Chap. XXXH. DEATH OF SEKWEBU. VOYAGE HOME. G83 



came out to tow us into the harbour. 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 

 intoxicated. 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 Kobert." Tins struck a chord in his bosom, 

 and he said, " 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 impres- 

 sion 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 over- 

 board, 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 hhn 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 

 danger of shipwreck through the admirable management of 

 Captain Powell, of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Com- 

 pany'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 favours 

 bestowed, but I may just add that no one has cause for more 

 abundant gratitude to his fellow-men and to Iris 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 ! 



Attent>ix\ 



