222 DISCOVERIElS OF THE FRENCH. 
As soon as the arrival of an European vessef 
became known, ambassadors repaired thither from 
the Damel and the Brak, the two most potent 
sovereigns in this part of Africa* Presents were 
exchanged, and commercial arrangements speed- 
ily agreed upon. The party then began to as» 
cend the Senegal. They were struck with ad- 
miration at the perpetual verdure which reigned 
upon its banks, and the beautiful trees by which 
they were adorned. All the forests were filled 
with echoes, which the author ascribes to the 
depth of the surrounding solitude. The trees, 
however, shooting out a number of small roots 
from the trunk, rendered the ground almost im- 
pervious. Whenever they came to a village, the 
chiefs gave them a hearty welcome, and the in- 
habitants came out with alacrity to trade. The 
principal monarchs through whose territory they 
passed, were the Damel, king of the Jalofs ; the 
Brak, king of the Foulis ; the Kamalingo, king 
of the Moors of Barbary ; and the Samba Lamma, 
whom he terms king of the Moors and Barbarians, 
and whose territory is said to have extended as far 
as Tombuctoo. The two last states were evident- 
ly the Moors of the Sahara, inhabiting the north- 
ern bank of the Senegal. The author, to prove 
the agility of these people, mentions an extraor- 
dinary exploit of the Kamalingo. That chief 
undertook to vanquish a lion in single combat. 
