I took care to let my host know that I was aware of his having been alone in my hut: I told him this in the presence of several persons, who came to see me. He appeared to be much vexed at the loss I had sustained. He made a great noise, assuring the Mandingoes who were present, that every person had gone out to prayer on the day of the festival, and that no one remained in the house but a little girl, ten or twelve years old. Not being able to throw the blame, as he before did, on the poor Foulah of the Fouta-Dhialon, he ordered the young slave to appear, and, addressing her in a severe tone, laid hold of both her hands in one of his, and threatened to beat her, if she did not name the person who had been in the hut during our absence. The girl declared that no one had entered, and that she had not quitted the hut. Lamfia then suspended his threats, lest the girl might say something to criminate himself. He loosed her hands, and said to the by-standers, that it was impossible I could have been robbed. I was pretty sure that this theft had not been committed by strangers; for I took the precaution, previously to going to prayer, to deposit my things in the millet jar, and no one besides Lamfia saw me do so. I did not at this moment mention to him the razor, which was also missing; but he continued to make a great disturbance, and to threaten the little slave, who, however, came off at last with the fright, as I did with the loss of my glass beads. When I reflected on the kind interest which this man had evinced for me, I could not fix my suspicions on him; and I secretly accused his wives, who had often appeared to wish for my glass ornaments. As for Lamfia, he constantly repeated that I could not have known how much merchandise I had, and that I certainly had not been robbed. This excited my indignation, and I looked angrily at him. He cast down his head, being unable to face me, and, from that moment, I deemed him guilty. I no longer accused any one but him, and determined to keep a vigilant look-out for the future. In the evening, he asked me very coolly if I intended to go the mosque: I replied, that I wished very much to go, but that I was apprehensive for the safety of the rest of my things, as the thief might not perhaps be so moderate as on the former occasion. At this he again hung down his head like a criminal. However, I endeavoured not to let my just suspicions be observed, or at least, not so as to make them be talked of abroad, which might have been attended with fatal consequences to myself: but, in spite of my caution, the affair became known. Being unable to stay continually at home to watch my property, I sent for a padlock to put on my bag. Lamfia, who still wished to appear extremely complaisant, took upon himself the trouble of making this purchase. I fixed the padlock on my bag, and, when I turned the key in his presence, he said to me, “Now, you will no longer run any risk of being robbed.”—“Yes,” I replied,