TRAVELS IN AFRICA 
327 
affair which took place before I left Galam. In 
taking this step I had two motives ; first, that 
of placing out of Modiba's reach a portion at 
least of my merchandize, which alone excited his 
avarice ; secondly, I had in view, by sending 
those women (who were related to Almamy Bon- 
doo) to their friends in that country, to convince 
that chief that our intentions towards them were 
good indeed ; and however I might feel on the 
subject of the treatment I met with at his hands, 
I was, nevertheless, deeply impressed with senti- 
ments of compassion for those of his people who 
had fallen victims to Kaartan power. One of 
Ali's sons was their possessor, and from him I 
had much trouble in obtaining their freedom, 
which was the more difficult and expensive, from 
its having been his intention to add them to the 
list of his concubines, whose number already 
amounted to twelve. 
Polygamy is carried to a frightful extent in 
Kaarta. Many private individuals have ten wives, 
and as many concubines ; the princes, for the 
most part, not less than thirty of each, and 
Modiba himself is said to have one hundred wives 
and two hundred concubines ; and I verily be- 
lieve that one-third of the free inhabitants of 
Kaarta are of the blood royal. 
We left Missira at six on the morning of the 
22d, and reached Moonia at ten, but had scarcely 
