DISGUSTING COOKERY. 
325 
well. My host^ of course, attributed my amendment to the 
efficacy of his remedy. I often received visits from the Man- 
dingoes of the village. They were as troublesome as those 
of the Kankan, asking me continually for paper, powder, and 
various other things. The women tormented me for glass 
trinkets. They thought my skin very white, laughed at the 
length of my nose, and played me some childish tricks. In 
short, I agreed very well with the inhabitants of Time, and 
was tolerably comfortable, with the exception of their food, 
which was detestable, chiefly on account of the want of salt. 
However, I purchased a little salt for my own use, and by 
degrees I became accustomed to the simple mode of living 
in this country. 
On the 14th of August, the chief came to visit me. He 
begged me to write him an amulet, and in order to render the 
grigri or charm the more efficacious he made me a present of 
a kid. The amulet which he wished to have was to preserve 
him from diseases in general : I promised to exert all my skill 
to satisfy him. It would have been imprudent to refuse what 
he asked ; for, in spite of the precaution I had taken of telling 
him that I had left my country extremely young, he imagined 
that I could speak and write Arabic very well. Five or six 
Mandingoes of the village immediately seized the kid and 
skinned it. They took care to reserve for themselves the 
stomach of the animal, which they put on the fire and broiled 
without taking the trouble to wash it. They shared this 
dainty morsel with some persons whom curiosity attracted 
round them. They were very expeditious and had soon cut 
up the kid 5 and without ever asking my leave on the subject, 
they made presents of small pieces to the neighbours and 
relations of my host ; for in this country meat is a great 
luxury and is only eaten on festival days. The people eat 
the flesh of goats and sheep only, for they have no bullocks. 
The negroes gave the old chief a shoulder of the kid for his 
supper, and the remainder was reserved for me and Baba's 
