110 
INTERVIEW WITH ALMAMY. 
white man," said he to his friends, " has been recommended 
to me by our king, and I hope you will show him the respect 
that is due to a prince of the whites." At the time when he 
was pronouncing" this pompous eulog-y, I was employed in 
mending my shoes and piecing my clothes ; but in Africa, 
he must be a prince, who possesses a gun and a horse. After 
our dinner, to which every one eagerly contributed, bringing 
us butter and milk, Almamy sent for me. When we reached 
his residence, he was at prayer, and we were desired to sit 
down till he should be ready to receive us, on sheep-skins, 
which were spread upon the ground. Curiosity soon brought 
a great crowd around us, but I was surprised at finding 
them treat me with respect. At length Almamy appeared. 
' Mamadou, which is his name, was about sixty years of age, 
his countenance was not deficient in expression ; nay more, 
his forehead indicated a man of genius, but his features also 
bespoke cruelty. In any other country than Foutatoro, he 
had been a despot. His dress was composed of loose white 
breeches ; over his shoulders was thrown a cotton tunic, with 
white sleeves ; his head was covered with a scarlet cap, and 
encircled with a cloth in the form of a turban. When he was 
seated, I gave him my hand, and we mutually asked each 
other the usual questions concerning the state of our health. 
He then enquired my name, and to what country I was travel- 
ling ; I replied, that I was going to Oulli, to weep over the 
tomb of my father, whom the pagans had murdered there ; 
