VOYAGE TÔ SEKËGAL. 
are conducted before the king of tlie tribe, \vho judges ÛiëûP 
alone and according to his caprice When a man is accused of a- 
capital offence j the prince calls in the most ancient people of 
the horde, and pronounces his judgment according to their opi- 
nion, which is instantly carried into execution. Capital punish- 
ments, however, are only inflicted upon Negroes : those of the 
Moors are merely fine, restitution, or banishment. 
The most common diseases of the Moors are irstermitteat 
fevers and dysenteries, which are speedily cured by sudorifics, a 
few simple syrups, and a mild diet. Indeed, the patients often 
abandon themselves to the sole aid of nature, and quickly reco- 
ver. The Moors have no physicians, and the old women are 
Employed in taking care of the sick. There may be seen amongst 
them a great munber of old men, who enjoy full health and vi- 
gour, though their whole time has been passed in continual ex- 
ertions, and under all the fatigues and privations inseparable 
from their mode of life. It has, however, been remarked, that 
the less they have been connected with Europeans, the less have 
they been liable to infirmity and disease ; because while they ré- 
inained in their frugal and simple mode of life, their constitution 
was not affected by strong drinks or high-seasoned food. 
The small-pox makes from time to time great ravages amongst 
the Moors, from whom it])asses amongst the southern Negroes: 
those of the Senegal and the Gambia practise inocnlatiofi. At 
length the Moors, after a long career, come, like other men, to 
the end of their existence, and receive the last duties of their 
family and the <vhole of their horde. Amongst them a death is 
announced by terrible cries, and the women are employed to 
make the notification. On this occasion, all those beloi^itïg 
to an encampmant repair to the tent of the deceased, where 
some cry, and others sing his praises. Very often they change 
parts ; so that the women cry, laugh, and sing alternately. Af- 
terwards the body is washed, dressed, and carried to an elevated 
spot, where it is placed in a grave with the face turned towards 
the east, and the head rather raised. They cover the grave wïûi 
stonesj to secure the corpse from the attacks of certain carnivorous 
animals. 
Their dress is very simple. The rich wear trowsers and 
pagnes, or pieces of cotton, \\ hich hang do%vn to the ground : the 
latter forms a sort of great-coat without buttons, which they pass 
over the breast, and fasten with a belt 5 in this belt f hey place a 
poniard or large knife, sometimes two; and as they have no 
pockets, they put in their bosom w ha^e^v'er ihey have occasion to 
carry about them. A handkerchief is attached to the belt, 
but they use it more for wiping their hands and face than aay 
