VOYAGE TO SENEGAL, 
who relieved each other aUernately, and whose business was t# 
treat for provisions. An establishment was projected at Cahone^ 
a village belonging to the kingdom of Salem, nearly at the part 
where the river Gambia divides into two branches, the most 
northerly of which takes the name of Salem. It would have been 
very advantageous, as the Mandingos, from the kingdoms of 
Tombuctoo, Bambara, and the other states to the eastward, 
come to Cahone with their merchandise. It was not carried 
into execution ; but it is evident that such an establishment would 
at any time be of the greatest advantage, as it might receive the 
commerce which formerly existed between Gorec and the nume-» 
rous isles formed by the r iver of Salem. Some inhabitants still 
go to trade at that river, and always turn their merchandise to 
the best account. It was on the banks of this river, that the fa-, 
mous lump of ambergrease was found, which M. Pelletan ac- 
quired; I will give an account of its discovery. 
An inhabitant of Goree, named St. Jean, a well informed 
man, one day observed his negroes employed in careening iheir 
canoe, with a substance which they had melted, and of which 
they neither knew the nature nor the value. St. Jean discovered 
it by the smell, and caused what remained of the lump to be 
carried home. The whole had weighed upwards of a hundred 
pounds. To shew that this branch of commerce might become 
very important, I shall only observe that M. St. Jean sold the 
substance at from nine to ten francs per ounce^ and it was resold 
in France for thirty-six francs. 
Besides the means of commerce which Goree might have on 
this coast, it has opened a communication by land with Senegal. 
The distance between those two establishments is about forty 
leagues, but it is commonly made in five or six days ; and the 
journey used to be one of pleasure to the French merchants, 
who went in parties, carrying with them provisions and tents 
for encamping on the most agreeable spots. The route is now 
so well known, that a sort of barracks have been built as an asy- 
lum for travellers. The greatest difficulty on the journey is that 
of procuring water, which it is necessary to carry with one, though 
wells have been dug at different distances. Milk, however^ may 
î^lways be procured in great quantities and at a cheap rate. 
About half way up Cape Verd is a large lake, the water of 
which is brackish, though formed by a rivulet which is perfectly 
fresh. It is difficult to explain the cause of this singularity. 
Sojne suppose that the bottom of the lake consists of a nitrous 
earthy which communicates its fl:ivour to the water; while others 
think, and perhaps with more reason, that the sea water filtrates 
through the ground, and mixes w'lih that of the lake. But what- 
ever may be the cause, it is remarkable that the water agrees 
equally well with sea and river fish. The negroes take im- 
