TRAVELS IN AFRICA, 
235 
spectable personages to meet us at Gowde Bofe, 
in order to make arrangements for our passing 
through their country; (which in truth was not 
at all my intention), but I took that step in order 
to make the Foota people suppose we really did 
purpose entering their country, and thereby lull 
their suspicions about our going to Baquelle. 
These people left us on the 5th, and on the fol- 
lowing morning at five o'clock, we moved in an 
easterly direction over a parched and barren 
country until near ten, when we reached Siendoo, 
a considerable town, where we had as usual much 
difficulty in obtaining a supply of water, and 
where we were met by a strong detachment of 
armed men, whose chief informed us that he was 
sent by Thurno Bayla (the chief of Hourey, a dis- 
trict of Foota) to oblige us to take the path to 
his own town. This I positively refused to com- 
ply with, and told them if they felt inclined to 
carry their orders into effect I was ready to re- 
ceive them. They removed to a short distance 
from our bivouac, and remained under arms all 
night, the greater part of which was spent by us 
in endeavours to arrange matters amicably with 
them, but which we found a most difficult affair; 
for what they at one moment consented to, they 
refused the next. At length it was settled that 
we should send one of our guides with one of 
them to Goude Bofe, to know if the chief of 
