pected that he would be animated only with feclings of injustice and tyranny, and a thirst for wealth. In vain were they informed that the Count was mild, humane, and equitable; they repeated one to the other, 'He is a Spaniard,' and these words conveyed the most energetic expression of hatred. Religion had not yet mod. ified these impetuous feelings; her sublime mor. ality was hitherto unknown to the Indians. Their rulers had merely compelled them to observe a few exterior ceremonies, and they still retained a great portion of their former superstition and idolatry. ercised, ever since the conquest of America, a secret vengeance, which had not yet roused the suspicion of any Spaniard; they had been forced to yield to their oppressors the gold and dia. monds of the new world; but they had conceal. ed from them treasures more precious and more useful to humanity. Though they had resigned to them all the luxury of nature, they had exclusively reserved real benefits to themselves.They alone knew the powerful counter-poisons and wonderful antidotes which cautious nature, or rather Providence, has distributed over these regions, as remedies against extreme disorders. The Indians alone were aware of the admirable virtues of the bark of Quinquina, and by a solemn and faithfully observed compact, by the most dreadful and frequently renewed oaths, they had pledged themselves never to reveal to their oppressors these important secrets.* wein mining, the Indiana had or Amidst the rigors of slavery, the Indians had always maintained a kind of internal government among themselves; they nominated a chief, whose mysterious functions consisted in assembling them together during the night, at certain periods, to renew their oaths, and sometimes for the purpose of marking out victims among their enemies. The Indians of the town ships, who enjoyed greater privileges than those who were subjected to service in the palace of the Viceroy, and who were employed in the public works, never failed to join these nocturnal assemblies, which were held among the mountains in desert places, the only access to which was by roads, which appeared impassable to the Europeans. But these retreats were to them, if not the happy asylums of liberty, at least the sole refuge which could protect them against tyranny. At this time their secret and supreme chief, (for they had several,) was named Ximeo. Irritated by misfortune and private injustice, his soul, though naturally great and generous, had long since been a stranger to every mild and tender sentiment. A feeling of vehement indignation, which no principle tended to repress, had, by daily increase, at length ren. dered him cruel and ferocious. But the base and cowardly atrocity of poisoning was repugnant to his character. He himself had never employed this horrible instrument of revenge; he had even interdicted it to his companions, and every act of villany committed in that way was done in contradiction to his will. Ximeo was a father; he had an only son named Mirvan, whom he fondly loved, and whom he had inspired with a portion of his hatred of the Span. iards, Mirvin was young, handsome, and gen * These details are all historical, || erous. About three years before, he had been sure of this secret, which our countrymen have married to Zuma, the most beautiful of all the kept locked in their bosoms for more than two Indian women in the environs of Lima. The hundred years! . . . . Judge then, wheth tenderness and sensibility of Zuma were equaler we can invest a punishment sufficiently severe to the charms of her person; she formed the for him who may betray it! . . . . For happiness of her husband, and lived only for my own part, I once more swear that if there him and for a child two years of age, of which be an Indian among us capable of such a crime, that he shall perish only by my hand; and should she was the mother. he have a wife, and children sucking at their mother's breast, I swear to plunge my poinard Another chief, named Azan, next to Ximeo, possessed the greatest ascendance over the In dians. Azan was violent and cruel, and no nat- in their hearts! This ferocious speech was not pronounced without a design. Azan hated the young Mirvan, the son of Ximeo, not merely because he did not car ural virtue tempered the instinct of fury by which he was constantly animated. These two chiefs believed themselves of illustrious origin; they boasted of their descent from the royal racery his animosity against the Spaniards to a suf of the Incas. ficient length, but above all, because Mirvan, the A few days after the arrival of the new Vice- adored husband of the beautiful Zuma, and the roy, Ximeo convoked, for the following night, a father of a charming child, was happy. The nocturnal meeting on the hill of the Tree of wicked are always unfortunate, and always unHealth, thus they designated the tree from happy, and envious. Azan,' replied Mirvan, ‘it which is obtained the Quinquina, or Peruvian is possible to keep one's promise without posses. bark. 