186 QUARREL AND RECONCILIATION WITH BOUIsARI. 
where I was reposing". I followed the advice of this good 
man, and in his hut I found my faithless guides. 
March 23. At sun-rise I wished to depart, but was opposed 
by my guides : Maka threw my merchandize on the ground, 
and swore that he would not suffer me to go, unless I paid 
him immediately. I gave him a string of coral : this man, 
whose unexampled probity predominated over the rage which 
then actuated him, took but five beads, and returned the 
remainder, saying, that as he had conducted me but half the 
distance for which he had engaged to serve me as a guide, only 
half the price agreed upon was due to him. His comrade, as 
I have before said, had seized my gun ; I would have taken it 
from him, but he threatened to fire at me. This action so 
inflamed my anger, that taking aim at him, I should have 
rid myself for ever of this perfidious wretch, had not a 
caravan of Poulas, who seasonably arrived, separated us by 
holding their bows between us. My firmness on this occasion 
irrevocably attached to me this guide, who the evening before 
would have abandoned me. Terrified at the dangers which 
I was determined to hazard, though unaccompanied by an 
armed force sufficient to protect us ; apprehensive of perishing 
with thirst in countries where, as he imagined, we should 
meet with no springs ; Boukari's head was turned ; he had 
even forgotten his duty and the respect which he owed me ; 
but he has since most amply repaired his errors ; he has 
