ing ideas of its inhabitants, relative to the immortality of the
soul and a future state.

After Monsieur Berauld's interment, his women, and the head people of the
town, assembled round the grave occasionally, for a series of days,
requiring every evening, from Mr. Hodgkin, a candle to light his grave,
which they kept burning during the period of their mourning, under the idea
that it would light him in the other world. In addition to this, a still
more singular rite was performed on this occasion, by Alimami, of the Port
Logo, and a numerous assemblage of natives, who sacrificed a bull to the
departed spirit of Berauld, who was held in great estimation among them.
From authority I cannot doubt, I am persuaded that when slaves have been
redundant, human sacrifices have been offered to the manes of their
favourite chiefs and princes. This horrid custom, which is even extended,
in many of the districts of Africa, to the productions of the earth, is a
most serious subject to contemplate, and a feature of barbarism, pregnant
with melancholy consequences to that class of beings, whom a late
legislative act has abandoned to contingencies, and the uncontrolled power
and avarice of other nations.

CHAPTER VI.

_Return to Bance Island.--General Observations on the Commerce, Religion,
Customs, and Character of the Natives upon the Windward Coast.--An Account
of the requisite Merchandize for Trade, the best Mode of introducing
natural Commerce and Civilization into Africa, &c._

The morning after my last arrival at Miffare I returned to Bance Island;
before I leave it, it may not perhaps be considered as inexpedient at this
stage of my narrative, to submit to my readers an account of the present
state of commerce upon the Windward Coast of Africa, the merchandize used
therein, a general outline of the religion, customs, and character of its
natives, and the system I conceive eligible, and consistent with the
claims of humanity, by which their intellectual powers may be improved, and
their enslaved state ameliorated; while our commercial ascendency may be
preserved with this region of the earth, and our enemies excluded from
those important advantages, which it only requires intelligence and
enterprise to unfold.

In accomplishing this important part of my duty I beg leave to state, that
my reflections are the result of much deliberation upon the subject,
derived from manifold sources of information, and that I am