Page:Works of Jules Verne - Parke - Vol 1.djvu/423

 into the flames and actually extinguished them by mere force of numbers, so that the rest passed in safety. Happily, in these countries, there is a compensation for their ravages—the natives catch and eat them with avidity."

"They are the shrimps of the air, which," said Joe, "as an experience, I regret not having tasted."

The country became more swampy as they proceeded; the forest gave place to isolated miles of trees; upon the banks of the river they perceived some tobacco plantations, and marshes thick with grass. On a large island was the town of Jeuné, with the two towers of its mosque built of mud, which gave harbor to hundreds of swallows, whose nests exhaled a most unpleasant smell. The tops of trees appeared between the houses, and even during the night the town seemed very busy. Jeuné is really a very industrious town, and furnishes Timbuctoo with all its needs; its boats and its caravans transport thither the various productions of its industry.

"If it would not have prolonged our journey too much," said the doctor, "I should have made an attempt to descend in this town. We might see more than one Arab who had traveled to France or England, and who is not unacquainted with our method of locomotion. But it would not be prudent."

"We can call again during our next excursion," said Joe, laughing.

"Besides," continued the doctor, "if I do not mistake, the wind has a tendency to blow from the east. We cannot afford to lose such a chance."

The doctor threw overboard some useless articles—empty bottles, and an old preserved meat box—he thus succeeded in raising the "Victoria" into a zone more suitable for his plans. At 4 the first rays of the sun lighted up Sego, the capital of Bambara, easily to be known by the four towns composing it, its Moorish mosques, and the continual movement of the ferry-boats used in transporting the occupants to the various quarters. But the travelers were not more seen than they themselves saw, and fled rapidly and directly to the northwest, as the doctor's fears calmed down by degrees.

"Two days more in this direction, and at this pace, will see us at the Senegal River," said he.