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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..998421a --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #71844 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/71844) diff --git a/old/71844-0_2023-10-09.txt b/old/71844-0_2023-10-09.txt deleted file mode 100644 index c4bc6da..0000000 --- a/old/71844-0_2023-10-09.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,10933 +0,0 @@ - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PLEASANT AND SURPRISING ADVENTURES OF ROBERT DRURY, DURING HIS FIFTEEN YEARS' CAPTIVITY ON THE ISLAND OF MADAGASCAR *** - - - - - - AUTOBIOGRAPHY. - - - =A Collection= - - OF THE - - MOST INSTRUCTIVE AND AMUSING - - LIVES - - EVER PUBLISHED, - - WRITTEN BY THE PARTIES THEMSELVES. - - WITH BRIEF INTRODUCTIONS, AND COMPENDIOUS SEQUELS CARRYING ON THE COURSE - OF EVENTS TO THE DEATH OF EACH WRITER. - - - VOLUME V.—ROBERT DRURY. - - - LONDON: - PRINTED FOR HUNT AND CLARKE, - TAVISTOCK-STREET, COVENT-GARDEN. - - - - - LONDON: - Printed by W. CLOWES, - Stamford-street. - - - - - THE - PLEASANT AND SURPRISING - ADVENTURES - OF - ROBERT DRURY, - DURING HIS - FIFTEEN YEARS’ CAPTIVITY - ON THE - ISLAND OF MADAGASCAR. - - WRITTEN BY HIMSELF. - - - LONDON:—1826. - PRINTED FOR HUNT AND CLARKE, - TAVISTOCK-STREET, COVENT-GARDEN. - - - - - LONDON: - Printed by WILLIAM CLOWES, - Stamford-street. - - - - - EDITOR’S PREFACE - - -Among the various attractions of “Autobiography,” that of singular and -extraordinary personal adventure, when faithfully related by the person -to whom it has occurred, is by no means the least alluring. The -shipwreck of Robert Drury, at the age of sixteen, in the Degrave East -Indiaman, on the southern coast of the island of Madagascar, in the year -1702, supplied a remarkable opportunity for one of those accurate -delineations of an isolated and barbarous people, which are at once so -amusing for their novelty, and instructive for the additional lights -which they throw upon the innumerable varieties of human situation and -character. The following volume affords a plain and unsophisticated -account of a fifteen years’ captivity or detention of the author (the -only one spared in consequence of his youth out of many murdered -shipmates) in an island, the interior of which, at that time, was little -known; but which, happily, at present seems likely to enter slowly into -the career of civilization. Obliged to conform to the usages of the -natives, and rendered to all intents and purposes a member of their -community, he necessarily became intimately acquainted with their -manners, customs, and proceedings; which, together with his own -adventures among them, he narrates in that plain and unpretending -manner, which in a writer of his class advances the strongest claims to -confidence. The veracity of Drury is, indeed, corroborated by the -journal, as far as it went, of Mr Bembo, son of the celebrated admiral -of that name, who was first mate of the Degrave, and who, by inducing a -part of the crew to refuse putting that trust in the islanders, which -was unfortunately placed in them by the murdered companions of Drury, -escaped their fate, and was enabled to get back to England. Our brief -sequel will also show that Drury was a steady man, and that he -maintained a very respectable character after his return. To conclude: -his book has been deemed so curious and interesting, not only for the -mention of the facts but the manner of detailing them, that the present -will form the _fourth_ edition; the first appearing in 1729, and the -second and third in 1743 and 1808. Thus much as to its merits; as to the -rest, works of this nature falling directly within the plan of the -proposed series, no apology is necessary for having an early recourse to -one of them in aid of the contrast and variety which is desirable in the -way of support and relief of so comprehensive an undertaking. - - - - - PREFACE - TO - _The Edition of Seventeen Hundred and Forty-three_. - - -As nothing is of a more amiable nature, so nothing makes a stronger and -more lasting impression on the mind, than truth; and whatever regard -some may pay to a wittily-contrived and ingenious tale, the best that -can be said of it is, that it is a gay delusion, and an idle amusement -exposed to view in the fairest and most advantageous light. - -The following historical narrative needs no such disguise or ornament to -recommend it; for captain W. Macket, (who, by his certificate, has -assured the public that he believed the account our author has given of -his surprising adventures to be just and true,) was not only a gentleman -of an unblemished character in regard to his honour and veracity, but -well known to be a man of too great a fortune and good sense to -countenance and give a public sanction to a trivial fable, or -imposition. Without doubt this gentleman, as well as the captains of -other ships, informed himself of a case so singular and surprising, for -at Yong-old, where he took the author on board, William Purser, a native -of Feraingher, was their linguist for some months; he spoke English -well, and knew Mr Drury there, and was an eye-witness to many of the -most doubtful adventures here related for several years together. - -The captain after this went to Munnongaro, or Massaleege; there he saw -Nicholas Dove, who was one of the boys shipwrecked in the Degrave, and -saved in the massacre in Anterndroea; besides the opportunity he had of -conversing with Mr Drury in their voyage to the West Indies, and after -to England. To this we may add, the second voyage Mr Drury made was also -in captain Macket’s service, though not in the ship under his command, -he being a principal proprietor in captain White’s ship and cargo, as -well as of his own and others. These circumstances were confirmed by the -captain, who added, that he had seen others in his last voyage there, as -well natives who spoke English, and knew Drury, as some who were saved -by flight with captain Drummond and others, with this particular -account, that this very captain Drummond was the man Mr Drury supposes -him to be, and that he was killed at Tullea, seven leagues to the -northward of Augustine-bay, by one Lewes, a Jamaica negro. Besides all -this, and the captain’s continued friendship to him to the last, even -our author himself, though in a lower station of life, was well known to -many persons of probity and worth now in London, who frequently -conversed with him while living, and who always esteemed him an -innocent, inoffensive man, free from all artifice and design. As this -was the character he had amongst his friends and acquaintance, we think -it would be needless, if not impertinent, to doubt of his veracity in -the relation of any one of his adventures, more especially after such -substantial proofs for the truth hereof. - -It is probable that the account here given of the religion of the -natives of Madagascar, may by some be thought a mere fiction, and -inserted with no other view than to advance some latitudinarian -principles; but so widely distant is this from the real case, that the -most to be suspected part of the conversation between deaan Murnanzack -and Mr Drury, on divine topics, is real fact as here related; and the -deaan’s ludicrous reflections on Adam’s rib, God’s converse with -mankind, and his creation of the world in six days, and his resting the -seventh, &c. his taking these things for Drury’s childish notions, and -saying they were old women’s stories, were delivered in that prince’s -own words. And if we consider the then circumstances of our author, that -he was but fourteen years of age when he set out on this unfortunate -voyage, his education at a grammar-school, and in the principles of the -established church; and that ever since his arrival in England, and -settlement in London, he has been firmly attached thereto, even to -bigotry; it would be very weak and absurd to suppose him capable, or -inclined to advance an imaginary conference with the deaan upon so -serious a topic, with no other motive than to favour free-thinking, or -natural religion, in opposition to that which was revealed, especially -as they are points about which he scarcely ever concerned himself. - -In all those places where religion, or the origin of governments are -casually mentioned, there are interspersed some occasional reflections, -which are not, properly speaking, the author’s, which is all the -artifice made use of throughout the whole. It must be owned that topics -so entertaining could not well be passed over, without making some -proper and useful applications: yet no motive, how tempting soever, -could prevail on the editor to alter any real fact, or add any one -single fiction of his own. Every transaction here related, as likewise -the character and conversation of every person introduced, are properly -Mr Drury’s own. - -The religion of the natives of Madagascar, some authors will have to be -Mahometanism; but without any manner of grounds for such a conclusion, -since it has no resemblance of it in any other particulars, than in -circumcision, and abstaining from their women at certain times, which -were common to some eastern nations long before the Jews had it; or, -indeed, where there is no reason to imagine that the name of the Jews -was once so much as heard of. - -There are good grounds, on the other hand, to conjecture, that the Jews -derived several of their religious ceremonies from them. For that their -religion is much more ancient, is plain from several reasons. First, -from their regard to dreams, and divining by them, which, by the Mosaic -law, the Israelites were expressly forbidden. Secondly, from their -shaving off their hair in mourning for their dead; whereas among the -Jews the growth of it is strictly commanded, and as superstitiously -observed to this day. Thirdly, from their sacrifices; as Moses commanded -none but males to be sacrificed; so, on the contrary, cows are the -greatest part of the Madagascar sacrifices, and are thought by these -people to be the most acceptable oblations to their Supreme Deity. They -have no burnt offerings but near their sepulchres, when occasionally -opened, which, with the gums burnt with them, serve for a defence -against all ill scents. Fourthly; but the most notable reason of all is, -that the owley, which these Madagascar people make use of for their -divinations, and procure their unusual or extraordinary dreams with, is -manifestly the ephod and teraphim, made use of by the Levite who lodged -in Micah’s house, as we read Judges xvii. and from which the Israelites -could never be wholly brought off, though directly repugnant to the law -of Moses, concerning which there seems to be no occasion for enlarging -farther in this place. - -That the people of Madagascar did not derive their religion from any -learned or polite nation, is evident by their retaining no idea or -remembrance of letters; nor their having a horse, or so necessary a -machine as a wheel of any kind, either for carriage or use, which could -never have been forgotten had they ever had them. That these Madagascar -people came first from Africa, seems most probable by their colour; and -perhaps from the Abyssines, or even from Egypt. The Virzimbers, indeed, -by their woolly heads, must come from the more southern part of Africa. -Deaan Toke-offu told captain Macket they had a tradition of their coming -on the island many years ago in large canoes. But from wheresoever they -came, it is manifest that their religion is the most ancient in the -world, and not far from pure natural religion. - -We may reflect with pleasure on the devotion of these people, who -address the Supreme Being on every occasion for his aid and assistance -when in necessity or distress; and with true piety and hearts full of -gratitude return him their humble and unfeigned thanks for those -blessings and benefits he confers upon them; yet have they no temples, -no tabernacles, or groves for the public performance of their divine -worship; neither have they solemn fasts, or festivals, or set days, or -times, or priests to do it for them. But we may here observe, that as -Melchizedeck was a king, and styled the priest of the most high God, (a -phrase strictly correspondent to that of deaan Unghorray, the highest -God,) so it is the practice of the Madagascar kings, or lords, to be -themselves the performers of all religious offices. Their umossees or -prophets, indeed, directed the making their owleys of particular roots, -or woods, having, as they tell them, magical properties agreeing to the -spirits; as also that they must be made at proper times. - -There are two things in this history highly worthy of observation: one -is, that there is a law among them against cursing a man’s parents. What -a reproach is this to countries called christian, where there is no law -or punishment against even those who have the impudence and impiety not -only of cursing others, but their own parents. The other is, that such -is their regard and reverence to the most high God, that they swear not -profanely: but such is the profaneness of even our christian nation, -that a man can hardly pass the streets (as archbishop Tillotson -observes) without having his ears grated and pierced with horrid and -blasphemous oaths and curses, as are enough, if we were guilty of no -other sin, to sink a nation. These give reputation to the general -character of these people, that where the Europeans or Mahometans have -not corrupted them, they are very innocent, moral, and courteous; and -more so, with shame be it spoken, than most nations, who have all the -advantages of a liberal and christian education. - -There is yet one observation more, which, we hope, will not be thought -improper here; which is, that our author’s many deliverances are -glorious and wonderful displays of the goodness and power of Divine -Providence; and gave him, no doubt, an awakening sense of his obstinate -disobedience to the will and entreaties of his tender parents and -friends, who so much and often pressed him to lay aside those wilful -resolutions of his first voyage to the East Indies; wherein we may see -the marks both of divine displeasure and goodness, the first in his -shipwreck and slavery, the other in his delivery or release from thence. -All which may serve as a lesson to the youth of future generations to -beware, lest by their disobedience and obstinate forcing of themselves -from the care of their parents or friends, they bring upon themselves -those miseries and misfortunes which occasion a too late repentance. - -Much more might have been said on this occasion, but as we have not -room, we refer our readers to the perusal of the book itself; in which, -we presume, they will not only find an entertaining, but profitable -amusement. - - * * * * * - -This is to certify, that Robert Drury, fifteen years a slave in -Madagascar, now living in London, was redeemed from thence, and brought -into England, his native country, by myself. I esteem him an honest, -industrious man, of good reputation, and do firmly believe that the -account he gives of his strange and surprising adventures is genuine and -authentic. - - WILLIAM MACKETT. - -_May 7, 1728._ - - - - - THE - ADVENTURES - OF - ROBERT DRURY. - - -As my design in the ensuing narrative, is to give a plain and honest -account of matters of fact, I shall make use of no artful inventions, or -borrowed phrases, to lengthen or embellish it; nor shall I introduce any -other reflections, than what were the natural result of my many uncommon -and surprising adventures. And, - -Here, I hope, it will be no ways improper to inform my readers, that I -was not fourteen years of age when these heavy misfortunes first befell -me; so that my youth, as well as want of knowledge in the Madagascar -language, rendered me incapable of making such curious observations, as -one of a riper age, better judgment, and freed from slavery, might have -done to much greater advantage. For, - -I, Robert Drury, was born on the 24th of July, in the year 1687, in -Crutched-friars, London, where my father then lived; but soon after he -removed to the Old Jury, near Cheapside, where he kept for several years -afterwards that noted house, called the King’s-head, or otherwise -distinguished by the name of the Beef-steak-house; and to which there -was, all his time, a great resort of merchants, and other gentlemen of -the best rank and character. - -Notwithstanding the education my father bestowed on me, I could not be -prevailed on to think of any business but going to sea, to which course -of life my genius wholly inclined me. And I well remember, that from -eleven years of age, my mind was so intent on the profession of a -sailor, that it grew up with me, and at length became such an obstinate -resolution, that not all the entreaties of my dear and indulgent mother, -(though she once begged me on her knees,) nor the persuasions of my -father, or any other friends, could make the least impression upon me. - -When they found their endeavours were ineffectual, they then formed a -new scheme, and by a seeming compliance with my inclination, proposed to -procure a short voyage for me, hoping that the many dangers and -hardships to which I should naturally be exposed, and should see others -undergo, would deter me from persevering in that course of life. - -But, as wilful persons never want woe, such was my obstinacy, that -nothing would content me, but what contributed to my ruin; and -Providence justly frustrated all my hopes, by indulging me in the choice -I had so foolishly and ungratefully made, in direct opposition to my -duty, and the repeated solicitations of my most affectionate friends: -thus did this perverseness of mine bring with it its own punishment. -Nothing but an East India voyage would please me; for no other reason -that I can think of, but because I had a cousin at Bengal, whose name -was John Steel, in the New East India Company’s service; the companies -at that time not being united. - -My father showed a due care and concern for my welfare, by the manner in -which he fitted me out; and by plentifully supplying me with provisions, -clothes, and other necessaries for the voyage; besides which, I had a -cargo to the value of a hundred pounds, which was a large trust for a -boy of my age. I went as a passenger, well recommended to captain -William Younge, with whom my passage and the freight of my cargo were -agreed for, and we soon after embarked. - -The ship captain Younge commanded in this unfortunate voyage, was the -Degrave, of seven hundred tons burthen, with fifty-two guns. I shall not -here enter into a long detail of any of the common occurrences of the -voyage, or take notice of any other accidents, than what are absolutely -necessary to my present purpose; which is a true and impartial narrative -of our hard fate at Madagascar in our return homeward; together with my -own miseries, and the various turns of fortune, during my residence for -near fifteen years, in that scarce known, though extensive country. - -We passed through the Downs on February 19, 1701, when admiral Bembo, -(whose son, Mr John Bembo, was fourth mate of our ship,) lay there with -the squadron of ships under his command, bound to the West Indies, and -we arrived at Fort St. George in the East Indies, in three months and -twenty days from the Downs, having stopped in our passage one week at -the Canaries, and came to an anchor in the evening. - -We had on board Monsieur Lapie, a jeweller, and his son, who set out -with design to settle there; and one would have thought, being so near -the end of his voyage, he had great reason to hope, or rather to be -morally assured, that he had obtained his desire; the ship being safe at -anchor within half a dozen miles, and in sight of the place. But how -soon does Providence disappoint us, and interrupt our designs! What an -adverse fate directed, and accompanied this unhappy ship, and all who -were concerned in it, though so near the accomplishment of their wishes! - -The barge was hoisted out the next morning, in order to put these -unfortunate persons on shore; the ship riding about two leagues -distance. They put off, and we did not expect their return till the next -day; but about eight o’clock at night we heard somebody hail the ship; -it surprised our people, but some of them soon knew it to be the voice -of Joseph Chamberlain, one of the barge’s crew. They thereupon hoisted -out the pinnace, and rowing towards the voice, found him swimming on an -oar; he told us, that as soon as they came to the bar, a great sea -struck them on the larboard gunnel, and overset them; he knew not what -became of the rest of the company, and therefore supposed they were all -drowned, for the current set to seaward; but he being an experienced -swimmer, and with the help of one of the boat’s oars, which he -providentially found, he made shift to reach within call of the ship. We -immediately hung a light on the top-mast head to guide others, if -happily any had been like him alive swimming; but not one of them was -ever seen, or heard of more. Mr John Lapie, his son, and their cook, the -cockswain, and nine of the boat’s crew, all perished through this sad -disaster. They had also with them very considerable effects in goods, -silver, &c. to the value of some thousands of pounds. - -Two days after we weighed anchor, and sailed to Maslapatan, where we -stayed a month, and from thence proceeded to Bengal. My cousin hearing -of my arrival, came on board to see me, and take me and my effects on -shore with him; but my father had a more prudent regard for my welfare, -than I could be capable of at those tender years; my cousin being only a -pilot, my father desired captain Younge privately to inquire into his -circumstances, and the character he bore, and in case he found him not -of sufficient ability, or honesty, to be intrusted with me, and my -effects, not to let me go on shore to him. - -The captain performed the trust my father reposed in him with honour and -integrity, and would not permit me to go with my kinsman, but took my -cargo, disposed of it himself, and bought me a just return in the -commodities of the country, and would have carried me back again -according to his contract with my father, had Providence so thought fit. -My cousin soon after our arrival, died, and we had a great mortality -among our ship’s crew; for in nine months’ time, we buried above forty -of our people. The chief mate was the first of note, and about a month -after him, captain Younge himself died of a fever; happy at least in -this, that he died in peace, and lived not to bear his share in the -miseries which his son and we afterwards underwent; for this son being -second mate, and the chief mate being already dead, as also the captain -his father, he became captain of course, so that there was still a -captain Younge. - -The only art I attained at Bengal, and which proved of any considerable -service to me afterwards, was, that I here learnt to swim, which has two -or three times since saved my life and liberty. I attained to so great a -proficiency in that art, by the assistance of my companions, that it was -a common practice for half a dozen of us to tie a rupee apiece (which is -about the value of two shillings and sixpence English,) in a -handkerchief round our middles, and swim four or five miles up or down -the river for our diversion; and when we came on shore, the Gentees, or -Moors, would lend us clothes to put on while we stayed; thus we used to -sit and regale ourselves for a few hours with arrack punch, and a -dinner, and then swim back again. - -Our business being at length finished at Bengal, we sailed from thence, -and had at that time about one hundred and twenty hands on board, -besides two women and myself, and a few other passengers. As we were -going down the river, our ship ran aground and stuck fast; but there -being a very strong tide, it turned her round, and we got off the next -high water without any damage, as we imagined; but when we came out to -sea, she proved so very leaky, that we were obliged to keep two -chain-pumps continually at work. We were two months in this sad -condition; at length we reached Mauritius, which is an island in the -latitude of 16½° south, and to the eastward of Madagascar, inhabited by -the Dutch, who treated us with abundance of humanity, and assisted us -with whatever was in their power. We made a tent on shore, in which we -stowed great part of our cargo to search for the leak—but to no purpose. - -Captain Boon, a pirate, had been here about two months before, having -just then plundered a very rich Moorish ship, and taken out of her fifty -Lascars. (For that is the name by which our English seamen distinguish -these Moorish people.) Boon lost his own ship on this island, and the -pirates were glad to make a small sloop of their long-boat to get off -the island with, and were therefore glad to leave the Lascars behind -them. These people we took with us, thinking they would be of service, -and save our hands from returning so often to the pump; they having for -two months before but little rest. - -We found here plenty of good fish, turtle, and goats, with some beef; we -stayed about a month, and then shaped our course directly for the Cape -of Good Hope. - -Our leak gained upon us more and more, and it was with great difficulty -we kept her above water. Our men were all spent with continual labour, -pumping and bailing night and day; when according to our reckoning we -were one hundred leagues to the southward of Madagascar. We heaved -overboard several of our guns and heavy goods to lighten her. The -captain was for continuing his course to the Cape, but the ship’s -company in general opposed it; being of opinion that they could not keep -her above water long enough, imagining they were at that time about six -hundred leagues from it, and but one hundred from Madagascar, which was -the nearest land. - -At length they prevailed on the captain, though with much difficulty, to -put back to Madagascar. The wind favouring us, the third day in the -morning they sent me and the captain’s boy up to the mast-head to look -out for land, since nobody else could so well be spared. In such -apparent danger, my being a passenger was no excuse; and, accordingly, I -went up and sat there two hours and a half before I could discern any -thing like land; and when I first saw it I told my comrade, but not -being certain, I would not call out, for the case was of such -importance, that they were not to be trifled with, or flattered into -vain hopes. However, at length, I plainly discovered a white cliff and a -smoke at a distance from it, whereupon I boldly cried out land! land! - -Several immediately ran up the shrouds, and even the captain himself to -make his observations. One among them knew the land, and said it was -Port Dauphine; and that the king of that part of the island was an enemy -to all white men, and treated all the Europeans in a most barbarous -manner. The reason whereof, and a succinct history of king Samuel, (for -that was his name,) I shall have occasion to mention hereafter. This -information put us into the utmost confusion and despair, and proved, -indeed, our utter ruin. The man who made this report, spoke his real -sentiments; for they were, indeed, enemies to the French, and had -murdered all they could find on the island, in revenge for an affront -some of that country had formerly given to king Samuel, but to no other -white men; so that had we put in there, we had at least saved our lives, -and some of our cargo; but our fate was fixed, and we were destined to -be destroyed in the most tragical manner, and all our endeavours to save -our lives served only to prolong our misery. - -We durst not put into Port Dauphine, for fear of falling immediately -into the hands of these revengeful and bloody murderers, as we then -concluded them to be. We could not get to the northward, the wind being -north-east; neither was there any harbour or port to the westward, but -what was a week’s sail, at least, to it! Besides the western shore is -very steep. - -Hereupon the captain resolved to steer along the western coast, and see -if he could find a proper place to run her into, or put ashore with -safety of our lives. At length we drew near the shore, but no place -could be found; and our hold being now half full of water, the men went -to the captain and asked him what he proposed to do, for the ship could -swim no longer. He went into the round-house for a few minutes, and when -he came out, he asked them if they approved of his running the ship on -shore at all adventures; to which they all unanimously agreed, and cried -out, “Any thing to save our lives.” Now here was a sand which ran along -for two leagues; we came within a quarter of a mile of the shore, and -let go an anchor first without the breakers, and then cut down our masts -and rigging, and threw our guns and heaviest goods overboard, and tried -all means to keep her up till we could get on shore. Having lost our -long-boat and pinnace at Bengal, we had but one small boat left, for -which reason we made a raft with some planks and yards. - -At that time some of the natives were fishing, who, seeing us in -distress, made a smoke to guide and invite us to shore; but we had -entertained such a bad idea of them, that we could not tell presently -how to determine, though we were informed these were another prince’s -dominions. - -We finished the raft that night, and in the morning sent Mr Pratt, our -chief mate, and four men in the boat with a long rope for a warp, to -fasten on the land. A great sea constantly runs here upon the rocks, and -before they got to land their boat was staved in pieces; however, being -pretty near it, by the help of some of the natives, who were negroes, -they saved that part of the boat to which the rope was fastened. We had -two English women on board, one of them would not venture on the raft, -nor would the captain, but the other woman, and about forty or fifty of -us did. I stript off all my clothes, but took two purses of money and a -silver cup, and tied them fast round my middle; we hauled by the rope -towards the shore, but were no sooner among the breakers, than the first -sea turned the raft topsy turvy, and washed us off; some swam to the -raft again, but were soon washed off, and though the woman was drowning -just by me, yet I could not save her. I sunk under every wave, and with -great difficulty got on shore, as did every one else that were on the -raft, but the woman. There was such a surf ran, and the sea broke so -high, that we durst not venture out with the raft again; which the -captain perceiving, ordered the cable to be cut, and let the ship drive -nearer the land, where she soon beat to pieces. The captain got on shore -with his father’s heart in his hand, which, according to his request, -when dying, was put into a bottle in order to be brought to England, and -buried at Dover. - -At length they all got on shore on pieces of the ship, planks, &c. two -men only excepted, who were drowned, and the woman before-mentioned. The -other woman escaped, though she was so full of water as well as some -others, that we were obliged to roll and rub them well, to make them -disgorge the water; we laid them also before a great fire made for that -purpose, and in a little time they revived. We were, in all, above one -hundred and sixty, including the Lascars. - -The country began now to be alarmed, and we had already two or three -hundred negroes flocking round us, picking up several pieces of silk and -fine calicoes; the muslin they had little or no regard for. Our goods -were driven ashore in whole bales, for what with saltpetre and other -things, we reckoned there might be three hundred tons left, after all -that was thrown overboard at sundry times before. - -One of the negroes brought an ox to us, and intimated, by signs, that we -should kill him; but we made signs to them again to shoot him for us, we -having no ammunition; when one of them perceived this, he lent us his -gun ready charged, and with it one of our men shot the bullock dead on -the spot. - -It was extremely shocking to see the negroes cut the beast, skin, and -flesh together, and sometimes the guts too, then toss them into the -fire, or ashes, as it happened, and eat them half roasted. I shuddered -for fear they should devour us in like manner, for they seemed to me to -be a kind of cannibals, of whom I had heard very dreadful stories. Every -thing, in short, appeared horrible to nature, and excited in us the most -dismal apprehensions. - -If I here discovered some greater concern than became a man, I hope my -tender years, my little knowledge, and less experience, will plead in my -behalf. This tragical scene made such a deep impression on me, that as -often as it occurs to my mind, I start, and am shocked with the -frightful remembrance. If my observations are not so many, or so just -and judicious as they should be, they must be considered as the -reflections of a youth, and not of a man; for as I grew in years, it -will appear I increased in knowledge and courage, was capable of making -more solid remarks, and also of engaging in more bold and hazardous -adventures. - -While the negroes were busy in opening our bales and taking what they -liked best, I observed several of them regarded the iron they found, -much more than all those goods we looked upon as valuable, and took a -great deal of pains to break all such pieces of timber as had iron in -them. I broke open my chest and took out only one suit of clothes, -leaving the rest to those who had most mind to them. - -We remained thus two days and nights without coming to any final -resolution, not knowing what to do. We were told Port Dauphine was but -sixty miles from us, but the idea we had entertained of their being such -a barbarous people, prevented our going thither; but this debate was -soon put an end to by the deaan (or as our English sailors call him -king) of that part of the country. - -For the next evening about nine o’clock, we heard a man call out -“Halloo,” at a great distance, like an Englishman, as he proved to be, -who, being immediately answered, came nearer, and asked who we were. We -told him the crew of an English East India ship, which proved so leaky, -that we were obliged to run her in here, as the first land we could make -for the preservation of our lives. Hereupon he came to us, and at our -request sat down with us by our fire, and told the captain that the king -had sent him to inform us we had no reason to be under any fearful -apprehensions, though we were in a strange country, and that he would -come down himself the next day to pay us a visit. The captain desired -him to give us what account he could of the country and the natives, and -also to inform us how he came there. We all crowded about him, not so -much out of a spirit of curiosity as to be able, by his relation, to -form a better judgment of our happy or unhappy situation. The -circumstances of his story were so very remarkable, and of so great -importance to us, that I dare say I can repeat them almost in his own -words, which were as follows:— - -“I am an Englishman, born in the county of Middlesex; my parents, and -every body who should have taken care of me, being dead, I went to sea -very young. My first voyage was to the West Indies, but as I found -little or no encouragement there, I resolved to take a trip to the East -Indies, and in my passage thither, our ship was taken by a pirate about -a hundred leagues to the eastward of this island; they plundered her of -all her rigging, ammunition, and provisions; they took me and nine more -out of her, and then left the ship. During the time I was with them, -they took several rich prizes, and since there was no possibility of -avoiding it, I seemingly approved of all they did, and made one amongst -them. Whenever we wanted refreshments, we resorted to this island, where -we seldom failed of a supply. However, I soon grew weary of these -piratical proceedings, and being at anchor in Mattatan Road, where the -canoes came off as usual to sell us rice, plantains, milk, and honey, -&c., for our boat could not go ashore, such a great sea breaking upon -the strand; I took this favourable opportunity to feign myself very sick -and weak, and accordingly sent word to the captain, (whose name I must -not divulge, being sworn to the contrary,) of my ill state of health; -and thereupon, I entreated him to let me go on shore, in hope the land -air might refresh me, to which request he readily consented. I dressed -myself, and took with me as much gold and other valuable things as I -could possibly put into my pockets; but intrusted no one with my secret -resolution, since there was not a man on board who showed the least -inclination to leave their dangerous and villainous engagements. I -stepped into the canoe with all the satisfaction imaginable, thinking -myself much more happy in this country, barbarous and savage as it is, -than with my former wicked companions. The captain, indeed, sent a canoe -for me, but as I sent word that I was not capable of going to sea any -more, he never sent again.” - -After I had been here about three months, captain Drummond, a Scotchman, -came in a merchant ship, to trade about the island; but in less than -three days after his arrival, a pirate took him as he rode at anchor: -however, he gave captain Drummond his own long-boat, and a few -necessaries. One captain Steward being with captain Drummond, the pirate -permitted him and three or four more hands to go ashore; and as the sea, -at that time, was very calm, they all landed very safe. Here was at the -same time another Englishman and his wife, who came from Sancta Maria, -who were companions for me. When we saw the long-boat come on shore, and -the ship sail away, we guessed how the case stood, and went to meet -them, and gave them a friendly invitation to our cottages, which were a -mile from the seaside. My companion and his wife were, I own, better -provided to entertain them than myself. However, as we could all speak -enough of the country language to deal with the natives for what we -wanted, we were very serviceable to our new comers. - -Captain Drummond being very much dejected at the loss of his ship, and -his melancholy situation, resolved, if possible, to get to St -Augustine’s Bay, which is a place where ships frequently come to get -water and fresh provisions. He asked us if we were willing to go with -him, to which proposition we readily assented. In a week’s time we had -got provisions enough, such as beef, rice, water, and fuel; and got our -long-boat in good repair. We were nine in all with my companion’s wife, -and a negro. - -For three or four days we sailed along the shore, and got to the -southward of Port Dauphine, but at last the wind shifted, and blowed so -hard we could sail no longer; so that in short, we drove on shore within -three or four leagues of the place where we are at present. We saved all -our lives, with our money, guns, powder, shot, &c. but the long-boat was -staved in pieces. - -The natives, who lived near the sea, perceiving our distressed -condition, came down to succour us, and carried us up to their town; for -they found we had a smattering of their language; and as we had a negro -with us they were no way afraid, though they never saw any white men -before: nay, they were so civil, that we wanted for nothing with which -they could assist us. However, they soon sent up into the country to -inform their deaan, or king, of our arrival; who sent his son, and a -commanding officer with fifty men to bring us up before him. Though they -were all armed with guns and lances, yet we refused to go with them, and -were as resolute as we durst be in opposing them: but they soon made -themselves masters of our ammunition. - -Captain Drummond was for defending ourselves to the last extremity, and -not to deliver up our arms; but being fully persuaded, that it was -impossible to get off from them by force, on account of their number, I -advised him to comply; and see if we could not obtain our desires by -softer measures. We told them we desired to go to Port Dauphine, (St -Augustine’s Bay being too far for us to travel by land,) but in short, -we could not prevail; for they obliged us to go with them. - -We made it three days’ journey to the place of their king’s residence: -when we came there, and were carried before him, he was drinking toake, -(which is made of honey and water like mead;) his sons and generals were -with him, and all perfectly merry. He asked captain Drummond to drink, -but the captain, pretending to be sick, refused it. I was their -interpreter; the king bid me tell him, he should want for nothing the -country afforded. The captain desired I would return for answer, that as -he wanted to be in his own country, he begged he might be permitted to -go where we might get shipping. - -On this the king, with a stern aspect, replied, let the captain be -informed, if he does not know when he is well used, I do; there are -several kings on this island, who have white men among them, and why -shall not I? Since our gods have been so good as to send you here, you -shall never go with my consent, as long as I govern here. - -Upon this, captain Drummond’s colour rose, and looking sternly at the -king, let him know (said he to me) that had I suspected this beforehand, -he should never have seen my face alive; I would have sent some of their -black souls to hell. It is not their gods but fortune that has put me -into his power, and the same fortune may again deliver me out of it. -Hereupon he got up without taking his leave, and went to our cottage. I -stayed long enough to tell the king what he had said, and without -waiting for an answer, got up, and followed the captain. - -The king seeing captain Drummond go away in a passion, in order to -appease him, sent one of his generals with an ox for us to kill; and -desired the captain to make himself easy, since both he and his friends -should be well provided for; if we could eat an ox every day we should -be welcome to it. The captain sent my companion’s wife, whose name was -Deude, with a compliment to the king, and to return him thanks for the -care he took to provide so plentifully for our support; but withal to -tell him, we did not think life worth preserving without the freedom of -enjoying it; and if we were not permitted to go home to our native -country, no indulgence whatsoever could make us easy. - -In this state we continued about a fortnight, before we made any attempt -to escape; but at last, considering we were about five days’ journey -from Port Dauphine, we agreed to go thither; to steal away by night, and -get what provision we thought proper: as to ammunition, or arms, we had -none, nor could we get any: except that my companion had two pocket -pistols, which the natives had not discovered when they plundered us; -and the country being woody, we thought we should be able to conceal -ourselves well enough. - -According to this resolution, on a moonlight night, we got out of the -town undiscovered; and were soon among the thickets. By daylight, -however, they missed us; and the news being carried to the king, he -ordered us to be pursued. They soon tracked us, for our shoes -distinguished our footing, and came up with us before night; but as they -knew we had nothing to defend ourselves, they did not offer any violence -to us; but only told us we must go back with them to their king. Captain -Drummond peremptorily declared, that we would not go back. When they saw -our resolution, and that fair words were ineffectual, they then took -hold of us. My companion, not having his hands secured, took out his -pistols, and wounded one of them. They seemed enraged at this action, -however they did nothing more than bind us, till they had made a strict -search for more pistols; but finding no more, they marched back with us -to their king. As soon as he saw us, he looked upon us with a frowning -and menacing aspect, and having but one eye and thin jaws, his -countenance seemed still more terrible. He bid me tell the captain and -all of them, that if ever we offered to run away again, he would make us -dearly repent it. As to the man who was wounded, though we were -apprehensive of being called to account for it, neither he nor any one -else said any thing about the matter. - -This was about two months ago; since that time nothing remarkable has -happened, till yesterday news came of your being cast away; and the king -immediately ordered me down with the message I have delivered to you -from him. My friends are guarded for fear they should make their escape, -and come to you; as for my own part, I endeavour to sooth him and tell -him I will remain with him as long as I live; and he puts some -confidence in me. This, sir, is a short, but true narrative of the -miseries and misfortunes we are under; and which, I am afraid, will be -more now our numbers are increased. - -Sam having made an end of his story, to which every body listened with -the utmost attention, we parted and went with heavy hearts to our -respective quarters, which were under the bushes. It was very late, and -we endeavoured to repose ourselves as well as we could; the pieces of -muslin served us to spread on the ground for beds; but as for my own -part, I could not close my eyes to rest. I now began to reflect on my -former obstinacy and perverseness; the thought of my tender mother’s -begging me on her knees not to go to sea, gave me the most distracting -torture. I could now see my error and repent; but who could I blame but -myself? Here were many poor men, who had no other way to live; but I was -reduced to no such necessity: I ran headlong into misery, and severely -felt the effects of it. Tears I shed in plenty; but could not with any -justice, complain of fate or Providence; for my punishment was but the -natural result of my own ill conduct. - -We were all up by daylight, and most of my fellow-sufferers got as -little rest as I; for the man’s relation had made us give over all hopes -of relief, and nothing but sorrow, distress, and despair appeared in all -its dismal forms in each man’s face, according to his different -constitution. We could save neither arms nor ammunition, the want of -which completed our ruin; for near one hundred and seventy of us would -have made our way through that part of the country we wanted to travel, -had we but wherewithal to defend ourselves; but fate had ordained it -otherwise, which was in all respects as bad as bad could be. So that we -had only our lives left us, for no other purpose than to be conscious of -pain, misery, and perpetual slavery; which was no more than we could -reasonably expect. - -About one o’clock in the afternoon, the king came down with about two -hundred negroes. They brought no fire-arms with them, lest we should -seize them by force; but they were armed with lances. As soon as we saw -them approaching us, we all stood together in a body, with our captain -at the head of us. When they drew near, he called Sam, which was the -man’s name he sent to us, and asked him, who was our captain? As soon as -he was informed, he came up to him and took him by the hand, and said in -a familiar manner, “salamonger, captain;” which is a term of salutation, -much like our saying “your servant, sir.” The captain returned the -compliment; Sam having informed him before in what manner he should -behave himself to the king. His majesty brought with him four large -bullocks, six calabashes of toake, ten baskets of potatoes, and ten pots -of honey; all which he presented to our captain, and gave us moreover -two or three earthen pots to dress our victuals in: we immediately -roasted the potatoes. He stayed two hours with us, before he withdrew to -the cottage, where he proposed to lodge that night; and asked several -questions about our ship, and the manner of her being lost. He told the -captain he was heartily sorry for his misfortunes, though in my opinion -that was nothing but a compliment; for as I found afterwards, he was -more brutish and dishonest, than most of the other kings on the island; -and his whole nation was clothed for many years out of the effects they -saved from our wreck. At this time he took no notice to our captain of -carrying us up to his own residence. - -The next morning he paid us another visit, and then he told us that he -expected we should prepare to go along with him to his town; and there -we should want for nothing the country could afford us. Captain Younge -ordered the interpreter to acquaint the king, that he returned him a -thousand thanks for the civilities he had already received; and that he -was not only unable to make him satisfaction, but very unwilling to put -him to further trouble, and charge of maintaining so great a number of -people. The king replied, that if we were as many more he should not -think us either a burthen or a charge; since he should look upon it as -an honour to have so many white men in his dominions. - -The captain, by this last artful speech, perceived his whole intention; -which shocked him to that degree, that he could scarce tell what to say -to him; but after a little reflection, and looking wishfully on Sam, he -directed him to say that we have wives, children, and relations, who are -impatient to see us, and we are as desirous of seeing them; that it was -impossible for us to live here always; and for that reason, we begged he -would permit us to go to some port where we might meet with ships and -return to our native country. The king paused awhile before he made any -reply; but at length he ordered Sam to tell us, that we should stay in -his country till some ships should come there to trade; and that then we -should go home. The captain knowing there was no port in his dominions, -nor any harbour for a ship to put into, took it to be artifice all, and -a mere compliment, for we might stay for ever before a ship came there -with the view he proposed. He therefore desired Sam to tell him he would -think of it, and return an answer the next day; upon this the king -departed and gave us no farther trouble at that time. - -As soon as he was gone the captain called us all together, and in a very -pathetic speech addressed himself to us in the following manner:—“I am -now on an equality with the meanest man here present, my fortune is as -low and my life is as little to be regarded: I do not pretend, -therefore, to command, but to consult with you what is most expedient to -be done in the present unhappy situation of our affairs. However,” said -he, “I am happy in this, that though my life and liberty are lost as -well as yours, yet this misfortune is not any ways chargeable on me, for -I would rather have kept on my course to the Cape of Good Hope, and -relied on Providence in a leaky ship, than put in here, but you -strenuously opposed it; for death, in my opinion, is to be preferred to -our present slavery, and the consequences that will naturally attend it. -In death our sorrows will have an end, but now, who can tell the -troubles and torments we shall yet undergo; (at this the tears stood in -his eyes.) Consider, gentlemen,” said he, “we have neither arms nor -ammunition wherewith to defend ourselves; and I have endeavoured to -prevail on the king to give us a passage through his country to a -seaport, but in vain; think of it, therefore,” says he, “and consult -your own safety as well as you can; be but of one mind, and I am ready -to comply with any thing you would have me: as for my own life, I set no -value upon it; it would not now be worth preserving, but for the hopes I -have of being serviceable to my friends. Remember I must return an -answer to-morrow morning, and I will advise nothing, nor do any thing -without your concurrence.” - -We went together and consulted, as the captain advised, and came soon to -an agreement; for the matter in debate lay within a small compass; the -king had refused to give us leave to go to a seaport, and we had no arms -to fight and force our way, if we could have found it; we therefore -determined to go quietly up the country with the king, to the place of -his residence, where we were in hopes of seeing and conversing with -captain Drummond, captain Steward, and the other people, who (being -gallant and courageous men, and by this time somewhat acquainted with -the natives) might probably be capable of giving us more proper and -seasonable advice. - -We then acquainted the captain with our resolution, and he seemed to be -very well contented with it; for indeed, he was not over solicitous what -became of himself since he had in so unhappy a manner lost his ship and -fortune, and despaired of ever getting off the island. - -Next morning the king paid the captain a visit; they saluted each other -in their usual manner, and sat down together upon the sand, whilst we -all stood round them; soon after the king ordered Sam to ask the captain -if he was ready to go, for it would be best to walk in the cool of the -morning and rest at noon. The captain observed that he did not ask -whether he was inclined to go or not, as might reasonably be expected -since he pretended to give him time to consider of it, but peremptorily -asked, if he was ready to go. - -As the captain saw there was no avoiding it, and having our consent, it -signified nothing to dispute it; so he told him we were ready to wait on -him when he pleased. At this the king seemed fully satisfied, and -ordered Sam to tell us he would breakfast first and advised us to do so -too, that we might be the better enabled to perform our journey. - -We had little satisfaction, however, in eating and drinking, especially -since the hour was come in which we were obliged to leave the seaside; -and it galled us severely to think how we were forced up the country -like a flock of sheep, at the pleasure of a parcel of barbarous negroes, -without any power to make terms for ourselves like men. Some cursed and -others bewailed their hard fortune, nor were reflections wanting; for my -own part, though I could not, at that time, see any reason for -complaint, yet I have since thought that our captain was young, and had -not so much experience as his father, who would not have put to sea from -Mauritius in a leaky vessel, but have taken out the company’s cargo and -left it there, till another ship had been sent for it, and saved all our -lives; however Providence ordained it otherwise. - -The king sent, and the word was given to march. I was ready in an -instant, for I carried nothing with me but what I brought ashore; but -many of our people took pieces of silk and fine calico. We assembled -together, and went to see the place where the king’s tent was pitched. -We were no sooner come, than he was for marching. We left the sea with -heavy hearts, looking very wishfully back as long as we could discern -it; and as oft as we did, we observed the negroes hard at work, breaking -up our bales, and enriching themselves with the plunder of our goods; in -short, they were so busy that but few went back with the king. - -Our people were but ill-disposed for travelling, since every body was -tired with working, and want of rest; many were lamed with hurts -received in getting on shore; some were also without shoes, and most of -us had but bad ones; then again, the country near the seaside and some -few miles further, is full of short underwood and thorny shrubs, which -tore our clothes to rags, for the path was very narrow, and before this -accident but little frequented; the ground also was sandy, so that when -the sun was advanced pretty high, it scorched our feet to that degree -that we were scarcely able to walk. - -About noon we came to one of their small mean villages, consisting of -about eight or ten houses, or rather huts, for they were not above six -or seven feet high, and about eight or nine feet in length, and their -doors not above three or four feet high; our people crept into these -hovels to rest, and to see what they could meet with to refresh -themselves. Some found honey, others milk, and others beef, for the king -had given us free permission to take what eatables soever came to hand. -The inhabitants were all absent, the men at the seaside making advantage -of our wreck, and the women and children fled into the woods at our -approach. We passed several of these poor villages, but saw few of the -people. Here we reposed ourselves till the heat abated, when we made -ourselves but a poor compensation by robbing them of their trifles, -while they were enriching themselves with our most valuable commodities; -however, I observed some of our people found a secret pleasure in -gratifying their resentment. - -In the cool of the evening we marched again, and in a little time came -to a more open and better road. As we were now some miles from the sea -the king left us, and went before to his seat, leaving us to march at -our leisure; having before taken care that we should not want -provisions, and left his chief officer (whom I shall call his general) -strict orders to supply us with whatever we wanted, and what the country -would afford. - -At night we came to another of these little villages, where we killed a -bullock, and got a few earthen pots to cook our meat in; the water was -very thick and nasty, they having none but what they fetched at a great -distance out of holes and pits in the woods, and kept in calabashes, or -long tubs, which hold about four or five gallons each; however it served -our purpose, for at that time we were not very curious. We reposed -ourselves on the ground in the best manner we could, and rose the next -morning by daylight. We had beef for our breakfast without any bread or -roots in the room of it, and our meat was full of sand; however, eating -and drinking was the least of our concern at that time. We passed this -day much after the same manner as the day before, with this difference -only, that those who wanted shoes were sadly harassed in the woods. - -On the third day of our march we came to our journey’s end; we were -obliged to walk much faster than either of the two former, having more -ground to traverse and less time to do it in, for we were ordered to be -at the king’s town before sunset. I missed one of my purses in this -day’s journey, but the loss of it was not of any great importance to me -at that time, for it would have been of little service to me had I kept -it; but the loss of a medal afterwards which my dear mother had -presented me as a testimony of her love, and a token to remember her, -was no small addition to my other misfortunes. - -The residence of this king is about fifty miles from the seaside, for I -reckon we might travel sixteen or seventeen miles a day. It stands in a -wood secured with trees all round it, which seem to have been planted -there when very young; they grow very regular and tall, and so close -together, that a small dog cannot pass between them. They are likewise -armed with large strong thorns, so that there is no breaking through or -climbing over them. There are but two passages or gates, which are so -narrow that two only can go abreast; one of these is to the northward, -and the other to the southward; the whole is about a mile in -circumference. - -When we came near our journey’s end we halted, whilst Sam went to inform -the king of our arrival. We were ordered to wait till he was ready for -our reception; our captain too put us into the best form he could, -ordering all our baggage and such things as our people brought with -them, to be lodged under a tamarind tree, and three or four Lascars to -look after them. He soon sent for us, and we marched in order by fours. -The king was sitting on a mat, cross-legged, in the open air, just -before the door of his palace, with a gun leaning on his shoulder, and a -brace of pistols lying by his side; his sons and kinsman sat in the same -manner on the ground on each hand of him, armed with guns and lances; -the natives joined them on both sides, and formed together a semicircle; -most of these were likewise furnished with guns and lances. There were -mats spread from one end of the people to the other for us to sit on, so -that when we had joined them, the assembly was almost a circular form. -We were somewhat concerned to see them all thus in arms, till Sam -informed us, that they never go from one house to another without them. - -As soon as we were seated, the king (by Sam) assured the captain he was -welcome, and sent for ten calabashes of toake, six he gave to our -people, three to his own, and one he reserved for our captain and -himself. He also sent for captain Drummond, captain Steward, and the -rest of their company. Captain Younge arose to salute them, and after -the usual compliments were passed, the captains sat down together. The -king ordered a servant to pour out some toake into a clean earthen cup -which he kept for his own use, and drank it up without drinking to any -body, but ordered some more to be poured out for our captain in another -cup, but as it was dirty he refused it. The king asked Sam the reason of -it, who told him the truth, so the king sent a man immediately to wash -it. The captain, indeed, expected to be served out of the king’s cup, -but Sam informed him, that neither black nor white, nor even his wives -or children, ever drank out of his cup; and this is the general custom -of the country. - -When I saw the servant returning with the cup our captain had refused, I -took out my silver one, and presented it to him; after we had all drank -out of it, the king desired to see it, and was so wonderfully pleased -with it that he desired to keep it. But the captain informed him that it -was none of his, but belonged to a lad that was behind him. I called to -Sam and desired him to acquaint the king, that since so many people had -drank out of it, I humbly conceived it could not be fit for his use. At -this he and the people round him laughed heartily. He ordered me to -stand up that he might see me; however I saved my cup this time. Night -drawing on he withdrew, ordering us a bullock for our supper. -Notwithstanding his courteous reception of us, he would not trust us all -to lie within the gates of the town; our captain, Mr Prat, our chief -mate, Mr Bembo, our second mate, and myself, were the only persons that -were so far indulged. We had a hutch ordered us next to captain Drummond -and his companions, but the rest of the people lay without the gates -under the trees. - -In this manner we lived for some few days; what particular amusements -some of our people found out to pass away their tedious hours I know -not, but there occurred to me an affair of a most agreeable and -surprising nature, which some would have improved, and made use of to -advantage. - -This king had a daughter about thirteen or fourteen years of age who -would talk to me sometimes an hour or two together, though I did not -comprehend one word she said. Though she seemed to be very desirous I -should know her meaning, yet she was very modest, and used no indecent -gestures to intimate any vicious inclinations, neither did I entertain -any idea of an intrigue, so that our conversation on my side aimed at -nothing; this she at length perceived, and sent Sam to me one day to -desire I would come to her nurse’s house where she was educated, and -partake of a small entertainment. I went along with him, and as soon as -we entered I found a mat spread on one side of the house, on which she -desired us to seat ourselves, and ordered one of her attendants to boil -some guinea corn and milk and roast some beef. She sat down over against -me, and though I had no notion of love, yet I could not help observing a -particular softness in the tone of her voice; and when she inquired of -Sam about our misfortunes, she showed abundance of concern for us; and -looked at me with a more than common pleasure, as people of taste do at -pictures which please them; and, in short, stared me almost out of -countenance. I imagined she was resolved to know me again, by her narrow -observance of every motion. She was extremely courteous and obliging, -and often sighed with pity at the sense she seemed to have of our -deplorable condition. I looked upon her as a good-natured creature, and -that curiosity more than love had made her fond of conversing with a -white man, which is a novelty in their country. - -We were just entering into the best part of the conversation, and our -interpreter had begun, at her request, to acquaint me with the reason of -her extraordinary complaisance and observance of me, when her mother -came to the door, and desired her to take a walk with her without the -gates to see the white men. I was a little nettled at this interruption, -and she seemed much more concerned at it herself; however it would have -been an act of the highest disobedience in her to have refused her -mother’s request; so she complied with a seeming readiness, and we -returned. - -Sam told me he had private orders from her to inform me, that she was in -love with me; but laid her commands upon him to say nothing of it to any -person whomsoever, either white or black. I was strangely startled at -this open declaration, and that this was the private motive that induced -her to be fond of my company and conversation. Since I came to be a man, -I have stood astonished at my own stupidity in putting a modest young -lady of her birth and character to the mortification of acquainting me -with her love, and exposing herself to the censures of another man. I -have nothing to plead in my excuse, but that being a lad scarce sixteen -years of age, the discovery of so important a secret created in me more -fear than affection; lest the consequences of so dangerous an affair -might prove fatal to me. She sent again for me that very night, and I -attended her accordingly; and behaved myself with all the decency and -good manners, as common prudence and gratitude for her civilities -obliged me to. I knew she was the king’s darling, and therefore dreaded -to disoblige her, lest she might tell her father what story she thought -proper and destroy me in a moment. At length I perceived she was equally -afraid of her father’s knowledge of her passion; so that I looked upon -myself in danger on both sides: for which reason, when Sam informed me -that she desired my company again the next night, I pretended to be very -sick and unable to go abroad; so that this affair, which might have -proved highly agreeable to some warmer persons, proved to me, in the -circumstances I was then, a matter of vexation and fatigue; but two days -after, our amour, if I may call it so, was totally disconcerted. - -Every morning we went, as was expected, in a body to visit the king; but -one morning he ordered Sam to inform us, that he had an inveterate enemy -to the westward, who had hitherto proved too powerful for him; but since -his gods had been so indulgent as to send some white men into his -dominions, he would embrace so favourable an opportunity once more to -try his strength with our assistance; but in the mean time he should be -obliged to distribute us among his sons, who lived at distant towns, not -only for the convenience of providing for such a number of us, (there -not being room enough in this town,) but to ease himself of a charge -which was too great and burthensome for him to support alone. He also -sent to me this night to beg the silver cup before-mentioned, with which -request (knowing it was in his power to take it by force if he thought -fit) I readily complied. This unexpected separation was a terrible blow -to us, and we returned to our cottages with heavy hearts, well knowing, -if we could not find out some way to prevent it, there were no hopes of -ever getting off the island. - -Hereupon the three captains, viz. Drummond, Steward, and Younge, with -some of the chief of our people, entered immediately into a consultation -about what was proper to be done in this emergency; and to make some -bold attempt for our lives and liberty. Captain Drummond, as I heard -afterwards, was the man who proposed to take the king prisoner; and by -that means to make their own terms with the natives. Now captain -Drummond and some others were men of experience and undaunted -resolution: our captain, indeed, had courage enough, but he was too -young. However, the proposition was universally approved of, and the -time and manner of the execution was fixed. I was too young to be -admitted as one of the council; therefore I shall not pretend to relate -what reasons were produced either for, or against the proposal; though I -was told afterwards: that night, however, I was wholly ignorant. I -observed captain Younge and Mr Bembo to talk with great earnestness, but -in whispers, and with the utmost precaution. As I was then a stranger to -that design I slept soundly, till I was roused in the morning by a great -and sudden noise in the town, occasioned by the plot being put into -execution. Our people went, as usual, betimes in the morning to pay -their compliments to the king; and whilst some of them were at the -prince’s house the signal was given by one of captain Drummond’s men -firing a pistol; at which the king was seized, and his son at the same -instant. - -This instantly alarmed the whole town. I started up without my shoes, -being frighted at the sudden outcry. Not knowing what was the matter, -and seeing the negroes flocking out of the town, I ran with them, till I -was taken notice of by one of our men, who called me back; and I was as -much amazed as the natives to see the king, his consort, and one of his -sons, with their hands tied behind them, under the guard of our people. -They soon plundered the king’s mansion-house, and every other place -where they could find any agreeable plunder. We happened to find about -thirty small arms, a small quantity of powder and shot, and a few -lances. The natives (as I observed before) ran out of the town, but they -did it with no other view than to procure assistance; for they soon -alarmed the country, and returned with great numbers from all the -adjacent towns; and immediately besieged us. They fired in upon us, and -wounded one of our men in the groin; on which captain Younge ordered Sam -to tell the king if they fired any more they would kill him that very -moment. The king hearing their resolution, called to his men, and -desired them to desist if they had a mind to save his life. - -This attempt, indeed, was bold and hazardous, and some perhaps may -censure it as criminal; I shall not say much in its defence: but since I -have arrived to years of maturity, I cannot forbear reflecting that if -nature, even in a christian country, will rebel against principle, what -will it not do for life and liberty under the tyranny and oppression of -a barbarous and savage nation! - -However, at length we put ourselves in a posture of defence and marched -out of the town. Six men under arms marched in the front, and in the -body where the king was, six went armed before him and six behind; three -before his son and three behind him; and six brought up the rear, in -which were the Lascars. Captain Younge, out of compassion, would have -released the queen, and let her go wherever she pleased, but she would -not abandon her husband. - -We had not gone above four miles on our march, before our wounded -companion fainted; and not being able to carry him off, we were forced -to leave him by the side of a pond of water; where, as I was afterwards -informed, they soon put him out of his pain, by striking their lances -into several parts of his body. Having marched about two or three miles -farther, we got out of the woods, and found ourselves in a spacious, -open plain, where we could see all around us; and soon found that our -enemies were not only near, but numerous, and threatened immediately to -attack us. We faced towards them, our armed men being in the front, with -the king bound before them. Sam was ordered at the same time to tell -him, that our design was not to hurt either him or his son, nor to carry -them into their enemies’ country, but only to detain them as hostages -for our safeguard while we passed through his dominions; and that as -soon as we came to the borders of Port Dauphine, we would let them go -again, and give them back the arms and ammunition we had taken from -them; but if the least violence were offered to us we would sacrifice -them both; and this we desired him to tell his people. - -Hereupon he called one of his generals to him, assuring him that he -should receive no harm. Accordingly he left his gun and lance behind him -and came to us, where he was informed, both by us and the king, of our -resolution; upon which he told us there should not be a gun fired whilst -we preserved the king alive, and gave him civil treatment. - -This parley being over, we continued our march through the plain till -near evening; many of us without shoes as well as myself, and some sick; -which obliged us to take up our quarters sooner than we would otherwise -have done; so that every one was almost faint and glad of rest. The king -ordered Sam to tell us that an ox should be sent to us forthwith. We -made a trench, like a ring, in the midst whereof we planted the black -king and his son; our captain, and some few others were appointed as a -guard over them: our armed men were divided into four parts, in order to -secure us in the best manner they could. We had just finished our camp, -when the officer, who had been with us before, and three other men -brought us a bullock. He brought likewise some roasted meat in his hand, -and a horn of water for the king; so we loosed our royal prisoners’ -hands that they might feed themselves. They eat some small matter, and -gave the remainders to captain Younge. - -Whilst we were employed in killing the ox, we desired the king to send -some of his people into the woods for some fuel to dress it; which he -readily did, and they soon brought us sufficient for our purpose. But -all this time we wanted water, and complained thereof to the king; who -assured us that there was none to be got near that place by several -miles; and that what small quantity was given him in the horn was -brought from that very pond where we left the wounded man; which could -not be less than about ten miles’ distance. This very much disheartened -us; for we were parched with thirst, which was the more increased by the -fatigue of our long march, and the heat of the country. However, there -was no help for us, and patience was the only remedy. When the king and -his son had supped, we bound their hands before them that they might -sleep as easily as they could; so after we had cut up our bullock, and -divided it amongst us, broiled and eat it, though with but little -satisfaction, for want of water; and when we had made as good a supper -as our unhappy circumstances would admit of, we also used our best -endeavours to repose ourselves. The three captains, however, agreed to -watch alternately, and divided our people into three parts for that -purpose. The king entreated his wife to go home and to comfort his -children; but more particularly recommended his beloved daughter to her -care. She went at his request, but shed tears at her departure; as did -also the king and his son. Such of us as were not on the watch lay down, -but we had a wretched night; for the ground was stony, and there was but -little grass; and what was a still greater affliction, we were excessive -dry, and had nothing to quench our thirst. - -At dawn of day we arose, which was the second day of our travel, and the -better to support ourselves under the fatigue of it, we eat part of the -remains of our beef; but it was a miserable repast, as we had nothing to -drink. However, we put ourselves in the same order as we had done the -day before, and went forwards; the natives perceiving us in motion, -moved too, but kept at a greater distance, and went into our camp after -we had quitted it to see what they could find, and their labour was not -altogether lost; for many of our people thought proper to leave half -those India goods they had brought out of the town behind them, that -they might travel with less fatigue. We walked with more ease half this -day than we did the day before, it proving cloudy weather and cool. -About noon the general who had been with us before, came with some roast -meat, and a horn of water for the king and his son. As we did not loose -their hands, we were forced to feed them. The general ordered Sam to ask -the captains if they would release the king for six guns. I perceived -there was a debate between them and Mr Bembo: some thinking the six guns -would be of great service to us, especially as we should still have the -king’s son. Others were of opinion that it would be more for our safety -to keep the king; however it was agreed at last that he should be -dismissed. We informed the general that if they would give us six very -good guns, and promise on their honour not to follow us, but return with -their king, we would let him go; and that as soon as we came to the -river Manderra, which divided his dominions from those of Port Dauphine, -we would release the king’s son, and leave all their arms behind us. - -The general was startled at this unexpected condescension of our people, -and despatched away one of his attendants to the king’s other sons, who -were not far off with their army, to acquaint them with our proposal; -and in half an hour’s time returned to us with six of the best guns. -They made the more haste lest our minds should alter. We kept them no -longer in suspense than while we took the guns to pieces, to see whether -they were in good condition or not; and finding them better than we -could reasonably have expected in such a country, we released their -king, and sent him away with the general. He took his leave of the -prince, and went directly to his army. We were so near as to see the -ceremony of his sons meeting him, who fell down and embraced his knees, -and with all the earnestness imaginable, shedding tears for joy. After -they had kissed and licked his knees and legs for about five or six -minutes, they arose to give his head officers an opportunity of paying -the like homage; and after them, some others of an inferior station; -who, in general, expressed a most sincere and passionate affection to -his person, and showed all the demonstrations of joy imaginable on -account of his return. This ceremonial over, they all hallooed and fired -their guns as a public testimony of their general joy and satisfaction. - -We could not help halting to observe this scene, but before it was -perfectly concluded we marched forwards as well as we could, though with -no small difficulty: for notwithstanding it continued cloudy, yet the -afternoon was sultry hot, and our thirst increasing, we began to grow -sensibly weaker and weaker; our captains, however, walked slowly on, -which made our journey something easier. We asked the prince if there -was no water near at hand; he informed us that there was none to be got -till we came to Manderra river, which we should not be able to reach -that night. Though it was not easy for us to miss our way, yet we made -him our guide. The natives had told us before, that the plain we were in -was long, and of no great breadth in proportion to the length; but -extended itself near east and west to the river. As soon as we came to a -sandy place, we halted and formed our camp, it being then near sunset. -This was somewhat softer for us to lie on than our situation the night -before. The natives perceiving that we began to encamp, followed our -example. They divided themselves accordingly into six parties, and so -ordered their matters that they almost surrounded us; which did not a -little surprise us. However we appointed our watch as before; but here -to our misfortune we could find neither victuals nor water; and were -almost parched with thirst. In short, we were reduced to so great an -extremity, that we crawled on the ground to lick the dew; and this was -all the refreshment we could then meet with. - -On the third day of our march we rose early, and put forward as well as -we could. The negroes, who strictly observed our motions, were as ready -as we; but we placed our armed men in the front, determining to make a -bold push for it, if they attempted to obstruct our passage. They -divided, and let us proceed without molestation; and though we travelled -all the morning yet we met with nothing remarkable, till we arrived at a -little round hill, whereon there stood a prodigiously large tub, about -six feet high, which held near a hundred gallons, and was full of toake. -Our people were going immediately to drain it dry, but Sam threw it down -and spilt all the liquor; asking us with some warmth, if we were so -blind as not to see the plot that was laid for our destruction: for it -was planted there to tempt us to drink, with no other intention than to -poison us all; or at least to intoxicate us to that degree, that they -might rescue their prince without opposition, and murder us at their -pleasure. - -While we were reflecting on this extraordinary action, the general and -two or three more came up to us, and asked Sam what reason he could -offer for spilling the toake. To which he made no regular reply, but bid -him begone about his business. The general desired to speak with the -young prince, and after a little discourse with him, directed Sam to -acquaint captain Younge that if he should think fit to release the -prince, they would give him three of the head-men of the country in -exchange. The captain told him, if he would consent to be one of them, -they would agree to it. He excused himself on account of his family, -who, as he pretended, would be inconsolable should he leave them; -however, he would engage that his own brother, who had no children, -should be one of the hostages. - -Captain Younge, who imagined that they followed us on account of their -prince only, and that if we should release him they would return back, -complied with the general’s proposition. Upon this he posted away to the -army, and acquainted the other princes with the agreement he had made; -for the king went directly home as soon as he left us. We marched on, -determining to lose no time, and the general returned in less than an -hour with three men; and informed us, that he had brought his brother -and two more of the chief of their people in exchange for the prince; -and as to the arms then in our possession which belonged to their king, -we might, when we had no further occasion for them, leave them according -to our promise with these three men, who would take care to send them -home. - -We took the three men, and having tied their hands behind them, -delivered up the prince. He shook hands with our captains, and went to -the army; as soon as his brethren saw him at a distance they ran to meet -him, as did also many others, who seemed to be more transported with joy -for his deliverance, than they were before for his father’s. - -We proceeded on our journey as well as men could without provisions, and -were too soon convinced of captain Younge’s mistake; for the negroes -instead of retiring approached nearer to us, and some marched before us; -so that we expected every minute when they would attack us. We had a -young lad in our company who lost his leg at Bengal. Notwithstanding he -was well recovered, and supplied with a wooden one well fitted, yet it -cannot be imagined that he should be able to keep up with us; for being -now surprised by their surrounding us, we doubled our pace; and, in -short, were obliged to leave this poor lad behind us. We saw the -barbarians come up with him, take off his wooden leg, and first insult -him; then they thrust their lances into his body, and left him wallowing -in his blood. Being eye-witnesses of this act of inhumanity, and -apprehensive of the like treatment, we hurried on as fast as our feeble -limbs could carry us till sunset; when we came to a large tamarind tree, -the leaves whereof, as they were sour, we chewed to moisten our mouths. -The fruit itself was not then in season. - -The three negroes whom we had taken as hostages, observing what had -passed, and thinking their lives in danger, called to Sam and the -captains, and told them they had a scheme to propose which would be for -the safety of us all, which was this:—that as soon as it was dark we -should keep marching on as silently as possible all the night. The -captains approved of this proposal, and ordered none of us to sleep, but -to be ready as soon as the watchword was given. This was very grievous -considering how tired we were the day before; but we submitted -cheerfully to any thing which gave us hopes of escaping from the violent -hands of those bloodthirsty barbarians. As soon as it was dark enough to -conceal our flight we assembled together, and took a considerable -quantity of muslins and calicoes and hung them upon the bushes, that the -spies, who we knew watched us, might not any ways mistrust our sudden -removal. - -We walked off accordingly undiscovered by them. Captain Drummond, -however, being taken so ill that he could not walk at all, none of us -being strong enough to carry him, we resolved to make the three negroes -perform that office by turns. After we had thus travelled most part of -the night, we came to a thicket among some cotton trees, where the man -who had the charge of captain Drummond, pretending to ease himself, -threw the captain upon the ground, ran away into the wood, and we never -saw him more. Upon this we had a more watchful eye over the other two -and led him whose turn it was to carry the captain with a rope about his -neck. - -Weak as we were, we travelled a great many miles that night, and were -glad when the day broke in upon us; for the negroes had told us before, -that if we walked hard all night we should be at Manderra river betimes -in the morning. And their information was just; for as soon as we came -to a little hill, the sun then just rising, we had a prospect of the -river, though at a considerable distance; however, the hopes we had of -coming to it in a short time, and of getting water to quench our thirst, -gave us no small pleasure, and our spirits began to revive at the very -sight of it. It was some comfort to us likewise to think that the king’s -dominions extended no farther; notwithstanding there were no inhabitants -to protect us within several miles on the other side. Some of our -people, who were more tired than the rest, took liberty to sit down to -refresh themselves; as taking it for granted, that the negro army would -never come in sight of us again. - -But this vain notion of being safe and secure too quickly vanished; for -as soon as they missed us in the morning, they pursued us like so many -greyhounds; and before we got within a mile of Manderra river overtook -us. Thereupon they began to butcher our men then resting under the -trees, striking their lances into their sides and throats. Though I was -one of those who could not travel well, yet there were twenty behind me; -the woman, whose life was preserved in our ship, was next to me. I -seeing them kill our people in this barbarous manner, threw off my coat -and waistcoat, and trusted to my heels, for the foremost of our people -having passed the river, and I not being far off took courage; but -hearing the report of a gun, I looked back, and saw the poor woman fall, -and the negroes sticking their lances in her sides. My turn was next, -for the same negroes pursued me, and before I was got to the brink of -the river they fired a gun at me; but I jumped in. Our men who had got -safely over, made a stand, in order to defend those who were behind; and -notwithstanding the negroes followed me so close, I could not refrain -from drinking two or three times out of my hat, let the consequence -prove what it would. - -However I got over safely, and whilst we were on the bank and faced -them, they never attempted to follow us. Our captains asked me, if I -thought there were any of our companions still behind us? I answered, I -believed that there were none alive. We waited a while, and then marched -forwards. We had a wood to pass through, and the negroes as soon as they -saw us quit the banks, immediately pursued us. They got into the woods, -and firing behind the trees every now and then, they killed three or -four of our men. We had not travelled above two miles in this wood, -before we came to a large sandy plain, to which we could see no end, and -here they determined to stop our progress; since if we went much -farther, we should be within hearing of king Samuel’s subjects, who were -their mortal enemies, and would readily assist us. They divided -themselves, therefore, into several bodies, in order to break in upon us -on all sides; and we being apprized of their designs, were resolved to -sell our lives and liberties as dearly as possible. Hereupon our -captains put us in as good a posture of defence as they could, and -divided our men who bore arms into four classes: one under the command -of each of our three captains, and the other under Mr John Bembo; such -as had no arms or were disabled, were covered in a little valley; and -with them were the two negro hostages. - -We had not above six and thirty fire-arms amongst us all, and not many -more persons fit to fight; so that we were a poor handful to withstand -an army of two or three thousand. When they found we made a stand, they -did so too; and according to their wonted manner (where it could be -done) three or four of them in a place threw up the sand before them, -and being also beneath us, we could see only their heads: their shot -flew very fast over us, and we kept them in play from noon till six in -the evening; by which time all our ammunition was spent. Those of us who -had money made slugs of it; their next shift was to take the middle -screws out of their guns, and charge their pieces with them. When they -had used all these means, they knew not what to do farther: now we began -to reflect on those who advised us to deliver up first the king, and -afterwards his son; since the keeping of them would have been our -principal safeguard. The two negroes in our custody expected, no doubt, -every minute to be killed, as very justly they might; but as their death -would be of no service to us, we did them no injury. - -At length it was unanimously agreed, that Dudey and her husband should -be sent to them with a flag of truce, not only to prolong the time, but -to know what they farther wanted: so we tied a piece of red silk to a -lance, and despatched them away. They kept firing at us all this time, -not knowing what we meant by not returning it. They shot at those who -carried the flag, but perceiving that they were not armed, the prince -ordered them to cease. Dudey was interpreter, and told them that our -captain was inclined to make peace with them, and to deliver up the two -hostages with the guns and ammunition we took with us, as soon as we -were advanced a little farther into the country. They said they would -suffer us to go in the morning, in case we would deliver up our arms and -the men; but not that evening, because it was dark. Their true reason -was this, they knew if we got away that night, we should send some of -king Samuel’s people, who were their utter enemies, to be revenged on -them for the ill treatment we had met with. - -We were at a loss what determination to come to: we were willing, -indeed, to let the two men (whom they called generals) go; but loath to -part with our arms: most of us, as well as our captain, were of opinion, -that they followed us for nothing else, and were for delivering them up; -but captain Drummond, captain Steward, and their people, with Mr Bembo, -and some of our men, opposed it. Captain Drummond, in particular, -expressed a great concern to see us so easy to be imposed upon; and told -us that it was too visible their words were not to be relied on: most -voices, however, carried it, and captain Younge being of the opinion it -was best to resign them, it was agreed; and in short, soon actually -performed; for Dudey having orders to acquaint them with such -resolution, they sent proper messengers immediately to receive them. - -Captain Drummond, however, and his companions claimed theirs as their -own right and property, and therefore would not deliver them; nor would -Dudey’s husband part with his. The negroes well knew we had but few -left, and went away to all outward appearance well contented for that -night. Dudey returned, and assured us that they would let us go in the -morning; and as night was coming on, we laid down upon the sand, to -repose ourselves as well as our distressed circumstances would admit of; -for besides the hunger and fatigue we had already suffered, we reflected -a thousand times on the barbarities we had seen committed the day -before; and that it was now in their power to treat us as they pleased. - -The next morning as soon as we could see, we missed captain Drummond, -captain Steward, Mr Bembo, Dudey, and her husband, and four or five -more, who deserted us in the night, without communicating their -intentions to us. Now we plainly saw destruction before us, and the end -of this miserable journey; which, after so bold an attempt, we undertook -for the preservation of our lives and liberty; and a tragical one it -was. For, - -No sooner was it broad daylight, than the negroes came up to us, and the -prince had a short conference with Sam. Captain Younge asked him the -purport of their discourse. He answered, they wanted to know what was -become of captain Drummond, and the rest. The words were no sooner out -of his mouth, than one of the princes took hold of me, and delivered me -to one of his attendants; there were three or four lads like myself and -much about my age, who were seized at the same time and delivered to -their people in the same manner; who bound our hands with cords. - -The same prince who ordered my hands to be thus tied, stuck his lance -into captain Younge’s throat, and afterwards into his sides. Having -killed him, he went on to another; and the rest of his barbarous train -immediately following his example, they soon murdered every man -belonging to our company; they then stripped off their clothes, and like -inhuman butchers, ripped open several of their bellies. As for my part, -I expected death every moment, but in what shape I could not tell; for -one of the generals lifted up his lance, with an intention to pierce me -through, but was prevented by the man who had me in custody, for some -reasons I could not then rightly understand; but as I heard afterwards, -he informed him I was reserved to wait on the king’s grandson. Though -this saved my life, yet it would not hinder the officer from rifling me -of what I had valuable about me; for he feeling my purse in my breeches -pocket, and not readily finding it, in a fury, with his lance cut away -my breeches, and narrowly missed my flesh. - -When they had concluded this bloody scene, and clothed themselves with -the spoils of the slain, they marched away in very great haste, for fear -of the natives of Port Dauphine; whom they imagined captain Drummond and -the rest had by that time alarmed, and prevailed on them to send some -forces down to our rescue. Now whether the negroes might not think we -had sent them away on purpose to get such assistance, and thereby -provoked them to murder us, I cannot say; but certain it is, we were the -most unfortunate wretches in the universe: for I was afterwards -informed, before our murdered people were well cold, two thousand of -king Samuel’s men came down to rescue us out of their merciless hands. - -Perhaps the reader will say, why did we not send two or three of our -people as soon as we had passed the river? To which I can only answer, I -think we were all infatuated, for with ease it might have been done; -especially since we had the woman Dudey to go with them as an -interpreter; and we might have kept Sam with us. But none of these -reasons at that time occurred to me; for I was but a raw, inexperienced -youth. And what motives could induce captain Younge to release both the -king and his son, is what I cannot pretend to account for. The plot was -doubtless well concerted, and as duly executed at first, but most -shamefully conducted afterwards; and, indeed, it is scarcely credible, -that such a number of us could be so stupid as we then were; and since I -have attained to a mature age, and been capable of any reflection, it is -what I have been surprised at. - -The only reason that can be offered I now think, is, that as all of us -had a great affection for our captain’s father, so it caused us to be -too partial, and to entertain too good an opinion of the son. But I -since found to my great concern that our captain wanted not only -judgment, but experience in the world; for captain Drummond, as I very -well remember, frequently opposed him; but by whatsoever ill conduct or -folly we might contribute towards our ruin, so it was; and I am relating -a real fact, and not inventing a fiction, or telling the reader what -might or ought to have been done in the unhappy situation of our affairs -at that time; however, through his imprudence were my friends massacred, -and myself with three more made perpetual slaves: the eldest of us was -not above sixteen years of age, and we were immediately parted, for they -marched directly off the spot. As for Sam, I do not reckon him as one of -us, because he went off with the negroes. I never saw him afterwards, -but was informed, that he lived a freeman under deaan Crindo; and -whether he was so faithful to us as in justice and gratitude he ought to -have been, is somewhat dubious. - -All the way we went I had the shocking prospect of our men’s mangled -bodies, as we passed through the woods to the river. I was not so -thirsty now, as when I passed it first; but so faint for want of -victuals, that I could scarcely stand upon my legs, having had no -sustenance for three days together. Though my master expressed some -little concern for me, yet he would not wait till he was past the river; -however, he ordered his people to stop at the first commodious place, -and make a fire. And now I was in hopes of some agreeable refreshment; -for some of his servants had carried beef on their backs for that -purpose. Though they cut it into long pieces, (like ropes,) with the -hide, and dressed and eat it half roasted according to their custom, and -gave it me in the same manner, yet I thought this contemptible food, and -what a beggar in England would not have touched, the most delicious -entertainment I ever met with. We rested here about an hour, when he, to -whose care I was intrusted, made signs to know if I could walk; and as I -was a little refreshed, I got up, and travelled the remainder of the day -with more ease than I expected; since they walked but slowly, as I -perceived on purpose to indulge me. - -At night we came to a wood, the place appointed for our lodging; and -there we met with three or four men, whom my master had sent out a -foraging, and they brought in with them two bullocks; one of which my -master sent to his brother, for the use of him and his people, and the -other was killed for us; for the army was now disbanded, and each party -was marching home with their respective chiefs to their own habitations. -Here my master came to me and gave me a lance, intimating that I might -cut out as much as I thought proper. I cut about a pound without any -part of the hide, which he perceiving, imputed it to my ignorance, and -so cut a slice with the hide and dressed it for me; which I ate with -seeming thankfulness, not daring to refuse it. As soon as supper was -over, each man pulled up as much grass as was sufficient for himself to -lie on; my guardian, however, provided enough for himself and me. I then -reposed myself accordingly, and he lay by me; but his back skin smelled -so rank, that I was forced to turn my back on him all night long. I had -very little rest, for the ghastly spectacle of my massacred friends was -ever before me, and made me start from sleep as soon as I closed my -eyes. - -At break of day we arose, and after a short repast marched on till noon, -when we baited among some shady trees near a pond of water; which very -pond we had passed by three days before, or at least within two hundred -yards of it, when we were dying with thirst, and the negroes told us -there was no water near us. - -Whilst some employed themselves in kindling a fire, others were busy in -digging up and down amongst the grass. I could not conceive what they -were doing at first; but I soon observed one of them pulling out of the -ground a long white root, which I found was a yam, having seen many of -them at Bengal; they soon furnished themselves with a sufficient -quantity. I perceived they grew wild without any cultivation: some of -them were a yard long at least, and about six or seven inches in -circumference; they obliged me with some of them, which I roasted, and -eat with a great deal of pleasure, instead of bread, with my beef: they -are very agreeable to the taste, as well as wholesome food. - -We arrived that evening at a small town, which we no sooner entered than -the women and children flocked round about me, pinched me, struck me on -the back with their fists, and showed several other tokens of their -derision and contempt; at which I could not forbear weeping, as it was -not in my power to express my resentment any other way; but when my -guardian observed it, he came to my assistance and freed me from my -persecutors. All the houses that were empty were taken up by my master, -his brother, and other head-men; so that my guardian and I lay exposed -to the open air. The ill treatment I met with from the women and -children, put a thousand distracting thoughts into my head. Sometimes I -imagined that I might be preserved alive for no other purpose, than to -be carried to the king and his son, who would, in all probability, be -fired with resentment at our late seizing of them, and making them -prisoners; then, again, I thought that to gratify their pleasure and -revenge, they would order me to be put to death before their faces by -slow degrees, and the most exquisite torments. Such melancholy -reflections as these so disordered me that when once through weariness I -fell into a slumber I had a dream which so terrified me that I started -upright, and trembled every joint of me; in short, I could not get one -wink of sleep all the night long. - -When it was broad daylight we marched homeward (for now I must call it -so) and in three or four hours’ time we arrived at a considerable town, -with three or four tamarind trees before it. One of the negroes carried -a large shell, which, when he blew, sounded like a post-boy’s horn. This -brought the women to a spacious house in the middle of the town, about -twelve feet high, which I soon perceived was my master’s. No sooner had -he seated himself at the door, than his wife came out crawling on her -hands and knees till she came to him, and then licked his feet; and when -she had thus testified her duty and respects, his mother paid him the -like compliment, and all the women in the town saluted their husbands in -the same manner: then each man went to his respective habitation, my -master’s brother only excepted; who though he had a house, had no wife -to receive him, and so he stayed behind. - -My mistress intimated by her motions that she would have me go in and -sit down. A great deal of serious discourse passed between my master and -her, and though I knew nothing of what they said, yet by her looking so -earnestly at me whilst he was talking, I conjectured he was relating to -her our tragical tale, and I perceived that the tears frequently stood -in her eyes. This conference over, she ordered some carravances to be -boiled for our dinner; a kind of pulse, much like our grey pease: she -gave me some, but as they had been boiled in dirty water, I could not -eat them. She, perceiving I did not like them, strained them off the -water and put some milk to them, and after that I made a tolerable meal -of them. She gave me not only a mat to lie down upon, but a piece of -calico likewise about two yards in length to cover me. She intimated -that she wanted to know my name, which I told her was Robin. Having -received so much civility from my mistress, I began to be much better -satisfied than I was at first; and then laid me down and slept without -any fear or concern about four hours, as near as I could guess by the -sun. When I waked my mistress called me by my name, and gave me some -milk to drink. She talked for some considerable time to me, but I could -not understand one word she said. My master was all this time with his -brother at the door regaling themselves with toake. - -When night came on I perceived that I was to lie with them, for there -was no other room. My master and mistress lay in the middle, and the -whole house was not above fourteen feet in length, and twelve in -breadth, so that I lay crosswise close to his feet: in this odd manner -we lay three or four nights successively. At last he called me by my -name several times to know, I presume, whether I was awake or not; but -as I answered him whenever he called, I imagined he would have been -better pleased if I had slept soundly, and had not heard him at all; for -the next evening he carried me to his aunt’s house, where he told me I -must lie for the future. There I remained both day and night, and did -little but walk out with her and her daughter to visit the plantations -which had been lately sown with Guinea corn and potatoes. In the evening -I used to visit my master and mistress, and for supper I generally had -milk, which was sometimes fresh and sometimes sour. They were not over -fond of putting me to work, as I could do them but little service, being -altogether a stranger to what was said to me, and more especially as he -had above two hundred slaves always ready to answer his occasions. - -My master, whose name was deaan Mevarrow, was grandson to deaan Crindo, -who was absolute lord of this country, and his wife was the daughter of -a northern king whom they had conquered in battle, and she was one of my -master’s captives. For this reason I presume it was that she took so -much compassion upon me; considering herself a slave in a strange -country, and only preferred to my master’s bed by courtesy. - -In a short time I began to reconcile myself to their manner of eating, -since no better provision I found was to be had, only I would strip off -some of the hair from the hide of the beef, whenever I could do it -without being observed. I used often to reflect on my brother and -sister’s more agreeable manner of living at my father’s table; being -conscious that even some beggars in England fared much better than I did -here. However as I found nobody lived better, I made myself as easy as I -could; I was now under no apprehensions of being killed till an accident -happened soon after, which put me into a violent panic for about an -hour. My master, attended by several of his slaves, took me with him one -evening into the woods; I observed great preparations made for killing -and dressing a bullock or some such thing, but there being none to kill, -and it being then dark, I perceived that they walked about with great -circumspection, talked softly, and testified all the symptoms of some -secret design; upon this the tears stood in my eyes, imagining that they -intended to cut me up and make a meal of me, but my fright was soon over -when I saw two slaves hauling along a bullock by a rope fastened to his -horns, and my master sticking his lance into his throat in order to -despatch him. They immediately cut up his carcass and dressed the -entrails after their own manner. The booty was equally divided, and I -observed that each man took care to hide his portion in some private -place, from whence he might convey it away by night. As soon as our -business was over we parted, some one way and some another, for fear of -being taken notice of. I now plainly perceived that we were all this -time plundering of our neighbours. I often wondered indeed that the aunt -with whom I lived, dressed meat so often in the nighttime, but this -unravelled the mystery; this was not the only time I was forced to -assist in this clandestine practice. - -In about four months’ time I began to have some tolerable notion of -their language; I knew the names of most common things, and could -express myself so as to be understood. My master and mistress took me -one day into the plantations, where the slaves were hoeing the weeds -from the carravances, that were just shooting up. They gave me a hoe, -but I had no inclination to work; I pretended to be very ignorant and -hoed up plants and weeds together, at which they laughed heartily, and -took away my hoe to prevent more mischief. - -This artifice, however, proved of but little service to me, for my -master perceiving that I either could not or would not work in the -plantations, was determined to employ me some other way, and about such -business as I could not well do amiss. Accordingly the next day he -showed me his cattle, and told me I must take care of them, drive them -to water, and see that they did not break either his own or any other -neighbour’s plantations. This business I liked much better than the -other, because there were three or four lads more of this town about my -age, who had cattle to attend to as well as myself. What I disliked most -was, that we had a very considerable way to drive them to water, and at -night to drive them back again; besides I was obliged to drag home a -long tub which held about three gallons; for all the water we used in -the house was fetched from this watering place. However we had no just -cause of complaint, for we joined our herds together, and in the heat of -the day, when the cattle would lie down in the shade, we had three or -four hours’ time to ramble through the woods and gather yams. I had been -thus long in the country, yet I never knew how they struck fire, till -wanting to roast some of my yams, I asked my comrades where their fire -was; they showed me their hands and laughing, said, here it is, but one -of them soon informed me how to do it. He took one short round stick -about half the length of a gun rammer, and another considerably thicker, -but both of one sort of wood, and rubbed the former upon the latter till -there came a dust from it first, then a smoke, and soon fire after. - -We sometimes traversed the woods and stole people’s honey, and eat it -just as we found it. When we could spare time, we used to look for a -creature which I call a ground-hog, and which in their language is -called tondruck; it is about the size of a cat, snout, eyes, and ears -are like an English hog’s, it has bristles on its back but no tail, the -feet of it are like a rabbit’s; its principal food is beetles and young -snails, which they grub up with their snouts; they are very prolific, -and have above twenty young ones at a litter, to all which they give -suck. In the cold season of the year (for though there is no time which -can properly be called winter, yet one part of the year is sensibly much -colder than the other) these creatures hide themselves in the ground in -a most surprising manner. They first dig a hole about two feet deep -directly in the earth, and after that they work obliquely two or three -feet one way, and as much another, making angles; though they throw the -earth up with their fore feet, yet they make it as firm with their hind -feet as if no passage had been ever made. When they have worked in this -manner for some time, they then work aslant, upwards, till they get -within half a foot of the surface: there they make a kind of lodgment, -just big enough for them to turn themselves round in, where they lie for -four or five months successively without any sustenance whatsoever; and -what is still more strange, they are as fat at the expiration of that -term as when they first went in. It is no small difficulty to catch -them, for when we have discovered some marks of the place where we -imagine they began to burrow, we are often disappointed in digging after -them; they work so artfully, that we know not which way to find out -their secret recesses; but we spare no pains to take them, for they are -excellent food, and their skin when dressed is as brown and crisp as a -pig’s. Their hedgehogs too are agreeable enough, but nothing near so -delicious as their tondrucks; these conceal themselves all the cold -winter in holes of trees, where they remain for some months without any -visible support. - -This employment of attending the cattle was agreeable to me, except in -excessively hot weather, when it was a great fatigue to drive them -several miles to water, at least every other day; but in the colder -season we had no occasion to observe that practice, for the dew falls so -plentifully in the night, that we find it sufficient to drive them into -the grass about break of day; and even the inhabitants of this part of -the country of Anterndroea, who have no water near them, go into the -fields in a morning with two wooden platters and a tub, and in less than -an hour will collect about eight or ten gallons of dew-water, which is -very good while fresh, but will turn sour in a day or two, and -disagreeable to the taste. - -I had not followed this employment above a year, when my master went to -war, or rather (as I understood afterwards) to plunder a people to the -westward whom they pursued with the most implacable hatred, they having -surprised deaan Crindo’s father in his own town by night, and murdered -him in a most barbarous manner. - -My master informed me that I must look after the cattle no more, for he -was going to war, and had other business for me of much greater -importance. I offered my service to wait on him, but he answered, we -shall travel night and day; it is a long and tedious journey, and you -cannot, I believe, be able to undergo the fatigue, but your principal -business must be to look after my wife, and act as her guardian. He gave -me a strict charge to lie in the same house with her, and never to let -her stir out without me. After he had given her instructions to the same -effect, he took his leave, and accompanied by most of his people, went -on his intended expedition. - -I now lived at perfect ease, and my mistress was very kind and indulgent -to me. I went abroad wherever she went, partook of every thing she had -for herself, and lay in the same house with her, both of us strictly -observing our master’s orders; neither could I perceive that her -compliance therewith was any way repugnant to her inclinations. I was -not, it is true, absolutely easy myself; for the thoughts of my friends -and native country, and the improbability of ever seeing them again, -made me very melancholy, and dejected me to that degree that sometimes I -could not forbear indulging my grief in private, and bursting into a -flood of tears. - -My mistress would frequently ask me whether I was indisposed, or wanted -any thing; I could not prevail on myself to reveal the real cause of my -anxiety; however one day I took the liberty to tell her, I should be -very glad of an opportunity to see the other three lads, whose lives -were preserved, and who were taken prisoners when I was. She desired me -not to afflict myself on that account, for she would go with me, and -should be highly delighted to hear us converse together in our own -language. Accordingly she made inquiry amongst her neighbours where they -were, who informed us that they were at some distance from one another; -but that the nearest to be met with was about four or five miles off. So -the next morning we set out and inquired for the white boy: we were told -that he was gone to carry his fellow-servants some provisions to the -plantation, but as soon as a messenger was sent to him he returned -immediately, being as desirous of seeing me in particular as I was of -him; we embraced each other in a very passionate manner, and expressed -ourselves at first rather in tears than words. We had been very intimate -on shipboard, and I used to treat him frequently with punch, being -delighted with his company as he had a taste for music, and could play -extremely well on the violin. We condoled with each other, and observed -how wretchedly we looked, all naked, except a small clout about our -middles, and our skins spotted like a leopard’s; for neither of us being -ever before so exposed to the sun, we were scorched, and flead as it -were, and our skins often rose up in blisters. After our mutual -condolence we came to an agreement, that if either of us got safe to -England, we would give the other’s friends a particular account of all -our misfortunes. We inquired of each other after our other comrades, but -were equally strangers to their particular places of abode. My mistress -seemed very attentive to our discourse, and showed a compassionate -regard for our afflictions; but with great reluctance, and many a tear, -we were obliged at last to part. - -We had not been at home above two hours, before an express arrived from -my master with news of his success; and that he would be at home in a -fortnight. My mistress, and all the women who had husbands abroad, -expressed their general joy in large bowls of toake. In the mean time I -was very much indisposed, but tolerably well recovered before my -master’s return. - -He made his public entry in a very triumphant manner; the trumpet-shells -blowing, and crowds of people dancing before him all the way with their -guns in their hands. On his first approach, the foremost men fired their -guns towards the ground; which with them is the signal of a victorious -return. Deaan Mevarrow, and his brother deaan Sambo, came after them -with their attendants; next followed the cattle, which he had taken from -the enemy, and the prisoners of war brought up the rear. After they were -seated in form before my master deaan Mevarrow’s house, not only his -consort, attended by the other women of the town, came as usual, and -licked his feet, but the men too, whom he left behind him when he went -to war. - -I stood all this time as a spectator, till he seeing me at a distance, -called me to him. I approached him in the usual form of the country on -such a public occasion; that is, with my hands lifted up, and in a -praying posture. When I came near him, I paid him the compliment of -_salamonger umba_; but did not kneel down as all the others did, having -a kind of conscientious reluctance to such an act, as thinking it an -adoration that I ought to pay to no one but the Supreme Being; but he -seemed to resent my being so over religious; for he asked me, “If I -thought it beneath me to pay him the same respect that his own wife, -(who was a king’s daughter,) and his own mother too, so readily -condescended to?” However, I peremptorily refused, and told him, “I -would obey all his lawful commands, and do whatever work he thought -proper to employ me in; but this act of divine homage I could never -comply with.” - -On this he fell into a violent passion, and upbraided me with being -ungrateful, and insensible of his saving me from being killed among my -countrymen; and urged, moreover, that I was his slave, &c.; but -notwithstanding all this, I still continued resolute and firm to my -purpose. Whereupon he rose from his seat, and with his lance made a -stroke at me with all his might; but his brother, by a sudden push on -one side, prevented the mischief he intended. He was going to repeat his -blow, but his brother interposed, and entreated him to excuse me; but he -absolutely, and in the warmest terms, refused to forgive me unless I -would lick his feet. His brother begged he would give him a little time -to talk with me in private, which he did; and after he had told me the -danger of not doing it, and that in submitting to it, I did no more than -what many great princes were obliged to do when taken prisoners, I -found, at length, it was prudence to comply; so I went in, asked pardon, -and performed the ceremony as others had done before me. He told me he -readily forgave me, but would make me sensible I was a slave. I did not -much regard his menaces, for as I had no prospect of ever returning to -England, I set but little value on my life. The next day I incurred his -displeasure again, and never expected to escape from feeling the weight -of his resentment. - -My master then performed the ceremony of thanksgiving to God, for his -happy deliverance from all the hazards of war, and for the success of -his arms; which is performed in the following manner:—The inhabitants -have in all their houses a small portable utensil, which is devoted to -religious uses, and is a kind of household altar, which they call the -owley. It is made of a peculiar wood, in small pieces neatly joined, and -making almost the form of a half-moon with the horns downwards, between -which are placed two alligator’s teeth; this is adorned with various -kinds of beads, and such a sash fastened to it behind as a man ties -about his waist when he goes to war. [I shall not here pretend to give -an exact account of their religious worship, for I had not been long -enough in the country to be a perfect master of the true meaning of what -they either did or said.] However, I observed that they brought two -forks from the woods, and fixed them in the ground, on which was laid a -beam, slender at each end, and about six feet long, with two or three -pegs in it, and upon this they hung the owley. Behind it was a long -pole, to which a bullock was fastened with a cord. They had a pan full -of live coals, on which they threw an aromatic gum, and planted it under -the owley. Then they took a small quantity of hair from the tail, chin, -and eyebrows of the ox, and put them on the owley. Then deaan Mevarrow, -my master, used some particular gestures with a large knife in his hand, -and made a formal prayer, in which the people joined. In the next place -they threw the ox on the ground with his legs tied fast together, and -the deaan cut his throat; for as there are no priests among them, the -chief man, whether of the country, town, or family, performs all divine -offices himself. As soon as the people were all seated on mats in a -circular form, my master ordered me to sit down too, and say as the -people said, which I absolutely refused. However he pursued his -devotion, and when the service was over, took the owley in one hand and -his lance in the other, and came directly to me, asking me with a frown, -which I rather chose, either to assist in their solemn and public -thanksgiving, or to a fall a sacrifice to his just resentment? At first -I was startled, but as I thought this sort of worship to be downright -idolatry, and that they paid their adorations to the owley, I resolutely -told him that I would sooner die than pay divine homage to any false -deity whatsoever. Upon this, as soon as he had put the owley in its -place, he came to me again, and taking me by the hand was determined to -lead me out of the town and kill me; but his brother and all the people -round about him pleaded for me, and used their utmost endeavours to -persuade him against so rash an action, but to no purpose; till his -brother at last very warmly told him, he would that minute depart and -see his face no more, if he offered to be guilty of such an act of -inhumanity, and rose up to be gone accordingly. When my master saw his -brother was going in good earnest, he called him back, and promised to -spare my life; but assured him he would punish me very severely for my -contempt of his orders. Deaan Sambo told him, he should submit that to -his own discretion; all he begged of him was not to kill me. Upon this, -by a secret sign, he advised me to kneel down and lick his feet, which I -readily complied with, and asked his pardon. When I got up, I kneeled -down to deaan Sambo of my own accord, and licked his feet as a testimony -of my gratitude and respect for thus saving my life a second time. - -As soon as this storm was blown over, I was remanded to my former post -of cow-keeper. I had a great deal of trouble sometimes with these -cattle, for they are very unruly; and notwithstanding they are larger -beasts than any I ever saw elsewhere of the kind, they are so nimble -that they will leap over high fences like a greyhound. They have an -excrescence between their shoulders, somewhat like that of camels, all -fat and flesh; some of which will weigh about three or four score -pounds; they are also beautifully coloured, some are streaked like a -tiger, others, like a leopard, are marked with various spots. They do -not give so much milk as our cows in England, nor will they ever suffer -themselves to be milked till their calves have first sucked; so that -they keep one calf for every cow all the year, or till the cow is -pregnant again, and they seldom miss a season. Here are also some sheep -with large heavy tails, like Turkey sheep; they are not woolly as ours, -but more like a goat. Here are also a small number of goats, like those -in other countries. They bring up no hogs, though there are enough in -the country; for they are so mischievous to the plantations, that we are -forced to set traps to catch them; but in this country of Anterndroea -nobody eats them, except the very refuse of the people. - -Whilst I was peaceably tending my cattle, and all things seemed -perfectly quiet and easy, the scene of our affairs was changed at once -by some sudden news, and my master was summoned to war in good earnest. - -It is a common practice for parties to stroll out and surprise their -enemies by night, when least they expect them: on these expeditions it -is customary for every man to carry a piece of meat in his hand, and -when they have entered a town in the dead of night they throw the meat -to the dogs, in order to prevent their barking. When they are all got -in, one fires a musket, but makes no other noise; the inhabitants -thereupon being alarmed, and hastily creeping out of the doors of their -low huts in a stooping posture, are stabbed with lances: as to the women -and children they take them captive, and drive away with them all the -cattle they can find, set the town on fire, and return home by private -unpractised ways. In this manner did my master, his brother, and some -others belonging to deaan Crindo, enter several of the king of -Mefaughla’s remote and defenceless towns; whereupon, in order to -retaliate the indignity offered him, the injured king mustered up an -army of three thousand men, and entered Anterndroea, with a firm -resolution either to fight the deaan in the field, or attack him in his -own town, called Fennoarevo; and by fire to lay it level with the -ground: accordingly he sent a messenger to deaan Crindo, to tell him -that he should soon feel the weight of his just resentment. To which he -answered, he would not stir out of the town but wait for him there; and -defied him to put his purpose in execution. - -Deaan Crindo, therefore, summoned all his people to his assistance, and -to be ready at hand in Fennoarevo, or the adjacent villages. He had four -sons who were chiefs of towns, besides nephews and grandsons. His sons -were deaan Mundumber, deaan Frukey, deaan Trodaughe, but deaan Chahary -was unfortunately gone with five hundred able men to traffic into -Feraignher; which is Augustine-bay country. - -It is a constant custom amongst them in time of war to conceal their -wives, children, and cattle in remote and secret places in the woods, -that the enemy when they plunder the country may not be able to find -them; but the women and children are never with the cattle, lest their -bellowing should discover them. The women for the most part secure -themselves, by trailing a bough after them as they go to their recess; -which prevents their track from being followed. Thus did my master and -his people secure their wives, children, and cattle. I was left with the -latter; for that reason am incapable of giving an exact account of this -war, knowing no more of it than what was told me at their return; which -in general was to the following effect. - -That deaan Woozington, the king, and his son Chemermaundy, with Ryopheck -his nephew, a gallant man who commanded the army of Merfaughla, entered -the country without the least opposition; for deaan Crindo having -received his menacing message, took care in the first place to secure -the families and cattle belonging to his people, and then drew up all -his armed men in the town, resolving to wait for his coming; but deaan -Mundumber, Frukey, and the younger chiefs, had not patience to hear of -his passing without resistance; so they prevailed on the king, though -against his will, to let them go out with two thousand men and obstruct -his march. Deaan Crindo, however, was resolute and would not stir out of -the town. This army was commanded in chief by deaan Mundumber and -Frukey; who behaved themselves with great courage and conduct, first -sending word to deaan Woozington, that they were come by their father’s -command to give him a suitable reception into their country, and hoped -he would not fail to meet them. To which he answered, he would most -assuredly pay them a visit and make himself welcome; and was as good as -his word. They joined battle, and Mundumber was obliged to retire, which -he did in good order after a sharp and obstinate fight; in which deaan -Woozington’s son was dangerously wounded. Deaan Mundumber returned to -his father with eight hundred men, and used his utmost endeavours to -prevail on him to go out with his forces, and give deaan Woozington -battle; but the old king persisted in his first resolution. So Mundumber -continued at home with him, and fortified the town as well as the time -would admit. - -After this, deaan Frukey and Trodaughe made themselves masters of a pass -between two hills, and cut down several large trees to defend them; by -which means they entirely stopped deaan Woozington’s progress, -notwithstanding he attacked them in the most vigorous manner, and was as -gallantly repulsed: at last, Ryopheck, by the direction of a man who was -well acquainted with the country, got behind them, and deaan Woozington, -at the same time, with Ryopheck charged them again. Frukey, however, and -his brethren, were obliged to retire, which they did with great -resolution, even through Ryopheck’s party. In this action Ryopheck, who -was always in the hottest place, with much difficulty escaped. - -Though deaan Woozington at last arrived at Fennoarevo, and attacked it -in a vigorous manner, yet he was as bravely repulsed; deaan Crindo and -his sons resisting till they were overpowered, and when their enemies -were got within the town, they even disputed every inch of ground, till -deaan Crindo himself was obliged to cut down several trees, which are -their walls, to make a way for their escape. He so much depended on his -own courage and conduct, that he kept his wife and daughter in his own -house, notwithstanding all the other women and children were sent away -long before; these unhappily fell into the hands of deaan Woozington, -and were made his captives. The town was reduced to ashes, as soon as -they had plundered it of such trifles as their treasures consist in, the -principal of which are beads; these they often conceal in holes: so that -there is nothing to be got but iron shovels, hoes, earthen and wooden -dishes, spoons, &c. some cattle, indeed, they found, which were brought -into the town for their necessary subsistence during the siege; and in -such cases these cattle live well enough upon the thatches of their -houses. They had also filled a great many tubs with water. - -Deaan Crindo was inconsolable for the loss of his wife and daughter, and -like a distracted man; when his sons told him if he would now join them, -as he should have done at first, they were yet able to deal with deaan -Woozington. And accordingly they mustered all their forces into one -army, and made a number equal to their enemies. Deaan Woozington having -no intelligence of this, was detaching a thousand men to plunder the -country, and bring in all the women, children, and cattle they could -find; which is their constant practice after a complete victory. Just at -this juncture deaan Crindo appeared with his potent army, and sent -messengers to acquaint him that he must either deliver up the queen and -princess with the other people and cattle he was possessed of, or -immediately decamp and give them battle. Deaan Woozington in answer -thereto, assured him he had no thoughts of detaining his wife and -daughter, neither did he come for slaves or cattle, he having plenty of -both; but since deaan Crindo had sent him a challenge boasting of his -superior strength, and bidding defiance to all the kings on the island, -on account of the number of white men that were his friends, he came to -see them; but as he could find none, he hoped that the proud deaan -Crindo was sufficiently mortified; so he was ready to send him his wife -and daughter again: but as to the few slaves and cattle which he had -taken, his people should detain them to make themselves some -compensation for the robberies which Mevarrow, and some others, had -committed in his country. - -At last a peace was concluded, and sworn to by the generals on both -sides, with the usual formality of killing an ox, and eating a piece of -the liver from off the point of a lance; each general wishing at the -same time, that whoever first fired a gun might die upon the spot. The -ceremony being over, public rejoicings were made on both sides; deaan -Woozington returned into his own country, and deaan Crindo to rebuild -his shattered town, which was finished with the utmost expedition, and -all his chiefs with their people repaired to their respective homes. - -As soon as we were well settled again, three boys who belonged to some -principal men of our town, and myself, were sent some miles off with -about two hundred head of cattle, to look after them and provide for -ourselves. There were not above five or six of them however, which gave -milk, so that we were at a short allowance: if we expected any other -diet, we must search for it in the woods, and get it where and when we -could find it. My mistress furnished me with an earthen pot to warm my -milk in, a calabash to drink out of, and a mat to lie upon. My master -gave me a hatchet to make fences with, and a lance to fight with if any -body came to steal my cattle: he also gave me a new clout, to wear after -their country fashion, my old one being worn out; the common people -seldom wear one broader than a napkin; they call it a lamber, and so -shall I for the future; the name of a—se-clout (by which our English -seamen distinguish it by way of derision) being too vulgar an -expression. - -We drove our cattle to the proposed place, and the first thing we -employed ourselves about was, the erection of a house, which we -completed in about a day and a half. We finished our cow-pen next, and -made a small one for the calves, to keep them from sucking while we -milked the cows. Our house, however, was but a poor little hut, and but -badly thatched; and it being the rainy season, (which is their winter, -and sometimes very cold,) we had but a very indifferent lodging. We -kept, indeed, a fire, and happy was he who could lie nearest it; for we -had no other covering than our lambers, which we pulled off to lay over -us. Now I began to feel the weight of my slavery, being almost famished; -for all the food we could get, was a small fowl now and then, which -creeps upon the ground; and which we caught in traps. - -We lived in this melancholy situation almost three months, but at last -we formed a project for killing one of our master’s beasts, and dressing -it in private. A great many schemes were offered, till at length I -proposed one, which was unanimously agreed to; namely, to kill a cow by -stabbing her in the side with a sharp pointed stick, and make the horn -of another cow, which belonged to the same man, all over bloody, that he -might imagine the misfortune came by goring. But then a debate arose, -whose beast should be killed; for every one was unwilling that his -master should be the sufferer. However, I soon determined that point, by -drawing lots with four sticks shorter than each other; and I so -contrived it, that I kept the longest in my hand, and by that means -secured my master’s. - -When the job was done, away ran the boy to inform his master that one -heifer had killed another; he and his family came immediately upon the -news, and finding a cow with a bloody horn, they all concluded it was -done by her. Though the master was sadly nettled at the disaster, yet he -soon cut up the dead beast, and gave us a good large piece of it, -besides the legs and the entrails; and then went home again. Thus far -our scheme succeeded to our wish, but our principal aim was, under -colour of having meat given us by our masters, to despatch another -heifer privately; and if any person happened to see us (as we were not -far from strangers, though we were from our own homes) and ask how we -came by our beef, we could say our masters gave it us. But success made -us too bold, for one day having killed a beast that had strayed from -some other people amongst ours, our masters came to see their cattle, -which they found in the cow pens, but finding none of us near them, they -began to suspect us: whereupon they divided themselves, and made a more -narrow inquiry; one of them heard a noise in the wood, like the felling -of trees, where we were very busy; and following the sound, they soon -smelt roast meat: in short, our masters surprised us, and came at once -amongst us with their guns cocked, crying out, _vonne terach com boar_; -which in English is, kill the sons of bitches. - -The reader may imagine we were frightened to the last degree, and -expected nothing but immediate death; and indeed it proved almost fatal -to the other three. They asked us whose beast it was? We answered, a -strange one. They told us, however, that the crime was the same; for if -we had practised the art of killing cattle privately, they were sensible -that theirs must some time or other be our prey, when no others offered; -and for that reason were resolved to punish us with the utmost severity. -Hereupon each of my comrades’ masters took his slave, and in an instant -castrated him. I, not relishing that sort of punishment, fell down at my -master’s feet, and endeavoured all I could to convince him that I had -been peculiarly careful of his cattle; and told him, moreover, that I -would stand the chance of being killed by submitting myself to be shot -at, provided he stood at any reasonable distance; or run any other -hazard he should think fit, rather than be deprived of my manhood. My -proposition was accepted, and accordingly he took me out of the wood and -tied my arms behind me round a tree, and placed himself at about -fourscore yards; then seeming to take good aim at me, fired, but missed -me: whether he did it on purpose I can’t say, but I presume he did; -imagining the terror was sufficient, having seen how severely the others -were punished. They went away, and told us if ever they found us at such -pranks again, nothing should save us from immediate death. - -They were no sooner gone from us than I began to reflect on the -injustice of our masters, who, though they had cattle of their own, -would frequently oblige us to go with them on their thievish -expeditions; and yet so severely punish us for one poor crime to satisfy -our craving appetites. However, after all, I was forced to be doctor to -my comrades in distress, for their masters took no care of them; so I -warmed some water and washed off the blood, and dressed their wounds: I -was also forced while we remained there to look after all the cattle, -and milk them too; for they were not perfectly recovered, when orders -were brought us to return with our cattle. As my poor comrades could -scarce walk, I made the messenger who came to us assist me in driving -the cattle home. - -When I came home, I was soon informed that deaan Tuley-Noro, king of -Antenosa, had given my master all this trouble by marching his people -into Anterndroea, and demanding satisfaction of deaan Crindo for the -murder of the white men. Now, though this was two years and a half -before (for so long I had been in the country) yet I soon heard that -captain Drummond, captain Steward, Mr Bembo, and the rest, who escaped -the night before the massacre, were with him; and that there had not -been, during all that time, a ship at Port Dauphine, for them to return -in; but that notwithstanding they lived free and entirely at their own -disposal. This deaan Tuley-Noro was king Samuel, whom I mentioned -before, and whose dominions were on the other side of the river -Manderra. - -As soon as I got home I was taken from the cattle, and two men were -ordered to guard me and see that I did not run away to king Samuel. The -next day we heard the Antenosa people were within ten miles of our town, -which put them all into a great hurry and confusion. The cattle were -sent one way, and the women and children another; poor Robin, their -white slave, was along with them, but had his hands tied behind him. I -had not been long there before a messenger came to my mistress in great -haste, with order to send me to my master in the camp, for the white men -were to purchase me, and proposed to give two Buccaneer guns as a -valuable consideration. My mistress was loth to part with me; I -dissembled as much as I could, and showed a seeming reluctance at -parting since I had been so long amongst them; though at the same time I -struggled hard to conceal my joy. I kneeled down and licked her feet, -thanking her for all her favours, and away I went with the messenger, in -great hopes now of seeing some of my countrymen again, and getting a -passage to England. But see how fortune tantalized me! It was twenty -miles, or thereabouts, to the camp where my master was; and it might be -somewhat after midnight when we arrived there: my master set a watch -over me the remaining part of the night, and made me swear I would never -discover the hiding places of their wives and cattle; which I readily -complied with. - -The next morning king Samuel sent to know if I was come, and desired -they would permit a hundred men to be sent down with me between the two -camps; and he would send the like number to meet them with the two -Buccaneer guns. This being agreed to, deaan Crindo ordered my master to -go with the party; and king Samuel seeing them approach, gave directions -for his men to meet them; among whom were captain Drummond, and the rest -of the white men. When we came near one another, captain Drummond, being -glad to see me, called me by my name; and asked me how I did. My master, -thereupon, clapped his hand upon my mouth, and vowed if I offered to -speak he would kill me; so that I durst not return any answer. Captain -Drummond finding I made no reply, imagined, as I suppose, that I could -not hear, whereupon he and the white men came nearer. My master, on -their approach, thought they came to take me by force, and cheat them of -the two guns; upon this he ordered his men to fire at them: so that -instead of a parley and an exchange of me for the two guns, a skirmish -ensued, and both armies advanced to support each other’s party. I was -immediately sent away under a strong guard to the woods, where I parted -with my mistress the night before: so that this pleasing prospect of -deliverance was nothing more than a short transitory dream of liberty, -which immediately vanished; and made me only feel the weight of slavery -much more sensibly than before. Which way I returned back I cannot tell; -but sure I am, I was in such a disorder of mind as a condemned criminal -is when going to execution. In a few hours, however, I found myself in -my former station; my legs in parra-pingo (a fastening almost like -fetters) for fear I should run away: my old companions stood round about -me, and my mistress and the women were glad to see me again. But I was -in too melancholy a mood to return them any compliments; nor could they -extract from me any thing but tears and exclamations at my hard fortune. -I wished for death, and was very near being gratified in my desire two -days after. - -The next day news came that deaan Tuley-Noro was returning back to his -own country; he being (as they said) obliged to retire by deaan Crindo, -though the Antenosa army was twice their number. We were also ordered to -return home, and I was released from parra-pingo, and set at liberty; my -guard being also discharged. - -The day following came deaan Mevarrow, deaan Sambo, and their little -army, entering the town with great pomp and grandeur, as if they had -gained some extraordinary victory; though I heard of nothing but a -little bush-fighting and ambuscades. The deaan, however, sat himself -down with his brother, the other chiefs, and the rest in the usual form -before his house: my mistress, according to custom, crept out to lick -her hero’s feet; when she had done, the rest of the women performed the -same ceremony; and after them the slaves, among whom I was one. As I was -getting up to depart, he ordered me to stay; I stood some time to hear -him tell his wife, how like a coward deaan Tuley-Noro behaved himself, -though he had twice their number of men. After he had told his tale, he -turned his head, and with an angry countenance asked me what the white -men said when they called me? Sir, said I, they only asked me how I did? -And nothing else, said he. I replied, no, sir. At this he rose up in a -rage, cocked his gun, and put the muzzle to my breast; saying, if I did -not tell him the truth he would shoot me that moment. I was not much -daunted, as I had little or no regard for my life in my then melancholy -humour; so with little concern I repeated what I said. At this he pulled -the trigger, but Providence being pleased to preserve me for some other -purpose, the cock snapped, and missed fire. Whether the prime was wet in -the pan, or by what other miracle it was I escaped his fury, I cannot -say; but that not succeeding to his wish, he took his lance to stab me; -when his brother and the rest of his chief men ran in between us and -told him it was cruel and inhuman, and that he had better have killed me -at first, than saved me only to terrify me with death on every slight -occasion; there being no reason at all for such severe treatment. With -much persuasion he returned to his seat and told them there were just -grounds to suspect the white men had formed a design to commit some -treacherous action, since they came nearer than they ought to have done. -And, indeed, their fears proceeded from a natural dread they have of -white men, ten of whom will drive fifty black men before them. Besides, -captain Drummond and the rest being completely armed with pistols in -their girdles, was an additional terror to them. What was the true -reason of king Samuel’s retiring I know not; but when this broil was -over, my curiosity led me to understand the whole affair; which was thus -related to me. - -King Samuel’s intention was to have marched directly to Fennoarevo, and -fall upon deaan Crindo before he could be provided for him: his way lay -over a large plain called Ambovo, leading to a great wood; through which -they must also pass. Deaan Crindo having more timely notice than they -expected, laid an ambuscade in the wood; king Samuel being lame of the -gout was carried on men’s shoulders; they suffered him and great part of -his army to enter the wood, and then gave the signal: whereupon deaan -Crindo’s men arose and attacked them so vigorously and with so much -advantage, (knowing the wood which the others did not,) that king Samuel -himself was in danger of being taken; but was gallantly defended by the -white men, and others of his bravest people. They were obliged, however, -to retire into the plain, where they encamped, as did deaan Crindo’s -people close by the wood side, and even in it; by that means securing -themselves from the superior number of the Antenosa army, which, as they -were informed, consisted of six thousand men. Here they came to a -parley: king Samuel sent one of his chiefs to acquaint deaan Crindo, -that he had no intention to deprive him either of his cattle or his -slaves; but that as he had been brought up among white men, all such -were his friends; and he looked on himself obliged in duty and honour to -demand some satisfaction of deaan Crindo, for the white men he had so -inhumanly sacrificed to his resentment; and if there were any yet alive, -he desired to have them in order to send them to their native country. - -Deaan Crindo gave good attention to the messenger, and then returned an -answer to this effect: that he wondered deaan Tuley-Noro should concern -himself with other people’s affairs; that as to the white men who were -shipwrecked on his coast, he looked upon it, that the great God had sent -them there for his assistance; and that as he had a potent enemy, and -was conscious of the white men’s courage, as well as superior skill in -war, he should not slight the help his gods had sent him. Accordingly he -treated them with the utmost civility as friends, and maintained them in -as handsome a manner as his country would afford; they wanting for -nothing he could procure them: and after all, though they had in so -violent a manner seized him, and prince Murnanzack, and made them -prisoners, he would condescend so far to Tuley-Noro to inform him -(though under no obligations to give him an account of his actions, or -frame any excuses) that neither he, nor prince Murnanzack was present, -or any way aiding or abetting in their deaths; but that action was done -by some of his sons and nephews to revenge the indignity offered to -himself and prince Murnanzack. And to convince him he did not tell him -this as a plea, through a mean spirited fear; since his sons thought fit -to do it, he would justify and defend them in it; and thought they did -the white men justice. That he knows but of one that was living out of -four boys, who were saved at that time, whom by inquiry he finds to be -in deaan Mevarrow’s hands: as to the other three, one died by sickness; -the second was killed by his master for his obstinacy and perverseness; -and the third ran away or was lost; for nobody knew what was become of -him: and as to him who was living, he should not have him without paying -such a ransom as his master required. - -Now, by several circumstances, I am apt to imagine, that this answer -might seem highly reasonable to king Samuel; and that in my opinion -prevailed more on him to return to Antenosa, than all the force my -master boasted of, or than all that Crindo’s army was capable of -performing. - -They told me, however, that king Samuel in his answer hereto, excused -the violence the white men offered to deaan Crindo, by asserting that -they did it only to secure their liberty; that they did not, nor ever -intended to hurt or injure him. However, as there was no raising the -dead to life, if he would send six hundred head of cattle, it should be -deemed a sufficient compensation; as for me, he was ready and willing to -purchase me, and desired to know what they demanded for my redemption. -Deaan Crindo sent word that with respect to me, they insisted on two -Buccaneer guns; but as to his demand of six hundred head of cattle, he -was not to have laws, or any arbitrary commands imposed on him by any -king whomsoever; that if they wanted provision he was ready to supply -him: for it should not be said that deaan Tuley-Noro came to see him, -and he would not give him a dinner; and for that reason he had ordered -his people to present him with six oxen and a bull. - -King Samuel, as some would have it, resented this as an affront, and -would have attacked the Anterndroeans immediately upon it, but was -dissuaded by captain Drummond and the rest, there being no likelihood of -any engagement but bush-fighting; which must be to the advantage of the -Anterndroeans in their own country, who were in possession of the wood: -so finding that no other terms would be agreeable, they accepted of -deaan Crindo’s present, which his men wanted, indeed, and went on in -their parley about me; the success whereof you have already seen. -However, - -I must not pass over a piece of superstition practised here. There are a -sort of people in this country who pretend to a profound knowledge in -the magical virtue of roots, trees, plants, and other products of the -like nature; and of their power to perform wondrous things by charms -composed of them. One of these conjurers, or Umossees (as the natives -call them) prevailed on deaan Crindo to take a certain powder which he -gave him, and to strip off a piece of the skin of the tail of a white -bull, because deaan Tuley-Noro was a whitish man, and to clap this -powder upon the wound; as also to mix some of it with water, and give it -to the bull to drink thereof, before it was given to the Antenosa men. -Now this was not done in order to make the creature unwholesome, and by -that means to procure deaths, or diseases among their enemies in the -common way; but with a view to work some witchcraft or supernatural -operation upon them. Now it happened that in two months after this king -Samuel died: at that time he was very infirm, and had been so long -before; which, with the fatigue of this journey, might hasten his end. -There was not wanting, however, people superstitious enough to think his -death was the effect of this incantation; though it is reasonable to -suppose he eat none of the bull, there being oxen at the same time; for -these negroes would make oxen no more than we white men, were they not -sensible that the flesh of them is in all respects more grateful to the -taste than that of bulls. - -And since I have had an opportunity of saying thus much of king Samuel, -I suppose my reader will be so curious as to inquire who this king with -a christian name was? and what reason should induce him to assist us, -and revenge our wrongs? His living near the sea, and the immense -treasure he and his people amassed together by trading with the English, -may serve as a sufficient motive for the friendship this king showed to -our people: and indeed they are friends to the English all over the -island, except in some few places far distant from the sea. King -Samuel’s history, however, being very particular, I shall here relate it -as I had it at different times from the natives themselves. Whether any -of the French authors of voyages have written any memoirs concerning -him, I cannot positively affirm; nor have I had the opportunity of -seeing their histories of Madagascar, to compare them with my own; I -shall not, therefore, vary from the account I had of it, whether it be -agreeable to what others have said, or not. - -This part of the country to which the French have given the name of Port -Dauphine, is called in the Madagascar language Antenosa. There came -hither about ninety years ago two French ships, on what account I cannot -learn; however they came to an anchor close under the land, in a very -good harbour. The captain observing that there were plenty of cattle, -and all provisions, as also a very good soil, determined that one of -them should stay here, and establish a settlement: hereupon they cast -lots who should continue on the island, and the person on whom the lot -fell was captain Mesmerrico. [I must here desire my reader to observe, -that this is the name by which the natives distinguish him; though in -all probability as they are unlearned they may pronounce it very -incorrectly: but, besides, as it is some considerable time since, and -they have no writings or records, so consequently, they can have no -other history than that of tradition, from father to son, and so on to -succeeding generations.] This captain Mesmerrico landed with two hundred -white men, well armed, and provided with store of ammunition and other -necessaries for the building of a fort, which they immediately began. No -sooner had the natives observed their intention, than they used their -utmost art and industry to prevent them: this created a war, in which -the French were the victors, who took at several times a great number of -prisoners. In this war the king of Antenosa and his brother were killed; -and amongst many other children that were made captives, the king’s son -was one. When the French had suppressed the natives and completed their -fort, the ships set sail for France, and carried this young prince and -several others of distinction with them. - -In about a year after this expedition, the natives began to be better -reconciled to the French; notwithstanding they were secretly disgusted -at the indignity offered to their young prince, and could by no means -relish the government and direction of foreigners. However, the French, -by their artful and cunning deportment and insinuations, gained so much -friendship amongst them, that they married, and lived up and down in -several towns, at some distance from each other, and not above five or -six in a place. They occasionally assisted the natives in their wars -against a king that resides to the northward, whom they defeated, took a -great number of slaves and many cattle. In this manner they lived for -some years with great tranquility, neglecting their fort, and extending -themselves all over the whole country of Antenosa: but at last, as their -families grew numerous, the natives grew jealous; and recollecting how -inhumanly they had treated their prince, and perceiving them thus -scattered and dispersed, they thought this a favourable opportunity to -free themselves from a foreign yoke. Hereupon they formed a conspiracy -to cut off all the white men in one day; and the Wednesday following it -was put in execution, not leaving a white man alive in Antenosa. - -Soon after a French ship came there as usual; the maurominters, or -slaves, who retained a respect for the French, got a canoe and went off -to them, and informed them that their countrymen were all massacred. The -captain was startled, and deeply concerned at this melancholy news, but -could not revenge their cause, being glad to steer another course -without making the least attempt to go on shore. - -Having now nobody to interrupt them, they put their government into its -original form, and made choice of one for their king, who was the most -nearly related to the former; there being no other son than he whom the -French took captive. Under this new king’s direction they lived -peaceably and quietly for several years, no French ship ever presuming -to come near them; but now and then an English ship paid them a visit; -and they traded in a very fair and honest manner with the officers on -board. - -Some years afterwards, a French ship, homeward-bound from India, -happened to be in great distress for want of water and provisions, and -could not compass the Cape. Port Dauphine lay very commodious for the -captain, but he knew that the natives were their implacable enemies, -neither was he ignorant of the real occasion; and therefore resolved to -make use of the following stratagem. Under a pretence of being sent -ambassador from the French king, he went on shore in great pomp, and -with proper attendants. The ship lay at anchor as near the shore as -possible, in order to be within reach of their guns in case any acts of -hostility should be shown them. The natives who came down to them, asked -if they were English or French? They replied, the latter; but they were -sent by express orders from the French king with some valuable presents, -and were inclined to make a treaty of peace. The king they had last -chosen, whom I mentioned before, died about a month before their -arrival, and no new one was then elected in his stead; but the old queen -(mother of the prince whom they had so clandestinely conveyed away some -years before) being then alive, gave directions that the ambassador -should be conducted to her house. His men carried a great many things of -no great value amongst them; but such, however, as they knew would be -highly agreeable in this country. These were formally presented in the -name of the French king, and the queen testified her satisfaction in the -reception of them, by entertaining the captain in the most elegant -manner she could devise. This day passed in compliments, mutual -presents, and such other ceremonies as were consistent with their ideas -of public grandeur; the next day she sent for the captain and informed -him, that she expected his men, as well as himself, should take the -oaths according to the custom of her country. - -The captain having readily agreed to her proposition, the ceremony was -performed after the following manner:—the holy owley, of which we have -already given some account, was brought out and hung upon a piece of -wood laid crosswise on two forks, all which were cut down on this solemn -occasion; as was also a long pole, to which a bullock was fastened: this -was provided by the queen, and when killed, they took part of the tail, -and some of the hair of the nose and eyebrows, and put them on some live -coals that were under the owley; they then took some of the blood, which -they sprinkled upon it, and upon the beam whereon it hung; the liver -also was roasted, and a piece placed on it; two other pieces were put on -two lances, which were stuck in the ground betwixt the queen and the -ambassador; the queen swore first to this, or the like effect:—“I swear -by the great God above, by the four gods of the four quarters of the -world, by the spirits of my forefathers, and before this holy owley, -that neither I, nor any of my offspring, nor any of my people, who -assist at this solemnity, or their issue, shall or will wittingly, or -willingly, kill any Frenchman, unless he prove the first aggressor: and -if we, or any of us, mean any other than the plain and honest truth by -this protestation, may this liver, which I now eat, be converted into -poison, and destroy me on the spot.” - -Having repeated this form of words, she took the piece of liver off the -lance and eat it, and when she had done, the sham-ambassador did the -same. - -The captain, or quondam ambassador, stayed on shore about three or four -days after this solemn contract, and sent on board what provision his -people wanted. A firm friendship being now established between them, -they strove who should outvie the other in the arts of courtesy and -complaisance. The captain invited the queen to go on board his vessel, -and she very readily went with several of the chief of her people, who -were treated by the captain with great magnificence, and to her entire -satisfaction. She returned on shore in the ship’s boat, and stood -looking about her for some time after she was landed. The Frenchmen, not -regarding the presence of the black queen, stripped and swam about to -wash and cool themselves; the queen observing the whiteness of their -skins, indulged her curiosity in looking on them; at last, perceiving -one man whose skin was much darker than the rest of his companions, as -he came toward the shore, and was going to put on his clothes, she -espied a particular mole under his left breast; she went to him -immediately, and looking more wishfully on it, would not permit him to -put on his shirt, but claimed him as her son, who had been carried away, -when a child, many years before; and had not patience to contain -herself, but ran to him, (crying for joy that she had found her son,) -threw her arms about his neck, and almost stifled him with kisses. This -surprised all the people, as well blacks as whites, till having -recovered herself a little, she turned to them and told them this was -her son, and showed them the private mark. They who had known the young -prince drew near, viewed the mole, and acquiesced with her that it must -be he, and no other. The Frenchmen could not tell what to make of this -odd discovery, nor what might be the fatal consequences that might -possibly attend it. - -The captain, therefore, taking the man aside, advised him to give as -artful answers as he could to what questions they should ask him for -their safety’s sake. Now there were several blacks who spoke French, and -by their means the Frenchmen as soon understood the queen as they did. -She desired they would ask him if he knew the country he was born in? He -answered, he could remember nothing of it, for he was carried from his -native place when a child. She asked him if he knew her? He said, he -could not pretend to say absolutely that he did, but he thought she bore -a great resemblance to somebody he was much used to when young. - -This confirmed them more and more in their opinion. As to his being -white-skinned, they thought that might easily be from his wearing -clothes during the time he was absent from home; his hair was as black -as theirs, so that it was concluded it must be their prince. The old -queen was transported with joy at finding her son, and the natives were -for choosing him their king directly, he being the next heir. They asked -what was his name. He told them he never remembered that he was called -by any other name than that of Samuel; but they gave him what they -thought was his original name, compounded with Tuley, which denoted his -return, or arrival; so they called him deaan Tuley-Noro. Deaan, it may -be observed, is a universal title of honour, and signifies lord; and he -was also farther saluted immediately with the title of Panzacker, that -is, king of Antenosa. - -The captain and other Frenchmen were surprised to find the man play his -part so dexterously; not perceiving, at first, that he was in earnest, -and was as fond of being their king as they were of electing him, though -it was in so heathenish a place. He had here twelve thousand fighting -men immediately under his command, and a fine, spacious, and plentiful -country to live in at his pleasure. The ship’s crew sailed away and left -him behind them; but as often as the French had occasion for what this -island afforded, they made it a constant practice to put into Port -Dauphine, and traffic with him. - -About three or four years before we were cast away, a French ship -happening to be there, some of the men got drunk on shore, and in a -quarrel with some of the natives, told them that king Samuel was not -their lawful prince, but that he was still resident in France. This -might have proved of very fatal consequence to him, but he took such -care to prevent it, as no one could justly blame him for. He sent for -the man who made this public declaration, and ordered him to be shot to -death; he commanded, likewise, his companions to depart forthwith, and -assured them, that if ever they, or any of their countrymen presumed to -come within his territories again, they should feel the weight of his -resentment. And our man, who advised us from putting into Port Dauphine, -being informed of this last adventure, made him say he was barbarous to -all white people; but he had heard the story imperfectly, and from -thence arose the mistake which proved so fatal to us. - -By this conference between deaan Crindo and king Samuel, I came to the -knowledge of what happened to the white boys, who were my fellow -captives, at least, so far as the natives knew themselves; as also, that -the prince whom we seized and made prisoner with deaan Crindo, their -king, was not, properly speaking, his son, but deaan Murnanzack, his -nephew, whose right deaan Crindo had usurped, as we find in the sequel -of this story; but a word in their language, signifying offspring, and -comprehending as well grandsons and nephews, as sons, was the cause of -our mistake. But, - -To return to my own history: the contest between my master and me being -pretty well over, through the intercession of deaan Sambo and the other -chiefs, he ordered me to go and work in the plantations, and told me -with a stern countenance, that if I hoed the carravances and weeds -together, as I did before, he would hoe my —— out. I went away very well -satisfied, not caring where I was sent, so it was but out of his sight, -for he now became more my aversion than ever. - -Our plantation was near five miles from home, and he seldom came above -once in a month to visit us. As to my maintenance, or that of the rest -of his slaves, we must provide for ourselves, or starve, for he never -concerned himself about us. However, each man had as much land as he -thought proper to cultivate for his own use, and one day in a week -without control. When I first came there, I thought I must have starved. -I was obliged on moonlight nights, after I had done my task, to go into -the woods and hunt out for wild yams for my sustenance, and too often I -found no more than was sufficient for one meal; which, however, I was -forced to husband to the best advantage. - -My fellow-slaves were, indeed, as courteous to me as I could well -expect; and as they had plantations of their own, they gave me -carravances and such other victuals as they had; especially on dark -nights, and at such times as I could not shift for myself. I worked -sometimes two nights in a week in cleaning and burning down the weeds -and other things off the spot of ground I had allotted for my own -plantation; the best root, however, that I could plant to produce myself -food in a short time was potatoes. I lived in this miserable plight for -nearly three months successively, and it was a year before I was well -settled, and could say I had plenty. - -Honey is one of the most profitable, as well as most useful things this -country produces; and they may have it in plenty, if they will but take -proper care. There is little trouble in the management of bees, which -are here very numerous; they will readily come to their hives, or -toakes, as the natives call them, and I took a particular delight in -making them. They are part of the body of a tree, called fontuoletch; -which is first cut off about a yard long, and then split right down. -After we have dug out the middle with our hatchets, in which operation -we are not over nice, we bind the two parts together in their natural -position, so that the hive is a hollow cylinder; we leave a hole at the -bottom for the bees to enter, and this is all the care that need be -taken. - -I had a large stock of these hives, but my neighbours too often -plundered them. Once, however, I caught a young fellow; and about three -or four days after, I went to his father to demand satisfaction for the -honey he stole, and the destruction of my hives. The old man made very -few words with me, but gave me two hatchets, a hoe, and ten strings of -beads. I was very well satisfied with this compensation, and looked upon -myself as no inconsiderable person; but soon after, I found out a sure -method to preserve my honey; the relation whereof will give the reader -an adequate idea of almost the only superstition to which these people -are addicted. - -I have made mention before of the Umossees who pretend to be magicians, -sorcerers, and fortune-tellers. One of these was on his travels from -Antenosa into our country, and took up his lodgings at my master’s town; -my master had been that day in the woods to visit his beehives, and -perceived several of them robbed of their store: he returned before -night in a very great passion, and threatened to shoot the person that -was found stealing his honey, let him be who he would. This Umossee -coming to pay his respects to him just at that time, and hearing his -complaint, told him he could give him a secret, or charm, that would -effectually prevent his honey from being stolen; but he was afraid to -communicate it, because it would infallibly kill the person who should -but taste of it. Deaan Mevarrow replied, he did not care if they were -all killed. Hereupon, it was agreed, that the Umossee should have two -cows and two calves, in case his project proved effectual, and should -stay to see the desired success. - -Accordingly, the next morning, he went into the woods and singled out a -tree which the natives call roe-bouche; we have none like it in England, -nor is it very material, for any tree would have done his business, I -presume, as well. He went to the eastward of this tree and dug up a -piece of its root, and then turned to the westward, and dug up another -piece; after this, he took the eastern root, and ordered deaan Mevarrow -to rub it on a stone with a little water, and sprinkle the water among -the bees, and the honeycombs in the hives; and, if any one, said he, -shall steal the honey, and eat the least morsel of it in a quarter of a -day, (for they reckon not by hours, as we do,) they will swell and break -out in spots, like a leopard, from head to foot, and in three days they -will die. Deaan Mevarrow was highly pleased at this discovery, and said, -how shall I do when I want to make use of my honey for myself and -family? The Umossee replied, the remedy is here in my hand, which is no -other than a root of the same tree, but dug to the westward; and when -you take your honey, rub a little of this upon another stone with water, -and sprinkle the hives; this being done, your eastern root will have no -power. But if any one have stolen your honey, and feel the bad effects -of it, and you are inclined to be merciful and save his life, give him a -small quantity of this western root, which he called vauhovalumy, or -root of life, and it will take down all the swelling; the spots will all -vanish, and the person be restored to his former state of health. - -All this was mighty well, but the principal point was to try the virtues -of it, and see if it would answer all these fine purposes of the -Umossee, which deaan Mevarrow was somewhat doubtful of, though very -eager to know; and therefore, having sprinkled his hives with the -eastern root according to directions, he proposed it to several to make -the experiment, and he would give them an ox as a reward, but nobody -would venture; Whereupon he ordered it to be published about the -country, and by this means I came to hear of it. Now I had before -observed the simplicity of the people on these occasions, and plainly -perceived that these artful Umossees took the advantage of their -ignorance to cheat and impose upon them. I was very sensible there was -nothing more in all this, and that it had already met with the effect -desired, by striking terror into the people; and having a considerable -quantity of honey myself, I imagined, if I gave out that I had the -secret, it would also preserve mine. I sent word, therefore, to my -master, that I would oblige him if he would communicate the secret to -me, in case I survived the experiment. He not only sent for me -immediately, and agreed to my proposal, but made me a promise of a -considerable reward besides. - -I went, accordingly, with my master and several others to the hive, -which was sprinkled, as they call it, with the poison; and swallowed the -honey down by handfuls before them, asking them at the same time if they -would eat some with me? They would not touch it, they said, for ten -thousand cattle; making several grimaces in the mean time, and expecting -every moment some dismal calamity would befall me for my presumption. -When I had filled my belly, my master would have me home with him, in -order to have the cure at hand, but I chose rather to stay with my -comrades; by which means, I had time to contrive some way to deceive -them. As fortune would have it, being in the fields, I saw at some -distance a calf sucking a cow; and nobody being in sight, I tied up the -calf with my lamber, and milked the cow into my mouth as long as ever I -could. This, and the honey together, had the desired effect, for it -began to swell me immediately, and rumbled in my belly so loud that it -might be heard. Away went I to my comrades, who perceiving my belly -swelled, and hearing the unusual noise, advised me to run home, and cry -out I was poisoned. I pretended to step behind a hedge on some private -occasion, but it was only to whip myself with some nettles. The pimples -and redness raised from this stratagem terrified them still more and -more; for there appeared on me all the symptoms of poison which the -Umossee had before described; and to crown the deceit, you may be sure I -did not fail to comply, and cry out most heartily; thereupon, some ran -before me, and others helped me home. - -My master, before I came, had prepared the water with the vauhovalumy, -or root of life; the people, terrified at the danger I was in, flocked -round the house; some pitied me, and stood astonished at the profound -learning of the Umossee, who did not, himself, perceive the cheat. Well, -I drank the medicine, and after reposing myself for three or four hours, -all the tokens of danger disappeared, and I was well. The vauhovalumy -was looked upon as a sovereign medicine, and the Umossee as a very great -and wise man, who did not a little value himself upon the success of his -secret, repenting that he had parted with it at so cheap a rate; saying, -he would have twenty cows for it of the next that wanted it. Deaan -Mevarrow, as a gratification, bid him choose any two cows and two calves -out of all his cattle in the cow-pen, which he did accordingly, and -departed. My master, on my promise of secrecy, discovered both the roots -to me, and showed me not only how to find them, but how to use them to -the best advantage; for the pain, he imagined, I had suffered, and the -hazard I underwent, he presented me with a cow and calf; I then thought -I had spent my time to a very good purpose. - -When I returned to my plantation, my neighbours and fellow-slaves having -observed the sudden and terrible effects of this poison, begged of me to -put a mark upon all my hives, that when they went out a honey-stealing, -they might not be killed by eating any of mine. This was the very thing -I aimed at, and, accordingly, I put a white stick before every hive, and -never lost my honey afterwards. Nobody would go near my hives for fear -my bees should sting them, and the wounds should prove of more dangerous -consequence than those of others. - -Having now a cow and a calf, I had milk of my own, and was as rich as my -fellow-slaves; besides the advantage I made of my honey, by selling -forty or fifty gallons a year for hatchets, beads, &c., to those who -make toake with it; more especially against their circumcision, and -other solemn festivals. - -I lived in this manner about three years, which, with the two years and -a half I had spent before, made up almost an apprenticeship in this -country. One day my master came to survey our work, and taking peculiar -notice of the method I observed, he told me I must go home with him and -keep his cattle, which were near the town. This employment was not near -so laborious as digging and cultivating his plantation; however, I was -pretty well improved, but as he provided for me now, and my honey was -safe, I was not much concerned at my removal; so away I went, driving my -own cattle, which were considerably increased, having two heifers, -besides my cow and calf. My household furniture too was not so -cumbersome, but I was able to carry it all away at once; yet I was as -rich, and had as much as other people in my mean station, and much more -than many of them. - -In less than two days I built me a house, and a cow-pen for my cattle. -Now was I in my former situation, and looking after my master’s cattle; -the hardest of my labour was, as I observed before, the bringing home -every other night, either a tub or a calabash, four or five miles, full -of water; but considering I was a slave, I lived in as much ease as I -could reasonably expect. - -I had not continued long in this last station, before a general calamity -reduced us to the most deplorable circumstances. The epidemical evil of -this island is, their frequent animosities and open quarrels with one -another, which is the principal reason why such numbers of them are sold -to the Europeans for slaves. This is a dangerous and destructive -misfortune to a people, otherwise good-natured and well disposed; who -have wholesome laws for the determination of all disputes, and the -punishment of all crimes, of which I shall give an account in a more -proper place; but what I have to observe here is, that the sovereign -prince of any country has seldom force sufficient to oblige the lesser -chiefs in his dominions to answer, in a judicial way, to the wrongs they -do each other, or the mistakes and errors which they casually commit; -but they fight it out, making slaves of, impoverishing, and destroying -one another, after the manner I am now going to relate, in which I -myself was a severe sufferer. - -All things appeared in a state of peace and tranquillity. No foreign -enemy for a long time molested us. But what I took particular notice of -when first a slave, was, my master and others clandestinely driving away -their neighbours’ cattle, and their neighbours being equally guilty of -the same practice, so that it was a very difficult point to determine -who was the aggressor in the present quarrel. But one day, as I and some -others went about five or six miles to water our cattle, having two men -armed with guns to guard us according to custom, it happened, on our -return home, that notwithstanding the greater number of them went on -slowly, grazing as they passed along, some of the milch cows, wanting to -be sucked by their calves, ran homewards before the rest. The man -knowing me to be very active and nimble, desired me to run forwards and -stop them, in order to keep them in a body; but they being got at a -great distance, it was some time before I could turn them. When I -wheeled about, I was surprised to see one of our men shooting amongst a -body of men, who were driving the cattle another way, and running from -them towards me; they soon espied us, and our cattle, and ran after us. -Hereupon I quitted my post, and fled as fast as I could home to my -master, and was the first messenger to relate our disaster. I puffed and -blowed, being frightened, and out of breath, and in imperfect -exclamations I told him, that an army had seized our cattle; and that -one of our men, named Roynsowra, had fired and killed somebody; but I -could not inform him who the enemy were, nor on what account they thus -attacked us. While my master and some others were discoursing with me, -in came two or three more, who informed them that deaan Chahary and his -brother deaan Frukey, two of deaan Crindo’s sons, were the parties -concerned. Our master, it seems, had been found guilty of stealing three -of deaan Frukey’s cattle, and this they did by way of retaliation. All -was in an uproar and confusion at once. Each man took up his arms in a -hurry. Deaan Mevarrow ordered them to follow him, which they were as -much inclined to do as he was to lead them, for the loss was general. -All the milch cows and home-kept cattle were gone, and now away went all -the men in pursuit of them, except such as were old and infirm. Amongst -others, I was demolished, having lost my cow and my two heifers; my -calf, indeed, was left at home, lowing for its dam, as did every body’s -else; between which vociferations, and the outcries of the women and -children, there was a most confused and hideous uproar. - -Deaan Frukey, who then was, or at least pretended to be, the injured -person, lived within two or three miles of our watering place; but they -drove our cattle more to the northward, to deaan Chahary’s town, which -was better fortified, and much more capable of sustaining the assault, -which they justly imagined we should make against it. Though our people -were highly provoked, and very expeditious, yet they followed them with -all the circumspection imaginable; having spies who ran softly before, -by whom they found their enemies were entered the town with their booty. -Our people, not being provided with strength sufficient, and having no -time to call in their neighbours to their assistance, did not attempt to -assault deaan Chahary’s town, but turned off without being suspected, -and went about five miles farther, where they kept their breeding -cattle. As it was now late in the night, they took them all without any -opposition, the few keepers they had being at a distance, and fast -asleep; so that they drove away the beasts without any noise, and made -their way homewards as fast as possible. We looked out all the morning, -expecting every minute they would return; and, at length, we espied them -with a vast drove of cattle, containing as many at least, if not more -than our own, being above five hundred. All of us imagined they had -recovered their own; and for my own part, I was thinking how I should -kiss my cow for joy of seeing her again; but too soon we perceived they -were strangers, and as I was not with them, I had no share of the booty. - -My master, and several others, after they had divided them, killed some -of the oxen; a jovial feast was made immediately, and our people sent me -part of the banquet. The day following my master despatched me to look -after the cattle as before, whilst he went to repair some breaches in -his town walls, by putting in several poles, which were cut down for -that purpose, and made preparations for a war. He had not patience, -however, to stay at home and see whether his enemies would come to -create him any new disturbance, though he might be very well satisfied -with the reprisals he had made on them, since he had taken away more -than he had lost. However, in two or three days’ time after, he was -resolutely bent to surprise the enemy’s town by night, though he left -his own unguarded, and met with such success as so precipitate a conduct -justly deserved; for the very next morning after their expedition, as I -and others were watering our cattle, and looking carefully after them, -lest they should run to their own home, which was considerably nearer to -the watering place than our town, about twenty men rushed out of a -thicket of bushes, and leaped upon us like so many tigers on their prey. -However, I and three or four more boys had time to start out of their -clutches and fly for it; but they soon overtook the rest, carrying them -back, and all the cattle and the other slaves that were with them; while -some followed me, hollaing out, and menacing to kill me if I did not -stop and surrender myself their captive. Thereupon I turned about, and -perceiving I had gained ground of them, I ran directly forwards for a -mile and a half at least, before I came to any proper shelter. At length -I came to a wood, with which I was well acquainted, where I soon lost -them. They returned back to their companions, and went off with their -prisoners and cattle. Perceiving them gone I hastened home; when I -entered the town the women immediately flocked round about me, for they -saw by my countenance and the confusion I was in that some misfortune -had attended our party. I soon acquainted them with the loss we had -sustained, and they as soon reflected on their husband’s ill conduct; -who, to gratify the dictates of a blind passion, and to avenge -themselves on their enemies, would leave all that was valuable to -themselves unguarded to become their prey; for they might be very well -assured that they had spies out to give notice of every opportunity -which might tend to their advantage. - -Deaan Mevarrow returned about evening, when, for his welcome home, the -news of this morning’s expedition was related to him. I also understood -the project they went upon had proved fruitless and ineffectual; for -though they arrived at the enemy’s town an hour before daylight, yet so -cautious and vigilant were they in sending out their spies all ways both -night and day, that they discovered our people, and alarmed the -townfolks, who came out and met them. And all that was done, as I could -hear, was only a tongue-battle, and vollies of opprobrious language. -Deaan Mevarrow, indeed, fired at them at a distance, which they -returned, but no execution was done on either side. A kinsman coming -soon after daylight to deaan Frukey’s assistance, deaan Mevarrow thought -it most advisable to withdraw; but not without telling them, if his -kinsman and his people had not come in to his assistance, he would have -had all his cattle again in a few hours. To this they replied, that they -would not only keep the cattle they had of his, but that their own, -which had been lately carried away by surprise, were by this time in -their own hands again, as he would find at his return. And what they -asserted, indeed, proved too true: at this he was heartily nettled. We -had killed, however, a considerable number of them first, and stocked -ourselves with provisions. He vowed to be revenged on his uncles, and -accordingly made preparations for another enterprise, which was entered -upon in three days after. He asked me if I was willing to make one of -the party? I very readily embraced his offer, for there was safety -nowhere now; and being at home was as dangerous as being with them. So -he furnished me with a gun, cartouch box, and powder-horn, and thus -accoutred, I commenced soldier. - -We sallied out of our town as soon as it was dark, for we had a great -way to go. Deaan Frukey, with all his people, having abandoned his own -town, not thinking it sufficiently fortified, and moved to his -brother’s, which was many miles farther to the northward, we marched -very briskly, but as silently as possible, never speaking to each other, -but in whispers. As my skin appeared white, they imagined it must be -discerned at a distance in the dark, and expose us by that means to our -enemy’s spies; they therefore made me besmear myself all over with mud. - -We came near the town about two hours before daylight, and sent two men -who were perfectly acquainted with every part of it, in order to search -for breaches, or at least some weak places in the fortifications. They -succeeded as they could wish, and returned, having discovered not only -two breaches, but the private way too, which is always prepared for the -women and children, by which to make their escape into the woods in case -of a surprise. Near this place we laid an ambuscade of thirty men, who -were ordered not to fire, or make the least noise, and to seize the -women only in their flight. Our army was divided into three parts: deaan -Mevarrow, with his people, attacked the more difficult breach of the -two; a chief man of his the other; and deaan Sambo the gate, in whose -party I was; for my master would not take me with him, thinking I could -not well bear to tread upon the thorns in the fortification. - -There were three gates, one within another. The signal for our attack -was the firing the first gun, which was not to be till the deaan -Mevarrow and the other chief had secured the outside of the breaches, -and it was a quarter of an hour before we had accomplished it. The -townsmen were by that time all in arms, and almost as well prepared as -we, for they secured the inner gate, at the same time we entered the -outer one, and came furiously towards us with warmth and resolution; -however, we drove them back. They maintained the other, indeed, a long -time, till deaan Mevarrow had, with much difficulty, gained a passage -through the breach; one of his principal men was shot in the belly just -before him, which so provoked him that he leaped down, and the rest -followed. - -About the same time we pushed vigorously towards, and entered the town. -Immediately we heard the outcry of the women, who were surprised by our -ambuscade, and almost all of them taken. The men got off by a breach, -which they themselves made into the woods, and left us the town to -plunder and reduce to ashes, which was done accordingly. I got for my -share a small quantity of cotton, and a few wooden platters, and some -spoons. We found here several of our cattle, and among the rest I espied -my cow, and did not question then but I should soon have her again: but -see the fatal effects of an ill-grounded security! We had now a great -booty of slaves and cattle; the latter we drove out of the town before -us, without any guard before them, thinking we had gained an entire -victory and dispersed all our enemies; when, in fact, the number of them -was greatly increased. They kept in a body in the woods, observed our -motions, and only waited for a favourable opportunity to show their -resentment. They soon perceived that the cattle were left defenceless, -and that they had little more to do than to drive them into the woods, -where we lost them all almost as soon as we had got them. For on our -march, in order to recover them, the enemy appeared in a formidable -body, firing at us, and even giving us battle. In this action one of our -men was killed. Several of our people were missing before, even whilst -we were in the town; and upon strict inquiry, we found three wounded, -and four of our principal and bravest men cut off. Deaan Mevarrow and -all the rest seemed very much concerned at this unexpected misfortune; -and were not near so active or sanguine as they were before, so that now -they thought of nothing but making a retreat with the slaves they had -taken, and getting out of the reach of the enemy as soon as possible. -Accordingly they left the plain open road by which we came, and went -through the woods, a most uncomfortable way, for ten miles or more, -overrun with thorns and briars, and in perpetual fear of ambuscades. We -stopped, however, to make a bier to carry away our men who were wounded, -and then marched on with the utmost circumspection, thinking every bird -that stirred an enemy in ambush. Notwithstanding we got through this -long wood very safely, we still went by unbeaten ways, so that it was -almost dark before we got home. It is a constant custom, be the success -of their engagements good or bad, for the chief to sit down with his -people before his own door; the women soon flocked round him to hear the -news, and though we brought with us a considerable number of slaves, yet -there was no room for rejoicing; for the wives, relations, and friends -who were killed made a most hideous outcry. However, a few calves were -killed, and we refreshed ourselves as well as we could after our long -fatigue; every man retired to his own apartment, and being weary, lay -down to rest; but before daylight we were alarmed by the firing of a -gun. The enemy, by our conduct the day before, perceived we were -dispirited, and determined to give us no time to recruit; so they -pursued us and attacked our town, as we had before done theirs; but I -cannot say their judgment or conduct was equal to ours. For the first -thing we did upon the alarm was, to have a party ready to secure the -wives, children, and other valuable slaves, in which we succeeded to our -wish, and conveyed them safely out of the town to their proper recesses. -Though we defended ourselves as long as we could, yet we did not show so -much courage and resolution as we should have done at another time; -however, we retreated with but a trivial loss, and left them the town to -plunder. There was nothing of value for them, since the women had -carried off what their haste would admit of; and as for cattle, there -was none but a few calves, whose dams they had seized at first; and such -was their precipitation, that they could not drive even them away; so -they killed them, and carried as much of their carcasses away for -provision as they conveniently could. They never once offered to go in -search for the women, but called to us, and vowed we should have no rest -till they recovered their wives and children. We told them on the other -hand, that we would have our cattle again, and not restore them their -wives neither. They seemed pleased with thus showing their resentment; -it was no small satisfaction to our people, though defeated this time, -to find that notwithstanding all the disadvantages they then lay under, -they were still able to cope with them. - -But deaan Crindo, our king, by this time was apprized of all that had -happened, who immediately undertook to reconcile all differences between -us; and accordingly sent messengers to both parties to know the grounds -of our quarrel, and the demands on both sides. Deaan Mevarrow sent word -he was ready to oblige the king, and would live in peace with his uncles -in case they would send him all his cattle again; and as deaan Frukey -and Chahary wanted their wives again, they said, they were ready and -willing to return what cattle were left alive of ours; but having killed -a third part, they would never be accountable on that score. So that the -king could not persuade deaan Frukey to make up the number of our -cattle; nor on the other hand could he prevail on us to send them their -wives unless they made restitution. Our master boldly sent the king -word, that all the force he had, united with that of his sons, should -not oblige him to restore their wives and children on any other terms. - -Deaan Crindo resented this insolent answer, and was determined at all -adventures to reduce them to a compliance; and in order thereto, -mustered up an army of a thousand men, and was resolutely bent to come -to deaan Mevarrow first. Now deaan Crindo could not on these occasions -raise any considerable army, because there was a dispute always -subsisting between him and his nephew Murnanzack, whose father was deaan -Crindo’s elder brother; who dying when his son was an infant, and his -country invaded, this uncle took upon him the charge of the government; -and when possessed of it would never resign it. Deaan Murnanzack was not -only an intrepid warrior, but a prince as well accomplished as ever -appeared in this illiterate country. He was just, honourable, generous, -and of a courteous disposition; he had three brothers, who were lords, -judges, and chiefs of towns, who together could raise an army not much -inferior to their uncle’s; besides, he was universally beloved. Now, in -case of a foreign war, all were ready to oppose the common enemy, as we -have seen them withstand the kings of Merfaughla and Antenosa; but they -were ever jealous and watchful of each other. For which reason deaan -Crindo could bring no greater an army against us than was consistent -with the safety of his own town, and those belonging to his sons. - -Deaan Mevarrow had notice of this design against him, by a particular -friend of his in Fennoarevo, who ran from thence to our town by night, -and returned before daylight undiscovered. My master had a cousin with -whom he had contracted an intimate friendship, and whose father was as -powerful a lord as any in deaan Crindo’s dominions; to this uncle, whose -name was Mephontey, he fled with his people for protection. We soon -packed up our little all which we had left. My whole stock of provision -and household furniture consisted of no more than about a gallon of -carravances, a mat to lie upon, a hatchet, and a little spade to dig up -wild yams. We wanted no hoes now, for that work was put an end to in -this country. All our plantations, and most of the produce which was -laid up in little storehouses, were now left to the enemy’s disposal. In -half a day we arrived at deaan Mephontey’s town, who treated my master -with all due respect, and assured him, that he would defend both him and -his people to the utmost of his power. The chiefs had houses given them, -but we common people were obliged to build huts for ourselves in any -part of the town where we could find room. As for my own part, I erected -but a small one, not knowing how soon it might be burnt. - -Deaan Crindo, in three days’ time, encamped before the town. He sent to -deaan Mephontey, desiring him to deliver up deaan Mevarrow, and all his -people, and bid him detain them at his peril. To this deaan Mephontey -sent a resolute answer, that he would protect any strangers, who were in -his opinion honest people, and fled to him for succour in distress; and -much more should he be sanguine for the interest of his friends and -relations; and if deaan Crindo would have them, he must take them away -by force, for he would defend them to the last extremity. - -Deaan Crindo prepared to attack the town the next morning, and we to -defend it. In order thereto, the women and children were that night sent -away into the woods, not all into one place, but at proper distances, -and in small companies. I was ordered with a guard to take care of my -mistress, and some other women and slaves who were with her, which I -accordingly did. After I had marked the place, in order to find it again -with ease, I returned to the town, where we lived as well as we could -wish that night, dressing and eating beef in plenty, &c. for we had some -cattle of our own, such as I was sent to keep at first, which were at a -great distance, when deaan Frukey seized the milch cows; but we wanted -water, which was a great misfortune to us, since our enemies were so -near that we could fetch none all the day before. - -The next morning we were all up by break of day, and every man at his -station, according to appointment the day before. I was posted behind my -master, who had two guns, one of which I was to load, while he fired -with the other. It was broad day before the enemy began the attack; they -fired so briskly upon us, that for nearly a quarter of an hour together -we could not see them for smoke; but as soon as their fire abated, we -returned it as hotly upon them. On the second onset they drew nearer, -and the lances flew briskly at one another; one of which went through my -lamber, and scratched me. I was a little surprised at first, but soon -recovering my spirits, I returned them the lance over the fortification, -in the same manner as it came to me. The cattle were very troublesome to -us; for several of them being wounded, they ran up and down and put the -rest into confusion. We fought thus for four hours successively, with -great warmth on both sides, till deaan Crindo perceiving he could not -enter the town, recalled his forces and withdrew to his camp. Deaan -Mephontey and deaan Mevarrow were for sallying out; but deaan -Mephontey’s son, Batoengha, with much difficulty persuaded them to -desist, suspecting an ambuscade. Several were killed on both sides, and -some wounded, whom we conveyed out of the town when the engagement was -over to their wives. We buried our dead under the fortification, and -sent out spies to observe the motions of the enemy, who brought us -intelligence that they were very quiet, and that their whole time was -spent in killing cattle, and fetching wood to dress provisions. When -this news was confirmed, and we were well assured that they would give -us no more trouble for that day, our people killed and dressed beef -likewise, but we were parched up with thirst. You might here have seen -men with their tongues lolling out of their mouths through excessive -heat. This want of water is the most intolerable of all calamities, and -a misery too great for words to express. I have before observed, that -when I first came into this country, I felt the anguish of it for almost -four days; and found by woful experience, that there was no comparison -between hunger and thirst. I had relief, however, sooner than my -neighbours; for my master sent me and two slaves with provisions for our -mistress, and those who accompanied her, where, by the way, we found a -little water. - -I had some difficulty, notwithstanding all my precaution, to find the -place where I left her the night before; however, I got there at last. -She seemed in great concern for our welfare, and drowned in tears; for -hearing the guns firing, and, at length, ceasing all at once, she -imagined the town was taken and her husband killed; but the sight of me -dispelled all those melancholy clouds. I cut down several boughs with -large leaves upon them, which served very well for dishes and plates; -and cutting the roast meat I brought with me into pieces, I served it up -to my mistress: and though she had not, as some may probably remark, so -much delicacy as some of our fine ladies of her birth and distinction in -Europe, yet she enjoyed as grateful a repast, and I may venture to say -was as well satisfied as they would have been in her then circumstances. -When she was served, I divided the remainder amongst my fellow-servants, -her women, who were her attendants. My orders being to stay with her, I -sent the two men away who had brought a very considerable quantity of -raw meat; and in the night I made a fire to dress it, which could not be -discerned through so thick a wood; whereas, in the daytime, the smoke -might have discovered us. I went at some distance and dug up several -wild yams; these were very agreeable on account of their moisture, this -place being destitute of water; but none of them, how much soever they -might long for them, would venture to dig for themselves till I came, -lest the noise might betray them to the enemy. - -At night we sat very sociably round the fire, whilst I entertained them -with the story of the engagement, and the dangers I had escaped. I also -roasted the meat, and hung part of it up in one tree and part in -another, out of the reach of the wild dogs and foxes, with which this -country abounds. When it grew late, I told them I had no bed to lie on, -having forgot my mat in the hurry. They laughed at this, and my mistress -said, “Sure, Robin, you do not think but we will make room for one man -amongst us?” and then bid me make choice of my place. Now I could be -free and jocose enough with the young women slaves, though not with -herself; yet I laid myself down close by them all night, and I can -assure my reader we were very innocent. - -I must here confess, I could not but wonder at first, why my master -trusted me so readily with his wife, contrary to his care of her in -regard to other men, and to the custom of the country; but when I began -to reflect how dangerous it was for any woman, who was liable to be -called to an account for all her actions, to carry on an amour with a -white man, the wonder ceased; for, should a woman prove with child, the -colour of the offspring would betray its mother, if not point out the -father. But I must not let this pass with any thing which may be -misconstrued to this lady’s prejudice; for I solemnly declare, I never -once discovered in her the least criminal inclination; notwithstanding -what may be said here or elsewhere, of some such freedoms as would -appear too condescending, and be censured as too forward in our European -women. - -We arose by daybreak, and listened very attentively to hear, if we -could, the noise of guns, but none were discharged; and in a short time -the two men came again to us, and brought us more provisions. They -informed us that deaan Crindo had sent a menacing message to deaan -Mephontey, to let him know, that unless he obliged deaan Mevarrow to -come to him, and submit to his determination of the quarrel between him -and deaan Frukey, that he would humble their pride, and remain there -with his army till he starved them; and moreover, he would guard the -watering place so strongly, that they should not dare to approach it. -Deaan Mephontey, on the other hand, returned as resolute an answer; that -he was under no apprehensions of starving, having provisions enough of -all kinds; a great number of cattle, and other conveniences for them to -live on for three months; but besides, he had strength sufficient to -force his way out of the town whenever he thought proper; and advised -deaan Crindo, for that reason, not to put it to the hazard of a trial, -but to move off, and rest contented with the repulse he had already met -with. - -After the men had told their tale they returned home, and we all went to -digging of yams; even my mistress condescended to make one amongst us: -so I sharpened sticks for them, and they pulled off their lambers to -keep them clean; notwithstanding some of them were such worthless -things, that a rag woman in England would scarce have picked them up. My -mistress’s, indeed, was a fine silk one of various colours, and very -large, hanging almost down to her feet, with a handsome fringe at the -bottom. They made more free with me than they would with some others; -saying, with a smile, that they did not look upon me as a man, since I -discovered no warm or amorous inclinations. My reader, perhaps, will -scarcely believe me when I assure him, there were amongst them such -beauties, as were not much inferior to our European ladies, except their -colour; but my behaviour and resolution were actually such at that time, -and long after, that I told them, I resolved never to entertain any -thoughts of women, till I returned to England my native country. They -replied, they were sure I should be mistaken. However, I lived very -idly, indeed, but merrily enough, during the few days I continued here; -there being about a dozen women besides my mistress. And for my part, I -did not care how long the war lasted, for my provision was given me all -the time, and I had no work to do. As to the dangers that attended war, -I did not concern myself about them; I had nothing to lose but my life, -which, considering the circumstances I was in, and the small hopes I had -of ever getting home, was but a burthen to me; but we had not yet seen -all the miseries of a civil war. Every morning we used to listen to hear -if possible the noise of guns; when, at length, one of the slaves came -to us alone without any meat; and having seated himself (as slaves in -particular always do before they speak) he told us, that deaan Crindo -was gone away, and that my master had sent for us home. This was very -agreeable news; so we sat down to breakfast together, sang, and were as -jovial as so many beggars. My mistress was in a hurry to be gone; for -she was uneasy till she paid her respects to her husband. As soon as -ever she saw him she fell upon her knees, and licked his feet; and he -returned her compliment, after the manner of the country, by touching -her nose. - -Now the reason of deaan Crindo’s sudden departure was, an information -that deaan Murnanzack had seized six hundred of his cattle; he might -have taken them all indeed, if he would, but he did this only to begin -the dispute. We stayed, however, a week longer at deaan Mephontey’s -town, till we were better informed how the matter stood between them; -and that there was nothing to fear on that side. Deaan Crindo, it seems, -had sent to deaan Murnanzack, to know the reason why he seized those -cattle, and whether he was determined to take deaan Mevarrow’s part? The -answer he received was, that he did it to show him his right of -dominion; notwithstanding he doubted not, but that he would dispute his -title with him, as unjustly as he had usurped it. - -This was a mortifying stroke, and happened at a very unlucky juncture: -deaan Murnanzack was always a formidable competitor, and was looked on -as such, whenever he thought proper to maintain his right; and he, -doubtless, embraced this opportunity on purpose, when deaan Crindo had -weakened his interest, by affronting deaan Mevarrow, deaan Sambo, and -their friend deaan Mephontey. Crindo was soon convinced of his error, -and endeavoured to soften matters, by sending messengers to all of them, -to tell them that what he did, was with no other view than to chastise -his grandsons; and what was highly requisite to restore that peace and -tranquillity, which they and his son Frukey had disturbed; though he -began with the former, yet Frukey, had he proved refractory, should have -felt the weight of his resentment as well as others: he hoped, -therefore, that they would consider his good intention, and not break -friendship with him. - -Three or four days after this, we departed from deaan Mephontey’s; but -first returned him many thanks for these generous testimonies of his -friendship and hospitality. We went home, (or rather homeward only,) for -though we found our way and the place of our late abode, yet not a house -was left to put our heads in. Our plantations too were totally -demolished, and the very barns and storehouses reduced to ashes; so that -we had nothing to live on but what the woods afforded, and a few cattle -among the richest and chiefest men; who were in fact very good, and -communicated to their poor neighbours. - -The town being so absolutely demolished, as not to be repaired, deaan -Mevarrow determined to build a new one; and searching for a commodious -place, at length he found a wood so thick, that a dog could not creep -into it. This, therefore, was more than half fortified to his hand, and -pitched upon accordingly. A vacancy was soon made in it, the men cut -down the trees, bushes, and briars, and the women and children conveyed -them away; so that in about three days, we cleared a large space to -erect our houses on: however, as it was summer time, we were not in so -much haste for houses, as for fences against an enemy. We fortified it, -therefore, with bodies of trees, which we cut about sixteen or eighteen -feet in length; these we drove into the ground so close together, that -no creature whatever could possibly get between them. But as one row -only of these poles of trees was not thought a sufficient security, we -made three or four, one within another, round the whole circumference of -the town; leaving no other vacancy than a small and private passage for -the conveyance of our women, children, and slaves away with safety, in -case of an enemy’s approach; and this was so contrived, as not to be -discerned with ease or known by strangers. We made but one gateway or -entrance, and that not only narrow too, but defended with four -prodigiously thick and substantial doors, one within another. - -The walls being completed, nothing more remained to do, but each man to -erect a house of what extent he thought proper for himself and his -family. We, who were slaves to deaan Mevarrow, took care to build his -first; some of us cut wood, others fetched grass in order to fill up the -sides; whilst I and about thirty more, went a tedious way, at least ten -miles, for annevoes, which are the leaves of a tree like those of a -cocoa-nut. These we split and covered the house with, for they make a -thatch much neater and stronger than any in England, but these trees -were so scarce, and at such a distance, that a single man could not go -often enough, in any reasonable time, to collect the leaves; and -notwithstanding we went in such a body, we were obliged to go twice for -a sufficient quantity to cover my master’s house. - -When we had finished my master’s seat, we went about our lesser -apartments, and as at deaan Mephontey’s a small one served my turn, so -it did here in like manner; for, notwithstanding all our strong walls -and fortifications, I much questioned whether we should be able to keep -them long; neither did we, as it proved soon after: so I made my hut no -bigger than just to have room sufficient to stretch my self at full -length, and make a fire in, should I, by good fortune, find any victuals -to dress. - -About a week after we were settled in our new town, a messenger, (or -rather, an ambassador,) arrived from deaan Murnanzack, with about twenty -in his retinue. His business was to sound deaan Mevarrow’s inclinations, -and (if they found a favourable opportunity) to desire his friendship -and assistance. He soon found there were good grounds to hope for -success, and for that reason delivered his message the first night he -came. To which deaan Mevarrow returned in answer, he would take it into -consideration, consult with his people, and give him his determinate -answer the next morning. In the mean time, he gave him a slave’s house -for his immediate accommodation, as is customary on such occasions; and -sent a bullock for the entertainment of him and his attendants. In the -next place, he sent out messengers to all the chiefs and freemen to come -and consult with him on an affair of the last importance. I was present, -and saw this assembly. As soon as deaan Mevarrow and his brother deaan -Sambo were seated, the principals placed themselves on either hand, and -the other freemen on each side of them. - -Deaan Mevarrow opened the consultation, by telling them, that deaan -Murnanzack had sent a very honourable messenger to him to ask his -friendship and assistance. We must not forget, says he, that deaan -Murnanzack proved of singular service to us in the quarrel we once had -with deaan Termerre; therefore, consider we are much indebted to him -upon that score. Consider, moreover, that Chahary and Frukey will ever -be irreconcilable enemies, so long as we detain their wives and -families; and you concur with me not to deliver them without a due -return of all our cattle, which they obstinately refuse: then, as deaan -Crindo is their father, he, doubtless, will be partial, notwithstanding -his seeming pretensions to peace, and affected regard for justice; but -in what manner he has lately used us, is too fresh in all your memories -to need repetition. The justice of deaan Murnanzack’s claim to the -dominion, is, I presume, indisputable; whether deaan Crindo may not -justify himself as affairs now stand, in assuming the authority, is what -we shall not, at this juncture, take into consideration; but it is -highly requisite for us to consider, whether deaan Murnanzack has -strength enough to maintain the dispute, and protect us, and such other -friends as may be inclined to join him. This requires the most mature -deliberation: the chance of war is very precarious, and you have -families, slaves, and cattle to lose as well as I; weigh well, -therefore, the matter in hand, and let me have your resolution, with -which I shall readily concur. - -They argued the point for some considerable time, and consulted not only -what would be most conducive to their interest, but reflected on the -dangerous situation they were in; and that it was most probable they -should be safest in joining with deaan Murnanzack. Thereupon they -agreed, that one of them should declare the result of their consultation -to the deaan. In the name of the rest, therefore, he desired him, if he -approved of their opinion, to contract and enter into a solemn -friendship with deaan Murnanzack; and if so, they would faithfully -observe and support him to the utmost of their power. - -After I had seen the manner and formality of this grand assembly, our -parliament in Great Britain ran strangely in my head: I imagined this -the very image of it: and though I was but a lad when I went from home, -yet as my father kept a public house, to which the best of gentlemen -resorted, I remember, I have heard them often disputing with one another -about the power of the prince, to oblige the people to do what he -pleased without consulting them; whilst others insisted that a king had -no power without a parliament. Then they would dispute about the origin -of parliaments and their power, and by whose means the use of them was -brought first into England; in this too they seldom agreed. Some said -the Saxons introduced it; others maintained that it was of a more modern -date; whilst many were of different opinions from both. Now methinks -this article might be adjusted without any reference to authors and -historians; that parliaments were established long before the Saxons or -Romans either: for I imagine, that not only England, but several other -countries besides, were once like Madagascar, without the knowledge of -letters and coined money; and if that be the case, it was then -impossible for princes to exert that authority over the people, or to -dispose of them contrary to their interest, or inclinations: for I look -upon those princes to be like my master, who neither had, nor could have -any separate army or interest; but when any neighbour desired their -assistance, or any enemy had injured them, they assembled before the -house of their chief; and there debated what measures were most proper -to be taken for the good of their country. If war were agreed on, the -same men took their arms, and the sovereign or chief headed them, as my -master did here; and when they returned, each man went home to his own -family. Thus the people are their own army and defence; and the lord -could never oblige them to do what the majority did not think convenient -to be done, because he had no army to compel them. This was, doubtless, -the condition of all other countries once, and must have continued so, -had not people subjected themselves unwarily to the power of one man, by -giving him wealth and authority, not only sufficient to raise an army, -but to keep it in pay himself, and use it at discretion for their -defence; with which he most shamefully insulted and abused them. -However, in the state of nature, and the first establishment of -societies, this was the form of government; and with due submission to -the learned, I am of opinion we need not turn over many volumes to find -the original of British parliaments, for they are of much earlier date -than all their histories, or than letters themselves—and as to their -power, it is grounded on the strongest basis, reason and nature. But to -return to our story. - -The alliance being unanimously resolved upon, deaan Mevarrow sent for -the messenger the next morning; and told him that he and his people, -after mature deliberation, were agreed to assist deaan Murnanzack; and -desired that their friendship might be ratified, and confirmed with the -usual solemnity. Hereupon an ox was immediately brought and killed, the -liver roasted, and stuck on lances, and deaan Murnanzack’s ambassador, -and a deputy of deaan Mevarrow’s, eat the liver between them, repeating -the imprecation we have mentioned before; that they wished it might -prove poison, and a farther curse might be sent by God upon that party -who first broke the alliance. - -After this solemn ratification, the ox was divided between the -ambassador’s people and ours, who were present, and both eat it -together; after which, he and his attendants departed. And now deaan -Mevarrow repented that he had built this new town, for he would have -gone and lived near deaan Murnanzack, whose country bordered on -Merfaughla on one side, and was within ten or a dozen miles on the other -side of Fennoarevo. He had three brethren; deaan Mussecorrow, who lived -near him; deaan Afferrer, who lived on the mountains of Yong-gorvo, of -whom we shall have occasion to give a large account hereafter; and Rer -Mimebolambo, the youngest, who lived but about five miles from us to the -eastward; and this last being so very near us, we were ready at hand to -join in any enterprise, or to aid and assist one another. However, we -did not think ourselves safe, and, therefore, we took care not to let -deaan Crindo know our resolution, till we had made one expedition; and -after that, we made ourselves more secure. - -But the course of my narrative naturally leads me to a detail of deaan -Murnanzack’s attack on deaan Mundumber’s town, where he took three -hundred cattle, and a great number of women and children; for it is not -customary to take men prisoners, if they cannot get away from their -enemies, they are immediately cut off. Among the captives were deaan -Mundumber’s wife and daughter, the only child he ever had. Having -plundered the town, they were going to reduce it to ashes, but deaan -Murnanzack prevented them; and marching into the plain, waited to see if -deaan Mundumber would rally, and give him battle. His people appeared, -indeed, but at a great distance, not daring to come nearer; which, as -soon as he perceived, he marched homewards, but first did a very -generous action, and sent back deaan Mundumber’s wife and daughter to -him; telling her, he did not intend it as a compliment to her husband, -but as a token of his respect to herself and family: she being niece to -the king of Yong-Owl, one of the most powerful princes on the island. -Nor did he do it with any view that he should return the like favour, -for he had no wife, and was well assured by God’s assistance, who would -favour his just cause, that it would never be in his power to prove -prejudicial to any of his relations. - -As soon as deaan Crindo heard that his son’s town was taken, he thought -it high time to seek revenge; and accordingly mustered up a great army, -threatening to lay the country waste, to destroy all the men, and make -slaves of their wives and children. He sent, likewise, to our master to -join him, but he peremptorily refused; saying, he would never join with -his professed enemies against his experienced friends. However, he did -not declare his intentions of opposing him. They both sent to deaan -Mephontey, but he refused to be concerned on either side, and kept his -word; for his dominions extending to the river Manderra, the boundaries -of Antenosa, he was apprehensive that the inhabitants of those parts -might take the advantage of his absence, plunder his towns, and lay -waste his country. - -When deaan Crindo marched from Fennoarevo, he did not wholly abandon his -towns, but left a considerable number of men in them, for fear of Rer -Mimebolambo and Afferrer. He had no jealousy of us, however; whilst he -was gone Rer Mimebolambo and my master deaan Mevarrow joined forces, and -went out to see what they could find; they soon surprised three towns, -for the men made a very weak resistance; so they brought off about two -hundred cattle, and fifty slaves. My master was discovered by having a -white man (meaning myself) along with him. This was altogether -unexpected to them, and deaan Crindo’s wife immediately sent him notice -thereof, and that she was in no small concern on that account. To which -information he returned for answer, that he would soon despatch the -business he was about, and then he would be amply revenged of deaan -Mevarrow. But we took care to be provided for him. - -In our way homewards, the cattle and slaves were equally divided between -deaan Mevarrow and Rer Mimebolambo; and they then came to this -resolution, that it was absolutely necessary for them to live together -in one town. Ours was the strongest, but not so big as we could wish; -theirs was of a larger extent, and they had, moreover, abundance of -empty houses, which were deserted by those who went away upon the war’s -breaking out; so it was agreed we should settle there. We lost no time, -for the very day we went home we packed up all our goods, and marched -away directly to Merhaundroverta, which was the name of Rer -Mimebolambo’s town, and abandoned our own in less than a fortnight after -we had built it. Thus were we driven about like our wild boars that -change their holes every day, and fly from one wood to another, lest the -wild dogs should find them out. And we were not only forced to secure -ourselves against the surprises of a body of our enemies, but as we -lived so near one another, three or four, or half a dozen of their men -would often lie lurking in the woods near towns, and catch a woman, -child, or slave of ours, that happened to stroll out on any occasion -whatever, as digging of wild yams, &c., so that we had little else to -eat but beef; and such as had it of their own gave it to those who had -none. - -However, I had an employment here which maintained me handsomely enough, -and it seemed as if Providence had thought fit to appoint it, on purpose -for my support in this seasonable conjuncture. Few of this part of the -island will eat any beef unless it is killed by one descended from a -race of kings; now my master, just before the war broke out, growing -haughty to excess, and having none but himself and his brother to -execute these high offices, they were sometimes obliged to go five or -six miles to kill an ox. He at last reflected that these people have an -exalted opinion of all white men, and taking me for the captain’s son, -whom they looked upon to be no ways inferior to a king, I was thought of -honourable descent enough to be preferred to the dignity of a butcher; -though in fact I did nothing more than cut the throat of the beast, and -they carved him up themselves: however, for this, I always had my fee, -which was a large piece of meat. Though my master and some others, as -discerning as myself, plainly perceived that this was a very idle -custom; yet he knew that the vulgar are not to be opposed in their old -ways, be they ever so ridiculous and absurd; and had deaan Mevarrow -obstinately declined this office, and called it a mere caprice of -theirs, so abrupt an innovation would, in all probability, have been -attended with an almost general desertion, for they would instantly have -gone and lived under other lords. He contrived, therefore, to substitute -me in his room, and by that means did, (as all wise governors will,) -seemingly conform to custom to humour the people; yet by an ingenious -expedient shifted off from himself a mean and troublesome employment. - -The next morning the cattle were divided; my master had ten, his brother -six, and the principal men one a piece: some others had one between two, -and we slaves one between four of us. For my part I wanted no beef; for -I was often employed, during my residence in this town, to kill the -beasts. I was obliged, however, to agree with my partners to kill ours, -for they had little enough, though I had plenty. I lived tolerably well -here, often exchanging beef for potatoes, &c., with the towns-people; -and here we heard of the havoc deaan Crindo had made in the country. The -people who were allied to deaan Murnanzack, and dwelt in small towns, -left their habitations and removed with their families and cattle beyond -deaan Murnanzack’s toward the sea, where they were sheltered under his -protection. When deaan Crindo came to such towns as were abandoned, he -burnt them down, and utterly destroyed the plantations, pulling up every -thing by the roots, as if his intention were to create a famine in the -country. - -Deaan Murnanzack was all this time with his brother Mussecorrow, on his -march towards them, and had such good intelligence, that, under the -cover of a wood, he came undiscovered almost upon them. They were then -ravaging a very large plantation of potatoes, and some others not far -distant from it. He divided his army into four parts, resolving to -attack them on all sides, whilst they were thus mischievously bent; and -boldly showed his face in front, whom they hurried to oppose; the other -parties fired each from their post, killed several, and put the rest -into confusion. However, they made a vigorous resistance, retreating and -forcing their way into a wood, where it was almost impossible to follow -them. Here deaan Crindo rallied them, and disposed them in good order, -each either under his own, or one of his son’s command; for Mundumber, -Chahary, and Frukey, his three sons, were with him. They were much -superior in number to the other; some said, nearly twice as many; which -deaan Murnanzack was no stranger to, nor to the courage of his uncle; -but he was resolute notwithstanding to engage him: and though he had -time sufficient to have retreated, yet he only marched back into the -plain, to secure an advantageous ground, and have time to form his army; -which he did accordingly, and waited for his enemy’s approach to attack -him. It was not long before the engagement began, which was carried on -with great vigour and warmth on both sides; till deaan Murnanzack -perceiving his brother Mussecorrow’s division began to give ground, he -was determined to make a bold push himself; and throwing away his gun, -with six small lances in his hand, he challenged several of his -principal men to follow him, if they durst, into the thickest of the -enemy’s body, which they very gallantly did. But he, being foremost, ran -like an enraged lion, and in spite of all their fire and flying lances, -came to close quarters, hand to hand with his lances; and those gallant -men with him, following his example, drove all that division of their -enemy’s army back, and put it into utter confusion, who not being able -to abide their fury, ran away. They broke into the very part where deaan -Crindo himself was posted, who would have been struck through with a -lance by one of Murnanzack’s companions, had not the deaan himself very -generously prevented it, desiring them not to kill his uncle. He left -his people to pursue them, whilst he ran to the aid and assistance of -Mussecorrow, who, at the same time made a vigorous push, being ashamed -to be outdone; however, they would have been utterly ruined, had not -deaan Murnanzack himself stept in to their assistance in that critical -conjuncture. But they were soon in one general disorder, flying towards -the woods with the utmost precipitation, where deaan Murnanzack followed -them to prevent them from rallying, and carried on the pursuit till he -saw they were quite dispirited, and making homewards to recruit -themselves. - -Deaan Crindo perceiving he could do no good with Murnanzack, was -determined not to be idle, and permit deaan Mevarrow and Rer Mimebolambo -to join forces; so out of policy as well as revenge he resolved to -attack us first. But no sooner had he declared his intentions, and made -preparations for that purpose, than a friend of Mevarrow came out by -night, and acquainted him therewith. On this information he held a -consultation with Rer Mimebolambo about their defence; and in order -thereto, considering there were so many cattle in town, as would disturb -them in an engagement, he proposed to send part of them to deaan -Murnanzack’s; where the other people had secured theirs. Rer Mimebolambo -would send none of his; my master, however, willing to have something to -subsist on, in case they should lose what they had here, picked out -forty beasts; some of our richest men also sent six, and others more or -less; in short, there were in all about fourscore and ten beasts -separated from the rest, to be sent away. I perceived what was going -forward, and would fain have concealed myself; for I did not know -whether I should live so well there as here: besides, it was a large -number for one person to take care of. But there was no remedy; nobody -else would send a slave with me, and my master himself would spare no -more than one, and he looked upon me as the best qualified of any one -man to do it; whereupon he gave orders to six or seven men well armed to -guard, and conduct me, and I took my leave of my friends and -acquaintance, and proceeded accordingly. - -We were forced to go round about by several tedious, unpractised ways, -and to look out as narrowly as possible, lest our enemies should -intercept us; but we embraced a very favourable opportunity when they -were all dispirited by their defeat, and suspected nothing of any such -prize being near them. So in two days we arrived at deaan Afferrer’s -town, situate on the hills of Yong-gorva, where we stayed two days to -rest our cattle, and were going upon the third in the morning, at which -time we heard a shell blow. This alarmed not only the town, but the -whole country; they ran immediately to defend the passage up the hill -(for there is but one) when instantly came two messengers from deaan -Murnanzack to deaan Afferrer, to acquaint him that he was at the bottom -of the hill, in order to pay him a visit. When my guardians saw them -join, and found it was deaan Murnanzack, they went (as soon as the usual -compliments were past between the two brothers) to deaan Murnanzack, and -informed him, that deaan Mevarrow had sent some cattle and a proper -person to look after them, in order to be conveyed somewhere under his -protection. He desired them to thank deaan Mevarrow for his friendship -and assistance, and assure him that his cattle should have all the care -taken of them imaginable, and be put amongst his own. As soon as they -had delivered up their charge they took their leaves of me, and -returned. - -When deaan Murnanzack saw the cattle, and found that I was left with -them, he seemed surprised; and asked me if I was cow-keeper, saying, he -never heard of a white man being put upon that employment. I made -answer, since it was my master’s pleasure, I did not think proper to -dispute it with him, and would execute my office as well as I could. - -Three days after, deaan Murnanzack went homewards, giving orders to -three servants to assist me, and we followed in the rear; we had also -above a dozen other people with us, who carried provision, bedding, &c. -for their masters. As soon as we were down the hill, I discovered a new -scene; the soil was of a quite different nature as well as colour; -yellow clay with stones; which made my feet very uneasy, having been -used to a sandy ground before: however, I was soon inured to it. The -trees, likewise, were different; much loftier, and more straight and -regular. This was the place I had often wished to see, on account of the -wild cattle, of which I had heard so much. I soon found the large tracks -they made through the woods, which rendered the driving of mine much -easier here, than in other woods. - -About noon we lay down to refresh ourselves in a grove. The whole -country is very beautiful, and well watered with springs and rivulets. -They soon showed me some wild cattle which were standing under the -covert of the trees: I was very desirous of viewing them closer, and -taking a gun in my hand, I went toward them; but when I was got within -thirty yards, I was obliged to creep on the ground, and conceal myself -as well as I could with the grass, which is very high. Before I came up -to them, I saw three bulls running directly towards me; their eyes -sparkled with fire, their ears pricked upright, and they foamed at the -mouth; in all probability they fled from some that gave them chase. They -put me into such a terrible fright that I thought of nothing but firing -at them, to save myself from being torn to pieces; but as Providence -would have it, I fired and wounded one so deeply, that he fell. Though I -was safe with respect to him, I expected the others would have attacked -me; and to avoid their fury, I lay flat on my face, not daring to stir, -till hearing no noise, but the halloos of my companions at a distance, I -looked up, and found that all of them had run away, except the wounded -one, which lay kicking on the ground: however, I durst not go near him, -till my friends came up, and put us both out of our pain, by cutting his -throat, and applauding me for my courage, and being so expert a -marksman. How contrary to one’s expectation things often happen! I -imagined they would have laughed at me for my cowardice; and by mistake, -and mere chance, I was looked upon as one of more than common courage as -well as conduct. - -Whilst they were cutting up the bull, I could not forbear gazing