248 DISCOVERIES OF THE ENGLISH. 
cies of independent republic, governed entirely by 
their own chiefs, without any dependence upon the 
sovereign of the district. If they are oppressed 
or encroached upon, they remove themselves, and 
the benefits of their industry, to another territory. 
Even the king of Barsally, the most imperious and 
absolute of these chieftains, " does not dare to med- 
' 6 die with them." Our author is never weary of 
extolling their good qualities ; their hospitality, 
mildness, and humanity, not only among them- 
selves, but towards the other inhabitants ; to which 
they add the quality of intrepid courage, when- 
ever any aggression requires its exertion. 
Moore resided for some time at James-Fort, 
with occasional excursions to the neighbouring 
towns. Tancrowall, at some distance up, he de- 
scribes as of considerable size, and the richest town 
on the whole river. It was inhabited partly by 
Mandingos, and partly by Portuguese, who occu- 
pied separate divisions, and built their houses in a 
different style. Those of the natives are conical, 
about twenty feet in diameter, and eight feet high, of 
" a good fat binding clay, which soon hardens/' 
and the roof covered with ciboa or palmeto leaves. 
Albreda is a considerable town, about a mile be- 
low James-Fort, where the French have a factory. 
In consequence of this situation, their passage up 
the river is commanded by the English fort, and 
they were permitted to carry on trade only upon 
