OUAMKRORE. 71 
was thus occupied some travellers passed. Astonished at 
seeing a white man in their forests, they seated themselves 
by my side, and familiarly entered into conversation with me 
on the subject of my journey. 
In the various countries which form the interior of Africa, 
there is no regular police ; but every individual performs its 
duties ; for wherever he goes, the traveller is asked his name, 
that of his family and the place of his birth ; this is the cus- 
tomary salutation. By refusing to answer he would excite 
suspicion, and might even compromise his liberty. The Bible 
and Homer furnish us with examples of this ancient custom. 
On leaving the woods I perceived Ouamkrore, the capital 
of the dominions of the Bourb-JolofFs. It is, however, only 
a village, although very large, and the most considerable in 
the kingdom. It is situated in a plain, which is completely 
open. One of the king's slaves eagerly offered me a lodging, 
desired his mother to prepare a hut for the king's guest, 
and went out. The old woman who was advanced in years, 
could not remove her eyes from the stranger ; consequently 
the hut was not ready when her son returned. The harshness 
with which he reproached her, proved to me, that old age is 
frequently not more honoured by these people, than it is 
among civilized nations. 
The king was soon apprised of my arrival. Some declared 
that I was a Mulatto, others assured him that I was a Moor. 
In order to decide the point, he sent one of his aides-de-camp 
