172 
THE AUTHOR ANNOYED BY CHILDREN. 
CHAPTER V. 
Arrival in the Territories of Bondou. — Favourable Reception of the 
Author by the Inhabitants. — Sharp Altercation with the Guides 
They wish to abandon the Author. — He is on the point of fighting 
with them. — He departs with a Caravan for Fouta Jallon. — Parti- 
culars of Bondou and Bambouck. 
March l6th. After a very toilsome journey through the 
woods, we sought repose under the shelter of a coss, the 
foliage of which was impervious to the rays of the sun. 
Boukari went to the neighbouring village to purchase 
provisions. A crowd of children soon formed a circle 
round me. Their parents, remarking the uneasiness I felt at 
their number, made them retire, and I was enabled to repose 
unmolested. The delicious coolness of this place caused me 
to regret that nature has not distributed such spots in greater 
number in iVfrica ; but the inhabitants described them as 
very dangerous, on account of the many serpents that are 
attracted thither by their humidity. I saw several muskets, 
