The
Canoes Are Of A Singular Construction, Each Of Them Being Formed Of
The Trunks Of Two Large Trees Rendered Concave, And Joined Together,
Not Side By Side, But Endways - The Junction Being Exactly Across The
Middle Of The Canoe:
They are therefore very long, and
disproportionably narrow, and have neither decks nor masts:
They
are, however, very roomy, for I observed in one of them four horses
and several people crossing over the river. When we arrived at this
ferry, with a view to pass over to that part of the town in which
the king resides, we found a great number waiting for a passage:
they looked at me with silent wonder, and I distinguished with
concern many Moors among them. There were three different places of
embarkation, and the ferrymen were very diligent and expeditious;
but from the crowd of people I could not immediately obtain a
passage, and sat down upon the bank of the river to wait for a more
favourable opportunity. The view of this extensive city - the
numerous canoes upon the river - the crowded population, and the
cultivated state of the surrounding country - formed altogether a
prospect of civilisation and magnificence which I little expected to
find in the bosom of Africa.
I waited more than two hours without having an opportunity of
crossing the river, during which time the people who had crossed
carried information to Mansong, the king, that a white man was
waiting for a passage, and was coming to see him.
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