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After their repast they proceeded to many ludicrous and laughable diversions. The first class of these consisted of wanton gestures, leaping springing, tumbling, and laughing, so that I could clearly see the roof of their mouths, and root of their tongues; after which they turn their frightful eyes in a very quick motion, innumerable ways extended and contracted their savage visages into various shapes and figures, making such grins and grimaces, as gave them a most horrible appearance; they then concluded their most ridiculous merriment with screening screaming and shouting, in a manner truly hideous, Their chief ordered me to imitate their ludicrous gestures which I accordingly attempted, but I was unable to perform any thing to his satisfaction. These diversions being concluded, the whole tribe lay down around the fire to sleep.
Words are greatly insufficient to convey a just idea of my unhappy condition at this critical juncture. Being entirely diverted of all Christian society, and surrounded in the silent hours of midnight, by a company of frightful savages, the very thoughts of which struck terror to my trembling heart; I was nearly reduced to the deplorable fate of putting a period to my own existence: but the God who made me, miraculously prevented me from the perpetration of such a horrid crime. I was mercifully led to a serious consideration of the never dying essence with which I was invested; that I was not only com-
