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There is one singularity which seems to ^[[be common to]] [[strikethrough]]prevail among[[/strikethrough]] the inhabitants of both regions, & which may be compared with the practise of tattooing which prevails throughout the tribes of Polynesia. I refer to the custom of cutting or branding certain marks upon the face or body, by which the individuals of one tribe may be distinguished from those of any other. This practise is general among all the Mina nations, & along the ^[[eastern [[strikethrough]] or [[/strikethrough]]]] Mosambique coast of Southern Africa; among the western or Congo tribes, is does not appear to be universal.

    It will be readily understood that these marks are of great service of slave-traders, & that all who have much to do with native Africans soon learn to distinguish the[[strikethrough]]se[[/strikethrough]] most common. The following, ^[[which]] are those most frequently seen in Rio Janeiro, [[strikethrough]]& will be sufficient to give a good idea of the matte[[/strikethrough]] are chiefly chiefly on the authority of a gentleman of [[strikethrough]]Rio[[/strikethrough]] that city, confirmed by my own observation.

I. Mina Nations.
The practice, if it did not originate, as I am inclined to suppose, among the tribes of central Africa, is certainly carried there to its greatest perfection. Each province or city of importance has a distinct brand or mark, which is invariable for all the inhabitants.

A. Tribes speaking the Hɑusɑ: language.

(1) Gooberi or Gubiri, a warlike people, [[strikethrough]]east[[/strikethrough]] west of Bornou. They have three or four marks or each side of the mouth, converging towards the corners.
[[image -- a pen sketch of lips and teeth, with horizontal lines radiating from the corners of the mouth. 4 lines on the left side and 3 on the right side.]]

(2) ^[[Kano]] A city [[strikethrough]]of traders,[[/strikethrough]] east of the above inhabited by a population of traders. They have several longitudinal & parallel cicatrices on each cheek.
[[image -- a pen sketch showing lips with 4 vertical parallel lines on the cheeks on either side, beginning just above the lips.  The nose in this drawing is scratched out and so are two noses drawn to the right of this image]]
The same mark prevails among the people of Kashua & Ca[[?]]i, [[strikethrough]]nebo]][[/strikethrough]] neighbors of the foregoing.

3. Soccɑtoo or Sɑkɑtu', or a branch of the Niger have several ^[[(usually five?)]] long oblique marks converging toward the corners of the mouth.
[[image -- a pen sketch of lips with five oblique lines spreading out from the corners of the mouth on either side]]