Chap. XXXIV. FAIR-COMPLEXIONED NATIVES. 455 
apish expression of countenance, which entirely spoils 
the really Circassian features which they have in early 
life. As for the females, they preserve their beauty 
much longer. While these young men were giving 
unrestrained vent to their admiration of my things, 
the old mallem came with a numerous suite of 
attendants ; whereupon they drew shyly back, and sat 
silently at a distance. In this part of the world there 
is a great respect for age. 
The mallem and his companions were not only 
astonished at my instruments, but manifested much 
curiosity about the map of Africa, which I unfolded 
before their eyes, being greatly struck by the extent 
of the continent towards the south, of which they had 
previously no idea. I shall show in another part of 
this work how far the Fiilbe have become acquainted 
with the regions about the equator, and how a faint 
rumour of the strong pagan kingdom of Muropiiwe has 
spread over the kingdoms of North Central Africa. 
Their esteem for me increased when I showed them 
my little prayer-book, which I wore in a red case 
slung round my shoulders, just as they wear their 
Kuran i indeed a Christian can never be more sure 
of acquiring the esteem of a Moslim— at least of a 
learned one — than when he shows himself impressed 
with the sentiments of his religion ; but he must not 
be a zealous Roman Catholic, nor broach doctrines 
which seem to deny the Unity of God. He took 
great delight in hearing a psalm of the well-known 
" nebi Daxid" (David) read in English. He, as well 
G G 4 
