CHASTITY OF BLACK FEMALES, 
13 
bodies to be buried there for fear of infection, but lias tlien^ 
sent over to the Main, where they are geiîerai'y dug up, and 
devi)ured by the tigers aïjd other wild beasts. The lady of the 
captain of the African regiment told a pathetic tale of the loss 
of tv. o of her children, vvliose corpses they were obliged to smug- 
gle into the fort The riches of the inhabitants consist of slaves, 
^;ach house having a slave yard,' with huts for tlicm ; among the 
female slaves are many elegant figures, and some of the mulatto 
women are real beauties. Most Europeans form temporiry 
attachments when they come to this island ; and so very chaste 
are the women that none liave ever been known to attempt other 
connexions, while they think their husband survives, even though 
he may have left the island. T!ie slaves of bodi sexes are naked, 
except the piece of cloth wliich passes round the loins. The 
females do ail the drudgery, such as beating corn, See. with their 
children at their bajïks: this operation is performed in a w^oodeii 
mortar, with a large pestle; and to shew their agility, the wo- 
men clap their hands while it Hies upwards. There are conti- 
nuial importations of slaves fru;n the Main-land. 
About 190 of the African rifle-corps are stationed here, the 
remains of a body, the rest of which have fallen a prey to the 
climate ; among them are some fine-looking men. An anecdote 
was told me of a person of rank on the island, which is deserv- 
ing of notice, as it shews how far human nature may be de- 
graded, when we are deprived of our finer feelings. The gover- 
nor had a good horse, which this gentleman remarking,' said with 
^reat sang-froid, It was worth four slaves^" mid offered to 
purchase it at that price. 
It was now a most healthy season, the commenceuient of their 
winter. We fiequently sent the boat to tlie Main-land, which 
always returned with plenty of excellent fish of vanous knids. 
Our people were obliged to use the utmost caution for fear 
of the sharks, which are of a large size, and swann round the 
island; I have seen them from eight to ten feet long. JSatives 
of the Main come over to Goree, v^ ith all kinds of provisions, 
in a small canoe, sharp at each end and tiat bottomed, but raised 
in the fore part. Some have one sail, others two, which are 
cut in what the sailors call shoulder of mutton fashion : the 
canoe is a solid body of a tree hollowed out, and simple as it is, 
they sail very fast, and the owners steer them in a wonderful 
manner with tlieir paddles; but f3y no temptation would they 
be attracted near us. 
The inhabitants of Goree are not jet black, but a mixture. 
There are about 300 vessels continually trading up the river 
Gai^bia for slaves, which^ from the best authenticated accounts. 
