The Foulahs in general are of a tawny complexion, with fmall features, and foft filky hair; next to the Mandingoes they are undoubtedly the most confiderable of all the nations in this part of Africa. Their original country is faid to be Fooladoo (which fignifies the country of the Foulahs); but they poffefs at present many other kingdoms at a great diftance from each other; their complexion however, is not exactly the fame in the different diftricts; in Bondou, and the other kingdoms which are fituated in the vicinity of the Moorish territories, they are of a more yellow complexion than in the fouthern ftates. The Foulahs of Bondou are naturally of a mild and gentle difpofition, but the uncharitable maxims of the Koran have made them lefs hofpitable to ftrangers, and more referved in their behaviour than the Mandingoes. They evidently confider all the negro natives as their inferiors; and when talking of different nations, always rank themfelves among the white people. Their government differs from that of the Mandingoes chiefly in this, that they are more immediately under the influence of the Mas homedan laws; for all the chief men (the king excepted) and a large majority of the inhabitants of Bondou, are Muffulmen, and the authority and laws of the prophet, are every where looked upon as facred and decifive. In the exercise of their faith, however, they are not very intolerant towards fuch of their countrymen as ftill retain their ancient fuperftitions. Religious perfecation is not known among them, or is it neceflary; for the fyftem of Mahomet is made to extend itfelf by means abundantly more effica With the Mahomedan faith is alfo introduced the Arabic language, with which moft of the Foulahs have a flight acquaintance. Their native tongue abounds very much in liquids, but there is fomething unpleasant in the manner of pronouncing it. A ftranger on hearing the common converfation of two Foulahs, would imagine that they were fcolding each other. Their numerals are thefe: veffel was captured by them, they repaired to Malta and fold the crew: when a fimilar misfortune happened to a Chriftian, the Turks became the purchafers; and it was no uncommon matter for a Mahometan to bargain with a Mainotte to feize and carry into flavery fome particuJar Chriftian whofe fortune or fituation might excite his envy-fo little fcrupulous were they in this refpect, that the wife or child of their neighbour was equally obnoxious to their arts. So much terror and dread did this unnatural traffic occafion amongst themselves, that when any of their famous corfairs were preparing for fea, the handfome women and children were carefully fecured, left they fhould be ftolen and fold into other countries. On this fubject a pleasant story is related of two famous corfairs of the year 1669: Theodora and Anapliottis, friends and neighbours, connected by fimilarity of profeffion and difpofion, were married to handsome women. It happened, in the divifion of a Venetian prize, that a quarrel enfued between these venders of their fellow creatures-each in his turn vowed revenge. Theodora fucceeded in feizing on the wife of Anapliottis, and carried her for fale on board a Maltese cruifer, then at anchor in the road of Maina. The commander of the Maltese refufed to give the price demanded; urged his having on the fame day purchafed a more beautiful woman for a lefs fum: and, to convince him of the truth, he ordered her to be produced. Theodora was aftonished to behold his wife, who in like manner had been carried away by the ftratagem of Anapliottis. The mind of Theodora was enraged, and the idea of extricating his own was, for the moment, loft in the farage gratification and revenge of pofing of the wife of the other, at the inferior price offered by the purchaser. The bargain being f nifhed, and both wives in the pol feflion of the Maltefe, Theodora repaired to the house of Anapliotis the meeting was of a different nature from what might be ex pected: he found Anapliottis bufly employed in fitting out a veffel to attack the Maltese, and regain the fair captive. In place of anger and reproach, they prudently agreed to join their forces, and to recover their wives by any means that might beft fuit their purpofe; but the purchafer was too judicions to oppofe, and quietly gave up what with fafety to himself he could not retain. The husbands returned in triumph to their respective houses; all parties were reconciled; and mutual forgivness clofed this extraordinary tranfaction. to two diforders, the frequent return of which obliges him to take medicine daily. He is from five feet eight to nine inches high; is now rather inclined to fat, although, a few years fince, he was very thin: his face is round, with large full eyes; and there is much animation and fire in his countenance: he wears whiskers, but no beard: he is very active, and fometimes takes long walks. He has eleven children, of whom only two are in marriage; the elder, girl of feven years; the younger, a boy of four years. The eldest of his natural children, s a girl of feventeen years; the econd, a fon of fifteen years-He s a great favourite, and accompaties his father upon all occafionsis name is Gullaum Heyder. Another fon, Abdul Khalick, is ten years old. His difpofition is naturally cruel: is temper is paffionate and revengeal; and he is prone to be abufive; and his words are falfe and hypocriical, as fuit his purposes. His policy, thus far differing widely from his father, has been ainous to his revenues, as well as burtful to his government. He professes himself Naib to one of the welve prophets, who, the Mahomnedans believe, are yet to come; and he perfecutes all other cafts; foreing numbers to become Muffulmen. He is jealous of, and preudiced against, his father's favourtes; most of whom he has removed from their offices, giving to fome effer appointments. When compared to his father, his understandng and judgement are fuppofed to De inferior: he is efteemed as good foldier, but a lefs fkilful general; and he is wanting in that great re 8 fource, which his father fo eminently difplayed in all cafes of danger. His father difcriminated merit, rewarded it liberally, and punished guilt with the utmost rigour of a defpot: he gives little encouragement or reward; and he punishes more from the influence of paffion and prejudice than from any attention to juftice. His father was affiduous in gaining the attachment