from the red India silk taffity, having no red dye which they can render permanent. The plant which yields indigo is indigenous to the soil; in fixing the colour extracted from which, they show much practical knowledge, although the process differs but little from the mode which Mr. Park saw adopted at Sansanding. Cotton thread is always dyed before it is woven and dressed. Kidskins are tied all over in knobs, very tight, then soaked for some days in a strong dye, and, when untied, exhibit a pattern resembling a star, or rays of blue and white radiating from round blue spots. There are three or four smiths in the town, where are made hoes, cutlasses, nails, bolts, hinges, staples, and bits for bridles.

The bellows used by the smiths are ingeniously contrived, consisting of two rough goat-skins, set in the ground, two feet asunder, and resembling in form, when inflated, two kettle-drums reversed. A stick, about four feet long, is introduced into the

upper part of each skin, to which it is tied. The sticks serve as handles, and are moved alternately by a man having one in each hand. A pipe leads from each skin, and terminates in another pipe, before reaching the fire at the junction, the pipes are not air-tight, so that one skin, by this means, receives air, while the other discharges it.

Soap is manufactured of wood-ashes and palm-oil; sandals, of bull and cow hides; baskets, of various forms, are ingeniously wrought and manufactured; also, earthenware, for culinary and other

sides stools, canoes, and mats.

purposes; be

A singular custom prevails here, that of anointing, occasionally, the interior walls of houses with fresh cow-dung; a useful practice, for it dries quickly, has by no means an unpleasant smell, and fills up crevices, which would otherwise be tenanted by noxious and troublesome insects.

The Ardrahs are, in their persons, goodlooking, muscular, and very black; and

G

their tattoo, or national mark, consists of three knobs of skin raised horizontally from each temple. Their dress is simple, and, like that of Africans in general, except in the case of those who have adopted the Moorish costume.

The government is republican, although some of the leading men exercise over the common people a kind of influence derived from hereditary right, and seem to divide the power of governing them, with others who have acquired considerable wealth by their commercial dealings.

These men, when they appear in public, either on visits of ceremony, or for recreation, are always attended by one or two hundred domestic slaves and retainers, who are armed with clubs, cutlasses, and other weapons.

The most wealthy man in the town is Tammata, but who is better known by his European name, Monsieur Pierre. He is a native of Housa, and was originally a slave

and taken to France by the master of a French vessel, when very young. Being a sharp boy, he was sent to school, where he was taught reading, writing, and accounts; and his services to his master, during his trading voyages to Africa, were afterwards so beneficial, that he gave him his freedom, and assisted him to commence business on his own account, by granting him credit to a considerable amount. Speaking the Housa, Eyeo, and French languages, his business (that of a slave merchant) became very extensive; and he soon outstripped his com petitors in wealth and influence, which, as these increased, his dwelling was enlarged, the number of his wives and domestics aug. mented, and his whole establishment as sumed something of a royal form. His house contains upwards of thirty apart ments, and his seraglio nearly as many wives; and the whole is surrounded by a high mud wall, which encloses an area of about ten statute acres. His furniture is a

mixture of French and African; for, although he is ostentatious in the display of his European finery, his taste is pure African. He dresses as an European; and his dejeunes and dinès are quite à la mode de Français, of which a number of French officers are constant partakers, Monsieur Pierre sitting at the head, and performing the honours of the table. At his back are arranged a number of his youngest wives, who wait upon him exclusively, and place before him those dishes adapted to his taste; which consist of vegetables, fish, and animal food, highly seasoned, well buttered with palm oil, and wherein potash is mixed in lieu of salt, and which seasoning is very commonly used as a substitute for salt by the natives of Ardrah, Housa, and Eyeo. His wives tasted each dish in his presence, and before it was placed on the table; a precaution he is in the constant habit of having performed by them, in order to deter them from mixing any thing in his food of