lone_; tell us immediately, who were those who
assisted at those ceremonies, or your life is still forfeited, and the
stake is prepared for you."

Thus has he accused himself without gaining anything, and if he wishes
to save his life, he must accuse others; and who can be accused but his
own friends and acquaintances? nay, in all probability, his own
relations--his brothers, sisters, wife, sons, or daughters--for it is
natural to suppose that, in all such practices, a man will trust only
his own family. Whether a man confesses his guilt, or dies asserting
his innocence, his worldly property is in either case confiscated; but
it is of great consequence to the Inquisition that he should confess, as
his act of confession, with his signature annexed, is publicly read, and
serves to prove to the world that the Inquisition is impartial and just;
nay, more, even merciful, as it pardons those who have been proved to be
guilty.

At Goa the accusations of sorcery and magic were much more frequent than
at the Inquisitions at other places, arising from the customs and
ceremonies of the Hindoos being very much mixed up with absurd
superstitions. These people, and the slaves from other parts, very
often embraced Christianity to please their masters; but since, if they
had been baptised and were afterwards convicted of any crime, they were
sentenced to the punishment by fire; whereas if they had not been
baptised, they were only punished by whipping, imprisonment, or the
galleys; upon this ground alone many refused to embrace Christianity.

We have now detailed all that we consider, up to the present, necessary
for the information of the reader; all that is omitted he will gather as
we proceed with our history.

CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN.

A few hours after Amine had been in the dungeon, the jailors entered:
without speaking to her they let down her soft silky hair, and cut it
close off. Amine, with her lip curled in contempt, and without
resistance and expostulation, allowed them to do their work. They
finished, and she was again left to her solitude.

The next day the jailors entered her cell, and ordered her to bare her
feet, and follow them. She looked at them, and they at her. "If you do
not, we must," observed one of the men, who was moved by her youth and
beauty. Amine did as she was desired, and was led into the Hall of
Justice, where she found only the Grand Inquisitor and the Secretary.

The Hall of Justice wa