The central situation of Bandon, betwixt the Gambia and Senegal rivers, has rendered it a place of great resort, both for the Slaters, or free 'black ' merchants, who trade chiefly in slaves from the coast to the interior ; and for occasional traders, who fre quently come from the 'inland countries to purchase Salt. - They also barter corn for iron, shea•butter,* and gold-dust • and they sell a variety of sweet smel ling gums, which are used as perfumes4 The cus toms and duties on travellers 'arc very heavy. In al most every town, an ass load paysa bar of European tnerbliandise a and in the capital one Indian haft, or a musket, and six bottles of gunpowder; are exacted bs 'the common tribute. In consequence of these duties, the king of is well .supplied with arms and ammunition, and is formidable to the.neighhour ing states.
The following interesting account of 'the journey bf M. Rubault through the kingdom of Bondou, 'is given by M. Durand, under whose orders he was -employed.
" On the 10th of 'February 1786, Rubault•set off early in and arrived at noon at the village of Tilliko, a frontier of the kingdom of this is probably the same village which Mungo •Park.calls Tallika, and by which he also entered the kingdom., .The major part of the inhabitants of this :village are :Foulahs, who profess the Mahometan religion : they -are merchants, who enrich themselves either by sup plying the caravans which :pass through their coon: try with provisions, or by the sale of 'ivory, •which they procure by -Minting elephants, 'to which they 'are accustomed from their infancy.
By the 1•th Rttbault had reached the of .Coursan, the'ordiriarrresidence bf :the king 'of 'the country,'whose name ls Almami. It is of )remark,'that Mr-Park nolongerlollowed the track Of my traveller ; for he indicates the residence the king of tondou to beat the village df 'Fatte •onda, on the right bank of the river Taleme, and at a great distance from Coursan. Both 'gentle men saw the king, and have given a description of Abe palace which he inhabited, which exactly correspond ; hence we can only reconcile the diffe rence in the places to arise from the king hairing•pa • laces at'each of them.
•His majesty being at a country seat, the was received by his prime minister, who supplied him with provisions, and told him that the king would' arrive the next 'day. On the 14th the.:queen saw him, and entroated him to stop a little longer, as she had sent an express to her husband, who shortly re-' turned with intelligence' that he was coming. An ox was therefore killed; and the king, on arriving, sent for our traveller.
After' asking him the usual questions; as to what had brought him into his country, he wished to know,' if I had not sent lihn some present ? Rubault answered, that I intended to do so, • but that he had distributed all the merchandise which I had given him. He, however, promised to send the king what ever he might wish for, as soon as he-arrived at Ga lam. His majesty appeared surprised, and replied, that his father used to Nceive great presents from the factoryat ('slam; but he had had nothing from them. He concluded by adding-, that, as Rubault had brought him no present, he would nut suffer him to 'depart. The next day, however, he became more tractable, told him that no harm should happen to him ; 'but insisted on receiving a present, it being an ancient privilege which he would not forego. It was
at length agreed, that Rubault- should send him a compliment from :-Galam, which was fixed at two pieces of guinea, .a fine musket, four pounds of pow der,.onc hundred flints, one hundred bullets, and a pair of double-barrelled pistols. This demand from so powerful a king was considered as very moderate; nevertheless, by 'way of making sure of the articles, be ordered three men to go with Rubault as far as 'Galam, under pretence of escorting him, where they :faithfully received the promised allowance, as well as 'several magnificent presents for the king's women.
The queen having reported her opinion to the other 'women, they all wished to see the 'tray -Her, and he was in consequence conducted to the square -where they resided., Immediately on his entrance, they all rushed out, surrounded him, and expressed their -astonishment by langhing mid shouting. Several of -them would touch his eyes, and others, his hands, nose, 'etc., at which they:expressed surprise and curiosity : they then asked him a•number of questions, as to the origin of the colour of his skin, as well as about the -white women, their amorous propensities, and the 'conduct of their husbands towards them. 'Rubault satisfied'them as•well as he could, and did not fail to -flatter them. Indeed, he asserts, that there were many of them that were 'handsome and well shaped. -Most of them were -young : he endeavoured to count 'them, 'but •could not, as they were continually rim ming about 'him; he, however, supposes, that there 'were 'at least fifty. • •The village of Coursan is surrounded with pali -sades, and contains about .1200 inhabitants. Rubault then continued his journey • and on thelith quitted the kingdom of Bondou. .The duties or.customs are very rigorous in this state; and in many of its towns, the value of a bar in European merchandise is paid for the passage of a loaded ass. Inthe part where the king resides, they demand a musket and a barrel of 'powder: I lately, spoke of the preparations for war, which this sovereign was making against the king of Bambouk : the expedition was successful, and the conquered party was obliged to cede all the countries and villages on the eastern ..bank of the Faleme.
If it were not for the uncharitable-maxims of the Koran, the Foulahs of Bondou, who are naturally good, would be kinder to •strangers,.and less reser ved in their conduct towards Mandingos : my traveller, however, had nothing to cotnplain of, as he was very well treated.
The government is under the influence of the Ma hometan laws, with the exception of the king and his family ; but though the great people of the state be Mussulmans, temy are wise enough not to sanction religious persecution ; and Pagans and Mussulmans consequently live in peace together.
The Foulahs have a particular language; but al most all of them speak Arabic ; they are graziers, and merchants, and every where live in abun dance ; but at Bondou they enjoy in profusion all the 'necessaries of life." See Park's Travels, chap. iv. ; -Golberry's Travels, vol. i. ; Rennel's Proceedings of the African Institution ; and Durand's Voyage to Senegal, chap. xv. (A. r.)