282 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
late some matters relative to the then state of that 
country, I accompanied Samba Congole, who 
was attended by his brothers and the chiefs of 
Maghana and Magha-doo-goo. 
On our arrival at the Bentang or assembly- 
tree, near which is situate the mosque, by far 
the most respectable edifice I have seen in the 
interior, we were presented with mats, on 
which we took our seats among a large crowd 
of spectators and chiefs, who were, like our- 
selves, all seated. 
The Tonca, whose arrival all appeared an- 
xiously awaiting, soon approached the place, pre- 
ceded by a number of drums and singers, mak- 
ing a horrible noise. His majesty was on horse- 
back, dressed in yellow, with a large gold ring 
in each ear, and followed by about one hundred 
men armed with muskets. When he dismounted 
a mat was spread for his accommodation near 
the trunk of the tree, and the place sprinkled 
with water from an earthern jar by an old wo- 
man ; this was intended to sanctify (or in other 
words to drive away any evil spirits from) the 
place. This ceremony, which was performed 
with much apparent awe and profound silence, 
being finished, and the Tonca being seated, the 
proceedings commenced by a griot or bard pro- 
claiming in a loud voice the object of their 
meeting, and desiring that all those who had any 
