26 THE EXPLORATION OF THE NIGER

a whole carriage full of natives against a huge baobab tree. Of course, when that happened no one thought the negroes would patronize the railway again. But it turned out quite the contrary. From that day they came in crowds, but they had provided themselves with talismans !

The marabouts, who do a brisk business in charms, had

simply added a new string to their bow, for they sold

gris-gris against the dangers of the iron road !

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THE QUAY AT ST. LOUIS,

This is the negro all over. If he has but confidence in

his gris-gris, he will brave a thousand dangers. If he has but confidence in his chief, he will follow him without

hesitation, and without faltering to the end of the world.

Inspire him then with that confidence, and you will be able

to do anything with him.

Baudry had come to meet me on the line, and with him

was a negro wrapped up in a tarnpasendbe, or native shawl. This man was Mandao, the interpreter I had asked for.