TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
233 
We were met here by two men who stated 
themselves to be messengers sent by the chiefs 
of Foota Toro to conduct us into that country j 
but, as the path they pointed out led too much 
to the west to answer our purpose, we signified 
to them that it was our wish to proceed more 
eastward, to a town called Gawde Bofe, where 
we proposed remaining until a person whom we 
should send to consult with the chiefs of Toro 
could return. To this they would not consent, 
and intimated that if we did not comply with 
their wishes they had orders to oppose us. 
As I was well aware of the difficulties we 
should experience in travelling through that part 
of Foota, at a moment when the lawless disposi- 
tion of the inhabitants was completely divested 
of any restraint by the existence of an interreg- 
num of some duration, which arose from dissen- 
sions among its chiefs, I thought it more ad- 
viseable to move back from Bokey Guiley, where 
I should be certainly out of the power at least of 
the people of Foota, who were even more to be 
dreaded by us than those of Bondoo : and I was 
also in hopes that my returning there, would by 
our appearing to have more confidence in our 
Bondoo guides, induce them to act more honour- 
ably towards us. I was however deceived, for, dur^ 
ing the return to Bokey Guiley, which was part- 
ly performed by night, we were robbed by them 
