The Discovery of the Source of the Nile | Page 8

fowl side by side,
and covers them over with a second large earthen vessel, just like the
first, only inverted, to keep the steam in, when he sets fire below, cooks
for a certain period of time, and then looks to see if his victims are still
living or dead--when, should they be dead, the war must be deferred,
but, otherwise commenced at once.
These extremes, however, are not often resorted to, for the natives are
usually content with simpler means, such as flaying a goat, instead of a
child, to be walked over; while, to prevent any evil approaching their
dwellings a squashed frog, or any other such absurdity, when place on
the track, is considered a specific.
How the negro has lived so many ages without advancing, seems

marvellous, when all the countries surrounding Africa are so forward in
comparison; and judging from the progressive state of the world, one is
led to suppose that the African must soon either step out from his
darkness, or be superseded by a being superior to himself. Could a
government be formed for them like ours in India, they would be saved;
but without it, I fear there is very little chance; for at present the
African neither can help himself nor will he be helped about by others,
because his country is in such a constant state of turmoil he has too
much anxiety on hand looking out for his food to think of anything else.
As his fathers ever did, so does he. He works his wife, sells his children,
enslaves all he can lay hands upon, and, unless when fighting for the
property of others, contents himself with drinking, singing, and dancing
like a baboon to drive dull care away. A few only make cotton cloth, or
work in wood, iron, copper, or salt; their rule being to do as little as
possible, and to store up nothing beyond the necessities of the next
season, lest their chiefs or neighbours should covet and take it from
them.
Slavery, I may add, is one great cause of laziness, for the masters
become too proud to work, lest they should be thought slaves
themselves. In consequence of this, the women look after the household
work--such as brewing, cooking, grinding corn, making pottery and
baskets, and taking care of the house and the children, besides helping
the slaves whilst cultivating, or even tending the cattle sometimes.
Now, descending to the inferior order of creation, I shall commence
with the domestic animals first, to show what the traveller may expect
to find for his usual support. Cows, after leaving the low lands near the
coast, are found to be plentiful everywhere, and to produce milk in
small quantities, from which butter is made. Goats are common all over
Africa; but sheep are not so plentiful, nor do they show such good
breeding--being generally lanky, with long fat tails. Fowls, much like
those in India, are abundant everywhere. A few Muscovy ducks are
imported, also pigeons and cats. Dogs, like the Indian pariah, are very
plentiful, only much smaller; and a few donkeys are found in certain
localities. Now, considering this good supply of meat, whilst all
tropical plants will grow just as well in central equatorial Africa as they

do in India, it surprises the traveller there should be any famines; yet
such is too often the case, and the negro, with these bounties within his
reach, is sometimes found eating dogs, cats, rats, porcupines, snakes,
lizards, tortoises, locusts, and white ants, or is forced to seek the seeds
of wild grasses, or to pluck wild herbs, fruits, and roots; whilst at the
proper seasons they hunt the wild elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, pigs,
and antelopes; or, going out with their arrows, have battues against the
guinea-fowls and small birds.
The frequency with which collections of villages are found all over the
countries we are alluding to, leaves but very little scope for the runs of
wild animals, which are found only in dense jungles, open forests, or
praires generally speaking, where hills can protect them, and near rivers
whose marshes produce a thick growth of vegetation to conceal them
from their most dreaded enemy--man. The prowling, restless elephant,
for instance, though rarely seen, leaves indications of his nocturnal
excursions in every wilderness, by wantonly knocking down the
forest-trees. The morose rhinoceros, though less numerous, are found in
every thick jungle. So is the savage buffalo, especially delighting in
dark places, where he can wallow in the mud and slake his thirst
without much trouble; and here also we find the wild pig.
The gruff hippopotamus is as widespread as any, being found wherever
there is water to float him; whilst the shy giraffe and zebra affect all
open forests and plains where the