es appear intoxicated on these occasions, and, if blamed for his
intemperance, will reply, "Why! my mother is dead!" as if he thought it
a sufficient justification. The expenses of funerals are so heavy that
often years elapse before they can defray them.

These people are said to be very litigious and obstinate: constant
disputes are taking place respecting their lands. A case came before the
weekly court of the commandant involving property in a palm-tree worth
twopence. The judge advised the pursuer to withdraw the case, as the
mere expenses of entering it would be much more than the cost of the
tree. "Oh no," said he; "I have a piece of calico with me for the clerk,
and money for yourself. It's my right; I will not forego it." The calico
itself cost three or four shillings. They rejoice if they can say of an
enemy, "I took him before the court."

My friend Mr. Canto, the commandant, being seized with fever in a severe
form, it afforded me much pleasure to attend HIM in his sickness, who
had been so kind to ME in mine. He was for some time in a state of
insensibility, and I, having the charge of his establishment, had thus
an opportunity of observing the workings of slavery. When a master is
ill, the slaves run riot among the eatables. I did not know this until I
observed that every time the sugar-basin came to the table it was
empty. On visiting my patient by night, I passed along a corridor, and
unexpectedly came upon the washerwoman eating pine-apples and sugar. All
the sweetmeats were devoured, and it was difficult for me to get even
bread and butter until I took the precaution of locking the pantry door.
Probably the slaves thought that, as both they and the luxuries were
the master's property, there was no good reason why they should be kept
apart.

Debarred by my precaution from these sources of enjoyment, they took to
killing the fowls and goats, and, when the animal was dead, brought it
to me, saying, "We found this thing lying out there." They then enjoyed
a feast of flesh. A feeling of insecurity prevails throughout this
country. It is quite common to furnish visitors with the keys of their
rooms. When called on to come to breakfast or dinner, each locks his
door and puts the key in his pocket. At Kolobeng we never locked our
doors by night or by day for months together; but there slavery is
unknown. The Portuguese do not seem at all bigoted in their attachment
to slavery, nor yet in their prejudices aga