130 
ANOTHER VISIT TO THE MART. 
suited me exactly ; for I could no longer remain among them 
in the state in which I was^ and I wanted to solicit from the 
governor the means of finishing my education and completing 
my journey. I did not betray my eagerness however, but, 
pretending to be guided by his advice, set off for the port with 
his second son Abdallah ; we arrived on the 20th. On our 
way we passed the night in a camp of zenagues, and I heard 
a Moor who was talking of me say, " I should like him to 
die in my tent when he comes ba(;k with his merchandise." 
"Do not say so," replied a woman. "Why not," rejoined 
the Moor, " would not he be very well off ? He would go to 
paradise, and I should have his goods." I heard all this 
distinctly, but I did not take the trouble to thank him for his 
good intentions towards me. 
The king had set off from St. Louis two days before we 
arrived at the port, and we had to wait for an opportunity of 
following him. In the mean time I visited all the super- 
cargoes on board their vessels ; my guide followed me every 
where and made inquiries about me, my shipwreck, and my 
goods. He seemed very uneasy, but as I had cautioned all 
these gentlemen, they took care not to contradict my story. 
His curiosity nevertheless annoyed me a good deal, because 
I knew that he would find people at St. Louis who might 
undeceive him, even without intending to injure me; and, as 
I foresaw that I should have difficulty in obtaining what I 
meant to solicit from the governor, I did not wish that any 
thing Abdallah might hear should destroy the good opinion 
which his countrymen had formed of me, and induce them 
to thwart my schemes hereafter. I should for this reason 
have been very glad to get rid of my companion, and I had 
some hopes of being able to do so, for a short time, after a 
conversation which passed between us. 
Every time that we left a vessel he reproved me for not 
begging of the christians, and when I told him that I was 
not in want of any thing he replied : " That is nothing to the 
