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HIS ANCESTRY.
A tribe surnamed the Arradas,
Sojourned for years, on Africa's
Southwestern coast.
Men of physique and strength of mind,
Excelling others of their kind
Among a host.
Sojourned for years, on Africa's
Southwestern coast.
Men of physique and strength of mind,
Excelling others of their kind
Among a host.
Gaou-Gwinou, the chieftain's heir,
Hunting the wild beast in his lair,
With ruthless hand,
Was seized, and hurried to the hold
Of a black ship, thence to be sold
By slaver band.
Hunting the wild beast in his lair,
With ruthless hand,
Was seized, and hurried to the hold
Of a black ship, thence to be sold
By slaver band.
For Hayti's Isle, the ship was bound,
Which years before the Spaniard's found—
Luxuriant, fair.
The land was rich in fruit and flower,
Mountains and valleys—Nature's dower!
Oh! beauty rare!
Which years before the Spaniard's found—
Luxuriant, fair.
The land was rich in fruit and flower,
Mountains and valleys—Nature's dower!
Oh! beauty rare!
The lofty ridge, the rocky height,
Present a most inspiring sight,
As tier on tier,
Up to the clouds their heads arise
Seeming to nestle in the skies,
They disappear!
Present a most inspiring sight,
As tier on tier,
Up to the clouds their heads arise
Seeming to nestle in the skies,
They disappear!
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These look on flow'ry plains below,
Where charming, sparkling rivers flow,
And fruits abound.
While deep within the woodland glen,
Too beautiful for tongue or pen.
We hear the sound
Where charming, sparkling rivers flow,
And fruits abound.
While deep within the woodland glen,
Too beautiful for tongue or pen.
We hear the sound
Of forest songsters, sweet and clear,
Singing of joy and freedom here
For beast and bird;
But man, the image of his God,
Must bear oppression's cruel rod,
From him is heard
Singing of joy and freedom here
For beast and bird;
But man, the image of his God,
Must bear oppression's cruel rod,
From him is heard
The sigh, the groan, the sad complaint,
Toiling and striving, sick and faint;
Hope dying, dead.
With wistful eye he scans the sea,
Feeling that ocean's depth would be
A grateful bed.
Toiling and striving, sick and faint;
Hope dying, dead.
With wistful eye he scans the sea,
Feeling that ocean's depth would be
A grateful bed.
Gaou-Gwinou was purchased here
By a French prince, and many a year
He spent—a slave—
Upon the Breda property;
And there he reared a family
And made his grave.
By a French prince, and many a year
He spent—a slave—
Upon the Breda property;
And there he reared a family
And made his grave.
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