180 CAPTAIN TUCKEY’S NARRATIVE. 
for fowls, eggs, manioc and fruits, which seem all to belong 
to the women, the men never disposing of them without first 
consulting their wives, to whom the beads are given. The 
fashion varies from day to day, but the mock coral, and 
black and white, seem to be most constantly in request. 
Fach village has a grand kissey or presiding divinity 
named Mevonga. It is the figure of a man, the body stuck 
with bits of iron, feathers, old rags, &c. and resembles nothing 
so much as one of our scare-crows. Each house has its dit 
penates, male and female, who are invoked on all occasions. 
A slave from Ben’s country, (Soondy) was this day 
brought for sale; it appeared that he had been pledged for 
debt, and not being redeemed, was accordingly to be sold. 
His information respecting his country, which appears to be 
that of Ben, and a large district, is, that it is a long way up 
the river; that he came down to Inga, sometimes by water, 
sometimes by land, and was in the whole 25 days on his 
journey ; but as he passed through the hands of a great 
many traders, and their days journey are very short, it is 
probable that it might be done in ten days. As Ben how- 
ever had forgotten the name of his town, he could gain no 
information ; and indeed his knowledge of the language is 
so imperfect that he has never been of the smallest use as 
an interpreter. 
