THE MIDDLE AGES. 39 
being of a peculiarly solid structure, and having 
the luxury, little known in those regions, of glass 
windows, was adorned with elaborate works of 
painting and sculpture. Tamed elephants and ca- 
melopardales are mentioned as among the accom- 
paniments which swelled the pomp of the sove- 
reign's equipage. The circumstance, however, 
which was considered as distinguishing him above 
all other African potentates, was a mass of native 
gold, weighing thirty pounds, which formed the or- 
nament of his throne. Notwithstanding this splen- 
dour of the court, the nation in general appears to 
have been characterized by simplicity, and even 
by rudeness. The common people wore merely a 
girdle, composed frequently of the skins of wild 
beasts ; and it was considered as indicating a supe- 
rior rank to have any farther covering. 
To the sovereign of Ghana was also subject 
Wangara, or the land of gold, considered probably 
as the brightest jewel in his crown. The gold here, 
as over all the rest of* Africa, is represented as en- 
tirely alluvial, and found chiefly in the beds of the 
rivers, or inundated ground after the water has re- 
tired. Wangara is represented as formed into a 
species of island, by branches of the Nile which 
surround it on all sides ; and which, overflowing 
during the rainy season, lay nearly the whole coun- 
try under water. As soon as the inundation sub- 
sides, the inhabitants are described as rushing with 
