shaped with the axe, for the natives have no saws.  The appearance of the place from a distance was very singular, for it consisted of 400 or 500 huts, all built in the same manner, with conical roofs thatched with grass.  No chimneys, spires, nor windows relieved the monotony of the scene.  Upon entering, we threaded our way through narrow passages, between high fences, as through the mazes of a labyrinth, where we might have wandered all day without finding an exit.  At last our guides brought us to a wicket-door, through which we passed, and found ourselves in Samba’s enclosure.  He welcomed us with great cordiality, and led us towards his dwelling through a group of inquisitive women and children.  It was a circular hut, rather larger than the others, and constructed with a little more care.  The wall was composed of large lumps of clay in square blocks, laid upon each other while still wet; these speedily dry and harden in the sun, forming a substantial support, of about four feet high, for the roof.  The roof is a conical frame of bamboo-cane thatched with long grass, having long eaves to protect the walls from the deluging rains of Africa.  The most substantial of these dwellings are liable to be undermined by wet, if the ground be level, or to be penetrated by rain, if the roof be not kept in good repair; in which case the sides can no longer support its weight.  For this, reason, deserted towns soon become heaps of mud ruins, and finally a mound of clay.

The interior of Samba’s dwelling was as simple as the outside.  On one side was a platform or hurdle of cane, raised about two feet from the ground upon stakes.  This served for a bedstead, and the bedding was composed of a simple skin or mat.  Being rich, Samba had other mats for himself and his friends to sit upon, and two or three low stools.  His gun, spear, leathern bottle, and other accoutrements, lay in a convenient place:  and we observed a couple of boxes, one of which contained clothes, and the other a heterogeneous mass of trifling valuables received from Europeans.  Of course such boxes and their contents are not of frequent occurrence in these lowly dwellings.  Near this hut was another small one which served for a kitchen:  it contained some earthen pots, wooden bowls, and calabashes, with iron pots and neat baskets as articles of distinction.  Here was also the large pestle and mortar, the use of which will be presently described.

Samba was dressed in the usual garb of a negro gentleman.  He wore large cotton drawers, which reached half-way down the leg, and a loose smock with wide sleeves.  On his feet were sandals, fastened with leathern straps over his toes, the legs being bare.  His head was covered with a white cap encircled with a Paisley shawl—­which I had formerly given him—­and which was worn in the manner of a turban.  Two large greegrees or amulets—­being leathern purses, containing some holy words or sacred scraps—­depended from his neck by silken