249 
of Edinburgh , Session 1884 - 85 . 
and women, young and old, engaged in some useful occupation. 
Work is paid for with dhurra, food, and drink. The people 
consider it to be an honour to work for the chief without pay, hut 
he provides them with food and drink. 
The blacksmiths are the only class of special workers who do 
nothing but follow their own trade. They are a class quite apart, 
live in their own villages, enjoying a very had reputation, and being 
looked down upon by the rest of the community. They are great 
drunkards, and are continually quarrelling and fighting, and the 
dalimars have to he constantly employed in keeping order in their 
villages. They are the only men who take apprentices. 
Strangers and very poor people are sometimes employed by the 
rich, and are paid in dhurra and cloth, besides receiving their food. 
Exchange of goods is carried on with several of the surrounding 
tribes, and with the Arabs. Markets are held once or twice a week 
at convenient places near several villages. There is a free exchange 
of food, cattle, tools, arms, ornaments, &c. Beer is also sold, and 
disputes and fighting in the market are of common occurrence. A 
few dalimars are usually sent there to keep order, and they levy a 
small toll on the villagers. Any one may engage in trade, and 
most people have something to sell. Credit is sometimes given to 
people living in the neighbourhood; should they not pay, the 
dalimars are sent to exact the debt, and the debtor must also 
pay them for their services. All people have a right of way so 
long as they behave themselves. There is no hongo. People go 
in companies to the markets, but each trades on his own ac- 
count ; this applies also to fishing and hunting expeditions. 
Goods are carried in skin bags or in mats upon their heads or backs. 
Camels, donkeys, and oxen are also used as beasts of burden. 
There are no porters proper, but sometimes men are hired to carry 
things. There are no boats, nor is there any river navigation. 
Ancient tools, weapons, knives, and ornaments are sometimes 
found on the sites of deserted villages. 
The Fors are not at all wasteful ; dry bread, for instance, is kept 
after being dried in the sun, and when needed for use it is chopped 
up fine and eaten with water. Remnants of food are not thrown 
away, but given to the dogs. Meat and fish are cured and stored, 
as also dhurra and dried vegetables. 
