The Hides Of Bullocks Are Converted Chiefly Into
Sandals, And Therefore Require Less Care In Dressing Than The Skins
Of Sheep And Goats, Which Are Used For Covering Quivers And Saphies,
And In Making Sheaths For Swords And Knives, Belts, Pockets, And A
Variety Of Ornaments.
These skins commonly are dyed of a red or
yellow colour - the red by means of millet stalks reduced to powder;
and the yellow by the root of a plant the name of which I have
forgotten.
The manufacturers in iron are not so numerous as the karrankeas, but
they appear to have studied their business with equal diligence.
The negroes on the coast being cheaply supplied with iron from the
European traders, never attempt the manufacturing of this article
themselves; but in the inland parts the natives smelt this useful
metal in such quantities not only to supply themselves from it with
all necessary weapons and instruments, but even to make it a article
of commerce with some of the neighbouring states. During my stay at
Kamalia there was a smelting furnace at a short distance from the
hut where I lodged, and the owner and his workmen made no secret
about the manner of conducting the operation, and readily allowed me
to examine the furnace, and assist them in breaking the ironstone.
The furnace was a circular tower of clay, about ten feet high and
three feet in diameter, surrounded in two places with withes, to
prevent the clay from cracking and falling to pieces by the violence
of the heat.
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