saugnier's voyage. 
in common with all other negroes. The marabuts 
earnestly inculcate upon them the duty pf stealing 
whatever they can from Christians ; and though 
careless as to other articles of the Mahometan 
creed, they cannot be accused of negligence in 
this one particular. The negroes here are either 
Christians or Mahometans ; or, more properly, 
both ; or, most properly, neither \ a piece of glass 
or iron being always sufficient to produce, if re- 
quired, an immediate conversion. 
Saugnier, finding the mercantile departments at 
Senegal in a great measure preoccupied, resolved 
to undertake in person the voyage to Gallam, 
which being a rare and dangerous exploit, would, 
if successful, raise him to distinction. He set 
sail, accordingly, on the I6th August 178^^, with 
a vessel of seventy tons, and a crew composed of 
negroes. After passing Podor, he had some com- 
munication with Admet Moctar, chief of the 
Moorish tribe of Trasarts. That prince, it ap- 
pears, had formed a design of surprising and seiz- 
ing the vessel ; but not being aware that Saugnier 
understood Arabic, which he had learned in his 
captivity, he announced his design in that lan- 
guage while Saugnier was present. The French- 
man hastened to the ship, threw into irons all the 
Moors on board, among whom was a brother of 
Admet, and sent for assistance from Podor. Thus 
the Moorish prince, or robber, (the terms are 
