TRAVELS IN THE 
The government is monarchical ; and the regal authority, 
from what I experienced of it, seems to be vsufficiently formid- 
able. The people themselves, however, complain of no op- 
pression ; and seemed all very anxious to support the king, in 
a contest he was going to enter into with the sovereign of 
, Kasson. The Serawoollies are habitually a trading people ; they 
formerly carried on a great commerce with the French, in gold 
and slaves, and still maintain some traffic in slaves with the Bri- 
tish factories on the Gambia. They are reckoned tolerably fair 
and just in their dealings, but are indefatigable in their exer- 
tions to acquire wealth, and they derive considerable profits by 
the sale of salt, and cotton cloth, in distant countries. When 
a Serawoolli merchant returns home from a trading expedition, 
the neighbours immediately assemble to congratulate him upon 
his arrival. On these occasions the traveller displays his wealth 
and liberality, by making a few presents to his friends ; but if 
he has been unsuccessful, his levee is soon ov-er ; and every one 
looks upon him as a man of no understanding, who could per- 
form a long journey^ and (as they express it) bri?ig back nothing 
hut the hair upon his head. 
Their language abounds much in gutturals, and is not so har- 
monious as that spoken by the Foulahs : it is, however, well 
worth acquiring by those who travel through this part of the 
African continent ; it being very generally understood in the 
kingdoms of Kasson, Kaarta, Ludamar, and the northern parts 
of Bambara. In all these countries the Serawoollies are the 
chief traders. Their numerals are. 
