§80 DISCOVERIES OF THE ENGLISH. 
" the roaring assailants. 3 ' Their drudgery is re- 
presented to be very severe ; and they were fre- 
quently seen entirely covered with flies, which, 
with a stupidity for which our author bitterly 
taunts them, they did not even make any attempt 
to shake off. 
The Mandingos, the native inhabitants of this 
district, are described as living a most idle life, un- 
less during the two months which form their seed- 
time and harvest, The women live in great sub- 
jection ; they dress the food, and set it down on 
the mat before their husbands ; but not even the 
most favourite one, called here the hand-wife, is 
ever allowed to eat along with him. She dines 
in another house, each wife having one to herself. 
In the morning they approach him kneeling. 
There is no limitation as to the number of wives y 
all " may have if they are able to buy f 3 but be- 
sides the price paid to the parents, the king ex- 
pects a certain gratification. At the ceremony, 
there is always a shew of violence — the bride being 
attacked by one party, and stoutly defended by 
another — the former, however, never fail to pre- 
vail in the end. 
The trade of this country is described to be en- 
tirely in the hands of the Marabouts. Their chief 
traffic is bringing salt from the coast, which they 
exchange in the interior for gold, slaves, and kolla 
nuts. The goods are conveyed upon asses, of 
