aa0 TWENTY-FOURTH EVENING. with the waves dashing over us, expecting every moment to perish. My uncle, and several of the crew, died of fatigue and want, and by morning only four of us were left alive. My companions were so dis- heartened, that they thought of nothing but submitting to their fate. For my part, I considered life still worth struggling for ; and the weather haying become calmer, I persuaded them to join me in making a sort of raft, by the help of which, with much toil and danger, we reached the land. Here we were seized by the barbarous inhabitants, and carried up the country, or slaves to the emperor. We were employed about some public buildings, made to work very hard, with the whip at our backs, and allowed nothing but water, and a kind of pulse. I have heard persons talk as though there was little in being a slave but the name ; but they who have been slaves themselves, | am sure will never make light of slavery in others. A ransom was set on our heads, but so high, that 16 seemed impossible for poor, friendless creatures like us, ever to pay it. The thought of perpetual servitude, toge- ther with the hard treatment we met with, quite over- came my poor companions. They drooped and died, one after another. I still thought 1 not mmpossible to mend my condition, and, perhaps, to recover my freedom. We worked about twelve hours in the day, and had one holiday in the week. JI employed my leisure time in learning to make mats and flag-baskets in which I soon became so expert, as to have a good many for sale, and thereby got a little money to purchase better food, and several small conveniences. We were afterwards set to work in the emperor’s gardens; and here I showed so much good-will and attention, that I got into favour with the overseer. He had a large garden of his own; and he made in- terest for me to be suffered to work for him alone, on the condition of paying a man to do my duty. I soon beeame so useful to him, that he treated me more like a mired servant than a slave, and gave me regular