with -admiration on those which they called wild cattle, and in fact they are -so; but they are so like those in England, that I could then perceive no -manner of difference: nor have I been able since to discover any, except -in two trivial particulars; the horns, I take it, of our English bulls -are somewhat shorter, and their bellowings deeper. When we had cut up -our beef, we roasted some part of it, and pleased ourselves with the -thoughts of our masters having left us behind, because we should not -spoil their sport; we happened, however, on better luck than they, and -had not only beef to eat sooner than they, but got some ready to dress -for them at the place of rendezvous at night. This bull-beef, you may be -sure, could not be any thing extraordinary, nor any ways equal to the -flesh of such as are tame; especially after it had run so far, and so -hard, before it was killed. These wild cattle will give the hunters a -chase sometimes of several miles together after they are wounded; which -makes the flesh but indifferent meat, especially if it be a bull; but -people in want are glad of what comes first to hand; for these wild -cattle are a great help to such as live in the remote parts, who, in -necessitous times, come here a hunting. However, they are frequently -found in another vast tract of forest land of some hundred miles extent; -of which, and of their supposed original, I shall have an occasion -hereafter to give a particular account. The place where we baited at -noon, and lay this night, were very agreeable and delightful groves; and -indeed, all this country is so, for several days’ journey together. It -abounds with wild honey, wild boars, and such a variety of pleasant -fruits, that men may not only find enough to satisfy their hunger and -thirst, but to indulge their luxurious appetites, without the fatigue of -any cultivation; and there are many that live in a state of indolence -and ease. - -Amongst the most wholesome as well as delicious fruits of the earth, and -that which I first tasted of here, is their faungidge; it grows (as my -companion showed me) in the thickest woods. They search first for the -plant, which is a tender creeper, or wild vine that takes hold of a tree -or any thing near it, twining round the trunk and shooting into several -branches like a vine. I never perceived that it bore any fruit, and was -surprised when they told me it was the root of this which produced the -faungidge; however, instead of digging at the root, they went at least -half a dozen yards from it, and struck the ground with the points of -their lances to observe where it sounded hollow; and digging there they -found the faungidge. The root spreads a great way under ground, and but -few of the branches bear the faungidge; so that it would be to little -purpose to trace it from the spot, where it appears above ground. - -The first I saw was not much less in bulk than one of our gallon -runlets; it is red and very smooth without, and the coat is as thin as -parchment; the inside is white and has a milky juice; it eats as soft as -a water melon, but has no seeds in it; it is both meat and drink, very -wholesome, and always eaten raw. - -The verlaway is of the same species, and in all respects much like it; -with this difference only, that the skin of the latter is thinner, but -so tough that it must be pared with a knife. There is another kind, -called the verlaway-voler, which is reckoned unwholesome: I once saw a -man, who had tasted some of it swell immediately, and was ready to die; -but by giving him some melted fat to drink, he brought it up and soon -recovered. This verlaway-voler is easily known, for it is much more -beautiful to the eye than the other; and the leaf which springs from it -is very different. - -The next day I was extremely diverted: for deaan Murnanzack did not -leave us as he did the day before. In the morning, we saw a bull alone -in the midst of a large plain; the deaan, by way of amusement, ordered -us to stop, whilst he and two more drove my cattle toward the bull; who -no sooner saw them, than he roared and tore up the ground with his -horns, as if he expected some enemy to oppose him; but finding they were -cows, he showed an inclination to be better acquainted with them. The -deaan and his companions hid themselves under cover of the cows; they -let them graze a little, and then drove them forwards, till the wild -bull was amongst them; as soon as he put his nose to a cow’s tail, deaan -Murnanzack, concealed under another cow’s belly, stuck a lance in his -flank; away he ran with it, but not far before he had another in his -side; and now they had room for the sport they aimed at, which was not -unlike (as I have been informed) the diversion of a Spanish bull feast. -Several, by this time, joined in the chase; he ran nearly a mile -outright before he stopped, and turned to his pursuers; which they -always do, when they are closely beset; and then every one must take -care of himself: for it is a very dangerous encounter, and so it was -here, the beast grew outrageous, and turning upon them, ran directly at -the man who first wounded him, whilst another from behind, threw a lance -into his flank; then the bull turned again, as he always does, to the -person who last wounded him; and the hunters being divided to take him -all ways, and keeping at a good distance likewise, as well to prevent -hurting one another, as to give him room to play in, they at length -killed him; but this sometimes proves a very tragical pastime. - -This night we lay in a wood, where we found faungidge in abundance; thus -we lived deliciously with only the natural produce of the country. I -tied up my calves every night that my cows might not stray, and was -forced to rise two or three times, to see that none of my cattle got -amongst the wild ones; for when they do, it is no small trouble to catch -them again; for whenever they see the others run, they follow likewise, -as fast as they can. - -The next day at noon we halted at a spring, which rises from the highest -hill in this island, called Vohitch-maner, or red hill; vohitch -signifying a hill, or mountain. I drove my cattle into a fine valley, -where there was fine grass, but a wild bull came amongst them, and -covered one of my cows. I had a great inclination to kill him, though I -almost shook for fear; they are terrible creatures to any body’s -apprehension, who is not used to them, and my fear was the cause of my -ill success; for concealing myself under another cow, I took such an -awkward aim at him, that I struck one of my own herd instead of him. -However, as the wound did not prove mortal, I concealed it; not so much -out of any apprehension I had of my master’s anger, as out of fear of -being laughed at, for wounding a tame cow, instead of a wild bull. - -We set up early this afternoon, in a place commodiously situated near -some good water; and then we went out to search for wild honey and -faungidge. I had the good fortune to discover a large hole in a hollow -tree, that was full of the former; I made a fire presently, and with a -brand smoked the bees out. In the next place I cut down a vounturk, to -make a vessel like a tub, to put my honey in. This vounturk is a tree or -plant, (for I don’t well know what to call it,) of a very particular -shape and nature. It grows upright as an arrow, about sixteen or -eighteen feet in length, is thin below, thick in the middle, and taper -again above, like a nine pin. At the top there are two or three -branches, that bear leaves of a great length; in the spring they have -blossoms, but I never saw any fruit that came to perfection; the outer -bark is whitish, like old lead, and full of long thorns, which are -easily struck off with a lance. We likewise cut the bark all round, and -the tree immediately falls down, not being able to support itself: after -this we take away what length we want, and pull out the spongy substance -on the inside, till we come within three or four inches of the bottom. -By this means we make a vessel light and easy of carriage, and in one of -these I secured my honey. The juice of this vounturk is good liquor, and -even fit to boil any thing in, when water is scarce. I found also some -faungidge. At my return I paid my respects to deaan Murnanzack, and made -him a present of some of my honey, which is a compliment our lords -always expect. - -It was now night, and they were going a beef hunting: when they set out -on purpose to kill the best beasts, they always make choice of the -darkest nights. They permitted me, on my request, to accompany them; but -first ordered me to wash myself, as they themselves did, that we might -not smell either of smoke or sweat. I would have taken two lances -according to custom, but they obliged me to leave one behind me, lest -two together might rattle in my hand. These cattle feed only in the -night, and if all these precautions were not taken, they could never be -surprised; for they are always on their guard, snorting with their -noses, and listening after their pursuers. We can hear them roar, and -bellow a great way off; by which we know where they are, and we are -forced always to go round till they are directly to the windward of us; -for otherwise they would soon scent us. As soon as we had got the wind -and cattle right ahead, and were within hearing, we walked with all the -circumspection imaginable, cropping the top of the grass with our hands, -as close as possible, to mimic, as well as we could, the noise a cow -makes when she bites it. The moment they heard us they were all hush; -not one of them bellowed or grazed, but seemed to listen with the utmost -attention: which when we perceived, we all stood still likewise without -a whisper, whilst three or four, who understood the nature of it best, -continued cropping the grass. When the cattle had listened, till (as we -imagined) they took us for some of their own species, they returned to -their grazing, and we walked with caution nearer, still mimicking them -as we moved softly along. Deaan Murnanzack ordered me to keep behind, -lest they should discern my white skin, and be startled; he also gave me -his lamber to cover myself with, which was a large piece of black silk, -so that if I had been near them, they could have seen nothing but my -face, the grass being above knee deep. - -At length we got amongst them, so that one of our men (as he told me) -with some grass in his hand, and under the cover of a bush, took hold of -the dug of a cow, and finding she gave no milk, he concluded she was not -lean; for which reason he stuck his lance instantly into her belly, and -drew it out again, making no other motion. The cow thus wounded will -give a spring perhaps, and make a noise, as if another had run her horns -against her; but this is so common amongst them, that the herd is not -any ways disturbed by it: so that our people stuck three or four after -this manner, and left them, with an intention to come the next morning, -and track them by their blood; for it is very dangerous to come near -them in the night. As soon as they find themselves sorely wounded, they -run from their companions, and will attack the first man they see. They -are generally found actually dead, or fallen down in some wood, or -shelter of bushes, as if they industriously endeavoured to conceal -themselves. No sooner had we determined to depart, and I had returned -deaan Murnanzack his lamber, than a calf, that had been mortally -wounded, began to make a hideous uproar, and running about, made the -herd jealous; so that they ran away, and the calf made directly at me, -and knocked me backwards; I caught hold of his leg, but cried out -lustily for help. This accident afforded much mirth, and fixed a joke -upon me afterwards; as a stout fellow to cry out for assistance to cope -with a calf. However, they took him, cut him to pieces, and carried him -away; of whom we made a very good supper. I have been informed, that -notwithstanding these cattle are so wild, the cows will sometimes stand -still to have their dugs handled, and several of them have been milked -in the dark into a horn; however, as I never attempted this myself, I -cannot absolutely vouch it for truth; yet as I have heard so many affirm -it, I think there are no just grounds to contradict it. - -We were in no hurry to get home, for not only our cattle, but we too, -lived as well as we could desire there; so that though we kept going -forwards, yet we made several days more of our journey than we should -have done. A day or two after this beef hunting, we had an accidental -diversion of another kind: our dogs had got the scent of some wild hogs -that were got into a thicket, and were very busy in running round it; -but could find no entrance for a considerable time. At length, however, -they found the path which the swine had made, and attempted to enter the -wood by it: the passage was defended by a large boar, who fought the -dogs with great fury, and wounded one of them in a very dangerous -manner. Now, what with the dogs on the one hand, and the swine on the -other, there was such a yelping, grunting, and howling, that the woods -rang with their noise; and one would have imagined, all the hogs in the -island had met there by consent, in order to revenge their quarrel upon -us. - -We laid down our burdens, and some of us went up to them, armed with -guns and lances. Deaan Murnanzack shot the boar that wounded his dog; -whereupon another in an instant defended the entrance, and fought so -resolutely, that neither the dogs, nor we ourselves, could come near the -cattle that were within; till we had made a passage behind them with our -hatchets and lances, and then fired upon some of the most resolute, who -turned upon us. The rest perceiving themselves attacked behind, fought -their way through the dogs, and ran away, with the dogs after them. -Words cannot describe the noise there was, especially after a number of -them were wounded. We found seven dead, besides several others so -wounded that they could not make off. We picked out only one or two of -the fattest, for there are very few that will eat them. I did not dare -to take any, on account of my office of killing beeves, and the eating -of swine’s flesh is accounted so contemptible a thing, that I should -have lessened my dignity, and perhaps been degraded; which, whatever -mean thoughts I might possibly have, as to the honour of it, I had too -good an opinion of its value to part with it for the gratification of my -appetite in one meal: for in this case they are curious to a punctilio, -that if the daughter of a king be married to any one that is not of a -royal family, their children are not admitted to the honour of killing -beeves, notwithstanding the father be a freeman, and a chief amongst his -neighbours. - -We used every evening to sit down near the prince, and discourse of one -thing or another to divert the time; now, though it is a common custom -amongst the princes here, to converse with every body in the most -familiar manner, yet they preserve a decent state and distinction. The -people throughout the whole island pay a religious regard to dreams, and -imagine that their good demons (for I cannot tell what other name to -give their inferior deities, which, as they say, attend on their owleys) -tell them in their dreams what ought to be done, or warn them of what -ought to be avoided; more especially after a sacrifice, or a prayer to -God, and an invocation of this demon. I well remember our discourse this -evening turned principally upon this topic. The next morning deaan -Murnanzack came to me as I was alone, and discoursed very freely with me -about several things; and in particular he advised me to take what beef -I wanted, and could carry with me; for we should have no more -opportunities of killing any wild cattle. Observing him fond of -conversation, I told him, if there were any dependance on dreams, as -some had asserted the night before, I should incur his anger that day; -having dreamt that I was at home with my parents, and all my relations -round about me; that my pockets were full of gold, and they added still -to my store. This, I said, did not only throw me into a melancholy when -I awaked, to find myself naked in a wood and in a strange country, but -it likewise gave me some concern, for that I had always observed, not -only when I was a lad in England, but since under my master Mevarrow, -that to dream of plenty of gold money was a certain indication of anger. -At this deaan Murnanzack smiled, and made answer, “I wonder that you, -who laughed but last night at the talk of God’s sending dreams by the -good demons, should today be afraid of one.” “However,” says he, “I dare -say you will be once mistaken; for I don’t know any thing you can do to -make me angry.” I would not have my reader imagine, that I have -introduced this story, merely for the sake of telling an idle dream; but -it proved the introduction to something very remarkable, and furnished -us with a discourse the next evening, that may possibly be thought an -agreeable amusement. - -The next day we roasted our beef and laid it to cool, in order to bind -up in a burden, which we called an enter, to carry at our backs. All I -had to do, was to provide for myself, and what with my beef and honey I -was pretty well loaded, and as well contented, for I lived in plenty; my -honey, likewise, mingled with water, made a pleasant drink. This was the -last day of our passage through these groves and habitations of the wild -cattle; some of which they attempted once more to surround, more for the -sake of their diversion than want of beef: and in this, not wilfully, -but for want of knowledge, I spoiled all their sport, by traversing the -way they were running, which was directly towards the place where deaan -Murnanzack lay in ambush for them. This made them run quite another way, -and put him into such a violent passion at first, that he lifted up his -lance, and frowning, threatened to kill me, and, indeed, I expected no -less, which made me get out of his sight as soon as possible, being -apprehensive of some such barbarous treatment as I had before met with -from deaan Mevarrow. This prince, however, was of a more generous -disposition; for when his passion was over, he sent for me in a very -courteous manner, and desired I would spend the evening with him as -usual, and sit down by him, which, accordingly, I did. After we had -discoursed on a variety of subjects, he, at last, pressed me to give him -some account of the customs of my country, and in a more particular -manner to inform him, what god or gods we worship, since I seemed to -have so little veneration for theirs; and that I would be ingenuous, and -tell him, as I had been a great traveller, what things I had seen, in -order to improve the evening to the best advantage. “And pray,” says he, -“what God is that you adore?” Upon this the company drew round me, and I -began by asking them in the first place, if they were not satisfied that -there was a God above the skies? I could not say above the heavens, -because there was no term in their language expressive of them; nor had -they, as I could perceive, any idea of what we christians mean by -heaven, as the peculiar residence of the Almighty, and the glorious -mansions of the saints after their decease. They told me that they -firmly believed there was a God above, who was the supreme Lord of all -other gods, demons, or spirits, of what nature or kind soever. “That -very God,” said I, “is the deity we adore, for we know of no other God, -nor do we pay the tribute of divine worship to any other object than -this one—this supreme and only God.” “Do not you then,” said they, “make -prayers and sacrifices, and invoke some guardian demons to assist you in -the knowledge of the will of that God; and to warn you of any -approaching dangers? If your countrymen had such owleys as ours, your -good demons would have assisted you that night you lay upon the sands, -and have told you in dreams of the danger, and directed you to escape -before the morning.” - -To this I replied, “that all good men in England acknowledged an -overruling Providence; and I am fully persuaded, that it was by the -providence of that divine power that I was preserved at that time; and -why God did not see fit that the rest should save their lives, is a -secret I do not pretend to pry into; but I cannot conceive that your -owleys, to which you seem to pay a divine homage, and pray to for their -aid and assistance, should have a spirit or a god within them; or visit -you in the night when you are asleep, and forewarn you of such -misfortunes as you would willingly avoid. I plainly perceive, that they -are nothing more than pieces of wood, and alligators’ teeth dressed up; -I plainly discern, likewise, how they are made; and I am certain that -other wood, and other alligators’ teeth are not living spirits, have no -power of speech, and are incapable of knowing things present, much less -things to come; for which reason, we look upon it as an act of idolatry -to pay that adoration, which belongs to the great God alone, to any -created thing, or the likeness of any created thing above, or here -below, since he has strictly forbid the worship of any thing but -himself.” - -Deaan Murnanzack listened to this serious discourse of mine with -abundance of attention, and then turned to some of his people and argued -with them for some time; partly in vindication of what I had asserted, -and partly in endeavouring to explain to them the nature of their -owleys, which I am sensible I had not a just notion of at that time. But -I was too young when first I was reduced to this slavery, and had -neither friends nor books to assist me; besides, I was not capable of -making such just remarks then, as I could do now. - -But, to proceed; as soon as the deaan had done discoursing with them, he -turned again to me and said, “To me it seems very strange, that you, -who, but this very morning, told me a dream of your own, and found it -happened true, should argue against these owleys of ours; for you -mistake us; it is not the wood, nor the alligators’ teeth that we -worship; but there are certain guardian demons, who take care of all -nations, families, and private persons; and should you be possessed of -one of these owleys, and give it the name of some guardian spirit, it -will undoubtedly attend you; for how could you know this morning that I -should be angry with you, had not one of these good demons visited you -and discovered it; and if you had not had such friendly notice, you -might, probably, have been killed, though I did not design it; but men’s -passions are unruly, and I was highly provoked, I own, though I say not -this to reproach you, as if I imagined you wilfully spoiled our sport, -for I am fully satisfied you meant no harm. I only mention this to put -you in mind that you argue against yourself; besides, if the spirits of -our forefathers, or these guardian demons did not declare these to -mankind, how should they know them? No one could tell that I should be -angry with you, when you had given me no offence; neither did you intend -to provoke me, and nothing was done that any such accident should have -happened. You do not imagine, I hope, that the great God himself came -down to tell you, since these inferior spirits, of whom there are such -numbers, could more conveniently attend you. But you observed just now, -as I remember, that the great supreme God had forbid you the worship of -any thing but himself. Pray did any white man ever see this great God -above? or does he often condescend to talk with your people, and not -with ours?” - -To which I made answer, that no man ever saw God, but some of our -forefathers, many ages ago, heard his voice when he descended in a -cloud. “But,” says he, “if this was so many years ago, and there is no -man now living, black or white, that ever heard the voice of this God, -how are you sure it is true? And since, as you allow it was many ages -ago, things may be so altered or misrepresented from what they were when -your first forefathers told them, that you cannot rely upon their -certainty.” I was here at some loss, as they had no knowledge of -letters, and consequently, I could not make them comprehend any thing of -the sacred scriptures; I only told them, therefore, that we had a way of -preserving the memory of things, which they were wholly unacquainted -with; and by that means, I said, we had an account of the beginning of -the world, and of its creation by God, and that I could tell them a -great many strange things in relation thereto, which they then seemed -very desirous of hearing. - -And, accordingly, I told them that the world was originally dark, and a -confused chaos or mass; and that God, by the word of his power, made the -sun and moon, the beasts, fish, fowl, trees, herbs, and every thing -else. They still persisted in their first objection, and as they -imagined with much more reason than before; “for,” said one of them, -“though it is possible you may have a better method of preserving the -memory of things than we have, yet you could never have the knowledge of -what was done before there was any man created.” To this I replied, that -God hath revealed the knowledge of this, and much more to particular -persons; which, they listening attentively to, I went on to the creation -of man, and then of woman’s being made out of a rib, which God took from -him while he was asleep. At this they all broke out into astonishment -and laughter; and deaan Murnanzack said it was a manifest untruth, and -that, therefore, it was a shame to tell such a story with a serious -countenance; by this, he said, he was convinced that all the rest was -false; for, were this true, a woman would have a rib more than a man, -and a man be defective on one side. - -Here I was guilty of a gross error through ignorance; however, I think -myself obliged ingenuously to confess it. I hope our divines and all -good christians will consider the circumstances I was in, and readily -forgive me; for I had so little wit, as peremptorily to insist on the -truth of it, and affirmed what I had heard, when a child, from -illiterate persons, that a man had one rib less on one side than the -other; nay, I had so much assurance as to put the whole argument upon -this issue, and offered to lay any wager on the fact. The prince laughed -at me, though he was willing to be convinced; we had two women with us, -one was very lean, whom he ordered to be called, her ribs were told and -found to be equal; and after that, a man was examined, and his ribs were -the same. They were not all of them, indeed, convinced of the exact -number, nor could I myself, in attempting to count them after them. From -this time, I perceived deaan Murnanzack treated all I had said on -religion with contempt, and immediately resumed his former objection -with more vigour, and said, that to talk of what was done before man was -created, was perfect nonsense; that what I had asserted in relation to -God’s conversing with men, and telling them such and such things, had no -manner of evidence; and that the things I pretended to know and talk of, -were, in short, nothing more than old women’s tales. “However,” says he, -“pray go on, and give us some farther account of this God of yours, who, -in former ages, was thus familiar with mankind.” Then I went on with the -scripture story of God’s displeasure with the whole world, and the flood -which destroyed all men and beasts on the earth, except those in the -ark; and of Noah’s taking male and female of every species into it to -preserve them. Upon this, one of them shortly replied, “if they had been -all destroyed, could not that God who made them at first, make more of -them at his pleasure?” But I went on and told them of the rainbow, that -it was appointed for a sign of God’s promise not to drown the world -again. To this deaan Murnanzack replied, that they had no such tradition -handed down to them; “but besides,” says he, “if none but Noah, with his -sons and daughters, were saved, pray was Noah a white or a black man?” -To which I answered, “Sir, I perceive you give no credit to what I say -of this nature.” He said, “There are many things which I do not rightly -understand, and shall be glad to be informed of; nay, I would give -credit to any thing that a reasonable man can desire, but most of these -things are no better than old women’s fictions, and I am fully persuaded -that all white men will not talk thus idly as you do.” These were his -very words, which he repeated several times, and with which this -evening’s conference concluded. It was no small concern to me to find -how the truth suffered by my weakness; but I was in hopes that deaan -Murnanzack, who was a man of penetration, might consider that I was but -a child when I left England, and for that reason, not well acquainted -with the topics I undertook to explain. - -The next day we went directly forwards, for we were then past all the -wild cattle, and deaan Murnanzack therefore hastened homewards. About -three in the afternoon, we came to a place where the road divided; here -the prince halted, as I perceived, with no other view than to take his -leave of me, ordering two men to conduct me and my cattle to his -cow-keeper. Here we parted, and we lay that night near the banks of a -river, which are the boundaries of deaan Murnanzack’s country, and leads -into Madamvovo, the great river which runs through Anterndroea. To this -place where I was going, all the cattle come to water. As we were -passing through the woods, we met a company of men and women going to -fetch water; they stopped and gazed at me with admiration, having never -seen a white man before, asking those who accompanied me, who I was? and -from whence I came? who waggishly told them they found me in the forest -among the wild cattle, and intended to make a present of me to the -prince. In order to carry on the jest, I ran towards the women, and -talking gibberish, frightened one of them to that degree that she fell -into such violent fits, that the rest had much to do to recover her, for -which I was afterwards extremely sorry. - -This wood extended from the river about seven miles, without any break -or plain, till within a mile of the town. It was no small concern to me -to think what a great way I had to drive my cattle to water every other -day, but it did not prove so great a fatigue as I expected; for there -being eight or ten of us, we took our turns, so that it came to each -man’s turn but once in about sixteen or twenty days; besides, as there -was no grass by the way, there was no impediment or interruption; and -when they returned hungry, they would go home fast enough of themselves. - -As the people here had never seen a white man before, I was a very -surprising sight to them at first; but they were soon acquainted with -me, and I became of singular service to them: for whenever they had an -ox to kill they were obliged, till now, to go a great way for one of the -royal family; this trouble I saved them, and lived very plentifully -myself by that means. I was frequently sent for upon these occasions, -and had always my fee, which was four or five ribs to carry home with -me, besides the leg roasted for my entertainment whilst I was with them. -I seldom went without a boy to wait on me, as there were always several -at hand, and willing enough, because I was able to oblige them with part -of my beef. I had also sufficient to live like those who are free and -generous, in communicating some portion of whatever they have to their -neighbours. As soon as I came home, I used to put on the pot, and send -messes out to all my acquaintance, which they did not fail to return -when in their power: and it may be observed in the whole course of this -history, that all the people of this island delight in this free, -good-natured, and sociable way of living. - -Whenever I was sent for, the house was always set in order, the owley -dressed, and placed in view. I was frequently employed to kill a -sacrifice, in case of a circumcision, or when any one was sick; and -since I had the conference above related with deaan Murnanzack, I had -the curiosity to listen to their prayers; and more than once I attempted -to speak in favour of the christian religion. When I mentioned the -resurrection of the body, they told me it must be a mere romance; and to -talk as I did of burning in fire after death, was to them inconceivable; -for (said they) no man can feel after he is dead, and unless they could -see some person raised from the grave, they would give no credit to my -assertion. I told them farther of God’s appearing, and giving the ten -commandments, but it had no influence over them; “for” (said they) “all -mankind have the purport and meaning of them by the dictates of nature.” - -Here are laws against adultery, theft, and murder; and they have such a -veneration for their parents, that they revere them even after death; -there is also a fine inflicted on any one who shall presume to curse -another man’s parents. They never swear profanely, but allow oaths -sometimes requisite, because, as they said, they were necessary and -convenient; and men could not live one by another if there were not such -laws; and for that reason there was no occasion for the great God -himself to prescribe those rules. The fourth commandment, indeed, they -seem to have no idea of; unless it be that they allow even their slaves -to spend one day in seven, as they think proper, without control; but -they have no religious duties to perform. And when informed that we kept -it holy, because God rested on the seventh day, they said this was as -improbable as any thing I had before asserted; and asked, how I could -tell what God did before there was a man living? And indeed, I could -plainly perceive that they despised me for talking of these things, and -looked on me as a common notorious liar, insomuch that I was obliged to -desist. - -In short, I had no way to prove what I asserted: and that mistake in -regard to the rib, in my conversation with deaan Murnanzack, was a -mortifying stroke to me; and though at first I imagined my ill success -in the argument was wholly to be imputed to my own ignorance, I have -since had a thousand scrupulous thoughts arise in my mind upon that -head. And sure I am, that all was not owing to my weakness, for our -divines have not furnished us with sufficient arguments to defend it. -And I do not know, since miracles are ceased, but they would find it a -difficult task to demonstrate those truths themselves to these people’s -satisfaction. Nor do I know what miracle could possibly now be wrought -to prove what was done before any mortal man was in being. Though they -are fools enough here to be imposed on by the umossees, or conjurors, -yet they will entertain no notion of conversing with the great God. They -allow, indeed, that there are demons or spirits, which may be good or -bad, who appear to them in dreams, and discover to these umossees many -surprising things; yet they do not look upon them to be more pious or -better men than others, though, indeed, they imagine they are more -knowing. The awe, however, that my education has impressed on my mind -prevented me from joining in their worship, lest it should be -idolatrous; and there never was such a thing as persecution for religion -ever thought of amongst them; so that I was free to think and do as I -thought proper, so long as I took care not to affront them: and I think -it is both a shame and a sin that it should be countenanced or practised -by any sect of christians whatsoever. I have not here forgot deaan -Mevarrow’s threatening to kill me at first; but it must be observed -there was nothing more in that transaction than a secret pride and -ill-nature peculiar to the man; as appeared by deaan Sambo’s preventing -him, and reconciling us, without laying me under any obligation to join -in the ceremony. - -I had not lived here above six weeks, before I heard that deaan Crindo -had attacked Rer Mimebolambo’s town, and reduced it to ashes, killing -two men, and taking some of their wives and children captive, with -almost their whole stock of cattle. This ill news affected me very much, -notwithstanding deaan Mevarrow had several times in his passion -attempted to kill me, yet living so long in his family I could not but -be concerned at their misfortunes. We used to have here a great deal of -flying news with respect to their wars; one day an account of a battle -fought, and the next day a contradiction of it; their reports being as -little to be relied on as some of our common newspapers at London, so -that I paid but little regard to them. Besides, we lived here at a -distance in peace and plenty, and heard now and then, perhaps, of the -losses sustained by our friends: however, as we felt none of the -miseries ourselves, they served us for conversation; in which we, like -coffeehouse politicians, sleep in security remote from danger, censured -the conduct of our superiors according to our several factious -inclinations, for facts we knew little or nothing of, or at most, but by -external appearances, and those too from very precarious reports. Our -business was to make our lives as easy and happy as our circumstances -would permit us; and among the many things which we met with to divert -us, one, I think, will bear the relation; which was a project of my -governor’s, and proved as profitable as it was entertaining. - -There are some people in the remote parts of this country, whose -habitations are in secret recesses in the woods; they live easy, -indolent lives, never come near a town, nor concern themselves with any -affairs of peace or war, either foreign or domestic. They keep no -cattle, lest the vociferations of their herds or flocks might possibly -betray them, and induce some evil-minded men to disturb their peace by -plundering them of so valuable a treasure; but content themselves with -small plantations and the product of nature, which is, indeed, -sufficient to support them. They never concern themselves who is the -lord of any particular place, or sovereign of the whole dominions. Deaan -Murnanzack’s cow-keeper, my governor, formerly lived after this manner, -and by that means was acquainted with some of their private settlements. -As they are very illiterate, he imagined that I, being a man of a -singular colour, might easily be imposed on them for a prince of -Murnanzack’s family; as, indeed, many of our vulgar people in Europe -are, who think the royal family are something more than mortal, and the -nobility superior in beauty to the rest of the human species. In short, -the farce was agreed to be played, and I was to have one third of what -presents should be made us; he another, and the persons who composed my -retinue the remainder. Accordingly they procured me a gay silk lamber, -two or three strings of the most glittering beads for a necklace, and a -gun of the best sort to carry on my shoulder; my assumed character was -Rer Mimebolambo, who living in the most remote parts and far from them, -there was little or no danger of a discovery, since none of them had -ever seen any of the family in their lives. Twenty of our neighbours -made up my retinue, and we practised or rehearsed our parts three or -four days before we went, they waiting on me, and calling me by that -name and title, that every one might be perfect, and know his cue. The -plot in short was this:— - -We set out in a very formal and pompous march, with shells blowing in -the rear, as is the custom of the country. The place we proposed to -visit was about ten or twelve miles off; when we came within half a -mile, my governor, and one appointed to attend him, went as heralds to -acquaint them that deaan Murnanzack’s youngest brother, Rer Mimebolambo, -was travelling that way, and understanding there were some inhabitants -in those parts, desired they would spare him such provisions as they -thought proper for himself and his retinue. We halted till we thought -our envoys had delivered their message and prepared them for our -reception, then we marched on in form and order. As soon as we came into -their little village I perceived a mat was spread for me to sit down -upon, and the whole clan, men, women, and children, came crawling upon -their hands and knees to lick my feet. My people played their parts -artfully enough, observing every punctilio of respect that was due to -the person I represented; for the moment I was seated, one ran to fetch -me water, another brought a calabash to receive it, and a third very -obsequiously washed my feet. I ordered my principal attendant (who was -in reality my governor) to procure a house for me; there were but five -in the whole place, except a few huts or separate apartments for their -children. He soon pitched upon one of the best, and left the owner to -shift for himself. - -They stood with awe and attention before me, having never seen any one -command with such authority before. The chief called a kind of council, -and consulted with them what present was most proper to make me, in some -measure suitable to my dignity. Several of them returned in a short time -with some gallons of Guinea corn, and more of carravances; but the old -man did not make his appearance till near the evening, when he brought -with him four men loaded; two with as much honey as they could well -carry, and two with as much carravances; all which were placed in a very -formal manner before me. The old man sat down at a humble distance, and -struck with awe, in a hesitating tone, made a modest apology, and said, -he hoped I would excuse the meanness of his present; but as he had no -more to command on so short notice, he should be proud if it met with my -acceptance. I showed a tender concern for the poor man, and cheered him -up, telling him I was well pleased; that what he had done was a -sufficient testimony of his respect, and more than I expected from him. -Upon this, I desired him to sit down and keep me company, whilst my -people went to visit some of their neighbours; for I had sent some of -them one way and some another, to collect all they could by fair means, -and whatever the people could spare. I particularly ordered they should -attend me themselves, and taste the provisions they furnished us with, -lest they should be damaged by the incantation of the umossees. The old -man recovered his spirits in a short time, and began to talk with me in -a more familiar manner, saying, it was no wonder that my father and his -royal family ruled over them, for God and the demons had peculiarly -distinguished us from other men; and, “had I met you,” said he, “in a -wood alone, I should instantly have fallen down, and paid my duty to -you; for the varzachars, or white men, can never surely be whiter than -this young prince is.” Thus his tongue ran on, expatiating on each -feature of my face, and extolling every part about me in so lavish a -manner, that I could scarce tell what to say to him; nor did I know when -he would have ceased, but as good fortune would have it, an arch fellow -in my retinue came in, and in a drolling, though very serious manner, -answered him, saying, it is no wonder, old father, that you stand -astonished at the different colour, the regular features, the graceful -symmetry, and proportion of the prince; but you must consider, venerable -sir, that God has not created all mankind alike, but is pleased to -distinguish those whom he constitutes for the government of mankind, by -making them in such a particular form, and of such a particular colour, -that no one can be ignorant of their superiority. For (says he farther) -were all of one shape and colour, people would choose out of their own -clan whom they thought most wise and valiant to be their sovereign lord -and chief commander; and should they happen not to approve of his -conduct, they would abandon him, perhaps, and live under subjection to -some other prince; but when God appoints any particular men to be -princes and rulers over the rest of mankind, you may depend upon it, he -bestows upon them such excellent forms, and distinguishes them by such -marks that every one who sees them must know them at first view, must -immediately fall down before them, and acknowledge their divine right -and authority over them. “Ay, ay,” says the old man, “what you observe -is very true; for I remember my father went once in two or three years -to carry honey to deaan Mernindgarevo, who was deaan Crindo’s father; -and, as I have been informed, his skin was of copper colour, though his -hair was black, indeed, like ours.” “Yes,” says the other, “he was -somewhat different, but not very much; deaan Mungazeungarevo, however, -who was this prince’s father, married a lady from Port Dauphine, who was -a white man’s daughter.” “Yes, yes,” says the old man, “no doubt there -is something in that, but I have not a right notion of those marks which -you mention by which God distinguishes princes. Are all princes, pray, -of his fine colour and make? And has God set such glorious marks on all -kings?” “I cannot say,” says the other, “but that this is the whitest -that was ever heard of.” In the interim came some of the people who were -sent for, bringing their presents and offering to lick my feet, which, -to my no small satisfaction, put a stop to their insipid conferences. - -I found that my people had formed this artful scheme among themselves to -delude these poor peasants, and carried it on with good success; for one -of these last, as I was informed, asked how he should know the person to -whom he was to pay his respects? And was roundly answered, do you think -God has not distinguished princes from other men? You will know him at -first sight by his fine colour and majestic mien. - -But I fear I have tired my reader with the too tedious narration of this -petty farce. However, it plainly appears, that it turned out to all our -advantages; we proposed at first to have proceeded further into the -country, but were so well provided with whatever we wanted, that we had -no occasion for more, every man having as much as he could well carry. -So the next day all made up their enters, except myself, who still kept -up my grandeur. When we came home, we divided the spoil according to -contract, and though I sent several presents to my neighbours, I had -sufficient for two or three months. - -This was too happy a life to last long. Before a year came about, I was -ordered home again with my cattle, three men being sent by deaan -Mevarrow to conduct me. The civil war had now subsisted about a year and -a half, which reduced every one to the greatest difficulties, so that -they wanted these cattle to live upon, the rest being consumed by -themselves, or taken by their adversaries; the enemy, however, was in as -bad circumstances, if not worse. We returned the same way we came, -through the forest of wild cattle, and hunted as we went along till we -came to deaan Afferrer’s town on Yong-gorvo. I was much dejected all the -way, and here I began first to think of making my escape to some seaport -town at the peril of my life; though it was a long time before I had -opportunity to accomplish it. As soon as I arrived at Rer Mimebolambo’s -town, where my master and his people still resided, I found none but -melancholy countenances; however, they were glad to see me safely -arrived, being richer by that means than the rest of their neighbours, -whether friends or enemies; for my cattle were considerably increased. -They thanked me, indeed, for my care, which was all the reward I had; -but my master was too proud and surly to do that; my butchering office, -however, brought me the usual fee, by which means I lived as well as any -of the others. - -My employment was still to follow the cow-tail for the town in general, -for nobody was willing to trust either their children or servants; and -deaan Mevarrow durst not peremptorily command, even his own young -slaves, to do any thing which might hazard their being taken by the -enemy, lest their parents and friends should resent it, and leave him to -live under other lords. As for his white slave, he had neither parents -nor relations to mourn his loss if killed or taken; and for that reason -was the only proper person to be exposed to danger. - -The war was not carried on with so much vigour as at first, for their -courage on all sides was pretty well abated; nor was there so much -advantage arising from the plunder of one another, as at the beginning; -but it was not long before Chahary and Frukey, who were our original -enemies, heard that we had cattle; and one day, as I was tending them at -some considerable distance from the town, they, with two hundred men in -a body, surprised and took them, and pursued me in a most violent -manner; firing and darting their lances, yelling out, kill him, cut him -to pieces, &c.: however, I got the start of them, and fled into a -thicket, which was so full of prickles and strong large thorns, that I -was most miserably scarified from head to foot; nevertheless I concealed -myself in the midst of it. They still followed me with their hideous -cries, beginning to cut down a passage in order to come at me; but just -as I was on the very brink of despair, I observed them all on a sudden -run as fast back again. It was some time before I could comprehend the -meaning of it: till at length, I perceived some people had been alarmed, -and came upon them; so that now they found it difficult to save their -own lives. They could not drive off the cattle, but resolving to do as -much mischief as they could, they killed some, and others they wounded, -and then fled. I was obliged to keep my station, and was still -apprehensive, that some of them would be driven upon me; till by the -noise of the guns, I found, that they went farther from me; I then -ventured to creep out, and perceived one of their chief men was fallen, -and wounded with two lances in his hand. He looked me full in the face -with his eyes swimming, and was going to speak, when I snatched one of -the lances out of his hand, and told him, it was my time now; and as he -was my enemy in a double capacity, I immediately struck him dead. When -our people first saw me they imagined that I was cut with lances, for I -was all over bloody. My flesh was torn in several places, my feet were -almost cut to pieces, and many large thorns were still visible in them. -So that when I recovered from the fright I was in, and came to be cool, -I was in excessive torment. The women and children soon helped to carry -the slain cattle into the town, there not being above fifteen alive, and -those most barbarously used. Whilst these were busy with the beasts, I -told deaan Mevarrow that I had taken two lances from one that seemed to -be mortally wounded; though alive when I left him at the side of the -thicket. I durst not own that I had laid violent hands on him, for some -of our people were his near relations, and I did not know but they might -privately seek revenge, for they lamented his loss, and begged his body, -in order to bury it; which was readily granted. - -When I came home, my mistress was very kind to me, and ordered one of -her slaves to wash and dress my wounds, and pick out the thorns. It was -some time before I was perfectly well, and it was no small comfort to -me, that I had no more cattle to take care of: though I was conscious, -at the same time, of the ill consequence that would soon attend the want -of them. However, we had beef enough for some few days; and more than we -could well dispense with, whilst it was sweet. - -I was no sooner recovered, than my master found out another employment -for me, which was to dig in the woods for wild yams; all our beef was -now spent, and scarcely any thing else was to be found hereabouts to -live upon: we now severely felt the miseries of a civil war; and so must -all countries wherever they are, feel in proportion to their -circumstances, whether christian or heathen. I went a long way sometimes -before I could find sufficient for my master and mistress, and myself, -being seldom able to bring home more than would serve one of us for a -meal the next day: I, indeed, always made sure of one private meal; for -I took care to kindle a fire, and roast some of them in the woods. - -One morning just about sunrising, as my master and some of the chiefs -were sitting at the town-gate, condoling with each other on account of -the sad state of their affairs, deaan Mevarrow said, he had tasted no -beef for some considerable time; and asked, if there were any cattle -near them? They told him, none that either belonged to him, or any of -Rer Mimebolambo’s people; but there was one in deaan Mephontey’s -jurisdiction, about four or five miles off, who had several good fat -beeves. He immediately ordered me and another man to bring away one of -the best of those beasts with as much privacy and expedition as we -could. I began to make several excuses, and said I was afraid to go upon -so dangerous an adventure: besides (said I) as I am the only white man -you have amongst all your people should I be seen at a distance, they -will know me immediately to be your slave, and by that means you -yourself will be discovered. All I could urge had no influence over him; -he was resolutely bent that I should go, and ordered the man to provide -a rope that instant. I begged on my knees that he would send another in -my stead, but to no purpose; however, whilst he turned away, and was -speaking to some other people, I withdrew, in hopes that when he did not -see me, he would substitute another in my post; but the old villain -turning short and perceiving what I aimed at, took up his gun and fired -at me; the shot went through the straw cap I had on, and I was so near -him, that the wadding struck my back. Finding he had not killed me, he -took up a lance, and before any one could stop his hand, he threw it at -me. He raved, and gave me all the opprobrious language he could think -of. As to swearing, they are not any ways addicted to it; a custom too -prevalent amongst us christians, to the shame and reproach both of high -and low. However, at last he was pacified, and on my submission, and the -solicitations of his friends, he forgave me; but peremptorily insisted -on my obedience to his commands. As there was no remedy, I proceeded -with the man, though with many bitter reflections on my wayward fortune, -and state of bondage. - -We soon came near the place to which we were directed, and after we had -wandered about some short time, we espied about half a score of cows -grazing; our next concern was to see if any cow-keeper was tending them. -To confess ingenuously, I was scarcely ever in more fear in my whole -life; the noise of the pretty little lizards, who hop about the trees, -and create a rustling amongst the leaves, appeared at that time in my -ears like the rushing out of so many men from an ambuscade; but after we -had listened very attentively, and taken a short tour with the utmost -precaution, we at length ventured to sally out from behind the covert of -the trees, and pitch upon one that was for our purpose; my comrade took -the rope, which till then he had twisted about his middle, and secured -her; we had much ado to get her from the rest of the herd; but at last -we mastered her, and drove her through the woods, for we thought it -safest to avoid all open places, and by noon we reached home. In a few -minutes she was cut up by a dozen hands at once, for fear the right -owner should have missed her, and should follow our track. The meat was -divided into two hundred pieces, and distributed to the same number of -men. My partner and I had the udder, and a slice of the buttock, which -is the customary fee to such as bring in either a stolen beast, or one -taken from an enemy; as almost every one in the town had a small -portion, all of it was despatched immediately; and the next day we were -in the same plight as we were in before. - -It was now winter, and as the stalks of the yams are then withered, they -are very difficult to be found; insomuch that we were reduced to the -utmost distress, and almost famished. If we could get a meal once a day -it was luxurious living; when the children, therefore, cried for food, -though they had none all day, their mothers could with authority take -them up short, and say, would you be gluttons? Did you not eat -yesterday? These shocking taunts from their poor and distressed parents, -I heard for some months together; and our calamitous circumstances were -visible in our ghastly countenances. Here were no wars, no acts of -hostility now; our enemies never concerned themselves about us, nor we -with them. Thus we lived for eight or nine months after we had lost our -cattle. Our enemies, however, were in a worse condition, if possible, -than we were; because deaan Murnanzack and his brother, who lived on the -other side, frequently interrupted their repose, and deprived them of -the only happiness that attends a state of poverty; and that is, to -sleep away one half of their tedious hours, and so lull the acute sense -of their misfortunes. - -Deaan Crindo, and, indeed, every body else, sincerely wished for a -peace, without finding any expedient to accomplish it; and though deaan -Murnanzack’s success had made them despair of one upon any honourable -terms, yet Providence threw an accident in the way, by which it was -effected. Rer Vovvern, king of Feraignher, which is St. Augustin-bay -country, had declared war against Woozington, our common enemy; and had -sent an ambassador, one Ry-Nanno by name, a very able and experienced -person, whose commission was to reconcile the contending lords of -Anterndroea; and procure their friendship and assistance in the common -cause. No sooner was he arrived at Fennoarevo, than the joyful news -spread round the country, and reached our ears. Deaan Crindo, without -any hesitation, permitted Ry-Nanno to make the first overtures from him -to his nephew Murnanzack; to whose residence the ambassador was then -gone when he heard it. - -It was with no small reluctance, that this prince listened to a peace; -for not only his uncle’s deportment, but that of his sons too, was so -inhuman and savage, in destroying the cattle belonging to their nearest -relations, rooting up their plantations, and committing other flagrant -enormities, that he almost forgot his own private wrongs, and looked -upon deaan Crindo as the general enemy of mankind, who, to gratify his -unruly passions, endeavoured to lay his country waste; notwithstanding -he himself, at the first breaking out of the quarrel, had shown him so -glorious an example. With what generosity did he treat both Crindo and -Mundumber, and all who belonged to them? How careful was he of their -towns and effects? Evidently demonstrating that he aimed at nothing more -than doing himself justice, and deciding a controversy that was too -warmly pursued, and that the murder of men in cool blood, and the -destruction of countries, were actions of horrid impiety. And as -Ry-Nanno told me afterwards, it was his innate virtue that at last -determined him to a reconciliation; for he thought the Supreme Being -could never look down with a favourable eye on a man who would refuse to -relieve his fellow-creatures from such calamities as his countrymen then -laboured under. And this was the principal motive, in the height of his -success, to waive the prosecution of his own interest, when it stood in -competition with the public good. These were the truly noble sentiments -and generous resolutions of this great man, notwithstanding his contempt -of revelation; or, at least, of the christian religion, as I had -represented it to him in a disadvantageous light. I wish our priests who -build so much on their superior knowledge of God’s will, would be as -exemplary in their lives and conversations, and would teach princes as -well as others, to be in reality so truly just, honourable, and good as -this gallant black prince was in all his actions; and yet I doubt not, -but he will be stigmatized with the odious character of an illiterate -heathen. - -As soon as Ry-Nanno had concluded his negotiation with deaan Murnanzack, -he passed by deaan Afferrer, well knowing he would acquiesce with what -his brother had done, and came to us, in order to compromise the quarrel -we were engaged in with Chahary and Frukey. He condemned them for their -rashness in the prosecution of their private resentments to the ruin of -themselves and their country, and told them it was represented in a very -bad light to all the kings on the island. He met with no great -difficulty in the accomplishment of the reconciliation he aimed at; -which being effected, he told them that Rer Vovvern had a pique against -Woozington, for several very gross affronts. Amongst others, he had -called a dog by the name of Rer Vovvern; and Ry-Nanno expected he should -wait on them next summer to beg their assistance against Woozington; but -his errand was at that time principally out of friendship, to put an end -to their destructive divisions. In a few days a peace was concluded and -publicly proclaimed all over the country. - -While Ry-Nanno was delivering his first speech to Rer Mimebolambo and -deaan Mevarrow, I observed that he fixed his eye attentively upon me, -and seemed to view me with some concern; and calling to me in broken -English—you, white man, come hither. When he asked me my name, he turned -to my master and asked, here is a white bird among a parcel of crows; in -our country, indeed, they are common enough, ships come there -frequently, but then they wear clothes, and eat and drink with our -lords. This poor young lad looks piteously: why do you suffer him to go -naked? Pray show some charity to a distressed stranger, and do not use -him with inhumanity. Deaan Mevarrow answered, I have used him more -tenderly than he deserves; you do not know how his friends served deaan -Crindo. Yes, says Ry-Nanno, I know the whole story perfectly well; and -that deaan Crindo treated them in a barbarous manner in refusing to let -them go at their request to a seaport, where ships come, in order to -return to their native home. Had Rer Vovvern this white man, he would -give him some of the clothes which his countrymen have left behind them, -and take as much care of him as he would of his own son, till some ship -should come to carry him home to his friends. - -I listened to this discourse with the utmost attention, and waited with -impatience for a favourable opportunity of talking with him in private, -which I did that night; for he brought part of the cattle which deaan -Murnanzack gave him, as he very well knew that we had none, and I was -sent for to kill a bullock. I embraced this lucky opportunity, and told -him in broken English, that I would wait on him at night. Accordingly I -went, and he received me with abundance of humanity and respect. After -we were seated, he inquired into the whole history of our shipwreck and -misfortunes. I gave him a long and faithful detail thereof, not -forgetting to acquaint him with the cruel treatment I met with from my -master, and to set my wretched state of slavery in the strongest light. -The relation of this melancholy tale, not only made me weep, but drew -tears likewise from his eyes. He told me he would endeavour to purchase -me of deaan Mevarrow, and desired me not to be too much dejected. I -stayed late with him, and when we parted, the hopes I had entertained of -his kind intentions to release me, kept me awake all night. The next -day, after he had discoursed with my master about their own private -affairs, he asked him if he was inclined to sell his white man; and in -case he was, he would give him in exchange a handsome young fellow, -capable of doing him more service, or a buccaneer gun, if that would be -a more agreeable compensation. - -I was sitting among my fellow-slaves, and waiting with the utmost -eagerness and attention to hear the result of this conference. When my -master ordered me to stand up, I was in hopes it was to strike the -bargain; but, instead of that, says he, look on that white slave there; -for looking after cattle, digging of wild yams, and improving of honey, -there is not his fellow; and though a buccaneer gun is the common price -of a slave, I will not take two for him. Ry-Nanno thereupon showed him -three or four slaves, but Mevarrow told him in direct terms that he -would not part with me on any conditions whatever. Then turning to me, -he asked if I was not willing to dig some wild yams for him, as well as -his other slaves who were just gone on the same errand before. Not -daring to refuse, I was forced to take up my hatchet, shovel, and lance, -and go into the woods; but instead of searching for yams, I sat down and -wept till I was almost blind. However, I was under an indispensable -obligation to find some to carry home, which was no easy task, for the -stalks were now withered; yet I made up a bundle, after roasting them, -but had none myself. When I came home, my master thought I had been -idle, and said, you are mightily concerned I suppose, that Ry-Nanno is -not your master. I went home and laid me down on my mat, and had nothing -but a log of wood under my head for a pillow till some considerable time -after it was dark, and then I stole privately to Ry-Nanno. - -I was no sooner seated, than he told me he was glad to see me again, and -asked me what success I had met with, which I told him; and, moreover, -that my master had abused me to the last degree for bringing no more -yams. He said I was the first man he ever saw who had a black for his -master; and though he could not purchase me, yet he did not question, -but Rer Vovvern would find some ways or means to get me into Feraignher, -when he came next summer into this country. To that I replied, that I -was afraid my master would not take me to the wars for that very reason, -and that I despaired of ever regaining my liberty; but I was determined -to make the experiment as soon as ever my master went out on another -expedition, and left me behind him. Ry-Nanno endeavoured all he could to -comfort me, and said, the same Providence which has hitherto preserved -you, will deliver you at last; and I have great hopes of seeing you at -St. Augustine-bay; for, said he, since Tuley-Noro’s death, there are but -few ships come now to Port Dauphine, though that, indeed, is the nearest -seaport, for ours is a great way off. I desired to be informed how many -days’ journey it was, and which way he came; for I am determined, said I -to attempt my escape; if they overtake me, I am sensible I shall be -killed, but then I shall be freed from my present bondage, which is -worse than death; and should I fall into any other master’s hands, it is -morally impossible he should treat me worse than this has done. The -whole country of Merfaughla, said Ry-Nanno, lies between us, extending -itself from the utmost part of Anterndroea, where deaan Murnanzack’s -cattle are all kept, to the river Oneghayloghe, which runs into St. -Augustine-bay; and I think I was about forty and two days on my journey, -but could have performed it in less than half the time, had we not -hunted by the way; for the whole country, said he, is so well stocked -with proper subsistence, that no one need carry any provisions, unless -he be in a more than ordinary hurry. There are abundance of wild cattle -in great part of it; besides, there is a large quantity of faungidge, -verlaway, wild honey, and wild yams to be had, wherever you go. I -inquired what kings lived in the way? He said three. Rer Trortrock is -the first to the northward; the next Rer Chulu-Mossu-Andro, and -Zaffentampoey; this last resides at the head of the river Oneghayloghe, -to the eastward; all their people, however, live near two long days’ -journies from the road. The nearest way, said he, is by the foot of -Yong-gorvo hills, till you come to the west side of it, then strike over -to the northward half a day’s journey, and take your course betwixt the -north and west, and you cannot lose your way. I asked him a great many -more questions till it was late and time to depart, but he would not -permit me till I had supped with him. The next day he took his farewell -of my master, and I stole away privately to thank him for all his -favours. As they were packing up his provision, &c., he advised me to -oblige deaan Mevarrow as much as possible, lest he should kill me or do -me some secret injury, and bid me likewise not despair of getting home -to England. He then made me a present of a large piece of beef, and -after repeated expressions of my gratitude for his tender concern for -me, I parted from him, though with abundance of reluctance. When I -reflected on what had passed, I began to entertain quite different -thoughts of being in another country from what I had done; for I found -here were great numbers of people, nay, whole nations too, who were -civilized, and understood the laws of decency and good manners; but it -was my misfortune to fall among the most savage people of the whole -island. - -The next day the crier went round the town with orders to all deaan -Mevarrow’s slaves to muster before his door. Among the rest I went to -know his pleasure, which was to get ready and march with all our baggage -the next morning to our own town; which was cheerfully complied with by -every body but myself, who was very indifferent where I lived. So when -we had taken our leave of Rer Mimebolambo and his people, we marched -home and found our habitations very little worse than when we abandoned -them, for they were at that time newly built. The orders were to attend -and receive axes and hoes for the cultivation of the ground. Whilst some -cleared it of the wood and briars, others hoed it up instead of -ploughing it. Our master sent to his uncle Mephontey for a considerable -quantity of guinea corn and carravances, which were soon sowed; and then -indulged his slaves for a fortnight, in order to improve their own -plantations. I desired deaan Sambo to use his interest with my master, -that I might have two days more to take care of my honey, which I had -secured from thieves, by setting up white sticks as a testimony that it -was poisoned by the charms of the umossee. He gave consent; and -thereupon, I took three large tubs, each of which would contain five or -six gallons, and as many calabashes. I had farther to go than from our -old town, which had been burnt; but when I came there, I found my hives -all safe and untouched, and my stock of honey prodigiously increased. I -smoked the bees out, and took the greatest part of their treasure away, -but not all, leaving them some to subsist on, for they will return of -themselves to the hives, and when they swarm, go directly to new ones -without any of that fatigue we have with them in England. I found some -fine Virginia honey with white wax, which I put into my calabashes. As -it was near two years since I had seen them, I had almost forgotten -where to look for a good part of them, they being planted at a great -distance from each other in different corners of the wood. I filled, -however, all my vessels, and left as large a quantity behind me for the -next day’s journey. As soon as I got home, I waited on my master and -made him a present of one of the tubs: now these lords always expect an -acknowledgment on such occasions. When my master saw how large a -quantity I brought him, he was surprised, and asked me why I brought him -so much? For to do him justice, I cannot say he ever discovered a -covetous disposition. - -Besides, we have no officers to exact any certain quantity, but the -people must go voluntarily, and carry a present of such commodities as -their plantations and industry have produced; as carravances, guinea -corn, potatoes, &c.; but this is only by way of acknowledgment of -homage, and a calabash only would have been looked upon as a sufficient -compliment. But as I was sensible that he had a circumcision-feast to -make, and I had a large stock, I desired him to accept it. He told me it -was true, and for that purpose he would purchase all the honey I had to -spare, and give me a cow and a calf for it the first cattle he had. - -The civil war being now over, we lived at ease, and could dig our wild -yams without the least apprehensions of danger. People now went -backwards and forwards to visit each other as usual, and every one -attended his plantations; it was six months, however, after this, before -we had plenty. My conversation with Ry-Nanno was ever in my mind, and I -only waited for a favourable opportunity of my master’s going abroad -upon some exploit, to make my escape, if possible, at all adventures. -After some time, it happened that one Rer Ambarroch, a petty prince to -the northward, having received and detained eight slaves of deaan -Mevarrow’s, and thirty head of his cattle, a little before the civil war -began; and the deaan sending a special messenger to demand them, he sent -word back that he might come himself and fetch them, if he thought fit. -He being now at leisure, Rer Mimebolambo and he agreed to join their -forces, and having obtained leave of deaan Crindo, they prepared for -their expedition. - -I expected to be left behind, as usual, to take care of his wife, and -pleased myself with the hope that the time was near at hand for putting -my design in execution; but standing before him with two lances in my -hand, you shall not, says he, always live at home like a woman, but -shall go to the wars with me; the sight of a white man in arms will -strike terror into the people upon the mountains where we are going. -Hereupon he took my lances, and said, here is one of your grandfather’s -arms; you can manage this, I presume, somewhat better than ours; prepare -yourself for the march. - -I desired, however, that I might have one of my lances, which he gave -me, and twenty musket balls, a sufficient quantity of powder, and two -flints. I took up my mat as usual, but my master gave it to one of his -slaves to carry for me, so I walked, gentleman-like, without any -luggage. - -Our little army consisted of about three hundred men, exclusive of the -slaves; we went to the northward all the first day, on the second we got -into the forest to the east of Yong-gorvo, where the wild cattle are; -there we hunted, and killed some beef, while four men were sent out as -spies toward Rer Ambarroch’s town, to survey the fortifications of it. -We were almost a day’s journey from it; and, indeed, it was not -advisable to go nearer, lest some of their people should have discovered -us, and alarmed the town; for those wild cattle were their principal -maintenance and support. Our spies returned, and brought intelligence, -that it was an open place without any fortification at all. Thereupon we -marched all night, and arriving at the town by break of day, we divided -ourselves to surround it, and fired into their houses to alarm them; the -barking of the dogs and the noise of the guns soon roused them, and away -they scowered, for we gave them no time to collect themselves into a -body: so we plundered them at once, and took what prisoners we could -find. I saw the prince’s house, and ran directly up to it, in hopes of -taking him prisoner; but he jumped out and fired at me: as I was going -to return it, a man threw a lance at me, which I put off and fired at -him, and put a stop to his running; but by that means the prince -escaped. - -I entered the house, and found his wife and daughter, with two or three -slaves attending them. I took hold of the ladies’ hands, and led them -both out, and left others to plunder the house as they pleased, since I -had a good prize enough; but one of Rer Mimebolambo’s men, who had got -no booty, would fain have taken one of my captives from me; whereupon I -told him, I supposed he was a coward, and had sneaked behind a tree in -the action, or else he might have found something worth his acceptance. -He insisted on his demands, and reproached me with being a slave, till -some of our people came up, at which time he was obliged to depart with -shame; for a complaint being made to deaan Mevarrow, he justified me, -and severely reprimanded the poltroon. For there was an agreement made -before we set out, that what cattle should be taken be divided; but all -captives should remain in the custody of those who took them. When we -had driven all the men away, we got what cattle we could find together, -and made the best of our way through the wood with them, lest the enemy -should rally and attack us. As soon as we got into the plain we halted, -and made preparations to receive them; and about two hundred of them -soon came as we expected. - -I delivered my two captives, as every one else did theirs, to the slaves -that were in the rear, whilst we marched; and as we came near them, they -also met us; so that we made a discharge almost all at once, and killed -three or four of their men. We halted a while to load again, and -perceived that they stood confounded, and looked in a very wishful -manner on one of their party who was fallen. Having loaded again, I and -some few more ran directly up to them; seeing us approach, which is not -usual, they fired at us and ran away. We followed them till they got -shelter in the wood, and then returned to the main army. On our retreat, -they sallied out of their coverts, and followed us at a distance, being -desirous to take one view more of their wives, children, and cattle; and -to observe our motions, in hope some accident might happen, that might -give them a favourable opportunity to avenge their cause, and retrieve -the losses they had sustained. - -At noon we came to a shady grove, and there halted near a spring, in -order to refresh ourselves; for we were all fasting. As soon as my -master was seated, he ordered me to bring my two captives before him; -and applauding me for my courage and conduct in the action, he told me I -should keep one of them myself, and have my choice too, and that he -would be contented with the other. I soon determined in favour of the -young one, who, in truth, was extremely agreeable; and I was pleased -with her from the first moment I took her. She was not above sixteen -years of age; her mother, whom I presented to my master, was about four -or five and thirty. Deaan Mevarrow was pleased with my choice, for he -was inclined to do a generous action; and thereupon calling her to him, -he told her, her husband had brought all this misfortune upon himself by -his unjust and obstinate proceedings; and (said he) I have only followed -his directions; I am come myself as he bid me, and have fetched away all -my women; and I perceive, some of my own cattle, with a sufficient -quantity of his, to pay me and my friends for our trouble. As for -yourself, I will restore you to your liberty; go back to Rer Ambarroch -and acquaint him, that if he be inclined to have his daughter and cattle -again, he must come and fetch them. You see she is fallen into my white -man’s hands, and for my part, I will never take her from him. And, said -I, I will lose all the blood in this white man’s body, before he shall -have her again. - -After she had refreshed herself with some meat, which deaan Mevarrow -presented her with, she came to me in order to take her last farewell of -her daughter. They both wept heartily, not expecting ever to see each -other more; I pitied them, I confess, and would have dismissed the young -one, had I not really been in love with her. To confess ingenuously, I -never saw any woman before that time I liked so well; though I had been -so many years in the island. I comforted the mother, however, as well as -I could; and desired her, not to be too much concerned for the loss of -her daughter, since she should live as well as I did; nay, I assured -her, that I would take more care of her than of myself; and though I was -not of a sable hue, I had a heart as fond and indulgent as any black -whatever; and therefore, though she fell to my lot by the chance of war, -yet it was my design to make her my wife, if she approved of it; if not, -it was possible, I said, she might lead a less comfortable life. Her -mother asked her, what she thought of the motion? She answered, she was -at my disposal, and not at her own; and desired her duty might be -presented to her father. And present mine too, said I, if you please, -mother. So after some farther discourse for a short time, they parted. -She took her leave of deaan Mevarrow, returning him many thanks for his -courteous treatment, and went away by herself; though she had not, I -presume, far to go alone; for her friends were, doubtless, as near as -they durst come in the woods, to observe our motions. And though we -never saw them more, yet we kept a strict guard all that day, and the -following night. I was very fond and careful of my pretty prisoner, -tying a rope about her middle, with the ends about myself, and laid her -close to me, folding her fast within my arms; she only smiled and -rallied me for it, but I was so fearful lest she should get away, that I -could not sleep. We marched apace the next day, and when we halted, Rer -Mimebolambo and deaan Mevarrow divided the cattle, each had two hundred -and eleven; and then they parted, each taking the nearest way home. - -Before we entered the town, we made another halt, in order to divide the -cattle among ourselves; the deaan had thirty, his brother ten, and each -of the other principals one. He that had two slaves retained one of -them, and delivered the other to his lord, and had a cow and calf in -lieu of it. If two men got a slave between them, they had each of them a -cow for it; even he who had taken no slave was to have a cow, provided -the number would admit of it; if not, one was divided between two; and -this is a general and an established law, with respect to the division -of an enemy’s spoils. - -Deaan Mevarrow told me I had but one slave, whereupon I alleged he had -taken one away, and might have kept her, if he thought proper; but I -perceived he was only in jest, for he gave me a cow and a calf as an -equivalent for her; and generously enough offered me another cow and -calf for my honey, but I modestly declined that favour; so he chose them -for me himself out of the fattest of the herd. By this means I became -rich at once, having two cows and two calves, and a handsome -jorzerampeller; that is to say, a handsome girl. - -No sooner were we come to the town, than the shells were blown, and all -the women ran out to see what was the cause of it, not expecting our -return in so short a time; but when they knew who we were, they ran back -to their houses till we had made our triumphal entry, and deaan Mevarrow -was seated; then his wife came out, and as it is the custom there, -licked his feet, and after her, the rest of the women paid him the same -homage; and after that, each of them testified her duty to her own -husband in the same submissive manner. I thought, indeed, I had now a -wife, and as fine a one as the best of them all; and that the next time -we returned from such an expedition with the like success, I should have -homage done me too. My mistress sent and desired to see my young spouse; -I went along with her accordingly, and she would make her sit down on -the same mat with herself, and could not refrain from tears, it having -been her own case; whereupon she charged me to use her tenderly. I did -not intend, I told her, to make a slave of her, but a walley, that is, a -wife. - -As I had a stock of honey in a neighbour’s hands, as also some -carravances, and a sufficient quantity of milk, I made a very tolerable -repast for my bride and myself; and mimicked matrimony so far as to take -her by the hand, and assure her that I was willing to make her a -constant and tender husband; and asked her, if she was equally willing -to be a faithful and loving wife? to which she cheerfully consented. So -we lay down together, and though we had no bride-men or bride-maids, or -throwing of stockings, yet we were as happy as our circumstances would -well admit of. - -Some of my readers, perhaps, may wonder how I could be so passionately -in love with a black woman; but as I had been several years in the -country, and they were become natural to me, I think the wonder ceases. -Besides, she was extremely handsome, of a middle stature, very straight, -and exactly shaped; her features were regular, and her skin as soft, -fine, and delicate as any lady’s in Great Britain. And to do the women -there justice, all who are of any rank and well brought up, have the -last good quality to boast of. There are uncleanly, coarse-skinned -creatures, indeed, amongst the vulgar, as well as in Europe; but the -women do not go naked as some of the Guinea negroes. Their dress is a -lamber, much longer than that of the men’s, and reaches to their feet -from their middle; above and under the lamber, they wear a kind of -shift, which covers all the body to the neck, and short sleeves. This, -for the generality, is made of cotton, and is of a dark colour; those of -the better sort embellish it with beads, in a very neat manner, more -especially on the back, where they are ranged in rows and cross one -another; and as they are of different colours, they form a large double -cross so like a union-flag, that one would imagine they copied after it. - -Thus much as to a general detail of the person and habits of these -women, though I shall not, indeed, give them the preference to our -Europeans; yet I must ingenuously confess, that it is with pleasure I -reflect on mine, and remember our parting with the utmost reluctance and -concern. For as to their fidelity, duty, and submissive deportment to -their husbands, goodnature, and agreeable conversation, so far as their -little knowledge extends, I think the Europeans come far short of them. -We white people entertain a very contemptible and mean idea of these -blacks, and a high and partial one of ourselves: they, on the other -hand, have an exalted opinion of our merit; and modestly imagine, that -we are far superior to them in point of knowledge, arts, and sciences: -and therein, doubtless, they are right; but if an impartial comparison -were to be made of their good qualities, the black heathens would, in my -opinion, excel the white christians. I presume the reader will readily -allow, that the best character I could give myself, in order to -recommend me to my wife’s mother, was, to assure her, as I did, that I -had as tender a heart as any black whatever; for it must be -acknowledged, though to our shame, that they treat one another with more -humanity than we do. There are none miserable amongst them, if it be in -the power of their neighbours to assist them. There love, tenderness, -generosity, and moral honesty, too, are very conspicuous; and that not -only just in this one country of Anterndroea, but throughout the whole -island, and even in other places more than here. My master, deaan -Mevarrow, indeed, may be produced as an exception to this general rule, -on account of his stealing his neighbour’s cattle, I grant it; but it -must be considered, that there are some men of bad principles in every -country; he did it, it is true, against conscience, and stood -self-convicted: for he knew what justice was, as well as any one, as -appeared by his paying me my cow and calf in return for my honey; and in -many other particulars. There is a wide distance between the capacities -and virtues of some men; though it is with regret that I mention deaan -Murnanzack’s name in the same page with Mevarrow’s; yet the peculiar -vices of the latter are no objection to the national virtues of his -country. - -My reader will excuse this digression, I hope, when he recollects the -only pleasure that alleviated the weight of my slavery while in -Anterndroea. I looked after my master’s cattle indeed, as I did before; -but then I had a few of my own, and an agreeable companion to spend my -leisure hours with, who took care of my house; and as I had plenty of -honey, I never was without toake, for my wife and I to enjoy ourselves -with, and entertain a friend upon occasion. So that I lived as well as -the best of my neighbours, and being now much less fatigued than -formerly, I was capable of taking more notice of the religion and laws -of the country: and as I propose to amuse the reader with a particular -detail of one of their circumcision-feasts, it will not be improper to -give first an account of that little religion which they professed. - -They acknowledge, indeed, and adore the only one supreme God, whom they -call deaan Unghorray, which signifies the Lord above. There are, -according to their notion, four other sovereign lords, and that each -superintends one quarter of the world. The northern lord is styled deaan -Antemoor; the southern, deaan Meguddumdummateme; the western, deaan -Androwfertraer; and the eastern, deaan Anabeleshey. This last, say they, -dispenses plagues and calamities amongst mankind, by the command or -permission at least, of the great God; the others also are subservient -to his commands, but are chiefly dispensers of his favours and -blessings. They look upon these four as mediators between men and the -Supreme Being; on which account they have a peculiar regard for them, -and in their prayers and sacrifices, recommend themselves to their -indulgence and protection. - -I have already given the reader some account of the owleys, by which -they seem to entertain the same idea as some superstitious people in -Europe formerly did of familiar spirits; because they employ them as -their favourite messengers with their petitions and prayers to their -great God; and, after a sacrifice, expect that they should come and tell -in dreams what they have to do, and also to warn them of any approaching -danger. This bears a great conformity to the idea, which some christians -have entertained of guardian angels, or some old philosophers of a good -or evil genius; or rather, is more exactly conformable to a very -ancient, and long received notion of demons; and for that reason, as we -have no other term so fit in our language, I choose to distinguish them -by that; for the owley is no more than the general name of the utensil, -or altar; which is rather like a talisman, or sigil, to which the demon -is thought to be attached, and by which, as a proper medium, they expect -to be invoked. For there are almost as many different demons with proper -names, as there are persons who have owleys; some of which are, -Ry-Leffu, Tompack-Offnarevo, Laka-petu, Deer-mefacher, Deer-hurzolavor, -Ry-mungary, Ry-ove. Then they invoke likewise the spirits of their -forefathers, and have a great veneration for them; calling upon them by -names that are given them after their decease; insomuch that they look -upon it as a crime to address them, or speak of them by the names they -had when living; and this name is principally known by the word garevo -at the end of it; as may be observed in the repetition of deaan Crindo’s -and deaan Murnanzack’s fathers’ names by my mock retinue among the -peasants. - -The veneration they have for the memory of their ancestors, and the -assurance they have of their spirits always existing, is apparent in -almost every circumstance of the few religious ceremonies which they -perform: the burial of their dead is very particular and solemn. I have -frequently hinted at the great humanity with which they treat each other -on all occasions, and under all difficulties of what nature or kind -soever. In sickness they daily visit and contribute all that in them -lies to the relief of the afflicted family, and the restoration of the -patient. When any one is dead, all the relations and neighbours come to -the house; the women make doleful lamentations, and the men assist in -the necessary preparations for the funeral. In the first place, they -pitch upon a tree for the coffin, after that, a cow or an ox is killed, -and some of the blood sprinkled upon it: imploring at the same time -their forefathers, and the demons, and demigods to aid and assist them, -and take care that the tree does not split in the falling, or that any -one be not hurt either by cutting or felling it. When the tree is down, -they cut it about a foot longer than the corpse, and split it directly -lengthways, (for they always make choice of a tree which they know will -split after this manner,) and dig both parts hollow, like two troughs. -It is then carried to the house, the corpse being in the mean time -washed, and wrapped up in a lamber, or frequently in two and sewed -together. There is frankincense, or a gum very much like it, burning all -the time in the house. They seldom keep the corpse above one day, -especially in hot weather. They put the corpse in the troughs closing -them together, and carry it upon six men’s shoulders. Every family has a -burying-place of their own, which no one dare infringe upon or break -into; nor indeed does any one attempt it. This is enclosed, and fenced -round with sticks, like palisadoes. When they come near the place, the -corpse is set down, and then they proceed to the rest of the ceremony; -that is, to make four fires, one at each corner on the outside of the -burying-place; on these fires they burn the ox or cow, which was killed -before for that purpose; then they divide it into quarters, which are -all consumed in the flames: after this, they sprinkle frankincense upon -the coals, and spread them all about. This being done, the chief or -eldest of the family goes close to the entrance of the burying-place, -and hollas aloud several times; after a short pause, he calls upon all -the dead that are there deposited, commencing at the earliest, and -proceeding to the last, and each one distinctly by his name; and in the -conclusion tells them, that there is a grandchild, or near relation come -to lie amongst them; and that he hopes they will receive him as a -friend. Then the gate is opened, and two or three persons are sent in to -dig the grave, which is made for the generality seven or eight feet -deep; and the corpse is placed in it, and covered over with the earth -without any further ceremony. None are permitted to enter here, but some -of the nearest relations, and the bearers, and the door is immediately -shut fast again. There is commonly a crowd of people without, who are -busy in carving up, and dividing among themselves the cattle, that are -distributed amongst them for that purpose, if it be a great and rich -family that can afford it; but the poorer sort cannot gratify their -friends in so bountiful a manner. They generally visit this -burying-place once a year, to clear it from weeds and make it clean; but -never enter it till they have first burnt a cow, or bullock before it. - -I knew some who, during a friend’s sickness, would make a sacrifice and -prayer here, to invoke the aid and assistance of the spirits of their -forefathers; but this is not a very common custom. And if any man have -any peculiar ceremonies of his own, which others do not think proper to -put into practice, no person is offended, nor do they concern themselves -about it; and the reason is, because there are no people here, who -pretend to be greater favourites of the Supreme Being than other men, -and to have a particular commission to interpret and declare his will. -No one here has yet been so presumptuous as to attempt this; and if any -one should be so hardy, he would meet with but few to credit him. - -Every man here, the poor man as well as the rich lord, is a priest for -himself and his family; and expects the demons should answer his -requests in his dreams. If he differ from his neighbour in point of -ceremony, as there is no damage given or received, so there is no hatred -arises. But were they to set apart particular persons, and to give them -a certain number of cattle and slaves every year, for the performance of -some certain ceremonies, and instead of making their prayers to God for -themselves, leave it to these to officiate for them, and prescribe rules -and seasons to them, these very people would soon lord it over them. For -they would terrify them with the anger of the great God, and demigods, -and foment divisions among the people for the support of their interest, -lest they should lose their substance and honours; and at last punish -any innocent person for their insolent inventions, under a sanctified -pretence of demons coming in the night from the Supreme Being, and -enjoining them so to do. We had an instance how easily mankind might be -imposed on by these pretenders to prophesy, in my master Mevarrow; and -how artfully the imposition was carried on in one of our neighbours. - -There was a person of distinction lived about two hours’ walk from us, -called deaan Olaavor, whose father died whilst I was here; he was making -preparations for his interment in the burying-place of his family; and -the night before, he dreamed his father appeared to him. Or, according -to his own expression, his father appeared to him in a dream, and -earnestly desired him not to bury his corpse; but keep it in a sundock, -or chest, and erect a little house for the reception of it. - -This request he very dutifully complied with, building a house about -three hundred yards from the town to the eastward, to which place he -used frequently to resort, and make his prayers and oblations, and then -pretended that the spirit of his father, which he called lulu-bay, or -the great spirit, used to come and tell him strange things, which should -occur to his neighbours. He frequently visited deaan Mevarrow, who gave -the utmost attention to every thing he said; Olaavor perceiving his -weakness, soon found out ways and means to turn the credulity of his -friend to his own advantage: and when any troublesome time came on, he -would industriously wait on Mevarrow, and inform him how angry his -lulu-bay was, and what misfortunes he had just grounds to fear would -attend him. Now whether, as he was an artful man, he conjectured rightly -from the reason of things; or, whether he dreamed rightly (for -sometimes, indeed, it happened as he said, and often otherwise) I shall -not presume to determine; but his principal aim was (as it appeared to -me) to get a heifer now and then for a pretended sacrifice, and -frequently a present of some beads, and such other trinkets, for the -pains he was at, using his best endeavours to appease the wrath of his -lulu-bay, and procure his favour and assistance. The advantage he made -of this was so conspicuous, that many people grew jealous of his -conduct; but at length a brother of deaan Olaavor’s was killed in the -wars, and his lulu-bay never came in a dream to warn either one or the -other of the impending danger. This not only opened their eyes, but -convinced a great many more; however an excuse was at hand. That his -brother had been remiss and negligent in regard to his prayers and -oblations to lulu-bay; and for that reason he suffered him to fall. -Deaan Mevarrow, and some of the weakest of the people, swallowed the -cheat, and still continued their superstitious opinion of this great -spirit, and were afraid to speak, or entertain the least contemptible -thought of it; having always the plea of mean spirited bigots, that they -were safer who paid an awful regard to lulu-bay, than those who despised -him. But be the case how it may, if he were not a great and powerful -spirit, either capable of injuring them, or doing them any good offices; -if the whole were a mere fiction of deaan Olaavor’s, yet there was no -harm in thinking he was so, or in paying him honours; but upon the -supposition that he was really such a potent spirit, and they should -neglect him, then they were sure to suffer severely for their contempt. - -This was all the idle answer those poor timorous creatures would give, -on their being asked a reason for their tame compliance with deaan -Olaavor; which, doubtless, would have been as good a plea for their -paying divine honours to a potato, had any one told him he had a -revelation in his dream, that it was a demigod. The reader, I presume, -may entertain a more adequate idea of the natural disposition of the -people, with respect to their morals and religion, from such instances -and occurrences, than from any formal description which I can pretend to -make; I shall therefore pursue my history, and give a particular detail -here of the feast and ceremony of the circumcision of deaan Mevarrow’s -son. - -The toake was made some weeks beforehand, by boiling the honey and combs -together, as we in England make mead. They filled a great number of -tubs; some as large as a butt, but some indeed smaller; a shed being -built for that purpose, which was thatched over, to place them in. On -the day appointed, messengers were despatched all round the country to -invite the relations and friends. About three or four days before the -ceremony of the circumcision was actually performed, you might see the -beginning of a festival; people went about blowing horns, and beating -drums both night and day; to whom some toake was given out of the lesser -vessels as a small compensation for their trouble: deaan Mevarrow had -procured two large oxen from deaan Murnanzack. They, who lived in the -most remote parts, came a day or two before; and they were entertained -with toake. In the evening, I found the town full of people, some -wallowing on the ground, and some staggering; scarcely one individual -person sober, either men, women, or children. And here one might -sensibly discern the effects of peace and security, the people -abandoning themselves without fear or reserve to drinking, and all -manner of diversions. My wife I found had been among them indeed; but -had the prudence to withdraw in time, for she was fast asleep when I -came home. - -And now the day being come, I returned from feeding my cattle before -noon, in order to bring up the two oxen and a bull, whose legs being at -once tied fast, they were thrown all along upon the ground. The child -was about a year old; for they have no stated time for the observance of -this custom. He was decked with beads, and a skein of white cotton -thread was wound about his head. A great crowd attended the festival. -Some brought such presents as their abilities would admit, such as a -cow, or a calf, beads, iron shovels, hatchets, and the like. Every one -was served once only with a small quantity of toake in a calabash before -the ceremony began. All things being now duly prepared, they waited for -the signal from the umossee, who was all this time very busy, to all -outward appearance, in measuring his shadow with his feet. When it came -to the length of three and a half, he gave the word. Upon which, one of -the nearest relations, who had the child in his arms, ran with him up to -the bull, and putting the child’s right hand on the bull’s right horn, -repeating the following form of words. - - Tyhew deaan Unghorray, deaan Antemoor, deaan Anebeleshey, deaan - Androfertraer, deaan Meguddumdummateme, an Ruey Owley, Heer-razehu, - ittoey acquo toey Anomebay loyhe ittoey handrabeck enney raffa - loyhe. - -Which in English runs thus:— - - Let the Great God above, the Lords of the four quarters of the world, - and the demons prosper this child, and make a great man of him. May - he prove as strong as this bull, and overcome all his enemies. - -If the bull roar whilst the boy’s hand is on his horn, they look on it -as an ill omen, portending either sickness, or some other misfortunes in -life; and all the business of the umossee is nothing more than this:—to -tell them what is the most unlucky hour or minute (like our strolling -fortune-tellers) to do it in; for, as to the religious part of the -ceremony, he is no ways concerned in it; if there be any religion -intended by it, which is somewhat to be questioned; for any experienced -man of the neighbourhood, whom they imagine understands it best, -performs the operation by feeling for the head of the yard, and cutting -off the fore-skin as closely as possible, two men holding the child’s -legs and arms at the same time. As to the name, it is given long before, -and frequently is changed afterwards; this child was named Ry-Mocker. -After the fore-skin is cut off, an attendant having a stick in his hand -like a gun rammer, the biggest end whereof is pointed, puts the -fore-skin upon it, and going to the wood, throws it towards the east. -The ceremony being over, the child is delivered to the mother, who is -all this time sitting upon a mat with the women round her. And now their -merriment began; the thatch was all pulled off the toake-house, and I -was ordered to kill the bull and the oxen; but these not being -sufficient, my master sent for three more which had been brought him by -his friends, for there were abundance of mouths to be fed. Before they -began to drink, he took particular care to secure all their weapons, and -no man was permitted to have so much as a gun or a lance; and then they -indulged themselves in boiling, broiling, and roasting of meat, drinking -of toake, singing, hallooing, blowing of shells, and drumming, with all -their might and main. I do not believe there were twenty sober persons -among the whole company. These revels continued all night; some went -away the next morning, but most stayed till evening, so that the feast -lasted three days successively. - -These people are great admirers of toake, and some of the vulgar sort, -as arrant sots, and as lazy as any in England, for they will sell their -guinea corn, carravances, nay, their very spades and shovels, and live -upon what the woods afford them. Their very lambers too, if worth any -thing, must go for toake; and they make an ordinary one serve turn, so -it will but just cover their nakedness. It is made of the tree called -the whooring, which they cut down with their lances. The outer bark is -taken away, and the inner, which is white, is peeled off whole, and beat -with a stick till it is made soft and pliant; and then they wear it as a -lamber, but it can never be washed. Their lambers, however, for the -generality, are made of cotton dyed in the yarn. The richer sort, -indeed, and people of distinction, buy silk and calicoes at seaport -towns, and often give a cow and a calf for no more than will make them -one lamber. The men wear no other clothes, but they adorn themselves -with mananelers, which are rings round their wrists; and these, both men -and women of distinction, are very fond of. They are sometimes made of -gold (but where they get them I cannot say), oftener of silver, but more -frequently of copper; which, at last, I found was produced and made in -the country, as well as iron. They dress their heads in a very agreeable -manner, curling up their hair to make it lie close, for they have hair, -and not wool on their heads, as the Guinea negroes; neither are their -noses flat, though small, nor their lips so big as theirs, but their -hair is always black, and for the generality, has a natural curl. Deaan -Crindo’s family are particularly distinguished, on account of their long -hair, and their copper-coloured skins. Notwithstanding they have no idea -of letters, yet they have here very wholesome laws, which are fixed in -their minds and handed down from generation to generation. I well -remember many of them, the recapitulation whereof, I flatter myself, -will be no disagreeable amusement to the reader. - -If one maliciously assault his neighbour, and break a leg or an arm, the -offender is fined fifteen head of cattle, which are delivered to the -party injured. - -If one break another’s head, and he that is wounded have not returned -the blow, he has three beeves by way of damage. - -If two men quarrel, and one happen to curse the other’s father or -mother, whether they be living or dead, and his antagonist have so much -command of himself as to refrain from cursing the other’s father or -mother, he recovers two beeves as a compensation. - -If a man be caught robbing his neighbour of an ox, or a cow, he is -obliged to restore it tenfold; and this is executed too with the utmost -rigour, notwithstanding my master frequently broke this good law; but, -like other great men, in more polite parts, he was not to be curbed by -the ordinary laws of his country; and yet he, as well as most others, -found, to his cost, that there were those who could cope with him; and -was at last convinced, that if a man will live amongst his -fellow-creatures, he must be observant of the fundamental laws, which -the community wherein he lives has framed for their mutual peace and -tranquillity; without which, men are not sociable animals, but each one -is a mere savage, and the world an uncultivated desert. - -If any one be found guilty of stealing guinea corn, carravances, -potatoes, or the like, out of any of the plantations, he forfeits a cow -and a calf to the owner, or more, in some measure proportionate to the -offence. - -In case one man’s cattle break into another’s plantation, the owner, for -every beast found there, must give an iron shovel. - -If any one steal another man’s hive of honey, and be caught, the fine is -three iron shovels. These iron shovels, hoes, &c., are a kind of small -money with these people, for here is no trade but by barter, or the -exchange of one commodity for another; and, therefore, they are as exact -as they possibly can be, in proportioning the value of one thing to -another. - -If a man borrow an ox, or a cow, of his neighbour, and does not return -it in a year’s time, six calves are looked upon as an equivalent for the -ox; and if he neglect payment at that time, those calves are supposed to -be three steers, and three heifers; and the increase, which by a fair -computation arises by their growth and production, is the man’s right of -whom the ox was borrowed; and if it go on for ten years, or any longer -term, it is computed what three bulls and three cows might have produced -in that space of time, and all that produce is due to the creditor. - -If a man lie with the wife of another man who is his superior, he -forfeits thirty head of cattle, besides beads and shovels in abundance; -but if the men are of equal degree, then the fine is twenty beasts -only.