Timmani, and Limba countries on the west, and the river Niger
and the Kiss! territory on the-east, in which direction it likewise
extends to an unknown distance towards the Kong
mountains, and in the interior behind the Negro states of the
Guinea coast* The people are probably Mandingo tribes,
who descended from: the high countries of Senegambia, at a
remote period, towards the south. They have nearly the same
dress us the Mohammedan Mandingos, and their language is
the same, except in a few words, yet they are by no means
so handsome or so intelligent a race. They have the barbarous
custom, so common among the pagan savages pf Africa,
of filing their teeth to a point, and of tattooing their breasts
and backs. They comb their hair or wool into large balls
over each-temple. In many of their customs, they closely
resemble the Timmams and other nations of the most unciifc
tivated class of Africans.-^
* The^territory of Kooranko, according to Major Laing, reaches so fax towards
the east that the natives of the western level have fio. notion of its termination;
but merely estimate it as beyond the journey of a month.
•f- This comparison is, perhaps, a sufficient proof that the-decided, superiority
of the Mandingo nation is not owing to any original difference front other- African
tribes, but to the circumstance that theyhave been long‘civilized, so far as cfoj;xj.i-
zation is implied by the profession of Islam, and the zealous observation of .its
precepts, and adoption of customs which it brings with it. Jfloï far from the
Kooranko country, Major Laing entered a village of Mohammedan Mandingos
accidentally settled there. The difference between this people and their pagan
neighbours is very remarkable. He says, on entering New Ma-boom the eye ip
immediately struck by the conspicuous change; the small, nusèrabje, dirty huts
are'supplied by large, circular, conical edifices, studded with omamenfe, and surrounded
by clean, stockaded yards. ‘£ I entered the town about sun-set; the
inhabitants were returning from their daily labours, every individual hearing about
him proofs of his industrious occupation; some had been engaged in .preparing
fields for crops, which the approaching rains were to mature; others were-penning
up a few cattle, whose appearance denoted rich pasturage; the last dink of the
blacksmith’s hammer was sounding; the weaver was measuring the quantity of
cloth he had woven during the day, and the gaurange or worker m leather, was tying
np his neatly-stained pouches, shoes, knife-scabbards, the work of his handicraft,
in a large Jcoiakod or bag, while the crier of Ahe mosque, with the melancholy call
of e Allah Akbar,’ uttered at measured intervals, summoned the decorous Mos-
lemin to their evening devotions.” - It may he proper to add, that Major Laing
had experience among these people of the Vices as well as the virtues of Mohammedanism:
bigotry, fraud, and cruelty were as usual displayed towards a Kafir;
with-him the followers of the Prophet keep no faith, nor do they observe towards
him the common precepts of humanity.
Of the Bambarrans.
The people of Bambarra, perhaps, afford another example, in
addition -to that Koorahkos, of a tribe of the Mandingo
■fade not'^et^mergdd,' at least in part, from the condition of
savages, and partaking1 in’"'a* similar manner of the physical
.as well as moral inferiority ^dnefally connected with that
6tate of existence.-
- The’people of Bambarra are' reckoned by M. Golberry as a
fourth race 'in Constituting^ Bib population - of the French
government ■ of th&vSenegal p thC'^IoIofs, Fulalis, and Man-
being the three former. Bambarra is an- extensive
country,»situated under the 14? north latitude,'about'one hundred
leagues above and to the eastward;' of Galam. It
reaches for a great space along the Niger or Joliba; ■' its capital'
is. SegG.| Mungo Park say’s, that, after a little- practice;,
he-was-able to understand and speak the idiom of Bambarra,
by--- its affinity to the Mandingo.' B u t,^ ii tjig'ieastern parts
of Bambarra, he found that a different language: prevailed-,
and tlrd Mandi®|p dialect was no longer j,understood. This
appears, to be the language Pf; Tombuktu. * It is'probable,
that the'people of Bambarra are partly of Mandingo origin,
and in part belonging to theTace of WesterimSudan, hereafter
to be dpgcribe.d.
^„Mv Golber^ says, that he has had; frequent Opportunities, of
becoming acquainted with the Bambarrans, beeausethegreater
number of the slaves brought to the French factories of-Sene1
gal and. Gambia come from Bambarra. According to the
description of them afforded by this .'writer; thdsfe, blacks of
the interior, who, however, are not to be considered as all
Bambarrans, have, in a high de'grfeC^all. the characters ascribed
to the Negro race. “ Their cplpur us nrita fine’black;
their heads are round; their hair woolly and crisped 5 their
countenances heavy and!?dtiif;' their noses flat, and cheekbones
pibminent; their lips very thick ; and theif legs crooked.
They are sirupid, very super Jitious,. fataii^ts.beyqnd^all cpn-
ception, indolent,:but gay and perfectly good-tempered: their
language is rude and barbarous.”
VOL, II. F