fj^i. Zimee, a tale. 73 



motion of the waters j but that error was of ihort dura- 

 .tion. Sometimes, as we walked on the deck, we took the 

 resistance of the air for the a'^itation of a breeze j but no 

 sooner had wc suspended our steps, than the illusion va- 

 Jiilhed ; and the image of famine recurring, presented it- 

 self to our minds with redoubled horror. 



** Our tyrants soon reserved for themselves the provi- 

 sions that remained, and gave orders that a part of the 

 blacks (hould be sacrificed as food for the rest. It is im- 

 pofsible to say, whether this order, so worthy of the ni|tn 

 of your race, or the manner in which it was received, af- 

 fected me most. I read, on every face, a greedy satisfac- 

 tion, a dismal terror, a^ savage hope. I saw those unfor- 

 lunate companions of my slavery, observe one another 

 with voracious attention, and the eyes of tigers. 



" Two young girls of the village of Onebo, who had 

 suffered most by the famine, were the first victims. The 

 cries of these unhappy wretches still resound in my ears \ 

 and I see the tears streaming from the eyes of their fami- 

 flied companions, as they devoured the horrid repast. 



" The little provisions which I had concealed from 

 the observation of our tyrants, supported Ellaroe and 

 toyself, so that we were sure of not being destined to the 

 sacrifice. I still had dates, and we threw into the sea, 

 without being observed, the horrid morsels that were offe- 

 red to us. 



" The calm continuing, despondency began to seize e- 

 ▼en our tyrants*, they became remifs in their attention to 

 us •, they observed us slightly, and we were under little re- 

 straint. One evening, when they retired, they left me on 

 Jeck With Ellaroe. When flie perceived we were alone, 

 fte threw her arms round me, and I prefsed her with rapture 

 in mine. Her eyes beamed with an unusual exprefsicn of sen- 

 sibility and tendernefs. I had never in her presence expericn- 



v©L. viii. K f 



