 Preface of the biography of Muhammad J. Bakuakwa. In compiling the following pages, many difficulties have had naturally to be encountered, in consequence of the imperfect English spoken by Muhammad, but great care has been taken to render the work as readable and clear as possible to the capacities of all classes of readers. The description of the people, their manners and customs of that country, which is so little known to the world at large, will be found highly instructive. The friends of the poor African Negro and the collared race generally will be greatly benefited by reading the work carefully from beginning to end. They will there see throughout its pages the horrible sufferings and tortures inflicted upon that portion of God's creatures merely because their skin is of a darker hue, not withstanding their hearts are as soft and flexible as the men of Pailor cast. The cherished object of Muhammad has been, for a long time past, indeed ever since his conversion to Christianity whilst at Haiti, to be enabled to return again to his native land, to instruct his own people in the ways of the Gospel of Christ, and to be the means of their salvation, which it is to be hoped he will be able to accomplish her long. In the meantime, he has become a subject of the Queen of England, and is at present living under her benign laws and influence in Canada, stirring up the collared population and agitating for the abolition of slavery all over the world, a cause which ought to occupy the hearts and feelings of every benevolent and charitable man and woman throughout the world. The slaves themselves, it is to be hoped, will be benefitted by every line that is written in their favor, simple as the style may be. As their cause is the cause of suffering humanity, how can anyone boasting of the religion of Jesus Christ for one moment seek to uphold slavery as it is for a single day? No, it cannot be. The system of slavery and the doctrines of Christ are quite opposed to each other, no matter what the defenders of the system may say. Readers, judge for yourselves and act for yourselves. Depend not on the dogmas of any man or class of men, but read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest the subject matter of these pages, and compare the treatment of those poor creatures under the yoke of slavery and the gospel of Christ, and it will soon come to the conclusion that it will not bear comparison with any one portion of the good book which says, my yoke is easy and my burden is light, for the yoke of slavery is hard and the burdens are not light but exceedingly heavy. Too much cannot be said, written or published, on the horrible system of slavery. To bring the brutal subject to an end, the more that is said and done in the way of agitating the subject, the better for all classes, the better for slave owners to get rid of the accursed sin, and the better for the poor slaves to rid them of their yoke. But all whose hearts are not of adamant and whose nerves are not of steel advance his views in every possible way, and the slave may soon become free, and blast the day that made him so, and the hands that knock the shackles from his bleeding hand and feet, and snatch the whip from out the tyrant master's hand, who bound up all the negro's wounds and applied balm to his ridden body. Can the humane and philanthropic who struggle for the freedom of the slaves in the West India possessions some years ago, and which cost the British people some millions of pounds sterling, I say, can they forget the pleasurable feelings that event gave to them? The society of friends were the principal agitators in that movement, and the blessings and prayers of the poor liberated slaves ascended the altars of heaven on that great occasion. Can they forget the kindlier feelings of their nature that was stirred up within them on that occasion? Can they ever think you, forget the glorious day which made their fellow-creatures free? Can they forget the first of August of that eventful year? Ho, then, friends of humanity, bestow yourselves again, as did those good men on that occasion, and persevere until you have accomplished the work you have set yourselves to do, as those in days gone by had done. This little work may have its desired effect wherever it is read, and no doubt the sufferings of the subject, Mahama, will bring the tear to many a pitying eye, and the blush to many a dimple cheek, in shame for the cruelty practiced upon him by men bearing the image of their maker. Many a blush will be summoned to the cheeks of innocence whilst this work is in progress of perusal. The descriptive part of this work cannot but prove highly interesting to the general reader, as such descriptions coming from the mouth of a native who has passed through all the places described in the interior of a country like Africa. Many works descriptive of the country have issued from the press from time to time, but none have appeared like the present. It is simply a compilation or narration of events happening in the life of the man himself who narrates them, and given without any figured speech, but in the plainest style possible. All the phrases used are familiar as household words. Consequently it will be easily understood by all who read it. It is written so plainly in point of speech that he who runs may read. The different customs and ceremonies are very amusing, and may, according to the way in which it is read, prove highly instructive as well. It is hoped that, at any rate, good may be accomplished by its publication. If it should be the province of Mahama to go out to Africa as a missionary according to his heart's desire, it is his intention, if he is permitted to return to this country, to issue this work in a larger form, with the addition of matters that has either been entirely left out or curtailed for want of space, together with his success amongst his native race, the people of his own clan. End of preface. The subject of this memoir was born in the city of Zuzu in Central Africa, whose king was tributary to the king of Berzu. His age is not known to the ear exactly, as the Africans have altogether a different mode of dividing time and reckoning age, but supposes he is about thirty years old, from the remembrance of certain events which took place and from the knowledge he has lately acquired in figures. But this not being a very important matter in his history, we here leave it to its own obscurity, not for a moment believing the narration who lose any of its interest from the lack of the particular figure. He states his parents were of different countries, his father being a native of Berzu, of Arabian descent and not very dark complexioned. His mother being a native of Kashna and a very dark complexion was entirely black. The manners of his father were grave and silent. His religion Mahabadanism. As the interior of Africa is comparatively little known, a brief sketch cannot prove but very interesting to most of our readers. Accordingly, we shall proceed with the details as set forth by Mahama himself. Their mode of worship is something after the following style. My father, says Mahama, rose every morning at four o'clock for prayers, after which he returned to bed. At sunrise he performed his second devotional exercises. At noon he worshipped again and again at sunset. Once a year a great fast is held, which lasts a month. During this time nothing is eaten during the day, but in the evening, after some ceremonies are performed, eating is allowed. After eating, worship is permitted in their own homes, and then assemblies for public worship are held. The place of worship was a large and pleasant yard belonging to my grandfather. My uncle was the officiating priest. The people arranged themselves in rows, the priest standing in front, the oldest people next to him, and so on, arranging themselves in order according to age. The priest commences the devotions by bowing his head toward the earth, and saying the following words, Allah ha-kubar, the people responding Allah ha-kubar, signifying God hear our prayer, answer our prayer. The priest and people then kneel and press their foreheads to the earth. The priest repeating passages from the Quran, and the people responding as before. After the portion of the ceremony is over, the priest and people sitting on the ground count their beads, the priest occasionally repeating passages from the Quran. They then pray for their king, that Allah would help him to conquer his enemies, and that he would preserve the people from famine, from the devouring locusts, and that he would grant them rain in due season. At the close of each day's ceremonies, the worshippers of the Prophet go to their respective homes, where the best of everything is provided for the evening's repast. This same worship is repeated daily for thirty days, and closes with one immense mass meeting. The king comes to the city on this occasion, and great multitudes from the country all round about, who, together with the citizens, collect at the place appointed for worship, called Gigerah, a little out of the city. This place, consecrated to the worship of the false prophet, is one of God's first temples. It consisted of several very large trees, forming an extensive and beautiful shade. The