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XXII. Observations on the Griggirrys of the Mandingos. In a Letter from Elliott Arthy, Esq. to William Blizard, Esq. F.R.S, and F.A.S.
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 24 July 2012
Extract
I send you inclosed a small specimen of African manuscripst, which I obtained from one of the natives of that quarter of the globe, on a voyage into Sierra Leone River, in the year 1795. Pieces of manuscript of a similar kind are in general use among a tribe of Africans, called Mandingos, who inhabit a part of Africa, situated about one hundred miles to the northward of the British colony at Sierra Leone. They are commonly folded into a smali compass, and inclosed in little leathern cases, to which are fixed leathern thongs, by means of which they are hung, and constantly worn, round either the necks or waists of the Mandingos.
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- Copyright © The Society of Antiquaries of London 1800
References
page 229 note [a] Dr. Russel says that this paper is written in the Arabic hand used in Barbary, and contains the name of God frequently repeated, with the addition of certain unintelligible characters. Charms of this kind are much used by the Mahometans. See Russel's Hift. of Aleppo, Vol. II. p. 103. Mr. Park, in his Travels into the interior part of Africa, mentions “certain charms or amulets called Sapphies, which the negroes contantly wear about them. These Saphies,” he adds, “are prayers, or rather sentences from the Koran, which the Mahomedan priests write, and sell to the simple natives, who consider them to possess very extraordinary virtues.” p. 38. S. L.