inhabitants. We accepted the offer; and in an hour afterwards a
person came and told me that he was sent on purpose to conduct me to
the king, who was very desirous of seeing me immediately, if I was
not too much fatigued.

I took my interpreter with me, and followed the messenger till we
got quite out of the town, and crossed some corn-fields; when,
suspecting some trick, I stopped, and asked the guide whither he was
going. Upon which, he pointed to a man sitting under a tree at some
little distance, and told me that the king frequently gave audience
in that retired manner, in order to avoid a crowd of people, and
that nobody but myself and my interpreter must approach him. When I
advanced the king desired me to come and sit by him upon the mat;
and, after hearing my story, on which be made no observation, he
asked if I wished to purchase any slaves or gold. Being answered in
the negative, he seemed rather surprised, but desired me to come to
him in the evening, and he would give me some provisions.

This monarch was called Almami, a Moorish name, though I was told
that he was not a Mohammedan, but a kafir or pagan. I had heard
that he had acted towards Major Houghton with great unkindness, and
caused him to be plundered. His behaviour, therefore, towards
myself at this interview, though much more civil than I expected,
was far from freeing me from uneasiness. I still apprehended some
double-dealing; and as I was now entirely in his power, I thought it
best to smooth the way by a present. Accordingly, I took with me in
the evening one canister of gunpowder, some amber, tobacco, and my
umbrella; and as I considered that my bundles would inevitably be
searched, I concealed some few articles in the roof of the hut where
I lodged, and I put on my new blue coat in order to preserve it.