ISO 
VOYAGE TO SENEGAL* 
alarm at their excesses. They ate composed of large, strong,^ 
and well-made men ; have generally a stiff hair, a long beard, a 
furious look, large pendent ears, and nails like talons : they even 
convert these into a formidable kind of weapon, in the quarrels 
which they have with their neighbours. The Wadelims in par- 
ticular are the most arrogant and warlike race, and spread terror 
wherever they pass; though, hke all the other Moors, their 
courage fails them, unless they have a decided superiority of 
numbers in their favour. 
These people live under tents, which they move about at will: 
they are of a round form, terminating in a cone, and are covered 
with a thatch made of camel's hair, so compact, that rain never 
penetrates through it. This covering is made by the women, 
who also prepare the leather of which the saddles, bridles, and 
various other articles, are manufactured. 
The furniture of these dwellings consists of two large leather 
sacks, which hold a few rags and scraps of iron-work: some- 
times they have a box or two, which become the object of cupi- 
dity amongst a whole horde. Three or four goat-skins, in which 
they keep their milk and water, several wooden platters, two 
large stones for pounding barley, a lesser one for driving in the 
pickets of the tents, some osier mats, which serve them for beds 
and covering, and a small copper kettle, are the whole of the 
goods which distinguish the rich from the poor. 
It is also the business of the women to prepare the provisions, 
fetch water, and attend to the horses and cattle, which always 
lodge in the same tent. Those who are in easy circumstances 
keep Negro slaves to do the principal part of the labour ; but 
they are always obliged to wait upon their husbands themselves. 
In short, nothing can exceed the arrogance of a Moor to his 
wife, nor the humility of the woman in presence of her husband. 
The women, when a horde changes its situation, strike the 
tents, load and unburden the camels; and when the husband 
mounts his horse, his wife holds the stirrup : they are not even 
admitted to eat with the men, but when dinner is ready, they 
retire, and wait till they are called on, to take what is left. 
These women are in some degree the property of their 
husbands : for a Moor does not marry till he is able to buy 
himself a wife. The fathers sell their daughters; and he who 
has most of them, is considered the richest man. The price 
agreed on is always paid in advance ; and the husband may 
afterwards put away his Avife, but vUiat he has given for her is 
never returned. Nevertheless a Moor cannot turn away his 
wife without obtaining permission from the oldest people of the 
horde, but which they never refuse to give f so that the demand 
k a simple matter of form. 
