16 
VOYAGE To SE?jEGAL« 
\ntîi a few herrîs grazing : the inhabitants of this village came m 
crowds to meet the traveliers; but far from expressing towards the 
unfortmiate slaves the miid laws of hospitality, they overwhelmed 
them with insults, and subjected ihem to the most inhuman treat- 
ment. Two comrades of M. de Brisson were used with extreme ri- 
gour, and the Vvomen were more ferocious than the men. Their 
owners made but feeble resistance ; for they were very glad that 
the people occupied themselves more with the slaves than with 
the burdens of the camels. M. de Brisson, who was at a little 
distance from his camel, perceived a man who was aiming at his 
face with a double-barrelled musket, on which he presented his 
brenst to him and told him to- tire; when the assasshi, struck by 
his firmness, let the piece fall from his hands. At the same in- 
stant he was struck on the head by a stone, and for a moment 
lost liis senses ; but on recovering himself he burst into a rage, 
and loudly demanded vengeance. There needed no more to 
spread terror through the village, and the savages who had come 
to see tlie travellers took to flight ; one of them, however, before 
he ran oE, gave M. de Brisson a blow on the breast with his 
musket, which made him vomit blood, and tlie unfortunate man 
was unable to recognise tlie fellow who had injured hini ; but by 
complaining loudly he excited (he curiosity of several of those 
monsters, who asked him a munber of questions, and seemed 
pleased with his answers^ 
M. de Brisson, to prove that he knew the king Alikouri, and 
that he had been his friend at isle St. Louis, attempted to 
imitate the egeiims or buffoons, whom tliat king had in his suite : 
by this kind of drollery he so highly pleased his niiister, that he 
made him repeat his mimickry several times, and at last employed 
this stratagem to divert the people, who, he feared, would steal 
his property. No sooner had he mentioned the talent of his 
slave for imitating the egeums, than M. de Brisson was sur- 
rounded by crowds of men, women, and children, who ere 
constantly pressing him to sing, and for which they rewarded him 
with a little camel's milk. 
Hie travelling party remained one day in this canton ; but the 
inhabitants, though they had received them coldly, supplied them 
on their departure with provisions for three or four days. They 
proceeded eastward, atid passed over large plains, which were co- 
vered with white, flat, and round flints, but not a single plant 
was to be seen; and the horizon appeared to be loaded with a 
reddish vapour, which resembled in different parts the flames 
from volcanoes. The small pebbles pricked the feet of the 
Frenchmen, and produced a sensation similar to tiie bm'ning of 
sparks. The air contained neither birds nor insects; and the si- 
lence which prevailed was so profound, as to produce a sort of 
