trotted away from us in a very sluggish manner--moving its head from
side to side, to see if we were pursuing it. Shortly after this, as
we were crossing a large open plain, where there were a few
scattered bushes, my guide, who was a little way before me, wheeled
his horse round in a moment, calling out something in the Foulah
language which I did not understand. I inquired in Mandingo what he
meant; "Wara billi billi!" ("A very large lion!") said he, and made
signs for me to ride away. But my horse was too much fatigued; so
we rode slowly past the bush from which the animal had given us the
alarm. Not seeing anything myself, however, I thought my guide had
been mistaken, when the Foulah suddenly put his hand to his mouth,
exclaiming, "Soubah an allahi!" ("God preserve us!") and, to my
great surprise, I then perceived a large red lion, at a short
distance from the bush, with his head couched between his forepaws.
I expected he would instantly spring upon me, and instinctively
pulled my feet from my stirrups to throw myself on the ground, that
my horse might become the victim rather than myself. But it is
probable the lion was not hungry; for he quietly suffered us to
pass, though we were fairly within his reach. My eyes were so
riveted upon this sovereign of the beasts that I found it impossible
to remove them until we were at a considerable distance. We now
took a circuitous route through some swampy ground, to avoid any
more of these disagreeable encounters. At sunset we arrived at
Modiboo--a delightful village on the banks of the Niger, commanding
a view of the river for many miles both to the east and west. The
small green islands (the peaceful retreat of some industrious
Foulahs, whose cattle are here secure from the depredations of wild
beasts) and the majestic breadth of the river, which is here much
larger than at Sego, render the situation one of the most enchanting
in the world. Here are caught great plenty of fish, by means of