They are exceedingly conservative, and look with disfavour upon changes.

Their legal tender is silver, cut into little squares of different weights; gold is the baser coin, and is about of the same value as our silver.
It is, however, much prized for its beauty, and largely used for ornaments and decorative purposes.

Most of the trade, however, is carried on by means of sale and barter, payment being made in kind.

Agriculture is the great business of the country, and is really well understood and carried out, most of the available acreage being under cultivation.

Great attention is also given to the breeding of cattle and horses, the latter being unsurpassed by any I have ever seen either in Europe or Africa.
The land belongs theoretically to the Crown, and under the Crown to the great lords, who again divide it among smaller lords, and so on down to the little peasant farmer who works his forty 'reestu' (acres) on a system of half-profits with his immediate lord.