They never bow. An inferior kisses the hand of a superior; to an
equal he nods the head, gives him his hand and asks him how he
does. The women do the same.
The general body are honest and benevolent, the lower class is
addicted to thieving. They are very careful of children, to prevent
their being stolen. Snakes do not frequent cultivated lands, so
that animals are not there in danger from them. The people of
Timbuctoo and Housa resemble each other in their persons and in
their manners. They castrate bulls, sheep, and goats, but never
horses. Supper is the principal meal. They do not use vessels of
brass or copper in cookery; they are all of earthenware. At sunset
the watchmen are stationed in all parts of the town, and take into
custody all suspected or unknown persons. They have lamps made of
wood and paper; the latter comes from Fas. Women of respectability
51 are attended by a slave when they walk out or visit, which they do
with the same freedom as in Europe. The women ride either horses or
asses, they have no mules; the men commonly prefer walking, they
are strong and seldom sensible of fatigue, which he attributes to
their having a rib more than white men. Some bake their own bread,
others buy it, as in England. They make leavened bread of
allila[89] and bishna; the cattle-market is within the city, in a
square, appropriated to this purpose. There are a great many rich
men, some by inheritance, others by trade. Every morning the doors
of the rich are crowded with poor, the master sends them food,
rice, milk, &c. They have names for every day. They make their own
pipes for smoking, the tubes are of wood. They have songs, some
with chorus, and some sung by two persons in alternate stanzas.
They have the same feasts once a quarter as at Timbuctoo. The king
has but one wife, but many concubines. The favourite slaves of the
queen of Housa are considered as superior to the queen of
Timbuctoo.
[Footnote 89: Millet and Indian corn.]