conversing with him while supper was preparing; and found, as I had expected, that there would be here no opening for any plan that tended to expose the sin of Polygamy and Slavery. I told him my object in coming; and urged his responsibility, as Headman, to promote both the temporal and eternal welfare of his people. He could not deny the truth of what was said; but strove, by every means, to lead the conversation to some other subject. The advantage of education he admitted; but did not wish that religion should be connected with it. I again attempted to press the importance of eternal things on his mind; and told him that the Society from which I came would never send any one merely to assist him in making trade and getting money; that we earnestly desired his welfare, and were assured that we could do nothing so effectually to promote it, as by sending some one to instruct them in the Truths of the Word of God. This kind of conversation was, however, disagreeable to him. A fowl and some rice were brought in for supper. It was near one o'clock before supper was over: I then went to the house where the people were to sleep, and had Evening Prayer with them; in which, though none of the inhabitants joined us, yet we did not forget them. February 12. Rose about six, and took a walk round the place. It is surrounded by a strong palisado of trees, ten or twelve feet high; with which is connected another, about seven feet high; and both so firmly bound together with thongs, as to form a sure defence. On the outside, at intervals, there are enclosures, about thirty feet square, formed in the same manner, and joining the fence on one side, through which there is a little door: these are evidently intended to contain men, for defending the place from any external enemy. Near them, within the fence, were scattered a number of cannon, of different sizes: whether they have the means of using them or not, I did not learn. Within this fence, which is about a mile round, most of the houses are situated: they are built of bamboo and mud, but very well made. A rough bedstead, a stool, and a few mats, comprise nearly all the furni ture. The Headman seemed to own almost every thing around. He had cattle, rice, and most of the necessaries of life, in abundance. In his house there were a few chairs and a table; and, at mealtimes, he introduced knives, forks, and silver spoons, which, here, were no small luxury. Soon after I returned from my walk, the Headman made his appearance, in full dress. He had a long blue cotton robe made like a morning gown, a chequed shirt, a pair of trowsers made of chequed handkerchiefs, with shoes on his feet, a blue woollen cap on his head, and a spear about four feet long in his hand. Breakfast consisted of stewed fowl, with rice, yams, and coffee. When we were all seated, I took the opportunity of informing him, that, in the different places where we had been, the people had been called together, that I might tell them publicly what I came for, and hear whether they would wish to be instructed or not; asking him, at the same time, whether he would assemble his people, that I might speak to them. He said they could not hear English. I told him, Tamba would address them in Sherbro. He said that they were mostly gone to work, and that very few were then in the town. Finding him determined not to hear or to let the people assemble, I was obliged to relinquish my purpose. He endeavoured, afterwards, to vindicate his own character, by telling me that he could not kill any body, nor catch any body, nor fight, nor get drunk; and that the fence round his place, was to keep the leopards from his cattle. This uncalled-for declaration served to confirm suspicions, which perhaps were before but slightly entertained; and to give me an opporT tunity of telling him, that if what he Alas! without the Grace of God, what a miserable wretch is man! In Europe, perhaps, his misery is so gilded with the tinsel of refinement and polished manners, that it is hid from his eyes: but here, bereft of its disguise, it is seen in all its native deformity. In my last interview, I found my host seated on a bench in his house, with only a country cloth about his body-several of his wives seated; and more of his children, lying one on another on the floor, in the midst of three or four large heaps of rice, with a few burning sticks to give them light, while, in seeming listlessness, they spun the thread of life, not once inquiring, Where is God, my Maker? We entered the canoe at ten o'clock, and proceeded up the Boom River till about twelve. The sun was bright, and the heat oppressive. The thermometer, at noon, when suspended in the canoe, stood at 105; and when laid on the flat surface of my writing desk, at my side, rose to 120. As the river took a wind to the northward, and the road over land went a nearer way to meet the river again, part of us preferred walking, that the canoe might be lightened, and proceed quicker. We landed, therefore, at a small town, and walked about ten miles, through a pleasant country, con sisting of cassada and grass fields, and sometimes wood. "On the Kittam River Having reached the Kittam River, which the canoe was to come, we which runs out of the Boom, and along waited at a town called Sobo; but as little farther, to Jalah, and in about an it did not there arrive, we proceeded a hour after saw the canoe. After getting our dinners and waiting for the turning of the tide, we again started. The moon shone bright, and the passage would have been pleasant, had not the musquitos and other insects been trou blesome. February 13, 1819.