for the same tree to cover the inhabitants of the whole City, though they are extremely large, high and majestic; the beauty and usefulness of them are not to be described; they supply the inhabitants of the country with meat, drink and clothes;[A] the body of the palm tree is very large; at a certain season of the year they tap it, and bring vessels to receive the wine, of which they draw great quantities, the quality of which is very delicious:  the leaves of this tree are of a silky nature; they are large and soft; when they are dried and pulled to pieces it has much the same appearance as the English flax, and the inhabitants of Bournou manufacture it for cloathing &c.  This tree likewise produces a plant or substance which has the appearance of a cabbage, and very like it, in taste almost the same:  it grows between the branches.  Also the palm tree produces a nut, something like a cocoa, which contains a kernel, in which is a large quantity of milk, very pleasant to the taste:  the shell is of a hard substance, and of a very beautiful appearance, and serves for basons, bowls, &c.

[Footnote A:  It is a generally received opinion, in England, that the natives of Africa go entirely unclothed; but this supposition is very unjust:  they have a kind of dress so as to appear decent, though it is very slight and thin.]

I hope this digression will be forgiven.—­I was going to observe that after the duty of our Sabbath was over (on the day in which I was more distressed and afflicted than ever) we were all on our way home as usual, when a remarkable black cloud arose and covered the sun; then followed very heavy rain and thunder more dreadful than ever I had heard:  the heav’ns roared, and the earth trembled at it:  I was highly affected and cast down; in so much that I wept sadly, and could not follow my relations and friends home.—­I was obliged to stop and felt as if my legs were tied, they seemed to shake under me:  so I stood still, being in great fear of the Man of Power that I was persuaded in myself, lived above.  One of my young companions (who entertained a particular friendship for me and I for him) came back to see for me:  he asked me why I stood still in such very hard rain?  I only said to him that my legs were weak, and I could not come faster:  he was much affected to see me cry, and took me by the hand, and said he would lead me home, which he did.  My mother was greatly alarmed at my tarrying out in such terrible weather; she asked me many questions, such as what I did so for, and if I was well?  My dear mother says I, pray tell me who is the great Man of Power that makes the thunder?  She said, there was no power but the sun, moon and stars; that they made all our country.—­I then enquired how all our people came?  She answered me, from one another; and so carried me to many generations back.—­Then says I, who made the First Man? and who made the first Cow, and the first Lyon, and where does the fly come from, as no one