at this spectacle, and being
fatigued with travelling, fell to the ground, seized with deadly
apprehension, and lay a long time motionless.

"The sun set, the gate of the apartment opened with a loud crash, and
there came out the horrible figure of a black man, as tall as a lofty
palm-tree. He had but one eye, and that in the middle of his forehead,
where it looked as red as a burning coal. His fore-teeth were very long
and sharp, and stood out of his mouth, which was as deep as that of a
horse. His upper lip hung down upon his breast. His ears resembled those
of an elephant, and covered his shoulders; and his nails were as long
and crooked as the talons of the greatest birds. At the sight of so
frightful a giant we became insensible, and lay like dead men.

"At last we came to ourselves, and saw him sitting in the porch looking
at us. When he had considered us well, he advanced toward us, and laying
his hand upon me, took me up by the nape of my neck, and turned me round
as a butcher would do a sheep's head. After having examined me, and
perceiving me to be so lean that I had nothing but skin and bone, he let
me go. He took up all the rest one by one, and viewed them in the same
manner. The captain being the fattest, he held him with one hand, as I
would do a sparrow, and thrust a spit through him; he then kindled a
great fire, roasted, and ate him in his apartment for his supper. Having
finished his repast, he returned to his porch, where he lay and fell
asleep, snoring louder than thunder. He slept thus till morning. As to
ourselves, it was not possible for us to enjoy any rest, so that we
passed the night in the most painful apprehension that can be imagined.
When day appeared the giant awoke, got up, went out, and left us in the
palace.

"When we thought him at a distance, we broke the melancholy silence we
had preserved the whole of the night, and filled the palace with our
lamentations and groans.

"We spent the day in traversing the island, supporting ourselves with
fruits and herbs as we had done the day before. In the evening we sought
for some place of shelter, but found none; so that we were forced,
whether we would or not, to go back to the palace.

"The giant failed not to return, and supped once more upon one of our
companions, after which he slept and snored till day, and then went out
and left us as before. Our situation appeared to us so dreadful that
several of my comrades designed to throw thems