In the Wilds of Africa | Page 3

interested, although I
knew that it would not do for me in my present situation to exhibit my
feelings. My cousin, Kate Hyslop, was a very pretty, engaging girl,
who had a short time before left school. She was also full of spirit,
while she was right-minded and sweet-tempered. Her younger sister,
Isabella, or Bella as she was called, was quite a little girl. She also had
been at school; but her parents naturally could not bear to have her left
behind, and so Kate had undertaken to complete her education; and
from the time we sailed she was most assiduous in her attempts to do so.
Sometimes I fancied she gave her almost too much teaching. When her
brother, however, made a remark to that effect, she answered that it was
important not to lose time, as opportunities might be wanting
by-and-by; and when once they arrived in the colony, she knew that
there would be so many interruptions and hindrances, and she might
have so many other duties to perform, that Bella might not get the due
amount of knowledge she wished her to possess. Blow high or blow
low, Kate always made Bella learn her lessons. Sometimes holding on
by the leg of a table in the cabin during a gale, there the two sisters

would be found with their books. Both were capital sailors, as people
say--that is, they were never ill at sea; so that they were not
inconvenienced as most other people would have been by the tossing
and tumbling of the stout brig.
They were attended by an old negro, Peter Timbo by name, who was
the most watchful of guardians. He was the captain's servant, and had
always accompanied him in his shooting expeditions when he was
before staying at the Cape. Timbo, also, from what I heard him say,
knew more about his native country than any one on board. He was
born at some distance from the sea, not far from the Equator. When he
was just growing into manhood, his village had been attacked by
another tribe, and he, with several companions in misfortune, had been
carried off to the coast. He was there shipped on board a Portuguese
slaver, which, venturing to the north of the line, was chased and
captured by a British man-of-war. Timbo, having a fancy for a sea life,
and being an active, intelligent fellow, had been allowed to enter 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