322 
THE AUTHOR FALLS ILL. 
cook it for my supper. On tasting it I discovered it to be 
the flesh of the wild boar. I manifested some repugnance 
to eating it, and began to fear I should compromise myself ; 
but my young guide from Sambatikila, who was less scrupu- 
lous, advised me to follow his example, assuring me that the 
meat was very good. The Mandingoes, notwithstanding 
their superstition, do not scruple to eat the flesh of the wild 
boar, though expressly forbidden in the Koran. My host 
sent me for supper some yams with a fowl, which he had 
just killed as a treat for us on our arrival. 
On the 4th of August, the chief of the village came to 
see me, and brought me some colat-nuts and yams for my 
supper. The caravan was preparing to depart for Jenne, 
and my foot was not yet healed. The rains were incessant. 
I had to pass through a country intersected with rivers and 
large streams, which at this season overflow their banks, and 
marshes flooded with water. All this would of course ren- 
der the journey dangerous and disagreeable. I reflected 
leisurely what plan I should adopt. I thought that with my 
wounded foot, which was getting worse and worse, I should 
incur the risk of being left on the road, or perishing in the 
marshes ; for the Bambaras, who are an idolatrous people, 
would not willingly have allowed me to stay among them, 
and would probably have robbed me of all I possessed. I 
therefore determined to let the caravan depart without me, 
thinking it best to pass the month of August at Time, 
and even to remain there until my recovery. 1 informed 
my host of my resolution, telling him that I would make him 
a present of a beautiful piece of coloured cloth and a pair 
of scissors, with which he appeared very well pleased. I was 
informed that there was a market once a week in the village, 
where I might purchase any provisions I wanted. The Bam- 
baras of this part of Africa, which must be traversed in pro- 
ceeding to Jenne, are poor and wretched. They do not 
trade beyond their own country. Not having joined the 
