324 
LEATHER WORKERS. 
perhaps, be attributed the fine temper of the manu- 
factures. 
The preparation of leather is another useful branch of 
industry ; the tree from which they procure the requisite 
tannin is liguminous, and we believe it to be the 
Pterocarpus Scnegalensis. Sheep-skins and goat- 
skins are mostly turned to account this way, and when 
cut up into stripes, are neatly plaited into bridles, 
necklaces, armlets, belts, whips, fly-fans and cushions ; 
the hides of larger animals being tanned for the soles of 
the sandals worn by the richer persons. 
Fishing is followed chiefly by slaves — they use nets 
made of the twisted fibres of the plantain leaf, and 
either stake off certain parts of shallow water, or 
employ large circular nets, which they suspend over the 
banks, and let down and draw up every few minutes, 
throwing in a bait to entice the fish to approach, and 
sometimes a vegetable poison which soon kills the fish. 
It must be admitted, from all we saw, that the 
Eggarah people arc industrious, and evidently more 
advanced in civilization than their neighbours, lower 
down the river. Their grounds are much better culti- 
vated, manufactures more encouraged, and their social 
comforts increasing. How far these may be connected 
with, or influenced by, the superior knowledge of the 
Mallams or Mahommedan priests, we know not. If 
such be the case, how much encouragement for the pro- 
motion among them of Christianity, with all its 
attendant blessings ! 
