238 
KALA, 
April 14th. The country which we this day traversed 
was flat. We had mountains to the east and west. We forded 
the Domba, a river which runs to the east, and discharges 
itself into the Falemé, and halted at Kala. The great leng th 
of my hair much incommoded me ; I therefore set about cutting- 
it off, when a Marabout eagerly picked it up, as an excellent 
talisman against head-aches. If I was flattered because this 
learned man attributed so much virtue to my superfluous locks, 
my vanity was singularly mortified, when I found that the 
change produced in my appearance, did not render me 
more agreeable in the eyes of the Negresses. I even ascer- 
tained from their conversation how much they disliked men 
with white faces. Among those who came to see me, one said 
to her companion, pointing to me, " Wouldst thou take such 
a man as that for thy husband ?" " No," replied the other 
with disdain, " he is too white, I should be afraid of that ugly 
milk-coloured face." " But thou dost not know with what 
riches he would load thee ?" rejoined the first. " Then one 
might accustom oneself to live with him," replied the other. 
In Africa, as elsewhere, love seldom determines the choice in 
marriages. It may easily be supposed that a white man above 
all can never hope to excite it ; consequently I felt no ill-will 
against the beauties of Kala. After waiting patiently till the 
heat had abated, we proceeded on our journey. 
We crossed the Contari, a little river which falls into the 
Domba, and halted for the night at Fenolengué. The 