[1] In this country of Anterndroea, they are not addicted to such a -plurality of wives as in some other parts of the island. If a man have -but two wives here, and his brother or an intimate friend come to visit -him, he never scruples to let him lie with one of them. - -Footnote 1: - - A man can put away his wife at pleasure. - -The nearest of kin, even brother and sister, marry, if they have not the -same mother. - -One brother, after the decease of another, often takes his wife; nay, -his father’s too, and lies with them, if they be not their own mothers. - -To lie with one of the king’s or prince’s wives, is death by the -established laws. - -My master Mevarrow was jealous of a young man’s being great with his -wife, or, as he said, was well assured he used to lie with her. Whether -he had any just grounds for such a suspicion, I cannot say; yet every -body expected the young man would be killed for it; but his brother -being a chief man, and a favourite of the deaan’s, and the civil wars -coming on, he seemed at that juncture to take little notice of it; but -two years after the offence, when those dissensions were appeased, the -man being constantly in his view, he determined to punish him; and, -accordingly, when the young man, his brother, and some few slaves of us -that attended them, were in the woods, it being so contrived, under -pretence of stealing and killing a cow, he and deaan Sambo drew the -young man into a remote part of the woods, at a considerable distance -from us, and in a short time we heard him halloo three times, at which -instant deaan Mevarrow arose, and pretending to stretch himself with his -lance in his hand, he struck the young man’s brother through the body. -This so surprised us all, that some of us ran one way, and some flew -another, imagining our master mad; and some went home and positively -asserted it as fact, this person whom he killed not being the adulterer. -He had been our master’s counsel-keeper, it is true, and knew all the -secret recesses of the women and cattle; and taking it for granted that -he would turn his enemy and revenge his brother’s death, thought it most -advisable to despatch him likewise. Deaan Sambo killed the supposed -adulterer that moment the halloo was made, which was the signal agreed -on between them; but whether he was apprized of deaan Mevarrow’s wicked -design upon the other, I cannot determine, for there were several others -whom he brought there, as if he intended they should be witnesses of it. -As deaan Sambo was the executioner, I was inclined to think there was -more than suspicion, for that he was no cruel man, I was very sensible, -by experience. I must own I had entertained a very favourable opinion -before of my mistress, as I had never observed any thing like it in her -conduct; but I had now almost done, not only with this family, but the -country likewise; for every circumstance in my affairs had some tendency -to promote my departure and escape, which, at length, I effected. - -Not long after this, it happened, whilst I stole out to visit my own -plantation (my corn, &c., being near ripe) that some of my cattle broke -into the plantation of a principal man, and did him some considerable -damage. My fellow-slaves soon informed me of the misfortune, and went to -seek the beasts; but they were driven home by the planter’s servants -with very heavy complaints: I knew the danger of going within reach, or, -indeed, within sight of my master; and therefore turned aside into the -wood, to consider what measures were best to be taken. At length, I -recollected the friendship between deaan Olaavor and deaan Mevarrow: and -for that reason went directly to him, and laid my unhappy case before -him, and begged he would use his best endeavours to reconcile me to my -master. He readily complied with my request, made me very welcome, and -desired me to stay, not only that night, but the next day and night too; -and then assured me, that he would go with me himself; but business -would not permit him to go before. By this means I was absent long -enough to alarm them, and give them just grounds to suspect that I had -deserted. Deaan Olaavor, however, went with me according to his promise, -and after he had expostulated the case with my master, and obtained -pardon, I was sent for in, and restored to favour, with only some -friendly admonitions for my better conduct for the future. As soon as -their conversation relating to my fault and pardon was over, they fell -into discourse on other matters; and deaan Mevarrow put his hand to his -mouth, which is an action they frequently use to express their surprise -at any thing more than common. - -Deaan Olaavor, says he, I sent yesterday for an umossee, to consult with -him about Robin, and to know what was become of him. After he had -conjured a long time, he assured me, that I should see Robin once more; -but the next time he went away, I should never see him again in the -capacity of his servant or slave; for he will have a new master to the -northward, with whom he will tarry but a short time; and then he will -still go farther northward and have more masters; till, at length, he -will return to his native country. I listened, I own, not only with -attention, but pleasure, to what he said, though I put no great -confidence in these fortune-tellers. Just as I was getting up to go home -to my wife, my master called me; stay, says he, I have something to say -to you before you go. Perceiving that I looked a little startled and -surprised; I shall do you no harm, says he, only secure you. The umossee -was sent for immediately, and then I found they were going to enchant me -(as they imagined) that I should not run away. I had seen this magical -farce acted before upon such slaves as they are jealous of, frequently -forcing an oath upon them by the demon Fermonner. And when these poor -wretches have afterwards attempted to fly, and bewildered themselves in -woods and unfrequented paths, or hurt themselves by any fall, or any -common accident, they are weak enough to imagine that the demon -Fermonner was the cause; that he confounded them, and dazzled their eyes -in such a manner that they should not find their way. Two or three -instances of this kind in an age, are enough to make fools give credit -to the whole. - -At length the wrinkled old wizard enters with solemn pace, and with a -leering sneer in his haggard countenance, shakes his projecting noddle: -Ha! Well I see you have him fast. I told you so. Who is he that shall -presume to despise my prophetic spirit? You see as much is proved true, -as the time will permit. Neglect my advice for the future; and look to -the northward for your slave. But you may look, and send too in vain; it -will be then too late. The spirits who are at my command may do somewhat -now. What (says deaan Olaavor, who was not so great a bigot as deaan -Mevarrow, notwithstanding his lulu-bay) has proved true? Robin never ran -away at all, he would have been here yesterday, if I could have spared -time; so that there is nothing at all in what you talk of. Pray, -venerable sage, says deaan Mevarrow, (interrupting Olaavor,) pray -proceed; I sent for you on purpose to take your advice. Prepare your -charms. Away goes the fumbling old fool to work, scraping a root, and -mixing several ingredients together, which, I was well satisfied, had -neither good nor harm in them; (for I was afraid of nothing but his nose -dropping into it;) muttering all the time, between his few broken teeth, -words that neither he, nor any one else knew the meaning of. When the -dose was prepared, he called it the fermonner, and put it into some -carravances, which were boiled on purpose, and it was given me in a -calabash. But before I took it, he hung several roots about me; one over -my eyes, another at my back, one upon my breast, and one upon each leg, -giving each of them a distinct name: then scraping a small quantity from -each of them, and putting it into the mess of carravances, I was ordered -to eat it, which I did without the least fear or reluctance; in the mean -time he pronounced his curses, as well as prayers over me. Whenever -(says he) he thinks of running away, remember, O thou, deaan Fermonner, -how he has eaten what belongs to thee; and also, O ye, &c. [Here he -named all the spirits belonging to other charmed roots.] how he has -eaten what belongs to you; and if he offer to run away, arise in his -stomach, O deaan Fermonner, and make him so sick that he shall be -incapable of stirring. And ye, which have hung at his back break it -asunder; let his breast be tormented with pain, and his legs fettered as -with parra-pingos; and if he attempt to fly, join all your united -forces, and break his legs whenever he jumps and steps over any thing -that lies in his way. Thus the old dotard went on for a long time, but -in a more abrupt manner, and without any method. He tossed his hands -about, and changed his voice almost every minute. He made, in short, a -hundred impertinent repetitions and cant words of his own invention, and -foamed like a fanatical enthusiast. When he had quite tired himself with -preaching, he took off the charm and made me lick every individual root. -Now let him go, says he, where he will; the demons which regard these -charms will soon inform me where he is, and I shall acquaint his master. - -I had a holiday that day; for my master was in a good humour, being -highly delighted with what he had done; and sent a proper servant to do -my business. When I came home, I found my wife in a very melancholy -posture, being under great concern for fear I should be killed. She -would have provided something for me to eat, but I had dined, I told -her; and then related to her the whole affair. She was overjoyed to find -I got off so well, and was surprised that I should be so dull at it; -since she knew well enough I did not regard any of these ceremonies, and -made a jest of them; but my thoughts were quite otherwise engaged than -she was aware of, and I did not think proper to let her know the truth; -which broke my rest to that degree, that I scarcely ever slept soundly -there any more. I found myself now under the necessity of running away -at all adventures. For should sickness, or any common accident attend -me, so great was deaan Mevarrow’s superstition, that he would, -doubtless, have thought it had been effected by these demons or spirits, -which were invoked in this incantation; and have taken it for an -infallible testimony of my resolution to go from him; and then, very -probably, in his passion he might have killed me. So that these -conjurations, which Mevarrow depended on to prevent my departure, had -the direct contrary effect, and was the strongest motive that could have -induced me to it, and made it absolutely necessary that it should be so; -yet I have often smiled to think how unexpectedly true his prediction or -guess proved, even in all its circumstances. - -Whilst my head was full of projects in order to accomplish my flight, I -could not forbear saying something in relation to it to a very civil, -honest young fellow, who kept cattle always near me; and was a captive -from another country. One day I asked him, from whence he came? and he -said from the northward. Was I so near my own country, said I, as you -are, I would not stay much longer in slavery. Nor would I, said he, if -it were not for the demons; who I am afraid will break my bones, ever -since the umossee cursed me in the same solemn manner as he did you. At -which I laughed. Why, if you have no apprehensions on that account, said -he, you may get away with as much ease as I. At this I started, and told -him, I suppose he only said so to try me. But he offered to enter into a -solemn oath before the owley, that he meant as he said, and would assist -me in my flight. - -However, I dropt the argument for that day, but I tried him next; for -after I had sworn him in a religious manner (knowing him to be like most -people, more religiously inclined under misfortunes than in prosperity) -I confessed ingenuously my secret intention, and asked his friendly -advice. You have nothing to do, said he, but to fly directly to deaan -Afferrer, who will protect you, and treat you in a courteous manner. -When Rer Vovvern’s army comes next summer, continued he, you may easily -get to them; who would be proud to oblige the white men, by sending you -home in the first ship which arrives at Feraignher. For nobody, says he, -in the whole island will make a white man a slave, or keep him against -his inclination, but these people. So that if you can but fly from -hence, you will soon get to some town where ships come. I returned him -many thanks for his kind advice, and told him I would show him my -beehives, and the roots of which the charm was made. This I did with a -view to make him keep the secret. And now, - -I had but one hard task more to go through, and that was to prevail on -my wife to accompany me, or let me conduct her to her father. It was a -difficult point to break my mind to her; but at length observing her in -a humour to talk of her friends, and wish she could see them, I told -her, if she had courage enough, and would keep the secret, and always -love me, I would venture to carry her to them, and stay with her; but -she was superstitious too, and afraid I should be hurt by the -incantations of the umossee. So that I pressed it no farther. But to -part with her, and leave her not only in bondage, but to be ill-treated, -perhaps on my account, was a mortifying consideration; for I sincerely -loved her. - -However, there was an absolute necessity; my resolution was fixed, and -no time was to be lost. It was then wet and rainy, and I stayed only -till the weather was more favourable; which was about a fortnight. Near -which time I took my comrade into the woods, and showed him my hives, -and the manner how I dug the roots for the charms; for to attempt to -undeceive him would have been to no purpose. The night before I took my -flight, I wilfully left a heifer in the field; having told my friend -when I called, and desired him to look after my cattle whilst I went -after the heifer, that should be the private signal of my departure. He -told me it was two days’ long walk to Yong-gorvo; but I said I would run -it in one, and did not question but that I should get safely thither, -(though my master should send after me,) if I were but two hours before -them. When I came home with my cattle, my master took a survey of them, -and missed the heifer; but after reprimanding me a little, he ordered me -to get up betimes in the morning, and look for it, before it broke into -any neighbour’s plantation. - -This was what I aimed at, in order to have the whole day before me; but -now came the hardest struggle, which was to take a last farewell of my -wife. It was some secret satisfaction, however, that I had no child by -her. I was almost afraid to reveal the secret to her: but at length, -after making her swear in the most solemn manner by the owley, that she -would never disclose it, I told her in direct terms that I was going; -and the only thing that disturbed me, was parting with her. She begged, -and cried most bitterly; but there was no staying for me any longer, my -life being every day in danger. Had I been in any other part of the -country, where I could have lived with freedom, ease, and safety, I -don’t know what effects the unaffected love I had for her might have -produced. At length, however, she was somewhat appeased, and I broke -from her arms by break of day; but with what sorrow and reluctance, such -of my readers as are tender lovers, can better imagine than I describe. -I drove my cattle into the field, where my comrade was ready; I did not -go near him for fear of being observed; but called, and bid him take -care of my cattle: he said yes, yes, and away I walked, or rather ran; -for by the time the sun was two hours high, I had got beyond the first -woods, which is not less than ten English miles, if it could be -measured. - -I had now a large plain of five or six miles to go over, here I looked -back every now and then, for fear of being pursued; but saw the coast -was clear. My wife and friend, as I was informed afterwards, were true -to the trust reposed in them. About noon, I came to a pond, where I just -washed and refreshed myself, and kept jogging on till at last I espied -the white cliff of Yong-gorvo. It is very high, and appeared like land -that is seen about seven or eight leagues at sea; that however did not -discourage me, and two hours before night I was at the foot of it. It is -half an hour’s brisk walk to go up the hill to deaan Afferrer’s town, -where I arrived safely, and went directly to him. He thought as soon as -he saw me, that I came with some message from deaan Mevarrow, but I -threw myself immediately at his feet, and begged his indulgence and -protection; then I informed him of all the miseries I had undergone -through my master’s cruel treatment of me, and the apparent danger my -life was in every day, and at that time more than ever. - -No sooner was he convinced of the true reason of my making thus my -earnest application to him, than I perceived a pleasure glowing in his -countenance; and he at once assured me, that he would protect me at all -adventures, and that I should be a slave no longer; that I should do -nothing but go with him wherever he went: and as a testimony of his -sincerity, he would present me with a gun. Now carrying a gun here, like -wearing a sword in England, is the mark of a gentleman; with this lance -in your hand, said he smiling, you look like a mall-a-cross, which is a -nickname they give to one of the meanest of their natives; you shall now -appear like what you are, a free-born man. I licked his feet with all -the satisfaction imaginable, in conformity to the custom there, and -returned him a thousand thanks; nor did I forget my grateful -acknowledgments to the Divine Goodness, who had thus far given success -to my honest endeavours, to recover my former state of freedom; and to -implore his assistance in the completion of so happy a project, which I -had no hopes of ever putting into execution. - -When I assured them that I came from my own house in one day, there was -scarcely any one would give credit to the assertion. About a week or two -after, two messengers from deaan Mevarrow came to demand his white -slave; and to reproach deaan Afferrer, for not sending me back by some -of his own people on my first arrival. This imperious message made him -smile: send him back, says he, and by my own people! and his white slave -too! why, no one ever saw a white slave before; nor has he the least -authority to make him one. I look upon him as a distressed man, fled to -me for succour, and he shall never be exposed to misery any more. I -shall make no slave of him; he shall be at his free liberty to stay with -me, or go where, or whenever he sees convenient. He here expatiated on -the conduct of our people, with regard to deaan Crindo; which being much -to the same purpose as has been hinted before, I shall not recapitulate. - -In short, he convinced the two men of the unreasonableness of their -master’s demand so far, that they excused themselves, and said, that -they only came with a message. And I only tell you, says he, what answer -to return to deaan Mevarrow. After this, he entered into familiar -discourse with them, and asked them, what day I came away? When they -told him he was perfectly surprised, and so were they to find I had -actually walked it in one day; for it could not be much less than sixty -English miles. I could not forbear rallying them, on account of their -superstitious confidence in their umossees. See, says I, how my legs are -swelled! how the spirits have made my bones rattle within my skin! I was -a white man they said, and they had no power over me. As soon as deaan -Afferrer had ordered them a house and provisions, and I had made some -inquiry after my wife, which proving more to my satisfaction than I -expected, I took my leave of them with pleasure; for I had some doubt -before, what might be the effect of such a peremptory demand from deaan -Mevarrow. - -And now I lived, I must confess, with more freedom than ever I had done -as yet; for I walked about with my gun upon my shoulder. When the deaan -was disposed to eat, I ate with him; though not in the same dish, -indeed, for no one here has that privilege. I had little else to do, -than to go with him a hunting; by which means I made myself expert in -all the arts of taking wild cattle. My principal business was to observe -the situation of the country, and to inquire the route which Ry-Nanno -was expected to take. - -I was fond of going often a hunting, in order to take particular notice -of the most remarkable mountains, which might hereafter be as so many -landmarks to me. Besides vohitch futey, or white hill, here is another -high mountain more to the northward, called vohitch manner, or red hill. -It is in form of a cone, or sugar-loaf, and runs spiring up a great -height; the inhabitants are of opinion, that it is the highest in the -whole world. After I had lived in this manner six months, Ry-Nanno met -me by accident in the forest, as he was coming to give deaan Crindo, and -the other lords, intelligence of the Feraignher army being upon their -march. This was such agreeable news to me, that I was at a loss how to -conceal my joy; and for that reason I walked into the woods, for fear -they should discover my inclinations by my deportment. I attempted to -return my humble and hearty thanks to the Almighty in my native tongue, -for the fair prospect I had of getting to a seaport town; but found I -had forgotten my English, and could scarcely with propriety put three -words together. However, the Madagascar language served me well enough -to express the sentiments of my heart. - -Deaan Afferrer told me as soon as I came home, that he had seen -Ry-Nanno; that Rer Vovvern was dead, and that his son deaan Mernaugha -now succeeded him; and that his nephew deaan Trongha, assisted by his -brother Rer Befaugher, and deaan Mernaugha’s brother Rer Mundrosser, -commanded the army. As I was conversing with the deaan, I could not help -expressing my sorrow for Rer Vovvern’s death; because he was so faithful -a friend to all white men. I found he suspected my design immediately, -for he told me, though in a very courteous manner, that he hoped I had -no temptation to change my place of abode through his treatment of me. -To which I replied, after thanking him for all his favours, that I had -no thought of removing from my habitation; that I was conscious to -myself that I lived as well, or better than I could do in any other -place. And, indeed, this was really fact, for he treated me with the -utmost humanity and complaisance. I eat and drank as he did, and did no -manner of work; but I perceived by this, he was not inclined to part -with me. For which reason, I was under a necessity to be more close and -artful, than I should have been had I made such a discovery. - -Orders were sent to the three towns under deaan Afferrer’s command, that -instead of hunting the wild cattle, they should make proper preparations -for hunting the wild boar; by which they meant the king of Merfaughla. -Whereupon, all hands were instantly at work, cleaning and fitting up -their arms; for there are artificers here, who can make or mend a -spring, and do twenty other things to guns as well as lances. The women -employed themselves in making caps, to distinguish us in the wars; these -were made of the same materials as our mats. The children beat Guinea -corn in order to carry with us. I made it my business to put deaan -Afferrer’s and my own gun in order; and to cast a considerable quantity -of shot or rather slugs, by making a hole with a round stick in a lump -of clay, to cast the lead in; and cutting it afterwards into little -pieces about half an inch long. Though they frequently buy shot at the -seaports, yet this was made, as I imagine, of the lead which they had -procured from the wreck of our ship. - -Ry-Nanno went back, after he had given notice of the Feraignher army’s -march to deaan Trongha, in order to meet him at vohitch manner, -according to appointment. Deaan Crindo sent orders that we should march, -and meet him at the river, where we watered our cattle, in deaan -Murnanzack’s country. I might have stayed at home, if I had thought -proper; but I was resolved at all adventures to go with them, though I -told deaan Afferrer, I was under some apprehensions of my old master -Mevarrow, whom, I concluded, I should see there. But he bid me be under -no concern on that account, for he would protect me; and deaan Mevarrow, -he was well assured, would make no disturbance in the army. However, it -happened better than I expected, for Mevarrow was left behind sick of -the colah; which, in Guinea, or the West Indies, is called the yaws. It -is a cruel distemper, and bears a near resemblance to the venereal -disease, affects the bones and joints with great pain and soreness, -breaks out all over in blotches and dry scabs, and is mostly in the -privy parts, and under the arm-pits. However, it is not actually that -complaint; for I have known children of three or four years old have it, -whose parents never knew by experience what it was. There are but few -who escape it once in their lifetime, but then they never have it more. -In that respect, it is like the small pox, or the itch; and caught also -as they are. If a person, who never had it, follow one infected in the -long grass or bushes, if he lie or sit on the same mat, or even eat and -drink after the diseased person, he most assuredly catches it. For which -reason they send their children, when afflicted with it, out to nurse, -to such persons as live alone in remote places; and when a man, woman, -or a whole family is taken with it, they oblige them to go into the -woods, and tarry there till they are perfectly recovered; which is -frequently a whole year, and sometimes two. - -It was good news to me to hear that deaan Mevarrow was left at home -infected with this distemper, and that deaan Sambo had the command of -the people in his stead; for I knew, by experience, that he was none of -my enemy, though he demanded me in his brother’s name upon his first -arrival; but when deaan Afferrer had expostulated the case with him, and -told him what answer he had returned him by the messengers; when he -urged, that it was natural for a man to fly for his life, who was every -day in danger, and treated like a brute, had he been a lawful slave, -which was not the case here, deaan Sambo gave up the argument, and -turning to me, asked if he had not several times saved me? I readily -owned the obligation. Do not be afraid, said he, for I shall not insist -on my demand any more; but pray come often and see me as a friend. I -gratefully acknowledged all his favours, and particularly thanked him -for this last signal one, for he confirmed the account I had given of -myself before. - -As deaan Crindo had intelligence of the day the Feraingher army was to -join them, he put himself in a posture to receive them with abundance of -form and ceremony. He was seated under a great tamarind tree, with his -sons according to their seniority on his right hand, and all their -people; on his left were deaan Murnanzack and his brethren, with all -their people. The whole assembly formed a line of above a quarter of a -mile in length. After a short time, the Feraingher army appeared, and as -they advanced, they came dancing, each with a gun in his left hand, and -a lance in his right, their shells sounding, and their drums beating. At -a small distance they fired some pieces by way of salutation, which we -immediately returned; and now the three generals, deaan Trongha, Rer -Befaugher, and Rer Mondrosser, went up to deaan Crindo and the rest. -After the usual salutations, they were all seated under the tamarind -tree, and ten calabashes of toake were sent for by deaan Crindo to -entertain them. I sat all this time behind deaan Afferrer, with his gun -in my hand. After mutual assurances of an inviolable friendship, the -division of the prices of cattle was settled and adjusted. Deaan Crindo -and his sons were to have one third; deaan Murnanzack and his brethren -another; and deaan Trongha and his brother and cousin the remainder. - -After they had amicably concluded their own affairs, and begun to be gay -over their toake, says deaan Trongha, you have got a white man amongst -you, I perceive. Yes, says deaan Crindo, this is one of those who took -me and my nephew prisoners, and would have delivered us into deaan -Tuley-Noro’s hands, who was our adversary. I don’t think, says deaan -Trongha, they would have done you any harm; you must doubtless have -given them some provocation first. I did them no injury, replied the -other, as I know of, unless maintaining them well was doing them -injustice. They were inclined, indeed, to go to Antenosa, and I would -rather have detained them to assist me in the wars; and was not this, -says deaan Trongha, a manifest injury, and a just provocation, to keep -free men against their wills in a country far from their native homes. -I’ll tell you, however, a very remarkable transaction of my -grandfather’s with these white men, before he was rightly acquainted -with them. - -An English ship came to our seaport town, which they call St. -Augustine-bay, in order to buy provisions and furnish themselves with -water. They did not go up to my grandfather’s town, but he thought -proper to visit them, and made the captain a voluntary present of two -oxen; and the captain as voluntarily gave him a gun, and some powder and -shot, as a compensation. The whites built themselves a house upon the -shore, for the reception of their sick men. Some few days after we had -been here, the white men and some of ours got in liquor together, and a -quarrel arose amongst them. At first, indeed, they only beat one another -with their fists; but at length, they made use of weapons, and a white -man was killed upon the spot by one of ours. The news being carried -immediately to the ship, the captain came on shore, and after a strict -inquiry into the matter, he laid hold of the king whilst his people ran -to the boat and fetched their arms. My father and Rer Vovvern instantly -placed themselves at the head of our people, and would have attacked -them, but my grandfather prevented them, for he was morally assured of -being killed by one side or the other, so he went contentedly on board -their ship. The fishermen were under no apprehensions of danger from the -whites notwithstanding this disturbance, for they knew them; and, -besides, were well acquainted with their manners; so they went on board, -and asked what the captain’s demands were of the king? He said -satisfaction for the loss of his white man. They returned, and in the -name of the king’s two sons, asked what satisfaction he required? The -captain insisted on their sending him the man who killed the Englishman -and ten oxen as an equivalent. The fishermen had no more wit than to -deliver their message in the hearing of the murderer; whereupon, he fled -directly into the woods, so that when they sent to secure him, he was -not to be found. The fishermen returned to the captain, and assured him -that they had made strict search for the criminal, but could not find -him; however, if he would be contented with a slave or two in his stead, -or with twenty oxen, they were willing to give him them. At this the -captain was very angry, and peremptorily insisted on their producing the -same man; for he had murdered his man in a most barbarous manner, and -unless they found him, he would keep their father; but, notwithstanding, -he would allow them ten days’ time to make their farther search for him. - -During all that interval, my grandfather’s legs were loaded with irons, -in order to prevent his making his escape; however, he eat and drank -with the captain all the ten days’ time, and was treated in a very -courteous manner. When the term granted was expired, and the captain was -fully satisfied they had done all they could to find out the murderer, -though to no purpose, he took the irons off the king’s legs, and asked -him if he would enter into a solemn oath, never from that hour to do any -act of injustice to an Englishman, or suffer any of his people to do it, -if he could possibly prevent it. To which my father readily consented. -When he had dined with the captain, they came on shore together. What! -says deaan Crindo, do you and your family eat with white men? Yes, says -deaan Trongha, we Andry Voler, for that is the surname of the family, -not only eat out of the same dish, but drink out of the same cup too, -and look upon them as a part of our own family. We never attempted to -assume any authority over them; they come when they please, and go where -they please with us; and if any idle fellows do what they ought not to -do, their captain never hinders their being punished. These white men -are very advantageous to us, and they would not come amongst us, if we -did not treat them with civility; besides, our grandfather has laid us -all under a solemn oath, with a curse annexed to all our posterity, who -shall treat an Englishman with severity; for, as soon as he and the -captain came on shore, the owley was brought out, and they entered into -a solemn and perpetual friendship, which all of us strictly observe, and -imagine that God will not prosper us should we break it. - -My grandfather hereupon gave the captain twenty oxen, which, though he -received, he would return an equivalent in guns and other things; and -had we this white man amongst us, we should give him such clothes as his -countrymen have left who died there. He will never wear any of his own -country clothes again, says deaan Crindo, I believe. Better you were -hanged, thought I, though I durst not say so. - -The next day we marched to the borders of Merfaughla, and there -encamped. I lay always in deaan Afferrer’s tent. The next morning, -however, we shifted our quarters and marched a great way into the -country towards Manner-ronder, a small river passing through several -small towns, but found the inhabitants had abandoned them, and from the -dung of the cattle, which was very dry, we judged they had been gone -about a fortnight; for Woozington was a politic man, and would leave -nothing for us to subsist on; neither would he weaken his army by -fruitless skirmishes and unnecessary attempts, but wait till he was -fully apprized of our strength by his spies, and had collected all the -force he could to oppose us. A man came to me from deaan Trongha, and -told me privately that his master desired to speak with me, to which I -answered, I would wait on him, as soon as I could possibly contrive to -come without being observed. Accordingly, in about two or three days, I -found a proper opportunity, and told deaan Afferrer I was going to see -deaan Sambo. You need not ask me leave, said he, but don’t go any where -else; by which I knew his meaning, and found he was jealous of me. -However, I returned, and by private ways, and in the dark got to deaan -Trongha’s tent, where was a numerous assembly. He spoke to me in -English, and asked me how I did? I was obliged to answer him in the -Madagascar language, for I had forgotten I told him my mother tongue. -This, and my being naked withal, moved his compassion to that degree, -that he spoke as indulgent things to me as my own father could; and -assured me, that if he could find any means to take me with him, he -would send me home in the first ship. Whilst we were talking, Rer -Befaugher came in, who shaking me by the hand, said, Brother, how do you -do? I answered very well, but could speak no more English, without a -mixture of this country language. They informed me that there had lately -been some English men of war in quest of pirates; and that they had -directed them to St. Mary’s, and Mattatanna, which are situate on the -other side of the island; and that there was but one white amongst them, -and he a Dutchman; and moreover, that an Englishman had been killed not -long since in the wars. I told him I was determined, at all adventures, -to escape and follow them, but they said they would purchase me, though -they gave six slaves for me. After thanks for so courteous a promise, -and a mutual agreement not to take any public notice of each other, I -took my leave of them and went to deaan Sambo’s tent, who also treated -me in a very handsome manner. He told me he was going to live by -himself, and asked me if I would come to him? and I promised him I -would. I took my leave and returned to our tent. The next morning we -held a consultation, in which it was determined to throw the army into -three divisions and march abreast; but at a quarter of a mile distance -from one another. We saw nobody all this time, till we were near the -capital town, and then we perceived their spies that observed us, but -the inhabitants were all fled. We passed the river Manner-ronder, and -encamped upon the plain; we had not been long there before three men -called to our people, and desired them to acquaint deaan Crindo that -deaan Woozington proposed to pay him a visit next morning. Now he was an -artful man, and full of stratagems, so they knew he would endeavour to -surprise or overreach them. Upon which, we went hard to work to fortify -the camp, which was thrown in a circular form. We cut down several trees -and set up forked limbs; the spaces were filled with great pieces of -wood, piled one upon another lengthways, at least four feet high, and as -they joined close, they made a wall of it. In the next place, we dug the -ground about a foot deep, and about seven feet wide, and threw up the -earth against the wooden pile to make the wall still stronger; we left -only two narrow entrances. The loose small boughs, with the leaves, were -thrown carelessly, as it were, without side to hide the fortifications, -so that it looked like nothing but a common method they observed, in -order to conceal their numbers. When our camp was made secure, some few -cattle were killed and we all went to supper, and then laid us down -under our tent clothes, for we did not set our tents up, neither did we -pull off our lambers, but lay close under the fortifications, prepared -for an attack; the slaves that carried the provision were planted in the -center. - -We arose by break of day, putting our guns through little holes which we -had left in our wall on purpose, and kneeled to fight with the more -ease, and to take the better aim. We had not been in readiness above ten -minutes before we saw them coming down with fury upon us. Whilst we were -preparing to receive them, another party appeared on the contrary side, -and proposed to have come upon our backs, but as we were in a circle we -were all front. Our shells were immediately sounded, and our drums -beaten, but we soon altered this for another kind of noise. When they -came within thirty yards of us, they fired briskly, still approaching, -and having no notion of our wall, expected we should soon retreat from -behind the boughs. I observed their eyes red with smoking jermaughla, -which made them more resolute than usual. Of this I shall give a -particular description after the account of the engagement. Ry-Opheck, -with a body of men, attacked one of our entrances; he came skipping -along, his eyes glowed like fire; he had a lance in one hand, and a gun -in the other; his people ran after him in so furious a manner, that -Trodaughe and his people, who should have defended the passage, gave -way. We were employed on our side, and knew nothing of it till he had -got within our camp; at which time one of our chief men turning about -and seeing Ry-Opheck stabbing our men, fired at him, and shot him in the -belly. When he found himself wounded, he retreated, and fell about -thirty or forty yards from the place: his people, instead of revenging -his cause, turned backward when he did. How common men will sometimes -mimic a general’s behaviour! But when they saw him fall, they returned -to bring off his body, and this brought on a warm engagement in the open -field; for deaan Afferrer jumped over the works, and most of us, who -were his people, after him, and forced them to retreat. Here one, who -was distinguished from the rest by his yellow complexion, and who seemed -of superior rank, took aim at me, but luckily missing me, I wounded him -in the thigh and ran up to him. I found his hand was full of powder, in -order to charge again, and he threatened me hard, but I snatched his -lance from him, and prevented him from either doing me any farther -mischief, or hurting any body else. Another such push on the contrary -side so totally defeated the enemy, that they flew for it; and we -pursued them, but not indeed very far; because we were unwilling to -divide ourselves, lest Woozington should have turned and taken the -advantage of our confusion, which he certainly would have done, had an -opportunity offered. - -When we returned to our camp, the deaans all assembled at deaan Crindo’s -tent, who took notice of each individual man according to his merit, -returning them thanks for their courage and conduct. He next made -inquiry what men were lost on our side, and found no more than sixteen -killed, and thirteen wounded. After that he sent out to number the dead -bodies of the enemy, and found the total amounted to one hundred and -seventy-five; among whom were sixteen persons of distinction; two of -Woozington’s younger sons, Metorolahatch and Rer Fungenzer; his nephews, -Ry-Opheck and Rer Chula; the names of the rest I never heard. Deaan -Crindo gave orders that the bodies of these sixteen great men should be -cut to pieces and scattered about the field, that their friends might -not bury them. Two or three days afterwards we marched farther into -Merfaughla, plundering and spoiling all their plantations. - -As these people are more addicted to smoke jermaughla than any others, -it will be proper to give a description of it here. It is a plant that -grows about five feet high, and bears a small long leaf with a cod, -which contains about a dozen seeds like hempseed. These leaves and seeds -are mingled together, and laid in the sun for three or four days -successively, till they are very dry, and so prepared, are fit to be -smoked. Their pipes are made of reeds, or rather small canes. Sometimes -they make use of a very long shell, which answers the end proposed. The -quality of it is such that it makes them drunk; their eyes look red and -fiery, and their looks fierce and savage. It is easy to know a man who -smokes jermaughla; whilst the effects last, they are more vigorous and -resolute, acting as it were like madmen. Those who are too much addicted -to it are good for nothing but during the time they are intoxicated with -it. My curiosity led me once to smoke a little myself; but it made my -head so giddy, that I was drunk, as it were, for three days together, -and so sick that I never meddled more with it. - -Our spies were two days before they could discover any cattle. At -length, however, they informed us they had heard some bellow, whereupon -a thousand men were detached to fetch them. They were gone a whole week; -they returned, however, with above two thousand beeves, and two hundred -and fifty captives, women and children. This great prize made them fond -of a second expedition; so, upon a consultation, a new camp was formed, -and fortified in the same manner as before; in which deaan Crindo -remained with four thousand men, whilst two thousand went out to -plunder; and on their return two thousand more were to go. - -Deaan Afferrer, deaan Sambo, Rer Mimebolambo, and Rer Befaugher, went -out with two thousand men. We had three or four for our guides who were -perfectly well acquainted with the country, and knew where the cattle -were usually fed. We were two days before we came to any of their -tracks, and then they were driven off, and, as appeared by their marks, -quite different ways. So our army divided, deaan Sambo and Rer Befaugher -went northward, and we south-west. We marched in the tracks all day and -all the next night, as it was moonshine. We found ourselves in the -morning near the sea, where they had driven the beasts to the margin of -the water, that the ebbing and flowing and the wash of the sea might -efface their footsteps on the sands; as indeed it did in a great -measure: but we continued our march all day, till we found out where -they turned off towards the woods. The next morning our spies came in, -and informed us, that they heard a cow bellow. We soon came to the -plain, where we found a hundred at least, but these were not sufficient; -and therefore, narrowly observing their footsteps, we traced them -farther, and found eight or nine hundred more. Here were besides two or -three hundred sheep, which we killed, the best of them we dressed, and -left the others behind us. However, we were in great want of water, for -we had none for nearly two days. At length one of our scouts discovered -a pond, where the cattle used to drink, and this, though hot and foul, -we eagerly drank, as we could get no better. Till this time we saw no -enemies, though we expected them, for we could see the cow-herds fly -from their cattle, in order, no doubt, to alarm their masters. And as -some of us were taking up this water, as clean as we could, in our -calabashes, and whilst one in particular was stooping down to wash his -lamber, a volley of shot was fired amongst us before we perceived any -body. We looked up and saw about eight or ten men, who ran back into the -wood, which extended along on the other side of the water, within three -or fourscore yards. We fired at them, but they vanished out of sight. -None of us were hurt, but the man who was washing his lamber; he -received a shot in his fundament, of which he instantly expired. - -Though I had been superstitiously addicted to observe certain fixed -characters, or hieroglyphics, when they occurred to me in dreams, which -was indeed but seldom, and used to find they foretold some things to me; -yet I could not but observe a remarkable instance which we had here of -relying on dreams, and I did not fail taking notice of it to deaan -Afferrer, and thereupon to turn their superstitious devotions to their -owleys into ridicule. For seeing me come in a hurry, and hearing guns go -off, he asked, “What news?” “Nothing,” said I, “but a man was killed by -the order of his gods.” “How!” says the deaan, “by the order of his -gods? I do not understand you.” “Why,” says I, “a man prayed to his -owley last night, and when he lay down, bid it not fail to come when he -was asleep. The demon which attends his owley, according to his desire, -came, and told him in a dream, or, which is the same thing, he dreamed -he told him, that he must wash his lamber the next morning. He went -along with us in obedience to this divine vision, to the watering place, -though he had no other business there; and as he stooped to wash his -lamber, was killed by a random shot, which he received in his posteriors -from some of our fugitive enemies, who fired, ran away, and hurt nobody -else.” I was under no apprehensions of deaan Afferrer’s anger on this -piece of raillery, for persecution on account of difference in religion -is not thought of there. - -I remember one instance, whilst I lived with deaan Mevarrow, of a piece -of bigotry more blind and senseless, if possible, than this. A young man -had an owley, the demon of which was called Ry-Leffu. He made his -addresses one night to him, and Ry-Leffu in a dream told him, that his -brother must shoot at him. Early in the morning he took above an hour’s -walk to his brother, told his dream, and desired him to perform the -order of Ry-Leffu. His brother endeavoured to dissuade him from it, but -the other insisted it must be done, or worse would ensue. “Well then,” -said he, “I will shoot near you, but take care to miss you.” “No,” said -the bigoted idiot, “it must be executed according to order, without the -least prevarication; for I am fully persuaded that the demon will defend -me from all harm.” At length he prevails on his brother, who loads his -piece, and stands about thirty yards distant, and fires at his lower -parts; but notwithstanding all his precaution he broke a leg; and then, -blaming himself for his credulity, and being so easily overruled in an -action he no ways approved of, ran with tears in his eyes to the -assistance of the wounded bigot. In short, with the usual means, -together with some of the fat of a sacrifice, laid on the owley of -Ry-Leffu, the wound was healed, but he never recovered the free use of -that leg. - -We drove our cattle to the seaside, the same way we came, by the verge -of the water, and went round the bay called St. John’s. I took -particular notice of it; there is a ridge of rocks which seemed to -extend quite across it, so as to leave no entrance; but were there a -channel wide enough for ships to sail in, it would be a very commodious -harbour, the waters being smooth within. Not far from hence, as I have -heard, on the coast of Merfaughla, a French ship was cast away about two -or three years before ours, and the whole crew destroyed; but the reason -of their inhuman murder, or the particular circumstances of it, I could -never learn. They have no canoes, either here or in Anterndroea, for -which reason the natives can have no commerce with ships. For they are -very treacherous to white men of any in the island. Whether their little -acquaintance with Europeans gives them a dread of them, I cannot say; -but I am sensible they imagine that white men are extremely addicted to -fighting, and not so tender-hearted as themselves. This received notion -may be a great motive to their destroying them on very trivial -provocations; for they are always jealous that the white men have some -cruel designs upon them. So that they are ever on their guard, dreading -the audacity and superior skill which the Europeans have over them in -point of war. - -As to their mercy. In such places where they have subdued them, as the -French did in Antenosa, they made them all slaves, inverted the whole -order of their government; and most of them being illiterate seamen, who -took upon them to rule, they showed no regard, either to morality, -civility, or indeed common decency; made no distinction of persons, -confounded all order, and treated every black as if he were a brute; and -so much inferior to themselves, as not to have the least right or title, -in their opinions, to the common privileges of human creatures. So that -to kill one of them was no more than killing a dog, or any other noxious -animal whatsoever. I do not make this as a general reflection on the -French only, though if credit were to be given to half that the natives -say, they were guilty of the most scandalous and execrable actions. Our -own countrymen (too much addicted to their follies and vices) are not -exempt from the just cause of this scandal upon white men; for the -conduct of our British pirates, and others too, who are not willing to -be thought inhuman, has been barbarous to the last degree. And in the -countries of Anterndroea and Merfaughla, where no stories are told but -what are very strange; and as they cannot distinguish by experience, -that wicked men are the product of every land; and having seen no good -ones here, every white man is looked upon by them as much a monster as a -cannibal is by us. - -We returned to our camp with our booty four days before Rer Befaugher, -who not only got a good prize of cattle, but of captives likewise: which -they discovered by the observance of a smoke. Deaan Crindo was in pain -to be at home, lest deaan Woozington should go into his country and -plunder it; but Rer Mundrosser and deaan Mussecorro would take their -turn to see what they could find, and return with slaves as well as -cattle. We had no enemy all this time come near us; for deaan Trongha -stayed in the camp till we returned. I told deaan Afferrer I would go -and pay deaan Sambo a visit as before, on purpose to conceal my visit to -the other. He treated me with the same good manners as at first; but -whilst we were in discourse, one of deaan Afferrer’s slaves came in and -told me his master desired to speak with me. I durst not speak privately -to deaan Trongha before him, nor would I stay, as he would have had me; -but went directly with the man, being apprehensive of some ill -treatment. When I came, he was in a terrible passion, charging me with -being deceitful; and asking me, if I intended to go away with them? He -would take care, however, that I should not go out of Anterndroea. I -might go any where among his own countrymen; but he would not part with -me. I perceived he was determined to be my master, though he was a much -better than deaan Mevarrow; for he never offered to strike, much less to -kill me. It was fourteen days before Rer Mundrosser returned; he -brought, likewise, several slaves as well as cattle. As soon as the -cattle were divided, which was the next day, the army marched back into -Anterndroea; for deaan Crindo would not consent that the Feraignharians -should go home, till they had accompanied him into his own country, and -till he was out of danger. Our habitation on Yong-gorvo hills lay in the -way. Deaan Trongha, with his brother and cousin, came the night before -we parted, to take their leave of deaan Afferrer; and after some general -discourse, he said if you will part with your white man, I will give you -three slaves for him. Though this was a handsome price, yet my master, -for so I must call him, made answer, I will not take three times three -for him. So no more was said, and deaan Trongha went his way. The next -morning before they marched, I had the opportunity of seeing one of the -Feraignher men; whereupon I desired him to assure his general that I -would be with them in three or four days at farthest; for I was -determined to run away, and follow their tracks at all adventures. At -present, indeed, I was prevented; because as they were jealous of me, -two men were ordered never to let me go out of their sight, either by -night or day, till we got home. And for two months afterwards, I was -never suffered to go any where without somebody with me. - -Before I take my farewell of Anterndroea, my readers may justly expect -an account of such things as I thought most worthy of observance, and -which have not hitherto been described; and which, indeed, are but few, -considering the great variety of things, which a more curious person -than myself would have employed himself in inquiring into. But when they -consider how young I was when I first came here, how I passed the prime -of my years in slavery among these savages, and the little or no hopes I -had of ever making my escape; it will not, I presume, be expected, that, -at this time, I should have known what was worth a virtuoso’s regard. I -shall not, however, supply these deficiencies of mine, as many -travellers frequently do, with inventions of my own. I could not help -knowing such things as were of daily service, and in common with other -places; such as bonanas, plantanes, monkies, turtle, and a hundred other -things of the like nature; of which it would be impertinent to give a -particular detail. - -There is no good thing to be met with, either on the trees, or in the -earth, that lie within three or four miles of the sea; nothing but short -prickly wood, that bears no eatable fruit. In the country there is great -variety; among which is a currant that grows on a tree, not a bush, as -in Europe, and is very pleasant. Here is a very large tree likewise that -bears a plumb; which is black when ripe, and as big as a cherry, with -little stones like those of grapes. There are thorns too on the tree -about two inches long. Here is a fruit like a sloe, which grows also on -a prickly bush, but is very sweet. Another fruit grows on the most -stately trees, that are speckled like a sparrow’s egg, and in the same -shape, which is full of seeds, and very juicy. It is looked upon as an -infallible cure for fluxes; the leaf of it is like that of a pear-tree. -Here is a tree, the leaves and tender sprigs whereof will sting like -nettles. The root of this is of great service when water is scarce, -which it often is in many parts of this country; and as this root is -spongy, it retains abundance of juice. We beat it in a wooden mortar (as -we beat our Guinea corn) and express the liquor. They make ropes of the -bark of this tree. Here is wood in plenty fit for building; as also some -cedar and ebony, but none proper to make ship masts of. The plains are -well covered with divers kinds of grass, and of various colours; which -grow much taller than any in England. They never cut any down for hay, -for before the old is dead, there is new springing up under it; but the -old grass is commonly set on fire. Here is also some tobacco, which they -smoke in reeds; or shells, as they do the jermaughla. - -When I was in deaan Murnanzack’s country, I frequently went fishing; but -they have no canoes, as I hinted before, so we only go upon the rocks -and fish with hooks and lines, and not with nets. Night is the best -time, when it is low water. Then we carry lights with us, and take the -fish out of deep little holes (as the negroes say) fast asleep. Here are -abundance of lobsters and crawfish, which never run away at sight of the -lights. We have also a sharp pike made for no other purpose than to -strike fish. Here are eels and the sword-fish, and some such other fish -as are common to countries in the same climate: but many of a species I -never saw elsewhere. Here is one fish as round as a turnip, and full of -prickles; which, I suppose, may be called the sea hedgehog, but in their -language it is called sorer-reake. Here is likewise great plenty of fine -turtle. - -I never knew the country infested by any beasts of prey, such as tigers, -lions, &c., the wild foxes, wild boars, and wild dogs are the worst we -have in Anterndroea. Here is a creature of the species and form of the -serpent; which is very large. One of which I killed, by tearing its huge -jaws asunder with my hands; it was no way venomous, nor did I ever know -of a serpent which killed or hurt any man by its venom. Several of them -have been bitten by them, and no worse hurt has accrued, than is -customary from the bite of any beast. - -While I was in Yong-gorvo, our employment as well as diversion was -principally hunting wild cattle; and here I observed the people call -these cattle, Hattoy’s cattle, or Anomebay Rer Hattoy. The tradition -they have of their original, is, that they belonged to a great man named -Hattoy; and he being very avaricious would kill none of them, but let -them multiply and run about wherever they would. He lived in the desert, -but his family and people, after his decease, lived with a king of an -inland dominion, called Untomaroche, and left most of their cattle -behind them. Others say, that Rer Hattoy and most of his people were -killed; and that the other cattle being better approved of, his were -neglected, and strolling about in the forests, they multiplied without -interruption. But this no way accounts for the manner in which they came -into the island. This Hattoy, as all allow, was a native; so that I am -apt to believe these were the original cattle of the country, and the -tame beeves were imported; for there are the same cattle with humps on -their backs, on the coast of Natal, and Dillagoe in Africa. These were -preferred to the others, and bred up whilst the Hattoy’s were neglected. -And what confirms me in this notion is, here are two sorts of people, as -if they were two distinct species of mankind; of which I shall have -occasion to give a full account in a more proper place. - -When deaan Afferrer had kept strict watch over me for about two months, -and thought the track of the Feraingher army was impossible to be found, -as the grass was grown up again, he took me with him hunting these -Hattoy’s cattle again. We had very good diversion, had not the -conclusion proved tragical; for we killed five cows, and had thoughts of -departing: but a bull ran off with a lance in his side, and we, being -loth to lose it, pursued him, and stuck two or three more in his belly. -When his wounds smarted, he grew enraged and turned upon us. One man -more bold than the rest threw another lance, and hit him on the back. -Upon which he ran directly at the man; we hallooed to frighten him off, -but he pursued his adversary; and when he had overtaken him, he tossed -him several yards above his head. The ground where he fell was stony, -and we were afraid of throwing lances lest we should hit the man, who -was all this time endeavouring to rise; but the bull pushed him down, as -often as he made the attempt, and gored him to that degree with his -horns, that he soon died. When we perceived the man was past all -recovery, we threw more lances at the bull, till he fell down like a -log. I have known them fight so long, that they have been absolutely -dead before they fell; for they will fix their feet so wide, and die -standing so firmly, that we have been obliged to pull them down by the -tail. They were forced to dress the meat this evening, because of going -home next day with the corpse of their neighbour. When we had roasted -the beef, and made an end of our supper, we made up our enters for the -next morning. For my part, I packed up as much as I could conveniently -carry; for I was determined to go away this very night. I laid down, -indeed, when the rest did, but could not sleep much, it may be supposed, -for thinking of the hazardous journey I was about to undertake. Every -one else slept soundly enough, as they were tired, and their bellies -were full; so about midnight I took up my burden, and away I marched, -directing my course to the northward, not without recommending myself to -the good providence of God to be my conductor. - -The instructions I received from Ry-Nanno, and which on inquiry I found -from others, was to go to the southward, till I came to Vohitch Futey; -and to leave it on my right hand, directing my course between the north -and west, till I got to the great river Oneghaloyhe, which goes to St. -Augustine’s bay; then to keep along the river till I saw highland -running along the westernmost parts of the forest: and then when I had -passed over the river, to go away to the westward. - -I walked very briskly all night, and at break of day I saw the white -mountains very near. By this I perceived I had made a great progress, -and therefore would not conceal myself as at first I proposed; but -proceeded on my journey, looking sharply about me, thinking it morally -impossible for them to overtake and find me, should they have attempted -it. I went, therefore, merrily on, singing Madagascar songs; for I had -forgotten all my English ones. The bellowing of the wild cattle would -now and then make me start; imagining they were my pursuers. When I came -to a pleasant brook, I baited there; and at sunset I looked out for a -covert in a thicket to lie in; but I could not find one near at hand. So -I was contented to repose myself in the open plain, pulling up a -sufficient quantity of grass for a bed and a pillow, and making a small -fire to warm my beef. I did not think proper to make a great one, for -fear of its being discerned at a distance; for in the afternoon I -observed some fires to the eastward of the mountain. I was disturbed in -my sleep by night-walkers, whom I imagined were my pursuers; and -accordingly I took up my lances in order to defend myself; but when I -was thoroughly awake, I found they were only some of Hattoy’s cattle, -that snorted at the smell of my fire, and ran away, much more afraid of -me than I was of them. - -The second day in the morning, I stayed till the sun appeared before I -moved forward, that I might not be deceived in my course; for being -abreast of Vohitch Futey, I walked more easily; and though I was under -no apprehensions of being overtaken by deaan Afferrer’s people, yet as -there might be others in the forest a hunting of beeves, I was very -circumspect. Nothing remarkable happened this day. I looked out early -this evening for a lodging, the clouds gathering very black, and soon -found a large thick tree, where I made me a fire, warmed me some meat, -and hung up the remainder, to keep it as dry as I could; for I had -nothing else that could be prejudiced by the rain. At length, it poured -down as I expected, in a violent manner, attended with thunder and -lightning; it soon penetrated my roof: however, I crowded myself up -together, with my head on my knees, my hands betwixt my legs, and my -little lamber over my ears. The rain ran down like a flood, but as it -was warm I did not so much regard it; in three or four hours it was fair -weather again, and I laid me down and took a comfortable nap. - -The next morning I dried my beef at a fire, which I made for that -purpose, for it was the third day after it was killed; but I was very -careful of it, not knowing how to kill more at that time: so I put it up -in clean grass and marched forward. The mountains over which I was to -pass seemed very high, craggy, and thick with wood, and no path or -opening could I find. It looked dismal enough, but I was determined to -run all hazards. Those mountains seemed to me to traverse the island, -and appeared, as we call it at sea, like double land; one hill behind -another. I saw nothing all this day but a few wild cattle, and now and -then a wild dog; the weather was fair, and I slept soundly all this -night. - -The fourth day I walked till noon, at which time I baited; my beef was -now but very indifferent. In the afternoon as I was walking I saw about -a dozen men before me; upon this I skulked in a bush, peeping to observe -whether they had discovered me; but I was soon out of my pain, for they -were surrounding some cattle a good way to the westward on a hill. I was -likewise on another hill, so that I could see them throw their lances -and kill three beeves, which I was well assured were more than they -could carry away with them at once. I stayed where I was, proposing when -they were gone to have some beef. To work they fell immediately, cutting -up the beasts, and each man making up his burden, hanging the remainder -up in a tree that the wild dogs might not get it, and went home to the -eastward. As soon as they were gone, and I had looked well about me, I -threw away my bad meat, made up to the tree, and took as much as I could -well carry. Away I marched with my booty towards the mountains, not -daring to rest lest they should return and discover me. In less than an -hour I reached the foot of the hills in the thick woods, and finding no -path or track of men, or any hopes of any, not knowing what to do, I -determined to go through all; but as I happened on a run of water, I -took up my quarters near it, made me a fire, cut me some wooden spits, -and roasted my beef; I kept my fire burning all night lest the foxes -should come and attack me. - -The next morning I made up my enter with grass, binding it with the bark -of trees, and moved forward up the hill. My burden was now much lighter. -In an hour, though I could find no path but what some swine had made, I -got to the top of it. I perceived here were faungidge and verlaway -enough, with which I was very well pleased, though I did not at present -much want them. I climbed a high tree to take a survey, but could -discover no entrance: nothing but hills and vales one beyond another; a -cragged dismal desert was all that presented itself to my view. I would -have descended had I not been in danger of being seen by the hunters; -besides I could not tell which way to look, whether east or west, for -the passage; so setting a lance up on end, I turned the way it fell, -though I imagined it was due north, or rather somewhat to the eastward. -However, superstition prevailed where reason was no way concerned, for I -was as likely to be right one way as another; and in case I went to the -northward, so long as I knew it, I must go as often as I could to the -westward; as sailors are forced to do, run their latitude first and -their longitude afterwards. I went down this hill and up another, which -was about an hour’s walk; but when I came to descend this, it was right -up and down. Without due thought I threw down my lances, hatchet, and -burden, thinking to descend by a very tall tree, whose top branches -reached close to the brow, but I could not do it. However, I made ropes -of the bark of a tree, and fixing them to the strongest branches, I slid -down, I dare say, no less than thirty feet rather than I would lose my -lances and other materials. I passed over a fine spring and run of water -in the vale. Though the hill on the other side was a craggy steep rock, -I found a way to ascend it; and on the top climbed another tree to take -my view, but had the same dismal prospect. Here I dug faungidge, it -being sunset, and seeing a hole in a large rock I had thought to take up -my lodging there; but peeping in, on a sudden I heard such an outcry, -which, with the echo in the rock, made so confused a noise, that I knew -not what it could be. My fears prevailed, and I imagined it might be -pursuers, for it drew nearer and nearer; so setting my back to a tree, -with a lance in each hand, I waited for the murderers; when instantly -came squeaking toward me a herd of wild swine, who ran away more -terrified than myself. After I was well recovered from my fright, I made -two fires for fear of the foxes, and then laid me down on my stony bed, -for here was no grass. - -The next morning, which was the sixth day, I made a hearty meal on -faungidge and beef, and the hill extending north and south, I went -straight on till it declined gradually into a valley, in which was a -small river that ran westward; I am apt to think it was the head of -Manner-ronder, where we fought deaan Woozington. By the time I arrived -at the top of the next hill, it drew towards evening, for I was not much -less than two hours ascending it; and yet, considering my burden, though -it was not very heavy now, I went a very good pace. As I was looking out -for a commodious lodging, that is to say, a place with the fairest -stones in it, I uncovered a swarm of bees; this was a joyful sight, for -it was food that would not spoil with keeping. I soon cut down a -vounturk to secure the honey in, and smoked them out. - -I made such a hearty meal this night of honey, faungidge, and beef, that -I slept too soundly; insomuch that I was waked with a severe -mortification for my thoughtless security. A fox caught hold of my heel, -and would have dragged me along; whereupon I startled, and catching up a -firebrand gave him such a blow as staggered him; but as soon as he -recovered he flew at my face. By this time I was upon my feet and -recovered one of my lances, with which I prevented him from ever -assaulting me more, but his hideous howling brought more about him. I -saw three whose eyes sparkled like diamonds, however they kept at a -distance; for with some dry light wood that lay near me I made a blaze -directly, in order to keep a flame all night, but did not wake to renew -it as I ought to have done: so that both my fires being almost reduced -to ashes, one of them boldly ventured between them, and it was very -happy for me that he did not seize upon my throat; for when men have -negligently slept where they haunt, I have known them meet with such a -mischance. After I had made up my fires, and put my enemies to flight, I -examined my heel and found two great holes on each side, where his teeth -had entered; I bound it up with a piece of my lamber in the best manner -I could; and making a great fire, threw the fox upon it by way of -resentment. I had not that pleasure in eating my breakfast this morning -as I had in my last night’s supper; besides, my beef was now a little -too tender; however, as I had honey enough for a week and here was -faungidge in plenty, I did not concern myself much about it. - -I walked on this seventh day; and though I favoured my lame foot as much -as I could, yet I rested but once all day. This way happened to be plain -and easy. At evening I came to a place where lay several bodies of trees -which were dead and dry. Thinking this, therefore, a proper lodging, I -made four very large fires, sat me down to supper, and afterwards -ventured to go to sleep with all those fires around me. But my heel now -grew so very painful, and was swelled to that degree, that I could not -go forward the next day; but as there was faungidge enough within twenty -or thirty yards of me, I dug up several, and determined to continue here -till my foot grew better. My beef was soon gone, but faungidge was both -meat and drink to me. I saved part of my beef-fat to dress my heel with; -which, as I gave it six days’ rest, took down all the swelling. During -this time I made such large fires every night, that could they have been -seen, were like those of an army. I had not far to go for wood or any -thing else that I wanted, or at least that I could any way expect in -such a place. - -After these six days’ rest, it being the fourteenth since I left deaan -Afferrer, I went forward, and that day passed over three very high -mountains. By this time my honey was all gone, and I could find no more; -so that I lived altogether upon faungidge. - -The fifteenth day I walked very smartly again, and passed over several -hills that were very rough, craggy, and tiresome. I took particular care -however to get dry wood enough, for I never ventured to sleep without -four fires. - -The sixteenth day I had not travelled above three hours, before I -perceived the earth to be of another colour; it was chalk then, and now -clay. This excited my curiosity, to climb the first high tree I could -meet with, from whence I discovered an opening to the northward, with -which I was highly delighted, but it was too far for me to reach that -night, so I took up my lodging as before. This night I was disturbed by -a herd of wild swine. - -The seventeenth day I walked very hard, being very desirous to get -through this wilderness, which still abounded with hills. About noon I -reached the open country, where I could look about me with some pleasure -and walk upon level ground. I was now like one just delivered from a -prison, having been twelve days in this mountainous desert. I was -actually travelling near six days, and I imagine I did not walk less -than twenty miles a day; it might have been passed indeed in three days, -had I been so fortunate as to have found out the path. - -I had not been long in the plain before I came to a little wood, where I -took up my lodging, because here was firing and faungidge in plenty, -which I was very glad to see, having been under some melancholy -apprehensions of wanting provision in the plains; but I had soon a still -greater hope of being better supplied, for in the night I was waked by -the roaring of a bull, by which I was very well assured it was the great -northern forest of wild cattle, which Ry-Nanno had informed me of. - -The next day, which was the eighteenth, I saw several herds of Hattoy’s -cattle; and perceived there were more here than in the southern forest. -I looked wishfully about to discover some hunters if I could, or to -observe if any crows hovered about any particular place, for then I -might reasonably expect some beast that had been wounded was fallen -there. In the afternoon I came to a river, which was both deep and -large. As I was searching for a proper place to wade through or swim -over, I spied a large alligator; I still walked upon the banks, and in a -short time saw three more. This was a mortifying stroke and almost -dispirited me. I went on till I came to a shallower place, where I -entered the river about ten yards, with a view to swim over the rest in -four or five minutes, but seeing an alligator make towards me, I ran -back directly; he pursued me till I got into very shallow water, and -then he turned back into the deep, for they will never attack a man near -the shore. It nettled me to be stopped by a river that was scarcely a -hundred yards over. A length I recollected that at Bengal there are the -largest alligators in the world, and so bold that they will take a man -out of a shallow boat, insomuch that whenever we came off from the shore -in the night we made one small fire at the head, and another at the -stern of the boat, which no alligator would ever come near. Distress -puts a man’s invention upon the rack; something, thought I, like this -must be done, for it was to no purpose to stay here, neither could I go -back; so making choice of a stick for a firebrand, I cut it into long -splinters, and waited till it grew dark, then, after I had bound my two -fire-sticks to the top of one of my lances, I went into the water, and -recommending myself to the care of Providence, I turned upon my back, -and swam over with my two lances and hatchet in one hand, and my -firebrand burning in the other; my lamber being twisted and tied fast -about my lances. - -The place where I pitched upon to swim over had a gap through the -thicket on each side one against another, which made it look like a -common passage either for men or cattle. No sooner was I landed, than I -heard some wild cattle grazing; whereupon I extinguished my fire -immediately, and washed myself as silently as possible, that they should -not smell me. I stood some time close under the cover of a thick bush in -the passage expecting that they would come to drink. The wind, as it -luckily fell out, was with them, so that they could not scent me, though -they often snorted for that purpose. I stood prepared with my lance, and -did not wait long before a numerous herd came running through the -passage to the river, and as they passed by, I pushed my lance with all -the force I was able into above forty of them, and used my utmost -endeavours to wound them in the belly. They ran roaring away, fighting, -and goring one another, to revenge as it were the blows they felt, for -they expected no other enemies than what were amongst themselves. I -thought I had struck a sufficient number, and hoped some of their wounds -would prove mortal; however, I would not run any hazard by night, and -therefore sat down contented without roast meat, and secured myself from -their attacks in a thick wood. The next morning I went to see what -success I had met with, and I found one bull and three cows dead upon -the sand; I soon cut up the youngest and fattest and carried it to my -quarters, near which I made an oven to bake it. This is a common -practice, though I never described it before; however it is made after -the following manner: a hole is dug about five feet in length, two over, -and about three in depth; this is filled with wood, which is then -kindled; on the top of the fire I put about a dozen large stones, each -weighing about a pound. Whilst the fire was burning I cut off the bark -from a tree, called the succore, and took the outer part away, and the -inner being pliant and lying flat it served for the cover of my oven. -When the fire was burnt to ashes, I laid three or four green sticks -across, that my beef might rest upon them; the stones being red-hot, I -placed them about the bottom and sides; I laid likewise more sticks over -the top, and then the bark covered all close with the earth. This is our -method of baking meat in the forests. I broiled some for my breakfast, -and then went out to see what farther execution I had done, and found -six more beeves lying dead upon the plain: however I had enough here. -When I returned, my beef was as well baked as it would have been at any -baker’s in London. When it was cold, I made it up into an enter, but -went no farther this day. - -The next morning I went forward well pleased with my load: though I -discovered some smoke to the eastward, yet I saw no people, but many -herds of wild cattle; as there were several little woods in this plain, -I never wanted either a covert for a lodging, or grass to make me a -tolerably soft bed to lie on. The country was pleasant enough, and -travelling was so easy, that I determined if it should be my misfortune -to meet with as bad a master as Mevarrow, and there were no hopes of -getting to England, that I would run away and live by myself in this -forest. - -The twenty-first day in the morning I saw several wild dogs engaged -with, and pulling down a bull that had been wounded as I imagined some -time before, for I never knew the dogs attack them unless they were. It -was no business of mine to interrupt them, and if it were, it would have -been a very dangerous thing to make the attempt, for though they do not -seek to assault a man, yet upon provocation they have been known to -destroy several. This night was the first time I ever felt mosquitoes in -the island; for, lying in the evening in a covert near a run of water, -they stung me to that degree, that I was forced to shift my quarters, -and as it was moonlight I got up and walked three or four miles farther -to the top of a hill, where I slept without molestation. I had no -occasion to light more than one fire, for there was no great danger of -wild beasts here. - -On the twenty-second day I discovered a fog in one long canal that ran -from east to west, which as it continued all the day long, and at a vast -distance, I conceived it to hang over the great river Oneghaloyhe, that -runs into Augustine-bay. This put new life into me, to think I drew near -to a seaport; I saw two men that day laden with beef, and would have -spoken to them, but they dropped their enters and ran from me, though I -called and laid down mine, and went towards them. As soon as they -imagined I was gone, I saw them return and take their beef up again. - -On the twenty-third day in the morning the fog appeared again, but much -nearer. I walked as hard as I well could, being desirous to get to the -river: it was afternoon, however, before I reached within a mile of it, -and then the bushes and thorny small wood were so thick that it was with -great difficulty, and many severe scratches, that I got to the river -side. When I saw the river so very broad I was surprised, for at least -it was twice as broad as the Thames at London. I had been informed that -a man might wade over it near the head, but that they always made use of -canoes to transport themselves over other parts, which way they got them -I cannot say, for my own part I had no such help. I made my fire, went -to supper, and then reposed myself to rest, or rather to study which way -I should get over. In the morning I determined to look out for some old -trees or branches that were fallen, and in a short time I met with -several that were fit for my purpose, not only great arms but trunks of -trees broken off by tempests, these I dragged down to the river side. In -the next place I made it my business to find out a creeper, which is as -large as a withy, but twining round trees is very pliant. I lopped the -superfluous branches off of six long and thick arms of the trees, and -placing three at bottom and three at top, I bound them together, making -what we call in the East Indies, a catamaran. I built it afloat in the -water, for otherwise I could not have launched it; and moored it to a -lance which I stuck in the shore for that purpose; I then fixed my enter -in order to preserve it as dry as I possibly could, as also my hatchet -and my other lance, after that I made a paddle to row with; then I -pulled up my lance and kept it in my hand to defend myself against the -alligators, in case any of them should assault me, for I was informed -they were very numerous and very fierce here. It blowed a fresh gale at -west against the stream, which in the middle made a sea, and gave me no -small concern; for I was in great danger of being overset and becoming a -prey to the alligators. It pleased God, however, to protect me, and I -landed safely on the other shore. This being a pretty good day’s work, I -determined not to go much farther that evening before I took up my -lodging. - -On the twenty-fourth day, though I travelled a great way, yet nothing -material offered; I saw indeed a few wild cattle, but not near the -number that was on the other side of the river, and those too were -somewhat shyer, by which I concluded it to be an inhabited country. - -On the twenty-fifth day my burden grew lighter and began to smell, but I -did not concern myself much about that, since I resolved to speak to the -first people I could see; for I remembered, that deaan Trongha had told -me that his town lay by the north side of this river. I forded over a -brook which runs into the great river. The country is very pleasant, and -here are abundance of palmetto trees, which they call satter-futey. They -bear a long leaf like a cocoa-nut tree, but the fruit is quite of -another nature: of these leaves the people make baskets, caps, &c. I saw -no wild cattle all this day. - -On the twenty-sixth day, though I walked very hard again, yet I baited -in the heat of the day, and in the afternoon, making the best of my way, -I espied a smoke; and being determined to speak to those who made it I -mended my pace, lest they should be passengers only that baited as I -did, and would be gone; but I soon heard the tongues of several -children, who ran into the woods as soon as they saw me. Upon which, -immediately three men, armed with guns and lances, started out. I looked -behind me for a commodious shelter, not knowing what to think of them, -and retreated a little; which they perceiving, left their guns behind -them, and came towards me. Upon that I went to meet them, and, at a -distance, desired to know what king they belonged to. They answered -deaan Mernaugha, and as a farther testimony, perceiving that I was a -white man, they spoke two or three words in broken English; and after -that we shook hands, and saluted each other with the usual compliment, -salamonger. They invited me to go with them to their habitations, where -we sat down, and I gave them a short detail of my travels. They said -they had heard of me, and having some susers in the pot just boiled, -they desired me to eat with them. After which, I asked them several -questions relating to their trade, their war, and peace; and one of the -most experienced of them gave me the following melancholy account of it. - -Our late king, Rer Vovvern, said he, killed himself with grief at an -irruption which Rer Trimmenongarevo made with nine thousand men, and -took his two daughters captives. Our prince pursued him with seven -thousand, but the enemy, by a stratagem, got privately into Feraignher, -and plundered it; deaan Woozington at the same time attacked the -southern parts, having made canoes and passed the great river; the other -passages being first stopped. He took also a great many people, but -deaan Trongha, and his brother Rer Befaugher, who stayed at home with -two thousand men, disconcerted his measures and prevented his carrying -off the captives; which so enraged Woozington, who was a man of a -barbarous disposition, that he slew a great many women and children. Rer -Trimmenongarevo took a contrary method, for he sent messengers with -friendly invitations to the people to come and live in his country and -be his subjects, and with repeated assurances, that he would restore to -them their wives and children; which promise he punctually performed, -and still continues so to do; so that some hundreds are gone away: and -he still so embarrasses us, who are unwilling to leave our native -country, that many of us are obliged to fly into these forests and -secret recesses in order to be safe, contenting ourselves, as you see, -with what the country naturally affords us; for we dare neither plant -nor keep cattle, lest we should be surprised. We have another petty -prince in the mountains, who takes this opportunity to make incursions, -and helps to impoverish us, so that we have enemies all around us; and -those who remain in towns are almost famished. For we have no friends -but white men, and there has not been a ship come this way a long time; -and should they be apprized of our poverty they would come no more. Thus -this kingdom, which was lately the glory of the island, is now almost -reduced to nothing. - -This melancholy tale so shocked me, that I sat mute and as fixed as a -statue, till the man perceiving my concern, roused me by asking me my -name; and if I had not thoughts of going to the king before I went to -deaan Trongha, as, they said, was my duty; but I told them I was a -freeman, and would act as I had already told them; so they gave me a -mat, and I lay down ruminating on the hard fortune that attended me; but -as Providence had taken care of me hitherto, I did not question but in -due time my deliverance would be accomplished; and with this resignation -I laid me down to rest. - -These men were very courteous to me, and pressed me to stay two or three -days with them; but I only breakfasted there, giving them some of my -beef, which they accepted, though it was far from being good. When they -found I was determined to go, they made me a present of a parcel of -roasted susers to carry with me, and accompanied me as far as the path, -and showed me how to find these susers, which till then I had never -seen; they grow like wild yams, which were their principal diet. This -was the twenty-seventh day of my travels, and turning out of the path -into the wood, I hunted about for such an inn as had served me many a -night before; which I soon found, made a fire, and after supper slept -very contentedly. - -The next morning I met with four men, who informed me, that though I -could not reach deaan Trongha’s town, yet I might Rer Befaugher’s, and -he would send a man to direct me. My way lay over a high hill, from -whence I saw the sea, and the road where the ships used to lie in -Augustine-bay; on the other hand was the great river, and the country -very pleasant along its banks. When I came to the bottom, some boys who -were tending their cattle ran up to me, for they are not afraid of white -men, and one of them very courteously offered to show me the way to the -town. - -On my arrival, the people stared to see a white man without clothes; -some said, a ship was arrived; but most said, I could not come from a -ship naked, and without a hat. When I came near Rer Befaugher’s house, I -perceived he looked earnestly at me, not knowing me at first; but, when -I came nearer, he arose from his seat, clapped his hand to his mouth and -cried, “Ah! Ry-Robin, how came you here?” Had I been his brother, he -could not have embraced me with more affection. As soon as I was seated, -several came about me; some who knew me in the army asked me, who were -with me? And when I answered, nobody, they wondered how I could find the -way by myself; but when I informed them how I lost my way, and came -through the mountainous wilderness, and what stratagems I made use of to -pass the rivers, they were perfectly astonished. - -Rer Befaugher took me into his house, and made me sup with him; he had -roast beef, and his wife brought milk on purpose for me. I asked about -the state of the country, and he gave much the same account I had heard -before; with this addition, that he expected every day that Rer -Trimmenongarevo would come, and ravage the whole country, for they were -altogether incapable of making any resistance; those, however, who were -the pillars of the land, were determined to stand till they were cut -down by death, and not to fly. For indeed, said he, we have nowhere to -go but into the sea, and we have no notion of living there as you white -men have. - -When we had supped, and talked till I was sleepy, he sent a man with me -to a house prepared for my reception. The next morning I begged the -favour of him to send a man to direct me in the right road to deaan -Trongha’s; but he would go himself. I told him that it was too great a -condescension, and too much beneath his dignity, to attend a slave as I -was. He answered, that he never looked on white men as slaves, and that -he had waited on several. And Rer Vovvern, as well as he, had clothed -and maintained some who did not deserve it, but they did it for the sake -of others; for, says he, here have been some very quarrelsome people who -come ashore, and never go aboard again, and behave themselves shamefully -ill. I asked him what they trafficked for here. He said, for nothing but -provision, for which they gave them gold and silver in exchange, and -sometimes pieces of silk; and when they sail away, no one, nay, they -themselves don’t know to what country they are going: for they are -wicked, careless wretches, and their whole business is to plunder other -ships. I told him, they were to blame either to assist them, or sell -them any provisions; and that the government of England was at a -prodigious expense to fit out ships on purpose to destroy them, for they -spoil the merchants’ trade, and were a disgrace to their country. The -English, for the generality, said he, were very good people, and by the -trade which they drove with them, were of singular service to their -country. That he had been on board divers ships, and had met with -several captains, who were very honest men, for they used to receive him -in the most courteous manner, and entertain him with wine, punch, and -brandy; and sometimes another sort of liquor that was very bitter, what -the name of it was he could not tell, but they loved it themselves. I -told him it was beer. He said, yes; but he could never drink it with any -pleasure. Thus we went chatting along to deaan Trongha’s, which was -about two hours’ walk. When we arrived the people flocked round me, some -saying a samb-tuley; that is to say, a ship was arrived, but others said -no, for men seldom come naked from a ship. - -When I came before deaan Trongha, I perceived he did not recollect me, I -offered to kneel and lick his feet, but he would not permit; saying, be -he who he may, he is a white man, and they shall never lick black men’s -feet. At length, his brother informed him who I was: no sooner had he -heard it than he rose up, and embraced me with abundance of joy and -friendship. When we had been seated some time, and I had given them an -account of my travels, he told me, I was still a very unfortunate man; -for they were in a very poor state and condition, and I should be -miserably mistaken, if I expected to live happy there. I told him, it -could not well be worse than it had been with me all along, and I was -determined to live with him all my life long, if he pleased to admit me -into his service, unless he would be so indulgent to me as to send me -home when a ship came. He told me, I should fare as he did himself; for -he looked on it as his duty to relieve a white man in distress, for the -favours he and his family had received from my countrymen. In short, he -received me with such tokens of friendship, and treated me with so much -tenderness, that my own father could not have shown me more compassion. -He lamented very much the deplorable circumstances to which his country -was reduced, and was extremely afraid lest the white men should know it; -for then, said he, they would never come to trade with us any more, nor -give me an opportunity of sending you to your native home. - -When I had eaten and drunk with him, he took his leave of his brother, -being obliged to guard the slaves who were at work in the plantations, -lest they should be surprised and taken by small parties of their -northern enemy, who lay in ambuscade, in order to sally out, and carry -off what they could steal on a sudden, and so run away again. When we -were a little way out of town, we came to a spacious thicket of wild -canes, reeds, and rushes; in the midst of which were the plantations, -bounded on the other side with the great river Oneghaloyhe. Here were -plantains, bonanoes, sugar-canes, and rice, with all these the southern -country from whence I came were wholly unacquainted; but here were -likewise several things which I had seen before, as anbotty, anchoroko, -&c. These were but lately planted and sowed; the enemy having destroyed -all the plantations in the incursions they made, whilst deaan Trongha, -&c. were in the late war in Merfaughla. I began to suspect that he -intended to set me to work, but I soon perceived he had no such design; -for he gave me his gun, and told me since I was willing to be his -servant, all he should require of me should be to carry his gun, and -never to be the length of it from him, that in case of a surprise he -might have it at hand. - -As we went homewards, some of our people climbed up tamarind trees, and -gathered abundance of the fruit. I asked them what they did with it. Eat -it said they. I told them, it was impossible to eat much of it, without -setting their teeth on edge. It is sour enough, indeed, said they, if we -do not put ashes to it to make it sweet. I laughed at them for their -ignorance, but when I came home there were platters full mixed with them -for our supper. The strings of the tamarinds, which are white, appearing -in it when thus mixed, I could not forbear comparing it to mortar with -hair in it; but when I tasted it, I found it was sweet beyond my -expectations. I could not, however, be rightly reconciled to it at -first, being prejudiced as men too frequently are, even against the -testimony of their senses. Deaan Trongha perceiving that I did not much -like my mess, assured me that this was always esteemed amongst them a -pleasant dish, when they had the greatest profusion of other things. -Sometimes, indeed, said he, we have nothing else to eat. I have seen -many odd things eaten, but nothing ever surprised me more than sour -tamarinds mixed with wood ashes, becoming sweet and palatable. Let the -chemists reason and philosophize upon it at their leisure, I can assure -them it is matter of fact; and can produce several gentlemen now living -in London, to testify the same who have seen me mix it. It did not -rightly agree with me, indeed, the first time I eat it; but after I was -used to it a little, I never found any inconvenience attend it -afterwards. - -Deaan Trongha had two wives, who lived in separate apartments. He -divided himself pretty equally between them, living nearly as much at -one house as at the other, in order to prevent any jealousies on either -side, and to keep up a harmony between them. Now it is customary for -them to appoint every slave his proper mistress, to whose commands he is -peculiarly to attend; and it is her business to see what they want, and -give it them. He did not, however, appoint me any such service; but -said, that as I was a person in distress, and my lot by Providence was -cast amongst them, it was their duty to provide for all such; but as for -me, he had a more particular regard for my misfortunes, for the sake of -my fathers and brothers, (meaning Englishmen;) and for that reason, he -had ordered that I should be taken care of at both their houses, and had -free liberty to go to either of them at my pleasure, where I found the -best entertainment; and, indeed, as long as there was meat, I had my -proportionable share with them. Though he behaved himself with decency -enough to both of them, yet I observed the first wife was a greater -favourite than the other, upon which account, she was distinguished by -the title of his head wife. He was at her apartment when I came first, -and when these directions were given; so she immediately furnished me -with a pot or two, and calabash, &c. for my use; but as she had not -every thing I wanted, he sent a servant with me to the other, and she as -cheerfully supplied me with what my occasion required, chiding me in a -friendly manner for not coming sooner to pay her a visit: so I sat down -and had half an hour’s conversation with her; and to do them both -justice, their behaviour towards me was perfectly courteous and -engaging. - -The next morning two messengers came from deaan Mernaugha; deaan Trongha -being desired to go and consult with the king on some affairs of -importance. When they were taking their leave, he would not let them -depart till he had killed a heifer to entertain them with, -notwithstanding provision was so very scarce; and here I found the same -generous manner of treating one another as was practised in Anterndroea, -for most of the people in town came about the house, and no one went -away without some portion of beef. As to their cookery, they have but a -slovenly manner of dressing their meat here, for the liver, as soon as -it was extracted, was thrown directly into the fire and broiled in smoke -and ashes, and the entrails were broiled likewise with but very little -cleaning. I had a piece of beef given me to dress at home, and we all -lived well as long as this lasted. When I went the next morning, the -deaan was dressing himself in order to go; for though he had no clothes -to put on, yet some time was spent in curling his hair and platting it -into knots. After he was shaved, the owley was brought out and dressed -to be carried before him, for he went in state. The friendship between -deaan Mernaugha and him not being over hearty or sincere, made him go in -more form than otherwise he would have done. I carried his gun after -him. We marched up an easy ascent of nearly two miles, when I perceived -we were near the sea; the descent on the other side extended to the -shore of St. Augustine-bay, where there were ships generally at anchor. -Here deaan Trongha showed me the spot of ground on which the English -built their houses during their residence in these parts. It was an -agreeable prospect to me, though at that time there were no ships. I saw -some canoes a considerable way out at sea; some men I could perceive -were striking and darting fish, and others in the water, as high as -their knees, at the same diversion; for the sand is almost flat, so that -one may walk at low water above a mile into the sea. The seacoast lay -almost north and south, but from whence I came, it lay east and west. -After we had passed through a wood, on a point of land, we came among -the towns which belonged to deaan Mernaugha. Every body stared to see a -white man naked, and at first took me for the Dutchman who had lived -amongst them, and who would have sometimes very odd freaks; but my fame -flew before me, and when I came to deaan Mernaugha’s, I was very well -known; for after the usual compliments were over, he asked “where was -the white man who came from Anterndroea;” I not being in sight, having -delivered my gun to my master. Whereupon I was called, and seated -amongst them. The king asked me about my travels, and the adventures I -had met with; and I very readily gratified him with my whole story at -large. A bullock was given to deaan Trongha, for the entertainment of -himself and his retinue. - -At night there was a long consultation about the posture of affairs: -none were admitted to this august assembly, but a few principal men, -among whom I had the honour to be one; but to my no small mortification, -I heard deaan Mernaugha propose to send nine hundred, or a thousand -people, under the command of deaan Trongha into Merfaughla, to join with -deaan Crindo against deaan Woozington. This scheme was approved of, and -unanimously agreed to; the manner and time were both appointed, which -was not to be till some months after. When we broke up, deaan Trongha -told me the whole assembly had confidence in me; as knowing it to be my -interest to keep their secrets. But, says he, a more than ordinary care -is absolutely necessary at this juncture; for the common people abandon -us to live under other lords, if our proceedings do not please them; -though we aim at nothing but their own security and welfare. They have -not, however, the sense to know it, and will be for ever throwing -reflections on our conduct, and finding fault, though we lose our wives, -families, and cattle, and run all hazards to protect them. It is natural -for the refuse of the people to abuse their superiors; but yet governors -ought nevertheless to study the good of their country, and defend those -under their care from injuries and insults, without regarding such -reflections; but then those things which we very well know beforehand, -and they have not the sense to understand or judge of, ought never to be -divulged. - -I assured him of my fidelity, but told him that what I heard gave me no -small uneasiness, since I was apprehensive that he would press me to go -with him; where my former master, Mevarrow, would very probably be, -whose barbarous treatment I had too much experience of, not to dread the -consequence of being again in his power. He replied, that could never -be; for they know (said he) that I am resolute, and that it would be -dangerous for any man to provoke me so far, since it might prove the -ruin of the whole army; for I am determined to protect you at the hazard -of my own life, and revenge with the utmost severity any affront that -shall be offered to you. I was not perfectly satisfied, but as I knew -him to be a man of strict honour, I had all the reason imaginable to -depend upon it. When I returned to my companions, they used their utmost -endeavours to sift out of me the purport of their council; but I told -them with a very careless air, that I stood at a distance, and did not -observe one word that passed. - -Deaan Trongha took his leave the next morning, acquainting the king, his -nephew, that his owley had warned him in the night of some danger that -attended his town from the enemy, in case he stayed much longer. As I -was on this side the country, I desired to go and see Eglasse the -Dutchman. The deaan assured me he would make it in his way home. Eglasse -was very much surprised when the children came running to him, and -cried, “Arve verzahar!” that is, a white man is coming; for he knew of -no one in the country. One Efflep a negro of the West Indies, who was -left ashore by pirates many years before, lived not far from him, and -spoke nothing but English; for being very deaf, he never learned the -Madagascar language. He had two sons, however, born on the island of a -native mother, who spoke both languages tolerably well. When I -approached Eglasse, he pulled off his hat to me; but poor Robin was not -in a condition to return the compliment. At first he spoke Dutch to me, -but perceiving I did not understand him, he spoke a little broken -English; and I had as little to say for myself in that, as the other. -Thereupon I asked for an interpreter to speak English for me; which set -deaan Trongha and the rest a laughing at first; but they pitied my hard -lot afterwards, to have lived in a foreign country all the flower of my -age. But James, Efflep’s eldest son, carried on a conversation amongst -us to the entire satisfaction of every one then present. Eglasse pressed -me to live constantly with him; but I told him I would not leave deaan -Trongha on any account whatever. For he was a man of great generosity -and humanity; one, moreover, of great authority, and consequently able -to protect me. I desired, however, that they would procure leave of him, -to let me stay two or three days with them, which they did; and he as -readily agreed to indulge me a whole week. I had heard but an -indifferent character of Eglasse, with respect to his temper; he was -rash and passionate, and would threaten the great men, not excepting the -king himself, upon the slightest provocation, with what he would do as -soon as the first ship arrived. This ill conduct of his rendered him -distasteful to them; and for that reason I was cautious how I entered -into too strict an amity with him. And it will soon appear, that my -fears were justly grounded; for his continued indecent behaviour cost -him his life at last. - -Having now taken our farewell of deaan Trongha and his retinue, the pot -was set on the fire by a slave named Toby, with a piece of salt beef, -and potatoes dressed after the English manner. In the mean time, Eglasse -ordered James to relate to me the history of his arrival and adventures -here; and this conducing to my purpose, which is to give such an account -of the various customs and manners of this island as may be useful to -traders and navigators, and pleasing to the curious, I shall only -transcribe here what he then told us. - -“At a place called Masseelege,” said he, “on this island to the -northward, there comes once a year a Moorish ship that brings silk -lambers, and many other things to trade with for slaves. At this place -one Burgess, called captain Burgess, and Robert Arnold had a sloop; -Burgess, indeed, commanded, for Arnold knew nothing of navigation; one -was as rich as the other, and both were equally concerned in the vessel. -With this sloop they used to come to Augustine-bay and other places on -the island, in order to buy slaves and carry them to Masseelege against -the moor’s ship arrived. Eglasse sailed with them in this sloop. In one -of their voyages to this place, Burgess and Arnold fell out to that -degree, that the latter would stay no longer with Burgess; but -prevailing on Eglasse to come on shore for his companion, he brought all -his effects with him, consisting of several bags of dollars, a great -many guns, powder, shot, chests of clothes, beads, &c. amounting in the -whole to a considerable value. In a word, every thing that is proper to -trade with in these parts. He told Eglasse that in case he survived him -he should have all his effects; but their design was only to stay till a -ship arrived in which they could procure a passage to Europe. Whether -they durst go to England or not I cannot absolutely say; though I had -good reason to suspect that a great part of these riches were obtained -by piracy. There were two black slaves, this Toby and another, who in -the sequel of this story will be called Robin, who could speak good -English. These swam ashore the same night that captain Burgess sailed -away, and surrendered themselves to Arnold. - -“It happened a little before Rer Vovvern’s death, (and which was, -indeed, the occasion of it,) that this country was invaded by two -enemies at the same time; and whilst the greater part of the lords and -people were marched off in order to oppose the northern enemy, -Woozington, who was a southern foe, came unawares upon us, having passed -the great river without being in the least suspected, and a bold general -of his, named Ry-Opheck, attacked the town and the king’s house about -midnight; Rer Vovvern himself was wounded in the thigh. Another party -was likewise coming against us, whereupon every one was for flying to -some shelter or other; as is not only customary, but indeed necessary in -such cases. Arnold and Eglasse, however, having great riches, were -resolved to defend them, and therefore armed themselves with guns, -pistols, and cutlasses; but they no sooner appeared at their door than -Arnold was shot dead on the spot. Eglasse was then glad to fly with his -two slaves, Robin and Toby, for they never left him. The enemy plundered -the house of what they saw convenient; which was all his wearing -apparel, or any thing like it, even his beds for the ticking sake; the -silver being black they knew not what it was, and therefore contented -themselves with throwing it about. As to the cattle which they found in -the pens they killed them all, for they had neither time nor strength -enough to carry them off; nor were they able to defend themselves when -once the country should make head against them. However, they took some -captives and marched off in as great a hurry as they came, lest deaan -Mundrosser, our present king’s brother, who is very well beloved by his -countrymen, and feared by his enemies, should fall upon them; for we -have not a greater man in war than he, deaan Trongha only excepted. -Ry-Opheck’s fears and haste were just and proper; for deaan Mundrosser -mustered an army in a few hours after, and overtook them before they -could pass the river. The sound of his shells added wings to their -flight, insomuch that they left their captives behind them; and he -brought most of our women and children again, so that our loss was -inconsiderable: for as to our valuable goods, we (who were apprehensive -of surprise, and well knew the manner of the country) had dug holes in -the ground and buried them there, and they had no time to search after -them. When my father Efflep, my brother, and I returned, we missed none -of our effects, but very much concerned and surprised to find Arnold not -only dead, but naked; but as to his dollars they lay neglected and -scattered up and down; till some of our people, who were no strangers to -their use and value, took up a great many and concealed them from -Eglasse. We threatened some of them, however, and made them refund, -complaining to deaan Mernaugha; but they were above half lost. Eglasse -was so confounded, that he never returned till some messengers, who were -sent out after him, met with him at last, and conducted him and his two -slaves home. He lives handsomely enough still, though he lost so much, -having a plantation of his own and three or four good milch cows; and he -is able to join with my father to buy an ox notwithstanding it is a very -dear time, a good one being worth now ten dollars. Our king, Rer -Vovvern, died in six weeks after, more with grief than of his wounds. He -was very well beloved, being a good man and a gallant warrior; he was -also a great friend to white men, but more especially to the English. I -must not forget, however, to tell you here is another family you must be -acquainted with too, and that is one Hempshire, a Guinea negro, who was -formerly among the pirates, but has been settled here some considerable -time. He has a very pretty woman to his wife, and also a daughter by -her. Though the man is both blind and poor, yet Eglasse makes him many -presents out of respect to his wife, as we imagine, for they are very -intimate.” - -Here Eglasse interrupted James, on hearing his own name and Mrs -Hempshire’s too often, as he thought, mentioned together, and suspected -that James was telling me of their supposed amour; so he broke off the -discourse; though James said he was only expatiating on the -christian-like manner in which he behaved to Hempshire and his family; -but by this time dinner was ready. I found myself here a perfect negro -in my way of eating, for I devoured my meat alone which made them laugh -heartily; but what was a still greater mortification to me was, -Hempshire, his wife and child came to pay me a visit; and Eglasse and he -talked my adventures over in English, and it seemed like unintelligible -jargon which I could not form my tongue to imitate; insomuch that I was -apprehensive that I should never be able to speak my mother tongue -again. A few days’ conversation however among these people, gave me -hopes of recollecting it in time. Efflep and his sons were near -neighbours to Eglasse, where I was invited the next day, and entertained -in a very handsome manner after the English fashion, and much better -than at Eglasse’s. We had not only a couple of capons boiled with rice, -like a pilaw, but another dish of fried meat and boiled potatoes, served -up on pewter plates, so that I began to fancy myself in a christian -country. They also procured some toake for me, as Eglasse had done -before; but it was scarce, there being no honey to be got. This was made -of sugar-canes, which were likewise scarce at this time, and the toake -was much inferior to what we had to the southward; it was strong enough -however to make us a little gay and lively. - -As soon as the week was expired I was determined to stay no longer, -notwithstanding they importuned me very much, assuring them I would -procure leave to come again in a short time: nor would I accept of a -guide, since I knew the way. When I came to the seaside I espied a sail -as I thought, though it proved nothing but a large canoe returning from -sea, where the men had been fishing. I waited till they reached the -shore, who seeing me white, though naked, came up to me, and a great -deal of conversation passed between us, they being very inquisitive -after my uncommon adventures. I gave them all the satisfaction I could, -and inquired if there were any likelihood of a ship’s arrival. Before I -took my leave they made me a present of as many fish as I could well -carry with me. When I came home to my own house, I picked out four of -the best, and went to wait on my mistresses, presenting them with two a -piece. Deaan Trongha coming home soon after, was surprised to find fish -there, and highly pleased that I was returned; but was so complaisant as -not to suffer me to lick his feet. He had been all day in the -plantations, pushing the work as forward as he could, that they might -not want for provisions when they came back from the wars; for every -body was busy and making preparations for it. He told me he had ordered -one of his wives to make me a cap; such as we usually wore by way of -distinction. I did not like the proposal, but there was no opposing it. -He gave out to his wives and people that their intention was to invade -deaan Morrochemek, a petty king in the adjacent mountains; this he did, -for fear some of his people should desert and alarm the country of -Merfaughla. - -Upon my return home I found visiters in abundance, who flocked about me -for the sake of my fish; but as it was a customary thing, and what I -used to do myself, I could not take it amiss; so I shared them out as -far as they would go. - -I slept but this one night in peace and quietness; for next morning I -was called up to attend the deaan, and carry his gun with me to the -plantation. At that time he had no project of great importance in his -head, but before noon a messenger came running in haste with the news, -that an army of ten thousand Saccalauvors (our northern enemies) were at -a town called Murnumbo, within ten or twelve hours’ march of us. Deaan -Trongha was too impatient to hear the whole story, before he ordered his -slaves to leave their work and go home; the hoes and spades were thrown -aside, and the lances taken in hand, every man running home and making -preparation for a march. Messengers were sent to Rer Befaugher, and all -the other neighbouring lords to give their friendly assistance. Some of -the principal men of each town were directed to stay at home, with a -sufficient force to defend their families and cattle, in case Woozington -should be at hand as he was before, in order to take the towns by -surprise, while the fighting men were all engaged another way. I went -home under the plausible view of whetting my lances, but with a -resolution of being out of sight, and, if possible, forgotten; which -succeeded to my wish, for they were soon on their march. When I was well -assured that they were gone, I went in a violent hurry to the head -lady’s house, asking for my master; and being informed he was gone, I -pretended to be in a confusion, and in all the haste imaginable to -follow him; but the women would not let me go; for they ordered the men, -who were left as a guard, to stop me. At length, with much ado it may be -supposed, I was prevailed on to stay, and sat down very contentedly -amongst the women. Most of the town, nay, the very children were there; -or round about the house. Their clamour, prayers, and cries for their -husbands, and idle tattle about the war, were troublesome enough; but -not so bad as running the risk of either life or limb, in fighting the -quarrel of a people, for whom I had no manner of concern. - -At night I had several young female visiters, who supped with me on -carravances, of which my mistress had made me a present. Our -conversation was innocent and pleasant, though some of my gay readers -may perhaps imagine otherwise. But be that as it may I can assure them -(to the shame of christianity) there are more modest women in proportion -to the number of people here than in England; even such as would sooner -part with their lives than yield to a man’s embraces, unless they were -taken to wife according to the custom of the country; but such women as -sailors find for their turn, are only slaves brought down to the seaside -and dressed with beads and silk lambers, with no other view than to -allure their gallants and get from them what they can, and though the -gain they make of their prostitution is their master’s, yet most of them -are generous enough to present them with part of the fine things they -get from their cullies; but were these sailors to go up into the -country, they would not find it an easy matter to procure a mistress. -The conversation, however, I had with my young visiters, gave me some -melancholy reflections in bringing to my remembrance the pleasure I -formerly enjoyed in the company of my dear wife, whose beauty and -conversation were in my opinion far superior to any of these. - -During the men’s absence, we had little else to live on than tamarinds -and ashes, a little milk only excepted; but in twelve days they -returned, and were received with all the demonstrations of joy -imaginable by the women. I went myself likewise with a good assurance to -welcome them home. Deaan Trongha, indeed, rallied me a little about it; -but his wife ingenuously confessing, that she hindered me from following -him, I heard no more of it. - -The account they gave of their expedition was, that a general belonging -to Rer Trimmonongarevo’s army was at the place, but the messenger’s fear -augmented it to nearly double the number of men that in reality was in -it, for there were not five thousand in all. Our people were so -expeditious, that they secured a narrow pass, which the enemy designed -to have taken; and after a small skirmish or two, Rer Mimebolambo -withdrew to a plain and encamped, to whom Rer Mundrosser sent a -messenger to demand the reason why he (more especially) marched an army -into a country to destroy it, since his late king Rer Vovvern, had -relieved and protected him, when he fled from his uncle Rer -Trimmonongarevo, at his father’s decease; for Rer Mimebolambo’s father -was king of Morandavo, and this son of his was to have been his -successor; but there was a dispute between his uncle and him, several -years, till Rer Vovvern, at last, brought about a reconciliation between -them. Rer Mimebolambo replied in a few words, that those matters were -made up, that his uncle was king and he was under his command, and -therefore could not help it. We understood afterwards that deaan -Woozington had appointed to meet him and failed, however he was -unwilling to return home without doing somewhat, and attempted, for that -reason, to make an incursion and carry off a booty of slaves and cattle, -but was prevented. Our army followed them at a distance, to conduct them -safely into their own country, and then returned home. - -But that part of the news, which was most agreeable to me, was that -deaan Mernaugha and they had agreed to defer for this season their -intended expedition with deaan Crindo against Merfaughla, for I always -dreaded the thoughts of going into Anterndroea, not only lest a ship -should arrive whilst I should be absent, which would be six or seven -months, but for fear of seeing my old master deaan Mevarrow; but these -fears, however, being dissipated for the present, I lent a helping hand -with a good will enough, in the fortification of the town, with such -stones as were here in great plenty. No one was exempted from work, the -women and children assisted according to their strength, and we made a -wall round the town, at least a yard thick and three yards high, with -loop-holes to look through, or fire out at, as occasion offered. As we -had no mortar the stones were only laid one upon another, and yet we -were about two months before we finished it. - -Some of our principal men soon after procured leave to go into the -country to get honey, and hunt such wild cattle as they could find, of -which there were many on this side the river Oneghaloyhe. We looked on -ourselves to be perfectly safe at this time, it being between November -and April, when the river was swelled very large and there were no -canoes except here and there one, but it was impassable for an army. -With my master’s consent I accompanied them; we walked half a day very -briskly before we came to a proper place to bait at, and where we could -find ove (that is wild yams) or susers, which we found here in plenty; -but we had still a hard day’s journey to go to the place proposed for -our country habitation, and when we came there we had our house to -build. After our first arrival, which was in the evening, we took care -to get a good supper; two of us, who well knew the place, went to look -out for honey among the rocks, in the fissures or openings whereof bees -make their combs; the other two (for we were four in all) dug ove and -susers. Our companions succeeded and brought some honey, and we regaled -ourselves in an elegant manner. The next day by noon we finished our -house, which we thatched with palmetto leaves. The day following we -employed ourselves in getting some araffer, which is a pleasant liquor -that I had not tasted before; the tree from whence it flows is something -like a cocoa-nut tree but not quite so large, and rather a kind of -palmetto, called in their language satter. The long leaves or branches -are burnt off, and the trunk is left bare; then we cut off part of the -top of the tree, and with our lances or hatchets make a hole in the -middle, which in a short time fills with a liquid which issues as from a -spring. This may be sucked out with a reed till it is dry, yet it will -fill again the same day, and so continue for six or seven days before -the juice is totally exhausted. It is not like a sirup, but very sweet -and pleasant, and I never knew it give any one the flux, as some may -imagine, nor did any one of us meet with the least inconvenience from -drinking it. We wanted, however, some roast meat; so roving about the -next day, we espied a herd of about twenty of Hattoy’s cattle, and with -a little difficulty made ourselves masters of a bull. Now we lived -luxuriously; we made drinking cups of the bull’s horns; for by thrusting -them into the fire, and giving them a knock or two, the pith came all -out, and we were as well contented as some folks with fine glasses. It -is indeed surprising, though delightful, to see how plentifully -Providence has furnished this country with every thing, not only with -all the necessaries of life, but even with a delicious variety. If ever -any country flowed with milk and honey it is this; and with so much ease -are they to be had, that as the natives have no knowledge of the curse -of Adam and his posterity, so one would be tempted to think, as well for -this reason as from their colour, that they are not of his race, or that -the curse ever reached them, for they can get their living without the -sweat of their brows, or the least hard labour. Notwithstanding all -this, the follies and passions of men will too often lead them into -misery, though they have happiness in their power; in this fine country -their frequent quarrels with one another and open wars reduce them to -the greatest necessity in the midst of the greatest plenty. But they are -confined sometimes by so powerful an enemy, that they are afraid to stir -out of their houses to fetch what the land naturally produces; and this -was the then hard fortune of Feraingher, and the substance of our -conversation after supper; my companions having entertained me with an -account of the great power and strength of their country but a little -before, in the days of Rer Vovvern; and how deplorable its case was at -present, how they were obliged to confine themselves and get close -together, that they might be ready at a call to repulse an enemy, and by -that means abandon the finest and most plentiful part of the country. - -We lived now, however, very happily, and in affluence, during our -continuance at our country-house; we made just such an oven as I have -before described, and baked our beef in it; then we went in quest of -some honey to carry home with us. In which, as I was better acquainted -with the nature of bees than they, I had better fortune, and got as much -as I could carry off. When our beef grew so far touched that we could -not eat it, we looked out for more; it was my good fortune in particular -to meet with a young heifer, which I drove into a thicket, and having -killed her, I hallooed to my companions. This we agreed to dress, and -carry as much of it home as conveniently we could; in the first place, -however, we baked the marrow bones, boiled the liver, and spread