i74 
VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 
adds to their charms. They have an invincible inclination for 
love and voluptuousness, and they express their wishes in this re- 
spect with such an attractive voice, as their organs alone seem 
capable of uttering. Their skin is as black as ebony. No- 
thing can be more agreeable than their physiognomy ; their nose 
IS well formed, and generally aquiline; their eyebrows are 
finely arched; their lips thin, and of a beautiful verniillion red; 
they have the finest teeth m the world ; the shape of their body 
is uncommonly elegant; in short, they combine every perfection 
which constitutes beauty. 
At Goree the men and women are also handsome; but there 
the Mulattoes of both sexes, who have descended from Euro- 
peans, are distinguishablo in point of appearance, as they possess 
the grace of their fathers, and dress in the European manner. I 
rn ay a del, that the people of Goree are uncommonly cheerful; 
and a iove of pleasure îmd gaiety prevails amongst them to a 
greater extent, than in any other part of the coast of Africa. 
To the south and east of the Stnegal, the Africans degenerate 
in a Vv^onderful manner. Their colour is no longer the fine black 
just described, but an olive. Their form is indeed still robust, 
but aukward ; their limbs are stiff, and the lineaments of their 
face are so gross, as to defy the judgment of the physiognomist. 
The figures which they paint on tlieir foreheads and cheeks add. 
to their ugliness. They are useful in all labour which requires 
exertion, but they possess no ingenuity. Their women are ugly 
and sallow ; and they are, to those who Vvcre lately described, 
what the most barbarous ignorance is to a polished education. 
Their vivacity is so violent as to resemble anger. 
All the governments of Africa are more or less absolute and 
despotic. Whether the kings be entitled to the throne by birth, 
or be called to it by voluntary election, the people are equally 
subjected to the arbitrary will of the prince, who disposes of their 
liberty and even of their lives, accordhig to his pleasure; but he 
cannot destroy more than one at a time : he may do any thing to 
an individual, but nothing to a body of people. 
There are a fevv^ small j;tates or rather families in this part of 
Africa, who live together and are governed by ciders whom they 
deem worthy of confidence; these are not the masters who have 
been described ; and the people who live in perfect liberty, would 
be happy, were they not disturbed by their neighbours. Ihey 
are often, however, attacked, and being too weak to defend them- 
selves, are taken and sold as slaves ; so that even the most peace- 
able inhabitants of this unfortunate country seem destined to wear 
chains. 
lliese people in general have no knowledge of the art which 
is so revered amongst us, under the name of politics. Thcuglji 