'My friends,' he said, when they had all sing your ferocity; no one here is capable of collected, a new tyrant is about to reign over || perjury; your menaces can therefore excite no us: let us repeat our oaths of just revenge! A terror, and are useless. We all know that in las! we dare utter them only when we are sur- excuse for cruelty you neither want a traitor to rounded by darkness! Unhappy children of the pursue, nor a crime to punish!' Azan, irritated Sun! we are reduced to conceal ourselves amidst was about to reply; but Ximeo prevented vio. the shades of night! . . . . Let us renew, lent dispute, by representing the imprudence and around the Tree of Health, the awful contract || danger of uselessly prolonging these clandestine which binds us forever to conceal our secrets! assemblies, and all immediately dispersed. Ximeo then, in a more elevated and firm voice, pronounced the following words: We swear never to discover to the children of Europe the divine virtues of this sacred tree, the only trea-rying baskets of flowers, assembled at the gates sure which remains to us! Wo to the faithless and perged Indian, who being seduced by false virtues, or fear, or weakness, shall reveal this secret to the destroyers of his gods, of his sovereigns, and of his country! Wo to the coward, who shall make a gift of this treasure of health to the barbarians who have enslaved us, and whose ancestors burned our temples and cities, invaded our plains, and bathed their hands in the blood of our fathers, after having inflicted on them unheard of torments! Let The Indians being forced to dissemble, main. tained an appearance of respect and submission. A numerous troop of young Indian women, car of Lima, to receive the vice-queen. Zuma was at their head, and the Countess was so struck with her beauty, her grace, and the gentle ex. pression of her countenance, that in a few days she expressed a wish to have her among the num. ber of Indian slaves, who were employed in the interior of the palace for the service of the vicequeen. The Countess quickly conceived such a friendship for Zuma, that she attached her to the private service of her chamber and person. This favor seemed an act of imprudence in the them keep the gold which they have wrested eyes of Beatrice, whose mind was so preposses. from us, and of which they are insatiable; that sed by the accounts she had heard of the perfidy gold which has cost them so many crimes: but of the Indians, that notwithstanding the natural we will at least reserve to ourselves this gift of generosity of her character, she yielded to every Heaven! . . . . Should a traitor ever arise || sinister alarm and every black suspicion which amongst us, we swear to pursue and exterminate gloomy distrust and terror were capable of inhim, though he should be our father, our brother, spiring: she was excusable; it was her friend's or our son! We swear, should he be engaged in safety, and not her own, that excited her appre the bonds of marriage, to pursue in him his wife hensions. She observed with distress the friend. and children, if they have not been his accusers; ship of the vice-queen for an Indian female, and and if his children are in the cradle, to sacrifice the women of the Countess conceived an extreme them, so that his guilty race may be forever ex-jealousy of Zuma. They took advantage of the tinct!. . . . My friends, pronounce from your inmost souls these formidable oaths, the for. || mula of which was bequeathed to you by your grandfathers, and which you have already so ma ny times repeated!' . 'Yes, yes!' the Indians exclaimed with one voice, 'we pronounce all these imprecations against him who shall betray this secret; we swear to keep it with inviolable fidelity, to endure the most dreadful torments, and even death itself, rather than reveal it. weakness of Beatrice, to fill her mind with prejudice: they represented Zuma as being false, dissembling, and ambitious, and one who fancied that her pleasing person would pardon every act of presumption; that she was far from loving the Countess, and that she entertained an invet crate abhorrence of the Spaniards. They soOOD went still greater lengths, and attributed to her the most extravagant discourse. Beatrice did not indeed give credit to all that was related to her, but she conceived a degree of inquietude and 'Look back,' said the ferocious Azan, 'on the distrust, which inspired her with a real aversion early days of our subjection, at that terrible pe- for Zuma. This enmity became the stronge riod when millions of Indians were put to the when she found that Zuma was immoveably fir torture, not one would save his life by the disclo-ed in the good graces of the vice-queen, wh daily testified more and more attachment toward a day or two. The physician, overjoyed, pro- || exclaimed, 'I am inspired by thee! the object of so much