250 
THE TELI-TREE — TIMBO. 
host, with whom we had lodged the preceding night, and 
whom we here met with, desired me to let my ass graze freely 
in his meadows, and invited us to rest ourselves under a thick 
tree, whither he sent us milk and rice. This spot was so agree- 
able that we remained there till ten o'clock ; we then resumed 
our route, and after crossing the Sama, which falls into the 
Senegal, we came in sight of Timbo, which is situated at 
the foot of a high mountain. As we were still at a great 
distance from this large city, we rested under a teli where all 
travellers halt. This tree, the only one of the species which I 
have seen, is not very high, nor of a size proportioned to the 
length of its branches, which extend to a distance of one 
hundred and twenty feet from the trunk, and form a vast 
circular shade, most valuable in countries where the heat is 
excessive. The branches have bent down the tree on one side 
by their weight, and touching the ground have taken root 
and formed new trees. 
Wishing to reach Timbo before night, we soon set off 
again. Ali who proposed lodging us at the house of Almamy's 
brother, went to his country residence to speak to him, but 
this prince was gone to drive his flocks into the distant 
pastures. After traversing an extensive plain, over which 
were scattered ferruginous stones, we entered Timbo by an 
avenue of bananas. It began to rain, while we were waiting till 
the inhabitants assembled in the mosque had finished reading 
the letters written to them by Almamy, from his army at 
