268 
FESTIVAL OF THE SALAM. 
for the alniamy, who^ having taken his allotted station, read a 
long prayer in Arabic, of which, certainly, none of his audi- 
tory understood a word. After this prayer, the chief, Ma- 
madi-Sanici, harangued the people, and a man standing by 
his side repeated in a loud voice what he said, that every 
one might hear. I was told that he exhorted his subjects to 
transfer their trade to the Wassoulo, Baleya, and the Fouta- 
Dliialon, adding that the road to Boure was so extremely 
dangerous, that all dealings in that quarter must be suspended 
until further orders. After this short harangue, the crowd 
hastily retired. So rapid vras their movement, that the gates 
were not large enough to allow the people to pass ; men and 
horses mingled together in the rush. Women attended 
the festival, but they kept at a respectful distance from the 
men. They likewise joined in prayer. As soon as the cere- 
mony was over, the paschal lamb was slaughtered, and the 
people regaled themselves during the rest of the day : feast- 
ing is indeed the greatest enjoyment of the negroes. Lamfia 
attended the festival arrayed in my woollen vvrapper, and, 
being determined on making a grand display, he held my 
umbrella over his head the whole time, under the pretence of 
shading himself from the sun. Before we left his home, he 
had asked me to attire myself in this manner, but I declined 
it, and told him that he might have the use of the umbrella 
for the occasion. This was market day, and I did not per- 
ceive that it was more thinly attended on account of the 
festival. I went thither to get a little cassava for my guide, 
who began to be less attentive than heretofore ; probably be- 
cause I had no more fine presents to make him, he had given 
me no breakfast. By way of excuse for this neglect, he told 
me, that as it was a festival, and market-day, his women 
were busy ; but we had two who had nothing else to do but 
to prepare the food of the family, and they were supplied 
with wood by the slaves, who pick it up in the fields. 
The rest of the day passed off without any further re- 
