66 
AFRICA AND ITS EXPLORATION. 
but water is not so scarce on tliis journey, which is 
generally made upon oxen. At Timbuctoo there are a 
number of Jews who speak Arabic, and use the same 
forms of prayer as the Moors. 
The events of the war decided Ali to proceed to 
Jarra. Mungo Park, who had succeeded in making 
friends with the sultan’s favourite, Fatima, obtained per¬ 
mission to accompany the king. The traveller hoped, 
by nearing the scene of action, to manage to escape. 
AN AFRICAN KING. 
As it happened, the King of Ivaarta, Daisy Kourabari, 
soon after marched against the town of Jarra. The 
larger number of inhabitants fled, and Mungo Park did 
the same. 
He soon found means to get away, but his inter¬ 
preter refused to accompany him. He was forced to 
start for Bambara alone, and destitute of resources. 
The first town he came to was Wawra, which 
properly belongs to Kaarta, but was then paying 
tribute to Mansong, King of Bambara. Mungo Park 
says :— 
