The natural barrenness of the country is such that it furnishes but few materials for manufacture.  The Moors, however, contrive to weave a strong cloth, with which they cover their tents; the thread is spun by their women from the hair of goats, and they prepare the hides of their cattle so as to furnish saddles, bridles, pouches, and other articles of leather.  They are likewise sufficiently skilful to convert the native iron, which they procure from the negroes, into spears and knives, and also into pots for boiling their food; but their sabres, and other weapons, as well as their firearms and ammunition, they purchase from the Europeans, in exchange for the negro slaves which they obtain in their predatory excursions.  Their chief commerce of this kind is with the French traders on the Senegal river.

The Moors are rigid Mohammedans, and possess, with the bigotry and superstition, all the intolerance of their sect.  They have no mosques at Benowm, but perform their devotions in a sort of open shed, or enclosure, made of mats.  The priest is, at the same time, schoolmaster to the juniors.  His pupils assemble every evening before his tent; where, by the light of a large fire, made of brushwood and cow’s dung, they are taught a few sentences from the Koran, and are initiated into the principles of their creed.  Their alphabet differs but little from that in Richardson’s Arabic Grammar.  They always write with the vowel points.  Their priests even affect to know something of foreign literature.  The priest of Benowm assured me that he could read the writings of the Christians:  he showed me a number of barbarous characters, which he asserted were the Roman alphabet; and he produced another specimen, equally unintelligible, which he declared to be the Kallam il Indi, or Persian.  His library consisted of nine volumes in quarto; most of them, I believe, were books of religion—­for the name of Mohammed appeared in red letters in almost every page of each.  His scholars wrote their lessons upon thin boards, paper being too expensive for general use.  The boys were diligent enough, and appeared to possess a considerable share of emulation—­carrying their boards slung over their shoulders when about their common employments.  When a boy has committed to memory a few of their prayers, and can read and write certain parts of the Koran, he is reckoned sufficiently instructed; and with this slender stock of learning commences his career of life.  Proud of his acquirements, he surveys with contempt the unlettered negro; and embraces every opportunity of displaying his superiority over such of his countrymen as are not distinguished by the same accomplishments.

The education of the girls is neglected altogether:  mental accomplishments are but little attended to by the women; nor is the want of them considered by the men as a defect in the female character.  They are regarded, I believe, as an inferior species of animals; and seem to be brought up for no other purpose than that of administering to the sensual pleasures of their imperious masters.  Voluptuousness is therefore considered as their chief accomplishment, and slavish submission as their indispensable duty.