290 
D I E C O U R A. 
over from the preceding nighty and after this light meal we 
set off towards the east, and crossed a large rivulet by a 
bridge that was nearly in ruins ; every moment we were 
in danger of falling into the water^ but we got over in safety ; 
it was constructed on the same principle as that at Cambaya. 
The inundation of this stream^ the banks of which are well- 
wooded, covered all the neighbouring country ; the water 
was up to our knees, and we walked with great pain, on 
account of the gravel which cut our feet. 
In the course of the day we crossed eight large streams, 
which are all tributaries to the Dhioliba. The soil is every 
where much the same, but the country Avas rather less 
wooded than what we had seen the evening before. We 
found plenty of nedes and ces, and I also remarked some 
ferruginous stones. We travelled at a very quick pace, and 
only halted when our porters were exhausted ; we then ate 
a few raw pistachio-nuts to refresh us. I had great diffi- 
culty to keep up to this speed ; fortunately, however, it did 
not rain that day. The road was still so covered with water 
from yesterday's rain, that I could not wear my sandals ; 
I suffered sadly from the gravel, and my left heel was quite 
raw. At six in the evening we arrived thoroughly fatigued 
at Diecoura, the first village of Wassoulo, surrounded with 
a wall eight or ten feet high, and containing eight or nine 
hundred inhabitants. 
We had travelled twenty- four miles, in an easterly direc- 
tion, since morning ; and, finding ourselves in the Wassoulo 
territory, we bore to the E. S. E. for six miles more, over a 
good soil, capable of producing excellent crops. When we 
arrived at Diecoura, I sat down upon an ox-hide, which had 
been spread under an orange-tree in front of our hut. The 
inhabitants assembled in crowds to see me ; they looked at 
me with great curiosity, but did not teaze me with trouble- 
some questions, as the Mandingoes had done. They seemed 
