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ACCOUNT OF THE SITUATION OF RUBAULT AT GALAM, AT THE TIME OF MY
DEPARTURE FROM ISLE ST. LOUIS. — PERIOD OF MY EMBARKATION. —
ARRANGEMENTS WHICH I MADE FOR THE SAILING OF A FLEET TO GALAM, AND
FAILURE OF ITS OBJECT. — MELANCHOLY END OF RUBAULT. — GENERAL
REFLECTIONS ON THE VOYAGE TO GALAM. — REMARKS ON THE KINGDOM OF
BAMBOUK AND ITS GOLD MINES.
IT was evident that Rubault was treated with the highest respect
at Galam; the governor and the inhabitants were all eager to
serve him, while the neighbouring princes sought his alliance,
and kept up an amicable correspondence with him, to induce him to
form establishments in their states; to effect which, negociations
were actually opened, that would have answered our most sanguine
wishes. The report of the re-establishment of the French factory at
Galam was soon spread through the country, and every day produced
important changes in our favour; while the routes from the interior
were covered with people, who conveyed their slaves and merchandize
to Galam. In short, the influx was so great, that Rubault had no
merchandize to give in exchange. Nevertheless the Negro merchants
or Moors gave credit to Rubault for all their articles at a price
agreed on, and which was to be defrayed on the arrival of the fleet.
Rubault had purchased upwards of 1000 slaves of different nations,
and had collected a quantity of gold, 800 quintals of ivory,
and a number of precious stones and objects of natural history;
while the trade, which had already become so important, would have
been considerably augmented during the stay of the fleet, as that
was the period of the fair, and the general rendezvous of all the
African merchants; in short, he had fully acquitted himself of his
mission, as he had procured the company immense benefits, and had
disposed the neighbouring princes to receive us on their territory.
Such was the situation of Rubault at Galam, when I left Isle
St. Louis on the 21st of July, 1786. I had made arrangements for
the sailing of the fleet, which repaired to its destination, but
too late, as Rubault no longer existed. He found it impossible to
maintain, through nothing but the respect which was shewn to him,
the great number of slaves which he had procured, and they became
refractory and set themselves at liberty. He had for some time
foreseen the fate which would befall him, and was making arrangements
to avoid it, by returning over land to Isle St. Louis; but while he
hesitated, the others acted. One fatal night, the slaves revolted and
pursued him with fury; the house which he inhabited, was a feeble
structure, and they easily forced the doors. Rubault jumped out of
the window, but was immediately seized and massacred; the house and
magazines were pillaged, and all the property disappeared with its
collector. This event arose from the discredit which our commerce
experienced: for it is not enough with the half-civilized nations
in Africa, to pay in merchandise, but there must be a rigorous
punctuality in the times of payment. The most afflicting result,
however, of this catastrophe, was the abandonment of the discoveries
which I had attempted to make in a country still unknown, as the
documents which Rubault had collected were destroyed; while in
consequence of his unfortunate end, I could find no one who would
attempt the journey again. Thus all my hopes were defeated.
During this horrible night, the prince of Galam, and the inhabitants
reposed in peace. When they were informed of the insurrection,
it was too late to stop its course, which was so rapid, that they
had scarcely time to take measures for their own security. The
inhabitants were so much afflicted at the event, that they sent a
deputation to Isle St. Louis, to express their regret at what had
happened; but the evil was without a remedy, and it was agreed to
think no more of it.
The great inconvenience of the voyage to Galam is, that then is
the only period at which a fleet can sail, as the river cannot be
ascended, except after the first rains, which are during the sickly
season. The vessels generally leave Isle St. Louis at the end of
July, or the beginning of August, when the current of the river
has an incredible force, and the wind is almost always contrary,
so that it is necessary to tow the ships by ropes over a difficult
and uncut road. Indeed, every circumstance is combined to protract
the voyage and render it disagreeable.
The diseases also which prevail in this season, are more frequent
and active on the river. The burning air does not circulate, nor
is it ever tempered by the sea-winds. The banks of the river are
covered with trees, whose leaves and offal, which seem to have
been collecting ever since the creation, corrupt and infect the
atmosphere, and render poisonous the air which is inhaled. Besides
this, the voyagers are devoured by insects, drenched by almost
continual rains, and singed by lightning, which incessantly threatens
their lives.
