38 
WELLS OF TEIBA. 
near us, and commenced their repast, which was still more 
frugal than our own. 
The ass which I had bought at St. Louis, was incapable of 
carrying the burden with which I had loaded him ; I was, 
therefore, obliged to place my baggage on my horse, and to 
pursue my journey on foot, till an opportunity should occur 
for procuring another ass. 
I constantly measured the depth of the wells which 
were near the villages, because it enabled me to ascertain the 
irregularities of the ground in the level country through which 
I travelled. That of Teiba presented me for the first time with 
a singularity which much astonished me : in the whole space 
comprised between the banks of the Senegal, opposite to St. 
Louis and the limits of Foutatoro, fifty leagues distant, I had 
not met with any stone on the surface of the soil ; nevertheless 
near the wells at Teiba, which are twelve fathoms deep, there 
is a heap of ferruginous stones, which were thrown up in 
digging the wells. The water of these wells has a brackish 
taste which renders it disagreeable for drinking, 
When the heat had abated w^e resumed our journey, 
and about four o'clock entered a village which belonged to 
Moctard Loo. This man, whose intelligent physiognomy 
indicated frankness and good-humour, invited me to remain 
at his house until the following day ; he even offered to make 
me a present of a sheep ; I refused ; he insisted ; and would 
not let me depart without promising to visit him on my return. 
