on board her. After
serving for some years, he had been discharged at the Cape; where, after
following several pursuits, he had become a servant to my uncle and
aunt, Mr and Mrs Hyslop. Peter was loquacious and ever merry, and it
was pleasant to hear him give way to one of his hearty laughs. He had
thick lips, a huge flattish nose, and somewhat high head, covered with
thick curling wool, now beginning to show signs of turning grey.
Although he understood English perfectly, he still spoke it in a
somewhat negro fashion, which often gave piquancy to his expressions;
but from the way his master treated him, and from the affectionate care
he seemed to take of the younger members of the family, it was evident
that he must be a worthy man, notwithstanding his want of personal
attractions.

"Ah, Massa Andrew, we nebber know as kind God does what is good for us,"
he remarked to me one day. "I bery sorryful when slaver people carry me
off from my home in Pongo country. I t'ink I go to die, dat dere was no
God to look after poor black fellow. I know only of Fetish, and I
afraid of Fetish. Den I get among white men, and I see and hear much
dat is bad, and still I t'ink dere is no God. Den years pass by, and I
hear of de merciful Saviour, who die for me; and I say, `Dat is just
what I want,' and I learn to be Christian. But I will tell you anoder
day more about myself; I now go to get ready de cabin dinner."

I told Timbo that I should keep him to his promise, as I was much
interested in the short account he had given of himself.

We had four other passengers--Mr John and Mr Charles Rowley, and Miss
Julia Rowley their sister, who seemed very nice people, but they kept
themselves rather aloof from me, as well as from the mate, though they
were friendly enough with the passengers, whom they considered their
equals. The last person I need name was a young Irishman, Mr Terence
O'Brien, who was of no profession that I could find out, but proposed
settling as a colonist at the Cape. I have thus at once run off a brief
description of my companions, of the last mentioned of whom, at that
time, I knew comparatively little. Having said thus much of them, I
will continue the thread of my narrative.

"How is the weather, Andrew?" said Captain Page as I went into his
cabin. We had the skylight off, to let in as much air as possible, but
yet it felt hot and stifling. He was very pale. His lips were of a
bluish tinge, and his e