Niger

the prisoners he had taken into Bambarra, and having
collected a considerable quantity of provisions, remained
with his army two whole months in the vicinity of Gedin-
gooma without doing anything decisive. During this time
he was much harassed by sallies from the besieged ; and
his stock of provisions being nearly exhausted, he sent to
Ali, the Moorish king of Ludamar, for two hundred horse¬
men, to enable him to make an attack upon the north gate
of the town, and give the Bambarrans an opportunity of
storming the place. Ali, though he had made an agree¬
ment with Mansong at the commencement of the war to
afford him assistance, now refused to fulfil his engagement,
which so enraged Mansong, that he marched part of his
army to Funingkedy, with a view to surprise the camp of
Benowm ; but the Moors having received intelligence of
his design, fled to the northward, and Mansong, without
attempting anything farther, returned to Sego. This
happened while I was myself in captivity in Ali’s camp, as
will hereafter be seen.
‘ As the king of Kaarta had now got quit of his most
formidable antagonist, it might have been hoped that
peace would have been restored to his dominions ; but an
extraordinary incident involved him, immediately after¬
wards, in hostilities with Kasson, the king of which
country dying about that time, the succession was disputed
by his two sons. The younger (Sambo Sego, my old
acquaintance) prevailed, and drove his brother from the
country. He fled to Gedingooma ; and being pursued
thither, Daisy, who had lived in constant friendship with
both the brothers, refused to deliver him up—at the same
time declaring that he would not support his claim, nor in
any way interfere in the quarrel. Sambo Sego, elated with
success, and proud of the homage that was paid him as
sovereign of Kasson, was much displeased with Daisy’s
conduct, and joined with some disaffected fugitive Kaar-
113
q.n.
H