-Having proceeded till between one and two o'clock this morning, we arrived at a small town where the canoe men would have stopped till day-light; but I was anxious to proceed, as I feared that we should not otherwise reach Cassia before Sun day. We therefore went on till five o'clock in the evening. The dew fell copiously in the night, and the sun both which we were exposed, in an shone excessively hot in the day; to open canoe: but the good Providence of God prevented any bad effects from ensuing. At Cassia Not having had an opportunity of cooking all the day, we arrived at Cassia with hungry stomachs. I had a few biscuits and a little ham; but the men had only a small quantity of raw rice and a few pine-apples. In our way we passed several sea-cows, but they kept at too great a distance for me to have a distinct view of them. The Kittam River ends in a large open lake, many miles in extent, on the south-east side of which the small town of Cassia is situated. After supper we had our meet. ing for prayer. February 14. Sunday. The canoe being about to return, I forwarded a Letter by it. In the forenoon, the Headman called the people together, at my request; and I explained to them out business. After a Hymn had been sung, I read a few verses of the Fifth Chapter of St.John, beginning at the 24th verse; and then addressed them. Tamba repeated what I said, in Foy; that language here beginning to be spoken. The people were attentive; and when I was reading the latter part of the 28th and the beginning of the 29th verses, I observed a whisper among them, which induced me to think that they understood what was read, and would have said, like some of old, Thou bringest strange things to our ears. The congregation was composed of people similar to those to whom I had before spoken. I took nearly the same subjects; endeavouring to set before them the ruined state of men as sinners, and the means of salvation provided for such by a God of Love and Mercy. I informed them, that, in the evening, I would talk to them again; and requested, that, in the interval, they would consider what they had heard, and tell me whether they would like to have any one to teach them more. In the afternoon we took a walk into the wood, and kept Service by ourselves. W.Tamba prayed; and W. Davis read the Thirty-third Chapter of Ezekiel, on the former part of which he made ap. propriate observations; and I concluded. I trust that the Lord was with us. Though our assembly was small, yet to be in the midst of only twelve people, who profess at least to be Christians, and where we have good hope that some are really so, is a sensible comfort, where all around is immersed in the grossest darkness. In the evening, the people assembled again, in greater numbers than in the morning. I first inquired what they had to say, in answer to what we told them in the morning. The Headman thanked us for coming to tell them what they had heard; and said that if the King liked any body to come and teach them, they should be willing to learn, but they could say no more without his consent. I then read the former part of the Twenty-second Chapter of St. Matthew, which I explained. They were attentive, and I could hear several repeat the name of Jesus Christ, in order to impress it on their minds; and one asked Tamba, whether he spoke it right. It was encouraging to hear those, whose lips perhaps had ever been occupied in the service of Satan, now trying to pronounce His name, who alone can deliver them from Satan's bondage. Before we prayed, I explained what we were going to do; and told them, that, while we were begging God to bless them, they should not interrupt us, and offend God by making a noise. They were quiet during prayer; but, no sooner was it over, than they began their hideous dancing, drumming, and howling. Davis went and begged them to desist; stating that such revelling was the Devil's Service, and that if they wished to serve God they must leave it off. They said it was too hard; and that if they left it to-night, they should do it again another time: however, they did soon leave off. After Evening Service, a young man came from the Galinas, a few miles before us, who represented himself as the Son of the King. Of him I learned that a White Man was walking through the country, who spoke against selling Slaves; which intelligence had been forwarded to them some days before, and they were all in expectation of seeing the man who held such a strange opinion. When I explained to him my reason for disliking it, and every other sin, he seemed astonished; and said he thought that Black Men never would consent to live as I would have them: they must have plenty of Wives and plenty of Slaves. I told him, that if God, who made him, gave him or any of his countrymen a new heart, he would then like to live according to God's Word; and, without that, whether Black or White, the Word of God would be alike contrary to his will. Al Gendamer February 15, 1819.-Early this morn ing we commenced our journey, on foot, to Gendamer. The road is open and good. Having proceeded about eight miles, we came to a creek, where we had to walk a considerable way through the water, and then got a canoe to put us across. As the canoe was small, it had to go four or five times, before our party were all over. While I was waiting on the opposite side, a man came up who addressed me in good English. On entering into conversation with him, I found that he had been in England, His name is William Freeman: he had lived with Mr. Nicols, in King's Arms' Yard, Coleman Street. He told me, that the man with whom he now lived, served God day and night. Such a character, I answered, I would not grudge a day's walk to see; but finding that his Master's Service was in Mandingo-fashion, I thought we should not agree. We therefore pursued our journey; and, soon after noon, arrived at Gendamer, the King's Town. As we were entering, one of his sons came up, and offered to conduct me to the King's presence. We passed a considerable way, through many houses and courts, and at last arrived at his residence. He was very unwell with the yaws. He inquired whence I came, which I explained to him, and stated the object of my visit. Neither the King nor his people are so ignorant as many of the Africans; having had instruction from the Mandingoes. He informed me that he constantly prayed to God, when he was well; but could not while sick, because he was unable to kneel. I observed that the religion of Jesus Christ, which