FOOD PEODUCTS OJP THE SEA — FISHES. 259^ 



willingness to accept it, ere the cook resumed possession 

 •of thfe dish, stooped his head, and put out his huge 

 tongue, with the too evident intention of licking it from 

 head to tail. I interposed, of course, in great alarm, 

 and, seizing the dish with one hand, and his woolly head 

 with the other, I struggled hard to prevent the execu- 

 tion of his foul design, which he, on the other hand, 

 seemed equally resolved to accomplish. 



"The interpreter, who- had followed him, interposed 

 at length, saying, imploringly, which heightened not a 

 little the comedy of the whole scene — 



" ' Pray, Massa, let he lick the fish ! ' 



" ' Oh no ! ' I exclaimed, ' I really will not.' 



" ' If you do not, Massa, he no leave de fish ! ' 



" ' Why so ? ' said I, in undisguised astonishment. 



" ' Cause, Massa, if you go dead, King will kill he, sup- 

 pose he no lick um, Massa.' 



" ' Oh,' replied I, ' I am not at all afraid ; I know it is 

 not poisoned.' 



" ' No, no, Massa ; cook won't trust a dat, for you can 

 get sick in the night, may be you catch one cold, and you 

 die. Den King ask me, if cook lick de fish. Suppose I 

 say. No, King ; den King cut the cook's head off.' 



" Seeing therefore, no alternative, I let go my hold, 

 •consoling myself with the reflection that the other side 

 of the fish would be, at all events, free from this un- 

 gainly process ; but Sir Cook had no sooner carefully 

 finished that side of the fish than he immediately pro- 

 ceeded to operate upon the other. In great dismay, I 

 turned from this exhibition, the strangers took their 

 leave, and when the gate had closed upon them, I pro- 

 ceeded, with the help of James, to strip the skin from 

 the devoted fish, and after making the best meal I was 

 able, retired to my basket bed." 



This same operation is performed upon every article 

 of food prepared for the King. The whole suspicious 

 process is the result of that tyranny which authorises 

 the odious traffic in slaves ; and the monarch who thus^ 

 instead of being the protector of his subjects, betrays 



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