He Informed Me That The Moors Were Come A
Second Time To Steal The Cattle, And That They Were Now Close To The
Town.
I mounted the roof of the hut, and observed a large herd of
bullocks coming towards the town, followed by five Moors on
horseback, who drove the cattle forward with their muskets.
When
they had reached the wells which are close to the town, the Moors
selected from the herd sixteen of the finest beasts, and drove them
off at full cell gallop. During this transaction the townspeople,
to the number of five hundred, stood collected close to the walls of
the town; and when the Moors drove the cattle away, though they
passed within pistol-shot of them, the inhabitants scarcely made a
show of resistance. I only saw four muskets fired, which, being
loaded with gunpowder of the negroes' own manufacture, did no
execution. Shortly after this I observed a number of people
supporting a young man on horseback, and conducting him slowly
towards the town. This was one of the herdsmen, who, attempting to
throw his spear, had been wounded by a shot from one of the Moors.
His mother walked on before, quite frantic with grief, clapping her
hands, and enumerating the good qualities of her son. "Ee maffo
fenio!" ("He never told a lie!") said the disconsolate mother as
her wounded son was carried in at the gate - "Ee maffo fonio abada!"
("He never told a lie; no, never!") When they had conveyed him to
his hut, and laid him upon a mat, all the spectators joined in
lamenting his fate, by screaming and howling in the most piteous
manner.
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