186 CAPTAIN TUCKEY'S NARRATIVE. 



immediately. On enquiry if the gangam did not sometimes 

 undergo the revenge of the persons thus falsely denounced, 

 I was told that such a thing was unknown, for that the ac- 

 cused considered the kissey to be only to blame ; and that 

 moreover the gangam could not be hurt, the kissey always 

 forewarning him of danger. Even my interpreter, who 

 had been baptised and lived five years in England, ex- 

 pressed his firm belief in these notions ; which, by the way, 

 are not more ridiculous than the augury of the Romans, or 

 the inspirations and beatific visions of certain christians. 

 The gangams do not appear to be numerous, the one 

 abovementioned having come from a considerable distance. 

 Each gangam has usually a novice with him, whom he 

 initiates into the mysteries of the profession, to which he 

 succeeds on his death. The manner of initiation is kept, 

 as may be supposed, a profound secret from the people. 

 Their pay consists of the country money, of which this 

 fellow had received a large bundle. 



The impediments to communication from the nature of 

 the country, and the want of rivers, appear to be the great 

 obstacles to the civilization of Africa. The abolition of 

 the slave trade, though it will produce little or no effect 

 on the state of domestic slavery, (which is not incompa- 

 tible with a high degree of civilization,) must in the end 