ground, sandy, and entirely destitute of grass, is kept perfectly clean. Many thousands can be comfortably seated beneath those trees, and being upon high ground, the appearance of such a mighty assembly is imposing in the extreme. The seats are merely mats spread out upon the ground. A mound of sand? This sand differs from the sand of the desert. It is a coarse red sand mixed with earth and small stones, and can easily be formed into a substantial mound. It is raised for the chief priest to stand upon whilst he addresses the people. On these occasions, he is dressed in a loose black robe, reaching nearly to the ground, and is attended by four subordinate priests, who kneel around him, holding the bottom of his robe, waving it to and fro. Occasionally, the chief priest will squat like a toad, and when he arises they resume the operation of waving his robe. These ceremonies concluded, the people return home to offer sacrifice, sarah, for the dead and living. Thus ends the annual fast. Chapter 2 of Biography of Muhammad Jiba Kwakwa by Samuel Moore Chapter 2 Government in Africa In Africa, they have no written or printed forms of government, and yet the people are subject to certain laws, rules, and regulations. The government is vested in the king as supreme. Next to him are chiefs or petty sovereigns. There are also other officers, whose titles and office cannot be explained very well in English. The king of Zugu, as before stated, is tributary or subservient to the king of Burgu. Theft is considered the greatest crime in some parts of Africa, and the thief frequently receives the punishment of death in consequence. When anyone is suspected or charged with theft, he is taken before the king, where a sort of trial is given him. If found guilty, he is either sold or put to death. Where the latter sentence is carried into effect, anyone is allowed to stone or otherwise abuse and maltreat him. When he is finally led to the top of a small hill in the city, and either stoned or shot to death. Murder is not considered so great a crime, and a murderer does not receive capital punishment, but is mostly sold as a slave and sent out of the country. The crime of adultery is severely punished, but the heaviest punishment is inflicted upon the man. The case in point is thus described by Mahama, he says. I remember an individual that was severely punished for this crime. The king's brother had several wives, one of whom was suspected of incontinency. Both were brought before the king. I was with him at the time. The king ordered me to get a rope, which was fastened around the men's arms, behind his back and tied. Then a stick was placed in the rope, which had been wetted so as to make it shrink, and then twisted around until the poor creature was forced into a confession of his guilt when he was released and given away as a slave. The woman received no other punishment than that of witnessing the torture inflicted upon her guilty paramour. The farmers have their crops secured in this way. The farm's not being fenced in, the king makes a law that every man who owns a horse, donkey, or other animal must keep them from his neighbor's premises. If any animal strays upon the neighbor's premises and does the least damage, he's scot and tied up, and the owner obliged to pay a heavy fine before he can recover the animal. This is the style of impounding in Africa. Dets are sometimes collected in the following manner, vis. If a person in one town or city is indebted to a person residing at a distance, and refuses or neglects to pay such a debt, the creditor residing in such distant town or city may seize upon any of his neighbors, whom he may happen to catch in that town, and if he has any money or thing valuable, the creditor is allowed to take it from him and tell such stranger to get it from his fellow townsman when he returns home again. If he has no property about him, he is allowed to seize upon his person and detain him until the debt is paid. Such a law in this country would have very great effect in keeping the citizens pretty much confined to their own homes, as the danger of traveling would be very great. The chances of return to an anxious and affectionate wife would, in most civilized countries, be very small indeed. Supposing the rambler to be destitute of property, and supposing him to be a man of means, there's no doubt of his means being considerably reduced or his return to his happy home. The soldiers are a privileged class, and whatever they need, either in town or city, they are allowed to take, and there is no redress from any complaint made against them. If a slave becomes dissatisfied, he leaves his master and goes to the king and becomes a soldier, and thereby gains his freedom from his master. No fugitive slave law can touch him. These are some of the principal matters which are brought before the king for adjustment, which he disposes of according to the laws of the land. End of Chapter 2. Chapter 3 of Biography of Muhammad Jibakwakwa by Samuel Moore. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 3. Appearance and Situation of the Country. It is rather difficult to give a very correct account of the geography of that part of Africa described as the birthplace of Muhammad, but it must be situated somewhere between 10 and 20 degrees north latitude and near the meridian of Greenwich. It is situated in the peninsula formed by the great bend of the river Niger. Up to the time that Muhammad was forced from home and all its pleasures, the foot of the white men had not made its first impression upon the soil. Therefore, the facts, matters, and things hereby related will be the more interesting to all those whose hearts and souls are turned toward the wants and woes of that portion of the globe. The city of Zugu is in the midst of a most fertile and delightful country. The climate, though exceedingly hot, is quite healthy. There are hills and mountains, plains and valleys, and it is pretty well watered. About a mile from the city, there is a stream of water, as white as milk and very cool, and not far from that, there is a spring of very cold water, also quite white. The residents often go from the city thence for water. It is not in the midst of a wilderness, as some suppose, but there are some quite extensive plains covered with very tall ranked grass, which is used by the people to cover their houses after the fashion of fetching. On these plains, there are but few trees, but what there are are of great size. And here also roams the elephant, the lion, and other wild animals coming to the torrid zone. There are two kinds of elephants, one very large, called Yaquintacari, the other small, called Yaquintacana. The teeth of the elephant lies scattered about in abundance all over the plains and can be collected in any quantity. The natives use the teeth to make musical instruments, which they call kafa. The city itself is large and surrounded by a thick wall, built of red clay and made very smooth on both sides. The outer side of the wall is surrounded by a deep moat or ditch, which in the rainy season is filled with water. Beyond this, the city is further protected by a hedge of thorns, grown so thickly and compactly together that no person could pass through them. It bears a small white blossom, and when in full bloom, looks exceedingly beautiful. The king's palace, if it may be so-called, is within the city wall, at some little distance from the principal part of the city, surrounded by what in some countries would be called a park, on a most extensive scale, at the back of which is a dense thicket, precluding the necessity of any protecting wall on that side of the royal domain. A broad avenue leads from the city to the king's house, with an extensive market on either side, beautifully shaded with large overhanging trees. The people of America can have no idea of the size and beauty of some of the trees in Africa, particularly in the cities, where they stand a good distance apart, by that means having the best chance of attaining their full growth. There is a tree called the bonton, which grows to a very great height, but the branches do not spread so wide as some others. It is very beautiful. The entrance into the city is through six gates, which bear the names of their respective keepers, something similar to the city of London and most of the old fortified towns in England, and indeed of most parts of the old country. These gatekeepers are chosen from their courage and bravery and are generally persons of rank. It may perhaps instruct as well as amuse our young friends who may read this work to know their names, and on that account, we will give them. One, Ubuma Coffa. Two, Foro Coffa. Three, Bapara Coffa. Four, Batulu Coffa. Five, Palamon Coffa. Six, Ajago Coffa. The word Coffa means gate, and Ba means father. Ajago is the name of a woman whose son was noted for his valor. In times of war, these gates are strongly guarded, hence the necessity of having chosen men of known valor and courage to keep them. The houses are built of clay, low and without chimneys or windows. The following description of one of the dwellings will give a pretty accurate idea of the generality of the houses of the city. A dwelling is composed of a number of separate rooms built in a circle, with quite a space between them. Within the outer circle is another circle of rooms, according to the size of the family to occupy them. These rooms are all connected by a wall. There is one large or main entrance in front of the others, in which to receive company. Each family is surrounded by their own dwelling, so that when they are in any apartment, they cannot see any other dwelling or anyone passing or repassing. In consequence of this mold of building, the city occupies a very large space of ground. There is a regularly appointed watch to the city, who are paid by the king, he also acting as chief magistrate over the watch. End of Chapter 3 Chapter 4 of Biography of Muhammad Jeeba Kwakwa by Samuel Moore. