I 
CHAPTER XXVI. 
CREATION OF MAN". 
What has been said in the preceding 
pages concerning Greegrees, will prepare 
the mind of the reader to form some idea 
of the views of the work of creation in 
general, and the creation of man in particu- 
lar, entertained by the Africans. 
On this subject I need here only narrate 
a legend current among the Mendi tribe, 
illustrative of the order God observed in 
man's creation, and the reason of the differ- 
ence existing between different tribes of 
people. The story runs thus : " God make 
white man early in the morning, and take 
plenty time to show him book palaver 
( how to read ), and God palaver ( a knowl- 
edge of the gospel), and how to make plenty 
fine things. Then He tell him to go.' ? 
"Next He make Mahommedan man, and 
show him little book palaver, and how to 
make some fine things ( all that is manufac- 
tured in that country that exhibits skill at 
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