236 HISTORY AND ETHNOLOGY. 



feeling, and benevolent, probably the consequence of their predilection for 

 trade, and the journeys which occupy much of their time. They pay 

 attention also to fishing, and the manufacturing of leather and iron. They 

 do not form one state, but are split into numerous societies, which not 

 unfrequently wage war against each other, being at times limited monar- 

 chies, at other times republics. Bambouk, renowned on account of its 

 gold mines, Satodon, and Honkadon, are the most important of these 

 states. 



In spite of their industry in the field, as well as in traffic, the Man- 

 dingoes love their comfort and repose, and are neither hunters nor fowlers, 

 taking most pleasure in banquets and a kind of game of draughts. 



The Mandingo language is split into numerous dialects : the Bamhoukee, 

 spoken by the inhabitants of the kingdom of Bambouk ; the Curanco, 

 belonging to a tribe more resembling in their manners the rude Timmanies 

 than the cultivated Mandingoes, and who cbmb their very woolly hair in 

 large balls over both temples, file their teeth to a point, and tattoo their 

 breasts and backs ; the dialect of the Bamharras, part of whom are still 

 heathens ; that of the Jallonkas, in the highest section of Senegambia ; the 

 dialect of the Sokko or Assokko, who reside east of the Jallonkas, along the 

 Congo m.ountains, in the countries back of the Gold Coast., and who seem 

 to be more civilized than the surrounding nations, their religion being a 

 mixture of Christianity and Mohammedanism, owing probably much of its 

 form to national ideas and usages ; the dialect of the Serrawallies, who 

 are also called Serakhalehs, Saracolets, or Tilubunkoes, and inhabit the 

 kingdom of Galam or Kadshaga. It is, however, not entirely certain that 

 the latter nation is to be included among the Mandingoes, although their 

 language is understood in a large portion of the northern Mandingo 

 country. 



The Jalloffs (Jolofs, Jolufs, Walofs, Wolofs) live in the lowlands of 

 Senegambia, between the Senegal and the Gambia. Less numerous than 

 the Foulahs and Mandingoes, they have nevertheless always been distin- 

 guished as a powerful, active, and warlike nation. They are tall and 

 slender, have regular features, somewhat rounded noses, not very thick 

 lips, crisp woolly hair, and the skin is of a very glossy black color. They 

 are described as the handsomest negroes of this part of Africa, and their 

 women as particularly good-looking. They are, however, said to be proud, 

 malicious, revengeful, lying and deceitful, gluttonous, intemperate in 

 drinking liquors, lazy and averse to labor. Hospitality is the only good 

 quality for which travellers give them credit. Their magicians and 

 soothsayers are greatly respected amongst them. A small stock of cattle 

 constitutes their only property. In former times the Jalloffs were the 

 subjects of a single prince, at present they are divided into many small 

 states governed by insolent despots. Among the Jalloffs are classed the 

 Serreras, a pastoral people that live in the neighborhood of Cape Verde 

 and upon the confines of the Jalloff" country, and go entirely naked. 



The hot and fertile Gold Coast of West Africa extends from the River 

 Suciro to the Rio Volta. Besides the products of the vegetable and 

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