The Journal of a Mission to the Interior of Africa, in the Year 1805 Part 12

Mer. Alt. Tambico 166 56 0 Diam. 0 32 0 -------- 1/2 167 28 0 -------- 83 44 0 -------- Zenith Distance 6 16 0 Decl. 20 9 0 -------- Lat.i.tude 13 53 0 ========

May 22d.--Halted at Jeningalla to purchase corn for our a.s.ses. Went and saw some iron-furnaces; they are smaller at the top than those of Manding, thus:

[Ill.u.s.tration]

The distance being very great between this place and the next water, we resolved to travel it by moonlight, and accordingly we left Jeningalla.

May 23d, at two o'clock in the morning, and at eight o'clock reached Nealo Koba. At the same place where I formerly crossed, the river is not flowing, but stands in pools, some of which are deep and swarming with fish. Oysters large, but of a greenish colour; did not eat any of them.

About two o'clock resumed our journey, and at sun-set reached a small Foula village; all very much fatigued, having travelled twenty-eight miles.

May 24th.--Halted at Mansafara, which is only four miles east of the Foula village. This consists of three towns, quite contiguous to each other; and near them is a large pool of water. From this town to the village of Nittakorra on the north bank of the Gambia is only eight miles due south. Bought corn for the a.s.ses in crossing the Samakara woods, and a bullock for the people. Much lightning to the south-east, and thunder.

Got all the bundles covered with gra.s.s, &c. During the night the wolves killed one of our best a.s.ses within twenty yards of the place where Mr.

Anderson and I slept.

May 25th.--Left Mansafara, and entered the Tenda or Samakara wilderness.

About four miles to the east pa.s.sed the ruins of _Koba_, where I formerly slept. The town was destroyed by the Bondou people about two years ago, and the Bentang tree burnt down. At ten pa.s.sed a stream like the Neaulico, running to the Gambia; and shortly after came in sight of the first range of hills, running from S. S. W. to N. N. E., we came near them; and at half past eleven halted at Sooteetabba, a watering place within a mile of the hills.

[Footnote: Called Koba Tenda in Park's Travels, p. 353.]

Obser. Merid. Alt. 164 45 0 --------- 82 22 30 0 16 0 --------- 82 38 30 Diff. par. and ref. 0 0 7 --------- 82 38 23

Zenith Distance 7 21 37 Decl. 20 65 10 Lat.i.tude 13 33 33

Departing from Sooteetabba as soon as the heat of the day was over, we crossed the first range of hills. Mr. Anderson and I ascended the top of one of the hills, which from the amazing fine prospect all round, I have named Panorama Hill; it has a sugar-loaf looking top, with a number of wolf-holes in it. The route across the hill, though very difficult for the a.s.ses, was extremely beautiful. In the evening we descended into a romantic valley, where we found plenty of water, being one of the remote branches of Nealo Koba. There was plenty of fish in the pools; but they were too deep to catch them with the hands. Close to the stream are the ruins of the village of Doofroo, destroyed by the Dentila people some time ago. This is considered as an excellent place for shooting elephants; we saw the fresh dung and feet marks of many of them near the stream. Watched for an eclipse of Jupiter's first satellite, but the planet became clouded.

May 26th.--At day-break ascended from the plain of Doofroo, and travelled over a rugged country, till ten o'clock, when we met a coffle (at a watering place called _Sootinimma_) bound for Gambia to redeem a person who had been caught for a debt, and was to be sold for a slave, if not ransomed in a few months. There being no water here, we did not halt; but continued our march, two of the soldiers being unable to keep up. The main body of the coffle still kept going on, and at half past twelve reached Bee Creek; from whence we sent back an a.s.s and two Negroes to bring up the two fatigued soldiers.

We had no sooner unloaded the a.s.ses at the Creek, than some of Isaaco's people, being in search of honey, unfortunately disturbed a large swarm of bees near where the coffle had halted. The bees came out in immense numbers, and attacked men and beasts at the same time. Luckily most of the a.s.ses were loose, and gallopped up the valley; but the horses and people were very much stung, and obliged to scamper in all directions.

The fire which had been kindled for cooking being deserted, spread, and set fire to the bamboos; and our baggage had like to have been burnt. In fact, for half an hour the bees seemed to have completely put an end to our journey.

In the evening, when the bees became less troublesome, and we could venture to collect our cattle, we found that many of them were very much stung and swelled about the head. Three a.s.ses were missing; one died in the evening, and one next morning, and we were forced to leave one at Sibikillin; in all six: besides which, our guide lost his horse, and many of the people were very much stung about the face and hands.

During the night got the telescope ready in order to set the watch to Greenwich time by observing an emersion of the second satellite of Jupiter. Mr. Anderson took the time, and I was seated at the telescope half an hour before it happened, in order to be sure of observing it. The satellite emerged by

_Watch_ 11 49 16 Greenwich 11 46 30 --------- Watch too fast 0 2 46 --------- Emersion by Nautical Almanack 11 49 51 Equation 0 3 21 --------- Mean time at Greenwich 11 46 30

Observations of the sun taken with artificial horizon and the watch the same evening, to determine the apparent time.

