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B O U R E. 
of the extent of these riches. Slaves are continually occupied 
in raising the earth ; they employ for this purpose, baskets 
made of the branches of trees : the women wash this earth in 
calabashes : they use a great deal of water, and after shaking 
it well, they pour it off; thus, after several washings, the par- 
ticles of gold are deposited at the bottom of the calabash, 
and are collected with great care : this gold is melted and 
formed into rings or ingots. By this imperfect process, it 
may be supposed that a considerable quantity of gold remains 
in the washed earth ; but they are not acquainted with the 
means of extracting it. Although the soil of Boure is very 
fertile, no cultivation whatever is carried on : the inhabitants 
buy every thing of their neighbours ; rice, millet, pistachio- 
nuts, pimento, every thing is bought with gold : they have 
horned cattle, and they breed some poultry. Before the 
war, Kankan furnished them largely with provisions, but, the 
communication being interrupted, no more are brought. 
Boure has a considerable commerce with Bamaka, which 
is six or eight days' journey distant, down the Dhioliba. The 
Moors carry to this country large quantities of salt and other 
merchandise which they exchange. The gold of Boure cir- 
culates throughout the whole interior, and finds its way to 
the French and English settlements on the coasts ; while 
Jenne, which was formerly considered as the country most 
plentifully supplied with this precious metal, has none except- 
ing what is brought from this rich tract : Sansanding, 
Yamina, and Sego, are similarly circumstanced. Opposite 
to Bamako, it is said, there is a cataract which the Mandin- 
goes call Fadaj but, according to the accounts 1 have received, 
it is not very high, as the canoes can descend and ascend by a 
tow-line without even discharging their cargoes : this is the 
case during the swelling of the waters, when the cataract 
must be entirely covered. 
The Mandingoes of Sansanding and Yamina and many 
saracolets carry to Boure salt and European merchandise. 
