eing placed on the ground in a
large circle--of the screams of a woman, and of a confused uproar, which
followed. When I came to my senses, I found myself in a hut, unbound,
and lying upon soft mats, with fomentations applied to my limbs and when
my eyes opened, I beheld, hanging over me with an air of the tenderest
solicitude, the beautiful savage, whom I had found wounded, and had
succoured on the night of the affray. I subsequently learnt, that when
I had been brought into the circle, she had recognised me as the person
who had assisted her; that she claimed my life, pointing to her wound,
and producing the bandages with which I had bound it up, and which were
identified with the remainder, as part of the dress which I still wore.
A council was held; and as it appeared that I could not have been with
the party in the ship, for I had been taken prisoner in the woods, near
to where the girl lay, after many speeches pro and con, it was decided
that my life should be spared, and that I should be married to the girl
who had been the means of preserving it. She had carried me away to her
hut, and was now returning the debt of gratitude which she had incurred.

Owing to her unwearied kindness and attention, I soon recovered, and
before I was aware that I was to be her husband I courted her by signs,
and all the little attentions that could be suggested by gratitude and
love. As soon as I was supposed to be sufficiently recovered I was led
into a large circle of the islanders, to be formally admitted into their
society. A venerable old man made a speech, which I presume was not a
very good one from its extreme length, and then several men laid hold of
me, and throwing me on the ground, face downwards, sat astride on me,
and commenced running needles into the upper part of my thighs. The
pain was excessive; but as all the islanders were tattooed about the
loins, I presumed it was an operation that I must submit to, and bore it
with fortitude.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

"And pray what is that tattooing?"

"Tattooing, may it please your highness, is puncturing the skin with
needles or sharp points--and then rubbing Indian ink or gunpowder into
the wounds. This leaves an indelible mark of a deep blue tint. All the
islanders in those seas practise it, and very often the figures that are
drawn are very beautiful."

"Mashallah! How wonderful is God! I should like to see