kings. But certain it is, that the government of cach was of short duration; and that they appeared only for a moment on that bloody throne. The person who had received protection and kind-ness murdered his friend and benefactor; the father assassinated the son, or the son the father; and it perhaps would not have been a matter of regret, if the soldiers had imitated the example of their commanders, and the whole of this detestable race had been exterminated.

SECTION V.

Anziko, Fungeno, Biafar, and Calbaria.

THE kingdom of Anziko is an inland country, bounded on the west by the river Umbre, which empties itself into the Zaire, on the north by the deserts of Nubia, and on the south by a part of Congo. It abounds with mines of copper and other minerals; and has great plenty of rhinoceroses, lions, and various wild beasts. The natives, like the Arabs, wander from one place to another, and have no permanent habitation. They neither sow nor reap, but live by plunder; and being cruel and intrepid, are dreaded by the neighbouring nations. Their language is barbarous, and difficult to be learned. People of consequence wear red and black caps made of velvet; and those of inferior rank of both sexes go barefoot, and without any covering on the upper parts of the bodies. To preserve their health, they make a composition of white sandal-wood, pounded and mixed with palm-oil, with which they anoint themselves.

Their arms are battle-axes, bows, and arrows. The Anzikese kill birds flying, and shoot with

such

such dexterity and dispatch, that they can discharge twenty-eight arrows from the bow, before the first falls to the ground. One end of the battle-axe is sharp and cuts like a wedge, the other is flat like a mallet; with this latter part they screen their bodies, and ward off the darts of the enemy. They also wear daggers, which they carry in ivory belts. When they take any prisoners, they tie them to a stake, and try their courage and firmness by shooting at them as at a mark, but in such a manner, that the arrows only pass near them. Those who discover signs of fear are killed and eaten; but those who appear intrepid and resolute are adopted by them, and have their noses and ears bored, and two teeth of their upper jaw pulled out, as a token of slavery. The Anzikese recruit their armies with these prisoners, whom they accustom to human flesh, if they have not been used to feed upon it already, and soon render them equally barbarous and ferocious with themselves.

The women of this country imagine, that to have two teeth fewer above and two below is a great ornament, but they are not to be pulled out, till the person be considered as fit for marriage: if any one should refuse to have this mark of beauty, she would be thought dishonoured.

Fungeno is a kingdom tributary to the sovereign of Anziko, and situated between the rivers Zaire and Coanza. The Portuguese carry on a trade with the natives for stuffs and slaves.

The kingdom of Biafar lies on the east of Benin, and extends southward as far as the fourth degree of north latitude. The natives are exceedingly addicted to the superstitious belief of magic, and imagine themselves capable of caus

ing rain, thunder, and lightning. They worship the devil, and offer up their children in sacrifice.

Calbaria adjoins to Rio Real, and derives its name from that river, which, though broad, is too shallow to be navigated by ships of burthen, and runs in a northern direction. Near the coast is a town called by the Dutch Wyndorp, and by the natives Toke, from the great quantity of wine it produces. The city of Calbaria is a place of great trade, especially with the Dutch, and is inclosed with palisadoes. The commerce of this part of Africa consists chiefly in slaves, who are exchanged for small bars of copper. The natives also bring vast numbers of elephants' teeth annually to market. The inhabitants are characterized as a deceitful and filthy people, who have their bodies painted with diffe rent colours, and their foreheads marked with hideous figures. They possess no affection for one another parents sell their children; husbands, their wives; and brothers, their sisters.

CHAP.

CHAP. IX.

Guinea proper: comprehending the Kingdom of Benin, and the Slave, Gold, Ivory, and Grain Coasts.

THIS

HIS extensive country is bounded on the, north by Nigritia, on the east by the unexplored parts of Africa, and on the west and south by the great Atlantic Ocean. The air of this tract of territory is extremely fervid, and the periodical rains overflowing all the level parts during several months in the year, it is very inimical to health, and has proved remarkably fatal to European constitutions.

SECTION 1.

Benin.

THE kingdom of Benin is bounded by the gulph of Guinea and the Slave Coast on the west, by Loango on the south, and by the unknown parts of Africa on the north and east. Notwithstanding the pleasing scenes which this country presents to the eye of a stranger, the air is not only very unhealthy, but the musquitoes of gnats are here exceedingly troublesome, and their sting is so painful and poisonous, that it inflames all the neighbouring parts, and occasions ulcers. Formosa is the principal river in this kingdom, and is said to have received its appellation from the verdure and fertility of its banks, which are adorned with tall and spreading trees. On the sides of this river are some European settlements, principally belonging to the Dutch; VOL. XIV. L

the

the names of these are Boededo, Arebo, and Agatton. The first contains about fifty houses, and has a viceroy and council, whose jurisdiction extends to all matters of a civil nature; and they levy taxes and raise imposts on merchandize. But matters of great importance are referred to a superior court.

Arebo is a large and populous city, which, together with the adjacent territory, is also governed by a viceroy and council, vested with similar powers as those of Boededo. It is the centre of the commerce of this kingdom, and had once an English and Dutch settlement; but the former has for some time been abandoned. Agatton has likewise been a place of considerable eminence, for its extent, trade, and population; but the ravages of war have reduced it nearly to

desolation.

The last of the four commercial towns in this kingdom is Meiberg, an appellation given it by the Dutch, who carried on here a great trade, and maintained a considerable settlement; but the place is now only famous for the following tragical event, which proved its almost total ruin. Beelsyder, a Dutch factor, having conceived a violent passion for one of the women belonging to the negro governor, carried her away by force. The governor, enraged at this insult, attacked the Dutch settlement with a body of troops, and obliged the factor to retreat on board a vessel that lay in the road, after having received a wound of which he soon died.Upon this, the Dutch director-general, resolving to revenge the death of the factor, fitted out a brigantine, and surprising the blacks at Meiberg, massacred without distinction every individual