CROSSING A " MARIGOT." 89 



of the sun peeled the skin off his face, and occa- 

 sioned a smarting which lasted for days together. 

 To these inconveniences were added those of the 

 quicksands, which were excessively fatiguing, as 

 the traveller sank up to the ankles, and with diffi- 

 culty waded along. "Then, for the first time," 

 exclaimed Adanson, " I perceived the use of that 

 thick skin with which nature has provided the 

 soles of the negroes' feet, whereby they are secured 

 against hard substances, and have no need of shoes. 

 Yet I accustomed myself by degrees to this sort 

 of fatigue, for there is nothing but what one 

 may compass with a good will, and this was not 

 wanting." 



Here is his picture of crossing one of the marigots 

 or rivulets of the country, which are sometimes 

 very dangerous : " When I had advanced a few 

 steps towards the bed of the stream I entered, 

 though I had my clothes on, into the water up to 

 my waist ; but I did not care to go farther, as I 

 might have met with some hole, which would have 

 embarrassed me greatly. I therefore sent my 

 negro to sound the bottom ; and in the meantime 

 I got upon a tree, in order to avoid the serpents 

 and the water, which began to fatigue me. After 

 sounding for some time, he was of opinion he could 

 carry me over a particular spot, where the water 

 came up only to his nostrils when he stood on tip- 



