180 DISCOVERIES OF THE FRENCH. 
board the vessel, and held a long conference with the 
Director. Unfortunately, the chief topic of his con- 
versation consisted in the most extravagant praises of 
the Dutch, who were then in possession of Arguin, 
and whose generosity, and the vast presents they 
had given, seemed to have made the deepest im- 
pression on his mind. No subject could be less 
acceptable to Brue ; but though he made con- 
siderable attempts to alter the prince's views with re- 
gard to that nation, he did not choose to make this 
predilection a ground of quarrel. Having remained 
to dinner, the prince at first refused wine; but being 
prevailed upon to taste Canary, was so much pleased, 
that he went over, without farther scruple, all the 
French wines that were in the Director's possession. 
On the 10th of April, Brue was honoured with 
a visit from the principal wife of the Brak, accom- 
panied by the ladies of her court, all mounted upon 
asses. The general went to meet them, and led 
them into his apartment, where they immediately 
seated themselves in the most familiar manner. 
They had at first three robes of fine cotton folded 
above each other, but they soon threw off, first one, 
and then another, so that their attire was reduced 
to a single petticoat. They then took out their 
pipes and began to smoke ; when observing that 
Brue did not follow the example, and learning 
that he abstained in testimony of respect, the queen 
insisted on his taking her own pipe, and sent for 
