THE POULA WOMEN. 16? 
what bowed ; they are seldom so stout as the Negresses. 
They load their hair with ornaments of yellow amber and 
coral, and^their necks with gold or glass beads ; over the head 
they throw a muslin veil ; some wear a jacket with sleeves ; 
like the Negro women they have a cloth fastened round the 
waist. Lively and warm, they always wear a smiling look, 
and they seem to sigh for nothing but pleasure ; their virtue 
rarely resists a grain of coral, but the senses alone are con- 
cerned in the passion of these females ; they are by no means 
susceptible of a delicate or lasting attachment ; very malig- 
nant, according to the expression of my Marabout, they 
employ their charms to shake off their yoke, and to obtain a 
share in the empire of the hut ; they are not slaves like the 
JolofF women, but wives, and in reality mistresses of the house. 
They obey, but only when they please, and their husbands 
are often obliged to give way to them. Sometimes they 
threaten to take them before the chief of the village, to obtain 
a divorce from them, and if matters are carried thus far, they 
have recourse to tears to influence their judge. " Why dost thou 
ill-treat thy wife ?" he will say to the husband. " A woman is a 
weak being, without strength, without support, whilst a man 
possesses all ; go, invite thine back to thee, and to appease her 
just anger, make her a present !" Peace is never signed without 
costing the husband an ox or a slave. From this difference of 
manners between the JolofFs and Poulas, it may be inferred 
