Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-09-13

sun and ram and, among the Bagers, when
your goods are protected from the elements. they
are safe from every danger. Your man has gone
across the plain to neighboring town for oil +;
tonight he will be back in the meantime look
at your goods
opened the chest, which, to my surprise was
unlocked, and l found it nearly full of the mer-
chandise had placed in it, shook the cask,
and its weight seemed hardly diminished. l
turned the spiggot, and 10 the rum trickled
at my feet. Hard by was temporary shed
filed to the roof with hides and cases of palm
oil, all of which the grey beard declared was
my property.
Whilst making the inspection, have no doubt
the. expression of my face indicated good deal
of wonder, for saw the old man smile eompla.
Gently as he followed me with his quiet eye.
" Good said the chief. " il is oil there-ist
it not We Bagers are neither Soosoos, Man
dingoes, Fouahs, nor White n,ar, that the
goods Of stranger are not safe in our towns
We work for a living we want little; big ships
guests nor 60 to war to sell one another p"
The conversation, thought was becoming
little personal aud, with gesture of impa-
patience put stop to it. On second thoughts,
however, l turned abruptly round, and shaking
the noble savage's hand with vigor that made
him vince, presented him with piece OF cloth
Had Diogenes visited Africa in search Of his
man, it is by no means unlikely that he might
have extinguished his lamp among the Bag
ers
It was about two O'Clock in the afternoon
when arr we'd in the town which, as before
observed seemed quite deserted, except by
dozen or two ebony antiquities, who crawled
into the sunshine when they learned of the ad-
vent of stranger. The young people were ab-
sent gathering palm nuts in neighboring grove
A couple of hours before sundown my trader re-
turned and, shortly after the merry gang of
villagers made their appearance, laughing, sing
ing, dan cling, and laden with fruit. As soon
as the gossips announced the arrival of white
man during their absence, the little hut that
had been Hospitality assigned me was surround
ed by crowd, five or six deep, of men, women,
and children. The pressure was 30 close and
sudden that was almost stiaed. Finding that
they would not depart until made myself Wis
ible, emerged from my concealment and shook
hand with nearly all.
! ban tho lEo hod forko hlx- nnatInr
themselves, in their novels, the old chief with Q
show of some formality, presented me heavy
ram-goat, distinguished for its formidable heat
ornaments, which, he said, was offered as q ban
ne bouche for my supper. He then sent erie
through the town, informing them that whit
stranger would be their guest during the night
and in less than half an hour, my hut was Wis
tied by most of the village DANES and damsels
One brought pint of rice another some root
Of cassapd; another few spoonsful of palm oil
another bunch of peppers; while the oldes
lady of the party made herself particularly re
markable by the gift of splendid fowl. L
fact, the crier had hardly gone his rounds, be
fore my mat was filled with the voluntary cor
tributions of the villagers; and the wants, nc
only of myself, but of my eight rowers, CON
pletely supplied.
There was nothing peculiar in this exhibitio
of hospitality on account of my nationality.
, was the mere fulfllment of a Bager law, ar
: the poorest black stranger would have share
t The same right as well as myself 1 could NJ
l help thinking that l might have travelled fro
Y one end of England or America to the othe
J, without meeting Bager welcome Indeed,
seemed somewhat questionable, whether it we
Y better for England to civilize Africa, or for Il
r Bagers to send missionaries 10 their brethren
n Britain
These reflections, however, did not spoil n
r appetite, for l confess feeling Of unusual co
% tent and relish when the patriarch sat down wi
y me before the covered bowls prepared for OF
i, supper. But, alas for human hopes and taste
As lifted the lid from the vessel containing t
N steaming stew, its powerful fragrance annour
,r ed the remains of that venerable quadrup
No with which had been welcomed
4. 1t was probably not quite in etiquette amo
the Bagers to decline the stew, yet, had star,
"a ton depended on it, could have touched m,
" morsel. Accordingly, forbore the mess a
ID made free with the rice, seasoning it we'll wi
AZ salt and pepper But my amiable landlord "
resolved that should not 60 to rest with su
penitential fare, and ordered one of his wives
Of bring her supper to my lodge. A taste of {
T. dish satisfied me that it was edible, though
Of tensely peppered. ate with the appetite
ID an alderman, nor was it till two days after IL
se my trader informed me | had supped SO heart
al on the spareribs of an alligator 1t was v
a that the hours of digestion had gone by,
though partial to the chase, had never 10
,b " water fowl Of 80 wild character.
wv When supper was over, escaped from
N hut to breathe little fresh air before retir
- for the night. Hardly had put my head {
ole side. when found myself literally inhaling
he mosquitoes that swarmed at nightfall over
me marshy nats 1t took it for granted that ii
fa was to be no rest for me in darkness among
as Bagers but when mention ed my trouble
led trouble to the chief, he told me that another
nd had already been provided for my sleel
bly quarters, where my bed was made of Ger
in. ,green and odorous leaves which are antidote
ith mosquitoes, After little more chat he off
ur- to guide me to the howell, low, thickly ma
ra. bower, through whose single aperture cr'
. . ed on hands and knees. As soon as was
hv the entrance was closed, and although |
as if packed in my grave, ! slept an uubre
MT sleep till day dawn.
,rty After passing two days among the Bage
ing departed once more in my canoe, impelled
y. l.L.,a4,r. nanln nf tLa l..