10.8 TRAVELS IN THE 
fine fish ; which, having caused to be half broiled upon some 
embers, she gave me for supper. The rites of hospitality being 
thus performed towards a stranger in distress ; my worthy 
benefactress (pointing to the mat, and telling me I might sleep 
there without apprehension) called to the female part of her 
family, who had stood gazing on me all the while in fixed 
astonishment, to resume their task of spinning cotton ; in which 
they continued to employ themselves great part of the night. 
They lightened their labour by songs, one of which was com- 
posed extempore ; for I was myself the subject of it. It was 
sung by one of the young women, the rest joining in a sort of 
chorus. The air was sweet and plaintive, and the words, literally 
translated, were these. — " The winds roared, and the rains fell. 
" — The poor white man, faint and weary, came and sat under 
" our tree. — He has no mother to bring him milk ; no wife to 
" grind his corn. Chorus. Let us pity the white man ; no mother 
" has he, &c. &c." Trifling as this recital may appear to the 
reader, to a person in my situation, the circumstance was 
affecting in the highest degree. I was oppressed by such un- 
expected kindness ; and sleep fled from my eyes. In the morning 
I presented my compassionate landlady with two of the four 
brass buttons which remained on my waistcoat ; the only re- 
com pence I could make her. 
July 21st. I continued in the village all this day, in conver- 
sation with the natives, who came in crowds to see me ; but 
was rather uneasy towards evening, to find that no message 
had arrived from the king ; the more so, as the people began 
to whisper, that Mansong had received some very unfavourable 
