fgi. Selico, a tale. 185 



At length tals long wiftied for epocha came, — tlic day- 

 was fixed for the ceremony,— the mother of Selico and his 

 two brothers had already prepared the hut for the bride and 

 bridegroom, when the famous Truro Audati, king of Da- 

 homai, whose rapid conquests have been celebrated even 

 in Europe, invaded the kingdom of Andia and exterminated 

 its inhabitants. In advancing at the head of his formidable 

 army, he was stopped by the large river which divides it 

 from Juida, whose king, a pusillanimous and cowardly be- 

 ing, governed by his wives and ministers, never thought 

 of opposing any troops to those of the conqueror ; he 

 thought that his gods would defend his country, and or- 

 dered all the serpents fetiches to be carried to the banks 

 of the river. The conqueror, surprised and plcqued to 

 have only such reptiles to combat, plunged into the river 

 with his troops, and soon swam over. The gods from whom 

 such miracles were expected were soon cut into pieces, 

 roasted, and devoured by the conquerers. The king of 

 Juida, not thinking ^ny farther effort of avail, fled and hid 

 himself in a neighbouring island. The warriors of Audati 

 spread ail over his kingdom, and with fire and sword 

 burnt villages and forests, and mafsacred all without pity. 

 Fear had dispersed what few inhabitants had escaped this 

 butchery ; the three brothers at the first approach of the 

 conqueror, had fled with their mother on their (hou)ders, 

 to hide themselves in the thickest forest. Selico would 

 not quit Darina as long as (lie was esposed to the smallest 

 <Ianger ; but he no sooner saw her in safety, than trem- 

 Ming for Berlfsa, he hastened to Sabi to inquire after her, 

 to save her, or to peri(h together. Sabi had just been ta- 

 l:.en by the Dahomais j — the streets ran with blood ; — the 

 iiouses pillaged and destroyed j — the palace of the king, 

 the temple of the serpent, were no longer any thing but 

 smoking ruins. co> ered with carcases, whose heads the 



VOL. X, A A -f 