the -marrow on it, as a dainty morsel; and then we made up our enters, and -marched homewards as well satisfied as we were heavily laden, but not -being in haste, we travelled very softly. - -We would not enter the town till midnight, lest we might be observed; -and now once more I wished for my wife to have been at home to receive -me. The next morning I waited on the chief lady with a horn of honey and -a piece of beef, who was highly delighted, but thought I had brought too -much; from her I went to the other where deaan Trongha was, and paid my -compliments to her. The deaan was very glad to see me eat a plentiful -breakfast, and was extremely pleased to hear me tell the various -circumstances of our sport; the others by this time, according to -custom, were come to present their lord with some part of what they had -got, by way of acknowledgment. As I was going home one met me who wanted -to buy some honey, it being rumoured about, that I had brought home a -large cargo; he gave me a fine silk lamber for a calabash of honey that -contained about two gallons. I thought myself very fine in it, and sure -I am, I was the first of the family who was ever dressed so much like a -Madagascar lord. Deaan Trongha told me, I had bought it cheaply enough -in conscience; for if honey had not been scarce it was worth four times -as much; silk is very plentiful in this country, if they would take the -pains to gather it. - -Here, through ignorance, I committed an egregious error, for as deaan -Trongha was saying, the man bought the honey dear. I answered a little -too smartly. “If this war continue but three or four years longer, a man -will be glad to sell a child for such a calabash of honey.” The prince -took me up with some warmth, and said, “Then I presume you will leave -us, and go to some inland prince for a belly full of victuals.” I -assured him, however, that I would stay with him till he could send me -home in some ship or another; and that no other motive should ever part -us. Though he said no more, I found he was uneasy, and could not find -out the reason till after we returned from the plantation, at which -time, as we were walking homewards alone, “Robin,” says he, “you are not -aware, perhaps, that our people imagine you can conjure; and as you know -the torratos, that is, writing and reading, you can foretell things to -come. Now by your talking of worse times in our country than the present -before these illiterate people, they will take it for granted that it -will certainly be so, and you will so discourage them, that they will -all run away; for they would pay as superstitious a regard to you as to -an umossee, if you thought it proper to act such a part; since necessity -(for the reason I have told you) seems to require it at this juncture.” -I replied that, though I was conscious of my error, yet I could never -think they would take me for a conjuror, or one who knew things before -they happened; for if I had been possessed of that talent, I would never -have taken this last unfortunate voyage, in which I was cast ashore on -this island. “What you say is true,” says he; “but these people are too -ignorant to be instructed, and it is not in your power or mine to -convince them: and to make the attempt is but to give them an ill -opinion of us; they must be indulged in their superstitious notions, be -humoured, and talked to like peevish sickly children.” “As this is the -case” said I, “I beg pardon, and faithfully promise you to be very -careful of my words, lest they should prove any means of discouragement -to them for the future.” - -In three or four days at most, our fine provision was gone; for I -distributed what I had, as is customary, among our neighbours; and then -we had little else but tamarinds and ashes. About three weeks after, -Eglasse and his man Toby came to pay me a visit, and brought some beef -and potatoes with them; for they knew our poverty. We had an odd sort of -conversation between Eglasse’s broken Madagascar, and my broken English; -but Toby, who spoke both languages, helped us out. He stayed with me all -night, and went the next day to deaan Trongha, and begged for me to live -with him five or six weeks, which was readily granted; so I shut up my -house, and in five or six hours arrived at Eglasse’s, where Efflep and -his two sons, James and John, gave me a hearty welcome. - -I used to walk about to the adjacent towns with Eglasse, and met with -several of the natives, who could speak English tolerably; but here was -one of them, who, when a boy, used to go of errands, and transact -business for the English pirates, who frequented this place; so that he -spoke English as well as his native tongue. He was very rich, had three -wives, many slaves and cattle; he had also wearing clothes which -belonged to such persons as died there; for when any one was sent sick -ashore, he used to take care of them, and if they died, he had what they -left. His true name was William Purser, though the natives called him -William Poser. He always treated me in a very handsome manner, when I -went to see him; but he never offered me any clothes, nor did I desire -any. For there I should have behaved but awkwardly in an English dress; -and as I had now a fine lamber to wear after their manner, I was very -well contented. - -I had been here above a month, before old Efflep died, and his son James -made a grand burial for him, after the manner of the country; which is -the same as in Anterndroea. He killed four or five beeves, to entertain -his friends who attended the funeral. The princes and lords do not kill -the beasts here; but a prince will eat any thing, even swine’s flesh, -though a slave should kill it. - -I lived very well between Eglasse and James, till about three or four -days before I was to go home; at which time I was seized with a violent -fever which turned to an ague, and brought me down so low that I was -unable to stir out of the house. They sent a messenger to acquaint deaan -Trongha with my misfortune, and took as much care of me as they possibly -could; and James would now and then boil a fowl to make a little broth -for me. I lay once for dead, and Eglasse being abroad, Toby, who was -left with me, called in the neighbours, and all of them thought that I -had taken my last gasp; insomuch that they went home, and James was -consulting which way to bury me. But when Eglasse returned about two or -three hours after, he perceived me breathe, and James burning something -under my nose, I revived, indeed, but was not sensible for two days, nor -able to sit up for many more. Deaan Trongha being informed that I was -dead, sent a messenger to know the truth, who found me alive, but not -able to speak to him. After this I gradually recovered; the ague hung -upon me three months, and I was two more before I had strength -sufficient to go home; insomuch that I had a strong inclination to see -deaan Trongha: Eglasse, however, was willing to detain me as long as he -could: for now I began to talk English tolerably well, and was good -company for him as long as he lived; which was but a little while after -my recovery. - -Five men having a cow to sell to Eglasse, asked me for him; and he being -in the plantation, I went and told him. He came away directly with me to -the men, and begged the favour of me to treat with them about the -purchase. They asked six pieces of eight, but insisted on four: I would -give them, however, no more than three. At last they said, if Eglasse -would give them the old lance which he had in his hand, they would take -the money. This alarmed me, they whispered, I perceived, two or three -times to one another; and having heard that Eglasse threatened the king, -deaan Mernaugha, I began to be terribly frighted, and told him in -English that they wanted the lance; and that I had good reasons to -suspect their behaviour; for the lance was not worth a meal of potatoes. -He, however, in a bravado, gave the man the lance: “Here,” said he, “we -won’t disagree; take the lance.” No sooner had he delivered it, than a -man came behind him, and with both hands pushed the lance in at his back -with that force, that it came out of his breast. I turned about at the -shriek which Eglasse made, and seeing the man pulling the lance out of -his body, I ran amongst the wild canes, which grew by a river side; and -the rustling I made appeared to me like the noise of pursuers. So that -it was some time before I could recover my senses; and when I did, I -still continued to listen with attention. In a short time I heard some -persons call after me, which proved to be James, and his brother John. I -was almost afraid to trust them, but seeing no other company, I came out -in tears to them. They told me that deaan Mernaugha had contrived -Eglasse’s death for threatening him so often; but that as I was an -Englishman, and belonged to deaan Trongha, I need not fear any thing, -for they could have killed you (said they) before you fled, if they had -been ordered so to do. This I thought was true. “Then” said I, “he may -imagine, perhaps, that I shall tell the captains of ships at their -arrival, that he kills white men; and under pretence of danger, may -think it expedient to kill me too.” But they assured me as I was an -Englishman he durst not do it; and that the executioners had told him -so. - -I went home with them, where lay the wounded corpse all naked. They -seized likewise on his goods, cattle, and on his two slaves, Robin and -Toby; and stayed in the town all night. The next morning they came to -me, and requested that I would go to the king along with them. “If I -were not afraid” said I “I would, were it on no other account than to -beg the body to bury it.” They answered, the king was so far from doing -me any harm, that he would be glad to see me, and they were well assured -he would grant my request; and, perhaps, give me some share too of -Eglasse’s goods. Upon this, James and I went; and calling on William -Purser, took him along with us. When I entered the town my heart misgave -me, but I considered there was no receding. Deaan Mernaugha was sitting -at his own door, with a great many people round about him. I approached, -and falling prostrate on the ground before him, licked his feet -according to the custom of the country; which the people were surprised -at, having never observed a white man ever to do so before. He permitted -me, indeed, at first; but soon after bid me rise, and not be afraid; for -he would not hurt a hair of my head. - -He then ordered Eglasse’s cattle to be brought before him, and commanded -them to take a white cow (not a bullock) and tie her to a tree. After -that the owley was brought out, and an altar was erected, as before -described, by placing the owley across two forked sticks, about six feet -high, upon a beam; when this was done, the cow was killed; then the king -rising from his seat, took a green bough, dipped it in the blood, and -sprinkled the owley. In the next place he took a small quantity of the -fat, and some of the sweet scented gum, and burnt them under it, making -the smoke ascend to the owley. After that he took two cutlasses, and -whetting them one against another (as a butcher does a knife and steel, -but not so quickly) he began his prayer to God, and the Lords of the -four quarters of the world, and to his forefathers by their respective -names, ending with his grandfather who made the oath with the English -captain; an account of which deaan Trongha had before given me. His name -after his death was Munguzungarevo. The form and manner of his prayer -was this, or to this effect. - - Bless me, O deaan Unghorray, thou Supreme God. Bless me, O you deaan - Meguddummateem. Bless me, O you deaan Antyfertraer. Bless me, O you - deaan Aneebeleesby. Bless me, O you deaan Antymoor. Bless me, O ye - [here he repeated several other names of his forefathers] but more - especially, O you deaan Munguzungarevo; bless my family, and this - kingdom; for I have had regard to your oath and the man whom I have - now slain is not an Englishman, but of another country; neither would - I have put him to death were it not for my own preservation; since he - often threatened to take away my life, whenever any ships should - happen to arrive. - -Whilst he was praying, his slaves were cutting up the beef; when he had -done, he ordered me to take the whole breast; and then he divided the -rest among the people. He was pleased to say, that I had none of that -barbarous disposition which some white people have; for he looked upon -me as a native; since I had long accustomed myself to the manners of -their country. I had no great inclination to take his beef, but -recollecting that Eglasse’s destruction was too much owing to his own -ill conduct, I thought it was safest to appear pleased with his offer. -Robin, the slave, was given to the executioner; but James bought Toby of -the king. I begged leave to bury the body, which favour was readily -granted me: and we returned back to James’s house. The next morning two -messengers came from deaan Trongha to inquire into the truth of this -story; for it had been reported that I was killed; and in case it had -proved so, they were ordered to go directly to deaan Mernaugha, and -demand satisfaction of him, he being fully determined to revenge my -death; but as it was otherwise, and they had no instructions relating to -Eglasse’s case, I went home with them. - -At my arrival I was received with as much joy as if I had been a friend -of the last importance to them: I went soon after to the chief lady’s -house, where the other was then present, though she had not been there -in half a year before. Deaan Trongha seemed very well pleased likewise, -and made me give a particular detail of my own severe sickness, and the -tragical end of poor Eglasse; saying, at the same time, that I had so -many fortunate escapes, that he did not think I should die in their -country; but that it would be my lot once more to see old England. Here -he repeated his promise to send me thither. In the interim, however, he -ordered my house to be repaired, the cattle having eaten up most of the -thatch; and provisions to be given me not only for the present, but for -the time to come; for he had lately a good harvest, so that we lived in -more affluence than before. - -One day I asked leave to pay a visit to Rer Befaugher; for in times of -danger from enemies, none went out of town without permission. As I was -passing by a river, and walking down to it, I perceived the track of an -alligator, which gave a great check to that inclination, and there being -two or three houses at but a small distance from it, I was going towards -them to beg a little water; but a young woman who was going with her -calabash to dip for some, desired me to stay, and she would supply me -with as much as I would drink; I told her I would accept the favour, but -as she went into the water up to her knees to fill her vessel, an -alligator with a spring caught fast hold of both her thighs, and dragged -her into the stream; but as she kept her head and hands above water, I -threw one lance away, and ran to her assistance with the other; which -she took hold of, and pulled her to me with all my might, but the -alligator still keeping his hold, we called aloud for help. At length I -got hold of her hand, and she directing me where the creature lay, I -struck him with my lance, and wounded him; but not so deeply as to -oblige him to let go, till a second stroke. By this time proper -assistance came, and we brought her off safely with two large wounds -only, made with his long jaws, and sharp teeth. She was now perfectly -naked, for she had lost her lamber in the struggle; but that was not -worth regarding. We saved her life, and every body was highly pleased -with that. Rer Befaugher entertained me in a very courteous manner, and -having gratified his curiosity, in hearing a short narrative of my late -dangerous adventures, I returned home. - -The people were ordered to get ready to march in three days at farthest; -and the umossee was employed to prophesy of the success of the war. Upon -this he took some sand, tossed it about, and made several scrawls with -it upon a board. At length he bid them look for a tree that was -perfectly upright, and after that for a black and baldfaced cow, which -being found, and brought to the tree, was killed; then the umossee took -some of the blood with his hand, smeared the tree, and invoked not only -the demons, but the spirits of deaan Trongha’s forefathers; calling on -them all to arise and hear what he had to say; which was to this effect. -That their grandson, deaan Trongha, was going to war against their most -implacable enemy, the king of Merfaughla. In the next place, he ordered -two men of equal strength to cut the tree down with hatchets, one to the -northward, and the other to the southward, and to give stroke for stroke -with each other; saying if the tree fell toward the former, bad success -would attend their enterprise. Those of the vulgar sort who were then -present, stood gaping to swallow, as it were, every divine word, that -came out of the mouth of this wonder-working prophet. How the mistake -happened, I can not say, but the tree fell to the northward, though it -was beyond all doubt intended to fall the other way; for when deaan -Trongha perceived it, let us cut up the beef (said he) with a smile, and -be merry; that is the best part of the ceremony. We forgot to observe, -that what little wind there was, was to the southward. We should have -chosen a more proper time. He strictly enjoined, however, all present to -say nothing at home to the women of what had passed: so we told them at -our return that the tree fell to the southward; in order that they -should tell their husbands the same story. - -This conduct of deaan Trongha’s confounded me in a suspicion, which I -had entertained for some time, which was this: that some of these lords, -who are men of sense, keep one of these umossees with a political view, -and only to amuse the ignorant populace; who here, as well as in other -parts, must be cajoled in their superstitious notions, and allured by -such artifices as political governors know how to practise to advantage; -though they themselves regard but little what their conjurors say, of -their talking with, and having familiar converse with the demigods and -spirits. - -Here now was a seeming ill omen, and too many of the vulgar sort had -seen it, to be trusted with the secret; for which reason an expedient -must be found out to avert and disannul it. The demons must be consulted -and addressed a second time, to procure their favour and protection; so -away goes the umossee, invoking again and again, and conjuring till he -conjured me into the wars. A bird, called tuluho, which is something -like our pheasant, but smaller, and very scarce to be found, must be -caught dead or alive; then a sea-crab, and a variety of other things, -which he particularly named. These he blended all together, muttering -incantations all the time. Then he bound them up in a clout, which was -afterwards fixed on the top of a stick about the length and bigness of a -walking-cane. This was a charm which was to prove destructive to the -enemy. This he called the elodge; and this was to be carried in -solemnity before the army. But who should be a proper person to be the -bearer was the next question; and the demons were to be again consulted -on this important part of the affair; who were pleased to reveal to him, -or (which is all the same thing to stupid bigots, who implicitly rely on -whatever he shall say) that no one was qualified to carry this charm, -but he who had no relations living on this island. Now from my former -observations, I used frequently to contemn these umossees, and smile at -their conjurations; and after this hint, I need not, I presume, urge -many words to demonstrate from whence his pretended revelation came, -though he was pleased to father it on the demons, or demigods; or -whatever other name we English may call them. For, to do the man -justice, he had not the impiety or assurance to introduce deaan -Unghorray, or the Supreme God, into any part of this religious farce. - -“Upon this declaration of his,” said deaan Trongha, in my absence, -“where shall we find a man without some relations!” “That,” says he, “I -cannot tell, but this is the mind of the demons, and they would never -direct it, were there no such man to be found; you must therefore -recollect yourself. Now I think of it,” says he, “there is your white -man Robin is the only man, I dare say, who is qualified for that -important office;” “but then,” said deaan Trongha, “notwithstanding he -may be such a man, yet it is not proper for him to go, besides I have -given him my word he shall not go against his inclination.” “Why then,” -said the umossee, “you must find out some other person more proper if -you can.” Having done his business away he went, leaving the deaan in no -small perplexity, who was a man of strict honour and a punctual observer -of his word. Whereupon he sent for me, and told me, it was in my power -to be very serviceable to the whole country, but more especially to -himself, and that I should be gratefully rewarded for my compliance with -his request; but he insisted first on my promise. “If it be not to kill -a man,” said I, “I should be proud of an opportunity to oblige you.” He -then told me ingenuously the whole story, and that it could not possibly -be helped, or else he would not have asked it of me. I paused a while, -but upon a short recollection, said, all I feared was what I told him -before; but since there was an absolute necessity for it, I should -readily acquiesce. “Hereupon,” said he, “I will protect you, and take as -much care of your life and health as of my own.” And immediately ordered -a slave to attend me, and all things necessary to be got ready for me. I -was to carry this charm, called the elodge, in my left hand, at about -three or four stones cast distant from the army, during their march, and -at night pitch it at the same distance from the camp, pointing it toward -the enemy’s country, then wash myself and mix among the crowd wherever I -pleased. This was to be done till we should have an engagement with -Woozington’s army; I was to have ten beeves and two slaves for my -trouble. The vulgar imagine that this charm has a poisonous quality, and -that was the reason I was to wash before I came near any of them; but -deaan Trongha told me privately, that he knew well enough I did not -think it any way pernicious. “No sir,” said I, “I am very well assured -there is neither harm nor good in it, and they shall see me lick it -before their faces if they please, which none of them would venture to -do for a hundred oxen. I can never think,” said I, “that you yourself -have that confidence in it, as you tell them, but you see the ill -consequence of making use of these conjurors; for the common people are -so strongly persuaded of their power over them by these charms, that -were your own life to be in danger, you must do what this imaginary -prophet says his demigods direct, though you were to carry this -yourself.” “What you say,” said he, “is very true, and were I to refuse -to let you carry it, they would refuse to march; or if they did, would -charge me with every miscarriage consequent upon it.” “Yes sir,” said I, -“but there is still a farther danger, for had the umossee but courage -and cunning enough, you have put it in his power to make even yourself -subservient to his directions; under the pretence of their being the -orders of the demons. And it is but his saying his demons or spirits -have ordered such or such a thing to be done, though it be even against -yourself, they durst not disobey his orders; for he has them all at his -beck, if he did but know it.” And here I cannot but reflect, that not -only Madagascar, and other heathenish countries are possessed with this -vice of superstition; but even christian nations have been, and are yet -too much tainted with it: of this and its mischievous consequences, -there have been many flagrant instances. - -Soon after we marched out of town, I had a slave, like other great men, -to carry my mat and provision for me, and was furnished with every thing -I could reasonably desire. Now came the umossee, and put the elodge into -my left hand, and I marched in state before them. The next day we joined -Rer Befaugher, and two days after that, Rer Mundrosser; James, the son -of Efflep, and his man Toby, were both in the army, so that we had good -company every evening, as soon as I had fixed my elodge and washed -myself. We passed the great river Oneghaloyhe, wading through a ford, -which lay a great way higher than where I passed it before. Here our -people stocked themselves with beef; for we frequently halted at noon, -on purpose to give them time to hunt Hattoy’s cattle. - -When I came to the river where several alligators lay, though I had my -firebrand in my hand, yet I would not venture to pass over by myself. -Then the umossee came up to me and said, I need not be afraid, for -whilst I carried the elodge, the demons would protect me from all harm. -I laughed at him and told him, “I was well assured he did not imagine -that I gave any credit to his assertion, neither have you any such -notion of its power; but if you have, do you carry it over here, and -either go with me or before me.” However, though he had more wit, I -forced him to fetch two guns, that I might discharge them into the water -to make the alligators retreat; and then I went over. We saw several -people who belonged to two petty princes not far off, and were hunting -here for their diversion; as they were not enemies, our people had -abundance of discourse with them. Though we passed through a very -mountainous wilderness, yet we lay but two nights in it, for they knew a -much nearer way than I did when I came alone. When I saw Vohitchfutey, I -returned in a very melancholy mood into the camp; insomuch that deaan -Trongha took notice of it, and asked me, what I ailed? I told him, we -were now drawing near to Anterndroea, which had been a scene of misery -to me, and I had terrible apprehensions of deaan Mevarrow. But he -cheered me up, and said, they durst not venture to injure me, and he was -very well assured that they would not attempt it, as well out of fear, -as out of respect to him. - -The next day we arrived at Madamvovo, the river at which I used to water -my cattle, when in deaan Murnanzack’s country. This was ordered to be -the place of rendezvous, and deaan Murnanzack with his brethren, and -their forces all met here. Deaan Afferrer soon took notice of me, and -when I went to lick his feet he lifted me up and seated me by himself, -asking deaan Trongha at the same time how I came to him? I was desired -to tell my own tale, which accordingly I did to his satisfaction. He -said, I had taken a great deal of pains for liberty, but it was no more -than he would have done himself under the same circumstances; and wished -me all the good success imaginable. - -Deaan Crindo and his sons came the next day, and deaan Mevarrow and his -brother along with them. Though I was sorry to find he was recovered of -the yaws, yet I ventured to go to him, when I found his brother was with -him. After the usual ceremony of licking their feet, they said they were -glad to see me, and asked me why I left them? I pretended, in case he -would give me my wife, to return as soon as the army parted. Whereupon -both told me, she would not marry any other man, but continued -constantly to lament my absence. This drew unfeigned tears from me, and -here I must confess, that if a sincere conjugal affection be a weakness -in man, I must own, let the world think as it pleases, myself guilty of -that weakness. These tears, however, as it proved afterwards, were the -happy means of deceiving them, and of my escape from danger. And had my -shedding them been a piece of artifice only, it might carry its own -justification with it; since I had good reason to fear he would have -murdered me privately, when he perceived I either contemned or hated -him. At night I let deaan Trongha into the secret, lest he should -suspect I was carrying on some sinister design in visiting Mevarrow. -Here I met with my old trusty friend, who had all this time kept my -secrets. He told me likewise, that my wife continued inconsolable, and -repented every day of her life that she did not go with me. - -In about three days, the army, which now consisted of about four -thousand men, marched, and I went before them with the elodge. On the -day following we entered the country of Merfaughla, and here the army -divided into three parts as in their former expedition, and marched with -much more circumspection than before, for we were in an enemy’s country; -I still marched in the front. As we were passing between the two woods, -a volley of shot was all on a sudden discharged at me; but the enemy ran -away as soon as they had fired. They were a small party in ambuscade, on -purpose to lay hold on such opportunities. The shot whistled about my -ears, and some small boughs that flew off from the trees striking me, I -could not immediately tell whether I was wounded or not. However I -stopped, and was determined to proceed no farther. Deaan Tradaughe, who -was the nearest commander, ordered me to go on; but I peremptorily -refused, unless they would send a party to march before. The umossee too -came, and talked to me in his old conjuring dialect; and with the same -success as he did at the river. At length deaan Crindo came, and -commanded me to go on, declaring he would otherwise compel me. I was -terribly nettled at the haughtiness of one, whom I had so much reason to -hate, and boldly told him he was a proud prince, and that I thanked God -I was not under his jurisdiction. “It is true,” said he, “or else I -would take care you should go no farther.” Deaan Trongha was now come -forward, and asked what was the matter? To whom deaan Crindo complained -of my being both obstinate and saucy. He answered, it was unreasonable -as well as cruel to desire I should be exposed to danger at that silly -rate; and as to the man’s pertness, said deaan Trongha, you forget he is -a white, and as good as any of us all. In short, deaan Crindo was -obliged to let a hundred young men go before me, and in good time truly -it was; for there were several such firings at us that afternoon from -small ambuscades. - -Two days after this we came to the river, not only where we had encamped -before, but fought and defeated deaan Woozington, and killed his brave -general Ry-Opheck. Here we encamped again, and as no enemy appeared, -most of us were for plundering the country; but deaan Trongha persuaded -us against it, and advised us to march still on, in order to find the -enemy out, if possible, before they divided their forces into small -parties. As for my part, I did not care how soon we came to a battle, -for then I should get rid of the elodge. - -At length when we had marched four days, a body of the enemy of about a -thousand appeared on a plain before us, and deaan Trongha drew out his -countrymen to fight them. The umossee came up to me, charging me to -march before my master with the elodge, and to throw it towards the -enemy as soon as the engagement began. We marched forwards, and they -advanced, though but slowly to meet us, for they had a secret design. -Deaan Trongha, as they wanted, drew near, and they still kept firing, -though at a distance; however, it was fight enough for my purpose, as -being a fair excuse for throwing away the elodge. I did it with -alacrity, and returned forthwith to the camp; for I had neither gun nor -lance to fight, and was glad at my heart to be eased of so troublesome a -post. The enemy withdrew into a wood, and our people eagerly followed -and fired at them, till the general, who, with eagle’s eyes, looked -round about him, notwithstanding the heat of the action, and discovered -a long train of fire-arms on a rising bank of earth, among the trees and -bushes. Upon that he immediately called out to his people to stop, -discovering, moreover, a great number of men concealed in a ditch, that -was cast up for that purpose, so he marched back without the loss of one -man; for there was no fighting in an unknown wood, and with an unknown -force. - -Deaan Woozington was, doubtless, one of the most subtile artful men on -the island, for though he had not force enough to face an army of four -thousand men, and his country was ruined, yet he found out ways and -means to be revenged in the severest manner; nor did my valiant master -deaan Trongha, notwithstanding his great conduct and bravery, escape his -resentment. Our beef being all spent and no enemy to be found that would -fight, parties were sent out in quest of cattle and slaves, and returned -with good success; though the principal generals, that is to say, deaan -Crindo, deaan Murnanzack, and deaan Trongha continued in the camp. Some -scouts, however, who had discovered where a large herd of cattle were, -coming in, Trongha would go out himself to fetch them; deaan Crindo, -indeed, advised him against it, but he would not hearken to his counsel. -So about a hundred of the Anterndroeans, with a like number of his own -people went with us, for I determined to go, but, Providence designed -otherwise, I was taken with a violent pain in my thigh. I went out with -them, however, for I was very loth to stay behind him; but my pain -increasing, the deaan would not permit me to proceed, and I was forced -to hop as it were back, for I could scarcely walk, and never saw this -great good prince more; for in three days’ after, three men brought the -melancholy news of deaan Trongha’s death, as follows. - -About sunrising, a man informed the general, that a party of about fifty -of the enemy appeared upon the plain; whereupon he marched his little -army out of the wood towards them, and soon saw their number increase; -he was resolved, however, to attack them. Here he was guilty of a piece -of ill conduct, forgetting that the Anterndroeans were good for little -else but bush-fighting. When they came nearer, they saw another party, -and though soon after a third appeared, yet there was no retreating. -Some of the Anterndroeans, it is true, ran away, and others concealed -themselves in the high grass; so that there were but threescore of his -own Feraignher people, stood with him to oppose some hundreds. They -maintained the fight, however, half the morning; the general received -two wounds without falling, but at length, a third killed him. By this -time there were not above twenty of his party left, and they resolutely -forced their way through the enemy, of which number were those, who gave -us this account. The Anterndroea men who skulked in the grass, were most -of them killed; for the grass there being very long, and very dry at -this time of the year, the enemy set fire to it, and it ran like -wildfire, scorching the men who lay concealed under it; so that they -were obliged to rise, and most of them were overtaken and cut to pieces. - -The death of this great man was an inexpressible loss to the whole army, -and by all was sincerely lamented. It was, indeed, a mortifying stroke -to me; and I was inconsolable, not knowing what calamities might befall -me in this country. Rer Befaugher did not return till ten days after, at -which time, though he brought a good prize of cattle and slaves, yet his -joy was all damped at once with the news of his brother’s decease; which -was so shocking to him, that he was not composed enough to talk of any -affairs of the army till the next day. This unfortunate accident obliged -me to carry on the deceit with Mevarrow, by assuring him that I would -come privately to him, as soon as the army broke up; but I was very -uneasy till I had a favourable opportunity of communicating my whole -project to Rer Befaugher, and of begging his protection, which he -readily granted. Whereupon it was agreed that I should absent myself two -or three days before their separation, in order to blind deaan Mevarrow, -and make him think that I ran away from the Feraignher people and fled -to his town before him; when, in reality, I and my man only went by -night to a place appointed, and stayed till Rer Befaugher and the rest -came to us. - -The several parties who went out for plunder returned; and after the -cattle were divided, which were some thousands, besides slaves, the army -decamped. The Feraignher people did not see the Anterndroeans home, as -they did before; but took their leave here, and went directly to their -own country a much nearer way. I and my servant, as was privately agreed -on with Rer Befaugher, went away, and met them according to appointment, -to the great surprise of all the people; for there had been a diligent -inquiry made after me, every one imagining that I was lost. Rer -Befaugher made such a clamour with deaan Mevarrow, and some others, that -deaan Crindo gave him two slaves to pacify him, lest a quarrel of -dangerous consequence should have ensued. One of the slaves, who was a -young man, Rer Befaugher made me a present of. I was somewhat surprised, -not knowing immediately what he meant by it; but telling the whole -story, and saying, that both were by right mine, I was satisfied; he -called my slave’s name Sambo. It was near a month before we passed over -the river Oneghaloyhe, spending our time gaily in hunting, eating, and -drinking, making but very short marches. We did this out of a charitable -design to feed our captives; for we had ruined their country to that -degree that for many months they had very little to subsist on; so that -the poor wretches looked dismally thin. - -When we came within one or two days’ journey of Rer Befaugher’s, the -cattle were divided; and such as had two or more slaves presented one of -them to their lord, in conformity to the same law and custom which is -used in Anterndroea, as I have before related. This I thought a proper -time to mention to Rer Befaugher what I was promised as a gratuity for -carrying the elodge; and told him the fatigue and hazard I underwent did -very well deserve it. He said, there would have been no objection -against it in case deaan Trongha had lived: however, he would go to -deaan Mondrosser and see what he said to it. He returned soon with five -cows, and some short time after that a girl slave was sent me; but as I -had already a man, who was as much as I wanted, I desired to have two -cows instead of the girl, which request was readily complied with. My -cattle I intrusted to the care of my man Sambo. - -When we arrived at Rer Befaugher’s town, I left my cattle with my slave, -and went to deaan Trongha’s town to visit his widows. There I found a -melancholy scene. The eldest lady would fain have persuaded me to live -with her; but I told her I was not safe unless I was under the -protection of some such great man as Rer Befaugher was; but I would -embrace every opportunity of coming to see her, and would for ever -testify the veneration I had for the memory of her dearly beloved lord, -as well as my gratitude to her for all former favours. - -Upon my return I met my man Sambo, who informed me that he was going to -build me a house; Rer Befaugher had provided one for me, and gave him -likewise the necessary furniture for it. When I paid my respects to Rer -Befaugher on that account, I was informed of deaan Crindo’s death, which -(according to the relation of some who came from his country after us) -was very sudden and unexpected. - -Deaan Woozington, with what forces he could get together, kept always -within a day’s march of us, having spies for ever out to observe all our -motions every way, and who were going and returning alternately to and -from his little army with intelligence of what they observed; so that he -knew very well when we parted from the Anterndroean people. They were -still too strong for him, so that he was obliged to wait some time -longer for an opportunity of executing his revenge, and accordingly -followed them at a considerable distance till they arrived at Madamvovo; -where deaan Murnanzack, and brethren, Afferrer and Mussecoro, parted -from them in order to go home; and this was the crisis that he then -wanted. So waiting but one day more, till they were at too great a -distance to assist each other, he attacked deaan Crindo in the night, -and killed him with a great number of his people, and put the rest to -flight, deaan Mevarrow narrowly escaping; and this he did so -expeditiously and so successfully, that he had time to withdraw into -Merfaughla with most of the cattle which they had taken from him. - -Deaan Mundumbo, indeed, upon his father’s decease, endeavoured to act as -king; but he had neither courage enough to maintain his claim, nor was -he so much beloved by the people to stand in competition with deaan -Murnanzack. He wanted some of those valuable qualities which his father -was possessed of; for it must be acknowledged that Crindo was undaunted -in war, and had the spirit of authority at home, which alone supported -his dignity, and made him useful to his country. Murnanzack had his -uncle’s magnanimity in war, and his majesty at home, besides all the -human and social virtues; and was, in reality, a truly great man: so -that Mundumbo was obliged to fly into Antenosa, till matters were -accommodated; and what became of either of them I never heard, for not -long afterwards I was moved into another country at a farther distance -from Anterndroea. - -Rer Befaugher entertained me as handsomely as his brother had done. He -had but one wife, with whom he had cohabited nine years, without any -issue. This was a great misfortune, especially as she was a very -agreeable, good-natured woman, and behaved herself after so endearing a -manner, that he preferred her to all the women in the world. In short, -she was universally respected, and extremely kind to me. As three of my -cows gave a considerable quantity of milk, and as they furnished me with -carravances and Guineacorn, I and my man Sambo lived well enough. This -continued all the rain-time, and though we planted and sowed, yet we -never stayed to reap. For, - -News was brought by some people who lived at a great distance, that -deaan Woozington was marching toward us with a numerous army. Spies were -sent out to observe them, who at their return told us, that according to -the best computation they could make, there were about three thousand -under arms, and within three days’ march. Deaan Mernaugha hearing this, -gave us orders to send all our cattle, wives, and slaves to the river -Feraingher, which runs on one side of deaan Mernaugha’s town. I was so -careful of the little stock I had, that I attended them to the river; -and went immediately to James’s house, (the son of Efflep,) where I met -with Hempshire, his wife, and daughter. Two days after, upon information -that Woozington had passed Oneghaloyhe, we were ordered farther -northward to Murnumbo; where in less than three days we were alarmed -with fresh news of an army of Saccalauvors being just ready to attack -us; whereupon we were obliged to retreat immediately, and Woozington, as -we were informed, not having penetrated so far as the river Feraingher, -we made an attempt to go there again; but the Saccalauvor army was so -near us, that we were forced to fly for our lives, and leave all our -cattle behind us, and make the best of our way to the river. Those of -our people who had any arms made a running fight of it, in order to save -the women and children; though we reached the river, yet they were in -sight of us by this time. As for Hempshire’s wife she ran away from him; -so out of compassion I took him by the hand, and hurried him into the -very same cane-thicket where I fled at the death of Eglasse. We had not -long seated ourselves there, before we heard some women and children -shriek out, who were taken prisoners at a very small distance from us in -the same thicket; which put us into the utmost consternation, for we -could expect nothing but instant death. We had not been long under these -frightful apprehensions before I espied the enemy. Upon which we got up -to run, but knew not whither; one of them, however, fired, and shot poor -Hempshire in the back; of which wound he died upon the spot. I was more -nimble, and got out of his reach; but just at the entrance of the -thicket I met another, who ran directly at me. He took a lance in order -to throw at me, but I called out to him to save my life, and told him I -would go with him. As he saw I had no weapons (for I had neither lance -nor gun) he bid me come forward; so I went and licked his feet according -to custom, and owned myself his slave. Whereupon he told me, that he -would spare my life, since I was a white man, and was unarmed. - -He carried me with him into the body of the army, and the news was soon -spread abroad, that a white man was taken prisoner; insomuch that the -general heard of it, and thereupon my conqueror and I were both sent -for. Upon my kneeling and licking his feet, he asked if there were any -body about him who could speak either English or Dutch? but he was -surprised to hear me address him in his own language. He asked me -abundance of questions with regard to the strength of deaan Mernaugha; -the number of his people, and a thousand other things of the like -nature; all which I avoided answering as artfully as I could for Rer -Befaugher’s sake. However, after the examination was over, he gave the -person who took me another slave in exchange, at which I was somewhat -better pleased than before; for it was a miserable thing indeed to be -the slave of a slave. My new master ordered me to follow him, which I -did whilst they marched, though that was not long; for soon after they -encamped on the banks of the river. This was the best and finest camp I -had ever seen in this country, for all the tents were very good. As soon -as the general’s tent was erected, he desired me to sit down, and inform -him by what accident I came upon the island; and how it came to pass, -that, as I was a white man, I spoke their language with so much freedom. -I gratified him with a long detail of my whole history, to which he -listened with great attention; and we had abundance of discourse -concerning my surprising adventures. After he saw that I had supped, -(for I did not eat with him,) he gave one of his head officers strict -charge to see that I wanted for nothing; and when one of his people -advised him to set a guard over me, he said, there was no danger of my -running away; for as white men have no home on this island, all places -are alike to them; and they will stay with those longest who entertain -and feed them best; and he was well assured that the people of -Feraignher, at that time, were in no capacity to oblige me. And his -notion was very just, for so heartily did I feed this evening, having -eaten no beef for a long time before, that I was very sick. And when I -came to reflect that ships came to this country, and the poor state and -condition of St. Augustine-bay rendered it very improbable that they -should come to trade there, I found, that by this Providence, I had more -hopes of getting sooner to England here, than at any other place I had -ever yet been at: and the general was right in his notion, for I had no -business to fly or desert since I could not mend myself. Having free -liberty to go where I pleased, my curiosity led me to see if I knew any -of the captives; and upon examination I met with Hempshire’s widow and -daughter, Toby, and Robin, and Sambo, my own man; I shook him by the -hand, and told him I was a slave now as well as he. He said, I am sorry -for it; for I had much rather have served you than any one else; and -sure I am I shall never live so well again. - -When the general had fully gratified his curiosity in inquiring after my -affairs, I had likewise as strong an inclination to know who was my -master, and was informed that he was dignified by the names of Rer -Towlerpherangha and Rer Vove. It is a custom here for persons of -distinction to have two names; and as the last is the most in use, I -shall hereafter distinguish him by that only. He was grandson to Rer -Trimmonongarevo, king of Saccalauvor; though called Yong-owl by the -Europeans, and Morandavo from a river of that name. Rer Vove intrusted -me to the care of one Guy, who was a considerable man, and a relation -(though at some distance) of the king’s. All the great families in this -country have a general name of distinction, which they value themselves -upon; as most of our European gentlemen do on their coat of arms. - -We continued here two days, in hopes that deaan Woozington would in that -time have penetrated through the country on that side, and have joined -us; but we were informed that Rer Befaugher, by his good conduct, had -blocked up some passages, and so well defended others, that he was glad -to withdraw without effecting any thing to the purpose. On this news, -our general retired to Murnumbo, pleasing himself with hopes that deaan -Mernaugha would be foolish and hot enough to follow and fight him. -Mernaugha, however, wisely chose to sit down for once contented with his -present loss, rather than hazard all for the gratification of his -revenge, which might be more justly deemed foolish pride and passion, -than real valour. Rer Vove perceiving no more could be done when he had -continued here about seven or eight days, till the parties ordered out -were returned, marched homeward, and instead of putting a guard over me, -as he did over others, gave me a blunderbuss, and made me guardian -general over several of my late country folks, giving me full commission -to shoot the first who should attempt to run away. - -I had several under my care, but more particularly Hempshire’s widow, -and three other women, who, as I attended them one evening into a -private recess in a wood, told me, “it was a great mortification to them -to be guarded by one who so lately fought for, and defended them; -telling me, moreover, that it was no great difficulty for them to find -means of making their escape, in case I was but willing.” “You are -right,” said I, “and it is your interest, as you have families; besides, -you may possibly be sold to some ships:” which was what I heartily -wished for, as my interest was contrary to theirs. I told them, -moreover, that “I would never have gone from Feraignher, if I had not -been forced away; but since the good providence of God had thought fit -thus to dispose of me, I would not oppose the divine will, nor act -inconsistently with my own reason, for I was well assured of better -provision here than in Feraignher, in its present unhappy state, -especially as I had lost all the cattle I had, though my stock, indeed, -was but small.” I assured them, however, that I would never mention what -they had proposed, which they, being under fearful apprehensions, begged -that I would never disclose the secret; neither did I, but looked a -little more circumspectly after them than I did before. - -Though our marches were but short, yet we soon arrived to the confines -of Saccalauvor, where there were no inhabitants. It is a delightful -country, and I saw a great variety of monkies, baboons, virjees, and -wild swine, &c., in abundance, but very few, or none of Hattoy’s cattle. - -About three days afterwards we passed by divers towns, which belonged to -Rer Mimebolambo, alias Moiang Andro; it being the selfsame country which -Rer Vovvern, late king of Feraignher, procured for him by treaty, of his -uncle Rer Trimmonongarevo. In the towns and meadows there were abundance -of humped cattle, and such as were much larger than any I had ever seen -in the island before, but was informed these were kept near home for -private use; that the prince and lords took care to have their principal -stock of cattle a great way farther to the northward, and in such -numbers, that they could not tell how many they had. Of the truth of -which I was soon afterwards very fully convinced. Our forces now -dwindled away apace, since numbers went daily home as they came near to -the several towns to which they belonged, without taking any formal -leave of the general, since they had no pay to take, or any to demand; -for every one being conscious to himself that it is his interest to join -with his neighbours in preventing an enemy from committing plunder, no -one ever murmured at their generals for leading them forth to war, it -being their own cause, and not the general’s, in which they engage; for -if they found their lords proved imperious and tyrannical, they would -refuse to go with them, since they could easily remove and live under -others. They fight for their own security and ease, and when they get -any plunder from their enemies, they think themselves sufficiently -rewarded. - -Moherbo is the principal town, or rather city, and royal residence of -the king, who is our general’s grandfather, to whom, as in duty bound, -we paid a visit before he went home. When we arrived within a mile or -two, three messengers were despatched for form sake, to give him notice -of our approach, and to learn his royal pleasure, who made answer, “that -if Rer Vove should come, he was very ready to receive him.” Hereupon he -put his people in order, and appointed fifty men to stand in the front -and discharge their guns; and then fifty more to relieve them; the -shells all the time sounding. When we came within sight of the king, who -was sitting with his courtiers and people round about him, we heard -their shells sound and drums beat; this, their congratulatory music, was -but a dull empty sound; in some measure, indeed, like their country -tubs, which are made of a light tree hollowed very thin, and covered -with a calf’s skin that is dressed much like our parchment. Both ends -are beaten at once, one with a stick, and the other with the hand. - -This king lives in a more splendid manner, and has a gayer retinue than -I had ever seen before. He has twenty or thirty several houses, or -rather a large court enclosed with palisades in the town; but as it was -not large enough for the reception of so many people, he sat on this -occasion without the town. Our first fifty men advanced like -morris-dancers, and fired their guns very regularly one after another; -and upon their retreat, the other fifty advanced. After this, the -general stept forwards, and bending one knee, licked the king’s. Several -principal men bowed likewise their knees, but licked his feet. This -ceremony over, a mat was spread at about four yards’ distance, and the -general with three or four of the chieftains sat down, and Guy was -amongst them. As for my part, I stood behind my master with my -blunderbuss. - -This prince, Rer Trimmonongarevo, made, as I thought, a very odd and -formidable figure, whether it was because I had heard many stories of -some of his rash and barbarous proceedings, which had prejudiced me -against him. His dress was very singular, and such as I had never seen -before; his hair was plaited in ringlets, beginning at the crown of the -head; then another range of knots was bigger than the former, and so -downwards, every lower circle was larger than the upper; on several of -these knots of hair hung a large quantity of fine beads. Some part of -his fore-headpiece of beads hung almost over his nose, among these were -several gold ones. He had a very fine gold necklace about his neck; over -his shoulders hung two strings of beads, and several of them gold, in -much the same manner as our aldermen of London’s chains; on each wrist -about six manelers of silver, seeming large enough to weigh nearly three -dollars apiece, and four rings of gold on his fingers. Nearly twenty -strings of beads, closely set, were twisted round his legs; a silk -lamber hung over his shoulders, loose like a mantle, and another, as -usual, twisted round his waist. He was an old prince, not less, by what -I could understand, than fourscore years of age at least, yet of a -robust and healthy constitution. His colour was rather tawny, like an -Indian, than perfectly black; his eyes fierce, and his whole appearance -formidable; or the singularity of his dress and character made me -imagine so; he soon took notice of me, and asked Rer Vove if I was the -white man he had taken prisoner? and what was my name? He called to me, -“Robin, mehove a toee,” which is come hither. I then laid my blunderbuss -down, and approached him with my hands lifted up and closed before me. -As soon as I got to him I fell on my knees, and licked first one of his -feet and then the other, as the common people did before me. He ordered -me to sit by him, but not on his own mat neither. He asked several -questions in relation to my first coming on this island, and informed me -that he had a white man of his own; “but he is an Englishman,” said he, -“and whether you can speak that language, or not, I cannot say.” I told -him I was an Englishman myself. I began to cheer up, and have a little -more courage upon this agreeable news; and was surprised that my master -had not mentioned this circumstance before. I asked the king how long -his white man had been with him? and what his name was? “Six or seven -years,” said he: “his name is Will.” Upon this, he ordered a man to call -him immediately, who brought word that Will was gone out of town, and -would not be back in less than three or four days; so finding the king -enter upon some new discourse with the general, I withdrew to my former -post. - -Soon after we went to a house which was ordered for our reception, where -I was discharged from guarding his slaves; for he did that, as he told -me afterwards, only to try my fidelity, since he knew very well, if I -had not been honest, they would have all got away; but as he was -convinced I did him justice, he had a post of much greater importance to -intrust me with. By this time, came in Ry Chemotoea, the king’s -principal wife, and the grandmother of Rer Vove, my master. She was the -largest woman I had ever seen in all my life. When she sat, her breasts -hung down to her lap; she walked but little, being generally carried on -a kind of bier on men’s shoulders. She had a numerous retinue, besides -slaves, who brought four calabashes of toake; two of honey, and two of -sugar canes, together with six baskets of rice. The king sent ten -beeves, four of which were very large fat oxen. As soon as Ry Chemotoea -was gone, we sat down to drinking the honey-toake, till Rer Vove was -perfectly intoxicated, and fell asleep, at which time three slaves came -from his grandmother laden with presents; one with a fat capon boiled, -for they made capons here; another with a pot of dried rice; and the -third with a basket, a wooden dish, and a spoon. This was the best -supper I had seen of the natives dressing, and I had my share of it; but -for all this good cheer, I could not forbear thinking of this Will, the -Englishman, and was very much concerned that we could not stay till he -came home. - -The next day we marched homewards, and though it was two days’ journey, -yet we hastened to come in as early as we could the second day, because -of the great triumph we were then to make. The solemnity of which was -much the same as I have described in other places, and consisted in -their wives licking their feet, &c. - -Rer Vove’s house was nearly eight yards long, and about six broad, built -of boards, as all the great men’s houses are in Saccalauvor. -Notwithstanding they have no saws, with a great deal of labour, however, -they hew out boards very even with their hatchets. The language is much -the same with that in other countries, except as English in Yorkshire, -or the west of England, where each place has a particular dialect, and -some small difference in its pronunciation. - -My post here was a grand one, for I was constituted captain of my -master’s guard. There were palisades all round his house, and at the -portal, or gateway, was a little house for several young men of a higher -degree to lie in, who were his guard, and over whom, as I said before, I -was appointed chief, but this did not last above a month; at which time -he thought proper to go a shooting wild fowl, and took no one but me -with him. In our private conversation, he told me how vicious the people -of Saccalauvor were grown within a few years, as their country grew -rich; and that young men living so high, and drinking such large -quantities of toake, induced them frequently to lie with other men’s -wives, by which means murders, and several other misfortunes, have -ensued. “As for my part,” said he, “I have no reason, indeed, to suspect -my wife Ry Kaley; however, to prevent all jealous thoughts for the -future, I will intrust her to your care, and desire that she may never -be absent from your charge by night or day, on any pretence, how -plausible soever, unless she be with me. I am very well satisfied she -will not take this amiss, and you have no occasion to regard any one -else.” I returned him thanks for the favourable opinion he had of my -integrity; and assured him I would take the same care I had done -hitherto, in the due discharge of my duty to him in all things, wherein -he thought proper to command me; but I was afraid, lest some of his -trusty old servants should envy me my post, and insinuate to him things -prejudicial to his honour and my care. “Upon that account,” said he, -“you have no cause for fear, since it is always expected here, that -marks of favour and distinction be shown to white men.” When we came -home, he broke his mind to her, with much such another apology as he did -to me. She prevented him, however, from asking her consent, apprehending -in a moment what he aimed at; so saying, “I desire nothing more than -that you will take all the measures you think proper, in order to retain -the same opinion of me you always had; and in case Robin is to be my -guardian, I will submit with pleasure to his directions; and from -henceforth, Robin,” said she, “I will never be out of your sight, but -when I am with Rer Vove himself; and as I am now under your -jurisdiction, be sure you discharge your trust as you ought, and don’t -imagine that you can displease me by the strictest observance of your -orders. On the other hand, I propose abundance of pleasure in your -conversation, by telling me stories of your uncommon adventures.” -Indeed, she gave me good grounds to think she was not displeased with -me. It was my business to attend her on all occasions. Sometimes, -indeed, her women slaves were with her, but we were oftener by -ourselves, and that too through her own contrivance; and whether my -master had, in reality, so great an opinion of her chastity as he -pretended, I cannot determine; but I found her to be a very gay, wanton -lady, and was forced to exert all the art I was master of, in order to -keep her out of other company, as well as to preserve my own innocence. -However, as my life lay at stake, I was resolved to be true to my trust. -It was full three quarters of a year before I got rid of this -troublesome office; during which time, my master took a fancy to another -woman who had lately been divorced from a cousin of his, and made her, -if we may call her so, his supernumerary wife. He was extremely fond of -her at first, but soon quarrelled with her, used her ill, turned her in -short quite off, and returned with as much indulgence as ever to my -charge, Ry Kaley, again. - -Not long after this, Rer Vove proposed to take a tour to the northward, -for his pleasure, and to take a survey of his cattle; so ordering his -furniture to be removed to his head slave’s till his return, our house -was locked up, and away we marched. We were a large company of us, Ry -Kaley, his wife, his friend Guy, with several other attendants, besides -slaves. It had rained very hard for some time before we set out; so -coming to a small river, which was considerably swelled with the floods, -the people made a halt, not caring to push forwards with too much -precipitation, lest some alligators might have come up into the marshes, -as is customary, and return again to their old haunts upon the fall of -the waters. As the river was shallow enough to wade through, I was so -fool-hardy as out of a bravado to lead the way. Two fine dogs, that were -my master’s favourites, went into the water along with me, but kept -close to my heels, one on each side of me, for the dogs are very -apprehensive of alligators. I was up to my belly in the water, or -thereabouts, when an alligator, all on a sudden, gave such a spring at -the dog on my left side, that the monster’s nose struck me down. The -alligator, dog, and I vanishing, as it were, at once, our people took it -for granted I had been carried off; but rising at a small distance and -finding myself not hurt, I went directly over; upon which they all -followed me. For if a noise be made by a great number of people, an -alligator will sink, like a stone, to the bottom, and lie without the -least motion, and though you tread on him, he will not stir an inch. As -we took our journey for pleasure only, we had no occasion to fatigue -ourselves, so we marched but slowly. In a few hours we arrived on the -banks of a very large river, called Mernee. Here we came to a town -inhabited by a people of a different species, as it were, from the rest -of mankind, and of a language peculiar to themselves, though they can -speak the general language if they please. Their customs too, and -manners, being as different as their persons, of which I shall give a -particular detail, according as I was farther informed soon after. - -Rer Vove gave orders that one of the houses of these Virzimbers, which -is the name they are generally known by, should be made clean for him, -and all the old furniture be removed; and as for us, who were of his -retinue, we might shift as well as we could. There are very few -Saccalauvors care to lie in any of their houses, for fear of an insect -like a cow-tick, called poropongee, which is frequently found upon -cattle, and this insect is found nowhere else; but these people breed -them, on purpose to make their houses shunned by the Saccalauvors; for -the Virzimbers, till very lately, were under no government, and often -changing their habitations; so that upon their first settlement here, -the natives used to come into their houses, and take away whatever they -saw convenient; imposing most shamefully upon them, till the king, under -whose protection they are at present, redressed their grievances upon -hearing their complaints. These poropongees will make those who are -bitten by them sick, sometimes for six weeks, or two months together; -sticking close to the skin, or penetrating into it for a long time; but -when a man has been once tormented by them, and has overcome the -sickness, he never has it again, though he lies among ever so many of -them; or, at least, like persons who have had the small pox, they never -fear a return of their distemper. These Virzimbers are very subject -likewise to what they call colah, which is a kind of the yaws, a disease -which has been described before. It is so frequent, however, here, that -a third part of the people of a town are sometimes spotted like lepers, -with dry scabs. We continued here but one night, and passed over this -large river in canoes the next morning. - -About half a day’s march from hence lives Rer Moume, king -Trimmonongarevo’s eldest son, and uncle to Rer Vove, to whom we went to -pay a visit. Messengers, for form sake, were sent before; an agreeable -answer being received, we approached the town, and found him sitting for -the shade sake, in great state under a tamarind tree, as it was -excessively hot. He is a very great prince, and extremely well beloved: -there were twelve wives, and a great many other people then with him. -When Rer Vove, accompanied by his wife Ry Kaley, came to him, they -kneeled and licked his knee. After which she soon withdrew among the -women, but he sat down on a mat near his uncle. All his aunts in -general, except one who was blind, came to him and licked his shoulder, -for they had not seen him since his return from his expedition at -Feraignher. The toake went about plentifully, and some was given to our -principal people, among whom I was constantly with Guy, who had a -particular regard for me. My master, however, being not a little proud -of his white man, called to me in broken English, for he had just enough -to say, “Come hither;” or, “How do you do?” When Rer Moume saw me; “Were -it not for his hair and eyes,” said he, “I should scarcely have known -him to be white, his skin is so scorched with the sun that it is as -swarthy almost as my own: Ry Anzacker there, is as white as he.” And, to -confess the truth, there was no great difference in our complexion. This -was his second wife, and sister to deaan Tokeoffu, king of Munnongaro, -alias Masseleege. Rer Moume was of a copper colour, rather than a black. -Though he had no visible distemper upon him, yet he had lost the use of -his limbs, and though he had no swelling in his legs or sores about him, -and looked well to all outward appearance, yet he could not stand -upright. This misfortune was supposed to be brought upon him by poison, -which was given him by one of his wives with a treacherous intent to -kill him, she having been a captive, and the consort of a neighbouring -prince who opposed him, and was killed in battle. He sat on a square -seat, or throne, made on purpose for him, but so low that he could rest -his legs on the ground if he thought fit. - -Perceiving I could speak their language, he was extremely delighted with -me, for he was a good-natured, courteous man, which I have just reason -to acknowledge: for by his compassion I was redeemed from the hardships -of slavery during my continuance here; and, at last, dismissed in a -friendly and genteel manner, and by his means sent home to England. The -whole discourse now turned on me and my surprising adventures; the -women, too, bore a part in the conversation, and expressed their pity, -saying, they should be glad to have me among them, and should think they -could never do enough for me, if I would oblige them with the agreeable -stories of my travels. But this happy time was not yet come, I was to -undergo a few more fatigues first, though my state of slavery did not -continue long. - -My master, Rer Vove, was a gay young man, who pursued his pleasures and -was guilty of some vices, like many of our young noblemen in Europe, was -always in action, full of fire, and as his constitution was very warm -and sanguine, he would be guilty of too many of the follies which youth -are prone to. As to his stature he was very tall, for in an army or -crowd he might be distinguished at a distance, being a head taller at -least than most of the people; however, he was exactly proportioned and -well-shaped, his legs and arms were finely tapered. I was obliged -sometimes to assist him in his love adventures, of which a pretty -remarkable, as well as dangerous one, was on this journey; as follows:— - -No sooner had he parted from his uncle, than he determined to visit his -cousin, Rer Chemunghoher; but coming near his town, and being informed -that he was gone from home as far as Moherbo, a thought came into his -head to send his wife one way, whilst he took another under a pretence -of business, and to meet about four days after, advising her at the same -time to go through some towns of the Virzimbers, who always make one -present or another to those of the family, according as their abilities -will permit. His attendants, or the greatest part of them, were ordered -to accompany his wife; and as for me, whom she expected to have been -left her guardian, he bid follow him. When we were at a sufficient -distance from the people, he told me he had a secret to communicate to -me of no small importance, and desired, likewise, my assistance in a -particular affair, which he proposed to put in execution. “You know my -fidelity,” said I, “and are sensible that I would scruple nothing but -the commission of murder to serve you.” “It is nothing of that nature, I -assure you,” said he, “but the consequence may prove fatal if you do not -act with discretion: Rer Chemunghoher, in short, has married one who was -my consort before Ry Kaley; and, on a quarrel, I put her away a little -too rashly, and my kinsman also married her in too much hurry, or we -should probably have agreed again. The woman I still have an affection -for, and as her husband happens to be abroad, I have some thoughts of -your procuring me an interview with her. There is a Maurominter, that is -to say, a black man of any other country, who can speak English; you -shall pay him a visit, by which means you may come to the speech of -her.” I was fond of this opportunity to see this English Maurominter; -and for that reason I readily agreed to his proposal; and having my full -instruction, and a man for my guide, I left my master at a small -village, about two hours’ walk from Rer Chemunghoher’s town, and -proceeded immediately on my errand. - -Lewis (for that was his name) received and entertained me in a handsome -manner. He was born, he said, in Jamaica, followed the sea, and being -taken by pirates was set on shore at St. Augustine-bay, where he lived -some time, but the troubles of that country coming on, he, as well as -many of the natives, came away, not only for their security, but for -more plentiful living: so that between the affairs of Feraignher and -England, we had subject matter of discourse enough for a long time. His -wife going out, I took the opportunity of asking him, if he could -possibly introduce me to their lord’s wife? He, knowing the story, -guessed at my intention, though I told him no more than what was -requisite for my purpose. He went accordingly to her, and she sent word -she would come, which she did soon, with one maid only to attend her. I -was a good excuse enough for her to say her curiosity led her to see a -white man. Lewis and his wife withdrawing, and she saying I might freely -speak before her maid, whom she could trust with her life, I soon -delivered my message, and told her how disconsolate Rer Vove was ever -since he came near the town: I found her, in short, as eager for the -interview as himself, and she appointed that very night in a wood at a -convenient distance. As soon as she returned home she sent her maid with -some toake to me; which, when Lewis and I had drank up, I went with the -good news to my master. And as it proved a fine moonlight night, we soon -came to the place assigned; though by going over a river, and through a -plantation where there were dogs, and they barking, the owner had like -to have discovered us; for the wild hogs often making great havoc in the -night, they are very attentive if their dogs do but stir. - -I left them in the wood, and went to Lewis, for whom she waited. He -conducted her through a breach made in the palisade, for the gate was -always guarded, and I conducted her to her gallant. Her maid accompanied -her with a capon, some rice, and a calabash of toake. They embraced each -other with all the passion imaginable; the maid, indeed, was for serving -up the supper, but they had affairs of greater moment to talk of first, -which we plainly perceiving withdrew, and diverted ourselves for some -time as well as we could. In about two hours we heard him whistle, which -was the signal for our coming, when we supped all together. Our bellies -being full, Lewis and I roved about at a distance, and left them again -till it was daybreak. “Now, Robin,” says he, “we must do as the wild -boars do, get a great distance from the place where they have been doing -their mischief.” So crossing the river again, we walked about till noon; -when a man was to come and bring us some provisions. As I was looking -out sharply, and listening for the token, which was a whistle, I -approached him, but the fellow being silly, and knowing nothing of a -white man, threw down the meat, and a whole calabash of toake, and took -to his heels. As soon as he got home he told his mistress, that he saw a -white spirit, and it ran after him for the meat, which he was forced to -leave behind him. This gave us some diversion the next night, when she -came again: a capon, rice, and toake were brought this evening likewise; -and I could not forbear rallying my master on having patience enough now -to sup, and regale himself with toake as soon as it came. When we had -drank plentifully they bid us go and watch at a distance, and find out -some amusement or other to pass away the night. And, indeed, had we not -made ourselves merry, and been as agreeable to one another as such an -occasion required, the night would have seemed very long and tedious. We -slept a little towards daybreak, and when I went to them they were not -up; however, they soon arose, and took their leave too, by rubbing their -noses together, and drawing their breath like persons who take snuff. -After this they parted well satisfied for the present. - -It was now broad daylight, so that when we attempted to go over the -plantation the same way as we came, the people were up; and as we were -both remarkable persons, he by his height, and I by my colour, the very -seeing us at a distance would have been enough to betray the whole -secret. We had no way, therefore, to take but through a thicket of -thorny wood. I went first upon my knees, and beat them down with a -stick, and my master followed. Though our shoulders bled in many places, -which we did not regard at first through eagerness, and when we did it -was to little purpose, for it would have been as bad to have retreated. -So, in short, we went through; but on our arrival on the other side of -the river, we stood still to look on one another, and perceiving how -miserably our hides were scratched and torn, we could not refrain from -laughter, though we were severely mortified. We still endeavoured to -find out private ways, being as much ashamed now as we were afraid -before of being seen. As soon as Guy saw us, he could not forbear -smiling. Rer Vove told him, we had been hunting a wild boar, and by -pursuing him too eagerly into the thickets, we got scratched in this -piteous manner. “It is much more probable,” said Guy, “a wild woman, and -the right owner pursuing you too closely, you were glad to escape to the -first wood you came at.” Ry Kaley grew a little jealous too upon the -occasion, but we laughed it off. - -We being all met again, we proceeded to the northward, where the cattle -are all kept. This is as fine a country as ever I saw, and the best -stocked with all the necessaries of life. These people never go forth to -war, but constantly employ the whole of their time in taking care of the -king’s and their lord’s cattle: they have plenty likewise of their own. -The king’s cattle are marked with the stamp called chemerango. Here are -such numbers of them, that it is not known within two or three thousand -how many belong to him. Some of these oxen are scarcely able to walk for -age, and others are so fat they cannot stir. They never milk above the -fourth part of the cows, though the place is populous, and as large as -some king’s dominions. They have a great many towns, and many Virzimbers -dwell among them. The chief town is of large extent, where the principal -herdsman keeps a great court, and has full power and authority to decide -all controversies, and punish any offender without appeal. When we saw -him, he made as grand a figure as a king, and was sitting with his -attendants about him in the same manner. However, he arose to kiss Rer -Vove’s knee, (not his feet,) as a testimony of his more than common -respect for him. He had eight thousand head of cattle of his own, and -near three hundred slaves. He made my master a present of five of his -own, and fifteen of the chemango’s. He seldom, if ever, goes out on -foot, but is carried on a bier on men’s shoulders. He is very old, -indeed, having been cow-keeper to Rer Trimmonongarevo’s father, deaan -Lohefute. - -Butter and cheese might be made here in plenty, were there but people -who understood the art of it, for the cows give abundance of milk, -though not altogether so much as ours do in England, but then they -continue it longer; summer time in this hot country being the worst for -the cattle. In this place, however, there are so many rivers, brooks, -and springs, that they are never incommoded with such droughts as they -sometimes are in Anterndroea. Here are tallow and hides too in -abundance, but few think it worth their while to regard them. Several -other commodities are to be found here which are worthy of notice: wax -is so plentiful that it is thrown away; there is iron too in many parts -of the country, as well as here, and the natives are no strangers to the -making of steel. Here is copper, likewise, of their own production, of -which they make mannelers. In some of the most mountainous and inland -parts of the country they have silver, and know how to make ear-plates -of it, and mannelers: so that I have the highest reason to think the -country produces it, as well as it does a white metal, much like our -British tin, or tutanag; nor is there any reason to doubt that gold is -to be found here. Here are many other things, but as I cannot give a -satisfactory account of them, I pass them over in silence. But, - -I must not here omit to mention the several sorts of silk, of which -there is plenty in every part of the island where I have been. Some is -of a brownish colour, others of a white; the outside is full of small -pointed prickles; the cod or bag is nearly three inches long, and shaped -like a nine pin; at the top, when we take it, there is a hole, out of -which I have extracted a blackish worm; but I am not able to describe -it, or the manner of its transformation, as the common silkworm: this I -know, that there are no mulberry trees. The silk of these worms is found -upon three or four several sorts of trees; for when they spin they -cleave to the thick branches or body of the tree. I have seen the people -on their knees, pull the cod out to a great length, which they tease to -pieces, and then spin it with a spindle, made of bone, and a rock-staff; -after that they weave it as they do cotton, and it makes not only -pretty, but very fine lambers. There is some trouble in the management -of it, which is all the reason I can offer for their making so little -use of it. In this part of Saccalauvor, where the cattle are kept, is a -tree called rofeer; which is of singular service to the middle sort of -people to make lambers of. The leaf is like that of a cocoa-nut tree, -but longer by two feet; they take off the outer part, and put the other -to dry for two or three days together, which is then thin and white like -a long shaving. After that they moisten it again, and split it into -threads, which they knot in a very neat manner, and weave into cloth: -some of it is frequently dyed, and made into lambers striped. This tree -bears a fruit that much resembles a damson. - -After Rer Vove had taken a review of his cattle, and left behind him -about two hundred of them, which he got by this journey, we returned -home to plant rice; for men of the highest distinction here look after -their plantations themselves, and take care to furnish their families -with proper provisions. He had not been long at home, before some -business called him to Moherbo, and through Guy’s artifice and -intercession I got leave to accompany him, for I had a strong -inclination to see the Englishman. He soon perceived I was his -countryman, and we were more overjoyed to see each other, than relations -are who live ever so distant. His name was William Thornbury, he had -been nine years in the country. It was his first voyage; for he was then -a boy, who like me, was resolutely bent on going to sea; but a hard gale -of wind arising suddenly, drove their ship from her anchors, and whether -some pirate was in sight, or what was the real cause he could not tell, -but they never returned, leaving him with the surgeon and another man -ashore; the two last in a few months died with grief, and he was left -alone. The king took what small quantity of goods their captain had left -on shore, and sent immediately for Thornbury. He went, and his majesty -very kindly told him he had no occasion to fear any thing; for he would -take care he should not only be supplied with whatever he wanted, but -that he would, moreover, send him home by the first vessel. In all which -he was as good as his word, nor ever attempted to make a slave of him, -as Mevarrow did of me; so that when we compared our hard destinies, mine -was much the severer of the two. He went to the king’s eldest wife for -some toake, in order to treat me with it, which she readily granted. - -I have already given the reader an idea of this king’s person: as to his -hasty temper and cruel actions I had heard much talk of them before now; -William Thornbury, however, let me more fully into his character. I -found, upon taking in the whole detail of him, that glory and ambition -were his principal aim; which he looked upon to consist in the wealth -and prosperity of his country. For Saccalauvor was neither richer nor -more powerful than other countries till his accession to the regal -state. But he having expelled both his brothers upon his assumption of -the supreme dignity, one of them, as I have mentioned before, fled to -Feraignher, and got possession of part of the country to the southward; -the other, accompanied by about eight hundred men, passed through the -fine country where the cattle are kept, and where the Virzimbers at that -time resided, moving still farther to the northward, and settled on that -river which the Europeans at this time call Masseleege. The Virzimbers -fled from him on his first approach, but finding that his intentions -were peaceable, and that he was only seeking a place of refuge for -himself, they returned to their habitations, and lived under his -jurisdiction. Here he established a kingdom almost as extensive and -powerful as his brother’s; which his son, deaan Tokeoffu is now in the -possession of. Rer Trimmenongarevo understanding his brother had thus -happily settled himself, sent ambassadors to propose an amicable -alliance between them; which he, being a good-natured man, readily came -into; hoping God, and his deceased father deaan Lohefute, would forgive -his brother, and for the future bless them both. - -Rer Trimmonongarevo now caressed some of the Virzimbers, and gave them -towns on the banks of Mernee. He was very generous likewise to his own -subjects, and made considerable presents, not only of cattle, but slaves -to those who had suffered losses in his service; but more especially he -took all the engaging and political ways he could devise to tempt people -from other countries to come and live in Saccalauvor. I have already -mentioned his courteous treatment of the Feraignher people whose -families had been taken in war; restoring all the captives and cattle to -such masters and relations as would come and settle in his dominions. By -this means they are grown not only vastly populous, but rich, and the -people live in plenty as well as peace; they reverence and adore him, in -short, as a tender and indulgent father of his country. But see now the -danger of submitting implicitly to the arbitrary will and pleasure of -any man; even though he has many useful and great virtues to recommend -him. People by such means become slaves to the man who is not in every -respect a hero, but attended with human frailties, and subject to -passions less governable than in men of lower station. Superior -greatness is his view, which explained, is advancing his prerogative -beyond that of his predecessors, and showing that he can determine -according to his own will more absolutely than any of his -contemporaries. Absolute power is what all ambitious princes aim at, and -thirst to enjoy it. This the world may see is the darling passion of the -vicious great; and this was the misfortune that attended Saccalauvor; at -least that part of it which was under the immediate jurisdiction of Rer -Trimmonongarevo: for the other lords, his sons and nephews, were as -humane as those in any other part of the island; but the authority he -had usurped had made him so haughty and imperious, that to show he could -act as he pleased, and was not to be governed by the traditional laws, -when an ambassador or any strangers were at his town, he would order -some one or other of any two contending parties to immediate execution -for very trivial faults, and sometimes for none at all. This barbarous -disposition, however, did not appear till he was sufficiently -established in his government; and then several instances of his cruelty -were too conspicuous. By these vile actions he lost the love of many of -his subjects, who withdrew to live under more humane sovereigns. Some -quite abandoned the country, and went to his brother’s son Toakoffu; -though they might have been tolerably safe with his sons and nephews. -And this is the only remedy which these people have against arbitrary -power; for they have no notion of a _jus divinum_, as we call it, nor -think themselves obliged by the laws of religion to suffer any -impositions. The lords likewise have contracted a very laudable and -humane custom of being extremely fond of relieving such as are -distressed, even though there has been enmity before. This was deaan -Crindo’s son’s case when he fled to Antenosa, and this very king’s -brother, Rer Mimebolambo’s, when he fled to Feraignher; and to this -generous virtue my own deliverance was principally owing. - -I was one day in this king’s presence when there was a crowd about him, -and upon his coughing and fetching his breath a little uneasily, the -people fell immediately prostrate on the ground. The reason, as I -understood afterwards was, because not long before, in such a fit of -short breathing, he took up a blunderbuss and discharged it among them -without speaking a word, or making any other excuse, when he had thus -killed two or three of his attendants, than “why did they stifle him?” I -never saw such abject slavery on the island before; and yet to do him -justice I must say he was far from being in all his actions and -resolutions a bloody tyrant; for, two or three instances of severe -executions only excepted, which he ordered out of ostentation, his other -barbarities were only now and then the effects of his inordinate -passion; which, indeed, grew worse as he advanced in years. It must be -acknowledged that he directed corporal punishments oftener than were -practised in any other country. Here was during my residence amongst -them, a woman who complained to him against another for robbing one of -his wives, who was her mistress; but upon examination the accuser was -found a very sorry creature, and one whose ears had been cut off for a -former misdemeanour. Some ambassadors being then present, the wicked -wretch made choice of that time to accomplish the end of her malice the -more effectually; for as the people expected a bloody decision, so it -happened; yet one can hardly pronounce it was unjust though very severe; -for after hearing, with a great deal of patience, all that she alleged, -and inquiring into every minute circumstance of the case, he ordered the -base accuser to be carried off and killed directly. The person so -unjustly accused desired to have the liberty of being the executioner -herself, with which he complied, and gave her a sword for that purpose. -She soon overtook the proper officer, who, seeing the king’s sword, held -the criminal while the other cut her throat. These are instances -sufficient to show the virtues and vices, as well as the singular -disposition of this extraordinary king. - -During my stay here I saw William Purser, the interpreter, and several -others of Feraignher; and among the rest my old friend Ry-Nanno, (Rer -Vovvern’s ambassador to deaan Crindo, who was the first that directed me -to Feraignher,) came to pay me a visit. He lived as great as in his own -country, having voluntarily followed some of his family who were taken -prisoners. - -Rer Vove was now on his return home, and my countryman and I were to -part, which we did with no small reluctance; yet not before we had given -each other full instructions where to find our respective friends, -whoever should be so happy as to reach England first, which proved to be -his good fortune. - -Some few days after we were got home the two Amboer-lambo ambassadors, -who were at Moherbo, being on their return into their own country, and -passing through our town, Rer Vove prevailed on them to stay a night -with him, and allotted them a commodious apartment, to which they -invited me, and seated me on their own mat between them. Their -curiosity, they said, led them to inquire after the manners and customs -of my country in general, and of my own adventures in particular. I -gratified them in the best manner I could, or rather so as they were -best capable of understanding me. For as to the largeness and grandeur -of our court, city, fleets, armies, &c., on all which I expatiated, they -would give no credit to it, and looked upon it only as a mere romance. -In my turn I asked them where their country lay. They told me it was a -mountainous inland place, divided into two kingdoms, called -Amboer-lambo, which were governed by two brothers. They had vast large -ears, with silver plates in them that glittered like comets. I was very -desirous to know how they came so. They informed me that when they are -young a small hole only is made at first and a piece of lead put into -it; when the wound is healed they have a small spring-ring put into it, -which extends it by degrees, and after this another, till the hole is as -large as they think convenient; then they place these silver plates in -it, which are neatly made, and exactly fitted to the hole, with great -precaution for fear of breaking it. Some of these holes in their ears -are so large, that a woman may put her hand through it. They have -several artificers among themselves who make these ornaments. The poorer -sort, they said, who could not afford silver, had them of tutanag; which -they call ferochfutey. They came into this country to trade chiefly in -iron, of which they make abundance; however, they bring great quantities -of silk likewise. Their vallies are very foggy and marshy, unwholesome -for cattle, and not fit to be inhabited, so that they buy cattle. The -mountains are so stony, that they have scarcely earth sufficient for the -foundations of their houses. They told me moreover, that Rer -Trimmonongarevo will not sell them any guns, nor suffer his people to -supply them with fire-arms. Before the Europeans had stocked the island -with guns, they were too strong for the Saccalauvors in deaan Lohefute’s -time; but this king is at present too powerful. They have (they said) a -trade sometimes to Mattatanna and Antenosa; but not sufficient to -furnish them with arms and ammunition. I observed, that metals of all -kinds were commodities they dealt in. - -Hitherto I lived pretty well; and indeed for about three months -afterwards; at which time a ship came to Yong-Owl to trade. Her name (as -I have since been informed) was the Clapham-galley, captain Wilks -commander. Those who had slaves to sell carried them down to the -seaside. My master was likewise preparing some for that purpose; the -thought of it almost transported me, yet I could not tell how to make my -request known. At length I made my application to my friend Guy, and -having expostulated the case with him and his wife, I prevailed on him -to solicit my master that I might be sent down and sold to the captain; -he made the motion accordingly one evening in my absence. And it was -happy for me that I was abroad, for had it not been for the mediation of -some friends he would have found me out and shot me directly. As soon as -I came to him he ordered me to deliver him my gun, saying, I was a -prisoner of war, and a slave too; and he would make me know as much. As -for Will. he was an unfortunate youth indeed, and was left by mere -accident upon the shore; there is a wide difference between his case and -yours. Upon which he called his cook; “Here, Mechorow,” said he, “take -care of this white captive; and see that he, like other slaves, obeys -your orders.” Mechorow did not fail to observe his instructions, and was -the severer upon me, because there was a time when I had authority over -him. He frequently made me carry an iron pot on my head, when Rer Vove -and his wife took their pleasure on the islands in the middle of the -river Mernee; where one while he would go to kill wild fowl, and at -another to destroy alligators. But before the ship set sail I -endeavoured to inform the captain by this stratagem. I took a -satter-leaf, which was about two inches broad, and a foot and a half -long, and marked upon it these words following. Robert Drury, son of Mr -Drury, living at the King’s-Head in the Old Jewry; now a slave on the -island of Madagascar in the country of Morandavo, or Yong-owl. I desired -the favour of one who was going to the seaside to deliver this leaf to -the first white man he saw; but when he returned I asked him what answer -he had? “None at all,” said he, “for I suppose the white man did not -like it, since he threw the leaf away; though I am sure it was as good, -if not better, than that which you gave me. ’Tis true, I dropped yours, -but then I pulled one of the best I could find from off a tree.” My -heart was ready to break at this disappointment; whereupon I turned from -him, and went directly into the woods to vent my grief in tears. I heard -soon after, that Will. Thornbury was discharged; I was then in some -hopes that by his means my redemption might be accomplished. But to my -no small mortification I soon heard the ship had sailed, and not one -word of me mentioned. This drove me almost to madness, and what could be -the reason why the captain should take no notice of me, I cannot -conceive; for Will. Thornbury, doubtless, would have mentioned me to -him. - -Not long after this I was taken with a violent pain in my bones; which -at first I took for a cold. But it increased to that degree that I could -not walk without crutches. This disease continued three months -successively, and then I began to have large boils or blotches break out -all over my body; my neighbours soon perceived it was the colah or yaws; -and Rer Vove sent me to a Virzimber’s house on the banks of Mernee, in -order for a cure. They took the bark of a tree, of which I do not -recollect the name, steeping it in water. With this they washed and -bathed me every day, which in a few weeks made my bones much easier; and -in a few weeks more the blotches died, and wore away; after which I -recovered my strength apace. I lived with these Virzimbers in all about -six months. - -These people are almost of a different species from the others. Their -heads are of a peculiar shape, the hinder part and the forehead are -almost as flat as a trencher: but this I imagine to be unnatural, for it -is framed thus by a daily pressure of their children from the cradle. -Their hair is neither so long nor so woolly as that of the other -nations. Their religion, likewise, is widely distant from other -people’s. They have no owleys in their houses, but pay an awful regard -to the new moon, and to several animals; namely, a cock, a lizard, and -the like. Whether they think these creatures have spirits or not, or -demons that attend them, I cannot determine; for whenever they -discoursed among themselves, it was in a peculiar language, to which I -was so much a stranger, that I was not able to give a sufficient reason -for these particulars. When they seat themselves to their meals, they -take a bit of meat, and throw it over their heads, saying, “There’s a -bit for the spirit.” In the next place, they cut four little bits more -and throw to the sovereigns or rulers of the four quarters of the earth. -This is the constant practice of such as have any regard to religious -ceremonies, but there are too many who neglect it, as some in Europe, -and look on saying grace at their meals, as an idle fashion. They dress -their victuals much more agreeably than the other people; for they -always boil plantains or potatoes with their meat, and make good soup, -and well thickened as they do in Europe. - -They make curious earthenware, such as pots, dishes, and jugs, glazing -them both within and without; and are very ingenious artificers in many -other particulars. Though their ingenuity was superior, yet I could not -perceive they ever formed themselves into regular kingdoms, or into -large commonwealths, but herded together in towns; each town being a -distinct and independent republic, which too often produced quarrels and -bloodshed, one little town standing in opposition to another. There -being no general law or government which could settle their just claims, -or determine any unhappy dissensions between one town and another; till -they in this part made Rer Trimmonongarevo their patron and protector, -whilst others put their whole confidence in deaan Tokeoffu. There are -more of them as I have heard, in other parts of the island, scattered up -and down, who shift their habitations; which these were wont to do -formerly. ’Tis no easy matter to determine whether these are not the -original natives, or first inhabitants of the land. I observed here, -that difference in religion was looked upon as no crime, nor any offence -to one another. Moreover, that they, like the others, have no priests. - -Having now in great measure recovered my strength, I began to reflect on -the misery of returning to my former slavery; and for that reason, after -some conflict with myself, I determined to run the risk of throwing -myself at Rer Moume’s feet, to beg his protection, be the consequence -what it would; death being preferable to perpetual slavery. Having -imbibed this notion, I desired my landlord one morning to put me over -the water in his canoe; for I would willingly pay a visit to a friend on -that side, it not being above two hours’ walk to Rer Moume’s town. - -At my arrival I found him sitting under a kind of pent-house, with his -wives round about him. I laid down, and licked his feet, then rising -upon my knees, I lifted up my hands, and sued to him for mercy and -protection from the ill treatment of my master Rer Vove; he having made -the most abject slave of me, for only desiring a friend to beg of him to -sell me (not to make a present of me) to my own countrymen; that I might -see my dear parents once more, from whom I had been absent so many -years. My master insisted that I was his slave, his prisoner of war, -though I was there no otherwise than Will. was here, a poor unhappy -creature wandering about till I could find an opportunity to get to my -native country, and was no enemy of his, neither was I taken in arms. -Should you deliver me up to him, he would doubtless kill me, and there -will be an end of all my sorrows; but I live in hopes of finding mercy -from you. I soon perceived that my mournful tale affected him; for the -tears stood in his eyes, and some of the women actually wept. He bid me -rise, and be assured that he would not deliver me up to Rer Vove. -“Should my kinsman (says he) want slaves to do his work (though I know -the contrary) I will send him two or three in your stead. Be not afraid, -I will both protect and provide for you.” Then turning to one of his -consorts, “Here Ry Anzacker,” says he, “do you from henceforth be -Robin’s mother; and take care he wants for nothing. All I shall desire -of you (said he to me) will be to look after my chest of arms, which are -a hundred or more in number; and see that my flints and shot are all -kept in order, and you shall have servants too to do the work.” Then -calling a slave, he gave him directions to build me a house next to my -mother’s within the palisade. In two days I was a housekeeper. Ry -Anzacker proved very kind to me, and I never walked out without my gun -in my hand like a freeman. - -In a few days after several messengers came from Rer Vove to Rer Moume. -I was by when, in their lord’s name, they demanded his white slave. Rer -Moume examined them first, to know if what I had told was matter of -fact; and when he found it was, “I am sorry (said he) my kinsman is so -rash and thoughtless a young man to act after this manner. Did any one -ever see before a white man a slave to a black man’s cook-slave; unless -it was among the worst of brutes in that unpolished country Anterndroea? -It was a very unjust thing to force him from Feraignher; and when he was -here, it would have been the part of a wise and honest man to have -presented Robin to the English captain, and made a merit of taking care -of him. In so doing he had done a generous action, and it would have -reflected an honour on himself, and on us all. He should recollect the -many benefits we have received from the English, and that we were -insulted by all our neighbours, till they furnished us with arms. Here, -take this woman-slave, and give her to him; she is able to do more -service than Robin, in case he wants work from him. As for my part, I -shall make no slave of him, I’ll assure you; he may go when he will, and -live where he will; even with Rer Vove, if he thinks proper; and does -not care to live with me. However, I shall not consent to that, unless I -am well satisfied of his being more courteously treated. Here, take the -woman in his stead.” They came again the next day with the woman, and -renewed their yesterday’s demand; to which he gave an answer in direct -terms, that they should not have me. - -I was treated here in a most courteous manner by all the king’s wives; -but particularly by my mother, Ry Anzacker; they taking great delight in -the many stories I told them of my misfortunes and adventures. I used -frequently to go with Rer Moume to a spacious lake which had islands in -it, several miles round, called the Kereendea. This place was formerly -drowned by the Mernee’s breaking its banks. Rer Moume was always carried -in a vehicle, not much unlike a sedan; and had a canoe large enough to -hold twenty men, in which was a seat made on purpose for him, he not -being able to sit, as other people did, upon the floor. Several other -canoes of ten and five hands, and some small ones of two, used to -accompany him. Our principal employments were fishing and fowling; in -which the Virzimbers are very dexterous, making nets of various kinds, -and also fishhooks for angling, which was Rer Moume’s favourite -diversion. His son, Rer Chulu, would often divert himself with killing -alligators; and the weapon he generally used was a harpoon, with a head -fixed on it, and a rope fastened to the steel and staff both. Being thus -furnished with tackle, they paddle along the water towards the -alligator, whom they generally espy at a distance; for they keep their -noses above water, and appear like a floating cake of cowdung. When they -come within ten or a dozen yards of him, he sinks to the bottom, and -crawls a good way before he stops; but his path is discovered by a -bubble that rises up, and where it stands they strike; for they will lie -flat on their bellies with their sides pressed out, where they hear a -noise; so that they are often stabbed with the harpoon. Though should it -light on their backs, or heads, it will make no more impression than it -would on a rock. The Virzimbers make a net of ropes, with large meshes, -and with these they sometimes take them; they also take them with snares -made of spring-sticks, which draw up a noose in a rope; these they place -at the mouth of a rivulet, or small canal. And by these methods I have -known Rer Chulu and his company kill twenty or thirty alligators in a -day. - -Rer Moume made me a present of three cows, which calved in four months. -He asked me why I did not marry? I told him I could not well maintain a -wife, and that at present I lived very well, and much better than I -could with a woman to provide for. He said, it was not looked upon as -decent for a man to live single; and as for her maintenance, I’ll not -only put it in your power to do that, but recommend one to you likewise. -So as I perceived he was serious, I was soon persuaded; but with this -proviso, that he should not compel the woman, but ask her consent, and -leave it to her own choice; to which he readily agreed. So sending for -one who was an attendant on my mother, he opened the case to her and -told her she should be my wife if she thought fit; and bid her speak her -mind freely; for he did not intend she should submit to it through any -compulsion. But with an air of cheerfulness she said she approved of the -motion. Upon this Ry Anzacker took her back again, to dress her up very -fine with beads, and a new silk lamber, &c., and presented her to me. I -desired that the prince would make a formal marriage of it, by taking -hold of her hand first; and then asking us both, if we gave our mutual -consent? And then by giving her hand into mine: all which he readily -gratified me in, with abundance of affability and good nature, and was -very merry; as the women were, likewise, according to custom on such -occasions. The ladies attended us home, but not empty handed; for they -gave us a large quantity of such kind of furniture as we principally -wanted. The prince too gave me the day following a plantation with rice -and potatoes, &c. growing upon it, and fit to dig. He gave me, moreover, -a slave, a boy about sixteen years of age; and in a short time, he sent -me with others to fetch away some cattle from a man, who, upon -examination before him, had been found guilty of stealing several from -his neighbours; for which facts he was fined twenty beeves. This was the -first time I was ever sent on such an errand, though not the last; and -people of the best rank are fond of this employment; for they never fail -of a good present for their trouble. He gave me, likewise, a cow with -her calf, and a young bull of three years old. Whenever I went on any -such occasions afterwards, I never had less than one beast for my -labour, and sometimes two; so that I grew rich and sent most of my -cattle four miles off, agreeing with a man to give him the tithe calf of -such as he should rear for me, keeping three cows only at home for milk. -So that now I lived as happily as the country could afford me; nay, so -much to my satisfaction, that had I not a desire to see my parents once -again, I question whether I should ever have taken any pains to get to -England; and even when I wished for it, I was perfectly easy; since I -was assured that Will. Thornbury would inform my friends where I was, -and how the world went with me. - -Some months after this, Rer Vove sent word that he purposed to pay his -uncle a visit; upon which I went directly to Rer Moume, and told him, I -was going for three or four days to pay my respects to his son Rer -Chemunghoher. “I know (said Rer Moume) what you mean, but you have no -occasion to fear Rer Vove; for he shall never have you against your -will.” And at the same time he persuaded me to stay and see him, which I -did. After some previous discourse about business, and they had drunk a -cup or two of toake together, he cast his eyes on me, and told his uncle -he was surprised that he should use him in so uncivil a manner, as to -detain his slave. Rer Moume replied, he was not conscious of keeping any -slave of his from him, and if he would nominate the person, he should be -instantly restored. “Why there he stands,” says Rer Vove. “I hope (says -the uncle) you don’t mean Robin, the white man. Is he a slave of yours? -I am ashamed of your imprudence to say so. Is it not to the white men, -but more especially to his countrymen, the English, that we are indebted -for the riches we enjoy? We, who formerly were insulted by the -Amboer-lambo people, and other nations around us, are by these -Englishmen’s guns made too powerful for them; and by the beads, -looking-glasses, &c., which they bring in plenty, our late enemies are -fond of our friendship and traffic. And don’t you think it a fine story -for Will. to tell, that one of his countrymen, who happened to be -shipwrecked in this country, was made a slave of by a black lord of -Morandavo? But to satisfy you that I don’t treat him like a slave, he is -at his liberty to go this moment where he pleases; and take his wife, -his slave, and his cattle with him; nay, back with you, if you can -prevail on him so to do; and give me your word and honour that you will -make him a freeman.” After this manner he argued with his nephew, and -reproached him with indiscretion as well as inhumanity, by treating a -man in distress with too much severity, till he convinced him of his -mistake; insomuch that he desired I would come and see him in the -evening, which I did. At my entrance into the house I licked his knee as -a testimony of my respect; but not his feet, to let him see that I knew -I was a freeman. He used many arguments to induce me to live with him, -and made me very large promises; which, probably, he might have -performed: for he was no vile person, but only too rash and -inconsiderate. He also set Guy to influence me, if possible, who made -use of one engaging argument; namely, that Rer Vove intended to travel -into the dominions of other princes, out of curiosity to see their -various manners and customs. I told Guy the true reason why I would not -consent to it; which was that I was much nearer the sea now than when -with them; and that I did not question but Rer Moume would send me home -by the first ship that came. After this I sat and drank toake with them, -then took my leave, and was returning homeward, but Rer Vove followed me -and desired I would never mention his amour with his kinsman’s wife; -which I assured him I never would whilst I lived in the country; and so -we parted good friends. It will not be improper, I presume, to make one -cursory remark here, which is, that this gay young gentleman was highly -to be commended for so readily conceding to his uncle’s arguments, -attending to what he said with reverence, and being convinced by reason. - -Thus I lived with Rer Moume as easy and happy as he could possibly make -me; and the only misfortune that now attended me, was my residence in a -foreign country, But my hard destiny had still one melancholy scene or -danger more to affright me with before I left this island; and it was as -horrible and shocking to human nature, as any I had hitherto undergone; -and the more so, because altogether unexpected, not only by myself, but -by every one else; which was thus introduced. There lived at Moherbo, -one Francisco, an inoffensive man, born in the East Indies, of -Portuguese parents; but as black as most of them. He had lived here many -years to his satisfaction, never proposing to remove from off the -island; he had been taken by pirates, who, at his request, set him -ashore. This man, though a surgeon (as he said) by profession, had a -mechanical head, especially to carpenters’ and joiners’ business, and -had furnished himself with tools for his purpose; and used frequently to -oblige the princes and lords with making them chests, &c. Rer Moume sent -and desired him to get leave of Rer Trimmonongarevo to come and make him -one; which he did. As this artificer spoke the Madagascar language -freely, we were agreeable companions. He told me, as part of his secret -history, that he was violently in love with a young woman, whose -parents, though they were not inclined to the match, did not positively -give him a denial. After he had stayed here nearly two months, and -finished what Rer Moume had to do, he was dismissed with a generous -reward. - -When he had been some months at home, with Rer Moume’s leave I went to -visit him at Moherbo, and found him very ill and melancholy, his -mistress in his absence having married another person, which he took to -heart. He had made her several presents during his courtship, and -received her promise of marriage, which, on his ill treatment, he -demanded of her parents again, and on their refusal complained to the -king; he being in esteem and always near his person. His request was -rejected, the king saying, he would never compel parents to dispose of -their children against their inclinations. Upon which, Francisco said -indiscreetly in the king’s hearing, that as soon as he was recovered of -his illness, he would leave Moherbo, and live under Rer Moume. I had -been here but a few days before he began to gather strength, and then he -and I went to the king’s court. As I was standing by him the king cast -an angry eye upon me, and asked, who that white man was with his gun -upon his shoulder? Francisco answered, “It is Rer Moume’s white man, who -came to give me a visit.” “Is it so,” said he, “then I know what he -wants. Come hither. What is your business here, pray?” I, being -conscious of his barbarous disposition, answered in a faint and -trembling voice, “Only to visit my sick friend.” “Yes,” replied the -king, “your friend there, in my hearing, said he would go to your master -Rer Moume, as soon as he was recovered, and I suppose you are come to -conduct him thither; but I will spoil your project. Here, Mesoro,” -calling to the officer, “take this white slave to the place of -execution, despatch him presently and bring his gun to me.” The people -were struck with surprise as well as myself; however, I was led out for -execution, and multitudes followed me, some of whom desired to shake -hands with me, and take their leave of me, which the executioner -permitted. I was so shocked with the tiger-like leap which this savage -brute made at my life, that I became stupid, not knowing whether I was -in a dream, till I came to the place of execution, where I saw the bones -of several wretches lie unburied. Rousing from my lethargy, I began to -weep piteously, and to pray to God to receive my soul. What a shocking -turn of fortune was this! that one who but some few minutes before was -surrounded by his friends, one whose mind was innocent and free from -evil, whose actions were inoffensive, and of whom no man could justly -complain, should, in a moment, be doomed to die an ignominious death by -the hands of a common executioner, like a vile malefactor, on no other -account, than to gratify the resentment of an old, doating, choleric -savage. While I was thus bemoaning my hard fate, and the people pitying -my deplorable case, instead of falling on the monster, and freeing -themselves and me from his tyranny, a voice was heard at a distance, -“Stay, stay, don’t kill Robin.” The words were soon repeated, and the -messenger came forward with orders to bring me back; at which the people -gave a general shout for joy. When I came before the king, not only his -principal wife, but the rest of them were on their knees, with tears in -their eyes; nay, some men too were expostulating with him, telling him -he would bring irretrievable ruin and desolation on his country; the -fatal effects of which his great grandchildren would certainly feel, -when the white men should hear of his barbarity to one of their -countrymen, who had done nothing to deserve it. This, at length, -assuaged the heat of his fury; telling me I might thank my friends, or I -had been dog’s meat by this time. “However,” says he, “I will mortify -your pride