Chapter 6

Packing up.--Letter from Mr. Stanley.--Mr. Stanley.--Celebes.--Dress of the Alfoors.--Curious Hospitality.--Java.--Whimsical Superstition. --Productions of Java.--Sumatra.--Water Spouts.--Burman Despotism. --The White Elephant.--Sir James Brooke.--Borneo.--Isle of Bourbon.--Isle of France.--Madagascar.--The Four Spirits.--The Missionaries.--Horrible Custom.--The Pirates' Retreat.--Malagassy Fable.--Kerguelen's Land.--Isle of Desolation.--Story of a Sailor.--Morocco.--A Moorish Beauty.--Algiers.--Egypt.--Abyssinia. --Abyssinian Customs.--Religion.--African Coast.--Seychelle Isles.--Mozambique.--Smoking the Hubble-Bubble.--Caffraria.--Story of the Little Caffre.--Algoa Bay.--Graham's Town.--Cape of Good Hope.--Cape Town.--Constantia.--The Boschmen.--A Transformation. --Dressing in Skins.--The Slave Trade.--Fish Bay.--St. Helena. --Kabenda.--Black Jews.--Ferdinand Po.--The Ape and the Oven. --The Slave-Coast.--Dahomey.--Ashantee.--King Opocco.--A Singular Belief.--The Ashantee Wife.--Liberia.--A Bowchee Mother.--Sierra Leone.--The Lakes of Africa.--Bornou.--The Sultan of Bornou.--African Wedding.--The Deluge.--The Telescope.--The End

MY DEAR YOUNG FRIENDS,

It is not my purpose to detain you with a long preface, because I am aware that long prefaces are seldom read; but I wish to inform you that I have written this book, in the humble hope of being useful to those in whom I am so anxiously interested. I am myself happy in acknowledging the endearing appellation of "Mother," and I love _all_ children, and regard them as priceless treasures, entrusted to the care and guidance of parents and teachers; with whom it rests in a great measure to render them blessings to their fellow-creatures, and happy themselves, or contrariwise.

Should the perusal of this little volume imbue you with a taste for the beautiful and ennobling science of Geography, my object will be gained; and that such may be the result of these humble endeavors is the sincere wish of

Your affectionate Friend,

FANNY OSBORNE.

LONDON.