B AMB A. 
425 
what frightened. The dispute drew together a numerous 
crowd of Bambaras^ and might perhaps have led to serious 
consequences. At the moment of our departure Kai-mou 
gave orders for arranging the loads^ and the man who used to 
carry my bag placed it amongst his baggage. 1 knew very 
well that all this was occasioned by a little misunderstanding 
which had occurred at Wattouro between me and my old 
guide, and which arose out of the following circumstance. 
Being in the market 1 bought some rice for twenty cowries ; 
I asked my guide, who had likewise purchased a similar 
quantity, to put our shares together. He declined this, as- 
signing some reason which I could not comprehend. I per- 
ceived that he spoke in an authoritative tone, and I answered 
him in the same manner. He was several days without 
speaking to me, and even cherished a sort of animosity 
against me. 
At six o'clock in the morning, we proceeded N. E. over 
a very level sandy soil. The country was very open, but I 
saw here and there some ces, nedes, mimosas, and rhamnus 
lotus. The caravan advanced in the same order as on the 
preceding day. The heat, which was greater than usual, be- 
came overpowering. After proceeding four miles we halted at 
the village of Bamba, which is shaded by baobabs. At the 
market I observed that the women wore glass rings in the 
nose ; and some had these ornaments made of gold or copper. 
This village contains from three to four hundred inhabitants. 
I was assured that, after travelling N. W. three days longer, 
we should see the Dhioliba, and that the fourth day would 
bring us to Sego. 
In the evening we were harassed by parties of female 
singers, who, by dint of importunity, extort money from 
travellers. Old Kai-mou gave them two colats to get rid of 
them. Afterwards, perceiving me in a corner, they came to 
me ; but, as I had nothing to give them, I left the room, at 
which they did not seem well pleased. These itinerant 
