CAMP OF THE TOOARIKS. 
43 
wide as the sacks commonly used in France. I suppose they 
might contain nearly two hundred pounds of grain. Never 
did any day appear to me so long and tedious as this. I was 
almost within sight of Timbuctoo, and durst not shew my 
face : I was obliged to hide myself the whole day ; and, if at 
any time the Soorgoos came on board, the crew obliged me 
to muffle myself up in a large woollen wrapper, and to 
pretend to sleep. At night I left my prison, for then the 
Soorgoos could not distinguish my complexion from that of 
the negroes, and 1 breathed the pure air until day-break. 
On the 1 9th of April, at five in the morning, we stood 
to N. E., and at sun-rise passed a large branch of the 
river, which flows for a short space to W. S.W. About 
seven o'clock we found ourselves near a camp of Tooariks, 
the aspect of which was most miserable. The tents which 
the Moors inhabit on the right bank of the Senegal are 
palaces in comparison with the dwellings of these savages : 
a few stakes, three or four feet high, supporting a covering 
of untanned bulls' hides, and encircled by mats, in the form 
of a palisade, compose the abode of the chief, as well as of 
his meanest sujects. The interior of these habitations ap- 
peared to correspond perfectly with their exterior. 
As we were very near the shore, I could observe a woman 
who had the clear copper complexion of the Moorish females, 
whom she still further resembled in dress : she was enor- 
mously fat, and was sitting on a sheep-skin spread on the 
ground; she was doubtless amusing herself by looking at 
the vessels as they passed. During my travels among the 
Braknas 1 never saw a woman who had attained such a 
degree of corpulency, though that quality constitutes the 
principal charm of female beauty among these people. This 
Tooarik Venus must have required four slaves at least to 
assist her in walking. The river now turned a little to the 
east. After having passed the camp, we came to a large 
island, off which we halted till eight o'clock, having to wait 
