the necessary parts of
education. Our outward trip was unexciting, but on the first return
trip, we met one of the dangerous monsoons, and the ship was wrecked.
One of my shipmates was the sole occupant of a spar, and he aided me in
my attempt to grasp it, and together we floated about the great sea for
several days, without a thing to eat or to drink, until I lost
consciousness, and knew no more until I opened my eyes, and saw the
vilest looking savages standing about me.

"When I saw them they appeared like a horrid dream. I had read in one of
the books about the terrible visions that men dream of, and when they
tried to make me eat something, I began to feel that it was a reality.

"But the men were naked, and I saw the bones of human beings about me,
and everything had the appearance of a feast. I soon saw that they were
cannibals, and as I had heard of their practices their faces grew more
and more repulsive to me.

"I recovered slowly, and now began the terror in my mind. Each day I
expected would be my last. But day after day passed by, and I soon began
to become reconciled to my fate. An incident soon changed the entire
aspect of affairs for me. I had been treated with the utmost deference.
I was furnished with an abundance of food, but I had previously learned
that it was the custom of those people to fatten their victims, and this
was not welcome knowledge.

"I became desperate. One day, while they were bringing me the finest
roasts, I rebelled, and taking a club, scattered the food, swinging the
club at them and shouting defiance, because human nature began to rebel,
and I could not stand the suspense any longer.

"To my surprise they scattered, and fell on their faces. Among them was
the head man, whom I had always regarded as the Chief. Finally he came
up timidly, and fell on his knees before me. I was so astounded that I
did not know what to do. I went to the Chief and raised him up, because
I was in a quandary, and could not understand them.

"This seemed to reassure him, and he told me to follow him. I had been
here long enough to understand most of their jargon. I was surprised
when he led me to his own hut, and brought out his daughter, who knelt
before me. Then I began to understand. I was no longer the expected
victim, but the prospective son-in-law. This was better than
anticipating death daily.

"I accepted the situation. The daughter became my wife. It was she who
welcomed you when we came