hatred, injustice, and cal-nounced her recovery almost certain, suspicion I can only save her life by sacrificing my own; umny. Zuma, on her part, entertained the ten-gradually slumbered, and Beatrice seemed re- my resolution is fixed-I will never disclose the derest affection for the Countess; nevertheless, stored to new existence. She did not, however, mighty secret. .. My death will to avoid disagreeable scenes, she almost wholly revoke the private orders she had given, for sc-expiate my compassion, even in their eyes: beconfined herself to her own chamber, and scl-cretly watching Zuma, and never permitting her sides, they will never suspect such an act of dedom appeared except when the Countess requi- to enter the chamber in which were deposited votion, and will attribute her cure to the help of red her services. the various medicial draughts prepared for the medicine. I shall neither endanger the safety Countess. of Mirvan, nor my child; I shall not betray the secrets of my countrymen: I shall die, but the Countess will live! What signifies the existence of poor Zuma! . . And how pre The Viceroy spared no endeavors to render himself beloved by the Indians; but the latter had known instances of several Viceroys having manifested mildness, justice, and affability at the commencement of their government, who afterwards belied all these happy promises.Thus the real goodness of the Count made no favorable impression upon them. They regard. ed it as hypocrisy or weakness, occasioned by fear on account of the sudden death of the secretary of his predecessor. Yes, by the sacred light of the Amidst all these different agitations, the thoughts of the innocent and sensible Zuma were turned wholly on the vice-queen, whom she loved with all the sincerity of a pure and grateful soul. She cious is the life of that daughter of heaven, who was afflicted to the utmost, on reflecting that has employed her power only to assist the unfor there existed an infallible remedy to which she tunate and console the afflicted; that generous dared not direct her. Zuma well knew the hor. protectress of all who pine in poverty and slaverible oaths by which the Indians had boundry, and whose faltering voice, but now, sent themselves never to reveal this secret. Had her || forth a prayer for the cruel Indians who suffer own life alone been marked out as the sacrifice, || her to languish! Oh, my benefactress! even The Countess had now resided about four she would not for a moment have hesitated to di- though surrounded by the shades of death, you months at Lima, and a visible decline had taken || vulge all she knew; but her husband and her did not forget your faithful Zuma! I heard place in her health. This distressing change son must have been the certain victims of such your lips pronounce a blessing on her name! was at first attributed to the burning heat of the a declaration: finally, she was aware that the climate; but her indisposition daily augmenting, vindictive Ximeo, the better to insure himself of sun, I swear that I will save you! With these alarm was entertained for her safety, and she her discretion, had placed her beloved child as a words, Zuma wrapped up the powder of the was at length suddenly attacked with a tertian hostage in the hands of the ferocious Azan and || Quinquina, concealed it in her bosom, and rose fever. Every remedy known at that period was Thamis, another Indian chief, who, though less from her chair; then suddenly stopping, she beemployed without effect. The anxiety of Bea- cruel than Azan, was animated by an equal ha- gan to reflect on the means of introducing herselı » trice knew no bounds; she privately questioned tred of the Spaniards. Zuma, therefore, dared unperceived into the closet where the drink inthe physician who had come from Spain in the not confide her grief to Mirvan; she smothered tended for the Countess was placed. She had no suite of the Viceroy, but who, regarding the her tears, and deplored her fate in silence. Her idea of the suspicions entertained against her, case as hopeless, spoke in a mysterious way, and affliction was suddenly increased, for the feeble nor of the precautions which had been adopted even hinted that he attributed the illness of the hope which had been entertained of the Coun- to render this closet inaccessible to her as well. Countess to some extraordinary cause, of which tess's recovery soon vanished; the fever returned as the rest of the Indian slaves; she merely sup.t he could give no account. His air of dismay, with redoubled violence, the physician declared || posed that since the illness of the vice-queen, and apparent wish to conceal his opinion, all her life to be in danger, and that the Countess her Spanish women had appropriated to themtended to inspire Beatrice with the horrible idea could not support another such attack, should it selves the task of attending on her person, either that her friend was dying by the effect of slow be renewed within twelve days or a fortnight!