174 
MISSIONARY LIFE 
be burned. A fire-stick is kept stuck overhead, 
in the barra where they have the trial, with which 
they must be lighted. 
Joseph T. Mason was a British subject, and a 
trader up the Cockburrow River, who trusted Boon- 
gamy for some rum and tobacco. After waiting 
several months, and Boongamy did not pay, 
Mason, with his laborers, went to the town where 
Boongamy lived, and as he was not at home they 
carried olf all his household goods, and his 
daughter and her two children. Boongamy report- 
ed the aftair to the king, who summoned Mason 
and the parties concerned to Shengay, where the 
palaver was talked. Both parties were required 
to swear on the Bible. The chief, upon hearing 
the evidences, decided that the children must be 
held as security until the debt was paid. The 
children were left at Shengay for safe keeping, 
while Boongamy and Mason returned to their 
homes — Boongamy to raise rice and make palm- 
oil to redeem his grandchildren from slavery, 
and Mason to sell rum and tobacco, and spread 
misery through the country. Meantime the 
children were put into school at Shengay and 
were learning fast, both to read and sing. Little 
Mary Ann Boongamy was a very interesting child 
of about six or seven years of age ; but alas ! fate 
was against her. Her grandfather soon took sick 
