3SQ 
park's first journey* 
shea-tree, which resembles the American oak, is 
indigenous in Bambarra, and is left growing when 
the wood-land is cleared. The butter is prepared 
from the kernel, which resembles a Spanish olive, 
and is enclosed in a sweet pulp, under a thin 
green rind. It is dried in the sun, and then boiled 
in water ; the butter is whiter, firmer, and better 
flavoured than that of milk. Sansanding con- 
tains nearly 10,000 inhabitants,- and is a consider- 
able mart of Moorish commerce. Here Mr Park 
was mistaken for a Moor by the negroes, but was 
soon discovered by the Moors, who accosted him 
with their usual arrogance and insolence, requir- 
ing him to recite the Mahometan prayers, in imi- 
tation of the Jews, who, notwithstanding this con- 
formity, and their general similarity to the Moors, 
are reckoned inferior to the Christians. Mr Park 
declared, that he could not speak Arabic ; when 
a Shereef from Tuat, in the great desert, sprung 
up, and swore by the Prophet, that, if he refused 
to go to the mosque, he would be one that would 
assist in carrying him ; when the Dooty, to whom 
he was conducted by the guide, interposed, and 
declared, that he was the king's stranger, and 
that he should not be injured while under his 
protection. At sunset, he was conducted into a 
neat hut, with a court before it, which was imme- 
diately filled with Moors, who clambered over the 
mud wall, in order to see him perform his eve?iing 
