220 MODE OF BUILDING BRIDGES. 
arrived, they set about their labours singing. They were very 
gay and seemed to amuse themselves much, for it vras a party 
of pleasure to them. All the inhabitants of Cambaya, being 
sensible of the necessity of the bridge, had resolved to assist in 
the labour. The bridge vras about forty or forty-five feet 
long, six or seven feet broad. It was formed by driving a 
number of thick poles close together in the middle of the 
stream, to which were attached cross-pieces of timber, and 
these in many places were supported by branches of trees 
which overhung the stream. On the traverses pieces of 
plank, firmly bound together by lianes, a very flexible 
kind of wood, were laid lengthwise. Pieces of wood were 
then laid on crosswise at the distance of a pace from each 
other, to afford a secure footing to passengers over this un- 
steady bridge. 1 was assured that if it were not supported 
by branches of trees it could not resist the rapidity of the 
current. It was finished in a few days, for there was abun- 
dance of workmen. The whole population of Cambaya con- 
tributed to forward the work. Several women brought 
calabashes of rice and foign^ to their husbands for dinner. 
I was invited to partake, and, having all sat down without 
distinction in a circle, every one helped himself. We then 
returned merrily to the village. 
On the 26th of May, I went with Ibrahim and Lamfia, 
who had undertaken to be my guide to the Kankan, to inform 
the chief of the village of my intended departure. My old 
guide asked me, in his presence, whether I would not, before 
leaving them altogether, go to Timbo to see the almamy. I 
told him that I should be happy to do so, but that the road 
from Cambaya to Timbo was intersected by high mountains, 
which it was difficult to cross, and the passage of which 
would greatly fatigue me : I stated besides, that 1 was 
anxiously desirous to continue my journey to the east before 
the rains became more frequent, as it would then be impos- 
sible to travel without encountering great difficulties. He 