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 4 Agriculture, Arts, etc. The agriculture of the country is in but a very rude state. The few implements used are made by the country people and consist of a large kind of hoe to dig up the ground and small ones to plant and dress the corn or whatever is to be raised. This process of preparing the ground is very laborious and tedious, but the richness of the soil compensates in some degree. For one acre well-tilled will yield an immense crop. Corn is raised, sweet potatoes and horny, which very much resembles the American broom corn in appearance and is there used as an article of food. Harnaby, which is a very fine grain, grows on a very large stalk and is unlike anything in this country. It is roasted in the ear and the grain rubbed out with the hands and eaten as the American people do parched corn. It is very good. Rice is raised in large quantities and of an excellent quality. It is planted in rows and one planting will serve two or three years as it will come up of itself without any attention. It grows very luxuriously. Beans are also cultivated. Fruits grow in great abundance and variety, spontaneously. Yams are cultivated and grow to great perfection. Pineapples grow spontaneously but are not eaten as the natives fear they are of a poisonous quality, but that is only fear from the want of knowing better. Peanuts are plentiful and of good quality and there is also a great variety of grain and fruits of other kinds and supposing they have the means of cultivation, the same as they have in more civilized countries, Africa would be capable of supporting within herself an immense population. The manufacturers of Africa are very limited. They consist of farming utensils, cotton cloths and silk. Silk is but little manufactured but might be much more as silkworms are to be found in abundance and might be increased to any extent. The cotton tree there grows very large and the cotton is of good quality. The women do the spinning by a very slow process having to twist the thread with their fingers. The men do the weaving. They weave the cloth in narrow strips and then sew it together. Women also grind the corn. The process of grinding is this. They take a large stone and fix it in the ground. Then they have a smaller one prepared so that it can be easily handled. It is packed on one side after the manner of our millstones. The women then put the grain or whatever they wish to grind on the large stone and take the other and rub the grain until it is fine. If they wish to make it very fine, they take another stone prepared for the purpose and by patient labor, they succeed in making it as fine as the finest American flower. They grind dried yams by pounding them in a mortar and a fine kind of grain called horny before named, mixed together. Of this mixture, they make a kind of stiff pudding and eat it with gravy made of greens and a variety of vegetables seasoned with pepper and onions. No kind of food is ever eaten without onions. The shepherds and herdsmen of Africa are a distinct and subordinate class of people and belong to the government. They have long, straight hair and are as light complexioned as the inhabitants of Southern Europe. They are nearly white. They take care of the flocks and herds, supply the city with milk, butter and cheese. The butter is quite good and hard, which is an evidence of its being cooler in this locality than in most other parts of the torrid zone. They are Mohammedans in their religion and strictly adhere to the rights and ceremonies of that class of religionists. They speak the Arabic and Flan languages. Hence, it must be inferred that they are of Arabian descent, but of their further history, we are in ignorance. The domestic animals of Africa are much the same as in this and other countries, consisting of the horse, cow, sheep, goat, donkey, mule and ostrich. Birds are abundant, such as geese, turkeys, peacocks, guinea hens and barnfowls. The latter are very large and are in great abundance. They are, together with their eggs, used as the common food for the people in the forests. Besides these, there are abundance of swans in the river and a variety of wild fowl. There's also a kind of water fowl that is very beautiful and whose plumage is as white as snow and about the size of an ordinary dove. They congregate in large flocks. Parrots are quite common and singing birds are very numerous. The river is abound with the river horse, the crocodile, et cetera. End of chapter four. Chapter five of biography of Muhammad Jeeba Kwakwa by Samuel Moore. The sliver box recording is in the public domain. Chapter five, manners, customs, et cetera. Great respect is paid to the aged. They never use the prefix mister or mistress, but always some endearing term, such as when speaking to an aged person. They say father or mother and in equal they call brother or sister. Children are brought up to be obedient and polite. They are never permitted to contradict or sit in the presence of an aged person. And when they see an elderly person coming, they immediately uncover and if they have shoes upon their feet, they immediately remove them. They bend their knee to the aged and the aged in turn bend their knee to them and request them at once to rise. And in every respect, a deference is paid to age. The best seat is reserved for them and in their places of worship, the place next to the priest is reserved for them. Should not these facts put to shame the manners of the children in this country towards the aged? How painful it is to witness the disrespect shown to grown up people by the rising generation of this country and in many cases, the shameful behavior of children towards even their own parents and that without a single check of censure or rebuke. It is here that the great moral regeneration of our land must commence. Children should be early taught to render obedience and respect to their superiors and they will then be prepared to render to all equal rights when they become men and women and will in turn be prepared to govern well their own households. The reader will please pardon this digression. It has been made with a view to draw attention more powerfully to the subject as it is of vital importance to the well-being of any community that the young should be properly trained in the way they should go so that when they grow up, they should not depart from it. And if this contrast in the behavior of the poor African children with that of those of our own enlightened nation may be the means of but one step in the march of improvement and reform in this respect, the compiler of these pages will feel amply repaid for the little exertion bestowed upon these few extra lines. This is one good, nay, one of the best features of Africa. Another is the law of kindness which everywhere prevails in the mutual intercourse of those of the same ranks. Whatever a person has, he freely divides with his neighbor and no one even enters a house without being invited to eat. But the same as in more civilized countries, if a person rises to wealth and honor, he is sure to be envied if not hated. They do not like to see one of their own number rise above them. A person who has always been rich, they esteem more highly. This seems to be pretty well the case all over the world. Go where you will. Like seems to produce in cases of this kind, like. We see the very same thing manifest amongst us every day of our lives, here in our very midst, so that it does not appear that we are greatly removed from the benighted African with all our wisdom and learning, with all our boasted institutions. Truly, the whole world is a strange compound of black, white, and gray and the ways of all mankind are turned every way. Fighting is a very common occurrence and is by no means considered disgraceful. There is a place in the city where the young men meet together for that purpose and, as elsewhere, there are two parties who never agree. Each party occupies different portions of the city and they meet for personal combat, which often ends in a general fight, but they never kill each other. Chapter 6 Marriage Ceremonies, etc. When a young man wishes to marry, he selects a choice fruit called gun-run and sends it by his sister or some female friend to the object of his choice. If the fruit is accepted, he understands that he will be favorably received and remains at home for about a week before he pays for another visit. After sometimes spent in visiting and receiving visits, arrangements are made for the marriage