the capital of the kingdom of Bambarra in Africa, is situated on the banks of the Niger, in 14° N. Lat. and 2° 1' West Long. It consists, properly speaking, of four distinct towns: two on the northern bank of the Niger, called Sego Korro, and Sego Boo; and two on the southern bank, called Sego Soo Korro, and Sego Soo Korro. They are all surrounded with high mud-walls; the houses are built of clay, of a square form, with flat roofs; some of them have two stories, and many of them are whitewashed. Besides these buildings, Moorish mosques are seen in every quarter; and the streets, though narrow, are broad enough for every useful purpose in a country where wheel carriages are entirely unknown. Mr. Park informs us, that from the best inquiries that he could make, he has reason to believe that Sego contains altogether about thirty thousand inhabitants. The King of Bambarra constantly resides at Sego Soo Korro; he employs a great many slaves in conveying people over the river, and the money they receive (though the fare is only ten kowrie shells for each individual) furnishes a considerable revenue to the king in the course of a year. The canoes are of a singular construction, each of them being formed of the trunks of two large trees, rendered concave, and joined together, not side by side, but endwise; the junction being exactly across the middle of the canoe: they are therefore very long and disproportionally narrow, and have neither decks nor masts; they are, however, very roomy; for our author observed in one of them four horses, and several people, crossing over the river. The view of this extensive city; the numerous canoes upon the river; the crowded population, and the cultivated state of the surrounding country, formed altogether a prospect of civilization and magnificence which he little expected to find in the bosom of Africa.

He met not, however, in Sego with that hospitality which he had experienced in some other African towns. The Moors, who abound in it, and whose bigotry renders them the implacable enemies of every white man suspected of being a Christian, contrived to persuade the king that it was for no good purpose he had come into the territories of Bambarra. He was therefore ordered to take up his residence as a village a little distant, without being admitted into the royal presence. Even there, so strong was the prejudice that had been excited against him, no person would admit him into his house. About sunset, however, as he was preparing to pass the night in the top of a tree, that he might not be in danger of being torn to pieces by wild beasts, a poor Negro woman conducted him to her hut, dressed a fine fish for his supper, and furnished him with a mat to sleep on. She then called to the female part of her family, who had stood gazing on him all the while with fixed astonishment, to resume their task of spinning cotton; in which they continued to employ themselves great part of the night. They lightened their labour by songs; one of which was composed extempore, for our author was himself the subject of it. It was sung by one of the young women, the rest joining in a sort of chorus. The air was sweet and plaintive, and the words, literally translated, were these—"The winds roared, and the rains fell.—The poor white man, faint and weary, came and sat under our tree.—He has no mother to bring him milk; no wife to grind his corn. Observe! Let us pity the white man; no mother has he," &c., &c. "Trifling (says Mr. Park) as this recital may appear to the reader, to a person in my situation the circumstance was affecting in the highest degree."

Having remained three days in this village, he was dismissed on the fourth, after receiving from the king 5000 kowries, to enable him to purchase provisions in the course of his journey. Though this sum amounted only to one pound sterling, so cheap are the necessaries of life in Bambarra, that it was sufficient to purchase provisions for himself, and corn for his horse, for fifty days.