ere young and well-looking, stared at us with eager astonishment,
while the old king scowled upon us so as to freeze our blood. At last,
rising from the ground, he took his sabre from the man who held it
behind him, and walked up among us, who with our heads bowed, and
breathless with fear, awaited our impending fate. I happened to be
standing the foremost, and grasping my arm with a gripe which made my
heart sink, with his hand which held the sword he bent down my head
still lower than it was. I made sure that he was about to cut off my
head, when the women, who had risen from the ground, ran crowding
round him, and with mingled entreaties and caresses strove to induce
him not to put his intentions, if such he really had, into execution.
They prevailed at last; the youngest took away his sword, and then
they led him back to his seat, after which the women came to us to
gratify their curiosity. They felt our arms and breasts, putting
innumerable questions to those who brought us thither. They appeared
very much amazed at the length of my hair, for I had worn it tied in a
long cue. Taking hold of it, they gave it two or three severe pulls,
to ascertain if it really grew to my head, and finding that it did so,
they expressed much wonder. When their curiosity was satisfied, they
then appeared to consider our condition, and having obtained the old
king's permission, they brought us a calabash full of cush-cush, that
is Guinea corn boiled into a thick paste. Our hands being still tied;
we could only by shaking our heads express our inability to profit by
their kindness. Understanding what we meant, they immediately cut our
thongs, and the youngest of the four perceiving that my arms were
benumbed from having been confined so many days, and that I could not
use them, showed the most lively commiseration for my sufferings. She
gently chafed my wrists with her hands, and showed every sign of pity
in her countenance, as indeed did all the other three. But I was by
far the youngest of the whole party who had been captured, and seemed
most to excite their pity and good-will. Shortly afterwards we were
all taken into an adjoining tent or hut, and our bodies were rubbed
all over with an oil, which after a few days' application left us
perfectly healed, and as smooth as silk. So altered was our condition,
that those very people who had guarded us with their spears and
threatened us with death, were now ordered to wait upon us, and as