34 
THE CAllBONAKI. 
furnished him with a bed to sleep on. She then called to the female 
part of her family, who had stood gaMng on him all the while with 
fixed astonishment, to resume their task of spinning cotton, in which 
they spent great part of the night. They lightened their labour by 
songs, one of which was composed extempore, for our author was 
himself the subject of it. It was sung by one of the young women, 
the rest joined in a sort of chorus. The air was sweet and plaintive, 
and the words, literally translated, were these — “ The winds roared, 
and the rains fell. The poor white man, faint and weary, came and 
sat underour tree. He has no mother to bring him milk ; no wife to 
grind his corn.” — Chorus. “ Let us pity the white man ; no mother has 
he,” &c. &c. Trifling (says Mr. Park) as this recital may appear to 
the reader, to a person in my situation the circumstance was affecting- 
in the highest degree.” 
Having remained three days in this village, he was dismissed on the 
fourth, after receiving from the king 5000 cowries, to enable him to 
purchase provisions in the course of his journey. Though this sum 
amounted only to one pound sterling, so cheap are the necessaries of 
life in Bambarra, that it was sufficient to purchase provisions for 
himself, and corn for his horse, for 50 days. 
The Carboitari. 
The following description is given of this community by one of the 
initiated. The Carbonari of Italy owe their origin to Cardinal Ruffo, 
who in the year 1812, in conjunction with some Neapolitan emigrants 
formed a secret sect, known at first under the name of Calderari, for 
the purpose of restoring the ancient dynasty of privileges and ponti- 
fical influence. The Calderari consisted of a considerable number 
of banditti and lazaroni, and their society fell into disrepute. Sub- 
sequently a grand or directoral lodge was organized; and this soci- 
ety took the name of Carbonajia, (the coal pit,) or rather a place 
where tlie coal is carbonized , and made into charcoal. The sepa- 
rate meetings were called harrache (markets,) and the members Car- 
bonari (or coal burners). This society is at once political and reli- 
gious. Its principles have their foundation in the purest maxims of 
the gospel, from which they derive eternal hatred to political and 
religious tyranny. They promise obedience to the law as far as it is 
founded on equity, and respect to those who do justice worthily. 
Their hatred against tyranny and intolerance is so much the greater, 
because they consider Jesus Christ as the most illustrious victim of the 
arbitrary acts of governors and priests. 
The Carbonari are distinguished by their ranks and the cross 
shines in all their symbolical signs. Their symbolical words are 
taken from the coal-trade, because their first chiefs lived, like 
coal-burners, in solitude, to withdraw themselves from tyranny. As 
to the words, the signs, and the secrets of the association, we must 
be silent. The flag of the Carbonari is tricoloured ; the colours are 
black, redj and blue. The black represents death, and the coal in its 
natural state— -the red indicates liberty, glory, and blood ; that is to 
say, the battles, without which Italy could not hope to establish its 
