CEREMONIES 07 CIRCUMCISION. 
Tlie same advantages for the commercial or pliilautliropic 
•spirit of Europeans prevails amongst the population of the shores 
of Sierra Leone, whetlier the inhabitants are considered with 
respect to tiieir natural state, or the imperfect degree of so- 
ciabihtv in which they exist. Amongst these people may par- 
ticularly be distinguislied tîie Suzees, the Bulams, the liagos, 
the Tommanies, and the Manchngos. The Mandingos are Mii- 
hometans, as I have already observed more than once. Here, 
as elsewhere, they strictly observe, to outward appearance, the 
precepts of the aicoran, which they propagate with the utmost 
zeal. Being strongly impressed with the importance of govern- 
ing the conscience, tliere is no means w hich they do not employ 
to make proselytes. If they be powerful, they resort to force; on 
the other liand, they call to their aid all the resources of address. 
They teach any one gratis to read and write the Arabian language. 
When they meet w ith clever men, they affect and imitate the 
weaknesses and follies of other people, though they pretend to 
the austere manners and authority of servants of God: hi par- 
ticular they attribute to themselves a supremacy over ail sor- 
cerers, and sell talismans, in short, they know so v\eil how to 
acquire the confidence of the principal persons and chiefs of 
hordes, that they reign almost every where, and govern the estates 
under the title of the supreme ministers of the Bookr/um: their 
advice is always resorted to. 
The circumcision of male subjects is generally practised by 
tlie Mahometans throughout Africa. At Sierra Leone the girl.% 
are not exempted from this religious and political institution. 
Amongst the Mandingos and the Suzees, it is performed upon 
them by the excision of the external end of the clitoris. The ce- 
remonies which accompany this operation deserve to be known. 
Every year in the line season, and with a new moon, all the 
young girls of the village, who are marriageable, are asseUibled. 
The night preceding the day of the ceremony, they are con- 
ducted by the women of the place to the most secret part of a 
wood, at each avenue to which amulets are scattered, the ob- 
ject of which is to keep oiï every curious person, who miglit 
profane with his presence the scene of action. The seclusion 
ot the girls lasts for upwards of a mondi, during which time no 
human being perceives them, except the old w^oman who per- 
forms the solemn rite, and who every morning brings them their 
food. Jf from decease or any other obstacle, her return should, 
be prevented, the person who succeeds her, as she approaches 
the sj>ot, calls with a loud voice, deposits the victuals at a cer- 
tam place, and then hastens back without eitlier seeing or being 
observed by tlie patients : for whether by chance or incliniitioii,, ' 
\vhoever violates this s,^nctuary, is punished with death. 
