VISIT TO THE CHIEF OF JENNE. 451 
the latter, who had no child, regarded me as his son and 
would not part with me. " His fortune/' added I, could 
not tempt me. 1 despised it when I thought of a future 
life and the paradise of Mahomet." They congratulated 
me on these praiseworthy feelings. They questioned me 
about the food of the christians, in what direction they 
turn the heads of the bullocks and sheep which they 
slaughter, whether they knock the animal down or cut its 
throat, whether the christians eat with their fingers, and sit 
on the ground. I should fill whole pages were I to repeat 
all the questions that were put to me. 
When the examination was ended, the sherif desired 
the negro, my host, to conduct me to the chief of Jenne, 
Thither we went, still accompanied by my guide. We en- 
tered the little corridor of a mean-looking house, and were 
desired to wait in the first room we entered, where many other 
persons were likewise waiting for an audience. A bullock's 
hide was brought for us to sit upon. At the extremity of 
the corridor, there was a door, which opened upon an 
inner staircase, leading to the first story. On my being 
announced, the chief came down stairs and seated himself 
at the foot of the staircase, the door still remaining closed. 
The chief did not speak Arabic, and he desired that I should 
be asked whether I understood the Mandingo language* 
The man who stood guard at the door repeated the 
answer in aloud voice, to enable the chief (who I suppose was 
somewhat deaf) to hear. He then requested to know whe- 
ther I spoke the Bambara language. One of the Moors, 
whom I had seen with the sherif, now joined me. On his 
being announced, the door of the staircase was immediately 
opened, and all present had the gratification of seeing this 
mysterious chief. He was advanced in years, very fat, 
almost blind, and very simply dressed. The Moor eagerly 
advanced, and giving him his hand by way of salutation, 
told me to do the same I inmiediately did so. It was a 
2 G 2 
