A Narrative of the Most Remarkable Particulars in the Life of James Albert Ukawsaw Gronniosaw, an A | Page 3

a hard
substance, and of a very beautiful appearance, and serves for basons,

bowls, &c.
[Footnote A: It is a generally received opinion, in England, that the
natives of Africa go entirely unclothed; but this supposition is very
unjust: they have a kind of dress so as to appear decent, though it is
very slight and thin.]
I hope this digression will be forgiven.--I was going to observe that
after the duty of our Sabbath was over (on the day in which I was more
distressed and afflicted than ever) we were all on our way home as
usual, when a remarkable black cloud arose and covered the sun; then
followed very heavy rain and thunder more dreadful than ever I had
heard: the heav'ns roared, and the earth trembled at it: I was highly
affected and cast down; in so much that I wept sadly, and could not
follow my relations and friends home.--I was obliged to stop and felt as
if my legs were tied, they seemed to shake under me: so I stood still,
being in great fear of the Man of Power that I was persuaded in myself,
lived above. One of my young companions (who entertained a
particular friendship for me and I for him) came back to see for me: he
asked me why I stood still in such very hard rain? I only said to him
that my legs were weak, and I could not come faster: he was much
affected to see me cry, and took me by the hand, and said he would lead
me home, which he did. My mother was greatly alarmed at my tarrying
out in such terrible weather; she asked me many questions, such as
what I did so for, and if I was well? My dear mother says I, pray tell me
who is the great Man of Power that makes the thunder? She said, there
was no power but the sun, moon and stars; that they made all our
country.--I then enquired how all our people came? She answered me,
from one another; and so carried me to many generations back.--Then
says I, who made the First Man? and who made the first Cow, and the
first Lyon, and where does the fly come from, as no one can make him?
My mother seemed in great trouble; she was apprehensive that my
senses were impaired, or that I was foolish. My father came in, and
seeing her in grief asked the cause, but when she related our
conversation to him, he was exceedingly angry with me, and told me he
would punish me severely if ever I was so troublesome again; so that I
resolved never to say any thing more to him. But I grew very unhappy

in myself; my relations and acquaintance endeavoured by all the means
they could think on, to divert me, by taking me to ride upon goats,
(which is much the custom of our country) and to shoot with a bow and
arrow; but I experienced no satisfaction at all in any of these things; nor
could I be easy by any means whatever: my parents were very unhappy
to see me so dejected and melancholy.
About this time there came a merchant from the Gold Coast (the third
city in Guinea) he traded with the inhabitants of our country in ivory
&c. he took great notice of my unhappy situation, and enquired into the
cause; he expressed vast concern for me, and said, if my parents would
part with me for a little while, and let him take me home with him, it
would be of more service to me than any thing they could do for
me.--He told me that if I would go with him I should see houses with
wings to them walk upon the water, and should also see the white folks;
and that he had many sons of my age, which should be my companions;
and he added to all this that he would bring me safe back again soon.--I
was highly pleased with the account of this strange place, and was very
desirous of going.--I seemed sensible of a secret impulse upon my mind
which I could not resist that seemed to tell me I must go. When my
dear mother saw that I was willing to leave them, she spoke to my
father and grandfather and the rest of my relations, who all agreed that I
should accompany the merchant to the Gold Coast. I was the more
willing as my brothers and sisters despised me, and looked on me with
contempt on the account of my unhappy disposition; and even my
servants slighted me, and disregarded all I said to them. I had one sister
who was always exceeding fond of me,