mounted with black and red leather of their own curing and
dyeing, and they weave stout cloth from the cotton abounding in
their neighbourhood.
Their mirth is usually evinced by noise, called music, and is
composed °f yells and drums s but they are by no means so barbarous
in their calmer moments. They have a sort of guitar, made
of a calabash, which I did not see ; but their other instrument,
the balafon, or balafew, is not unpleasing when well played. It
consists, of two square frames, with uprights at each corner,
supporting the upper frame, and tied together with leathern thongs ;
on the top are fastened twenty flat bars of hard wood, decreasing
in size, and under these are placed small calabashes, with an orifice
in each ; they are so fastened to the bars, that the, oriflee, is
immediately underneath, and the vibration of the bar, when
struck, fills the calabash, and causes the sound. The instrument
is played with two sticks, having heads, twisted round with cow s
intestines. The people do not seem to have any notion of
harmony, all their airs being in the same key, and only varying
with the formation of the instrument. The first I heard was
evidently tuned to A major, but my own approaches to Ç minor,
evidently the effect of ehance, I was told, that the Mandingoes
have several national songs, but I had no opportunity of hearing
any, except the .canoe song, which is very pleasing : a few sing the
air, after which the whole party joins in the . chorus ; they are
heard when starting from the opposite side of the river, long
before they can be distinguished, by the eye, and as they gradually
approach, the effect is very harmonious. The Mamiingo dance,
I am told, is not ungraceful ; but that of the Joloffs is-beyond
every thing disgusting. Those who have seen the peasantry and
lower classes of Portugal dance, may form some notion of it,
although the disgusting attitudes are carried to a greater excess ;
to those who have never seen any thing of the kind, I cannot
attempt description, blit must leave them to imagine contortion
Of body, Carried to the most indecent length.
There is à breed of small horses in Mandingo, which is useful
for the saddle, but is never employed foi burthens. These animals
are tolerably swift, but not remarkably handsome; their chief paces
are walking and cantering, both Of which are well adapted to the
climate ; they seldom trot well. The MoOrS Sometimes bring
down beautiful, thorough-bred Arabians from the interior, which
fetch a great price, even in their native Country. The sheep are
all wire-haired, and long-legged, but their flesh is well flavoured.
The goats give mòre milk than those further south, and the cows
and oxen are of a large size ; the former do not give milk after
their calves die, and it is the practice to let the Calf suck at intervals,
milking between each. At certain periods there is plenty of
pasturage for the Cattle of the island, and ground nut tops make
up for any deficiency. The native butter is extremèly rancid, and
unpleasant to a European palate, from their method of making it ;
the milk not being sufficiently Washed out, which soon turns it
sour, and gives it a bad flavour. I tasted Some made at Bakkow
with a patent churn, by an Englishman, which was equal to that
of Europe.
The land on both sides of the river is divided among petty
chiefs, who are constantly at war with each other. The King of
Coomba is owner " of the island of Banjole, and requires more
chastisement for his frequent assumption, than our military force
on that station is able to inflict. The merchants of Bathurst are
kept in constant apprehension by the threatened invasions of the
King of Barra, who rules the land immediately opposite. They
even deemed it necessary to apply to the Commandant while I
was there, to take some precautions against this fearful enemy:
the guards were accordingly doubled, and other military preparations
made. There was no occasion, however, for any extra