RECE PTION 
AT TIME. 
3^1 
CHAPTER XII. 
Abode at Time. — Weekly market. — The traveller falls seriously ill of the 
scurvy. — Is nursed by a negress. — Rainy season. — ^The author prevented 
from joining the caravan departing for Jenne. — Fertility of the neigh- 
bourhood of Time. — Desperate condition of the traveller. — His recovery 
after four months' illness. — ■ Description of a funeral. 
My guide conducted me to the residence of his brother^ who 
was from home ; but a good old negress, who, judging from 
her wrinkled countenance, must have been sixty years of 
age, received me into her hut. She spread a bullock's hide 
upon the ground for me to sit on, and gave me some soup, 
consisting of herbs stewed in milk, and seasoned with salt ; I 
could not eat much, for I was feverish and had shivering fits. I 
lay down on a mat near the fire (it was the old negress's bed) 
and fell asleep ; but the master of the house arrived, and I 
was soon roused. He appeared very kind, and gave me 
some yams, to which he had taken care to add some salt. 
He then took my bag, saying he would conduct me to the 
chief of the village, a venerable old man of the tribe of the 
Bambaras, but professing the religion of Mahomet. The chief 
received me very well, and made me sit down on a bullock's 
hide, near a good fire, which kept his hut free from damp. 
The brother of my guide, who had conducted me to the 
chief, was his son. The old man informed me that I must 
remain with him until the departure of the caravan, which 
was shortly to set out for Jenne. 1 therefore returned to 
the humble dwelling of Baba's old mother. Alas ! little did 
I think how long I was doomed to be her guest. I gave the 
good old negress a piece of raw meat, of which the chief had 
made me a present on my visit to him, and requested her to 
VOL, I. Y 
