KIND TREATMENT OF HIS HOST. 455 
The latter thrive well every where in the neighbourhood of 
Jenne. The Haggi-Mohammed came to inquire after my 
health. As I had eaten only a small portion of what he sent 
to me, he supposed that 1 was ill. He desired me to make 
myself easy ; for now that I was among the Moors I should 
want nothing, and with the grace of God I should soon return 
to my country. Then sitting down beside me, he asked me 
what I should do when I went home, as I did not know 
my parents. I told him that at first I should be somewhat 
at a loss. " But," said I, if you had a son among strangers, 
should you forget him?" — Certainly not," replied he. — 
" Neither will my father forget me. When I get to Alexan- 
dria I shall find him out; and^ even if both my parents are 
dead, I have a brother who will surely know me again." As 
I was very ill with severe cold^ he procured, at my request, 
some dry gombo and had it boiled with honey. This, I 
found to relieve me very much. The cold affected my chest 
and I was quite hoarse, which was very inconvenient to me, 
having to answer so many questions. 
I mentioned to the Haggi-Mohammed my wish to repay 
the cowries which he had expended on my account. He 
refused to accept payment, and desired me to purchase 
nothing, observing that I had only to ask for whatever I 
might want, and he would supply it. He sent for a barber 
to shave my head. This man was an expert operator ; he did 
not hurt me in the least, though I certainly expected to suffer 
under his hands. The handle of his razor was made according 
to the fashion of the country, but the blade which was of Eu- 
ropean manufacture, was good. The barbers carry their 
razors in a small copper sheath. They do not use soap ; 
a forbearance for which I was grateful, for the smell of all 
the soap that I met with in the country was extremely 
offensive : they merely wash the head with cold water. 
After resuming my turban, I paid a visit to the market; I 
was surprised at the number of the people I saw there. It 
