The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1843-06-27
Miscellaneous.
DEATH PREFERRED TO DlsHONOR.
from Moffat's Africa.1

The following morning was marked by a melan.
choy display Of that called herosm which prefers
death to dshonor. A feast had been proclaimed, cat
tie had been slaughtered, and many hearts beat high
in anticipation of waowng in all the Of saw
age delight; eating, drinking, dancing, and singing
victors' song the slau whose bones lay bleach
ed on the neighboring plains Every heart appeared
eate but one. He man of rank and what was
called an Entuna, Gan oficer,) who on his head
the usual badge Of dignity He brought to head
quarters. His arm bore shield, nor his hand
spear; he had been Invested of these which had been
his glory. He brought into the presence of the
king, and his chief council, charged with crime, for
which it was vain to expect PARDON at the hands
of a more humane government. He bowed his fine
elastic figure, and kneeled before the Judge. The
case was investigated silently, which gave soemnity
to the scene Not whisper was heard among the
listening audience, and the voices Of the council
only audible to each other and the spectators
The prisoner, though on his knees, had something
dignifed and noble in his mein Not muscle of his
countenance moved, but his black eyes indicated a
feeling Of intense interest, which the moving balance
between life and death only could produce. The
required little investigations; the charges were
clearly substantiaed, and the cuprit pleaded gull
ty. But, alas he knew it was at bar where
ever heard the heart reviving sound of pardon
even for offences small compared with his pause
ensued. during which the silence of death pervaded
the assembly. At length the monarch spoke, and
addressing the prisoner, said "You are dead man,
but shall do o-day what never did before; spare
your life for the sake of my friend and father'-pont
ing to- the spot where stood. SCI know his heart
weeps at the shedding of blood for his sake spare
your fe he has travelled from far country to see
me- and he has made my heart white; but he tells
me that to take away life is an awful thing and
err can be undone again. He has pleaded with me
not to go to war, nor to destroy life. I wish him,
when he returns t, his own home again, to return
with heart as white as he has made mine. 1 spare
you for his sake, for love him. and he has saved the
lives ofmy people. But" continued the king, 'tyou
must be degraded for life; you must asso-
cate with the mobiles of the land, enter the towns
ofthe princes of the people; again mingle in
the dance of the mighty. Go TO the poor Of the field
and let your companions be the inhabitants Of the
desert.''
The sentence passed, the pardoned man ex-
pected to bow in grateful alteration to him whom he
wont to look upon, and exat in songs applicable
only to One, to whom belongs universal sway and
casped on his bosom he replied, go king, aflct not
my heart have merited thy displeasure; let me
be slain like the warriorI cannot live like the poor'
And, raising his hand to the ring he his brow
he continued; s'How can live among the dogs of
the king, and disgrace these badges of honor which
I won among the spears and shields of the mighty
No, cannot live ! Let me die, o PezooIu % His
request was granted, and his hands tied erect over
his head. Now, my exertions to save his life were
vain. lie disdained the boon on the conditions offer
ed pre(erring to die with the honors he had won at
the point of the spear. Honors which the act
that condemned him did not tarnish-to exile and
poverty among the children Of the desert. He was
led forth, man waking ON each side. My eye fol-
lowed him till he reached the top Of precpce over
which he was precpitated into the deep pool of the
river beneath, where the crocodiles, accustomed to
such meals were yawnng 70 devour him ere he could
reach the bottom! This was Sabbath morning
scene; such as heathensm exhibits to the view Of the
Christian phanthropst; and such is calculated to
excite in his bosom feelings of the deepest sympathy
This magnanimous heather knew of no hereafter
He was without God and without hope. We have
often read of the patriotism Of the Greeks and Ro-
mans and heard that magnanimity Of soul extolled,
which could sacrifice honor, property, and life itself
for the public good rather than become the vassas OF
foe. and live Invested cft the poor trappngs of hu-
man glory; if this be virtue, there are, even among
Afric's sons men not inferior to the most ilustrlous
of the Romans.
SOVEREIGN MAKING AMONG THE BEES.
Mr. Oliver, in his lecture at the State House, the
other evening, those mos facinaling insects, as