SINISSO-LOUBAKHO. 
365 
travelled two miles to the east, along very difficult roads, and 
then descended into a plain well cropped wdth yams, and 
thronged with people engaged in agricultural labour. After pro- 
ceeding about ten miles in the same direction, we arrived about 
noon at Sinisso, where we halted. This village is surrounded 
by a wall, and contains about a hundred huts. My umbrella, 
which my guide displayed to the notice of the inhabitants, 
greatly excited their curiosity. The hut where we lodged 
was full of visiters the whole evening : for those who had 
obtained a sight of the wonder eagerly told their compa- 
nions, who came running in their turn to behold it. They 
could not understand how the machine could be made to open 
and shut at pleasure. They called it a libri, a word in their 
language, signifying a hat; but notwithstanding their cu- 
riosity, they were far from being so troublesome as the 
Mandingoes. 
At this season of the year, the women cook in the open 
air. For this purpose they kindle fires in their yards, round 
which the men sit and take their meals. They all invited 
me to partake of their supper of boiled yams. 
On the i2th of January, at five in the morning, after 
paying for our lodging, we left this village, and directed our 
course to the N. E., over a soil consisting of a mixture of 
earth and gravel, but which is, nevertheless, very fertile. 
Having proceeded about four miles, we arrived at Salasso, 
through which we passed without stopping. Again continu- 
ing our course for four miles, we arrived about the middle of 
the day at Loubakho, where we halted. Loubakho is a large 
walled village, containing from six to seven hundred inhabit- 
ants. It is situated in a beautiful plain of very rich grey sand. 
About six or seven miles N. E. of the village, there is a high 
pointed mountain, which extends N. W. and E.S.E. The 
inhabitants of Loubakho keep some horned cattle, and they 
^brought us milk, which we purchased with glass beads. 
In the afternoon I received a visit from a saracolet, who had 
