516 HEWETT ON THE JOLLOFFS OF WEST AFRICA. [June 22, 1857. 



depends up(m the degree of fame for sanctity the transcriber of the enclosed 

 verse enjoys. Again, the value increases as the Marabou's sanctity increases ; 

 and vice versa. The production of a youthful saint might only avail against 

 rheumatism or lesser maladies ; thus a man afflicted with that disease will so 

 load the part affected as to impede the free use of the limb ; and the little 

 children rolling in the sand, though utterly naked, are laden with strings' of 

 cheap gree-grees, sometimes even crossed over the body like the belts of a 

 soldier, protecting, as it is beheved, the infant from the bites of insects, and 

 lesser evils incidental to childhood. The people do not object to part with 

 a gree-gree for a consideration ; and the case, if opened, will be found to 

 enclose a MS. exceedingly skilfully executed in illuminated Arabic characters. 

 Prompted by curiosity, I uncased a crescent-shaped amulet. The exterior 

 covering was of leather, very neatly sewn, enveloping a goat's horn, the orifice 

 of which was sealed by what had been an aromatic composition ; beneath which 

 coating lay two pages (superscribed with texts from the Koran), yellow with 

 time and worm-drilled — two pages of a printed English tract or sermon dated 

 thirty years back ! Little did the author and distributor anticipate the use 

 to which the tract would be devoted. 



The Jolloff religion is a mild form of Moslem, devoid of the intolerant 

 bigotry that disgraces the creed of their neighbours the Moors of Ludamar ; 

 wherefore, few but the Marabous scruple to drink intoxicating liquors, and 

 few entertain the orthodox animosity to Christians. 



Notwithstanding the credulous superstition of the race, the Jolloff worship 

 is pure Mahomedan, unsullied by any admixture of idolatry or paganism, but 

 inculcating rigid observance of the various feasts, fasts, and ablutions, and pro- 

 selytisation both by sword and by missionaries. 



At Bathurst I met a Moor, — a bishop, I suppose, — who, surrounded by dis- 

 ciples, was on his travels, confirming and strengthening the faith of the waver- 

 ing, and adding new converts to his religion. The Mahomedan religion 

 consequently increases rapidly among the Kafir (infidel) tribes, while, from 

 the comparatively attractive nature of that creed, few belonging to it are con- 

 verted to Christianity — excepting the females, who, when dwelling in European 

 colonies, and finding that in the Christian creed they enjoy equal rights with 

 the men, are often converted. 



The Jolloff is a musical race, possessing numerous musical instruments; 

 and a synod of bards, which, T understand, confers degrees in music on the 

 minstrels, one of whom, attached to the train of each eminent man, extols his 

 patron's greatness, generosity, and deeds in arms, and, relating his pedigree, 

 and eulogising each distinguished warrior who passes in review, stimulates the 

 auditory to emulate the fame of those celebrated. The others are the his- 

 torians of the country, who, roaming from place to place, from festival to 

 funeral, celebrate whoever and whatever desired ; reciting the history, martial 

 achievements, and ancient traditions of the people ; and, when occasion demands, 

 inciting the populace, by heroic strains, to maintain the warlike renown of 

 their sires. 



Some of the airs are simple and pretty, others are wild and undistinguish- 

 able ; and one of the most popular is almost the same as the Persian national 

 air, which is called by the Hindoos " Taza-ba-Taza." 



The males dress, as do the Arabs, in a loose toga-like garment of striped 

 and coloured homespun cloth, and wear on their heads either an embroidered 

 white cap, something similar to a Glengarry bonnet, or a turban formed of a 

 white wrapper, which, in the evening and morning when the atmosphere is 

 chilly, is worn like a plaid, and as a turban at midday, when the head requires 

 protection from the burning sun. Their feet are shod with red sandals, the 

 straps of which are neatly sewn and embroidered, and they are armed with 

 swords and daggers encased in handsome red leather sheaths, stamped, em- 



