New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1844-11-19
Mahomctans In Trinidad.

hoheuaui priest, ndiheC EEllr Samoa Hakumba,
with whom we had an interesting interview, and
obtained from him brief history Of himself and
his people now resident upon this Island, where
thog continue to worship alter the manner OF their
fathers according to the prcccps of Koran.
he is about slxty.sM years old, his hair and
beard, which he has allowed to grow long, are
white. He wore the habitof his ORDER flowing
white tunic. Samba could speak several Ian.
guages; he addressed us in Arabic, pronouncing
the benediction of the Mahomedans on those they
esteem as people of God. Afterwards he con-
versed in French and our friend II. l.. Jobity
interpreted for US. His countenance was remark
ably serene, and although he had been man OF
sorrows and acquainted with grief, yet his face
was lighted With smile.
He was by descent chief and a priest among
the Mand:ngoes In Africa, but in early life was
taken captive in one Of those intestine wars which
are unhappily occasioncd among the native
tribes IN Africa by the slave trade. He belonged
to the tribe Fullah Tauro. which engaged in a
war with six other tribes in Africa to prevent
them as he said, from carrying on the slave
trede.
The Mahomedans are forbidden to make slaves
of those of their own faith, and when any of
their people are concerned in this traffic, they be-
leve their religion requires them to put stop 10
it by force. 1t was for this purpose a war was
commenced by the Fullahs against these other
tribes, and in this war Samba was taken prison.
er and sold as slave. He was brought to this
Island at the age of twenty one years. and was
purchased from slave ship by aFfcnch planter,
who gave him the name Of Simon Boissere.-
Possessing superior mind, he was soon placed
by his master as superintendent of his plantation.
Laboring faithfully, and opportunities being az
| forded him, he soon earned sufficient sum Of
money TO purchase hisfreedom. lnslgated By
| his example and advice, others oil his counry-
men also succeeded in securing Their freedom.
| They then formed themselves into an ass7cla-
ton to maintain their religious profession, Sam
la acting as their priest. Their next effort was
to purchase small tracts of land, upon which
they erected habtations, and were thus enabled
by the produce of their gardens, &c. to support
themselves respectfully. Having secured com
Portable homes they turned their attention to their
suffering brethren in captivity. Liberal subscrlp-
| tons were made among them for this benevolent
object, and when slave ship arrived at the COLO
ny, Samba and hissfriends were the frs: on board
to inquire for Mandingoes, and if there were any
among the captives, they ransomed them imme-
diately. Up to the time of the declaration of
freedom, they had released from bondage up
wards of FIVE hundred in Trinidad alone. Their
operations were also extended to other islands.
There are several hundred OF them at present in
this Island, and although they continue their
f I'm Of faith and worship they are noticed for
their habits Of temperance and exemplary depoTt-
ment. In this respect thev have beeE as lights
to their protesting Christian neighbors.
The old man said he mourned over the condl-
ton of the Christian world; he regretted that
| their youth were in danger Of being drawn away
| by the evil practices of the Christians. He
thought it was safe to Judge people by their &C.
| tons, and when he saw the Christians holding
those of their own faith in slavery, engaging in
wars with members of their own church, and ad-
dicted TO habits of intemperance, all Of which
the Koran forbids, he thought it was sufficient
evidence that the religion of Mahomet was supc-
perior to the religion Of Anna BisSa, Jesus
Christi
We told him nc understood the religion Of Jc-
sus as forbddng all these practices, but that the
professors of the religion of Christ did not live
| up to his prccepts. He inquired "haye you any
slaves IN your country?" TO which We replied
nearly three million. At this information he
gave look OF establishment and indignation.
We asked him if he believed the great God
who made all things had placed witness Of him.
self in the hearts of all men, TO teach them what
4
"Yes, certainly God has placed his Spirit in
man to show BIN good and evil, and man ought
to obey it, for By so doing he would please his
Maker, and be accepted of him." He further
remarked, sit is by listening to evil suggestions
that he becomes very wicked" lie thought the
Christians degraded themselves by selling the
Bible, which they consider standard of religious
faith, "You ought not to sell your religion"
meaning the Bible, I" or take pay for e1pounding
it." meaning for preaching. We told him we
did not do it; we came out OF love and good will
10 see the people of thess islands, that we might
encourage them to love and good works.
Then" said he, you are men of Gcd, and
hope the Lord will bless your labors, ard make
you useful in spreading his truth in the world"
| 1t was q pleasure to be with this benevolent
| individual, who may be looked upon as one of
the brightest philanthropists Of the age. When
| we consider tie humble sphere IN which he has
moved, aud the limited means at his command
| for accomplishing benevolent scheme which
| had fer its object the emancipation of all his
countrymen in captivity, (the Mandingo saves,)
| and contemplate the success which has attended
the labors of Samba and his coadutors, this brief
account Of him will be esteemed worthy of record.
| Narrative Of a visit to the West Indies.
Il
THEIR AGENT.-We learn from the Van Buren,
Inteligencer, that during the absence of Major
Armstrong, the long tried and efficient Agent for
the Choctaws, from his Agency, short time
since, the Choctaws in General Council, passed
a resolution com plimentary to him. They have
paid him another compliment, in providing for
the establishment of another Seminary in the
Nation, to be called the Armstrong Academy y
These people have been peculiarly fortunate In
their Agent. They have had one for eight years,
in whom they have the utmost confidence, and
one whom they have never founding wanting
when tried.
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