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home, having much property therein. After a lapse of two years, my master took it into his mind to travel to Agi. In the mean time he made inquiries of different people who had travelled in that country; and some of them told him that Mohamed Cassina and Adama Anina, his brothers, were then going to that country. He then asked his informant where those people were to be found: they told him that they were already gone, except Adama, who was now preparing to go. My master then set out, and left us with my uncle Mohamad in Gounah, until he returned. In the mean time, we heard that Abdengara, king of Buntuco, having slain Iffoa, the king of Bandara, in battle, also wanted to kill Cudjoe, the captain of an adjoining district. Abdengara sent to inform Cudjoe that, if he would pay him such a quantity of gold as he required for a ransom, he would be content. Cudjoe then sent much gold to him, which he refused. He said to the messenger, "Return to thy master, and tell him, that, if he do not send two hundred pieces of gold, I will not be satisfied, and my sword shall take off his head." When this messenger returned to his lord, and related the message he received, Cudjoe took away the ransom and kept it, and sent a message to the king of Gounah relating the transaction. When Abdengara came to hear of Cudjoe sending to inform the king of Gounah of his doings, he became wrath, and ordered all his army to battle against Cudjoe. And when the king of Gounah heard that Abdengara had come in with his army to fight him, he then called all his men to meet the enemy in the country of Bolo, where they commenced fighting from the middle of the day until night. After that they went to their different camps: seven days after that they gathered up again, and commenced the war in the town Anacco, where they fought exceedingly, and there were many lives lost on both sides; but Abdengara's army, being stronger than the king of Gounah's, took possession of the town. Some of Gounah's people were obliged to fly to Cong, and on that very day they made

me a captive. As soon as I was made prisoner, they stripped me, and tied me with a cord, and gave me a heavy load to carry, and led me into the country of Buntocoo,-from thence to the town of Cumasy, where the king of Shantee reigned, whose name is Ashai,and from thence to Assicuma,-and from thence to Agimaca, which is the country of the Fantees; from thence to the town of Dago, by the sea-side (all the way on foot, and well loaded;) there they sold me to the Christians in that town-there one of the ship's captains purchased me, and delivered me over to one of his sailors: the boat immediately pushed off, and I was carried on board the ship. We were three months at sea before we arrived in Jamaica, which was the beginning of bondage.—I have none to thank but those that brought me here. But, praise be to God, who has every thing in his power to do as he thinks good, and no man can remove whatever burden he chooses to put on us. As he said, 'Nothing shall fall on us except what he shall ordain; he is our Lord, and let all that believe in him put their trust in him.' My parents' religion is of the Mussulman: they are all circumcised, and their devotions are five times a day; they fast in the month Ramadan; they give tribute according to the law; they are married to four wives, but the fifth is an abomination to them. They fight for their religion, and they travel to the Hedjaz (those that are capable.) They don't eat any meat except what they themselves kill. They do not drink wine nor spirits, as it is held an abomination so to do. They do not associate with any that worship idols, or profane the Lord's name, or do dishonour to their parents, or commit murder, or bear false witness, or who are covetous, proud, or boastful; for such faults are an abomination unto my religion. They are particularly careful in the education of their children, and in their behaviour, but I am lost to all these advantages: since my bondage I am become corrupt; and I now conclude by begging the Almighty God to lead me into the path that is pro

per for me, for he alone knows the secrets of and what I am in need of.

"Kingston, Jamaica, Sept. 20, 1834."

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"ABON BECR SADIKA.

The above was written in Arabic. The man speaks English well and correctly for a negro, but does not read or write it. I caused him to read the original, and translate it word by word; and, from the little knowledge I have of the spoken language, I can safely present you with this version of it as a literal translation. There are other letters of his, and some of his brethren, which I will send you in my next. The letter of the latter, addressed to me by some native Africans, who have obtained their liberty in this city, is written in English by one of them, and is an epistle which, I think, you will read with much interest. I am, my dear Sir,

Yours, very truly,

R. R. M.

LETTER XXXII.

CAPABILITIES OF NEGROES.

TO DR. WM. BEATTIE.

MY DEAR SIR,

Kingston, October 20, 1834.

The day after the proceedings described in my last letter took place, I received the following letter from a member of the House of Assembly-a gentleman generally esteemed for his abilities, as well as for his amiable disposition. The suggestion it offers is one that, I think, is deserving of attention; and it serves, moreover, to exhibit the private feelings of benevolence

towards the negro, which can actuate the conduct of those whose public sentiments are not in unison with the opinions of those who are favourable to the abolition of slavery. This letter is from a gentleman who made the most decided stand for what is called colonial interest, at the passing of the late measure-from one, in short, who took, what I thought, a very strong part against that measure. Truth, however, obliges me to add, that a more humane master to his negroes is not to be found. I do not think I have ever witnessed, in England, kindness, and even affectionate regard to servants, so strikingly displayed, as I have observed in the uniform humanity of this gentleman towards his sable domestics. His letter was to this effect:

"While perusing the interesting case which occurred yesterday at your court, as reported in the Herald, I was struck so forcibly with the advantage with which the Landers, and other explorators of Africa, would derive through the acquisition of such an individual, that I laid down the paper to suggest to you some observations, which may lead as well to his advantage as to that of the country of his ancestors. I am delighted that I should have been so fortunate as to be sitting alongside of you when that case was called on. I had often heard the man spoken of, but I never saw him until he stood before you. I had often heard, too, of the beauty of his penmanship; but the idea I had formed of it fell infinitely short of the specimen you had put into my hands; and then the able and affecting address delivered on the occasion will long live in my memory, while the interesting history, for which we are indebted to you, cannot fail to ensure the gratitude of all beneficent minds. I should hope you would pause, before you resign that man to obscurity. From his looks, I should think him neither too old, nor constitutionally unfitted for the views I have laid before you. You have been the means of discovering an individual calculated

to render, I should think, invaluable assistance to the attempts that are now making to explore the regions around Timbuctoo."*

* On my return to England, at the urgent request of Donlan, I applied to those persons interested in African discovery, for employment for him as a guide or servant to some traveller going out to visit Africa. I likewise applied to the Royal Geographical Society, and sent all the papers of the African, both original and translated. In reply to my application on his behalf, I was favoured with the following excellent paper from the Secre tary, which, from the soundness of the opinions expressed, and the valuable information respecting the extent of our knowledge of Timbuctoo and its adjoining provinces, I consider well worthy of perusal.

"Royal Geographical Society, "April 6, 1835.

"I have carefully read the enclosed papers, and should have been very glad if I could have discovered any thing in them likely to interest the Society in the future employment of the person to whom they relate. But it would not be fair to his friends, not to say, frankly, that I do not think there is any chance of this.

"The district of Africa to which he belongs was very long the object of intense curiosity, among those interested in African discovery; but so much has there been learned regarding it, especially of late years, that this curiosity is brought now within far narrower limits. The general aspect of the country, its productions, trade, the physical and moral aspect of its population, and even their distribution into tribes and nations, are all reasonably well known; and what are yet wanting are chiefly positions, accurate surveys, geological and other scientific examinations, but for which an uneducated native is quite unsuited.

"Neither does it appear to me that he could be very serviceable as a guide or protector to a more suitable person. He has been too long out of the country for such a purpose. We know that, within the present day the greatest revolutions have taken place in his country, and the Fellatah province, in particular, which is now the dominant one, though it is quite modern. He would be thus a stranger himself among his countrymen, rather than any assistance to another stranger; and, possibly, only the more unsuited for this latter purpose, if his birth be really as good as he calls it.

"Were he on the spot, indeed, we should be very glad to

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