n it.
When, also, they allowed us to smoke pipes, they held them with both
hands, or fastened to the mouth-pieces wooden balls of the size of
hen's eggs, for they seemed to imagine that if we were not restrained,
we would choke ourselves with them. We laughed heartily at this
proceeding, and made them understand, by signs, that it was much
easier to strangle ourselves with these balls than with pipe-stems. At
this they laughed too, but told us that they had most positive orders
to prevent us in every possible way from committing suicide. They were
so very anxious about our health, that they watched us from the tops
of our heads to the soles of our feet, carried us across the smallest
brooks or puddles, and asked us every morning how we felt.

On the eighth of August, we arrived at Khakodade, a large town, which
they told us was to be our abode for the present. An immense multitude
came forth to meet us. The road was lined on both sides with
spectators, but they behaved themselves very soberly, none of them
betraying in their looks, as I saw to my satisfaction, either hatred,
scorn, or malicious pleasure; still less did they attempt to annoy us
with either mockery or outrage. After we had passed through the town
gates, and a long and very narrow street, we turned into a by-lane,
and saw on a high piece of ground before us, which was surrounded by
an earthen wall and thick-set hedge, and guarded by armed soldiers, a
building which was, perhaps, to be our prison during life.

As soon as we entered we were mustered by an officer, according to the
instructions given him by the captain of our guards, and then led
farther into the court, where we saw a large, dark shed, in which
stood cages made of strong bars of wood, and resembling bird-cages in
every thing but size. After the Japanese had taken counsel among
themselves for some time, as to how they should dispose of us, they
led me along a passage, and forced me to go into one of the little
apartments, which was partitioned off by means of wooden posts. I
looked around for my companions, and judge of my horror, when I found
that they had vanished. After the guards had taken off my bonds, and
also, taken off my boots, they fastened the door of my cage, without
saying a word, and left me to myself. The thought that I was separated
from my comrades, overcame me, and I threw myself on the ground in
despair.

III.

I had lain there, almost unconscious, for some time, when