much nearer the ball, and brought into contact with it, if necessary, till the gold-leaf is put in action. This degree of electricity is so weak, that it would be absolutely insensible in the ordinary electrometer of Bennet.

When the electricity is still feebler, we may advantageously employ a condenser adapted to the instrument. The eircular plate, on the margin of which is screwed the ball of the electrometer replaces the cover of the condenser, and a plate or disc furnished with a glass handle, and which is placed above the first, represents the base. These plates are covered with a thin coating of amber-varnish on the faces which are brought into contact. If we wish to try a very weak electricity, we first touch, in order to deprive it of its electricity, the inferior plate, or the wire which carries the ball; we then place above it the other plate, and afterwards touch the lower plate or its wire, with the body whose electricity we wish to examine, touching, at the same time, the upper plate, in order to deprive it of its electricity. The upper disc is then removed by its glass handle, and we observe towards which of the two small columns the gold-leaf is carried, and the sign marked upon this column will indicate the kind of electricity. If, for example, we put in contact with the lower surface of the lower plate of the condenser a a small disc of zinc, about ths of an inch in diameter, and press it against this plate, without touching the plate with the finger, and if we touch at the same time the upper disc of the condenser, to deprive it of its electricity, and if we afterwards remove the disc of zinc on one side, and on the other side the upper plate, we shall observe the gold-leaf approach the column marked minus. A similar effect will be observed, if we put in contact with the disc of the apparatus the metallic side of a piece of silvered paper.

It will often be more convenient to put the body we wish to examine in contact with the upper and moveable plate, and touching the inferior plate, to deprive it of its electricity, proceeding in other respects as we have already described. The electricity, however, which the instrument now indicates, will be opposite to that which is communicated to the upper plate, because, by this method, the plate united to the instrument forms the base of the condenser.

If the body which we examine cannot be conveniently put in immediate contact with the lower plate of the condenser, a communication with it may be formed, by means of a metallic wire, with a. insulating handle, the rest of the operation being the same as before.

ART. XIII. Observations on the Countries of Congo and Loango as in 1790. By Mr MAXWELL, Author of the Letters to MUNGO PARK, &c. &c. *

Princesses of Cabenda.—Ix the kingdom of Cabenda, or An

joya, princesses of the royal blood rule with despotic sway, and are to all appearance, devoid of that gentleness, which in other countries forms one of the brightest ornaments in the female character. They are possessed of the extraordinary privilege of compelling any subject, under the rank of prince in his own right, to marry them, and renounce wives and children for their sake. The richest merchants are chiefly exposed to their rapacity. When the unhappy individual thus promoted to honour has been stripped of his wealth, and another victim to arbitrary power selected in his place, he is permitted to return to private life; with this consolation however, that he is entitled by courtesy to the appellation of Prince. During his continuance in this splendid slavery, he must not, at the peril of his life, be seen in company with any other woman. The risk attaches equally to all women who may chance to come in his way. To provide therefore as much as possible against such casualties, he is always attended by a guard of honour, part of which, when he is visiting, or on a journey, precedes him at a considerable distance, beating the Chingonga, a double bell (a bell at each extremity of a semicircular arch), the sound of which is instantly recognised by females, who conceal themselves until the object of their terror is past. To complete this monstrous picture of human weakness, these princesses, in order to insure the success of the predatory excursions in which they are not unfrequently engaged, stand upon an elevated situation, and cause the army to pass in review between their legs. I know several merchants ennobled by an

* See this Journal, vol. iii. p. 102.

alliance with these Amazons, of whose tyranny they complain bitterly. Notwithstanding the manifest want of circumspection evinced in their own conduct, they exact the most scrupulous decorum from their husbands towards women.

I am not aware that a similar custom prevails in the adjoining province of Chimfooka, or in any other part of the coast between Mayumba and the Congo.

Priests. The Patriarch or High Priest, Boonzie, resides at Maccatala. His spiritual jurisdiction is very extensive, and his person is held so sacred, that no one, however high his rank, presumes to approach, or even address him, when admitted to his presence, until a sign is given, whereupon the obeisance paid him approaches to adoration.

Every audience is accompanied by a present, valuable in proportion to the wealth of the person suing for patronage or redress; but as Boonzie is believed incapable of taking a bribe, he is solicited to inspect the present; and those articles he approves of, being tied loosely to the parcel, drop off whilst the attendants are retiring with it.

None of the princes, to a considerable distance from Maccatala, consider themselves safe under the patriarch's displeasure. There is therefore a constant resort to his residence; and his office thus, becomes a source of much emolument.