|| through fear or jealousy, or one of those customs poison! .. . . She enjoyed not a . . . Universal dismay prevailed through- to which she had heard them so frequently almoment's rest: though she cautiously hid her out the palace! This cruel declara. lude, and which they termed 'etiquette.' She suspicions from the Countess, and even from the tion plunged the Count and Beatrice into despair, resolved to enter the closet during the night, af. Count, yet she found it impossible to dissemble and rent the heart of Zuma. The vice-queen, ter the maid who slept there had retired to rest; with two of the Countess's women, who used who was fully aware of her situation, manifest- and in case of her being discovered, she had deevery effort to strengthen the notion she had im-ed as much courage as gentleness and piety; the termined to say, anxiety had induced her to quit bibed. ... But who could have com- resignation of the happiest life, when accompa- her chamber to inquire after the state of the mitted this horrible crime? .None nied by the consciousness of perfect purity, is al- Countess. At the same time, wishing to ascer but Zuma! Zuma, who was ways a calm sacrifice: she received, by her own tain whether she could introduce herself into the privileged to enter the apartment of the vice-desire, all her sacraments. She took a tender closet without passing through the apartment of queen at every hour! . . . . But Zuma, the vice-queen, she descended into a long corriwhom the Countess had overwhelmed with acts dor, and having looked cautiously around her, of bounty! . . . . What interest could she discovered a small side door, which, as she have prompted her to this atrocity! Hatred is had previously supposed, communicated with ever ready with replies to serve her own purposes. the closet: the key was in the lock, and she deZuma was hypocritical, vain, and ambitious, and termined to enter in this way during the night. she moreover entertained a secret and criminal She then speedily returned to her chamber. passion for the Viceroy ! || farewell of her friend and her husband, having exhorted the latter to watch over the happiness of the Indians, and particularly that of her dear Zuma; and she resigned herself wholly to the consolations of religion. Zuma, who had been a witness to this pathetic scene, could no longer withstand the excess of her grief; her health, which had been in a declining state for the space word, she was an Indian, and had been famil.of three months, now yielded to the weight of iarized from her infancy with the blackest of her affliction, and she was attacked that very crimes! In a Beatrice for some time labored to repel these horrible suspicions, but she beheld the health of her friend rapidly declining, and her terror no longer allowed her to reason and observe with her own eyes; she lent a ready ear to every ac. cusation, and gave credit to the most extrava. gant calumny. In the meanwhile, the Viceroy experienced the bitterest anguish of mind, and without imagining the commission of any crime, be felt the utmost alarm at the long continuation of the Countess indisposition. However, a favorable change in the state of the patient kindled a ray of hope, which beamed for the space of In conformity with the orders of Beatrice, Zu ma's conduct was watched with the utmost mi. nuteness, and the servants hastened to inform evening with the disorder which threatened the Beatrice that Mirvan had been to visit her that life of the Countess, the tertian fever. After very day; that one of the maids who had been she had sustained two or three violent attacks, stationed at the door to listen to their conversaMirvan, with the consent of the Indians, secret- tion, had not been able to collect a single word ly conveyed to her the precious powder which in consequence of the low tone of voice in which was to operate her cure, on condition, however, they discoursed, but that Mirvan was excessive. that she should not be entrusted with it in any ly agitated on departing; that Zuma had delarge quantity, but should daily receive an al- scended the staircase, had searched about the lowance sufficient for one dose. Zuma received corridor, examining every door, and that on dis in the morning the first dose, which was to be covering that which led into the closet, she inditaken before she retired to rest in the evening cated evident signs of fear, lest she should be When she was alone, she looked steadfastly on surprised, and that she finally escaped to her the powder, her countenance was bathed in tears, own apartment. Beatrice shuddered at this and raising her eyes to heaven, 'Great God! she recital; she immediately foresaw that Zuma en accused, I voluntarily share your fate. Zuma, let us die in silence, let us die morse. Dare I hope for your forgiveness! 