The Ship, Also, And Its Various Contrivances, As
Its Anchors, Masts, Sails, And Shrouds, Afforded Them Great Subjects For
Admiration And Wonder.
They looked upon the port-holes in the stern as
real eyes, by which the vessel was able to
Find her way in the sea; and
observed, that travellers on land found difficulty to find the road from
one place to another, while we were able to travel along the trackless
ocean; and that the whites must therefore be the greatest of sorcerers,
not inferior to the devil himself. They shewed great admiration on seeing
a lighted candle in a candlestick, having themselves no other artificial
light but that proceeding from a fire. They have honey-combs, but when
they find these, they suck out the honey, and throw away the empty comb
as useless. At one time, I bought some honey-combs from a negro, and
shewed him how to extract the honey; after which, on asking him if he
knew what remained, he said it was good for nothing: But he was greatly
astonished on seeing it made into candles, and lighted in his presence;
saying, that the Europeans knew every thing. Their only musical
instruments are two, one of which they have from the Moors, which is like
a large drum[5]; the other is somewhat like a fiddle, having only two
strings, which they play on with their fingers, but gives no sounds that
can be called harmonious.
[1] This is almost certainly palm oil, the origin of which will appear in
another division of this work. - E.
[2] The text must be here erroneous, as two paces, or ten feet, will
scarcely suffice in describing the boa constrictor, sometimes near
thirty feet long. - E.
[3] An account of the termites, or white ants of Africa, will appear
hereafter. The circumstance of serpents taking up their abode in the
large anthills, must be entirely accidental. - E.
[4] Probably the Pintado, or Guinea fowl. - E.
[5] This in Ramusio is called Tabacche, and Sambuka in Grynaeus. - Astl.
SECTION VII.
_Continuation of the Voyage from Senegal, by Cape Verd, the river
Barbasini, and to the river Gambia; and, returns to Portugal._
Having seen a considerable part of the dominions of Budomel, and received
the slaves which, were bargained for, in exchange for my horses and other
merchandize, I resolved to proceed on my voyage, round Cape Verd, and to
prosecute discoveries along this dangerous coast, and in particular, to
go in search of the kingdom of Gambia or Gambia, which Don Henry had
pointed out, on the information of a person who was well acquainted with
the country of the Negroes, as not far from Senegal, and from whence, it
was reported, that considerable quantities of gold might be procured.
Longing to go in quest of this gold, I took my leave of Budomel, and
repaired to the river Senegal, where I went on board the caravel and got
under weigh, as soon as possible. Soon after leaving the river Senegal,
as we were standing onward with a press of sail towards Cape.
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