They boast, like John
Tod, that they ne'er feared the French, and have scant respect
for (white) persons; indeed, their independence sometimes takes
the form of insolence. We were obliged to release by force the
boy Nyongo, and two of Mr. Tippet's women who had been put "in
log"--Anglice, in the stocks. They were wanted as hostages during
the coming war, and this rude contrivance was adopted to insure
their presence.
Chastity is still known amongst the Fan. The marriage tie has
some significance, the women will not go astray except with the
husband's leave, which is not often granted. The men wax wroth if
their mothers be abused. It is an insult to call one of them a
liar or a coward; the coast-tribes would merely smile at the soft
impeachment; and assure you that none but fools--yourself
included by implication--are anything else. Their bravery is the
bravery of the savage, whose first object in battle is to
preserve his only good, his life: to the civilized man,
therefore, they appear but moderately courageous. They are fond
of intoxication, but are not yet broken to ardent spirits: I have
seen a single glass of trade rum cause a man to roll upon the
ground and convulsively bite the yellow clay like one in the
agonies of the death-thirst.
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