410 
TOU MAN^:. 
baces surpass them in size. The ronnier is abundant in some 
places. 
On the 4th of February, at six in the morning, we set off 
in the direction of E. S« E. over a very good fertile soil. We 
crossed a river, after which we proceeded along a road co- 
vered with gravel. After travelling four miles we reached 
Toumane, where we found a numerous caravan on its way 
from Jenne. These traders brought us the unwelcome infor- 
mation that colats were very plentiful and very cheap at Jen- 
ne. This news was very disheartening to the poor merchants 
from Time. 
I went to see the market, which 1 found better than those 
of the villages through which I had previously passed. It 
was held under a sort of penthouse, which kept off the rain 
in bad weather. It was very well supplied with all the pro- 
ductions of the countiy. 1 even saw butcher's meat and 
European commodities, such as cloth, muskets, powder and 
glass trinkets. The female traders managed their business 
cleverly. I bought some maumies, which were better made 
and superior to those in other villages. I saw some wild 
Guinea fowl, which are very common in this country : 
they are sold at the same price as common fowls. There 
were in this village many strangers from Sego, Yamina, 
and other places. The inhabitants paid no particular at- 
tention to me, all taking me for a Moor. I found them 
mild and civil towards strangers ; they were very neatly dres- 
sed, in comparison with the inhabitants of the villages which I 
had visited. My guide, Karamo-osila, discouraged by the news 
brought by the merchants from Jenne, resolved a second time 
to proceed by the way of Kayaye and Sansanding. This 
decision would have annoyed me extremely if the rest 
of the party had concurred in it; but he and his as- 
sociates were the only persons who approved the plan. 1 
made a bargain with an old man from Time who was going 
to Jenne, and promised that on reaching this town I would 
