^84^ DISCOVERIES OF THE FRENCif, 
which had been formed in different quarters, two 
only remain ; being that on the island of St Louis 
at the mouth of the Senegal, and that on Goree, 
St Louis has long been the capital of the French 
settlements in Africa. Few places perhaps are 
more uncomfortably situated, on a plain of burning 
sand, destitute of good water, and where it has 
been barely possible to form a few small gardens. 
These evils seem aggravated by its having in view, 
on the south side of the river, a beautiful situa- 
tion, covered with verdure and magnificent trees. 
The position of St Louis, however, rendering it 
the key of the Senegal, must always secure to it 
the preference. The population is reckoned at 
about ten thousand. The streets are tolerably 
broad and regular. On the south there are some 
handsome houses, but those on the north are 
merely straw huts. Among the natives the ma- 
jority are Mahometans ; and even such as have 
become converts to Christianity maintain the 
Moslem privilege of a plurality of wives. It is 
alleged, that if the Romish church could relax in 
this one particular, it would convert the whole 
population, as they are dazzled by the splendour 
of its rites, though unwilling to sacrifice, on ac- 
count of them, their domestic privileges. 
St Louis is said to be capable of being made 
very strong. At present its defence rests upon 
the bar at the mouth of the river, which will not 
allow vessels drawing more than four feet water 
