When Their Country Has
Been Desolated, And Their Ruined Towns And Villages Deserted By The
Enemy, Such Of The Inhabitants
As have escaped the sword, and the chain,
generally return, though with cautious steps, to the place of their
nativity;
For it seems to be the universal wish of mankind, to spend the
evening of their days where they passed their infancy. The poor Negro
feels this desire in its full force. To him no water is sweet but what is
drawn from his own well; and no tree has so cool and pleasant a shade as
the _tabba_ tree[21] of his native village. When war compels him to
abandon the delightful spot in which he first drew his breath, and seek
for safety in some other kingdom, his time is spent in talking about the
country of his ancestors; and no sooner is peace restored than he turns
his back upon the land of strangers, rebuilds with haste his fallen
walls, and exults to see the smoke ascend from his native village.
[21] This is a large spreading tree, (a species of _sterculia_,)
under which the Bentang is commonly placed.
The other species of African warfare is distinguished by the appellation
of _tegria_, "plundering or stealing." It arises from a sort of
hereditary feud which the inhabitants of one nation or district bear
towards another. No immediate cause of hostility is assigned, or notice
of attack given; but the inhabitants of each watch every opportunity to
plunder and distress the objects of their animosity by predatory
excursions.
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