from the stings of the
insects than upon land. Sometimes, after a long course, we would return
to the hut, where, in spite of the heat, we would envelop ourselves in
thick woollen blankets, to pass the night; then, after being half
suffocated, we would fill the house full of smoke, or go and plunge
ourselves in the river.

I am bold to say, we were the most miserable creatures that ever existed
on the face of the earth. The thought of passing all the bad season in
this state of torture, made us regret a hundred times we had not
perished in the shipwreck. How, thought I, how is it possible to endure
the want of sleep, the stings of myriads of insects, the putrid
exhalations of marshes, the heat of the climate, the smoke of our huts,
the chagrin which consumes us, and the want of the most necessary
articles of life, without being overcome! My father, however, to prevent
us seeing the melancholy which weighed upon him, assumed a serene air,
when his soul was a prey to the most horrible anguish; but through this
pretended placidity it was easy to see the various sentiments by which
his heart was affected. Often would that good man say to us, "My
children, I am not unhappy, but I suffer to see you buried in the
deserts. If I could gather a sufficient fund to convey you to France, I
would at least have the satisfaction of thinking you there enjoyed life,
and that your youth did not pass in these solitudes far from human
society."--"How, my father," replied I to him, "how can you think we
could be happy in France, when we knew you were in misery in Africa! O,
afflict us not. You know, and we have said so a hundred times, that our
sole desire is to remain near you, to assist you to bring up our young
brothers and sisters, and to endeavour by our care to make them worthy
of all your tenderness." The good man would then fold us in his arms;
and the tears which trickled down his cheeks, for a while soothed his
sufferings.

Often, to divert our thoughts from the misery we endured, would we read
some of the works of our best authors. My father was usually on these
occasions the reader, whilst Caroline and myself listened. Sometimes we
would amuse ourselves with shooting the bow, and chasing the wild ducks
and fowls which went about our house. In this manner we endeavoured to
dissipate in part our ennui during the day. As our cottage was situated
close to the banks of the river, we amused ourselves in fishing, whilst
the heat and t