Soon after this my master’s only daughter, and child by his first wife, sickened and died, which affected him so much that for some time he was almost frantic, and really would have killed himself, had he not been watched and prevented.  However, in a small time afterwards he recovered, and I was again sold.  I was now carried to the left of the sun’s rising, through many different countries, and a number of large woods.  The people I was sold to used to carry me very often, when I was tired, either on their shoulders or on their backs.  I saw many convenient well-built sheds along the roads, at proper distances, to accommodate the merchants and travellers, who lay in those buildings along with their wives, who often accompany them; and they always go well armed.

From the time I left my own nation I always found somebody that understood me till I came to the sea coast.  The languages of different nations did not totally differ, nor were they so copious as those of the Europeans, particularly the English.  They were therefore easily learned; and, while I was journeying thus through Africa, I acquired two or three different tongues.  In this manner I had been travelling for a considerable time, when one evening, to my great surprise, whom should I see brought to the house where I was but my dear sister!  As soon as she saw me she gave a loud shriek, and ran into my arms—­I was quite overpowered:  neither of us could speak; but, for a considerable time, clung to each other in mutual embraces, unable to do any thing but weep.  Our meeting affected all who saw us; and indeed I must acknowledge, in honour of those sable destroyers of human rights, that I never met with any ill treatment, or saw any offered to their slaves, except tying them, when necessary, to keep them from running away.  When these people knew we were brother and sister they indulged us together; and the man, to whom I supposed we belonged, lay with us, he in the middle, while she and I held one another by the hands across his breast all night; and thus for a while we forgot our misfortunes in the joy of being together:  but even this small comfort was soon to have an end; for scarcely had the fatal morning appeared, when she was again torn from me for ever!  I was now more miserable, if possible, than before.  The small relief which her presence gave me from pain was gone, and the wretchedness of my situation was redoubled by my anxiety after her fate, and my apprehensions lest her sufferings should be greater than mine, when I could not be with her to alleviate them.  Yes, thou dear partner of all my childish sports! thou sharer of my joys and sorrows! happy should I have ever esteemed myself to encounter every misery for you, and to procure your freedom by the sacrifice of my own.  Though you were early forced from my arms, your image has been always rivetted in my heart, from which neither time nor fortune have been able to remove it; so that, while the thoughts of your sufferings have