16'2 
THE BAGOS. 
time that I passed at Kakondy not permitting me to visit 
the Bagos^ I shall just relate what I was told of those people. 
These negroes are idolaters^ and they have hitherto 
preserved their independence. Their vicinity to the islands 
off the coast, and the facility with which they can trans- 
port themselves thither, may have prevented the almamy of 
Fouta-Dhialon from disturbing their tranquillity. They 
dwell near the mouth of the river ; and this country, which is 
flat and fertile, affords abundance of rich pasturage for 
their numerous cattle. It is singular that this tribe, who 
are in many respects stupid enough, have never found out 
the great advantage there would be in milking their cows and 
ewes ; their cattle however prosper, and they do not lose as 
many as the negroes who are accustomed to milk them. 
The Bagos are very different in their manners from 
the Landamas their neighbours. They are more industrious, 
and consequently more prosperous; they inhabit a fertile 
country, which they cultivate with care ; their principal pro- 
duce is rice. They contrive to plough their fields in the 
European manner ; and the instrument which they use for 
this purpose is a kind of wooden coulter two feet long, with 
a handle of six or seven feet. 
As the country is flat, they take care to form channels 
to drain off the water. When the inundation is very great, 
they take advantage of it to fill their little reservoirs, that 
they may provide against the drought and supply the rice 
with the moisture which it requires. 
They are also accustomed to sow the rice close to their 
villages, and then transplant it into their fields when it has 
risen to the height of six inches. This is the business of the 
women, who also weed it. The men get in the harvest 
which is very abundant. In this lovely country, so rich in 
natural advantages, the women are in the habit of going 
naked all their lives ; young and old, without distinction, 
have no other dress than a single strip of calico, seven or eight 
