DISCOVERIES OF THE FRENCH. 
183 
himself, for each of his wives, his horses, camels, 
and dogs. The latter seemed an object of pecu- 
liar attention and pride ; they were eighteen in 
number, beautiful, and both eyes and scent ex- 
cellent. The general was received in the same 
cordial manner as usual, by all the members of the 
royal family. The king himself, with a numerous 
train, attended him to the banks of the river. 
Brue having concluded his traffic, and made sa- 
tisfactory arrangements as to the future mode of 
carrying it on, set sail on his return upon the 1st 
June 1715. He carried with him 400,000 lbs. of 
gum, besides slaves, ivory, ostrich feathers, gold, 
and ambergrise. 
From the first establishment of the French upon 
the Senegal, Bambouk had been the object of their 
eager attention and inquiry. It was universally 
understood, that gold, the most brilliant and valu- 
able commodity which Africa afforded, was chiefly 
drawn from that country. Yet there were nume- 
rous obstacles, not only against entering, but even 
against gaining any distinct information respect- 
ing it. The Mandingo, and other negro mer- 
chants, through whose agency the traffic was at 
present conducted, dreaded being cut off from it, 
if Europeans should succeed in opening a direct 
communication. The natives also, conscious that 
the possession of this coveted metal rendered 
