We passed the night in a camp of marabouts, who were superintending the cultivation of the lands. I remarked a great many seeds of _nymphæa_ which were drying, and I was told that this seed is used to flavour the sangleh. I ate a little of it, but its taste was unpleasant. They also eat the bulbous root of this plant boiled in water, it has a pleasant flavour and is slightly astringent. This plant, the greatest ornament of the lakes and marigots, grows in profusion in all the lands which have been inundated, and is of great service to the Moors who live on the banks of the river. I have since learnt at St. Louis that the negroes also make use of this plant; they eat the root, boiled; and employ the seed more particularly to season their fish. On the 16th we arrived at our camp, where I was received with fresh congratulations. The grand marabout especially was proud of my return, and seemed to attribute it to the effect which his superior wisdom had produced upon me; it was not my business to undeceive him, and it was very easy to confirm him in his error. Hamet-Fal, his eldest son, took me aside to question me as to the reception I had met with on board the vessels. I told him, and his brother could witness the truth of what I said, that persuasions had been used to induce me to return to the whites, and that I had rejected their propositions; that I liked better to eat a little sangleh with Musulmans than to return to the christians to live in luxury; and that I hoped this sacrifice would be well pleasing to God. He took my hand, lifted it to his forehead, and then exclaimed in extacy: “Do not doubt it, Abdallah; all the good things of this world are not to be compared with those which you may expect in Heaven; in this life all is transitory; but the riches which God reserves for the faithful are eternal. The christians are rich; they have abundance of every thing; they eat a great deal, they drink wine, and spirituous liquors; they will not acknowledge the prophet: they will go to hell; this world is their paradise. As for us, we have nothing but oxen and sheep; we eat nothing but a little sangleh and drink nothing but milk and water; but we pray to God who will reward us in heaven. Nothing is to be compared with the bliss which is there enjoyed; it is renewed every hour, every minute; you have only to wish in order to obtain in abundance whatever you desire. Four great rivers flow through Paradise; one of water, one of milk, one of honey, and the fourth of brandy; but this brandy is far superior to what the christians drink and what God forbids: it is the most exquisite beverage that can be drunk. There, are to be found bowls of butter, of dates, of sangleh, in a word, all that renders life agreeable; and beauties the freshness of whose bloom never fades. Look at this fruit,” said he (holding in his hand a fruit of the _zizyphus lotus_); “on earth it is very small; but in Paradise it is as big as a very large liquor bottle.” (He chose