ENVIRONS OF MEDINA. 79 
shepherds. These wandering- people, habituated to rove 
about in the woods, appeared stupified at seeing- me. Every 
movement which 1 caused my horse to make, put them to flight 
like a herd of antelopes. 
The coolness of the place, and the abundant supply of 
the water, induced me to remain there the rest of the day. 
Large tamarind trees, and enormous baobabs shaded the 
wells, and rendered them impervious to the rays of the sun, 
which therefore could not scorch the grass, that was of a beau- 
tiful verdure. The Poula shepherds, though not so fair as those 
of Gessner, were not less gallant ; for while their flocks wan- 
dered in the woods, they filled with water the calebashes of 
the young maidens, who came from the neighbouring villages, 
and who were unable to draw it from wells of such depth. 
The distance at which these wells are situated from the 
villages in this country will certainly appear extraordinary ; 
but if they were nearer, the inhabitants would destroy the 
trees which are one of the causes of the abundance of water, 
from the humidity which they constantly keep up in the 
ground. It is, perhaps, from having formerly cut down these 
valuable trees, that they are obliged to have their wells so 
remote from their habitations. 
February 18th. Medina contains a great number of dyers. 
They make ashes with millet, straw and wood, put them into 
a vessel filled with water, then throw in the indigo, and when 
they have stirred this mixture, they steep in it the stufi' they 