ceremony. They do not have a particular day set and the wedding at the bride's father's, but she is kept ignorant of the time. The arrangements are made by the bridegroom and her parents. At the time appointed, the bridegroom sends a number of young men to the house of her father at night. They remain out of doors very still and send a child in to tell her someone wishes to speak with her. She goes to the door and is immediately surrounded and carried off by the young men to a place called Nyawa Kwafu, where she is kept six days. During this time, she remains veiled and has a number of female friends with her who spend their time and play in amusements. The bridegroom in the meantime confines himself at home and is attended by his young friends who also spend their time in feasting and merriment until the seventh day. Whilst they are thus confined, a general invitation is given to the friends of both parties. The invitation is made in this way. It will be said that Maiachi and Adita in Kwa-Hunu-Yo-Ha-Kuna, which signifies that the bride and bridegroom are going out today. They all meet at some convenient place named for the purpose. The friends of the bridegroom conduct him there and the friends of the bride conduct her also, both bride and groom having their heads covered with white cloths. A mat is prepared for them to be seated. The friends advance and salute the bridegroom at the same time handing him some money. The money is then placed before the couple who are thus considered men and wife. Money is likewise scattered for the drum king and his company, also for the children of the populace to pick up. After this, they are conducted to the house of the bridegroom. The ceremonies are thus brought to an end. It ought to have been stated that the favor of the lady's father is obtained by presence. Polygamy is practiced to a great extent and sanctioned by law. A man's property is sometimes estimated by the number of wives he has. Occasionally, a poor man has a number of wives and then they have to support him. When a rich woman marries a poor man as is sometimes the case he never has more than one wife. Muhammad's mother was a woman of rank and wealth. His father had been a wealthy man. He was a traveling merchant carried his merchandise on donkeys and had slaves to accompany him. But by some means he lost the greater part of his property and at the time of his marriage was comparatively poor. He consequently had but one wife. This is another reason why it is supposed he was of Arabian birth as many of the Arabs travel in this way to gain property. The women in Africa are inferior to the men and are consequently held in the most degrading subjection. The condition of females is very similar to that in all barbarous nations. They never eat at the same table with the men or rather in their presence. They having no tables but in separate apartments. When a person dies they wrap the body in a white cloth and bury it as soon as possible. After the body is laid out the priest is sent for and a religious ceremony performed which consists of prayers to Allah for the soul of the departed. The manner of burying is to dig a place in the ground several feet deep and ten or twelve feet horizontally in which they deposit the body and close up the entrance with a large flat stone. Other ceremonies are also performed by the priest over the grave. Great lamentations are made for the dead who shout and bitter cries and wailings which continue for six days. The friends of the departed shut themselves up for that space of time holding meetings for prayer every night. The seventh day a great feast is held and the term of morning ends when the family appears as usual. The Africans are a superstitious race of people and believe in witchcraft and other supernatural agencies. Some of light, something after the manner of Ignus Fatwas or Will of the Wisps are often seen on the hills and high places which move fitfully about. These phenomena are supposed to be evil spirits. They have a strange appearance from a distance and with less ignorant people than the Africans might be taken for a very different object. They are much larger in appearance than the jack-o'-lanterns of Europe to proceed from the extended arms of a human being. When they suppose any person is bewitched they consult their astrologer who consults the stars and by that means trace out the supposed witch which generally happens to be some poor decrepit old woman whom they take and put to death. This practice seems to be very similar to what was formerly practiced in the eastern states in most parts of old England and indeed, generally throughout Europe in days gone by. Indeed, in many parts of old England, in small isolated towns and villages the same thing is done at the present day. Of course, all such notions have their origin in the grossest ignorance hence the necessity of educating the masses of the people in every part of the world. There is a class of men called medicine men whom the people nothing can hurt. These men have the office assigned them of putting to death these supposed witches. They are called unbas and are scattered all about the country go in a state of nudity eat swine's flesh and are considered by the Mohammedans as a very wicked people. It is customary for the Mohammedans to wear a loose kind of trousers which are made full at the bottom and are fastened round about the hips of the shirt. A loose robe is worn over this cut in a circular form open at the center sufficiently large to put over the head and allow to rest on the shoulders with loose sleeves the neck and breast being exposed. The women wear a cloth about two yards square doubled corner wise and tied around the waist the tie being made at the left side. The king's dress is made in a similar style but of more costly materials. Children do not wear much clothing. The trade carried on between Zugu and other parts of the country is done by means of horses and donkeys. Salt is brought from a place called Sabah they exchange slaves cows and ivory for salt. This journey occupies about two months generally. Occasionally European goods are brought from Ashanti but they are very costly. Most of the articles used are of homemade. Earthenware is made out of clay. They have a nice red and white clay but the articles they make are very coarse as they know little of that kind of manufacture indeed hardly of any other. They have strange notions concerning the white men. Their notions are very vague and dreamy concerning them. They suppose they live in the ocean and that when the sun goes down it warms the water so that the white people cook their food by it. They consider the white people superior to themselves in every respect and fear to make needles as they imagine that the white men can look through an instrument and see all that's going on and they believe the white men is very angry with them for making needles. They fear very much when thus occupied and would not be seen by the white men at such a time could they help it for all the world. When they are busy at needle making they of course imagine that they are being looked at. Of course this arises from the belief that they are wrongfully engaged and the same as throughout the whole human race when a supposed wrong is being perpetrated fear takes possession of the mind. This is but natural to all mankind. They imagine for making needles the whites have the power to put out their eyes. On account of such notions revealing, of course needles are not made to any great extent but still some are found hardy and daring enough to make them notwithstanding. From when such notions sprang we cannot very well explain but the all seen instrument is no doubt our telescope which at some time or other has been exhibited likely by seamen who have traveled in some parts of Africa and the story is circulated by the wandermongers of the sable tribe. Wars in Africa are very frequent the country being divided into so many divisions or petty kingdoms. The kings are continually quarreling which quarrels lead to war. When a king dies there is no regular successor but a great many rivals for the kingdoms spring up and he who can achieve his object by power and strength becomes the succeeding king thus war settles the question. Slavery is also another fruitful source of war the prisoners being sold for slaves the weapons used are bows and arrows, guns and a kind of knife or short sword of home manufacture this knife or sword is worn in time of peace as sidearms as well as in time of war the Africans never go unarmed sometimes great numbers are killed in the wars but never so many as in European and other countries their prisoners are treated very cruelly they flog and otherwise abuse them until an opportunity occurs of disposing of them as slaves they drink considerably before going to battle in order to strengthen them and instill them with courage and daring of course this has no reference to those professing mohabitanism as they use no kinds of intoxicating drinks on any occasion sometimes whole cities are destroyed and the country round about laid waste when famine ensues this alas is too often the consequence of war wherever it is practiced not only in Africa but in all parts where the bloody strife is engaged in when the