ANOTHER ADVENTURE OF MUNGO PARK, 212 
pocket. Their insention was now obrious; and 
I thought that the easier they were permitted to 
rob me of every-thing, the less I had to fear. J 
therefore allowed them to search my pockets with- 
out resistance, and examine every part of my ap- 
parel, which they did with the most scrupulous 
exactness. But observing that I had one waist- 
coat under another, they insisted that I should 
cast them off; and at last, to make sure work, 
they stripped me quite naked. Even my half 
boots,though the sole of them was tied to my foot, 
with a broken bridle-rein, were minutely inspect- 
ed. Whilst they were examining the plunder, 
I begged them to return my pocket compass; but 
when I pointed it out to them, as it was lying on 
the ground, one of the banditti, thinking I was 
about to take it up, cocked his musket, and swore 
that he would shoot me dead on the spot, if I pre- 
sumed to put my hand on it. After this, some of 
them went away with my horse, and the remain- 
der stood considering whether they should leave 
me quite naked, or allow me something to shelter 
me from the heat of the sun. Humanity at last 
prevailed, they returned me the worst of the two 
shirts, and a pair of trowsers, and as they went 
away, one of them threw hack my hat, in the 
erown of which I kept my memorandums, and 
this was probably the reason they did not wish 
to keep it. 
“ After they were gone, I sat for‘ some time 
looking round me with amazement and terror.— 
Whichsoever way I turned, nothing appeared but 
danger and difliculty. I saw myself in the midst