CHAPTER XVIII--DESPAIRING THOUGHTS--ARRIVAL AT SIBIDOOLOO



On my arrival at Taffara I inquired for the dooty, but was informed
that he had died a few days before my arrival, and that there was at
that moment a meeting of the chief men for electing another, there
being some dispute about the succession. It was probably owing to
this unsettled state of the town that I experienced such a want of
hospitality in it, for though I informed the inhabitants that I
should only remain with them for one night, and assured them that
Mansong had given me some kowries to pay for my lodging, yet no
person invited me to come in, and I was forced to sit alone under
the bentang-tree, exposed to the rain and wind of a tornado, which
lasted with great violence until midnight. At this time the
stranger who had assisted me in crossing the river paid me a visit,
and observing that I had not found a lodging, invited me to take
part of his supper, which he had brought to the door of his hut;
for, being a guest himself, he could not, without his landlord's
consent, invite me to come in. After this I slept upon some wet
grass in the corner of a court. My horse fared still worse than
myself, the corn I purchased being all expended, and I could not
procure a supply.

August 20.--I passed the town of Jaba, and stopped a few minutes at
a village called Somino, where I begged and obtained some coarse
food, which the natives prepare from the husks of corn, and call
boo. About two o'clock I came to the village of Sooha, and
endeavoured to purchase some corn from the dooty, who was sitting by
the gate, but without success. I then requested a little food by