company, and my mother and her children in another. We
left our dwellings in succession, and my father's company went on
first. We directed our course for a large shrub plain, some distance
off, where we intended to conceal ourselves from the approaching
enemy, until we could refresh and rest ourselves a little. But we
presently found that our retreat was not secure. For having struck up
a little fire for purposes of cooking victuals, the enemy who happened
to be encamped a little distance off, had sent out a scouting party
which discovered us by the smoke of the fire, just as we were
extinguishing it and about to eat. As soon as we had finished eating,
my father discovered the party, and immediately began to discharge
arrows at them. This was what I first saw, and it alarmed both me and
the women, who being unable to make any resistance, immediately betook
ourselves to the tall thick reeds not far off, and left the old king
to fight alone. For some time, I beheld him from the reeds defending
himself with great courage and firmness, till at last he was obliged
to surrender himself into their hands.

Then they came to us in the reeds, and the very first salute I had
from them was a violent blow on the head with the fore part of a gun,
and at the same time a grasp round the neck. I then had a rope put
about my neck, as had all the women in the thicket with me, and were
immediately led to my father, who was likewise pinioned and haltered
for leading. In this condition we were all led to the camp. The
women and myself being pretty submissive, had tolerable treatment from
the enemy, while my father was closely interrogated respecting his
money which they knew he must have. But as he gave them no account of
it, he was instantly cut and pounded on his body with great
inhumanity, that he might be induced by the torture he suffered to
make the discovery. All this availed not the least to make him give
up his money, but he despised all the tortures which they inflicted,
until the continued exercise and increase of torment, obliged him to
sink and expire. He thus died without informing his enemies of the
place where his money lay. I saw him while he was thus tortured to
death. The shocking scene is to this day fresh in my mind, and I have
often been overcome while thinking on it. He was a man of remarkable
stature. I should judge as much as six feet and six or seven inches
high, two feet across his shoulders, and