NARRATIVE. ' 209 



ceremonies, some of which are disgusting, and others prejudicial : 

 among the latter, is that of shutting themselves up in a room with 

 every crevice stopped, and a large fire burning during child-birth, 

 and neither mother or infant are allowed to breathe the fresh air 

 under a fortnight. This practice is so totally different from that 

 of other mulatto women, that I have thought it worth mentioning. 

 They wear pagnes like other natives, and as they are generally tall 

 and gracefully formed, look very elegant. They add a covering to 

 the head, which, if it were not so enormously high, would be 

 pretty ; it is an assemblage of several square handkerchiefs, 

 (frequently nine) put on much in the way of those of the French 

 peasantry, but rising in a very high cone at the back of the head, 

 and, on state occasions, ornamented with a broad gold band. 

 They generally wear shoes, and those who go without stockings 

 ornament their ancles. 



The gold of the Gambia is much softer, and said to be superior 

 to that of the leeward coast. The gold merchants frequently 

 come from great distances, even forcing their way through the 

 country when it is covered with water. They never bring it in its 

 native state, alleging as a motive, that the English would then 

 sow it in their own country, and destroy their market. Their 

 manner of working it is not to be compared with that of the 

 Ashantees, or even Fantees. The Mandingoes use earthen 

 vessels, made from the red clay of their neighbourhood, which are 

 very rude, not glazed, nor exhibiting the beautiful patterns of the 

 Ashantees. Their calabashes are frequently well carved, and filled 

 up with black. They weave ingenious baskets and mats of palm 

 leaves, and they contrive very hght stools and bedsteads of bamboo, 

 fastened together with wooden pegs. They also fabricate very 

 neat wooden snujfi boxes, for which they have frequent use, taking 

 the most poignant snuff, prepared by themselves, in enormous 

 quantities. Their scimitars and quivers are well sheathed, and 



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