ARRIVAL AT JENNE. 
445 
repair. I was astonished at the size of these canoes, of 
which I shall say more hereafter. 
When we landed, there were several negroes assembled 
at the water-side. My guide addressed himself to one of 
them, a good-looking Mandingo, and asked him whether 
he could give us a lodging. He conducted us to his habi- 
tation, the outside of which was well enough, but the in- 
side did not correspond with its external appearance. 
From consideration to me in my assumed character of an 
Arab, I was lodged in an upper room, where 1 should 
not be so much exposed to damp as in the lower part of 
the house. The room was exceedingly wretched and 
dirty. It might be about twelve feet long, five wide, and 
of a proportionate height. The floor, which consisted of 
planks of rough wood, was better made than any 1 have 
seen among the Bambaras. It was, however, very uneven, 
and covered with rubbish, a heap of which lay in one corner 
of the room, as the floor was undergoing repair. The only 
furniture the apartment contained was a mat spread upon 
the floor. The steps, which led from this room to the yard 
were of earth, and so narrow and steep as to be very dan- 
gerous to descend. My old guide and his people were 
lodged in the store-room on the ground -floor. 
When we were fairly settled in our new abode, Kai- 
mou called together the master of the house and two or 
three old men who lived in the neighbourhood, to whom 
he related the circumstances which had occasioned my jour- 
ney to Jenne. They listened to his story with great atten- 
tion, and seemed to be much interested about me. On my 
expressing a wish to become acquainted with the Arabs 
who were settled in the town, and to place myself under 
their protection, they agreed to conduct me in the evening 
to sherif Sidy-Oulad-Marmou, a Moor of Tafilet, who was 
reputed to be very rich. This interview being ended, my 
