I am informed from authority, that about 100 tons of kowries are annually shipped from England alone, to Guinea. These are originally imported from the Maldive islands into Bengal; and from Bengal into England. In Bengal, 2400, more or less, are equal to a shilling: and yet notwithstanding the incredible smallness of the denomination, some article in the market may be purchased for a single kowry. But in the inland parts of Africa, they are about ten times as dear; varying from 220 to 280. Mr. Beaufoy was told that in Kassina, they were at the rate of about 250: and Mr. Park reports, that they are about the same price at Sego: but cheaper at Tombuctoo, which is about the centre of the kowry country; dearer towards Manding, which is the western extremity of it. Hence they are probably carried in the first instance to Tombuctoo, the gold market: and thence distributed to the east and west. Their circulation seems to be confined between Bornou and Manding. In Bournou they have a coinage of base metal.
[181]African Assoc. Q. p. 176: O. p. 264.
[182]Mr. Park says that Kong signifies mountain, in the Mandinga language; which language is in use from the frontier of Bambara, to the western sea.
[183]Labat, Vol. iv. ch. 2.
[184]Bakui, and Herbelot; article Vankara.
[185]See Edrisi in particular, pages 11 and 12.
[186]Page 254.
[187]Edrisi, page 12.
[188]Mr. Bruce, Vol. iii. p. 647, says the same of the mountains of Dyre and Tegla, which are a continuation of the great belt, towards Abyssinia.
[189]Pliny, lib. xxxiii. c. 4.