'Let us not accuse our judges of cruelty,' he replied, "the tyrants who condemn us deliver us from a horrible yoke; a few hours will free us from the bonds of slavery". . . . . These words moved the obdurate heart of Azan himself; 'Mirvan,' said he, be not concerned for the fate of your son-he shall be as dear to me as if he were my own! It was now nine in the morning, and orders were given for the erection of the fatal pile. The vice-queen was dying; the physician an. About one hour after sunset, the scrvants came to inform Beatrice that Zuma was descend- with courage, and our child will still live...nounced to the Viceroy that every hope had ing the staircase, but without any light, and with all the precautions of mystery and fear. Beatrice and the Count immediately proceeded to their place of concealment. In a few mo. ments they heard the door gently open, and Zuma appeared. She was pale and trembling; she walked slowly, and with apparent effort. Zuma understood the real meaning of these words; she made no reply, but her face was bathed in tears. The examination commenced. Zuma was unable to deny the facts to which Beatrice and the Viceroy had been witnesses. She was asked from whom she received the . . She looked around the chamber with a powder. She received it from me,' exclaimed countenance which announced distress and fear; Mirvan. Zuma denied this, still protesting that she listened for some time at the door which her husband was entirely ignorant of her decommunicated with the apartment of the vice- signs. And what were your designs ?' inquired queen; all was silent! . ... Zuma the judge; did you not intend to poison the then approached the table, on which a medicinal vice-queen? why else did you make use of this draught had been placed in a decanter of crys-powder? did you fancy that you were employ. tal, for the purpose of being administered to the ing a salutary remedy ?' At Countess. She drew from her bosom the paper this question Zuma trembled; her eyes at this containing the Quinquina powder, opened it, and moment met those of the cruel Azan; his shook the powder into the decanter. The Vice-threatening glance filled her with horror; she roy, seized with horror, rushed into the closet, exclaiming, 'Wretched woman! what have you thrown into the liquor?' At this unexpected sight-at this terrible question -Zuma started with dismay; the decanter fell from her hands, and shivered into pieces; she threw herself into a chair, uttering the words, I am undone ! . and swooned away. fancied she beheld him strangling her child. vanished, that it was impossible she could sup. port three more fits of fever, and that six or sev en days at most would terminate her existence. The Count, in a paroxysin of despair, could entertain no thought of mercy; besides, regarding Zuma as the most execrable monster that nature had ever produced, he was divested of all feeling of compassion for her. He gave orders that a pardon should be offered to Mirvan, on condition of his making a sincere confession of his crime. Tell the Viceroy,' answered Mirvan, 'that even though he promise me the life of Zuma, he shall never draw from me another syllable" The Viceroy did not wish to be in Lima during this dreadful execution. He therefore departed for one of his pleasurc-houses, situated about half a league from the city, intending not to return until the evening. The wretched Ximeo vainly devised a thousand different projects, all tending to save Mir van and Zuma. He anxiously wished to assem. ble his friends; but during the whole of the morning the Indians were so closely watched that he found no possibility of secretly conver sing with Azan and Thamir. A proclamation was issued ordering all the Indians in Lima to attend the execution. They were without arms; the Spanish guard were doubled and ranged round the pile. In addition to this, the unfortu The judges had been directed neither to em nate victims were escorted by two hundred sol. ploy torture, nor to make any inquiry respecting || diers. Ximeo found himself compelled to sub. accomplices. They removed Ximeo, and Mir.mit to his fate-he was overwhelmed with des van and Zuma were conveyed back to prison. pair, and resolved to throw himself on the pile The Countess's physician appeared, and was exwith his children, amined. He declared that the illness of the Whilst the whole city, filled with consternavice-queen having baffled the most efâcacious tion, awaited this dreadful spectacle, the viceremedies, and being accompanied by extraordin- queen, still ignorant of the tragical event, was ary symptoms, horrible suspicions at length a stretched upon her bed of sickness, weaker and rose in his mind, and that the act in which Zuma more afflicted than ever. Since six in the morn had been detected leaving no room to doubt the ing, all her attendants had evinced the utmost atrocity of her design, had confirmed him in an agitation. This at length attracted the notice idea which he had long endeavored to repel; that of the Countess. She made inquiries, and plainfinally