DISTRESSING STORY. 49 



put to death, considering that she had become a 

 burden to herself as well as to her relatives. She 

 was carried in consequence to the destined spot, in 

 obedience to his orders ; but, owing to her piteous 

 supplications, the murderous intention was aban- 

 doned by those to whose " tender mercies" she had 

 been committed, and she was left in the forest on 

 promising never to return again to the kraal. On 

 the following morning, however, the son found to his 

 surprise that his wretched mother had appeared alive 

 in the village, when he became exceedingly indig- 

 nant with his minions, and determined on seeing 

 himself that his wishes were carried into execution. 

 Accompanying, therefore, his people to the forest 

 with their victim, he ordered her to be bound to a tree, 

 and left to perish. In vain she entreated for food ; in 

 vain, amidst the prolonged fever of her sufferings, 

 she begged for " Water — water ;" the unnatural son, 

 who dwelt within hearing of her cries, only answered, 

 as they broke successively through the stillness of 

 evening, " No — Mother ! you have lived too long- 

 already ; you must now die." As night approached, 

 her piercing shrieks still resounded through the forest, 

 mingling with the fierce howls of the hysenas. The 

 morning dawned and she was a corpse. In order 

 as much as possible to check such atrocious cruelties, 

 Mr. Shaw had erected the cottages mentioned in a 

 preceding chapter as an asylum for unfortunate 

 and persecuted widows ; and although much opposed 



VOL. I. E 



