CHIEF OF BADIARANA. 
403 
head supported on a log of wood^ and beside him stood a 
young negress, who was attending upon him. Shortly after- 
wards, six or seven of his wives brought him by turns a cala- 
bash of tau for his supper. He tasted a little of the contents 
of each calabash^ distributed a portion to some Bambaras, 
who were lying beside him, and the cooks successively car- 
ried away the remainder. It is the custom of this country 
for the wives of a rich man, each to prepare her own supper 
separately, and then to carry it to the head of the family 
before she touches it herself. The wives of the poorer class 
cook the supper of the whole family, and perform this office 
by turns. I was pretty near the chief, and was much asto- 
nished that he did not invite me to partake of the repast, a 
custom which is so generally prevalent in these countries. 
The wells at Badiarana are dug seven or eight feet deep, in a 
soil consisting of mixed sand and gravel. There is grey 
argillaceous earth at the bottom of these wells, and the water, 
though rather white, is pleasant to drink. 
On the 29th of January, at six o'clock in the morning, 
we set off, proceeding northward, over a road covered with 
ferruginous stones and red gravel. After crossing a large 
stream, we reached Timbala, where we passed the remainder 
of the day, being all greatly fatigued. 
On the 30th of January, at six o'clock in the morning, 
we left Timbala. After travelUng some distance N. N. W. 
I was shewn the road leading to Sego and Yamina. We 
turned N. N. E., taking the road to Jenne, and, after pro- 
ceeding eight miles in that direction, we halted. At a short 
distance from Timbala, we saw several women cooking mau- 
mies, which they sold to the people of the caravan. They 
had some difficulty in supplying us, for we all wanted some, 
under the expectation that we should have to travel a con- 
siderable distance without halting. However, this plan 
was changed, and about ten o'clock we stopped at Touriat, a 
little unwalled village. Our road, during the morning, was 
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