Some Historical Account of Guinea, Its Situation, Produce, and the General Disposition of Its Inhabitants eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 151 pages of information about Some Historical Account of Guinea, Its Situation, Produce, and the General Disposition of Its Inhabitants.

Some Historical Account of Guinea, Its Situation, Produce, and the General Disposition of Its Inhabitants eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 151 pages of information about Some Historical Account of Guinea, Its Situation, Produce, and the General Disposition of Its Inhabitants.
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.]

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