34 THE AUTHOR RESUMES HIS EUROPEAN DRESS, 
Fali Loum lent his horse to my Marabout, and we departed. 
No sooner had we set off than my horse, frightened by the 
appearance of some wild beast, started, fell, and involved 
me in his disaster. Some Negroes passing by came to our 
assistance, and we reached a neighbouring village, I imme- 
diately awoke one of the inhabitants to enquire if he had seen 
a slave, called Messember, whom we were seeking. " He is 
in the next hut," answered this Negro. I hastened to the 
place which he pointed out, and there I actually found Mes- 
sember. He had brought the bundle of European clothes 
for which I sent him. The excuses which he made to justify 
his delay, were so far from satisfying me, that I resolved to 
discharge him on the first occasion. We immediately re- 
turned to Niakra. It was only three o'clock in the morning, 
nevertheless the schools were already open, and the children 
assembled round a large fire, were repeating their lessons 
aloud. The Marabouts addressed their prayers to God, and 
the women were engaged in pounding millet. At this early 
hour all is bustle in the villages of Africa, whilst repose per- 
vades those of Europe. The extreme difference in the tem- 
perature of these two quarters of the globe, creates a differ- 
ence also in the hours of business. The coolness of night 
invites the "African to labour, the heat of day is to him the 
signal for rest. 
On my return to my host at Niakra, I put on my European 
dress, and found that my hat and shoes secured me a respect 
