COMMUNICATIONS. 
155 
By what means the gpld duft, that appears to be a principal 
article of trade, is procured by the inhabitants, whether from 
mines in the country, or by purchafe from other nations, the 
Shereef has not explained. But of their mode of obtaining the 
Slaves, which conftitute another extenfive branch of their com- 
merce, he gives the following account 
South Eafl: of Bornou, at the diftance of about twenty days 
travelling, and feparated from it by feveral fmall defarts, is fi- 
tuated an extenfive kingdom of the name of Begarmee, the in- 
habitants of which are rigid Mahometans, and though perfectly 
black in their complexions, are not of the Negro cafl:. Beyond 
this kingdom to the Eaft are feveral tribes of Negros, idolaters 
in their religion, favage in their manners, and aceuftomed, it is 
faid, to feed on human tlefh. They are called the Kardee, the 
Serrowah, the Showva, the Battah, and the Mulgui, Thefe na- 
tions the Begarmeefe, who fight on horfeback, and are great 
warriors, annually invade ; and when they have taken as many 
prifoners as the opportunity affords, or their purpofe may re- 
quire, they drive the captives, like cattle, to Begarmee. It is 
faid that if any of them, weakened by age, or exhaufled by fa- 
tigue, happen to linger in their pace, one of the horfemcn feizes 
X 2: on 
