180 DISCOVERIES OF THE ENGLISH. 
ment of setting out. On inquiring how his host 
had been so well informed, he was immediately 
told, that Horey, or the devil, had conveyed the 
intelligence 5 to which he lent implicit faith, never 
reflecting how easily a swift-footed negro might 
outrun his party and announce their arrival. 
Our author now went down to meet the Tenda 
merchants at Setico, a town about four miles 
from the river, and the largest he had seen in 
this country. It formed the highest point to 
which the Portuguese had carried up their trade, 
and its population was chiefly composed of Mary- 
bucks (Mahometans). A considerable commerce 
is carried on in slaves, salt, and gold. Here, a 
principal Marabout dying, they had an opportu- 
nity of witnessing the ceremonies performed at 
his funeral. " He was laid in a house, where a 
" grave was digged, and a great pot of water set 
in the room ; and, after the Irish manner, much 
crying (rather than mourning) being made, he 
" was laid into the ground ; the women running 
"about in a lunatic fashion with their arms 
" spread, made a terrible spectacle of sorrow. 
" Neere the grave, the people sitting down in a 
" ring, a Mary buck came forth in the midst, 
" who, betwixt saying and singing, seemed to re- 
f " hearse certain verses in praise of the deceased, 
" the people interjecting their applauses, and run- 
jiing in to gratify their Fates (prophet or poet) 
