When the heavenly bridegroom, hav­ing arisen from the bosom of dawn, threw a veil of light over the world, the forlorn and wounded female, having quitted the cave, proceeded, rising and sinking like the dust of the road. About mid-day, when the world-illuming orb had reached the zenith, the intense heat, fatigue, and pain from her wounds, were intolerable, and her agonies beyond expression. Yet, though her soul and body were pierced by the sword of affliction, and no signs of relief appeared, so that she longed for death, she resigned herself to the divine will, and, resolved in feeble hope to crawl onwards till the separation of the thread of life.

At last she arrived on the shore of a great lake, and fell down, worn out with fatigue; when a monstrous serpent of enormous size and thickness, suddenly advanced towards the water. Such was its length and breadth, as not to be seen at once by the beholder. In dark­ness of colour, hardness of skin, and irregularity of form, it appeared like a huge mass of black rock. From its motion, the circumstance of its having animation appeared, otherwise, you would have fancied that it was a mound stretched on the shore of the lake. The woman, whose hope of life was cut off from fortune, and who wished to die, seated herself on the tail of the monster, faintly supposing that by his conveyance she might pass the lake, and reach an inhabited country. The serpent, from his vast size, did not feel her weight, and swimming over the lake, landed on the opposite coast.

The woman descended from the tail of the monster with the utmost cau­tion, and stopped awhile that she might offer up thanksgivings to the divine goodness, the only healer of wounded minds. When the serpent was departed from sight, she again advancing her feet in the road of toil, walked onwards. Scarcely had she proceeded a fersung, when a charming spot, of inviting beauty and fragrance, appeared. You might have stiled it a part of paradise extended on an earthly plain. Clear streams of deliciously tasted water flowed on every side, like those of Sulsubbeel. Groupes of various flowers were in smiling bloom, and heavy laden fruit trees cast a kindly shade over the surface of the ground. The adorning zephyr had spread a soul-delighting carpet of fresh verdure, on which the purveyor of providence had placed a divine collation of fruits in every variety.

The wearied female, who was agonized by the pangs of hunger, now satis­fied her craving appetite with the delicious fruits; after which she sunk into repose under the shade of the trees, on a bed of silky verdure, which was softer than velvet of a double pile, and at last found solace from the fatigues of travel and the torture of famine. After the refresh­ment of a long sleep she arose; and sit­ting on the mossy cushions of ease, regaled herself awhile in viewing the flowers and shrubs of this heaven-formed garden, which, far as the prospect extended, presented an expanse of verdant herbage, fragrant blossoms, soul-refreshing rivulets and bowery trees.

While thus engaged, suddenly advanced a numerous troop of savages, who dispersing themselves through the groves, ascended the trees, and began to pluck down the fruit, ripe and unripe. On beholding the garden of paradise thus filled with mortals, the woman became apprehensive of some new and worse misfortune than she had yet endured. Having ascended a tree, and con­cealed herself among the thickest foliage, she sat down, but was so overcome with dread, that a universal trembling seized her frame.

Suddenly a meimoon of superior size, who was distinguished as chief of this savage nation, came under the tree, and perceiving the woman between the branches, began to skip and dance with pleasure. He then commanded one of his attendants to seize and bring to him the unfortunate captive in the talons of calamity. The accursed meimoon, throw­ing his arms about her neck, drew her to his bosom, and began to kiss and embrace her. At this heart-melting event, she shrunk like a blade of withered grass, and all colour fled from her countenance. When the savage beheld her thus alarmed, he treated her with gentleness; and having led her to his home, dismissed his followers. Having presented his captive with different viands and fruits, he used all his endeavours to console and pacify her fears. Moistening the roots of herbs in clayey water, he rubbed the mixture over her whole body, which in an instant was healed of its sores, and soon covered with a new skin more delicate than before, so that her form appeared in perfect lustre and beauty. Though she thus found relief from her bodily hurts, still her mind was deeply wounded by being obliged to associate with the savage, and life became to her as a prison; for a connection with hateful objects is most afflicting to the soul.

The savage was not for an instant neglectful in guarding and taking care of his prize, who at length becoming preg­nant, brought forth twins; when he, supposing love for her children might gradually remove her disgust to himself, became sure of her remaining with him. He now ventured to leave her in charge of his hut, went upon hunting excur­sions, and often passed many hours of the day abroad. The woman, at the instigation of policy, pretended affection for him, and received his caresses with seeming pleasure and satisfaction; while inwardly she waited for an opportunity to escape.

After some time had elapsed in this manner, the savage, perfectly convinced of her affection towards him, and casting from his mind all suspicion, went upon a journey of some days to a distant part of the island, leaving the woman in charge of the house with her children. Regarding the opportunity of his absence as precious, she wandered on every quarter, to examine the paths, and mark a way for escape. At the distance of two fersungs she came to the sea shore, which, from certain appearances, she perceived had been visited by shipping. Overjoyed at this circumstance, she returned for the present to the hut of her savage mate. At every favourable opportunity she repaired to the strand, in hopes of seeing a vessel; and looked to the divine goodness, which is the con­soler of the forlorn in the path of distress, for the attainment of her wishes.

At length, one morning, which proved the dawning of her success, being arrived at the sea shore, she beheld a ship at a distance, but in that situation, when the crew (having made ready for departure) were just going to weigh anchor, and unfurl her sails to the wind. Trembling with apprehension of disap­pointment, she hastened to the strand nearest the ship, and exclaimed, “I am an helpless woman, O worshippers of God, persecuted by the strokes of adverse fortune, and tossed to and fro by the mace of ill luck, tormented by an unfortunate star and unprosperous planet, having experienced adversities from unpropitious fate, and am now a captive in this blood-de­vouring wild in the hands of a savage. For God’s sake, have compassion on my wretched situation, and, with mercy and feeling for the helpless, afford me deliverance from the whirl­pool of calamity, and admit me under the shade of your bounty.”

The ship’s crew, not in the least attending to the petition of the unfortu­nate woman, assented not to her request, but replied, “We are merchants, and have a valuable capital on board. At this time assisting thee would possibly be a great loss to the owners of our vessel, as the army of savages might attack us and plunder our cargo. For the deliverance of one per­son, to put a great number in hazard of destruction, policy will not justify.”

The woman, now in the greatest anxiety, bowing her head to the dust, exclaimed, “My virtuous friends, as yet the savages are not informed of my leaving them, and you are perfectly secure from the dangers you appre­hend. For God’s sake, then, with­hold not your compassion from me, who most urgently need it. From a good deed, in which your future wel­fare is concerned, and which may cause you great reward, refrain not. By that hope which you have from the throne of the all-righteous God, ah! render me not hopeless. Receive from me this emerald, as a reward for your benevolence.” They still pushed the hand of refusal against her breast, and said, “Wisdom will not jus­tify our hazarding the loss of a cargo, worth more than the revenue of an empire, for the temptation of a single stone. Pass from this unbecoming request, and endanger us not with the host of savages.”

The poor woman, according to the axiom, that the distressed by want are mad, made entreaties, beyond what can be imagined by fancy; and as they hesitated, the more she was distracted, being fearful of the coming of the savages. She knew not what she should do, or how she should contrive, that her peti­tion might meet acceptance.