useless. My companion, as
the thong entered into his flesh, seemed pleased, saying, "Now my
martyrdom is commencing."

Alas! Poor man--but I will not anticipate. We travelled three days,
during which we were supplied with a small portion of parched Indian
corn every day, just sufficient for our sustenance, and no more. On the
fourth morning the Indians, after an hour's travelling, set up some
shrill and barbarous cries which I afterwards discovered was their
war-whoop. These cries were replied to by others at a distance, and in
about a quarter of an hour afterwards we found ourselves close to a
number of wigwams, as they are termed, (the Indian houses,) and soon
surrounded by a large party of men, women, and children, who greeted us
with taunts and menaces.

We were led into a larger wigwam than the others, where we found several
Indians of grave aspect assembled, and a man who could speak English was
ordered in as interpreter, he asked us where we came from in the canoe.
I replied, that we came from the south, but we had been wrecked in a big
ship, and had taken the canoe, which we found on the beach. They asked
no more questions. We were led out, and in about an hour afterwards the
Indians who had spoken English to us when we were captured, came up with
two others and painted us black, saying, "The white men like paint.
Black paint good."

I did not know till afterwards that this painting black was a sign that
we were condemned to death, but so it was. They took off our trousers,
the only garment we had on, and left us naked. To my surprise, they did
not take the diamond which was sewed up in leather from off my neck;
but, as I learnt subsequently, the Indians are much given to conjurors
and charms, wearing many round their own necks and about their persons,
and they respect the charms that their enemies wear, indeed are afraid
of them, lest they should be harmed by having them in their possession.
We remained in a wigwam during that day, with guards over us. The
following day we were led out and cast loose, and we found all the
Indians, women and children, ranged in two lines, each holding in their
hands a club or stick, or rod of some description or another.

We were led to the end of the row, and looked about us in amazement.
They made signs to us which we did not understand, and while we were
remaining in doubt as to what was to be our fate, an old woman, who had
been menacing and grinning at me for