LOSS OF A CANOE. 
35 
The only dress of the women was an apron tied round their 
waists. They were all exceedingly clean, and I do not think 
their hair was greased. They came in crowds to see me, 
being very curious, and apparently, very devout, for when 
I was going away they took up some sand in their hands and 
earnestly requested me to pray over it."^ 1 complied with 
their wishes, gravely muttering some verses of the Koran. 
They then carefully rolled up the sand in their aprons, with 
the intention of preserving it as a precious talisman. The 
nenuphar (nymphcea ccerulea) grows in abundance in the im- 
mense marshes which surround Salacoila. The largest species 
of this plant bears a beautiful blue flower. The inhabitants 
gather and dry the seed, and it affords them a valuable ar- 
ticle of food. They also procure grain from the canoes 
which come from Jenne. 
I observed the river sensibly widening. Its direction 
still continued northward. About two o'clock we stopped 
for some canoes that were astern of us. At four we again 
pushed off, steering to the N.E. The river now widened 
considerably. About ten we halted for the night. Here we 
again observed many hippopotami sporting about in the 
water. The negroes hunt this animal and sell its flesh, 
which they esteem very highly. 
On the morning of the 13th of April, we continued our 
course to the north. I occasionally observed some alligators 
proudly rearing their heads to the surface of the water, and 
apparently threatening any one who might be bold enough to 
attack them. Scarcely had we proceeded three or four miles 
when we were obliged to halt to assist a canoe which had 
sunk. The crews of all the vessels were dispatched for 
this purpose, and the whole cargo was saved, but not with- 
out considerable difficulty. Every one assiduously exerted 
himself to dry the wet merchandise, and stow it again, 
* This custom also prevails on the Senegal. 
D 2 
