202 
LANDIENL 
have required very good eyes to distinguish words written 
with ink on a black foot. 
March 29th. Two men of Foutatoro, who were going to 
Labbé, and who doubtless were glad to have the expences of 
their journey paid by me, proposed to accompany me ; I 
accepted their offer ; they were well supplied with salt, and I 
was in want of it. 
We first passed a narrow defile between two chains of 
mountains. We discovered small villages on the projections 
near their summits, composed of enormous blocks of ferrugi- 
nous stones, whilst the base was schist. This base formed 
an inclined plane up which we proceeded. Numerous rivulets 
of cold and limpid water ran in these ravines. To this water 
I attribute the bad teeth of the inhabitants of this country. 
At noon we ascended the declivity of a mountain to reach 
Landieni. A considerable crowd was assembled in the public 
square round a Mandingo, who was playing on a violin.* The 
strings and the bow of this instrument are made of horse-hair ; 
the musician held the bow in his left hand ; the tones which 
he produced, were as sweet and melodious as those of the flute. 
If the ears of these Negroes were sensible to harmony, their 
hearts were callous to our entreaties, and it was only at an 
exorbitant price that we could obtain provisions. Disgusted 
by the obduracy of these people, I advised my companions 
* The violin and the guitar were introduced into Africa by the Moors. 
