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I could show from the most satisfactory evidence, that his statements were worthy of entire belief. They were subjected at various times, and by different persons, to a close scrutiny, and the results of these examinations were harmonious and conclusive.

He was born in Tombuctoo about the year of our Lord, 1762. His grand-father, Almam Ibrahim, was King of Tombuctoo, which is the name of the territory, as well as of the city. His father, Almam Ibrahim Jalloh, at twenty-two years of age, was sent by his grand-father to make war upon the city of Susos, 1200 miles S. W. from Tombuctoo, on account of some affront offered by the chief. The inhabitants fled. The conqueror took possession of the city, and was made Governor of it. He established a new kingdom, called Footah Jallok, and founded its capital, Teembo, a city now containing a very numerous population.

Abduhl Rahhahman's grand-father lived to the age of one hundred and ten years, and, before his death, had resigned the throne of Tombuctoo to his brother Almam Ibrahim Danajot, so called from his white face. Abduhl had another uncle, Moorde Armada, who was Governor of the Province of Massina. The first cousin of his father, Alpha Boomaree, was Governor of Tenna, and his second cousin, Moorde Sulimana, was Governor of Bamboago. Almam means King, and Moorde means Governor. These facts show that Abduhl's family connections were persons of power and influence in Africa. They were Moors and Mohammedans, and the cities and territories over which they have ruled, had advanced to a very considerable degree of civilization.

Abduhl's father went back and forth, several times, from Teembo to Tombuctoo, from which place he finally removed his family, Abduhl being then about five years of age, to his newly acquired territory. At twelve years of age, Abduhl was sent to Tombuctoo, where he remained several years, to obtain an education, being the rightful heir to his father's throne, in preference to an elder brother, whose mother was a Susoo woman, while his was a Mooress.

When Abduhl was nineteen or twenty years of age, Dr. Cox, an American citizen, surgeon on board a ship, arrived at Sierra Leone. Having gone a hunting in the interior, and getting lost in the woods, he found on his return to the coast, that his ship had sailed. He undertook an excursion into the country, and becom

ing lame and sick, arrived, at length, within the territory of Footah Jalloh. Being the first white man ever seen by the inhabitants, he was carried, as a great curiosity, to the King at Teembo, who provided remedies for the cure of his lameness and sickness, and entertained him, for six months, with the greatest hospitality. During this time, he was an inmate of Abduhl's house, adjoining that of his father. Restored to perfect health, and anxious to return to his own country, he was sent by the King, with gold and ivory to pay his passage, and an escort of armed men to protect him to Sierra Leone, where, providentially, his ship had come again, and in it he was carried in safety to the United States.

At twenty-one years of age, Abduhl was made a captain in his father's cavalry, and at twenty-four a colonel. To use his own words, in this part of the narrative," At the age of twenty-six, they sent me to fight the Hebohs, because they destroyed the vessels that came to the coast, and prevented our trade. We fought, and I defeated them. They went back one hundred miles into the country, and hid themselves in the mountain. We could not see them, and did not expect there was any enemy. When we got there, we dismounted and led our horses until we were half way up the mountain. Then they fired upon us. We saw the smoke; we heard the guns; we saw the people drop down. I told every one to run until we reached the top of the hill, and then to wait for each other until all came there, and we would fight them. After I had arrived at the summit, I could see no one except my body-guard. The enemy followed us, while we retreated, and fought as well as we could. I saw this would not do. I told every one to run, who wished to do so. Every one who wished to run, fled. I said, I, who am a Moor, will not run from an African. I got down from my horse, and sat on the ground. my came behind and shot me in the shoulder. front and pointed his gun to shoot me, but seeing my clothes, which were ornamented with gold, he cried out, 'that's the King.' Then every one turned down their guns, and they came to take me prisoner. I had a sword under me, but they did not see it. I sprang forward and killed the one who first came towards me. Then one came behind and knocked me down with a gun, and I fainted. They dragged me to a pond of water, and dipped me in it. After I came to myself they bound me. They pulled off my shoes, and

One of the eneAnother came in

horse before

made me go barefoot one hundred miles, and led my me. They took me to their own country, and kept me there one week. As soon as my people got home, my father found I was missing. He raised a troop and came after me. As soon as the Hebohs knew he was coming, they carried me into the wilderness. My father burnt their country and returned. The Hebohs carried

They sold me, with

me to the Mandingo country on the Gambia. fifty others, to an English slave-ship, which took me to the Island of Dominica. After that, I was taken to New Orleans, and thence to Natchez, where I was bought by Colonel Foster."

About sixteen or eighteen years afterwards, as Abduhl was, one morning, accompanied by Sambo, a fellow-slave, on his way to a neighboring village, with a basket of sweet potatoes for sale, he saw, at a little distance, a man approaching them on horseback. 'Sambo," said he, "that man rides like a white man I saw in my country. Look sharp, and see, when he comes up, if but one eye; then he is the same man." He opens but one eye," said Sambo. "Then you say nothing," replied

he

66

opens

Abduhl,-" I know him."

