DESCRIPTION OF TENDA MAIE. 
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Tenda Maié, a country not yet mentioned by any geo- 
grapher, is enclosed by a bend formed by the Rio Grande ; it 
is of small extent, but very fertile ; unfortunately hands are 
wanting to cultivate it properly ; the inhabitants, however, 
although not numerous, are very laborious. The rains do not 
last there more than five months, whereas they continue to 
fall for six months in the districts of Fouta Diallon, situated 
in the same latitude. The country is flat and sandy ; it 
abounds in maize, millet and rice. Some cattle, and many 
deer and wild oxen are to be seen ; the elephant is not found 
there, and beasts of prey are very rare. The woods contain 
some beautiful trees, especially the henten, a species of hombax, 
with which they construct the large canoes of the Gambia, 
which will carry thirty people. The palm called tir {cocos- 
butyracea) is very common there ; the oil extracted from it is 
highly esteemed by the Negroes who use it for making soap. 
The country yields some iron, which is in great request ; 
in several places is found an earth from which they extract 
salt by the following process : upon a fire is placed a cauldron 
on which they set another, perforated at the bottom, and 
which contains the saline earth ; on this they pour water, 
which falls into the lower cauldron, and which they then 
keep boiling till it is entirely evaporated ; the salt that 
remains at the bottom of the vessel, is of very good quality. 
This earth is found in the south-western part of Kadé ; it is 
very thinly covered with grass ; not a stone is to be seen ou 
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