courame'. 107 



conversations with his patients which quickly won upon their confi- 

 dence. 



Ere long a particular event brought a happy change in Courame's 

 existence. M. Le Baron de Besner, a most enlightened philanthro- 

 pist, was at that time governor of Cayenne. He carried the most 

 active mind in a weak, imbecile body. He was always influenced by 

 the most anxious desire of being useful to mankind, and his ardour 

 was indefatigable ; above all he loved the Indians, and wished to ame- 

 liorate their condition by civilizing them. The better to further his 

 designs, the Baron endeavoured to draw some Indians of Guiana by 

 various pretexts to Cayenne. He wished to induce them to appre- 

 ciate all the advantages enjoyed in towns ; and for this purpose it was 

 necessary to allure them thither. His aim was to make these savages 

 approach the civilized inhabitants, to make friends of the colonists, 

 and to turn them insensibly to those habits which could ennoble them 

 in their own eyes. He flattered himself that he could influence par- 

 ticularly the manners of the Noragues ; who of all the savages are 

 those who shew the most morality ; who respect their parents ; who 

 have the most justice and good faith. In a journey which he had 

 made to the territory of the Approuague, he had gone amongst them, 

 and he was persuaded that he might do much with this interesting 

 tribe. He hoped to make them labourers under whose hands the 

 fertile country they inhabited, would prosper. He could communicate 

 with them so much the better as the greater part were baptized and 

 had already received some of the benefits of civilization. M. De 

 Besner informed their chief, Almiki, that it would perhaps interest 

 him to come some day into the metropolis, with some of his followers, 

 to deliberate upon affairs which concerned him, and which related to 

 the prosperity of the tribe. The message was adroitly delivered by 

 an ambassador, who acquired great ascendancy over him. 



It is well known how unwillingly the savages carry on communica- 

 tion with strangers, unless constrained by force or by the pressure of 

 their wants. But the Noragues had been for some time very poor : 

 they wanted axes, sabres, muskets, and other implements. They 

 imagined, with reason, that their journey would be profitable to them 

 in this point of view, and they accepted without hesitation the go- 

 vernor's proposal. The aged Almiki, too old to quit his hut, con- 

 sented to the departure of his son, who was accompanied by several 

 men and women of the tribe. The news was spread in Cayenne that 

 the Noragues were coming : Courame's joy was not to be described. 

 She imagined that she miplit now return and see her mother) and the 



