CHAPTER VI. Arrival at Teesee.— Interview with Tiggity Sego, the King’s Brother— the Author’s Detention at Teesee— some Account of that Place and its Inhabitants— Incidents which occurred there.— Rapacious Conduct of Tiggity Sego toward the Author on his Departure.— Sets out fo r Kooniakary, the Capital of the Kingdom.— Incidents on the Road, and Arrival at Kooniakary. W e no sooner found ourselves safe in Kasson, than Demba Sego told me that we were now in his uncle’s dominions, and he hoped I would consider, being now out of danger, the obligation I owed to him, and make him a suitable return for the trouble he had taken on my account by a handsome present. This, as he knew how much had been pilfered from me at Joag, was rather an unexpected proposition ; and I began to fear that I had not much improved my condition by crossing the water, but as it would have been folly to complain, I made no observation upon his conduct, and gave him seven bars of amber, and some tobacco ; with which he seemed to be content. After a long day’s journey, in the course of which I observed a number of large loose nodules of white granite, we arrived at Teesee on the evening of Dec. 29th, and were accommodated in Demba Sego’s hut. The next morning he introduced me to his father Tiggity Sego, brother to the King of Kasson, chief of Teesee. The old man viewed me with great earnestness, having never, he said, beheld but one white man before, whom by his description I immediately knew to be Major Houghton. I related to him, in answer to his inquiries, the motives that induced me to explore the country. But he seemed to doubt the truth of what I asserted ; thinking, I believe, that I secretly meditated some project which I was afraid to avow. He told me, it would be necessary 1 should go to Kooniakary, the residence of the king, to pay my respects to that prince ; but desired me to come to him again before I left Teesee. In the afternoon one of his slaves eloped ; and a general alarm being given, every person that had a horse rode into the woods, in the hopes of apprehending him; and Demba Sego begged the use of my horse for the same purpose. I readily consented ; and in about an hour they all returned with the slave, who was severely flogged, and afterwards put in irons. On the day following (Dec. 31.) Demba Sego was ordered to go with twenty horsemen to a town in Gedumah, to adjust some dispute with the Moors, a party of whom were supposed to have stolen three horses from Teesee. Demba begged, a second time, the use of my horse ; adding, that the sight of my bridle and saddle would give him consequence among the Moors. -This request also I readily granted, and he promised to return at the end of three days. During his absence I amused myself with walking about the town, and conversing with the natives, who attended me every where with great kindness and curiosity, and supplied me with milk, eggs, and what other provisions I wanted, on very easy terms. L 2
27f 60
To see the actual publication please follow the link above