116 CRUELTY OF AN HASSANE. 
guide, increased daily, I resolved not to stay, but to return 
to the camp; I told him so, to his great surprise, but he 
begged me to wait till the next day ; we passed the night on 
board. On the 1 5th of March, we returned to Podor for our 
beasts; and at two o'clock crossed the river again. An 
hassane, of the tribe of Oulad-Sihi, joined us ; on the road 
we met a laratine, whom he asked for tobacco, and the 
hassane wanted to take his coussabe from him, but the other 
resisting, the hassane drew his poniard to stab him. This 
behaviour disgusted and incensed me the more, because we 
had just finished our prayers, and I did not comprehend how a 
man, who pretended to be a Musulman, could pass imme- 
diately from an act of devotion to robbery. At my intreaty, 
my companions went to the assistance of the poor laratine, 
and I could not restrain myself from reprimanding the 
offender, and threatening to report his conduct to Hamet- 
Dou ; he replied, in an insolent tone, that I might tell him 
if 1 pleased, for he was not afraid of him. This fact shows 
how completely persons of his class despise authority ; they 
acknowledge no law but that of the stronger. My reprimand 
irritated him, and I verily believe that, had it not been for 
my character of marabout, I should have suffered for my im- 
prudent zeal. This event gave rise to many painful re- 
flections : I said to myself, if they behave thus to their own 
countrymen, what would they not do to a stranger, a 
christian, without protection, in a country where no laws 
shield the indigent, and where the very circumstance of their 
being poor seems to expose them to greater persecution ? 
What would become of me if my secret were discovered ? A 
speedy death would be the greatest favour that I could ex- 
pect, from their hatred to christians. 
On my return, however, I was welcomed with many 
and hearty salutations. The Moors were persuaded when I 
went away that I should never come back, and that I should 
escape from the port; many of them had advised Moham- 
