is called Little Bonsa or Small Swimming Head. This I think I can
do with the aid of Jeekie from memory, but as the matter has only a
personal and no religious interest, seeing that I was not able even to
preach the Word among those benighted and blood-thirsty savages in
whose country, as I verily believe, the Devil has one of his principal
habitations, it must stand over till a convenient season, such as the
time of old age or sickness. H.A."

"P.S. I ought to add with gratitude that even out of this hell fire I
was enabled to snatch one brand from the burning, namely, the negro
lad, Jeekie, to whose extraordinary resource and faithfulness I owe
my escape. After a long hesitation I have been able to baptize him,
although I fear that the taint of heathenism still clings to him. Thus
not six months ago I caught him sacrificing a white cock to the image,
Little Bonsa, in gratitude, as to my horror he explained, for my having
been appointed an Honorary Canon of the Cathedral. I have told him to
take that ugly mask which has been so often soaked in human blood, and
melt it down over the kitchen stove, after picking out the gems in the
eyes, that the proceeds may be given to the poor. _Note._ I had better
see to this myself, as where Little Bonsa is concerned, Jeekie is not to
be trusted. He says (with some excuse) that it has magic, and that if
he melts it down, he will melt down too, and so shall I. How dark and
ridiculous are the superstitions of the heathen! Perhaps, however,
instead of destroying the thing, which is certainly unique, I might sell
it to a museum, and thus spare the feelings of that weak vessel, Jeekie,
who otherwise would very likely take it into his head to waste away and
die, as these Africans do when their nerves are affected by terror of
their fetish."