CHAPTER XIII. 
DISPOSITIONS— TASTE FOR MUSIC. 
I do not think the Africans are natural- 
ly ill-natured ; but on the contrary, they are 
remarkable for their good nature and pleas- 
ant manners to strangers. Indeed one great 
obstacle in the way of their chrietianization 
is the fact, that they are not sufficiently ex- 
citable. I hope I am not misunderstood. 
They are fond of every kind of music, 
and sing a great deal whether at work or 
at play. JWhen rowing me along the river 
and plying their oars with all their strength, 
they would sing at least half of the time, 
unless they had a particular cause for not 
doing so. 
When our boatmen or workmen omitted 
singing, we took it for granted that they 
were vexed or sick. There as here, people 
seldom sing when in bad humor. The com- 
mon way with boatmen is, for one to lead 
the singing, making the music as he pro- 
ceeds, all but the chorus, in which all the 
