Mr Berecroft, who had been listening to the colloquy, took up the discourse.
"Were you born in this country?"
"No, sar! me Ashantee man."
"Then how did you come here?"
"Why, sar, ab very fine battle in Ashantee country. Take me and send me down to coast; sell me for slave. Go on board French schooner—English frigate take schooner, send me to Sarra Leon."
"Well, what did you do there?"
"Bind 'prentice, sar, to Massa Cawly, for farteen years—all de same as slave; work very hard; yam bad; plenty fever in dat country—much better here."
"Then how did you get away from Sierra Leone?"
"Go to sleep one day in de bush—tieves come steal me, take me down to coast, sell me again."
"Well, where did you go then?"