MADINA — ^THE GAMBIA* 
401 
up to dry. In four days a blue colour is produc- 
ed, equal to the finest India baft. 
On the 11th Park reached Madina, capital of 
the kingdom of Woolli. Great difficulty was here 
experienced, in satisfying the king as to the 
amount of presents to be given to him. Passing 
through Bambakoo, they reached on the 13th the 
village of Kanipe. Here the women having learn- 
ed that the party were obliged to pay for water 
at Madina, had contrived an expedient, with the 
view of extorting, on the same footing, some 
ornaments for their persons. With indefatigable 
industry they emptied all the wells in the village, 
and were found, when the party arrived, drawing 
up the water from each as fast as it collected. 
Park, however, by a stratagem, succeeded in se- 
curing the produce of the principal well ; which, 
being sufficient for the supply of the soldiers, ren- 
dered all these efforts of the African ladies of no 
avail. 
About four miles after, they entered the woods 
of Simbani. A civil war, now raging in Bondou, 
rendered it necessary to proceed with great cau- 
tion, as the plunder of the Europeans might, to 
either party, have appeared a very profitable di- 
version of their force. On emerging from these 
woods, they had a view of the Gambia, which 
was here a hundred yards broad, and had a regu- 
lar tide, contrary to what was usually supposed to 
