Mr Max weirs Observations 
as a monument of vengeance, now filled with bells, crucifixes, 
and other relics, the wreck of the colony. 
Upon the whole, the stories of the invincible prowess and 
martial character of this nation, are entitled to some con- 
sideration. If they are somewhat embellished, we need not 
be surprised, for what else can be expected : yet they ought not 
to be regarded on that account as altogether fabulous ; for, 
even in polished nations, every thing transmitted by oral tradi- 
tion, very soon acquires a tinge of the marvellous. What I can 
say of the Sonia men, from my own personal knowledge, is in 
perfect unison with their magnanimous character ; never having 
experienced any act of treachery or violence from them, al- 
though once completelv in their power. I had strayed to some 
distance from the boat's crew, who were cutting grass for the 
live stock at sea, when a party of Sonia men travelling that 
way, and hearing the report of my fowling-piece, came upon 
me unawares, before I had time to load. I was a little 
alarmed, but, to put the best face on the matter, I asked the 
Chief if he would sell his ivory trumpets, to which partly con- 
senting, he agreed to accompany me to the boat, where I pur- 
chased two of them, and gave him and his men something to 
eat and drink. They were going, they said, to Ganga Em- 
peenda, and were quite at their ease whilst they remained at 
the boat, plainly shewing that they neither intended nor dread- 
ed treachery. Before resuming their journey, they regaled us 
with a concert oil the trumpets, as savage and discordant as the 
Genius of Africa could wish. The Chief had six ivory trum- 
pets, the largest of which had apparently been a tooth of ninety 
pounds in weight. He had likewise a drum, and three musical 
instruments like lyres. 
Trumpets.— T Y usks of such magnitude can only belong, as 
may well be supposed, to the elephant. They are converted 
into trumpets by boring out the body of the ivory, and leaving 
only a thin shell at the root, increasing however in thickness 
towards the point, within a short space of which, according to 
the size of the tusk, a hole is made to communicate with the ex- 
tremity of the cavity ; to this, the mouth is applied when bl Giv- 
ing. The external surface of the trumpet is highly polished, 
and is frequently covered with regular devices and hieroglv- 
