at Kooniakary, for which place we set out early on the morning of the 14th of January, and arrived about the middle o f the day at Soolo, a small village three miles to the south of it. As this place was somewhat out of the direct road, it is necessary to observe, that I went thither to visit a Slatee, or Gambia trader, of great note and reputation, named Salim Daucari. He was well known to Dr. Laidley, who had trusted him with effects to the value of five slaves, and had given me an order for the whole of the debt. We luckily found him at home, and he received me with great kindness and attention. It is remarkable, however, that the King of Kasson was, by some means, immediately apprized of my motions ; for I had been at Soolo but a few hours, before Sambo Sego, his second son, came thither with a party of horse, to inquire what had prevented me from proceeding to Kooniakary, and waiting immediately upon the king, who, he said, was impatient to see me. Salim Daucari made my apology, and promised to accompany me to Kooniakary the same evening: we accordingly departed from Soolo at sunset, and in about an hour entered Kooniakary. But as the king had gone to sleep, we deferred the interview till next morning, and slept at the hut of Sambo Sego. My interview with the king, and the incidents which occurred to me in the kingdoms of Kasson and Kaarta, will be the subject of the ensuing Chapter. CHAPTER VII. The Author admitted to an Audience of the King of Kasson, whom he finds well disposed towards him.— Incidents during the Authors stay at Kooniakary— Departs thence fo r Kemmoo, the Capital of Kaarta.— Is received with great kindness by the King of Kaarta, who dissuades him from prosecuting his Journey, on Account of approaching Hostilities with the King of Bambarra.— The Author determines, notwithstanding,, to proceed ; and the usual Routes being obstructed, takes the Path to Ludamar, a Moorish Kingdom.— Is accommodated by the King with a Guide to Jarra, the frontier Town of the Moorish Territories ; and sets out fo r that Place, accompanied by Three of the King’s Sons, and aoo Horsemen. A b o u t eight o’clock in the morning of January 15,1796, we went to an audience of the king (Demba Sego Jalla) ; but the crowd o f people to. see me was so great, that I could scarcely get admittance. A passage being at length obtained, I made my bow to the monarch, whom we found sitting upon a mat, in a large h u t; he appeared to be a man of about sixty years o f age: his success in war, and the mildness of his behaviour in time of peace, had much endeared him to all his subjects. He surveyed me with great attention; and when Salim Daucari explained to him the object of my journey, aiid my reasons for
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