NEGRO EMBASSIES. 
well as at all our establishments in tliis part of tlie world. 
Since then several reductions have been made in the forces and 
branches of civil administration,, which have done no good to the 
colony. 
The governor or commandant is the chief of the military de- 
partment and of the police ; he is also intrusted with the politi- 
cal arrangements that are made with the native princes, and he 
occasionally visits or receives them at his own residence : these 
visits, however^ form the most disagreeable part of his office; 
for they seldom last less than a week at a time, and nothing can 
be more tedious than the ceremonies observed on the occasion. 
The prince is always followed by a numerous body of attend- 
ants and musicians, who never leave him. He neither speaks, 
^alks, eats, nor indeed moves, except by the sound of instru- 
ments, which his giiiriots, or band, play without interruptioa. 
The article most in use is the half of a calebash, to which is 
fixed a long handle ; it has three strings of horse and camel hair, 
tmd resembles a guitar. Its sound is heavy and monotonous. 
The prince smokes continually; and the chief employment of his 
attendants is to fill and hand him the pipes in succession, and 
take care that he never is without one. The governor is obl%- 
ed to feed and lodge all these fellows; and to get rid of them, 
he at last loads them with presents : but, however liberal he may 
be in this respect, they are never satisfied ; and in order to ob- 
tain something more, they pretend to set no value upon what 
he has given them. 
When companies assemble to regulate the commerce of the 
Senegal, the director-general is particularly incommoded by their 
visits ; as he has to put up with the trouble, and defray the ex- 
pence of the whole. This last appears to me to be just, as thej 
have no other motive than commercial affairs ; but 1 never suf- 
fered any thing more disgusting in the whole course of my ad- 
ministration. 
Isle St. Louis produces only pulse and culinary vegetables, 
which are obtained in abundance by those who possess gardens. 
The neighbouring isles supply amply, quantities of rice and 
millet. 
Hitherto the only importance which we attached to the pos- 
session of the Senegal, was in consequence of the trade carried 
on for slaves, gum, gold, elephants' teeth, and ostrich feathers. 
Many years ago we used to derive from it wax and hides; 
but these articles are no longer comprised in 6m speculations. 
We give in exchange, brandy, silks, cottons, iron, and all the 
articles which have been previously mentioned, as forming the 
barter at other parts of the coast. 
