wore not the reprobatory hue (as some men seem to think a tawny skin is) possessed by the other, and yet her sorrow was not less intense than hers whose complexion had made her a slave. In her arms she held a sweet infant, which, at intervals, she pressed to her bosom in convulsive agony, as she gazed with phrenzied emotion on the black, for whom her tears flowed so profusely. The scene was in all its parts a painfully interesting, and novel one. Humanitus felt it so; and, prompted by a strong desire to ascertain, if possible, the cause of so powerful a sympathy on the part of a white person—so unusual even in the female breast, in the brutalizing regions of slavery, towards a captive-he inquired of some who were connected with the sale, for a solution of the mystery.

A few words informed the inquirer, that the white person was the daughter of the late farmer, whose effects were now to be disposed of; and that the slave, over whom she so affectionately wept, was her foster-sister. From infancy they had been associates, in childhood and riper years they were undivided: the distinction which colour made, in the eyes of some, to them was not known. The marriage of the farmer's daughter was the first cause of separation they had ever known; and even then, a pain, such as sisters only feel at parting, was felt by each of them, as they said—farewell. She had retired with her husband to a distant part of the colony; and there received the mournful intelligence of her father's death, and

the account of the public sale of his property: included in this she was certain would be found the slave in question; her father's insolvent circumstances rendered this unavoidable. With an affection which distance, fatigue, and danger could not affect, she had travelled four hundred miles, cheered by the hope of being able to purchase her freedom.

The pleasing delusion which strengthened and encouraged her during the fatigue of her toilsome journey, fled as she reached the spot, where already her beloved foster-sister stood exposed for sale. Here she received the afflictive information, that several regular traffickers in human beings were present, who were able, and disposed to purchase her at a price much above that she was able to raise. Among the number was one from an adjacent town, who was fully acquainted with her worth, and he had declared his intention to possess her, although a sum should be set upon her head doubling the usual price of an ordinary slave.

The voice of female sorrow is powerfully eloquent, and is ever sufficient to move the heart with pity and commisseration-excepting the hearts of villains and cowards. Humanitus felt it deeply now, but the unfeeling bands by whom he was surrounded, experienced it not. No muscle of the hard, evil-faced slave-dealers was moved. Innumerable scenes of a similar description, had calcined every vestage of humanity, and left nothing in their sordid breasts but the brutal

or satanic avarice which their unnatural trade

had begotten.

While Humanitus was making his inquiries, receiving an answer, and commenting on the distressing circumstances, the sale was going on: a number of articles had been disposed of, and then a slave was brought forwards. The rapacious individuals before referred to pressed round her, and with a degree of cruelty and indelicacy which could only be displayed by such besotted and beastly-minded creatures, commenced their examination of her person; treating every bone and muscle of a being which bore the image of the great Creator, as if a beast of burden stood before them. She was soon disposed of; and then the slave to whom reference has been made already, was brought out, and after undergoing the same mode of examination, was put up for sale.

I will not attempt a description of the maiden glow of shame, and modest indignation which passed over her fine, open countenance, and lit up her large keen eye, as the treatment of the merciless dealers was forced upon her; nor the crushing agony which evidently wrung her soul, as she gazed, half franticly on her foster-sister; while the cruel jest, and little-minded laugh curled the lips of those by whom she was surrounded.Oh! no,-no;-attempt here would indeed be idleness, if not profanity: the feeling heart can better conceive of it, than the most eloquent and ready pen can find language to describe it.

The sale proceeded with unusual spirit, until it had reached the sum of two thousand Rix dollars. There was exhibited a strong feeling of rivalry among the dealers, concerning the slave for which they were bidding. Having, however, reached the sum stated, they flagged gradually: the contest evidently was subsiding; one after another ceased to bid, and at length, two only maintained the strife. One was the agent of a Clergyman's lady, who, it was known, would use her well: the other, the dealer, who had fully made up his mind to possess her for the purpose of letting her out as an animal of labour. Two thousand five hundred dollars was the last bid, and then a pause ensued. The dealer was now the highest bidder; expectation was on tip-toe; all eyes were turned towards the auctioneer, and "any advance ?" was asked, in an audible voice, silence continued, and the question was repeated,-when the attention of the company was diverted from the auction, by the appearance of three figures, who were descending the side of a mountain in the distance. appeared as if they were hastening to the sale; and the lot which was now up being an important one, the seller felt something like obligation to suspend the fall of the hammer until they reached the spot. The persons were soon discovered to be a gentleman on horseback, accompanied by two Hottentot servants on foot.

It

A few moments only elapsed, during which the auctioneer sipped some lemonade, to assist him the

better to support his future garrulity,—when the stranger rode up. A large military cloak enveloped his whole person, so as entirely to cut off all possibility of ascertaining who he might be. He almost immediately dismounted, and, giving his horse to one of his servants, surveyed the things around him with perfect indifference. The sale went on. Another bidding was made by the agent, the dealer followed, the agent bid again,-when, as if at once to close the protracted affair, the dealer shouted "Three thousand dollars." This ended the struggle between them. The agent retired. "Once, twice," responded the auction-man, "Is there no advance?"-He cast his eyes round the assembly with the inquisitiveness of his calling. Neither wink, nod, or voice, gave answer to his question: -a dead pause ensued,-it was fearful, but short. The hand of the auctioneer was again raised, when the poor slave, in a tone of sublimated agony, shrieked out, "Jesus, help me!" and, clasping her hands wildly, fell senseless on the ground.

The shriek of the unfortunate, thrilled through the ear of the stranger, and entered his soul; and while some simple means were employed to restore her to animation, he looked round, as if seeking information concerning what he had heard and still saw.

His gaze caught the eye of Humanitus, who instantly recognised in him an old friend. A brief, but graphic explanation was immediately furnished; and as the slave again returned to consciousness, the voice of the stranger was heard,