ACCOUNT OF TOMBUCTOO. 495- 
form of religious worship, except something like 
a prayer at funerals. 
The only form of marriage, among the higher 
ranks, consisted in the bride going to the king's 
house, whither the bridegroom. repaired after sun- 
set, and brought her home with him. Besides 
one principal wife, they had several inferior ones 
or concubines ; an arrangement which was by no 
means productive of domestic harmony. Adams 
had not an opportunity of observing the ceremony 
of marriage among the lower orders. Among 
them illicit intercourse prevailed to a great ex- 
tent, and was frequently accompanied by the prac- 
tice of abortion. Seduction among the higher 
ranks, unless repaired by marriage, was punished 
with slavery. 
The grains chiefly cultivated in the vicinity of 
Tombuctoo are rice and Guinea corn. They are 
raised entirely with the hoe, no cattle being used 
in agriculture. The fruits are cocoa nuts, dates, 
figs, and pine apples. The domestic animals are 
chiefly goats, and their flesh is the only species 
which is commonly eaten. There are no horses ; 
the cows are small, and few in number. Besides 
the common camel, there occurs the heirie, a 
small and very fleet species, which will travel fifty 
miles a-day for many days successively. It is 
unfit, however, for carrying burdens. Of wild 
animals, lions and foxes were not seen, but were 
