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 coming from the mainland, before the wind, direct to the island, I doubted not that they were coming to anchor there, and being uncertain what sort of people they might be, whether friends or foes, I thought it not safe for me to be seen, so I got up into a very thick tree, from whence I might safely look at them. The vessel came into a little creek. Ten slaves landed, carrying a spade and other instruments for digging. They went towards the middle of the island, where I saw them stop and dig the ground for a long while, after which I thought I saw them lift up a trap-door. They returned again to the vessel, and unloaded provisions and furniture, which they carried to the place where they had broken ground, and so went downward, which made me suppose it was a subterranean dwelling.

Once more I saw them go to the ship, and soon return with an old man, who led a very handsome lad by the hand, of about fourteen or fifteen years of age. They all went down at the trapdoor. When they came up again they let down the trap-door, and covered it over with earth, and returned to the creek where the ship lay. But I saw not the young man in their company; this made me believe that he remained behind in that place underground, at which I could not but be extremely astonished.

The old man and the slaves went aboard again, and the vessel being got under sail, steered its course towards the mainland. When they were too far off to see me, I came down from the tree, and went direct to the place where I had seen the ground broken. I removed the earth by degrees till I found a stone two or three feet square. I lifted it up, and saw that it covered the head of the stairs, which were also of stone. I went down, and came into a large room, where there was a carpet, and a couch covered with tapestry, and cushions of rich stuff, upon which the young man sat, with a fan in his hand. I saw all this, also the fruits and flower-pots he had standing about him, by the light of two tapers. The young lad was startled at the sight of me, but to rid him of his fear I said as I came in, 'Whoever you are, sir, do not fear anything: a king, and the son of a king, as I am, is not capable of doing you any harm. On the contrary, it is probable that your destiny has brought me hither to deliver you out of this