Kiáma — Visit to the King — Wooden Figures — Yarro’s Hut — His objection
to the former route to Wowow being adopted by the Travellers — Instance
of Native Friendship — Mohammedan Priests — their Character — Tradition
of the Falátahs — Ceremonies of the Bebun Sálah — Celebration of the
Festival — Native Horse-racing — The King’s Sons — Poisonous Lizard —
Superstition of the Natives — Comparison between the Natives of Borgoo
and Yarriba — Traits of Character — Falátahs — Law relating to them.
_Saturday, May 29th._—Tired with yesterday’s journey, we lay on our mats
rather later than usual, and before we had arisen, the king’s messengers
and others entered our hut to give us the salutations of the morning. I
returned Yarro’s compliment by calling to see him at his own house,
while my brother remained at home to take care of the goods. The natives
of the country having a very indifferent reputation for honesty, compels
us to keep a watchful eye over all their actions. A number of Mallams
from Hàussa paid us a visit about the middle of the day; but a body of
more ignorant Mohammedans, I should suppose, can nowhere be found, for
not one of them, even to their chief, who has a youthful appearance,
understands a word of Arabic.
Just before sunset, my brother selected a present, consisting of the
following articles, for the king, viz., six yards of red cloth, a
quantity of printed cottons, a pair of silver bracelets, a looking-
glass, two pairs of scissors, a knife, two combs, and a tobacco-pipe.
The goods having been properly secured, we repaired with this present to
the king, who received it with much apparent satisfaction.
Yarro professes the Mohammedan faith, yet it is easy to perceive the
very slender acquaintance he has obtained of the precepts of the Koran,
by the confidence which he still places in the religion of his fathers,
in placing fetíshes to guard the entrance of his houses, and adorn their
half naked walls. In one of the huts we observed a stool of very curious
workmanship. The form of it is nearly square; the two principal sides
are each supported by four little wooden figures of men; and another of
large dimensions, seated on a clumsy representation of a hippopotamus,
is placed between them. These images were subsequently presented to us
by Yarro, and we learnt that the natives, before undertaking any water
excursion, applied for protection from the hippopotami and other dangers
of the river to the principal figure, which is represented as mounted on
one of those creatures. This important personage is attended by his
musicians, and guarded by soldiers, some armed with muskets, and others
with bows and arrows, who formed the legs of the stool. In the annexed
sketch, which is about one-seventh the size of the original, he has been
placed on the top of the stool, that the view of him might not be
interrupted.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
In an inner apartment we discovered Yarro sitting alone on buffalo
hides; and we were desired to place ourselves near him. The walls of
this apartment were adorned with very good prints of our most gracious
sovereign George the Fourth, his late royal brother the Duke of York,
Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington on horseback, together with an
officer in the Light Dragoons, in company with a smartly dressed and
happy-looking English lady. Opposite to them were hung horse
accoutrements; and on each side were dirty scraps of paper containing
select sentences from the Koran. On the floor lay muskets, several
handsomely ornamented lances, and other weapons, all confusedly heaped
together by the side of a large granite stone used for pounding pepper.
These were the most striking objects we observed in the king’s hut;
adjoining which were others, through whose diminutive doors Yarro’s
wives were straining their eyes to catch a glimpse of our persons.
When we spoke of proceeding to Yàoorie by way of Wowow and Boossà, the
king objected to our visiting the former state under any consideration,
alleging that three of the slaves who carried the goods for Captain
Clapperton had never returned to him again, but had remained at Wowow,
where they were protected by the governor Mohammed; and that if he
should send others with us to that place, they might do the same. He
therefore promises to send us to Boossà in four days’ time by another
road. Independently of the above consideration, the king is highly
incensed against the ruler of Wowow for harsh treatment of the widow
Zuma, who is his friend and relative, and who has lately fled to Boossà
for the purpose of claiming the protection of the king of that country.
