274) TRAVELS IN THE 
that certain magical ceremonies have great influence. A white 
fowl, suspended to the branch of a particular tree; a snake's 
head, or a few handfuls of fruit, are offerings which ignorance 
and superstition frequently present, to deprecate the wrath, or 
to conciliate the favour, of these tutelary agents. But it is not 
often that the Negroes make their religious opinions the sub- 
ject of conversation: when interrogated, in particular, concern- 
ing their ideas of a future state, they express themselves with 
great reverence, but endeavour to shorten the discussion by 
observing — 7no o mo inta alio, " no man knows any thing about 
it." They are content, they say, to follow the precepts and ex- 
amples of their forefathers, through the various vicissitudes of 
life ; and when this world presents no objects of enjoyment or of 
comfort, they seem to look with anxiety towards another, which 
they believe will be better suited to their natures ; but concerning 
which they are far from indulging vain and delusive conjectures. 
The Mandingoes seldom attain extreme old age. At forty, 
most of them become gray haired, and covered with wrinkles; 
and but few of them survive the age of fifty-five, or sixty. 
^ They calculate the years of their lives, as I have already ob- 
served, by the number of rainy seasons (there being but one 
such in the year) ; and distinguish each year by a particular 
name, founded on some remarkable occurrence which hap- 
pened in that year. Thus they say the year of the Farbanna 
war; the year of the Kaarta wai' ; the year on which Gadou 
was plundered^ &c. &c.; and I have no doubt that the year 
1796, will in many places be distinguished by the name of 
Tobaiibo tambi sang, " the year the white man passed \" as such 
