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The Prince of Kashna. Fabens, Joseph Warren, (1821–1875).
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POPULAR NOVELS,

By Richard B. Kimball.

Elegantly printed, and beautifully bound in cloth.

  • SAINT LEGER Price, $1 75
  • WAS HE SUCCESSFUL? Price, $1 75
  • UNDERCURRENTS Price, $1 75
  • ROMANCE OF STUDENT LIFE Price, $1 75
  • EMILIE—A Sequel to "Saint Leger." (In press.)

EDITED BY MR. KIMBALL.

  • IN THE TROPICS Price, $1 75
  • THE PRINCE OF KASHNA Price, $2 00

"Mr. KIMBALL'S books are remarkable for their happy combination of fancy and sentiment. They possess a perpetual charm to the reader; and, being of the higher order of literature, are growing more and more indispensable to every library."

Single copies sent by mail, postage free, by

Carleton, Publisher, New York.

THE PRINCE OF KASHNA: A WEST INDIAN STORY.

BY THE AUTHOR OF "IN THE TROPICS."WITH AN EDITORIAL INTRODUCTION BY

RICHARD B. KIMBALL,

AUTHOR OF "ST. LEGER," "WAS HE SUCCESSFUL?" "UNDERCURRENTS, "STUDENT LIFE," ETC.

NEW YORK: CARLETON, PUBLISHER, 413 BROADWAY.

MDCCCLXVI.
page: v[View Page v]

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, BY GEORGE W. CARLETON, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.

PREFATORY INTRODUCTION.

BY THE AUTHOR OF "ST. LEGER."

IN the spring of 1863, I received from Santo Domingo City, by the hands of an esteemed friend, a manuscript, which, on perusal, impressed me as every way so remarkable that I decided on its publication in book form. Giving it only the revision which the writer's absence made necessary, I prepared a volume for the press, and it was published under the title of "IN THE TROPICS." The public not only indorsed my judgment of the work, but began soon to manifest a personal interest in the "young settler's" destiny. I was applied to, from all parts of the country, for information respecting him; one letter, indeed, reaching me from the Sandwich Islands. It was at this time that the fierce war broke out between the Dominicans and Spain which has just resulted in the new birth of the Dominican page: vi-vii[View Page vi-vii] Republic. During that strife, our friend was forced to quit the island, and take refuge in Jamaica. For nearly a year I heard nothing from him; when, early last summer, I received a large package, together with the following brief note:

"KEITH HALL, JAMAICA, May 31, 1865.

"DEAR MR. KIMBALL:—You are already acquainted with the cruel manner in which the Spanish soldiery desolated the dear homestead which you have already so kindly introduced to the American public, and of my forced departure from it, for a temporary refuge in the Island of Jamaica. While there, I heard a great deal about an intelligent and educated Mahometan slave, the son of an African king, who was equally remarkable for his moral worth and mental ability, and who, even in the fettered life of the plantation, had won many friends and a good English education. On pursuing my inquiries, I had the good fortune to obtain his journal, and other memoranda of his early life, and from them I have arranged what might fairly be termed an "Autobiography," but which, with this explanation, I have concluded to call a West Indian Story. Dare I ask you to take the same trouble for the Prince of Kashna which you so disinterestedly volunteered in favor of the simple narrative of Life in Santo Domingo? I place the matter absolutely in your hands; and, whatever may be your decision, I shall remain, as ever,

"Your obliged friend,

C. M."

This short letter, instead of satisfying my curiosity respecting the "Prince," served only to stimulate it. I wished to learn more or know less about his majesty. A vague suspicion that he might be an imaginary personage haunted me—a suspicion which I now confess was an unworthy one. Still I thought best, before communicating with the public, to confer with my correspondent; and, in reply to my particular inquiries, I was assured that the Prince of Kashna was really no fictitious character. I was told that, in page: viii-ix[View Page viii-ix] Jamaica, as late as 1828, travelers still recalled the Mahometan slave, Sidi Mahmadec. He was at that period free in all but in name, and was, to a certain extent, actually treated as an equal by the neighboring planters. My correspondent further informed me that, when in Jamaica, he took up his residence at Keith Hall, a romantic old West Indian chateau, dedicated in days of yore to pleasure and pleasure-seekers, but now an almost deserted, though by no means desolate, spot, where the orange and banana still flourish, and the pimento grows. This fine estate had been the residence of some of the highest officials of Jamaica; and among the books and papers scattered around the chambers of the Hall, our friend encountered some extracts from the journal of "Sidi," printed in an old periodical of 1848. He was so much attracted by these that he instituted a searching inquiry into the subject, until at length the journal itself, together with other memoranda, was brought to light from the escritoire of the secretary of a former governor of the island. From these documents the present volume was actually compiled.

Having thus satisfied myself as to the authenticity of the work, it seemed but fair that the public should be equally favored. I have only to add that, beyond cutting out some portions which deal rather too freely with certain social relations and family secrets, the editor has literally found nothing to do in the preparation of the work.

GLEN PARK, November, 1865.

P. S.—Since the above was written, I have received intelligence that the "young settler" has returned to his quiet Estancia near Palenque, and is now actively employed, repairing his walks, restoring his gardens, pruning his lime and orange groves, while preparing to resume the pleasant labors which were so unhappily interrupted. I hope, therefore, soon to give a further account of his achievements in developing the resources of his adopted home.

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CONTENTS.

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