DESCRIPTION OF TIMBO. 255 
eut off my head for conducting you hither. When Almamy 
learns that you are gone, he will be furious that his prey has 
thus escaped him." h --^m^irr-'j-^m v^^ 
. - , We passed the night in the country house of Abdoulai's 
son. Our host set before me sugar,* in a China saucer, and 
some rice rolls on a plate, and spread on the ground for my 
bed a large mat of Liban, which might vie with the most 
beautiful stuffs in the richness of the design. The pride of 
this black was highly gratified in shewing me that he was 
acquainted with our manners, and possessed our utensils, 
whilst I was obliged like the poorest Negro to make shift 
with a calebash. 
Timbo is situated at the foot of a high mountain. It 
contains about nine thousand persons, a spacious mosque and 
three forts, in one of which is the palace of Almamy, con- 
sisting of five large huts, regularly built. The fortifications 
are of earth, and falling in ruins ; in several places they have 
loop-holes. 
Timbo must be a very ancient city ; all the neighbouring 
country bears the same name. Hence sprung the present 
masters of Fouta Jallon, for the provinces comprised under 
that name have been conquered and were not originally subject 
to them. Timbo is the residence of the king and the army. 
I was informed that so many as a thousand horses are to be 
* The Poulas purchase it at Sierra Leone, or on the Rio Nunez. 
