character of being very inhospitable; he, however, sent me a little
corn for my supper, but demanded something in return; and when I
assured him that I had nothing of value in my possession, he told me
(as if in jest) that my white skin should not defend me if I told
him lies. He then showed me the hut wherein I was to sleep, but
took away my spear, saying that it should be returned to me in the
morning. This trifling circumstance, when joined to the character I
had heard of the man, made me rather suspicious of him, and I
privately desired one of the inhabitants of the place, who had a bow
and a quiver, to sleep in the same hunt with me. About midnight I
heard somebody approach the door, and, observing the moonlight
strike suddenly into the hut, I started up and saw a man stepping
cautiously over the threshold. I immediately snatched up the
negro's bow and quiver, the rattling of which made the man withdraw;
and my companion, looking out, assured me that it was the mansa
himself, and advised me to keep awake until the morning. I closed
the door, and placed a large piece of wood behind it, and was
wondering at this unexpected visit, when somebody pressed so hard
against the door that the negro could scarcely keep it shut; but
when I called to him to open the door, the intruder ran off as
before.

September 16.--As soon as it was light the negro, at my request,
went to the mansa's house and brought away my spear. He told me
that the mansa was asleep, and lest this inhospitable chief should
devise means to detain me, he advised me to set out before he was
awake, which I immediately did, and about two o'clock reached
Kamalia, a small town situated at the bottom of some rocky hills,
where the inhabitants collect gold in considerable quantities.