e hand she holds
an iron rake, with which she tattoos those who are good, and the mark
serves as a passport when they apply for admittance into the regions of
bliss. In the other, she brandishes a hot iron plate, with which she
brands those who are sentenced to be punished for their sins."

"Allah Karim--God is merciful! And why has she a fish's tail?" inquired
the pacha.

"The people I am describing, inhabit a cluster of islands, and it is to
enable her to swim from one to the other, as her presence may be
required."

"Very true," observed the pacha--"now you may go on with your story."

* * * * *

As I mentioned to your highness, they tattooed me without mercy; the
operation lasted an hour, when they put me on my feet again. Another
speech was made, which I understood as little of as the former; they
left me with my wife, and the ceremony was at an end.

I must say I wished that I had not been naturalised and married both on
the same day. I was so swelled and so stiff with the tattooing, that it
was with difficulty I could, with the assistance of my wife, walk back
to my hut. However, by the remedies which she constantly applied, in
the course of three days I felt no further inconvenience.

I now considered myself settled for the remainder of my life. I was
passionately attached to Naka-poop, for such was the name of my young
wife, and notwithstanding my French education, could not but acknowledge
that her natural and unsophisticated manners were more graceful and more
fascinating, than is all the studied address of my own country-women.
She was of high rank in her own country, being nearly allied to the
king; and for two years my life slipped away, in uninterrupted happiness
and peace. But alas!--and the renegade covered up his face.

* * * * *

"Come, Huckaback, you surely have been too much accustomed to lose your
wives by this time, to make a fuss about it. These Franks are strange
people," observed the pacha to the vizier; "they've a tear for every
woman."

"Your highness must excuse me; I shall not offend again, for I never
married afterwards. My charming Naka-poop died in child-bed, and the
island became so hateful to me, that I determined to quit it. An
opportunity occurred by an American vessel, which arrived with some
Missionaries."

"What are Missionaries?" inquired the pacha.

"People who came to inform the islanders, that Bo-gee