* * * * *
Captain Laing, of the brig Maria, of London, hearing that an Englishman
is at Badagry, comes from Whydah to fetch the Author — His reflections
on leaving Badagry, and on reaching the British vessel — The Maria sails
for Cape Coast, where the Author lands, and is taken on board the Esk
sloop of war, which vessel sails for England — Tale of the turtles —
Arrival in England, &c.
I had heard it rumoured some days before that an English vessel had been
seen trading on the coast, and I waited with trembling anxiety and a
palpitating heart till accident might make her captain acquainted with
the circumstance of my being shut up in Badagry. My most flattering
anticipations were amply realized, for on the 20th of January, two
months after my arrival, a fellow came running in breathless haste
towards me, with a letter and a bottle of gin from the master of a
British vessel then lying off the town, directed to “The Englishman at
Badagry.” No one can express the pleasure that thrilled through every
nerve, as I was perusing lines traced by the fingers of a countryman,
and containing the transporting intelligence that “Captain Laing,[9] of
the brig Maria of London, hearing that a white man was resident at
Badagry, and strongly suspecting that he must belong to the African
Mission of exploration under Captain Clapperton, had come from Whydah,
and would feel pleasure, if such proved to be the case, in being
serviceable to him in any manner that might be suggested, or in
transporting him to a British settlement on the coast.” Scarcely knowing
what I did, and almost beside myself with joy, I wrote a hasty scrawl of
thanks to the generous Englishman; and, desiring Pasko and the slaves to
get every thing in readiness for starting immediately, I paid my
respects to the king, and his wives and chiefs, and bade them a last
farewell.
Returning instantly to my habitation, I left the town of Badagry, and
bent my way directly for the beach. My heart bounded within me at sight
of the proud banner of my country, streaming from the stately mast of
the Maria; and a signal being made, a boat was without loss of time
despatched to my assistance. I was soon on the water; and as the little
bark moved swiftly towards the ship, although my appearance was pitiable
in the extreme, the yards were instantly ordered to be manned, and three
tremendous cheers from the throats of British seamen, welcomed me once
more to the dear society of my gallant countrymen. This was ravishing
melody in my ears; it was the happiest, most rapturous moment of my
life. I hastily climbed the sides of the vessel, and springing delighted
upon the conscious deck, returned thanks to the Almighty for my
preservation, and shook hands heartily with the captain and crew. But as
sudden and violent transport is seldom lasting, so I could not help
reflecting, a very few minutes afterwards, how different, how _very_
different had been my feelings in the same place about two years
before;—so nearly is joy allied to sorrow, pleasure to pain,
cheerfulness to melancholy. As a noble tree, growing in strength, and
flourishing in beauty, is suddenly blasted by lightning, which scathes
its verdant foliage, and destroys the vital principle; even so had I
seen a party of British officers, proud as their native rocks, wither
and die. They had planted their feet on African soil full of fine spirit
and noble enthusiasm, scoffing at peril, and determined to overcome
every human obstacle that might arrest their progress in the
accomplishment of their hazardous undertaking, that great object of
their ambition, to which the eyes of millions were directed. A few
months only had elapsed, when their elevated hopes and buoyant feelings
were quenched in darkness; their manly frames shrivelled like the tree,
from irremediable causes; till, unable longer to “drag their slow length
along,” they had languished and fallen, and the sound of their voices
was heard no more—they had resigned their burden of life, sorrow, and
suffering; and were transplanted to that unknown country where “the
wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest.” I, of all, was
left to tell the sorrowful tale to their countrymen. I had certainly
cause for self-gratulation at the almost miraculous preservation of my
own life; but I had also matter for gloomy reflections in the mournful
fate of so many brave and enterprising British officers, who had died
prematurely in a savage land; and I sighed when the Maria sailed from
Badagry, to look back on departed times, and recall the hearty,
thoughtless merriment that burst vociferously from the hearts of the
dauntless Englishmen an evening or two preceding their landing at that
place; nor could I refrain from asking myself: “And where is their
merriment; where is their laughter, now?”
