THE AUTHOR REJOINS THE CARAVAN. 3S9 
We entered the village towards sun-set^ after crossing a 
little stream, in which the water did not rise above our 
ancles. I met several women of our caravan there, who 
appeared astonished to see me. We had travelled five miles 
to the N. N. E. During three of these miles the country- 
was but slightly shaded by trees, and the surface of the 
ground was covered with stones, which caused me consider- 
able pain in walking. I observed several ces and nedes. 
On my arrival I paid my royal guide, who joyfully returned 
home. Karamo-osila was very happy to see me again. He 
immediately informed all the people of the caravan of my ar- 
rival ; they congratulated me on having rejoined them, and 
Karamo-osila expressed his regret at having left me alone 
among infidels. I gave a description of my host, who drank 
beer, and with whom I did not consider myself very secure ; 
they all joined in laughing and ridiculing him. A fowl was 
bought to celebrate my return, and I furnished the salt for 
seasoning it. These merchants, not having made much pro- 
fit, were obliged to be very economical. They seldom in- 
dulge themselves with fowls or fish, or with salt for seasoning 
their victuals. Sometimes I heard them say to each other : 
It is a long time since we had any thing good; let us have 
a little salt in our supper." Three or four of the same com- 
pany often form a sort of partnership ; they then mess 
together, each in turn defraying the expense. 
At six in the morning of the 21st of January, we left 
the village of Fara, and proceeded to the N. W. travelling 
over a soil composed of gravel and ferruginous stones. I also 
observed a good deal of red sand. The road was very level, 
and occasionally shaded with trees. I did not see any trees 
of very large growth ; indeed, none so high as our apple or 
pear tree. Bombaces and baobabs, the giants of the vegeta- 
ble kingdom in this part of the world, grow only in the 
vicinity of villages ; I never saw any of them in the woods. 
Our caravan had prodigiously increased since leaving Tan- 
