BLACKSMITHS, 
CIRCUMClSIt>N, 
166 
They never work alone; for the smallest job requh'es at least 
three assistants : one blows the bellows, and uses all sorts of wood 
for fuel ; while the other two sit with the anvil between them; 
and in this posture they beat the metal carelessly, and with as lit- 
tle strength as if they w(;re afraid of hrnting it. Nevertheless, 
they manufacture articles of gold and silver, which appear by no 
means common; and if they vv^ere less idle and better informed^, 
they would become excellent workmen. 
In the articles which they make from iron, they are equally 
adroit ; and the temper w hich they give to their cutting instru- 
ments is perfect, 1 hey have iron mines, but they prefer iron 
from ours, which we convey to them in bars. 1 have already 
observed, that these bars are considerably reduced, and serve for 
money, in the bargains which we make with them. Our iron 
ought to be nine feet long, tw o inches wide, and four lines thick : 
it is divided into fifteen parts, of seven inches and a half in length, 
which are called flaps, four of which form the bar. 
Sidi-Carachi speaks, in his journal, of a tree which is found 
in these environs, where it is called Sanare : it is about the size 
of a large pear-tree; and its leaves, which resemble those of the 
rose, are always green. Its wood and flo\^ers are odoriferous, 
and the Negroes use them to perfume their huts. They carefully 
preserve this species of tree, because the bees delight in it, and 
they sell their w ax and honey to the English. 
At Kiamen, Sidi-Carachi lodged with a Marabou Negro, who 
was the richest and most respectable of the inhabitants. This 
man enjoyed the highest reputation, on account of his holy cha- 
racter; and people came from very distant parts to make him 
offerings, and buy his gris-gris. He behaved extremely kind to 
his brother in Mahomet; and after talking on the object of his 
journey, he spoke about the desert which our traveller had just 
passed through. It is there," said the Marabou Negro, in a vast 
place surrounded by trees, that I perform the august ceremony 
of circumcision.^' 
This ceremony takes place in the following order — llie pro- 
cession is led by the Guiriots, who beat their drums, and march 
with a solemn step, without singing: they are followed by the 
Marabous of all the neighbouring villages, who are dressed in 
white, and walk in pairs. At some distance onwards, are placed 
the young Negroes who are to undergo the operation: they wear 
no breeches, and march one after the other, holding a large sa- 
gaye in the left hand: they are accompanied by their relations, 
who not only witness tiieir profession of faith, but excite their 
courage to support the pain they are about to suffer, which, 
though very acute, tlie patients nuist not seem to feel. 
The ppucipal Marab©u, or he from Kidmen; walks after thç 
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