INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 285 
any portion was broken off, the fracture exhibited a granulated 
appearance, like broken steel. The owner informed me that 
many parts of this cake were useless, but still there was good 
iron enough to repay him for his trouble. This iron, or rather 
steel, is formed into various instruments, by being repeatedly 
heated in a forge, the heat of which is urged by a pair of 
double bellows, of a very simple construction, being made of 
two goats' skins ; the tubes from which unite, before they enter 
the forge, and supply a constant and very regular blast. The 
hammer, forceps, and anvil, are all very simple, and the work- 
manship (particularly in the formation of knives and spears) 
is not destitute of merit. The iron, indeed, is hard and brittle; 
and requires much labour before it can be made to answer the 
purpose. 
Most of the African blacksmiths are acquainted also with the 
method of smelting gold, in which process they use an alkaline 
salt, obtained from a ley of burnt corn-stalks evaporated to 
dryness. They likewise draw the gold into wire, and form it 
into a variety of ornaments, some of which are executed with 
a great deal of taste and ingenuity. 
Such is the chief information I obtained, concerning the 
present state of arts and manufactures in those regions of 
Africa which I explored in my journey. I might add, though 
it is scarce worthy observation, that in Bambarra and Kaarta, 
the natives make very beautiful baskets, hats, and other articles, 
both for use and ornament, from rushes, which they stain of 
different colours; and they contrive also to cover their calar 
bashes with interwoven cane, dyed in the same manner. 
