118 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. Chap. LXXIV. 
him the absurdity of such a proceeding, telling him 
that they themselves would gain nothing by such in- 
considerate conduct, and would only furnish a fresh 
pretext to the French for penetrating farther into the 
interior. Moreover, I gave it as my opinion, that the 
latter, unless instigated, would not undertake such a 
thing as a military expedition to these distant regions, 
but would endeavour to open commercial intercourse 
with them in a peaceful manner. There the matter 
stopped for the moment. 
Thursday, cxcrtious of the Sheikh to per- 
May 4th. g^adc A'khbl to return the property 
which he had taken by force from the tribes placed 
under the protection of the Awelimmiden being in 
vain, the latter broke up his encampment, in order 
to pursue his journey westward in search of new 
protectors and allies. To prevent the mischief which 
might result from this course, my friend followed, 
and I was obliged reluctantly to accompany him. 
The river had fallen considerably since I had last 
visited this district, and the scanty foliage of the 
lower part of the trees in the swampy tract which we 
traversed in the beginning of our march, bore evident 
testimony to the higher state of the water some time 
before. 
Leaving then our former camping-ground in Tens- 
arori on one side, we encamped after a march of a 
little more than six miles, on ground which was 
still so extremely damp that almost all my luggage 
was spoiled, while it likewise exercised a most unfa- 
