PURSUITS OF THE PEOPLE. 
291 
seasons of the year, find occupation, when the 
ghaseb is sown and when reaped. Bat, never- 
theless, what powerfully solicits the observation of 
the European in looking into these villages is the 
downright livelong idleness of the male popula- 
tion. 
We begin, at length, to regard this region merely 
as the nursery-ground of slavery — of the system 
which takes away the idlers to perform their share 
of the curse pronounced on Adam, that in the sweat 
of his brow he should eat and earn his bread. 
Again it is to be observed, that the wants of these 
people are very few : they live on ghaseb and milk, 
eating little meat ; these come to them almost with- 
out labour. The ground is tilled by burning the 
stubble of the previous year, or by burning the trees 
on new land. The seed is thrown in when the rain 
begins, and nothing more is done till the grain is 
ripe for the sickle, when it is gathered in. It is col- 
lected under small sheds made of matting, and eaten 
as it is wanted. The cattle are mostly driven to graze 
and to water, and this is all the attention they re- 
quire. The cotton furnishes a scanty clothing, 
deemed sufficient ; all the children go naked till 
they are ten years old, or only wear a piece of 
cotton, leather, or a skin round their loins. The 
men of some consequence buy a tobe brought from 
Kanou or NiiFee ; the women purchase a few beads 
and other ornaments with their fowls or ghaseb. 
The bowls or household utensils are made from 
