SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES. 
271 
the precaution^ previously to going to prayer^ to deposit my 
things in the millet jar, and no one besides Lamfia saw me 
do so. I did not at this moment mention to him the razor, 
which was also missing ; but he continued to make a great 
disturbance, and to threaten the little slave, who, however, 
came off at last with the fright, as I did with the loss of my 
glass beads. When I reflected on the kind interest which 
this man had evinced for me, I could not fix my suspicions 
on him; and I secretly accused his wives, who had often 
appeared to wish for my glass ornaments. As for Lamfia, he 
constantly repeated that I could not have known how much 
merchandise I had, and that I certainly had not been robbed. 
This excited my indignation, and I looked angrily at him. 
He cast down his head, being unable to face me, and, from 
that moment, I deemed him guilty. 1 no longer accused 
any one but him, and determined to keep a vigilant look-out 
for the future. In the evening, he asked me very coolly if 1 
intended to go the mosque : I replied, that I wished very 
much to go, but that I was apprehensive for the safety of the 
rest of my things, as the thief might not perhaps be so 
moderate as on the former occasion. At this he again hung 
down his head like a criminal. However, I endeavoured not 
to let my just suspicions be observed, or at least, not so as 
to make them be talked of abroad, which might have been 
attended with fatal consequences to myself: but, in spite of 
my caution, the affair became known. Being unable to stay 
continually at home to watch my property, I sent for a 
padlock to put on my bag. Lamfia, who still wished to 
appear extremely complaisant, took upon himself the trouble 
of making this purchase. I fixed the padlock on my bag, 
and, when I turned the key in his presence, he said to me, 
" Now, you will no longer run any risk of being robbed." — 
" Yes," I replied, but that will not bring back my glass 
beads. It is now too late ; I should have put a lock on my 
baggage sooner, if I had not thought that every thing was 
