use of the two or three words, the pronunciation (not the meaning) of which he knew indifferently. With a loud voice, (the Doctor is a second Stentor,) he cried acushe! (a term of salutation to the industrious.) The natives were astonished, and instantly extinguishing their lights, they fled to the recesses of their dwelling, and, although the Doctor exhausted his whole vocabulary in the effort, he could not induce them to stir. After one or two more fruitless attempts at other houses, he at last brought to his aid a few resolute men, who perceiving that he had lost his way, conducted him safe to the dwelling of Mr. Samuel Crowther, Jr., whither I arrived at the same time after a long search to find him.
A funeral in this section of Africa is not unworthy of notice. A brother of the chief Atambala having died during my sojourn at Abbeokuta, I went over to his house to condole with him on his loss. I found the old chief in no condition to receive the sort of condolence I was prepared to offer, as both himself and almost every other person present was intoxicated. His compound[1] was crowded, a large number of his friends being there to participate in the ceremonies.
- ↑ Walled inclosures in Africa, comprising several dwellings, are called by the civilized people "compounds."
