FROM KAYES TO TIMBUKTU 55 possess himself of the lands belonging to Somangoro, and knowing the magic power which protected his enemy, pretended to seek his friendship and alliance by offering to him his own sister Ma in marriage.

Somangoro had fallen in love with Ma, so he married her, and took her to his own land. He soon trusted his wife so entirely that he allowed her alone to prepare and serve his food.

BANKS OF THIi RIVER AT KOLIKORO.

Well, one day when the Sonink chief had drunk rather too much dolo or mead. Ma brought him his food, and having placed before him the calabash containing the tau (boiled millet or maize), just as he was raising the first handful to his mouth she sidled up to him as if about to caress him, and, by an apparently accidental movement, made him drop it.

" Leave that bit, dear friend," she said, " it is dirty ! " and she flung it into a corner of the hut. Somangoro, intoxicated with love as well as with liquor, did not take any