INTERVIEW WITH A NEGRO PRINCE. 
67 
sit down on his bed, and placed himself on the sand at my feet. 
After enquiring tlie j)iir|)ort of myjourney,he ordered his wives 
to be called, that they might come and salute me ; he then used 
the most pressing intreaties to induce me to stay with him a few 
days ; he assured me that I should not be at any expence, that 
he would provide for my horse and people, and while he thus 
addressed me, he kindly pressed my hand. At last, seeing that 
I was absolutely bent on going, he himself came and held my 
stirrup as I mounted my horse, and conducted me to the place 
where I had left my baggage. Four grains of coral, and four 
leaves of tobacco, composed the present which I offered to the 
son of a king ; and he was so pleased with this gift, that during- 
the whole time we were together, he never ceased to praise my 
liberality. We then passed through Caignac, and in the 
evening were received with hospitality at Tioën by the village 
chief, a friend of my Marabout's. 
February 12th. For some days past the cold had been 
very sharp, and it was not long before I perceived that there 
is something more than heat to be dreaded in Africa. The 
check given to perspiration threw me into a violent fever, 
which obliged me to stay at Tioën. Without physicians, and 
without medicines, I trusted in Providence alone to save me. 
Some bottles of infusion of tamarinds, a regimen I have always 
adopted, allayed the violence of my disorder. The attach- 
ment which my Marabout, Boukari, felt for me, made him 
extremely uneasy about my situation. He quickly traced 
K 2 
