," replied Philip, "the wretch is not worth a thought; we have now
nothing to do but to embark with these people; hereafter we may rid
ourselves of him, and strive then to rejoin my dearest Amine."

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT.

When Amine again came to her senses, she found herself lying on the
leaves of the palmetto, in a small hut. A hideous black child sat by
her, brushing off the flies. Where was she?

The raft had been tossed about for two days, during which Amine remained
in a state of alternate delirium and stupor. Driven by the current and
the gale, it had been thrown on shore on the eastern end of the coast of
New Guinea. She had been discovered by some of the natives, who
happened to be on the beach trafficking with some of the Tidore people.
At first they hastened to rid her of her garments, although they
perceived that she was not dead; but before they had left her as naked
as themselves, a diamond of great value, which had been given to her by
Philip, attracted the attention of one of the savages; failing in his
attempt to pull it off, he pulled out a rusty, blunt knife, and was
busily sawing at the finger, when an old woman of authority interfered
and bade him desist. The Tidore people also, who were friends with the
Portuguese, pointed out that to save one of that nation would insure a
reward; they stated moreover, that they would, on their return, inform
the people of the Factory establishment that one of their countrywomen
had been thrown on shore on a raft. To this Amine owed the care and
attention that was paid to her; that part of New Guinea being somewhat
civilised by occasional intercourse with the Tidore people, who came
there to exchange European finery and trash for the more useful
productions of the island.

The Papoose woman carried Amine into her hut, and there she lay for many
days, wavering between life and death, carefully attended, but requiring
little except the moistening of her parched lips with water, and the
brushing off of the mosquitoes and flies.

When Amine opened her eyes, the little Papoose ran out to acquaint the
woman, who followed her into the hut. She was of large size, very
corpulent and unwieldy, with little covering on her body; her hair,
which was woolly in its texture, was partly plaited, partly frizzled, a
cloth round her waist, and a piece of faded yellow silk on her
shoulders, was all her dress. A few silver rings, on her fat fingers,
and a necklace of mo