FELOOPS, or FELU PPS, a tribe of negroes inhabiting the western coast of Africa, between the Gambia and the banks of the river Casamanza. The whole extent of the territory occupied by them, is about seventy-five miles in length by forty-five in breadth, terminating to the east near the sources of the latter river. It is of great fertility, well wooded, and abounding in rice, cattle, goats, and poultry, with which the traders on the Gambia arc copiously sup plied. Numbers of tigers, bears, and leopards, inhabit the forests, against which the natives carry on a bold and successful warfare, for the protection of their herds, and sell the skins to negroes of adjoining districts, by whom they are brought to the European settlers.
The Feloops exhibit certain peculiarities in person, man ners, and customs, apparently separating them from the rest of the negro tribes by which they are environed.
In stature they are short and stout, but very strong and swift ; their skin is coarse, of a deep black colour; and their hair, which they collect on the crown in an erect queue, several inches long, is woolly, and of greater length than that of negroes in general. The beard is allowed to grow, and is collected in like manner, so as to advance in a point projecting some inches from the chin. Their features are fine, bearing greater resemblance to those of the blacks of India than of negroes, but they have a wild and melancho ly cast; and the Feloops are said to be of a gloomy, taci turn, revengeful disposition. They holil very little inter course with their neighbours, and are exceedingly jealous of their own women, who are reputed to possess very few attractions.
These people, in common with other tribes in different parts of the world, cover their face and skin by a kind of of tattooing or scarification, with strange and irregular figures. They go almost naked, except for a scanty gir dle; and on the wrists, arms, ancles, and thighs, wear tight leather rings or bracelets, so firmly encircling them, that the intermediate flesh rises high above the natural size.
Nothing whatever is known of the religion of the Fe loops; but to judge by the number of charms borne about their persons, they are deeply tinctured with the tions of the African continent. Their language is peculiar, and uttered with great rapidity, in a low guttural accent.
In speaking of the manners of these people, it cannot be denied that they are very imperfectly known to Euro peans, because they are shy and reserved, and avoid inter course with strangers. Their language, too, is reputed difficult, and their traffic being carried on by means of a factor or third person, commonly of the Mandingo nation, offers few inducements to acquire it. Besides the articles already mentioned, grain, and the Feloops bring great quantities of bees wax to the town of Vintaini which stands by a creek, on the south side of the river Gambia, and sell it to Europeans. But the simple savage is always deeply imposed on; for after having departed with part of the covenanted price received from his factor, the latter himself obtains a considerable balance, emphati cally designed " cheating money," as the reward of his trouble. The honey collected in the woods is made into
an intoxicating liquor resembling mead. This is one prin cipal ingredient at their feasts, where quarrels, terminating fatally, often ensue when the whole party is in a state of intoxication. One singular feature in their manners is now disclosed, intimately resembling what is denominated the price of blood among other nations. Should a man be kill ed on such an occasion, a deadly feud is created between his relatives and the murderer, which is transmitted even to posterity. The eldest son of the deceased endeavours to procure his father's sandals, which he wears once a year, on the anniversary of his death, until he finds an op portunity of avenging it. The devoted object seldom escapes; and although we are not sufficiently acquainted with the history of the Feloops to define the interval that may elapse, examples are not wanting among tribes prac tising similar customs, where it is sometimes not less than twenty years. Nay, the two persons at enmity may often be seen almost in contact, while the one knows he is the object of resentment, and the other only awaits the fit mo ment of exercising his vengeance.
The Feloops, nevertheless, possess many good qualities ; they testify the utmost gratitude and affection towards their benefactors; and whatever is entrusted to their charge is preserved with the most scrupulous fidelity. English pro perty of considerable value has been committed to them at Vintain, and thay have invariably manifested the strict est honesty regarding it.
The Feloops are, on the whole, a warlike people, and ferocious in hostility, but they do not seek quarrels, and they enjoy good reputation among the neighbouring tribes. Their arms do not differ materially from those of other Africans on the western coast, and are adapted to the war fare to which they are exposed. They are skilful archers, using bows six feet long, and quivers full of poisoned ar rows. One quiver is hung on the right shoulder, and ano ther on the haunch. Besides these, five or six lances or assagays are carried in the hand, which they dart with sur prising force and precision.
The numbers of this people are uncertain. They have been calculated at fifty thousand, which probably exceeds the truth, and they occupy sixty or seventy villages, the most remote standing in woods near the rise of the river Casamanza. But it is difficult to ascertain the numbers of savage tribes, or the extent of their dwellings ; and parti cularly so here, where intelligent Europeans have not had immediate access to them. Though the Feloops shun com munication with establishments on the river Gambia, it is said to be otherwise with the Portuguese settlements on the CasamaDza, for there they are common and familiar with the settlers. It has thence been concluded, with some probability, that their reserve towards other Europeans, originates from the policy of the Portuguese inspiring them with distrust. By thus estranging them, all the advantages of traffic are exclusively preserved. Golberry Voyage en ilfrique, torn. ii. Park's Travels, p. 12-18. (c)