without returning an answer one of them ordered me to dismount, and
then, as if recollecting himself, waved with his hand for me to
proceed. I accordingly rode past, and had with some difficulty
crossed a deep rivulet, when I heard somebody holloa, and looking
behind, saw those I had taken for elephant-hunters running after me,
and calling out to me to turn back. I stopped until they were all
come up, when they informed me that the king of the Foulahs had sent
them on purpose to bring me, my horse, and everything that belonged
to me, to Fooladoo, and that therefore I must turn back and go along
with them. Without hesitating a moment, I turned round and followed
them, and we travelled together nearly a quarter of a mile without
exchanging a word; when, coming to a dark place in a wood, one of
them said in the Mandingo language, "This place will do," and
immediately snatched my hat from my head. Though I was by no means
free of apprehension, yet I resolved to show as few signs of fear as
possible, and therefore told them that unless my hat was returned to
me I should proceed no farther. But before I had time to receive an
answer another drew his knife, and seizing upon a metal button which
remained upon my waistcoat, cut it off and put it into his pocket.
Their intentions were obvious, and I thought that the easier they
were permitted to rob me of everything, the less I had to fear. I
therefore allowed them to search my pockets without resistance, and
examine every part of my apparel, which they did with the most
scrupulous exactness. But observing that I had one waistcoat under
another, they insisted that I should cast them both off; and at
last, to make sure work, they stripped me quite naked. Even my
half-boots (though the sole of one of them was tied on to my foot
with a broken bridle rein) were minutely inspected. Whilst they
were examining the plunder, I begged them, with great earnestness,
to return my pocket-compass; but when I pointed it out to them as it