An Old
Foulah, Observing Me Wandering About The Town, Desired Me To Come To
His Hut, Where I Was Well Entertained; And The Dooty, When He
Returned, Sent Me Some Victuals For Myself And Corn For My Horse.
July 7.
- In the morning, when I was about to depart, my landlord,
with a great deal of diffidence, begged me to give him a lock of my
hair. He had been told, he said, that white men's hair made a
saphie that would give to the possessor all the knowledge of white
men. I had never before heard of so simple a mode of education, but
instantly complied with the request.
I reached a small town called Wassiboo, about twelve o'clock, where
I was obliged to stop until an opportunity should offer of procuring
a guide to Satile, which is distant a very long day's journey,
through woods without any beaten path. I accordingly took up my
residence at the dooty's house, where I stayed four days, during
which time I amused myself by going to the fields with the family to
plant corn. Cultivation is carried on here on a very extensive
scale; and, as the natives themselves express it, "Hunger is never
known." In cultivating the soil the men and women work together.
They use a large sharp hoe, much superior to that used in Gambia,
but they are obliged, for fear of the Moors, to carry their arms
with them to the field. The master, with the handle of his spear,
marks the field into regular plats, one of which is assigned to
every three slaves.
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