GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 357 
step the hoop is moved upward with the hand, and in this 
way they ascend and descend the highest trees with great 
expedition: should the hoop give way, the consequence 
must be fatal. 
They have no want of domestic animals to serve them 
as food, though very little care appears to be bestowed on 
them. ‘They consist chiefly of goats, hogs, fowls, the com- 
mon and Muscovy duck, and pigeons; a few sheep, gene- 
rally black and white, with hair instead of wool. The 
Chenoo of Embomma had obtained from the Portuguese 
a few horned cattle, but no pains whatever were taken to 
increase the breed. ‘They have no beasts of burden of 
any description. Of wild animals the country produces 
great variety, but the natives are too indolent and inex- 
pert to convert them to any useful purpose. They have 
elephant’s, leopards, lions, buffaloes, large monkeys with 
black faces, and numerous species of antelopes, with which 
Africa every where abounds ; wild hogs, porcupines, hares, 
and a great variety of other quadrupeds, from which an 
active people would derive important advantages. Guinea 
fowl and red legged partridges are also abundant, large, 
and fine; and wild pigeons, of three or four species, very 
plentiful. 
The country appears io be remarkably free from teazing 
and noxious insects, excepting bugs and fleas in the huts, 
and the black ants, which erect those singular mushroom. 
shaped habitations, some of which have two or three domes, 
and sometimes occur in whole villages. 'The party suffered 
no annoyance from scorpions, scolopendras, musquitoes, 