It is said that Yarro’s father, the late king of Kiáma, during his
lifetime, enjoyed the friendship of an Arab from the desert, which was
returned with equal warmth and sincerity. A similarity of dispositions
and pursuits produced a mutual interchange of kind actions; their
friendship became so great, that the king was never happy except when in
the Arab’s company; and as a proof of his esteem and confidence, he gave
him his favourite daughter in marriage. The fruit of this alliance is
the restless widow Zuma, and hence her relationship to the present
monarch of Kiáma. To return to his father and the Arab: their friendship
lasted until the death of the latter. The king, however, was
inconsolable for his loss, and looked around him in vain for some one to
supply the place of his friend; but the ardour of his affections was too
strong, and led by the hope of following his friend to another world, he
committed suicide. This is the most affecting instance of genuine
friendship, and indeed the only one, that has come to our hearing since
we have been in the country. Yarro is much attached to the widow Zuma;
and she would have fled hither, instead of going to Boossà, if her
intentions had not been suspected, and her actions narrowly watched by
the ruler of Wowow.
_Sunday, May 30th._—Unwilling as we always are to break the proper
observance of the Sabbath, we were nevertheless compelled this forenoon
to submit to the mortification of cleaning and polishing a sword and
pistol, which were sent us for that purpose by the king against the
approaching Mahommedan festival. Yarro shortly afterwards sent us a
turkey, and one of his women presented us with a roasted badger, a
quantity of yams, &c., for the use of one of our people. This evening
the king’s wives unanimously bestowed a severe reprimand on their
husband for neglecting to offer them a portion of a bottle of rum which
we gave him yesterday; and they scolded so lustily, that the noise was
heard outside the wall surrounding their huts, which led us to make the
discovery. To appease the indignation of these ladies, and to reconcile
them to their loss, I presented them with a few beads and some other
trifles; but we much doubt their efficacy.
_Monday, May 31st._—It is supposed that the ruler of Wowow will make war
on this state as soon as he shall be made acquainted with the fact of
our being in Borgoo without having visited him. Although it is within
the dominions of the King of Boossà, who is acknowledged to be the
greatest of the sovereigns of Borgoo, Wowow is reported to have lately
received a body of Nouffie horse soldiers, consisting of eight hundred
men, which has rendered its chief more powerful than either of his
neighbours. These soldiers are the remnant of the army of _Ederesa_ (the
_Edrisi_ of Captain Clapperton), who is the rightful heir to the throne
of Nouffie: they deserted him in his misfortunes, and sought a refuge in
Wowow from the fury of their successful countrymen, leaving their leader
to his fate. Shortly after my return to England, it is reported that
_Magīa_, who is a younger son of the late king of Nouffie, was
reinforced by soldiers from Soccatoo; that he took immediate advantage
of the panic into which this intelligence had thrown his brother, by
attacking and routing his army, and expelling both him and them from
their native country. Ederesa was for some time after a wanderer; but at
length, he is said to have found an asylum with one of the chiefs of a
state near the kingdom of Benin, where he now resides in tranquillity
and retirement.
We receive visits almost every hour of the day from a number of
Mohammedan Mallams residing at Kiáma, as well as from those merchants
who formed part of the _fatàkie_ that accompanied us through the forest
from Keeshee. The former sent two young boys this afternoon to pray for
us, in the expectation we believe of obtaining something more
substantial than thanks for the good that might result to us from their
charitable remembrance of the frailty of our nature. The boys dropped on
their knees, and recited the lesson that they had been taught without
committing a blunder; but a few needles was the only recompense we
thought proper to make them, so that it is not likely their masters will
desire any more prayers to be offered at the shrine of their Prophet for
Christians so illiberal and irreligious. Of all the vices of which these
Mohammedan priests are guilty (and by all accounts they are not a few),
slander and defamation of character appear to be by far the most
general. Never do we hear a Mallam speak of his neighbours in terms of
common respect. By his account they are all the vilest creatures under
the sun, not one escaping the lash of his censure. ‘Avoid that man,’
said a complacent and comfortable-looking old Mahommedan last night,
pointing to one of his companions as he quitted the hut, (he had just
blessed him in the name of Alla,) ‘for, believe me, he will take every
opportunity of deceiving you; and if you go so far as to trust him with
any of your property, he will cheat you of every cowrie.’ The venerable
speaker had a quantity of gilt buttons, nearly new, in his possession,
which we had given him to sell, for we are frequently obliged to make
such shifts for a meal, and when his invective was finished, he arose to
take his leave: but the self-righteous priest had neglected, in the
hurry of discourse, to secure a few buttons which he had purloined, for
as he stood up they dropped from the folds of his garment on the floor.
