204 
PHOLEYS. 
killed in cold blood or reduced to slavery, and virgins of the highest 
rank viere abandoned to their brutal lusts. 
Heraclius, the emperor of the east, having in vain endeavoured to 
purchase their retreat, was almost surprised by the barbarian king in 
an interview which the latter solicited, as preparatory to a mutual 
reconciliation. Having joined his forces with the Persians, the chagon 
invested Constantinople, and after endangering the safety of the city, 
by repeated assaults, was driven from it by the ancestors of the race 
that now possess it. After this period the fortune of the Avars began 
to decline, and we find them, in 795, surrendering themselves to the 
arms of Charlemagne, and offering to embrace his religion as well as 
to submit to his sway. 
Pholeys. 
The Pholeys are the inhabitants of Pholey, a kingdom of Africa, 
and a people of very peculiar manners. Mr. More, however, says, 
that the Pholeys live in clans, build towns and are in every kingdom 
and country on each side the river, yet are not subject to any kings 
of the country, though they live in their territories, for if they are 
used ill in one nation, they break up their towns and remove to 
another. They are rather of a low stature, but have a genteel and 
easy shape, with an air peculiarly delicate and agreeable. Though 
they are strangers in the country, they are the greatest planters in it. 
They are extremely industrious and frugal, and raise much more corn 
and cotton than they consume, which they sell at reasonable rates, 
and are so remarkable for their hospitality, that the natives esteem 
it a blessing to have a Pholey town in their neighbourhood, and their 
behaviour has gained them such reputation, that it is esteemed infa- 
mous for any one to treat them in an inhospitable manner. Their 
humanity extends to all, but they are doubly kind to people of their 
ow n race. They are, however, as brave as any people of Africa, and 
very expert in the use of their arms, which are javelins, cutlasses, 
bows and arrows, and occasionally guns. They usually settle near 
some Mantingo tow n, there being scarce any of note up the river that 
has not a Pholey town near it. Most of them speak Arabic, which 
is taught in their schools, and they are able to read the Koran in that 
language, though they have a vulgar tongue called Pholey. 
Their houses are built in a very regular manner, they being round 
structures, placed in rows at a distance from each other to avoid fire, 
and each of them has a thatched roof, somewhat resembling a high 
crowmed hat. They are also great huntsmen, and not only kill lions, 
tigers, and other wild beasts, but frequently go twenty or thirty in a 
company, to hunt elephants, whose teeth they sell, and whose flesh 
they smoke-dry and eat, keeping it for several months together. They 
are almost the only people who make butter, and sell cattle at some 
distance up the river. They are very particular in their dress, and 
never wear any other clothes but long robes of white cotton, which 
they make themselves. They are always very clean, especially the 
women, who keep their houses exceedingly neat. 
