50 
EXCURSION TO THE HILLS. 
summit of the loftiest of this chain, which may be about three 
hundred feet high, and is sprinkled with detached rocks 
of granite. Having reached the top of this, I discovered that 
the chain extends far to the N. E. ; the width from north to 
south being about three miles. The other hills of which it con- 
sists are much less considerable than that which I ascended ; 
among the rocks I found a quantity of cotton trees, with 
deeply indented leaves ; the husks and seeds also being 
smaller than those of the cotton tree cultivated in our estab- 
lishments in Walo. I took some of the seeds of these and 
of many other shrubs which happened to be ripe, and hid 
them in the corner of my pagne ; I also collected some 
plants. In descending the hill I was met by two Moorish 
hunters; they looked surprised to see me, and asked me 
what I came to look for so far from the camp ; I shewed 
them my plants, and told them that I came to fetch medi- 
cines for Hamet-Dou, who was ill ; they appeared satisfied, 
shewed me some young Guinea-fowl which they had caught 
and left me. I climbed another of these hills, composed of 
flesh-coloured quartz rocks, in smaller masses than those 
which I had remarked on the former. I found many re- 
sembling marble ; the intermediate spaces are covered with 
pure reddish sand. 
On my return I searched the plain for cotton trees, like 
those I had discovered on the .hill ; but I could not find a 
single plant. The two Moors whom I had met, had arrived 
at the camp before me, and given an account of my ex- 
cursion : the news had come to the ears of the king and 
awakened his suspicions. As soon as he was aware that I 
had returned, he sent for me, and I had not time to dispose 
of my seeds. When I entered, he asked me, with an air of 
dissatisfaction, whence I came, and why I went to a dis- 
tance from the camp by myself. There were plenty of herbs, 
he told me, close by, without my going so far to look for 
them. Some of the Moors who were present, perceived that 
