in Houssa, the Negroes are in greater proportion to the Moors, and have some share in the government. Concerning the small kingdom of Jinbala, I was not able to collect much information. The soil is said to be remarkably fertile, and the whole country so full of creeks and swamps, that the Moors have hitherto been baffled in every attempt to subdue it. The inhabitants are Negroes, and some of them are said to live in considerable affluence, particularly those rtear the capital; which is a resting-place for such merchants as transport goods from Tombuctoo to the western parts of Africa. To the southward of Jinbala, is situated the Negro kingdom of Gotto, which is said to be of great extent. It was formerly divided into a number of petty states, which were governed by their own chiefs; but their private quarrels invited invasion from the neighbouring kingdoms. A t length a politic chief, of the name of Moossee, had address enough to make them unite in hostilities against Bambarra ; and on this occasion he was unanimously chosen general; the different chiefs consenting for a time to act under his command. Moossee immediately dispatched a fleet of canoes, loaded with provisions, from the banks of the lake Dibbie up the Niger, towards JennC, and with the whole of his army pushed forwards into Bambarra. He arrived on the bank of the Niger opposite to JennC, before the townspeople had the smallest intimation of his approach ; his fleet of canoes joined him the same day, and having landed the provisions, he embarked part of his army, and in the night took Jenng by storm. This event so terrified the King of Bambarra, that he sent messengers to sue for peace, and in order to obtain it, consented to deliver to Moossee a certain number of slaves every year ; and return every thing that had been taken from the inhabitants of Gotto. Moossee, thus triumphant, returned to Gotto, where he was declared king, and the capital of the country is called by his name. On the west of Gotto, is the kingdom of Baedoo, which was conquered by the present King of Bambarra about seven years aso, and has continued tributary to him ever since. West of Baedoo, is Maniana ; the inhabitants of which, according to the best information I was able to collect, are cruel and ferocious ; carrying their resentment towards their enemies, so far as never to give quarter; and even to indulge themselves with unnatural and disgusting banquets of human flesh. I am well aware that the accounts which the Negroes give of their enemies, ought to be received with great caution ; but I heard the same account in so many different kingdoms, and from such variety of people, whose veracity I had no occasion to suspect, that I am disposed to allow it some degree of credit. The inhabitants of Bambarra, in the course of a long and bloody war, must have had frequent opportunities of satisfying themselves as to the fa c t: and if the report had been entirely without foundation, I cannot conceive why the term Ma dummulo, (man eaters), should be applied exclusively to the inhabitants of Maniana. F f
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