18 TRAVELS IN AFRICA.

On the 20th, a messenger was despatched

with small presents to Almamy and the men in

authority about him, and to advise him of our

approach. He was accompanied by a young

chief, one of the prince's suit, likewise the bear-

er of a message to the king from his brother.

Finding it impossible, with the assistance of all

the carriers we could procure, to move the

whole of our baggage with any degree of regu-

larity or safety, we decided on abandoning our two small field guns, with their shot and grape,

and, having buried them about three feet beneath

the surface, we made a fire, to conceal where

the ground had been broken. By this means we got rid of three very heavy loads. Captain

Campbell thought it better to dispose of them in

that way than to make a present of them to Al- mamy, for although it was not likely he could make any use of them, yet the very circum-

stance alone of possessing such destructive en-

gines, and of having received them from us,

might induce those nations with whom he occa-

sionally wages war (and through which we were

likely to travel), to entertain unfavourable opi-

nions of us.

When about to move on the forenoon of the

20th, the prince commenced a long palaver with

Captain Campbell on the subject of our proceed-

ing without giving him previous notice. It had