64 TRAVELS IN THE 
The government is monarchical ; and the regal authority, 
from what I experienced of it, seems to be sufficiently formi- 
dable. The people themselves, however, complain of no oppres- 
sion^ 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 
British factories on the Gambia. They are reckoned tolerably 
fair and just in their dealings, but are indefatigable in their ex- 
ertions 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 
anci liberality, by making a few presents to his friends ; but if 
he has been unsuccessful, his levee is soon over ; and every one 
looks upon him as a man of no understanding, who could per- 
form a long journey and (as they express it) bring back nothing 
but 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, 
