14 
FARE ON BOARD. 
This explanation seemed to satisfy them, for they asked no 
more questions about me. 
The proprietor of the canoe had put a Mandingo negro 
on board, to take care of the cargo. This person was also 
directed to attend to me ; a duty which he performed very 
negligently, for, after leaving Jenne, he gave me nothing but 
rice boiled in water, the food of the slaves. He was more 
strict than the Moors, and fasted on the voyage, not par- 
taking of any thing until a repast was served to us at half 
past six in the evening. This was the best meal I had 
throughout the day, for he added a little dry fish and vegeta- 
ble butter to the dish. However, he made me eat at other 
times with the slaves. I complained of this treatment, but 
the only reply given to my repeated remonstrances was, 
that he did not choose to have the trouble of lighting a fire 
for only one person, and that I must be content with what 
he gave me. Not being able to do better, I patiently bore 
my misfortune, and considered myself lucky when I pro- 
cured a little sour milk to relish my dinner. 
On the 29th of March, about three o'clock in the morn- 
ing, we again put off. During the night time, the polar star 
served me for a compass, and the position of the stars 
enabled me to guess the hour. About nine o'clock a fresh 
breeze having sprung up, we were obliged to wait till mid- 
day, when we began to move on. At two o'clock we again 
stopped. The excessive heat brought upon me an attack of 
fever, which, fortunately, was not followed by any bad con- 
sequences. At five o'clock in the evening, the wind dropped, 
and we were enabled to continue our voyage. At sun-set, 
we passed a village on the left bank, close to which an 
arm of the river branches off to the west. At eight in the 
evening, we found ourselves before Wanza, having constant- 
ly advanced in a northern direction. We lay to about 
one o'clock in the morning, at a point where there was no 