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As the man approached, Abdull accosted him, inquiring if he wished to buy some sweet potatoes. He looked steadily at Abduhl, and asked him where he lived. He replied, with Colonel Fos"You were born in Africa," said the man-" your name is Abduhl Rahhahman; do you know me?" "I know you very well; you are Dr. Cox."

ter.

And so it was, the identical Dr. Cox, who had so many years before been an inmate of Abduhl's family at Teembo, and treated by his father with so much hospitality and kindness.

The interview, under such singular and affecting circumstances, can better be conceived than described.

Dr. Cox dismounted, embraced his old friend on the spot, and made many and earnest inquiries about his past history and present condition. In the fulness of his gratitude, he went to Col. Foster, and said, "if any sum of money, that he could command, would purchase Abduhl's freedom, he would pay it, and have him safely returned to his country and friends." But his master would not part with him. After Dr. Cox's death, his son renewed the negotiation with Colonel Foster for Abduhl's freedom, but with no better success. Within two years previous to his visit to the North, in

1825, some gentlemen in Natchez interested themselves in his case. A representation was made to the Government of the United States on the subject, which, after having obtained the most satisfactory evidence of the truth of Abduhl's history, directed its agent at Natchez, if possible, to procure his freedom. On application for this purpose, Colonel Foster manumitted him him without any equivalent. He was now about sixty years of age, having been in slavery forty years.

His wife, for he had married in this country,-and five sons and eight grandchildren, were still in bondage, all owned by Colonel Foster. His wife was manumitted for two hundred dollars, raised by subscription in Natchez and the neighborhood.

On his arrival at the seat of government with his aged wife, having determined to return to his native land, and their hearts being deeply affected at the thoughts of leaving their little flock behind them, he was advised to make an appeal to the public in their behalf, that he might procure their freedom, and carry them back with him to Africa. He was on this errand, as I have already stated, when he came to the place of my residence.

What a striking and sad illustration of the wrongs and evils of slavery! Heaven speed the day when these wrongs and evils shall cease, and especially in our own land! On whom is the deep disgrace to fall, that, when Abduhl's history, and the unexampled kindness shown by his father and himself to an unfortunate American citizen, were known, the debt of gratitude was not immediately paid to its full extent, without subjecting this aged sufferer to the irksome toil of begging it himself in one part of the country and another? Does it fall on individuals, or on the General Government?

No one could see this Moorish Prince, and converse with him, without feeling a warm interest in him. He was tall of stature, well formed, erect and manly. His countenance was quite unlike that of the negro in its features, intelligent, expressive, and full of composure and benignity; with a complexion darker than is common among the African Moors, rendered so by his long years of servitude and toil in a Southern climate. His hair was not curly, but rather thick and bushy; his eye, dark and mild, but, at times, lighted up with a keenness and vivacity, which bespoke the latent ardor and energy of his soul.

When in New York, I got him to sit for his portrait. It was taken by Inman, and engraved by Illman, both distinguished artists, and proved to be an admirable likeness. I remember that, being with him one day, at Inman's, I remarked to the latter, I thought he was making the complexion rather too light. “I do it intentionally," was his reply, "that I may show the expression of his countenance more distinctly." Abduhl, who was in his chair, and heard what was said, straitening up, with an air of great dignity mingled with some degree of not unamiable self-complacency, exclaimed, "I wish you had seen me on my white horse, when I was a young man." Forty years of degrading bondage, and the mellowing effect of age, had not yet beclouded the soulinspiring recollections of his younger days, and, for the moment, he fancied himself riding as colonel commandant, in all the splendor of military pomp, at the head of his father's cavalry.

His manners were refined, courteons, and dignified. When he met, as he sometimes did, with a fastidious distance towards him on account of his color, he yielded to it quietly, taking a more humble position, and yet never in a cringing or abject way; while, on the other hand, when considered as an equal, as I often had the pleasure of seeing him treated by the true nobility of the land, and at the table of domestic hospitality, he showed himself quite at home among the well-bred and polite. He told me, one day, he understood it all, and that it gave him no trouble. would do no good," said he, " for me to make any difficulty about it,-I can sit by the kitchen fire, and smoke my pipe there, or I can go into the parlor with the ladies and gentlemen,-it is all the same to me."

"It

He was a close observer of human nature, and often made very discriminating and shrewd remarks on the conduct and character of those around him. On one occasion we lodged, with a friend who accompanied us to aid in procuring donations for the object Abduhl had in view, at a hotel in a small village in Connecticut. He had risen quite early, and was making his observations from the front door of the house on the scene before him. In the meanwhile, a stranger came into the room where my friend and myself were sitting, and entered into a conversation, very earnest and fluent, on his part, on religious subjects. Abduhl soon entered, and heard part of the conversation. When the

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