lOTERVIEW WITH THE KING OF CAYOR. 21 
is due to their talents, and still more to the address with 
which they flatter these indolent monarchs. 
Nothing distinguishes the palace of a Negro king from 
the hut of the meanest of his subjects. The wall and the root 
are composed of straw and reeds ; there is no other floor than 
the ground ; amulets suspended in great numbers from the 
walls alone indicate the residence of the sovereign, 
vSome bottles of Bourdeaux wine were ranged before the 
Damel, who often laid them under contribution ; and caie- 
bashes filled with palm wine were destined to refresh those 
who came to pay their respects to him. He poured us out two 
draughts. I then ordered the presents which I had for him 
to be brought : he divided the tobacco among his courtiers, 
laid the beads aside for his wives, and reserved the brandy 
for his favourites. - 
After enquiring our names, and hearing with complai- 
sance the compliments which we paid him through our inter- 
preter, he dismissed us. 
We traversed the courts through which we had before 
passed, and arrived in the place where the negro princes were 
assembled, waiting either for the orders of their sovereign to 
plunder some village, or for the audience he might deign to 
grant them. The favour we had received of being admitted 
to his presence, and treated with distinction, procured us a 
certain degree of consideration in the country of the DameJ. 
From that moment we were his friends, and with this title 
