254 LETTER GIVEN TO THE AUTHOR BY ABDOULAI. 
feeble creatures return a thousand thanks to the Almighty ; 
we, the elders of Timbo, in the name of the master of our 
city, have written this letter to the chief of Senegal. Gaspard 
and Diai Boukari have made this governor known to us by 
their recitals ; they have brought us a present from him to the 
king- of Timbo, and have invited the men of Fouta Jallon 
and Timbo to go to St. Louis, to sell their merchandize there ; 
they have not seen Almamy of Timbo, who was gone to the 
war. Gaspard and Diai Boukari have said to the elders of 
Timbo : we have come to see Almamy, and to make him a 
present, but since he is absent we will return home. Wait 
a little, said the elders of Timbo, until the return of Almamy. 
We are afraid of the rainy season, rejoined they. You have 
nothing to fear from the rains, we replied ; but Gaspard cried, 
we have also to fear the chief of St. Louis, who has ordered 
us to stay no longer than three days at Timbo. Persuaded 
that this was true, we Abdoid, and we Talatou (brother of 
Almamy) have not opposed their departure ; we have declared 
ourselves their protectors until they have returned to their 
chief, for it is the will of our master that they should return 
to their home in safety. Thanks be to God if their journey 
terminates without accident." 
When the inhabitants who conducted us back, had left 
us, Ali congratulated me on the success of my journey; " for," 
said he to me, " had Almamy been at Timbo, they would not 
even have left you your hat ; and as for me, they would have 
