In addition to the woods I have already named, there are many others for building, viz. todso, worsmore, and a fine yellow wood, called barzilla, the black and the white mangrove, boxwood of a superior quality, conta, a remarkable fine wood for building, and various kinds of mahogany, of a beautiful colour, and large dimensions.
It has also been observed in the previous section, that one of the musical instruments used by the Africans of the Windward Coast, named by them kilara, is formed from the calabash, a pumpkin which grows from the size of a goblet to that of a moderate sized tub, and serves every purpose almost of household utensils.
They divide this pumpkin into two hemispheres, with the utmost accuracy, and it is excavated by pouring boiling water inside, to soften the pulp. The inside is cleaned with great neatness, and they execute upon the outside various designs and paintings, both fanciful and eccentric, such as birds, beasts, serpents, alligators, &c.
In fine, the objects of commerce and enjoyment in this country are, comparatively speaking, inexhaustible; and this is a part of the world which England has hitherto strangely neglected, because its mysteries are unknown. It only requires the happy influence of civilization, agriculture, and natural commerce, to surprize and enrich those, who humanely and wisely interfere to procure these blessings to its inhabitants.
The system of establishment to attain these important ends to our commerce, and to the bewildered African, should be skilfully planned, and wisely adapted to the present condition of the country, for the hasty conclusion of the abolition of the slave trade never can, in its present state, meet the views and objects of rational humanity. Is the United Kingdom, at this crisis, when the enormous power of our adversary has shut the door of commerce against us in every direction where his influence and dictates command, to abandon Africa, so abundant and versatile in its natural productions and resources, to contingencies, and to the grasp of other nations? Forbid it, humanity, and forbid it, wise policy! Let civil laws, religion, and morality, exercise their influence in behalf of the Negro race, whom barbarism has subjected to our dominion, and let the beneficence and wisdom of Government devise a system of agriculture and commercial operation, upon the maritime situations of Africa, as the most effectual means to freedom of intercourse with its interior.
The operations of impracticable theories and misguided zeal have accomplished an unqualified abolition of the slave trade, which I am persuaded will be highly injurious to the commercial and manufacturing interests of our country; and is a measure which humanity will have deeply to deplore, while in its tendency it is pernicious to the African, and auspicious to the views of France.
Without doubt the ability and energies of the present administration will be directed to avert these calamities; and amidst the important diliberations which now occupy their attention, the condition of Africa, the wealth derivable from so important a quarter of the earth, and the relations involved with it, will not be overlooked by them.
A VOCABULARY
OF THE
LANGUAGE OF THE PRINCIPAL NATIONS OF THE
WINDWARD COAST OF AFRICA.
| ENGLISH | JOLLIFF | SOOSEE | TIMMANEE |
| —————— | —————————- | —————————— | ———————— |
| One | Ben | Kiring | Pen |
| Two | Yar | Faring | Prung |
| Three | Niet | Shooking | Tisas |
| Four | Nianett | Nari | Pánlee |
| Five | Gurum | Shooli | Tomát |
| Six | Gurum ben | Shinie | Rókin |
| Seven | Gurum yar | Shulifiring | Dayring |
| Eight | Gurum Niet | Shulimashukúng | Daysas |
| Nine | Gurum Niant | Shulimang | Daynga |
| Ten | Fue | Fooang | Tofot |
| Twenty | Nill | Mahwinia | Tofot Marung |
| Thirty | Fanever | Tongashukúng | Tofot Masas |
| Forty | Nianett Fue | Tonganani | Tofot Manlu |
| Fifty | Guaum Fue | Tongashulang | Tofot Tomat |
| Sixty | Gurum ben Fue | Tongashini | Tofot Rokin |
| Seventy | Gurum yar Fue | Tongashulifiring | Tofot Dayring |
| Eighty | Gurum Niet Fue | Tongashulimashakung | Tofot Daysas |
| Ninety | Gurum Nianet Fue | Tongashulimanáne | Tofot Danygah |
| One Hundred | Temer | Kimé | Tofot Tofot |
| I | Emtang | Eto or Munga | |
| Thou | Etang | Moota or Moonga | |
| He | Atang | Otto or Ken | |
| It | Atang | Ree | |
| We | Mackutang | Sitta or Shang | |
| Ye | Wotang | Angsha | |
| They | Etang | Angna | |
| God | Tallah | ||
| The Devil | Ghiné | ||
| Heaven | Assaman |
| ENGLISH | JOLLIFF | SOOSEE | MANDINGO |
| —————— | —————————— | ———————- | ————————— |
| The Sun | Burham Safara | Shuge | Teelee |
| The Moon | Burham Safara Lion | Kige | Koro |
| Gold | Ourous | Sanoo | |
| Father | Bail | Taffe | Fa |
| My Father | Samma Bail | ||
| Mother | De | Inga | Ba |
| My Mother | Samma De | ||
| Man | Gour | Mo or Fato | |
| Woman | Diguén | Mooséa | |
| Brother | Rak Gour | Tarakunjia | Ba Ding Kea |
| My Brother | Samma Rak Gour | ||
| Sister | Rak Diguén | Magine | Ba Ding Mooséa |
| My Sister | Samma Rak Diguén | ||
| Head | Bop | Hung Hungji | Roon |
| My Head | Samma Bop | ||
| Tongue | Lamin | Ning Ningje | Ning |
| Mouth | Guémin | Dé | Da |
| Nose | Bauane | Nieue | Nung |
| Bread | Bourou | Munko | |
| Water | Dock | Gee | |
| Teeth | Guené | ||
| Bowels | Bouthet | ||
| Belly | Birr | Kono | |
| Fingers | Baram | Boalla Ronding | |
| Arm | Lokoó | Boalla Same for hand. | |
| Hair | Cayor | ||
| The Beard | Jekim | Habe de Habe | Bora |
| White | Toulha é | Fihe | Qui |
| Black | Jolof | Foro | Fing |
| Good | Bachna | Fang | Bettie |
| Bad | Bahout | Niaake | Jox |