced me to obey the summons without de- 
lay, but my surprise and disappointment may 
be more easily conceived than I can possibly 
express, when, on being admitted into the royal 
presence, where were assembled all the ministers, 
chiefs, &c., Almamy told me that 1 must, with- 
out delay, remove my camp from Samba Coil- 
taye to the capital, where, as he was in daily ex- 
pectation of the arrival of the Kartan army, 
I would be more secure under his own protec- 
tion than I possibly could be elsewhere. 
Although I must acknowledge that this speech 
conveyed to my mind a very different idea from 
that which he intended it to do, I nevertheless 
endeavoured to hide any effect it might have 
had on the expression of my countenance, and, 
at the same time that I thanked him for his con- 
sideration for my safety, expressed a wish, in ap- 
parent good humour, to be allowed to remain 
where 1 was ; as it would put me to much incon- 
venience indeed, both to remove my baggage 
which was then all open, and to form a new 
camp which would probably not be finished be- 
fore Mr, Partarrieau would return from the coast. 