still.” “Here,” says he to three men, “take him fettered as -he is, and carry him and his gun to Rer Moume, and pray tell my son I -expect he should treat him like a a slave as he is, and not let him -strut about like a lord, with his gun upon his shoulder.” Hereupon, I -fell prostrate on the ground and licked his feet, the people making -signs to me so to do. Upon this he bid me thank his women; I then paid -my respects to Ry Chemotoea and two or three more, and did so with all -sincerity, for it was to their entreaties I owed my life. - -We went directly on our journey, and every town we passed through, the -people asked with astonishment, what crime the white man had been guilty -of, that he should be thus bound? To whom my guard without palliating -the case in the king’s favour told the truth, for which every one seemed -to pity me, and resent the king’s ill usage of me. At night when we came -to lie down to rest, they asked me whether I would have my hands untied -or not? I asked them what were their orders; they said, “their orders -were to keep me bound.” “Then,” said I, “though it is somewhat painful -to me, yet you shall not hazard your lives for my ease.” So I lay as -well as I could all night, and the next day travelled in the same -manner; every now and then looking behind me with fear, lest he should -change his mind, and send some one after us to despatch me, for I could -not think myself safe till I saw Rer Moume again. - -As we walked along, my guards told me I was the first who ever returned -alive from the place of execution; which I could not but impute to an -all wise and overruling Providence. They told me likewise, that he -stabbed one of his chief wives, though when his passion was over he -repented it, for yielding to an effort of nature, whilst his head was in -her lap with intention to sleep. Another instance of his inhumanity, -though attended with some justice, was, in ordering one of his own sons -to be extended on a mat, and his throat to be cut before his face, for -being too free with one of his wives. - -We could not reach to our journey’s end this evening by two hours’ walk, -so we rested, and the next morning we set out early and arrived safely -at our town; where the people were all surprised to see me thus bound -and guarded. Some ran before to inform the prince, who, before we came -within his palisade, was sitting with his wives and several others round -about him in great expectation. As soon as the men were seated, they -told their message; I stood all the while with my hands bound behind me. -After he had examined into the affair, and found how the case was, his -countenance fell, the tears one while stood in his eyes as he viewed me -with pity; anon he frowned with indignation, the women too shared in my -distress. “And is this all,” says he, “the poor man has been so severely -used for? Robin, come hither, I will show you how much I regard my -father’s advice in this case.” Upon which he unloosed my hands, and -ordered one of his attendants to fetch him a fine silk lamber, which he -would make me put on directly; then taking my gun from the men, he gave -it me again; and made me a present besides of six cows. I told him the -messengers had been very civil to me, for which he not only thanked -them, but made them a present of an ox. “It is my father, I own,” says -he, “who has done this: for that reason I shall restrain my resentment -and say little of it; but had any other man, though a near relation, -nay, my own son, acted in this manner, he should have felt the weight of -my anger.” My wife came and licked my feet, expressing both her concern -for my ill treatment, and her joy for my return. This was about fifteen -months from the first time I came to Rer Moume. - -I was now possessed of nearly thirty head of cattle, and lived in -affluence and ease. I killed a young bullock, and the part I kept to -myself I flead, and salted after the English mode; of the tallow I made -as good candles as I could. That part which I gave to my neighbours had -the skin on, for we have the same friendly customs here as in other -parts of the island, neither do their manners differ, except in the idle -custom of the royal families killing cattle. Here they eat swine’s -flesh, and think it as good as other provision. Rer Chulu kept a pack of -dogs on purpose to hunt wild boars, but they are not of the hound kind. -Their religion is the same exactly, and their superstitious regard to -unlucky days and hours, implicitly believing all the umossee tells them; -insomuch, that numbers of poor children are privately murdered, who are -born on an Alhaida or a Jumor, which are Sunday and Friday; for when I -came on board the ship, I carefully remarked how the days answered with -ours; and found that Alhaida was Sunday; Alletenine, Monday; Talewter, -Tuesday; Alarrerbere, Wednesday; Comemeeshey, Thursday; Jumor, Friday; -and Sarbuchee, Saturday. Though these denominations are used throughout -the island, yet they regard no one day more than another, only as they -imagine some to be lucky and others unlucky, for they have no notion of -a sabbath amongst them. Rer Moume, having lost the use of his limbs, -sent all over the island for the most famous umossees he could hear of, -to consult with them for relief; they being physicians as well as -prophets. One of them, during my stay here, confined him for two months, -bathing, sweating, and cupping him to little or no purpose; however, he -made him ample satisfaction for his trouble, as he did all others who -did him any service. - -I lived with Rer Moume about two years and a half in all, at the end of -which term, news was brought that two ships were arrived at Yong-Owl to -trade. I was overjoyed to hear it, and flattered myself that W. -Thornbury had not forgotten me. They stayed there several days, and -slaves were sent to be sold, and guns and other goods were returned for -them. I was at a loss how to break my mind to Rer Moume, hoping he would -say something to me of his own accord; but as I was sitting with him one -evening, two men came in with a basket of palmetto leaves sewed up, and -delivered it to the prince; who opened it and finding a letter, asked -the men, what they meant by giving him that? “The captain,” they said, -“gave it us for your white man; but we thought proper to let you see it -first.” “Pray,” says he, “give it him all.” “Here, Robin, your -countrymen have sent you a present, what it is I don’t know, but to me -it seems of very little value.” Accordingly I took the basket, and with -the letter there were pens, ink, and paper, in order for my returning an -answer. The superscription was this: - - “To Robert Drury, on the island of Madagascar.” - -I was so astonished, that at first I had not power to open it, -concluding I was in a dream; but at length, recovering my surprise, and -after a little recollection I opened it, and found it came from captain -William Macket. The contents whereof were to the effect following:— - -“That he had a letter on board from my father, with full instructions as -well from him as his owners, to purchase my liberty let it cost what it -would. And in case I could not possibly come down myself, to send him -word the reason of it, and what measures he should take to serve me.” - -Rer Moume perceived that my countenance changed whilst I was reading the -letter, and asked me what was the matter? I told him, that the captain -desired to speak with me, and that my father had sent for me home, and -hoped that he would please to give his consent. “How do you know all -this?” says the prince, “can you conjure?” Then turning to the -messengers, “Have you, pray, heard any thing like this?” “Yes,” said -they, “it is all the discourse at the seaside, that Robin’s father sent -both these ships for him, and more than all this, the king your father -expects him there with your leave, and desires to see him before he goes -to the ship.” Rer Moume took the letter, and turning it over and over -said, he had heard of such methods of conveying intelligence to one -another, but never actually saw it before, and could not conceive which -way it could be done without conjuration. I endeavoured to demonstrate -to him, as well as I could, how we learned in our infancy the characters -first, and then we put them together. “But,” says he, “I presume you -have no inclination to leave us now, since you live here so much at your -ease; you have several cattle and a slave, and if you shall want more -you shall have them, you shall have too as many wives as you please, and -be a great man.” I begged him to make my case his own, and that he would -please to consider whether he should not be desirous of seeing his -parents and native country, had he been absent so long as I had? “I -think I should,” he said, “and therefore I will take it into -consideration, and ask my wives’ advice about it, and give an answer in -the morning.” - -My readers may easily imagine what a night of disorder this was to my -mind, agitated with hopes on one hand and with fears on the other; -however, I took care to attend him as soon as ever he was stirring, and -seated with his wives about him. After he had looked steadfastly on me -for some time, “Robin,” says he, “I have opened your affair to my wives -here, and your mother Ry Anzackar, and one or two more, consent to your -going, but the rest are all against it; however, let them speak for -themselves, it is out of respect to you that they are desirous you -should continue amongst them.” Upon this, I turned towards them, and -without waiting to hear what they had to offer, begged them to consider, -as they were mothers, whether or no, if a child of theirs was in a -strange country, they should not have an earnest inclination to see him, -and he them? Hereupon the prince told me, if I was willing to stay, he -would all along, as he had hitherto done, treat me like his own son, but -he would not make use of compulsion, so that if I was resolutely bent on -going he would dismiss me. Moreover, he told me, that my slave should go -with me; that as to my cattle, they were mine to dispose of as I -pleased. I replied, if he was so good as not to take my cattle from me, -though they were in fact his own, they might still remain there as they -were marked for mine; for I was fully determined to make one voyage more -here, in hopes of having it in my power to make him some amends for the -great care he had taken of me, by bringing a ship to traffic with him; -(and in this I was very sincere, and afterwards as good as my word.) I -asked him if he thought proper to demand any consideration of the -captain for my freedom. He answered, nothing; but if my friends would -make him a present of a good gun, he should accept of the favour, and -call it Robin in remembrance of me. This noble, generous answer, and so -prince-like, gave me such transports of joy, that I immediately kneeled -down, and licked his feet with the utmost sincerity, as justly thinking -I could never express my gratitude enough to this good, this indulgent -prince. He would not dismiss me instantly, but did in a day or two -after; and ordered the messengers to be taken care of in the mean time. -When the day of my departure came, I had one remaining difficulty to get -over, and that was the parting with my wife, the women of the prince’s -family, and himself, which I did with as much reluctance, as when I left -my natural parents at my departure from them; and they discovered an -equally tender affection for me; he would not, however, let us go empty -handed, but ordered an ox for our subsistence on our journey, and -appointed likewise two of his own people to accompany the other two; and -then we set forward. - -I had yet one suspicious circumstance still to pass over, and that was -to call on Rer Trimmonongarevo: this gave me no small uneasiness; but -when we came near Moherbo, we were informed that he was gone to a place -within an hour’s walk of the seaside. As soon as I approached him, he -instantly made an apology for his too warm constitution, and confessed -that he had sometimes done mischief in his passion, but hoped I would -excuse him for what had passed; and said he was loth to let me go till -the ship was near upon sailing, lest I should prove detrimental to the -trade. I told him, I had no complaint to make, since his son had been so -indulgent to me; and that if he pleased to dismiss me at my friend’s -request, they would take it as a favour; but should he detain me, when -they knew I was so near, I did not know what ill consequences might -ensue thereupon. He kept me, however, this night, but dismissed me with -his blessing the next morning; praying that God and the demons would be -my guardians, and send me safely to my native country. So I licked his -feet and took my last farewell of him, and of this odd and filthy custom -likewise. - -When I came down to the seaside, the first man who spoke to me was -William Purser, my old acquaintance in Feraignher; he came away to live -in more security and plenty, as well as several others; and was at this -time interpreter for the trade. Here were several houses, but such as -the English call huts, erected by the inhabitants at a small distance -from the factory, for the more commodious selling of milk and other -provisions. There I met Mr Hill, the steward of the Drake, captain -Macket’s ship, and two or three more of their crew, who took me for a -wild man; and in a letter he sent off by a canoe to the captain, he told -him the wild Englishman was come. I desired William Purser to inform -them that I could speak but little English; and though by the -conversation I had with William Thornbury I had regained some, yet I was -frequently puzzled for words to speak freely for several days. Captain -Macket soon came on shore, and captain Bloom with him, for here were two -ships, the Drake and the Sarah. I gazed at them as intently as if I had -never seen a white man dressed before; and what added to the wildness of -my appearance, was, that I had nothing on but my lamber; my skin being -swarthy and full of freckles, and my hair long and matted together, I -really made a frightful figure; but they soon restored me to my original -form, Mr Hill cut my hair off, and ordered me to be shaved, and dressed -in a neat seaman’s habit, light and fit for the country. The captain -asked me what ransom was expected for my freedom? I told him nothing but -a gun for a present, to be kept in remembrance of me. He thereupon -picked out a handsome and very good Buccaneer gun, as also some powder, -flints, and case of spirits, as a present to Rer Moume. He gave likewise -knives and beads to his two men, and a small gun to the messengers who -went for me. For my own part, I presented the captain with my slave -Anthony. After this he gave me the following letter from my father. - - “To Robert Drury, on the island of Madagascar. - “_Loughborough, February 27th, 1715._ - “Son Robert Drury, - - “I am informed by one Mr Thornbury, that he left you in health on the - island of Madagascar, which I was glad to hear; my very good friend, - Mr Terry, hath a friend, commander of a ship, the bearer hereof, that - hath promised to do all he can to get you your liberty; I therefore - desire you to do the captain all the service you can in the country; - and so doing you will oblige our good friend Mr Terry, and your - ever-loving father till death, - - “JOHN DRURY.” - -About three days after I went on board; but the sea and change of diet -made me very sick for some time; after which the two captains went to -Rer Trimmonongarevo, and I with them, in order to settle some matters in -relation to the trade. It is a general custom all over the island for -the king of each place to make terms, and settle one universal price, to -which all the people are obliged to conform; and this method is, -doubtless, not only very commodious, but prevents all quarrels and -disorders. They presented the king with a fine gun, gilt and japanned. I -was the interpreter, and though I carried on the correspondence, my -dress had so altered me in these few days’ time, that he had no notion -who I was, till upon inquiry who that Englishman was who spake so well -their language, he was told it was Robin. - -A few days after, there came messengers from Rer Moume, desiring the -captains to come up the river Mernee, for he had a great many slaves to -sell, but being lame he could not take a long journey; however, he would -come down to the banks of that river, to a town near enough for trade. -It was agreed that the Sarah should go, so they ordered a long-boat out -to sound before them; I went on board, and we sailed with a gentle gale, -but could find no convenient harbour or road in the mouth of the Mernee; -however, there was a convenient place for anchoring, in a saltwater -river, about three leagues on this side; from whence the two captains -and myself went up in the boat a considerable way, till a canoe took us -in and carried us to the town, where Rer Moume with his wives and people -were waiting for us. Until I kneeled and kissed his knee, he did not -know me, for my behaviour and grateful acknowledgments for his past -favours, he and they soon recollected me, and were extremely glad to see -me. Here we continued five days successively, bought all the slaves they -had, and agreed to send our long-boat once a week as long as we stayed; -and then they went on board, weighed anchor, and returned to their -former road at Yong-Owl, where there arrived that very day a third ship, -that belonged to the same owners, called the Mercury, captain White -commander; he had eight or nine natives of Dillagoe in Africa on board -him, who lived very merrily; they were all freemen, and went with him -the whole voyage, six of whom lived to see their native country the next -voyage he took, in which I was with him. Soon after this a ketch came -in, which was fitted out in order to cruise off the coast, and be -serviceable in several affairs; captain Henry Macket, the captain’s -brother, was the commander of her; another ship was still expected, but -she did not arrive till we were at Masseleege, otherwise called -Munnongaro; they now agreed to separate for the more speedy despatch of -business. Captain Bloom accordingly had his choice, which was to go to -Port Dauphine, and captain Macket to Masseleege, where we arrived in a -week’s time, and went several leagues up a great river, called -Munnonbaugher; we had a fisherman for our pilot, who informed us that -the king’s town was but about three hours’ journey up the country. The -captain asked me, if I would venture to go there; I readily answered, -that I would, and that I was not apprehensive of any danger; so the -fisherman setting us ashore we went forward. Before we had gone far from -the shore, the fisherman told me the king was gone out to war. Whereupon -I flew into a great passion, asking him why he imposed upon us; he said -the king’s wives would trade with us. I told him, we did not want -provisions; and as for slaves they had no authority to dispose of them. -The man, however, prevailed on me to go to their town, assuring me that -four white men lived there, who came from the island of St. Mary’s. -“Then, I presume, they are robbers of ships,” said I. “No,” he replied, -“not now, for they have lived there several years; their names are -captain Burgess, Zachary, John Pro, and Nick.” So I walked forwards with -my gun on my shoulder, and the man carried another. I had also several -knives and beads, which the captain gave me to buy provisions with, -though I knew how to live without buying any victuals, yet I took them, -as thinking they would be agreeable presents. - -When I arrived at the town, a man ran before and informed the king’s -head consort, whom I shall call queen, that a ship was arrived, and that -one of the white men was coming to see her. At my arrival, a mat was -ready placed for me to sit down on; no sooner was I seated, than I heard -the queen ask for some of the white men to be interpreters between us, -and one ran that moment to fetch them. I soon convinced her, however, -that I wanted no assistants, and delivered my message, as ambassador -from the captain, saying, “I was afraid no trade could be carried on, as -the king was absent.” She said, “she expected him in a fortnight, and as -there was a great number of slaves to be sold, she desired me to prevail -on the captain to stay till his return.” By this time, came in two white -men abreast, making a formidable and hostile figure; upon which I cocked -my gun, laid the other by me, and planted myself directly before them. -One was John Pro, a Dutchman, who spoke good English; he was dressed in -a short coat with broad plate-buttons, and other things answerable, but -without either shoes or stockings. In his sash, he had stuck a brace of -pistols, and held one in his hand. The other was in an English dress, -and had two pistols in his sash, and one in his hand, like his -companion; they spoke to me in English, with the usual compliment, which -I returned; but Nick looked me wishfully in the face, and after a short -pause, took hold of my hand, saying, “Robert Drury, how have you done -these many years? My name is Nicholas Dove,” said he, “I am one of the -four boys who were saved with you when our ship’s company were massacred -in Anterndroea; and the very same of whom no tidings could be given in -the conference between deaan Crindo and king Samuel.” Upon this, I went -home with them after I had finished with the queen, in order to know -whether captain Macket would think proper to stay so long or not. John -Pro assured me it would certainly be well worth his while; that there -were a great number of slaves whom they wanted to dispose of; that the -king, deaan Toke-offu, was a very honest fair-dealing man, as well as a -great prince, and would return in a short time, though not so soon, he -feared, as the queen said. They were gone to encounter with a king to -the northward, and about five or six thousand of them went all the way -up the river in canoes, that were large enough to contain about thirty -men a piece, with their proper accommodations in them, to make fires and -dress victuals, and such as I had never seen any where else. I wrote a -letter to the captain the next morning, and sent it by the fisherman, in -which I gave him a full and particular account of what had passed. In -his answer, he desired me to send some men to carry him up to the town -on their shoulders, in a hammock affixed to two poles. - -John Pro lived in a very decent manner, and his house was furnished with -pewter dishes, a standing-bed with curtains, and all other things of the -like nature, except chairs; a chest or two, however, served for that use -well enough. He had an outhouse on purpose for his cook-room, and -cook-slave’s lodging, storehouse, and summer house; all these were -enclosed in a palisade, as most of the great men’s houses are in this -country; for he was rich, had many cattle, and several slaves. Nicholas -Dove, indeed, was not near so rich. In the evening came captain Burgess -and Zachary: I soon understood that these were the sloop’s crew, to -which Arnold and Eglasse the Dutchman belonged; and, therefore, gave -them the best account I could of their fortune in Feraignher. - -Nicholas Dove, however, told me more than I knew before, viz.—That he -ran away and got to Port Dauphine; that after the expiration of two -years, he got to Mattatanna Road, in a large canoe, and there entered -himself on board a pirate, that cruised principally among the Moors, -from whom they frequently took great riches, and carried them to St. -Mary’s. This place having a good harbour, they made it their settlement -and general rendezvous. It is a small island, but three leagues from -Madagascar, in the latitude of 16 deg. 33 min. south; but as their ship -grew old and crazy, and none of the Moorish ships, which they had taken, -were fit for their business, they being also vastly rich, they removed -to Madagascar, made one Thomas Collins, a carpenter, their governor, and -built a small fort, which they defended with their ship’s guns; but here -they led most licentious and profligate lives, stealing whatever they -could come at, and ravishing the wives and daughters of the natives: -living by this means for some time in a state of perpetual war. Upon -this, I could not forbear reflecting that deaan Mernaugha was not so -much to be blamed in ordering Eglasse to be killed for threatening him; -since he had, doubtless, a competent knowledge by some means or another, -to what a crew of vile abandoned wretches he once belonged. Nicholas -Dove said, they had not gone out a pirating for nine years successively, -contenting themselves with building a sloop by this governor’s -assistance, and soon after left him and others, and settled here, where -they had continued ever since. By him I understood that Mr Bembo got -safe to England; but captain Drummond was killed before he could get off -the island, though the particular manner and occasion, he could not -inform me; but they told me one remarkable piece of news, namely,—that -this captain Drummond was the very man, for whose murder, and his crews, -one captain Green, commander of an East India ship, was hanged in -Scotland; whether it be truth or not, I cannot determine. All I know of -the case I have already related, and can only observe, that the time, -the name, and the circumstances of his being here, where no news of him -could be had for several years, give just grounds for the supposition. -But to return to my history. - -The queen sent me a calf for a present, and I in return, gave her a few -knives and beads; I went to the shore with John Pro, to welcome the -captain to the town. His surgeon, one Mr Strahan, was with him. The -queen entertained them as elegantly as she could, and mutual presents -passed in form. - -We returned that evening to the ship, and built a house the next day for -the more commodious carrying on of trade. The natives perceiving we were -determined to stay, they built several others near it, to accommodate us -with rice, milk, fruits, and other necessaries. I went frequently up to -the town to hear what news I could, but it was a month or more before -the people came back from the wars; they came down the river in canoes, -as they went up, and met with great success. At length the king arrived -with the corpse of his brother, who was killed in the fight. He deferred -his burial for nearly a fortnight, till he had settled all his affairs -with us, and had given audience likewise to his brother’s ambassadors, -who were waiting for him. - -As soon as captain Macket heard of his return, he came up to town again -with a large retinue, and his trumpeter sounding before him. They went -to J. Pro’s house whilst I attended on the king, with whom I had some -very familiar conversation, as he had often heard of me; in the -conclusion whereof, he told me that he desired the captain’s patience -till he had sent for his people about him, and put himself in due order -to receive him, which, in about two hours’ time, he did; and then all we -white men, as well captain Burgess, and the rest, as those who came with -us, marched two abreast, the trumpeter sounding before the captain, -having a crowd of black mob after us; the shells blowing, and the drums -beating at the same time in the king’s palisade by way of compliment. As -deaan Toke-offu well knew how to treat white men, he had ordered two -stools for the captain and surgeon to sit upon. After the mutual -compliments were reciprocally passed, I being their interpreter, the -manner of trade was soon settled and adjusted; and then the captain made -a present to the king of a gun or two, &c., and the king presented him -with a slave, &c. He gave me likewise a girl of twelve years old, whom I -sold immediately to John Pro. The captain had thoughts of taking his -leave this afternoon, but the king prevailed on him to stay till the -next day, in order to make his court look the more grand when he -received the ambassadors. - -Accordingly, the next day, we were seated in order, when the ambassadors -came with a numerous retinue, making just such an entry as Rer Vove did -before his grandfather, when he returned from the wars. Some capering as -they advanced, and firing their guns, and then retreating; others -advancing in their places and doing the same. When the principal -ambassador approached, he kneeled upon one knee, and licked the king’s -knee, saying— - - “Tyhew an deaan Unghorra en Zaftana Lohefute.” - That is,— - “The Supreme God bless the progeny of deaan Lohefute.” - -Others came after him, repeating the same words. This done, business was -now no more talked of, but the remainder of the day was spent in -compliments and drinking of toake; but our captain took his leave, and -made all the haste he could to despatch the affairs of trade. The next -day they sent down several slaves to sell, and captain Macket fitted up -Burgess’s sloop, and sent her to fetch the ketch from Yong-Owl; during -which time, the Henry, captain Harvey, commander, arrived; a ship of -five hundred tons’ burthen. While we continued here, deaan Toke-offu’s -brother was buried, and all the natives shaved off their hair, which is -the usual manner of their public mourning all over the island; and he -who does not comply with this, is looked upon as disaffected to the -government. When a private person dies, the friends and relations only -do it. - -It was about the middle of October when we arrived here, and the 24th of -November before the king returned; but by the beginning of January, we -had purchased more than our cargo of slaves, so we left part of them -with the Henry, which remained after us. We sailed from the river -Munnonbaugher in Munnongaro, or Masseleege, and arrived at Yong-Owl, -where captain White was trading, not having then got his complement of -slaves. On the 20th of January we departed from thence, and bid adieu to -the island of Madagascar. - -We did not touch at the Cape of Good Hope, but at St Helena, where I -went ashore, and took all the care I could of the slaves who were sick. -From thence we went to Barbadoes, where we stayed a week, then weighed, -and sailed to Jamaica, where we delivered our cargo. The captain was not -only tender of me whilst on board, but supplied me with money likewise -at every port we came to, though by the little knowledge I had of its -use, I committed several mistakes, which were subjects of laughter and -merriment. As to liquors, I could scarce relish any, since I had lost -toake, to which I had been so long accustomed. I was taken sick here, -which proved very chargeable; but the captain sent me ashore, where, by -his kind orders, I wanted for nothing. Whilst we were here, the Mercury, -captain White from Madagascar arrived, but we were ready to sail with -the fleet, under convoy of the Winchelsea, which was a forty-gun ship. -On the 5th of July, we departed from Jamaica, beating through the -windward passage. Under the Crooked Islands we saw two sloops, which the -Winchelsea endeavoured to speak with, and imagining them to be pirates, -struck his pendant, in order to look like a merchant ship, which -deceived them so far, that the largest sloop gave chase, and hoisted a -black ensign and jack; but finding her mistake, thought proper to alter -her course, and stand in for the land again. Though the man-of-war could -not follow her, yet our captain, whose ship was a good sailer, and -mounted sixteen guns, did, and exchanged several broadsides with her. He -stood close under the land, and as night came on, got away from us, but -had the assurance to rob two of the stern-most ships in the fleet. -Moreover, they threatened to tie captain Macket to the main-mast of his -ship, and burn him, if ever they met with him again. - -Not long after this we had the misfortune to run foul of the Winchelsea, -which, tacking about unexpectedly, staved our bow to the water’s edge, -and carried our foremast quite away; the man-of-war lost his head and -sprit-sail-yard. We must all have been inevitably lost had the sea run -high, but by good providence it was fair weather; so by the assistance -of the Winchelsea’s crew and some others, we kept the water out, but -were forced to go back to the Crooked Islands, and they accompanied us, -where by the help of them, and some other ships, our breach being made -up, we proceeded on our voyage; and on Saturday, September 9, 1717, -arrived in the Downs, after I had been absent from my native country -sixteen years and about nine months. Here, by the captain’s direction, I -went ashore, he having first supplied me with what was necessary for my -journey to London; yet did I not set forward till I had returned God -thanks in the most solemn manner for my safe arrival, and for my -deliverance from the many dangers I had escaped, and from the miseries I -had so long undergone. - -It may not be improper in this place to inform my readers by what a -wonderful providence my father came to hear of my being alive in -Madagascar. My brother was one day at the Crown alehouse, at -Cherrygarden-stairs, in Rotherhithe, where William Thornbury was in the -next box; and hearing him talk of that island to his friend, he said, he -had a brother cast away there several years before, and should be glad -to hear some tidings of him. Thornbury replied, he had never seen but -one white man upon the island, and his name he had forgotten. My brother -thereupon mentioned several names, and at last Robert Drury, which -Thornbury no sooner heard, but said, that was it, and that his father -lived at the King’s-head, in the Old Jewry. - -When I came to London, (it being Sunday about three o’clock in the -afternoon,) I thought it improper to go in sermon-time to the -King’s-head, in the Old Jewry, the house in which my father lived before -he retired into the country, but went to the Bell alehouse, (then the -British coffeehouse,) at the lower end, and desired to be admitted; -assuring the master I was but just come on shore. He seeing me in a sea -jacket, and hearing me speak in broken English, took me for a foreigner, -and let me in; asking me what countryman I was, and from whence I came? -I told him an Englishman, which at first he would scarcely believe, till -he recollected me by the questions I asked; namely, who kept the -King’s-head? Whether John Drury did not keep it some years ago? He told -me, that John Drury went to live in the country, and left it to his -brother William, who died some time since; and that his widow kept the -house. “How!” said I, “is William Drury dead?” “Yes,” answered he, “and -John Drury his brother too died about a year ago.” This news so dejected -me, that I burst out into tears, and afterwards bemoaned my hard fate -before him; by this he perceived who I was, having heard of my being -abroad, and of my friends expecting me soon in England. Hereupon he -asked me, if my name was not Drury? I answered, it was, and that I had -been unfortunate for many years; I was like to continue so, since my -father was dead. As an addition to my sorrow, he told me, moreover, that -my mother died with grief not long after she heard of our shipwreck, and -that my father had married again. After sermon I went to the -King’s-head, where they soon discovered who I was, and were overjoyed to -see me; and there I had a full account of our whole family affairs. I -found my father had left me two hundred pounds, and also the reversion -of a house at Stoke Newington, then in the occupation of Mr Richard -Beardsley. I stayed in town till I had visited all the friends I could -remember, and then went to Loughborough to see my sister, and other -relations, where I met with a very friendly reception, after they -imagined I had been lost so many years before. - -As soon as I had settled my affairs there, I returned to London. Captain -Macket continued still as kind to me as ever, and said he would take -care of me if things did not answer my expectations. He asked me to go -with him again to Madagascar, but I had then agreed to live with a -relation in the capacity of clerk, or bookkeeper. After captain Macket -was gone, and things did not answer as I expected, I agreed with captain -White, captain Macket’s friend, who was bound for Madagascar likewise, -to go the voyage with him, and assist him in the trade, which my -knowledge of the language and customs of the country had sufficiently -qualified me for. So having left all my effects in a friend’s hands -(except what I thought proper to take with me) I went on board the -Mercury, and we sailed from the Downs, September 13, 1718. - - - - - AFTER-VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. - - -When I was but a boy, I had learned the art of navigation in some -measure by going to India, though I had lost it again for want of -practice; yet, applying myself to a proper mathematician for farther -instruction, I soon recovered enough to enable me to keep a journal, and -give such an account of this voyage as may be useful to those who have -no knowledge of the island. - -On the first of April, 1719, we arrived at the Cape of Good Hope, where -we bought such provisions as we wanted, and on the tenth set sail for -Natal; on the twenty-ninth we saw the land, in the latitude of 29 deg. -20 min. south, to the northward of Natal, about eleven leagues off. We -sailed a west-south-west course along the shore, with a gentle breeze; -at noon the point of Natal bore south-west by west, about two leagues -distant; at two in the afternoon we came to an anchor in fourteen -fathoms’ water, within two miles of the point of Natal, it bearing -west-south-west. The current sets south-south-west and north-north-east. -Here we traded for slaves, with large brass rings, or rather collars, -and several other commodities. In a fortnight’s time we purchased -seventy-four boys and girls. These are better slaves for working than -those of Madagascar, being not only blacker, but stronger. - -Captain White put six natives of Dillagoe on shore here, whom he took -with him the former voyage. They had two or three king’s dominions to -pass through before they came to their own country, and were under some -apprehensions of being intercepted. The captain, therefore, furnished -them with guns, ammunition, hatchets, and brass collars. Here I saw -several humped cattle, like those in Madagascar; but the natives have -short woolly hair, like Guinea negroes, and not like the people of -Madagascar. - -On the seventh day of June, we made the land on the east side of -Madagascar. I went up to the mast-head, where, discerning high land to -the southward, I took it for granted that we were to the northward of -Port Dauphine; the captain, however, not relying on what I asserted, -hoisted out the boat, and sent me and the second mate in her towards the -shore to speak with any of the natives we could see. We rowed along the -shore a considerable time, till I discovered a small town, and some of -the inhabitants looking at us; but the sea broke so much three or four -hundred yards off the shore, that we dare not venture to put the boat -in; hereupon I pulled off my clothes and swam. Two of the natives -observing me, swam to my assistance, and walked with me afterwards to a -point about a mile farther, where they go off with their canoes. Here -the boat got in, and I persuaded one of the fishermen to accompany us. -This place is called Murnumbo, about ten leagues to the northward of -Port Dauphine. Here was a strong current and large swell against us. The -next day about sunset, we anchored in fourteen fathoms’ water, being -unable to get into the bay. The ruins of the fort bore west-south-west -of us, Cape Ramus south-west by south, and the point of the Seven -Virgins, or Seven Hammocks, east. The next morning we weighed, stood -into the bay, and anchored in three fathoms’ water; the French fort bore -south-east by east, the ruins of the church south-south-east; we were -within a cable’s length of the shore, on either side almost landlocked. -However, as there is sometimes a strong north-east wind, it is always -best to keep a good anchor and cable without. - -Port Dauphine is in the latitude of 24 deg. 50 min. south. The bay into -which you must sail, is on the east side of the point. You must take -care of a rock on your starboard side. Your course to steer is -west-north-west. When you are in you will see the ruins of a fort on a -hill, called “the nose of the port;” you must keep close to this point -till you open the bay, and when the fort bears south-east by east, or -east-south-east, you may come to an anchor; and, if you will, may moor -your ship to the rocks. About two miles to the southward there is a -false bay, which may deceive strangers; therefore, as it is a rocky -place, great care must be taken. - -I went directly on shore to the king’s brother’s town, and acquainted -him, that we were come to trade, but were in haste to be gone; and, -therefore, if they had any slaves to sell, he must despatch them down -forthwith. And this pretence must always be made, for they have no -notion of the expense that attends a long delay. Messengers were -immediately sent to the king, who sent word by an Irishman, (who had -deserted from one captain Ware,) that he would be with us the next day, -and came accordingly. This prince’s name was deaan Morroughsevea, he was -dressed in a coat and breeches, and had a hat on his head. The first day -was spent in the usual compliments, and making mutual presents. The -price was adjusted the next day; whereupon we built a factory, and -palisaded it round. The king soon returned, though we stayed here till -the nineteenth of July. At which time the captain sending me with some -presents to the king, I stripped off my clothes, and dressed myself like -a native, with a lance in my hand. I think it was not less than twenty -miles. The king was just going to dinner with salt fish, rice, and roast -beef, when I got there. He very courteously desired me to sit down and -partake of what he had before him; saying, all white men, except the -French, were very welcome; for they had killed his grandfather, and -carried an uncle of his away captive. After dinner he entertained me -with some toake, and a dram of brandy, and then dismissed me with some -presents to the captain, desiring we would return as soon as -conveniently we could, for he was going to war with Unter Morrow Cherock -to the northward, and hoped soon to have more slaves for us. - -On the twentieth I came on board, and then we weighed, leaving four men -and the natal slaves behind us. Here we purchased one hundred and -thirty, and sailed with them to the Mattatanna Road; and on the -twenty-sixth we made the Thumb-cap off Mattatanna, and came to an anchor -within a league distance. Here is no going on shore in our boats, by -reason of the great bar that is there, and the sea always breaking upon -it; the canoes, however, came off to us, and I went on shore with them; -and after that to the king’s town, which was a great way up the river. -One ran before to inform him that the captain’s ambassador was coming: -whereupon he put himself in great order, and appeared in state. He -speaks English and French very well, and so do several of his family. He -told me I was welcome. But as captain Macket had been before us, and -bought three hundred and thirty slaves in less than twenty days, he -endeavoured to raise the price upon us. I soon informed him, however, -that I knew the country; and that if he had none to dispose of, I could -tell where to go to market. At last we agreed, and I sent the captain -word of what I had done. It was so dangerous going over the breakers, -that I did not care how seldom I went. I did not like the place, for -they were so harassed with a neighbouring enemy, that they were always -on their guard, and could not sleep in safety, nor get even common -necessaries; the country being in much the same state and condition as -was Feraignher when I lived there. The captain, notwithstanding this, -was obstinate; and after he had sent me a cargo on shore, as also a man -to assist me, sailed away to Don Mascareen, an island then belonging to -the French, and about one hundred leagues to the eastward. - -As soon as he was gone, I removed my factory to the king’s town, as -thinking it more safe. I often lent the natives guns and ammunition to -repel their enemies, and once I went with them. I bought fourteen slaves -in three days, but finding provision dear, I went more artfully to work; -I agreed for the slaves they offered to sale, and left something as -earnest in their hands, but would not complete the bargain. Here I had a -scurvy trick put upon me, which I relate, that others may beware of the -like impositions. One night, notwithstanding all my care, I missed two -women slaves, who were fastened by the arms together. I complained -thereof to the king, who, pretending to know nothing of it, ordered -inquiry to be made after them, but to no purpose, till I published a -reward of six pounds of gunpowder to him who would restore them. The man -who sold them to me brought them again, pretending he had found the -place where they had concealed themselves, and demanded the reward. I -charged him with imposing on me, but not being then able to make good my -assertion, he complained to the king, who threatened me hard in case I -did not give the man the reward. I returned his menaces in warm terms, -offering to defend myself with my fire-arms, as I had six ready loaded -by me. What with tears and flatteries, the women confessed before the -next morning, that their first master had injured me, and misused them -after he had them again. I went to the king’s brother directly, and -assured him I would take care that no white men should ever trade there -for the future; but in the end, he desired I would speak with the king -first, which I did. He reconciled us before our ship returned, which was -in the middle of September, and then without captain White, who had been -dead and buried some time before at Don Mascareen. He went there to sell -slaves to the French, and buy up others for the West India cargo, but -there happened to be no call for any. - -Captain Christal, who was then commander, sent one of his officers to -assure me I might depend on the same civility and friendship as I had -received from his predecessor, for he approved my conduct, and completed -the bargains I had begun, and brought my slaves on board. - -Mattatanna in the latitude of 22 deg. 15 min. south, is a wild coast, -where our boats can at no time come ashore; these slaves, and those of -Port Dauphine are esteemed the best in the island. Before we went from -hence, I heard that deaan Morroughsevea of Port Dauphine, was killed in -the expedition he went on, after I left him. Before I proceed farther in -my account of this voyage, as I am now on the east side of the island, I -shall take notice of the principal places on it. - -About seven leagues to the northward of Mattatanna, is Melancaro. Here -is a river with eight feet of water on the bar, which divides the two -kingdoms of Mattatanna and Tronghe. The inhabitants of the latter are -numerous and obliging, but cannot trade for want of canoes. About ten -leagues from Tronghe is Maninzarce; they would willingly trade with the -English, but as they have no canoes, and it is a wild shore, where our -boats cannot land, it is impracticable. About twenty leagues farther to -the northward is Mungaro; the natives whereof are always at war with the -inhabitants of Port St. Mary’s and the pirates. The king’s name is -Maulaunza. They have no canoes here, but if a captain would take some -with him from Mattatanna, they would gladly trade with him. St. Mary’s -is an island three leagues off the main, in latitude 16 deg. 30 min. and -has a good harbour. Here are about twenty white men, formerly pirates, -who now live on their ill-gotten treasures. - -Antogeal is in the latitude of 16 deg. 15 min. Here is a clear deep bay, -keep the north shore on board. At the bottom of it, is a small island of -two or three miles in circumference, in which is a good harbour. The -Dutch had formerly a fort on it. Here are grampuses and whales, which -the natives have the art of taking. Barimbass is in latitude 15 deg.: -the inhabitants have canoes, and will come off at first sight of a ship. -The king is very courteous to white men, and takes pleasure in trading -with them. - -Our next business was to go to Port Dauphine, where the death of their -king was confirmed; we found the country in sad confusion, and in no -condition for trading; so we took our men, slaves, and goods on board, -and proceeded round the southernmost end of the island. - -The country next adjoining to Port Dauphine, or Antenosa, is -Anterndroea, where the Degrave was wrecked, and which was the melancholy -scene of my captivity. Joining to this is Merfaughla, which lies a -little to the southward, in latitude 26 deg. south. The want of canoes -in both these countries renders them incapable of trading. The next port -is St. Augustine-bay, in which is a fresh water river, with twelve feet -of water at spring tides; it flows south-south-east, and -north-north-west. Tulea lies seven leagues to the northward, and is a -very good harbour. - -As you sail from St. Augustine-bay to Yong-Owl, there are several little -islands. The two first are in the latitude of 21 deg. about five leagues -distant from the main island. A little farther is a single island with -lofty trees on it; and still farther to the northward, there are three -sandy islands, with breakers between them. A north-east course carries -you clear and along shore, but keep in fifteen, sixteen, or seventeen -fathoms’ water. On the banks are nine, ten, or twelve fathoms’ water. -When you are past the sandy islands, the coast is clear to Yong-Owl. -This is an open road in the latitude of 20 deg. 20 min. There is good -anchoring in sixteen fathoms’ water, not above a mile from the shore. -There is no high land near the shore on all this coast, but there are -high mountains up the country. Munnonhaugher is a river which they call -Manzerroy, in which is fourteen or fifteen fathoms’ water. It flows east -and west twelve feet right up and down on spring tides: you go up the -river six or seven leagues to the usual place where they traffic. A -little to the southward of this is another river, called Luna, to which -a ship comes from Arabia once a year. This place is called Masseleege, -or the country of Munnongaro, whereof deaan Toke-offu is the sovereign, -and of which I have already given a sufficient account. - -Our business now was at Yong-Owl, where we arrived on the 16th of -October; the captain went with me up the country to Moherbo, and took -his musicians with us. As soon as I came on shore, I was informed that -Rer Trimmonongarevo was dead, and Rer Moume succeeded him, and lived at -Moherbo. I sent a messenger before me to acquaint him that I was coming -to pay my duty to him, and had brought a ship to trade here pursuant to -my promise; but as soon as we came to a town on this side Moherbo, we -saw abundance of people pulling down a wooden house, in which the corpse -of Rer Trimmonongarevo was interred; the reason whereof, as the natives -told me, was as follows:—“That Rer Trimmonongarevo had appeared to Rer -Moume in the night time, and asked him why he put him above his father -Lohefutee? and he seemed to resent his son’s ill conduct, and ordered -his body to be taken up, and put lower than his father’s, and his house -likewise, which was erected for a monument to be levelled with his -father’s.” When I came to Rer Moume, he did not know me in my new dress; -I soon let him understand who I was, for I could not forbear to lick his -knees. His generous and humane deportment towards me, made me esteem him -as my father, and he was equally overjoyed to see me. His wives, -likewise, expressed their pleasure. I went to review my cattle, for, -according to his promise, he had kept them all for me; and as they were -now considerably increased, I marked the young ones with a particular -signet, for he insisted that they still are mine. - -We got our whole complement of slaves here in ten weeks’ time, and -sailed from hence January 7. We touched at St. Helena and at Barbadoes, -from thence we proceeded to Rapphanick river in Virginia, where we sold -our slaves, took in tobacco, and then set sail for England. On the 11th -day of September, 1720, we arrived in the Downs. - -Thus have I endeavoured to give a true and faithful narrative of what I -thought most remarkable in this island. I have seen the “Atlas -Geographicus,” which is, I presume, a collection of what has been -written concerning this island. And though there are some things -mentioned there, of which I give no account, I see no reason to depart -from any particular herein contained, or to make any additions. I have -related only what I saw, and know to be fact. There is an insect amongst -them I have not mentioned, called the scorpion, a troublesome animal, -and the only venomous creature I ever saw there. As to what is asserted -in the “Atlas” before-mentioned, that the natives are Mahometans, I have -read, since I came to England, some account of the Mahometan religion, -but can find no conformity or similitude in it to this of Madagascar; on -the contrary, Mahomet pretended to have familiar converse with God, but -these people would be shocked to hear that deaan Unghorray, their -Supreme God, ever conversed with the greatest monarch. There is one -custom I have omitted, and that is, their abstaining from their women at -certain times, as the Jews do. The Virzimbers, whom some imagine to be -the first inhabitants of this island, I have said before, differ in some -points of religion; but then it is to be understood in the forms and -manner of their worship and ceremonies, for they have owleys as others -have, and entertain the same notions of a Supreme God, the lords of the -four quarters of the world, spirits, &c. - - ROBERT DRURY. - -N.B. The author, for some years before his death, was to be spoken with -every day at Old Tom’s coffeehouse in Birchin-lane; at which place -several inquisitive gentlemen have received from his own month the -confirmation of those particulars which seemed dubious, or carried with -them the least air of a romance. - - - - - SEQUEL. - - -Very little is known of the subsequent life of Robert Drury, but that -little is satisfactory both in regard to his veracity and respectability -in his humble situation. On his return to England, he went in the first -place to Loughborough, in his native county, in which town he had a -sister and other relatives. He afterwards came to London, where he -obtained the situation of porter at the East India House; and it is said -that his father left him two hundred pounds, and the reversion of a -house at Stoke Newington. His extraordinary adventures procured him much -attention, and many curious persons were in the habit of calling upon -him at his house in Lincoln’s-inn-fields, then unenclosed; when he used -to amuse them by throwing a javelin in the manner of the natives of -Madagascar, who had taught him to hit a small mark at a very surprising -distance. Mr Duncombe, who died in 1769, the translator of Horace, and -editor of the works of his brother-in-law, Hughes the poet, had a friend -who had frequently witnessed this feat, and conversed with Drury, a fact -which is mentioned in the second volume of Hughes’s “Letters” by -Duncombe, page 258. Nothing farther is known of the life of Robert -Drury, nor has the time of his death been recorded. - - - - - A VOCABULARY - OF THE - MADAGASCAR LANGUAGE. - - - A - - All _earbe_ - alive _valu_ - ants _vetick_ - arm _vorecka_ - ask _munganton_ - aunt _l’rorvovvaranuke_ - above _ambunna_ - adding _tovoungay_ - adorn _merervaugher_ - advise _mearnorro_ - afar off _larvitch_ - afraid _mertorhocks_ - after _afarrong_ - aged _antichs_ - agree _melongore_ - aiming _munondroer_ - age _antitch_ - alone _earare_ - altar _fesoronegher_ - alter _youvoyea_ - amaze _chareck_ - anchor _tumborto_ - anger _maluke_ - angle _merminter_ - ankle _pucopuke_ - anoint _whosora_ - answer _mungonore_ - any body _lerhulu_ - appoint _mermutore_ - arm-pit _kelleck_ - archer _permawlay_ - arise _fuher_ - army _taffick_ - arrow _anucfalla_ - ascend _munonego_ - ashes _lavanuck_ - asleep _lentey_ - awoke _mertearro_ - argument _meanconne_ - alligator _voarha_ - - - B - - Body _jorzarmaner_ - boy _jorzarloyhe_ - brother _royloyhe_ - basin _lerveerferuchs_ - brass _sarber_ - black _minetay_ - bull _omebayloyhe_ - brains _bettu_ - breast _trotter_ - belly _troke_ - back _lambosick_ - beef _haner_ - bird _voro_ - belly-full _vinchy_ - beads _arraer_ - blood _raw_ - bandy _sekearf_ - boil _mundavy_ - broil _metonu_ - boil over _mundroer_ - butterfly _tondrotto_ - blunderbuss _bosse_ - bite _munghabecks_ - broke _foluck_ - buy _mevele_ - broth _ro_ - blow _chuffu_ - beat _fufuho_ - bullock _vosists_ - bitter _merfaughts_ - backbone _towler lambosick_ - bad _rawcthe_ - big _bay_ - bald-head _soroluher_ - barrel _brecker_ - bee _ranatcntala_ - before _ungulore_ - beg _mungortock_ - behind _affarro_ - bottle _folokuke_ - bosom _arrongher_ - beheaded _tompucluher_ - bullet _baller_ - bastard _sarray_ - by and by _andreck anna arny_ - broom _mermoffer_ - beard _somuchs_ - breath _onygha_ - bones _towler_ - beans _antuck_ - bed _keban_ - basket _harro_ - ball _hechurch_ - borrow _mungaborrow_ - book or paper _terra toss_ - buffuler _howlu_ - bee-hive _tohoke_ - bundle _mevorovore_ - blind _chemerheter_ - burning _mundavengher_ - bell _potchew_ - belly-ache _merrawrafu_ - bread _moffu_ - bladder _tervenneer_ - beauty _sengger_ - baked _tongoffu_ - bow _ranafalla_ - bark _hulitcharzo_ - barrel of a gun _cornu_ - burden _enter_ - - - C - - Child _annack_ - carravances _vungember_ - cocoa-nut _wooernew_ - cloud _rawho_ - cold _merninchy_ - calabash _vartarvo_ - copper _sarbermaner_ - cat _chacker_ - cow _omebayvovva_ - cattle _omebay_ - cheek _fawho_ - crow _quark_ - call _kyhu_ - clear _merlu_ - crooked _maluke_ - cock _kuholoyhe_ - capon _kuho vosist_ - candle _charreck_ - choose _mcchutors_ - covetous _mertete_ - cotton _hawsey_ - conjuror _umossee_ - climb _munganeeher_ - chest _sundoke_ - coffin _harzowonger_ - come _haveer_ - cock crow _kuhumunganu_ - chin _somo_ - calf _anuack an omebay_ - clout _seeke_ - clean _merrere_ - comb _morrotondro_ - common or plain _munto_ - coward _merwoozo_ - calf of a leg _veete_ - canoe _lacker_ - change _mernercollu_ - carry _entu_ - creep _lomorly_ - circumcised _meforer_ - cane _tangerer_ - caul _sassuchhaner_ - choke _bohair_ - cream _hendro_ - cannon _futore_ - cotton-tree _zare_ - chamelion _taw_ - cloudy _merauho_ - cloud _rauho_ - cry _tomonghe_ - cutlass _vearawrer_ - come here _mehoveatowe_ - civil _woocust_ - come down _mejuchore_ - come along _aloyho_ - cartouch box _fitter pinner_ - - - D - - Daughter _annackampeller_ - dark _myeak_ - dish _ampondrer_ - dog _amboer_ - dry _mungetterhetter_ - day _hawndro_ - dirty _merlauchs_ - drum _azzoloyhe_ - drunk _wooersekarfe_ - dead _morte_ - dripping _solick_ - done _effer_ - duck _cherere_ - deaf _merrengha_ - dust _lumbook_ - dew _aundew_ - door _varavongher_ - divide _vackue_ - drone _ferzimber_ - dream _munganofee_ - dropped _larchuck_ - dropped it _larchorho_ - - - E - - Earth _tonna_ - ear _sofee_ - eye _moffu_ - eyelids _voloheak_ - eyebrows _volohondring_ - elbow _hehu_ - enemy _raffaloyhe_ - eat _humonner_ - even _merer_ - enough _tondra_ - ell _hanarlavver_ - egg _tule_ - evening _arever_ - eight _varlo_ - eighty _varlofolo_ - eight hundred _varlozawto_ - eight thousand _varlo arevo_ - east _teenongher_ - - - F - - Father _royya_ or _arber_ - fence _faretchs_ - forehead _hondring_ - foot _feendeer_ - fruit _wooerarzo_ - finger _tonedro_ - fish _feer_ - fishing lines _tollevinter_ - friend _lonego_ - four _effutchs_ - five _deeme_ - fifteen _folodeemeamby_ - five and twenty _rowafolo deeme amby_ - five and thirty _talufolo deeme amby_ - five and forty _effuchfolo deemu amby_ - five and fifty _deemefolo deeme amby_ - five and sixty _enuingfolo deeme amby_ - five and seventy _fetofolo deeme amby_ - five and eighty _varlofolo deeme amby_ - five and ninety _seveefolo deeme amby_ - five hundred _deeme zawto_ - five thousand _deeme arevo_ - fat _vonedruck_ - flower _turvolo_ - flea _peer_ - fly _lawletchs_ - fickle _harraravvo_ - fool _addoller_ - fly away _tumeelingher_ - file _choffer_ - full _fennu_ - full moon _volormer autchs_ - fright _mertawhoutchs_ - fight _mealleer_ - fighting _mealle_ - fire _ossu_ - fishing _merminter_ - flint _offovarto_ - flesh _nofuch_ - fox _foser_ - forty _effuch folo_ - fan _fernimper_ - fly _tumeeling_ - feathers, or hair, _volo_ - fetters _parra-pingo_ - flame _lellar_ - flower, or blossom, _vonegha_ - flesh-fork _fundrambahaner_ - freemen _lovohitchs_ - fill it up _fennuyea_ - forget _hawlingho_ - flux _tonchoruck_ - fry _mungendy_ - flag _floy_ - flood _fororawno_ - fetch _mungolor_ - fist _fettock_ - fortunate _moss_ - fast _fortuchs_ - - - G - - God _deaan Unghorray_ - grandfather _rozackloyhe_ - grandmother _rozackampeller_ - grandchild _zaffu_ - guinea corn _ampember_ - ground _ton_ - gold _volarmaner_ - green _michne_ - goat _osa_ - get up _fahavvo_ - go _mundaher_ - go along _mundahanner_ - garment _sekey_ or _lamber_ - gun _ampegaurrutchs_ - girl _jorzorampeller_ - great _bay_ - goose _onego-onego_ - guinea-hen _congar_ - guts _tenaugh_ - get farther _mesorangha_ - grass _habbetchs_ - give me some _mungay may_ - give you none _chemung a may_ - give _youmayow_ - good _suer_ - guard _ambenner_ - grow _metombo_ - great way _larvitchs_ - gunpowder _pounday_ - not good _chesuer_ - get you gone _meangor_ - garlic _tonegulick_ - grindstone _sungherer_ - grind _sungheru_ - good while _ailer_ - - - H - - House _trangho_ - honey _tentala_ - heat _merfanner_ - hail _avandrar_ - head _luher_ - hair _volo_ - hand _tongher_ - heart _fu_ - hog _lambo_ - hook _vinter_ - horn _tondrook_ - hide _mevonoor_ - hyde _hulutchs_ - hungry _homerserray_ - hundred _zawto_ - hat _satook_ - hoof _hooto_ - here _inteer_ - hear _merray_ - hen _coohovovva_ - hearken _metinoor_ - hot _moy_ - hill, or mountain, _vohitcht_ - head-ache _luhermungalelu_ - husband _valley_ - hatchet _fermackey_ - halt _tarehu_ - how do you _whosuer_ - hunt _mungoro_ - hole _lavvack_ - how many _fera_ - hoe _soro_ - horse _suwaller_ - heel _hehu_ - hedgehog _sorer_ - hiccough _suecendrotch_ - hire _metombozzar_ - hark _metinore_ - hammer _furnurore_ - - - I J - - Jar _senevolo_ - idle _merwoozzo_ - jealous _mermerrothhe_ - jest _somoneger_ - joint _sandre_ - I won’t _zawho merloy_ - I will _atawuck_ - I’ll do no more _chemernowquere_ - itch _hauta_ - I _zawho_ - iron _ve_ - island _nosa_ - - - K - - King _panzaccar_ - kick _timpaughho_ - kill _vonu_ - kidneys _wooerhaner_ - ketch _sumboro_ - knife _messu_ - kite _perponge_ - knee _luhalleck_ - - - L - - Ladle _suddro_ - land _tata_ or _tonna_ - lance _luffu_ - lie down _mundraer_ - light _merzavvo_ - lightning _munghaluchs_ - lights _rabuchhaner_ - look, or see, _merchinsover_ - looking-glass _hachoro_ - low _eever_ - let go _ellyfoy_ - lie _mervanda_ - love _taark_ - little _kala_ - live _valu_ - lemon _voersarra_ - loss _lavo_ - leaf _ravven_ - lead _ferock_ - lips _soneghe_ - leg _tomebook_ - liver _attinhaner_ - louse _hough_ - long _lavvar_ - lend _mungaborro_ - lock, or key, _fungheily_ - lock of a gun _sophe ampegar satch_ - long while _alelur_ - locust _verloller_ - lizard _roso_ - left hand _tongher avveer_ - lean _merheer_ - looseness _ohorawha_ - lobster _orur_ - lick _lalouw_ - don’t love it _hallucht_ - - - M - - Man _loyhe_ - mad _tounzaccar_ - many _mawrow_ - maggot _oletchs_ - mother _ranna_ - moon _voler_ - men _hulu_ - milk _ronoonu_ - monkey _vergee_ - midnight _mutungalla_ - mouth _vovvor_ - muskmelon _wantange_ - mud _futuck_ - million _arrla_ - muskittoes _moco_ - morning _emerrawha_ - to-morrow _hummerrawha_ - mead _toak_ - marrow _manuccover_ - melt _tennoo_ - milt _arrachaner_ - mouse _varlarvo_ - - - N - - Nail of finger _oho_ - navel _feutch_ - nine _seve_ - neck _woozzo_ - ninety _seve folo_ - nine hundred _seve zawto_ - nothing _shemishe_ - night _aulla_ - north _avarruchs_ - needle _fingihts_ - no _charra_ - nose _oroong_ - nigh _merreena_ - net _arratto_ - nettles _fundrozo_ - - - O - - Oath _mefontorr_ - one _eser_ - old _antichs_ - ox _vositchs_ - oil _tongon tongher_ - open _sucorffu_ - t’other day _orertroung_ - - - P - - Potatoes _ovemarme_ - plantain _ounche_ - plantation _tateck_ - plant _fumbulayher_ - pap _nunu_ - partridge _hattacottoe_ - pine-apple _mernasse_ - pillar _ounder_ - plumb _lomoty_ - powder _poundey_ - point _metrondroer_ - pistol _plato_ - poison _vorick_ - prisoner _sambuch_ - pot _velongha_ - pipe _keloyhe_ - poor _rarroc_ - people _hulu_ - pepper _saccavero_ - plunder _mundravor_ - pitch _leta_ - pleasant _mertarva_ - pirate _kindoc_ - purslain _toyanomebaloyhe_ - periwinkle _dedder_ - pigeon _dahew_ - - - Q - - Quick _merlacky_ - - - R - - Rain _orer_ - rainbow _avvar_ - rammer _funhochuck_ - razor _feharratchs_ - red _maner_ - rice _varray_ - rich _manzarry_ - rise _fuher_ - rough _meraffu_ - run _lomoy_ - rope _tolle_ - runaway _leffer_ - ripe _mossock_ - ribs _towlertahazuc_ - right hand _tongher avanner_ - - - S - - Sand _fasse_ - salt _serer_ - sail _loy_ - son _annacloyhe_ - sun _andro_ - slave _andavo_ - steer _rorvovva_ - sugarcane _farray_ - sugar _serermarme_ - sweet _marme_ - star _verseer_ - spoon _suto_ - silver _volerfutey_ - scull _harrandluker_ - shoulder _soroke_ - sleep _meroro_ - shot _berseer_ - six _eanning_ - seven _feeto_ - seventeen _folofeetoambe_ - seventy _feeto folo_ - six hundred _eanning zawto_ - seven hundred _feeto zawto_ - six thousand _eanning arevo_ - seven thousand _feeto arevo_ - small _merlinick_ - sunrise _terrack_ - sunset _soffutch andro_ - small _oruff_ - small shot _pottchuck_ - spittle _eva_ - spit _mundorer_ - south _ateemo_ - sore _boy_ - sour _mervoyha_ - ship _sambo_ - stink _manche_ - strong _merharee_ - short _fuher_ - spirit _lulu_ - seize _samboro_ - shoe _hunghermaro_ - stool _feketrar_ - sick _merrawra_ - sky _longitchs_ - smooth _merlammer_ - sound, noise, or barking of a dog, _mungano_ - shoot _teferu_ - shave _haharu_ - soft _merlemma_ - smothered _settuck_ - smoke _lembook_ - smoke a pipe _metroher tobacco_ - shut the door _arradingho_ - sell _vele_ - sour milk _ronoonumandra_ - sea _reac_ - servant, sir _salamonger_ - snares _faundric_ - see _merheter_ - I see it _he tucko_ - shirt _commeser_ - seat _fetuaruc_ - speak _mevolengher_ - sweet scented _maungetchs_ - some _mishe_ - speckle _wander_ - shake _mungozooner_ - stay _munding_ - spring of water _vovo_ - spring of the year _sarrar_ - spring of a gun lock _allesoro_ - swim _lomong_ - shame _manghetchs_ - split _vaccu_ - small pox _creer_ - staff _zahharr_ - skin _huletchs_ - side _tohazuc_ - slender _merlenec_ - spinage _orngha_ - serpent _manerrander_ - snake _mary_ - spin _mundoroutchs_ - stand _mechangonner_ - steel _veoffo_ - steal _mungaulutchs_ - scissors _hette_ - snore _mearoutchs_ - sweat _lingetch_ - sing _meansaw_ - shore _tomeboho_ - spit _fermerlarzor_ - silly _mernay_ - sheep _oundy_ - spider _morrotongher_ - stone _varto_ - sink _tumborto_ - - - T - - Tamarind _keley_ - tankard _furnumerrauno_ - take _rumbessu_ - think _mevetchevetch_ - trumpet _anchever_ - thirteen _folotaluambe_ - three _talu_ - thunderbolt _apmy_ - thigh _fay_ - thunder _hotook_ - town _tannarr_ - thread _fola_ - thorn _forte_ - told _mungaborrow_ - tears _rawnomossu_ - tobacco _tobacco_ - toe _annackinc_ - two _roaa_ - ten _folo_ - twenty _roaafolo_ - thousand _arevo_ - thief _ampegalutchs_ - teeth _neefa_ - tongue _leller_ - tie _fahaugh_ - trigger _funghatchu_ - tail _ohe_ - land turtle _hachaffu_ - sea turtle _faunu_ - tall _lavvor_ - turn _metuleher_ - tell one, two, &c. _mungesau_ - tread _hechawho_ - through _torawho_ - thrive _munzarre_ - take _rumbessu_ - tutanag _ferockfutey_ - timber _harzo_ - - - U V - - Uncle _ranaloyhe_ - under _umbonna_ - udder _vorotchs_ - ugly _rawtche_ - vomit _mundoer_ - uncivil _chewoocust_ - - - W - - Water _rawno_ - water melon _woerzarvo_ - wax _luco_ - warm _moy_ - wave _onezur_ - wind _ornghin_ - wood _auler_ - white _fute_ - wild _melampo_ - what _eno_ - what’s this _eno toey_ - what’s the matter _eno zow_ - what are you doing _eno tough now_ - wadding _hueto_ - west _audreffer_ - wood for firing _hatoy_ - wonder _cherrec_ - work _mearsar_ - wife _walley_ - weary _mocoutchs_ - white man _verzarhar_ - wide _mertarcheths_ - whisper _bisabise_ - wasp _fundroso_ - wrist _soro_ - wise _merhehitchs_ - winter _fouser_ - whistle _fuke_ - weave _mernendru_ - wet _lay_ - - - Y - - Yam _ove_ - years _color_ - year _taough_ - yes _toquore_ - yonder _aruea_ - yesterday _umorla_ - - - DAYS OF THE WEEK. - - Sunday _Alhaida_ - Monday _Alletenine_ - Tuesday _Talorter_ - Wednesday _Alarrerbeer_ - Thursday _Commeeshe_ - Friday _Jumor_ - Saturday _Sarbueche_ - - - THE END. - - LONDON: - Printed by W. CLOWES, - Stamford-street. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES - - - 1. Silently corrected obvious typographical errors and variations in - spelling. - 2. Retained archaic, non-standard, and uncertain spellings as printed. - 3. Enclosed italics font in _underscores_. - 4. Enclosed blackletter font in =equals=. - - - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PLEASANT AND SURPRISING ADVENTURES OF ROBERT DRURY, DURING HIS FIFTEEN YEARS' CAPTIVITY ON THE ISLAND OF MADAGASCAR ***
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} - </style> - </head> - <body> -<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PLEASANT AND SURPRISING ADVENTURES OF ROBERT DRURY, DURING HIS FIFTEEN YEARS' CAPTIVITY ON THE ISLAND OF MADAGASCAR ***</div> - -<div class='tnotes covernote'> - -<p class='c000'><strong>Transcriber’s Note:</strong></p> - -<p class='c000'>New original cover art included with this eBook is granted to the public domain.</p> - -</div> - -<div class='chapter ph1'> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c001'> - <div>AUTOBIOGRAPHY.</div> - <div class='c002'><span class='blackletter'>A Collection</span></div> - <div class='c003'><span class='small'>OF THE</span></div> - <div class='c003'><span class='large'>MOST INSTRUCTIVE AND AMUSING</span></div> - <div class='c003'>LIVES</div> - <div class='c003'><span class='xlarge'>EVER PUBLISHED,</span></div> - <div class='c003'><span class='small'>WRITTEN BY THE PARTIES THEMSELVES.</span></div> - <div class='c003'><span class='small'>WITH BRIEF INTRODUCTIONS, AND COMPENDIOUS SEQUELS CARRYING ON THE COURSE OF EVENTS TO THE DEATH OF EACH WRITER.</span></div> - <div class='c002'><span class='xlarge'>VOLUME V.—ROBERT DRURY.</span></div> - <div class='c002'><span class='large'>LONDON:</span></div> - <div><span class='large'>PRINTED FOR HUNT AND CLARKE,</span></div> - <div><span class='small'>TAVISTOCK-STREET, COVENT-GARDEN.</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c001'> - <div><span class='large'>LONDON:</span></div> - <div><span class='large'>Printed by W. CLOWES,</span></div> - <div><span class='large'>Stamford-street.</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='titlepage'> - -<div> - <h1 class='c004'><span class='large'>THE</span><br> <span class='large'>PLEASANT AND SURPRISING</span><br> <span class='xlarge'>ADVENTURES</span><br> <span class='small'>OF</span><br> ROBERT DRURY,<br> <span class='small'>DURING HIS</span><br> <span class='large'>FIFTEEN YEARS’ CAPTIVITY</span><br> <span class='small'>ON THE</span><br> <span class='xlarge'>ISLAND OF MADAGASCAR.</span></h1> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div><span class='large'>WRITTEN BY HIMSELF.</span></div> - <div class='c002'><span class='large'>LONDON:—1826.</span></div> - <div><span class='large'>PRINTED FOR HUNT AND CLARKE,</span></div> - <div><span class='small'>TAVISTOCK-STREET, COVENT-GARDEN.</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c001'> - <div><span class='small'>LONDON:</span></div> - <div><span class='small'>Printed by WILLIAM CLOWES,</span></div> - <div><span class='small'>Stamford-street.</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_v'>v</span> - <h2 class='c005'>EDITOR’S PREFACE</h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_0 c006'>Among the various attractions of “Autobiography,” -that of singular and extraordinary personal adventure, -when faithfully related by the person to whom it has -occurred, is by no means the least alluring. The shipwreck -of Robert Drury, at the age of sixteen, in the -Degrave East Indiaman, on the southern coast of the -island of Madagascar, in the year 1702, supplied a -remarkable opportunity for one of those accurate delineations -of an isolated and barbarous people, which -are at once so amusing for their novelty, and instructive -for the additional lights which they throw upon the -innumerable varieties of human situation and character. -The following volume affords a plain and unsophisticated -account of a fifteen years’ captivity or detention -of the author (the only one spared in consequence of -his youth out of many murdered shipmates) in an -island, the interior of which, at that time, was little -known; but which, happily, at present seems likely to -enter slowly into the career of civilization. Obliged to -conform to the usages of the natives, and rendered to -all intents and purposes a member of their community, -he necessarily became intimately acquainted with their -manners, customs, and proceedings; which, together -with his own adventures among them, he narrates in -that plain and unpretending manner, which in a writer -of his class advances the strongest claims to confidence. -The veracity of Drury is, indeed, corroborated by the -journal, as far as it went, of Mr Bembo, son of the -celebrated admiral of that name, who was first mate of -the Degrave, and who, by inducing a part of the crew -to refuse putting that trust in the islanders, which was -unfortunately placed in them by the murdered companions -of Drury, escaped their fate, and was enabled to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_vi'>vi</span>get back to England. Our brief sequel will also show -that Drury was a steady man, and that he maintained -a very respectable character after his return. To conclude: -his book has been deemed so curious and -interesting, not only for the mention of the facts but -the manner of detailing them, that the present will -form the <i>fourth</i> edition; the first appearing in 1729, -and the second and third in 1743 and 1808. Thus -much as to its merits; as to the rest, works of this -nature falling directly within the plan of the proposed -series, no apology is necessary for having an early -recourse to one of them in aid of the contrast and -variety which is desirable in the way of support and -relief of so comprehensive an undertaking.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_vii'>vii</span> - <h2 class='c005'>PREFACE<br> <span class='small'>TO</span><br> <span class='large'><i>The Edition of Seventeen Hundred and Forty-three</i>.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_0 c006'>As nothing is of a more amiable nature, so nothing -makes a stronger and more lasting impression on the -mind, than truth; and whatever regard some may pay -to a wittily-contrived and ingenious tale, the best that -can be said of it is, that it is a gay delusion, and an -idle amusement exposed to view in the fairest and most -advantageous light.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The following historical narrative needs no such disguise -or ornament to recommend it; for captain W. -Macket, (who, by his certificate, has assured the public -that he believed the account our author has given of his -surprising adventures to be just and true,) was not only -a gentleman of an unblemished character in regard -to his honour and veracity, but well known to be a -man of too great a fortune and good sense to countenance -and give a public sanction to a trivial fable, or -imposition. Without doubt this gentleman, as well as -the captains of other ships, informed himself of a case -so singular and surprising, for at Yong-old, where he -took the author on board, William Purser, a native of -Feraingher, was their linguist for some months; he -spoke English well, and knew Mr Drury there, and -was an eye-witness to many of the most doubtful adventures -here related for several years together.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The captain after this went to Munnongaro, or Massaleege; -there he saw Nicholas Dove, who was one of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_viii'>viii</span>the boys shipwrecked in the Degrave, and saved in the -massacre in Anterndroea; besides the opportunity he -had of conversing with Mr Drury in their voyage to -the West Indies, and after to England. To this we -may add, the second voyage Mr Drury made was also -in captain Macket’s service, though not in the ship -under his command, he being a principal proprietor in -captain White’s ship and cargo, as well as of his own -and others. These circumstances were confirmed by -the captain, who added, that he had seen others in his -last voyage there, as well natives who spoke English, -and knew Drury, as some who were saved by flight -with captain Drummond and others, with this particular -account, that this very captain Drummond was the -man Mr Drury supposes him to be, and that he was -killed at Tullea, seven leagues to the northward of Augustine-bay, -by one Lewes, a Jamaica negro. Besides -all this, and the captain’s continued friendship to him -to the last, even our author himself, though in a lower -station of life, was well known to many persons of -probity and worth now in London, who frequently -conversed with him while living, and who always -esteemed him an innocent, inoffensive man, free from -all artifice and design. As this was the character he -had amongst his friends and acquaintance, we think it -would be needless, if not impertinent, to doubt of his -veracity in the relation of any one of his adventures, -more especially after such substantial proofs for the -truth hereof.</p> - -<p class='c007'>It is probable that the account here given of the -religion of the natives of Madagascar, may by some be -thought a mere fiction, and inserted with no other -view than to advance some latitudinarian principles; -but so widely distant is this from the real case, that the -most to be suspected part of the conversation between -deaan Murnanzack and Mr Drury, on divine topics, is -real fact as here related; and the deaan’s ludicrous -reflections on Adam’s rib, God’s converse with mankind, -and his creation of the world in six days, and his -resting the seventh, &c. his taking these things for -<span class='pageno' id='Page_ix'>ix</span>Drury’s childish notions, and saying they were old -women’s stories, were delivered in that prince’s own -words. And if we consider the then circumstances of -our author, that he was but fourteen years of age when -he set out on this unfortunate voyage, his education at -a grammar-school, and in the principles of the established -church; and that ever since his arrival in England, -and settlement in London, he has been firmly -attached thereto, even to bigotry; it would be very -weak and absurd to suppose him capable, or inclined to -advance an imaginary conference with the deaan upon -so serious a topic, with no other motive than to favour -free-thinking, or natural religion, in opposition to that -which was revealed, especially as they are points about -which he scarcely ever concerned himself.</p> - -<p class='c007'>In all those places where religion, or the origin of -governments are casually mentioned, there are interspersed -some occasional reflections, which are not, -properly speaking, the author’s, which is all the artifice -made use of throughout the whole. It must be owned -that topics so entertaining could not well be passed -over, without making some proper and useful applications: -yet no motive, how tempting soever, could prevail -on the editor to alter any real fact, or add any -one single fiction of his own. Every transaction here -related, as likewise the character and conversation of -every person introduced, are properly Mr Drury’s own.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The religion of the natives of Madagascar, some -authors will have to be Mahometanism; but without -any manner of grounds for such a conclusion, since it -has no resemblance of it in any other particulars, than in -circumcision, and abstaining from their women at -certain times, which were common to some eastern -nations long before the Jews had it; or, indeed, where -there is no reason to imagine that the name of the Jews -was once so much as heard of.</p> - -<p class='c007'>There are good grounds, on the other hand, to conjecture, -that the Jews derived several of their religious -ceremonies from them. For that their religion is much -more ancient, is plain from several reasons. First, from -<span class='pageno' id='Page_x'>x</span>their regard to dreams, and divining by them, which, -by the Mosaic law, the Israelites were expressly forbidden. -Secondly, from their shaving off their hair in -mourning for their dead; whereas among the Jews the -growth of it is strictly commanded, and as superstitiously -observed to this day. Thirdly, from their sacrifices; -as Moses commanded none but males to be -sacrificed; so, on the contrary, cows are the greatest -part of the Madagascar sacrifices, and are thought by -these people to be the most acceptable oblations to their -Supreme Deity. They have no burnt offerings but near -their sepulchres, when occasionally opened, which, -with the gums burnt with them, serve for a defence -against all ill scents. Fourthly; but the most notable -reason of all is, that the owley, which these Madagascar -people make use of for their divinations, and procure -their unusual or extraordinary dreams with, is manifestly -the ephod and teraphim, made use of by the -Levite who lodged in Micah’s house, as we read Judges -xvii. and from which the Israelites could never be -wholly brought off, though directly repugnant to the -law of Moses, concerning which there seems to be no -occasion for enlarging farther in this place.</p> - -<p class='c007'>That the people of Madagascar did not derive their -religion from any learned or polite nation, is evident by -their retaining no idea or remembrance of letters; nor -their having a horse, or so necessary a machine as a -wheel of any kind, either for carriage or use, which -could never have been forgotten had they ever had -them. That these Madagascar people came first from -Africa, seems most probable by their colour; and -perhaps from the Abyssines, or even from Egypt. The -Virzimbers, indeed, by their woolly heads, must come -from the more southern part of Africa. Deaan Toke-offu -told captain Macket they had a tradition of their -coming on the island many years ago in large canoes. -But from wheresoever they came, it is manifest that -their religion is the most ancient in the world, and not -far from pure natural religion.</p> - -<p class='c007'>We may reflect with pleasure on the devotion of these -<span class='pageno' id='Page_xi'>xi</span>people, who address the Supreme Being on every occasion -for his aid and assistance when in necessity or -distress; and with true piety and hearts full of gratitude -return him their humble and unfeigned thanks -for those blessings and benefits he confers upon them; -yet have they no temples, no tabernacles, or groves for -the public performance of their divine worship; neither -have they solemn fasts, or festivals, or set days, or -times, or priests to do it for them. But we may here -observe, that as Melchizedeck was a king, and styled the -priest of the most high God, (a phrase strictly correspondent -to that of deaan Unghorray, the highest God,) -so it is the practice of the Madagascar kings, or lords, -to be themselves the performers of all religious offices. -Their umossees or prophets, indeed, directed the -making their owleys of particular roots, or woods, -having, as they tell them, magical properties agreeing -to the spirits; as also that they must be made at proper -times.</p> - -<p class='c007'>There are two things in this history highly worthy of -observation: one is, that there is a law among them -against cursing a man’s parents. What a reproach is -this to countries called christian, where there is no law -or punishment against even those who have the impudence -and impiety not only of cursing others, but their -own parents. The other is, that such is their regard -and reverence to the most high God, that they swear -not profanely: but such is the profaneness of even our -christian nation, that a man can hardly pass the streets -(as archbishop Tillotson observes) without having his -ears grated and pierced with horrid and blasphemous -oaths and curses, as are enough, if we were guilty of no -other sin, to sink a nation. These give reputation to -the general character of these people, that where the -Europeans or Mahometans have not corrupted them, -they are very innocent, moral, and courteous; and -more so, with shame be it spoken, than most nations, -who have all the advantages of a liberal and christian -education.</p> - -<p class='c007'>There is yet one observation more, which, we hope, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_xii'>xii</span>will not be thought improper here; which is, that our -author’s many deliverances are glorious and wonderful -displays of the goodness and power of Divine Providence; -and gave him, no doubt, an awakening sense of -his obstinate disobedience to the will and entreaties of -his tender parents and friends, who so much and often -pressed him to lay aside those wilful resolutions of his -first voyage to the East Indies; wherein we may see -the marks both of divine displeasure and goodness, the -first in his shipwreck and slavery, the other in his delivery -or release from thence. All which may serve as -a lesson to the youth of future generations to beware, -lest by their disobedience and obstinate forcing of themselves -from the care of their parents or friends, they -bring upon themselves those miseries and misfortunes -which occasion a too late repentance.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Much more might have been said on this occasion, -but as we have not room, we refer our readers to the -perusal of the book itself; in which, we presume, they -will not only find an entertaining, but profitable -amusement.</p> - -<hr class='c008'> - -<p class='c007'>This is to certify, that Robert Drury, fifteen years a -slave in Madagascar, now living in London, was redeemed -from thence, and brought into England, his -native country, by myself. I esteem him an honest, -industrious man, of good reputation, and do firmly -believe that the account he gives of his strange and -surprising adventures is genuine and authentic.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>WILLIAM MACKETT.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c007'><i>May 7, 1728.</i></p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_13'>13</span> - <h2 class='c005'><span class='small'>THE</span><br> <span class='large'>ADVENTURES</span><br> <span class='small'>OF</span><br> ROBERT DRURY.</h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_0 c006'>As my design in the ensuing narrative, is to give -a plain and honest account of matters of fact, I shall -make use of no artful inventions, or borrowed phrases, -to lengthen or embellish it; nor shall I introduce any -other reflections, than what were the natural result of -my many uncommon and surprising adventures. And,</p> - -<p class='c007'>Here, I hope, it will be no ways improper to inform -my readers, that I was not fourteen years of age when -these heavy misfortunes first befell me; so that my -youth, as well as want of knowledge in the Madagascar -language, rendered me incapable of making such curious -observations, as one of a riper age, better judgment, -and freed from slavery, might have done to much -greater advantage. For,</p> - -<p class='c007'>I, Robert Drury, was born on the 24th of July, in -the year 1687, in Crutched-friars, London, where my -father then lived; but soon after he removed to the -Old Jury, near Cheapside, where he kept for several -years afterwards that noted house, called the King’s-head, -or otherwise distinguished by the name of the -Beef-steak-house; and to which there was, all his time, -a great resort of merchants, and other gentlemen of the -best rank and character.</p> - -<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_14'>14</span>Notwithstanding the education my father bestowed -on me, I could not be prevailed on to think of any -business but going to sea, to which course of life my -genius wholly inclined me. And I well remember, -that from eleven years of age, my mind was so intent -on the profession of a sailor, that it grew up with me, -and at length became such an obstinate resolution, that -not all the entreaties of my dear and indulgent mother, -(though she once begged me on her knees,) nor the -persuasions of my father, or any other friends, could -make the least impression upon me.</p> - -<p class='c007'>When they found their endeavours were ineffectual, -they then formed a new scheme, and by a seeming -compliance with my inclination, proposed to procure a -short voyage for me, hoping that the many dangers -and hardships to which I should naturally be exposed, -and should see others undergo, would deter me from -persevering in that course of life.</p> - -<p class='c007'>But, as wilful persons never want woe, such was -my obstinacy, that nothing would content me, but what -contributed to my ruin; and Providence justly frustrated -all my hopes, by indulging me in the choice I -had so foolishly and ungratefully made, in direct opposition -to my duty, and the repeated solicitations of my -most affectionate friends: thus did this perverseness of -mine bring with it its own punishment. Nothing but -an East India voyage would please me; for no other -reason that I can think of, but because I had a cousin -at Bengal, whose name was John Steel, in the New -East India Company’s service; the companies at that -time not being united.</p> - -<p class='c007'>My father showed a due care and concern for my -welfare, by the manner in which he fitted me out; and -by plentifully supplying me with provisions, clothes, -and other necessaries for the voyage; besides which, I -had a cargo to the value of a hundred pounds, which -was a large trust for a boy of my age. I went as -a passenger, well recommended to captain William -Younge, with whom my passage and the freight of my -cargo were agreed for, and we soon after embarked.</p> - -<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_15'>15</span>The ship captain Younge commanded in this unfortunate -voyage, was the Degrave, of seven hundred -tons burthen, with fifty-two guns. I shall not here -enter into a long detail of any of the common occurrences -of the voyage, or take notice of any other accidents, -than what are absolutely necessary to my present -purpose; which is a true and impartial narrative of our -hard fate at Madagascar in our return homeward; together -with my own miseries, and the various turns of -fortune, during my residence for near fifteen years, in -that scarce known, though extensive country.</p> - -<p class='c007'>We passed through the Downs on February 19, 1701, -when admiral Bembo, (whose son, Mr John Bembo, -was fourth mate of our ship,) lay there with the squadron -of ships under his command, bound to the West -Indies, and we arrived at Fort St. George in the East -Indies, in three months and twenty days from the -Downs, having stopped in our passage one week at the -Canaries, and came to an anchor in the evening.</p> - -<p class='c007'>We had on board Monsieur Lapie, a jeweller, and his -son, who set out with design to settle there; and one -would have thought, being so near the end of his voyage, -he had great reason to hope, or rather to be morally -assured, that he had obtained his desire; the ship -being safe at anchor within half a dozen miles, and in -sight of the place. But how soon does Providence -disappoint us, and interrupt our designs! What an -adverse fate directed, and accompanied this unhappy -ship, and all who were concerned in it, though so near -the accomplishment of their wishes!</p> - -<p class='c007'>The barge was hoisted out the next morning, in order -to put these unfortunate persons on shore; the ship -riding about two leagues distance. They put off, and -we did not expect their return till the next day; but -about eight o’clock at night we heard somebody hail -the ship; it surprised our people, but some of them -soon knew it to be the voice of Joseph Chamberlain, -one of the barge’s crew. They thereupon hoisted out -the pinnace, and rowing towards the voice, found him -swimming on an oar; he told us, that as soon as they -<span class='pageno' id='Page_16'>16</span>came to the bar, a great sea struck them on the larboard -gunnel, and overset them; he knew not what -became of the rest of the company, and therefore supposed -they were all drowned, for the current set to seaward; -but he being an experienced swimmer, and with -the help of one of the boat’s oars, which he providentially -found, he made shift to reach within call of the -ship. We immediately hung a light on the top-mast -head to guide others, if happily any had been like him -alive swimming; but not one of them was ever seen, or -heard of more. Mr John Lapie, his son, and their -cook, the cockswain, and nine of the boat’s crew, all perished -through this sad disaster. They had also with -them very considerable effects in goods, silver, &c. to -the value of some thousands of pounds.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Two days after we weighed anchor, and sailed to -Maslapatan, where we stayed a month, and from thence -proceeded to Bengal. My cousin hearing of my arrival, -came on board to see me, and take me and my effects -on shore with him; but my father had a more prudent -regard for my welfare, than I could be capable of at -those tender years; my cousin being only a pilot, my -father desired captain Younge privately to inquire into -his circumstances, and the character he bore, and in -case he found him not of sufficient ability, or honesty, -to be intrusted with me, and my effects, not to let me -go on shore to him.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The captain performed the trust my father reposed in -him with honour and integrity, and would not permit -me to go with my kinsman, but took my cargo, disposed -of it himself, and bought me a just return in the -commodities of the country, and would have carried me -back again according to his contract with my father, -had Providence so thought fit. My cousin soon after -our arrival, died, and we had a great mortality among -our ship’s crew; for in nine months’ time, we buried -above forty of our people. The chief mate was the -first of note, and about a month after him, captain -Younge himself died of a fever; happy at least in this, -that he died in peace, and lived not to bear his share -<span class='pageno' id='Page_17'>17</span>in the miseries which his son and we afterwards underwent; -for this son being second mate, and the chief -mate being already dead, as also the captain his father, -he became captain of course, so that there was still a -captain Younge.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The only art I attained at Bengal, and which proved -of any considerable service to me afterwards, was, that -I here learnt to swim, which has two or three times -since saved my life and liberty. I attained to so great -a proficiency in that art, by the assistance of my companions, -that it was a common practice for half a dozen -of us to tie a rupee apiece (which is about the value of -two shillings and sixpence English,) in a handkerchief -round our middles, and swim four or five miles up or -down the river for our diversion; and when we came -on shore, the Gentees, or Moors, would lend us clothes -to put on while we stayed; thus we used to sit and -regale ourselves for a few hours with arrack punch, and -a dinner, and then swim back again.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Our business being at length finished at Bengal, we -sailed from thence, and had at that time about one -hundred and twenty hands on board, besides two women -and myself, and a few other passengers. As we -were going down the river, our ship ran aground and -stuck fast; but there being a very strong tide, it turned -her round, and we got off the next high water without -any damage, as we imagined; but when we came out -to sea, she proved so very leaky, that we were obliged -to keep two chain-pumps continually at work. We -were two months in this sad condition; at length we -reached Mauritius, which is an island in the latitude -of 16½° south, and to the eastward of Madagascar, inhabited -by the Dutch, who treated us with abundance -of humanity, and assisted us with whatever was in their -power. We made a tent on shore, in which we stowed -great part of our cargo to search for the leak—but to -no purpose.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Captain Boon, a pirate, had been here about two -months before, having just then plundered a very rich -Moorish ship, and taken out of her fifty Lascars. (For -<span class='pageno' id='Page_18'>18</span>that is the name by which our English seamen distinguish -these Moorish people.) Boon lost his own ship -on this island, and the pirates were glad to make a -small sloop of their long-boat to get off the island with, -and were therefore glad to leave the Lascars behind -them. These people we took with us, thinking they -would be of service, and save our hands from returning -so often to the pump; they having for two -months before but little rest.</p> - -<p class='c007'>We found here plenty of good fish, turtle, and goats, -with some beef; we stayed about a month, and then -shaped our course directly for the Cape of Good Hope.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Our leak gained upon us more and more, and it was -with great difficulty we kept her above water. Our -men were all spent with continual labour, pumping -and bailing night and day; when according to our -reckoning we were one hundred leagues to the southward -of Madagascar. We heaved overboard several of -our guns and heavy goods to lighten her. The captain -was for continuing his course to the Cape, but the ship’s -company in general opposed it; being of opinion that -they could not keep her above water long enough, imagining -they were at that time about six hundred leagues -from it, and but one hundred from Madagascar, which -was the nearest land.</p> - -<p class='c007'>At length they prevailed on the captain, though with -much difficulty, to put back to Madagascar. The wind -favouring us, the third day in the morning they sent -me and the captain’s boy up to the mast-head to look -out for land, since nobody else could so well be spared. -In such apparent danger, my being a passenger was no -excuse; and, accordingly, I went up and sat there two -hours and a half before I could discern any thing like -land; and when I first saw it I told my comrade, but -not being certain, I would not call out, for the case -was of such importance, that they were not to be trifled -with, or flattered into vain hopes. However, at length, -I plainly discovered a white cliff and a smoke at a distance -from it, whereupon I boldly cried out land! land!</p> - -<p class='c007'>Several immediately ran up the shrouds, and even -<span class='pageno' id='Page_19'>19</span>the captain himself to make his observations. One -among them knew the land, and said it was Port Dauphine; -and that the king of that part of the island was -an enemy to all white men, and treated all the Europeans -in a most barbarous manner. The reason -whereof, and a succinct history of king Samuel, (for that -was his name,) I shall have occasion to mention hereafter. -This information put us into the utmost confusion -and despair, and proved, indeed, our utter ruin. -The man who made this report, spoke his real sentiments; -for they were, indeed, enemies to the French, -and had murdered all they could find on the island, in -revenge for an affront some of that country had formerly -given to king Samuel, but to no other white men; so -that had we put in there, we had at least saved our -lives, and some of our cargo; but our fate was fixed, -and we were destined to be destroyed in the most tragical -manner, and all our endeavours to save our lives -served only to prolong our misery.</p> - -<p class='c007'>We durst not put into Port Dauphine, for fear of -falling immediately into the hands of these revengeful -and bloody murderers, as we then concluded them to -be. We could not get to the northward, the wind -being north-east; neither was there any harbour or -port to the westward, but what was a week’s sail, at -least, to it! Besides the western shore is very steep.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Hereupon the captain resolved to steer along the -western coast, and see if he could find a proper place -to run her into, or put ashore with safety of our lives. -At length we drew near the shore, but no place could -be found; and our hold being now half full of water, -the men went to the captain and asked him what he -proposed to do, for the ship could swim no longer. He -went into the round-house for a few minutes, and when -he came out, he asked them if they approved of his -running the ship on shore at all adventures; to which -they all unanimously agreed, and cried out, “Any thing -to save our lives.” Now here was a sand which ran -along for two leagues; we came within a quarter of a -<span class='pageno' id='Page_20'>20</span>mile of the shore, and let go an anchor first without the -breakers, and then cut down our masts and rigging, and -threw our guns and heaviest goods overboard, and -tried all means to keep her up till we could get on -shore. Having lost our long-boat and pinnace at Bengal, -we had but one small boat left, for which reason -we made a raft with some planks and yards.</p> - -<p class='c007'>At that time some of the natives were fishing, who, -seeing us in distress, made a smoke to guide and invite -us to shore; but we had entertained such a bad idea of -them, that we could not tell presently how to determine, -though we were informed these were another prince’s -dominions.</p> - -<p class='c007'>We finished the raft that night, and in the morning -sent Mr Pratt, our chief mate, and four men in the boat -with a long rope for a warp, to fasten on the land. A -great sea constantly runs here upon the rocks, and before -they got to land their boat was staved in pieces; -however, being pretty near it, by the help of some of -the natives, who were negroes, they saved that part of -the boat to which the rope was fastened. We had two -English women on board, one of them would not venture -on the raft, nor would the captain, but the other -woman, and about forty or fifty of us did. I stript off -all my clothes, but took two purses of money and a -silver cup, and tied them fast round my middle; we -hauled by the rope towards the shore, but were no -sooner among the breakers, than the first sea turned the -raft topsy turvy, and washed us off; some swam to the -raft again, but were soon washed off, and though the -woman was drowning just by me, yet I could not save -her. I sunk under every wave, and with great difficulty -got on shore, as did every one else that were on the -raft, but the woman. There was such a surf ran, and -the sea broke so high, that we durst not venture out -with the raft again; which the captain perceiving, ordered -the cable to be cut, and let the ship drive nearer -the land, where she soon beat to pieces. The captain -got on shore with his father’s heart in his hand, which, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_21'>21</span>according to his request, when dying, was put into a -bottle in order to be brought to England, and buried at -Dover.</p> - -<p class='c007'>At length they all got on shore on pieces of the ship, -planks, &c. two men only excepted, who were drowned, -and the woman before-mentioned. The other woman -escaped, though she was so full of water as well as some -others, that we were obliged to roll and rub them well, -to make them disgorge the water; we laid them also -before a great fire made for that purpose, and in a little -time they revived. We were, in all, above one hundred -and sixty, including the Lascars.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The country began now to be alarmed, and we had -already two or three hundred negroes flocking round -us, picking up several pieces of silk and fine calicoes; -the muslin they had little or no regard for. Our goods -were driven ashore in whole bales, for what with saltpetre -and other things, we reckoned there might be -three hundred tons left, after all that was thrown overboard -at sundry times before.</p> - -<p class='c007'>One of the negroes brought an ox to us, and intimated, -by signs, that we should kill him; but we made -signs to them again to shoot him for us, we having no -ammunition; when one of them perceived this, he lent -us his gun ready charged, and with it one of our men -shot the bullock dead on the spot.</p> - -<p class='c007'>It was extremely shocking to see the negroes cut the -beast, skin, and flesh together, and sometimes the guts -too, then toss them into the fire, or ashes, as it happened, -and eat them half roasted. I shuddered for fear they -should devour us in like manner, for they seemed to me -to be a kind of cannibals, of whom I had heard very -dreadful stories. Every thing, in short, appeared horrible -to nature, and excited in us the most dismal -apprehensions.</p> - -<p class='c007'>If I here discovered some greater concern than became -a man, I hope my tender years, my little knowledge, -and less experience, will plead in my behalf. -This tragical scene made such a deep impression on -me, that as often as it occurs to my mind, I start, and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_22'>22</span>am shocked with the frightful remembrance. If my -observations are not so many, or so just and judicious -as they should be, they must be considered as the reflections -of a youth, and not of a man; for as I grew -in years, it will appear I increased in knowledge and -courage, was capable of making more solid remarks, -and also of engaging in more bold and hazardous -adventures.</p> - -<p class='c007'>While the negroes were busy in opening our bales -and taking what they liked best, I observed several of -them regarded the iron they found, much more than all -those goods we looked upon as valuable, and took a -great deal of pains to break all such pieces of timber as -had iron in them. I broke open my chest and took out -only one suit of clothes, leaving the rest to those who -had most mind to them.</p> - -<p class='c007'>We remained thus two days and nights without -coming to any final resolution, not knowing what to do. -We were told Port Dauphine was but sixty miles from -us, but the idea we had entertained of their being such -a barbarous people, prevented our going thither; but -this debate was soon put an end to by the deaan (or as -our English sailors call him king) of that part of the -country.</p> - -<p class='c007'>For the next evening about nine o’clock, we heard a -man call out “Halloo,” at a great distance, like an Englishman, -as he proved to be, who, being immediately -answered, came nearer, and asked who we were. We -told him the crew of an English East India ship, which -proved so leaky, that we were obliged to run her in -here, as the first land we could make for the preservation -of our lives. Hereupon he came to us, and at our -request sat down with us by our fire, and told the captain -that the king had sent him to inform us we had -no reason to be under any fearful apprehensions, though -we were in a strange country, and that he would come -down himself the next day to pay us a visit. The captain -desired him to give us what account he could of -the country and the natives, and also to inform us how -he came there. We all crowded about him, not so -<span class='pageno' id='Page_23'>23</span>much out of a spirit of curiosity as to be able, by his relation, -to form a better judgment of our happy or unhappy -situation. The circumstances of his story were -so very remarkable, and of so great importance to us, -that I dare say I can repeat them almost in his own -words, which were as follows:—</p> - -<p class='c007'>“I am an Englishman, born in the county of Middlesex; -my parents, and every body who should have -taken care of me, being dead, I went to sea very young. -My first voyage was to the West Indies, but as I found -little or no encouragement there, I resolved to take a -trip to the East Indies, and in my passage thither, our -ship was taken by a pirate about a hundred leagues -to the eastward of this island; they plundered her of -all her rigging, ammunition, and provisions; they took -me and nine more out of her, and then left the ship. -During the time I was with them, they took several -rich prizes, and since there was no possibility of avoiding -it, I seemingly approved of all they did, and made -one amongst them. Whenever we wanted refreshments, -we resorted to this island, where we seldom failed of a -supply. However, I soon grew weary of these piratical -proceedings, and being at anchor in Mattatan Road, -where the canoes came off as usual to sell us rice, -plantains, milk, and honey, &c., for our boat could not -go ashore, such a great sea breaking upon the strand; -I took this favourable opportunity to feign myself very -sick and weak, and accordingly sent word to the captain, -(whose name I must not divulge, being sworn to -the contrary,) of my ill state of health; and thereupon, -I entreated him to let me go on shore, in hope the -land air might refresh me, to which request he readily -consented. I dressed myself, and took with me as -much gold and other valuable things as I could possibly -put into my pockets; but intrusted no one with my -secret resolution, since there was not a man on board -who showed the least inclination to leave their dangerous -and villainous engagements. I stepped into the -canoe with all the satisfaction imaginable, thinking -<span class='pageno' id='Page_24'>24</span>myself much more happy in this country, barbarous and -savage as it is, than with my former wicked companions. -The captain, indeed, sent a canoe for me, but as I sent -word that I was not capable of going to sea any more, -he never sent again.”</p> - -<p class='c007'>After I had been here about three months, captain -Drummond, a Scotchman, came in a merchant ship, to -trade about the island; but in less than three days -after his arrival, a pirate took him as he rode at anchor: -however, he gave captain Drummond his own long-boat, -and a few necessaries. One captain Steward -being with captain Drummond, the pirate permitted -him and three or four more hands to go ashore; and -as the sea, at that time, was very calm, they all landed -very safe. Here was at the same time another Englishman -and his wife, who came from Sancta Maria, who -were companions for me. When we saw the long-boat -come on shore, and the ship sail away, we guessed -how the case stood, and went to meet them, and gave -them a friendly invitation to our cottages, which were -a mile from the seaside. My companion and his wife -were, I own, better provided to entertain them than -myself. However, as we could all speak enough of the -country language to deal with the natives for what we -wanted, we were very serviceable to our new comers.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Captain Drummond being very much dejected at -the loss of his ship, and his melancholy situation, -resolved, if possible, to get to St Augustine’s Bay, -which is a place where ships frequently come to get -water and fresh provisions. He asked us if we were -willing to go with him, to which proposition we readily -assented. In a week’s time we had got provisions -enough, such as beef, rice, water, and fuel; and got -our long-boat in good repair. We were nine in all -with my companion’s wife, and a negro.</p> - -<p class='c007'>For three or four days we sailed along the shore, -and got to the southward of Port Dauphine, but at last -the wind shifted, and blowed so hard we could sail no -longer; so that in short, we drove on shore within three -<span class='pageno' id='Page_25'>25</span>or four leagues of the place where we are at present. -We saved all our lives, with our money, guns, powder, -shot, &c. but the long-boat was staved in pieces.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The natives, who lived near the sea, perceiving our -distressed condition, came down to succour us, and -carried us up to their town; for they found we had a -smattering of their language; and as we had a negro -with us they were no way afraid, though they never -saw any white men before: nay, they were so civil, -that we wanted for nothing with which they could -assist us. However, they soon sent up into the country -to inform their deaan, or king, of our arrival; who sent -his son, and a commanding officer with fifty men to -bring us up before him. Though they were all armed -with guns and lances, yet we refused to go with them, -and were as resolute as we durst be in opposing them: -but they soon made themselves masters of our ammunition.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Captain Drummond was for defending ourselves to -the last extremity, and not to deliver up our arms; but -being fully persuaded, that it was impossible to get off -from them by force, on account of their number, I -advised him to comply; and see if we could not obtain -our desires by softer measures. We told them we -desired to go to Port Dauphine, (St Augustine’s Bay -being too far for us to travel by land,) but in short, -we could not prevail; for they obliged us to go with -them.</p> - -<p class='c007'>We made it three days’ journey to the place of their -king’s residence: when we came there, and were carried -before him, he was drinking toake, (which is made -of honey and water like mead;) his sons and generals -were with him, and all perfectly merry. He asked -captain Drummond to drink, but the captain, pretending -to be sick, refused it. I was their interpreter; the -king bid me tell him, he should want for nothing the -country afforded. The captain desired I would return -for answer, that as he wanted to be in his own country, -he begged he might be permitted to go where we might -get shipping.</p> - -<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_26'>26</span>On this the king, with a stern aspect, replied, let the -captain be informed, if he does not know when he is -well used, I do; there are several kings on this island, -who have white men among them, and why shall not -I? Since our gods have been so good as to send you -here, you shall never go with my consent, as long as -I govern here.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Upon this, captain Drummond’s colour rose, and -looking sternly at the king, let him know (said he to -me) that had I suspected this beforehand, he should -never have seen my face alive; I would have sent some -of their black souls to hell. It is not their gods but -fortune that has put me into his power, and the same -fortune may again deliver me out of it. Hereupon he -got up without taking his leave, and went to our cottage. -I stayed long enough to tell the king what he -had said, and without waiting for an answer, got up, -and followed the captain.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The king seeing captain Drummond go away in a -passion, in order to appease him, sent one of his generals -with an ox for us to kill; and desired the captain -to make himself easy, since both he and his friends -should be well provided for; if we could eat an ox -every day we should be welcome to it. The captain -sent my companion’s wife, whose name was Deude, -with a compliment to the king, and to return him -thanks for the care he took to provide so plentifully -for our support; but withal to tell him, we did not -think life worth preserving without the freedom of -enjoying it; and if we were not permitted to go home -to our native country, no indulgence whatsoever could -make us easy.</p> - -<p class='c007'>In this state we continued about a fortnight, before -we made any attempt to escape; but at last, considering -we were about five days’ journey from Port Dauphine, -we agreed to go thither; to steal away by night, and -get what provision we thought proper: as to ammunition, -or arms, we had none, nor could we get any: -except that my companion had two pocket pistols, -which the natives had not discovered when they -<span class='pageno' id='Page_27'>27</span>plundered us; and the country being woody, we -thought we should be able to conceal ourselves well -enough.</p> - -<p class='c007'>According to this resolution, on a moonlight night, -we got out of the town undiscovered; and were soon -among the thickets. By daylight, however, they missed -us; and the news being carried to the king, he ordered -us to be pursued. They soon tracked us, for our shoes -distinguished our footing, and came up with us before -night; but as they knew we had nothing to defend -ourselves, they did not offer any violence to us; but -only told us we must go back with them to their king. -Captain Drummond peremptorily declared, that we -would not go back. When they saw our resolution, -and that fair words were ineffectual, they then took -hold of us. My companion, not having his hands -secured, took out his pistols, and wounded one of -them. They seemed enraged at this action, however -they did nothing more than bind us, till they had made -a strict search for more pistols; but finding no more, -they marched back with us to their king. As soon as -he saw us, he looked upon us with a frowning and menacing -aspect, and having but one eye and thin jaws, -his countenance seemed still more terrible. He bid -me tell the captain and all of them, that if ever we -offered to run away again, he would make us dearly -repent it. As to the man who was wounded, though -we were apprehensive of being called to account for it, -neither he nor any one else said any thing about the -matter.</p> - -<p class='c007'>This was about two months ago; since that time -nothing remarkable has happened, till yesterday news -came of your being cast away; and the king immediately -ordered me down with the message I have -delivered to you from him. My friends are guarded -for fear they should make their escape, and come to -you; as for my own part, I endeavour to sooth him -and tell him I will remain with him as long as I live; -and he puts some confidence in me. This, sir, is a -short, but true narrative of the miseries and misfortunes -<span class='pageno' id='Page_28'>28</span>we are under; and which, I am afraid, will be more -now our numbers are increased.