On the 4th of November, the son-in-law of Mohammed-Sidy-Moctar came to the camp. As he did not lodge with his father-in-law, I conclude that they were not on good terms. I went to pay him a visit; he was very polite, and asked me many questions about the resolution which I had taken, congratulating me upon it, and telling me that he was very much afraid the christians would detain my goods, or, if I returned to fetch them, would detain me by force. I endeavoured to correct a mistake which proceeded from his religion, and assured him that the christians would leave me at perfect liberty to do what I pleased; and that as to my goods they would be as safe in their hands as in my own. “The whites,” said I, “rob nobody; their laws punish such crimes with severity, and they would do justice to the poorest Musulman exactly as they would to a christian of the first importance; both are equal in the eye of the law.” I seized this opportunity to ask him, why the Musulmans pursued a conduct with regard to christians, so contrary to religion; and why they ill-treated and made slaves of those who ventured amongst them for commercial objects, without having committed any offence. “I cannot believe,” added I, “that a good and merciful God approves of such conduct. If you want to convert the christians, it can only be effected by intercourse with them, and by excelling them in justice and kindness—not by ill-treating them. For my part, I am a Musulman, but I shall never approve of doing ill to those who have done us no harm.” The marabout allowed the truth of what I advanced; but he said it was unbearable, that when a Musulman spoke to a christian about the prophet, the christian should laugh in his face; that none but an infidel would do so; and that it would be a good action to kill him, that they might both go to heaven. I wished to enter into some particulars respecting christianity; but I durst not let my zeal run away with me, and I contented myself with telling him that the christians adored the same God as the Musulmans. “Yes,” said he, “I know that; but they never pray; they drink wine and spirituous liquors, which is displeasing to God; and the religion of Mahomet, which alone is agreeable to him, condemns to everlasting fire those who do not adopt it.” He asked me afterwards if I meant to make a journey to Mecca; to which I replied that it was the duty of every good Musulman, and that I hoped to discharge it. He took me by the hand, and answered: “That is right, Abdallahi, you love God and the prophet.” Boubou-Fanfale served as interpreter in this conversation.