34 VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 
was defended by an entrenchment ; a tent was prepared in the 
middle. M. de Boufflers proceeded thither in the morning with 
a detachment of fifty men ; and Darnel, who was then at Gan- 
dioUe, a village in the southern part of his states, setoff to meet 
the French general. Tliis prince had in his suite a corps of ca- 
valry, and a numerous body of infantry : on reaching the gate, 
he entered on horseback alone, and was ri ceived at the tent by 
the French general. The troops of this sovereign then took their 
station in the plain, and remained under arms the whole day in 
the most perfect order and discipline. 
The productions and objects of commerce furnished by this 
country, are, slaves, who are generally rendered numerous by war; 
millet, of which such quantities are produced, that during my 
administration, being charged with the supply of provisions, Sic, 
I derived enough from it for our whole consumption, which is im- 
mense ; and lastly salt,which is furnished by the inexhaustible pits 
at Gandiolle. 
These pits fonii the dowry of the wife of Darnel, who is thô 
acknowledged queen of Cayor. Each vessel which comes to 
trade for the salt, pays her a sort of duty, which is not always 
the same, but is agreed on with a delegate whom she sends to the 
spot during the period of the trade. It is however, in general, 
a piece of Guinea, four piastres, and twenty bottles of brand}', 
for a hundred barrels of salt ; which number of barrels every 
year receives an addition of three or four. The purchasers give 
besides to the queen's envoy a present in merchandise to the value 
of three or four piastres. 
On the payment of these duties, and a few others of a subor- 
dinate nature, the women of Gandiolle undertake to carry the 
salt on board the ships at the rate of half a bar per barrel. By 
giving them something more they are induced to smuggle an ad- 
ditional quantity on board, a plan which is always adopted, 
and which it is impossible for the queen to prevent. These ex- 
pences of porterage are paid in iron, coral, beads, and other 
tritling articles, on which the merchants gain so much profit, 
that the half bar, which is valued at two livres, eight sous (about 
two shillings sterling) is not worth to them more than ten sous, 
or five pence English. 
Durmg the time that M. Brue was at Senegal, a serious dis- 
pute arose betvveen him and Darnel, during which the former 
was seized by the negro king, and was in great danger of his life ; 
but after many stratagems and much threatening on the part of 
the French, he regained his liberty ; and though by the stipula- 
tions in the last treaty of peace with Darnel, the French were 
to pay no kind of duty for their commerce, it was found neces- 
sary on this occasion to make the king a present amounting to 
^0,779 livres, which was taken in mcrcliandjife^ valued according 
