Topographical partîculaes. 
49 
• The Negroes of this country are husbandmen, and they per- 
form their operations in .cadence with the sound of drums: the 
spad^-is which they use, are made of wood, shod with a small 
rib of iron; this serves them to root up weeds, open the ground, 
and covçr the seeds which they sow. 
. From the residence of Maldonado to James's village, ifi about 
three days journey, a distance whicli is greeably performed by land. 
At tliis village, a greater quantity of wax is procured than at any 
other part of the province : the Portuguese alone buy here more 
than 500 cwt. every year. A market is held in it twice a week, 
W'liither the Negroes of the environs bring the wax for sale; the 
Portuguese buy it by w holesale, melt, and purify it, form it in- 
to cakes, and send it to Cachaux, where the magazines are esta- 
blished; from hence they ship it on their own account, or sell it 
to European merchants who send in quest of it. 
The native inhabitants of James are Feloups and idolaters: 
they arfe adroit and civilized; and their manners are softened by 
their commerce and connections with foreigners. They acknow- 
ledge no sovereign, but live under the pacilic republican govern- 
ment of their elders ; their lands are rich and well cultivated, 
though they have no other agricultural implements than wooden 
spades, shod with iron, and having long handles. 
With respect to the country, it is impossible for one to be more 
agreeable ; it abounds in palm and other large trees. The Por-- 
tuguese live here in easy circumstances, ai).d have haiidsome and 
convenient houses, it is ren'.arkable that the musquitoes are 
more numerous here than in any other part of Africa ; they con- 
sequently are a great inconvenience to the inhabitants. 
The river of Casamanca is about a league distant from this vii* 
Jage ; it empties itself into the sea, to the north of the river St. 
Domingo; its water is deep enough to bear large ships; but 
there is a bar at its mouth which is very difficult and dangerous 
to pass, as it can only be cleared by canoes or small craft, and 
never w ithout danger. Both banks of this river are inhabited by 
savage and cruel Felups, who will not hold any communication 
vvitii the whites, and are always at war w ith their neighbours. 
Their country is interspersed with rivers, or rather w ith torrents, 
w hich proceed from a lake that is formed by the heàvy rains, but 
Avhich is dry in the fine season. At the rainy period the whole 
country resembles a vast marsh. 
A few leagues up this river, is the village of Guinguin : it is 
inhabited by the Portuguese, who carry on a considerable commerce 
in wax; for this privilege they pay a duty to the king, and are 
as much masters in his states as he is himself. This prince and 
all liis subjects are idolaters, and speak a peculiar language. The 
soil of this district is Hat and very rich, Apes are uncommoulj 
DURAND.] Q 
