eturned, 'Brother,' said my patron, 'for I will treat you no more as my
slave, after having made such a discovery as will enrich me, God bless
you with all happiness and prosperity. I declare before Him, that I give
you your liberty. I concealed from you what I am now going to tell you.

"'The elephants of our forest have every year killed a great many
slaves, whom we sent to seek ivory. God has delivered you from their
fury, and has bestowed that favour upon you only. It is a sign that He
loves you, and has some use for your service in the world. You have
procured me incredible wealth. Formerly we could not procure ivory but
by exposing the lives of our slaves, and now our whole city is enriched
by your means. I could engage all our inhabitants to contribute toward
making your fortune, but I will have the glory of doing it myself.'

"To this obliging declaration I replied: 'Patron, God preserve you. Your
giving me my liberty is enough to discharge what you owe me, and I
desire no other reward for the service I had the good fortune to do to
you, and your city, but leave to return to my own country.' 'Very well,'
said he, 'the monsoon will in a little time bring ships for ivory. I
will then send you home, and give you wherewith to bear your charges.' I
thanked him again for my liberty and his good intentions toward me. I
stayed with him expecting the monsoon; and during that time, we made so
many journeys to the hill that we filled all our warehouses with ivory.
The other merchants, who traded in it, did the same, for it could not be
long concealed from them.

"The ships arrived at last, and my patron, himself having made choice of
the ship wherein I was to embark, loaded half of it with ivory on my
account, laid in provisions in abundance for my passage, and besides
obliged me to accept a present of some curiosities of the country of
great value. After I had returned him a thousand thanks for all his
favours, I went aboard. We set sail, and as the adventure which procured
me this liberty was very extraordinary, I had it continually in my
thoughts.

"We stopped at some islands to take in fresh provisions. Our vessel
being come to a port on the main land in the Indies, we touched there,
and not being willing to venture by sea to Bussorah, I landed my
proportion of the ivory, resolving to proceed on my journey by land. I
made vast sums by my ivory, bought several rarities for presents, and
when my equipage was ready, se