Part 7 (1/2)
From what I have before stated, it will appear that the Mandingos are a numerous people in Africa, gaining a daily influence and authority in the district now under consideration. Besides the tribes of this people who inhabit the countries between the Soosees and Timminees, there are various others established in the country of Bambouk, and on the borders of the Gambia, but the great body occupy an extensive territory above the sources of that river.
The empire of the Mandingos is not, however, so considerable as that of the Foolahs, but from their increasing influence over the western countries, from their docile and cunning dispositions, their knowledge in merchandize, and acquirements in book-knowledge, their power must, in process of time, be greatly increased; and it will be of the utmost moment to civilize them, in order to acquire an influence over the more barbarous states.
Notwithstanding the cunning and dissimulation which characterizes these people, they are generous, open, and hospitable, and their women are aimiable and engaging: they are more zealous Mahomedans than the Foolahs; their colour has a mixture of yellow, but their features are more regular than the other nations of Africa which I have seen. The Foolahs, the Mandingos, and the Joliffs, bordering on the Senegal, are the most handsome Negroes on this part of Africa; the hair of the latter, however, is more crisped and woolly, their nose is round, and their lips are thick; this nation, in particular, is blacker than those approximating towards the line; nor are the Negroes in the Krew coast, and towards Palmas, so black as the nation I now speak of; which may tend to prove, that the colour of the Africans does not arise from a vertical sun, but from other physical causes yet unknown.
There is a characteristic feature between the Mahomedan nations of Africa, particularly those from the sh.o.r.es of the Mediterranean (whom I have seen in my travels in that quarter) which, with their almost universal profession of the Mahomedan religion, sanctions the idea, that this part of the coast has been peopled from the eastern parts of the continent; but the visible difference in religion, complexion, and feature, of the nations towards Cape Palmas, give rise to other conjectures. An obvious difference may be observed among these numerous nations; their language and their customs are various, and are frequently without affinity or relation. From the sh.o.r.es of the Mediterranean to this part of Africa, the majority of the nations are Mahomedans, but towards Cape Palmas they are gross idolaters, with a mixture Mahomedanism and superst.i.tion; many of them erect temples, and dedicate groves to the devil. I have seen several of these, which exhibit no outward sign or object of wors.h.i.+p, but consist of stumps of trees, in a circular form, covered with leaves, or a thatched roof, in the centre of which stands a square altar of mud, without any image of adoration. The reason a.s.signed by them for their omission in this instance, is, ”that they never look the Devil or evil spirit, therefore they do not know how to make any thing like him.” To the good spirit they neither make offering nor sacrifice, considering it as unnecessary to obtain his favours, from his disposition to do nothing but good, which of course he will administer to them.
From every thing that I have observed, I conceive that idolatry, and fetish wors.h.i.+p, is the predominant religion of Africa, and that Mahomedanism has been propagated by the Moore and Arab's. It may not here be unopportune to introduce the Mandingo man's prayer, which I obtained from a very intelligent chief of that nation: viz.
_Mandingo Arabic_.
Subboha.n.a.lahe Rabila'ademy abodehe. Subboha.n.a.la rabila Allah. Subbohana arabe. Inye allamante, nafuse wa amutate sue wakefurella. Teyatelillahe tebates allivatuelub lahey.
Sillamaleko ayo hanabehe, obara katolahe Sullamalina Ihannabe, lebadelahe Salihenee”
The address to Mahomet follows, viz.
Sahadala elahe idillaha Mahomedo, arasoolo lahi man Mahomedo aboodaho.
_In their idiom of English._
G.o.d lives and, is not dust.
G.o.d be master of all and is above his slaves. G.o.d knows his slave, and is not made of earth; but above all. (Before the next sentence, Subbohana arabe, &c. he bows twice.)
Suppose I die, I can look you to-morrow, and thank you, and be out of trouble, and free from the Devil.
(Teyatelillahe, &c. accompanied by a motion of the fingers)
I beg in my prayers again, G.o.d, I may die to day, I look to thank you again to-morrow, my people and family may then get into trouble, and I then pray to you.
To Mahomet.
Mahomet be man, born of woman, the prophet of G.o.d, and speak to him for man.
In this system of prayer there is a mixture of fetis.h.i.+sm, Mahomedanism, and a strong a.n.a.logy to the Christian system; and it is no inconsiderable argument in favour of the mediation of the Saviour, that in the wors.h.i.+p of heathen nations a mediator is uniformly a.s.sociated with the object of adoration. Virgil in his Aeneid, and other cla.s.sic writers, ill.u.s.trate a belief of the ancient heathens in the omniscience of the deity, and they clearly elucidate the importance they attached the mediatorial efficacy of offerings and sacrifice.
The form of wors.h.i.+p adapted to the foregoing prayer, is to squat down upon the ground, placing the palm of their hands flat thereon twice, touching the earth the same number of times with their foreheads; then rubbing their arms from the wrist to the elbow, with that which is contracted by this operation, when the hands are applied to the face, and the forefingers put into the ears.
I have dwelt more minutely upon this people and their present condition compared with the Foolahs, because I consider these nations have it much in their power to shut and open the paths of intercourse with the interior countries, therefore they become of importance, in the contemplation of any pursuits upon this district of Africa.
The Mandingoes inhabiting Galam, and the countries interior to the Gambia, carry on the princ.i.p.al trade with those of Bambouk, &c. where gold is procured. This precious metal is obtained from the surface of the earth, and from the banks of the falls of the rivers in the rainy season; it is first washed in a calabash; and when the water is poured off, the dust, and sometimes large grains remain. The natives have no idea of mining; but it appears from hence, that mines of this metal must exist, which are concealed thro' the want of the arts of civilized life. The Mandingoes speak of these countries with a great air of mystery, and are extremely jealous, lest Europeans should obtain any information relative to them: as they carry on almost exclusively, this branch of commerce.
When I was in the Bas.h.i.+a branch of the Rio Pongo, a meteor of an extraordinary kind appeared for two successive nights, directing its course from NE. to SW. which put the natives in a most dreadful state of consternation; the women fell into loud lamentations, the men beat their drums, and sent forth the most horrid yells; imagining, that this barbarous uproar would drive away the object of their fears. In eclipses of the sun and moon, they repeat their prayers and sacrifices, with the same clamour, under the notion that it will frighten away the monster which they suppose to obscure these planets from their view. These superst.i.tious notions have the most powerful influence over the Negro's mind, and it is impossible to dissuade or reason him out of them.
From all I have stated, the great importance of these countries, to open an intercourse with the interior of Africa, must appear. On the borders of the Rio Pongo, and other rivers, excellent lands, forming hill, and dale, are every where to be found, and well adapted to agricultural experiments. With the _consent of the chiefs_, these might be obtained at a small expense, and many of them with whom I have communicated, would gladly embrace a wise interference; but they all complain, ”white man not know their fas.h.i.+on,”
intimating in very forcible language, that every caution should be used, at innovation upon their laws, customs, and manners. Let example first excite their admiration, and their barbarism will bow before the arts of civilization, and slavery be gradually abolished.
Before I conclude this chapter, I shall make some observations upon the temperature of the western countries of Africa, situated between Cape Verde and Cape Palmas, mention the princ.i.p.al diseases, and those which Europeans are most exposed to on their first arrival in these countries, and give general precautions against the dangers of the climate, &c.