li^pa. Zlmeo, a tale. 71 



an opportunity to testify their regard, by entertaining u' 

 on board their iliips. They prefsed us to repair to them 

 the iiext morning, with the young men, and the pretties^ 

 girls of the vilage. Accordingly, conducted by Matomba, 

 and by some old people, for the sake of decency, we set 

 ofF for the (hips. 



" Onebo is but five miles from tlie sea, and we wer^ 

 upon the (hore an hour after sun-rise. We saw two vef- 

 sels at a little distance from each other ; they were covers 

 ed with branches of trees j the sails and the cordage were 

 loaded with flowers. As soon as our friends perceived 

 us, they sounded their instruments, and welcomed us with! 

 songs. The concert and the decorations promised a de- 

 lightful entertainment. The Portuguese came to receive 

 us J they divided our company, and an equal number went 

 on board each fliip. Two guns were fired : The concert 

 ceased 5 we were loaded with irons, and the vefsels set 

 sail. 



Here Zimeo stopt for a moment : — Then resuming his 

 story : — " Yes, my friends," said he, " these men, to whom 

 ■we had been prodigal of our wealth and confidence, car- 

 ried us away, to sell us with the criminals they had pur- 

 chased at Benin. I felt at once the misery of EUaroe, of 

 Matomba, and myself. I loaded the Portuguese with 

 reproaches and threats j I bit my chains, and wilbed I 

 could die ; but a look from EUaroe changed my purpose. 

 ITie monsters had not separated me from her. Matomba 

 was in the other vefsel. 



" Three of our young men, and a young girl, found 

 ineans to put themselves to death. I exhorted EUaroe 

 to imitate their example ; but the pleasure of loving, and 

 of being beloved, attached her to life. The Portuguese 

 made her believe that they intended for us a lot as happy 

 as we had formerly enjoyed. She hoped, at least, that 