I wished to make known among his people, taught us that God looked on a man's heart when he prayed; and that whoever earnestly desired the blessing of God, might seek it in any position, if he sought it not through his own merit, but that of the Lord Jesus Christ. The King then thinking that I had talked long enough without making him any present, inquired what I had got for him. I told him nothing, but the Word of God-that the persons who sent me were many of them poor, and could not afford to give any thing away; but that they always laid aside part of what they earned, for the purpose of sending people with the Bible, to teach Africans and others who did not know it—but that whatever he supplied us with to eat, should be paid for, and also. the house which he might lend us to live in. He said mine was a business. which concerned the whole country, and the people would all come to. morrow to hear what I had to say; but how could I expect him to call them, unless I gave him a little something. I told him that I wished nothing, in coming, but to do him and his people good, by making known to them the way in which they might go to heaven when they died that if they heard me, well; if not, I. must go back, and their blood would be on their own heads. Finding he could get nothing, the King said no more about it. He asked me if I would drink some grog: here, again, I could not comply with his request; but told him that I should be glad of a little. water, without any rum. He said there was water enough in his country, but very little rum; and that he could not drink any either, being a Mahomedan. Had this declaration been made with intelligence, my weak faith would have been tempted to think that it intimated a knowledge of Mahomedanism, which would oppose a formidable barrier against the success of the Gospel; but I had already discovered, that he knew just as much about Mahomedanism as many professed Christians do about Christianity. He has, however, many people of that religion about him; some of whom may, perhaps, be wiser than himself. After remaining some time longer with the Ring, he ordered one of his people to prepare me a house; and to bring a kid and some biscuits, for pro visions for us. I thanked him, and told him that I would pay him in beads, as I understood he wanted that article, His son then conducted us to the house which had been appointed for us; to which I was glad to retire, to be a little free from the stare and gaze of the people, which at first coming to a place is always very troublesome. After refreshing myself with part of the kid and some biscuits, I took a walk about the town; calling again at the King's, to leave him some beads for his provisions. 1 The place is strongly defended: there are many cannon of different sizes, some mounted and others not; with a quantity of small arms and spears. The town contains about 150 houses: and 500 or 600 inhabitants, at this time; but, in time of war, they amount to 1000. About twelve months since they. had war with Amarah, a person for whom I have a Recommendatory Letter. The houses are as well made as mud and sticks can make them; and would af ford a more comfortable residence than many Missionaries have met with: but they are so close together, that should a fire happen in one it would most probably be the destruction of all. They stand, in general, four or five together, surrounding a small irregular square, in which the people sit lounging about or playing. The one in which the King's principal residence stands is the largest, and has four houses: on one side, is his sleeping house: opposite to this, is his store: on the other side, is his great house, as it is called; which is a large room for receiving his guests, furnished with a few chairs, a large table, a chest of drawers, and some boxes all round which serve as benches to sit upon; the walls being adorned with mats and the skins of leopards which had been killed by them, with several large lookingglasses and some common prints: the house opposite to this, is his armoury, which is open on the side next the square, so as to display his cannon and other arms there deposited. The houses standing so close together prevents the possibility of gardens or any appearance of vegetation; and quite destroys that pleasing prospect which many African Towns present, where plantain and other trees are beautifully intermixed with the huts. There were two European Sailors at Gendamer, who had been put on shore by a Slave-trading Captain, who had gone away and left them. They are: anxious to get to Sierra Leone. Their case, if truly related, is hard; but, as the King treats them well, and as they may probably soon meet with an opportunity of getting to Sierra Leone, a little patience is the principal thing which they want. There is another individual, whose case is much harder, and excited the strongest emotions of pity in my mind. It is that of a fine healthy-looking boy, about four years of age, the child of some White Man who is either dead or gone away, and who left him to be brought up in all the wretchedness and superstition of an African. He was: quite naked, and running about with the other children. By his frequently following me, I conceived he had a predilection for white faces. Surely if the Sons of lust and debauchery con sidered the misery which they frequently entail on their unfortunate offspring, they would restrain their licentiousness. Toward evening I went to the King, to know if he would like us to read and keep Service in his house; to which he consented, I therefore went, accompanied by Tamba and Davis, and one of the people. He was too unwell to walk; but, on our arrival, ordered the men to carry him from the small room where he was lying, into a large open space near it. Here his Sons and the principal people assembled, until it was: nearly full, and formed the largest audience which I have yet had on my Journey. Being all seated on mats,. and the King signifying that he was. ready, I read the Third Chapter of the Acts, and commented at some length, |