had never indulged a conjecture, nor formed any hypothesis, about the matter.  The moon, by varying her form, has more attracted their attention.  On the first appearance of the new moon, which they look upon to be newly created, the pagan natives, as well as Mohammedans, say a short prayer; and this seems to be the only visible adoration which the kafirs offer up to the Supreme Being.  This prayer is pronounced in a whisper, the party holding up his hands before his face:  its purport (as I have been assured by many different people) is to return thanks to God for His kindness through the existence of the past moon, and to solicit a continuation of His favour during that of the new one.  At the conclusion they spit upon their hands and rub them over their faces.  This seems to be nearly the same ceremony which prevailed among the heathens in the days of Job. {5}

Great attention, however, is paid to the changes of this luminary in its monthly course, and it is thought very unlucky to begin a journey, or any other work of consequence, in the last quarter.  An eclipse, whether of the sun or moon, is supposed to be effected by witchcraft.  The stars are very little regarded; and the whole study of astronomy appears to them as a useless pursuit, and attended to by such persons only as deal in magic.

Their notions of geography are equally puerile.  They imagine that the world is an extended plain, the termination of which no eye has discovered—­it being, they say, overhung with clouds and darkness.  They describe the sea as a large river of salt water, on the farther shore of which is situated a country called Tobaubo doo (the land of the white people).  At a distance from Tobaubo doo they describe another country, which they allege as inhabited by cannibals of gigantic size, called komi.  This country they call Jong sang doo (the land where the slaves are sold).  But of all countries in the world their own appears to them as the best, and their own people as the happiest, and they pity the fate of other nations, who have been placed by Providence in less fertile and less fortunate districts.

Some of the religious opinions of the negroes, though blended with the weakest credulity and superstition, are not unworthy attention.  I have conversed with all ranks and conditions upon the subject of their faith, and can pronounce, without the smallest shadow of doubt, that the belief of one God and of a future state of reward and punishment is entire and universal among them.  It is remarkable, however, that except on the appearance of a new moon, as before related, the pagan natives do not think it necessary to offer up prayers and supplications to the Almighty.  They represent the Deity, indeed, as the creator and preserver of all things, but in general they consider Him as a being so remote and of so exalted a nature that it is idle to imagine the feeble supplications of wretched mortals can reverse the decrees and change the purposes of unerring wisdom.