ARRANGEMENT OF THE CARAVAN. 
423 
CHAPTER XVII. 
Dwarf cotton. — Coloni. — ^The lolas, a Foulah tribe. — Bancousso. — Cara- 
bara. — Marshes. — Ropes made of the hibiscus. — Brick-making. — 
Construction of houses. — Kerina. — Foudouca. — Medina. — Lotus 
bread. — ^Touma-dioman. — Marianan. — Arrival at Galia on the banks 
of the DhioUba, opposite to Jenne. 
On the 17th of February, at six o'clock in the morning, we 
proceeded northward. The caravan, intimidated by the 
reports of the war with Sego, and being in the neighbour- 
hood of that town, put itself on the defensive. At a little 
distance from the village we halted, to put ourselves in 
order. The men carrying loads, who were all armed with 
bows and arrows, were divided into two bodies, and between 
them the women were placecj ; while the old merchants, and 
the chiefs of the caravan, driving their asses, brought up the 
rear. I seated myself to see them pass, which occupied at 
least a quarter of an hour. The order of our march was well 
observed, and had an imposing effect. When we wished to 
rest, the advanced guard halted with the women. The rear 
went forward to a certain distance, and then rested in its 
turn, till those who had stopped first should come up. The 
old men with the asses being now in the van halted till the 
whole caravan had passed, and resumed their usual place 
in the rear. We proceeded four miles N. N. E. on a soil 
similar to that which we passed over on the previous day. 
About eleven o'clock we stopped at Saracle, a little walled 
village, having a very well supplied market. At the entrance 
of the village I observed a well : the soil in which it was 
dug, consisted of greyish earth, mixed with sand and gravel. 
