EXPEDITION TO S U R I N xV M. 209 

 " men. — One of your countrymen, who is now to be one chap. 



" of my judges, became my purchafer, in whofe fervice 



I was treated fo cruelly by his overfeer, that I deferted, 

 and joined the rebels in the woods. — Here again I was 

 condemned to be a Have to Bonny, their chief, who treat- 



" ed me with even more feverity than I had experienced 

 from the Europeans, till I was once more forced to elope, 



" determined to Ihun mankind for ever, and inoffenlively 

 to end my days by myfelf in the foreft. Two years 

 had I perfevered in this manner quite alone, undergoing 

 the greateft hardlliips and anxiety of mind, preferving 

 life only for the poffibility of once more feeing my 

 dear family, who were perhaps flarving on my account, 

 in my own country ; I fay two miferable years had juft 

 elapfed, when I was difcovered by the rangers, taken, 

 and brought before this tribunal, who are now ac- 

 quainted with the hiftory of my wretched life, and 

 from whom the only favour I have to afk is, that I 

 may be executed next Saturday, or as foon as it may 

 poffibly be convenient." 



This fpeech was uttered with the utmofl moderation, 

 by one of the fineft-looking negroes that was perhaps 

 ever feen ; to which his former m after, who, as he ob- 

 ferved, was now one of the judges, made the following 

 laconic reply — - " Rafcal ! that is not what we want to 



know; but the torture this moment lhall make you 



confefs crimes as black as yourfelf, as well as thofe of 

 « your hateful accomplices." To which the negro, v^^ho 



Vol. II. E e nov/ 



