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THE ADVENTURES OF PRINCE HASSAN: 

 AN ORIENTAL TALE. 



THE Island of Savages resounded with shouts of joy ; and the frightful 

 rocks with which it is surrounded re-echoed the noise of the warlike 

 instruments and cries of these barbarians. The sea, which broke with vio- 

 lence against the rocks, mingled its roarings with these strange noises, and 

 augmented the horrors of the scene. These monsters, who took delight in 

 murdering all the unfortunate wretches who were cast on their coast by the 

 fury of the elements, were now assembled to choose a king. Already 

 streams of human blood had flowed around the altars of their gods ; the 

 shore was wet with it ; and the bodies of these unfortunate victims were 

 heaped up on a pile, ready to be reduced to ashes; already had the 

 savages began to dance around the pile when they perceived the wreck of 

 a vessel. Broken masts, sails, and cordage were all driving about at the 

 mercy of the waves. They perceived also at a distance several unfortunate 

 creatures, who were endeavouring by swimming to gain the island. The 

 hope of deliverance reanimated their efforts, already nearly exhausted by 

 long struggling. Alas ! they sought their fate in landing on this unfriendly 

 shore : and their lot, which appeared to snatch them from the waves in 

 safety, only prepared for them on this fatal shore a death a thousand times 

 more dreadful. 



No sooner had they gained a landing than they were seized by the 

 savages, who bound them, and dragged them to the altars of their deities. 

 There they were put to death ; and their foaming blood was caught in 

 cups, which these barbarians drank in honour of their gods. They only 

 spared one of these strangers, whose beauty, gracefulness, and youth would 

 have moved to pity any but this savage race, nourished upon blood and 

 carnage. His figure, above the common height, was noble and command- 

 ing ; long flaxen locks of great beauty hung in large ringlets over his 

 shoulders ; his face shining with a soft majesty ; his eyes were black, and 

 sparkling with fire ; and a certain je ne sais quoi, more seducing even 

 than beauty, rendered him the most amiable of mortals. He was destined 

 by these barbarians to serve as a feast for the king whose lot it would fall 

 to be chosen. 



Their manner of electing a king was not less cruel than the rest of their 

 customs. They chose six of the most considerable and renowned for their 

 cruelty; and the one of these six who pierced with an arrow the heart of 

 the widow or nearest relation of the departed king, was elected as his suc- 

 cessor. Already they had bound their queen to a rock, and five of these 

 savages had struck their arrows in various parts of her body ; when the 

 sixth, advancing to the barrier, drew his bow. The arrow flew through the 

 air, and pierced the heart of this unfortunate princess. The air was rent 

 with acclamations. All the people prostrated themselves at the feet of the 

 new king, and they bore him triumphant round the island. The women 

 and their daughters, their hair dishevelled, and a poniard in their hands, 

 marched the first : their chaunt resembled the cries of furious Bacchanals. 

 The old men, bending under the weight of their crimes, as much as from 

 years, followed with a more leisurely step ; and the king, surrounded by 

 the youth of the island, closed the procession. The stranger who had 

 been respited, seized with horror, followed with his eyes this horrid solem- 

 nity. Two savages held him chained, and led him along like a young 

 victim that is brought to the altar. 



After having made the circuit of the island, these people at length made 



