They are a jovial people, and fond of drinking; persons of both sexes often assemble round a large calabash of palm-wine, and do not leave it till it is empty. They are great eaters, and their diet principally consists of dried fish, swimming in palm-oil, which renders it so disgusting, that a European could not touch it. When they kill a sheep, they mix the skin and entrails, unwashed, with the stews which they make: they also eat snakes, lizards, and the monkeys which they catch. The Bagos never visit their neighbours, neither have they occasion to do so, for their own country produces abundance of every thing requisite for the subsistence of any really temperate man. They cannot imagine that any nation is better off, and believe themselves superior in every respect to all others. I could not gain any information as to their ideas of the Deity; that they have some idea of a Supreme Being, however, is certain; for when they hear thunder they dance and sing, to a drum, and say that God is rejoicing, and that they rejoice with him.[43] Their houses are large and convenient; many families live together, and the members of each sleep upon the same bed; with the exception, however, of the head of the family, who has a bed to himself. The women never eat with the men; each has her own dish and eats in private; the boys also eat by themselves. The men are very good swimmers, and they have canoes made out of a single tree, which serve them for crossing from one island to another. The Bagos are quite black, with curly hair; they shave the front of the head, and let the hair grow at the back; anointing it with palm-oil, which makes it look very much like sheep’s wool. When the men go to Kakondy on business, they put on trowsers and a European hat; but, as soon as they return, they lay this costume aside, and resume the pagne. CHAPTER VI. Departure of the author on his great expedition. — Manners and customs of his travelling companions, and account of the caravans in this part of Africa. — The Caura. — Mountains of Lantégué. — River of Doulinca. — Smelting of iron. — Rio Pongo. — Mountain of Touma. — Description of Irnanké and its inhabitants. — Telewel. — Cataract of Cocouo. — Orange trees.