Capt Palinas to 



gi;ivi(y ill liis (Ifnieanor, parlicularly 

 vvlicii lie is ill (he society of Europeans, 

 w'lU] wliom he is reserved ami cautious, 

 ^t•l(ll>nl sniilin<^, or saying mucii ; al- 

 llmiij^li, when lie docs speak, it is ajivays 

 to the purpose. If a dispute arises be- 

 tween a Ci'ijitaiii and a native of coiise- 

 <|i!( I ce, hi- iiivariaijiy supports the cause 

 of Ilie laitcr, knowing- well, that it is 

 lioni that quarter only he has to appre- 

 iieiid injury : he is eaiilious, Ihereforc, 

 iie\(r to make an enemy who mii;lit, out 

 of revenge, involve him in a quairel, 

 which would bring inevitable ruin en 

 binisell" ai;d family ; for bciii"; reputed 

 litli, the biouiii;^ awry of a feather 

 vuiiild almost be a siillicient pretext to 

 excite llic eu|)idily of the lawyers be- 

 longing- (o t!io r'anfee Court of Chan- 

 cery. Ho treats «ith cdiidescciision, 

 and much apparent humility, persons of 

 all ranks ulio visit him, either out of 

 «:oiirtesy, or for advice; and whatever 

 liis house allonls, his guests are treated 

 vvilli. His dress is simple, and of little 

 value; and iic never wears about his 

 person much gold, as is the practice 

 with wealthy nafives of the Gidd Coast. 

 His chief residence is at Annainaboo, 

 where he carries on his commercial pur- 

 suits, and pays and receives visits ol 

 ceremony. 7\t Annishan, one mile to 

 the westward of Annaniahoo, and which 

 is called his croom, or village, he has a 

 residence, and where, it is said, he in- 

 dulges himself in the contemplation of 

 his weaitli, unobserved, and occasion- 

 ally distributes to his sons some portion 

 of it ; for 'J'acky Meiisa, who is his ne- 

 phew and heir-at-law, would dcjirive 

 them, at their father's death, of that, 

 which, in )<}ngland, would be their law- 

 ful inlieriiance. 



Tom Coii'ce, both in colour and fea- 

 1ure>!, is a complete African. 'J'o a 

 poitiy person is added much am<>nity of 

 couiitenanee ; and in his disposition 

 there is soinelliing of a hearty generosity : 

 but 'I'om, unfortunate ly was known fu 

 be lich, tor he took no pains lo conceal 

 it, but rather courted observation, by a 

 vain an<l ostentations disjilay of his 

 v\eallh. He acjuired his property 

 chielly by trading with jMiropeans, and 

 was a great lavoiirite both with them 

 and the native traders of remote coun- 

 tries, whoso caiiM; he generally cspoii.seil 

 in any disputes (hat occurred between 

 them and his townsmen; for it whs 

 through Iheii iuNtriiinentalily he hnd i>e-> 

 come ri(;h, and (his was tho way ill 

 which lie Klidwcd his gratitude. His 

 house wan more splendidly t'uriiisii«() 



the River Congo. 579 



than those of any of his ncigliboiirs, 

 having many articles of European 

 luxury in it; and the number of his 

 domestic slaves and retainers was 

 princely. Himself and wives dressed in 

 very costly apparel ; and he often wore 

 ab(nit his person many pounds vveightof 

 pure rock gold ; this was the fatal talis- 

 nuin. "If," said (he Tinins, "Coffee 

 can afford to wear so much gold, his 

 strong box must be full." He was too 

 rich a prize to esca])C their fangs, and too 

 incautious a man not to be entrapped 

 into a |ial;.vcr, which soon plunged him 

 into tlie bottomless pit, or Court of 

 Chancery in the I'rafoo country. The 

 Chancery, unfortunately for Tom, was 

 at this time without a suit, and the 

 lawyers wiihout a brief; he, therefore, 

 was soon stripped of his wealth ; and 

 the last time 1 saw him, he was living 

 at Cape Coast, in great poverty and ob- 

 snnrily, happy in having escaped with 

 his liberty, while his more cautious con- 

 temporary and townsman was enjoying- 

 at Aiinamaboo, unmolested, that pro- 

 perty which was (he fiuit of his in- 

 dustry, and w hich his superior sagacity 

 and prudence had been the means of 

 preserving. 



HORRID CEREMONY. 



The period has arrived, when Tacky 

 Mensa, a wealthy trader and inhabitant 

 of Aiinamaboo, had to make custom for 

 his ancestors. Five unfortunate victims 

 were to be immolated to the niancs of 

 the deceased, and gunpo\uk'r, brandy, 

 cloth, and provisions, distributed to the 

 multitude. A vast number of persons 

 assembled at Annainaboo, from different 

 parts of the republic of raiitce, to assist 

 at, and give importance to tiie ceremoii}'. 

 A little before day-break in the morn- 

 ing, when the obsecjuies for the deceased 

 comiuenccd, vollics of muskets, the noise 

 of drums, and savage shouts, were 

 heard in every direction ; and about 

 eight o'clock, a large concourse of per- 

 sons, of both sexes and all ages, had 

 collected at and near Tacky Mensa's 

 house, to whom brandy was distributed 

 in large quantities. Tiring, shouting;, 

 and (It inking, continued till mid-day, 

 when the five victims were brought out 

 tV(jni a hut with their hands bound, and 

 with ligatures made of tho bine of a 

 creeping plant surrounding their heads, 

 and whicli came over their cjes and 

 noses, and l)y iutri>du(^iiig pioi-es of 

 .sticks, and twisting them round, making' 

 what sailors cull Spanish windlasses; the 

 boiieS'of their iniises were forced in, and 

 their ores suuk d«eiici in (heir sockets. 



Oue 



