districts[E].” Vasconcelas, an author
mentioned in the collection, says, “The ancientest
are preferred to be the Prince’s counsellors,
who keep always about his person; and the men of most
judgment and experience are the judges.” The
Fulis are settled on both sides of the river Senegal:
Their country, which is very fruitful and populous,
extends near four hundred miles from East to West.
They are generally of a deep tawny complexion, appearing
to bear some affinity with the Moors, whose country
they join on the North. They are good farmers,
and make great harvest of corn, cotton, tobacco, &c.
and breed great numbers of cattle of all kinds. Bartholomew
Stibbs, (mentioned by Fr. Moor) in his
account of that country says,[F] “They were
a cleanly, decent, industrious people, and very affable.”
But the most particular account we have, of these
people, is from Francis Moor himself, who says,[G]
“Some of these Fuli blacks who dwell on both
sides the river Gambia, are in subjection to the Mandingos,
amongst whom they dwell, having been probably driven
out of their country by war or famine. They have
chiefs of their own, who rule with much moderation.
Few of them will drink brandy, or any thing stronger
than water and sugar, being strict Mahometans.
Their form of government goes on easy, because the
people are of a good quiet disposition, and so well
instructed in what is right, that a man who does ill,
is the abomination of all, and, none will support
him against the chief. In these countries, the
natives are not covetous of land, desiring no more
than what they use; and as they do not plough with
horses and cattle, they can use but very little, therefore
the Kings are willing to give the Fulis leave to live
in their country, and cultivate their lands. If
any of their people are known to be made slaves, all
the Fulis will join to redeem them; they also support
the old, the blind, and lame, amongst themselves;
and as far as their abilities go, they supply the
necessities of the Mandingos, great numbers of whom
they have maintained in famine.” The author,
from his own observations, says, “They were
rarely angry, and that he never heard them abuse one
another.”
[Footnote A: Astley’s collect. vol. 2. page 46.]
[Footnote B: Astley’s collection of voyages, vol. 2, page 86.]
[Footnote C: William Smith’s voyage to Guinea, page 31, 34.]
[Footnote D: Astley’s collection, vol. 2, page 358.]
[Footnote E: Idem. 259.]
[Footnote F: Moor’s travels into distant parts of Africa, page 198.]
[Footnote G: Ibid, page 21.]