78 MEDINA. 
I passed the day at Medina, where I heard a griot chant- 
ing- my praise, crying out to the assembled people : " Here is 
a white man, who has seen the greatest kings on earth, the 
Bourb-JolofFs and the Darnel ; let his name be celebrated 
wherever he goes !" While the griot was playing on his 
guitar, Boukari and another Negro consulted some characters 
which they had traced in the sand to ascertain the issue of 
our expedition ; the answer of fate was in our favour. We 
had arranged to proceed to Foutatoro with a caravan of Jolofïs 
about to depart for that country, and which was to assemble 
at Medina ; but it was not yet ready to set out, and this 
detained me two days in this village. 
As I had now no slave to take my horse and my ass to 
the water, I went with them myself. After descending the 
little hill on which Medina stands, we crossed a wood of gum- 
trees, whose flowers perfumed the air for half a league ; we 
then passed through some fields of millet ; a thick wood which 
we entered, bounded this pleasing landscape. Having wan- 
dered for some time in the mazes of this natural labyrinth, 
we perceived a great number of wells, round which flocks 
were assembled. My unexpected appearance dispersed both 
the animals and those who attended them ; and availing my- 
self of their fright, I took possession of one of the wells, and 
watered my beasts. 
My host who had accompanied me, recalled the runa- 
ways, and I soon saw myself surrounded by a crowd of Poula 
