no Birds.—Poison.—Anointing. [Notes 22, 23, 24.
which they frequently make amongst their flocks and
domestic animals. D.
Note 22, p. 30.
The birds, both wild and tame, are, to the best of my
recollection, the same as he previously described to me.
The ostriches he told me were hunted both for their flesh
and feathers, the latter not being used by the Negroes,
except in trade with the Moors: who occasionally bring
them to Barbary. I).
Note 23, p. 32.
The poisonous liquid prepared from “ black lumps like
“ opium," into which the Negroes of Tombuctoo dip their
arrows, appears to be the same as that which Park describes
the Mandingoes to use, for a similar purpose.
“ The poison, which is very deadly, is prepared from a
“ shrub called kooma, (a species of echites) ; the leaves of
“ which, when boiled in a small quantity of water, yield a
“ thick, black juice." 1st Journey, 4to. p. 281.
Note 24, p. 32
Park observed a similar custom of anointing their
persons among the Negroes of Bondou. See 1st. Journey,
Notes 24, 25.] Anointing.—Marks of the Negroes. I l l
4to. p. 62. “ The cream (of cow’s milk) is converted into
« butter by stirring it violently in a large calabash. This
“ butter forms a part of most of their dishes; it serves
“ likewise to anoint their heads; and is bestowed very
“ liberally on their faces and arms.”
Note 25, p. 33.
This account of the marks on the faces of the inhabitants
of Timbuctoo, agrees with that which Adams gave at
Mogadore.
I have occasionally seen Negroes with similar incisions
on their faces, but I cannot state with any confidence that
they came from Timbuctoo. However, I have certainly
heard from some of the traders that these marks are a
prevalent, if not universal, ornament of the male Negroes
of that country.
Many of the Negro slaves brought up to Barbary by
the Arabs, have the cartilage of the nose bored through, in
which, it is said, they wear in their own countries, a large
gold ring, in the manner described by Adams of the
Negroes between Soudenny and Timbuctoo. I have frequently
seen female slaves with perforations in the lobes
of their ears, which had the appearance of having been
distended by wearing heavy ornaments. D.