44 
THE KING OF THE BRAKNAS. 
red sand^ on which I saw a great number of blocks of white 
marble ; several of these I examined to ascertain their nature. 
We halted at a small camp consisting of seven tents ; the 
marabout ordered some milk and water to be given to me to 
quench my thirst. We remained there during the heat of 
the day; my marabout then desired me to perform the 
salam and we pursued our journey still in the same direc- 
tion. Before we reached the king's camp^ we passed near 
a pond^ in which my guide caused me to be again washed by 
a zenague Moor, to purify me, as he said. 
It was three o'clock when we reached the camp of the 
king : we had travelled twenty-four miles, and that in a very 
short time, for our camel went at a great rate. The camp 
was situated at a place called Guiguis, near a pond which 
served for watering the cattle. 
Every body was apprized of my coming ; in consequence 
I was presently surrounded by a numerous concourse. There 
were in the camp many marabouts who expected presents 
from this prince ; they received me kindly : one of them, 
the Sherif Sidy-Mohammed, belonging to the Koont nation, 
proposed to me to take up my abode in his camp, promising 
to treat me as his son. I thanked him, and told him in 
answer to his politeness, that if I had not promised Moham- 
med-Sidy-Moctar, I should have given him the preference, 
I desired to be presented afterwards to Hamet-Dou ; but I 
was told that this prince was lying down and that I could 
not see him till he awoke : in a quarter of an hour he sent 
for me, and I found him with a negro who spoke a little 
French and served as interpreter. When I entered the king's 
tent, he stretched out his hand with a smile, and addressed 
me with the customary salutation. Salam ale'ikoom, adding 
these words of French which he had picked up at the 
Moorish market — " Comment vous portez-vous, Moiisieu?- ? 
* To say prayers. 
