to learn if the guide was ready. I found his Majesty seated upon a
bullock's hide, warming himself before a large fire, for the
Africans are sensible of the smallest variation in the temperature
of the air, and frequently complain of cold when a European is
oppressed with heat. He received me with a benevolent countenance,
and tenderly entreated me to desist from my purpose of travelling
into the interior, telling me that Major Houghton had been killed in
his route, and that if I followed his footsteps I should probably
meet with his fate. He said that I must not judge of the people of
the eastern country by those of Woolli: that the latter were
acquainted with white men, and respected them, whereas the people of
the east had never seen a white man, and would certainly destroy me.
I thanked the king for his affectionate solicitude, but told him
that I had considered the matter, and was determined,
notwithstanding all dangers, to proceed. The king shook his head,
but desisted from further persuasion, and told me the guide should
be ready in the afternoon.

About two o'clock, the guide appearing, I went and took my last
farewell of the good old king, and in three hours reached Konjour, a
small village, where we determined to rest for the night. Here I
purchased a fine sheep for some beads, and my Serawoolli attendants
killed it with all the ceremonies prescribed by their religion.
Part of it was dressed for supper, after which a dispute arose
between one of the Serawoolli negroes, and Johnson, my interpreter,
about the sheep's horns. The former claimed the horns as his
perquisite, for having acted the part of our butcher, and Johnson
contested the claim. I settled the matter by giving a horn to each
of them. This trifling incident is mentioned as introductory to
what follows, for it appeared on inquiry that these horns were