COON A. 
5 
perceive the two hills 1 have just mentioned, and a little to 
the north-east were three others of similar height. We 
passed the night in this village, which, like Taco, is situated 
on the left bank. 
On the 25th of March I was informed that the great 
canoe which was to convey us to Timbuctoo was in the 
port and ready for our reception. It was covered with 
mats, and laden with rice, millet, cotton, honey, vegeta- 
ble butter, and other productions of the country. The canoe 
appeared to me very fragile ; like the smaller ones its planks 
were joined with cords ; its burthen was about sixty tons. 
We were occupied all day in getting the merchandise 
from the small canoe, and putting it on board the large 
one. There was on the shore a great concourse of people, 
all engaged in some kind of labour ; they had pitched 
tents to shelter themselves from the heat, which was exces- 
sive. The negroes offered us their merchandise for sale. 
On seeing them I almost imagined myself in a market on 
the banks of the Senegal. The village is situated on a little 
eminence, and is scantily shaded by ronniers and mimosas. 
The heat was suffocating. 1 went to visit the market, 
which was very badly provided ; for it was then the time 
of the Ramadan : there was a little milk, some pistachios, 
dry and fresh fish, maumies, and other light articles of food. 
The people looked at me with indifference. The young 
girls, who offered their merchandise for sale, had a very 
pleasing mode of address ; but I bought nothing, on account 
of the presence of the Foulahs, who are even more fanatical 
than the Moors, and who, if they had seen me eat, would have 
set me down for an infidel. My hosts at Jenne had however 
made me promise that I would not fast on my passage, observ- 
ing that I could make up by fasting at Timbuctoo for the 
number of days during which I might neglect the practice 
of that religious duty. I sat down beneath a tree on the bank 
of the river, and amused myself for a short time by observing 
