to make war on his neighbour, by his calling in a magician
to discover a propitious time for commencing. The doctor
places a large earthen vessel, half full of water, over a
fire, and over its mouth a grating of sticks, whereon he
lays a small child and a fowl side by side, and covers
them over with a second large earthen vessel, just like the
first, only inverted, to keep the steam in, when he sets fire
below, cooks for a certain period of time, and then looks
to see if his victims are still living or dead—when, should
they be dead, the war must be deferred, but, otherwise,
commenced at once.
These extremes, however, are not often resorted to, for
the natives are usually content with simpler means, such
as flaying a goat, instead of a child, to be walked over;
while, to prevent any evil approaching their dwellings, a
squashed frog, or any other such absurdity, when placed
on the track, is considered a specific.
How the negro has lived so many ages without advancing,
seems marvellous, when all the countries surrounding
Africa are so forward in comparison; and judging from
the progressive state of the world, one is led to suppose
that the African must soon either step out from his darkness,
or be superseded by a being superior to himself.
Could a government be formed for them like ours in
India, they would be saved; but without it, I fear there is
very little chance; for at present the African neither can
help himself nor will he be helped by others, because his
country is in such a constant state of turmoil he has too
much anxiety on hand looking out for his food to think
of anything else. As his fathers ever did, so does he.
He works his wife, sells his children, enslaves all he can
lay hands upon, and, unless when fighting for the property
of others, contents himself with drinking, singing, and
dancing like a baboon, to drive dull care away. A few
only make cotton cloth, or work in wood, iron, copper, or
salt; their rule being to do as little as possible, and to
I store up nothing beyond the necessities of the next
¡season, lest their chiefs or neighbours should covet and
¡take it from them.
Slavery, I may add, is one great cause of laziness, for
the masters become too proud to work, lest they should
be thought slaves themselves. In consequence of this,
the women look after the household work—such as brew-
pig, cooking, grinding com, making pottery and baskets,
[and taking care of the house and the children, besides
helping the slaves whilst cultivating, or even tending the
[cattle sometimes.
Now, descending to the inferior order of creation, I shall
commence with the domestic animals first, to show what
[the traveller may expect to find for his usual support.
■Cows, after leaving the low lands near the coast, are
found to be plentiful everywhere, and to produce milk in
fcTna.ll quantities, from which butter is made. Goats are
¡common all over Africa; but sheep are not so plentiful,
nor do they show such good breeding—being generally
lanky, with long fat tails. Fowls, much like those in In-
Ilia, are abundant everywhere. A few Muscovy ducks
■are imported, also pigeons and cats. Dogs, like the Lillian
pariah, are very plentiful, only much smaller; and a
I few donkeys are found in certain localities. Now, con-
Isidering this goodly supply of meat, whilst all tropical
I plants will grow just as well in central equatorial Africa
■as they do in India, it surprises the traveller there should
1 be any famines; yet such is too often the case, and the
negro, with these bounties within his reach, is sometimes
found eating dogs, cats, rats, porcupines,, snakes, lizards,
p tortoises, locusts, and white ants, or is forced to seek the
■seeds of wild grasses, or to pluck wild herbs, fruits, and
I roots; whilst at the proper seasons they hunt the wild
■elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, pigs, and antelopes ; or,
| going out with their arrows, have battues against the
¡guinea-fowls and small birds.