240 CHIEF OF SANCOUGNAN. 
his head resting on a log of wood. My guide told him that 
I was a sherif going to my native country, near Mecca. 
This chief, who was said not to be a very pious Musulman, 
gave us d very kind reception. He assigned to me a very 
good hut, and asked me to pass the next day in his village. 
Lamfia met with the son of the chief of Kankan, a zealous 
Musulman, who had come to Baleya to sell a horse. I was 
desirous of making acquaintance with him, and with this 
view I gave him a sheet of paper. He spoke favourably of 
me to the chief of Sancougnan, who, he said, was a great 
warrior, and not over-devout, and therefore might make me 
pay a considerable tribute for liberty to pass. After our in- 
terview, which took place in a stable, where he was lying 
beside his horse, we went to the hut which was destined for 
us. The mansa, or chief, soon sent me a calabash full of rice, 
mixed with milk and butter, and sprinkled with salt, which 
we ate for dinner. I took the precaution of circulating in 
the village a story calculated to serve my purpose. I said 
that Mr. Macaulay, a merchant at Sierra-Leone, well known 
through all this country, had wished me to remain in the 
English settlement, and for that purpose offered to advance 
me money to carry on trade ; but that I rejected the offer 
on account of my strong dislike to live among infidels. 
When in the presence of the chief, I drew forth some leaves 
of the Koran, which I read aloud, to induce a belief that I 
was a very zealous Musulman. An old man of Bondou, who 
was settled in the village, took the leaves of the Koran out 
of my hands, and wishing to show his learning, he mumbled 
some words in a low tone, holding the leaves sometimes 
sideways, and sometimes upside-down. I was so imprudent 
as to remark upon this, and laugh a little at his ignorance. 
He was offended, and immediately returned me the leaves 
of the Koran. He remained with the chief until we were 
gone, and then he asserted that I was a christian, and not a 
sherif, as my guide had stated. 
