river with a speed which the African had never yet conceived. It was a mighty steam-ship, baffling in triumph both wind and stream, with guns which could sweep a thousand sun-burnt savages from their lair, and a crew whom neither sickness nor strangers could subdue. The Sultan beheld with awe the hastening mast; his rich turban studded with gems shook wildly as he bowed his head in homage to his fearful guest, and his warriors, with equal wonder, made obeisance after the manner of their chief. The criminals gained a short reprieve :for who could accomplish the decree for their execution, when the wheels plied stronger, and the vessel came closer, and each man thought solely of his own safety? At length the noise was hushed, the boat lowered, and as the Sultan walked firmly to the Niger's bank, the captain of the steam-ship leaped on shore with a chosen force, and, in his turn, saluted the chieftain he encountered.

"Welcome!" said the monarch of the stream.

"Before we answer your greeting," replied the captain, we must know if those white men whom we saw bound, and in the hands of spear-men, are alive."

"Whence did you behold them ?" inquired the Sultan in astonishment.

"With our glasses we saw them far away," returned the captain.

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Magicians!" exclaimed the chief priest, with dismay. "They are alive and free," said the Sultan, presenting the Englishmen to their friends.

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Then, in the name of my master," replied the captain, "I am able to return your greeting.

"And your business with us?" again asked the Sultan, his eyes still gazing on the towering mast and pointed guns.

"In the name of my master, King William," replied

the English sailor, "I bid your Highness God speed. The king my master desires that there be peace between us, and that a traffic be freely opened between our nations by the way of the sea."

"By the way of the sea!" exclaimed the Sultan.

"You shall give us your palm oil and cocoa-nuts, and we will give you in turn our merchandise; you shall send us by the ocean your ivory and bees-wax, and of our muslins you shall make tobes and turkadees."

"Abn Solyman," said the monarch. The prisoner was brought before him. "Abn Solyman, we want thy counsel. I give thee thy life. The English strangers would have us trade with their nation by the sea: shall we agree with them?"

"Never," replied the Arab; "the English will come and take away our place and nation: they are the robbers of the world."

"Sultan!" said the British sailor, "that crafty Arab would fain keep all your commerce at his own bidding. Have not the Moors and the men of his wild country shared the spoils of ages? Have not all the brave strangers who have ventured within their grasp been detained as captives or murdered?"

"We will think awhile," replied Maharry.

you any further message?"

"Have

"That your highness would abolish throughout your dominions the custom of selling men for slaves."

"What say you, Abn Solyman?" said the sultan. The Arab shook his head.

"Another rich branch of your traffic at stake, Abn," exclaimed Gama the jester, who had come forward during these latter speeches.

"Gama, forbear," said the king of the Dark Water. "Stranger," continued he, addressing the captain, "I

send my message to your master, King William, to whom be peace for evermore. May a blessing rest upon his footsteps! We have thought upon his message to us, and are willing that a trade should be opened with his children by the way of the sea; and considering that we ourselves hate the traffic in human blood, which we hear of in many parts near to our kingdom, we gladly assure your master of our will to destroy it as far as we have any power."

"Our mission then is accomplished,” said the captain; "we will take our countrymen, and depart."

"First let the Fatah * be read," exclaimed the Sultan, earnestly, and the ceremony was quickly performed. The king watched the gallant steamer as it darted forward towards other stranger lands, and turning round to his courtiers, declared aloud, that such a nation, if at peace with itself, must command the world.

We must relate, as a matter of history, that queen Fatima recovered, and that she was restored to the favour of her husband; but the priests, who, from a grudge they bore her, had connived at her destruction, were put to death on the same afternoon without pity or remission.

"And now," said Gama, "Abn Solyman! thou cunning Arab, thy trade is gone into the Red Sea. The English once suffered to put their heads into this rich country, will neither rest nor spare till they are sovereigns from hence to Timbuctoo. You may laugh, friends," continued the man of merriment, "but mark my words, they will do great things. The wilderness will become a fruitful field. How do I prove that? They will cut canals throughout the deserts, and in time, instead of the senna and coloquintida, the gussab, and the palm, and the date tree will flourish on the sandy waste.

* Religious farewell.