INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 163 
whatever imprudence I had been guilty of, in coming into his 
country, I thought I had already been sufficiently punished for 
it, by being so long detained; and then plundered of all my little 
property ; which, however, gave me no uneasiness, when com- 
pared with what he had just now done to me. I observed, that 
the boy which he had now seized upon, was not a slave, and 
had been accused of no offence : he was indeed one of my 
attendants ; and his faithful services in that station, had pro- 
cured him his freedom : his fidelity and attachment had made 
him follow me into my present situation ; and as he looked up 
to me for protection, I could not see him deprived of his liberty, 
without remonstrating against such an act, as the height of 
cruelty and injustice. Ali made no reply, but with a haughty 
air and malignant smile, told his interpreter, that if I did not 
mount my horse immediately, he would send me back likewise. 
There is something in the frown of a tyrant which rouzes the 
most secret emotions of the heart : I could not suppress my 
feelings ; and for once entertained an indignant wish to rid 
the world of such a monster. 
Poor Demba was not less affected than myself ; he had form- 
ed a strong attachment towards me, and had a cheerful- 
ness of disposition, which often beguiled the tedious hours 
of captivity : he was likewise a proficient in the Bambarra 
tongue, and promised on that account to be of great utility to 
me in future. But it was in vain to expect any thing favour- 
able to humanity, from people who are strangers to its dictates. 
So having shaken hands with this unfortunate boy, and blended 
my tears with his, assuring him, however, that I would do my 
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