The Mandingoes, Generally Speaking, Are Of A Mild, Sociable, And
Obliging Disposition.
The men are commonly above the middle size,
well-shaped, strong, and capable of enduring great labour.
The
women are good-natured, sprightly, and agreeable. The dress of both
sexes is composed of cotton cloth of their own manufacture: that of
the men is a loose frock, not unlike a surplice, with drawers which
reach half-way down the leg; and they wear sandals on their feet,
and white cotton caps on their heads. The women's dress consists of
two pieces of cloth, each of which is about six feet long and three
broad. One of these they wrap round their waist, which, hanging
down to the ankles, answers the purpose of a petticoat; the other is
thrown negligently over the bosom and shoulders.
This account of their clothing is indeed nearly applicable to the
natives of all the different countries in this part of Africa; a
peculiar national mode is observable only in the head-dresses of the
women.
Thus, in the countries of the Gambia, the females wear a sort of
bandage, which they call jalla. It is a narrow strip of cotton
cloth wrapped many times round, immediately over the forehead. In
Bondou, the head is encircled with strings of white beads, and a
small plate of gold is worn in the middle of the forehead. In
Kasson the ladies decorate their heads in a very tasteful and
elegant manner with white seashells. In Kaarta and Ludamar, the
women raise their hair to a great height by the addition of a pad
(as the ladies did formerly in Great Britain), which they decorate
with a species of coral brought from the Red Sea by pilgrims
returning from Mecca, and sold at a great price.
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