376 MANDiNGOES AND BAMBARAS. 
as a sort of magic. They always wear saphies,*- suspended 
from their necks and different parts of their bodies. They 
hang them up at the entrance of their huts, as a protection 
against fire, thieves, and other accidents. 
Throughout all this part of the country there are Man- 
dingo villages, the inhabitants of which are Mahometans. 
They are independent of the Bambaras, as at Time, Sam- 
batikila, Tangrera, and other villages further southward. 
The Bambaras call them Diaulas or Jcmlas, and though 
they might, owing to their superiority of numbers, molest 
them if they chose, yet they refrain from doing so, and go 
to their villages to sell them the superfluous produce of their 
harvest. The Bambaras, in general, speak the Mandingo 
language ; but they have a particular dialect, which, owing 
to the rapidity with which I travelled among them, 1 had 
no opportunity of learning. This country is at the distance 
of a month's journey from Sego ; but it is independent of 
the latter. It is governed by a number of petty chiefs, who 
receive provisions by way of tribute ; but they are moderate 
in their exactions, as they know the poverty of their subjects. 
The Mandingoes look upon the Bambaras as great 
thieves ; yet the little store-houses which stand defenceless 
in their yards are always respected. But the Bambaras, 
like their accusers, whenever they see glass trinkets, 
scissors, knives, or locks and keys, things which to them 
are as valuable as gold, cannot resist the desire of possessing 
them ; and, being too poor to buy, they endeavour to obtain 
what they want, not by force but by cunning. Throughout 
all the country I did not see a woman with ear-rings or a 
gold necklace. All their ornaments consist of the glass 
trinkets, which they procure from the merchants who come 
from Jenne. My guide, Karamo-osila, advised me not to 
shew them the contents of my bag ; but I had no need of 
* Charms, like the grigris. 
