DISCOVERIES OF THE FRENCH. 187 
lay. Compagnon, however, by his address, and 
by the grateful arguments which he was able to 
employ, generally secured a favourable reception ; 
and was able, in the course of a year and a half, 
to traverse the most important districts of Bam- 
bouk. His great difficulty was, in procuring 
specimens of the ghingan, or golden earth, which 
the region contained so copiously. This was sacred 
ground ; and even those who were otherwise best 
disposed, considered it almost as treason, that a 
stranger should touch an object, the pride of their 
country, and the grand source of its wealth. Our 
traveller's pretence that he wished to make tobac- 
co pipes of it, was very ill received ; as it was 
reasonably urged, that this was by far too trifling 
a motive for undertaking so long and dangerous a 
journey. However, by various contrivances, he at 
length succeeded in carrying off as much as might 
serve for a specimen of its quality. 
The kingdom of Bambouk is situated on the east 
of the river Faleme, which separates it from Bon- 
dou. On the north it has Gallam, or Kajaaga, 
and Kasson. Its southern and eastern limits were 
not well known to the French ; but they have been- 
proved by Park to be Jallonkadoo, Gadou, Man- 
ding, and Fooladoo. It is divided into a great num- 
ber of districts nearly independent, though they 
unite for defence against a common enemy. Each 
is governed internally by its own Farim, who exer- 
