728 DEATH OF SEKWEBU.— VOYAGE HOME. 



— all water together!" He also said that he now understood why 

 I used the sextant. When we reached the Mauritius a steamer 

 came out to tow us into the harbor. The constant strain on his 

 untutored mind seemed now to reach a climax, for during the 

 night he became insane. I thought at first that he was intoxi- 

 cated. He had descended into a boat, and, when I attempted 

 to go down and bring him into the ship, he ran to the stern and 

 said, " No ! no ! it is enough that I die alone. You must not 

 perish ; if you come, I shall throw myself into the water." Per- 

 ceiving that his mind was affected, I said, "Now, Sekwebu, we 

 are going to Ma Robert." This struck a chord in his bosom, 

 and he said, " Oh yes ; where is she, and where is Robert?" and 

 he seemed to recover. The officers proposed to secure him by 

 putting him in irons ; but, being a gentleman in his own country, 

 I objected, knowing that the insane often retain an impression of 

 ill treatment, and I could not bear to have it said in Sekeletu's 

 country that I had chained one of his principal men as they had 

 seen slaves treated. I tried to get him on shore by day, but he 

 refused. In the evening a fresh accession of insanity occurred ; 

 he tried to spear one of the crew, then leaped overboard, and, 

 though he could swim well, pulled himself down hand under hand 

 by the chain cable. We never found the body of poor Sekwebu. 

 At the Mauritius I was most hospitably received by Major 

 General C. M. Hay, and he generously constrained me to remain 

 with him till, by the influence of the good climate and quiet 

 English comfort, I got rid of an enlarged spleen from African 

 fever. In November I came up the Red Sea ; escaped the dan- 

 ger of shipwreck through the admirable management of Captain 

 Powell, of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Company's ship 

 "Candia," and on the 12th of December was once more in dear 

 old England. The Company most liberally refunded my passage- 

 money. I have not mentioned half the favors bestowed, but I may 

 just add that no one has cause for more abundant gratitude to his 

 fellow-men and to his Maker than I have ; and may God grant 

 that the effect on my mind be such that I may be more humbly 

 devoted to the service of the Author of all our mercies ! 



