432 
INSANITY OP SEKWEBU. 
crew of one hundred and thirty, — sho was rolling so that 
wo could see a part of her bottom. It was quito impossi- 
ble for landsmen to catch the ropes and climb up; so a 
chair was sent down, and wo were hoisted in as ladios 
usually are, and received so hearty an English welcome 
from Captain Peyton and all on board that I felt myself at 
onco at home in every thing except my own mother-tongue 
I seemed to know tbo language perfectly, but the words 1 
wanted would not come at my call. When I loft England 
I had no intention of returning, and directed my attention 
earnestly to the languages of Africa, paying nono to 
English composition. With tbo exception of a short in- 
terval in Angola, I had boon three and a half years without 
speaking English, and this, with thirteen years of previous 
partial disuso of my nativo tongue, made, mo feel sadly at 
a loss on board tho “Frolic.'” 
Wo left Kilimano on tho 12th of July, and reached tho 
Mauritius on tho 12tk of August, 1856. Sekwebu was 
picking up English, and becoming a favorite with both men 
and officers, lie seemed a little bowildered, evory tiling on 
board a man-of-war being so now and strange; but bo re- 
marked to mo several times, “ Your countrymen are very 
agreeable,” and, “ Wliat a strango country this is ! — all water 
together! ’ Ho also said that he now understood why 1 
used tho soxtant. When wo reached tho Mauritius a 
steamer camo out to tow us into tho harbor. Tho constant 
strain on his untutored mind seemed now to roach a climax, 
for during tho night ho became insano. I thought at first 
that ho was intoxicated. Ho had descended into a boat, 
and, when I attempted to go down and bring him into tho 
ship, ho ran to tho stern and said, “ No ! no ! it is enough 
that I die alone. You must not perish; if you como, 1 
shah throw myself into tho water.” Perceiving that bis 
mind was affected, I said, “Now, Sekwebu, wo are going 
to Ma Robert.” This struck a chord in his bosom, and he 
said, “Oh, yes! whore is sho, and whero is Robert?” and 
he seemed to reeovei Tho officers proposed to socuro him 
