REVIEW — TRAVELS IN WESTERN AFRICA. 
49 
passed a small krooni (village) in a country where, among other 
sources of industry and emolument, iron is manufactured, and 
stirrups, “similar to those used by the Moors in the neighbourhood 
of Tangiers and El-Arish. Bits for horses’ bridles are also 
manufactered here of a very severe description, the cross-bar or 
mouth-piece having in its centre a ring large enough to allow the 
horse’s under-jaw to pass easily through it: this ring, of course, acts 
both as bit and curb, but is very likely to break the horse’s jaw, 
which is very frequently the case in the Fellattah country.” 
Still proceeding on his journey northward, ten miles farther, 
“we arrived,” continues Mr. Duncan, “at a kroom of about four 
hundred inhabitants. Here we saw a large number of horses of a 
small description. They much resembled our Hampshire foresters 
in shape, though a little finer breed. They were sold in this 
market at the rate of four heads of cowries, equal to four Spanish 
dollars on the west coast of Africa, but are of much greater value 
in the interior.” 
At Kahakano, a town a hundred miles or more northward of 
Akuaha, “ horses here invariably make part of the family, being 
fastened to a peg driven into the ground or floor, by the hind foot, 
having only about a foot of rope. The children are often seen 
playing between the legs of the animal, with which it seems much 
pleased, often nibbling at their heads with its lips, or licking their 
faces, as a spaniel would.” 
At Kallakandi, fifty miles farther up the country, “slaves were 
exposed in the outer market in great numbers, and early in the 
morning considerable numbers had changed owners. Sheep, goats, 
and oxen, are numerous, and very handsome. Horses are hand- 
some also, but small, few exceeding thirteen hands high.” 
We shall conclude with Mr. Duncan’s account of a poisonous 
plant growing at the foot of the Dassa Mountains, whose virulency 
is such that its juice coming in contact with the eye causes instant 
blindness, and, when absorbed into the system, immediate death ; 
thus exceeding in activity even the woorara poison. 
“The Annagoos of the Dassa mountains are considered danger- 
ous enemies, although by no means distinguished for their valour 
or gallantry, but on account of their superior skill in the manu- 
facture of « different poisons. Perhaps the opinion entertained of 
these people may arise from superstition ; but it is certain that a 
plant from which the strongest poison is extracted grows in 
abundance at the base of these mountains, and that with this the 
poison for their arrows is prepared. This plant grows about eight 
feet high, has a round stem about the thickness of a man’s thigh, 
and is of a greenish grey colour. Its stems are fluted triangularly, 
and shoot from the main trunk at regular intervals. The stems or 
VOL. XXI. H 
