some lightning from the north-east; to him a delightful sight, as it promised rain, The wind began to roar amongst the bushes, and he was nearly suffocated with sand and dust, when the wind ceased, and for more than an hour the rain fell plentifully.  He spread out his clothes to collect it, and assuaged his thirst by wringing and sucking them.  The night was extremely dark, and Mr. Park directed his way by the compass, which the lightning enabled him to observe.  On a sudden he was surprised to see a light at a short distance, and leading his horse cautiously towards it, heard by the lowing of the cattle and the clamour of the herdsmen, that it was a watering place.  Being still thirsty, he attempted to search for the wells, but on approaching too near to one of the tents, he was perceived by a woman, who immediately gave an alarm; Mr. Park, however, eluded pursuit by immerging into the woods.  He soon after heard the croaking of frogs, and following the sound arrived at some shallow muddy pools, where he and his horse quenched their thirst.  The morning being calm, Mr. Park ascended a tree, and not only saw the smoke of the watering place which he had passed in the night, but also another pillar of smoke to the east, about twelve or fourteen miles distant.  Directing his course thither, he reached some cultivated ground, on which some negroes were at work, by whom he was informed that he was near a Foulah village, belonging to Ali, called Shrilla.  He had some doubts about entering it, but at last ventured, and riding up to the dooty’s house was denied admittance, and even refused a handful of corn for his horse.  Leaving this inhospitable door, he rode slowly out of the town towards some low huts scattered in the suburbs.  At the door of a hovel hut, an old woman with a benevolent countenance sat spinning cotton.  Mr. Park made signs that he was hungry, on which she immediately laid down her distaff, invited him to the hut, and set before him a dish of kouskous, of which he made a comfortable meal.  In return for her kindness Mr. Park gave her a pocket handkerchief, begging at the same time a little corn for his horse, which she readily brought.

While the horse was feeding, the people began to assemble, and one of them whispered something to the old woman, which greatly excited her surprise.  Mr. Park knew enough of the Foulah language, to discover that some of the men wished to apprehend and carry him to Ali, in hope of receiving a reward.  He therefore tied up the corn, and to prevent suspicion that he had run away from the Moors, took a northerly direction.  When he found himself clear of his attendants, he plunged again into the woods, and slept under a large tree.  He was awakened by three Foulahs, who supposing him to be a Moor, pointed to the sun, and said it was time to pray.  Coming to a path leading southwards, which he followed until midnight, he arrived at a small pool of rain water.  Resting here for the night, the mosquitoes and flies prevented him from sleeping, and the howling of the wild beasts in the vicinity kept his horse in continual terror.