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Sam having made an end of his story, to which every -body listened with the utmost attention, we parted and -went with heavy hearts to our respective quarters, -which were under the bushes. It was very late, and -we endeavoured to repose ourselves as well as we -could; the pieces of muslin served us to spread on the -ground for beds; but as for my own part, I could not -close my eyes to rest. I now began to reflect on my -former obstinacy and perverseness; the thought of my -tender mother’s begging me on her knees not to go to -sea, gave me the most distracting torture. I could -now see my error and repent; but who could I blame -but myself? Here were many poor men, who had no -other way to live; but I was reduced to no such necessity: -I ran headlong into misery, and severely felt -the effects of it. Tears I shed in plenty; but could -not with any justice, complain of fate or Providence; -for my punishment was but the natural result of my -own ill conduct.</p> - -<p class='c007'>We were all up by daylight, and most of my fellow-sufferers -got as little rest as I; for the man’s relation -had made us give over all hopes of relief, and nothing -but sorrow, distress, and despair appeared in all its dismal -forms in each man’s face, according to his different -constitution. We could save neither arms nor ammunition, -the want of which completed our ruin; for -near one hundred and seventy of us would have made -our way through that part of the country we wanted to -travel, had we but wherewithal to defend ourselves; -but fate had ordained it otherwise, which was in all -respects as bad as bad could be. So that we had -only our lives left us, for no other purpose than to be -conscious of pain, misery, and perpetual slavery; -which was no more than we could reasonably expect.</p> - -<p class='c007'>About one o’clock in the afternoon, the king came -down with about two hundred negroes. They brought -no fire-arms with them, lest we should seize them by -force; but they were armed with lances. As soon as -<span class='pageno' id='Page_29'>29</span>we saw them approaching us, we all stood together in -a body, with our captain at the head of us. When -they drew near, he called Sam, which was the man’s -name he sent to us, and asked him, who was our captain? -As soon as he was informed, he came up to -him and took him by the hand, and said in a familiar -manner, “salamonger, captain;” which is a term of -salutation, much like our saying “your servant, sir.” -The captain returned the compliment; Sam having -informed him before in what manner he should behave -himself to the king. His majesty brought with him -four large bullocks, six calabashes of toake, ten baskets -of potatoes, and ten pots of honey; all which he presented -to our captain, and gave us moreover two or -three earthen pots to dress our victuals in: we immediately -roasted the potatoes. He stayed two hours -with us, before he withdrew to the cottage, where he -proposed to lodge that night; and asked several questions -about our ship, and the manner of her being lost. -He told the captain he was heartily sorry for his misfortunes, -though in my opinion that was nothing but a -compliment; for as I found afterwards, he was more -brutish and dishonest, than most of the other kings on -the island; and his whole nation was clothed for -many years out of the effects they saved from our -wreck. At this time he took no notice to our captain of -carrying us up to his own residence.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The next morning he paid us another visit, and then -he told us that he expected we should prepare to go -along with him to his town; and there we should -want for nothing the country could afford us. Captain -Younge ordered the interpreter to acquaint the king, -that he returned him a thousand thanks for the civilities -he had already received; and that he was not only -unable to make him satisfaction, but very unwilling to -put him to further trouble, and charge of maintaining -so great a number of people. The king replied, that -if we were as many more he should not think us either -a burthen or a charge; since he should look upon it as -an honour to have so many white men in his dominions.</p> - -<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_30'>30</span>The captain, by this last artful speech, perceived his -whole intention; which shocked him to that degree, -that he could scarce tell what to say to him; but after -a little reflection, and looking wishfully on Sam, he -directed him to say that we have wives, children, and -relations, who are impatient to see us, and we are as -desirous of seeing them; that it was impossible for us -to live here always; and for that reason, we begged he -would permit us to go to some port where we might -meet with ships and return to our native country. -The king paused awhile before he made any reply; -but at length he ordered Sam to tell us, that we should -stay in his country till some ships should come there -to trade; and that then we should go home. The -captain knowing there was no port in his dominions, -nor any harbour for a ship to put into, took it to be -artifice all, and a mere compliment, for we might stay -for ever before a ship came there with the view he -proposed. He therefore desired Sam to tell him he -would think of it, and return an answer the next day; -upon this the king departed and gave us no farther -trouble at that time.</p> - -<p class='c007'>As soon as he was gone the captain called us all -together, and in a very pathetic speech addressed himself -to us in the following manner:—“I am now on an -equality with the meanest man here present, my -fortune is as low and my life is as little to be regarded: -I do not pretend, therefore, to command, but to consult -with you what is most expedient to be done in -the present unhappy situation of our affairs. However,” -said he, “I am happy in this, that though my -life and liberty are lost as well as yours, yet this misfortune -is not any ways chargeable on me, for I would -rather have kept on my course to the Cape of Good -Hope, and relied on Providence in a leaky ship, than -put in here, but you strenuously opposed it; for death, -in my opinion, is to be preferred to our present slavery, -and the consequences that will naturally attend it. -In death our sorrows will have an end, but now, who -can tell the troubles and torments we shall yet undergo; -<span class='pageno' id='Page_31'>31</span>(at this the tears stood in his eyes.) Consider, gentlemen,” -said he, “we have neither arms nor ammunition -wherewith to defend ourselves; and I have -endeavoured to prevail on the king to give us a passage -through his country to a seaport, but in vain; think -of it, therefore,” says he, “and consult your own -safety as well as you can; be but of one mind, and I -am ready to comply with any thing you would have -me: as for my own life, I set no value upon it; it -would not now be worth preserving, but for the hopes -I have of being serviceable to my friends. Remember -I must return an answer to-morrow morning, and I -will advise nothing, nor do any thing without your -concurrence.”</p> - -<p class='c007'>We went together and consulted, as the captain -advised, and came soon to an agreement; for the -matter in debate lay within a small compass; the king -had refused to give us leave to go to a seaport, and -we had no arms to fight and force our way, if we could -have found it; we therefore determined to go quietly -up the country with the king, to the place of his -residence, where we were in hopes of seeing and conversing -with captain Drummond, captain Steward, -and the other people, who (being gallant and courageous -men, and by this time somewhat acquainted -with the natives) might probably be capable of giving -us more proper and seasonable advice.</p> - -<p class='c007'>We then acquainted the captain with our resolution, -and he seemed to be very well contented with it; for -indeed, he was not over solicitous what became of -himself since he had in so unhappy a manner lost his -ship and fortune, and despaired of ever getting off the -island.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Next morning the king paid the captain a visit; -they saluted each other in their usual manner, and sat -down together upon the sand, whilst we all stood round -them; soon after the king ordered Sam to ask the -captain if he was ready to go, for it would be best to -walk in the cool of the morning and rest at noon. -The captain observed that he did not ask whether he -<span class='pageno' id='Page_32'>32</span>was inclined to go or not, as might reasonably be -expected since he pretended to give him time to consider -of it, but peremptorily asked, if he was ready to -go.</p> - -<p class='c007'>As the captain saw there was no avoiding it, and -having our consent, it signified nothing to dispute it; -so he told him we were ready to wait on him when he -pleased. At this the king seemed fully satisfied, and -ordered Sam to tell us he would breakfast first and -advised us to do so too, that we might be the better -enabled to perform our journey.</p> - -<p class='c007'>We had little satisfaction, however, in eating and -drinking, especially since the hour was come in which -we were obliged to leave the seaside; and it galled us -severely to think how we were forced up the country -like a flock of sheep, at the pleasure of a parcel of -barbarous negroes, without any power to make terms -for ourselves like men. Some cursed and others bewailed -their hard fortune, nor were reflections wanting; -for my own part, though I could not, at that time, see -any reason for complaint, yet I have since thought -that our captain was young, and had not so much -experience as his father, who would not have put to -sea from Mauritius in a leaky vessel, but have taken -out the company’s cargo and left it there, till another -ship had been sent for it, and saved all our lives; however -Providence ordained it otherwise.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The king sent, and the word was given to march. -I was ready in an instant, for I carried nothing with -me but what I brought ashore; but many of our -people took pieces of silk and fine calico. We assembled -together, and went to see the place where the -king’s tent was pitched. We were no sooner come, -than he was for marching. We left the sea with heavy -hearts, looking very wishfully back as long as we -could discern it; and as oft as we did, we observed -the negroes hard at work, breaking up our bales, and -enriching themselves with the plunder of our goods; -in short, they were so busy that but few went back -with the king.</p> - -<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_33'>33</span>Our people were but ill-disposed for travelling, since -every body was tired with working, and want of rest; -many were lamed with hurts received in getting on -shore; some were also without shoes, and most of us -had but bad ones; then again, the country near the -seaside and some few miles further, is full of short -underwood and thorny shrubs, which tore our clothes -to rags, for the path was very narrow, and before this -accident but little frequented; the ground also was -sandy, so that when the sun was advanced pretty high, -it scorched our feet to that degree that we were scarcely -able to walk.</p> - -<p class='c007'>About noon we came to one of their small mean -villages, consisting of about eight or ten houses, or -rather huts, for they were not above six or seven feet -high, and about eight or nine feet in length, and their -doors not above three or four feet high; our people -crept into these hovels to rest, and to see what they -could meet with to refresh themselves. Some found -honey, others milk, and others beef, for the king had -given us free permission to take what eatables soever -came to hand. The inhabitants were all absent, the -men at the seaside making advantage of our wreck, -and the women and children fled into the woods at -our approach. We passed several of these poor villages, -but saw few of the people. Here we reposed -ourselves till the heat abated, when we made ourselves -but a poor compensation by robbing them of their trifles, -while they were enriching themselves with our most -valuable commodities; however, I observed some of -our people found a secret pleasure in gratifying their -resentment.</p> - -<p class='c007'>In the cool of the evening we marched again, and -in a little time came to a more open and better road. -As we were now some miles from the sea the king left -us, and went before to his seat, leaving us to march at -our leisure; having before taken care that we should -not want provisions, and left his chief officer (whom I shall -call his general) strict orders to supply us with whatever -we wanted, and what the country would afford.</p> - -<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_34'>34</span>At night we came to another of these little villages, -where we killed a bullock, and got a few earthen -pots to cook our meat in; the water was very thick -and nasty, they having none but what they fetched at -a great distance out of holes and pits in the woods, -and kept in calabashes, or long tubs, which hold about -four or five gallons each; however it served our purpose, -for at that time we were not very curious. We -reposed ourselves on the ground in the best manner -we could, and rose the next morning by daylight. We -had beef for our breakfast without any bread or roots -in the room of it, and our meat was full of sand; however, -eating and drinking was the least of our concern -at that time. We passed this day much after the same -manner as the day before, with this difference only, -that those who wanted shoes were sadly harassed in -the woods.</p> - -<p class='c007'>On the third day of our march we came to our -journey’s end; we were obliged to walk much faster -than either of the two former, having more ground to -traverse and less time to do it in, for we were ordered -to be at the king’s town before sunset. I missed one -of my purses in this day’s journey, but the loss of it -was not of any great importance to me at that time, -for it would have been of little service to me had I -kept it; but the loss of a medal afterwards which my -dear mother had presented me as a testimony of -her love, and a token to remember her, was no small -addition to my other misfortunes.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The residence of this king is about fifty miles from -the seaside, for I reckon we might travel sixteen or -seventeen miles a day. It stands in a wood secured -with trees all round it, which seem to have been -planted there when very young; they grow very regular -and tall, and so close together, that a small dog cannot -pass between them. They are likewise armed with -large strong thorns, so that there is no breaking through -or climbing over them. There are but two passages or -gates, which are so narrow that two only can go -abreast; one of these is to the northward, and the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_35'>35</span>other to the southward; the whole is about a mile in -circumference.</p> - -<p class='c007'>When we came near our journey’s end we halted, -whilst Sam went to inform the king of our arrival. We -were ordered to wait till he was ready for our reception; -our captain too put us into the best form he -could, ordering all our baggage and such things as -our people brought with them, to be lodged under a -tamarind tree, and three or four Lascars to look after -them. He soon sent for us, and we marched in order -by fours. The king was sitting on a mat, cross-legged, -in the open air, just before the door of his palace, with -a gun leaning on his shoulder, and a brace of pistols -lying by his side; his sons and kinsman sat in the -same manner on the ground on each hand of him, -armed with guns and lances; the natives joined them -on both sides, and formed together a semicircle; most -of these were likewise furnished with guns and lances. -There were mats spread from one end of the people -to the other for us to sit on, so that when we had -joined them, the assembly was almost a circular form. -We were somewhat concerned to see them all thus -in arms, till Sam informed us, that they never go from -one house to another without them.</p> - -<p class='c007'>As soon as we were seated, the king (by Sam) -assured the captain he was welcome, and sent for ten -calabashes of toake, six he gave to our people, three -to his own, and one he reserved for our captain and -himself. He also sent for captain Drummond, captain -Steward, and the rest of their company. Captain -Younge arose to salute them, and after the usual compliments -were passed, the captains sat down together. -The king ordered a servant to pour out some toake -into a clean earthen cup which he kept for his -own use, and drank it up without drinking to any -body, but ordered some more to be poured out for -our captain in another cup, but as it was dirty he -refused it. The king asked Sam the reason of it, who -told him the truth, so the king sent a man immediately -to wash it. The captain, indeed, expected to be -<span class='pageno' id='Page_36'>36</span>served out of the king’s cup, but Sam informed him, -that neither black nor white, nor even his wives or -children, ever drank out of his cup; and this is the -general custom of the country.</p> - -<p class='c007'>When I saw the servant returning with the cup our -captain had refused, I took out my silver one, and -presented it to him; after we had all drank out of it, the -king desired to see it, and was so wonderfully pleased -with it that he desired to keep it. But the captain -informed him that it was none of his, but belonged to -a lad that was behind him. I called to Sam and -desired him to acquaint the king, that since so many -people had drank out of it, I humbly conceived it -could not be fit for his use. At this he and the people -round him laughed heartily. He ordered me to stand -up that he might see me; however I saved my cup -this time. Night drawing on he withdrew, ordering us -a bullock for our supper. Notwithstanding his courteous -reception of us, he would not trust us all to lie -within the gates of the town; our captain, Mr Prat, -our chief mate, Mr Bembo, our second mate, and myself, -were the only persons that were so far indulged. -We had a hutch ordered us next to captain Drummond -and his companions, but the rest of the people lay -without the gates under the trees.</p> - -<p class='c007'>In this manner we lived for some few days; what -particular amusements some of our people found out -to pass away their tedious hours I know not, but there -occurred to me an affair of a most agreeable and surprising -nature, which some would have improved, and -made use of to advantage.</p> - -<p class='c007'>This king had a daughter about thirteen or fourteen -years of age who would talk to me sometimes an hour -or two together, though I did not comprehend one -word she said. Though she seemed to be very desirous -I should know her meaning, yet she was very modest, -and used no indecent gestures to intimate any vicious -inclinations, neither did I entertain any idea of an -intrigue, so that our conversation on my side aimed at -nothing; this she at length perceived, and sent Sam to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_37'>37</span>me one day to desire I would come to her nurse’s -house where she was educated, and partake of a small -entertainment. I went along with him, and as soon -as we entered I found a mat spread on one side of -the house, on which she desired us to seat ourselves, -and ordered one of her attendants to boil some guinea -corn and milk and roast some beef. She sat down -over against me, and though I had no notion of love, -yet I could not help observing a particular softness in -the tone of her voice; and when she inquired of Sam -about our misfortunes, she showed abundance of concern -for us; and looked at me with a more than -common pleasure, as people of taste do at pictures -which please them; and, in short, stared me almost out -of countenance. I imagined she was resolved to know -me again, by her narrow observance of every motion. -She was extremely courteous and obliging, and often -sighed with pity at the sense she seemed to have of our -deplorable condition. I looked upon her as a good-natured -creature, and that curiosity more than love had -made her fond of conversing with a white man, which -is a novelty in their country.</p> - -<p class='c007'>We were just entering into the best part of the conversation, -and our interpreter had begun, at her request, -to acquaint me with the reason of her extraordinary -complaisance and observance of me, when her mother -came to the door, and desired her to take a walk with -her without the gates to see the white men. I was a -little nettled at this interruption, and she seemed much -more concerned at it herself; however it would have -been an act of the highest disobedience in her to have -refused her mother’s request; so she complied with a -seeming readiness, and we returned.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Sam told me he had private orders from her to inform -me, that she was in love with me; but laid her -commands upon him to say nothing of it to any person -whomsoever, either white or black. I was strangely -startled at this open declaration, and that this was the -private motive that induced her to be fond of my company -and conversation. Since I came to be a man, I -<span class='pageno' id='Page_38'>38</span>have stood astonished at my own stupidity in putting -a modest young lady of her birth and character to the -mortification of acquainting me with her love, and exposing -herself to the censures of another man. I have -nothing to plead in my excuse, but that being a lad -scarce sixteen years of age, the discovery of so important -a secret created in me more fear than affection; lest -the consequences of so dangerous an affair might prove -fatal to me. She sent again for me that very night, and -I attended her accordingly; and behaved myself with -all the decency and good manners, as common prudence -and gratitude for her civilities obliged me to. I knew -she was the king’s darling, and therefore dreaded to disoblige -her, lest she might tell her father what story she -thought proper and destroy me in a moment. At length -I perceived she was equally afraid of her father’s knowledge -of her passion; so that I looked upon myself in -danger on both sides: for which reason, when Sam informed -me that she desired my company again the next -night, I pretended to be very sick and unable to go -abroad; so that this affair, which might have proved -highly agreeable to some warmer persons, proved to -me, in the circumstances I was then, a matter of vexation -and fatigue; but two days after, our amour, if I -may call it so, was totally disconcerted.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Every morning we went, as was expected, in a body -to visit the king; but one morning he ordered Sam to -inform us, that he had an inveterate enemy to the westward, -who had hitherto proved too powerful for him; -but since his gods had been so indulgent as to send -some white men into his dominions, he would embrace -so favourable an opportunity once more to try his -strength with our assistance; but in the mean time he -should be obliged to distribute us among his sons, who -lived at distant towns, not only for the convenience of -providing for such a number of us, (there not being -room enough in this town,) but to ease himself of a -charge which was too great and burthensome for him to -support alone. He also sent to me this night to beg the -silver cup before-mentioned, with which request (knowing -<span class='pageno' id='Page_39'>39</span>it was in his power to take it by force if he thought -fit) I readily complied. This unexpected separation was -a terrible blow to us, and we returned to our cottages -with heavy hearts, well knowing, if we could not find -out some way to prevent it, there were no hopes of ever -getting off the island.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Hereupon the three captains, viz. Drummond, Steward, -and Younge, with some of the chief of our people, -entered immediately into a consultation about what was -proper to be done in this emergency; and to make -some bold attempt for our lives and liberty. Captain -Drummond, as I heard afterwards, was the man who -proposed to take the king prisoner; and by that means -to make their own terms with the natives. Now captain -Drummond and some others were men of experience -and undaunted resolution: our captain, indeed, had -courage enough, but he was too young. However, the -proposition was universally approved of, and the time -and manner of the execution was fixed. I was too -young to be admitted as one of the council; therefore -I shall not pretend to relate what reasons were produced -either for, or against the proposal; though I was told -afterwards: that night, however, I was wholly ignorant. -I observed captain Younge and Mr Bembo to talk with -great earnestness, but in whispers, and with the utmost -precaution. As I was then a stranger to that design I -slept soundly, till I was roused in the morning by a -great and sudden noise in the town, occasioned by the -plot being put into execution. Our people went, as -usual, betimes in the morning to pay their compliments -to the king; and whilst some of them were at the -prince’s house the signal was given by one of captain -Drummond’s men firing a pistol; at which the king was -seized, and his son at the same instant.</p> - -<p class='c007'>This instantly alarmed the whole town. I started up -without my shoes, being frighted at the sudden outcry. -Not knowing what was the matter, and seeing the -negroes flocking out of the town, I ran with them, till -I was taken notice of by one of our men, who called me -back; and I was as much amazed as the natives to see -<span class='pageno' id='Page_40'>40</span>the king, his consort, and one of his sons, with their -hands tied behind them, under the guard of our people. -They soon plundered the king’s mansion-house, and -every other place where they could find any agreeable -plunder. We happened to find about thirty small arms, -a small quantity of powder and shot, and a few lances. -The natives (as I observed before) ran out of the town, -but they did it with no other view than to procure -assistance; for they soon alarmed the country, and -returned with great numbers from all the adjacent -towns; and immediately besieged us. They fired in -upon us, and wounded one of our men in the groin; on -which captain Younge ordered Sam to tell the king if -they fired any more they would kill him that very moment. -The king hearing their resolution, called to his -men, and desired them to desist if they had a mind to -save his life.</p> - -<p class='c007'>This attempt, indeed, was bold and hazardous, and -some perhaps may censure it as criminal; I shall not -say much in its defence: but since I have arrived to -years of maturity, I cannot forbear reflecting that if -nature, even in a christian country, will rebel against -principle, what will it not do for life and liberty under -the tyranny and oppression of a barbarous and savage -nation!</p> - -<p class='c007'>However, at length we put ourselves in a posture of -defence and marched out of the town. Six men under -arms marched in the front, and in the body where the -king was, six went armed before him and six behind; -three before his son and three behind him; and six -brought up the rear, in which were the Lascars. Captain -Younge, out of compassion, would have released -the queen, and let her go wherever she pleased, but she -would not abandon her husband.</p> - -<p class='c007'>We had not gone above four miles on our march, before -our wounded companion fainted; and not being -able to carry him off, we were forced to leave him by -the side of a pond of water; where, as I was afterwards -informed, they soon put him out of his pain, by striking -their lances into several parts of his body. Having -<span class='pageno' id='Page_41'>41</span>marched about two or three miles farther, we got out of -the woods, and found ourselves in a spacious, open plain, -where we could see all around us; and soon found that -our enemies were not only near, but numerous, and -threatened immediately to attack us. We faced towards -them, our armed men being in the front, with the king -bound before them. Sam was ordered at the same time -to tell him, that our design was not to hurt either him -or his son, nor to carry them into their enemies’ country, -but only to detain them as hostages for our safeguard -while we passed through his dominions; and that as -soon as we came to the borders of Port Dauphine, we -would let them go again, and give them back the arms -and ammunition we had taken from them; but if the -least violence were offered to us we would sacrifice them -both; and this we desired him to tell his people.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Hereupon he called one of his generals to him, -assuring him that he should receive no harm. Accordingly -he left his gun and lance behind him and came to -us, where he was informed, both by us and the king, of -our resolution; upon which he told us there should not -be a gun fired whilst we preserved the king alive, and -gave him civil treatment.</p> - -<p class='c007'>This parley being over, we continued our march -through the plain till near evening; many of us without -shoes as well as myself, and some sick; which -obliged us to take up our quarters sooner than we would -otherwise have done; so that every one was almost -faint and glad of rest. The king ordered Sam to tell -us that an ox should be sent to us forthwith. We made -a trench, like a ring, in the midst whereof we planted -the black king and his son; our captain, and some few -others were appointed as a guard over them: our armed -men were divided into four parts, in order to secure us -in the best manner they could. We had just finished -our camp, when the officer, who had been with us before, -and three other men brought us a bullock. He -brought likewise some roasted meat in his hand, and a -horn of water for the king; so we loosed our royal -prisoners’ hands that they might feed themselves. They -<span class='pageno' id='Page_42'>42</span>eat some small matter, and gave the remainders to -captain Younge.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Whilst we were employed in killing the ox, we -desired the king to send some of his people into the -woods for some fuel to dress it; which he readily did, -and they soon brought us sufficient for our purpose. -But all this time we wanted water, and complained -thereof to the king; who assured us that there was none -to be got near that place by several miles; and that -what small quantity was given him in the horn was -brought from that very pond where we left the wounded -man; which could not be less than about ten miles’ distance. -This very much disheartened us; for we were -parched with thirst, which was the more increased by -the fatigue of our long march, and the heat of the -country. However, there was no help for us, and -patience was the only remedy. When the king and -his son had supped, we bound their hands before them -that they might sleep as easily as they could; so after we -had cut up our bullock, and divided it amongst us, -broiled and eat it, though with but little satisfaction, for -want of water; and when we had made as good a supper -as our unhappy circumstances would admit of, we -also used our best endeavours to repose ourselves. The -three captains, however, agreed to watch alternately, -and divided our people into three parts for that purpose. -The king entreated his wife to go home and to comfort -his children; but more particularly recommended his -beloved daughter to her care. She went at his request, -but shed tears at her departure; as did also the king -and his son. Such of us as were not on the watch lay -down, but we had a wretched night; for the ground was -stony, and there was but little grass; and what was -a still greater affliction, we were excessive dry, and had -nothing to quench our thirst.</p> - -<p class='c007'>At dawn of day we arose, which was the second day -of our travel, and the better to support ourselves under -the fatigue of it, we eat part of the remains of our beef; -but it was a miserable repast, as we had nothing to -drink. However, we put ourselves in the same order as -<span class='pageno' id='Page_43'>43</span>we had done the day before, and went forwards; the -natives perceiving us in motion, moved too, but kept at -a greater distance, and went into our camp after we had -quitted it to see what they could find, and their labour -was not altogether lost; for many of our people thought -proper to leave half those India goods they had brought -out of the town behind them, that they might travel with -less fatigue. We walked with more ease half this day -than we did the day before, it proving cloudy weather -and cool. About noon the general who had been with -us before, came with some roast meat, and a horn of -water for the king and his son. As we did not loose -their hands, we were forced to feed them. The general -ordered Sam to ask the captains if they would release -the king for six guns. I perceived there was a debate -between them and Mr Bembo: some thinking the six -guns would be of great service to us, especially as we -should still have the king’s son. Others were of opinion -that it would be more for our safety to keep the king; -however it was agreed at last that he should be dismissed. -We informed the general that if they would give us six -very good guns, and promise on their honour not to -follow us, but return with their king, we would let him -go; and that as soon as we came to the river Manderra, -which divided his dominions from those of Port Dauphine, -we would release the king’s son, and leave all -their arms behind us.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The general was startled at this unexpected condescension -of our people, and despatched away one of his -attendants to the king’s other sons, who were not far -off with their army, to acquaint them with our proposal; -and in half an hour’s time returned to us with six of the -best guns. They made the more haste lest our minds -should alter. We kept them no longer in suspense than -while we took the guns to pieces, to see whether they -were in good condition or not; and finding them better -than we could reasonably have expected in such a country, -we released their king, and sent him away with the -general. He took his leave of the prince, and went -<span class='pageno' id='Page_44'>44</span>directly to his army. We were so near as to see the -ceremony of his sons meeting him, who fell down and -embraced his knees, and with all the earnestness imaginable, -shedding tears for joy. After they had kissed -and licked his knees and legs for about five or six -minutes, they arose to give his head officers an opportunity -of paying the like homage; and after them, some -others of an inferior station; who, in general, expressed -a most sincere and passionate affection to his person, -and showed all the demonstrations of joy imaginable on -account of his return. This ceremonial over, they all -hallooed and fired their guns as a public testimony of -their general joy and satisfaction.</p> - -<p class='c007'>We could not help halting to observe this scene, but -before it was perfectly concluded we marched forwards -as well as we could, though with no small difficulty: -for notwithstanding it continued cloudy, yet the afternoon -was sultry hot, and our thirst increasing, we -began to grow sensibly weaker and weaker; our captains, -however, walked slowly on, which made our -journey something easier. We asked the prince if there -was no water near at hand; he informed us that there -was none to be got till we came to Manderra river, -which we should not be able to reach that night. -Though it was not easy for us to miss our way, yet we -made him our guide. The natives had told us before, -that the plain we were in was long, and of no great breadth -in proportion to the length; but extended itself near -east and west to the river. As soon as we came to a -sandy place, we halted and formed our camp, it being -then near sunset. This was somewhat softer for us to -lie on than our situation the night before. The natives -perceiving that we began to encamp, followed our example. -They divided themselves accordingly into six -parties, and so ordered their matters that they almost -surrounded us; which did not a little surprise us. However -we appointed our watch as before; but here to our -misfortune we could find neither victuals nor water; and -were almost parched with thirst. In short, we were -<span class='pageno' id='Page_45'>45</span>reduced to so great an extremity, that we crawled on the -ground to lick the dew; and this was all the refreshment -we could then meet with.</p> - -<p class='c007'>On the third day of our march we rose early, and put -forward as well as we could. The negroes, who strictly -observed our motions, were as ready as we; but we -placed our armed men in the front, determining to make -a bold push for it, if they attempted to obstruct our -passage. They divided, and let us proceed without -molestation; and though we travelled all the morning -yet we met with nothing remarkable, till we arrived at -a little round hill, whereon there stood a prodigiously -large tub, about six feet high, which held near a hundred -gallons, and was full of toake. Our people were -going immediately to drain it dry, but Sam threw it -down and spilt all the liquor; asking us with some -warmth, if we were so blind as not to see the plot that -was laid for our destruction: for it was planted there -to tempt us to drink, with no other intention than to -poison us all; or at least to intoxicate us to that degree, -that they might rescue their prince without opposition, -and murder us at their pleasure.</p> - -<p class='c007'>While we were reflecting on this extraordinary action, -the general and two or three more came up to us, and -asked Sam what reason he could offer for spilling the -toake. To which he made no regular reply, but bid -him begone about his business. The general desired to -speak with the young prince, and after a little discourse -with him, directed Sam to acquaint captain Younge -that if he should think fit to release the prince, they -would give him three of the head-men of the country -in exchange. The captain told him, if he would consent -to be one of them, they would agree to it. He excused -himself on account of his family, who, as he pretended, -would be inconsolable should he leave them; however, -he would engage that his own brother, who had no -children, should be one of the hostages.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Captain Younge, who imagined that they followed -us on account of their prince only, and that if we should -release him they would return back, complied with the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_46'>46</span>general’s proposition. Upon this he posted away to the -army, and acquainted the other princes with the agreement -he had made; for the king went directly home as -soon as he left us. We marched on, determining to -lose no time, and the general returned in less than an -hour with three men; and informed us, that he had -brought his brother and two more of the chief of their -people in exchange for the prince; and as to the arms -then in our possession which belonged to their king, we -might, when we had no further occasion for them, leave -them according to our promise with these three men, -who would take care to send them home.</p> - -<p class='c007'>We took the three men, and having tied their hands -behind them, delivered up the prince. He shook hands -with our captains, and went to the army; as soon as -his brethren saw him at a distance they ran to meet -him, as did also many others, who seemed to be more -transported with joy for his deliverance, than they were -before for his father’s.</p> - -<p class='c007'>We proceeded on our journey as well as men could -without provisions, and were too soon convinced of -captain Younge’s mistake; for the negroes instead of -retiring approached nearer to us, and some marched -before us; so that we expected every minute when they -would attack us. We had a young lad in our company -who lost his leg at Bengal. Notwithstanding he was -well recovered, and supplied with a wooden one well -fitted, yet it cannot be imagined that he should be able -to keep up with us; for being now surprised by their -surrounding us, we doubled our pace; and, in short, were -obliged to leave this poor lad behind us. We saw the -barbarians come up with him, take off his wooden leg, -and first insult him; then they thrust their lances into -his body, and left him wallowing in his blood. Being -eye-witnesses of this act of inhumanity, and apprehensive -of the like treatment, we hurried on as fast as our -feeble limbs could carry us till sunset; when we came -to a large tamarind tree, the leaves whereof, as they -were sour, we chewed to moisten our mouths. The fruit -itself was not then in season.</p> - -<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_47'>47</span>The three negroes whom we had taken as hostages, -observing what had passed, and thinking their lives in -danger, called to Sam and the captains, and told them -they had a scheme to propose which would be for the -safety of us all, which was this:—that as soon as it was -dark we should keep marching on as silently as possible -all the night. The captains approved of this proposal, -and ordered none of us to sleep, but to be ready as soon -as the watchword was given. This was very grievous -considering how tired we were the day before; but we -submitted cheerfully to any thing which gave us hopes -of escaping from the violent hands of those bloodthirsty -barbarians. As soon as it was dark enough to conceal -our flight we assembled together, and took a considerable -quantity of muslins and calicoes and hung them -upon the bushes, that the spies, who we knew watched -us, might not any ways mistrust our sudden removal.</p> - -<p class='c007'>We walked off accordingly undiscovered by them. -Captain Drummond, however, being taken so ill that he -could not walk at all, none of us being strong enough to -carry him, we resolved to make the three negroes perform -that office by turns. After we had thus travelled -most part of the night, we came to a thicket among some -cotton trees, where the man who had the charge of -captain Drummond, pretending to ease himself, threw -the captain upon the ground, ran away into the wood, -and we never saw him more. Upon this we had a more -watchful eye over the other two and led him whose -turn it was to carry the captain with a rope about his -neck.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Weak as we were, we travelled a great many miles -that night, and were glad when the day broke in upon -us; for the negroes had told us before, that if we walked -hard all night we should be at Manderra river betimes -in the morning. And their information was just; for -as soon as we came to a little hill, the sun then just -rising, we had a prospect of the river, though at a considerable -distance; however, the hopes we had of coming -to it in a short time, and of getting water to quench our -thirst, gave us no small pleasure, and our spirits began -<span class='pageno' id='Page_48'>48</span>to revive at the very sight of it. It was some comfort -to us likewise to think that the king’s dominions extended -no farther; notwithstanding there were no -inhabitants to protect us within several miles on the -other side. Some of our people, who were more tired -than the rest, took liberty to sit down to refresh themselves; -as taking it for granted, that the negro army -would never come in sight of us again.</p> - -<p class='c007'>But this vain notion of being safe and secure too -quickly vanished; for as soon as they missed us in the -morning, they pursued us like so many greyhounds; -and before we got within a mile of Manderra river -overtook us. Thereupon they began to butcher our -men then resting under the trees, striking their lances -into their sides and throats. Though I was one of -those who could not travel well, yet there were twenty -behind me; the woman, whose life was preserved in -our ship, was next to me. I seeing them kill our people -in this barbarous manner, threw off my coat and -waistcoat, and trusted to my heels, for the foremost of -our people having passed the river, and I not being -far off took courage; but hearing the report of a gun, -I looked back, and saw the poor woman fall, and the -negroes sticking their lances in her sides. My turn -was next, for the same negroes pursued me, and before -I was got to the brink of the river they fired a gun at -me; but I jumped in. Our men who had got safely -over, made a stand, in order to defend those who were -behind; and notwithstanding the negroes followed me -so close, I could not refrain from drinking two or three -times out of my hat, let the consequence prove what it -would.</p> - -<p class='c007'>However I got over safely, and whilst we were on the -bank and faced them, they never attempted to follow -us. Our captains asked me, if I thought there were any -of our companions still behind us? I answered, I -believed that there were none alive. We waited a -while, and then marched forwards. We had a wood -to pass through, and the negroes as soon as they saw -us quit the banks, immediately pursued us. They got -<span class='pageno' id='Page_49'>49</span>into the woods, and firing behind the trees every now -and then, they killed three or four of our men. We -had not travelled above two miles in this wood, before -we came to a large sandy plain, to which we could see -no end, and here they determined to stop our progress; -since if we went much farther, we should be within -hearing of king Samuel’s subjects, who were their mortal -enemies, and would readily assist us. They divided -themselves, therefore, into several bodies, in order to -break in upon us on all sides; and we being apprized -of their designs, were resolved to sell our lives and -liberties as dearly as possible. Hereupon our captains -put us in as good a posture of defence as they could, -and divided our men who bore arms into four classes: -one under the command of each of our three captains, -and the other under Mr John Bembo; such as had no -arms or were disabled, were covered in a little valley; -and with them were the two negro hostages.</p> - -<p class='c007'>We had not above six and thirty fire-arms amongst -us all, and not many more persons fit to fight; so that -we were a poor handful to withstand an army of two -or three thousand. When they found we made a stand, -they did so too; and according to their wonted manner -(where it could be done) three or four of them in a -place threw up the sand before them, and being also -beneath us, we could see only their heads: their shot -flew very fast over us, and we kept them in play from -noon till six in the evening; by which time all our -ammunition was spent. Those of us who had money -made slugs of it; their next shift was to take the middle -screws out of their guns, and charge their pieces -with them. When they had used all these means, they -knew not what to do farther: now we began to reflect -on those who advised us to deliver up first the king, -and afterwards his son; since the keeping of them -would have been our principal safeguard. The two -negroes in our custody expected, no doubt, every minute -to be killed, as very justly they might; but as their -death would be of no service to us, we did them no -injury.</p> - -<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_50'>50</span>At length it was unanimously agreed, that Dudey -and her husband should be sent to them with a flag of -truce, not only to prolong the time, but to know what -they farther wanted: so we tied a piece of red silk to -a lance, and despatched them away. They kept firing -at us all this time, not knowing what we meant by not -returning it. They shot at those who carried the flag, -but perceiving that they were not armed, the prince -ordered them to cease. Dudey was interpreter, and -told them that our captain was inclined to make peace -with them, and to deliver up the two hostages with -the guns and ammunition we took with us, as soon as -we were advanced a little farther into the country. -They said they would suffer us to go in the morning, -in case we would deliver up our arms and the men; -but not that evening, because it was dark. Their true -reason was this, they knew if we got away that night, -we should send some of king Samuel’s people, who -were their utter enemies, to be revenged on them for -the ill treatment we had met with.</p> - -<p class='c007'>We were at a loss what determination to come to: -we were willing, indeed, to let the two men (whom -they called generals) go; but loath to part with our -arms: most of us, as well as our captain, were of -opinion, that they followed us for nothing else, and -were for delivering them up; but captain Drummond, -captain Steward, and their people, with Mr Bembo, -and some of our men, opposed it. Captain Drummond, -in particular, expressed a great concern to see us so -easy to be imposed upon; and told us that it was too -visible their words were not to be relied on: most -voices, however, carried it, and captain Younge being -of the opinion it was best to resign them, it was agreed; -and in short, soon actually performed; for Dudey -having orders to acquaint them with such resolution, -they sent proper messengers immediately to receive -them.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Captain Drummond, however, and his companions -claimed theirs as their own right and property, and -therefore would not deliver them; nor would Dudey’s -<span class='pageno' id='Page_51'>51</span>husband part with his. The negroes well knew we had -but few left, and went away to all outward appearance -well contented for that night. Dudey returned, and -assured us that they would let us go in the morning; -and as night was coming on, we laid down upon the -sand, to repose ourselves as well as our distressed circumstances -would admit of; for besides the hunger -and fatigue we had already suffered, we reflected a -thousand times on the barbarities we had seen committed -the day before; and that it was now in their -power to treat us as they pleased.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The next morning as soon as we could see, we -missed captain Drummond, captain Steward, Mr -Bembo, Dudey, and her husband, and four or five -more, who deserted us in the night, without communicating -their intentions to us. Now we plainly saw -destruction before us, and the end of this miserable -journey; which, after so bold an attempt, we undertook -for the preservation of our lives and liberty; and -a tragical one it was. For,</p> - -<p class='c007'>No sooner was it broad daylight, than the negroes -came up to us, and the prince had a short conference -with Sam. Captain Younge asked him the purport of -their discourse. He answered, they wanted to know -what was become of captain Drummond, and the rest. -The words were no sooner out of his mouth, than one -of the princes took hold of me, and delivered me to -one of his attendants; there were three or four lads -like myself and much about my age, who were seized -at the same time and delivered to their people in the -same manner; who bound our hands with cords.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The same prince who ordered my hands to be thus -tied, stuck his lance into captain Younge’s throat, and -afterwards into his sides. Having killed him, he went -on to another; and the rest of his barbarous train immediately -following his example, they soon murdered -every man belonging to our company; they then -stripped off their clothes, and like inhuman butchers, -ripped open several of their bellies. As for my part, -I expected death every moment, but in what shape I -<span class='pageno' id='Page_52'>52</span>could not tell; for one of the generals lifted up his -lance, with an intention to pierce me through, but was -prevented by the man who had me in custody, for -some reasons I could not then rightly understand; but -as I heard afterwards, he informed him I was reserved -to wait on the king’s grandson. Though this saved -my life, yet it would not hinder the officer from rifling -me of what I had valuable about me; for he feeling -my purse in my breeches pocket, and not readily finding -it, in a fury, with his lance cut away my breeches, and -narrowly missed my flesh.</p> - -<p class='c007'>When they had concluded this bloody scene, and -clothed themselves with the spoils of the slain, they -marched away in very great haste, for fear of the natives -of Port Dauphine; whom they imagined captain -Drummond and the rest had by that time alarmed, and -prevailed on them to send some forces down to our -rescue. Now whether the negroes might not think we -had sent them away on purpose to get such assistance, -and thereby provoked them to murder us, I cannot say; -but certain it is, we were the most unfortunate wretches -in the universe: for I was afterwards informed, before -our murdered people were well cold, two thousand of -king Samuel’s men came down to rescue us out of their -merciless hands.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Perhaps the reader will say, why did we not send -two or three of our people as soon as we had passed -the river? To which I can only answer, I think we -were all infatuated, for with ease it might have been -done; especially since we had the woman Dudey to -go with them as an interpreter; and we might have -kept Sam with us. But none of these reasons at that -time occurred to me; for I was but a raw, inexperienced -youth. And what motives could induce captain -Younge to release both the king and his son, is -what I cannot pretend to account for. The plot was -doubtless well concerted, and as duly executed at first, -but most shamefully conducted afterwards; and, indeed, -it is scarcely credible, that such a number of us -could be so stupid as we then were; and since I have -<span class='pageno' id='Page_53'>53</span>attained to a mature age, and been capable of any -reflection, it is what I have been surprised at.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The only reason that can be offered I now think, is, -that as all of us had a great affection for our captain’s -father, so it caused us to be too partial, and to entertain -too good an opinion of the son. But I since -found to my great concern that our captain wanted -not only judgment, but experience in the world; for -captain Drummond, as I very well remember, frequently -opposed him; but by whatsoever ill conduct -or folly we might contribute towards our ruin, so it -was; and I am relating a real fact, and not inventing -a fiction, or telling the reader what might or ought to -have been done in the unhappy situation of our affairs -at that time; however, through his imprudence were -my friends massacred, and myself with three more -made perpetual slaves: the eldest of us was not above -sixteen years of age, and we were immediately parted, -for they marched directly off the spot. As for Sam, -I do not reckon him as one of us, because he went off -with the negroes. I never saw him afterwards, but -was informed, that he lived a freeman under deaan -Crindo; and whether he was so faithful to us as in -justice and gratitude he ought to have been, is somewhat -dubious.</p> - -<p class='c007'>All the way we went I had the shocking prospect of -our men’s mangled bodies, as we passed through the -woods to the river. I was not so thirsty now, as when -I passed it first; but so faint for want of victuals, that -I could scarcely stand upon my legs, having had no -sustenance for three days together. Though my master -expressed some little concern for me, yet he would not -wait till he was past the river; however, he ordered -his people to stop at the first commodious place, and -make a fire. And now I was in hopes of some agreeable -refreshment; for some of his servants had carried beef -on their backs for that purpose. Though they cut it -into long pieces, (like ropes,) with the hide, and -dressed and eat it half roasted according to their custom, -and gave it me in the same manner, yet I thought -<span class='pageno' id='Page_54'>54</span>this contemptible food, and what a beggar in England -would not have touched, the most delicious entertainment -I ever met with. We rested here about an hour, -when he, to whose care I was intrusted, made signs to -know if I could walk; and as I was a little refreshed, -I got up, and travelled the remainder of the day with -more ease than I expected; since they walked but -slowly, as I perceived on purpose to indulge me.</p> - -<p class='c007'>At night we came to a wood, the place appointed -for our lodging; and there we met with three or four -men, whom my master had sent out a foraging, and -they brought in with them two bullocks; one of which -my master sent to his brother, for the use of him and -his people, and the other was killed for us; for the -army was now disbanded, and each party was marching -home with their respective chiefs to their own habitations. -Here my master came to me and gave me -a lance, intimating that I might cut out as much as I -thought proper. I cut about a pound without any part -of the hide, which he perceiving, imputed it to my ignorance, -and so cut a slice with the hide and dressed it -for me; which I ate with seeming thankfulness, not -daring to refuse it. As soon as supper was over, each -man pulled up as much grass as was sufficient for -himself to lie on; my guardian, however, provided -enough for himself and me. I then reposed myself -accordingly, and he lay by me; but his back skin -smelled so rank, that I was forced to turn my back -on him all night long. I had very little rest, for the -ghastly spectacle of my massacred friends was ever -before me, and made me start from sleep as soon as -I closed my eyes.</p> - -<p class='c007'>At break of day we arose, and after a short repast -marched on till noon, when we baited among some -shady trees near a pond of water; which very pond -we had passed by three days before, or at least within -two hundred yards of it, when we were dying with -thirst, and the negroes told us there was no water -near us.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Whilst some employed themselves in kindling a fire, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_55'>55</span>others were busy in digging up and down amongst the -grass. I could not conceive what they were doing at -first; but I soon observed one of them pulling out of -the ground a long white root, which I found was a -yam, having seen many of them at Bengal; they soon -furnished themselves with a sufficient quantity. I perceived -they grew wild without any cultivation: some -of them were a yard long at least, and about six or -seven inches in circumference; they obliged me with -some of them, which I roasted, and eat with a great -deal of pleasure, instead of bread, with my beef: they -are very agreeable to the taste, as well as wholesome -food.</p> - -<p class='c007'>We arrived that evening at a small town, which we -no sooner entered than the women and children flocked -round about me, pinched me, struck me on the back with -their fists, and showed several other tokens of their derision -and contempt; at which I could not forbear -weeping, as it was not in my power to express my -resentment any other way; but when my guardian -observed it, he came to my assistance and freed me -from my persecutors. All the houses that were empty -were taken up by my master, his brother, and other -head-men; so that my guardian and I lay exposed to -the open air. The ill treatment I met with from the -women and children, put a thousand distracting -thoughts into my head. Sometimes I imagined that -I might be preserved alive for no other purpose, than -to be carried to the king and his son, who would, in -all probability, be fired with resentment at our late -seizing of them, and making them prisoners; then, again, -I thought that to gratify their pleasure and revenge, -they would order me to be put to death before their -faces by slow degrees, and the most exquisite torments. -Such melancholy reflections as these so disordered me -that when once through weariness I fell into a slumber -I had a dream which so terrified me that I started -upright, and trembled every joint of me; in short, I -could not get one wink of sleep all the night long.</p> - -<p class='c007'>When it was broad daylight we marched homeward -<span class='pageno' id='Page_56'>56</span>(for now I must call it so) and in three or four hours’ -time we arrived at a considerable town, with three or -four tamarind trees before it. One of the negroes -carried a large shell, which, when he blew, sounded -like a post-boy’s horn. This brought the women to -a spacious house in the middle of the town, about -twelve feet high, which I soon perceived was my -master’s. No sooner had he seated himself at the -door, than his wife came out crawling on her hands and -knees till she came to him, and then licked his feet; -and when she had thus testified her duty and respects, -his mother paid him the like compliment, and all the -women in the town saluted their husbands in the same -manner: then each man went to his respective habitation, -my master’s brother only excepted; who though -he had a house, had no wife to receive him, and so he -stayed behind.</p> - -<p class='c007'>My mistress intimated by her motions that she -would have me go in and sit down. A great deal of -serious discourse passed between my master and her, -and though I knew nothing of what they said, yet by -her looking so earnestly at me whilst he was talking, -I conjectured he was relating to her our tragical tale, -and I perceived that the tears frequently stood in her -eyes. This conference over, she ordered some carravances -to be boiled for our dinner; a kind of pulse, -much like our grey pease: she gave me some, but as -they had been boiled in dirty water, I could not eat -them. She, perceiving I did not like them, strained -them off the water and put some milk to them, and after -that I made a tolerable meal of them. She gave me -not only a mat to lie down upon, but a piece of calico -likewise about two yards in length to cover me. She -intimated that she wanted to know my name, which -I told her was Robin. Having received so much -civility from my mistress, I began to be much better -satisfied than I was at first; and then laid me down -and slept without any fear or concern about four hours, -as near as I could guess by the sun. When I waked -my mistress called me by my name, and gave me some -<span class='pageno' id='Page_57'>57</span>milk to drink. She talked for some considerable time -to me, but I could not understand one word she said. -My master was all this time with his brother at the -door regaling themselves with toake.</p> - -<p class='c007'>When night came on I perceived that I was to lie -with them, for there was no other room. My master -and mistress lay in the middle, and the whole house -was not above fourteen feet in length, and twelve in -breadth, so that I lay crosswise close to his feet: in -this odd manner we lay three or four nights successively. -At last he called me by my name several times to -know, I presume, whether I was awake or not; but as -I answered him whenever he called, I imagined he -would have been better pleased if I had slept soundly, -and had not heard him at all; for the next evening he -carried me to his aunt’s house, where he told me I -must lie for the future. There I remained both day -and night, and did little but walk out with her and -her daughter to visit the plantations which had been -lately sown with Guinea corn and potatoes. In the -evening I used to visit my master and mistress, and -for supper I generally had milk, which was sometimes -fresh and sometimes sour. They were not over fond -of putting me to work, as I could do them but little -service, being altogether a stranger to what was said -to me, and more especially as he had above two hundred -slaves always ready to answer his occasions.</p> - -<p class='c007'>My master, whose name was deaan Mevarrow, was -grandson to deaan Crindo, who was absolute lord of -this country, and his wife was the daughter of a -northern king whom they had conquered in battle, -and she was one of my master’s captives. For this -reason I presume it was that she took so much compassion -upon me; considering herself a slave in a -strange country, and only preferred to my master’s -bed by courtesy.</p> - -<p class='c007'>In a short time I began to reconcile myself to their -manner of eating, since no better provision I found -was to be had, only I would strip off some of the hair -from the hide of the beef, whenever I could do it -<span class='pageno' id='Page_58'>58</span>without being observed. I used often to reflect on my -brother and sister’s more agreeable manner of living at -my father’s table; being conscious that even some -beggars in England fared much better than I did here. -However as I found nobody lived better, I made myself -as easy as I could; I was now under no apprehensions -of being killed till an accident happened soon after, -which put me into a violent panic for about an hour. -My master, attended by several of his slaves, took me -with him one evening into the woods; I observed great -preparations made for killing and dressing a bullock -or some such thing, but there being none to kill, and -it being then dark, I perceived that they walked about -with great circumspection, talked softly, and testified -all the symptoms of some secret design; upon this the -tears stood in my eyes, imagining that they intended -to cut me up and make a meal of me, but my fright -was soon over when I saw two slaves hauling along a -bullock by a rope fastened to his horns, and my master -sticking his lance into his throat in order to despatch -him. They immediately cut up his carcass and dressed -the entrails after their own manner. The booty was -equally divided, and I observed that each man took -care to hide his portion in some private place, from -whence he might convey it away by night. As soon -as our business was over we parted, some one way -and some another, for fear of being taken notice of. -I now plainly perceived that we were all this time -plundering of our neighbours. I often wondered -indeed that the aunt with whom I lived, dressed meat -so often in the nighttime, but this unravelled the -mystery; this was not the only time I was forced to -assist in this clandestine practice.</p> - -<p class='c007'>In about four months’ time I began to have some -tolerable notion of their language; I knew the names of -most common things, and could express myself so as to -be understood. My master and mistress took me one -day into the plantations, where the slaves were hoeing -the weeds from the carravances, that were just shooting -up. They gave me a hoe, but I had no inclination to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_59'>59</span>work; I pretended to be very ignorant and hoed up -plants and weeds together, at which they laughed -heartily, and took away my hoe to prevent more -mischief.</p> - -<p class='c007'>This artifice, however, proved of but little service to -me, for my master perceiving that I either could not -or would not work in the plantations, was determined -to employ me some other way, and about such business -as I could not well do amiss. Accordingly the next -day he showed me his cattle, and told me I must take -care of them, drive them to water, and see that they -did not break either his own or any other neighbour’s -plantations. This business I liked much better than -the other, because there were three or four lads more of -this town about my age, who had cattle to attend to as -well as myself. What I disliked most was, that we -had a very considerable way to drive them to water, -and at night to drive them back again; besides I was -obliged to drag home a long tub which held about -three gallons; for all the water we used in the house -was fetched from this watering place. However we -had no just cause of complaint, for we joined our -herds together, and in the heat of the day, when the -cattle would lie down in the shade, we had three or -four hours’ time to ramble through the woods and -gather yams. I had been thus long in the country, -yet I never knew how they struck fire, till wanting to -roast some of my yams, I asked my comrades where -their fire was; they showed me their hands and laughing, -said, here it is, but one of them soon informed -me how to do it. He took one short round stick about -half the length of a gun rammer, and another considerably -thicker, but both of one sort of wood, and -rubbed the former upon the latter till there came a -dust from it first, then a smoke, and soon fire after.</p> - -<p class='c007'>We sometimes traversed the woods and stole people’s -honey, and eat it just as we found it. When we could -spare time, we used to look for a creature which I -call a ground-hog, and which in their language is -called tondruck; it is about the size of a cat, snout, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_60'>60</span>eyes, and ears are like an English hog’s, it has bristles -on its back but no tail, the feet of it are like a rabbit’s; -its principal food is beetles and young snails, which -they grub up with their snouts; they are very prolific, -and have above twenty young ones at a litter, to all -which they give suck. In the cold season of the year -(for though there is no time which can properly be -called winter, yet one part of the year is sensibly much -colder than the other) these creatures hide themselves -in the ground in a most surprising manner. They -first dig a hole about two feet deep directly in the -earth, and after that they work obliquely two or three -feet one way, and as much another, making angles; -though they throw the earth up with their fore feet, -yet they make it as firm with their hind feet as if no -passage had been ever made. When they have worked -in this manner for some time, they then work aslant, -upwards, till they get within half a foot of the surface: -there they make a kind of lodgment, just big enough -for them to turn themselves round in, where they lie -for four or five months successively without any sustenance -whatsoever; and what is still more strange, -they are as fat at the expiration of that term as when -they first went in. It is no small difficulty to catch -them, for when we have discovered some marks of the -place where we imagine they began to burrow, we are -often disappointed in digging after them; they work -so artfully, that we know not which way to find out -their secret recesses; but we spare no pains to take -them, for they are excellent food, and their skin when -dressed is as brown and crisp as a pig’s. Their hedgehogs -too are agreeable enough, but nothing near so -delicious as their tondrucks; these conceal themselves -all the cold winter in holes of trees, where they remain -for some months without any visible support.</p> - -<p class='c007'>This employment of attending the cattle was agreeable -to me, except in excessively hot weather, when it -was a great fatigue to drive them several miles to -water, at least every other day; but in the colder -season we had no occasion to observe that practice, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_61'>61</span>for the dew falls so plentifully in the night, that we -find it sufficient to drive them into the grass about -break of day; and even the inhabitants of this part of -the country of Anterndroea, who have no water near -them, go into the fields in a morning with two wooden -platters and a tub, and in less than an hour will collect -about eight or ten gallons of dew-water, which is very -good while fresh, but will turn sour in a day or two, -and disagreeable to the taste.</p> - -<p class='c007'>I had not followed this employment above a year, -when my master went to war, or rather (as I understood -afterwards) to plunder a people to the westward -whom they pursued with the most implacable hatred, -they having surprised deaan Crindo’s father in his -own town by night, and murdered him in a most barbarous -manner.</p> - -<p class='c007'>My master informed me that I must look after the -cattle no more, for he was going to war, and had -other business for me of much greater importance. I -offered my service to wait on him, but he answered, -we shall travel night and day; it is a long and tedious -journey, and you cannot, I believe, be able to undergo -the fatigue, but your principal business must be to -look after my wife, and act as her guardian. He gave -me a strict charge to lie in the same house with her, -and never to let her stir out without me. After he -had given her instructions to the same effect, he took -his leave, and accompanied by most of his people, went -on his intended expedition.</p> - -<p class='c007'>I now lived at perfect ease, and my mistress was -very kind and indulgent to me. I went abroad -wherever she went, partook of every thing she had for -herself, and lay in the same house with her, both of -us strictly observing our master’s orders; neither could -I perceive that her compliance therewith was any way -repugnant to her inclinations. I was not, it is true, -absolutely easy myself; for the thoughts of my -friends and native country, and the improbability of -ever seeing them again, made me very melancholy, -and dejected me to that degree that sometimes I could -<span class='pageno' id='Page_62'>62</span>not forbear indulging my grief in private, and bursting -into a flood of tears.</p> - -<p class='c007'>My mistress would frequently ask me whether I was -indisposed, or wanted any thing; I could not prevail -on myself to reveal the real cause of my anxiety; -however one day I took the liberty to tell her, I should -be very glad of an opportunity to see the other three -lads, whose lives were preserved, and who were taken -prisoners when I was. She desired me not to afflict -myself on that account, for she would go with me, -and should be highly delighted to hear us converse -together in our own language. Accordingly she made -inquiry amongst her neighbours where they were, who -informed us that they were at some distance from one -another; but that the nearest to be met with was about -four or five miles off. So the next morning we set out -and inquired for the white boy: we were told that -he was gone to carry his fellow-servants some provisions -to the plantation, but as soon as a messenger -was sent to him he returned immediately, being as -desirous of seeing me in particular as I was of him; -we embraced each other in a very passionate manner, -and expressed ourselves at first rather in tears than -words. We had been very intimate on shipboard, and -I used to treat him frequently with punch, being delighted -with his company as he had a taste for music, -and could play extremely well on the violin. We -condoled with each other, and observed how wretchedly -we looked, all naked, except a small clout about our -middles, and our skins spotted like a leopard’s; for -neither of us being ever before so exposed to the sun, -we were scorched, and flead as it were, and our skins -often rose up in blisters. After our mutual condolence -we came to an agreement, that if either of us got safe -to England, we would give the other’s friends a particular -account of all our misfortunes. We inquired of -each other after our other comrades, but were equally -strangers to their particular places of abode. My mistress -seemed very attentive to our discourse, and -showed a compassionate regard for our afflictions; but -<span class='pageno' id='Page_63'>63</span>with great reluctance, and many a tear, we were -obliged at last to part.</p> - -<p class='c007'>We had not been at home above two hours, before -an express arrived from my master with news of his -success; and that he would be at home in a fortnight. -My mistress, and all the women who had husbands -abroad, expressed their general joy in large bowls -of toake. In the mean time I was very much indisposed, -but tolerably well recovered before my master’s -return.</p> - -<p class='c007'>He made his public entry in a very triumphant -manner; the trumpet-shells blowing, and crowds of -people dancing before him all the way with their guns -in their hands. On his first approach, the foremost -men fired their guns towards the ground; which with -them is the signal of a victorious return. Deaan Mevarrow, -and his brother deaan Sambo, came after them -with their attendants; next followed the cattle, which -he had taken from the enemy, and the prisoners of war -brought up the rear. After they were seated in form -before my master deaan Mevarrow’s house, not only -his consort, attended by the other women of the town, -came as usual, and licked his feet, but the men too, -whom he left behind him when he went to war.</p> - -<p class='c007'>I stood all this time as a spectator, till he seeing me -at a distance, called me to him. I approached him in -the usual form of the country on such a public occasion; -that is, with my hands lifted up, and in a praying posture. -When I came near him, I paid him the compliment -of <i>salamonger umba</i>; but did not kneel down as -all the others did, having a kind of conscientious reluctance -to such an act, as thinking it an adoration that I -ought to pay to no one but the Supreme Being; but he -seemed to resent my being so over religious; for he -asked me, “If I thought it beneath me to pay him the -same respect that his own wife, (who was a king’s -daughter,) and his own mother too, so readily condescended -to?” However, I peremptorily refused, and -told him, “I would obey all his lawful commands, -and do whatever work he thought proper to employ me -<span class='pageno' id='Page_64'>64</span>in; but this act of divine homage I could never comply -with.”</p> - -<p class='c007'>On this he fell into a violent passion, and upbraided -me with being ungrateful, and insensible of his saving -me from being killed among my countrymen; and -urged, moreover, that I was his slave, &c.; but notwithstanding -all this, I still continued resolute and firm to -my purpose. Whereupon he rose from his seat, and -with his lance made a stroke at me with all his might; -but his brother, by a sudden push on one side, prevented -the mischief he intended. He was going to -repeat his blow, but his brother interposed, and entreated -him to excuse me; but he absolutely, and in the -warmest terms, refused to forgive me unless I would -lick his feet. His brother begged he would give him a -little time to talk with me in private, which he did; and -after he had told me the danger of not doing it, and -that in submitting to it, I did no more than what many -great princes were obliged to do when taken prisoners, -I found, at length, it was prudence to comply; so I -went in, asked pardon, and performed the ceremony as -others had done before me. He told me he readily -forgave me, but would make me sensible I was a slave. -I did not much regard his menaces, for as I had no -prospect of ever returning to England, I set but little -value on my life. The next day I incurred his displeasure -again, and never expected to escape from feeling -the weight of his resentment.</p> - -<p class='c007'>My master then performed the ceremony of thanksgiving -to God, for his happy deliverance from all the -hazards of war, and for the success of his arms; which -is performed in the following manner:—The inhabitants -have in all their houses a small portable utensil, -which is devoted to religious uses, and is a kind of -household altar, which they call the owley. It is made -of a peculiar wood, in small pieces neatly joined, and -making almost the form of a half-moon with the horns -downwards, between which are placed two alligator’s -teeth; this is adorned with various kinds of beads, and -such a sash fastened to it behind as a man ties about -<span class='pageno' id='Page_65'>65</span>his waist when he goes to war. [I shall not here pretend -to give an exact account of their religious worship, for I -had not been long enough in the country to be a perfect -master of the true meaning of what they either did or -said.] However, I observed that they brought two forks -from the woods, and fixed them in the ground, on which -was laid a beam, slender at each end, and about six feet -long, with two or three pegs in it, and upon this they hung -the owley. Behind it was a long pole, to which a bullock -was fastened with a cord. They had a pan full of live -coals, on which they threw an aromatic gum, and planted -it under the owley. Then they took a small quantity -of hair from the tail, chin, and eyebrows of the ox, and -put them on the owley. Then deaan Mevarrow, my -master, used some particular gestures with a large knife -in his hand, and made a formal prayer, in which the -people joined. In the next place they threw the ox on -the ground with his legs tied fast together, and the -deaan cut his throat; for as there are no priests among -them, the chief man, whether of the country, town, or -family, performs all divine offices himself. As soon as -the people were all seated on mats in a circular form, -my master ordered me to sit down too, and say as the -people said, which I absolutely refused. However he -pursued his devotion, and when the service was over, -took the owley in one hand and his lance in the other, -and came directly to me, asking me with a frown, which -I rather chose, either to assist in their solemn and -public thanksgiving, or to a fall a sacrifice to his just -resentment? At first I was startled, but as I thought -this sort of worship to be downright idolatry, and -that they paid their adorations to the owley, I resolutely -told him that I would sooner die than pay divine -homage to any false deity whatsoever. Upon this, as -soon as he had put the owley in its place, he came to -me again, and taking me by the hand was determined to -lead me out of the town and kill me; but his brother -and all the people round about him pleaded for me, -and used their utmost endeavours to persuade him -against so rash an action, but to no purpose; till his -<span class='pageno' id='Page_66'>66</span>brother at last very warmly told him, he would that -minute depart and see his face no more, if he offered to -be guilty of such an act of inhumanity, and rose up to -be gone accordingly. When my master saw his brother -was going in good earnest, he called him back, and -promised to spare my life; but assured him he would -punish me very severely for my contempt of his orders. -Deaan Sambo told him, he should submit that to his -own discretion; all he begged of him was not to kill -me. Upon this, by a secret sign, he advised me to -kneel down and lick his feet, which I readily complied -with, and asked his pardon. When I got up, I kneeled -down to deaan Sambo of my own accord, and licked -his feet as a testimony of my gratitude and respect -for thus saving my life a second time.</p> - -<p class='c007'>As soon as this storm was blown over, I was remanded -to my former post of cow-keeper. I had a great deal of -trouble sometimes with these cattle, for they are very -unruly; and notwithstanding they are larger beasts -than any I ever saw elsewhere of the kind, they are so -nimble that they will leap over high fences like a greyhound. -They have an excrescence between their -shoulders, somewhat like that of camels, all fat and -flesh; some of which will weigh about three or four -score pounds; they are also beautifully coloured, some -are streaked like a tiger, others, like a leopard, are -marked with various spots. They do not give so much -milk as our cows in England, nor will they ever suffer -themselves to be milked till their calves have first -sucked; so that they keep one calf for every cow all the -year, or till the cow is pregnant again, and they seldom -miss a season. Here are also some sheep with large -heavy tails, like Turkey sheep; they are not woolly as -ours, but more like a goat. Here are also a small -number of goats, like those in other countries. They -bring up no hogs, though there are enough in the country; -for they are so mischievous to the plantations, -that we are forced to set traps to catch them; but in -this country of Anterndroea nobody eats them, except -the very refuse of the people.</p> - -<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_67'>67</span>Whilst I was peaceably tending my cattle, and all -things seemed perfectly quiet and easy, the scene of -our affairs was changed at once by some sudden news, -and my master was summoned to war in good earnest.</p> - -<p class='c007'>It is a common practice for parties to stroll out and -surprise their enemies by night, when least they expect -them: on these expeditions it is customary for every -man to carry a piece of meat in his hand, and when -they have entered a town in the dead of night they -throw the meat to the dogs, in order to prevent their -barking. When they are all got in, one fires a musket, -but makes no other noise; the inhabitants thereupon -being alarmed, and hastily creeping out of the doors -of their low huts in a stooping posture, are stabbed -with lances: as to the women and children they take -them captive, and drive away with them all the cattle -they can find, set the town on fire, and return home -by private unpractised ways. In this manner did my -master, his brother, and some others belonging to -deaan Crindo, enter several of the king of Mefaughla’s -remote and defenceless towns; whereupon, in order -to retaliate the indignity offered him, the injured king -mustered up an army of three thousand men, and entered -Anterndroea, with a firm resolution either to -fight the deaan in the field, or attack him in his own -town, called Fennoarevo; and by fire to lay it level with -the ground: accordingly he sent a messenger to deaan -Crindo, to tell him that he should soon feel the weight -of his just resentment. To which he answered, he -would not stir out of the town but wait for him there; -and defied him to put his purpose in execution.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Deaan Crindo, therefore, summoned all his people to -his assistance, and to be ready at hand in Fennoarevo, or -the adjacent villages. He had four sons who were -chiefs of towns, besides nephews and grandsons. His -sons were deaan Mundumber, deaan Frukey, deaan Trodaughe, -but deaan Chahary was unfortunately gone -with five hundred able men to traffic into Feraignher; -which is Augustine-bay country.</p> - -<p class='c007'>It is a constant custom amongst them in time of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_68'>68</span>war to conceal their wives, children, and cattle in -remote and secret places in the woods, that the enemy -when they plunder the country may not be able to -find them; but the women and children are never -with the cattle, lest their bellowing should discover -them. The women for the most part secure themselves, -by trailing a bough after them as they go to their -recess; which prevents their track from being followed. -Thus did my master and his people secure their wives, -children, and cattle. I was left with the latter; for that -reason am incapable of giving an exact account of this -war, knowing no more of it than what was told me at -their return; which in general was to the following -effect.</p> - -<p class='c007'>That deaan Woozington, the king, and his son Chemermaundy, -with Ryopheck his nephew, a gallant man -who commanded the army of Merfaughla, entered the -country without the least opposition; for deaan Crindo -having received his menacing message, took care in -the first place to secure the families and cattle belonging -to his people, and then drew up all his armed -men in the town, resolving to wait for his coming; -but deaan Mundumber, Frukey, and the younger chiefs, -had not patience to hear of his passing without resistance; -so they prevailed on the king, though against -his will, to let them go out with two thousand men -and obstruct his march. Deaan Crindo, however, was -resolute and would not stir out of the town. This -army was commanded in chief by deaan Mundumber -and Frukey; who behaved themselves with great courage -and conduct, first sending word to deaan Woozington, -that they were come by their father’s command -to give him a suitable reception into their country, -and hoped he would not fail to meet them. To which -he answered, he would most assuredly pay them a -visit and make himself welcome; and was as good as -his word. They joined battle, and Mundumber was -obliged to retire, which he did in good order after a -sharp and obstinate fight; in which deaan Woozington’s -son was dangerously wounded. Deaan Mundumber -<span class='pageno' id='Page_69'>69</span>returned to his father with eight hundred men, and -used his utmost endeavours to prevail on him to go -out with his forces, and give deaan Woozington battle; -but the old king persisted in his first resolution. So -Mundumber continued at home with him, and fortified -the town as well as the time would admit.</p> - -<p class='c007'>After this, deaan Frukey and Trodaughe made themselves -masters of a pass between two hills, and cut -down several large trees to defend them; by which -means they entirely stopped deaan Woozington’s progress, -notwithstanding he attacked them in the most -vigorous manner, and was as gallantly repulsed: at -last, Ryopheck, by the direction of a man who was -well acquainted with the country, got behind them, -and deaan Woozington, at the same time, with Ryopheck -charged them again. Frukey, however, and his brethren, -were obliged to retire, which they did with great -resolution, even through Ryopheck’s party. In this -action Ryopheck, who was always in the hottest place, -with much difficulty escaped.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Though deaan Woozington at last arrived at Fennoarevo, -and attacked it in a vigorous manner, yet he -was as bravely repulsed; deaan Crindo and his sons -resisting till they were overpowered, and when their -enemies were got within the town, they even disputed -every inch of ground, till deaan Crindo himself was -obliged to cut down several trees, which are their walls, -to make a way for their escape. He so much depended -on his own courage and conduct, that he kept his wife -and daughter in his own house, notwithstanding all -the other women and children were sent away long -before; these unhappily fell into the hands of deaan -Woozington, and were made his captives. The town -was reduced to ashes, as soon as they had plundered it -of such trifles as their treasures consist in, the principal -of which are beads; these they often conceal in holes: -so that there is nothing to be got but iron shovels, -hoes, earthen and wooden dishes, spoons, &c. some -cattle, indeed, they found, which were brought into the -town for their necessary subsistence during the siege; -<span class='pageno' id='Page_70'>70</span>and in such cases these cattle live well enough upon -the thatches of their houses. They had also filled a -great many tubs with water.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Deaan Crindo was inconsolable for the loss of his -wife and daughter, and like a distracted man; when -his sons told him if he would now join them, as he -should have done at first, they were yet able to deal -with deaan Woozington. And accordingly they mustered -all their forces into one army, and made a number -equal to their enemies. Deaan Woozington having -no intelligence of this, was detaching a thousand men -to plunder the country, and bring in all the women, -children, and cattle they could find; which is their -constant practice after a complete victory. Just at -this juncture deaan Crindo appeared with his potent -army, and sent messengers to acquaint him that he -must either deliver up the queen and princess with the -other people and cattle he was possessed of, or immediately -decamp and give them battle. Deaan Woozington -in answer thereto, assured him he had no thoughts -of detaining his wife and daughter, neither did he -come for slaves or cattle, he having plenty of both; but -since deaan Crindo had sent him a challenge boasting -of his superior strength, and bidding defiance to all -the kings on the island, on account of the number of -white men that were his friends, he came to see them; -but as he could find none, he hoped that the proud -deaan Crindo was sufficiently mortified; so he was -ready to send him his wife and daughter again: but as -to the few slaves and cattle which he had taken, his -people should detain them to make themselves some -compensation for the robberies which Mevarrow, and -some others, had committed in his country.</p> - -<p class='c007'>At last a peace was concluded, and sworn to by the -generals on both sides, with the usual formality of -killing an ox, and eating a piece of the liver from off -the point of a lance; each general wishing at the same -time, that whoever first fired a gun might die upon the -spot. The ceremony being over, public rejoicings were -made on both sides; deaan Woozington returned into -<span class='pageno' id='Page_71'>71</span>his own country, and deaan Crindo to rebuild his shattered -town, which was finished with the utmost expedition, -and all his chiefs with their people repaired to -their respective homes.</p> - -<p class='c007'>As soon as we were well settled again, three boys who -belonged to some principal men of our town, and myself, -were sent some miles off with about two hundred -head of cattle, to look after them and provide for ourselves. -There were not above five or six of them -however, which gave milk, so that we were at a short -allowance: if we expected any other diet, we must -search for it in the woods, and get it where and when -we could find it. My mistress furnished me with an -earthen pot to warm my milk in, a calabash to drink -out of, and a mat to lie upon. My master gave me -a hatchet to make fences with, and a lance to fight -with if any body came to steal my cattle: he also gave -me a new clout, to wear after their country fashion, -my old one being worn out; the common people seldom -wear one broader than a napkin; they call it a -lamber, and so shall I for the future; the name of -a—se-clout (by which our English seamen distinguish it -by way of derision) being too vulgar an expression.</p> - -<p class='c007'>We drove our cattle to the proposed place, and the -first thing we employed ourselves about was, the erection -of a house, which we completed in about a day -and a half. We finished our cow-pen next, and -made a small one for the calves, to keep them from -sucking while we milked the cows. Our house, however, -was but a poor little hut, and but badly thatched; -and it being the rainy season, (which is their winter, -and sometimes very cold,) we had but a very indifferent -lodging. We kept, indeed, a fire, and happy was -he who could lie nearest it; for we had no other covering -than our lambers, which we pulled off to lay over -us. Now I began to feel the weight of my slavery, -being almost famished; for all the food we could get, -was a small fowl now and then, which creeps upon the -ground; and which we caught in traps.</p> - -<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_72'>72</span>We lived in this melancholy situation almost three -months, but at last we formed a project for killing one -of our master’s beasts, and dressing it in private. A -great many schemes were offered, till at length I proposed -one, which was unanimously agreed to; namely, -to kill a cow by stabbing her in the side with a sharp -pointed stick, and make the horn of another cow, which -belonged to the same man, all over bloody, that he -might imagine the misfortune came by goring. But -then a debate arose, whose beast should be killed; for -every one was unwilling that his master should be the -sufferer. However, I soon determined that point, by -drawing lots with four sticks shorter than each other; -and I so contrived it, that I kept the longest in my -hand, and by that means secured my master’s.</p> - -<p class='c007'>When the job was done, away ran the boy to inform -his master that one heifer had killed another; he and -his family came immediately upon the news, and finding -a cow with a bloody horn, they all concluded it -was done by her. Though the master was sadly nettled -at the disaster, yet he soon cut up the dead beast, -and gave us a good large piece of it, besides the legs -and the entrails; and then went home again. Thus far -our scheme succeeded to our wish, but our principal -aim was, under colour of having meat given us by our -masters, to despatch another heifer privately; and if -any person happened to see us (as we were not far -from strangers, though we were from our own homes) -and ask how we came by our beef, we could say our -masters gave it us. But success made us too bold, -for one day having killed a beast that had strayed from -some other people amongst ours, our masters came to -see their cattle, which they found in the cow pens, but -finding none of us near them, they began to suspect us: -whereupon they divided themselves, and made a more -narrow inquiry; one of them heard a noise in the -wood, like the felling of trees, where we were very -busy; and following the sound, they soon smelt roast meat: -in short, our masters surprised us, and came at -<span class='pageno' id='Page_73'>73</span>once amongst us with their guns cocked, crying out, -<i>vonne terach com boar</i>; which in English is, kill the -sons of bitches.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The reader may imagine we were frightened to the -last degree, and expected nothing but immediate death; -and indeed it proved almost fatal to the other three. -They asked us whose beast it was? We answered, a -strange one. They told us, however, that the crime -was the same; for if we had practised the art of killing -cattle privately, they were sensible that theirs must -some time or other be our prey, when no others offered; -and for that reason were resolved to punish us with -the utmost severity. Hereupon each of my comrades’ -masters took his slave, and in an instant castrated him. -I, not relishing that sort of punishment, fell down at -my master’s feet, and endeavoured all I could to convince -him that I had been peculiarly careful of his -cattle; and told him, moreover, that I would stand the -chance of being killed by submitting myself to be shot -at, provided he stood at any reasonable distance; or -run any other hazard he should think fit, rather than -be deprived of my manhood. My proposition was accepted, -and accordingly he took me out of the wood -and tied my arms behind me round a tree, and placed -himself at about fourscore yards; then seeming to take -good aim at me, fired, but missed me: whether he did -it on purpose I can’t say, but I presume he did; imagining -the terror was sufficient, having seen how severely -the others were punished. They went away, -and told us if ever they found us at such pranks again, -nothing should save us from immediate death.</p> - -<p class='c007'>They were no sooner gone from us than I began to -reflect on the injustice of our masters, who, though they -had cattle of their own, would frequently oblige us to -go with them on their thievish expeditions; and yet so -severely punish us for one poor crime to satisfy our -craving appetites. However, after all, I was forced to -be doctor to my comrades in distress, for their masters -took no care of them; so I warmed some water and -washed off the blood, and dressed their wounds: I was -<span class='pageno' id='Page_74'>74</span>also forced while we remained there to look after all -the cattle, and milk them too; for they were not perfectly -recovered, when orders were brought us to return -with our cattle. As my poor comrades could -scarce walk, I made the messenger who came to us assist -me in driving the cattle home.</p> - -<p class='c007'>When I came home, I was soon informed that deaan -Tuley-Noro, king of Antenosa, had given my master all -this trouble by marching his people into Anterndroea, -and demanding satisfaction of deaan Crindo for the -murder of the white men. Now, though this was two -years and a half before (for so long I had been in the -country) yet I soon heard that captain Drummond, -captain Steward, Mr Bembo, and the rest, who escaped -the night before the massacre, were with him; and that -there had not been, during all that time, a ship at Port -Dauphine, for them to return in; but that notwithstanding -they lived free and entirely at their own disposal. -This deaan Tuley-Noro was king Samuel, -whom I mentioned before, and whose dominions were -on the other side of the river Manderra.</p> - -<p class='c007'>As soon as I got home I was taken from the cattle, -and two men were ordered to guard me and see that I -did not run away to king Samuel. The next day we -heard the Antenosa people were within ten miles of -our town, which put them all into a great hurry and -confusion. The cattle were sent one way, and the -women and children another; poor Robin, their white -slave, was along with them, but had his hands tied behind -him. I had not been long there before a messenger -came to my mistress in great haste, with order to -send me to my master in the camp, for the white men -were to purchase me, and proposed to give two Buccaneer -guns as a valuable consideration. My mistress -was loth to part with me; I dissembled as much as I -could, and showed a seeming reluctance at parting -since I had been so long amongst them; though at the -same time I struggled hard to conceal my joy. I -kneeled down and licked her feet, thanking her for all -her favours, and away I went with the messenger, in -<span class='pageno' id='Page_75'>75</span>great hopes now of seeing some of my countrymen -again, and getting a passage to England. But see how -fortune tantalized me! It was twenty miles, or thereabouts, -to the camp where my master was; and it might -be somewhat after midnight when we arrived there: -my master set a watch over me the remaining part of -the night, and made me swear I would never discover -the hiding places of their wives and cattle; which I -readily complied with.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The next morning king Samuel sent to know if I was -come, and desired they would permit a hundred men -to be sent down with me between the two camps; and -he would send the like number to meet them with the -two Buccaneer guns. This being agreed to, deaan -Crindo ordered my master to go with the party; and -king Samuel seeing them approach, gave directions for -his men to meet them; among whom were captain -Drummond, and the rest of the white men. When we -came near one another, captain Drummond, being glad -to see me, called me by my name; and asked me how -I did. My master, thereupon, clapped his hand upon -my mouth, and vowed if I offered to speak he would -kill me; so that I durst not return any answer. Captain -Drummond finding I made no reply, imagined, as -I suppose, that I could not hear, whereupon he and -the white men came nearer. My master, on their approach, -thought they came to take me by force, and -cheat them of the two guns; upon this he ordered his -men to fire at them: so that instead of a parley and an -exchange of me for the two guns, a skirmish ensued, -and both armies advanced to support each other’s party. -I was immediately sent away under a strong guard to -the woods, where I parted with my mistress the night -before: so that this pleasing prospect of deliverance -was nothing more than a short transitory dream of liberty, -which immediately vanished; and made me only -feel the weight of slavery much more sensibly than before. -Which way I returned back I cannot tell; but -sure I am, I was in such a disorder of mind as a condemned -criminal is when going to execution. In a few -<span class='pageno' id='Page_76'>76</span>hours, however, I found myself in my former station; -my legs in parra-pingo (a fastening almost like fetters) -for fear I should run away: my old companions stood -round about me, and my mistress and the women were -glad to see me again. But I was in too melancholy a -mood to return them any compliments; nor could they -extract from me any thing but tears and exclamations -at my hard fortune. I wished for death, and was very -near being gratified in my desire two days after.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The next day news came that deaan Tuley-Noro -was returning back to his own country; he being (as -they said) obliged to retire by deaan Crindo, though -the Antenosa army was twice their number. We were -also ordered to return home, and I was released from -parra-pingo, and set at liberty; my guard being also -discharged.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The day following came deaan Mevarrow, deaan -Sambo, and their little army, entering the town with -great pomp and grandeur, as if they had gained some -extraordinary victory; though I heard of nothing but a -little bush-fighting and ambuscades. The deaan, however, -sat himself down with his brother, the other chiefs, -and the rest in the usual form before his house: my -mistress, according to custom, crept out to lick her -hero’s feet; when she had done, the rest of the women -performed the same ceremony; and after them the -slaves, among whom I was one. As I was getting up -to depart, he ordered me to stay; I stood some time -to hear him tell his wife, how like a coward deaan -Tuley-Noro behaved himself, though he had twice their -number of men. After he had told his tale, he turned -his head, and with an angry countenance asked me -what the white men said when they called me? Sir, said -I, they only asked me how I did? And nothing else, -said he. I replied, no, sir. At this he rose up in a -rage, cocked his gun, and put the muzzle to my breast; -saying, if I did not tell him the truth he would shoot -me that moment. I was not much daunted, as I had -little or no regard for my life in my then melancholy -humour; so with little concern I repeated what I said. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_77'>77</span>At this he pulled the trigger, but Providence being -pleased to preserve me for some other purpose, the -cock snapped, and missed fire. Whether the prime -was wet in the pan, or by what other miracle it was I -escaped his fury, I cannot say; but that not succeeding -to his wish, he took his lance to stab me; when his -brother and the rest of his chief men ran in between -us and told him it was cruel and inhuman, and that he -had better have killed me at first, than saved me only -to terrify me with death on every slight occasion; there -being no reason at all for such severe treatment. With -much persuasion he returned to his seat and told them -there were just grounds to suspect the white men had -formed a design to commit some treacherous action, -since they came nearer than they ought to have done. -And, indeed, their fears proceeded from a natural dread -they have of white men, ten of whom will drive fifty -black men before them. Besides, captain Drummond -and the rest being completely armed with pistols in -their girdles, was an additional terror to them. What -was the true reason of king Samuel’s retiring I know -not; but when this broil was over, my curiosity led me -to understand the whole affair; which was thus related -to me.</p> - -<p class='c007'>King Samuel’s intention was to have marched directly -to Fennoarevo, and fall upon deaan Crindo before -he could be provided for him: his way lay over a -large plain called Ambovo, leading to a great wood; -through which they must also pass. Deaan Crindo -having more timely notice than they expected, laid an -ambuscade in the wood; king Samuel being lame of -the gout was carried on men’s shoulders; they suffered -him and great part of his army to enter the wood, and -then gave the signal: whereupon deaan Crindo’s men -arose and attacked them so vigorously and with so -much advantage, (knowing the wood which the others -did not,) that king Samuel himself was in danger of -being taken; but was gallantly defended by the white -men, and others of his bravest people. They were -obliged, however, to retire into the plain, where they -<span class='pageno' id='Page_78'>78</span>encamped, as did deaan Crindo’s people close by the -wood side, and even in it; by that means securing -themselves from the superior number of the Antenosa -army, which, as they were informed, consisted of six -thousand men. Here they came to a parley: king Samuel -sent one of his chiefs to acquaint deaan Crindo, -that he had no intention to deprive him either of his -cattle or his slaves; but that as he had been brought up -among white men, all such were his friends; and he -looked on himself obliged in duty and honour to demand -some satisfaction of deaan Crindo, for the white -men he had so inhumanly sacrificed to his resentment; -and if there were any yet alive, he desired to have them -in order to send them to their native country.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Deaan Crindo gave good attention to the messenger, -and then returned an answer to this effect: that he -wondered deaan Tuley-Noro should concern himself -with other people’s affairs; that as to the white men -who were shipwrecked on his coast, he looked upon it, -that the great God had sent them there for his assistance; -and that as he had a potent enemy, and was conscious -of the white men’s courage, as well as superior -skill in war, he should not slight the help his gods had -sent him. Accordingly he treated them with the utmost -civility as friends, and maintained them in as -handsome a manner as his country would afford; they -wanting for nothing he could procure them: and after -all, though they had in so violent a manner seized him, -and prince Murnanzack, and made them prisoners, he -would condescend so far to Tuley-Noro to inform him -(though under no obligations to give him an account -of his actions, or frame any excuses) that neither he, -nor prince Murnanzack was present, or any way aiding -or abetting in their deaths; but that action was -done by some of his sons and nephews to revenge the -indignity offered to himself and prince Murnanzack. -And to convince him he did not tell him this as a plea, -through a mean spirited fear; since his sons thought fit -to do it, he would justify and defend them in it; and -thought they did the white men justice. That he knows -<span class='pageno' id='Page_79'>79</span>but of one that was living out of four boys, who were -saved at that time, whom by inquiry he finds to be in -deaan Mevarrow’s hands: as to the other three, one -died by sickness; the second was killed by his master -for his obstinacy and perverseness; and the third ran -away or was lost; for nobody knew what was become -of him: and as to him who was living, he should not -have him without paying such a ransom as his master -required.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Now, by several circumstances, I am apt to imagine, -that this answer might seem highly reasonable to king -Samuel; and that in my opinion prevailed more on him -to return to Antenosa, than all the force my master -boasted of, or than all that Crindo’s army was capable -of performing.</p> - -<p class='c007'>They told me, however, that king Samuel in his answer -hereto, excused the violence the white men offered -to deaan Crindo, by asserting that they did it only to -secure their liberty; that they did not, nor ever intended -to hurt or injure him. However, as there was no -raising the dead to life, if he would send six hundred -head of cattle, it should be deemed a sufficient compensation; -as for me, he was ready and willing to purchase -me, and desired to know what they demanded -for my redemption. Deaan Crindo sent word that -with respect to me, they insisted on two Buccaneer -guns; but as to his demand of six hundred head of -cattle, he was not to have laws, or any arbitrary commands -imposed on him by any king whomsoever; that -if they wanted provision he was ready to supply him: -for it should not be said that deaan Tuley-Noro came -to see him, and he would not give him a dinner; and -for that reason he had ordered his people to present -him with six oxen and a bull.</p> - -<p class='c007'>King Samuel, as some would have it, resented this -as an affront, and would have attacked the Anterndroeans -immediately upon it, but was dissuaded by -captain Drummond and the rest, there being no likelihood -of any engagement but bush-fighting; which must -be to the advantage of the Anterndroeans in their own -<span class='pageno' id='Page_80'>80</span>country, who were in possession of the wood: so finding -that no other terms would be agreeable, they accepted -of deaan Crindo’s present, which his men wanted, -indeed, and went on in their parley about me; the -success whereof you have already seen. However,</p> - -<p class='c007'>I must not pass over a piece of superstition practised -here. There are a sort of people in this country who -pretend to a profound knowledge in the magical virtue -of roots, trees, plants, and other products of the like -nature; and of their power to perform wondrous things -by charms composed of them. One of these conjurers, -or Umossees (as the natives call them) prevailed on -deaan Crindo to take a certain powder which he gave -him, and to strip off a piece of the skin of the tail of -a white bull, because deaan Tuley-Noro was a whitish -man, and to clap this powder upon the wound; as also -to mix some of it with water, and give it to the bull to -drink thereof, before it was given to the Antenosa men. -Now this was not done in order to make the creature -unwholesome, and by that means to procure deaths, or -diseases among their enemies in the common way; but -with a view to work some witchcraft or supernatural -operation upon them. Now it happened that in two -months after this king Samuel died: at that time he -was very infirm, and had been so long before; which, -with the fatigue of this journey, might hasten his end. -There was not wanting, however, people superstitious -enough to think his death was the effect of this incantation; -though it is reasonable to suppose he eat none -of the bull, there being oxen at the same time; for -these negroes would make oxen no more than we white -men, were they not sensible that the flesh of them is in -all respects more grateful to the taste than that of bulls.</p> - -<p class='c007'>And since I have had an opportunity of saying thus -much of king Samuel, I suppose my reader will be so -curious as to inquire who this king with a christian -name was? and what reason should induce him to assist -us, and revenge our wrongs? His living near the -sea, and the immense treasure he and his people -amassed together by trading with the English, may -<span class='pageno' id='Page_81'>81</span>serve as a sufficient motive for the friendship this king -showed to our people: and indeed they are friends to -the English all over the island, except in some few -places far distant from the sea. King Samuel’s history, -however, being very particular, I shall here relate it as -I had it at different times from the natives themselves. -Whether any of the French authors of voyages have -written any memoirs concerning him, I cannot positively -affirm; nor have I had the opportunity of seeing their -histories of Madagascar, to compare them with my -own; I shall not, therefore, vary from the account I -had of it, whether it be agreeable to what others have -said, or not.</p> - -<p class='c007'>This part of the country to which the French have -given the name of Port Dauphine, is called in the Madagascar -language Antenosa. There came hither about -ninety years ago two French ships, on what account I -cannot learn; however they came to an anchor close -under the land, in a very good harbour. The captain -observing that there were plenty of cattle, and all provisions, -as also a very good soil, determined that one -of them should stay here, and establish a settlement: -hereupon they cast lots who should continue on the -island, and the person on whom the lot fell was captain -Mesmerrico. [I must here desire my reader to observe, -that this is the name by which the natives distinguish -him; though in all probability as they are unlearned -they may pronounce it very incorrectly: but, besides, -as it is some considerable time since, and they have no -writings or records, so consequently, they can have no -other history than that of tradition, from father to son, -and so on to succeeding generations.] This captain -Mesmerrico landed with two hundred white men, well -armed, and provided with store of ammunition and -other necessaries for the building of a fort, which they -immediately began. No sooner had the natives observed -their intention, than they used their utmost art -and industry to prevent them: this created a war, in -which the French were the victors, who took at several -times a great number of prisoners. In this war the king -<span class='pageno' id='Page_82'>82</span>of Antenosa and his brother were killed; and amongst -many other children that were made captives, the -king’s son was one. When the French had suppressed -the natives and completed their fort, the ships set sail -for France, and carried this young prince and several -others of distinction with them.</p> - -<p class='c007'>In about a year after this expedition, the natives began -to be better reconciled to the French; notwithstanding -they were secretly disgusted at the indignity -offered to their young prince, and could by no means -relish the government and direction of foreigners. -However, the French, by their artful and cunning deportment -and insinuations, gained so much friendship -amongst them, that they married, and lived up and -down in several towns, at some distance from each -other, and not above five or six in a place. They occasionally -assisted the natives in their wars against a -king that resides to the northward, whom they defeated, -took a great number of slaves and many cattle. In this -manner they lived for some years with great tranquility, -neglecting their fort, and extending themselves all over -the whole country of Antenosa: but at last, as their families -grew numerous, the natives grew jealous; and -recollecting how inhumanly they had treated their -prince, and perceiving them thus scattered and dispersed, -they thought this a favourable opportunity to -free themselves from a foreign yoke. Hereupon they -formed a conspiracy to cut off all the white men in one -day; and the Wednesday following it was put in execution, -not leaving a white man alive in Antenosa.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Soon after a French ship came there as usual; the -maurominters, or slaves, who retained a respect for the -French, got a canoe and went off to them, and informed -them that their countrymen were all massacred. The -captain was startled, and deeply concerned at this melancholy -news, but could not revenge their cause, being -glad to steer another course without making the least -attempt to go on shore.