king's permission, they brought us a calabash full of cush-cush, that
is Guinea corn boiled into a thick paste. Our hands being still tied;
we could only by shaking our heads express our inability to profit by
their kindness. Understanding what we meant, they immediately cut our
thongs, and the youngest of the four perceiving that my arms were
benumbed from having been confined so many days, and that I could not
use them, showed the most lively commiseration for my sufferings. She
gently chafed my wrists with her hands, and showed every sign of pity
in her countenance, as indeed did all the other three. But I was by
far the youngest of the whole party who had been captured, and seemed
most to excite their pity and good-will. Shortly afterwards we were
all taken into an adjoining tent or hut, and our bodies were rubbed
all over with an oil, which after a few days' application left us
perfectly healed, and as smooth as silk. So altered was our condition,
that those very people who had guarded us with their spears and
threatened us with death, were now ordered to wait upon us, and as
the king's wives frequently came to see how we were treated, we were
served with the utmost humility and attention.
CHAPTER VI.
I am given as a Slave to the old King's Favourite,
Whyna--Assist my young Mistress to make her Toilet--Hold
frequent Conversations with her, and become strongly
attached to her--My Hatred and Dread of the old King
increase--He shoots a Man with Bird-arrows.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account