HUTS FOR TRAVELLERS. 
233 
put a stop to the discussion^ which might have become 
serious, for I could not explain myself very well in the 
Mandingo language. My guide related the manner in which 
I had been taken by Europeans, and assured them that I 
was a real Arab, a sherif of Mecca ; for these people had 
never heard of Alexandria, my pretended country. Lamfia 
informed them that I had crossed the Fouta in safety, that 
all the inhabitants had received me well, and even made me 
presents ; that I read the Koran, a thing which a christian 
would never do. " Besides," added he, " the christians 
never travel alone and on foot. They only go by rivers in 
vessels." The prevailing idea of the people in the interior 
of the Soudan is, that we inhabit little islands in the middle 
of the ocean, and that the Europeans wish to get possession 
of their country, which is the most beautiful in the world. 
One of these Foulahs addressed to me a few words in Arabic, 
to which I replied. This quite ingratiated me with him ; 
as it afforded him an opportunity of proving to his compa- 
nions that he spoke that language, which flattered his 
vanity; for the negroes are, in general, fond of shewing 
their superiority over their fellows. The Foulah then assured 
his companions that I was a real Arab, and they allowed me 
to continue my journey. 
After proceeding a little distance, we halted and entered 
some huts made for sheltering travellers from the rain. 
These huts are very simple. A row of poles is driven into 
the ground, and branches of trees are laid in a slanting 
direction, that is to say, resting against the tops of the poles, 
and sloping gradually to the ground. They are covered with 
straw, and defended from the wind by pieces of wood, 
placed transversely, forming a sort of hedge sloping very 
much towards the ground, and to the west. 
My guide's wife prepared our dinner. Lamfia provided 
food for some of the negroes of the caravan, for they had 
