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earthen huts, stone being unknown in this country. The gov ernment is despotic; the religion idolatrous, with much abject superstition and priestcraft. Throughout Guinea it is a practice to adopt domestic or local deities, called fetishes, which are often mean and ridiculous objects, such as casually strike the mind of the worshipper. Notions of magic and witchcraft are universally prevalent, and are employed to aid the influence of the priests, and multiply the penalty of slavery.

There are several other subordinate kingdoms on the coast, of which that of WHIDAH or FIDAH, though small in extent, is distinguished for its populousness and civilization. The country is described as very fine. The soil is extremely fertile, and affords sustenance to a greater number of people than are almost any where assembled upon an equal compass of ground. The natives are remarkable for a ceremonious and humble civility, which has caused them to be compared to the Chinese. They are industrious and ingenious, and have carried agriculture and other necessary arts to a high degree of perfection. A singular feature in the superstition of Whidah is the snakeworship, founded on a profound veneration for those reptiles, one of which, as the head or representative of the class, has a temple, with a great establishment of priests, who practise innumerable frauds upon the credulous votaries. The former prosperity of this country has been greatly impaired through its invasion and conquest by the powerful king of DAHOMEY, sovereign of an inland nation more brave and ferocious in character than the people of the coast. His cruelties are represented as surpassing the usual measure of savage conquerors. It cannot be doubted that the knowledge of a profitable market for slaves has been one motive to his predatory enterprises. The slaves from Benin are termed Eboes, and are reckoned of a mild tractable disposition.

The GOLD-COAST succeeds, so named from the quantity of that metal brought down from the interior country, and employed as a medium of commerce. It is divided into several distinct states, some of which (an extraordinary circumstance in Africa) have a republican constitution. The trade of this

coast has been particularly tempting to European cupidity, as is denoted by the number of forts and factories of different nations established upon it. Of these the most numerous are the English and Dutch. The country is full of people, who, by their habits of trade, and long intercourse with foreigners, are become extremely dexterous in all the arts of deception. They are likewise a bold, brisk, and ingenious race, very skilful in several ornamental manufactures, especially those in which the precious metals are employed. They cultivate their lands in common, and always end their labour with music and dancing, to which last exercise all the negroes are passionately attached. The slaves from this coast are called Cormantees, and are noted for impatience under hard usage, and a determinate spirit of revenge. The gold exported hence is either in the state of unequal lumps procured by digging into the soil, or of dust subsiding from the washed sands of the rivers. Every art is employed by the natives to adulterate it, and the negro craft is often too much for European science. A general remark may here be apposite-that from contemplating the negro tribes in their own country, no one could derive that opinion of their inferiority in point of understanding to other races of men in a similar state of civilization, which some reasoners have thought proper to inculcate. They display, indeed, a remarkable indifference of character, and are disposed to enjoy the passing moments without being disturbed with the thought of futurity.

The IVORY COAST is much less known than the two former by Europeans, who have no settlements upon it. The natives are a shy suspicious people, of a more disagreeable aspect than the other western negroes. The country is represented as being fertile and pleasant, varied with hill and dale, and well peopled. The name of this coast has been given to it in consequence of the great quantity of elephants' teeth which are brought down as an article of traffic. The animal is said to be exceedingly common in the interior country, and of a size superior to that of the African elephants in general. Gold and slaves are also

commodities of this country, together with strong cotton cloths, the manufacture of the natives.

Further westward is a tract of no great extent called the GRAIN OF PEPPER COAST, from a species of pepper named or Malaguetta, which used to be its principal commercial product. The importation of the East Indian spices has, however, diminished the consumption of this aromatic, so that the coast is now chiefly frequented for its trade in slaves and ivory.

The coast which next succeeds has been called the country of SIERRA LEONE, a name given by the Portuguese to a chain of mountains much infested, it is said, by lions. This is an

extensive tract, comprehending several nations little explored. The most powerful of these is the FOULAHS, a mahometan tribe, generally at war with their neighbours for the purpose of making slaves, whom they sell to the European traders. The coast also affords ivory, dying woods, the skins of wild beasts, and cotton cloths. An English settlement was lately formed in the bay of Sierra Leone, with the benevolent intention of civilizing the natives, and encouraging them to produce other commodities for traffic which might supersede the slave-trade; but it proved unsuccessful, and has at length been abandoned.

Northwards stretches the populous tract washed by the rivers Gambia and Senegal. As far as these have been navigated by Europeans, their banks have generally been found well cultivated and thickly inhabited; and a variety of distinct nations, differing in language and manners, has been discovered in their vicinity. One of the most widely diffused of these negro tribes is that of the MANDINGOES, who are represented as of a cheerful and social disposition, possessing the negro form and feature in perfection. The YALOFFS are a more warlike race, and, according to European ideas, handsomer. Another nation of FOULAHS near the Senegal bears marks of a Moorish derivation. The mahometan religion, mixed with some native superstitions, is general in these parts. These rivers and shores are frequented chiefly for the slave-trade; but the Senegal, on which the French have long held establish

ments, affords a valuable article of commerce in the gum named from it, which is similar to gum-arabic, and exudes from a spe-cies of mimosa, forming woods in the sandy tracts to the north of the river.

Inland hence the country has been explored beyond the heads of the Senegal and Gambia, to the banks of the Joliba, supposed to be the same with the Niger, a large river flowing eastward. In this tract are both moorish and negro kingdoms, with populous towns; but meanly built, and exhibiting a simple state of society. The native negroes are universally found to be a much gentler and better disposed people than those of the moorish origin and religion. In this direction lies the celebrated city of Tombuctoo, which has not been visited by any Europeans. It is known by report as the capital of this part of Africa, and the medium of commercial intercourse with the northern and eastern countries.

Northward of the mouth of the Senegal the coast becomes barren, and is inhabited only by wandering tribes of Arabs, as far as the frontiers of the kingdom or empire of Morocco.

BARBARY STATES.

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THE countries thus denominated occupy almost the whole of the northern border of Africa to the Egyptian frontier. This tract, the ancient Mauritania, Numidia, and Afri'ca, was formerly celebrated for its fertility, and was the seat of several powerful states, among which was Carthage, long the dreaded rival of Rome. After various revolutions, it is now shared principally by four mahometan states, noted for their hostility to the christian name, which has displayed itself in a system of piracy, exercised chiefly in the Mediterranean sea against all the powers which do not purchase their forbearance by a disgraceful tribute. To this predatory system their natural means of thriving by agriculture and commerce have been in great measure sacrificed; yet they still may be ranked among the most powerful states of the African continent, and as those which exert the greatest influence over the policy of Europe.

MOROCCO.

THE united kingdoms of Morocco and Fez, constituting the empire of Morocco, extend from the western coast of Africa, about the 28th degree of N. latitude, to the boundary of Algiers on the Mediterranean, in N. latitude 35 or 36 degrees. Internally the ridges of mount Atlas separate this empire from Darah and Sejelmissa. The heat of the climate is tempered by breezes from the lofty summits of Atlas, clad in perpetual snow. The mountainous districts are wild and

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