314 A HUNTER'S WANDERINGS ch. 



of a very ugly race of people. He told me he had 

 just bought them from old Canyemba. The morning 

 after he came to Cassoko, he came up in a great rage 

 to Mendon^a, telHng him the two girls had escaped. 

 I was mightily glad to hear it. It appears that with 

 admirable pluck they had launched one of the large 

 canoes belonging to their master, and, in the absence 

 of the paddles, which were put away every night, 

 had paddled over to the northern bank, a distance 

 of many hundred yards, with their hands. Armed 

 Shakundas were at once sent out to try and recover 

 the fugitives ; they were only too successful. On 

 the fourth day, having crossed over to look at my 

 donkeys, I met four Shakundas just embarking for 

 the island with the two poor young girls, who sat in 

 sullen silence, with bent-down heads, and " gyves 

 upon their wrists." My heart bled for them, and 

 had I had the money I would have bought them 

 from Diego. The one cost him a musket, for 

 which he told me he had given £2 : los., and the 

 younger one twenty rupees. 



On my return to the islanci my boys informed me 

 that the two girls had been cruelly beaten, and one 

 of the sjamboks, dyed afresh with crimson stains, told 

 its own tale. It is horrible and unnatural to treat a 

 pretty young girl in this manner, and yet this same 

 Diego seemed a mild little man, with a very pleasant, 

 cheerful face. I have forgotten to mention how the 

 slaves are secured at night after being captured in 

 any considerable number. Large logs are cut by the 

 slaves, from nine inches to a foot in diameter, and 

 in these logs holes are chopped sufficiently large to 

 allow of a man's or woman's foot being put through ; 

 other holes are then bored, and wooden pegs driven 

 in, which pass through the holes through which the 



