westward, through high grass and swampy ground. About noon I
stopped under a tree to consider what course to take, for I had now
no doubt that the Moors and slatees had misinformed the king
respecting the object of my mission, and that people were absolutely
in search of me to convey me a prisoner to Sego. Sometimes I had
thoughts of swimming my horse across the Niger, and going to the
southward for Cape Coast, but reflecting that I had ten days to
travel before I should reach Kong, and afterwards an extensive
country to traverse, inhabited by various nations with whose
language and manners I was totally unacquainted, I relinquished this
scheme, and judged that I should better answer the purpose of my
mission by proceeding to the westward along the Niger, endeavouring
to ascertain how far the river was navigable in that direction.
Having resolved upon this course, I proceeded accordingly, and a
little before sunset arrived at a Foulah village called Sooboo,
where, for two hundred kowries, I procured lodging for the night.

August 14.--I continued my course along the bank of the river,
through a populous and well-cultivated country. I passed a walled
town called Kamalia {2} without stopping, and at noon rode through a
large town called Samee, where there happened to be a market, and a
number of people assembled in an open place in the middle of the
town, selling cattle, cloth, corn, &c. I rode through the midst of
them without being much observed, every one taking me for a Moor.
In the afternoon I arrived at a small village called Binni, where I
agreed with the dooty's son, for one hundred kowries, to allow me to
stay for the night; but when the dooty returned, he insisted that I
should instantly leave the place, and if his wife and son had not
interceded for me, I must have complied.