The Journal of a Mission to the Interior of Africa, in the Year 1805 Part 10

May 4th.--Left Pisania at half past nine o'clock. The mode of marching was adjusted as follows. The _a.s.ses_ and _loads_ being all marked and numbered with red paint, a certain number of each was allotted to each of the six messes, into which the soldiers were divided; and the a.s.ses were further subdivided amongst the individuals of each mess, so that every man could tell at first sight the a.s.s and load which belonged to him. The a.s.ses were also numbered with large figures, to prevent the natives from stealing them, as they could neither wash nor clip it off without being discovered. Mr. George Scott and one of Isaaco's people generally went in front, Lieutenant Martyn in the centre, and Mr.

Anderson and myself in the rear. We were forced to leave at Pisania about five cwt. of rice, not having a sufficient number of a.s.ses to carry it.

We were escorted till we pa.s.sed Tendicunda by Mr. Ainsley, and the good old Seniora Camilla, and most of the respectable natives in the vicinity.

Our march was most fatiguing. Many of the a.s.ses being rather overloaded, lay down on the road; others kicked off their bundles; so that, after using every exertion to get forward, we with difficulty reached Samee, a distance of about eight miles. We unloaded our a.s.ses under a large Tabba tree at some distance from the town, and in the evening I went with Isaaco to pay my respects to the Slatee of Samee.

The Slatee of Samee, as well as the Slatees of Lamain and Kutijar, is subject to the King of Kataba; but their subjection is not easily defined. If a slave runs away from one to another, he cannot be reclaimed unless the other chooses to give him up. The Slatee was very drunk, and when I told him that I was come to pay my respects to him and would give him one jug of rum, he told me he would not allow me to pa.s.s unless I gave him ten jugs; and after a good deal of insignificant palaver, I was obliged to give him two jugs.

May 5th.--Paid six bars of amber to the Mumbo Jumbo boys, and set out for Jindey early in the morning. Found this day's travelling very difficult; many of the a.s.ses refused to go on; and we were forced to put their loads on the horses. We reached Jindey about noon. Purchased a bullock, and halted the 6th; fearing, if we attempted to proceed, we should be forced to leave some of our loads in the woods.

[Footnote: For a description of Mumbo Jumbo, see Park's Travels, p. 39.]

At Jindey they _dye very fine blues with the indigo leaves_. I readily embraced the opportunity, during our halt, to make myself acquainted with the process, which I saw in all its different stages.

_Mode of dying Cotton of a fine blue colour with the leaves of the Indigo Plant._

A large quant.i.ty of wood-ashes is collected (the woods preferred for the purpose are the _mimosa nitta_, and _mimosa pulverulenta_,) and put into an unglazed earthen vessel which has a hole in its bottom; over which is put some straw. Upon these ashes water is poured, which, filtrating through the hole in the bottom of the vessel, carries with it the pota.s.s contained in the ashes, and forms a very strong lye of the colour of strong beer: this lye they call _sai-gee_, ash-water.

Another pot is filled not quite quarter full of the leaves of the indigo plant, either fresh or dried in the sun (those used at this time were dried), and as much of the sai-gee poured on it as will fill the pot about half full. It is allowed to remain in this state for four days, during which it is stirred once or twice each day.

The pot is then filled nearly full of sai-gee and stirred frequently for four days more, during which it ferments and throws up a copper-coloured sc.u.m. It is then allowed to remain at rest for one day, and on the tenth day from the commencement of the process the cloth is put into it. No mordant whatever is used; the cloth is simply wetted with cold water, and wrung hard before it is put into the pot, where it is allowed to remain about two hours. It is then taken out and exposed to the sun, by laying it (without spreading it) over a stick, till the liquor ceases to drop from it. After this it is washed in cold water, and is often beat with a flat stick to clear away any leaves or dirt which may adhere to it. The cloth being again wrung hard, is returned into the pot; and this dipping is repeated four times every day for the first four days; at the end of which period it has in common acquired a blue colour equal to the finest India baft.

The Negro women, who practise dying, have generally twelve or fourteen indigo jars, so that one of them is always ready for dipping. If the process misgives, which it very seldom does with women who practise it extensively, it generally happens during the second four days or the fermenting period. The indigo is then said to be dead, and the whole is thrown out.

