46 
PREPARATIONS FOR LEAVING COQUE. 
cases. One had killed a lion, which was prowling round his 
hut. Another had rescued some anirnal which the marauder 
had carried off. Having- witnessed their fears in the moment 
of danger, I gave no credit to all these boastings. 
February 8th. All was ready for departure, when my 
Marabout informed me, we could not at that hour of the day 
traverse the forests which separate the kingdom of Cayor from 
the country of the Bourb-Joloffs ; that the heat would oblige us 
to pass part of the day in the woods ; and that it was better to 
travel during the night. This intimation vexed me much ; I 
did not like the idea of being in the night in the midst of 
forests inhabited only by wild beasts ; and besides, I was 
afraid lest we should lose our way. However, that I might not 
act in direct opposition to Boukari, I consented to delay our 
departure until the evening. I employed the rest of the day in 
procuring water, and purchasing the provisions which I should 
want for the time that it would take us to traverse the forests. 
During the remainder of the day I received a great num- 
ber of visits, among others one from the wife of the chief. This 
woman was covered with rings of gold and silver ; her coun- 
tenance was not deficient either in dignity or grace. She 
seated herself on the ground, and notwithstanding my invita- 
tion to place herself on my couch by my side, she stedfastly 
refused this honour, of which she told me, women were 
unworthy. At four o'clock I mounted my horse, and what I 
had foreseen actually happened ; it was with infinite difficulty 
