DISCOVERIES 01? THE ENGLISH. 2%$ 
conceived that, having reached the vicinity of" 
Torabuctoo, and the country of gold, and having 
discovered traces of the Arabs, or Barbary Moors, 
who, he was informed, visited this district, he had 
accomplished the main purposes of his mission, and 
that little could be gained by ascending farther. 
Jobson, being now favoured by the stream, re- 
turned to Barraconda in six days, whereas it had 
cost him twelve to ascend. In passing a place 
called Batto, he had an opportunity of witnessing 
the ceremony of circumcision, performed on all 
the youths who had reached the age of sixteen. It 
was totally unconnected with any religious cere- 
mony, and was performed in a very rough manner. 
No remedy was employed for curing the wound, and 
the offered aid of the English for this purpose was 
positively rejected } but the young people were al- 
lowed to roam about for two months at perfect liber- 
ty, and to steal poultry, and even occasionally a cow, 
in order to regale themselves. The ceremony it- 
self was the occasion of a splendid festival, to which 
the neighbourhood had flocked from the distance 
of twenty miles. Fires were kindled under every 
large tree, and the solemnity was announced from 
a distance to the travellers, by the noise of " shouts, 
u drums, and country music. The roaring, shout- 
" ing, and dancing, continued all night." A pro- 
minent part on such occasions was always acted by 
a being called Horeif, which our author interprets 
