388 
STRANGE CONDUCT OF A GUIDE. 
prayers at home. Several Bambaras invited me jokingly 
to drink beer vrith them^ but I affected a great aversion 
to that liquor. 
In the course of the day, I sold some glass trinkets, 
to procure provisions for my journey. My host directed 
one of his women to attend to this business 5 and she took 
care to reserve a good profit for herself. 
About three o'clock in the afternoon, the chief of Tan- 
grera sent me the man who was to carry my luggage to 
Fara, where 1 was to rejoin my guide from Time. My host 
escorted me out of the village, when, after wishing me a 
good journey, he took his leave. He had, in the course 
of the day, eaten half my colats, but I was pleased to 
find that his wife had taken only a few grains of salt which 
had not been put in my bag. My guide informed me that 
he was the son of the king of Tangrera. When we had 
advanced a little into the woods, he tried to frighten me. 
He threw down my bag, which was by no means heavy, 
saying that he was very much tired, and that either I must 
carry it in my turn, or give him some cowries for his trouble. 
I promised that on our arrival at Fara he should be rewarded 
to his satisfaction. He seemed to doubt the sincerity of 
my promise, and made many objections. However, finding 
me determined to resist, he took up the bag again, and pro- 
ceeded on his way ; but at such a quick pace that I could 
scarcely keep up with him. A little before we reached 
Fara, I had the same scene over again. He assured me that 
we were yet very far from the village, an assertion which 
I could the more easily believe, because Fara is so surrounded 
by large trees, that it is not seen until you are close upon 
it. Though my guide was much stronger than I, still I 
persisted in refusing to pay him before our arrival, well 
knowing, that if I had the weakness to yield to him, the 
prince of Tangrera would have left me to finish the journey 
alone, while he indulged a hearty laugh at my folly. 
