86 MATRIMONIAL QUARREL. 
men snatched what they could reach, and carrried it off 
towards the camp in triumph, singing as they went. This 
contest lasted more than two hours, and the baggage was 
perceptibly diminished, when the wife and daughter of the 
great marabout interfered; they seated themselves on the 
remainder of the baggage, and the two parties began to 
listen to one another. The distressed female was born in this 
camp, and had married a marabout of a distant camp. 
Wishing to see her relations again, she had persuaded her 
husband to accompany her; some days after their arrival 
the husband was desirous of returning, he put off his journey 
however, at the request of his wife. At last, his business 
required it, and he was determined to return ; but his wife 
who was bent upon keeping him, got up a quarrel, struck 
him, and collected all the women of the camp round 
him. The women flew at the husband like furies ; 
the husband was supported by some of his friends ; 
they tried to load the oxen again with the goods which 
the women had thrown on the ground ; the women 
pushed and pulled, and sent them roUmg with the bales ; 
and the oxen were four times loaded and unloaded in my 
presence. In vain did three strong negroes, slaves of the 
husband, lash the women by the order of their master ; 
they could not keep off the crowed, but were beaten them- 
selves ; and the boys, w^ho are always fond of mischief, threw 
showers of stones upon them and the marabouts. At last, 
the wife and daughter of the grand marabout having taken 
possession of the baggage, a capitulation ensued ; the women 
were desired to disperse ; and the marabouts promised to 
take the goods back to the camp till the morrow. When 
every body was gone, they loaded the oxen again and set 
off, taking with them about a fourth of their goods ; and in 
the evening the lady departed to rejoin her husband. 
The Moorish women have great influence over their 
husbands, which they frequently make a bad use of. Poly- 
gamy is not practised by the inhabitants of this part of 
