being
immediately sent that we had a method of communicating with each other
at a distance, she earnestly insisted upon being taught so surprising
an art. Going at a distance from me, she ordered me to talk to her
when out of hearing, and finding that I could not, or, as she seemed
to suppose, that I would not, she became discontented and out of
humour. I could by no means make her comprehend how it was performed,
but I made her understand that as soon as I was fully acquainted with
her language, I should be able to teach her. She was satisfied with
this, but made me promise that I would teach nobody else.

By the canoes in the river, I easily made her comprehend that I came
in a vast boat from a distant land, over a great expanse of water, and
also how it was that we fell into the Negroes' power. I then found out
from her that the Negroes had pretended that we had invaded their land
to procure slaves, and that they had vanquished us in battle; hence
their songs of triumph on bringing us to the king. I pointed out the
heavenly bodies to her in the evenings, trying to make her comprehend
something of their nature and motions, but in vain. This had, however,
one good effect; she looked up to me with more respect, hoping that
some day, when I could fully explain myself, she might be herself
taught all these wonders. With these feelings towards me, added to my
sedulous endeavours to please her, and obey her slightest wishes, it
is not surprising that she treated me as a companion, and not as a
slave, and gave me every innocent proof of her attachment. More I
never wished, and almost dreaded that our intimacy would be too
great. Happy when alone with her, I ever returned with reluctance to
the presence of the old king, whose sight and company I dreaded.

The boundless cruelty of this monster was a continual check to all my
happiness. Accustomed to blood from his childhood, he appeared wholly
insensible to human feelings, and derided the agonies of the wretches
who daily fell by his hands. One day he amused himself by shooting
small bird-arrows at a man who was bound to a post before the tent,
which was placed there for the punishment of those who were his
victims. He continued for hours fixing the arrows in different parts
of his body, mimicking and deriding his cries. At last, contrary to
his intentions, one of the arrows hit the man in the throat, and his
head drooped. As the old savage saw that the poor man was dying, he