INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 277 
case seems, in their judgment, to require. Towards the Coast, 
where a supply of European lancets can be procured, they some- 
times perform phlebotomy ; and in cases of local inflammation, 
a curious sort of cupping is practised. This operation is per- 
formed by making incisions in the part, and applying to it a 
bullock's horn, with a small hole in the end. The operator 
then takes a piece of bees-wax in his mouth, and putting his 
lips to the hole, extracts the air from the horn ; and by a dex- 
terous use of his tongue, stops up the hole with the wax. This 
method is found to answer the purpose, and in general produces 
a plentiful discharge. 
When a person of consequence dies, the relations and neigh- 
bours meet together, and manifest their sorrow by loud and 
dismal howlings. A bullock or goat is killed for such persons as 
come to assist at the funeral ; which generally takes place in 
the evening of the same day on which the party died. The 
Negroes have no appropriate burial places, and frequently dig 
the grave in the floor of the deceased's hut, or in the shade of 
a favourite tree. The body is dressed in white cotton, and 
wrapped up in a mat. It is carried to the grave, in the dusk of 
the evening, by the relations. If the grave is without the walls 
of the town, a number of prickly bushes are laid upon it, to 
prevent the wolves from digging up the body ; but I never 
observed that any stone was placed over the grave, as a monu- 
ment or memorial. 
Hitherto I have considered the Negroes chiefly in a moral 
light ; and confined myself to the most prominent features in 
their mental character : their domestic amusements, occupa- 
