TRAVELS IN AFRICA. ^17 
ing that of his companions. I had been all this 
time sitting on horseback unobserved by Alma- 
my, who had scarcely said a word on the sub- 
ject. When he perceived that I was present he 
beckoned me to approach him, and, with much 
earnestness and anxiety depicted on his counte- 
nance, asked my opinion, which I hesitated in 
giving ; but being requested by the whole coun- 
cil to do so, I said that I thought it would be 
advisable, previous to deciding on any plan either 
of attack or defence, to reconnoitre for the pur- 
pose of ascertaining beyond a doubt the ene- 
my's strength and position, in case they were 
really in the country, but which I much doubt- 
ed. 
My opinion was favourably received by the 
whole assembly, but nobody could be found to 
undertake the task which to them was a new one. 
Saada, although a young man, and better mount- % 
ed than any other person in the town, was the 
first to refuse. At length a JolofF man, one of 
Almamy's suite, offered to undertake it, if his 
majesty would provide him with a horse, and 
appoint some person to accompany him. The 
horse was brought, but not even one of the 
king's slaves could be found willing to go — the 
JolofF man therefore set off alone. He had not 
been gone an hour when it was found that the 
alarm had been given by Saada's herdsman, who^ 
