ld scarcely have succeeded in
reaching the coast. I naturally felt grateful to him; and as his chief
wished ALL my companions to go to England with me, and would probably be
disappointed if none went, I thought it would be beneficial for him to
see the effects of civilization, and report them to his countrymen; I
wished also to make some return for his very important services. Others
had petitioned to come, but I explained the danger of a change of
climate and food, and with difficulty restrained them. The only one
who now remained begged so hard to come on board ship that I greatly
regretted that the expense prevented my acceding to his wish to visit
England. I said to him, "You will die if you go to such a cold country
as mine." "That is nothing," he reiterated; "let me die at your feet."

When we parted from our friends at Kilimane, the sea on the bar was
frightful even to the seamen. This was the first time Sekwebu had seen
the sea. Captain Peyton had sent two boats in case of accident. The
waves were so high that, when the cutter was in one trough, and we in
the pinnace in another, her mast was hid. We then mounted to the crest
of the wave, rushed down the slope, and struck the water again with
a blow which felt as if she had struck the bottom. Boats must be
singularly well constructed to be able to stand these shocks. Three
breakers swept over us. The men lift up their oars, and a wave comes
sweeping over all, giving the impression that the boat is going down,
but she only goes beneath the top of the wave, comes out on the other
side, and swings down the slope, and a man bales out the water with a
bucket. Poor Sekwebu looked at me when these terrible seas broke over,
and said, "Is this the way you go? Is this the way you go?" I smiled
and said, "Yes; don't you see it is?" and tried to encourage him. He was
well acquainted with canoes, but never had seen aught like this. When we
reached the ship--a fine, large brig of sixteen guns and a crew of one
hundred and thirty--she was rolling so that we could see a part of her
bottom. It was quite impossible for landsmen to catch the ropes and
climb up, so a chair was sent down, and we were hoisted in as ladies
usually are, and received so hearty an English welcome from Captain
Peyton and all on board that I felt myself at once at home in every
thing except my own mother tongue. I seemed to know the language
perfectly, but the words I wanted would not come at my call. When I