78 
MUNGO PARK'S 
Four canoes sufficient to carry only an ass load and an 
half at a time, were provided for this purpose. Sent over 
Mr. Anderson and six men with their arms to receive the 
loads from the canoes and carry them into the tents. The 
asses were made to swim over, one on each side of the 
canoe, two boys sitting in the canoe and holding them by 
the ears. 
At this place I had an opportunity of seeing their mode 
of smelting gold. Isaaco had purchased some gold in 
coming through Konkodoo, and here he had it made into 
a large ring. The smith made a crucible of common red 
clay and dried it in the sun : into this he put the gold, 
without any flux or mixture whatever ; he then put char- 
coal under and over it, and blowing the fire with the com- 
mon double bellows of the country, soon produced such a 
heat as to bring the gold into a state of fusion. He then 
made a small furrow in the ground, into which he poured 
the melted gold ; when it was cold he took it up, and 
heating it again, soon hammered it into a square bar. 
Then heating it again, he twisted it by means of two pairs 
of pincers into a sort of screw ; and lengthening out the 
ends, turned them up so as to form a massy and precious 
ring. 
When the baggage and cattle were all transported over, 
I sent over the men, and embarked myself in the last 
