As All The Slatees And Slaves Belonging To The Coffle Were Now
Assembled Either At Kamalia Or At Some Of
The neighbouring villages,
it might have been expected that we should set out immediately for
Gambia; but though the day
Of our departure was frequently fixed, it
was always found expedient to change it. Some of the people had not
prepared their dry provisions; others had gone to visit their
relations; or collect some trifling debts; and, last of all, it was
necessary to consult whether the day would be a lucky one. On
account of one of these, or other such causes, our departure was put
off, day after day, until the month of February was far advanced,
after which all the slatees agreed to remain in their present
quarters until the FAST MOON WAS OVER. And here I may remark that
loss of time is an object of no great importance in the eyes of a
negro. If he has anything of consequence to perform, it is a matter
of indifference to him whether he does it to-day or to-morrow, or a
month or two hence; so long as he can spend the present moment with
any degree of comfort, he gives himself very little concern about
the future.
The fast of Ramadan was observed with great strictness by all the
bushreens, but instead of compelling me to follow their example, as
the Moors did on a similar occasion, Karfa frankly told me that I
was at liberty to pursue my own inclination. In order, however, to
manifest a respect for their religious opinions, I voluntarily
fasted three days, which was thought sufficient to screen me from
the reproachful epithet of kafir. During the fast all the slatees
belonging to the coffle assembled every morning in Karfa's house,
where the schoolmaster read to them some religious lessons from a
large folio volume, the author of which was an Arab of the name of
Sheiffa. In the evening such of the women as had embraced
Mohammedanism assembled and said their prayers publicly at the
missura. They were all dressed in white, and went through the
different prostrations prescribed by their religion with becoming
solemnity. Indeed, during the whole fast of Ramadan the negroes
behaved themselves with the greatest meekness and humility, forming
a striking contrast to the savage intolerance and brutal bigotry
which at this period characterise the Moors.
When the fast month was almost at an end, the bushreens assembled at
the missura to watch for the appearance of the new moon, but, the
evening being rather cloudy, they were for some time disappointed,
and a number of them had gone home with a resolution to fast another
day, when on a sudden this delightful object showed her sharp horns
from behind a cloud, and was welcomed with the clapping of hands,
beating of drums, firing of muskets, and other marks of rejoicing.
As this moon is reckoned extremely lucky, Karfa gave orders that all
the people belonging to the coffle should immediately pack up their
dry provisions and hold themselves in readiness; and on the 16th of
April the slatees held a consultation and fixed on the 19th of the
same month as the day on which the coffle should depart from
Kamalia.
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