Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 3.djvu/254

 206 WEST AFEICA. They are noted especially for their aesthetic taste, and amongst them are many skilful goldsmiths and woodcarvers endowed with considerable original talent. Of all the coast peoples they have been most influenced by Islam, and are at present in the transitional state between Animism and Mohammedanism. They claim to be of Eastern origin, and on the seaboard form the van of the Mandiugan tribes pressing forward from the interior. As in Senegambia, this general pressure of the inland on the coast peoples is continually going on. In the north-east the Hubus (Fulahs) are thus gradually encroaching on the inhabitants of the Scarcies rivers ; in the east the Mandingan and Sarakole traders are in the same way gaining on their neighbours, and introducing them to a more advanced civilisation. Since the middle of this century the Hubus here constituted a state independent of the Timbo chief, escaping subjection by migrating from the Upper Bafing basin south-westwards, to the hilly district about the sources of the Scarcies. But this movement has given rise to incessant conflicts with the surrounding tribes, the cause of Islam still serving as the cloak for incursions and pillage. Their very name is derived from the burden of their warlike songs. Hit, bu : " We love the prophet, united in his love ! " Of the indigenous tribes several have remained pagans, and these differ little in their social state from the neighbouring Limbas, Saffrokos, and Konos. Such are the Kurankos, who hold the valleys stretching east of the Timni to and beyond the sources of the Niger. Here they are grouped in oligarchic communities, recognising a chief, but governing themselves by a council of elders, who settle disputes according to established usage, and who determine an equitable award between crime and punishment, wrong and its retribution. The vendetta still prevails, the victim's family claiming blood for blood, but the murderer of a slave escaping with slavery unless ransomed by payment of the full value. The Solimas, akin to the Su-Sus and Senegalese Jallonkes, are more cultured than the Kurankos, although like them still despised by the Mandingans and Hubus as foes of Islam. They dwell between the Hubus and Kurankos in the picturesque region of hill and dale about the sources of the Scarcies, and thence to the Joliba. Like their neighbours, they speak a Mandingan idiom, and also resemble the Gambian Mandingans in their love of music. They wage incessant war against the Fulahs, decorating the great battle-drum round about with the beards of the slain, each inscribed with the name of its former bearer. Nevertheless the pagan Solimas are amongst the most polished peoples of West Africa. Comfort is widely diffused, their fields are carefully tilled, their towns well ordered, and their minute code of etiquette rigorously observed b}^ all. Strangers are always welcome amongst them, and Laing, Eeade, Zweifel and Moustier have spoken in high terms of the generous hospitality accorded to them by these pagan highlanders. But there is a dark side to the picture, and Reade was informed that at his accession the new king gives his youngest daughter to the sacred crocodiles, thereby bearing witness that for his people's sake no sacrifice will be held too great. Mandingan traders are numerous in Freetown, and thanks to them, Islam is