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 da}^ but the mock coral, and 

 black and white, seem to be most constantly in request. 



Each 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 I'esembles nothing 

 so much as one of our scare-crows. Each house has its dii 

 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 Avas 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. ' 



