d a tree, the cries of her companions
availed her not. In another moment she would have been beyond our
reach, when a pale-faced stranger appeared with a wonderful thunder
maker in his hand. He made thunder, and the ape, huge as it was, fell
dead at his feet. The beautiful Iguma was saved. He who had saved her
has won our hearts, we will do him honour, we will do all he asks of us.
The king will rejoice, he will weep with joy over his child, and he
will give her to the young stranger as a reward. He will become our
prince and live with us, and lead our young men to battle. We will
serve him gladly."

As the meaning of these last expressions dawned upon me, I began to feel
somewhat uncomfortable. I was very happy to have saved the young lady,
but had no wish whatever to become the husband of a black beauty,
however charming she might be in the eyes of her countrymen. I was
puzzled to think how I might get out of the difficulty without offending
her or her father, or her female companions, who had so unreservedly
bestowed her on me without being asked. I could only hope that the
maidens were indulging in poetical licence, and that they did not really
mean that I should marry their mistress. At all events, I determined to
put the best face on the matter I could, hoping that they might not
insist on the event coming off immediately.

At last I caught sight of some magnificent palm trees, rising in the
midst of a number of houses. In a short time we entered a broad street
which led into the square, and in the middle were the palm trees I had
just before observed. It struck me as an exceedingly picturesque place,
and very neat. On each side of the square two other streets branched
off. Every house had a veranda in front of it, and an open space
between it and the road. I should have said as we approached we met a
party of young men running at full speed, who, after exchanging a few
words with the girls, hastened on in the direction whence we had come.
On entering the town we saw a number of persons approaching, several
playing on tom-toms and various musical instruments, and others shouting
and singing. In their midst talked their king in full costume, which I
suspect he had put on in a hurry, for his head dress was rather awry.
Coming forward, he embraced his daughter, tears falling from his eyes as
a mark of his paternal affection; then he came up to me, and saluted me
in the same fashion, a ceremony I woul