The BABIN:

 We found Papa’s wife in the market selling these things: they are twigs and roots of a special tree twisted into strands about a foot long. They are used to give a delicate herbal flavour to drinking water, and they can be put into your water bottle or into the large earthen ware water pot  which cools the water in homes which have no refrigerators.  The Babins  are sold and used all over Mali. They can be ‘tweaked’ and they can be customized. They are considered a must for young brides apparently- the mothers give their special recipes to their daughters, who try to court the favour of their husbands in order to get the upper hand over their husband’s other wife(ves).