B A R R A, 



Biirra. a branch of laurel, and a thistle issuing from two 

 hands conjoined: the motto, Munit hcec, et altera 

 uncit. 



This order has experienced a considerable variety 

 of fortunes. It was confirmed and established by a 

 convention of estates, A. D. 1630, and by an act of 

 the Scottish parliament, A. D. 1633. During the 

 usurpation of Cromwell, the title and dignity were al- 

 most annihilated. They were little known during 

 the reign of Charles II. After that period, some at- 

 tempts were made to restore them, particularly in the 

 years 1721 to 1734; but without effect. At length, 

 however, in the reign of our present king, and in the 

 year 1775, such measures were taken as have raised 

 the knights baronets of Nova Scotia to their original 

 dignity. (/;) 



BARRA, a kingdom of Africa, situated on the 

 north bank of the Gambia, at the mouth of that ri- 

 ver, and extending about eighteen leagues along the 

 coast. As this kingdom is more worthy of notice 

 than any of those upon the river Gambia, we shall 

 present our readers with a very interesting account 

 of it from Durand's Voyage to Senegal. 



The kingdom of Barra is almost entirely peopled 

 by strangers, as the natives of the country are there 

 only few in number. The greatest population is that 

 of the Mandingos or Mandings, so called from the 

 name of their native country Mandin or Mandingue, 

 which is situated about four hundred leagues to the 

 east, and is prodigiously peopled, as is evident from 

 the vast number of slaves which it furnishes every 

 year, as well as from the colonies, which frequently 

 proceed from it to extend their active industry to 

 other quarters. It was thus that there arrived in the 

 kingdom of Barra those who are considered as na- 

 tives, and who have possessed themselves of the su- 

 preme power, and the whole of the commerce ; the 

 king and his great men being Mandingos. They are 

 the only well informed persons in the state ; for they 

 know almost every thing, and can read and write. 

 They have public schools, in which the Marabous, 

 who are the masters, teach the children the Arabic 

 tongue ; their lessons are written on small pieces of 

 white wood : but they give the preference to the pa- 

 per which we have introduced amongst them. When 

 they know the alcoran, they obtain the title of doc- 

 tors. 



It is remarkable, that the Mandingos, who have all 

 come from a republican state, have formed nothing but 

 monarchies wherever they have established themselves ; 

 but they have not invested their kings with unlimited 

 authority. On all important occasions, these princes 

 are obliged to convoke a meeting of the wisest old men, 

 by whose advice they act, and without which they 

 can neither declare war nor make peace. 



In all the large towns, the people have a chief ma- 

 gistrate, who bears the name of alcaide, and whose 

 place is hereditary : his duty is to preserve order, to 

 receive the tribute imposed upon travellers, and to 

 preside at the sittings of the tribunal of justice. The 

 jurisdiction is composed of old men who are free ; and 

 their meeting is called a palaver : it holds its sittings 

 in the open air, and with much solemnity. The af- 

 fairs which are brought for discussion, are investiga- 

 ted with much candour ; the witnesses arc publicly 



301 



heard ; and the decisions generally excite the appro- 

 bation of both parties. 



They have no written laws, but decide on the cases 

 according to their ancient customs ; nevertheless, they 

 sometimes have recourse to the civil institutes of Ma- 

 homet ; and when the Koran does not appear to them 

 sufficiently perspicuous, they consult a commentary 

 entitled Al Scharra, which contains a complete expo- 

 sition of the civil and criminal laws of Islamism. 

 They have amongst them people who exercise the 

 profession of counsellors, or interpreters of the laws, 

 and who are allowed to plead either for the accuser 

 or the accused, as at European tribunals : these negro- 

 lawyers are Mahometans, and have, or pretend to 

 have, studied, with particular attention, the institutions 

 of the prophet. In the art of chicanery they equal 

 the most acute pleaders of civilized countries. 



These people follow the laws of Mahomet, of 

 which they are rigid observers : most of them neither 

 drink wine nor spirits ; and all fast with the utmost 

 rigour during the Maradan or Lent. They breed no 

 hogs, because their laws forbid the eating of theit 

 flesh ; though they might sell them to great advan- 

 tage. They are very affectionate amongst themselves, 

 and always assist each other. It is not understood 

 that they make slaves, as this punishment is only de- 

 creed by the king, and chiefly against the great peo- 

 ple who are guilty of crimes. In other respects they 

 are more polished than the rest of the negroes ; are 

 of a mild character, sensible, and benevolent : all 

 which qualities may be attributed to their love for 

 commerce, and to the extensive travels in which they 

 are continually engaged. The irase with which they 

 cultivate their lands proves their industry : they are 

 covered with palm, banyan, fig, and other useful trees. 

 The people have but few horses, though the country 

 is well adapted to breeding them ; but they have a 

 number of asses, which they use for travelling, and 

 their territory abounds with wild buffaloes. 



The Mandingoes are particularly industrious in ma- 

 king salt, which they do in a peculiar manner. They 

 put river water in the halves of calabashes, or in shal- 

 low earthen pots, and expose it to the sun, the heat of 

 which produces crystals of salt, the same as in ordi- 

 nary pits : for the water is always much impregnated 

 with the saline principle, as the sea mixes with it a 

 considerable way up the river. In a short time after 

 the calabashes have been exposed, a cream of fine 

 white salt is formed on the surface, and this is taken 

 off three or four times ; after which the vessels art- 

 filled again. They have also very abundant salt-pits 

 at Joal and Faquiou, and their produce forms an im- 

 portant branch of trade ; they load their canoes with 

 it ; and ascending the river as far as Barraconda, they 

 exchange it for maize, cotton stuffs, ivory, gold dust,, 

 Sec. 



The great number of canoes and men employed in 

 this commerce gives great influence and respect to 

 the king of Barra. Indeed, he is the most powerful 

 and terrible of all the kings of the Gambia ; he has 

 imposed considerable duties on the ships of all nations, 

 each of which, whatever may be its size, is obliged 

 to pay on entering the river, a duty equal to about 

 five hundred livres, or nearly c 21 sterling. The go- 

 vernor of Gillifrie is charged with the receipt of these 



Barra. 