gospel with its beauties truths are fully understood and appreciated by the people generally peace and goodwill shall reign supreme and wars and rumors of wars shall be no more forever how strange that nations boasting of enlightenment and the power of the glorious gospel of Christ to govern them should so engage hand to hand and foot to foot in such scenes of carnage destruction how can Christian nations so engaged everything to succeed in their mission of converting the heathen when their practices at home are so much at variance with the blessed truths set forth in the sacred volume let the Christian spirit and the spirit of war array themselves in everlasting opposition and the day is not far distant when the wilderness shall blossom as the rose with flowers fitted for the garniture of peace and holiness Christians and those professing the doctrines of the gospel should do all in their power to banish war then would their yoke be easy and their burden light and the work of conversion would go rapidly on slavery in Africa the greatest source of misery to Africa is her system of slavery to a fearful extent but domestic slavery in that country is nothing when compared to this but the trading of slaves is very horrible slaves are taken from the interior and hurried to the coast where they are exchanged for rum and tobacco or other articles of merchandise this system of slavery causes much bloodshed and consequent misery Mahoma was once taken prisoner but was redeemed by his mother but more of this in the proper place End of Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Part 1 of biography of Mahoma Jibacwakwa by Samuel Moore this LibriVox recording is in the public domain Chapter 7 Mahoma's Early Life, etc we shall now proceed at once to the more important portion of the work describing the early history life of the his arrival in America his journey to and sojourn in Haiti and return to this country again his views, objects and aims his parents, as before state in were of different tribes or nations his father was Muhammadan in religion but his mother was of no religion at all he states my mother was like a good many Christians here who like to be Christians in the world who like to be Christians in name but do not like to worship God much she liked Muhammadanism very well but did not care much about the worshipping part of the matter Muhammadans are much greater worshippers than Christians and worship with more apparent zeal and devotion the family consisted of two sons and three daughters besides twins that died in infancy the Africans are very superstitious about twins they imagine that all twins are more knowing than any other children and so with respect to the child born next after twins they are considered to know almost everything and are held in highest team if the twins live and imagine of them is made out of a particular wood one for each of them and they are taught to feed them or offer them food whenever they have any if they die the one next to them by birth has an image of them made and it is his duty to feed them or offer them food Muhammad was the next born after twins and these little duties he faithfully performed it is supposed the image keeps them from harm and preserves them in war he was consequently highly esteemed on account of his birth he was never supposed he never said anything wrong and everything he wished was done for him on the instant this no doubt was the reason his mother so fondly loved him and was the cause of his youthful recklessness they never crossed or controlled him his mother was the only person who dared to even check him his love for his mother was exceedingly great his uncle was a very rich man who was blacksmith to the king and he wanted Muhammad to learn that trade but his father destined him for the mosque intending to bring him up as one of the prophet's faithful followers for that purpose he was sent to school but not liking school very much he went to live with his uncle and learn the art of making needles knives and all such kinds of things his father afterwards replaced him at school but he soon ran away he did not like the restraint the teacher put upon him his brother was a staunch mohabanan and well learned in arabic Muhammad did not progress very well in learning, having a natural dread of it the manner of teaching is rather different to other countries the africans having neither books nor papers but a board called walla on which is written a lesson which the pupil is required to learn to read and write before any other is given when that lesson is learned the board is cleaned and a new one written scholars are not permitted to be absent without special leave from the teacher if true want is played punishment follows no fees are due until education is complete school inspection is made in the following manner a large meeting house generally a mosque is selected wither the pupils repair together with the teachers who must read 20 chapters of the Quran and if the pupil reads the whole 20 chapters without missing a single word his education is considered finished and the fees of instruction are immediately paid Muhammad's uncle had property in salgar wither he would repair to buy gold, silver, brass and iron for the purposes of his business the golden silver he made into bracelets for the arms and earrings and finger rings the Africans being very fond of such kinds of ornaments the needles in Africa are made by hand the process is very tedious in the first place the iron is hardened or converted into something like steel it is then made into fine wire by a process of hammering and cut into suitable lengths as required when it is again beaten and made sharp at the point by filing and finally polished by rubbing on a smooth stone with the hand from this description of needle making it may be clearly seen how much labor has to be bestowed upon all branches of manufacture for want of better tools and machinery and African bellows deserve some notice it is said necessity is the mother of invention whoever doubted this fact let him attentively read the following and if they deny that position they surely cannot but say that invention of the bellows in Africa certainly had a father the bellows is composed of a goat skin taken off whole a stick passes through from the neck to the hinder legs where it is fastened and by an ingenious contrivance the legs are moved up and down by hand an old gun barrel being used for the pipe whilst his uncle was at war on business he died and left his property to Muhammad's mother he then worked a short time with another relative it is laborious work manufacturing farming implements and tools machinery is greatly needed in Africa the want of which is a great drawback to the manufacturers of that country the iron is a first rate quality very much superior to the iron of America iron copper and brass are twisted into rings which are worn as ornaments about the ankles and arms there are hundreds and thousands of men in the world who rejoice to do good and who are seeking means to employ their time and their talents to such as these who peruse the pages of this work the hand here thrown out may not be lost a wide field of usefulness presents itself in that much neglected part of the world where men are to be found who only need the teaching to make good citizens, good mechanics good farmers, good men and good Christians to those who would direct their efforts in the behalf of such a nation no doubt remains but that God would bless their works their deeds would praise them and millions yet unworn would call them blessed go then you philanthropists to these benighted people offer them the hand of assistance and raise them to the standard of their fellow men and give all the countenance you can to their endeavors to usefulness and goodness never caring for the scoffs and frowns of a cold and callous world let your works be of such a nature as all good men will speak well of you and your own consciences approvingly assent Africa is rich in every respect except in knowledge the knowledge of the white man is needed but not his vices the religion of the white man is needed but more of it more of the spirit of true religion such as the bible teaches love to God and love to men who will go to Africa who will carry the bible there and who will teach the poor benighted african the arts and sciences who will do all this let the reply be prompt let it be full of life and energy let the saviour's command be obeyed go ye out into all the world and preach the gospel save all those who are perishing for lack of knowledge for the lack of that knowledge you have the power to impart hesitate no longer for now is the time the accepted time the night cometh when no man can work and the day, our day is fast waning go christian friends up and be doing Muhammad's brother was a kind of fortune teller who when the king was about to go to war was consulted by him to know whether the issue of the war would be in his favor or not this was done by science and figures made in the sand and all he predicted was fully believed would come to pass so that by his own mysterious power he could either cause the king to wage war or bring the matter to an end he at one time went to Burgu some distance from the east of us