rburn.

He then continued, after a long silence: "I wonder how it is God allows
cannibals and suchlike savages to exist. Does he punish them as he
would us if we committed the like acts, do you think?"

"I have been taught to think that we ought not to attempt to account for
many of the divine ordinances, otherwise than by believing that they are
a part of one great and beneficent system. As God is just, we cannot
suppose that he would consider ignorant savages equally guilty with
educated men, who know and disobey his laws. I have an idea that
savages exist to employ the energies of Christian men in converting them
to the truth, and civilising them. We have the poor to feed and clothe,
the ignorant to educate, the turbulent to discipline: why should we not
believe that, situated as Great Britain is, with more extensive
influence than any other nation on the earth, she has the duty committed
to her of civilising the numberless savage tribes, with whom her
commerce brings her in contact?"

Night came on, and we began to suffer from the pangs of hunger, but more
especially from thirst, and our barbarous captors turned a deaf ear to
all our petitions for a little water. At last, hopeless of relief, we
stretched ourselves on the deck, in the expectation of recruiting our
strength by sleep. We, at all events, were better off than the slaves
in the hold of a slave-vessel, for they have not room to stretch their
legs, or to rest their weary backs. I had managed to fall asleep, when
I was awoke by a voice saying, "Eh; glad me see massa. Want drink?" I
guessed it was that of Hassan, the young Malay. I awoke Fairburn, who
sat up. The lad took his hand, and kissed it over and over again, but
was afraid of speaking. He then showed us that he had brought us a jug
of water, that we afterwards found he had taken from our own stock in
the boat. He also brought a pannikin to drink from. We passed it round
to our companions, and when we had exhausted our supply, he took away
the jar with the same caution and silence as before. Here, against all
probability, was a friend who might be useful to us now, and ultimately
might serve us greatly.

Somewhere towards the evening of the next day we found, by the noises
around us, that we were in the middle of the fleet, which had formed one
compact mass. Gongs were struck as signals, arms were clashed, and the
chiefs were continually calling to each other, as if holding
consulta