t; for the conviction had at
length been forced upon me that neither Banda nor his people would ever
willingly let me go, and that, therefore, before engaging in any further
attempts, I must contrive to disarm suspicion completely, and create the
impression that I had at length resigned myself to live out my life in
this remote African town, and with savages only for my companions.

It was while matters were in this very unsatisfactory state that I
became aware that some event of extreme importance was imminent in the
town; for upon sallying forth from my residence on a certain morning and
crossing the great square, in the centre of which stood Banda's
crucifixion tree, I saw that a number of men were engaged in setting up
some forty stout, quaintly-carved posts in a circle round about the
tree. The arrangement somehow had a sinister, suggestive appearance
that made me feel vaguely uncomfortable; and abandoning the intention,
whatever it may have been, that took me to the spot, I returned to my
house, and, as soon as Ama made her appearance, asked her what it meant.

"It means, my dear Dick," said she, laying her hand upon my arm, and
looking very serious--she had insisted upon knowing my name, and calling
me by it, early in our acquaintance--"that the Customs begin six days
hence; and those men whom you saw setting up the posts round the
crucifixion tree are making preparations for them."

"The Customs!" I exclaimed, in horrified accents, for I had heard of
these grim and ghastly festivities before. "And pray, Ama, what is the
nature of these Customs under your father's beneficent rule?"

"Oh, they are horrible; I hate them!" answered the girl. "They last six
days--six whole days, in which the people abandon themselves to every
kind of licence and cruelty, in which human blood is shed like water. I
do not think _you_ will like them, Dick--at least I hope not!"

"Like them?" I ejaculated indignantly. "I should think not, indeed.
But I suppose a fellow is not obliged to watch them, is he? I shall go
off into the forest, or up the river, during those six days--"

"Nay, Dick, you will not be able to do either of those things," answered
Ama. "In the first place I am not at all certain that the king would
give you leave; and, even if he did, you would not be permitted to go
alone; and where would you find men willing to absent themselves from
the Customs for the sake of accompanying you? There is not a man in t