A Narrative of the Most Remarkable Particulars in the Life of James Albert Ukawsaw Gronniosaw, an A | Page 4

and I loved her entirely; her
name was Logwy, she was quite white, and fair, with fine light hair
though my father and mother were black.--I was truly concerned to
leave my beloved sister, and she cry'd most sadly to part with me,
wringing her hands, and discovered every sign of grief that can be
imagined. Indeed if I could have known when I left my friends and
country that I should never return to them again my misery on that
occasion would have been inexpressible. All my relations were sorry to
part with me; my dear mother came with me upon a camel more than
three hundred miles, the first of our journey lay chiefly through woods:
at night we secured ourselves from the wild beasts by making fires all

around us; we and our camels kept within the circle, or we must have
been torn to pieces by the Lyons, and other wild creatures, that roared
terribly as soon as night came on, and continued to do so 'till
morning.--There can be little said in favour of the country through
which we passed; only a valley of marble that we came through which
is unspeakably beautiful.--On each side of this valley are exceedingly
high and almost inaccessible mountains--Some of these pieces of
marble are of prodigious length and breadth but of different sizes and
colour, and shaped in a variety of forms, in a wonderful manner.--It is
most of it veined with gold mixed with striking and beautiful colours;
so that when the sun darts upon it, it is as pleasing a sight as can be
imagined.--The merchant that brought me from Bournou, was in
partnership with another gentleman who accompanied us; he was very
unwilling that he should take me from home, as, he said, he foresaw
many difficulties that would attend my going with them.--He
endeavoured to prevail on the merchant to throw me into a very deep
pit that was in the valley, but he refused to listen to him, and said, he
was resolved to take care of me: but the other was greatly dissatisfied;
and when we came to a river, which we were obliged to pass through,
he purpos'd throwing me in and drowning me; but the Merchant would
not consent to it, so that I was preserv'd.
We travel'd 'till about four o'clock every day, and then began to make
preparations for night, by cutting down large quantities of wood, to
make fires to preserve us from the wild beasts.--I had a very unhappy
and discontented journey, being in continual fear that the people I was
with would murder me. I often reflected with extreme regret on the
kind friends I had left, and the idea of my dear mother frequently drew
tears from my eyes.--I cannot recollect how long we were in going
from Bournou to the Gold Coast; but as there is no shipping nearer to
Bournou than that City, it was tedious in travelling so far by land, being
upwards of a thousand miles.--I was heartily rejoic'd when we arriv'd at
the end of our journey: I now vainly imagin'd that all my troubles and
inquietudes would terminate here; but could I have looked into futurity,
I should have perceiv'd that I had much more to suffer than I had before
experienc'd, and that they had as yet but barely commenc'd.

I was now more than a thousand miles from home, without a friend or
any means to procure one. Soon after I came to the merchant's house I
heard the drums beat remarkably loud, and the trumpets blow--the
persons accustom'd to this employ, are oblig'd to go upon a very high
structure appointed for that purpose, that the sound might be heard at a
great distance: They are higher than the steeples are in England. I was
mightily pleas'd with sounds so entirely new to me, and was very
inquisitive to know the cause of this rejoicing, and ask'd many
questions concerning it: I was answer'd that it was meant as a
compliment to me, because I was Grandson to the King of Bournou.
This account gave me a secret pleasure; but I was not suffer'd long to
enjoy this satisfaction, for in the evening of the same day, two of the
merchant's sons (boys about my own age) came running to me, and told
me, that the next day I was to die, for the King intended to behead
me.--I reply'd that I was sure it could not be true, for that I came there
to play with them, and to see houses walk upon the water with wings to
them, and the white folks; but I was soon inform'd that their King
imagined that I was sent by my father as a spy, and would make such