The Scarcity Of Provisions Was Certainly Felt At This Time Most
Severely By The Poor People, As The Following Circumstance Most
Painfully Convinced Me:- Every Evening During My Stay I Observed
Five Or Six Women Come To The Mansa's House, And Receive Each Of
Them A Certain Quantity Of Corn.
As I knew how valuable this
article was at this juncture, I inquired of the mansa whether he
maintained these poor women from pure bounty, or expected a return
when the harvest should be gathered in.
"Observe that boy," said he
(pointing to a fine child about five years of age); "his mother has
sold him to me for forty days' provision for herself and the rest of
her family. I have bought another boy in the same manner." Good
God! thought I, what must a mother suffer before she sells her own
child! I could not get this melancholy subject out of my mind; and
the next night, when the women returned for their allowance, I
desired the boy to point out to me his mother, which he did. She
was much emaciated, but had nothing cruel or savage in her
countenance; and when she had received her corn, she came and talked
to her son with as much cheerfulness as if he had still been under
her care.
September 6. - Two people arrived from Sibidooloo, bringing with them
my horse and clothes; but I found that my pocket-compass was broken
to pieces. This was a great loss, which I could not repair.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 47 of 167
Words from 12734 to 12988
of 45368