The man’s confusion was immediately apparent, but we did not wish to
punish him further by increasing his shame, and we suffered him to go
about his business in the belief that the circumstance had wholly
escaped our observation. Gilt buttons fetch a high price here (from two
to three hundred cowries each); and as we have a great quantity of them,
it is likely that from henceforth they will be of infinite service to
us. Women use buttons to ornament their necks, fingers, and wrists; and
they imagine that the brightest of them are made of gold.
A man arrived at the king’s house this evening with the information that
_Doncassòn_, the ex-king of Hàussa, has recently retaken no less than
twelve towns in that empire from the Falátahs, in which he was greatly
assisted by the sheik of Bornou. The Falátahs have a tradition that when
Danfodio (Bello’s father, and the first king of Soccatoo) was a simple
shepherd, he made a vow to the great author of evil, that if he would
assist him in subjugating the kingdom of Hàussa, he would be his slave
for ever after. Danfodio’s request, they say, was complied with on his
own conditions, but for no longer than thirty years, after which the
aborigines of the country were to regain their liberty, and re-establish
their ancient laws and institutions. The term is now nearly expired, and
the Falàtahs begin already, say the Hàussa men, to tremble with
apprehensions at the prospect of this tradition being realized.
_Tuesday, June 1st._—This is the eve of the ‘Bebun Sàlah,’ or ‘Great
Prayer Day,’ and is generally employed by the Mussulmen in Kiáma in
making preparations for a festival which will commence to-morrow, and be
continued till the evening of the next day. Every one here, who
possesses the means, is obliged to slaughter either a bullock or sheep
on the anniversary of this day; and those who may not have money
sufficient to procure a whole bullock or sheep, are compelled to
purchase a portion of the latter, at least, for the purpose of showing
proper respect and reverence for the ‘Bebun Sàlah.’ The Mohammedan
Mallams, on this occasion, make a practice of slaughtering the sheep
which may have been their companion in their peregrinations during the
past year, and as soon as the holidays are over, they procure another to
supply its place, and, at the return of the festival, to undergo a
similar fate. The company of one of these animals is preferred by the
natives to that of a dog.
At sunrise to-morrow, all the Mussulmen in Kiáma, with the king at their
head, will repair to a convenient spot, about a mile on the road to
Wowow, for the purpose of publicly performing their devotions. Presently
after returning from thence, horse-racing and other sports will be
indulged in by all classes of the inhabitants, who are already filled
with joy at the bare anticipation of the diversions.
A company of eight or ten drummers awoke us this morning by the dismal
noise of their drums, and by the exclamation of—‘_Turawa awazhie!_’
signifying, ‘White men! we wish you fortune;’ which was repeated in a
high, shrill tone every minute.
Last night Kiáma was visited by a thunder-storm, which continued with
dreadful violence for many hours; and the torrents of rain which fell
threatened to overwhelm us in our hut. Before we were aware of it, the
water had rushed in at the door, and had completely soaked our mats and
bed-clothes, setting every light article in the room afloat. After much
trouble, we succeeded in draining it off, and preventing its further
ingress, when we lit a large fire in the centre of the hut, and laid
ourselves down by the side of it to sleep. It also rained heavily again
this morning; and to all appearances, the wet season has at length
fairly set in. If this be the case, it will be next to impossible to
travel much farther; and if we be fortunate enough to reach Yàoorie, we
shall be obliged to remain there some time till the roads shall have
become sufficiently hard and dry for our future progress. We have only
to hope that the rains may not be so incessant at their commencement, as
to render the path to Yàoorie impassable.
