366 GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 
upon, was said to be sacred to the Chenoo, the touching 
of which by the foot of a common person is death or sla- 
very. From the cataract downwards, the ridiculous cast- 
off dresses of French and Portuguese generals, form no 
part of the native costume of Congo, which, with the ex- 
ception of an apron, anklets, bracelets, and necklaces, 
may be presumed to be neither more nor less than sheer 
nakedness. 
‘The members of the Chenoo’s family are his councillors, 
by whose advice he acts in all matters of importance ; and 
it is remarkable, that their consultations are generally held 
under the boughs of the ficus religiosa. In case of war, 
the elders remain behind to take care of the village, while 
the brothers, sons, or nearest relations of the Chenoo are 
usually selected to conduct, under him, their warlike 
expeditions. 
The Mafooks are the collectors of the revenues, which 
are chiefly derived from trade; towards the lower part of 
the river, they begin by acting as linguists or interpreters 
between the slave dealers of the interior, and the European 
purchasers ; buthaving made a fortune, which was frequently 
the case in this once lucrative employment, they purchase 
the rank of Mafook, and from that moment are said to be 
dumb, and utterly unable any longer to interpret. 
The Foomos are composed of that class of the society 
who have houses and lands of their own, two or three wives, 
and perhaps a slave or two to work for them; they are ia 
fact the yeomanry of the country. 
The fishermen, coolies and labouring people appear to 