he no longer doubted that this perversely perceived that Beatrice wished to conceal slave had administered a slow poison to the vicequeen; and that finding herself excluded from the service of the chamber, and fearing lest the youth of the Countess and the attention which was devoted to her might in course of time over come the effects of a poison which had been sparingly administered, she intended to consummate her crime by a powerful dose. At this detail the judges were nearly petrified with horror; they collected the votes, and condemned Mirvan and Zuma to perish amidst the flames of a pile, that very day at noon. They were again brought into court. Mirvan heard his sentence with heAt break of day, the counsel assembled to ex-roic firmness. Zuma, bathed in tears, threw amine and pass sentence on Mirvan and Zuma. herself at this feet. I have sacrificed you,' The doors of the court were thrown open, and she exclaimed, that thought fills me with re Zuma was conveyed to her chamber. The Count and Beatrice deemed it prudent to conceal this supposed crime from the knowledge of the vice-queen; she, said the Count, will sue for mercy on this wretch, whom no consideration on earth can induce me to pardon; there must be an example, and I am resolved to make one.It was soon proclaimed through the palace and the city, that Zuma had been detected in an attempt to poison the vice-queen. That very evening she was delivered into the hands of justice. and conveyed to prison. Mirvan hastened in search of Azan and Thamir; the hand of death was already on his heart, and he could only utter the following words: 'My son is already in your power. At least promise, on condition that we keep this secret inviolably, that after our death you will restore the child to my father.' We swear to do so,' answered Azan, but you are well aware that his life must be the forfeit of the least indiscretion! We know how to die! replied Mirvan. With these words he quitted the ferocious Indian,and voluntarily committed himself to prison. He could easily guess the act which Zuma had attenipted, but to explain it and justify her, would have been to abandon his child to the rage of the ferocious Azan; he therefore resolved to die with his wretched wife.. something from her, and that she imposed silence with the assistance of her women she rose, and ... unconquerable terror! .. The whelmed with superfluous regret. Indians had already ranged themselves round But, these trembling hands which I press within the pile in sad consternation; they all held in my own, fortify my courage-the very sight of their hands a branch of cypress, as an emblem these unfortunate beings diffuses calmness and of mourning; they were surrounded by Span- confidence through my soul! . . 'Oh, ish guards. . A noise was sud- my benefactress said Zuma, suffocated with denly heard at some distance; a horseman at grief, 'should Heaven frustrate my only hope, Twelve full gallop appeared within view, exclaiming, || it will then be seen whether the wretched Zuma At this mo-Hold! hold! by order of the vice-queen-she loved you! No! I can never survive you! is approaching! . . At these words all were struck motionless; Zuma folded her hands, and sent forth a supplication to Heaven; but her soul, weighed down by terror, was not yet penetrated by the faintest gleam of hope! At length the litter of the vice-queen was perceived; she urged her slaves to advance with the utmost speed-and she quickly reached the fatal spot. The Span. ish guards ranged themselves round the vicequeen, and the Indians formed a semicircle before her. The Countess then raised her veil, and discovered a pale and languishing countenance, but full of grace and gentleness, and which was itself a speaking emblem of mercy! 'I do not possess,' said she, ment Mirvan and Zuma, on foot, loaded with chains, quitted their prison to undergo the ex ecution of their sentence. Zuma, who was scarcely able to support herself, rested on the arm of a priest, and was guarded by two soldiers; immense crowds had collected to sec them. Amidst the multitude she perceived Azan, bearing her child in his arms, and making an effort to attract her observation. At this sight she uttered a piercing shriek, a maternal shrick, which vibrated through every heart. But collecting her strength, that she might once again embrace the adored child, she disengaged herself from the hands of the priest and the soldiers, and darted toward A. . Azan placed the child. zan... on the palpitating bosom of Zuma. The wretch-the happy right of granting pardon; but it is the more inviolable.' ...... hours maintained the most obstinate silence. The vice-queen, before proceeding to the pile to save Zuma, had despatched a messenger to the Count to hasten his return to the palace.— She every moment expected him, and was astonished that he had not yet arrived. She was about to send off another courier, when an extraordinary clamor was heard throughout the pal At these words Beatrice shuddered. Detestable hypocrisy she exclaimed. 