ho had already fallen, one of whom, we afterwards learned, had
belonged to the royal family. Two still remained--a young female and an
old man. The emaciated frame and white woolly head of the latter showed
that in the course of nature his earthly career must soon terminate. It
is probable that the poor old man had become a burden to his relations,
and the doctor took this opportunity of ridding the tribe of him. The
girl was Okandaga, who stood weeping and trembling as she gazed upon the
butchery that had already taken place.

The old man had swallowed the poison shortly before we arrived, and he
was now struggling to maintain an erect position. But he failed, his
quivering limbs sank beneath him, and before we could interfere the
bloody executioners had cut off his head, and then, in a transport of
passion, they literally hacked his body to pieces.

We rushed hastily forward to the king, and Jack, in an earnest voice,
implored him to spare the last victim.

"Surely," said he, "enough have been sacrificed already.--Tell him,
Makarooroo, that I will quit his village and never see him more if he
does not spare the life of that young girl."

The king appeared much perplexed by this unlooked-for interference on
our part.

"I cannot check the spirits of my people now," he replied. "They are
roused. The girl has bewitched me and many others. She must die. It
is our custom. Let not my white men be offended. Let them go to their
hut and sleep."

"We cannot sleep while injustice is done in the village," answered Jack,
in a lofty tone. "Let not King Jambai do that which will make his
visitors ashamed of him. Let the girl live till to-morrow at midnight.
Let the case be investigated, and if she be proved guilty then let her
die."

The king commenced a long reply in the same dignified manner and tone
which Jack had assumed. While he was thus engaged Peterkin touched our
guide on the shoulder and whispered--

"I say, Mak, tell the doctor to back up Jack's request, and I'll give
him a gun."

The negro slipped at once to the side of the doctor, who had begun to
frown fiercely on Jack, and whispered a few words in his ear. Instantly
his face assumed a calmer aspect, and presently he stepped up to the
king, and a whispering conversation ensued, in which the doctor,
carefully refraining from making any mention of the gun, commended the
wise advice of the white man, and suggested that the proposal should be
agr