_Wednesday, June 2nd._—The threatening appearance of the weather
prevented the Mohammedans from repairing to the spot which they had
selected for the purposes of devotion, so early in the morning as they
could have wished; but the clouds having dispersed, they had all
assembled there between the hours of nine and ten. The worshippers
arranged themselves in six lines or rows, the women forming the last,
and sat down on as many ridges of earth, which had apparently been
thrown up for the purpose. The chief Mallam no sooner began a prayer,
than the talking and noise of the multitude immediately ceased, and the
deepest attention seemed to be paid by every one, though the substance
of what he said could only be guessed at, because it was in Arabic,
which none of them understand. The ceremony much resembled that which
was performed at Badágry; and the forms which are generally practised, I
believe, on all public religious meetings in Mohammedan countries, such
as ablution, prostration, &c., were observed on this occasion. The king,
however, did not rise, as he should have done, when the worshippers
stood up, but satisfied himself by uttering the name of Alla, and by
simple prostration only. When the usual form of prayer had been gone
through, the head Mallam placed himself on a hillock, and for about five
minutes read to the people a few loose pages of the Koran, which he held
in his hand. While thus engaged, two priests of inferior order knelt
beside him to hold the hem of his tobe, and a third, in the same
position, held the skirts from behind. After he had finished reading,
the priest descended from the hillock, and, with the help of his
assistants, slaughtered a sheep which had been bound and brought to him
for sacrifice. The blood of the animal was caught in a calabash; and the
king and the more devoted of his subjects washed their hands in it, and
sprinkled some of it on the ground. This conclusion of the ceremony was
announced by the discharge of a few old muskets; and with drums beating
and fifes playing, the people returned to their respective homes. Most
of them were smartly dressed in all the finery they could procure. About
a hundred of the men rode on horseback, with lances and other weapons in
their hands, which, with the gay trappings of their horses, gave them a
respectable appearance.
In the afternoon, all the inhabitants of the town, and many from the
little villages in its neighbourhood, assembled to witness the horse-
racing, which takes place always on the anniversary of the ‘Bebun
Sàlah,’ and to which every one had been looking forward with impatience.
Previous to its commencement, the king, with his principal attendants,
rode slowly round the town, more for the purpose of receiving the
admiration and plaudits of his people than to observe where distress
more particularly prevailed, which was his avowed intention. A hint from
the chief induced us to attend the course with our pistols, to salute
him as he rode by; and as we felt a strong inclination to witness the
amusements of the day, we were there rather sooner than was necessary,
which afforded us, however, a fairer opportunity of observing the
various groups of people which were flocking to the scene of amusement.
The race-course was bounded on the north by low granite hills, on the
south by a forest; and on the east and west by tall shady trees, among
which were habitations of the people. Under the shadow of these
magnificent trees the spectators were assembled, and testified their
happiness by their noisy mirth and animated gestures. When we arrived,
the king had not made his appearance on the course; but his absence was
fully compensated by the pleasure we derived from watching the anxious
and animated countenances of the multitude, and in passing our opinions
on the taste of the women in the choice and adjustment of their fanciful
and many-coloured dresses. The chief’s wives and younger children sat
near us in a group by themselves; and were distinguished from their
companions by their superior dress. Manchester cloths of inferior
quality, but of the most showy patterns, and dresses made of common
English bed-furniture, were fastened round the waist of several sooty
maidens, who, for the sake of fluttering a short hour in the gaze of
their countrymen, had sacrificed in clothes the earnings of a
twelvemonth’s labour. All the women had ornamented their necks with
strings of beads, and their wrists with bracelets of various patterns,
some made of glass beads, some of brass, others of copper; and some
again of a mixture of both metals: their ancles also were adorned with
different sorts of rings, of neat workmanship.
