S60 DISCOVERIES OF THE FRENCH. 
of attention. It is found not in veins, but mixed 
with the earth, from which it is separated by the 
simple process of agitation in water. The mode 
is particularly described by Park in his last jour- 
ney. To procure this earth they do not dig to a 
greater depth than six, eight, or at most ten feet. 
They acknowledge, indeed, that it generally be- 
comes richer as they descend lower 5 but, as they 
have neither the art of making ladders, nor of 
propping up the sides of the pit, they are in 
perpetual danger of the earth falling in and bury- 
ing them. The working of these mines is not 
free ; it is permitted only at certain seasons by 
the Farims or chiefs, who attend for the purpose 
of appropriating a large portion of the produce. 
The inhabitants believe gold to be a capricious 
being who takes delight in eluding their search ; 
hence, when, after exhausting the golden earth of 
a certain spot, they came to a portion where none 
is to be found, they call out, " He is off.'* It is 
always in the driest and most barren spots that 
this metal is found most abundantly. 
No steps were taken by the French administra- 
tion, in consequence of this journey of Compag- 
non. Such neglect did not proceed from any 
want of activity on tbe part of Brue, who sub- 
mitted to the Company plan after plan. He first 
proposed, that the Farims should be conciliated, 
and permission gradually obtained to erect forts 
