104 
VOYAGE TO SENEGAL 
plete hedge. The junction of several of these habitations formà 
a town, which often covers a quantity of ground, and is geneJ^ 
rally inclosed with à mud-wall. When the people are at war^ 
they have several barriers, which they close always at sunset^ and 
never open them on any occasion whatever till morning : they 
are guarded all the night by vigilant sentinels. The shape of 
their huts has already been described. I have only to add, that 
their doors are not like ours, except amongst those who piqué 
themselves on imitating the Whites: the others consist of a mat 
fixed to the roof ; and w hen this mat is let down, no one must 
he so nidifferent as to enter without giving notice, though this 
precaution is unnecessary when the mat is raised. The edges 
, of the roof project seven or eight feet over the w^all, and rest 
upon poles: this shed is thus converted into a sort of portico, 
which sefcures the v»all from fain, and, with certain additions^ 
Serves as a place for their stores. 
In the more distant parts of the coutitry, the natives build 
lai •ge houses of bricks baked in the sun, and these houses may 
last many years if care be taken to secure them from the injuries 
of the weather. No chimnies are constructed in their habita- 
tions, though they make a lire in them every evening to drivé 
away the musquitos, and prepare their food. 
The common people, slaves, and children sleep on mats of 
dried skins, spread upon the ground ; but the free Negroes, and 
those in easy circumstances, have a kind of alcove formed of fouf 
4*takes driven into the earth, on which they hang mats in tliè 
manner of curtains. In the men's apartments is a box to con- 
tain their clothes and treasure, which is covered with a mat 
or a skin, whereon they place their weapons. The women's cham- 
ber contains the domestic utensils^ mats, stools, and always alook^ 
ing-glass; . . 
In the Mandingo countries there is a mosque in every towrf^ 
from the steeple of which the people are called to prayers, the 
Same as in Turkey. 
Polygamy in these regions is practised in its utmost latitude. 
The w omen are frequently hostages for alliance and peace ; and 
the chiefs of two tribes who have been at war, cement theiï* 
treaties by an exchange of their daughters : private individuals do 
the same; and this circumstance may be the reason why thé 
chiefs in particular have such a great number of women. 
A girl is frequently betrothed to a man as soon as she is born. 
Amoi.g the Suzees the child remains with the mother till a pro- 
per age; which, however, is determined more by the progress 
of nature than by tsie revolution of a certain time: they are then 
dehiiitively delivered ovef to the husband* On the day agreed 
