158 
AFRICA AND ITS EXPLORATION. 
from the arms and waist-cloth; their long Danish 
muskets had broad rims of gold at small distances, and 
the stocks were ornamented with shells. Finely-grown 
girls stood behind the chairs of some, with silver basins. 
Their stools (of the most laboriously carved work, 
and generally with two large bells attached to them) 
were conspicuously placed on the heads of favourites; 
and crowds of small boys were seated around, flourishing 
elephants’ tails curiously mounted. The warriors sat on 
the ground close to these, and so thickly as not to 
admit of our passing without treading on their feet, to 
which they were perfectly indifferent; their caps were 
of the skin of the pangolin and leopard, the tails 
hanging down behind; their cartouch-belts (composed 
of small gourds which held the charges, and covered 
with leopard’s or pig’s skin) were embossed with red 
shells, and small brass bells thickly hung to them ; on 
their hips and shoulders was a cluster of knives ; iron 
chains and collars dignified the most daring, who were 
prouder of them than of gold ; their muskets had rests 
affixed of leopard-skin, and the locks a covering of the 
same : the sides of their faces were curiously painted in 
long white streaks, and their arms also striped, having 
the appearance of armour. 
“ We were suddenly surprised by the sight of Moors, 
who afforded the first general diversity of dress. There 
were seventeen superiors, arrayed in large cloaks of 
white satin, richly trimmed with spangled embroidery ; 
their shirts and trousers were of silk; and a very large 
turban of white muslin was studded with a border of 
different coloured stones ; their attendants wore red caps 
and turbans, and long white shirts, which hung over 
their trousers ; those of the inferiors were of dark blue 
cloth. They slowly raised their eyes from the ground 
as we passed, and with a most malignant scowl. 
“ The prolonged flourishes of the horns, a deafening 
tumult of drums, and the fuller concert at intervals, 
announced that we were approaching the king. We 
were already passing the principal officers of his house¬ 
hold. The chamberlain, the gold horn blower, the 
