350 
park's first journey. 
while fresh from the water, and drying them in 
the sun, into large loaves, which, in eating, they 
dissolve in boiling water, and mix with their 
kouskous. The black loaves, prepared in this 
manner, form an article of commerce in the Moor- 
ish districts, where fish is hardly known. The 
women were often rude and troublesome by their 
solicitations for amber and beads. On the Slst 
they arrived at Fatteconda, the capital of Bondou, 
and, according to custom, presenting themselves 
at the Bentang, were invited to lodge at the 
house of a slatee. Mr Park was immediately 
conducted to a private conference with Almami 
the king, who had caused Major Houghton to be 
plundered. He was surprised that Mr Park nei- 
ther wished to purchase slaves nor gold, and de- 
sired him to return and receive provisions in the 
evening. Dreading this interview, Mr Park car- 
ried with him his umbrella, and some other arti- 
cles, as a present to his majesty, and put on his 
new blue coat, as the safest method to preserve 
it. Being conducted to the palace, a kind of cita- 
del, subdivided into courts, the various passages 
of which were guarded by sentinels with muskets, 
he was introduced in form to the king, who un- 
derstood the value of the presents much better 
than the narration of the traveller ; as the design 
of travelling for curiosity, merely to view the 
country and its inhabitants, was still more incom- 
