On the 29th of April, intelligence arrived at Benown, that the Bambarra army was approaching the frontiers of Ludamar.  Ali’s son, with about twenty horsemen, arriving, ordered all the cattle to be driven away, the tents to be struck, and the people to depart.  His orders were instantly obeyed; the baggage was carried upon bullocks, one or two women being commonly placed upon the top of each burden.  The king’s concubines rode upon camels, with a saddle of an easy construction, and a canopy to keep the sun from them.  On the 2nd of May, they arrived at Ali’s camp, and Mr. Park waited immediately upon him; he seemed much pleased with his coming, and introduced him to Fatima, his favourite princess, saying, “that was the Christian.”  The queen had long black hair, and was remarkably corpulent; she appeared at first shocked at having a Christian so near her, but when Mr. Park had, by means of a negro boy, satisfied her curiosity, she seemed more reconciled, and presented him with a bowl of milk.

The heat and the scarcity of water were greater here than at Benown.  One night, Mr. Park, having solicited in vain for water at the camp, resolved to try his fortune at the wells, to which he was guided by the lowing of cattle.  The Moors were very busy in drawing water, and when Mr. Park requested permission to drink, they drove him away with outrageous abuse.  He at last came to a well, where there were an old man and two boys, to whom he made the same request.  The former immediately drew up a bucket of water, but recollecting Mr. Park was a Christian, and fearing the bucket would be polluted by his lips, he dashed the water into the trough, and told him to assuage his thirst from it.  The cows were already drinking at the trough, but Mr, Park resolved to come in for his share, and, accordingly, thrusting his head between two of the cows, he drank with great pleasure till the water was nearly exhausted.

Thus passed the month of May, Ali still considered Mr. Park as his lawful prisoner, and Fatima, though she allowed him a greater quantity of victuals than fell to his portion at Benown, yet she made no efforts for his release.  Some circumstances, however, now occurred, which produced a change in his favour more suddenly than he expected.  The fugitive Kaartans, dreading the resentment of the sovereign, whom they had so basely deserted, offered to treat with Ali for two hundred Moorish horsemen to assist them in an effort to expel Daisy from Gedinggooma, for till Daisy should be vanquished, they could neither return to their native town, nor live in security in the neighbouring kingdoms.  Ali, with a view to extort money from these people, despatched his son to Jarra, and prepared himself to follow him.  Mr. Park, believing that he might escape from Jarra, if he could get there, immediately applied to Fatima, prime counsellor of the monarch, and begged her to intercede with Ali for leave to accompany him to Jarra.  The request was at length granted.  His bundles were brought before the royal consort, and Mr. Park explained the use of the several moveables, for the amusement of the queen, and received a promise of speedy permission to depart.