TAFFARA — BAMMAKOO. 
389 
never seen an European, was astonished, and ex- 
claimed, in a low voice, " God preserve me ! who 
** is this ?" but, on hearing that he could speak 
the Bambarra language, assisted him to cross the 
river, and conducted him to Taffara. At this 
place the inhabitants speak the pure Mandingo, 
From TafFara Mr Park proceeded, by Jaba and 
Somino, to the village of Sooha, where the Dooty 
refused to sell or give him food, and, calling one 
of his slaves, directed him to form a pit, while he 
continued to mutter some unconnected sentences, 
such as good for nothing," — " a real plague." 
But as the pit began to assume the appearance of 
a grave, Mr Park, who had lingered for some 
time, suspecting it might be intended for himself, 
mounted his horse with some expedition, when 
the slave dispelled his apprehensions, by bringing 
the corpse of a boy for interment. It was thrown 
carelessly in, the brutal master merely calling 
out, Money lost ! money lost !" Our traveller 
now advanced successively to Eoolikorro, Marra- 
boo, and Bammakoo, where the Niger first be- 
comes navigable, 50 miles from Kamaliah in 
Manding, and 10 journeys from Sego. At Bam- 
makoo Mr Park was informed, that the only per- 
vious route passed through Manding, by Sibidoo- 
loo, to which town a jiUi-kea, or singing man, 
undertook to conduct him. After travelling two 
miles up a rocky glen, his musical companion dis« 
