268 
TRAVELS IN THE SAHARA* 
proportion to the number of men he employed in 
the common labour. The inhabitants of the plains 
remain by the cultivated fields in seed time, and 
return at the time of harvest. During the in- 
tervals they wander in all directions with their 
cattle, taking only necessaries along with them, 
and having recourse to the magazines when they 
require a supply. This manner of life, which is 
adopted by the people of the country, may be con- 
sidered as intermediate between the pastoral and 
agricultural states, and is very similar to that of 
the common people in Wales, Scotland, and Ire- 
land, in the 15th century. The more opulent 
people, and the artisans who are engaged in seden- 
tary occupations, dwell in towns which are all si- 
tuated upon the declivity of hills. Their houses 
are built of stone and earth, according to the 
Moorish construction, low and covered with slop- 
ing terraces ; yet they are so much injured by the 
heavy rains which prevail for three months of the 
year, as to be rendered uninhabitable in 15 or 20 
years. Those who reside in towns are generally 
weavers, shoemakers, goldsmiths, potters, &c. and 
have no cattle ; but the more opulent persons have 
flocks and herds of cows, horses, camels, sheep, 
goats, besides poultry, which are kept by their 
slaves at a distance from the towns. In the towns 
they take two meals a-day, one at 10 o'clock, and 
the other at the setting of the sun, though the in- 
