a kingdom in Africa, through which Mr Park passed in his route from the Gambia to the Niger. He describes the country as consisting either of sandy plains or rocky hills; but, from his account, the level part seems to be the most extensive. The natives are negroes, of whom many, though converted to the Mahomedan faith, or rather to the ceremonial part of the Mahomedan religion, retain all their ancient superstitions, and even drink strong liquors. They are called Johers or Jowers, and in Kaarta form a very numerous and powerful tribe. One of these men undertook to conduct our author to Kemmoo, the capital of the kingdom, and alarmed him not a little by his superstitious ceremonies.

"We had no sooner (says Mr Park) got into a dark and lonely part of the first wood, than he made a sign for us to stop, and taking hold of a hollow piece of bamboo, that hung as an amulet round his neck, whistled very loud, three times. I confess I was somewhat startled, thinking it was a signal for some of his companions to come and attack us; but he assured me that it was done merely with a view to ascertain what success we were likely to meet with on our present journey. He then dismounted, laid his spear across the road, and having said a number of short prayers, concluded with three loud whistles; after which he listened for some time, as if in expectation of an answer, and receiving none, told us we might proceed without fear, for there was no danger."

White men were strangers in the kingdom of Kaarta; and the appearance of our author had on some of the natives the effect which ignorant people, in this country, attribute to ghosts. "I had wandered (says he) a little from my people, and being uncertain whether they were before or behind me, I hastened to a rising ground to look about me. As I was proceeding towards this eminence, two negro horsemen, armed with muskets, came galloping from among the bushes; on seeing them I made a full stop; the horsemen did the same, and all three of us seemed equally surprised and confounded at this interview. As I approached them their fears increased, and one of them, after calling upon me a look of horror, rode off at full speed; the other, in a panic of fear, put his hand over his eyes, and continued muttering prayers until his horse, seemingly without the rider's knowledge, conveyed him slowly after his companion. About a mile to the westward, they fell in with my attendants, to whom they related a frightful story: it seems their fears had dressed me in the flowing robes of a tremendous spirit; and one of them affirmed, that when I made my appearance, a cold blast of wind came pouring down upon him from the sky like so much cold water."

At Kemmoo our traveller was graciously received by the king; who honestly told him, however, that he could not protect him, being then engaged in war with the king of Bambarra (see Sego in this Supplement); but he gave him a guard to Jarra, the frontier town of the neighbouring kingdom of Ludamar. The origin and issue of this war between Kaarta and Bambarra, of which Mr Park gives a full account, shews the folly of attempting to liberate the negroes from slavery till civilization and Christianity be introduced into Africa. Major Kennel places Kemmoo, the capital of Kaarta, in 14° 15' N. Lat. and 7° 20' W. Lon.