The ships are obliged to pay duties to several princes, in order to
obtain a free passage; and as these are not regulated beforehand,
the navigators are compelled to stop every year, and enter into
a fresh negociation on the subject; by which they lose the most
valuable part of their time, and sacrifice the health of their
crews. The princes are also sometimes so exorbitant in their demands,
that the ships attempt to pass without yielding to them, and this
petty warfare seldom turns to our advantage. In short, these and
numerous obstacles, render two months requisite to go by water from
Isle St. Louis to Galam; and even such Europeans as have performed
it, return in a dying state, and seldom perfectly recover their
health. These were the considerations which induced the English to
abandon the post at Galam, when they were masters of the Senegal;
but they did wrong, and it becomes us to improve by their error.
The route by land does away all these difficulties, as it is safe,
convenient, occupies only twenty days, and may be undertaken during
eight months of the year. The most favourable time for setting out,
is the month of March, at which period the season is fresh, the sky
pure, and the winds blow constantly from the north. Travellers by
land might also carry on a considerable trade with the inhabitants
on their way, as the country abounds with gum-trees and gold
mines. The passage which I caused to be traced, was made by a
single man; but it might be performed by caravans of any number,
though they should always be under the guidance of a Marabou, as
these priests possess the greatest influence over the Negroes. By
such means we might obtain a proper knowledge of the interior of
Africa, and by extending our political and commercial relations,
make ourselves rich, and the people happy.
The kingdom of Bambouk is a large country, celebrated for its
gold mines. The Moors acquire this metal by repairing to the spot,
while the French and English receive it from the Mandingo Negroes,
who bring it to the Gambia. This kingdom is bounded on the N. by
that of Galam; on the N. E. by the Kajaaga; on the E. by the river
Senegal; on the S. by the districts of Kulla and Konkadou; on the
W. by the Satadou; and on the N. W. by the kingdom of Bondou.
It is a mistake which has prevailed, that the kingdom is not governed
by any king; it has its sovereigns like the other neighbouring
kingdoms; and each village has a master. Towards the river of
Félémé, these chiefs are called _Farims_, with the addition of
their residence. In the interior of the country, they are called
_Aleuranni_: they are all independent of each other, but acknowledge
the supreme head of the kingdom; and they are obliged to unite for
the defence of the country in time of danger.
The Mandingos have possessed themselves of this state, in addition
to their other conquests; and the natives of the country, who are
called Malincops, have received them, and formed alliances with
them, so that they are now only one nation, in which the religion,
customs, and manners of the Mandingos, are absolute.
There is no country with which we are acquainted, that is so rich
in gold mines as Bambouk. The experiments that have been made,
prove that their ore is far superior to that of the mines of the
Brazils and Peru; besides which, from the nature of the soil, ten
men would extract more gold from Bambouk, than a hundred would in
the rich mines of Spain and Portugal. In short, the country is so
filled with gold mines, that the metal is found in every direction;
but the richest of those that have been discovered, are in the
centre of the kingdom, between the villages of Kelimani and Natacou,
about thirty leagues to the east of the river Félémé. The gold
is very pure, and appears in a surprising abundance.
The country is intersected by high and barren mountains; and the
inhabitants having no means of subsistence but what they procure
with their gold, are obliged to work sedulously in the mines;
but they must first obtain the permission of the chiefs of their
villages, who only grant it for a certain time, and on condition,
that they retain not only half the produce, but likewise all the
lumps which are above a certain size.
The Negroes of Bambouk have no notion of the different species of
earth, nor the least rule for distinguishing that which produces
gold. They know generally that their country contains much of the
precious metal, and that the more steril the soil is, the more may
be found in it. They watch indifferently in various parts, and
when they by chance meet with a small quantity of the ore, they
continue to work in the same spot till they see it diminish, on
which they move somewhere else. They are of opinion, that the gold
is an evil spirit, which delights in tormenting those who love it;
on which account it often changes its place. When the mine happens
to be rich, and they are satisfied with its produce without much
trouble, they stop on the spot, and dig to the depth of six, seven,
or eight feet; but they never go farther, being totally ignorant of
the art of working by strata; nor are they sufficiently industrious
to prevent the ground from falling in upon them.
By this manner of proceeding, they never come to the principal veins;
while the ramifications are so rich, and the gold which they contain
is so pure, that no mixture of marcassite or other mineral substances
prevails in it: it is, indeed, so pure, that there is no occasion
to melt it; but just as it comes from the mines it may be worked.
When the lumps are covered by mould, the Negroes put them into
water, which detaches the terraqueous parts, and the gold sinks to
the bottom.
