268 DANGEROUS PASSAGE OF THE MOUNTAIN TORRENTS. 
they called a long-eared horse. They were apprehensive that 
this extraordinary animal would devour them. It was only by 
the most urgent intreaties that they could be prevailed upon to 
go before us. What would have become of as if they had 
obstinately persisted in their refusal ? The rains had so 
entirely effaced the track in the mountains over which we 
passed, that without the assistance of these boys, it would 
have been impossible for us to have found the way. On every 
side the water poured down in roaring cascades; and we had 
infinite difficulty to get forward with our quiet beast, which saw 
nothing around himbut precipices and torrents. Boukari pushed 
him forcibly behind, and I dragged him along by the halter, to 
make him cross the dikes composed of stones which I hastily 
collected. While we thus redoubled our efforts to preserve our 
merchandize and the bearer from accident, our young guides, 
reclined on a rock, burst into loud laughter on seeing us 
dragged into the water by this headstrong animal ; each of 
his falls drew from them fresh shouts of joy, but as soon as he 
rose and sprung up on the opposite bank of the torrent, they fled 
into the woods. They told us afterwards that their fright at 
the sight of this quiet animal, proceeded from the idea they 
had formed, that the length of his teeth equalled that of his 
ears. The delays occasioned by all these accidents, prevented 
us from reaching Niamaia before sun-set ; this village is 
inhabited by Djalonké blacksmiths. Quite as much alarmed 