of his army he is rather negligent of it; and being very parfimonious, he is led to impofe upon his troops, whenever opportunities offer: he fometimes retains their pay for feveral months, and has his own focars to lend his money at an enormous intereft, which is ftopped when the pay is iffued. : On Tippoo's return to Seringapa tam, after the conclufion of the war with the English, he took an inventory of his property of every kind, which, in treasure and various other articles, on valuation, food at twenty crores of pagodas: in the treafury, Bahaudry pagodas (four rupees each), five crores: the remaining fifteen crores were in jewels, valuable clothes, &c. &c.; and and in better condition than thofe of the Mandingoes; but in Bondou they are opulent in a high degree, and enjoy all the neceflaries of life in the greatest profufion. They difplay great fill in the management of their cattle, making them extremely gentle by kindness and familiarity. On the approach of night, they are collected from the woods, and fecured in folds, called korrees, which are conftructed in the neighbourhood of the different villages. In the middle of each korree is erected a small hut, wherein one of two of the herdfmen keep watch during the night to prevent the cattle from being ftolen, and to keep up the fires which are kindled round the korree to frighten away the wild beafts. HE Mainottes poflefs a cha The cattle are milked in the Trader diners from any people mornings and evenings: the milk is excellent; but the quantity obtained from any one cow is by no means fo great as in Europe. The Foulahs ufe the milk chiefly as an article of diet, and that, not until it is quite four. The cream which it affords is very thick, and is converted into butter by firring it violently in a large calabah. This butter, when melted over a gentle fire, and freed from impurities, is preferved in small earthern pots, and forms a part in most of their difhes; it ferves likewife to anoint their heads, and is beflowed very liberally on their faces and arms. But although milk is plentiful, it is fomewhat remarkable that the Foulahs, and indeed all the inhabitants of this part of Africa, are totally unacquainted with the art of making cheese. A firm attachment to the customs of their anceftors, makes them view with an eye of projudice every thing that looks in modern Europe. Of the Greek church, they are alike the enemy of the Chriftians and the Turks. P rates by fea, robbers by land; oppofed to corfairs of all denominations, they feem to regard themfelves as privileged plunderers on the deep. Reftrained by no laws, human divine, they are neither juft to themfelves, to their neighbours, or their friends. Cuftom, which becomes fecond nature, fanétions, and even the religion of the Mainottes approves the worft of crimes. The dexterity of the Spartans is here refined into fyftem and maturity. In most countries religion is at leaft a feeble check to irregularities, and has a tendency to guard the property of others: in this the calogers, or monks, from their cells and caves, are the fpies and fentinels to give warning of the approach of velich. On their appearance they piouly turn out to encourage the bandit, and to partake of their plunder. They They demand the tenths of the church, and by this means religion becomes a cloak to their infamy and knavery. The vices of the Mainottes are many, their virtues few. Were they deprived of courage, and the independence of their nature, there could no where be met fo defpicaUnworthy to affociate with any nation, they form no alliances, but depend on themfelves, the ftrength of their country, and their own infignificance. They are dextrous in handling the oar, and in ufing the fail; their veliels being alike adapted for both purposes. The beft failing Turkith or Venetian galleys fall very fort, either of the kill of their feamen, or the fwiftnefs of their cruizers; and the circumftance of their drawing little water, and being able, when purfued, to run into fhallow trecks, gives them a decided advantage. The Brazzo de Maina, as their country is termed, contains about 49,000 fouls-the tops of its mountains are frequently covered with fnow, whilft the bottom affords good pafture for their numerous herds of cattle and goats-their grapes are delicious, and make wine not inferior to that of Lepanthe, efteemed the beft in Greece. Game they have in abundance, particularly quails: thefe, when falted, afford them an agreeable and wholefome food, but the plenty of wild hogs, bears, and deer, is altogether incredible. The fineft water in the world is difilled from their mountains, and anning ftreams interfect the counry more than any other of the fame extent. What luxury is here for ne gratification of lo abandoned a eople! it is faid, that the moun tain of Tenara yields rock cryftal, minerals of various kinds, and even fome precious ftones. In the midst of this mountain is an extraordinary crater, very wide, and of an immenfe depth. This opening was by the ancient Greeks confecrated to Neptune, and is now fuppofed by the ignorant Mainottes to be the gateway of the devil, by which he vifits the earth. By the Lacedemonians it was efteemed one of the gates of hell, in the fame manner as the lake Peneus was fuppofed to be another, and the fource of the Styx. Hercules was reputed to have entered the Tenarean crater, when he conquered and carried off the tripleheaded Cerberus, when defending the infernal manfion of his master Pluto. The Mainottes ftill remain in a confiderable degree independent of the Turks, and are divided into two races: the inhabitants of the fouthern diftrict are denominated by the Turks Cacovouguis, or “the Rafcals of the Mountain," while thofe who poffefs the low country to the northward, are lefs favage and ferocious. They maintain a republican government, at the head of which are their papao or pricfts of the higher order, to whom are joined one or two of their moft opalent families. There is no doubt but their entire fubjugation could be cafily effected, were it ferioufly undertaken; but as I have already obferved, they are too infignificant; and befides, they are now bridled with citidals and garrifoned with Janizaries, which makes them cautious of plundering the Turks as they formerly ufed to do. In former times, and indeed not much above a century ago, the piracies of the Mainottes were flocking to humanity. When a Turkith |