They told me they were poisoned, and would
not let me touch them. Amongst the accomplishments of the Gighis and
magicians of Africa is that of poisoning arrows. The pagan nations are
generally very expert in this
"dreadful art,
To taint with deadly drugs the barbed dart."
The younger and more fashionable Kailouees wear round their necks, and
hanging down over their breast, a large necklace of charms sewn in
leather bags. Some also wear a sort of cloth cap, called bakin zakee, of
a green colour, round which they bind the turkadee, or black turban. On
this cap they also occasionally wear charms, done up in small metal
boxes. Their camels are very fantastically dressed in leathern
trappings.
The great men, and indeed all those that can afford it, despise the
simple Kailouee costume, and indulge in all the rich dresses which are
so much liked by the Moors of the coast,--burnouses, shasheeahs,
turbans, veneeses, caftans, tobes of silk, &c.
The dress of the women whom we see about is a simple cotton tobe,
covering them from neck to heels. The colour of these tobes is generally
blue-black, dyed with indigo; some are glazed with gum. Many, however,
are white, and ornamented in front about the neck with silken
embroidery,--a costume which gives them a very chaste and elegant
appearance. Sometimes the tobes are variegated in colour, as are the
trousers; but the sombre, or pure white, are the most popular.
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