Just before we started I had made the following little speech to my coolies: “My friends, I know I am asking what will cost you a good deal of self-denial, but you must oblige me by not being too attentive to the women you meet until we have reached Timbuktu. You know that that sort of thing leads to disputes, sometimes even to regular quarrels, with the natives, and we shall have quite enough hostility to contend with without creating any ill-feeling ourselves. I warn you, moreover, that I shall give you no more pay after we leave Sansanding till we reach our goal. I will, however, give you two months’ pay in advance at Sansanding, and you will have three days to spend it in. For a year therefore, and perhaps more, after you leave Sansanding, remember, you have done with women.” Truth to tell, I had learnt from experience that the ardent temperaments of negroes forming the escorts of expeditions really often jeopardized success, if their amours did not actually bring about failure. Of course I can’t be sure that my orders, which I repeated later, were always strictly obeyed, but at all events I did a good deal to lessen the evil. [Illustration: YAKARÉ.] I gave my jolly fellows three days to enjoy themselves in, and they took me at my word. Until half-past one on the 22nd I saw next to nothing of them on board, and when the time for starting arrived I had to send to hunt up our little Abdulaye Dem, who had quite forgotten how the time went in the society of a coal black Circe. Meanwhile, we Europeans amused ourselves far more usefully in arranging for our further journey, and in trying the effect on the natives of our most attractive possessions, viz. the little organ, the bicycle, and the phonograph. The organ had already done wonders, and as for our _Suzanne_, as we called our bicycle, she caused a perfect delirium of joy. Mademba had an ancient-looking negress of Amadu, named Yakaré, in his suite. She was really only about forty years old, but she was considered one of the cleverest women in all Bambara. There was a certain ring about her songs of war and love which would be appreciated even in Europe, and the following specimen, in which she glorifies Donga or the vulture, Monson, the greatest _fama_ of Bambara, will serve to give an idea of the rhythm. Braves! Heroes, who of you dares rail at Donga? I tell you evil will come upon you if you mock at him. Raillery of him was fatal to Diakuruna Tutun. Samaniana Baci thought to play with Donga, He fancied he could make merry with him; But that did not please the vulture, And he took Bamana Dankun And cut off his head, yes, took his head from his shoulders. Dankun had only said that the Bambaras Could not pause in sacrifices already begun.[4] I sing of Donga Jaribata,[5] The vulture of four wings, A mighty bird, whose talons Can tear up the soil of the earth; A bird who if he will Can dig a well with his claws.