Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

up

at an European settlement, and assured me they would offer prayers for my safety. My heart was so full, when I left them, my tears, rather than my words, expressed my gratitude. On my way, I reflected on the kind providence of God, who, at the very moment I was dreading I should perish with want, sent this benevolent negro to pity and relieve my distress."

CONTINUATION.

" I TRAVELLED," continued Mr. Selby," until the day was far spent, when I was suddenly startled by the report of a gun. I looked round, but could perceive no one: however, as the sound somewhat alarmed me, I thought it best to

climb a high tree, that was near, from whence I might discern the cause of the firing. I now saw, at a great distance, a party of black men firing at a lion, who was already wounded, and lying upon the grass. He appeared a very large and fierce animal; and, I was afterwards told, that the blacks, having once wounded him, had hopes they might be able to take him alive, convey him to a distance, and sell him to the Europeans, who would be glad of such a prize to send into their own country. With this view, they consulted together what was best to be done, and one of them proposed taking off the roof of a hut, (which, in their country, could easily be done, as the roofs are small, of a circular form, and simply made of a frame-work of bamboo, covered with thatch,) and throwing

j

this roof over the lion, while he appeared in so helpless a state. This invention was much approved; and I saw them go to a neighbouring hut, strip off the thatch, and lift the bamboo frame upon their shoulders; but, before they returned, the lion had recovered his strength, and looked at them so fiercely, that they durst not approach him; and, to preserve themselves, were about to let the roof fall upon their own heads; when, alas, the lion made a violent spring, just at the moment the roof was lowered, and both the beast and his pursuers were enclosed in one fatal cage! I heard their screams with unutterable anguish; for it was entirely out of my power to assist them. I could only hasten from the dreadful seene, reflecting with horror on the dismal end of these

poor negroes. Whilst commise rating them, I forgot the pains of . my own suffering, though my feet were very sore, and my body covered with blisters, from the extreme heat of the sun.

66

Presently I was surprised and delighted to hear some one call to me in broken English: I turned, and beheld a negro, dressed lightly, in European fashion. He told me, he had left his native country when a boy; and, after living several years in England, was now returning to his African friends. Observing me in an English dress, he conjectured I was a person in distress, as this was not a part of the coast for strangers to land upon. I told him his supposition was right, for only the day before I had suffered shipwreck, and I related to him all the sad particulars. The The compas

sionate negro felt extremely for my destitute condition: he said, he would take me with him to his friends that night, and set me forward, in a right direction, next morning. 'I have received much kindness from the English,' said the grateful black; and to serve one of their countrymen in distress is now the only return I can make.' Just as he spoke, we turned into a little wood, at the further end of which was a village. There,' cried the black, joy sparkling in his eyes, there is my native village so saying, he began to play a lively air on a fife, somewhat resembling a flute, the sound of which brought out all the villagers; and, as the negro was expected, he was soon surrounded by his joyful relatives, and almost smothered by the affectionate embraces of his brothers and sisters: his mother was

M

[ocr errors]
« ZurückWeiter »