The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1851-05-28
THE FIRST WHITE MAN in AFRICA.

THE FIRST WHITE MAN IN AFRICA.
Mr.. Thompson, of the Mendi mission.
thus speaks Of the sensation he produced,
when first seen by the blacks: ~. AZ
"Ilere where they never saw a white
man before, | am a great wonderIto them.
They have focked from far and near for
two months to see me. Some are afraid
to shake my hand, but most come to tell
me, "IIow do you dol" They generally
come with great diffidence and reverence,
and some, and even chiefs, have come and
kneeled at my feet to shake my hand, as
slaves and subjects approach to their mas
ters and kings in this country. They all
considered ME some superior being
Wherever 60, in any town, | have to sit
a long time for the crowd to gather and
gaze at me, without being willing to leave
me. II in the house, it is crowded; if sit.
ting down to write or read outside, they
crowd around me, and stare and wonder;
if walk in town, they run before and af-
ter, shouting and making great noise; if
eating, every motion is watched, and many
remarks made about my manner. "Why,
see, he eats with knile!" elbow little he
takes!" "Gentlemen in this country eat
wife their hands," "Why, look, that rice
is not near enough for one man, and he
leaves half of it, Proc .moie (white man
don't know how to eat," and such like re-
marks. Thus in large town, where | 60
for the first time, get but little quietness
except in the night, and then they gcner-
ally keep up such noise by drumming,
singing and dancing till midnight, that
sleep flies from me till get so nervous that
| cannot sleep after their noise has ceased;
so that it is exceedingly wearing on me
night and day.
"They consider me supernatural, and
if none attempt 10 worship, all fear me. In
various places chiefs and others have call
ed me God! One chief said in the
meeting of all their chiefs, called together
TO give me an answer whether they would
leave the war-''don't you know this man
is God! Look at him! We don't know
where he came from-whether he walked
here, or dropped down from the clouds!
When he came, God came. What he
came, God came. What he says, God
says, and what he says, we must do" &c.
Another chief on the other side Of the war;
heard | had written his name in book,
and was greatly terrified, saying, ooh
dear what did you tell him TO write my
name in book for-to make me die!
Don't you know he is God, and knows
how long shall live, and can kill me when
he pleases!"
"At another time | was talking, and
looked at my notes in blind pencil mark;
the same chief said, "don't you know he
is God! See how he sees things where
we can see nothing. am afraid of him
plenty. What he says is law and must be
DONE" &c. | give you these few expires.
sions out OF many continually occurring, TO
let you see how benighted people must
be when they can for moment, or from
any consideration, look upon your, poor,
sickly, ignorant, unworthy George as
God! Oh! how this fact speaks out vol
umes. and calls in thunder tones to the
churches to haste to the rescue of a people
so sunken in darkness and superstition!
And then, too, people so easy of access
from the countries where the gospel shines!
Just jump aboard Of vessel. and in few
short weeks the breath of God will wait
any labor here"