32 
MODE OF LIFE OF FALI LOUM. 
ing- in the grass near their village, and who were certainly 
only watching for the moment when they might carry off the 
women or children on their way to the spring. Although it 
was a good opportunity, they durst not dispatch these messen- 
gers of misfortune ; for at the same time they depicted the 
miseries which a neighbouring village had brought upon 
itself from the vengeance of the Damel, by killing one of his 
slaves. Fali Loum strove to allay their fears by representing 
to them that the main body of the Daniel's army was still far 
distant ; that they must keep up their spirits ; and that 
instead of selling their gunpowder for poidtry and tobacco, 
they ought carefidly to preserve it for their defence. When 
these men retired, Fali Loum seated himself under a great 
tamarind tree not far from his hut. He taught his sons 
to write, and reproached them for their idleness and inatten- 
tion. In fact, as soon as their father had turned his back, they 
threw aside the board on which they were writing, and ran 
off to catch guinea-fowls, which they brought to me for sale. 
I gave them tobacco in exchange, with which they bought 
milk. At noon Fali Loum came to invite us to share his 
repast. His wife and children then retired, for they are not 
permitted to eat until their father has finished ; nay even as 
a sign of humility, they turn away their faces that they may 
not see him eat. After his repast he mounted his horse, 
and visited the neighbouring chiefs to concert measures with 
them for opposing the sudden invasions of the Damel. His 
