On the 18th of April, my marabout’s sons returned from the port, whither they had been carrying gum, and told us that Hamet-Dou was going to St. Louis. Mohammed-Sidy-Moctar advised me to go thither too and look after my goods. “They would not dare,” said he, “to detain you while the king is there, and if they should refuse to deliver your goods, the king will take you under his protection.” This proposal suited me exactly; for I could no longer remain among them in the state in which I was, and I wanted to solicit from the governor the means of finishing my education and completing my journey. I did not betray my eagerness however, but, pretending to be guided by his advice, set off for the port with his second son Abdallah; we arrived on the 20th. On our way we passed the night in a camp of zenagues, and I heard a Moor who was talking of me say, “I should like him to die in my tent when he comes back with his merchandise.” “Do not say so,” replied a woman. “Why not,” rejoined the Moor, “would not he be very well off? He would go to paradise, and I should have his goods.” I heard all this distinctly, but I did not take the trouble to thank him for his good intentions towards me. The king had set off from St. Louis two days before we arrived at the port, and we had to wait for an opportunity of following him. In the mean time I visited all the supercargoes on board their vessels; my guide followed me every where and made inquiries about me, my shipwreck, and my goods. He seemed very uneasy, but as I had cautioned all these gentlemen, they took care not to contradict my story. His curiosity nevertheless annoyed me a good deal, because I knew that he would find people at St. Louis who might undeceive him, even without intending to injure me; and, as I foresaw that I should have difficulty in obtaining what I meant to solicit from the governor, I did not wish that any thing Abdallah might hear should destroy the good opinion which his countrymen had formed of me, and induce them to thwart my schemes hereafter. I should for this reason have been very glad to get rid of my companion, and I had some hopes of being able to do so, for a short time, after a conversation which passed between us.