Travels Of Richard And John Lander Into The Interior Of Africa For The Discovery Of The Course And Termination Of The Niger By Robert Huish
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A Person In England Might Be
Inclined To Think Lightly Of This Matter, But It Is Indeed A
Grievance, Which Can Ill Be Borne By An Invalid Languishing Under A
Wasting Disease, And Who Has Equally As Much Need Of Rest And Silence
As Of Medicine.
Besides those grievances, the shouts of the people
outside the yard, and the perpetual squalling of children within it,
The buzzing of beetles and drones, the continual attacks of
mosquitoes and innumerable flies, form a host of irritating evils, to
which a sick person is exposed, and to which he is obliged patiently
to submit, until by a relief from his disorder, he is obliged to
stand upon his legs, and once more take his own part. But even then
noises assail his ear, and he does not enjoy the happiness of perfect
silence unless he enters a grove or forest.
They were this morning, visited by a party of Fellatas of both sexes.
They differed but little either in colour or feature from the
original natives of the soil. In dress and ornaments, however, there
was a slight distinction between them. They displayed more taste in
their apparel, and wore a greater number of ornaments round the neck
and wrists; they paid also great attention to their hair, which the
women plait with astonishing ingenuity. Like that of the young woman,
whom they met at Jenna, their heads exactly resembled a dragoon's
helmet. Their hair was much longer of course than that of the negro,
which enables the Fallatas to weave it on both sides of the head
into a kind of queue, which passing over each cheek is tied under
the chin.
Another company of Fellatas came to them in the evening, for they had
never beheld a white man, and curiosity had led them to their
habitation. They brought with them a present of a little thick milk,
of which they begged the travellers' acceptance, and then went away
highly gratified with the interview. The behaviour of the whole of
them was extremely reserved and respectful; nothing in the persons of
the travellers excited their merriment, on the contrary, they seemed
silently to admire their dress and complexion, and having examined
them well at a distance, seemed grateful for the treat.
In the mean time, the kindness and generosity of the governor of
Bohoo continued unabated; instead of diminishing, it seemed to
strengthen; he literally inundated them with milk, and he was equally
lavish with other things. It gave them unmixed pleasure to meet with
so much native politeness and attention from a quarter, where they
the least expected it, and at a time also, when it was the most
required.
After they had retired to rest, a Fellata woman came to their
dwelling, bringing with her a number of eggs of the guinea-hen, and a
large bowl of milk fresh from the cow, as a return for a few needles
they had given her in the afternoon. This circumstance is mentioned
merely to show the difference between the Fellatas and the
Youribeans, in point of gratitude for favours which they may have
received.
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