send it without my going back. I tore
off a piece of the bark of a tree, and with the point of an arrow I
wrote to one of them, desiring him to send it by bearer; and calling a
young Negro boy, told him in her presence to give that piece of bark to
the white man, and come back again to the queen. Whyna, for such was
the name of my mistress queen, stood in suspense, waiting the result; in
a few minutes the boy returned, bringing the bow. Astonished at this,
she made me write again and again for her arrows, her lance, and many
other things. Finding by these being immediately sent that we had a
method of communicating with each other at a distance, she earnestly
insisted upon being taught so surprising an art. Going at a distance
from me, she ordered me to talk to her when out of hearing, and finding
that I could not, or, as she seemed to suppose, that I would not, she
became discontented and out of humour. I could by no means make her
comprehend how it was performed, but I made her understand that as soon
as I was fully acquainted with her language, I should be able to teach
her. She was satisfied with this, but made me promise that I would
teach nobody else.

By the canoes in the river, I easily made her comprehend that I came in
a vast boat from a distant land, over a great expanse of water, and also
how it was that we fell into the Negroes' power. I then found out from
her that the Negroes had pretended that we had invaded their land to
procure slaves, and that they had vanquished us in battle; hence their
songs of triumph on bringing us to the king. I pointed out the heavenly
bodies to her in the evenings, trying to make her comprehend something
of their nature and motions, but in vain. This had, however, one good
effect; she looked up to me with more respect, hoping that some day,
when I could fully explain myself, she might be herself taught all these
wonders. With these feelings towards me, added to my sedulous
endeavours to please her, and obey her slightest wishes, it is not
surprising that she treated me as a companion, and not as a slave, and
gave me every innocent proof of her attachment. More I never wished,
and almost dreaded that our intimacy would be too great. Happy when
alone with her, I ever returned with reluctance to the presence of the
old king, whose sight and company I dreaded.

The boundless cruelty of this monster was a continual check to all my
happiness. Accustomed to blood from