TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 289 to tell me, that the Kaartans had gone into Bondoo on a plundering excursion that morning, and would no doubt be at Fort St. Joseph some hour during the night,when, after a little rest, they were (in compliance with directions from Modiba) to escort me to Kaarta. This was what I wanted ; but it was matter of much regret to me, that they should have taken advantage of the opportunity which coming for me afforded them, of disturbing the people of Bondoo, and of committing acts of rapine and cruelty, to which civilised nations are, thank God, strangers.

About eight, p.m. they began to make their appearance in parties of from ten to twelve horsemen, and continued doing so until midnight.

On the morning of the 14th of March, I hastened to an interview with Samba, and the Kaartan chief whose name was Garran, a nephew of Modiba and son of Sirabo, a former king of that country. After the usual complimentary salutations, he told me by means ofmy interpreter that at my own desire his father (for so he called Modiba) had sent him with a detachment to escort me to his country, where I should meet with kind and friendly treatment during my stay, and receive the assistance I required in prosecuting my journey as flir, at least, as Modiba' s power reached. On my asking him to name an early day for our departure, u