254 
KANKAN. 
in some huts, made of branches of trees, covered with straw. 
We had travelled at a great rate during the day : indeed, we 
might be said to have run rather than walked, for we were 
anxious to reach Kankan next day. On the road we met 
many Mandingo merchants going to the Fouta-Dhialorr. 
They looked at me with great astonishment, but did not 
inquire whether I was a Moor, or a christian. The saraco- 
lets travelled even faster than we : they were going to the 
ouronde (slave village) of Kankan. On my expressing a 
wish to go thither also, my guide observed that it was too 
distant : it is true, we were greatly fatigued by our forced 
march. I had now the good fortune to be free from fever. 
In the evening it thundered and lightened, but without rain. 
We ate our supper with a good appetite, and, though our 
bed consisted only of a little straw scattered over the stones, 
we enjoyed a good night's rest. 
At half-past five in the morning of the 17th of June, we 
proceeded southward, and after travelling three miles and a 
half, we halted near the ouronde, and joined the saracolets, 
who were going to Kankan. I saw some well cultivated fields 
of yams, pistachios, and maize. The foigne was already in 
a pretty advanced state. We next entered a fine plain. I 
saw in the distance some little hillocks, and I remarked that 
the ground sloped gently to E. N, E. Many negroes ran 
after us to see the caravan. We had gone four miles and a 
half S. S. E. In some places the soil was red, mixed with 
gravel, and very fertile. The country is covered with ces 
and nedes. We crossed a little stream, and about ten 
o'clock arrived at the town, which is the capital of Kankan, 
My guide insisted upon my opening my umbrella, to make 
my entrance into his native place. On the road we had met 
some Man dingoes on horseback, very neatly dressed, and 
wearing large straw hats, made in the country, and of a 
round form, like those worn by the French peasantry. I was 
told that these Mandingoes were going to the fields to 