where he remained to years a great war was fought during that time and he was taken prisoner but was released by his mother paying a ransom when he returned home again he then went to Daboya which was a long way off to the south west of Zugu beyond a very large river at that place a great many kinds of articles of european manufacture were to be found such as glass bottles glasses, combs calluses, etc but the buildings were mostly the same as those at Zugu but the city was not surrounded by walls as at the latter here also the king was at war and invited my brother the cause of this war was that a king had died in a dispute having arisen as is very often the case between true brothers which should be the king they adopted such means to decide who should succeed and he who could gather the greatest forces was the successor the unsuccessful candidate placing himself under the protection of a neighboring king until he could gather up sufficient forces to enable him successfully to push on the war and thus rest the kingdom from his brother after Muhammad's brother had been some time with the king Muhammad himself went thither with many others to carry grain as it had become scarce there on account of the war it was about 17 days journey from Zugu the manner of travel being on foot with a sacks of grain upon their heads a rather tedious and unpleasant mode of traveling and transporting merchandise considering the facilities for such purposes afforded in America and Europe they arrived safely on a Saturday that war would be waging that day but it was not resumed until the next day the king was advised by his counselor to go out and meet the enemy in the woods but did not do so he then went to the king's house and after breakfasting next morning the guns began to boom away and the war went on in earnest guns were used by them on this occasion much more than bows and arrows the war was too hot for the king when he, together with his counselor fled for their lives my companions says Muhammad and myself ran to the river but could not cross it we hid ourselves in the tall grass but the enemy came and found us and made us all prisoners I was tied up very tightly they placed a rope around my neck and took me off with them we traveled together a wood and came to a place I shall never forget mosquitos but they were indeed mosquitos none of your small flies, gnats and such like that people in North America call mosquitos but real big hungry fellows with stings and suckers enough to drain every drop of blood out of a men's body at one draw they came whim, whim about our years and bite they did full of wrathful vengeance I never wished to be in that place again or any other like it truly horrible whilst traveling through the wood we met my brother but neither of us spoke or seemed to know each other he turned another way without arousing any suspicion and then went to a place and procured a person to purchase me had it been known who it was they would have insisted upon a very great price as my ransom but it was only a small sum that was required for my release it should have been mentioned the city was destroyed the women and children having been sent away when the wars come on suddenly the women and children have no means to escape but are taken prisoners and sold into slavery after my purchase and release my brother sent me home again with some friends and on my return home I paid our king a visit he was related to my mother in a few days after whilst at home the king sent for me and said he wished me to live with him entirely so, accordingly I remained in his house and he appointed me a Cherico that is a kind of bodyguard to the king I stood only third from the king Magazi and Waru being the two only in rank above me next to the king himself Magazi was an old man and Waru a youth I remained with the king day and night ate and drank with him and was his messenger in and out of the city the king did not reside in the city but a few miles from it the Africans have a curious way of reckoning distances they carry their burdens upon their heads and proceed until tired which is called lochafau and in English means one mile the king, continues Mohammed kept nothing from me but sometimes when he had very important affairs in hand he would consult the more experienced Magazi the kings are called Masasaba and govern several places and like the fairies of old all are called Masasaba when the king of the city dies the Masasabas are called upon to decide who shall succeed him if war comes upon them he is found foremost amongst the brave his residence is generally in the dense thicket built after the manner of the country but garnished on the outside with marble there are two kinds of marble there one quite white and the other red these marbles are pounded to a fine dust and whilst the mortar which is used in the building of houses is soft pieces of the marble are taken and pressed into it in any fantastic shape and figure they fancy which makes the wall stronger and gives the building when finished a pretty ornamental appearance the mortar in which the women grind yams the honey into flour mentioned in a previous part of this work requires some like notice as it is very interesting a number of men go into the forest and select a very large tree of a particular kind which is used for the purpose cut it down and cut off a log about four feet long it is then hollowed out and made very smooth and when all is ready the king invites a large number of men who roll it by hand to his house and place it where it is designed to stand this mortar is generally so large in circumference that 10 or 15 persons may stand around it to work at one time Massa Saba was a generous man and given to hospitality consequently had a great deal of company they love feasting in Africa as well as in any other part of the world and when the kings give feasts everything that the country affords is provided this makes them very popular with the people Muhammad cannot distinctly state how long he lived with the king but it was a considerable length of time whilst he was there he became very wicked but says he at that time I scarce knew what wickedness was the practices of the soldiers and guards I am now convinced was very bad indeed having full power and authority from the king to commit all kinds of depredations they pleased upon the people without fear of his displeasure or punishment at all times when they were bent on mischief or imagine they needed anything they would pounce upon the people and take from them whatever they chose as resistance was quite out of the way and the useless the kings decree being known to all the country round about these privileges were allowed a soldiery in lieu of pay so he plundered for a living if the king needed palm wine for a feast or at any other time he would send me and I would take some of his slaves along with me and knowing by what road the country people laden with wine would come into the city I would with the slaves hide in the long grass whilst one of our number would climb a high tree and be on the lookout for anyone coming as soon as he would aspire a woman with a calabash on her head women only carry the wine to market he would inform us and we would instantly surround her and secure the wine if the wine was good she lost it if poor we would return it to her as the king never drank bad wine but with the caution that she was to tell no one that the guard during ambush otherwise we should not be able to fall upon others so that the king would have to go without his wine in this way tall is levied upon all who bear wine into town whenever the king needs it if one woman does not carry sufficient wine for the king's use others are served in the same way until sufficient is obtained other articles are also seized upon whenever the king needs them in front of the king's house or palace was a very large courtyard beautifully shaded by lofty trees on one side of this court there were three or four trees under which a root throne was built of earth thrown into a heap and covered over with mortar being joined from tree to tree which was several feet high and ascended by steps of the same material on the throne there was a seat cushioned and covered with red leather made from the skin of the basse which was used for no other purpose on either side were seats for his two young wives which was occupied by two of his favorites in their absence my seat were at the foot of the throne on the one side of the steps and that of Waru on the other beyond was the seat occupied by Magazi the king would drink in the presence of his wives but not eat whenever he drank one of his wives or favorites would kneel before him and place her hands under his chin so as to prevent any of the drink being spilled upon his person in their absence that duty devolved upon me whenever the king required me for anything he would say guardowa I would reply sabi a term used only in speaking to the king and immediately run towards him falling on my face before him in an attitude of the most respectful attention he would then state what he needed when I would go at full speed to obey his commands the king permitted when about the king's business when he desired anything of Magazi he would call me to communicate to him his