106 
THE LARATINES. 
and that they were infidels who seldom performed the salam. 
Can they be remains of conquered tribes ? And, if so, why 
is there no tradition left about them ? This can hardly be ; 
for the Moors, proud of their ancestors, never forget the 
names of those who have been a credit to their race ; and the 
zenagues, forming the majority of the population, and being, 
moreover, accustomed to war, would have revolted under the 
conduct of some descendant of their former chiefs, and 
recovered their liberty, by exterminating their oppressors. 
It is in their power to do so, for they are very numerous. 
The fourth class of the Moorish population is composed 
of the offspring of a Moor and a black slave ; they are called 
laratines. Though slaves by birth, they are never sold, but 
have land of their own, and are treated almost like the zena- 
gues. The laratines, whose fathers are hassanes, are war- 
riors ; those, whose fathers are marabouts, receive instruction 
and embrace the profession of their fathers. Proud of their 
birth, they are not very obedient to their masters, and it is 
only by force that the latter can compel them to pay the 
tribute which is due to them. They possess few cattle, for 
they are not allowed to increase their herds, lest they should 
enfranchise themselves if they were to become wealthy. 
The laratines and the zenagues have the care of the herds 
which the hassanes possess out of their camps. 
The slaves form the fifth class, and are all negroes. 
They are charged with all the labours of the camp — the care 
of flocks, the providing of water and wood, and the culture 
of the land. The women pound millet, prepare food, wait 
upon their mistresses, water the calves, fetch water, and if 
they belong to marabouts, collect haze and gum. On a journey, 
the slaves carry on their heads whatever cannot be laid upon 
oxen. They are, as I have already mentioned, ill treated, 
ill fed, and beaten at the caprice of their masters, whether 
they have committed any fault or not. They are seldom 
