258 GIVING LIBERTY TO THE SLAVE. 



the river, and before he reached me Marimba and his 

 present stood by my side. He repeatedly offered me 

 the rope, but I would not take it. The poor girl, who 

 was weeping loudly, threw herself, in a state of great 

 distress, on the ground at my feet. Chinsoro having 

 arrived, I took the rope from the hands of Marimba, 

 who now seemed to think all was right. The girl, 

 seeing me take the rope, almost went into hysterics, 

 feeling certain she was sold, and going to be taken 

 away. Several men, women, and children had come 

 out of the village, and stood at a respectful distance 

 from their chief to witness the scene. PulHng out 

 my hunting-knife, and telling Chinsoro to inform Ma- 

 rimba that I was about to show him how English- 

 men treated slaves when they found them in bonds, 

 I cut the ropes that bound the girl, and told her she 

 was free. Never did I see anything like her sur- 

 prise, and so overwhelming was her gratitude that it 

 was with difficulty I stopped her from kissing my now 

 ragged boots and leggings, as she criecl, "Takoota! 

 Takoota !" (Thank you ! Thank you !), while Ma- 

 rimba, who to all appearance was perfectly stupefied, 

 stood "rooted to the spot." 



Making the girl sit down, 1 asked her many ques- 

 tions, all of which she willingly answered. During the 

 conversation she told me that she had a sister who had 

 been sold a long time ago, that she had never seen or 

 heard of her since, and that from that time she was always 

 afraid of being consigned to a similar fate herself. I 

 gave her a few beads as a slight recompense for the 

 amusement I had had at her expense ; and after de- 

 livering a short lecture to Marimba, who assured me 