On arriving at Cape Coast, I was received in the most cordial manner by
the Governor, Colonel Lumley (since dead), and the British merchants
then in the place, with whom I dined, and who vied with each other in
showing me every mark of kindness and respect. As soon as they learnt my
arrival, the Houssa inhabitants flocked around me, and were delighted
that a white man could converse with them in their own language; which
feeling was infinitely increased by my assuring their sceptical
companions that Houssa was a good land—for even in the breasts of these
rude Africans a love of country was not the least distinguishable
sentiment. These poor people stood with mouths open, to be informed of
what was transacting in the land of their birth; and were variously
agitated, in proportion as the accounts were of a good or bad nature.
At Cape Coast I gave my faithful slaves, Aboudah, Jowdie, and Pasko’s
wife, their freedom; but when they were made acquainted with the fact
that the boon offered them was on condition of their remaining behind,
they could not conceal their disappointment and regret, and were
unwilling to accept it, saying it was the greatest evil that could
befall them. They came to me in a body on the morning of my departure,
making the air ring with their lamentations; and, covering their heads
with sand and dust, they intreated me with tears to take them with me to
my country. I consoled the poor creatures as well as I could, with the
hope of seeing them again in a couple of months; and they left me in
better spirits. Colonel Lumley, with the most laudable generosity,
presented each of them with a sum of money and a plot of ground, with
which they built huts for themselves, and formed their land into
gardens; so that they can now boast of greater comfort and convenience
than most of their emancipated countrymen residing on the coast.
On the 13th of February, I embarked with Pasko on board the Esk sloop of
war, Captain Purchase, which set sail the same day for Fernando Po,
where I had a long interview with Major Denham, the only survivor of the
previous mission of discovery (but since deceased), who expressed
infinite concern to hear of the fate of his coadjutor in that
expedition.
The Esk visited the island of St. Helena, (where I landed, with others,
to see the tomb of Bonaparte,) and that of Ascension, from whence a
number of huge turtles was taken on board; and afterwards we sailed
direct for England.
During the voyage, finding it impossible to sleep in a seaman’s hammock,
in consequence of having been accustomed, for so long a period to repose
on hard mats, an awning was prepared for me upon the deck of the vessel,
under which I lay down every night; and slept soundly till the arrival
of the Esk at Portsmouth on the 30th of April. Whether it was owing to
change of air, or alteration of diet, or both of these causes combined,
I know not, but I became exceedingly ill on ship-board, which continued
some time after my arrival in England; and this, together with
intermittent fever and general debility, damped considerably the joy I
should otherwise have felt on placing my foot once more on British soil.
After our catching the turtle at Ascension, to which I have already
alluded, some of them had the misfortune to die, and their companions in
confinement and misery were hourly expected to follow their example;
insomuch that the captain ordered their eyes to be bathed in water
morning and evening, as the only means of preserving the poor creatures’
lives. This cleanly and responsible office was proposed for my
acceptance; but could I, who had so recently shaken hands with majesty,
and lodged in the palaces of kings; who had been waited on by the queen
of Boussa, and walked delighted with the proud princess of Nyffé; could
I, who might have become the master of a thousand slaves, and lord of
the high-minded and lovely Zuma; who had been solicited to wed the
daughters of a mighty monarch, as well as become premier of his Councils
and commander-in-chief of his armies;—could I so suddenly fall from the
towering elevation to which my consequence had raised me, forget all my
dignity and all my laurels, and descend to the menial, grovelling
occupation of washing the filthy eyes of turtles? Surely, no. But for
the first time I _felt_ that I was amongst my good-for-nothing
countrymen; that the astonishing “Nassarah Curramee” of Africa, the god,
the prophet, the enchanter, had degenerated into the simple Richard
Lander of former years; and that all my glory and all my consequence had
vanished into air. Alas!
“See how the mighty shrink into a song!”
Well, I put the best face upon the matter that I could assume, and
respectfully insinuated that, considering myself in the light of a
passenger, I did not think it to be altogether honorable that so
disagreeable a task should be imposed upon me in particular; and that
although no one could feel a more lively degree of sorrow for the
sufferings and forlorn condition of the unfortunate animals in question
than myself, the duty of ministering to their wants, ought, in common
fairness, to devolve on a person of _less consideration_, and one on
whose services they had a more lawful claim than on mine. My scruples
were respected, and the turtles died!
