in London, to settle at Sierra Leona, where a considerable district of land had been ceded by the native chiefs for that purpose. The grand object of this settlement was to promote civilization in Africa, and thereby prepare the way for the total abolition of slavery. Notwithstanding the difficulties with which this infant colony had to con tend, it has since that time very considerably increased, has been incorporated by act of parliament under the name of the Sierra Leona Company, and the principal place of the settlement is denominated Freetown. They have endeavoured to diffuse the knowledge of christianity among the natives, many of whose chiefs have been induced to send their sons to the colony for instruction. In short, by means of this settlement, the declension of the slave trade in the neighbourhood of Sierra Leona has been very great; and it is supposed that not more than one-fifth of the usual number of slaves are now carried off the adjacent coast. The company's affairs being in a deranged state, the government of the colony has been transferred to the crown; and, for the honour of Great Britain, and the cause of humanity, we earnestly wish that it may produce the full and desired effect, and that the civilization of Africa, and the total abolition of slavery, may at last be the result of this benevolent establish ment!

SECTION II.

Foulah, Monou, Quoja, and Folgia.

THE Foulah kingdom is situated to the northeast of Sierra Leona, and is about three hundred and fifty miles in length, from east to west,

and

and about two hundred miles in breadth from north to south. The capital, which is called Teemboo, is supposed to contain about seven thousand inhabitants. The king exercises a very despotic power; and he punishes with great severity, especially in cases of disrespect shewn to his authority. About one-third of the country is extremely fertile. Laby, which contains not less than five thousand inhabitants, is a city that stands upwards of two hundred miles eastward from the mouth of the river Rionunes, and is governed by a chief who is subordinate to the king of Foulah. The people of this part of Africa are greatly superior to those on the coast, in every branch of civilization; and they have manufactures of iron, silver, leather, and narrow cloths. The principal men are furnished with books on the subject of law or divinity; and schools for the instruction of children are established in almost

every town. The professed religion is Mahometanism, and there is a great number of mosques, but the people do not appear attached to bigotry and superstition.*

In the interior parts of the country, that lie between the rivers Sierra Leona and Sestos, are several populous and extensive kingdoms, of which we neither know the boundaries nor the name. The Quabes, who are reported to inhabit the southern bank of the Sestos, are said to live under the protection of the emperor of Monou; a very powerful monarch who extends his

* There appear to be in Africa several independent nations of Foulahs, of which this is perhaps the most ancient and considerable, and supposed to be the Leucæthiopes of Ptolemy. Vide Geographical Illustrations of Park's Travels by Major Rennell.

authority

authority over several vassal princes, particularly those of Quoja and Folgia, whose sovereigns are complimented with the title of Dandagh.

The natives of these countries are extremely libidinous; but in all other respects are greatly superior to many of their neighbours, being tem perate and sociable, averse to the effusion of human blood, living amicably with one another, relieving the distressed, and participating in the pleasures and calamities of their friends with a cordiality which not only excites applause but

esteem.

Polygamy in this part of the world is not only tolerated but encouraged; yet the husband generally attaches himself to a particular female, who governs the rest of his wives, and superintends all domestic affairs. She is distinguished by the name of makilma, and to her devolves all the attention necessary in the education of the girls, while the father carefully provides for and instructs the male offspring. Five days after the birth of a son, some particular name is given him; on which occasion, the father and all his domestics, armed with bows and arrows, parade round the town or village, singing a sort of triumphal song, which is accompanied with musical in struments, those whom they meet in their way being expected to join in the concert. The su

perintendant of the ceremony then takes the infant out of the arms of the mother, and placing it on a shield in the midst of the assembly, puts a bow and arrow into its hands, and commences a long, premeditated oration, in which he first wishes that the child may enjoy prosperity, and afterwards enumerating the amiable qualities of

industry,

industry, faithfulness, and hospitality, with almost every other virtue, expresses his hope that the infant may one day live in possession of them all. This oration being finished, he names the child, and delivering it into the arms of its mother, the assembly immediately disperses. A few select friends of the parents, however, frequently remain, who spend the remainder of the day in mirth and festivity. If the child be a female, the mother carries it into the middle of the town, where the concourse of people is greatest, and laying it on a mat puts a stick into the hands of the infant. A woman is then appointed to pronounce the oration, in which she prays that the child may possess all the accomplishments of its mother, and, like her, be endued with every ornamental and useful qualifi. cation.

The eldest son inherits the wives and property of his father; but the effects of a married man, who dies without male issue, pass to his nephews. The principal occupation of this people, is the cultivation of the earth; and trade, except in bartering one necessary of life for another, is scarcely known among them. The general language of these inland nations is the Quojan, which, however, is varied into different dialects in different provinces. The negroes of rank pride themselves on speaking with elegance and refinement; and, being fond of rhetorical embellishments in their conversation, their discourse, even on the most trivial occasions, discovers something of poetical ornament and beauty. Nor are they entirely unacquainted with the sciences, particularly astro

nomy:

nomy: they can distinguish the hour of the night by the stars; and give the denomination of monjading to the pleiades.

strongest impressions After the body is erect posture, they

Their funeral ceremonies exhibit marks of great affection, and of the of a gloomy superstition. washed and placed in an dress the deceased in his best clothes, adorn his hair, and put a bow and arrow into his hands while his friends, in the mean time, engage in a kind of mock skirmish. They then fall on their knees, and bending their bows in a menacing manner, declare vengeance against those who have been accessaries to his death, or that dare to asperse his reputation. After which they offer up, at the shrine of gross ignorance and cruel superstition, some of the slaves of the deceased, whom as the devoted victims on this occasion, they have previously fed with all the delicacies of the country, and exhort, them to attend their master in the other world with assiduity and fidelity. With the slaves they also deposit in the ground as much food and wine, as they think will be sufficient for the deceased, till their arrival in the land of spirits. The corpse is then carried on a bier to the grave, and placed beside the murdered victims, along with various kitchen-utensils, which being covered with a mat, the whole is filled up with abundance of earth, in order to prevent any noxious exhalations from the putrid bodies. The relations generally build a hut over the grave, on the top of which is suspended the bow and arrows of the deceased, with other trophies; and they continue for several months to bring to the tomb all kinds of liquors and pro

visions,