296 TRAVELS IN AFRICA, 
Whoever, impelled by vanity, (for no profit attends it,) re- , 
ceives to his bed the daughter of a King or powerful Melek, 
(women of this rank are called Mira?7i,) finds her fole modera- 
trix of his family, and himfelf reduced to a cipher. Of his real 
or reputed offspring he has no voice in the difpofal, govern- 
ment, or inftruition. The princefs, who has honoured him 
with the limited right over her perfon, becomes not the part- 
ner, but the fole proprietor, of all that he pofTeffedj and her moft 
extravagant caprices muft not be thwarted, leaft her difpleafure 
fhould be fucceeded by that of the monarch. 
The man cannot take another wife with the fame ceremonies 
or dowry ; and if any difpute arife concerning inheritance, the 
right is always decided in favour of the Mirajn. Finally, he is 
almoft a prifoner in the country, which he cannot leave, how- 
ever diftreffed, and however he may be inclined to retrieve his 
fortune by trade, without fpecial permilfion from the Sultan, 
and the immediate and unqualified forfeiture not only of the 
dowry he gave, but of all the valuables he received in confe- 
quence of the honourable alliance. 
Previoufly to the eftablifhment of Iflamifm* and kingfhip, the 
people of Fur feem to have formed wandering tribes, in which 
ftate many of the neighbouring nations to this day remain. In 
their perfons they differ from the negroes of the coafl of Gui- 
nea. Their hair is generally fhort and woolly, though fome are 
About a century and a half ago. 
feen 
