a populous kingdom in North Africa, of which the capital Kassonkary is placed by Major Renne in 14° 33' N. Lat. and 8° 43' W. Lon. The king who reigned when Mr Park was in the country was extremely kind to our traveller, though his son plundered him unmercifully, like other rapacious chiefs of that savage country. From the top of a high hill, at some distance from the capital, "I had (says Mr Park) a most enchanting prospect of the country. The number of towns and villages, and the extensive cultivation around them, surpassed everything I had yet seen in Africa. A gross calculation may be formed of the number of inhabitants in this delightful plains, by considering, that the king of Kasson can raise four thousand fighting men by the sound of his war drum."

At Teece, a large unwalled town, where our author resided for some days, he had an opportunity of observing the customs of the inhabitants, who consisted partly of Pagans and partly of Buttreens, i.e., of negroes converted to Mahomedanism. Though these people possess both cattle and corn in abundance, rats, moles, squirrels, snakes, locusts, &c., are eaten without scruple by the highest and lowest. Another custom, still more extraordinary, is, that no woman is allowed to eat an egg. This prohibition, whether arising from ancient superstition, or from the craftiness of some old Buttreen who loved eggs himself, is rigidly adhered to; and nothing will more affront a woman of Teece than to offer her an egg. The custom is the more flagrant, as the men eat eggs without scruple in the presence of their wives, and Mr Park never observed the same prohibition in any other of the Mandingo countries.

Our author was present at a palaver held by the governor of Teece on a very extraordinary occasion; of which we shall give his account at full length, because it shows how free men are reduced to slavery in North Africa. "The case was this. A young man, a Kafir, of considerable influence, who had recently married a young and handsome wife, applied to a very devout Buttreen, or Musulman priest, of his acquaintance, to procure him saphies for his protection during the approaching war. The Buttreen complied with the request; and in order, as he pretended, to render the saphies more efficacious, enjoined the young man to avoid any nuptial intercourse with his bride for the space of six weeks. Severe as the injunction was, the Kafir strictly obeyed; and without telling his wife the real cause, abstained himself from her company. In the mean time it began to be whispered at Teece, that the Buttreen, who always performed his evening devotions at the door of the Kafir's hut, was more intimate with the young wife than he ought to be. At first, the good husband was unwilling to suspect the honour of his sanctified friend, and one whole month elapsed before any jealousy rose in his mind; but hearing the charge repeated, he at last interrogated his wife on the subject, who frankly confessed that the Buttreen had seduced her. Hereupon the Kafir put her into confinement, and called a palaver upon the Buttreen's conduct. The fact was clearly proved against him; and he was sentenced to be sold into slavery, or to find two slaves for his redemption, according to the pleasure of the complaint. The injured husband, however, was unwilling to proceed against his friend to such extremity, and desired rather to have him publicly flogged before the governor's gate. This was agreed to, and the sentence was immediately executed. The culprit was tied by the hands to a strong stake; and a long black rod being brought forth, the executioner, after flourishing it round his head for some time, applied it with such force and dexterity to the Buttreen's back, as to make him roar until the woods resounded with his screams. The surrounding multitude, by their cheering and laughing, manifested how much they enjoyed the punishment of this old gallant; and it is worthy of remark, that the number of stripes was precisely the same as are enjoined by the Mosaic law, forty, save one."

The method of converting the negro nations to the religion religion of the Arabian Impostor is a very singular one; and Mr Park saw the whole people of Teejee converted in an instant. During his residence in that town an embassy of ten people belonging to Almami Abdalkader, king of Foota Torra, a country to the west of Bondou, arrived at Teejee; and deeming Tigrity Segu the governor to call an assembly of the inhabitants, announced publicly their king's determination, to this effect: "That unless all the people of Kafton would embrace the Mahomedan religion, and evince their conversion by saying eleven public prayers, he (the king of Foota Torra) could not possibly stand neuter in the present contest, but would certainly join his arms to those of Kajaaga." A message of this nature, from so powerful a prince, could not fail to create great alarm; and the inhabitants of Teejee, after a long consultation, agreed to conform to his good pleasure, humiliating as it was to them. Accordingly, one and all publicly offered up eleven prayers, which were considered a sufficient testimony of their having renounced Paganism, and embraced the doctrines of the Prophet.

Our author relates a story, which we cannot refuse ourselves the pleasure of inserting, because it exhibits a very pleasing picture of the affection and gratitude of the pagan negroes. In his train was a blacksmith, who had lived some years on the Gambia, and who now returned to his own country Kafton. "Soon after we came in sight of Jimbo, his native town (says Mr Park), his brother, who had by some means been apprised of his coming, came out to meet him, accompanied by a singing man: he brought a horse for the blacksmith, that he might enter his native town in a dignified manner; and he desired each of us to put a good charge of powder into our guns. The singing man now led the way, followed by the two brothers; and we were presently joined by a number of people from the town, all of whom demonstrated great joy at seeing their old acquaintance the blacksmith, by the most extravagant jumping and singing. On entering the town, the singing man began an extempore song in praise of the blacksmith, extolling his courage in having overcome so many difficulties; and concluding with a strict injunction to his friends to dress him plenty of victuals.

"When we arrived at the blacksmith's place of residence, we dismounted and fired our muskets. The meeting between him and his relations was very tender; for these rude children of nature, free from restraint, display their emotions in the strongest and most expressive manner. Amidst these transports, the blacksmith's aged mother was led forth, leaning upon a staff. Every one made way for her; and she stretched out her hand to bid her son welcome. Being totally blind, she stroked his hands, arms, and face, with great care, and seemed highly delighted that her latter days were blest by his return, and that her ears once more heard the music of his voice. From this interview I was fully convinced, that whatever difference there is between the Negro and European in the conformation of the nose and the colour of the skin, there is none in the genuine sympathies and characteristic feelings of our common nature.

"During the tumult of these congratulations, I had seated myself apart, by the side of one of the huts, being unwilling to interrupt the flow of filial and parental tendernefs; and the attention of the company was fo entirely taken up with the blacksmith, that I believe none of his friends had observed me. When all the people present had feated themselves, the blacksmith was desired by his father to give them some account of his adventures; and silence being commanded, he began; and after repeatedly thanking God for the success that had attended him, related every material occurrence that had happened to him from his leaving Kafton to his arrival at the Gambia; his employment and success in those parts; and the dangers he had escaped in returning to his native country. In the latter part of his narration, he had frequently occasion to mention me; and after many strong expressions concerning my kindness to him, he pointed to the place where I sat, and exclaimed, affiche ici firing, 'see him sitting there.'" In a moment all eyes were turned upon me; I appeared like a being dropped from the clouds; every one was surprised that they had not observed me before; and a few women and children expressed great uneasiness at being so near a man of such an uncommon appearance. By degrees, however, their apprehensions subsided; and when the blacksmith assured them that I was perfectly inoffensive, and would hurt nobody, some of them ventured so far as to examine the texture of my clothes; but many of them were still very suspicious; and when by accident I happened to move myself, or look at the young children, their mothers would scamper off with them with the greatest precipitation. In a few hours, however, they all became reconciled to me." With these worthy people our author spent the greater part of two days in feasting and merriment; the blacksmith accompanied him to the capital; and declared, that he would not leave him while he resided there.