Sketched hy Mr Maxwell. 
and Mr Maxwell respecting the Co7igo and the Niger. 109 
people can converse with them, their language differs very material- 
ly from the rest. The Mandingos have nine cuts on each cheek, 
as shewn in the annexed 
sketch, and are reproached 
with eating their prisoners, 
and the flesh of bats ; cus- 
toms held in the utmost ab- 
horrence and detestationby 
the other nations, who are 
all remarkably humane and 
hospitable, except the So- 
nios, who received repeat- 
ed injuries and provoca- 
tions from the Portuguese, 
when they attempted a 
settlement among them 
about seventy years ago. 
To Mr Park’s Sd query 
he replied, that the slaves are all travelled by land, carrying 
their provisions, consisting of dried plantains, cassava, Indian 
corn, ground nuts, smoked fish, &c. along with them ; except 
the Congos, who bring them in canoes part of the way. On the 
6d he remarks, that their canoes are generally very small, and 
round-sided, being ill adapted for burden, or navigation of any 
kind, some of them carrying twenty people, but seldom more 
than seven or eight, who are obliged to sit down on the very 
bottom of the canoe, with their legs stretched out, and their fore- 
arms and hands lying along the gunwale, to keep it as steady as 
possible, to prevent it from oversetting, which, with all their 
care, frequently does happen : That they commonly use two 
paddles, seldom more than four ; and the canoe-boys, as they 
are called, stand upright to paddle, which has a very awk- 
ward appearance. They have neither horses, cows, nor asses ; 
their only domestic animals being sheep, goats, and poul- 
try, which may be got at reasonable prices. They have also a 
species of jackal domesticated, but very ugly, and of little use 
as a dog. On the 4th query, as to the cataracts, they informed 
Mr Maxwell of two ; the first distant from the sea, as laid 
down in the chart of the river ; the other ten or eleven leagues 
