FORLORN CONDITION OF THE AUTHOR. 185 
Abandoned to myself, I unloaded my ass, put part of my 
effects on my horse, and distributed the rest among' the inha- 
bitants of the village. I then took my horse by the bridle, 
and prepared alone to commence a journey which presented' 
nothing- but innumerable dangers. Before me lay deserts 
which it would take three days to cross ; without a guide, 
not understanding either Poula or Mandingo, I saw myself 
exposed to certain death ; I resolved nevertheless to prosecute 
my enterprize. After I had proceeded a few paces, 1 looked 
in vain for my powder. I instantly called back my guides to 
ascertain if they had taken it away with one of my guns, 
which I had not been able to prevent them from carrying off. 
They returned and showed me my pow der at the bottom of one 
of my leather bottles. This circumstance produced an expla- 
nation : the inhabitants of Maramasita pitying my situation, 
reproached my guides for their unfaithfulness ; they unsaddled 
my horse and led him back to the hut in spite of me. Vexed 
at these disappointments, and at the forlorn situation in which 
I was left, by men in whom I had placed the utmost confi- 
dence, I seated myself under a tree, and there passed part of 
the night, overwhelmed with the most poignant reflections, 
and a paroxysm of the fever, which had not left me. No 
sooner had I fallen asleep, than a Negro came and awoke me, 
entreating me to enter his hut, and assuring me that I was 
liable to be assassinated by the Mandingo robbers in the place 
B B 
