INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 295 
desolations of war often (but not always) produce the second 
cause of slavery, famine ; in which case a freeman becomes a 
slave to avoid a greater calamity. 
Perhaps, by a philosophic and reflecting mind, death itself 
would scarcely be considered as a greater calamity than sla- 
very ; but the poor Negro, when fainting with hunger, thinks 
like Esau of old ; " behold I am at the point to die, and what 
" profit shall this birthright do to me ?" There are many 
instances of free men voluntarily surrendering up their liberty 
to save their lives. During a great scarcity which lasted for 
three years, in the countries of the Gambia, great numbers of 
people became slaves in this manner. Dr. Laidley assured me 
that, at that time, many free men came and begged, with great 
earnestness, to be put upon his slave-chain, to save them from 
perishing of hunger. Large families are very often exposed to 
absolute want ; and as the parents have almost unlimited au- 
thority over their children, it frequently happens, in all parts of 
Africa, that some of the latter are sold to purchase provisions 
for the rest of the family. When I was at Jarra, Daman 
Jumma pointed out to me three young slaves which he had 
purchased in this manner. I have already related another 
instance which I saw at Wonda ; and I was informed that in 
JFooladoo, at that time, it was a very common practice. 
The third cause of slavery, is insolvency. Of all the offences 
(if insolvency may be so called), to which the laws of Africa 
have affixed the punishment of slavery, this is the most common. 
A Negro trader commonly contracts debts on some mercantile 
speculation, either from his neighbours, to purchase such articles 
