Abstract
THE Governor of the Gambia, in his last Report, devotes a long section to an account of the African tribes connected with that settlement, of which the following is a brief summary:— Mandingoes.—The head-quarters of this extensive and powerful race lie in the mountainous district near the sources of the Niger and the Gambia, extending as far as Kong. From this region they overran the surrounding country westward to Bam-bouk, and still pushed on, until the banks of the Gambia, as far as the sea, more or less, fell under their sway. At the present moment the principal countries on the north bank of the river are occupied mostly by Mandingoes, and the dominant tribes in Combo, on the south bank, are also of the same race, though the heathen Jolas in the bordering Fogni country are able to hold their own against them. They practically control the trade of the lower river. Three-fourths of the ground-nuts hitherto cultivated have been grown by them; the export of bees'-wax seems to be also dependent upon the Mandingoes, who bring it down from the interior of the Jola country. They also bring cattle and hides into the market, and cultivate cotton largely, which their women spin and weave into the country cloths which play so conspicuous a part in the trade of the river. The Mandingo language is rich and musical, and susceptible of more variety of expression than the Jolof tongue, which, next after the Man-dingo, is, perhaps, the most prevalent language. The latter adopt the decuple system of numeration, whereas the former only possess a quinquennial period. The Mandingoes, as a rule, are Mohammedans, though many are “Soninkees” ; and in all their faith is permeated more or less with Fetishism. The term Soninkee is applied by Mohammedans to all people, irrespective of race, who drink spirits. Physically, they are in general a spare, athletic race, of medium height, often with aquiline features, but in contour always distinct from the typical Negro. In colour, they are not so dark as the Jolofs, but their hair is woolly. The laws in Mandingo towns are administered by “Alcalis,” or Sumas, both terms having the same signification. The only difference is that the former is a kind of Prime Minister in a Mohammedan town, while the latter holds a similar office in a Soninkee town. Murder and adultery are punished by death. The sentence in the former case is carried out by killing in the same manner as the murder was committed, and in the latter the adulterer is usually killed with cutlasses. The adulteress suffers only whipping, and is cast out by her husband. Theft is punished by whipping, an instrument something similar to the “cat” being used for the purpose. Slander and disrespect to parents or the aged are punished by fine, which goes to the Alcali and headman of the town. Immorality as distinguished from adultery is almost unknown; but if practised and discovered would meet with the death penalty as in adultery. The Man-dingoes still keep up a connection with their original country, and recognize a supreme authority in the ancient Mandingo kingdom, though the recognition is more sentimental than real, the distance being too great for any effective authority to be exercised.
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The Ethnology of the Gambia Region. Nature 42, 256–258 (1890). https://doi.org/10.1038/042256b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/042256b0