TIARA. 
393 
found markets well stocked with the productions of the 
country, as well as with fish, which is caught in the neigh- 
bouring streams, but which is never offered for sale, until it 
is dried. On my arrival at any village, I always went to the 
market, to purchase my breakfast. In all the villages between 
Tangrera and Jenne, there are in the markets women who 
sell small fried cakes, which are very acceptable to travellers. 
They cost one or two cowries a piece, and as soon as the 
merchants arrive at a halting station, they send one of their 
women to the market to buy some of these cakes, which they 
eat, while dinner is preparing. 
On the 23d of January, at six in the morning, we set 
off and proceeded nine miles, first to the N. N. E. and then 
to the E. N. E, The soil over which we travelled was com- 
posed of hard grey sand and some ferruginous stones. No 
vegetation was visible except ces and nedes. In this part, 
the country is very level. 
We stopped about nine o'clock at Tiara, a village sur- 
rounded by a wall. A little before we reached it, we crossed 
a small river, which supplies the inhabitants with water. 
The village is shaded by bombaces and baobabs, and the 
inhabitants cultivate tobacco in the gardens surrounding 
their huts. The market is not well stocked, and we had a 
good deal of difficulty to procure millet for our supper. In the 
evening a man belonging to our caravan came to me joyfully 
and told me that we were going to Jenne. At first, I thought 
he was jesting with me, but my guide Karamo-osila came 
soon afterwards to inform me that it was determined we 
should take that direction, because there were already too many 
merchants going to Sansanding. Our caravan was indeed, 
exceedingly numerous. I cannot express the gratification 
I felt at this happy news, for it was not without great reluc- 
tance that I had resolved to take the road to Sati sanding, a 
course which thwarted all my plans, and deprived me of all 
chance of visiting Timbuctoo. I made my guide a present, 
