I must confess too, that I did not like the assiduous attention of the saracolet. His officious kindness appeared to me suspicious, and I determined not to put his honesty to the test, feeling pretty certain that if I did, I should have reason to repent it. I, therefore, allowed him to depart for Kankari, where he was to embark on a river which flows into the Dhioliba, and on landing, to take the road to Ségo. Following the advice I had received from the good old Moor Mohammed, who was perfectly acquainted with the country, I resolved to go by way of Sambatikila, whence I could proceed to Jenné in greater security. I was assured that those who performed the pilgrimage to Mecca always took that road, and that a Foulah of the Fouta-Toro had even crossed the Bondou, a part of the Fouta-Dhialon, Baléya, and Kankan, to reach Jenné, by the way of Sambatikila, rather than go by Kaarta and Ségo. I had, therefore, only to wait for a guide, and a favourable opportunity of availing myself of his services. On the 23rd of June, my friend, the saracolet, came to inquire after my health. He asked me why I did not call to see him in his hut. He seated himself beside me on a sheep-skin, and after the usual compliments he gave me a small piece of paper, on which there was some writing in Arabic characters. This was a grigri, and he assured me that as long as I kept it about me, I might travel in safety and without fear of illness. I gratefully accepted this precious talisman in return for which I gave a few charges of gunpowder. On the 24th of June, the saracolet again paid me a visit. He begged me to write him a charm which would make him as rich as the whites. I told him that, having left my country very young, I did not understand the art of writing charms; but if I did I should of course employ my skill for my own advantage. However, I told him that I could give him a piece of advice, and if he followed it he would certainly grow rich. I reminded him that he had often spoken to me of the gold mines of Kankari. “Now,” said I, “when you get there, make your slaves dig up the ore, and when you have got a certain quantity of gold, take it to the christians, and with that talisman you can obtain whatever you want.” He laughed and said he knew of that talisman before, but that it was a piece of advice which it would be very difficult to follow. I thus got rid of this troublesome fellow, and also took my revenge for the falsehood he had trumped up with the view of tempting me to go to Kankari with him; for I was assured that there was no such thing as a gold mine in that place.