The distant sound of drums gave notice of the king’s approach, and every
eye was immediately directed to the quarter from whence he was expected.
The cavalcade shortly appeared, and four horsemen first drew up in front
of the chief’s house, which was near the centre of the course, and close
to the spot where his wives and children and ourselves were sitting.
Several men bearing on their heads an immense quantity of arrows in huge
quivers of leopard’s skin came next, followed by two persons who, by
their extraordinary antics and gestures, we concluded to be buffoons.
These two last were employed in throwing sticks into the air as they
went on, and adroitly catching them in falling, besides performing many
whimsical and ridiculous feats. Behind these, and immediately preceding
the king, a group of little boys, nearly naked, came dancing merrily
along, flourishing cows’ tails over their heads in all directions. The
king rode onwards, followed by a number of fine-looking men, on handsome
steeds; and the motley cavalcade all drew up in front of his house,
where they awaited his further orders without dismounting. This we
thought was the proper time to give the first salute, so we accordingly
fired three rounds; and our example was immediately followed by two
soldiers, with muskets which were made at least a century and a half
ago.
Preparations in the mean time had been going on for the race, and the
horses with their riders made their appearance. The men were dressed in
caps and loose tobes and trowsers of every colour; boots of red morocco
leather, and turbans of white and blue cotton. The horses were gaily
caparisoned; strings of little brass bells covered their heads; their
breasts were ornamented with bright red cloth and tassels of silk and
cotton; a large quilted pad of neat embroidered patchwork was placed
under the saddle of each; and little charms, inclosed in red and yellow
cloth, were attached to the bridle with bits of tinsel. The Arab saddle
and stirrup were in common use; and the whole group presented an
imposing appearance.
The signal for starting was made, and the impatient animals sprung
forward and set off at a full gallop. The riders brandished their
spears, the little boys flourished their cows’ tails, the buffoons
performed their antics, muskets were discharged, and the chief himself,
mounted on the finest horse on the ground, watched the progress of the
race, while tears of delight were starting from his eyes. The sun shone
gloriously on the tobes of green, white, yellow, blue, and crimson, as
they fluttered in the breeze; and with the fanciful caps, the glittering
spears, the jingling of the horses’ bells, the animated looks and
warlike bearing of their riders, presented one of the most extraordinary
and pleasing sights that we have ever witnessed. The race was well
contested, and terminated only by the horses being fatigued and out of
breath; but though every one was emulous to outstrip his companion,
honour and fame were the only reward of the competitors.
A few naked boys, on ponies without saddles, then rode over the course,
after which the second and last heat commenced. This was not by any
means so good as the first, owing to the greater anxiety which the
horsemen evinced to display their skill in the use of the spear and the
management of their animals. The king maintained his seat on horseback
during these amusements, without even once dismounting to converse with
his wives and children who were sitting on the ground on each side of
him. His dress was showy rather than rich, consisting of a red cap,
enveloped in the large folds of a white muslin turban; two under tobes
of blue and scarlet cloth, and an outer one of white muslin; red
trowsers, and boots of scarlet and yellow leather. His horse seemed
distressed by the weight of his rider, and the various ornaments and
trappings with which his head, breast, and body, were bedecked. The
chief’s eldest and youngest sons were near his women and other children,
mounted on two noble looking horses. The eldest of these youths was
about eleven years of age. The youngest being not more than three, was
held on the back of his animal by a male attendant, as he was unable to
sit upright in the saddle without this assistance. The child’s dress was
ill suited to his age. He wore on his head a tight cap of Manchester
cotton, but it overhung the upper part of his face, and together with
its ends, which flapped over each cheek, hid nearly the whole of his
countenance from view; his tobe and trowsers were made exactly in the
same fashion as those of a man, and two large belts of blue cotton,
which crossed each other, confined the tobe to his body. The little legs
of the child were swallowed up in clumsy yellow boots, big enough for
his father; and though he was rather pretty, his whimsical dress gave
him altogether so odd an appearance, that he might have been taken for
any thing but what he really was. A few of the women on the ground by
the side of the king wore large white dresses, which covered their
persons like a winding-sheet. Young virgins, according to custom,
appeared in a state of nudity; many of them had wild flowers stuck
behind their ears, and strings of beads, &c., round their loins; but
want of clothing did not seem to damp their pleasure in the
entertainment, for they appeared to enter into it with as much zest as
any of their companions. Of the different coloured tobes worn by the
men, none looked so well as those of a deep crimson colour on some of
the horsemen; but the clean white tobes of the Mohammedan priests, of
whom not less than a hundred were present on the occasion, were
extremely neat and becoming. The sport terminated without the slightest
accident, and the king’s dismounting was a signal for the people to
disperse.
