MOURIOSSO. 
407 
About nine in the morning we halted at Mouriosso. 
The houses in this place are surmounted by terraces built 
of bricks baked in the sun. Shortly before we entered the 
village, we crossed a stream, on the banks of which I saw 
gardens containing fine beds of onions. These gardens 
are cultivated by the women, many of whom were employed 
in weeding. They water the ground frequently. Near the 
gardens are wells, two feet deep, whence the water is taken 
in calabashes to which no ropes are attached. The soil of 
these gardens is black, rich, and very productive. They are 
surrounded by fences of dry briars and thorns, to keep out 
the poultry. Several of the women whom we saw in these 
gardens had no other clothing than wretched pagnes fastened 
round their waists. They came to sell us tops of onions 
to put into our sauce. We paid them in cowries with which 
they bought glass beads to adorn themselves. They some- 
times wear necklaces of chesnut-coloured beads, which are 
preferred in the country to all others, because they are the 
cheapest. 
On our arrival a market was immediately opened under 
a large tree, the branches of which were covered with roots, 
like one I saw on a former occasion and which I have al- 
ready mentioned. The market was supplied with millet, a 
little rice, pistachios, onions, and zambalas. There were 
also some women selling maumies, some of which we 
bought, as our dinner was not ready. 
The village is composed of numerous little enclosures, 
each of which is occupied by one family. The place con- 
tains a population of about two hundred. The people cul- 
tivate round their little habitations water-melons, giraumons, 
and calabashes, the stems of which they train up to the 
roofs of their huts. The fields surrounding the village are 
sown with small millet : I saw some persons employed in 
weaving ; but smiths, if there be any, are not common^ for 
I did not see one. 
