Page:A Chapter on Slavery.djvu/65

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SLAVERY IN AFRICA.
51

herself from the bees, by throwing water over her body; but this proved ineffectual, for she was stung in the most dreadful manner.

"When the slatees had picked out the stings as well as they could, she was washed with water, and then rubbed with bruised leaves; but the wretched woman obstinately refused to proceed any further, declaring that she would rather die than walk another step. As entreaties and threats were used in vain, the whip was at length applied; and after bearing patiently a few strokes, she started up, and walked with tolerable expedition for four or five hours longer, when she made an attempt to run away from the coffle, but was so very weak that she fell down in the grass. Though she was unable to rise, the whip was a second time applied, but without effect, upon which Karfa desired two of the slatees to place her upon the ass which carried our dried provisions; but she could not sit erect, and, the ass being very refractory, it was found impossible to carry her forward in that manner. The slatees, however, were unwilling to abandon her, the day's journey being nearly ended; they therefore made a sort of litter of bamboo canes, upon which she was placed, and tied on it with slips of bark; the litter was carried upon the heads of two slaves, one walking before the other, and they were followed by two others, who relieved them occasionally. In this manner the woman was carried forward until it was dark, when we reached a stream of water, at the foot of a high hill, and here we stopped for the night, and set about preparing our supper. As we had eaten only one handful of meal since the preceding night, and had traveled all