looked at me with silent wonder. The view of this extensive city; the numerous canoes upon the river; the crowded population, and the cultivated state of the surrounding country, formed altogether a prospect of civilization and magnificence, which I little expected to find in the bosom of Africa. While waiting for a passage, the king having been informed that a white man was coming to see him, immediately sent over one of his chief men, who informed me that the king could not possibly see me, until he knew what had brought me into his country, and that I must not presume to cross the river without the king's permission. He therefore advised me to lodge at a distant village, to which he pointed, for the night, and said, that in the morning he would give me further instructions how to conduct myself. This was very discouraging.However, as there was no remedy, I set off for the village, where I found, to my great mortification, that no person would admit me into his house.

"I was regarded with astonishment and fear, and was obliged to sit all day without victuals under the shade of a tree; and the wind rose, and there was great appearance of heavy rain; and the wild beasts are so very numerous in the neighborhood, that I should have been under the necessity of climbing up the tree and resting amongst the branches: About sunset, however, as I was about proposing to pass the night in this manner, and had turned my horse loose that he might graze at liberty, a woman returning from the labours of the field, stopped to observe me, and perceiving that I was weary and dejected, inquired into my situation, which I briefly explained to her; whereupon, with looks of great compassion, she took up my saddle and bridle and told me to follow her. Having conducted me into her hut, she lighted up a lamp, spread a mat on the floor, and told me I might remain there for the night. Finding that I was hungry, she said she would procure me something to eat. She accordingly went out and returned in a short time with a very fine fish, which having caused to be half broiled upon some embers, she gave me for supper. The rites of hospitality being thus performed to a stranger in distress, &c." "they resumed

their task of spinning cotton and lightened their labour with songs, one of which was composed extempore, for I was myself the subject of it. It was sung by one of the young women, the rest joining in a sort of chorus: the air was sweet and plaintive, and the words literally translated were these:

"The winds roared and the rains fell:
The poor rohite man, faint and weary,
Came and sat under our tree.-

He has no mother to bring him milk;
No wife to grind his corn.

CHORUS.

Let us pity the white man;

No mother has he to bring him milk,
No wife to grind his corn."

Trifling as this recital may appear to the reader, to a person in my situation, the circumstance was affecting in the highest degree. I was oppressed with such unexpected kindness and sleep fled from my eyes. In the morning I presented my compassionate landlady with two of the four brass buttons which remained on my waistcoat, the only recompence I could make her.

July 21st. I continued in the village all the day in conversation with the natives, who came in crowds to see me; but was rather uneasy that no message had arrived from the king; the more so as the people began to whisper, that Mansong had received some accounts of me, from the Moors and Slatees, (free black slave merchants) residing at Sego. I learnt that many consultations had been held with the king, concerning my reception and disposal; and some of the villagers frankly told me, that I had many enemies, and must expect no favour.

"About eleven o'clock the next day, a messenger arrived from the king, but gave me very little satisfaction. He inquired particularly if I had brought any present, and seemed much disappointed when he was told that I had been robbed of every thing by the Moors. When I proposed to go along with him, he told me to stop until the afternoon, when the king would send for me.

"In the afternoon of the following day, another messenger arrived from Mansong, with a bag in his hands. He told me it was the king's pleasure that I should depart forthwith from the vicinage of Sego, but that Mansong, wishing to relieve a white man in distress, had sent me five thousand kowries,* to enable me to purchase provisions in the course of my journey; the messenger added, that if my intentions were really to proceed to Jenné, he had orders to accompany me as a guide to Sansanding."

The Dutchess of Devonshire, a lady distinguished both for her beauty and accomplishments, was so highly pleased with the above specimen of African poetry and kindness, that she made a version of it with her own pen, as follows, and had it set to music by an eminent composer.

"A NEGRO SONG,

"FROM MR. PARK'S TRAVELS.

I.

"The loud wind roar'd, the rain fell fast;

The White Man yielded to the blast:

He sat him down beneath our tree,
For weary, faint, and sad was he;
And ah, no wife or mother's care,
For him the milk or corn prepare :

CHORUS.

The White Man shall our pity share;
Alas, no wife, or mother's care,
For him the milk or corn prepare.

II.

The storm is o'er, the tempest past,

And Mercy's voice has hush'd the blast;
The wind is heard in whispers low;
The White Man far away must go ;-
But ever in his heart will bear,
Remembrance of the Negros' care.

CHORUS.

Go, White Man, go;-but with thee bear
The Negro's wish, the Negro's pray'r,
Remembrance of the Negro's care."

* A species of little shells used in Africa as currency in place of

money.

K