windings amongst the mountains. The Mandingo negroes, who had made many journeys to Timbo, told me that this stream issued from the Bâ-fing, a little below that capital; that it emptied itself into the Dhioliba; and that Bouré, a country rich in gold, is situated on the left bank of the Tankisso, about half or three-quarters of a day’s journey from the Dhioliba. My companions bathed whilst waiting for Ibrahim, who had stopped behind. Continuing our route, we descended a little mountain of pale pink quartz, the strata of which are eighteen or twenty inches thick. This road brought us into a beautiful extensive plain of firm sand, completely surrounded by high mountains, apparently of granite. In this plain was situated the village to which Ibrahim, my guide, belonged. We proceeded three miles to the east. In some places the soil consisted of grey clayey mould, mixed with small gravel. The Tankisso, after flowing among the mountains, falls in a cascade, and winds through the plain, which it fertilizes by its inundations. We advanced slowly, waiting for night to make our entrance into the village. We recrossed the Tankisso, the water of which was up to our waists. A little after sun-set we stopped to offer up our prayers; my companions then prepared to announce their arrival by a discharge of musketry, which they fired as they entered the village, about three miles eastward of our last station. When we entered the court of my guide’s hut, we were greeted by a second discharge of musketry. Joy was painted in every face; the negroes embraced their children, taking them up in their arms, and inquiring after their health and that of their friends. The women also appeared equally pleased at the return of their husbands, but they did not give way to that natural and sincere joy which would be manifested on similar occasions in Europe: they approached their husbands with an air of timidity, and lowered the knee to the earth, in token of salutation, but without asking any questions. The neighbours ran in crowds to congratulate their friends on the happy termination of their journey; bullocks’ hides were spread in the court-yard, and we sat down upon them in a circle, while the moon shone brightly above our heads. Much conversation took place respecting the circumstances of the journey, and the price of different commodities, especially salt. No notice had as yet been taken of me, but, as soon as I was observed, every one looked at me with astonishment, and the question, “Who is this man?” was repeated from mouth to mouth. Ibrahim was glad of the opportunity to relate my whole history, as I had told it to him; which rendered me still more an object of curiosity: I was importuned with questions, to which my guide had the kindness to reply for me. The court-yard was filled the whole evening, and about nine o’clock, a supper, consisting of rice and meat very well cooked, was brought to us: two of our travelling companions added theirs, and our party