Page:Archaeologia Volume 13.djvu/290

228 Olfervalions on ihe Griggirrys of the Mandingos. On the voyage I obtained the inclofed Griggirry. I belonged to a Slave-Ship. At our departure from Africa a very violent fpirit of infurreclion prevailed among the Haves, many of whom came from the Mandingo country and neighbouring parts, which rendered it neceSTary for us to mount a very Strong guard over them, and to make a great difplay of fire-arms ; notwithstanding which, they were but little awed or intimidated, and expreSTed great confidence in their Griggirrys defending them from white men's balls ; nor did they entirely relinquish their hopes of gaining the maftery over us, or finally acknowledge that our Griggirry was better than theirs, until we arrived in the Weft Indies. Naked and unarmed as they were, their Griggirrys would, I conceive, have infpired them with Sufficient courage to have contended with us for their freedom, could they by any means have difengaged themfelves from their irons. There are certain men among the Mandingos called Griggirry men, who are looked up to by the multitude with religious rever- ence, and who are thought to be endowed with fupernatural under- standings and talents. Thefe Griggirry men, I am told, oompofe, and difpofe of, the Griggirrys to the people at large, and thereby no doubt arrogate to- themfelves great power, riches, and fame. The number of thefe Griggirry men, compared with the people at targe, I Should fuppofe to be very trifling, for on board the Ship I men- tioned there were two hundred men Slaves, among whom there was only one that could read, or feemed in the leaft to understand the fenfe of, the inclofed Griggirry ; and unluckily, through our inability to converfe with each other, I could not learn either its fignification or origin. There appears to me a very Sinking analogy between the Grig- girry of the Mandingos, and the Talifman of the Arabians, which we have fo much related of, in the Arabian Nights Entertainments; and