the second night some of the tubes were withdrawn and the air
allowed to have freer access to the furnace; but the heat was still
very great, and a bluish flame rose some feet above the top of the
furnace. On the third day from the commencement of the operation,
all the tubes were taken out, the ends of many of them being
vitrified with the heat; but the metal was not removed until some
days afterwards, when the whole was perfectly cool. Part of the
furnace was then taken down, and the iron appeared in the form of a
large irregular mass, with pieces of charcoal adhering to it. It
was sonorous; and when any portion was broken off, the fracture
exhibited a granulated appearance, like broken steel. The owner
informed me that many parts of this cake were useless, but still
there was good iron enough to repay him for his trouble. This iron,
or rather steel, is formed into various instruments by being
repeatedly heated in a forge, the heat of which is urged by a pair
of double bellows of a very simple construction, being made of two
goats' skins the tubes from which unite before they enter the forge,
and supply a constant and very regular blast. The hammer, forceps,
and anvil are all very simple, and the workmanship (particularly in
the formation of knives and spears) is not destitute of merit. The
iron, indeed, is hard and brittle, and requires much labour before
it can be made to answer the purpose.

Such is the chief information I obtained concerning the present
state of arts and manufactures in those regions of Africa which I
explored in my journey. I might add, though it is scarce worthy
observation, that in Bambarra and Kaarta the natives make very
beautiful baskets, hats, and other articles, both for use and
ornament, from rushes, which they stain of different colours; and
they contrive also to cover their calabashes with interwoven cane,