knee against my right knee, and their breast against my breast, holding
me in this way for several minutes. During the time that the ceremony
lasted I, according to the native custom, preserved a grave and mournful
expression of countenance.

This belief, that white people are the souls of departed blacks, is by no
means an uncommon superstition amongst them; they themselves, never
having an idea of quitting their own land, cannot imagine others doing
it; and thus, when they see white people suddenly appear in their
country, and settling themselves down in particular spots, they imagine
that they must have formed an attachment for this land in some other
state of existence; and hence conclude the settlers were at one period
black men, and their own relations. Likenesses either real or imagined
complete the delusion; and from the manner of the old woman I have just
alluded to, from her many tears, and from her warm caresses, I feel
firmly convinced that she really believed I was her son, whose first
thought upon his return to earth had been to re-visit his old mother, and
bring her a present. I will go still farther and say that, although I did
not encourage this illusion, I had not the heart to try to undeceive the
old creature and to dispel her dream of happiness. Could I have remained
long enough to have replaced this vain impression by a consoling faith I
would gladly have done it; but I did not like to destroy this belief and
leave her no other in the place of it.

The men next proceeded to embrace their relation Jenna in the same manner
they had before done me; and this part of the ceremony was now concluded.

The women, who had retired after having welcomed me, again came in from
behind some bushes, where the children all yet remained and, bringing
several of them up to me, insisted on my hugging them. The little things