188 DISCOVERIES OF THE FRENCH. 
cises an authority almost absolute, unless where he 
is so imprudent as to violate established customs ; 
in which case, an insurrection often arises, and his 
expulsion is the consequence. Bambouk is chiefly 
composed of lofty, naked, and barren mountains ; 
so that itsnvealth consists entirely in its mineral pro- 
ductions. These consist of gold, silver, and iron ; 
but the gold is so abundant, and so much the most 
valuable, as to constitute almost the exclusive ob- 
ject of attention. It is found not in veins, but 
mixed with the earth, from which it is separated by 
the simple process of agitation in water. The mode 
is particularly described by Park in his last journey. 
To procure this earth, they do not dig to a greater 
depth than six, eight, or at most ten feet. They 
acknowledge, indeed, that it generally becomes 
richer as they descend lower ; but, as they have 
neither the art of making ladders, nor of propping 
up the sides of the pit 5 they are in perpetual danger 
of the earth falling in and burying them. The 
working of these mines is not free ; it is permitted 
only at certain seasons by the Farims or chiefs, who 
attend for the purpose of appropriating a large por- 
tion of the produce. The inhabitants believe gold 
to be a capricious being who takes delight in elud- 
ing their search ; hence when, after exhausting the 
golden earth of a certain spot, they come to a por- 
tion where none is to be found, they call out, " He 
is off." It is always in the driest and most bai- 
