Isaaco left Senegal by ship on the 22d day of the Moon Tabasky
(January 7th) in the year 1810; but apparently the moon was not
propitious, for he was nearly cast away in the lighter, trying to
cross the bar, and in the ensuing confusion the larger part of his
baggage was stolen. When he discovered this two days later at Goree
and attempted to return, the winds rose and tossed the vessel about
for nine days and drove him back to Goree. After some negotiation with
Governor Maxwell by courier, the baggage was rescued and sent to
Isaaco by road. The next few pages of his _Journal_ are difficult and
barren reading, bristling with nothing but the uncouth names of places
where the good ship passed or anchored for the night, and with the
hours duly entered as in a log book, according to the Mohammedan hours
of prayer. Sailing by way of Yoummy, Jillifrey, Tancrowaly, and
Jaunimmarou, they came on the eighth day to Mariancounda, where Isaaco
landed. This was the home of Dr. Robert Ainsley, who had so often
befriended Mungo Park, fitted him out with the necessaries of life,
and started each expedition on its way. Under the same hospitable roof
Isaaco lodged for the inside of a week, and then, enriched with the
gift of a horse and an ass and twenty bars of beads, went into the
wilds to search for the fate of his master. To open the road through
Giammalocoto and Tandacounda, Isaaco wisely paid court to the King of
Cataba, and showered upon him an old musket and a string of amber of
the quality No. 4. The next halt was at Sandougoumanna under a
tamarisk tree (Isaaco always notes the trees under which he sleeps).
From the shade of this in the early morning he sent presents to the
kings who barred the way; tobacco to him of Sallatigua, and scarlet
cloth to him of Mansangcoije. Three villages on, Isaaco's company was
suddenly increased by members of his own family, fleeing before the
army of Bambarra--all but his mother, who had refused to leave her
kraal. Three days later he was with her, in his native place of
Montogou, and there stayed forty days, whether carousing, or
fighting, or praying, he does not say. Then, prudently burying his
heavy luggage, he departed, still carrying his people with
him--through Moundoundou, where the chief killed a sheep in his honor
and was rewarded with a flask of powder--on through Couchiar, a sleepy
sort of place by name and situation, with a spreading bark tree,
beneath which he drowsed the length of a day--on to Saabic, a village
solely inhabited by Maraboos or priests. To gain the goodwill of
Allah, he dwelt there a few days, and discovered a relation of one of
his wives (no rare occurrence, seeing how many he kept) whose heart he
rejoiced with some gunpowder and a gay piece of cloth. At the very
next village, Tallimangoly, he fell across another, who cost him three
grains of amber. Indeed, it seemed as though his store of presents
would never hold out; for, no sooner had he digested the sheep his
cousin killed for him, than the Bambarra army came up, and with fear
and trembling Isaaco must needs dole out a whole heap of stuff--10
flasks of powder, 13 grains of amber (this time No. 1), 2 grains of
coral (No. 1) and a handsome tin box. These to the King. And the
King's chamberlain, goldsmith, and singing men had to be tipped as
well.[3]