31^ 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA, 
tent Modiba demanded : a few dollars * were all 
the silver I had ; but to convince him that was 
difficult in the extreme, if not impossible. — I 
however delivered to Giboodoo some other arti- 
cles, which (if not what he demanded) would 
at least convince him that as far as my means 
went I was willing to please him, and directed 
Giboodoo to say, that the ass-load supposed by 
the informant to be silver, from its great weight 
and small size, was our ammunition, and which 
I would readily submit to the inspection of any 
person he pleased. He did not return before the 
29th at night, when, instead of bringing any sa- 
tisfactory answer, he said that it was useless for 
me to think of proceeding farther, as Modiba, 
although he did not positively say I should not 
go on, expressed his opinion that my doing so 
could not be attended with any good, and there- 
fore strongly advised my return, but directed 
Giboodoo to ascertain my decision and return 
immediately to acquaint him therewith. I began 
to suspect that this man was deceiving me, and 
therefore sent with him on this occasion two of 
my own coloured men, who spoke and understood 
the Bambarra language, to be present at any 
interview he might have with either Modiba or 
* Seventy. 
