^0 Zimeo, a tale. March 14, 



pafsion to our mutual advantage. I was obedient to every 

 command of Matomba, in the hope of making myself 

 worthy of Ellaroe ; and the hope of preserving her place 

 in my heart, made every duty delightful to her. My at- 

 tainments were all due to her, and her's to me. Five 

 years had we thus spent, with increasing attachment, when 

 I demanded permifsion of my father to espouse Ellaroe. 

 O how I cheriflied the thought, that (he would be m/ 

 companion on the throne, and my friend in every period 

 of life ! 



" I was expecting the answer of my father, when two 

 merchants of Portugal arrived at Onebo. They brought, 

 for sale, some implements of hufbandry, several articles for 

 domestic use and some trifles of drefs for women and children. 

 We gave them ivory in exchange, and gold dust. They 

 would have purchased slaves, but none, except criminals, 

 are sold in Benin j pnd there were none of those in the 

 village of Onebo. I questioned them 'kith regard to the arts 

 •and the manners of Europe. I found in your arts many 

 Superfluities, and in your manners much contradiction. 

 You know the pafsion which the blacks have for music and 

 dancing. The Portuguese had many instruments unknown 

 to us ; and every evening they played on them the gayest 

 and most enchanting airs. The young people of the vil. 

 lage gathered together, and danced around them ; and 

 there I danced with Ellaroe. The strangers brought us 

 from their fiiips the most exquisite wines, with liquors 

 and fruits that were delicious to our taste. They sought 

 our friendiTiip, and we loved them truly. They informed 

 us, one day, that they were now obliged to leave us, and 

 to return to their country : The news affected the whole 

 village, but no one more than Ellaroe. They told us, 

 with tearSj the day of their departure ; they said they 

 would leave us with lefs regret, if we wculd give theta 



