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1. Describe the Embrenche mark as detailed by Vassa when discussing his tribe's culture.

When describing his tribe's culture, Vassa talks about a tribal mark called Embrenche. According to Vassa's recollection, this is a mark worn by the chiefs or elders of his community, and he particularly notes that his father and one of his brothers have the mark and that he himself would have received it, presumably upon reaching puberty or adulthood. The mark is made by cutting the skin at the top of the forehead and pulling it down to the top of the eyebrows; Vassa then describes how the mark is rubbed until it transforms into a a thick line across the forehead.

2. When discussing his culture, Vassa notes that they have several things in common with Jews; what are these similarities?

Vassa notes when discussing his culture that his people have some things in common with Jewish culture; most notably, his culture practices circumcision as well as the same rituals and purifications for various events--such as death--commonly used by Jews. Vassa says that the community government is conducted by the elders and that they lived in a patriarchal society very similar to the one of Abraham as described in the Bible. He goes on to say that it seems likely that Jews and Africans are descended from the same people, and that the difference in color is likely due to different climates though he is careful to say that this sort of discussion is really too complex for him to tackle with any authority.

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