On the 24th of November I was witness to a scene which diverted me extremely. I saw a number of women outside the camp, who were uttering shrill cries, and some children who were throwing stones; I approached to see what was the matter, and found a woman in tears, muffled up in her garments, and supported by her friends. While I was inquiring the cause of her affliction, I espied some men and a crowd of women at a distance, quarrelling about the loads of two oxen; three slaves with leather straps attacked the women when they came near the oxen, and the women in their turn laid on with sticks, and pitched off the loads. While the men were engaged in replacing them the women snatched what they could reach, and carried it off towards the camp in triumph, singing as they went. This contest lasted more than two hours, and the baggage was perceptibly diminished, when the wife and daughter of the great marabout interfered; they seated themselves on the remainder of the baggage, and the two parties began to listen to one another. The distressed female was born in this camp, and had married a marabout of a distant camp. Wishing to see her relations again, she had persuaded her husband to accompany her; some days after their arrival the husband was desirous of returning, he put off his journey however, at the request of his wife. At last, his business required it, and he was determined to return; but his wife who was bent upon keeping him, got up a quarrel, struck him, and collected all the women of the camp round him. The women flew at the husband like furies; the husband was supported by some of his friends; they tried to load the oxen again with the goods which the women had thrown on the ground; the women pushed and pulled, and sent them rolling with the bales; and the oxen were four times loaded and unloaded in my presence. In vain did three strong negroes, slaves of the husband, lash the women by the order of their master; they could not keep off the crowd, but were beaten themselves; and the boys, who are always fond of mischief, threw showers of stones upon them and the marabouts. At last, the wife and daughter of the grand marabout having taken possession of the baggage, a capitulation ensued; the women were desired to disperse; and the marabouts promised to take the goods back to the camp till the morrow. When every body was gone, they loaded the oxen again and set off, taking with them about a fourth of their goods; and in the evening the lady departed to rejoin her husband. The Moorish women have great influence over their husbands, which they frequently make a bad use of. Polygamy is not practised by the inhabitants of this part of Africa, and their wives would not permit them even to have concubines. The king himself has, like his subjects, only one wife.