then, raising a prayer, cuts its head off.

But enough of the freed man in camp; on the march he is no
better. If you give him a gun and some ammunition to protect him
in case of emergencies, he will promise to save it, but forthwith
expends it by firing it off in the air, and demands more, else he
will fear to venture amongst the "savages." Suppose you give him
a box of bottles to carry, or a desk, or anything else that
requires great care, and you caution him of its contents, the
first thing he does is to commence swinging it round and round,
or putting it topsy-turvy on the top of his head, when he will
run off at a jog-trot, singing and laughing in the most provoking
manner, and thinking no more about it than if it were an old
stone; even if rain were falling, he would put it in the best
place to get wet through. Economy, care, or forethought never
enters his head; the first thing to hand is the right thing for
him; and rather then take the trouble even to look for his own
rope to tie up his bundle, he would cut off his master's tent-
ropes or steal his comrade's. His greatest delight is in the fair
sex, and when he can't get them, next comes beer, song, and a
dance.

Now, this is a mild specimen of the "rowdy" negro, who has
contributed more to open Africa to enterprise and civilisation
than any one else. Possessed of a wonderful amount of loquacity,
great risibility, but no stability--a creature of impulse--a
grown child, in short--at first sight it seems wonderful how he
can be trained to work; for there is now law, no home to bind
him--he could run away at any moment; and presuming on this, he
sins, expecting to be forgiven. Great forbearance, occasionally