to this is _Ba_, which means good, I return you service.

The Grumittas, or free black people, are assembled outside the fort, in
houses or huts built with mud, upon the general construction in Africa,
which usually is an oblong square, raised little more than eight feet; or a
circle of the same height, over which is thrown a roof of bamboo, or other
thatch, supported by posts about five or six feet asunder, forming a
canopy, which shelters them from the rays of the sun, or the inclemency of
the weather, and affords a shade under which they retire in the extreme
heat of the day, where they repose in their hammocks, or rest upon their
mats. This group of buildings or huts is denominated Adam's Town, from the
black chief who presides over these labouring people. Their numbers may be
estimated at about 600. Originally they were slaves to the proprietors of
this island; but from a very humane and wise policy, they have been endowed
with certain privileges, which rescue them from an absolute state of
slavery, and prevents their being sold as slaves, unless they are convicted
by the laws and customs of their country of some crime or delinquency.

Among these people are artizans in various branches, viz. smiths,
carpenters, joiners, masons, &c. under the superintendance of Europeans in
their different trades, who for ingenuity and adroitness in their
respective capacities, would deserve the approbation even of the
connoisseur in these arts; while in many other instances they discover a
genius of the most intelligent character, and a decency in their dress and
manners distinguished from that among the surrounding tribes; which is the
never failing consequence of the influence of the arts of civilized society
over barbarous customs and habits.

[Footnote 1: Perhaps it will be considered by the reader a singular
phenomenon, that the upper region of _Palma_ was covered with snow.]