Evening star., 1928-10-31

(Mungo Park, 1771-1e06, was a Scottish
explorer IN Africa he wrote an aeGoIne siection o5
I saddled my horse and continued my
journey. I travelled over level but
more fertile country than had seen
for some time until sunset, when, coming
/ to a path that took southerly direc-
ton, followed it until midnight at
which time / arrived at a small pool OF
rainwater, and the wood being open,
determined to rest by it for the night.
Having given my horse the remainder
of the corn, made my bed as formerly,
but the mosquitoes and flies from the
pool prevented sleep for some time, and
I was twice disturbed in the night by
wild beasts which came very near and
whose bowling kept the horse in con-
tinual terror.
July e. At daybreak I pursued my
course through the woods as formerly;
saw numbers of antelopeS, wild hogs
and oStyiches. But the soil was more
hill7 and not so fertile as had found
1t the preceding day.
About II o'clock I ascended an emf
nence, where climbed tree and dis
covered, at about eight miles distance,
an open part of the country, with sew
eral red spots, which ! concluded were
cultivated land, and directing my course
that way, came to the precincts of a
watering place about o'clock.
From the appearance of the place
judged 1t to belong to the Foulahs and
was hopeful that I should meet better
Shrilla. In this ] was not deceived, for
one of the shepherds invited me to
come into his tent and partake of some
dates.
This was one of those low Foulah
tents in which is just room sufficient
to sit upright and in which the fam
lily, the furniture. etc., seem huddled to-
gether like so many articles in chest.
When had crept upon my hands and
knees into this humble habitation,
found that 1t contained woman and
three children, who. together with the
shepherd and myself, completely occu-
, pied the floor.
A dish of boiled corn and dates was
produced and the master of the fam
lily, as is customary in this part of the
country, first tasted it himself and then
desired NE to follow his example
Whilst was eating the children kept
their eyes fixed upon me, and no sooner
did the shepherd pronounce the word
Nazarant than they began to cry and
the mother crept slowly toward the
door. out of which she sprang like a
greyhound, and was instantly followed
by her children.
So frightened were they at the very
name OF Christian that no entreaties
I could induce them to approach the
tent. Here ! purchased some corn for
emy horse In exchange for some brass
buttons, and having thanked the chep-
herd for his hospitality, struck again
into the woods.
Il At sunset ! came to road that took
the direction for Banbarra and re-
solved to follow it for the night but
about 3 o'clock, hearing some people
] coming from the southwark, l thought
it prudent to hide myself among some
thick bushes near the road. AS those
thickets are generally full of wild
beasts, found my situation rather un-
pleaSant-sitting in the dark, holding
my horse by the nose with both hands
to prevent him from neighing and
equally afraid of the natives without
and the wild beasts within.
My fears, however, were soon dissi-
pated; for the people, after looking
round the thicket and perceiving moth
ing, went away, and hastened to the
more open parts of the wood, where
pursued my journey E.. S. E. until mid
night, when the joyful cry of frogs in
duced me once more to deviate little