I took her and brought her here, and as her guardian I have asked you to meet me to-night, that I may choose her a husband, as it is my duty to do.

I cannot keep her myself, for among the settled people near Mozambique, where I am going to live, her presence might lead to awkward questions.

So I will be generous and pass her on to another.
"But to whom shall I give this prize, this pearl, this sweet and lovely maid?
Among so many worthy gentlemen how can I set one above the others and declare him most deserving of the girl?
I cannot, so I must leave it to chance, for I know that Heaven will choose better than I.Therefore to him who is ready to make the largest present to me I will give this maid, to comfort him with her love; to make a present, mind you, not to pay a price.

Still, perhaps, it will be best that the amount of the donation should be ascertained in the usual way, by bidding--in ounces of gold, if you please! "One condition more, there shall be nothing irregular in this matter, my friends.

The Church shall have its say in it, and he whom I select must wed the maid, here, before us all.