MARRIAGES OF THE POULAS. 169 
to any other than an African ear ; the griots of this country 
confine themselves to the recitation of prayers, the melody of 
which resembles the chanting- of our psalms. , . 
All the Poulas are engaged in trade, but we can scarcely 
give the name of merchants to any but those who cany their 
goods from one country to another ; and these are more 
enlightened than the rest of their countrymen. As a natural 
result of their distant travels, they have a great esteem for 
Europeans : but like all men of their class, they are great 
egotists and very selfish. Î have seen many stammerers, blind 
persons, and idiots in this country ; few deaf, and no insane 
people, because there are so few passions. ; . , , , = -, 
, -yï When a rich man wishes to marry, he goes to his father 
and imparts to him his desire to make such and such a female 
his wife; the father of the young man then repairs to the house 
of the girl's father. After he has communicated the proposal, 
the young man kills a bullock and sends it to his intended 
father-in-law; if he eats of it, this is a sign that the wishes 
of the lover will be complied with. From that time he does 
not again see his mistress or her mother : if he meets them 
abroad he avoids them. Some time afterwards he sends another 
bullock. When the wedding-day arrives he presents his bride 
with three slaves, and his father and mother-in-law and their 
children with a bullock each. The parents of the girl give 
her three slaves, ten bullocks, forty cloths for herself, and 
four pair of breeches, and four tunics for their son-in-law. In 
Z . - 
