however, was required, and I went and bathed the patient’s eyes myself. The mansa took the opportunity of asking me for an application for a bad foot, with which he had been afflicted for some years. I prescribed poultices of purslain, which grows spontaneously all over the country. The diseases which I observed to prevail among the people were ulcers on the legs, fevers, leprosy, elephantiasis, and goitre. I also noticed that several negroes had large white marks, of the colour of our skin, on their arms and legs, which I was told arose from ill health. I conjectured that they were marks of leprosy. CHAPTER X. Further account of Kankan and its environs. — Council of elders. — State of trade, and civilization. — Kissi. — Bouré. — Trade between Bouré and Bamako, Yamina, Ségo, Sansanding, and Jenné. — Working of gold mines. — Establishment of Bamako. — Passage of the Milo, and several other tributary rivers of the Dhioliba. The season was advancing. It was now the middle of July, and in August it becomes almost impossible to travel, the country being then entirely flooded: I was beginning to be very uneasy, when, fortunately, an opportunity occurred of starting for Sambatikila. I bargained with a Poulh[53] of the Fouta-Dhialon, who agreed to carry my luggage as far as the Wassoulo, for three heads of tobacco, worth about ten or twelve sous. My new guide, whose name was Arafanba, had a high reputation for piety; he appeared very obliging, and I was indebted to Mamadi-Sanici for recommending him. Our departure was fixed for the 16th of July; but before quitting Kankan I will give some further description of the place. Kankan, the capital of a district of the same name, is a small town, situated at the distance of two gunshots from the left bank of the Milo, a fine river, flowing from the south, and fertilizing the country of Kissi, where it has its source. It runs to the N.E.: and discharges itself into the Dhioliba, two or three days’ journey from Kankan. It is broad, deep, and fit for the navigation of canoes, drawing six or seven feet water. In the month of August it overflows, and fertilizes the neighbouring country. The following are the names of the villages which, as I was informed, are dependent on Kankan: Carfamoudeya, Diocana, Boucalan, Nafadi, Bacouco, Foussé, Sofino, Dio-Samana, and Kiémorou. The town is surrounded by fine thick quickset hedges, which protect it much better than a mud or earth wall. It has two entrances, one on the west, and the other on the east. The population does not amount to more than six thousand; it is situated in a fertile plain of grey sand. None but very small hills are visible in the distance. In every direction there are small villages, or ourondés, for the slaves. These villages are ornaments to the country, for they are surrounded by fine plantations, where yams, maize, rice, foigné, onions, pistachio-nuts, and gombo are grown in abundance.