In Kajaaga and Ka.s.son they spread the cloth in the sun, and dry it after every dip: they then beat it with a stick, so as to make the indigo leaves fly off it like dust. Both practices have for their object the _clearing of the cloth_, so as to admit the indigo equally to all parts of it. The process abridged is,

Four days indigo and a small quant.i.ty of sai-gee.

Four days fermenting in a large quant.i.ty of sai-gee.

One day at rest.

Four days dipping the cloth, four dips per day.

Thirteen in all.

To return to the narrative. Lamina Foffono, one of my fellow travellers in my former journey from Mandingo to Gambia, hearing that I was come to Jindey, came from Wallia to see me. He told me that Karfa was in health, but had not received the musket I sent him by Captain Brand.

At five o'clock had a strong puff of wind from the south-east, which raised the dust and had exactly the appearance of a tornado.

May 7th.--Left Jindey, but so much were our a.s.ses fatigued, that I was obliged to hire three more, and four drivers to a.s.sist in getting forward the baggage. One of the St. Jago a.s.ses fell down convulsed when the load was put upon him; and a Mandingo a.s.s, No. 11, refused to carry his load.

I was under the necessity of sending him back to Jindey, and hiring another in his place.

We travelled on the north side of the Wallia Creek till noon, when we crossed it near Kootakunda. Swam the a.s.ses over; and the soldiers, with the a.s.sistance of the Negroes, waded over with the bundles on their heads. Halted on the south side of the creek, and cooked our dinners.

At four o'clock set forwards, pa.s.sed Kootakunda, and called at the village of Madina to pay my respects to Slatee Bree. Gave him a note on Mr. Ainsley for one jug of liquor. Halted at Tabajang, a village almost deserted; having been plundered in the course of the season by the King of Jamberoo, in conjunction with the King of Woolli. Our guide's mother lives here; and as I found that we could not possibly proceed in our present state, I determined either to purchase more a.s.ses, or abandon some of the rice.

May 8th.--Purchased two a.s.ses for ten bars of amber and ten of coral each. Covered the India bafts with skins, to prevent them from being damaged by the rain. Two of the soldiers afflicted with the dysentery.

May 9th.--The King of Jamberoo's son came to pay his respects to me.

Jamberoo lies along the north side of the Wallia Creek, and extends a long way to the northward. The people are Jaloffs, but most of them speak Mandingo. Presented him with some amber. Bought five a.s.ses and covered all the gunpowder with skins, except what was for our use on the road.

May 10th.--Having paid all the people who had a.s.sisted in driving the a.s.ses, I found that the expense was greater than any benefit we were likely to derive from them. I therefore trusted the a.s.ses this day entirely to the soldiers. We left Tabajang at sun-rise, and made a short and easy march to Tatticonda, where the son of my friend, the former King of Woolli, came to meet me. From him I could easily learn that our journey was viewed with great jealousy by the Slatees and Sierra-Woollis residing about Madina.

May 11th.--About noon arrived at Madina, the capital of the kingdom of Woolli. We unloaded our a.s.ses under a tree without the gates of the town, and waited till five o'clock before we could have an audience from his majesty. I took to the King a pair of silver mounted pistols, ten dollars, ten bars of amber, ten of coral. But, when he had looked at the present with great indifference for some time, he told me that he could not accept it; alleging, as an excuse for his avarice, that I had given a much handsomer present to the King of Kataba. It was in vain that I a.s.sured him of the contrary; he positively refused to accept it, and I was under the necessity of adding fifteen dollars, ten bars coral, ten amber, before his majesty would accept it. After all, he begged me to give him a blanket to wrap himself in during the rains, which I readily sent him.

The other presents must all be proportionally great, and the sum of the whole presents at Woolli is as follows:

To _the King_,

A pair of pistols. Bars.

Dollars 25 Amber 20 Coral 20 White baft 5 --- 70 bars.

To Montamba _the King's own son_,

Amber, 5 Coral 5

To Slatee Deena,

Amber 1 Coral 5

To Sadoo, Jatta's son,

Amber 5 Coral 5

To Samboo, Jatta's second son,

Coral 5

To Whulliri, the Prime Minister,

Dollars 2 Coral 5

To Dama, Whulliri's younger brother,

Coral 5

To Soliman, the King's chief slave, Bars.

Amber 4 Coral 4

To Dimba Serra,

Coral 6

To different people,

Coral 10 -- 71

To the King, 70 --- Total 140 bars.