INTRODUCTION. 
9 
At length we entered Boiidou. M. Partarrieu^ who was 
extremely afraid of falling in with the alniamy^ wished to 
avoid Boulibaneh^ his usual residence, and to reach Bakel 
speedily and by the direct route ; but the inhabitants of Po- 
tako, the second village we came to, manifested a disposition 
to oppose this design. It was therefore necessary to encamp for 
the purpose of holding a palaver,^ This palaver still conti- 
nued; we were near wells, but were not supplied either with 
water or provisions ; no millet was brought, and a war of fa- 
mine was commenced. This system of attack upon us was the 
worst and the most dangerous of all : it behoved us to meet 
it with firmness and resolution. M. Partarrieu, who was not 
deficient in these qualities, was preparing to pursue his route 
directly towards Bakel, and we were on the point of start- 
ing, when Major Gray, the commander of the expedition, 
who came to meet us, appeared on horseback, and directed 
us to go to Boulibaneh, under the idea that the almamy 
would keep his word, and that, after he had received our 
goods he would suffer us to pass. Major Gray was rather 
credulous. For the rest, the inhabitants, as soon as they 
saw us change our route, readily permitted us to draw water 
and brought us abundance of provisions of all kinds. Peace 
being concluded and both parties on good terms, traffic com- 
menced. 
The day after the arrival of Major Gray we received or- 
ders to set out and to take the road to Boulibaneh : we could 
do no other than obey ; but, that the inhabitants of that ca- 
pital might not remark the great quantity of goods which we 
brought with us, we entered the place at night. I was in 
the rear-guard, with some English soldiers mounted on asses : 
these poor fellows were exhausted with fatigue : never had 
they made so arduous a campaign; they proposed to stay 
behind : I prevented them from so doing and we at length 
rejoined, though rather late, the head of the caravan, which 
* Negociations, traffic. 
