With lyrical evocations and breathtaking suspense, Salak relates the tale of her seemingly impossible trip. Enduring tropical storms, … With lyrical evocations and breathtaking suspense, Salak relates the tale of her seemingly impossible trip. Enduring tropical storms, enraged hippos, the unrelenting heat of the Sahara, and the mercurial moods of the Niger, she traveled solo through one of the most desolate—yet stunning—regions of Africa. Dependent on locals for much of her food and shelter, she came ashore each night to remote mudhut villages on the banks of the river, meeting Dogan sorceresses and tribes who alternately revered and reviled her. When she finally arrived in Timbuktu, weak—but unbowed—from a virulent case of dysentery, she fulfilled—at considerable risk—one of her ultimate goals: to buy the freedom of two Bella slave girls.
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