210 DISTRIBUTION OF PRESENTS. 
the almamy Yayaye came to see Ibrahim's wife. She in- 
formed me that a French christian, named Lesno, had come 
to Timbo, whither he had been sent by the chief of the 
Senegal. She spoke highly of the generosity of the stranger, 
and told me that he had solicited the almamy's permission 
to visit the sources of the Dhioliba. This permission, how- 
ever, was not granted, and, indeed, he was not allowed to 
go further than Timbo, and had, in consequence, returned to 
the Senegal. This was said to have happened about a month 
before I heard of it ; — no doubt the name had been corrupted, 
but 1 have not yet ascertained who was the traveller allud- 
ed to. 
On the morning of the 14th of May, Ibrahim fired 
several musket-shots, as a signal for his friends to come and 
receive some little presents of tobacco which he destined for 
them. The court was soon crowded with old men, and as 
the portions had been made up on the preceding day, there 
was nothing to do but to distribute them ; he also gave some 
blue Guinea cloth to each of his three wives for their dresses. 
After this distribution, Ibrahim was overwhelmed with bene- 
dictions. The women danced, and sang his praises, and the 
men offered up prayers for his prosperity. The good old 
schoolmaster was not forgotten. After our breakfast, which 
was always equally frugal, Ibrahim and I walked to the 
ouronde to see the slaves employed in preparing the ground 
for sowing. The poor slaves work entirely naked, exposed 
to the heat of a burning sun. The presence of their master 
intimidates them, and the fear of punishment expedites the 
work; but they make themselves amends in his absence. 
The women, who had very little clothing, had their children 
tied to their backs. They were employed in collecting the 
dry grass, which, being burnt, forms a kind of manure, 
indeed, the only kind they use. 
Ibrahim assured me that rice in these fields grows to 
the height of four feet. The soil, which is composed of a 
