ACCOUNT OF THE LAAUBES. 91 
they can obtain the favours of one of these women, those of 
fortune will not fail to follow. For this reason, ugly or hand- 
some, all the young Laaube females, are in great request 
among the Negroes. 
The Laaubés possess no landed property ; they have 
nothing of their own except their money, their tools, and 
their asses ; the only animals upon which they travel. In- 
cessantly wandering through the woods, they make fires with 
the dung of the flocks. Ranged around these fires, both men 
and women pass their leisure time in smoking. 
The Laaubés are far from having the distinguished charac- 
teristic features and high stature of the Joloffs. We may hence 
infer with great probability, that they form a distinct race 
from the other Negroes. They enjoy the privilege of exemp- 
tion from military service. Each family has its chief, and all 
of them recognize another, who commands the whole nation. 
He is appointed to collect the tribute, and he alone com- 
municates with the delegates of the king, who are charged 
with receiving these imposts ; a system which protects the 
people from all vexation. The Laaubés are idolaters, speak 
the Poula language, and like the gypsies, pretend to iel] 
fortunes. 
N 2 