On arriving in London, I was met in the streets by a Jew, who ran forth
and cordially embraced me, asking how I had left our Hebrew brethren in
Jerusalem. The fellow, by my beard, and singular appearance, had taken
it into his head that I belonged to his own fraternity, and was just
returned from visiting the holy city; but, being convinced of his
ludicrous mistake, my affectionate would-be brother sneaked off without
further “_palavering_;” and I hastened to my late master’s agents,
Messrs. Evans and Eaton, George-street, Adelphi. Agreeably to the
Captain’s dying injunction, his uncle, Col. Clapperton, was sent for;
but that officer being in the country, did not arrive in time; and I
thought it advisable that a private gentleman (Mr. M‘Gougan), my
master’s esteemed friend, should accompany me to the Colonial office in
his stead. In the presence of this individual I deposited my charge
safely in the hands of the Secretary, together with the gold and silver
watches—without having lost a single article from the moment I left
Soccatoo, twelve months previously, although I had travelled throughout
the most violent rainy season that had been remembered by the natives
for many years. Pasko was sent back to his wife at Cape Coast Castle,
but not till, after much entreaty, I had given him permission to pay his
addresses also to Aboudah, the young woman the prince of Zeg Zeg had
offered me for a spouse;—whilst I, when I had remained in the metropolis
three or four weeks, in order to prepare a rough copy of my journal,
returned to my friends at Truro, in Cornwall, after an absence from them
of nearly thirteen years.
APPENDIX.
* * * * *
_A Vocabulary of the Short Phrases of the Houssa Tongue._
_English._ _Houssa._
One Deah.
Two Bew.
Three Booko.
Four Foodo.
Five Beaha
Six Shedah.
Seven Buckevee.
Eight Togus.
Nine Farra.
Ten Gomma.
Eleven Gommashadeah.
Twelve Gommashabew.
Thirteen Gommashahooko.
Fourteen Gommashafoodo.
Fifteen Gommashabeah.
Sixteen Gommashashidah.
Seventeen Gommashabuckwee.
Eighteen Gommashatogus.
Nineteen Gommashatarra.
Twenty Ashareen.
Thirty Thallateen.
Forty Harbine.
Fifty Humpseen.
Sixty Setteen.
Seventy Sabine.
Eighty Tissine.
Ninety Tamaneene.
One Hundred Duree.
One Thousand Zumbrudayah.
--- ---
One day Gunah deah.
One month Wâtah deah.
This minute Yonsoo.
Silver Zinnariyea.
Gold Hasraffa.
Brass Becken Murraffee.
Beads Dushee.
Salt Gesharie.
A woman’s girdle Zanié.
A rogue Mogue.
The sun Ramah.
The moon Wâttah.
The stars Dula.
Morning De Saffey.
Noon Rangah.
Night Nooway.
Day Yow.
A box Sundook.
Wild (a.) Dowah.
An antelope Naming.
A needle Allurah.
A looking glass Mydubee.
A knife Hooker.
A sword Tacobee.
A gun Bindegah.
Curdled milk squeezed and dried Chuckkumarra.
in the sun—a kind of cheese
To-morrow morning early Sigovey da Saffey.
Go on as fast as you can for Tuffee muzzah muzzah acqui mugo
there are robbers in the path chiken talabah.
Sweep the house Bally gidah.
Wash my shirt Wankee regar.
Mix a little flour and water Damma mossa fouro du boo.
Bring my mat into the hut Kow shimpidah chiken giddah.
Any river Golabee.
The river Niger Golabee Quarra.
Put the baggage on the camel Sadu kiah besah du ba comme.
A wild hog Mugen dowah.
Soldiers of the Sultan Doggalee du Sulakee.
The Sultan’s slaves Bowah de Sulakee.
I am going to my house Ne tuffee giddah.
