these may be found in every town. They sing extempore songs in
honour of their chief men, or any other persons who are willing to
give "solid pudding for empty praise." But a nobler part of their
office is to recite the historical events of their country; hence in
war they accompany the soldiers to the field, in order, by reciting
the great actions of their ancestors, to awaken in them a spirit of
glorious emulation. The other class are devotees of the Mohammedan
faith, who travel about the country singing devout hymns and
performing religious ceremonies, to conciliate the favour of the
Almighty, either in averting calamity or insuring success to any
enterprise. Both descriptions of these itinerant bards are much
employed and respected by the people, and very liberal contributions
are made for them.

The usual diet of the negroes is somewhat different in different
districts; in general the people of free condition breakfast about
daybreak upon gruel made of meal and water, with a little of the
fruit of the tamarind to give it an acid taste. About two o'clock
in the afternoon a sort of hasty pudding, with a little shea butter,
is the common meal; but the supper constitutes the principal repast,
and is seldom ready before midnight. This consists almost
universally of kouskous, with a small portion of animal food or shea
butter mixed with it. In eating, the kafirs, as well as
Mohammedans, use the right hand only.

The beverages of the pagan negroes are beer and mead, of each of
which they frequently drink to excess. The Mohammedan convert
drinks nothing but water. The natives of all descriptions take
snuff and smoke tobacco; their pipes are made of wood, with an
earthen bowl of curious workmanship. But in the interior countries