will thus was I kept running about from morning to night while his feasts lasted it was very hard work to attend upon such a king I can assure you kind readers at the king's feasts all the principal personages would assemble and dine with him those most of consequence would be entertained at the house of Magazi and those next at other houses so that the guests were scattered all round about it is the duty of the women to prepare the food etc to give more fully a description of the manner and customs of the people would no doubt be highly interesting to most of our readers and it would give us great pleasure to do so with the limits of the present work admit of it but at present we must hope they will be contented and pleased with what has already been written for them and it is to be hoped they will profit by its perusal at some other time should the public think fit to patronize those few stray sheets it may be that a larger and more extensive volume may be issued by the author of the present work in which will be given more fully everything within his knowledge of Africa and the Africans we will now at once turn to the more interesting portion of Muhammad's history which treats of his capture in Africa and subsequent slavery we will give the matter in nearly his own words it has already been stated that when any person gives evidence of gaining an eminent position in the country he is immediately envied and means are taken to put him out of the way thus when it was seen that my situation was one of trust and confidence with the king I was of course soon singled out as a fit object of vengeance by an envious class of my countrymen that quite away and sold into slavery I went to the city one day to see my mother when I was followed by music the drum and called to by name the drum beating to the measure of a song which had been composed apparently in honor of me on account of as I supposed my elevated position with the king this pleased me pleased me mightily and I felt highly flattered and was very liberal and gave the people money and wine they singing and gesturing the time about a mile from my mother's house where a strong drink called bagi was made out of the grain the other we repaired and when I had drank plentifully of bagi I was quite intoxicated and they persuaded me to go with them to Zaraku about one mile from Zugu to visit a strange king that I had never seen before when we arrived there the king made much of us all and a great feast was prepared and plenty of drink was given to me indeed all appeared to drink very freely in the morning when I arose I found that I was a prisoner and my companions were all gone oh horror I then discovered that I had been betrayed into the hands of my enemies as a slave never shall I forget my feelings on that occasion the thoughts of my poor mother harassed me very much and the loss of my liberty and honorable position with the king grieved me very sorely I lamented bitterly my folly and being so easily deceived and was led to drown all caution in the bowl had it not been that my senses had been taken from me the chance was that I should have escaped their snares at least for that time the man in whose company I found myself left by my cruel companions was one whose employment was to rid the country of all such as myself the way he secured me was after the following manner he took a limb of a tree that had two prongs and shaped it so that it would cross the back of my neck it was then fastened in front with an iron bolt the stick was about six feet long confined thus I was marched forward towards the coast to a place called Aruzu which was a large village there I found some friends who felt very much about my position but had no means of helping me we only stayed there one night as my master wanted to hurry on as I had told him I would get away from him and go home he then took me to a place called Chirachiri there I also had friends but could not see them as he kept very close watch over me and he always stated places prepared for the purpose of keeping the slaves in security there were holes in the walls in which my feet were placed a kind of stalks he then took me on to a place called Chamma after passing through many strange places the names of which I do not recollect where he sold me we had then been about four days from home we were told very rapidly I remained only one day when I was again sold to a woman who took me to Efao she had along with her some young men into whose charge I was given but she journeyed with us we were several days going there I suffered very much traveling through the woods and never saw a human being all the journey there was no regular road but we had to make our passage the inhabitants about Chamma lived chiefly by hunting wild animals which are there very numerous I saw many during the two days but do not know their names in English the people go nearly naked and are of the rudest description the country through which we passed after leaving Chirachiri was quite hilly water abundant enough good quality the trees are very large we did not suffer anything from heat as the weather was quite cold and pleasant it would be a healthy and delightful country where it inhabited by civilized people and cultivated the flowers are various and beautiful the trees full of birds large and small some sing very delightfully we crossed several large streams of water which had it not been the dry season would have been very deep as it was they were easily forwarded being no more than a feet of water in some places there were great quantities of aquatic birds sporting about we saw swans in abundance we tried to kill some but found it very difficult as their movements are very quick upon the water they have a most beautiful appearance when on the wing the necks and wings extended in the air they are perfectly white never fly very high or far away their flesh is sweet and good and considered a great dish after passing through the woods we came to a small place where the woman who had purchased me had some friends here I was treated very well indeed during the day but at night I was closely confined as they were afraid I would make my escape I could not sleep all night I was so tightly kept after remaining there for the space of two days we started on our journey again traveling day after day the country through which we passed continued quite hilly and mountainous we passed some very high mountains which I believe recall the mountains of Kong the weather all the time continued cool and pleasant water was found in great abundance of very excellent quality the roads in some places where the land was level was quite sandy but only for short distances together the country was very thinly settled the woods along the route are not very extensive but large tracts of land covered with a very tall grass we passed some places where fire had consumed the grass something after the manner of the prairies of south and southwestern North America I will here describe the manner of firing grass in Africa the grass when it has attained the large growth is a refuge or haunt for the wild animals abounding in that part of the country and when it is decided to fire the grass notice is sent to all people for miles roundabout and the hunters come prepared with bows and arrows who station themselves all around for several miles and form a large circle when the fire is applied at one point it is soon discovered by the party on the opposite who immediately fires his portion and so on all roundabout until the hole is fired the fire strikes inward the center never spreading outside the circle the hunters follow up the flames and being prepared with branches of trees bearing large leaves throw them down before them to stand upon so as to let fly their arrows upon the terrified animals who flee before the devouring element into the center of the fire the hunters of course following up their game around the outside of the burning mass slaying all before them as they proceed they are excellent marksmen and the poor of frightened creatures have very little chance for their lives at such times immense numbers are killed as well as serpents in great quantities but to return whilst passing over those places which had been recently burned our travel was much quicker not having much of anything to impede our progress but where the grass stood as a wall on either side of us we had to travel very cautiously fearing the wild animals would spring out and fall upon us the people of America do not know anything about tall grass such as in Africa the tall grass of the American prairies is a child beside a giant in comparison with the grass of the torrid zone it grows generally 12 feet high but sometimes much higher and nothing can be seen that is ever so near you it being so thick and stout closer even than the small groves of timber in this country at length we arrived at Efau where I was again sold the woman seemed sorry to part with me and gave me a small present on my leaving them Efau is quite a large place the houses were of different construction to those in Zugu and had not so good an appearance the man to whom I was again sold was very rich and had a great number of wives and slaves I was placed in charge of an old slave whilst there a great