254 
hair like Europeans: their features are very regular, with 
fine eyes, and well-set teeth, which they have a custom of 
blackening at intervals with the root of a climbing plant, the 
Lingun, with the intention of rendering them whiter. In 
disposition they are lively and obliging ; but vain, capricious, 
revengeful, and avaricious. They are very ready in the use 
and application of their bodily powers: and in the great 
assemblies, or Khabars, often exhibit much genius and natu- 
ral eloquence. 
The native costume is simple. The men, who are robust 
and well proportioned, wrap themselves in a cloth, which 
they throw like a cloak over their shoulders; and another, that 
is wound round the waist. These garments, being very rarely 
changed or washed, harbour a great quantity of vermin, of which 
the wearers are so little ashamed, that they make no scruple 
of standing in the sun, in the open streets, and employing 
their slaves to rid them of the annoyance. Their hair is 
platted in little locks; which are becoming in appearance; 
but as it is the custom to anoint the head with ox-grease, and 
to wear no covering, the heat of the sun renders the scent 
intolerable. The beard is suffered to grow on the chin only, 
being eradicated on other parts of the face with pincers. The 
king’s guard have now their hair cropped: this regulation 
caused, two years ago, a revolution among the women, who 
were much distressed at seeing their husbands: deprived of 
their ornamental locks; but the execution of seven of these 
females, with several men, who were the instigators of the 
disturbance, restored tranquillity. Both men and women 
adorn the'upper part of the arms and the belly with scars, 
differing according to taste, and resembling bas-relief. Many 
individuals also pierce their ears and dilate the perforations 
so as to admit the three fore-fingers. Their principal finery” 
consists in decorating their feet, hands, and neck, with chains 
of silver, coral, and pieces of money, from a franc to a piastre 
in value, amounting sometimes to 200-300 francs. They keep 
these jewels as their most precious possessions, often not 
parting with them even after their death, Children of both - 
sexes go naked to six or seven years of age, and the slaves 
r 
