Departure of the author on his great expedition. — Manners and customs of his travelling companions, and account of the caravans in this part of Africa. — The Caura. — Mountains of Lantégué. — River of Doulinca. — Smelting of iron. — Rio Pongo. — Mountain of Touma. — Description of Irnanké and its inhabitants. — Telewel. — Cataract of Cocouo. — Orange trees.
The information which I have just been communicating to the reader was acquired in M. Castagnet’s absence, and by the help of some excursions that I took with Mr. Bethman and Mr. Tudsberry in the neighbourhood of Kakondy. I was endeavouring to arrange the notes that I had made respecting the Nalous, the Landamas, and the Bagos, when M.Castagnet returned. He was so good as to turn his attention immediately to my journey, and gave me much useful advice respecting my conduct amongst the tribes whom I intended to visit. He furnished me with all the particulars that had come to his knowledge concerning their manners, their jealousy, and their distrust of Europeans; and thinking that this was not sufficient, and that he had not done enough to oblige me, he sent for some Mandingoes, who deservedly enjoyed a considerable reputation in the neighbourhood for their probity, experience, and wealth. He endeavoured to persuade these Mandingoes to accompany me to Timbuctoo; and he communicated to them the object of my journey, with many encomiums upon my love of my country; he had expatiated on the courage displayed by so young a man in braving such dangers to return to his kindred: then, gradually unfolding the tale of my Egyptian origin, he endeavoured to interest their feelings in my behalf, and to secure their assistance. In vain did M. Castagnet exert his eloquence; they were perfectly indifferent till he promised to reward them for any thing they should do for me; then indeed, they showed great zeal to serve me, and protested, every one of them, that they would treat me like their own son.
They made some remarks upon the difficulties and fatigue which I should have to endure and which I might not have strength to sustain; but, upon my reply that I was determined to bear every thing, that I might return to my country, they fixed a day for our departure. M. Castagnet gave them the value of an ox in merchandise, and the Mandingoes, as they had promised, procured a slave to carry my small bundle. These arrangements were speedily terminated.
On the 19th of April, I took leave of M. Castagnet; and—shall I confess it?—I shed tears at parting from this generous friend; my regret at leaving him, however, sincere as it was, could not damp the joy which I felt in undertaking a journey upon which my mind had been bent for so many years.
Our caravan consisted of five free Mandingoes, three slaves, my Foulah porter, my guide, and his wife. All except the last two and myself carried enormous burdens.
We travelled along the left bank of the river Nuñez, and in two hours arrived at Mr. Bethman’s factory. I again saw the graves of Major Peddie and other officers of the same expedition, and was seized with an involuntary shudder at the thought that the same fate perhaps awaited me; these sad forebodings vanished however on leaving the tombs, and gave way to hopes of a happier issue.
At nine in the morning we directed our course S.S.E. Ibrahim my guide, to whom I had given several articles stopped all of a sudden, and told me, by means of a negro who could speak English, that he should be obliged to make a great many presents on the way, and that he was afraid after all I should never get safe to Fouta-Dhialon, on account of my fair complexion. This reflection appeared to come a little too late, but I understood the purport of it, when he added in good Arabic that I must give him a piece of cloth.
It would have been dangerous to encourage his importunity, so I pretended that I did not know what he said, and went on in the same direction without giving him any thing. We found the soil composed of red earth, and rather stony, but covered with most beautiful vegetation; the nédé[44] in particular is very abundant. We came to a group of Mandingoes and Foulahs seated under some large trees; they were quarrelling with one another, and looking out for the customary presents. There is such a competition in the Kakondy trade, that the proprietors of each factory send couriers before the caravans to make presents to the dealers and to draw them to themselves; if they are numerous, an ox is killed on their arrival at the factory, and they are supplied with rice all the time the traffic lasts: when they are about to return a present is made them, and they are furnished with provision for the journey. So great is the competition that the merchants will even sell their goods without profit.
As I proceeded, I found the face of the country broken by stony hillocks, covered with large trees which formed a most picturesque and varied landscape. The heat was beginning to be painful; our porters were fatigued, and we halted near a pretty rivulet, with the limpid and delicious water of which we quenched our thirst. We had then travelled nearly twelve miles to the east. We kindled a fire; the negro slaves went in quest of wood, and my guide’s wife prepared to cook our dinner.
Throughout all Africa, the merchants have adopted the plan of taking one of their wives with them to cook for the caravan. These unhappy creatures are loaded with earthen pots, calabashes, salt, &c.; in short, they are compelled to carry the heaviest burdens, whilst their husbands walk at their ease.