100 
ADVENTURE AT BALA. 
we halted at a little distance from the village. I was exhausted 
by fatigue and hunger ; my fellow-travellers insisted on my 
partaking of their supper, which consisted of milk, and never 
did any repast appear so delicious, Whilst I was feasting, one 
of the Negroes asked for my poniard to mend his sandals. I 
missed the weapon. My comrades on being informed of the 
accident told me that we must immediately return to the 
village, and try to recover my poniard. T was not of their 
opinion, but they pressed me so urgently, that I at length 
yielded to their importunities. It was not an easy matter 
to get back to Bala ; all the roads were obstructed by the 
numerous flocks, which the Poulas were driving home to the 
village. My companions informed the chief of Bala that I 
had been robbed ; these men were so much attached to me, 
that two remained near me to drive away troublesome persons. 
The chief answered that we might without fear return to the 
place where we had halted, and that he would endeavour 
to recover for me what I had lost. I complied with this 
direction, and in a few minutes his son brought me my poniard 
and presented me with a bowl of milk ; begging me to believe 
that the people of Bala were innocent of the crime of which 
I had complained, and that his father, as well as himself, had 
felt real pain on account of it. He concluded with assuring 
me, that the thief should be punished. I learned from this 
young man that the culprit had been betrayed by one of his 
friends. The pains which the chief of Bala had taken to dis- 
