166 
VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 
candidates, and tlie procession is closed by a body of armed men/ 
On reaching the spot, the Marabous place themselves on each 
Side of a plank, which is raised on two benches in the midst of 
the circle. The candidates and their relatives stand opposite to 
the platform, at the distance of about fifty feet, in the same order 
in wiiich they arrived ; and the armed men surround the place oi 
sacrilice. , 
Ihe Marabou operator then turns himself towards the east, 
says a sala or prayer^ which all tlie assistants repeat with much 
gravity. This ended, the first candidate^ followed by his friends, 
approaches the plank and bestrides it, taking off the pagne which 
covers his shoulders and body. The IMarabou takes the prepuce, 
draws it as far as possible over the gland, holds it between his 
fingers, and quickly separates it with a knife. The Negro then 
gets from the board, retires laugliing, and does not seem to mind 
the bleeding of the wound. The other candidates submit to the 
same ceremony, and all remain in sight till it is over. 
When the wound has bled for some tnne,it is repeatedly washed, 
raid this is continued every day with fresh water fill it be healed, which 
generally takes place in ten days or a fortnight. This cure must be per- 
formed without any drug ; and all the patients, when descending* 
from the plank, are obliged to assume a cheerful aspect, though 
many of them are so much overcome as to requii c the help of 
their friends to conduct them away. • > 
When the wounds are healed the patients make a tour through 
all ther villages, and raise contributions for a public festival. 
These people are rigid observers of all the laws of Mahomet/; 
and one of their duties, which they exercise to the utmost extent, 
is to rob and cheat the Christians as often as possible. They say 
prayers five times a day, and on Friday, which is their sabbath, 
seven times. The Mahometans of Senegal only pray three 
times daily, viz. at the dawn, at noon, and at sun-set: for want of 
mosques, they meet in the place appropriated for public business, 
and join in prayer with much devotion and gravity. The cere- 
mony lasts about half an hour each time, and no excuse is ad- 
mitted for non-attendance. On praying they always turn then- 
faces towards the east; but on the contrary, when they wish to 
satisfy the wants of nature, they turn tow ards the west, and crouch 
down like women. 
Ail Mahometans are obliged to fast once a year for an entire moon, 
and this fast is called the ramadan. The period at w hich it takes 
place, changes annually, in consequence of their year being a 
lunar one, w hicli makes it ten days shorter than the solar calcu- 
lations; but the less hiformed Negroes, fix their fast on the ap- 
pearance of the September moon, or the autumnal equinox. As 
soon as it appears, they salute it by offering it their riglit hand^ 
