t()6 J\fr. Park's Journey into Ajr'ua, 



lie ! —The negroes frequently find means to deftroy the w'rict 

 elephant with fire-arms ; they hunt it principally for the 

 fake of its teeth, which they transfer in barter to thofe who 

 fell them again to the Europeans. 



The paftures of Bondou furnifh an excellent breed of 

 horfes, but the ufual beaft of burthen in all the negro terri- 

 tories is the afs. The application of animal labour to the 

 purpofe of agriculture is wholly unknown. The chief im- 

 plement ufed in husbandry is the hoe, which varies in form 

 in different diilriets ; and the labour is univerfally performed 

 by flaves. Befides the grains proper to tropical climates, 

 the Mandingoes cultivate in considerable quantities ground- 

 nuts, yams, and pompions. They likewife raife cotton and 

 indio-o, and have fufneient (kill to convert thefe ma- 

 terials into tolerably fine cloth of a rich blue colour : and 

 they make good foap from a mixture of ground-nuts and a 

 ley of wood-aihes. 



The town of Jarra, at which Mr. Park had now arrived, 

 is fituatcd in the kingdom of Ludamar, a Moorifh country, 

 of which it is not known that any account has ever been 

 given in any of the languages of Europe. The town itfelf is 

 extenfive, and the houfes are built of clay and ftone inter- 

 mixed ; but the major part of the inhabitants are negroes 

 from the borders of the Southern States, who prefer a pre- 

 carious protection under the Moors, which they purchafc by 

 a tribute, to being continually expofed to their predatory 

 hoftilities. 



During his ftay at Jarra, Mr. Park refided at the houfe of a 

 Slatee trader, named Daman, who was known to Dr. Laidley. 

 Bv him Mr. Park was informed that he could proceed no 

 farther on his way to Bambara, without leave from Ali, the 

 Moorifh chief or king of the country, who was then en- 

 camped at a place called Benowm ; and that it was ab- 

 . folutely neceffary that a prefent iliou'd accompany the appli- 

 cation bv which permiflion was to be obtained. Mr. Park 

 therefore purchafed five garments of country cloth, by the 



fate 



