have appointed to hear it; it is their business
to make me a true report, and give me their opinion on the merits of the
case; and although I am not now supposed to hear it, yet I am so situated
as to hear the whole, and can thereby check any corrupt practices in the
judges.

I had now leisure to examine the interior of Alimami's residence; it
consisted of a square of irregular buildings, thatched with bamboo, and
covered with roofs, supported by pillars of wood, at about 6 feet distance,
projecting about the same number of feet beyond the skeleton of the fabric,
and forming a kind of palisado, which serves as a shade for retirement from
the heat of the sun, and under which, the inhabitants indulge in repose, or
sit in familiar intercourse.

During my conversation with Alimami, his brother, a fat jolly fellow, was
reposing himself upon his mat, reading his Arabic prayer book, which, upon
examination, I found executed in a neat character, and from his
interpretation, was a record of fabulous anecdotes of his family, and
containing confused extracts from the Koran.

The Mandingos are professed Mahomedans, whose influence is spreading with
so much rapidity on this part of the coast, that several of the other
tribes have submitted to their authority; so strong an impression has their
superior attainments and book-knowledge imprinted on their minds. In no
instance can their growing influence appear more conspicuous than in that
of Alimami being vested with authority over the Port Logo, of which he is
not a native, and over a people originally infidels. Formerly this tribe of
Mandingos were itinerant _fetish_ makers and priests, but now they are
numerous to the northward of Sierra Leone, from whence a wide district
receives their rulers and chieftains.

After an audience of considerable length, Alimami retired with several of
his chiefs, and soon after I had a message that he wished to see me in
another part of his dwelling. I had previously noticed to him that I
intended shortly to embark for my country. When conducted to his presence,
he very emphatically enquired "if what I tell him be true?" I replied "it
was; but that I go to do him and his countrymen good; that he know this was
the second time I look them, but never forget them." "We all know that," he
replied, "but white man that come among us, never stay long time; you be
good man, and we wish you live among us--How many moon you be gone from
us?"--"About ten moo