It may be conceived, that with such little industry they not only
obtain but a small part of the gold which is in the mine, but that
they only imperfectly collect what they have extracted, because,
on pouring off the water and mould, an infinity of particles pass
with them.
Besides the gold which is so abundant in the country of Bambouk,
there is found in many parts a quantity of blue stones, which are
considered as certain tokens of other valuable mines. There have
been discovered copper, silver, lead, iron, and tin, as well as
excellent loadstones and salt-petre.
Iron is found at Bambouk as well as in all the contiguous states;
and the mines are not only abundant, but the ore is of the best
quality. The Negroes make it into pots and kettles, without any
other aid than the hammer and a fire; they therefore will not buy
our iron unless it be wrought.
They have somehow or other learned the art of making gunpowder,
which they use when they are not in possession of our’s; but the
latter always fetches a certain value, on account of its superiority.
Almost all the commandants at the fort of Galam have made attempts
to acquire a perfect knowledge of the kingdom of Bambouk and its
gold mines. In 1716 M. Compagnon undertook this perilous journey,
and surmounted all its difficulties. He resided in the country
nearly eighteen months, travelled all over it, visited the mines, and
described them in the most satisfactory manner; he even so far gained
the good opinion of the inhabitants, that they not only allowed him
to visit all their mines, but they even permitted him to take as
much earth as he pleased and to send it to isle St. Louis. In 1720,
he published an account of the principal mines which he discovered,
and states them to be at _Fourquaronne_, _Sambanoura_, _Segalla_,
_Guinguifarama_, _Niausabana_, _Tambacoura_, _Netteco_, _Naye_, and
at _Tomane Niacanet_. Since then new discoveries have been made,
and those of the two mines of Kelimani and Natacou, are supposed
to be the richest in the whole kingdom.
Several projects have been presented for forming establishments
in this kingdom, but to me none of them appear feasible. One
person has proposed the conquest of this vast country, and has only
demanded for that purpose 1200 men; without reflecting that the most
numerous army, even supposing that it were to arrive on the spot,
and experience no resistance on the part of the natives, which is
not likely, would be destroyed in a short time by the privations
it would undergo, and the heat of the climate. Another project was,
to build a movable fort of wood, in order, under the protection of
such machinery, to examine the mines.
I consider both these projects as illusory dreams, because they
are impracticable. I shall now state my own:—I think the most
simple, least expensive, and the easiest of execution would be,
to establish, under modest pretensions, a factory at Galam, and
to rebuild the forts of St. Joseph on the Senegal, and St. Peter
on the Félémé. Our intercourse is desired in these countries,
and we should be received with open arms. Hence we might become
the masters of their commerce and the whole of their gold mines,
and might afterwards arrive at Tombut, which is still farther,
and by which we might complete the grand tour of the interior,
which I have already alluded to.
I shall now say a few words on the different hordes of Africa,
and the relative advantages they derive from their connection with
the Europeans.
All those countries are inhabited, either by Moors or by men
whose complexion is of different shades of black, and were called
Negroes. There is no race of men more perfidious and cruel than
the Moors; they do not possess any of the virtues of the Arabs;
they oppress the Negroes, and consider the persecution of strangers
as a religious duty.
The Negroes, on the contrary, are naturally good, humane, and
hospitable. Those who inhabit the environs of the Senegal are large,
muscular, and well-formed men; their countenance is noble; their
feelings sensitive and grateful; and their spirit is courageous
and indefatigable. There are no domestics more attentive or capable
of sincerer attachment; their activity and information render them
fit for all the arts and trades; but, as I have already said, they
are not adapted for agricultural labours, their bodies not being
accustomed to stoop.
The women of these countries are generally handsome, gentle,
modest, tender, and faithful; they have in their looks a certain
degree of innocence, and in their language a timidity which adds
to their charms. They have an invincible inclination for love and
voluptuousness, and they express their wishes in this respect with
such an attractive voice, as their organs alone seem capable of
uttering. Their skin is as black as ebony. Nothing can be more
agreeable than their physiognomy; their nose is well formed,
and generally aquiline; their eyebrows are finely arched; their
lips thin, and of a beautiful vermillion red; they have the finest
teeth in the world; the shape of their body is uncommonly elegant;
in short, they combine every perfection which constitutes beauty.
