AFRICA. s^t 
4welt on the coaft of the Indian fea, to the 
caft of Africa, by whom they were fabric 
cated. 
If the beads of which I am fpeaking were 
jftones or gems coloured by nature, it might 
be believed that the blacks of the weft, after 
having reduced them into little pieces, might 
know how to fhape and perforate them ; as 
the favages of Guiana do with the amazoniaa 
ftone. I have found coloured fubftances in 
feveral rocks on the weft of Africa, and there 
may be the fame on the eaft. But thefe in 
queftion are enamels ; that is to fay, glafs, 
made by fufion and formed by blowing. Now 
as fuch an operation requires^ not only for the 
melting, but alfo for the compofition of the 
colours, confiderable fldll, implements, che- 
mical knowledge, &c. I think it may be 
affirmed, without any great raftinefs, that the 
negroes of the eaft were never matters of 
fuch an art ; and that the enamels they fell 
to their neighbours probably come from the 
Portuguefe colonies of Mofambique. I have 
in my cabinet one of thefe girdles of glafs bead^ 
and I can aflert that it is neither of French 
por Dutch manuf^^idhu'e. 
Befidq 