'Do not insult them,' said the Countess. "They repent; sec! they shed tears! . . . . Ah, Zuma,' pursued she, 'you, whose gentle figure bespoke a celestial soul! . . . . . you whom I have so dearly loved-how can I entertain the slightest resentment against you ? ..... I look upon you both as the instruments of my eternal happiness; I forgive you with a willing heart; may you return to the consolation of religion with equal sincerity.'. . . . . . Zuma, almost driven to distraction, was about to speak, and perhaps to reveal a part of the secret which weighed a thousand times more heavily upon her mind, than if she had only had her own life to defend; but Mirvan interrupted her: 'Zuma,' a favor which I am certain of obtaining from said he, 'let us be silent; the voice of the vice. the goodness of the Viceroy. In the mean. queen will bring down the truth from Heavenwhile, I take under my protection and safeguard let us place our trust in the God whom she these two unfortunate creatures; let their chains invokes-He will save her precious life, and will be taken off--extinguish without delay this ter- justify us.' . . . . These words were pronoun. ... Oh! Irific pile, which should never have been kind-ced in so sincere a tone, and with so solemn an wish for no revenge,' answered Zuma. Alas! led, had I been sooner informed of the event.' air, that they made a powerful impression even At these words, the Indians on Beatrice. The vice-queen wished to interrowere it possible to save the vice-queen!' .. She could not utter more-the sol-threw down their branches of cypress, and the gate Mirvan, but in vain; he entreated that she diers came to lead her away; the hand of death air resounded with reiterated cries of Long would question him no further, and for two Ximeo was upon her when they tore her from her live the vice-queen! . . . child; and at that terrible moment she seemed rushed forward, exclaiming, Yes, she shall live! Zuma threw herself on to be offering up the sacrifice of her life.. her knees: Almighty God!' said she, finish The procession advanced; they were scarcely the work Thou hast begun! . three hundred paces from the place of execution. The vice-queen signified her wish that Mirvan At this moment a mournful trumpet announced and Zuma should follow her. She caused them the approach of the victims-the resinous wood to be placed near her litter, and in this manner which formed the top of the pile was kindled. returned to the palace, followed by an immense They entered an alley of multitude, who enthusiastically invoked blesplane trees, at the end of which they boheld the sings on her clemency and goodness. Having fatal spot, and the flames which seemed to min-arrived at the palace, she threw herself on her gle with the clouds. At this terrible spectacle bed, and expressed a desire that Mirvan and Zuma shrunk back with horror. At that mo- Zuma should enter her apartment. They did ment she was delivered from the torment of so, and placed themselves at her bedside. Ow-deliverers replied the Viceroy, entering the thinking on her husband and child. Stupor ing to the agitation, fatigue, and distress of apartment. All were petrified with amazement. succeeded to sensibility, and the idea of her ap-mind which the Countess had undergone, her The Viceroy held a lovely boy in his arms. Zuma uttered a shriek of joy: it was her child. proaching destruction now wholly occupied her strength was so completely exhausted, that she mind. She saw before her inevitable death-fancied herself to be bordering on the last mo- The Viceroy rushed forward, placed the child She upon her bosom, and prostrated himself at her and death under the most horribly threatening ments of her existence! .. Ximco followed him, and addressed aspect! . . . . Her strength failed stretched forth one hand to Mirvan and the other feet. her; the frozen blood no longer circulated in to Zuma, who, bathed in tears, fell on her knees himself to Mirvan: You may now speak,' said Beatrice could he, 'with the consent of all the Indians--the se her veins; her face was tinged with mortal to receive it! no longer support this scene, and she entreated cret is revealed-we have all tasted the powder paleness; and though not in a state of total unconsciousness, she sunk into the arms of the the Countess to suffer the two Indians to be in the presence of the Viceroy-he himself inpriest, who, notwithstanding her repeated and removed, under guard, to another chamber.sisted on partaking of it himself before he vagno protestations, still exhorted her to re- No, no!' said the vice-queen, 'I will answer brought it here.'., . . At these words, Zuma, pentance! .. 