CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE GUIDE AND ALMAMY. 133 
bis orders, yet he seemed determined to find fault with me. 
for he questioned Boukari on the subject of several charges 
alleged against us. " Why," asked he, " did you set oti" 
without waiting for my further orders ? Thou well knowest, 
that it is forbidden to travel during the night, and nevertheless 
ye left Senopalé after the sun had set. Was it your intention 
then to run away ? Thy white man in particular is highly 
criminal for defending himself against the people of the chief 
of Banai." " Almamy," answered my Marabout ; " the very 
day on which we were introduced to thy presence, thou 
wentest without informing us of thy will, and the approbation 
thou hadst bestowed on the motive of our journey, led us to 
believe that thou didst not object to our departure. A native 
of Foutatoro, I know and respect its laws, but whilst we were 
gone to the fountain to fetch our linen, which we had given 
to be washed, night overtook us, and we were nevertheless 
obliged to continue our route. If I neglected to inform the 
chief of Setiababanbi of our arrival, his absence, and the 
darkness of the night were the cause ; for in every place where 
we have slept, I have always performed this ceremony pre- 
scribed by our customs. I am not afraid to tell the powerful 
xllmamy. that the defence made by my white man was lawful ; 
the people wanted to disarm him ; no man has a right to 
disarm another before he is condemned, and moreover thou 
knowest, that white men do not patiently sulfer themselves to 
be insulted." This address being entirely conformable to 
