INFLUENCE OF THE WOMEN. 
109 
and the boys are completely shaved at eighteen. The 
opinion of some travellers^ accredited in Senegal from 
popular stories respecting the manner of cutting the hair of 
the young people and leaving tufts to be cut off by degrees 
as they may distinguish themselves by brilliant actions, is 
absolutely false, at least in regard to the Braknas. 1 have 
had many occasions to know that these tufts of hair are a 
mere matter of fancy and that the number depends upon 
the will of the shaver or of the young man himself. It is 
a fashion which varies with individual taste ; it is rare to 
see two heads trimmed in the same manner, excepting 
amongst the men above eighteen years of age, who closely 
crop the whole head, 
I have already observed that the Moorish women have 
great influence over their husbands ; I repeat it here, to 
correct an error into which M. Durand has fallen, and 
which he may have commuiucated to his readers. The 
husband has no authority over his wife but what a superior 
understanding gives him ; 1 should even say that the 
Mooresses possess more influence over their husbands than 
our French women. They rarely wait upon them ; and 
only for want of slaves ; even then I have always seen that 
in this case a neighbour would lend a woman to pound 
the millet and make the sangleh. I except the zenague 
women ; but if these perform menial offices for their hus- 
bands, it is because the slaves are occupied j and besides 
they are in the habit of working. M. Durand says also 
that wives are never admitted to the meals of their hus- 
bands : I have witnessed the contrary ; I have seen them eat 
with their sons and husbands, not often, indeed, but I have 
remarked that it was owing to the custom which the women 
have of taking nothing but milk, which is set before them 
in small calabashes. 
It is likewise incorrect to assert that the mother pays 
any deference to her son ; or that the father and mother 
