278 TRAVELS IN THE 
tions, and diet ; their arts and manufactures, with some other 
subordinate objects, are now to be noticed. 
Of their music and dances, some account has incidentally 
been given in different parts of my Journal. On the first of 
these heads, I have now to add a list of their musical instru- 
ments, the principal of which are, — the koonting, a sort of 
guitar with three strings ; — the korro, a large harp, with eigh- 
teen strings; — the simbing, a small harp, with seven strings; — 
the balafou, an instrument composed of twenty pieces of hard 
wood of different lengths, with the shells of gourds hung under- 
neath, to increase the sound ; — the tangtang, a drum, open at the 
lower end ; and lastly, the tabala, a large drum, commonly used 
to spread an alarm through the country. Besides these, they 
make use of small flutes, bowstrings, elephants" teeth, and bells; 
and at all their dances and concerts, clapping of hands appears 
to constitute a necessary part of the chorus. 
With the love of music is naturally connected a taste for 
poetry ; and, fortunately for the poets of Africa, they are in a 
great measure exempted from that neglect and indigence, which 
in more polished countries commonly attend the votaries of the 
Muses. They consist of two classes ; the most numerous are 
the singing men, called Jilli kea, mentioned in a former part of 
my narrative. One or more of these may be found in every 
town* They sing extempore songs, in honour of their chief 
men, or any other persons who are willing to give ft solid pud- 
" ding for empty praise/' But a nobler part of their office is 
to recite the historical events of their country : hence, in war, 
they accompany the soldiers to the field ; in order, by reciting 