There are fine horses for sale Acqui dorkee nuggree chikeen
in the market caswâh.
What’s the news? Ah fiel—ah bour on donnaih.
Nothing particular, all’s well Baboo coome sa laf fare.
There is war on the road near Acqui yiki chikeen tulabah couso
the city of Kano bernee Kano.
Against whom are the people of Menenee mutanee birnee Kano yikee
Kano fighting? Against the sons yon zu duncollen Caffrée?
of dogs and unbelievers?
Who’s there Maneni acka?
I do not know Ba sanni ba.
Tell him that I should like to Fuddee moossa nee shee nashá
see him dubàah.
What’s this town called? Whaso neen du bernee?
It is the town of Catshenah Bernee Catsheenah.
O dear, O dear, O dear, it’s Ki, ki, ki, zafey yow.
very warm to-day
I will take a ride in the East Ni how dorkee tuffee gubu Sigovey.
to-morrow
How many days’ journey is it Quanah nowah ranah acka bernee
from hence to Kano Kano?
There is much water in the path Acqui rowah chikeen talabah
daywowa.
THE END.
* * * * *
J. B. NICHOLS AND SON,
25, Parliament Street.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 1: Thus the hieroglyphical message of the Scythian Ambassador,
who, without making any comment, presented Darius with five arrows, a
bird, a frog, and a mouse, is pretty generally known. The Chief of the
Narraghanset Indians also made himself understood, by sending the first
settlers of New England a rattlesnake’s skin stuffed with arrows. This
was answered as intelligibly by the settlers returning the same skin
filled with powder and bullets.]
[Footnote 2: A venerable man in Wow Wow, whose sable locks had changed
to grey, a sure sign, amongst the Africans, either of severe distress or
extreme old age.]
[Footnote 3: Nasarah Curramee (Little Christian), an appellation by
which I was generally known in Africa, on account of my diminutive
stature.]
[Footnote 4: A shrub from the seeds of which the natives extract the
deadly venom in which the points of their arrows are invariably dipped.]
[Footnote 5: BEBBO.—Great or big white man. Captain Clapperton was
generally known in Africa as _bebba_; and I, a _curramee_ (little).]
[Footnote 6: The inhabitants of Katunga, and indeed all the Yaribeans,
are persuaded that when the dead awake from their long sleep, they will
need companions and servants in the other world; and, on the strength of
this belief, at the burial of any person of consequence, many of his
friends swallow poison, and, with a number of slaves that are slain for
the purpose, are inhumed in the same grave as the deceased.]
[Footnote 7: Neither Mansolah, nor any of his subjects, would believe
but that Captain Clapperton came to his death by violent means.]
[Footnote 8: Seamen, when captured by pirates, are sometimes compelled
to walk blindfolded from a board into the sea, and so left to perish.
This is termed “walking the plank.”]
[Footnote 9: Captain _Laing_, and not “Morrison,” as mentioned by
mistake in my printed Journal, conveyed me from Badagry; and I take this
opportunity of expressing my deep sense of gratitude to that gentleman,
for the very handsome treatment I received at his hands, and the truly
British feeling he displayed after receiving me on board his vessel.]
Transcriber's note:
pg 11 Changed: "he got into open gronnd" to: "ground"
pg 14 Changed: "as in all ropical countries" to: "tropical"
pg 21 Changed: "he money concerns of the" to: "the money"
pg 45 Changed: "the diappointed Falatahs boasted" to: "disappointed"
pg 46 Changed: "that they they did not think it worth while" to:
"that they did"
pg 88 Changed: "owing to the illnesss of" to: "illness"
pg 104 Changed: "it will he recollected Pasko" to: "be"
pg 176 Added missing line: "stirrups of his horse’s saddle, is
thrown from its back, and" after: "crossing a river, in the"
pg 202 Changed: "Ebo did not uage his request" to: "urge"
pg 207 Changed: "which state it is is hawked through" to: "it is
hawked"
pg 258 Changed: "who, for a ong season" to: "long"
pg 291 Changed: "Abox" to: "A box"
pg 293 Changed: "a ride in thee East" to: "the"