H. M. S. '

5 57 15 30 24 0 58 0 30 14 0 58 42 29 43

H. M. S. '

6 4 15 27 11 0 5 0 26 51 0 5 35 26 36

H. M. S. '

6 6 54 25 56 0 7 34 25 38 0 8 13 25 20

Observed the meridian alt.i.tude of the sun within a mile of Bee Creek the same day;

Alt.i.tude 164 21 0 ---------- 82 10 30 0 16 0 ---------- 82 26 30 ---------- Z.D. 7 33 23 D. 21 6 8 ---------- Lat.i.tude 13 32 45

Longitude 43 min. 56 sec. of time, or 10 59' West.

May 27th.--Early in the morning we set forwards, and after travelling four miles arrived at Sibikillin. Here the water which supplies the town, is collected in a deep rocky hollow. There are plenty of fish in the pool, but the natives will not eat any of them, nor allow them to be taken, imagining that the water would immediately dry up. Cautioned the soldiers against catching any of them. At night one of the town's-people found our guide's horse in the woods, and brought it to the town. Gave him fifteen bars of amber, and a Barraloolo, &c.

[Footnote: _Shea_, or vegetable b.u.t.ter-tree. See Park's Travels, p.

203, 352.]

May 28th.--At day-break set forwards, and about three miles east of Sibikillin descended into a valley, where I saw the first _Shea_ trees, some of them loaded with fruit, but not ripe. About eleven o'clock arrived at Badoo, a small town consisting of about three hundred huts. A little north of this is another town, called likewise Badoo; but they distinguish them by the names of Sansanding and Sansanba. The Slatee or governor of each of these towns exacts customs to a great amount from all coffles, and if refused, they join together and plunder them. Judging it best to settle matters amicably, if possible, I gave him during the day the following articles; viz.

To Amar, the king's younger brother, Bars.

Amber No. 2. 10 Coral 5

To the King of Sansanding, Amber 10 Coral 5 Scarlet 5 Barraloolo 5 Two mirrors 2 Scarlet 5 Amber 6

To the King of Sansanba, Amber 10 Coral 5 Scarlet 5

Bars.

Barraloolo 5 To different people, Grandees 20 ---- 97 ---- [Footnote: Here is a mistake of Mr. Park. The total is really 98.]

Bought a bullock for 12 And a sheep for 5

Mer. Alt. 163 17 0 ------------ 81 38 30 0 16 0 ------------ 81 54 30 ------------ Z.D. 8 5 30 D. 21 37 30 ------------ Lat.i.tude 13 32 0

May 29th.--In the forenoon had an opportunity of sending two letters home to England, via Gambia.

In the evening left Badoo, and went to Tambacunda, about four miles east of Badoo. The river Gambia is only four miles distant, South of Badoo.

Mr. Anderson and Mr. Scott went up a hill near the town, and had a fine view of it. The course is from the South-East, till it reaches the hills near Badoo; it then turns towards the South. It is called _Ba Deema_, or the river which is _always a river_, i.e. it never dries. The distance between Badoo and Laby in Foota Jalla is five days travel.

Purchased two a.s.ses.

May 30th.--Left Tambacunda, and entered the woods. Travelled very expeditiously till eleven o'clock, when we reached a watering place called Fatifing, where we found some green dirty water, so bad that nothing but necessity would have made us drink it. Halted here till half past two o'clock, when we again set forward and reached _Tabba Gee_ just at dark: found no water. During the afternoon the country to the South hilly and beautiful. A little before we reached the halting place some drops of rain fell.

May 31st.--Left Tabba Gee at day break, and a few miles to the east pa.s.sed a round lump of quartz, called by the natives _Ta Kooro_, or the traveller's stone; all travellers lift up this stone and turn it round. The stone is worn quite smooth, and the iron rock on which it rests is worn hollow by this constant motion. Halted during the heat of the day at Mambari, where there is a small village built this season; the former one having been destroyed by war many years ago. Pa.s.sed in the course of the forenoon two streams running towards Gambia.

Obser. Mer. Alt. - - 162 43 0 _________ 1/2 81 21 30 0 16 0 _________ 81 37 30 _________ Z.D. - 8 23 30 D. - 21 46 10 _________ Lat.i.tude - - - 13 22 40 _________

_Muianta_, a hill resembling a castle, bearing by compa.s.s S. by E.

is distant sixteen miles; _Sambankalla_ bearing S., the hills of Foota Jalla bearing by compa.s.s SW. by W. SW. and SW. by S.--The town of Laby is immediately beyond those hills, which are three days travel from this place. The river Gambia comes down the opening SSW. between Muianta and the hills of Foota Jalla. The latter have nearly the appearance of Madeira when seen from the sea, but the hills are not so sharp-pointed as those of Madeira.