'Zuma,' said Mir- for them here, and will do so before the Su- transported, almost drowned in tears, strained van, 'our sufferings will not be of long duration;preme Arbiter, by whom we shall all be judged! her child within her arms, and returned thanks to Heaven. Mirvan embraced his father-the behold those whirlwinds of smoke-we shall be Suffocated in a few moments! vice-queen asked a thousand questions in a breath. The Count briefly related all that the Indians had revealed to him. Great Heaven! exclaimed the Countess, throwing her arms round the neck of Zuma, this angelic creature would have laid down her life to s Ah replied Zama, in a voice scarcely audible, "I see nothing but fire! thing but flame! vanced. Oh! leave them here! they are sent to open for me the gates of heaven! Great God said Beatrice, must .... ... she was on the verge of being sacrificed! . . . the wife of the virtuous Mirvan,and the preserver | geon daily for his prescriptions. The surgeon The vice-queen and Zuma were quickly freed QUEEN, AND BENEFACTRESS OF THE OLD WORLD. On each side of this obelisk a Tree of Health was planted, that blessed tree, sanctified by so many virtues, and which among the Indians afterward became the emblem of every virtue which does honor to humanity. The Viceroy Zuma by the hand, he opened a window, and lost no time in sending to Europe the precious doubt, with the pleasing anticipation of being in led them out on a balcony overlooking the principal street in the city, which was at that time filled with Spaniards and Indians. 'Herc,' said he, pointing to Mirvan and Zuma, 'here are the voluntary victims of gratitude, generous sentiment, and the sanctity of oaths! . . . . In. dians, their sublime virtues, and those of the vice-queen, have led you to abjure a hatred for merly too pardonable, but now unjust! you have, by a unanimous wish, freed yourselves from the cruel oath formed by revenge; instead of our secret enemies,you have become the benefactors of the Old World! To render you happy will henceforth be not merely the duty of humanity, but of gratitude-and that duty shall be fulfil led. Indians, all who in this memorable assem bly have come to sacrifice feelings of resentment to admiration and pity-Indians, you are free! such sentiments place you on a footing of equality with your conquerers ! Enjoy this glory! Virtue has effected your liberation! . . ... powder of the Quinquina, which was long known the enjoyment of property, it is said, to the enor STRIKING DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ANATOMY OF THE NEGRO AND WHITE MAN.-An extraordina. ry fact was lately discovered, on the examination of a number of skulls of negroes from the west coast of Africa. It was found that the 'sagittal suture' was entirely wanting in all the skulls cxamined, of a people inhabiting the coast be. tween the Gatson and Congo rivers. If this be indeed a specific distinction, it is certainly a re. Curran said to Grattan, You would be the greatest man of our age, if you would buy a few yards of red tape, and tie up your bills and papers.' A ROMANCE OF REAL LIFE. Robert Taylor, according to his own account, is the son of the late Lord Kennedy, who married his mother twelve months after his birth.-markable one. His mother dying when he was young, his fa. Love your sovereign, and serve him with ther ordered him to be put to nurse; and a wo fidelity. Let the Tree of Health' flourish on man named Robinson, in the City road, Lonthe land which will be distributed among you. don, received 1100 a year, and 71 a week to take Reflect, when you cultivate it, that the whole care of him. When about seven years of age universe is indebted to you for this blessing of he was stolen by some gipsies, who deserted him the Creator.'. . . . This address excited uni- at Bilston, where a collier picked him up, and versal enthusiasm, and the Viceroy, wishing to he was employed in the pits. It happened in terminate the day by the triumph of Zuma, the meantime, that Lord Kennedy died; and gave orders that she should be attired in a mag- having no lawful issue, he bequathed the great nificent dress-a crown of laurel was placed up- portion of his property to the subject of this naron her head, and she was scated on a superb rative. Inquiries were instituted in all direc. chair of state; all the ladies of the court of the tions to find him out; and advertisements fully vice-queen placed themselves in her suite; she describing his person, and some peculiar marks A lady inquired of Jekyl the distinction between an was attended by the vice-queen's guard of hon- upon his arms were inserted in the leading jour-attorney and a soliciter. 'Madam,' replied the sarcasor; a herald on horseback preceded the retinue,nals. Just at this time he was taken ill at Bil- tic wit exactly the same as exists between a crocodile amine an "cing the following words, 'BeholdZuma, ston, and was in the habit of attending a sur- and an alligator. The doors of the Avoid argument with ladies. In spinning a yarn among silks and satins, a man is sure to be worsted, Read good books, seek out good companions, attend to good counsel, and imitate good examples. |