MANOEL. 



S93 



wander, and of murders that have been com- 

 mitted in it. One night, when the moon was 

 not at a sufficient height to afford a tolerably 

 clear view of the objects around, we were pass- 

 ing through this wood. I saw a figure before 

 me in the middle of the path, which bore the 

 appearance of a man standing still. I slackened 

 my pace, and called out, as is customary, "Who 

 comes there ?" but before I could possibly have 

 received an answer, Manoel brushed past me, 

 saying, " Let me see j" however I desired him 

 to be quiet, as no harm might be intended. 

 On a nearer approach, we discovered that an 

 old stump of a tree had caused this alarm. On 

 another occasion I sent this same slave from 

 Recife to Jaguaribe, on foot, early in the morn- 

 ing, telling him that I intended to follow him, 

 leaving Recife about eight o'clock in the 

 evening. I was to be accompanied by Zacharias, 

 another slave, whose courage was somewhat 

 doubtful. Manoel arrived at Jaguaribe, and 

 immediately prepared one of the pack-horses, 

 saying to the manager that he was going to 

 meet his master who was on the road alone, for 

 he said, " Zacharias is nobody." * The manager 

 could not persuade him to give up his intention, 

 and therefore as he knew that the slave was 

 much tired with his walk, he came himself. I 



* " Zacharias nam he ninguem." 





