THE AUTHOR MAKES TALISMANS FOR HIS HOST. 247 
me. I confided in his word, for to courage he united great 
address and presence of mind. 
April 18th. My host at Courbari would not accept any 
of the presents I offered him ; he only begged me to reward 
his services by making him such a gris-gris, as should enable 
him to acquire great riches without labour. I drew some 
circles, crosses and triangles on a piece of paper, which 
appeared to him to possess so much efficacy, that he presented 
me with two measures of rice ; however, notwithstanding the 
respect with which my talents for composing charms had 
inspired all the inhabitants, they said aloud : " The white 
man kno¥/s how to read, he knows how to write, but he does 
not know how to pray." 
I had just procured my host the means of acquiring 
treasures, when Boukari brought me a good supply of tobacco, 
which had been given to him as a reward for telling fortunes. 
Without seeking it, Ave profited by the credulity of these 
Negroes, and found means to supply our w ants ; but there is no 
happiness without alloy. A child came and informed us that 
the chief of Boie was expected every moment at Courbari ; 
fearing that I should be called to account by him on the subject 
of the Falemé, I instantly decamped with Ali and Boukari. 
We crossed that river about a league from its source ; it was 
nearly eighty paces broad in this place, and ran over a bed of 
sand and flints ; we then passed over two other rivers which run 
from east to west, and after infinite fatigue arrived at Niogo 