The district of Maccatala is held sacred by all the neighbouring nations, and happy do they esteem themselves who can get the bodies of their departed friends deposited in that hallowed ground; an opportunity, of which those bordering on the river, never fail to avail themselves. Canoes may be seen almost every day at Embomma, going down the river to Maccatala with dead bodies. They are always distinguished from other canoes, by some particular mark of funeral solemnity. Voombi quenda Maccatala! would the natives on board answer, when asked where these canoes were going.

The present patriarch is about sixty years of age, a dignified and venerable looking man, no way distinguished by his dress from the other chiefs. He was the first person with whom, in sailing up the river, I had an interview, and but for the sanctity of whose character, (on which he laid great stress,) I had found it no easy matter to bring the natives to a parley. Upon com

ing to anchor near Oyster Haven, we discovered four people upon Hope Island, and being desirous of a conference, I sent the mate and four men in a small boat, provided with trinkets, to distribute amongst them. The natives, as we could perceive from the ship with our glasses, awaited unmoved, the approach of the boat, until the sail was furled and exchanged for the oars; then, with great precipitation, they took a canoe upon their shoulders, and carrying it across the island, launched it, and paddled in the utmost haste to Maccatala. The following day at noon, a canoe being observed hovering along the north shore, I proceeded towards it in the small boat, but as we approached, it slowly retreated to the entrance of a small creek. Our pacific appearance at length induced it to wait for us. A man stood on the prow, speaking vociferously, and with much gesticulation. This was Boonzie himself. He made a long harangue, in which he took care to make himself known; and concluded by saying, that if I offered him any injury, Enzambi Empoongu would punish me. A present of beads, cloth, and brandy, dispelled his fears, and in return, he gave me a fine goat, and a bunch of plantains; and requested that his son, Chimpola, might accompany me on board.

Maccatala abounds in beautiful and magnificent sylvan scenery, and is altogether "a happy rural scene of various view." The villages are built in the open cultivated spaces, with which the woods are interspersed; and are surrounded by plantations of cassava, Indian corn, plantains, peas, tobacco, &c. In one of these pleasing solitudes, resides Chinganga Boonzie, an inferior member of the priesthood.

Ordeal Trial. When any one is falsely accused of an atrocious crime, he can only prove his innocence by passing, unharmed, the ordeal trial of Cassah. This consists in swallowing a certain quantity of the cassah, which is administered by a person called Ganga Emcassah. Upon a day appointed, the accused makes his appearance, and on demanding to drink the cassah, the Ganga administers it in presence of a great concourse of people, who, arranging themselves in a circle around him, await with eagerness the effect of the poison. If it causes great sickness and stupefaction, he is pronounced guilty; but if it does not, or if it produces vomiting, he is immediately declared inno

cent, presented with a mark of distinction upon the spot, and is ever after thought worthy of unreserved confidence. The attestation of his innocence is merely a piece of calabash shell, about the size of a dollar, painted white, and fastened, by means of a string embracing the circumference of the head, to the right temple. My friend, Captain J. V. Aubinais of Nantz, witnes sed one of these trials: it was that of a woman accused of infidelity to her husband. The moment she began to sicken and stagger, the spectators burst into the circle and dispatched her with their knives and daggers, first cutting off her breasts. Such a custom is too savage to enlarge upon; but it appears evident to me, that the fate of the unfortunate individual is determined beforehand, according to his wealth or power, and that when he does escape with impunity, some less deleterious drug must have been substituted for the cassah. This poison is prepared from the bark of a tree; its colour is a bright red; and the fracture of the bark presents a resinous appearance.

Palm Tree. The palm is the most valuable tree that grows in Africa. Besides wine, it yields a sweet nutritive oil; with its leaves the natives thatch their houses; and with the small wiry threads that hang from its branches, they string their mu sical instruments; not to mention many other useful purposes it serves. It sometimes attains the height of 120 feet; but the stem, considering its great length, is slender. The branches fall off annually, and leave knobs like those of a cabbage stalk.

The natives in this part of Africa are extravagantly fond of palm wine, which is very pleasant to the taste when first drawn from the tree; but until it has undergone fermentation they seldom drink it then, although not so agreeable to an European palate, they relish it more highly; perhaps from the inebriating quality it has acquired.

The wine is obtained by making an incision in the tender head of the tree, and collecting it in a calabash, into which it is conveyed by means of a small splinter of wood, communicating with the incision. The mouth of the calabash is lightly covered with dry grass, to keep off the swarms of flies and wasps. It is then left until such time as, from experience, it is known to be nearly full; when a man again ascends the tree with empty vessels at his belt, to replace the full ones, which he brings down