The Sun.
London, England, 1830-02-18 00:00:00

LAST MOMENTS OF CAPTAIN

CLAPPERTON.

The violence of my grief having subsided,
Pasko and Mudey, whom my exclamations had
brought into the apartment, fetched me water,
with which I washed the corpse, and with tl►eir
assistance, carried it outside the hut, laid it on
a clean mat, and wrapped it in a sheet and
blanket. After leaving it in this state nearly
two hours, I put a large neat mat over the
whole, and sent a messenger to make Bello ac-
quainted with the mournful event, as well as to
obtain his permission to have the body btnicd
after the manner of my own country ; and also
to learn in what particular place the Sultan
would wish to have it interred. The man soon
returned with a favourable answer to the former
part of my request, and about twelve o'clock on
the morning of the same day, a person came into
the hut, accompanied by four slaves, to dig the
grave ; and wished me to follow him with the
-...orpse. Accordingly, saddling my camel, the
body was pl►,ced on the animal's back, and
throwing a British flag over it, I requested the
men to proceed. Having passed through the
dismal streets of Soccatoo, we travelled almost
unobservedly, at a solemn pace, and halted near
Jungavie, a small village, built on a rising ground
about five miles south-east of the city. The
body was then taken from the camel's back, and
placed in a shed, whilst the slaves were em-
ployed in digging the grave. Their task being
speedily accomplished, the corpse was borne to
the brink of the pit, and I planted the flag close
to it ; then, uncovering my head, and opening
a prayer-book, amidst showers of tears, I read
the impressive funeral service of the Church of
England over the remains of my valued master
—the English flag waving slowly and mourn-
fully over them at the same moment. Not a
single soul listened to this peculiarly distressing
ceremony ; for the slaves were quarrelling with
each other the whole of the time it lasted.

This being done, the flag was taken away, and
the body slowly lowered Into the earth ; and I
wept bitterly as I gazed, for a last time, on all
that remained of my intrepid and beloved
master. The grave was quickly closed, and I
returned to the village, about thirty yards to the
eastward of it, and giving the most respectable
inhabitants of both sexes a few trifling presents,
entreated them to let no one disturb the ashes
of the dead ; and also offered them a sum of
money to erect a shed over the spot, which having
accepted, they promised to do.
Thus perished, and thus was buried, Captain
Hugh Clapperton in the prime of life, and in
the strength and vigour of his manhood. No
one could be better qualified than he by a fear-
less, indomitable spirit, and utter contempt of
danger and death, to undertake and carry into
execution an enterprise of so great importance
and difficulty, as the one with which he was
entrusted. He had studied the African charac-
ter in all its phases—in ite moral, social, and
external form : and like Alcibiades accommo-
dated himself with equal ease to good, as well
as to bad fortune—to prosperity, as well as to
adversity. He was never h►ghly elated at the
prospect of accomplishing his darling wishes—
the great object of his ambition—nor deeply
depressed when, environed by danger—care,
disappointment, and bodily suffering which
hanging heavily upon him, forbade him to in-
dulge in hopeful anticipations. The negro loved
him, because he admired the simplic►ty of his
manners, and mingled with pleasure in his fa-
vourite dance ; the Arab hated him, because
he was overawed by his commanding appear-
ance, and because the keen penetrating glance
of the British Captain detected his guilty
thoughts, and made him quail with apprehension
and fear.

Captain Clapperton's stature was tall ; his
disposition was warm and benevolent, his tem-
per mild, even, and cheerful ; while his ingenu-
ous manly countenance, portrayed the generous
emotions that reigned in his breast. In fine, he
united the ;figure and determination of a man,
with the gentleness and simplicity of a child ;
and, if I mistake not, he will lire in the me-
mory of many thousands of Africans, until they
cease to breathe, as something more than mor-
tal ; nor have I the least doubt that the period
of his visiting their country will be regarded by
some as :a new era, from which all events of
consequence, that affect them, will hereafter be
dated.

The grave was dug on a naked piece of
ground, with no remarkable object near it to
invite attention ;—no mournful cypress or yew
weeps over the lonely spot—no sculptured mar-
ble shines above all that remains of heroic enter-
prize and daring adventure I But the sleeper
needs no funeral emblem to perpetuate his
name and actions, having erected for himself
a nobler and far more imperishable mausoleum
in the breasts of his countrymen and the civi-
lized world, than all the artists in the universe
could rear over his ashes.—Lander's African
Itccords.