Chap. LX. SMELTING-FURNACES. 
265 
obtained. The dwelling where I was lodged, with 
its numerous compartments and courtyards, pre- 
sented quite a labyrinth of itself. Three servants of 
Galaijo, all armed with muskets, had attached them- 
selves to my troop ; and I supplied each of them here 
with ball cartridges, in case of any attack on the road. 
We had a long day's march before us, Thursday> 
through the unsafe wilderness which sepa- June30th - 
rates the reduced dominion of the chief of the Torobe 
from the territory of Yagha. It was a fine morning, 
and tolerably clear. Corn-fields now and then inter- 
rupted the dense growth of talha trees and prickly 
underwood, while occasionally a baobab or a tamarind 
tree gave greater variety to the scenery. About 
four miles and a half from our starting-point we 
^ m passed, on the right of the path, 
some peculiarly constructed 
smelting-furnaces, about six feet 
high and a foot and a half in 
diameter at the base. The pro- 
ceeding is very simple and un- 
sophisticated. On the ironstone 
is placed a large quantity of 
wood-ashes, till the metal begins 
to melt, and is then, by means of three channels at 
the bottom of the furnace, received in a basin. 
Close behind these smelting-furnaces, which hap- 
pened to be the first I had seen in Negroland, though 
there are plenty of them in some districts, we passed 
the site of a former encampment, or zango, of native 
