TRAVELS IN AFRICA« 
fore having made every preparation necessary, I 
went (on the evening of the 10th of May) to in- 
form him that it was my wish to proceed the fol- 
lowing morning to Baqiielle, where, with some 
assistance from the French, in the way of paint, 
rope, &c., of which I was in want, to put my 
baggage in a proper state to withstand the rains, 
I intended making my final arrangements. But 
I was sadly disappointed when he told me that 
he could not allow me to go there, as the people 
of that country, although at peace with him, were 
not his friends. I endeavoured to no purpose 
to convince him that in going there my only ob- 
ject was what I had just stated, and not to inter- 
fere in the concerns of Bondoo, where I had al- 
ready been but too long detained. 
From that day until the 21st, every means 
which I conceived at all likely to obtain permis- 
sion to proceed, were tried without effect ; pre- 
sents were given to all the chiefs * unknown to 
each other, in order to induce them to urge Al- 
mamy to compliance, and I even offered to leave 
hostages in his hands for my return (after I had 
arranged my baggage) to Boolibany, whence I 
would take my final departure for the Niger. All 
would not do. The only thing he would listen to 
was that of our immediately following a path in 
Article Appendix. 