We then paid our respects to the chief as usual, but our reception was
formal and chilling, though nothing could have been more gratifying to
him than our attendance on the present occasion. We had half a mind to
be vexed at this mortifying repulse, but consoled ourselves with the
reflection that we had no right to expect anything more than common
courtesy and politeness. Besides this, he was surrounded by the
loveliest of his women and the most warlike of his subjects, and being a
rigid Mohammedan when it suits his convenience, he might have considered
us as the enemies of his religion. To have shown, therefore, too great
familiarity with us in the sight of his people, would perhaps have been
unbecoming the dignity of the Chief of Kiáma.
We have here endeavoured, to the best of our ability, to describe an
African horse-race, but it is impossible to convey a correct idea of the
singular and fantastic appearance of the numerous groups of people that
met our view on all sides, or to describe their animation and delight;
the martial equipment of the soldiers and their noble steeds, and the
wild, romantic, and overpowering interest of the whole mass. Singing and
dancing have been kept up all night, and the revellers will not think of
retiring to rest till morning.
_Thursday, June 3rd._—Our hostess is a poor, but kind, pleasant, and
comfortable-looking widow, rather stricken in years. To be sincerely
grateful for favours received is not in the disposition of her country-
people generally; yet this poor woman has given us an affecting instance
of this virtue, although our presents to her were so poor and trifling,
that we were almost ashamed to offer them. This little specimen of
genuine gratitude repays us for hundreds of sour looks and discontented
countenances which of late we have been compelled to witness.
Behind our hut grows a tall and beautiful tree, on the branches and
shoots of which reside a whole commonwealth of sparrows, in their
ingenious pendant nests. The constant noise of these little creatures,
and the twittering of swallows, which remain here all the year round,
form our usual morning’s entertainment. This sparrow is a very handsome
bird, and belongs to a species which, at Sierra Leone and other places,
is called the ‘rice-bird.’ We are also favoured by the visits of turtle-
doves and wood-pigeons. A few days ago, one of the latter, trusting too
much to the forbearance of our people, ventured into one of their huts,
and was there taken and destroyed. The disconsolate mate witnessed the
act; he has been lingering about our habitations ever since, and is
wasting himself away in mourning the loss of his companion. His fidelity
has called forth our sympathy, and we do not suffer him to be molested.
Lizards, in great number and variety, infest the walls and roofs of our
huts, among which is one of a black species, whose bite is considered
fatal[10]. This reptile is very rare, and is dreaded by every one, not
on account of the venomous properties which are ascribed to it, so much
as from the belief that the person who sees one and suffers it to escape
him, will soon after experience some heavy calamity. The natives also
believe that if a black lizard be destroyed as soon as it is found,
fifes are played and drums beat in the celestial regions, where there is
great rejoicing at the circumstance; and that good fortune is sure to be
the reward of the person who may rid the world of such a nuisance. We
observed a lizard yesterday with two tails, which phenomenon, we are
told, is not uncommon here. Other lizards, of every species and colour,
are numerous.
As this is a holiday at Kiáma, it has been spent by its inhabitants in
visiting each other, in walking up and down the public places to display
their finery, or in singing, dancing, and musical parties. Little boys
and young men have been on their knees praying for us to-day; and as
they were not impertinent, but, on the contrary, evinced gentleness and
modesty in their demeanour, we would not suffer them to leave us without
rewarding each with a darning-needle.
