246 PEOPLE OF BALEYA. 
which is arranged in two tufts, one on each side of the head : 
|/many have four tufts. They ornament their heads with 
coloured glass beads, tastefully disposed ; they wear neck- 
laces of small black glass beads, interspersed with a few gilt 
glass ornaments. The necklaces, which are about three 
inches broad, encircle the neck like a cravat. The head- 
dress of these women would be becoming, if their hair was 
not covered with a layer of butter, with which they also 
grease their bodies : it renders their skin glossy, but gives 
them an unpleasant smell. Most of the females have no 
other dress than a piece of cloth, five feet long and two wide, 
which they fasten round their waists. On holidays they 
throw another piece of cloth over their shoulders, and cover 
their bosoms : they also wear sandals. This is nearly the 
general costume of the women of Negroland. Their disposi- 
tions are gentle and cheerful ; their colour is very black ; 
their features handsome, with curly hair, noses slightly 
aquiline, thin lips, and large eyes. They do all the house- 
hold work, and are obedient to their husbands. 
On the 1 1th of June, after taking leave of the chief, to 
whom I presented three leaves of tobacco, which seemed 
to please him, we proceeded in a S. E. direction. The 
saracolet merchants, who had asses to carry their merchan- 
dise, went on first, having to pass several streams which 
would retard their progress^ The heat was excessive, and 
a storm came on. The atmosphere was heavy and obscured 
by clouds. I was attacked with a fever on the journey, and, 
notwithstanding the heat, I had shivering fits, from which 
I suffered greatly. After crossing the streams, where the 
water was knee-deep, we overtook the saracolets. They 
had bargained with some Mandingoes to carry a part of their 
baggage, for they were heavily laden. I observed that the 
country sloped towards the east. We continued in the same 
direction. The eldest saracolet, having traced some Arabic 
characters on the ground, and muttered some prayers, as- 
