After her toilet was complete, she went to feed her poultry, and some
antelopes and other beasts, and then she practised at a mark with her
bow and arrows and javelin till about ten o'clock, when she went to
the king's hut, and they all sat down to eat together. After the
repast, which lasted some time, if she did not repose with the king,
she retired to her own hut, where she usually refreshed herself till
about four o'clock, when she returned to the king, or ranged the
woods, or otherwise amused herself during the rest of the evening. I
will say for the old savage that he did not confine his wives. Such
was our general course of life, and wherever she went I attended her.
The attachment I showed and really felt for her secured her
confidence, and she always treated me in a kind and familiar manner.
Their language consists of few words compared to our own, and in a
short time, by help of signs, we understood each other tolerably well.
She appeared to have a most ardent curiosity to know who we were, and
from whence we came, and all the time that we passed alone was
employed in putting questions, and my endeavouring to find out her
meaning and answer them. This, although very difficult at first, I was
eventually enabled to accomplish indifferently well. She was most
zealous in her mistaken religion, and one morning when I was following
her to her devotions on the hill, she asked me where my God was? I
pointed upwards, upon which she told me with great joy and innocency,
that hers was there too, and that, therefore, they must be the same
God, or if not they must be friends. Convinced that she was right, she
made me worship with her, bowing my head down to the sand, and going
through the same forms, which of course I did not understand the
meaning of; but I prayed to my God, and therefore made no objection,
as it was pleasing to her. This apparent conformity in religion
recommended me more strongly to her, and we became more intimate, and
I was certainly attached to her by every tie of gratitude. I was quite
happy in the friendship and kindness she showed towards me; the only
drawback was my fear of the proud old king, and the recollection of
him often made me check myself, and suddenly assume a more distant and
respectful demeanour towards her. I soon found out that she dreaded
the old savage as much as I did, and hated him even more. In his
presence she treated me very sternly, and ordered me about in a very
dictatorial manner; but when we were alone, and had no fear of being
seen, she would then be very familiar, sometimes even locking her arm
into mine, and laughing as she pointed out the contrast of the
colours, and in the full gaiety of her young heart rejoicing that we
were alone, and could converse freely together. As she was very
intelligent, she soon perceived that I possessed much knowledge that
she did not, and that she could not comprehend what I wanted to teach
her. This induced her to look upon me with respect as well as
kindness.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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