July 12th.—Went in the morning with Isaaco and waited on Keminoom, or
Mansa Numma, as he is commonly called. I took with me
Bars.
Amber, No. 2 25
Ditto, No. 4 15
Barraloolos 20
Beads 33
Scarlet 10
Balls and flints 2
Looking glasses 5
___
100;
A soldier's musket,
A pair of handsome pistols silver mounted.
He sent them all back, and I was forced to put a silver mounted gun on it before he would accept of it; and likewise
To Eerujama, the King's brother,
Amber, No. 2 10
Barraloolo 5
To his son,
Amber 10
To the King's people 10
To eight Finnis for singing some nonsense 8
Observed mer. alt. of the sun 163 24'; latitude 14 0'
In the evening had such of the soldiers as were most healthy dressed in their red coats; and at Numma's request went with them to the town, where they went through some movements, and fired.
July 13th.—Very desirous to be gone, as we found the people thieves to a man; in fact we have never yet been at a place where so much theft and impudence prevails. This can only be accounted for, by considering that Mansa Numma is the reputed father of more than thirty children; and as they all consider themselves as far above the common people, they treat every person with contempt, and even steal in the most open manner. By the side of the river are a great number of human bones (more than thirty skulls.) On enquiring the reason, I was informed that Mansa Numma always inflicted capital punishments himself, and that the bones I saw were those of criminals. I had reason to regret, that capital punishments seldom or never extend to the real or reputed descendants of the King.
July 14th.—As soon as day dawned, struck the tents and loaded the asses. The townspeople gathered round us in crowds. They had stolen during our stay here four great coats, a large bundle of beads, a musket, a pair of pistols, and several other things. Before we had advanced a musket shot from the town (though we had one of the King's sons on horseback as a protector), one of the townspeople carried away a bag from one of the asses, containing some things belonging to one of the soldiers. The King's son, Lieutenant Martyn, and myself rode after him, and were lucky enough to come up with him, and recover the bag; but before we could rejoin the coffle, another had run off with a musket that was fastened on one of the loads.