Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire "A Negro Song" (1799)

THE loud wind roar'd, the rain fell fast;
The White Man yielded to the blast:
He sat him down, beneath our tree;
For weary, sad, and faint was he;
And ah, no wife, or mother's care,
For him, the milk or corn prepare:

CHORUS.

The White Man, shall our pity share;
Alas, no wife or mother's care,
For him the milk or corn prepare.

II.

The storm is o'er; the tempest past;
And Mercy's voice has hush'd the blast.
The wind is heard in whispers low;
The White Man far away must go;--
But ever in his heart will bear
Remembrance of the Negro's care.

CHORUS.

Go, White Man, go;--but with thee bear
The Negro's wish, the Negro's prayer;
Remembrance of the Negro's care.

Notes on the poem

"A Negro Song" was originally published along with the first edition of Mungo Park's Travels in the Interior Districts of Africa in 1799. The poem was also set to music by G.G. Ferrari; this version is also included in the Travels. The poem is included first, followed by a Postscript by Park and then the music. In the Postscript Park tells his readers how the poem and the music came to be written and how they came to be included in the very first of four editions of his book published in 1799.

The incident of the Negro Song, related in the 15th Chapter
of this work (p. 198), having been communicated to a Lady,
who is not more distinguished for her rank, than for her beauty
and her accomplishments; she was pleased to think so highly of
this simple and unpremeditated effusion, as to make a version
of it with her own pen; and cause it to be set to music by an
eminent Composer.


The incident which Park refers to and which was the inspiration for the poem is a pleasant moment in a book which does not always portray Africa or Africans in a favourable manner. Park attempts to find lodging for a night in an African village and discovers that none of the families in the village will admit him. He becomes resigned to spending the night beneath a tree, but a passing African woman sees him and takes him to her hut. She gives him food and a mat on the floor to sleep on. After he had eaten, the woman, along with other women in her family, begins to spin cotton and while they do they compose an impromptu song about Park.

They lightened their labour by songs, one of which was com-
sung by one of the young women, the rest joining in a sort of
chorus. The air was sweet and plaintive, and the words, literally
translated, were these.--"The winds roared, and the rains fell.
"--The poor white man, faint and weary, came and sat under
"our tree.--He has not mother to bring him milk; no wife to
"grind his corn. Chorus. Let us pity the white man; no mother
"has he, &c. &c." Trifling as this recital may appear to the
reader, to a person in my situation, the circumstance was
affecting in the highest degree (p. 198).

Park made his travels in 1795,1796, and 1797 for the African Association.

Introduction

Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire is an interesting historical figure. Her life was filled with madness, scandal, parties, poetry, and gentlemen. She was born June 7, 1757, daughter of the Earl of Spencer. Her marriage to William, Duke of Devonshire (June 5,1774), was long awaited and kept a secret from the public, lest the wedding be overrun with spectators. In 1782 she formed a friendship with Lady Elizabeth Forster which did not end when Lady Elizabeth ("Bess") bore the Duchess's husband three children. She had ties to the French court through her mother, Georgiana Poyntz, and was a favourite of Marie Antoinette. She was in London with her husband during the famous madness of King George the III (b. 1738, d. 1820; ruled 1760-1820)and kept a diary of the court proceedings during that time. In this diary her intelligence and humour as well as her tenderness are constantly apparent. "...His [the King's] madness is sometimes very touching and sometimes occasions his saying clever things..." She kept a close bond with her mother all her life and corresponded with her frequently. In these letters, her mother often gave advice on how to get out of the "scrapes" the Duchess was constantly in (The Duchess had extramarital affairs and was an avid (apparently unlucky) gambler). Georgiana's letters to her mother sometimes included pieces of her poetry, though none contain "A Negro Song." She published one novel in her lifetime called The Syph (also in 1799). She died in 1806 at the age of 49 and was outlived by her husband, four children, Lady Elizabeth Foster, her beloved mother and mad King George.

Bibliographical note

Cavendish, Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, "A Negro Song," published in Travels in the Interior Districts of Africa by Mungo Park (London: W. Bulmer, 1799), pp. xxi-xxv.