100 
THE MARABOUTS. 
Dates are plentiful in this part ; the fields are surrounded by 
date-trees. These marabouts do not live in tents^ like the 
Braknas ; they have mud houses one story high_, and flat at 
the top. They barter their dates and millet, for the guns and 
Guinea cloth of the Braknas; of the Guinea cloth they make 
garments, for they grow no cotton. They have many slaves, 
who are employed in the cultivation of rice and millet, and 
in the tending of the cattle. Pasturage is not abundant in the 
neighbourhood of the town, so that they are obliged to send 
their flocks to a distance to graze : it is said that the slaves 
who take care of them are sometimes absent for one or two 
months. This nation is peaceful, and only takes up arms to 
defend itself against the depredations of its neighbours. It 
is during the rainy season that the Braknas undertake their 
trips to Adrar, in which they are compelled to cross a 
desert of four days' journey. These particulars I received 
from some marabouts who have visited that country several 
times. I intended to accompany those who were going the 
following spring, if I had remained among them. 
The Brakna marabouts are as idle as the hassanes ; they 
take no other exercise than walking to the mosque ; and 
their only diversion is reading the Koran. They sometimes 
converse together as they lie on the sand, and go to sleep 
while talking over religion and politics. 
Of all the classes of Moors the marabouts give the least 
and require the most ; their quality of priests causing them 
to be considered as the dispensers of favours, they are 
never refused any thing, especially as the Moors are persuaded 
that they shall gain heaven by liberality. It is not to the 
hassanes alone that they apply; they harass one another 
also, and they torment the poor zenagues more especially. 
This class, despised by the others, is oppressed by them all. 
If the marabouts do not maltreat them as the hassanes da 
they threaten them with everlasting fire ; and the poor 
zenague, in the hope of a happier life hereafter, strips himself 
