GRIGRIS, OR CHARMS. 
^59 
the two countries, have renounced all intention of visiting 
Jenne, vrhither I wished to go. I must confess too, that 
I did not like the assiduous attention of the saracolet. His 
officious kindness appeared to me suspicious, and I deter- 
mined not to put his honesty to the test, feeling pretty 
certain that if I did, I should have reason to repent it. I, 
therefore, allowed him to depart for Kankari, where he was 
to embark on a river which flows into the Dhioliba, and on 
landing, to take the road to Sego. Following the advice I 
had received from the good old Moor Mohammed, who was 
perfectly acquainted with the country, I resolved to go by 
way of Sambatikila, whence I could proceed to Jenne 
in greater security. I was assured that those who performed 
the pilgrimage to Mecca always took that road, and that a 
Foulah of the Fouta-Toro had even crossed the Bondou, a 
part of the Fouta-Dhialon, Baleya, and Kankan, to reach 
Jenne, by the way of Sambatikila, rather than go by Kaarta 
and Sego. I had, therefore, only to wait for a guide, and 
a favourable opportunity of availing myself of his services. 
On the ^3rd of June, my friend, the saracolet, came to 
inquire after my health. He asked me why I did not 
call to see him in his hut. He seated himself beside me 
on a sheep-skin, and after the usual compliments he 
gave me a small piece of paper, on which there was some 
writing in Arabic characters. This was a grigri, and he 
assured me that as long as I kept it about me, I might 
travel in safety and without fear of illness. I gratefully 
accepted this precious talisman in return for which I gave 
a few charges of gunpowder. 
On the 24th of June, the saracolet again paid me a 
visit. He begged me to write him a charm which would 
make him as rich as the whites. I told him that, having left 
my country very young, I did not understand the art of 
writing charms 3 but if I did I should of course employ my 
skill for my own advantage. However, I told him that I 
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