MODE OF PACKING GOODS. 
171 
the negro slaves went in quest of wood^ and my guide's wife 
prepared to cook our dinner. 
Throughout all Africa^ the merchants have adopted the 
plan of taking one of their wives with them to cook for the 
caravan. These unhappy creatures are loaded with earthen 
pots, calabashes, salt, &c. ; in short, they are compelled to 
carry the heaviest burdens, whilst their husbands walk at 
their ease. 
On our way we joined many Foulahs loaded with salt, 
who were going to Fouta ; we afterwards met others carrying 
leather, wax, and rice 5 they were going to Kakondy to buy 
salt. I was very much surprised to see these poor Foulahs 
and Mandingoes, who were carrying nearly a hundred weight 
on their heads, walk with the greatest rapidity, and climb 
the Irnanke mountains with the utmost agility. They carry a 
staff in their hands to assist them in supporting their burden, 
which is packed in a long basket made of thin and flexible 
pieces of wood ; this basket is about three feet long, and one 
foot wide and deep. When the goods are stowed in it, the 
lid is put down, and the whole tightly secured with cords 
made of the bark of trees. If the bearers are weary, they 
rest one end of the basket upon the branch of a tree, and 
support the other with their staff 3 thus loaded, they travel 
to the Kankan to sell their salt. We seated ourselves under 
the shades of a superb bombax to take our slender repast, 
consisting of boiled rice, and pistachio-nuts parched and 
pounded, to which they added a little palm-oil. The six free 
Mandingoes and I placed ourselves round the calabash con- 
taining our dinner, and each in turn took a handful of rice ; 
the slaves and my porter ate together, and the women dined 
alone. 
When they halt, as well as on the road, the women have 
all the labour ; the husband lies down on dry leaves or straw, 
which his slaves carry for his accommodation. After this 
frugal repast, I lay down too for a few moments » Several 
