The chief man surveys the number and
activity of his vassals as they brandish their spears at festivals,
and, elated with his own importance, turns his whole thoughts
towards revenging some depredation or insult which either he or his
ancestors may have received from a neighbouring state.
Wars of this description are generally conducted with great secrecy.
A few resolute individuals, headed by some person of enterprise and
courage, march quietly through the woods, surprise in the night some
unprotected village, and carry off the inhabitants and their effects
before their neighbours can come to their assistance. One morning
during my stay at Kamalia we were all much alarmed by a party of
this kind. The king of Fooladoo's son, with five hundred horsemen,
passed secretly through the woods a little to the southward of
Kamalia, and on the morning following plundered three towns
belonging to Madigai, a powerful chief in Jallonkadoo.
The success of this expedition encouraged the governor of Bangassi,
a town in Fooladoo, to make a second inroad upon another part of the
same country. Having assembled about two hundred of his people, he
passed the river Kokoro in the night, and carried off a great number
of prisoners. Several of the inhabitants who had escaped these
attacks were afterwards seized by the Mandingoes as they wandered
about in the woods or concealed themselves in the glens and strong
places of the mountains.
These plundering excursions always produced speedy retaliation: and
when large parties cannot be collected for this purpose, a few
friends will combine together and advance into the enemy's country,
with a view to plunder or carry off the inhabitants.
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