jannequin's narrative. 221 
which the tract everywhere exhibited. The soil 
consisted entirely of sand, so soft that it sunk 
beneath the feet, and made it impossible to walk 
above fifty paces at a time. To whatever depth 
they dug, not a drop of water was ever found. 
The inhabitants, who resembled skeletons rather 
than living beings, fled at the sight of the French, 
and could by no invitation be induced to ap- 
proach. After various ineffectual attempts to 
procure their fish in exchange for European goods, 
the following contrivance occurred : The French 
laid down a certain quantity of goods, and then 
retired ; upon which the natives, entering into 
the plan, came, took up the goods, and deposited 
in their stead a quantity of fish ; after which they 
took to flight with the utmost precipitation. At 
length, to the great joy of our traveller, the vessel 
left this inhospitable shore, and proceeded to the 
mouth of the Senegal. It was left at anchor near 
the bar, and the greater part of the equipage 
proceeded up to the village of Biyurt, where they 
landed. The French had then no settlement upon 
the river, so that their first operation was, with 
the assistance of the natives, to erect huts, which 
might shelter them from the pernicious influence 
of the air. Slight as the structure was, it consti- 
tuted a severe labour to men unused to the cli- 
mate, and left, while the building went on, un- 
sheltered beneath the influence of a burning sun. 
