the Jaloffs. The events of this war soon became a favourite subject
with the singing men and the common topic of conversation in all the
kingdoms bordering upon the Senegal and Gambia; and, as the account
is somewhat singular, I shall here abridge it for the reader's
information. The king of Foota-Torra, inflamed with a zeal for
propagating his religion, had sent an embassy to Damel similar to
that which he had sent to Kasson, as has been previously related.
The ambassador on the present occasion was accompanied by two of the
principal bushreens, who carried each a large knife fixed on the top
of a long pole. As soon as he had procured admission into the
presence of Damel, and announced the pleasure of his Sovereign, he
ordered the bushreens to present the emblems of his mission. The
two knives were accordingly laid before Damel, and the ambassador
explained himself as follows:- "With this knife," said he,
"Abdulkader will condescend to shave the head of Damel, if Damel
will embrace the Mohammedan faith; and with this other knife
Abdulkader will cut the throat of Damel if Damel refuses to embrace
it: take your choice." Damel coolly told the ambassador that he
had no choice to make; he neither chose to have his head shaved nor
his throat cut; and with this answer the ambassador was civilly
dismissed. Abdulkader took his measures accordingly, and with a
powerful army invaded Damel's country. The inhabitants of the towns
and villages filled up their wells, destroyed their provisions,
carried off their effects, and abandoned their dwellings as he
approached. By this means he was led on from place to place, until
he had advanced three days' journey into the country of the Jaloffs.
He had, indeed, met with no opposition, but his army had suffered so
much from the scarcity of water that several of his men had died by
the way. This induced him to direct his march towards a watering-
place in the woods, where his men, having quenched their thirst and