FOREST OF THE JOLOFFS. 95 
tiig-ht, especially in travelling ; it dries the dew which is very 
abundant, and keeps up perspiration, which it is extremely 
dangerous to check. We impatiently awaited the return of 
day-light : as soon as it appeared I was very much surprised 
to see for the first time, a soil entirely composed of ferrugi- 
nous stones. 
We saw nothing but sangras on every side ; these shrubs 
were then stripped of their foliage ; not a blade of grass 
appeared on the surface of the earth. I had supposed that I 
should find in this forest nothing but trees of gigantic size ; 
but the baobabs alone raised their spreading summits to a 
considerable height ; they grow with vigour in this ground 
where all other trees languish ; the latter are small, stunted, 
twisted, and by their decrepid appearance attest the sterility 
of the soil for ages. 
February 21st. Harassed by our long march the pre- 
ceding night, we lay down at nine o'clock in the morning 
under some thick bushes, which however sheltered us but 
little from the rays of the sun. A poor woman who was 
taking her three little children to Foutatoro to place them out 
of the reach of the Moors, came and seated herself near me ; 
she partook of my breakfast, and generously oftered me in 
return a little water which she carried in a calabash, and 
which was less putrid than that in my leathern bottles. An 
additional motive induced her to ofier me this present, 
namely, gratitude. I had takerj. up one of her children be- 
