nations of Europe have carried on with the natives of the Coast, it is neither within my province, nor in my power, to explain. If my sentiments should be required concerning the effect which a discontinuance of that commerce would .produce on the manners of the natives, I should have no hesitation in observing, that, in the present unenlightened state of their minds, my opinion is, the effect would neither1 be so extensive or beneficial, as many wise and worthy persons fondly expect. CHAPTER XXIII. Of Gold-dust, and. the Manner in which it is collected.— Process of Washing it.— Its Value in Africa.— O f Ivory.— Surprise of the Negroes at thé Eagerness of the Europeans fo r this Commodity.— Scattered Teeth frequently picked up in the Woods.— Mode o f Hunting the Elephant.— Some Reflections on the unimproved State of the Country, &c. T h o se valuable commodities, gold and ivory (the next objects of'Our inquiry) havë' probably been found in Africa from the first ages of the world. They are reckoned among its most important productions in the earliest records of its history. It has been observed, that gold is seldom or never discovered, except in mountainous and barren countries : Nature, it is said, thus making amends in one way, for her penuriousness in the other. Thië, however, is not wholly true. Gold is found in considerable quantities throughout every part of Manding ; a country which is indeed hilly, but cannot properly be called mountainous, much less barren. It is also found in great plenty in Jallonkadoo (particularly about Boori), another hilly, but by no means an infertile country. It is remarkable, that in the place last mentioned (Boori), which is situated about four days journey to the south-west of Kamalia, the salt market is often supplied, at the same time, with rock-salt from the Great ô q 3
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