56 
DRESS AND FOOD OF THE JOLOFFS. 
and the captives whom he seizes serve to pay the price of the 
horse which the king requires. 
All the JolofFs who inhabit the kingdom of Cayor, have 
the head and upper lip shaved, but wear the beard long; their 
dress is very simple, for all that is useless becomes troublesome 
in this scorching climate. Two pieces of cotton cloth compose 
the apparel of a Negro ; one is tied round his waist, and hangs 
down below the calf of the leg ; the other thrown carelessly over 
one shoulder leaves the other uncovered. The chiefs wear 
wide breeches of a yellowish colour, and a cotton shirt in 
addition to the two pieces of cotton stuff. The dress of the 
women is equally sinq3le ; covered from the knees to the bosom, 
the rest of their body is naked. If they throw a cloth over 
them, it is to enable them to carry their children at their 
backs. Necklaces and bracelets, of gold and silver, are the 
only distinctions of the higher ranks ; but whether slaves or 
mistresses, they all labour for their common master. 
The food of the Joloffs is not less simple than their dress ; 
frugality also prevails in their cookery ; couscous, and occasion- 
ally milk, or fish, are their only dishes. They make but two 
meals a day, one at sun-rise, and the other at sun-set. I have 
already observed that they feed themselves with their fingers. 
Ridino', and exercising with fire arms, are their diver- 
sions ; but dancing is their favourite passion ; every thing is 
neglected for this amusement. No sooner does the griot sound 
