THE WADATS. 
$ I 
complain to their tribes that they had been ill received in 
a camp, the hassanes would carry off the herds belonging to 
that camp while feeding in the woods, and the marabouts 
would be obliged to give many head of cattle to redeem them. 
The parties of Wadats are chiefly composed of women and 
children ; there are seldom any men amongst them : they 
travel on foot or mounted on asses, and always apply 
to the chief of the camp, who is obliged to find them pro- 
visions. To get rid of them, it is common to give them food 
enough for three or four days, and send them off; they then 
go to another camp, where they beg again, and as they know 
that they shall always obtain as much as they want to eat, 
they sell what they can spare for Guinea cloths, often to the 
very people who afford them hospitality. If they have no 
beasts to carry what has been given to them, they borrow 
some to go as far as the next camp. They visit only the 
marabouts, for the hassanes and zenagues refuse to receive 
them. 
At the time when the gum is collected, these vagabonds 
beset the marabouts, and follow them into the woods, requir- 
ing to be fed, and worrying them till they can get a good 
share of gum, which they carry to the markets. The mara- 
bouts dare not refuse them, for the Wadats would join 
together if they did, beat them, and steal their gum. Such is 
the life of these people. It is worthy of remark, that when 
they are with the marabouts they are very exact in perform- 
ing the salam ; but they trouble themselves no further about 
it when they are out of their sight. 
I had now been nine days with Mohammed-Sidy-Moctar, 
and not a word had been said about teaching me. I applied 
to the eldest of Mohammed's sons, who wrote the Arabic 
alphabet upon a board for me, and told me to learn it by 
heart ; I could not do it alone and begged him to help me ; 
and I afterwards applied to his brothers, but seldom found 
them disposed to take the least trouble with me : they liked 