We have been detained in Kiáma thus long, by reason, it is alleged, of
the holidays; and as to-morrow will be the Mohammedan Sabbath, we shall
not be able to procure carriers till the following morning. We expected,
naturally enough, that plenty of good provender, and a few days’ rest,
would recruit the strength of our horses; but, unfortunately, a contrary
effect has been produced. My brother’s, more especially, has fallen away
to a perfect skeleton; certainly, with the exception of _Rosinante_, no
horse, either in ancient or modern times, ever presented a spectacle
more piteous and woe-begone; it is quite painful even to look at his
fleshless carcase.
_Friday, June 4th._—Perhaps no two people in the universe residing so
near each other, differ more widely in their habits and customs, and
even in their natures, than the natives of Yarriba and Borgoo. The
former are perpetually engaged in trading with each other from town to
town; the latter never quit their towns except in case of war, or when
engaged in predatory excursions: the former are pusillanimous and
cowardly; the latter are bold and courageous, full of spirit and energy,
and never seem happier than when engaged in martial exercises: the
former are generally mild, unassuming, humble and honest, but cold and
passionless;—the latter are proud and haughty; too vain to be civil, and
too shrewd to be honest; yet they appear to understand somewhat of the
nature of love and the social affections; are warm in their attachments,
and keen in their resentments.
The king visited us at our hut this morning, attended by three or four
of his younger wives. The object of his coming was to get something from
us, therefore, we considered it no compliment.
Yarro has seen all the articles which we have given to his people, a
custom which prevails here as well as in Yarriba; but, unlike the
monarch of that country, he has converted to his own use those among
them with which he was best pleased. Even his brother, who is a very
good young man, and who accompanied us from Keeshee as messenger, has
suffered from his selfishness, having been deprived of half the few
things we had given him for his services.
The king’s eldest son is governor of a town through which we shall have
to pass on our way to Boossà, and it is agreed that he shall accompany
us to that city. It is customary to give the messengers a present
proportionate to the services they may have rendered us; and in the
course of conversation this morning with the king, he wished to see the
present it was our intention to offer his son. This was presently shown
him, and he took from it the only piece of cloth which it contained, and
which we are unable to replace. He then begged a little medicine for
weak eyes; and my brother presented him with a quantity of Epsom salts,
and a small syringe. The king immediately began trying experiments on
the instrument by spirting water into the faces of his wives, who did
not appear to enjoy the diversion so well as himself. After a long, but
uninteresting conversation, Yarro took his leave, followed by his women,
and it is not likely that we shall see him again till the time of our
departure to-morrow morning.
I have given him my fowling piece and a pistol, having promised him this
present when I left, if I should live to return to Kiáma; the king has
also had some of our best new gilt buttons.
In the evening, a very old and respectable Falátah, the chief of a
village at a short distance from Kiáma, came to see us with several of
his people. This singular race are dispersed all over the Borgoo
territories, where they have resided from time immemorial. They are
generally styled _Foulànie_; but although this word is evidently derived
from _Foulah_, and although they speak the same language and follow the
same pursuits as the Foulahs near Sierra Leone, who are supposed to be
the white Ethiopians of Ptolemy and Pliny, yet they have not the
slightest idea of their origin, nor of the period when their ancestors
first emigrated from their native land. The Falátahs in Borgoo maintain
no intercourse whatever with their countrymen in Hàussa; and in order to
prevent mischief and disturbances from taking place, none of them are
permitted, on any consideration, to wear a sword, or carry about his
person any offensive weapon.
A few years ago, there stood a village not many miles from Kiáma, which
was inhabited solely by emigrants from Nouffie; but it is said to have
been lately plundered and destroyed by Yarro’s subjects, who first broke
faith with the unfortunate people, and afterwards made them slaves.
The mean state of the thermometer of Fahrenheit has been 84; the
extremes 75 and 94 in our hut.