dance was held and I was fearful they were going to kill me as I had heard they did so in some places and I fancy the dance was only a preliminary part of the ceremony at any rate I did not feel at all comfortable about the matter I was at Efau several weeks and was very well treated during that time but as I did not like the work assigned me they saw that I was uneasy and as they were fearful of losing me I was locked up every night Efau was very mountainous and from the city the mountains in the distance had a noble appearance after leaving Efau we had no stopping place until we reached Dohama we remained in the woods by night and travelled during the day as there were wild beasts in great abundance and we were compelled to build up large fires at night to keep away the ferocious animals which otherwise would have fallen upon us and torn us to pieces we could hear them howling round about during the night there was one around in particular the people most dreaded it was of the form of a cat with a long body some were all of a color others spotted very beautifully the eyes of which shone like lustrous orbs of fire by night it is there called the gunu I presume from the description it must be what is here known as the leopard as from what I understand the description is about the same Dohama is about 3 days journey from Efau and is quite a large city the house is being built differently to any I had previously seen the surrounding country is level and the roads are good it is more thickly settled than any other part I had passed through though not so well as Zugu the manners of the people too were all together different to anything I had ever before seen I was being conducted through the city and as we passed along we were met by a woman and my keeper who was with me immediately took to his heels and ran back as hard as he could I stood stock still not knowing the meaning of it he saw I did not attempt to follow him or to move one way or another and he called to me in the Efau language to follow him which I did then he told me after we rested that the woman we had met was the king's wife and it was a work of respect to run whenever she is inside of any of her subjects there were gates to the city and a toll was demanded on passing through I remained there but a short time but I learned that it was a great place for whiskey and the people were very fond of dancing at this place I saw oranges for the first time in my life I was told whilst there that the king's house was ornamented on the outside with human skulls and it was a great place when we arrived here I began to give up all hopes of ever getting back to my home again but had entertained hopes until this time of being able to make my escape and by some means or other of once more seeing my native place but at last hope gave way the last ray seemed fading away and my heart felt sad and weary within me as I thought of my home my mother whom I loved most tenderly and the thoughts of never more beholding her added very much to my perplexities I felt sad and lonely wherever I did roam and my heart sank within me when I thought of the old folks at home some persons suppose that the african has none of the finer feelings of humanity within his breast and that the milk of human kindness runs not through his composition this is an error an error of the grossest kind the feelings which animated the whole human race lives within the sable creatures of the torrid zone as well as in the inhabitants of the temperate and frigid the same impulses drive them to action the same feeling of love move within their bosom the same maternal and paternal affections are there the same hopes and fears griefs and joys indeed all is there as in the rest of mankind the heavens is their color and that has been arranged by him who made the world and all that therein is the heavens and the waters of the mighty deep the moon the sun and stars the firmament and all that has been made from the beginning until now therefore why should any despise the works of his hands which has been made and fashioned according to his almighty power in the plentitude of his goodness and mercy oh ye despisers of his works look ye to yourselves and take heed let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall we then proceeded to Grafae about a day and a half's journey the land we passed was pretty thickly settled and generally well cultivated but I do not recollect that we passed any streams of water after entering upon this level country at Grafae I saw the first white man for sure took my attention very much the windows in the houses also looked strange and this was the first time in my life that I had ever seen houses having windows they took me to a white man's house where we remained until the morning when my breakfast was brought into me and judged my astonishment to find that the person who brought in my breakfast was an old acquaintance who came from the same place he did not exactly know me at first but he asked me if my name was Gardo and I told him it was the poor fellow was overjoyed and took me by the hands and shook me violently he was so glad to see me his name was Wuru and had come from Zugu having been enslaved about two years his friends could never tell what had become of him he inquired after his friends at Zugu asked me if I had lately come from there looked at my head and observed that I had the same head when we were in Zugu together I told him that I had it may be as well to remark in this place that in Africa the nations of the different parts of the country have their different modes of shaving the head and are known from that mark to what part of the country they belong in Zugu the hair is shaven off each side of the head and on the top of the head from the forehead to the back part it is left to grow in three round spots which is allowed to grow quite long the space is between being shaven very close there is no difficulty to a person acquainted with the different shaves to know what part any man belongs to Wuru seemed very anxious that I should remain at Grafe but I was destined for other parts this town is situated on a large river after breakfast I was taken down to the river and placed on board a boat the river was very large and branched off in two different directions previous to emptying itself into the sea the boat in which the slaves were placed was large and propelled by oars although it had sails as well but the wind not being strong enough oars were used as well we were two nights and one day on this river when we came to a very beautiful place the name of which I do not remember we did not remain here very long but as soon as the slaves were all collected together and the ship ready to sail we lost no time in putting to sea whilst at this place the slaves were all put into a pen and placed with her backs to the fire in order not to look about us and to ensure obedience a man was placed in front with a whip in his hand ready to strike the first who should dare to disobey orders another man then went round with a hot iron and branded us the same as they would with barrels or any other inanimate goods or merchandise when all were ready to go aboard we were chained together and tied with ropes round about our necks and were thus drawn down to the seashore the ship was lying some distance off I had never seen a ship before and my idea of it was that it was some object of worship of the white men I imagined that we were all to be slaughtered and were being led there for that purpose I felt alarmed for my safety and despondency had almost taken so possession of me a kind of feast was made ashore that day and those who rode the boats were plentifully regalled with whiskey and the slaves were given rice and other good things in abundance I was not aware that it was to be my last feast in Africa I did not know my destiny happy for me that I did not all I knew was that I was a slave chained by the neck and that I must readily and willingly submit, come what would which I considered was as much as I had any right to know at length when we reached the beach and stood on the sand how I wished that the sand would open and swallow me up my wretchedness I cannot describe it was beyond description the reader may imagine with anything like an outline of my feelings would fall very short of the mark indeed there were slaves brought hither from all parts of the country and taken on board the ship the first boat had reached the vessel in safety notwithstanding the high wind and rough sea but the last boat that ventured was upset and all in her but one man were drowned the number who were lost was about 30 the man that was saved was very stout and stood at the head of the boat with a chain in his hand and she grasped very tightly in order to steady the boat and when the boat turned over he was thrown with the rest into the sea but on rising by some means under the boat managed to turn it over and thus saved himself by springing into her when she righted this required great strength and being a powerful man gave him the advantage over the rest the next boat that was put to sea I was placed in but God saw fit to spare me perhaps for some good purpose I was then placed in that most horrible of all places the slave ship End of chapter 7 part 1