MANNERS OF THE JOLOFFS. 
87 
dominion, and by enriching themselves with these depreda- 
tions, to avoid that hatred which would eventually over- 
throw them, if they were themselves to ravage the possessions 
of their own subjects. 
The king, however, sometimes robs his subjects, or 
carries them off, and sells them to procure arms and horses. 
Slavery is the punishment of theft ; insolvent debtors are also 
subjected to the same fate. 
Two pieces of cotton cloth, one of which is fastened 
round the waist, while the other is thrown over the shoulders, 
constitute alike the dress of the men and the women. 
Whether Pagans or Mahometans, they take several wives. 
Love has rarely any share in the marriages of the Negroes. 
Wives are bought ; and marriage is an object of speculation with 
parents. Is it possible for a girl who is sold to love ? Slaves 
in the huts of their husbands, they nevertheless make faithful 
wives ; but the Negroes accuse them of being cold and selfish. 
Their fathers give them no dowry, and they make a profit of 
their charms to secure to themselves a subsistence in case 
they should be repudiated. Marriage was often the subject 
of the questions which the Negroes addressed to me. They 
considered us unfortunate in being allowed to take but one 
wife ; the Negro women, on the contrary, were of opinion that 
it was a very wise law which imposed this restriction. I had 
always imagined that a man must necessarily be miserable 
amidst the disputes which jealousy could not fail to kindle 
