142 DISAPPOINTMENTS AT ST. LOUIS. 
This reply, prudent and proper as it might be, cast me 
down to the ground. My situation became critical: I had 
come to St. Louis with several Moors, particularly a mara- 
bout who was to have accompanied me to Mecca ; 1 was 
now compelled to dismiss him, and, more than that, I was 
forced to hide myself for many days, because the Braknas, 
who had brought me to St. Louis, having heard of my se- 
cret intentions, and enraged at being imposed upon by my 
feigned zeal for their religion, determined to do me a mis- 
chief. 
I should have deemed myself fortunate if the vengeance 
of the Moors had been all I had to fear ; but every thing 
concurred to overwhelm me. The coldness of my patrons, 
the ridicule of all kinds to which I was exposed : nay, some 
went so far as to assert that I had undergone the initiatory 
operation of Islamism. 
One of my friends, seeing me reduced to the allowance of 
a common soldier, which had been granted to me out of com- 
passion, warmly exhorted me to give up my plan, to relin- 
quish my costume, and to return to business ; but he was not 
aware of my persevering disposition, and doubted my cou- 
rage. The taunts of Europeans only rendered my African 
costume more dear to me ; I was proud of wearing it ; I 
braved raillery and despised calumny, and, slighting the ad- 
vantages which trade would have afforded me, I persisted in 
my projects. Besides, I knew that Baron Roger was to re- 
turn, and I calculated upon the support of that excellent 
governor ; with his aid I had no doubt that I should at last 
reach Timbuctoo. 
Li the mean time, however, it was needful that I should 
be kept alive. In spite of my repugnance, I so far conquered 
my pride, as to apply to the governor ad interim^ requesting 
him to pay for my board at the inn. My petition was granted 
more speedily than 1 expected, and I was offered a salary of 
