Virginia statesman. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1828-1829, 1828-05-14

and sought shelter in the forests. Sellco would
not quit Darina while she was exposed to the
smallest peril, but trembling for his dear Berissa,
he ran to Sabl anxious to ascertain her fato-tO
save OF perish with her. Sabi had been taken by
! the Dahomians
The streets were deluged in bIood-ihe houses
pillaged and demolished-the palace of the king
the temple of the Snake Were alike nothing save a
smoking heap of ruins, strewed with dead bodies
whose head the barbarians according TO the GUS
tom had carried away with Them The untortu-
nate SeLco in despair called upon death 10 tenmi-
nate his misery.
! He wandered over the houid wreck in search
Of Berissa and Faralko, calling on them by name
with cries of anguish, and in vain attempting 10
discover them among so many mutIlated trunks.
After having consecrated four days 10 this dreadful
search and doubling not that BerSsa and her father
/ had become the victims Of the mercIless invaders
he returned to his mother who he found still IN the
! forest where he left her with his brothers. The
grief depicted on his counenance and his disorder
| ed appearance frightened the sad family They
wept al his misfortune and stroye 10 console hun,
bur he seemed lnseusible 10 all tenderness and re-
fused to cat, as ifhe had resolved to terminate his
eXstmce by famine. Guberl aud Telone in place
of calling him to himself by reason and caresses,
showed him their aged parent who had neither
iug in the world but her children and then enquI--
ed if, at such sight he had the courage to live.
Selico was moved, and promised to endeayour
sharing with them the tender cares, which they
afforded their poor mother. They accordingly built
a cabin, but deprived of their bows and arrows
and of the necessary utensils, which in their flight
| they could carry with them, they SOON felt the
wants ofthe most extreme misery. Fruits are rare
IN these forests, and the prodigious number ofmon-
KEYS by which they are infested, commended with
the brothers for the little that was TO be obtained
! They had neither implements of husbandry, nor
! the seed 10 sow.-The rainy season commenced
and fnne presented itself in lis most appalling as
pect Darna resting upon bed of dry leaves, SUIT
fered no cOmplalnngs to issue from her lips, but
silently awaited the death she felt approaching
! Her sons were exhausted for want Of food, they
could not 60 into the woods, inundated as they
were in oh parts They set snares for the little
birds that approached the hut and when they were
fortunate enough "a catch one Of them, which rare
" happened, assuming smile, they presented it to
! their mother, who would not cat Of II unless her
children patook with her.
Three months thus passed without any change
in their unhappy condition. Al length the three
brothers held a council Guber proposed that
one should sell the other TO the Europeans, and
]
ments of agriculture, together with such things as
were necessary to preserve their parent \ noun
! ful silence was the reproof of the two brothers.
To be separated 10 quit each other for ever to be-
come the slave of the whites The idea made
them shudder. "llho shall be soldl" cried Ieone
with a melancholy accent. "The lot shall be de-
cided" replied Gub,ri, "by throwing three dlhe-
rent size stones in an earthen pot he who chooses
! the smallest shall be the INTERCHANGEABLE my
brother" interrupted SelIcO; "ate has already de-
! termned; it is IL am the most miserable: YOU
forget that have lost Berssa, and that you alone
prevented me from dying by saying should be use
! ful to nv mother;-the time has come: sell me.
Guber and Telone in VAN endeavoured to op-
pose the generous design oftheir brother. Seco
would not hearken 10 their prayers, refused to d.
bandon his fate, and threatened 10 90 alone if they
obstinately denied to conduct him. Al length the
two brothers consented. IL was agreed that Gu
! ber should remain with Darlna, and that 1eone
should accompany Sellco 10 a fort of the Holland
ers, received the price of his liberty, and return
Immediately with the provisions they wanted.
/ During this arrangement, Selico, was the only one
who did not weep; but it required all his firmness
to restrain his tears when he prepared TO quit his
mother-to bid her an eternal adeu and embrace
! her for the last time.-He deceived her by saying
he would soon return with Ielone, as they were
only gong TO visit their old cabin, and sec # they
could mol lnhabit il again. The good widow be-
/ lieved him. She, however could scarcely tear
herselfffom the arms of her children; she trembled
at the dangers they were about to encounter; and
| by an involuntary presentiment ran after Selico,
when he had disappeared.
The brothers arrived in few days, at the city
| in Sab The carnage had ceased, and peace
had began to animate the place. The king of
Dahomai tranquil possessor of the states of Julda,
in order 70 make commerce flourish, invited seve-
raj English and French merchants 10 his court,
to whom he sold his prisoners, having previously
distributed among ms soldiers their lands. 1elone
soon found a merchant who offered one hundred
crowns for his young brother. As he hestated-
trembling in all his limbs at the houd idea Of the
traffic. in which he was engaged, trumpet was
sounded, and a public crer Proclaimed IN n loud
voice that the king Dahomn, promised q reward
of four hundred onces Of gold. to him, Who should
deliver alive, a negro who, the night before had
dared profane bis seraglo; and had escaped to-
wards the morning and passed bis guards.
Selico hearing the Proclamation, mouOned 10 bis
brother not 10 conclude with the merchIni, and
taking him aside said in firm voice. 'lrhou hast
promised 10 sell me, and have ayOWed 10 save my
mother, but the trifing sum this white offers can
not make her rich. -Four hundred ounces Of gold,
would be great fortune to DarIna, and you and we
must have IT, my brother conduct me immediately
to the king, for the cupnt he seeks DO not start,
/ know as well as thou, the punishment that awaits
me, have calculated is duration, II VIII not last
more than on hour when my mother brought me
into the world, she suffered a much longer time.
Telone houor-stHck for a time, was speeches.;
but recovering himself hule he fell at the feet Of
Selico-he pressed him, be duplicated him by the
name Of his mother, by al that be held dear to
renounce his design. "0f whom do you speakl'
returned Selico, with bitter smile ] have lost
Berissa and wish to rejoin her ! save my moth
or by this act, make my brothers richer than ever,
and escape a life of serViiude and wretchedness