February 16.—­We were informed that a number of people would go from this town to Jarra on the day following; and as the road was much infested by the Moors we resolved to stay and accompany the travellers.

About two o’clock, as I was lying asleep upon a bullock’s hide behind the door of the hut, I was awakened by the screams of women, and a general clamour and confusion among the inhabitants.  At first I suspected that the Bambarrans had actually entered the town; but observing my boy upon the top of one of the huts, I called to him to know what was the matter.  He informed me that the Moors were come a second time to steal the cattle, and that they were now close to the town.  I mounted the roof of the hut, and observed a large herd of bullocks coming towards the town, followed by five Moors on horseback, who drove the cattle forward with their muskets.  When they had reached the wells which are close to the town, the Moors selected from the herd sixteen of the finest beasts, and drove them off at full cell gallop.  During this transaction the townspeople, to the number of five hundred, stood collected close to the walls of the town; and when the Moors drove the cattle away, though they passed within pistol-shot of them, the inhabitants scarcely made a show of resistance.  I only saw four muskets fired, which, being loaded with gunpowder of the negroes’ own manufacture, did no execution.  Shortly after this I observed a number of people supporting a young man on horseback, and conducting him slowly towards the town.  This was one of the herdsmen, who, attempting to throw his spear, had been wounded by a shot from one of the Moors.  His mother walked on before, quite frantic with grief, clapping her hands, and enumerating the good qualities of her son.  “Ee maffo fenio!” ("He never told a lie!”) said the disconsolate mother as her wounded son was carried in at the gate—­“Ee maffo fonio abada!” ("He never told a lie; no, never!”) When they had conveyed him to his hut, and laid him upon a mat, all the spectators joined in lamenting his fate, by screaming and howling in the most piteous manner.

After their grief had subsided a little, I was desired to examine the wound.  I found that the ball had passed quite through his leg, having fractured both bones a little below the knee:  the poor boy was faint from the loss of blood, and his situation withal so very precarious, that I could not console his relations with any great hopes of his recovery.  However, to give him a possible chance, I observed to them that it was necessary to cut off his leg above the knee.  This proposal made every one start with horror; they had never heard of such a method of cure, and would by no means give their consent to it; indeed, they evidently considered me a sort of cannibal for proposing so cruel and unheard-of an operation, which, in their opinion, would be attended with more pain and danger than the wound itself.  The patient was therefore committed to the care of