VOYAGE TO SENEGAL, 
mediator. When he consents, and he seldom refuses, he ij> 
forms the two parties that he is about to become their arbiter ^ 
that he cannot longer see friends destroy one another ; and that 
if they refuse his interference, he will send the purrah to them. 
]f the combatants do not accept this invitation_, the dreadful 
purrah is solemnly ordained. 
As soon as the institution is assembled, and until it has broken 
up, there must be no more blood spilt, and all the enemies may 
return, without alarm, to their ordinary occupations. If it should 
happen that, notwithstanding this decree of terror, the Negro, 
thirsting for vengeance, avails himself of an opportunity to take 
it, the purrah, on the news of this event, breaks up, and a body 
of forty or fifty warriors, armed and disgaised, go in search of 
the aggressors. Every man, whatever may be his station, flees 
from their presence ; and if any one be rash enough to look at 
them outside his house, they cut him to pieces> and disperse the 
fragments in every direction. The same fate is reserved for 
those who have transgressed the decrees of the purrahs, wheFever 
they are met with. 
It is impossible to describe the alarm with which tins insti- 
tution inspires the great mass of the people, who believe thaï 
its members are influenced by devils, and that they can do all the 
ill they wish, without receiving any injury in return. They 
carry off provisions or w hatever takes their fancy, without meet- 
ing the least resistance. In every part, and amongst all nations^ 
terror is known to produce the same effect. Amongst the Af- 
ricans it. is justified by powerful motives, namely, the re-estab- 
lishment of peace, and the preservation of man. When the 
former takes place, the institution breaks up, and each man 
retires to his home. 
A thirst after vengeance, that sovereign passion of the Af- 
fricans, is the principal cause of their frequent wars. When the 
nation decrees them, they are general, and each meniber of a 
horde sees an enemy in every individual of the other. When 
they are private, the quarrel only prevails between the two 
towns, and the expeditions of each are confined to plunder; 
the highest of their ambition being to surprise and burn a few 
villages, and take some prisoners. 
The inhabitants of the coast have abandoned their national 
arms for the sabre and musket ; but those of the inland parts 
^make use of lances, darts, and poisoned arrows. It is evident 
the commerce with the Europeans has had a great influence oa 
the morals of the Negroes ; it has given them a relish for society, 
industry, the arts, and domestic virtues. Those who live far in* 
Amiài are still savages. It is remarked that the inhabitants of the 
