298 
FROM DUNRORA TO ZEGZEG, 
residence of the chief, their horses covered with foam and perspira- 
tion. The chief had no sooner been made acquainted with their 
errand than he came to me, followed by an immense multitude of 
people, and gave me to understand that I must immediately return 
with the messengers, who had just arrived, to the king of Zegzeg, 
who much wished to see me. I remonstrated with him on the 
injustice of the command, telling him it was a hard case I should 
go back to Zegzeg, having proceeded so far on my way unmo- 
lested : his only reply was, that if he suffered me to depart he 
should lose his head. Finding entreaty and persuasion useless, I 
consented, with a bad grace, to return with the messengers. Thus, 
after seventeen days’ perilous travelling from Ivano, with a fair pro- 
spect of reaching Funda in twelve or thirteen more, from whence 
four days’ sail would bring me to the salt water, a new country 
opening before me, and filled with the most lively anticipations of 
solving the geographical problem which had for so long a time 
puzzled Europeans, of ascertaining whether the Niger actually joins 
the sea in that direction, was I obliged to abandon my fondest 
and long cherished hopes, and return to Zegzeg ; from thence to be 
transported the Lord knew whither. I felt depressed and unhappy 
at this sudden turn in my affairs, and cared not much whether I 
lived or died. We left the town in the course of the day, and en- 
tered Cuttup by the same route I had taken on the 21st. 
I was attacked with dysentery on my arrival, and remained at 
Cuttup four days, much against the inclination of my guards ; suf- 
fering during that period, and indeed for several days after, more 
dreadfully than I can describe. 
25th. — Left Cuttup by another route at eight in the morning, 
accompanied by two messengers on foot, in lieu of the horsemen, 
who, on finding me very tractable, and too ill to make the least 
exertion, had thought them strong enough to guard me. After 
