MANNERS OF THE FOULAHS. ^223 
cultivate rice, maize, and millet ; and also cotton, of which 
they manufacture stuffs in pieces only five inches vride. These 
narrow strips are used for covering their nakedness. The 
principal trade of the country is in salt and cotton cloth ; they 
go to Kakondy to barter leather, rice, wax, and millet, for 
salt, with which they afterwards purchase stuffs at Kankan 
and Sambatikila. Some Foulahs likewise travel to Boure to 
procure gold, which they barter on the coast for muskets, gun- 
powder, glass trinkets and other articles, with which they pur- 
chase slaves. The Foulahs are warlike and ardently love their 
country. When at war they all take the field without distinc- 
tion, leaving only the old men and women at home. Many 
aie armed with muskets aud sabres, but the bow and the 
lance are the weapons of the majority. They all carry a 
poniard the blade of which is in general straight, though I 
have seen some of them curved. These poniards are made in 
the country. They are dressed in a coussabe, which is 
commonly made of white stuff, and breeches, the fashion of 
which I have already described, of the same. They also 
wear a pagne, which they pass round the body, sandals and 
a red cap. Their hair is plaited, and greased with butter. 
A Foulah seldom goes out without taking several lances in 
his hand. I remarked that their dress was always very neat 
and clean. They often wash the whole body, and always 
with tepid water. In every village there is a public school 
for the children. The classes meet in the morning and 
evening in the open air beside a large fire. When they are 
able to read the Koran, they are considered well instructed. 
I observed that in this country the parents are always very 
indulgent to their children, who in their turn are always 
docile and obedient. The Foulahs of this part of Africa do 
not let their children run naked. They have always a cous- 
sabe. Those who come to our establishments are not so 
neatly dressed, because when they travel they put on their 
worst clothes. They keep their salt in the leaves of trees 
