in a proper soil, it is supposed that as much gold may be collected
by him in the course of the dry season as is equal to the value of
two slaves.

Thus simple is the process by which the negroes obtain gold in
Manding; and it is evident from this account that the country
contains a considerable portion of this precious metal, for many of
the smaller particles must necessarily escape the observation of the
naked eye; and as the natives generally search the sands of streams
at a considerable distance from the hills, and consequently far
removed from the mines where the gold was originally produced, the
labourers are sometimes but ill-paid for their trouble. Minute
particles only of this heavy metal can be carried by the current to
any considerable distance; the larger must remain deposited near the
original source from whence they came. Were the gold-bearing
streams to be traced to their fountains, and the hills from whence
they spring properly examined, the sand in which the gold is there
deposited would no doubt be found to contain particles of a much
larger size; and even the small grains might be collected to
considerable advantage by the use of quicksilver and other
improvements, with which the natives are at present unacquainted.

Part of this gold is converted into ornaments for the women, but in
general these ornaments are more to be admired for their weight than
their workmanship. They are massy and inconvenient, particularly
the earrings, which are commonly so heavy as to pull down and
lacerate the lobe of the ear; to avoid which, they are supported by
a thong of red leather, which passes over the crown of the head from
one ear to the other. The necklace displays greater fancy, and the
proper arrangement of the different beads and plates of gold is the