Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-04-05

house belonging to her mother-in-iaw, "".'s
she heard the same story as before, but 10 whie"
was added every possible reason and ehrsa'y
10 dissuade her from seeking her husband
In the first place, they said he couia moi ns,o
remained so long in the forest; ana even nc
had no, been devoured by wild beasts, but whlcn
seemed probabIe) had been taken 10 distant
Groom Cor village) by some caoooceer 10 M, !ae
hope OF getting ransom Tor MIN, OF OF seu"s
him 10 the first slave merchan! VINO came oy-
even then it would not be possible for her II. 10
escape the parties OF Ashantees VINO were sun
InrL;nc abou, for the sake Of plumber. Nothing
however. shook Amba from her purpose; and
having succeeded in persuadins one solitary
boy to accompany her as guide, SUE SET oii
one morning before sunrise.
Amba's COMPANION carrieda small bundle OF
provisions and clothes, and they first proceed
ed through fine savannahs, watered by clear
STREAMS: then striking into the forest, they made
the hes, of their way to neighboring Groom.
She there remained one night, protesting mat
she was on her way to her relations, who lived
in distant town. At this place she parted
with her guide, and hired another OF the same
ape. She continued this method each day, and
proceeded considerable distance towards the
snot where the battle had been fought; but as
she one day reposed during the heat under the
shade Of some bamboos, the boy who attended
her awoke her, by saying he was sure he heard
the ronp-gones of the .Asbantees; and, seized
with terror, instantly dartcd away, leaving her
to carry her own burden, and to find her path
herself. Alarmed at the approach OF these
sounds, Amba also moved from the spot where
she had been lying; and thus losing her path,
she became entangled in the mazes Of the forest,
without the power Of extrcating herself This
time, however, she escaped the Ashantees, and
therefore was at first insensible TO the danger
of her situation; but as night fell without any
signs of Groom, she became alive to all its nor
rors. Faint and heart-sick, she lay down at the
foot Of tree, determining 10 renew her search
for assistance as soon as daylight returned
When she aed from the enemy she had LETT her
clothes and provisions, and she had only found
two small plantains in the course OF the day
Exhausted, she fell asleep, but was soon awoke
by something which rushed past her with
dreadful cry. 1t was perhaps wild boar, per-
haps hyana, perhaps panther, at any rate II
was an animal, s. her alarm was sufficient to pre-
vent further repose. She dared not TO try TO
light fire by means of friction, and so fright
en- the intruder away, because the flames would
have discovered her to the soldiers from whom
she had so lately fed. She therefore watched
in great agitation till morning, when she pur-
sued her way with difficulty. A tree covered
with guavas allayed her hunger, and stream
ouenched her thirst: she bathed and was re-
freshed, and walked on with some alacrity To-
wards huts, which she saw at considerable
distance She did indeed reach these habita-
tions, but they presented not fhe vestige OF
living being; some had been thrown down, 9TH
ers stood with their doors. oor.c =
with fragments OF warlike wea.
2ons and human bones, that were whitening in
the sunbeams which dared through this break,
In the forest, and gliding the tops OF 'he trees,
only served to render their bases more gloomy,
and to add obscurity to the long vistas which
presented themselves between their trunks -
Here Amba found few bananas, plaintains,
pine-apples aud guavas; and lighting hire III
one of the securest huts, and varying her meal
with ground nuts and the boiled tops OF the
bamboo, she determined to rest there till the
next day, to recruit her strength. On the fol
lowing morning then she proceeded, her steps
guided by the bones that were strewed about,
and in scene Of dessolation which but too
plainly showed that this had been the seat OF
war and alarm. The inhabitants Of some pla-
ces had fed; those who had remained in their
crooms had been either bu chered or led away
ing quickly despniled the bones of their flesh,
they looked as if they had lain there for years.
Amba went on, however, still hoping for some
fortunate chance TO lead her out of the forest,
but each night trembling les, the ghosts who
owned the bones should pursue her with their
msledictions
Overcome with fatigue and unable TO distin-
guish even deserted habitation, the poor wan
derer hearrd with awe the whistling of the
breeze, which, TO an experienced ear, ioretold
the approach Of a tornado A low hollow MUIR
mur moansd through the forest, and was sue
ceeded by death-like stiffness; not breath of
air was 10 be felt, and The bombax and the baob.
alb, lords Of the vegetable world, seemed to
stand in their proud strength, awaiting the
blast OF heaven, like the giants of old, who
breathed defiance at the ligh'nings Of the NIGH
ty Jupiter. This awful tranquility was al length
broken by "a deep groan, which increased in
strength, and became more frequent as it ap-
preached Amba. Scarcely knowing whittier
she fled, she reached the buttress of bombax,
projecting like low wall several yards beyond
the parent stem, and running along the narrow
ridges, she twisted her hands into the parasite
cal plant which encircled its massy trunk and
gradually mounted till she reached one Of the