172 COMPASSION OF THE FOULAHS. 
of the Foulahs^ who had joined us on our road^ gave me some 
of the fruit of the ned^, which is very common in this part of 
Africa, and very useful to travellers ; it has a great deal of 
nourishment in it, and helps to save the rice which is des- 
tined for the purchase of salt. 
About half-past two we were again on our way, pro- 
ceeding to the S. E. over the same kind of soil as in the 
morning. After travelling about seven miles in this direction, 
we arrived near a deep ravine, where we halted to pass the 
night. One of the slaves went to fetch water, and our cook 
fell to wwk. 
The Foulahs, who had been told that I was an Arab, 
shewed a sort of veneration for me, and were never weary 
of looking at me and pitying me : their extreme devotion 
renders them very charitable : they came and sat by me, 
taking my legs upon their knees and rubbing them to relieve 
my fatigue. " Thou must suffer sadly," said they, "because 
thou art not used to such a toilsome journey." One of them 
went and fetched some leaves to make me a bed. " Here !" 
said he, " this is for thee ; for thou canst not sleep upon the 
stones, as we do." Lying upon my bed of leaves, I felt as 
happy and as much at my ease as if I had been in my own 
apartment. 
The sky was serene. The heat of the day had been 
succeeded by a refreshing breeze, and every thing was ex- 
ceedingly pleasant. 
Several Foulahs gave me a httle rice, and I was the 
more grateful for it as this was all they had to give. The 
Mandingoes too were exceedingly kind and attentive to me, 
and endeavoured to anticipate all my wishes. 
Prudence required me to retire to the woods to write 
and arrange my notes. I observed this precaution through- 
out the whole of my journey ; for every observation that 
dropped from those by whom I was surrounded convinced 
me how dangerous it would be to rouse their suspicion. 