At Goree the men and women are also handsome; but there the Mulattoes
of both sexes, who have descended from Europeans, are distinguishable
in point of appearance, as they possess the grace of their fathers,
and dress in the European manner. I may add, that the people of
Goree are uncommonly cheerful; and a love of pleasure and gaiety
prevails amongst them to a greater extent, than in any other part
of the coast of Africa.
To the south and east of the Senegal, the Africans degenerate in
a wonderful manner. Their colour is no longer the fine black just
described, but an olive. Their form is indeed still robust, but
aukward; their limbs are stiff, and the lineaments of their face
are so gross, as to defy the judgment of the physiognomist. The
figures which they paint on their foreheads and cheeks add to their
ugliness. They are useful in all labour which requires exertion,
but they possess no ingenuity. Their women are ugly and sallow;
and they are, to those who were lately described, what the most
barbarous ignorance is to a polished education. Their vivacity is
so violent as to resemble anger.
All the governments of Africa are more or less absolute and
despotic. Whether the kings be entitled to the throne by birth,
or be called to it by voluntary election, the people are equally
subjected to the arbitrary will of the prince, who disposes of
their liberty and even of their lives, according to his pleasure;
but he cannot destroy more than one at a time: he may do any thing
to an individual, but nothing to a body of people.
There are a few small states or rather families in this part of
Africa, who live together and are governed by elders whom they
deem worthy of confidence; these are not the masters who have been
described; and the people who live in perfect liberty, would be
happy, were they not disturbed by their neighbours. They are often,
however, attacked, and being too weak to defend themselves, are taken
and sold as slaves; so that even the most peaceable inhabitants of
this unfortunate country seem destined to wear chains.
These people in general have no knowledge of the art which is so
revered amongst us, under the name of politics. Though they observe
state formalities, and the custom of sending ambassadors is familiar
to them, either to solicit assistance against a powerful enemy, or
to obtain a mediation on points of difference. These ambassadors,
however, do not occupy themselves with complicated subjects, but
speak only on affairs of the moment; they are every where honoured
and respected, their persons are held sacred, and they generally
go in bodies of five or six together, preceded by a drum, which
announces them at a distance.
Their wars are not better arranged than their politics. Every free
man is a soldier; but no government has troops in its pay. On the
first signal, the army collects and marches; and often, hostilities
which began in the morning, are finished before night. They never
yield a portion of territory, but take or keep all or none. Sometimes
they dethrone a king, and another takes his place; but the territory
always belongs to the people at large. Thus neither the great
nor small states are dismembered, as the commonalty would oppose
such a proceeding, and the chiefs are too wise thus to aggrandise
themselves. Besides, these people do not attach any idea of glory to
their conquests. Their prisoners are slaves, except the princes, who,
as has already been stated, always enjoy their liberty by unanimous
consent: they are given up immediately on certain conditions,
or put to death; the rest are either exchanged or sold.
The ordinary occasions for the wars which almost always prevail
in these countries, are, an insult at the time of a ceremony;
a violent robbery; the injury of a girl, or the attack of a banditti.
In the course of my work I have explained the religion of all these
hordes, as well as their laws relative to polygamy, marriage, and
burial. Polygamy is not only even permitted, but honoured amongst
them, whether Mussulmans or idolaters. The Christians here, as
in Europe, have only one wife. I believe that the custom which
formerly prevailed, of interring several persons alive with the
dead body of a man of quality, is totally abolished.
One of the distinctive characteristics of these people, except such
as reside on the coasts, and for whom commerce has created artificial
wants, is a total indifference towards riches; in consequence of
which hospitality is a common virtue amongst them. Their houses are
open at meal-times, and travellers, whether rich or poor, may enter,
and eat and drink with the family: they may even reside with them, if
they wish so to do, and all their suite is well treated during their
stay, without any recompence being expected. Amongst themselves,
the Negro, who would refuse to divide with his relations, friends,
and neighbours, the produce of his hunting or fishing, would be
held up to public contempt.
Agriculture, that necessary art, is considered amongst them to be the
occupation of slaves or women; and in some parts, the only advantage
which the latter have over the slaves, is, that they are allowed to
rest every third day, from what may be considered excessive labour.
The nature of their food, clothing, and dwellings, has been already
described. Hence, it is evident, that the Africans have lost nothing,
nor can they sustain any loss from their intercourse with Europeans;
but they have acquired information, property, and a practice of
virtue; advantages which have contributed to their happiness. Let us
therefore hope, that all the hordes of Africa may one day resemble
the inhabitants of St. Louis and Goree; they will then be happy,
and owe their improvement to their connection with the whites.
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