g to do with
it, and attributed the whole of that unfortunate affair, to the
rashness and brutality of a certain people, that inhabited a country
nearly opposite to his own, whose monarch was his particular friend,
therefore, he apprehended little difficulty in seeing justice done
us; 'but then,' said he, 'it is necessary that you should wait here
for an indefinite time, till a council of that nation be held, when
the plunderers will be examined, and your claims established. The
Damaggoo people, that have come with you, have like yourselves
suffered much loss; for my own part, I shall make them a present of a
slave or two as a compensation, and they have my permission to go
along with you for the present, which I understand you have promised
their monarch, but you must not expect them to be your guides to the
sea, for their responsibility ends here.'

"When all this was interpreted to me by Antonio, I was thunderstruck.
It was in vain that I assured Obie that there was not the slightest
necessity for our detention in the town; that our countrymen would
redeem us the moment they should see us, but not before; and equally
unavailing were my solicitations for him to alter this arrangement
and suffer us to depart; but the tears of his subjects, and the
representations of the men at Brass, had made too deep an impression
upon his mind to be so easily eradicated. We found it too late either
to implore or remonstrate.

"This final decision of the king is a bitter stroke to us, for we
fondly indulged the hope of a more favourable issue, from the
deliberations of the savage council, at whose dissolution we expected
to be sent to the sea coast, without being perplexed with further
embarrassments. We have now to wait the return of a messenger from
thence, who has not yet been sent on his errand, and he is to bring
back with him the value of twenty slaves, ere we obtain our freedom.
Heaven only knows whether the masters of English vessels at Bonny or
Brass, have the ability or feel the disposition to ransom us. We only
know that if disposed of at all, we shall be sold for infinitely more
than we are worth.

"As may naturally be supposed, I returned home much depressed and
afflicted, to inform my brother of the result of the palaver, and he
was as greatly surprised and afflicted as myself at the intelligence.
But though we are full of trouble and uneasiness at our gloomy
situation, yet we do not repine at the divine dispensatio