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VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 
ditary, and descends to the eldest son of the king, if he b© 
married to a princess of the blood rojal : in the contrary case, 
it devolves to the eldest brosher of the king or his nephew. In 
case of any disputes, which may afterwards happen, the great 
people unite, and elect a king ; but they can only take him from 
amongst the reigning family. 
In my time this country was governed by a Marabou negro, 
mmed Almamy Akdidkader : This prince had a very high cha- 
racter for his sanctity and valour, and had the absolute confi- 
dence of his own subjects, as well as of the neighbourhig states ; 
insomuch that people came from all parts to buy his gris-gris, 
and kiss his feet. He had reason to complain of Ahkoury, a 
Moorish king of the Trarzas tribe, and marched against him 
with a numerous army: in his way he passed througli the states 
of Hamet Mocktar, another Moorish prince, who was king of 
the Bracknas, form.ed an alliance with him, and at length ar- 
rived on the territories of Alikoury. This Moorish prince met 
his enemies, fought valiantly, and was killed ; on which Almamy 
returned more powerful and revered than ever. 
Ahkoury was with me at isle St. Louis, when he was inform-' 
ed of the march of Almamv : he immediately set off with the 
utmost calmness, though without dissimulating as to the danger 
with which he was threatened ; and took of me his last farewell. 
This brave man foresaw his destiny, and might have avoided 
it by retreating to the desert; but flight with him would have 
been cowardice, and he preferred death. 
After this event Darnel, king of Cayor, who was jealous of 
the power of Almamy, and of his influence over other stales, 
was invaded by him and personally insulted. The following is 
the manner in which this event has been related. Almamy set 
no bounds to the authority which he had usurped, till his successes 
and the flatterers to whom he listened, had nearly cost him his head. 
One day he sent an ambassador to Damel, accompanied by two 
men, each of which carried a large sabre flxed to the end of ^ 
pole. On obtaining an audience, the ambassador stated the 
intention of his master, and on laying the two blades before 
him said, " with this weapon Almamy will sliave the head of 
Damel, if he, like a true Mussulman, refuses to acknowledge 
himself his vassal; and with this Almamy will cut the throat of 
Damel, if hef refuse to subscribe to those conditions." Damel 
answered coldly, that he had no choice to make; and that he 
w^puld neither have his head shaved, nor his throat cut. He then 
politely dismissed the ambassador. 
Almamy was irritated at this unexpected resistance ; and put- 
ting himself at the head of a powerful army, he entered the 
states of DameL On his approach, the inhabitants of the towns 
