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BIMANA. 



hair is longer, and not so woolly as that of the common Negroes : their 

 language is altogether different from that of the nations by whom they are 

 surrounded ; it is more elegant and sonorous." They are zealous Ma- 

 hometans. M. Durand gives a similar account, and, with Park, describes 

 their hair as silky (soyeux) and " les traits petits et agreables." 



The Mandingos. North of the Foulahs, the Mandingo tribes occupy 

 a vast extent of alpine territory, the country between the high waters of 

 the Niger and Senegal being their original abode. For industry, intelli- 

 gence, and energy of character, the Mandingos have been universally cele- 

 brated by all travellers who have visited their country. They cultivate the 

 ground, keep flocks and herds, and engage extensively and successfully 

 in commerce. According to M. Golberry, their features are more akin to 

 those of the blacks of India than those of Africa, being regular, and expres- 

 sive of a generous and open disposition. Major Laing, whose description 

 agrees with that of M. Golberry, states that their appearance is engaging ; 

 their features regular and open ; their persons well formed and comely, 

 averaging a height rather above the common. They are strict Mahomet- 

 ans ; have public schools, in which the Marabouts teach the reading of the 

 Koran : their towns are governed by an hereditary alcaid, and a council of 

 elders. They have various manufactures : they weave cotton stuffs ; 

 fabricate leather of beautiful texture ; use indigo and other pigments as 

 dies ; and have smelting furnaces for iron. The women are cheerful and 

 pleasing ; and instances of conjugal infidelity are very rare among them. 

 The conquests of the Mandingos are very considerable : they have colo- 

 nized the banks of the Gambia, from its sources to the sea, and established 

 the kingdoms of Barra, Kollar, Badibon, Upper and Lower Yani, and 

 Bambouk. Several nations, still in a state of Paganism, speak the Man- 

 dingo language, and are, probably, branches of the same family. Of these 

 we may notice the Koorankos, who occupy the country between the Bullom 

 and Immani countries on the west, and the Niger and the Kissi territory 

 on the east, thence stretching toward the Kong Mountains ; and the Bam- 

 barrans, whose country extends along the Joliba, having Sego for its 

 capital. The slaves, formerly brought to the French factories of Senegal 

 and Gambia, were mostly from Bambarra. The Foulahs and the Man- 

 dingos are the two most powerful and widely spread races of Senegambia. 

 Among the tribes of less note, are 



The Jallonkas. A tribe connected, as their language proves, with the 

 Mandingos, and inhabiting the high mountains in the west of Senegambia, 

 above Teemboo. 



The Sokko, or Asokko. Of these little is known, but their language 

 is said to resemble that of the Jallonkas. 



The Rissi. Inhabiting the mountains about the sources of the Niger. 



The Sulimas. Inhabiting the mountains to the south of Foutah-jallo. 



