42 AUTHOR'S ACCOUNT OF HIMSELF. 
having led me to the front of his tent^ made me sit down 
upon a sheep- skin. He appeared highly pleased, seated him- 
self beside me, and having sent for Boubou-Fanfale, who 
spoke Wolof, to act as interpreter, he inquired what were the 
motives that induced me to change my religion ; what I had 
been doing at St. Louis ; of what country 1 was ; whether I 
had any relatives in France ; and lastly, whether I was rich. 
I was obliged to answer these questions, for I perceived from 
the way in which they were put, that this marabout had con- 
ceived suspicions in regard to me, which, for my security, it 
was of consequence to remove : I replied therefore, that, 
having met with a French translation of the Koran, 1 had 
there found important truths, with which 1 was deeply im- 
pressed ; that ever since I had ardently desired to embrace 
Islamism, and had been incessantly engaged in devising the 
means of accomplishing this purpose, but that my father had 
opposed it ; that since I had resided at the Senegal, where I 
had settled as a trader, I had received intelligence of his 
death, on which I returned to France to secure what property 
he had left ; and that, being then my own master, I had sold 
every thing 1 had in my country, and bought merchandise, 
for the purpose of carrying my design into execution. I 
added that, at the Senegal, 1 had heard the wisdom of the 
Braknas highly extolled, and had in consequence determined 
to come and live among them; but that, on entering the 
Senegal, the vessel which 1 was in was wrecked, and I had 
saved but a small part of my goods ; that I had left them 
with M. Alain, who lived at St. Louis and was advantage- 
ously known to them, and intended to lay out the produce of 
the little pack which I had brought with me in the purchase 
of cattle, for the purpose of settling in their country, as soon 
as my education should be finished. He seemed satisfied 
with my answers ; the intimation concerning the goods was 
what pleased him most, and I congratulated myself on having 
resorted to this artifice. It was agreed that 1 should remain 
