with other ladies, thirty-nine in number, magnificently
attired, to wait upon his bride, and attend her on
shore. They were graciously received by the politic
lady, and invited to refresh themselves in the grand
cabin, which she had elegantly adorned with costly
hangings, and prepared in it a superb collation, to
which they sat down. She then dismissed the boats
in which they came, sending a message to the sultan
that she should entertain the ladies on board till
the next morning, when she would repair on shore and
conclude their marriage. She behaved towards her
new guests with such winning affability, that they
one and all admired their expected sultana, and partook
of the entertainment with the highest satisfaction;
but what was their surprise when, in the middle of
the night, she commanded the crew to weigh anchor,
having first warned them, on pain of her displeasure
and immediate death, to keep silence, and raise no
alarm in the harbour. The vessel sailed, and
put to sea without being molested, when the intrepid
commandress consoled the affrighted ladies, related
to them her own adventures, and assured them that
when she should have rejoined her lover, they should,
if they chose it, be honourably restored to their
homes; but in the mean time she hoped they would contentedly
share her fortunes. This behaviour, by degrees,
so won upon their minds, that the ladies forgot their
sorrows, became pleased with their situation, and in
a short time were so attached to their new mistress,
that they would not have left her had it been in their
power. After some weeks sail, it became necessary
to steer towards the first coast that should present
itself, to lay in a supply of fresh water and provisions,
and land appearing, the vessel anchored, when the
lady with her companions went on shore. Here they
were surrounded by forty robbers, who threatened to
take them prisoners; when the heroic lady, desiring
her friends to conceal their fears, assumed a smiling
countenance, and addressing the chief of the banditti,
assured him there would be no occasion for force, as
she and her companions were ready to share their love,
being women who were above the prejudices of their
sex, and had devoted themselves to pleasure, in search
of which they roved on board their vessel from one
coast to another, and would now stay with them as long
as they might wish for their company. This declaration
suiting the depraved minds of the robbers, they laid
aside their fierce looks and warlike weapons, bringing
abundance of all sorts of provisions to regale their
expected mistresses, with whom they sat down to a
plentiful repast, which was heightened by a store
of wines which the lady had brought in her boats from
the ship. Mirth and jollity prevailed; but the
fumes of the liquors, in which the politic lady had
infused strong opiates, suddenly operated upon their
senses, and they fell down one and all in a state
of stupefaction. She then with her companions
drew the sabres of their brutal admirers and put them