other articles, from Walet, the capital of the kingdom of Beeroo. As there was no tent appropriated for him, he took up his abode in the same hut with Park. He seemed to be a well informed man; and his acquaintance both with the Arabick and Bambara tongues enabled him to travel with ease and safety through a number of kingdoms; for though his place of residence was Walet, he had visited Houssa, and lived for some years at Tombuctoo. Upon Mr. Park's inquiring very particularly about the distance from Walet to Tombuctoo, he asked him if he intended to travel that way, and being answered in the affirmative, the Shereef shook his head, and said it would not do, for that Christians were looked upon there as the devil's children, and enemies to the Prophet. From him, Mr. Park learned also the following particulars:-That Houssa was the largest town the Shereef had ever seen that Walet was larger than Tombuctoo; but being remote from the Niger, and its trade consisting chiefly of salt, was not so much resorted to by strangers. That between Benowm and Walet was ten days journey; from Walet to Tumbuctoo eleven days more. That there were many Jews at Tombuctoo, who all spoke Arabick, and used the same prayers as the Moors. He frequently pointed with his hand to the quarter of the south-east, or rather east by south, observing that Tombuctoo was situated in that direction; and though Mr. Park made him repeat this information again and again, he never found him vary more than half a point, which was to the southward.

Soon after this, another Shereef arrived at Benowm. His name was Sidi Mahamed Moora Abdalla, and he came from Santa-Cruz with five loads of salt. This man had formerly resided some months at Gibraltar, where he had picked up as much English as enabled him to make himself be understood. Our traveller requesting to be informed concerning his route from Morocco to Benowm, it was given

as follows:-To Swera, 3 days;-to Agadier, 3;—to Jiniken, 10;-to Wadenoon, 4;—to Lahaneig, 5;—to Zeeriwinzemiran, 5;—to Tesheet, 10;-and to Benown, 10; in all 50 days. But travellers, he said, usually rest a long while at Jiniken and Tesheet.

This information is recorded by Mr. Park, as rightly judging that, although he could not himself derive advantage from it, it was his duty, in promoting the purposes of the Association, to collect all the intelligence he could respecting every part of the geography of Africa, for the instruction of succeeding travellers.

At the expiration of eight or ten weeks, circumstances occurred, which, contrary to their first appearance, changed our traveller's situation for the better, and ultimately produced his deliverance. In the war which prevailed between the kings of Bambara and Kaarta, the Moors, at first, took no active part; but Ali having afterward undertaken to send 200 horse to the assistance of the fugitive Kaartans, he became panick struck at the approach of the king of Bambara towards Benowm; broke up his camp, and fixed his tent in a country to the northward. Mr. Park was compelled to follow him; and after a month's confinement at the new camp, was led by Ali to Jarra. At this place, he had the mortification to see the poor boy who had attended him from the Gambia, taken from him by Ali's command, for the avowed purpose of selling him into slavery. After this cruel circumstance, and the certain information which he received from Ali's own son, (a youth of ten years of age, who had conceived something like friendship for Park, or pity for his misfortunes,) that it was in contemplation to deprive Park himself of his life, or put out his eyes, he determined rather to risk perishing in the woods of hunger, or by the fury of the wild beasts, than remain any longer with a horde of

faithless barbarians, whose tenderest mercies were cruelty; and from whose caprice or fanaticism, he was hourly in danger of destruction. The occasion of which he availed himself to escape; the means by which he succeeded; the risks to which he was exposed; and the sufferings he underwent before he was fairly out of the reach of his oppressors, furnish a most interesting and affecting narrative. But it is presumed, that it will be more gratifying to Mr. Park (as it will certainly be more satisfactory to the reader) that he should relate the particulars in his own words. This part of the subject, therefore, is also reserved for the larger work.

CHAPTER III.

Park's Distress-obtains Relief from some Foulab Shepherds-discovers the Niger-Account of Sego, the Capital of Bambara—proceeds to the Eastward-Shea-toulou, or the Butter-tree, described -arrives at Sansanding—is ill treated by the Moorish Inhabitants -proceeds down the River to Silla-bis reasons for returning Westward.-Information collected concerning the further Progress of the Niger, &c.

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It was early in the morning of the first of July, 1796, that Mr. Park broke the bonds of captivity. He had fortunately contrived to procure, at his departure, his own horse, saddle and bridle; a few articles of his apparel, and also his pocket compass. This last he had concealed in the sand during his confinement. He rode forwards the whole of the first day without stopping. "I felt (he observes) like "one recovered from sickness; I breathed freer; I found unusual lightness in my limbs. Even the Desert looked pleasant; and I "dreaded nothing, but falling in with some wandering parties of "Moors, who might convey me back to the land of thieves and "murderers, from which I had just escaped."

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The first emotions of his mind subsiding however into sober reflection, he soon found his condition to be very deplorable. His horse grew tired, and he experienced the torments of thirst, raging

beyond description. Whenever he came to a tree, he climbed it in hopes of discovering a watering-place, but in vain; he chewed the leaves, but found they were all bitter, and afforded no relief. In a vast wilderness of the African continent, without an attendant or guide, without food and water, or the prospect of procuring any; in a country where the lion and the panther, prowling for their prey, are less to be apprehended than man; what situation could be more forlorn and dreadful! He proceeded onwards, however, directing his route nearly east-south-east, in the view of reaching, by the shortest course possible, a district that might afford him shelter. A heavy rain about midnight enabled him to quench his burning thirst, by spreading his clothes on the ground, and sucking the moisture out of them; and a muddy pool, which he found soon afterwards, yielded relief to his horse. The rest of the night, and nearly the whole of the ensuing day, neither water nor food were to be found; and he must inevitably have perished, if he had not fortunately, towards evening, lighted upon a few scattered huts of some Foulah shepherds. Perceiving an aged Negro woman, among those who gazed on him with great earnestness, he tendered her his pocket handkerchief, and requested in exchange a little corn to eat. She gave him a kind answer; invited him into her hut, and immediately produced a large wooden bowl of kouscous, ready prepared. She procured likewise some corn and water for the horse. Those only who have suffered similar misery, can judge of his sensibility at this unexpected deliverance. But the village belonging to the Moors, our traveller had but a short time to rest. As he approached the territories of the Negroes however, his apprehensions diminished and his condition improved.

In this manner, procuring eleemosynary support from the charity of the most wretched of human beings, he wandered for the space of

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