BOURE. 
249 
called Dhialonkds, and are chiefly idolaters. They do not tra- 
vel^ but occupy themselves peaceably in the cultivation of their 
little fields, vrhich are fertilised by the inundations of the river. 
They catch many fish with hooks^ vrhich they obtain from 
travellers coming from our settlements on the coast. They 
likewise fish with the fouene, an instrument consisting of 
three branches with darts having teeth like a saw. A large 
piece of wood forms the handle of this instrument, which 
the natives use with great address. I saw a species of fish 
with a number of small bones like the carp. The people 
dry and smoke this fish, and sell it to their neighbours and 
the traders who pass through their country. 
Boure is situated at the distance of a five days' passage 
down the river, in a canoe. The voyage is thus divided : 
from Courouassa to Cabarala one day ; from Cabarala to 
Balatou one day ; from Balatou to the village of Dhioliba 
one day ; from Dhioliba to Boun-Bouriman, one day ; from 
Boun-Bouriman to Boure, proceeding a little way up the 
Tankisso, one day. 
Boure is a mountainous country, containing a number 
of rich gold mines, according to the account given to me by 
the natives. I shall speak of it more at length in the pro- 
per place. 1 went, accompanied by my guide, to pay a visit 
to the chief, who I was told, was a great warrior and 
dreaded by his neighbours. We found him alone in his hut 
employed in fastening a point to an arrow. A number of 
bows, arrows, and quivers, were hung up in various parts 
of the hut. He asked us to sit down on a bullock's hide, and 
Lamfia conversed with him. The conversation turned on 
me. He promised that we should cross the river next day. 
Travellers are rowed across by his slaves. He levies duties 
which are paid in European merchandise, such as gunpow- 
der, tobacco, knives, scissors, &c. He also receives salt in 
payment of these duties, which render him tolerably rich. 
He told me that, out of respect to my rank of sherif, he 
