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TRAVFT.S IN AFRICA* 213 
hundred horse and foot, which augmented at 
every village we passed through. When about 
half way, Saada, who complained much of be- 
ing fatigued from the heat of the sun !!! halted, 
and wished me to follow his example, to which, 
as I would not consent, he sent forward some of 
his party with me. j 
Two days were spent in the preparations ne- 
cessary for the march, which we commenced at 
five o'clock in the morning of the 13th of Fe- j 
bruary. We halted that night at Gamby, and 
reached the capital the following morning at 
half after eight. Almamy, who, with some of 
his train, came out to meet us, wished us to en- . 
ter the town and remain there, as he said, till 
huts could be prepared for us ; but, as I would j 
not listen to his proposal under any pretence 
whatever, he proceeded with me to select a site 
for our camp convenient to water. A little emi- 
nence, the summit of which was shaded by a ; 
large tamarind tree, and within a few yards of 
some wells, west of the town, from which it was 
distant about two musket shots, offered more 
advantages than any other spot around Booliba- I 
ny. We therefore, having unloaded the animals, : 
,1 
and arranged the baggage under the tree, com- \ 
menced, on the following morning, to surround ; 
our post with a strong fence of stakes and thor- > 
ny bushes, which, with our huts and the addi- i 
