Phyjfcal and Political Geography of N'ortb j^frlca. 25,^ 



medan fovercign, but the bulk of the people appear to be of the ancient religion. It has been 

 already faid, that although they are a black people, they are lefs black than the Negroes gene- 

 rally, and have neither crifped hair nor thick lips ; as alfo that they have a language diftinft 

 from the Mandinga. From thefe circumflances, added to that of fuualion, they appear 

 clearly to be the Leucathiopes of Ptolemy and Pliny. The former places them in the 

 (Itiiation occupied by the Foulahs ; that is, in the parallel of nine degrees north; havinotto 

 the north the mountains of Ryjfadius, which feparate the courfes of the Stachir and Nia 

 rivers (Gambia and Rio Grande), and which therefore anfwer to the continuation of the 

 great belt of high land in our geography ; in which there is moreover another point of agree- 

 ment, the Caphas of Ptolemy being the Caftaba of the map *. 



Ptolemy by the name evidently meant to defcribe a people Iffs black than the generality of 

 the Ethiopians; and hence it may be gathered that this nation had been traded with, and 

 that fome notices refpefting it had been communicated to him. It may alfo be remarked, 

 that the navigation of Hanno terminated on this coaft ; probably at Sherbro' river, or 

 found. And as this was alfo the term of the knowledge of Ptolemy, it may be juftly fuf. 

 pefted that this part of the coaft was defcribed from Carthaginian materials f . 



Thofe who have perufed the Journal of Meflrs. Watt and Winterbottom, through the 

 Foulah country in 1794, and recoiled how flattering a pidure they give of the urbanity 

 ahd hofpitality of the Foulahs, will be gratified on finding that this nation was known and 

 diftinguifhod from the reft of the Ethiopians at a remote period of antiquity |. 



The contraft between the Moorifti and Negro charafters is as great as that between the 

 nature of their refpeflive countries ; or between their form and complexion. The Moors 

 appear to poffefs the vices of the Arabs without their virtues ; and to avail themfelves of an 

 intolerant religion, to opprefs ftrangers : whilft the Negroes, and efpecially the Mandingas, 

 unable to comprehend a do£trine that fubftitutes opinion or belief for the focial duties, are 

 content to remain in their humble ftate of ignorance. The hofpitality fliewn by thefe good 

 people to Mr. Park, a deftitute and forlorn ftranger, raifes them very high in the fcale of 

 humanity : and I know of no fitter title to confer on them than that of the Hindoos of 

 Africa: at the fame time by no means intending to degrade the Mahomedans of India by a 

 comparifon with the African Moors. 



• ' 



* The Soluentii of Ptolemy may alfo be meant for the Solimani of Mr. Park. 



■f And it may alfo have been the fcene of traffic mentioned in page 155 ; as Dr. Wadftrom fpeaks of fuch a 

 cuftom in this quarter at the prefent day. 



J Pliny (lib. v. c. S.) alfo fpeaks of the Leucaethiopes, but feems to place them on this fide of Nigritia. M«y 

 it a«t be that certain tribet of Foulahi were then eftablilhed, as at prefent, along the Senegal river ? 



h\i lY. Ohfer. 