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Having now nobody to interrupt them, they put their -government into its original form, and made choice of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_83'>83</span>one for their king, who was the most nearly related to the -former; there being no other son than he whom the -French took captive. Under this new king’s direction -they lived peaceably and quietly for several years, no -French ship ever presuming to come near them; but -now and then an English ship paid them a visit; and -they traded in a very fair and honest manner with the -officers on board.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Some years afterwards, a French ship, homeward-bound -from India, happened to be in great distress for -want of water and provisions, and could not compass -the Cape. Port Dauphine lay very commodious for the -captain, but he knew that the natives were their implacable -enemies, neither was he ignorant of the real occasion; -and therefore resolved to make use of the following -stratagem. Under a pretence of being sent -ambassador from the French king, he went on shore in -great pomp, and with proper attendants. The ship lay -at anchor as near the shore as possible, in order to be -within reach of their guns in case any acts of hostility -should be shown them. The natives who came down -to them, asked if they were English or French? They -replied, the latter; but they were sent by express orders -from the French king with some valuable presents, -and were inclined to make a treaty of peace. The king -they had last chosen, whom I mentioned before, died -about a month before their arrival, and no new one was -then elected in his stead; but the old queen (mother -of the prince whom they had so clandestinely conveyed -away some years before) being then alive, gave directions -that the ambassador should be conducted to her -house. His men carried a great many things of no -great value amongst them; but such, however, as they -knew would be highly agreeable in this country. These -were formally presented in the name of the French -king, and the queen testified her satisfaction in the reception -of them, by entertaining the captain in the -most elegant manner she could devise. This day passed -in compliments, mutual presents, and such other ceremonies -as were consistent with their ideas of public -<span class='pageno' id='Page_84'>84</span>grandeur; the next day she sent for the captain and informed -him, that she expected his men, as well as himself, -should take the oaths according to the custom of -her country.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The captain having readily agreed to her proposition, -the ceremony was performed after the following manner:—the -holy owley, of which we have already given -some account, was brought out and hung upon a piece -of wood laid crosswise on two forks, all which were -cut down on this solemn occasion; as was also a long -pole, to which a bullock was fastened: this was provided -by the queen, and when killed, they took part of -the tail, and some of the hair of the nose and eyebrows, -and put them on some live coals that were under the -owley; they then took some of the blood, which they -sprinkled upon it, and upon the beam whereon it hung; -the liver also was roasted, and a piece placed on it; -two other pieces were put on two lances, which were -stuck in the ground betwixt the queen and the ambassador; -the queen swore first to this, or the like effect:—“I -swear by the great God above, by the four gods of -the four quarters of the world, by the spirits of my -forefathers, and before this holy owley, that neither I, -nor any of my offspring, nor any of my people, who -assist at this solemnity, or their issue, shall or will -wittingly, or willingly, kill any Frenchman, unless he -prove the first aggressor: and if we, or any of us, mean -any other than the plain and honest truth by this protestation, -may this liver, which I now eat, be converted -into poison, and destroy me on the spot.”</p> - -<p class='c007'>Having repeated this form of words, she took the -piece of liver off the lance and eat it, and when she had -done, the sham-ambassador did the same.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The captain, or quondam ambassador, stayed on -shore about three or four days after this solemn contract, -and sent on board what provision his people -wanted. A firm friendship being now established between -them, they strove who should outvie the other in -the arts of courtesy and complaisance. The captain invited -the queen to go on board his vessel, and she very -<span class='pageno' id='Page_85'>85</span>readily went with several of the chief of her people, -who were treated by the captain with great magnificence, -and to her entire satisfaction. She returned on -shore in the ship’s boat, and stood looking about her -for some time after she was landed. The Frenchmen, -not regarding the presence of the black queen, stripped -and swam about to wash and cool themselves; the -queen observing the whiteness of their skins, indulged -her curiosity in looking on them; at last, perceiving -one man whose skin was much darker than the rest of -his companions, as he came toward the shore, and was -going to put on his clothes, she espied a particular -mole under his left breast; she went to him immediately, -and looking more wishfully on it, would not -permit him to put on his shirt, but claimed him as her -son, who had been carried away, when a child, many -years before; and had not patience to contain herself, -but ran to him, (crying for joy that she had found her -son,) threw her arms about his neck, and almost stifled -him with kisses. This surprised all the people, as -well blacks as whites, till having recovered herself a -little, she turned to them and told them this was her -son, and showed them the private mark. They who -had known the young prince drew near, viewed the -mole, and acquiesced with her that it must be he, and -no other. The Frenchmen could not tell what to make -of this odd discovery, nor what might be the fatal consequences -that might possibly attend it.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The captain, therefore, taking the man aside, advised -him to give as artful answers as he could to what questions -they should ask him for their safety’s sake. Now -there were several blacks who spoke French, and by -their means the Frenchmen as soon understood the -queen as they did. She desired they would ask him if -he knew the country he was born in? He answered, -he could remember nothing of it, for he was carried -from his native place when a child. She asked him if -he knew her? He said, he could not pretend to say -absolutely that he did, but he thought she bore a great -<span class='pageno' id='Page_86'>86</span>resemblance to somebody he was much used to when -young.</p> - -<p class='c007'>This confirmed them more and more in their opinion. -As to his being white-skinned, they thought that might -easily be from his wearing clothes during the time he -was absent from home; his hair was as black as theirs, -so that it was concluded it must be their prince. The -old queen was transported with joy at finding her son, -and the natives were for choosing him their king directly, -he being the next heir. They asked what was -his name. He told them he never remembered that -he was called by any other name than that of Samuel; -but they gave him what they thought was his original -name, compounded with Tuley, which denoted his return, -or arrival; so they called him deaan Tuley-Noro. -Deaan, it may be observed, is a universal title of -honour, and signifies lord; and he was also farther -saluted immediately with the title of Panzacker, that is, -king of Antenosa.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The captain and other Frenchmen were surprised to -find the man play his part so dexterously; not perceiving, -at first, that he was in earnest, and was as -fond of being their king as they were of electing him, -though it was in so heathenish a place. He had here -twelve thousand fighting men immediately under his -command, and a fine, spacious, and plentiful country -to live in at his pleasure. The ship’s crew sailed away -and left him behind them; but as often as the French -had occasion for what this island afforded, they made -it a constant practice to put into Port Dauphine, and -traffic with him.</p> - -<p class='c007'>About three or four years before we were cast away, -a French ship happening to be there, some of the men -got drunk on shore, and in a quarrel with some of the -natives, told them that king Samuel was not their lawful -prince, but that he was still resident in France. -This might have proved of very fatal consequence to -him, but he took such care to prevent it, as no one -could justly blame him for. He sent for the man who -<span class='pageno' id='Page_87'>87</span>made this public declaration, and ordered him to be -shot to death; he commanded, likewise, his companions -to depart forthwith, and assured them, that if ever -they, or any of their countrymen presumed to come -within his territories again, they should feel the weight -of his resentment. And our man, who advised us -from putting into Port Dauphine, being informed of -this last adventure, made him say he was barbarous -to all white people; but he had heard the story imperfectly, -and from thence arose the mistake which -proved so fatal to us.</p> - -<p class='c007'>By this conference between deaan Crindo and king -Samuel, I came to the knowledge of what happened to -the white boys, who were my fellow captives, at least, -so far as the natives knew themselves; as also, that the -prince whom we seized and made prisoner with deaan -Crindo, their king, was not, properly speaking, his son, -but deaan Murnanzack, his nephew, whose right deaan -Crindo had usurped, as we find in the sequel of this -story; but a word in their language, signifying offspring, -and comprehending as well grandsons and nephews, -as sons, was the cause of our mistake. But,</p> - -<p class='c007'>To return to my own history: the contest between -my master and me being pretty well over, through the -intercession of deaan Sambo and the other chiefs, he -ordered me to go and work in the plantations, and told -me with a stern countenance, that if I hoed the carravances -and weeds together, as I did before, he would -hoe my —— out. I went away very well satisfied, -not caring where I was sent, so it was but out of his -sight, for he now became more my aversion than ever.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Our plantation was near five miles from home, and -he seldom came above once in a month to visit us. As -to my maintenance, or that of the rest of his slaves, we -must provide for ourselves, or starve, for he never concerned -himself about us. However, each man had as -much land as he thought proper to cultivate for his -own use, and one day in a week without control. -When I first came there, I thought I must have starved. -I was obliged on moonlight nights, after I had done -<span class='pageno' id='Page_88'>88</span>my task, to go into the woods and hunt out for wild -yams for my sustenance, and too often I found no more -than was sufficient for one meal; which, however, I -was forced to husband to the best advantage.</p> - -<p class='c007'>My fellow-slaves were, indeed, as courteous to me as -I could well expect; and as they had plantations of -their own, they gave me carravances and such other -victuals as they had; especially on dark nights, and at -such times as I could not shift for myself. I worked -sometimes two nights in a week in cleaning and burning -down the weeds and other things off the spot of -ground I had allotted for my own plantation; the best -root, however, that I could plant to produce myself -food in a short time was potatoes. I lived in this miserable -plight for nearly three months successively, and it -was a year before I was well settled, and could say I -had plenty.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Honey is one of the most profitable, as well as most -useful things this country produces; and they may have -it in plenty, if they will but take proper care. There is -little trouble in the management of bees, which are here -very numerous; they will readily come to their hives, -or toakes, as the natives call them, and I took a particular -delight in making them. They are part of the -body of a tree, called fontuoletch; which is first cut off -about a yard long, and then split right down. After -we have dug out the middle with our hatchets, in which -operation we are not over nice, we bind the two parts -together in their natural position, so that the hive is a -hollow cylinder; we leave a hole at the bottom for the -bees to enter, and this is all the care that need be -taken.</p> - -<p class='c007'>I had a large stock of these hives, but my neighbours -too often plundered them. Once, however, I caught -a young fellow; and about three or four days after, I -went to his father to demand satisfaction for the honey -he stole, and the destruction of my hives. The old man -made very few words with me, but gave me two -hatchets, a hoe, and ten strings of beads. I was very -well satisfied with this compensation, and looked upon -<span class='pageno' id='Page_89'>89</span>myself as no inconsiderable person; but soon after, I -found out a sure method to preserve my honey; the -relation whereof will give the reader an adequate idea -of almost the only superstition to which these people -are addicted.</p> - -<p class='c007'>I have made mention before of the Umossees who -pretend to be magicians, sorcerers, and fortune-tellers. -One of these was on his travels from Antenosa into our -country, and took up his lodgings at my master’s town; -my master had been that day in the woods to visit his -beehives, and perceived several of them robbed of -their store: he returned before night in a very great -passion, and threatened to shoot the person that was -found stealing his honey, let him be who he would. -This Umossee coming to pay his respects to him just at -that time, and hearing his complaint, told him he could -give him a secret, or charm, that would effectually prevent -his honey from being stolen; but he was afraid to -communicate it, because it would infallibly kill the -person who should but taste of it. Deaan Mevarrow -replied, he did not care if they were all killed. Hereupon, -it was agreed, that the Umossee should have two -cows and two calves, in case his project proved effectual, -and should stay to see the desired success.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Accordingly, the next morning, he went into the -woods and singled out a tree which the natives call -roe-bouche; we have none like it in England, nor is it -very material, for any tree would have done his business, -I presume, as well. He went to the eastward of this -tree and dug up a piece of its root, and then turned to -the westward, and dug up another piece; after this, he -took the eastern root, and ordered deaan Mevarrow to -rub it on a stone with a little water, and sprinkle -the water among the bees, and the honeycombs in -the hives; and, if any one, said he, shall steal the -honey, and eat the least morsel of it in a quarter of a -day, (for they reckon not by hours, as we do,) they will -swell and break out in spots, like a leopard, from head -to foot, and in three days they will die. Deaan Mevarrow -was highly pleased at this discovery, and said, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_90'>90</span>how shall I do when I want to make use of my -honey for myself and family? The Umossee replied, -the remedy is here in my hand, which is no other -than a root of the same tree, but dug to the westward; -and when you take your honey, rub a little of this upon -another stone with water, and sprinkle the hives; this -being done, your eastern root will have no power. But if -any one have stolen your honey, and feel the bad effects -of it, and you are inclined to be merciful and save his -life, give him a small quantity of this western root, -which he called vauhovalumy, or root of life, and it -will take down all the swelling; the spots will all -vanish, and the person be restored to his former state -of health.</p> - -<p class='c007'>All this was mighty well, but the principal point was -to try the virtues of it, and see if it would answer all -these fine purposes of the Umossee, which deaan Mevarrow -was somewhat doubtful of, though very eager to -know; and therefore, having sprinkled his hives with -the eastern root according to directions, he proposed it -to several to make the experiment, and he would give -them an ox as a reward, but nobody would venture; -Whereupon he ordered it to be published about the -country, and by this means I came to hear of it. Now -I had before observed the simplicity of the people on -these occasions, and plainly perceived that these artful -Umossees took the advantage of their ignorance to cheat -and impose upon them. I was very sensible there was -nothing more in all this, and that it had already met -with the effect desired, by striking terror into the people; -and having a considerable quantity of honey myself, -I imagined, if I gave out that I had the secret, it -would also preserve mine. I sent word, therefore, to -my master, that I would oblige him if he would communicate -the secret to me, in case I survived the experiment. -He not only sent for me immediately, and -agreed to my proposal, but made me a promise of a -considerable reward besides.</p> - -<p class='c007'>I went, accordingly, with my master and several -others to the hive, which was sprinkled, as they call it, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_91'>91</span>with the poison; and swallowed the honey down by -handfuls before them, asking them at the same time -if they would eat some with me? They would not -touch it, they said, for ten thousand cattle; making -several grimaces in the mean time, and expecting every -moment some dismal calamity would befall me for my -presumption. When I had filled my belly, my master -would have me home with him, in order to have the -cure at hand, but I chose rather to stay with my comrades; -by which means, I had time to contrive some -way to deceive them. As fortune would have it, being -in the fields, I saw at some distance a calf sucking a -cow; and nobody being in sight, I tied up the calf with -my lamber, and milked the cow into my mouth as long -as ever I could. This, and the honey together, had the -desired effect, for it began to swell me immediately, -and rumbled in my belly so loud that it might be heard. -Away went I to my comrades, who perceiving my belly -swelled, and hearing the unusual noise, advised me to -run home, and cry out I was poisoned. I pretended -to step behind a hedge on some private occasion, -but it was only to whip myself with some nettles. -The pimples and redness raised from this stratagem -terrified them still more and more; for there appeared -on me all the symptoms of poison which the Umossee -had before described; and to crown the deceit, you -may be sure I did not fail to comply, and cry out most -heartily; thereupon, some ran before me, and others -helped me home.</p> - -<p class='c007'>My master, before I came, had prepared the water -with the vauhovalumy, or root of life; the people, terrified -at the danger I was in, flocked round the house; -some pitied me, and stood astonished at the profound -learning of the Umossee, who did not, himself, perceive -the cheat. Well, I drank the medicine, and after reposing -myself for three or four hours, all the tokens of -danger disappeared, and I was well. The vauhovalumy -was looked upon as a sovereign medicine, and the -Umossee as a very great and wise man, who did not a -little value himself upon the success of his secret, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_92'>92</span>repenting that he had parted with it at so cheap a rate; -saying, he would have twenty cows for it of the next -that wanted it. Deaan Mevarrow, as a gratification, -bid him choose any two cows and two calves out of all -his cattle in the cow-pen, which he did accordingly, -and departed. My master, on my promise of secrecy, -discovered both the roots to me, and showed me not -only how to find them, but how to use them to the best -advantage; for the pain, he imagined, I had suffered, -and the hazard I underwent, he presented me with a -cow and calf; I then thought I had spent my time to -a very good purpose.</p> - -<p class='c007'>When I returned to my plantation, my neighbours -and fellow-slaves having observed the sudden and terrible -effects of this poison, begged of me to put a mark -upon all my hives, that when they went out a honey-stealing, -they might not be killed by eating any of -mine. This was the very thing I aimed at, and, accordingly, -I put a white stick before every hive, and -never lost my honey afterwards. Nobody would go -near my hives for fear my bees should sting them, and -the wounds should prove of more dangerous consequence -than those of others.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Having now a cow and a calf, I had milk of my own, -and was as rich as my fellow-slaves; besides the advantage -I made of my honey, by selling forty or fifty -gallons a year for hatchets, beads, &c., to those who -make toake with it; more especially against their circumcision, -and other solemn festivals.</p> - -<p class='c007'>I lived in this manner about three years, which, with -the two years and a half I had spent before, made up -almost an apprenticeship in this country. One day my -master came to survey our work, and taking peculiar -notice of the method I observed, he told me I must -go home with him and keep his cattle, which were -near the town. This employment was not near so laborious -as digging and cultivating his plantation; however, -I was pretty well improved, but as he provided -for me now, and my honey was safe, I was not much -concerned at my removal; so away I went, driving my -<span class='pageno' id='Page_93'>93</span>own cattle, which were considerably increased, having -two heifers, besides my cow and calf. My household -furniture too was not so cumbersome, but I was able -to carry it all away at once; yet I was as rich, and had -as much as other people in my mean station, and much -more than many of them.</p> - -<p class='c007'>In less than two days I built me a house, and a -cow-pen for my cattle. Now was I in my former situation, -and looking after my master’s cattle; the hardest -of my labour was, as I observed before, the bringing -home every other night, either a tub or a calabash, four -or five miles, full of water; but considering I was a -slave, I lived in as much ease as I could reasonably -expect.</p> - -<p class='c007'>I had not continued long in this last station, before -a general calamity reduced us to the most deplorable -circumstances. The epidemical evil of this island -is, their frequent animosities and open quarrels with -one another, which is the principal reason why such -numbers of them are sold to the Europeans for slaves. -This is a dangerous and destructive misfortune to a -people, otherwise good-natured and well disposed; -who have wholesome laws for the determination of all -disputes, and the punishment of all crimes, of which -I shall give an account in a more proper place; but -what I have to observe here is, that the sovereign -prince of any country has seldom force sufficient to -oblige the lesser chiefs in his dominions to answer, in -a judicial way, to the wrongs they do each other, or -the mistakes and errors which they casually commit; -but they fight it out, making slaves of, impoverishing, -and destroying one another, after the manner I am -now going to relate, in which I myself was a severe -sufferer.</p> - -<p class='c007'>All things appeared in a state of peace and tranquillity. -No foreign enemy for a long time molested -us. But what I took particular notice of when first a -slave, was, my master and others clandestinely driving -away their neighbours’ cattle, and their neighbours being -equally guilty of the same practice, so that it was a -<span class='pageno' id='Page_94'>94</span>very difficult point to determine who was the aggressor -in the present quarrel. But one day, as I and some -others went about five or six miles to water our cattle, -having two men armed with guns to guard us according -to custom, it happened, on our return home, that -notwithstanding the greater number of them went on -slowly, grazing as they passed along, some of the milch -cows, wanting to be sucked by their calves, ran homewards -before the rest. The man knowing me to be -very active and nimble, desired me to run forwards and -stop them, in order to keep them in a body; but they -being got at a great distance, it was some time before -I could turn them. When I wheeled about, I was surprised -to see one of our men shooting amongst a body -of men, who were driving the cattle another way, and -running from them towards me; they soon espied us, -and our cattle, and ran after us. Hereupon I quitted -my post, and fled as fast as I could home to my master, -and was the first messenger to relate our disaster. I -puffed and blowed, being frightened, and out of breath, -and in imperfect exclamations I told him, that an army -had seized our cattle; and that one of our men, named -Roynsowra, had fired and killed somebody; but I could -not inform him who the enemy were, nor on what account -they thus attacked us. While my master and -some others were discoursing with me, in came two or -three more, who informed them that deaan Chahary -and his brother deaan Frukey, two of deaan Crindo’s -sons, were the parties concerned. Our master, it seems, -had been found guilty of stealing three of deaan Frukey’s -cattle, and this they did by way of retaliation. -All was in an uproar and confusion at once. Each -man took up his arms in a hurry. Deaan Mevarrow -ordered them to follow him, which they were as much -inclined to do as he was to lead them, for the loss was -general. All the milch cows and home-kept cattle were -gone, and now away went all the men in pursuit of -them, except such as were old and infirm. Amongst -others, I was demolished, having lost my cow and my -two heifers; my calf, indeed, was left at home, lowing -<span class='pageno' id='Page_95'>95</span>for its dam, as did every body’s else; between which -vociferations, and the outcries of the women and children, -there was a most confused and hideous uproar.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Deaan Frukey, who then was, or at least pretended -to be, the injured person, lived within two or three -miles of our watering place; but they drove our cattle -more to the northward, to deaan Chahary’s town, which -was better fortified, and much more capable of sustaining -the assault, which they justly imagined we should -make against it. Though our people were highly provoked, -and very expeditious, yet they followed them -with all the circumspection imaginable; having spies -who ran softly before, by whom they found their enemies -were entered the town with their booty. Our -people, not being provided with strength sufficient, and -having no time to call in their neighbours to their -assistance, did not attempt to assault deaan Chahary’s -town, but turned off without being suspected, and went -about five miles farther, where they kept their breeding -cattle. As it was now late in the night, they took them -all without any opposition, the few keepers they had -being at a distance, and fast asleep; so that they drove -away the beasts without any noise, and made their way -homewards as fast as possible. We looked out all the -morning, expecting every minute they would return; -and, at length, we espied them with a vast drove of -cattle, containing as many at least, if not more than -our own, being above five hundred. All of us imagined -they had recovered their own; and for my own part, I -was thinking how I should kiss my cow for joy of seeing -her again; but too soon we perceived they were -strangers, and as I was not with them, I had no share -of the booty.</p> - -<p class='c007'>My master, and several others, after they had divided -them, killed some of the oxen; a jovial feast was made -immediately, and our people sent me part of the banquet. -The day following my master despatched me to -look after the cattle as before, whilst he went to repair -some breaches in his town walls, by putting in several -poles, which were cut down for that purpose, and made -<span class='pageno' id='Page_96'>96</span>preparations for a war. He had not patience, however, -to stay at home and see whether his enemies would -come to create him any new disturbance, though he -might be very well satisfied with the reprisals he had -made on them, since he had taken away more than he -had lost. However, in two or three days’ time after, -he was resolutely bent to surprise the enemy’s town by -night, though he left his own unguarded, and met with -such success as so precipitate a conduct justly deserved; -for the very next morning after their expedition, as I -and others were watering our cattle, and looking carefully -after them, lest they should run to their own -home, which was considerably nearer to the watering place -than our town, about twenty men rushed out of -a thicket of bushes, and leaped upon us like so many -tigers on their prey. However, I and three or four -more boys had time to start out of their clutches and fly -for it; but they soon overtook the rest, carrying them -back, and all the cattle and the other slaves that were -with them; while some followed me, hollaing out, -and menacing to kill me if I did not stop and surrender -myself their captive. Thereupon I turned about, -and perceiving I had gained ground of them, I ran -directly forwards for a mile and a half at least, before -I came to any proper shelter. At length I came to a -wood, with which I was well acquainted, where I soon -lost them. They returned back to their companions, -and went off with their prisoners and cattle. Perceiving -them gone I hastened home; when I entered the -town the women immediately flocked round about me, -for they saw by my countenance and the confusion I was -in that some misfortune had attended our party. I soon -acquainted them with the loss we had sustained, and -they as soon reflected on their husband’s ill conduct; -who, to gratify the dictates of a blind passion, and to -avenge themselves on their enemies, would leave all -that was valuable to themselves unguarded to become -their prey; for they might be very well assured that -they had spies out to give notice of every opportunity -which might tend to their advantage.</p> - -<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_97'>97</span>Deaan Mevarrow returned about evening, when, for -his welcome home, the news of this morning’s expedition -was related to him. I also understood the project -they went upon had proved fruitless and ineffectual; -for though they arrived at the enemy’s town an hour -before daylight, yet so cautious and vigilant were they -in sending out their spies all ways both night and day, -that they discovered our people, and alarmed the -townfolks, who came out and met them. And all -that was done, as I could hear, was only a tongue-battle, -and vollies of opprobrious language. Deaan -Mevarrow, indeed, fired at them at a distance, which -they returned, but no execution was done on either -side. A kinsman coming soon after daylight to deaan -Frukey’s assistance, deaan Mevarrow thought it most -advisable to withdraw; but not without telling them, -if his kinsman and his people had not come in to his -assistance, he would have had all his cattle again in a -few hours. To this they replied, that they would -not only keep the cattle they had of his, but that their -own, which had been lately carried away by surprise, -were by this time in their own hands again, as he -would find at his return. And what they asserted, -indeed, proved too true: at this he was heartily -nettled. We had killed, however, a considerable -number of them first, and stocked ourselves with provisions. -He vowed to be revenged on his uncles, and -accordingly made preparations for another enterprise, -which was entered upon in three days after. He asked -me if I was willing to make one of the party? I -very readily embraced his offer, for there was safety -nowhere now; and being at home was as dangerous as -being with them. So he furnished me with a gun, -cartouch box, and powder-horn, and thus accoutred, I -commenced soldier.</p> - -<p class='c007'>We sallied out of our town as soon as it was dark, -for we had a great way to go. Deaan Frukey, with all -his people, having abandoned his own town, not thinking -it sufficiently fortified, and moved to his brother’s, -which was many miles farther to the northward, we -<span class='pageno' id='Page_98'>98</span>marched very briskly, but as silently as possible, never -speaking to each other, but in whispers. As my skin -appeared white, they imagined it must be discerned at -a distance in the dark, and expose us by that means to -our enemy’s spies; they therefore made me besmear -myself all over with mud.</p> - -<p class='c007'>We came near the town about two hours before daylight, -and sent two men who were perfectly acquainted -with every part of it, in order to search for breaches, or -at least some weak places in the fortifications. They -succeeded as they could wish, and returned, having -discovered not only two breaches, but the private way -too, which is always prepared for the women and children, -by which to make their escape into the woods in -case of a surprise. Near this place we laid an ambuscade -of thirty men, who were ordered not to fire, or -make the least noise, and to seize the women only in -their flight. Our army was divided into three parts: -deaan Mevarrow, with his people, attacked the more -difficult breach of the two; a chief man of his the -other; and deaan Sambo the gate, in whose party I -was; for my master would not take me with him, -thinking I could not well bear to tread upon the -thorns in the fortification.</p> - -<p class='c007'>There were three gates, one within another. The -signal for our attack was the firing the first gun, which -was not to be till the deaan Mevarrow and the other chief -had secured the outside of the breaches, and it was a -quarter of an hour before we had accomplished it. The -townsmen were by that time all in arms, and almost as -well prepared as we, for they secured the inner gate, -at the same time we entered the outer one, and came -furiously towards us with warmth and resolution; however, -we drove them back. They maintained the other, -indeed, a long time, till deaan Mevarrow had, with -much difficulty, gained a passage through the breach; -one of his principal men was shot in the belly just -before him, which so provoked him that he leaped -down, and the rest followed.</p> - -<p class='c007'>About the same time we pushed vigorously towards, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_99'>99</span>and entered the town. Immediately we heard the -outcry of the women, who were surprised by our ambuscade, -and almost all of them taken. The men got -off by a breach, which they themselves made into the -woods, and left us the town to plunder and reduce to -ashes, which was done accordingly. I got for my -share a small quantity of cotton, and a few wooden platters, -and some spoons. We found here several of our -cattle, and among the rest I espied my cow, and did -not question then but I should soon have her again: -but see the fatal effects of an ill-grounded security! -We had now a great booty of slaves and cattle; the -latter we drove out of the town before us, without any -guard before them, thinking we had gained an entire -victory and dispersed all our enemies; when, in fact, -the number of them was greatly increased. They kept -in a body in the woods, observed our motions, and -only waited for a favourable opportunity to show their -resentment. They soon perceived that the cattle were -left defenceless, and that they had little more to do -than to drive them into the woods, where we lost them -all almost as soon as we had got them. For on our -march, in order to recover them, the enemy appeared -in a formidable body, firing at us, and even giving us -battle. In this action one of our men was killed. -Several of our people were missing before, even whilst -we were in the town; and upon strict inquiry, we found -three wounded, and four of our principal and bravest -men cut off. Deaan Mevarrow and all the rest seemed -very much concerned at this unexpected misfortune; -and were not near so active or sanguine as they were -before, so that now they thought of nothing but making -a retreat with the slaves they had taken, and getting -out of the reach of the enemy as soon as possible. -Accordingly they left the plain open road by which we -came, and went through the woods, a most uncomfortable -way, for ten miles or more, overrun with thorns -and briars, and in perpetual fear of ambuscades. We -stopped, however, to make a bier to carry away our -men who were wounded, and then marched on with -<span class='pageno' id='Page_100'>100</span>the utmost circumspection, thinking every bird that -stirred an enemy in ambush. Notwithstanding we got -through this long wood very safely, we still went by -unbeaten ways, so that it was almost dark before we -got home. It is a constant custom, be the success of -their engagements good or bad, for the chief to sit -down with his people before his own door; the women -soon flocked round him to hear the news, and though -we brought with us a considerable number of slaves, -yet there was no room for rejoicing; for the wives, -relations, and friends who were killed made a most -hideous outcry. However, a few calves were killed, -and we refreshed ourselves as well as we could after -our long fatigue; every man retired to his own apartment, -and being weary, lay down to rest; but before -daylight we were alarmed by the firing of a gun. The -enemy, by our conduct the day before, perceived we -were dispirited, and determined to give us no time to -recruit; so they pursued us and attacked our town, as -we had before done theirs; but I cannot say their -judgment or conduct was equal to ours. For the first -thing we did upon the alarm was, to have a party ready -to secure the wives, children, and other valuable slaves, -in which we succeeded to our wish, and conveyed them -safely out of the town to their proper recesses. Though -we defended ourselves as long as we could, yet we did -not show so much courage and resolution as we should -have done at another time; however, we retreated with -but a trivial loss, and left them the town to plunder. -There was nothing of value for them, since the women -had carried off what their haste would admit of; and -as for cattle, there was none but a few calves, whose -dams they had seized at first; and such was their precipitation, -that they could not drive even them away; -so they killed them, and carried as much of their carcasses -away for provision as they conveniently could. -They never once offered to go in search for the women, -but called to us, and vowed we should have no rest -till they recovered their wives and children. We told -them on the other hand, that we would have our cattle -<span class='pageno' id='Page_101'>101</span>again, and not restore them their wives neither. They -seemed pleased with thus showing their resentment; it -was no small satisfaction to our people, though defeated -this time, to find that notwithstanding all the disadvantages -they then lay under, they were still able to cope -with them.</p> - -<p class='c007'>But deaan Crindo, our king, by this time was apprized -of all that had happened, who immediately -undertook to reconcile all differences between us; and -accordingly sent messengers to both parties to know -the grounds of our quarrel, and the demands on both -sides. Deaan Mevarrow sent word he was ready to -oblige the king, and would live in peace with his -uncles in case they would send him all his cattle again; -and as deaan Frukey and Chahary wanted their wives -again, they said, they were ready and willing to -return what cattle were left alive of ours; but having -killed a third part, they would never be accountable on -that score. So that the king could not persuade -deaan Frukey to make up the number of our cattle; -nor on the other hand could he prevail on us to send -them their wives unless they made restitution. Our -master boldly sent the king word, that all the force -he had, united with that of his sons, should not oblige -him to restore their wives and children on any other -terms.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Deaan Crindo resented this insolent answer, and was -determined at all adventures to reduce them to a compliance; -and in order thereto, mustered up an army of a -thousand men, and was resolutely bent to come to -deaan Mevarrow first. Now deaan Crindo could not -on these occasions raise any considerable army, because -there was a dispute always subsisting between him and -his nephew Murnanzack, whose father was deaan -Crindo’s elder brother; who dying when his son was -an infant, and his country invaded, this uncle took -upon him the charge of the government; and when -possessed of it would never resign it. Deaan Murnanzack -was not only an intrepid warrior, but a prince as -well accomplished as ever appeared in this illiterate -<span class='pageno' id='Page_102'>102</span>country. He was just, honourable, generous, and of a -courteous disposition; he had three brothers, who were -lords, judges, and chiefs of towns, who together could -raise an army not much inferior to their uncle’s; -besides, he was universally beloved. Now, in case of a -foreign war, all were ready to oppose the common -enemy, as we have seen them withstand the kings of -Merfaughla and Antenosa; but they were ever jealous -and watchful of each other. For which reason deaan -Crindo could bring no greater an army against us than -was consistent with the safety of his own town, and -those belonging to his sons.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Deaan Mevarrow had notice of this design against -him, by a particular friend of his in Fennoarevo, who -ran from thence to our town by night, and returned -before daylight undiscovered. My master had a cousin -with whom he had contracted an intimate friendship, -and whose father was as powerful a lord as any in deaan -Crindo’s dominions; to this uncle, whose name was -Mephontey, he fled with his people for protection. We -soon packed up our little all which we had left. My -whole stock of provision and household furniture consisted -of no more than about a gallon of carravances, a -mat to lie upon, a hatchet, and a little spade to dig up -wild yams. We wanted no hoes now, for that work -was put an end to in this country. All our plantations, -and most of the produce which was laid up in little -storehouses, were now left to the enemy’s disposal. In -half a day we arrived at deaan Mephontey’s town, who -treated my master with all due respect, and assured -him, that he would defend both him and his people to -the utmost of his power. The chiefs had houses given -them, but we common people were obliged to build -huts for ourselves in any part of the town where we -could find room. As for my own part, I erected but a -small one, not knowing how soon it might be burnt.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Deaan Crindo, in three days’ time, encamped before -the town. He sent to deaan Mephontey, desiring him -to deliver up deaan Mevarrow, and all his people, and -bid him detain them at his peril. To this deaan Mephontey -<span class='pageno' id='Page_103'>103</span>sent a resolute answer, that he would protect -any strangers, who were in his opinion honest people, -and fled to him for succour in distress; and much more -should he be sanguine for the interest of his friends -and relations; and if deaan Crindo would have them, -he must take them away by force, for he would defend -them to the last extremity.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Deaan Crindo prepared to attack the town the next -morning, and we to defend it. In order thereto, the -women and children were that night sent away into the -woods, not all into one place, but at proper distances, -and in small companies. I was ordered with a guard -to take care of my mistress, and some other women -and slaves who were with her, which I accordingly did. -After I had marked the place, in order to find it again -with ease, I returned to the town, where we lived as -well as we could wish that night, dressing and eating -beef in plenty, &c. for we had some cattle of our own, -such as I was sent to keep at first, which were at a -great distance, when deaan Frukey seized the milch -cows; but we wanted water, which was a great misfortune -to us, since our enemies were so near that we -could fetch none all the day before.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The next morning we were all up by break of day, -and every man at his station, according to appointment -the day before. I was posted behind my master, who -had two guns, one of which I was to load, while he -fired with the other. It was broad day before the -enemy began the attack; they fired so briskly upon us, -that for nearly a quarter of an hour together we could not -see them for smoke; but as soon as their fire abated, -we returned it as hotly upon them. On the second -onset they drew nearer, and the lances flew briskly at -one another; one of which went through my lamber, -and scratched me. I was a little surprised at first, but -soon recovering my spirits, I returned them the lance -over the fortification, in the same manner as it came to -me. The cattle were very troublesome to us; for -several of them being wounded, they ran up and down -and put the rest into confusion. We fought thus for -<span class='pageno' id='Page_104'>104</span>four hours successively, with great warmth on both -sides, till deaan Crindo perceiving he could not enter -the town, recalled his forces and withdrew to his camp. -Deaan Mephontey and deaan Mevarrow were for sallying -out; but deaan Mephontey’s son, Batoengha, with -much difficulty persuaded them to desist, suspecting an -ambuscade. Several were killed on both sides, and -some wounded, whom we conveyed out of the town -when the engagement was over to their wives. We -buried our dead under the fortification, and sent out -spies to observe the motions of the enemy, who brought -us intelligence that they were very quiet, and that their -whole time was spent in killing cattle, and fetching -wood to dress provisions. When this news was confirmed, -and we were well assured that they would give -us no more trouble for that day, our people killed and -dressed beef likewise, but we were parched up with -thirst. You might here have seen men with their -tongues lolling out of their mouths through excessive -heat. This want of water is the most intolerable of all -calamities, and a misery too great for words to express. -I have before observed, that when I first came into this -country, I felt the anguish of it for almost four days; -and found by woful experience, that there was no -comparison between hunger and thirst. I had relief, -however, sooner than my neighbours; for my master -sent me and two slaves with provisions for our mistress, -and those who accompanied her, where, by the way, we -found a little water.</p> - -<p class='c007'>I had some difficulty, notwithstanding all my precaution, -to find the place where I left her the night -before; however, I got there at last. She seemed in -great concern for our welfare, and drowned in tears; -for hearing the guns firing, and, at length, ceasing all -at once, she imagined the town was taken and her husband -killed; but the sight of me dispelled all those -melancholy clouds. I cut down several boughs with -large leaves upon them, which served very well for -dishes and plates; and cutting the roast meat I brought -with me into pieces, I served it up to my mistress: -<span class='pageno' id='Page_105'>105</span>and though she had not, as some may probably remark, -so much delicacy as some of our fine ladies of her birth -and distinction in Europe, yet she enjoyed as grateful -a repast, and I may venture to say was as well satisfied -as they would have been in her then circumstances. -When she was served, I divided the remainder amongst -my fellow-servants, her women, who were her attendants. -My orders being to stay with her, I sent the two -men away who had brought a very considerable quantity -of raw meat; and in the night I made a fire to -dress it, which could not be discerned through so thick -a wood; whereas, in the daytime, the smoke might -have discovered us. I went at some distance and dug -up several wild yams; these were very agreeable on -account of their moisture, this place being destitute of -water; but none of them, how much soever they might -long for them, would venture to dig for themselves till -I came, lest the noise might betray them to the enemy.</p> - -<p class='c007'>At night we sat very sociably round the fire, whilst I -entertained them with the story of the engagement, and -the dangers I had escaped. I also roasted the meat, -and hung part of it up in one tree and part in another, -out of the reach of the wild dogs and foxes, with which -this country abounds. When it grew late, I told them -I had no bed to lie on, having forgot my mat in the -hurry. They laughed at this, and my mistress said, -“Sure, Robin, you do not think but we will make room -for one man amongst us?” and then bid me make -choice of my place. Now I could be free and jocose -enough with the young women slaves, though not with -herself; yet I laid myself down close by them all night, -and I can assure my reader we were very innocent.</p> - -<p class='c007'>I must here confess, I could not but wonder at first, -why my master trusted me so readily with his wife, -contrary to his care of her in regard to other men, and -to the custom of the country; but when I began to -reflect how dangerous it was for any woman, who was -liable to be called to an account for all her actions, to -carry on an amour with a white man, the wonder -ceased; for, should a woman prove with child, the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_106'>106</span>colour of the offspring would betray its mother, if not -point out the father. But I must not let this pass with -any thing which may be misconstrued to this lady’s -prejudice; for I solemnly declare, I never once discovered -in her the least criminal inclination; notwithstanding -what may be said here or elsewhere, of some -such freedoms as would appear too condescending, -and be censured as too forward in our European -women.</p> - -<p class='c007'>We arose by daybreak, and listened very attentively -to hear, if we could, the noise of guns, but none were -discharged; and in a short time the two men came again -to us, and brought us more provisions. They informed -us that deaan Crindo had sent a menacing message to -deaan Mephontey, to let him know, that unless he -obliged deaan Mevarrow to come to him, and submit -to his determination of the quarrel between him and -deaan Frukey, that he would humble their pride, and -remain there with his army till he starved them; and -moreover, he would guard the watering place so -strongly, that they should not dare to approach it. -Deaan Mephontey, on the other hand, returned as -resolute an answer; that he was under no apprehensions -of starving, having provisions enough of all kinds; -a great number of cattle, and other conveniences for -them to live on for three months; but besides, he had -strength sufficient to force his way out of the town -whenever he thought proper; and advised deaan -Crindo, for that reason, not to put it to the hazard of a -trial, but to move off, and rest contented with the -repulse he had already met with.</p> - -<p class='c007'>After the men had told their tale they returned -home, and we all went to digging of yams; even my -mistress condescended to make one amongst us: so I -sharpened sticks for them, and they pulled off their -lambers to keep them clean; notwithstanding some of -them were such worthless things, that a rag woman in -England would scarce have picked them up. My -mistress’s, indeed, was a fine silk one of various colours, -and very large, hanging almost down to her feet, with -<span class='pageno' id='Page_107'>107</span>a handsome fringe at the bottom. They made more -free with me than they would with some others; saying, -with a smile, that they did not look upon me as a man, -since I discovered no warm or amorous inclinations. -My reader, perhaps, will scarcely believe me when I -assure him, there were amongst them such beauties, as -were not much inferior to our European ladies, except -their colour; but my behaviour and resolution were -actually such at that time, and long after, that I told -them, I resolved never to entertain any thoughts of -women, till I returned to England my native country. -They replied, they were sure I should be mistaken. -However, I lived very idly, indeed, but merrily enough, -during the few days I continued here; there being -about a dozen women besides my mistress. And for -my part, I did not care how long the war lasted, for -my provision was given me all the time, and I had no -work to do. As to the dangers that attended war, I -did not concern myself about them; I had nothing to -lose but my life, which, considering the circumstances -I was in, and the small hopes I had of ever getting -home, was but a burthen to me; but we had not yet -seen all the miseries of a civil war. Every morning -we used to listen to hear if possible the noise of guns; -when, at length, one of the slaves came to us alone -without any meat; and having seated himself (as slaves -in particular always do before they speak) he told us, -that deaan Crindo was gone away, and that my master -had sent for us home. This was very agreeable -news; so we sat down to breakfast together, sang, -and were as jovial as so many beggars. My mistress -was in a hurry to be gone; for she was uneasy -till she paid her respects to her husband. As soon as -ever she saw him she fell upon her knees, and licked -his feet; and he returned her compliment, after the -manner of the country, by touching her nose.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Now the reason of deaan Crindo’s sudden departure -was, an information that deaan Murnanzack had seized -six hundred of his cattle; he might have taken them -<span class='pageno' id='Page_108'>108</span>all indeed, if he would, but he did this only to begin -the dispute. We stayed, however, a week longer at -deaan Mephontey’s town, till we were better informed -how the matter stood between them; and that there -was nothing to fear on that side. Deaan Crindo, it -seems, had sent to deaan Murnanzack, to know the -reason why he seized those cattle, and whether he -was determined to take deaan Mevarrow’s part? The -answer he received was, that he did it to show him -his right of dominion; notwithstanding he doubted -not, but that he would dispute his title with him, as -unjustly as he had usurped it.</p> - -<p class='c007'>This was a mortifying stroke, and happened at -a very unlucky juncture: deaan Murnanzack was -always a formidable competitor, and was looked on as -such, whenever he thought proper to maintain his -right; and he, doubtless, embraced this opportunity on -purpose, when deaan Crindo had weakened his interest, -by affronting deaan Mevarrow, deaan Sambo, and -their friend deaan Mephontey. Crindo was soon convinced -of his error, and endeavoured to soften matters, -by sending messengers to all of them, to tell them that -what he did, was with no other view than to chastise -his grandsons; and what was highly requisite to restore -that peace and tranquillity, which they and his son -Frukey had disturbed; though he began with the -former, yet Frukey, had he proved refractory, should -have felt the weight of his resentment as well as others: -he hoped, therefore, that they would consider his good -intention, and not break friendship with him.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Three or four days after this, we departed from deaan -Mephontey’s; but first returned him many thanks for -these generous testimonies of his friendship and hospitality. -We went home, (or rather homeward only,) -for though we found our way and the place of our late -abode, yet not a house was left to put our heads in. -Our plantations too were totally demolished, and the -very barns and storehouses reduced to ashes; so that -we had nothing to live on but what the woods afforded, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_109'>109</span>and a few cattle among the richest and chiefest men; -who were in fact very good, and communicated to -their poor neighbours.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The town being so absolutely demolished, as not to -be repaired, deaan Mevarrow determined to build a -new one; and searching for a commodious place, at -length he found a wood so thick, that a dog could not -creep into it. This, therefore, was more than half fortified -to his hand, and pitched upon accordingly. A -vacancy was soon made in it, the men cut down the -trees, bushes, and briars, and the women and children -conveyed them away; so that in about three days, we -cleared a large space to erect our houses on: however, -as it was summer time, we were not in so much haste -for houses, as for fences against an enemy. We fortified -it, therefore, with bodies of trees, which we cut -about sixteen or eighteen feet in length; these we -drove into the ground so close together, that no creature -whatever could possibly get between them. But -as one row only of these poles of trees was not thought -a sufficient security, we made three or four, one within -another, round the whole circumference of the town; -leaving no other vacancy than a small and private -passage for the conveyance of our women, children, -and slaves away with safety, in case of an enemy’s -approach; and this was so contrived, as not to be -discerned with ease or known by strangers. We made -but one gateway or entrance, and that not only -narrow too, but defended with four prodigiously thick -and substantial doors, one within another.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The walls being completed, nothing more remained -to do, but each man to erect a house of what extent he -thought proper for himself and his family. We, who -were slaves to deaan Mevarrow, took care to build his -first; some of us cut wood, others fetched grass in -order to fill up the sides; whilst I and about thirty -more, went a tedious way, at least ten miles, for -annevoes, which are the leaves of a tree like those of -a cocoa-nut. These we split and covered the house -with, for they make a thatch much neater and stronger -<span class='pageno' id='Page_110'>110</span>than any in England, but these trees were so scarce, -and at such a distance, that a single man could not go -often enough, in any reasonable time, to collect the -leaves; and notwithstanding we went in such a body, -we were obliged to go twice for a sufficient quantity to -cover my master’s house.</p> - -<p class='c007'>When we had finished my master’s seat, we went -about our lesser apartments, and as at deaan Mephontey’s -a small one served my turn, so it did here in like -manner; for, notwithstanding all our strong walls and -fortifications, I much questioned whether we should be -able to keep them long; neither did we, as it proved -soon after: so I made my hut no bigger than just to -have room sufficient to stretch my self at full length, and -make a fire in, should I, by good fortune, find any victuals -to dress.</p> - -<p class='c007'>About a week after we were settled in our new town, -a messenger, (or rather, an ambassador,) arrived from -deaan Murnanzack, with about twenty in his retinue. -His business was to sound deaan Mevarrow’s inclinations, -and (if they found a favourable opportunity) to -desire his friendship and assistance. He soon found -there were good grounds to hope for success, and for -that reason delivered his message the first night he -came. To which deaan Mevarrow returned in answer, -he would take it into consideration, consult with his -people, and give him his determinate answer the next -morning. In the mean time, he gave him a slave’s -house for his immediate accommodation, as is customary -on such occasions; and sent a bullock for the entertainment -of him and his attendants. In the next -place, he sent out messengers to all the chiefs and freemen -to come and consult with him on an affair of the -last importance. I was present, and saw this assembly. -As soon as deaan Mevarrow and his brother deaan -Sambo were seated, the principals placed themselves -on either hand, and the other freemen on each side of -them.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Deaan Mevarrow opened the consultation, by telling -them, that deaan Murnanzack had sent a very honourable -<span class='pageno' id='Page_111'>111</span>messenger to him to ask his friendship and assistance. -We must not forget, says he, that deaan Murnanzack -proved of singular service to us in the quarrel -we once had with deaan Termerre; therefore, consider -we are much indebted to him upon that score. Consider, -moreover, that Chahary and Frukey will ever be -irreconcilable enemies, so long as we detain their -wives and families; and you concur with me not to deliver -them without a due return of all our cattle, which -they obstinately refuse: then, as deaan Crindo is their -father, he, doubtless, will be partial, notwithstanding -his seeming pretensions to peace, and affected regard -for justice; but in what manner he has lately used us, -is too fresh in all your memories to need repetition. -The justice of deaan Murnanzack’s claim to the dominion, -is, I presume, indisputable; whether deaan -Crindo may not justify himself as affairs now stand, in -assuming the authority, is what we shall not, at this -juncture, take into consideration; but it is highly requisite -for us to consider, whether deaan Murnanzack -has strength enough to maintain the dispute, and protect -us, and such other friends as may be inclined to -join him. This requires the most mature deliberation: -the chance of war is very precarious, and you have -families, slaves, and cattle to lose as well as I; weigh -well, therefore, the matter in hand, and let me have -your resolution, with which I shall readily concur.</p> - -<p class='c007'>They argued the point for some considerable time, -and consulted not only what would be most conducive -to their interest, but reflected on the dangerous situation -they were in; and that it was most probable they -should be safest in joining with deaan Murnanzack. -Thereupon they agreed, that one of them should declare -the result of their consultation to the deaan. In -the name of the rest, therefore, he desired him, if he approved -of their opinion, to contract and enter into a solemn -friendship with deaan Murnanzack; and if so, -they would faithfully observe and support him to the -utmost of their power.</p> - -<p class='c007'>After I had seen the manner and formality of this -<span class='pageno' id='Page_112'>112</span>grand assembly, our parliament in Great Britain ran -strangely in my head: I imagined this the very image -of it: and though I was but a lad when I went from -home, yet as my father kept a public house, to which -the best of gentlemen resorted, I remember, I have -heard them often disputing with one another about the -power of the prince, to oblige the people to do what -he pleased without consulting them; whilst others insisted -that a king had no power without a parliament. -Then they would dispute about the origin of parliaments -and their power, and by whose means the use -of them was brought first into England; in this too they -seldom agreed. Some said the Saxons introduced it; -others maintained that it was of a more modern date; -whilst many were of different opinions from both. Now -methinks this article might be adjusted without any reference -to authors and historians; that parliaments -were established long before the Saxons or Romans either: -for I imagine, that not only England, but several -other countries besides, were once like Madagascar, -without the knowledge of letters and coined money; -and if that be the case, it was then impossible for -princes to exert that authority over the people, or to -dispose of them contrary to their interest, or inclinations: -for I look upon those princes to be like my -master, who neither had, nor could have any separate -army or interest; but when any neighbour desired their -assistance, or any enemy had injured them, they assembled -before the house of their chief; and there debated -what measures were most proper to be taken for -the good of their country. If war were agreed on, the -same men took their arms, and the sovereign or chief -headed them, as my master did here; and when they -returned, each man went home to his own family. Thus -the people are their own army and defence; and the -lord could never oblige them to do what the majority -did not think convenient to be done, because he had -no army to compel them. This was, doubtless, the -condition of all other countries once, and must have -continued so, had not people subjected themselves -<span class='pageno' id='Page_113'>113</span>unwarily to the power of one man, by giving him wealth -and authority, not only sufficient to raise an army, but -to keep it in pay himself, and use it at discretion for -their defence; with which he most shamefully insulted -and abused them. However, in the state of nature, -and the first establishment of societies, this was the -form of government; and with due submission to the -learned, I am of opinion we need not turn over many -volumes to find the original of British parliaments, for -they are of much earlier date than all their histories, or -than letters themselves—and as to their power, it is -grounded on the strongest basis, reason and nature. -But to return to our story.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The alliance being unanimously resolved upon, deaan -Mevarrow sent for the messenger the next morning; -and told him that he and his people, after mature deliberation, -were agreed to assist deaan Murnanzack; -and desired that their friendship might be ratified, and -confirmed with the usual solemnity. Hereupon an ox -was immediately brought and killed, the liver roasted, -and stuck on lances, and deaan Murnanzack’s ambassador, -and a deputy of deaan Mevarrow’s, eat the liver -between them, repeating the imprecation we have mentioned -before; that they wished it might prove poison, -and a farther curse might be sent by God upon that -party who first broke the alliance.</p> - -<p class='c007'>After this solemn ratification, the ox was divided -between the ambassador’s people and ours, who were -present, and both eat it together; after which, he and -his attendants departed. And now deaan Mevarrow -repented that he had built this new town, for he would -have gone and lived near deaan Murnanzack, whose -country bordered on Merfaughla on one side, and was -within ten or a dozen miles on the other side of Fennoarevo. -He had three brethren; deaan Mussecorrow, -who lived near him; deaan Afferrer, who lived on the -mountains of Yong-gorvo, of whom we shall have occasion -to give a large account hereafter; and Rer Mimebolambo, -the youngest, who lived but about five -miles from us to the eastward; and this last being so -<span class='pageno' id='Page_114'>114</span>very near us, we were ready at hand to join in any enterprise, -or to aid and assist one another. However, -we did not think ourselves safe, and, therefore, we took -care not to let deaan Crindo know our resolution, till -we had made one expedition; and after that, we made -ourselves more secure.</p> - -<p class='c007'>But the course of my narrative naturally leads me to -a detail of deaan Murnanzack’s attack on deaan Mundumber’s -town, where he took three hundred cattle, -and a great number of women and children; for it is -not customary to take men prisoners, if they cannot get -away from their enemies, they are immediately cut off. -Among the captives were deaan Mundumber’s wife -and daughter, the only child he ever had. Having -plundered the town, they were going to reduce it to -ashes, but deaan Murnanzack prevented them; and -marching into the plain, waited to see if deaan Mundumber -would rally, and give him battle. His people -appeared, indeed, but at a great distance, not daring to -come nearer; which, as soon as he perceived, he -marched homewards, but first did a very generous action, -and sent back deaan Mundumber’s wife and -daughter to him; telling her, he did not intend it as a -compliment to her husband, but as a token of his respect -to herself and family: she being niece to the king -of Yong-Owl, one of the most powerful princes on the -island. Nor did he do it with any view that he should -return the like favour, for he had no wife, and was -well assured by God’s assistance, who would favour his -just cause, that it would never be in his power to prove -prejudicial to any of his relations.</p> - -<p class='c007'>As soon as deaan Crindo heard that his son’s town -was taken, he thought it high time to seek revenge; -and accordingly mustered up a great army, threatening -to lay the country waste, to destroy all the men, and -make slaves of their wives and children. He sent, likewise, -to our master to join him, but he peremptorily -refused; saying, he would never join with his professed -enemies against his experienced friends. However, -he did not declare his intentions of opposing him. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_115'>115</span>They both sent to deaan Mephontey, but he refused to -be concerned on either side, and kept his word; for his -dominions extending to the river Manderra, the boundaries -of Antenosa, he was apprehensive that the inhabitants -of those parts might take the advantage of his -absence, plunder his towns, and lay waste his country.</p> - -<p class='c007'>When deaan Crindo marched from Fennoarevo, he -did not wholly abandon his towns, but left a considerable -number of men in them, for fear of Rer Mimebolambo -and Afferrer. He had no jealousy of us, however; -whilst he was gone Rer Mimebolambo and my -master deaan Mevarrow joined forces, and went out -to see what they could find; they soon surprised three -towns, for the men made a very weak resistance; so -they brought off about two hundred cattle, and fifty -slaves. My master was discovered by having a white -man (meaning myself) along with him. This was altogether -unexpected to them, and deaan Crindo’s wife -immediately sent him notice thereof, and that she was -in no small concern on that account. To which information -he returned for answer, that he would soon despatch -the business he was about, and then he would be -amply revenged of deaan Mevarrow. But we took -care to be provided for him.</p> - -<p class='c007'>In our way homewards, the cattle and slaves were -equally divided between deaan Mevarrow and Rer Mimebolambo; -and they then came to this resolution, -that it was absolutely necessary for them to live together -in one town. Ours was the strongest, but not so -big as we could wish; theirs was of a larger extent, -and they had, moreover, abundance of empty houses, -which were deserted by those who went away upon the -war’s breaking out; so it was agreed we should settle -there. We lost no time, for the very day we went -home we packed up all our goods, and marched away -directly to Merhaundroverta, which was the name of -Rer Mimebolambo’s town, and abandoned our own in -less than a fortnight after we had built it. Thus were -we driven about like our wild boars that change their -holes every day, and fly from one wood to another, lest -<span class='pageno' id='Page_116'>116</span>the wild dogs should find them out. And we were not -only forced to secure ourselves against the surprises of -a body of our enemies, but as we lived so near one another, -three or four, or half a dozen of their men would -often lie lurking in the woods near towns, and catch a -woman, child, or slave of ours, that happened to stroll -out on any occasion whatever, as digging of wild -yams, &c., so that we had little else to eat but beef; -and such as had it of their own gave it to those who -had none.</p> - -<p class='c007'>However, I had an employment here which maintained -me handsomely enough, and it seemed as if -Providence had thought fit to appoint it, on purpose -for my support in this seasonable conjuncture. Few of -this part of the island will eat any beef unless it is -killed by one descended from a race of kings; now my -master, just before the war broke out, growing haughty -to excess, and having none but himself and his brother -to execute these high offices, they were sometimes obliged -to go five or six miles to kill an ox. He at last reflected -that these people have an exalted opinion of all -white men, and taking me for the captain’s son, whom -they looked upon to be no ways inferior to a king, I -was thought of honourable descent enough to be preferred -to the dignity of a butcher; though in fact I did -nothing more than cut the throat of the beast, and they -carved him up themselves: however, for this, I always -had my fee, which was a large piece of meat. Though -my master and some others, as discerning as myself, -plainly perceived that this was a very idle custom; yet -he knew that the vulgar are not to be opposed in their -old ways, be they ever so ridiculous and absurd; and -had deaan Mevarrow obstinately declined this office, -and called it a mere caprice of theirs, so abrupt an -innovation would, in all probability, have been attended -with an almost general desertion, for they would instantly -have gone and lived under other lords. He contrived, -therefore, to substitute me in his room, and by -that means did, (as all wise governors will,) seemingly -conform to custom to humour the people; yet by an -<span class='pageno' id='Page_117'>117</span>ingenious expedient shifted off from himself a mean and -troublesome employment.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The next morning the cattle were divided; my master -had ten, his brother six, and the principal men one -a piece: some others had one between two, and we -slaves one between four of us. For my part I wanted -no beef; for I was often employed, during my residence -in this town, to kill the beasts. I was obliged, -however, to agree with my partners to kill ours, for -they had little enough, though I had plenty. I lived -tolerably well here, often exchanging beef for potatoes, -&c., with the towns-people; and here we heard of the -havoc deaan Crindo had made in the country. The -people who were allied to deaan Murnanzack, and -dwelt in small towns, left their habitations and removed -with their families and cattle beyond deaan Murnanzack’s -toward the sea, where they were sheltered under -his protection. When deaan Crindo came to such -towns as were abandoned, he burnt them down, and -utterly destroyed the plantations, pulling up every thing -by the roots, as if his intention were to create a famine -in the country.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Deaan Murnanzack was all this time with his brother -Mussecorrow, on his march towards them, and had -such good intelligence, that, under the cover of a wood, -he came undiscovered almost upon them. They were -then ravaging a very large plantation of potatoes, and -some others not far distant from it. He divided his -army into four parts, resolving to attack them on all -sides, whilst they were thus mischievously bent; and -boldly showed his face in front, whom they hurried to -oppose; the other parties fired each from their post, -killed several, and put the rest into confusion. However, -they made a vigorous resistance, retreating and -forcing their way into a wood, where it was almost -impossible to follow them. Here deaan Crindo rallied -them, and disposed them in good order, each either -under his own, or one of his son’s command; for Mundumber, -Chahary, and Frukey, his three sons, were -with him. They were much superior in number to the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_118'>118</span>other; some said, nearly twice as many; which deaan -Murnanzack was no stranger to, nor to the courage of -his uncle; but he was resolute notwithstanding to engage -him: and though he had time sufficient to have -retreated, yet he only marched back into the plain, to -secure an advantageous ground, and have time to form -his army; which he did accordingly, and waited for his -enemy’s approach to attack him. It was not long before -the engagement began, which was carried on with -great vigour and warmth on both sides; till deaan -Murnanzack perceiving his brother Mussecorrow’s division -began to give ground, he was determined to -make a bold push himself; and throwing away his gun, -with six small lances in his hand, he challenged several -of his principal men to follow him, if they durst, into -the thickest of the enemy’s body, which they very gallantly -did. But he, being foremost, ran like an enraged -lion, and in spite of all their fire and flying lances, -came to close quarters, hand to hand with his lances; -and those gallant men with him, following his example, -drove all that division of their enemy’s army back, and -put it into utter confusion, who not being able to abide -their fury, ran away. They broke into the very part where -deaan Crindo himself was posted, who would have been -struck through with a lance by one of Murnanzack’s -companions, had not the deaan himself very generously -prevented it, desiring them not to kill his uncle. He -left his people to pursue them, whilst he ran to the aid -and assistance of Mussecorrow, who, at the same time -made a vigorous push, being ashamed to be outdone; however, -they would have been utterly ruined, had not deaan -Murnanzack himself stept in to their assistance in that -critical conjuncture. But they were soon in one general -disorder, flying towards the woods with the utmost precipitation, -where deaan Murnanzack followed them to -prevent them from rallying, and carried on the pursuit -till he saw they were quite dispirited, and making -homewards to recruit themselves.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Deaan Crindo perceiving he could do no good with -Murnanzack, was determined not to be idle, and permit -<span class='pageno' id='Page_119'>119</span>deaan Mevarrow and Rer Mimebolambo to join -forces; so out of policy as well as revenge he resolved -to attack us first. But no sooner had he declared his intentions, -and made preparations for that purpose, than -a friend of Mevarrow came out by night, and acquainted -him therewith. On this information he held a -consultation with Rer Mimebolambo about their defence; -and in order thereto, considering there were so -many cattle in town, as would disturb them in an engagement, -he proposed to send part of them to deaan -Murnanzack’s; where the other people had secured -theirs. Rer Mimebolambo would send none of his; -my master, however, willing to have something to subsist -on, in case they should lose what they had here, -picked out forty beasts; some of our richest men also -sent six, and others more or less; in short, there were -in all about fourscore and ten beasts separated from the -rest, to be sent away. I perceived what was going forward, -and would fain have concealed myself; for I did -not know whether I should live so well there as here: -besides, it was a large number for one person to take -care of. But there was no remedy; nobody else would -send a slave with me, and my master himself would -spare no more than one, and he looked upon me as the -best qualified of any one man to do it; whereupon he -gave orders to six or seven men well armed to guard, -and conduct me, and I took my leave of my friends -and acquaintance, and proceeded accordingly.</p> - -<p class='c007'>We were forced to go round about by several tedious, -unpractised ways, and to look out as narrowly -as possible, lest our enemies should intercept us; but -we embraced a very favourable opportunity when they -were all dispirited by their defeat, and suspected nothing -of any such prize being near them. So in two -days we arrived at deaan Afferrer’s town, situate on the -hills of Yong-gorva, where we stayed two days to rest -our cattle, and were going upon the third in the morning, -at which time we heard a shell blow. This alarmed -not only the town, but the whole country; they ran immediately -to defend the passage up the hill (for there is -<span class='pageno' id='Page_120'>120</span>but one) when instantly came two messengers from -deaan Murnanzack to deaan Afferrer, to acquaint him -that he was at the bottom of the hill, in order to pay -him a visit. When my guardians saw them join, and -found it was deaan Murnanzack, they went (as soon as -the usual compliments were past between the two brothers) -to deaan Murnanzack, and informed him, that -deaan Mevarrow had sent some cattle and a proper -person to look after them, in order to be conveyed -somewhere under his protection. He desired them to -thank deaan Mevarrow for his friendship and assistance, -and assure him that his cattle should have all -the care taken of them imaginable, and be put amongst -his own. As soon as they had delivered up their -charge they took their leaves of me, and returned.</p> - -<p class='c007'>When deaan Murnanzack saw the cattle, and found -that I was left with them, he seemed surprised; and -asked me if I was cow-keeper, saying, he never heard -of a white man being put upon that employment. I -made answer, since it was my master’s pleasure, I did -not think proper to dispute it with him, and would -execute my office as well as I could.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Three days after, deaan Murnanzack went homewards, -giving orders to three servants to assist me, and we followed -in the rear; we had also above a dozen other -people with us, who carried provision, bedding, &c. -for their masters. As soon as we were down the hill, -I discovered a new scene; the soil was of a quite different -nature as well as colour; yellow clay with stones; -which made my feet very uneasy, having been used to -a sandy ground before: however, I was soon inured to -it. The trees, likewise, were different; much loftier, -and more straight and regular. This was the place I -had often wished to see, on account of the wild cattle, -of which I had heard so much. I soon found the large -tracks they made through the woods, which rendered the -driving of mine much easier here, than in other woods.</p> - -<p class='c007'>About noon we lay down to refresh ourselves in a -grove. The whole country is very beautiful, and well -watered with springs and rivulets. They soon showed -<span class='pageno' id='Page_121'>121</span>me some wild cattle which were standing under the -covert of the trees: I was very desirous of viewing them -closer, and taking a gun in my hand, I went toward -them; but when I was got within thirty yards, I was -obliged to creep on the ground, and conceal myself as -well as I could with the grass, which is very high. Before -I came up to them, I saw three bulls running directly -towards me; their eyes sparkled with fire, their -ears pricked upright, and they foamed at the mouth; in -all probability they fled from some that gave them -chase. They put me into such a terrible fright that I -thought of nothing but firing at them, to save myself -from being torn to pieces; but as Providence would -have it, I fired and wounded one so deeply, that he -fell. Though I was safe with respect to him, I expected -the others would have attacked me; and to avoid their -fury, I lay flat on my face, not daring to stir, till hearing -no noise, but the halloos of my companions at a -distance, I looked up, and found that all of them had -run away, except the wounded one, which lay kicking -on the ground: however, I durst not go near him, till -my friends came up, and put us both out of our pain, -by cutting his throat, and applauding me for my courage, -and being so expert a marksman. How contrary -to one’s expectation things often happen! I imagined -they would have laughed at me for my cowardice; and -by mistake, and mere chance, I was looked upon as -one of more than common courage as well as conduct.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Whilst they were cutting up the bull, I could not -forbear gazing with admiration on those which they -called wild cattle, and in fact they are so; but they are -so like those in England, that I could then perceive no -manner of difference: nor have I been able since to -discover any, except in two trivial particulars; the horns, -I take it, of our English bulls are somewhat shorter, -and their bellowings deeper. When we had cut up -our beef, we roasted some part of it, and pleased ourselves -with the thoughts of our masters having left us -behind, because we should not spoil their sport; we -happened, however, on better luck than they, and had -<span class='pageno' id='Page_122'>122</span>not only beef to eat sooner than they, but got some -ready to dress for them at the place of rendezvous at -night. This bull-beef, you may be sure, could not be -any thing extraordinary, nor any ways equal to the -flesh of such as are tame; especially after it had run so -far, and so hard, before it was killed. These wild -cattle will give the hunters a chase sometimes of several -miles together after they are wounded; which makes -the flesh but indifferent meat, especially if it be a bull; -but people in want are glad of what comes first to -hand; for these wild cattle are a great help to such as -live in the remote parts, who, in necessitous times, -come here a hunting. However, they are frequently -found in another vast tract of forest land of some hundred -miles extent; of which, and of their supposed original, -I shall have an occasion hereafter to give a particular -account. The place where we baited at noon, -and lay this night, were very agreeable and delightful -groves; and indeed, all this country is so, for several -days’ journey together. It abounds with wild honey, -wild boars, and such a variety of pleasant fruits, that -men may not only find enough to satisfy their hunger -and thirst, but to indulge their luxurious appetites, -without the fatigue of any cultivation; and there are -many that live in a state of indolence and ease.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Amongst the most wholesome as well as delicious -fruits of the earth, and that which I first tasted of here, -is their faungidge; it grows (as my companion showed -me) in the thickest woods. They search first for the -plant, which is a tender creeper, or wild vine that takes -hold of a tree or any thing near it, twining round the -trunk and shooting into several branches like a vine. -I never perceived that it bore any fruit, and was surprised -when they told me it was the root of this which -produced the faungidge; however, instead of digging -at the root, they went at least half a dozen yards from -it, and struck the ground with the points of their lances -to observe where it sounded hollow; and digging there -they found the faungidge. The root spreads a great -way under ground, and but few of the branches bear -<span class='pageno' id='Page_123'>123</span>the faungidge; so that it would be to little purpose to -trace it from the spot, where it appears above ground.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The first I saw was not much less in bulk than one of -our gallon runlets; it is red and very smooth without, -and the coat is as thin as parchment; the inside is -white and has a milky juice; it eats as soft as a water -melon, but has no seeds in it; it is both meat and -drink, very wholesome, and always eaten raw.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The verlaway is of the same species, and in all respects -much like it; with this difference only, that the -skin of the latter is thinner, but so tough that it must -be pared with a knife. There is another kind, called -the verlaway-voler, which is reckoned unwholesome: I -once saw a man, who had tasted some of it swell immediately, -and was ready to die; but by giving him -some melted fat to drink, he brought it up and soon -recovered. This verlaway-voler is easily known, for it -is much more beautiful to the eye than the other; and -the leaf which springs from it is very different.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The next day I was extremely diverted: for deaan -Murnanzack did not leave us as he did the day before. -In the morning, we saw a bull alone in the midst of a -large plain; the deaan, by way of amusement, ordered -us to stop, whilst he and two more drove my cattle -toward the bull; who no sooner saw them, than he -roared and tore up the ground with his horns, as if he -expected some enemy to oppose him; but finding they -were cows, he showed an inclination to be better acquainted -with them. The deaan and his companions -hid themselves under cover of the cows; they let them -graze a little, and then drove them forwards, till the -wild bull was amongst them; as soon as he put his -nose to a cow’s tail, deaan Murnanzack, concealed -under another cow’s belly, stuck a lance in his flank; -away he ran with it, but not far before he had another -in his side; and now they had room for the sport they -aimed at, which was not unlike (as I have been informed) -the diversion of a Spanish bull feast. Several, -by this time, joined in the chase; he ran nearly a mile -outright before he stopped, and turned to his pursuers; -<span class='pageno' id='Page_124'>124</span>which they always do, when they are closely beset; -and then every one must take care of himself: for it is -a very dangerous encounter, and so it was here, the -beast grew outrageous, and turning upon them, ran -directly at the man who first wounded him, whilst -another from behind, threw a lance into his flank; then -the bull turned again, as he always does, to the person -who last wounded him; and the hunters being divided -to take him all ways, and keeping at a good distance -likewise, as well to prevent hurting one another, as to -give him room to play in, they at length killed him; -but this sometimes proves a very tragical pastime.</p> - -<p class='c007'>This night we lay in a wood, where we found -faungidge in abundance; thus we lived deliciously -with only the natural produce of the country. I tied -up my calves every night that my cows might not stray, -and was forced to rise two or three times, to see that -none of my cattle got amongst the wild ones; for when -they do, it is no small trouble to catch them again; for -whenever they see the others run, they follow likewise, -as fast as they can.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The next day at noon we halted at a spring, which -rises from the highest hill in this island, called Vohitch-maner, -or red hill; vohitch signifying a hill, or mountain. -I drove my cattle into a fine valley, where there -was fine grass, but a wild bull came amongst them, -and covered one of my cows. I had a great inclination -to kill him, though I almost shook for fear; they are -terrible creatures to any body’s apprehension, who is -not used to them, and my fear was the cause of my ill -success; for concealing myself under another cow, I -took such an awkward aim at him, that I struck one of -my own herd instead of him. However, as the wound -did not prove mortal, I concealed it; not so much out -of any apprehension I had of my master’s anger, as -out of fear of being laughed at, for wounding a tame -cow, instead of a wild bull.</p> - -<p class='c007'>We set up early this afternoon, in a place commodiously -situated near some good water; and then we -went out to search for wild honey and faungidge. I -<span class='pageno' id='Page_125'>125</span>had the good fortune to discover a large hole in a hollow -tree, that was full of the former; I made a fire -presently, and with a brand smoked the bees out. In -the next place I cut down a vounturk, to make a vessel -like a tub, to put my honey in. This vounturk is a -tree or plant, (for I don’t well know what to call it,) of -a very particular shape and nature. It grows upright -as an arrow, about sixteen or eighteen feet in length, is -thin below, thick in the middle, and taper again above, -like a nine pin. At the top there are two or three -branches, that bear leaves of a great length; in the -spring they have blossoms, but I never saw any fruit -that came to perfection; the outer bark is whitish, like -old lead, and full of long thorns, which are easily -struck off with a lance. We likewise cut the bark all -round, and the tree immediately falls down, not being -able to support itself: after this we take away what -length we want, and pull out the spongy substance on -the inside, till we come within three or four inches of -the bottom. By this means we make a vessel light -and easy of carriage, and in one of these I secured my -honey. The juice of this vounturk is good liquor, and -even fit to boil any thing in, when water is scarce. I -found also some faungidge. At my return I paid my -respects to deaan Murnanzack, and made him a present -of some of my honey, which is a compliment our lords -always expect.</p> - -<p class='c007'>It was now night, and they were going a beef hunting: -when they set out on purpose to kill the best -beasts, they always make choice of the darkest nights. -They permitted me, on my request, to accompany them; -but first ordered me to wash myself, as they themselves -did, that we might not smell either of smoke or sweat. -I would have taken two lances according to custom, -but they obliged me to leave one behind me, lest two -together might rattle in my hand. These cattle feed -only in the night, and if all these precautions were not -taken, they could never be surprised; for they are -always on their guard, snorting with their noses, and -listening after their pursuers. We can hear them roar, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_126'>126</span>and bellow a great way off; by which we know where -they are, and we are forced always to go round till -they are directly to the windward of us; for otherwise -they would soon scent us. As soon as we had got the -wind and cattle right ahead, and were within hearing, -we walked with all the circumspection imaginable, -cropping the top of the grass with our hands, as close -as possible, to mimic, as well as we could, the noise a -cow makes when she bites it. The moment they heard -us they were all hush; not one of them bellowed or -grazed, but seemed to listen with the utmost attention: -which when we perceived, we all stood still likewise -without a whisper, whilst three or four, who understood -the nature of it best, continued cropping the -grass. When the cattle had listened, till (as we imagined) -they took us for some of their own species, they -returned to their grazing, and we walked with caution -nearer, still mimicking them as we moved softly along. -Deaan Murnanzack ordered me to keep behind, lest -they should discern my white skin, and be startled; -he also gave me his lamber to cover myself with, which -was a large piece of black silk, so that if I had been -near them, they could have seen nothing but my face, -the grass being above knee deep.</p> - -<p class='c007'>At length we got amongst them, so that one of our -men (as he told me) with some grass in his hand, and -under the cover of a bush, took hold of the dug of a -cow, and finding she gave no milk, he concluded she -was not lean; for which reason he stuck his lance -instantly into her belly, and drew it out again, making -no other motion. The cow thus wounded will give a -spring perhaps, and make a noise, as if another had -run her horns against her; but this is so common -amongst them, that the herd is not any ways disturbed -by it: so that our people stuck three or four after this -manner, and left them, with an intention to come the -next morning, and track them by their blood; for it is -very dangerous to come near them in the night. As -soon as they find themselves sorely wounded, they run -from their companions, and will attack the first man -<span class='pageno' id='Page_127'>127</span>they see. They are generally found actually dead, or -fallen down in some wood, or shelter of bushes, as if -they industriously endeavoured to conceal themselves. -No sooner had we determined to depart, and I had -returned deaan Murnanzack his lamber, than a calf, that -had been mortally wounded, began to make a hideous -uproar, and running about, made the herd jealous; -so that they ran away, and the calf made directly at -me, and knocked me backwards; I caught hold of -his leg, but cried out lustily for help. This accident -afforded much mirth, and fixed a joke upon me afterwards; -as a stout fellow to cry out for assistance to -cope with a calf. However, they took him, cut him to -pieces, and carried him away; of whom we made a -very good supper. I have been informed, that notwithstanding -these cattle are so wild, the cows will sometimes -stand still to have their dugs handled, and several -of them have been milked in the dark into a horn; -however, as I never attempted this myself, I cannot -absolutely vouch it for truth; yet as I have heard so -many affirm it, I think there are no just grounds to -contradict it.</p> - -<p class='c007'>We were in no hurry to get home, for not only our -cattle, but we too, lived as well as we could desire -there; so that though we kept going forwards, yet we -made several days more of our journey than we should -have done. A day or two after this beef hunting, we -had an accidental diversion of another kind: our dogs -had got the scent of some wild hogs that were got into -a thicket, and were very busy in running round it; but -could find no entrance for a considerable time. At -length, however, they found the path which the swine -had made, and attempted to enter the wood by it: the -passage was defended by a large boar, who fought the -dogs with great fury, and wounded one of them in a -very dangerous manner. Now, what with the dogs on -the one hand, and the swine on the other, there was -such a yelping, grunting, and howling, that the woods -rang with their noise; and one would have imagined, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_128'>128</span>all the hogs in the island had met there by consent, in -order to revenge their quarrel upon us.</p> - -<p class='c007'>We laid down our burdens, and some of us went up -to them, armed with guns and lances. Deaan Murnanzack -shot the boar that wounded his dog; whereupon -another in an instant defended the entrance, and fought -so resolutely, that neither the dogs, nor we ourselves, -could come near the cattle that were within; till we -had made a passage behind them with our hatchets and -lances, and then fired upon some of the most resolute, -who turned upon us. The rest perceiving themselves -attacked behind, fought their way through the dogs, -and ran away, with the dogs after them. Words cannot -describe the noise there was, especially after a -number of them were wounded. We found seven dead, -besides several others so wounded that they could not -make off. We picked out only one or two of the fattest, -for there are very few that will eat them. I did not -dare to take any, on account of my office of killing -beeves, and the eating of swine’s flesh is accounted so -contemptible a thing, that I should have lessened my -dignity, and perhaps been degraded; which, whatever -mean thoughts I might possibly have, as to the honour -of it, I had too good an opinion of its value to part -with it for the gratification of my appetite in one meal: -for in this case they are curious to a punctilio, that if -the daughter of a king be married to any one that is -not of a royal family, their children are not admitted -to the honour of killing beeves, notwithstanding the -father be a freeman, and a chief amongst his neighbours.</p> - -<p class='c007'>We used every evening to sit down near the prince, -and discourse of one thing or another to divert the -time; now, though it is a common custom amongst the -princes here, to converse with every body in the most -familiar manner, yet they preserve a decent state and -distinction. The people throughout the whole island -pay a religious regard to dreams, and imagine that -their good demons (for I cannot tell what other name -<span class='pageno' id='Page_129'>129</span>to give their inferior deities, which, as they say, attend -on their owleys) tell them in their dreams what ought -to be done, or warn them of what ought to be avoided; -more especially after a sacrifice, or a prayer to God, and -an invocation of this demon. I well remember our -discourse this evening turned principally upon this -topic. The next morning deaan Murnanzack came to -me as I was alone, and discoursed very freely with me -about several things; and in particular he advised me -to take what beef I wanted, and could carry with me; -for we should have no more opportunities of killing any -wild cattle. Observing him fond of conversation, I -told him, if there were any dependance on dreams, as -some had asserted the night before, I should incur his -anger that day; having dreamt that I was at home -with my parents, and all my relations round about me; -that my pockets were full of gold, and they added still -to my store. This, I said, did not only throw me into a -melancholy when I awaked, to find myself naked in a -wood and in a strange country, but it likewise gave -me some concern, for that I had always observed, not -only when I was a lad in England, but since under my -master Mevarrow, that to dream of plenty of gold -money was a certain indication of anger. At this -deaan Murnanzack smiled, and made answer, “I wonder -that you, who laughed but last night at the talk of -God’s sending dreams by the good demons, should today -be afraid of one.” “However,” says he, “I dare -say you will be once mistaken; for I don’t know any thing -you can do to make me angry.” I would not have my -reader imagine, that I have introduced this story, -merely for the sake of telling an idle dream; but it -proved the introduction to something very remarkable, -and furnished us with a discourse the next evening, -that may possibly be thought an agreeable amusement.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The next day we roasted our beef and laid it to cool, -in order to bind up in a burden, which we called an -enter, to carry at our backs. All I had to do, was to -provide for myself, and what with my beef and honey -I was pretty well loaded, and as well contented, for I -<span class='pageno' id='Page_130'>130</span>lived in plenty; my honey, likewise, mingled with -water, made a pleasant drink. This was the last day -of our passage through these groves and habitations of -the wild cattle; some of which they attempted once -more to surround, more for the sake of their diversion -than want of beef: and in this, not wilfully, but for -want of knowledge, I spoiled all their sport, by traversing -the way they were running, which was directly towards -the place where deaan Murnanzack lay in ambush -for them. This made them run quite another way, -and put him into such a violent passion at first, that he -lifted up his lance, and frowning, threatened to kill me, -and, indeed, I expected no less, which made me get -out of his sight as soon as possible, being apprehensive -of some such barbarous treatment as I had before met -with from deaan Mevarrow. This prince, however, was -of a more generous disposition; for when his passion -was over, he sent for me in a very courteous manner, -and desired I would spend the evening with him as -usual, and sit down by him, which, accordingly, I did. -After we had discoursed on a variety of subjects, he, at -last, pressed me to give him some account of the customs -of my country, and in a more particular manner -to inform him, what god or gods we worship, since I -seemed to have so little veneration for theirs; and that -I would be ingenuous, and tell him, as I had been a -great traveller, what things I had seen, in order to improve -the evening to the best advantage. “And pray,” -says he, “what God is that you adore?” Upon this the -company drew round me, and I began by asking them -in the first place, if they were not satisfied that there -was a God above the skies? I could not say above the -heavens, because there was no term in their language -expressive of them; nor had they, as I could perceive, -any idea of what we christians mean by heaven, as the -peculiar residence of the Almighty, and the glorious -mansions of the saints after their decease. They told -me that they firmly believed there was a God above, -who was the supreme Lord of all other gods, demons, -or spirits, of what nature or kind soever. “That very -<span class='pageno' id='Page_131'>131</span>God,” said I, “is the deity we adore, for we know of no -other God, nor do we pay the tribute of divine worship to -any other object than this one—this supreme and only -God.” “Do not you then,” said they, “make prayers -and sacrifices, and invoke some guardian demons to -assist you in the knowledge of the will of that God; -and to warn you of any approaching dangers? If your -countrymen had such owleys as ours, your good demons -would have assisted you that night you lay upon the -sands, and have told you in dreams of the danger, and -directed you to escape before the morning.”</p> - -<p class='c007'>To this I replied, “that all good men in England acknowledged -an overruling Providence; and I am fully -persuaded, that it was by the providence of that divine -power that I was preserved at that time; and why God -did not see fit that the rest should save their lives, is a -secret I do not pretend to pry into; but I cannot conceive -that your owleys, to which you seem to pay a -divine homage, and pray to for their aid and assistance, -should have a spirit or a god within them; or visit you -in the night when you are asleep, and forewarn you of -such misfortunes as you would willingly avoid. I plainly -perceive, that they are nothing more than pieces of -wood, and alligators’ teeth dressed up; I plainly discern, -likewise, how they are made; and I am certain -that other wood, and other alligators’ teeth are not living -spirits, have no power of speech, and are incapable -of knowing things present, much less things to come; -for which reason, we look upon it as an act of idolatry -to pay that adoration, which belongs to the great -God alone, to any created thing, or the likeness of any -created thing above, or here below, since he has strictly -forbid the worship of any thing but himself.”</p> - -<p class='c007'>Deaan Murnanzack listened to this serious discourse -of mine with abundance of attention, and then turned -to some of his people and argued with them for some -time; partly in vindication of what I had asserted, and -partly in endeavouring to explain to them the nature -of their owleys, which I am sensible I had not a just -notion of at that time. But I was too young when first -<span class='pageno' id='Page_132'>132</span>I was reduced to this slavery, and had neither friends -nor books to assist me; besides, I was not capable of -making such just remarks then, as I could do now.</p> - -<p class='c007'>But, to proceed; as soon as the deaan had done discoursing -with them, he turned again to me and said, -“To me it seems very strange, that you, who, but this -very morning, told me a dream of your own, and found -it happened true, should argue against these owleys of -ours; for you mistake us; it is not the wood, nor the -alligators’ teeth that we worship; but there are certain -guardian demons, who take care of all nations, families, -and private persons; and should you be possessed -of one of these owleys, and give it the name of some -guardian spirit, it will undoubtedly attend you; for -how could you know this morning that I should be -angry with you, had not one of these good demons -visited you and discovered it; and if you had not had -such friendly notice, you might, probably, have been -killed, though I did not design it; but men’s passions -are unruly, and I was highly provoked, I own, though -I say not this to reproach you, as if I imagined you -wilfully spoiled our sport, for I am fully satisfied you -meant no harm. I only mention this to put you in -mind that you argue against yourself; besides, if the -spirits of our forefathers, or these guardian demons -did not declare these to mankind, how should they -know them? No one could tell that I should be angry -with you, when you had given me no offence; neither -did you intend to provoke me, and nothing was done -that any such accident should have happened. You -do not imagine, I hope, that the great God himself came -down to tell you, since these inferior spirits, of whom -there are such numbers, could more conveniently attend -you. But you observed just now, as I remember, that -the great supreme God had forbid you the worship of -any thing but himself. Pray did any white man ever -see this great God above? or does he often condescend -to talk with your people, and not with ours?”</p> - -<p class='c007'>To which I made answer, that no man ever saw God, -but some of our forefathers, many ages ago, heard his -<span class='pageno' id='Page_133'>133</span>voice when he descended in a cloud. “But,” says he, “if -this was so many years ago, and there is no man now -living, black or white, that ever heard the voice of this -God, how are you sure it is true? And since, as you -allow it was many ages ago, things may be so altered -or misrepresented from what they were when your first -forefathers told them, that you cannot rely upon their -certainty.” I was here at some loss, as they had no -knowledge of letters, and consequently, I could not -make them comprehend any thing of the sacred scriptures; -I only told them, therefore, that we had a way -of preserving the memory of things, which they were -wholly unacquainted with; and by that means, I -said, we had an account of the beginning of the -world, and of its creation by God, and that I could -tell them a great many strange things in relation -thereto, which they then seemed very desirous of -hearing.</p> - -<p class='c007'>And, accordingly, I told them that the world was -originally dark, and a confused chaos or mass; and that -God, by the word of his power, made the sun and moon, -the beasts, fish, fowl, trees, herbs, and every thing else. -They still persisted in their first objection, and as they imagined -with much more reason than before; “for,” said -one of them, “though it is possible you may have a better -method of preserving the memory of things than we -have, yet you could never have the knowledge of what -was done before there was any man created.” To this I -replied, that God hath revealed the knowledge of this, -and much more to particular persons; which, they -listening attentively to, I went on to the creation of -man, and then of woman’s being made out of a rib, -which God took from him while he was asleep. At -this they all broke out into astonishment and laughter; -and deaan Murnanzack said it was a manifest untruth, -and that, therefore, it was a shame to tell such a story -with a serious countenance; by this, he said, he was -convinced that all the rest was false; for, were this true, -a woman would have a rib more than a man, and a -man be defective on one side.</p> - -<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_134'>134</span>Here I was guilty of a gross error through ignorance; -however, I think myself obliged ingenuously to confess -it. I hope our divines and all good christians will -consider the circumstances I was in, and readily forgive -me; for I had so little wit, as peremptorily to insist on -the truth of it, and affirmed what I had heard, when a -child, from illiterate persons, that a man had one rib -less on one side than the other; nay, I had so much -assurance as to put the whole argument upon this issue, -and offered to lay any wager on the fact. The prince -laughed at me, though he was willing to be convinced; -we had two women with us, one was very lean, whom -he ordered to be called, her ribs were told and found to -be equal; and after that, a man was examined, and his -ribs were the same. They were not all of them, indeed, -convinced of the exact number, nor could I myself, in -attempting to count them after them. From this time, -I perceived deaan Murnanzack treated all I had said -on religion with contempt, and immediately resumed -his former objection with more vigour, and said, that -to talk of what was done before man was created, was -perfect nonsense; that what I had asserted in relation -to God’s conversing with men, and telling them such -and such things, had no manner of evidence; and that the -things I pretended to know and talk of, were, in short, -nothing more than old women’s tales. “However,” -says he, “pray go on, and give us some farther account -of this God of yours, who, in former ages, was thus familiar -with mankind.” Then I went on with the scripture -story of God’s displeasure with the whole world, -and the flood which destroyed all men and beasts on -the earth, except those in the ark; and of Noah’s taking -male and female of every species into it to preserve -them. Upon this, one of them shortly replied, “if they -had been all destroyed, could not that God who made -them at first, make more of them at his pleasure?” But -I went on and told them of the rainbow, that it was appointed -for a sign of God’s promise not to drown the -world again. To this deaan Murnanzack replied, that -they had no such tradition handed down to them; “but -<span class='pageno' id='Page_135'>135</span>besides,” says he, “if none but Noah, with his sons and -daughters, were saved, pray was Noah a white or a -black man?” To which I answered, “Sir, I perceive you -give no credit to what I say of this nature.” He said, -“There are many things which I do not rightly understand, -and shall be glad to be informed of; nay, I would -give credit to any thing that a reasonable man can desire, -but most of these things are no better than old women’s -fictions, and I am fully persuaded that all white men -will not talk thus idly as you do.” These were his very -words, which he repeated several times, and with which -this evening’s conference concluded. It was no small -concern to me to find how the truth suffered by my -weakness; but I was in hopes that deaan Murnanzack, -who was a man of penetration, might consider that I -was but a child when I left England, and for that reason, -not well acquainted with the topics I undertook to -explain.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The next day we went directly forwards, for we were -then past all the wild cattle, and deaan Murnanzack -therefore hastened homewards. About three in the -afternoon, we came to a place where the road divided; -here the prince halted, as I perceived, with no other -view than to take his leave of me, ordering two men to -conduct me and my cattle to his cow-keeper. Here we -parted, and we lay that night near the banks of a river, -which are the boundaries of deaan Murnanzack’s country, -and leads into Madamvovo, the great river which -runs through Anterndroea. To this place where I was -going, all the cattle come to water. As we were passing -through the woods, we met a company of men and women -going to fetch water; they stopped and gazed at -me with admiration, having never seen a white man -before, asking those who accompanied me, who I was? -and from whence I came? who waggishly told them -they found me in the forest among the wild cattle, and -intended to make a present of me to the prince. In -order to carry on the jest, I ran towards the women, -and talking gibberish, frightened one of them to that -degree that she fell into such violent fits, that the rest -<span class='pageno' id='Page_136'>136</span>had much to do to recover her, for which I was afterwards -extremely sorry.</p> - -<p class='c007'>This wood extended from the river about seven miles, -without any break or plain, till within a mile of the -town. It was no small concern to me to think what a -great way I had to drive my cattle to water every other -day, but it did not prove so great a fatigue as I expected; -for there being eight or ten of us, we took -our turns, so that it came to each man’s turn but once -in about sixteen or twenty days; besides, as there was -no grass by the way, there was no impediment or interruption; -and when they returned hungry, they would -go home fast enough of themselves.</p> - -<p class='c007'>As the people here had never seen a white man -before, I was a very surprising sight to them at first; -but they were soon acquainted with me, and I became -of singular service to them: for whenever they had an -ox to kill they were obliged, till now, to go a great way -for one of the royal family; this trouble I saved them, and -lived very plentifully myself by that means. I was frequently -sent for upon these occasions, and had always -my fee, which was four or five ribs to carry home with -me, besides the leg roasted for my entertainment whilst -I was with them. I seldom went without a boy to -wait on me, as there were always several at hand, and -willing enough, because I was able to oblige them with -part of my beef. I had also sufficient to live like those -who are free and generous, in communicating some -portion of whatever they have to their neighbours. As -soon as I came home, I used to put on the pot, and -send messes out to all my acquaintance, which they -did not fail to return when in their power: and it may -be observed in the whole course of this history, that all -the people of this island delight in this free, good-natured, -and sociable way of living.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Whenever I was sent for, the house was always set -in order, the owley dressed, and placed in view. I was -frequently employed to kill a sacrifice, in case of a -circumcision, or when any one was sick; and since I -had the conference above related with deaan Murnanzack, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_137'>137</span>I had the curiosity to listen to their prayers; and -more than once I attempted to speak in favour of the -christian religion. When I mentioned the resurrection -of the body, they told me it must be a mere romance; -and to talk as I did of burning in fire after death, was -to them inconceivable; for (said they) no man can -feel after he is dead, and unless they could see some -person raised from the grave, they would give no credit -to my assertion. I told them farther of God’s appearing, -and giving the ten commandments, but it had no influence -over them; “for” (said they) “all mankind have -the purport and meaning of them by the dictates of -nature.”</p> - -<p class='c007'>Here are laws against adultery, theft, and murder; -and they have such a veneration for their parents, that -they revere them even after death; there is also a fine -inflicted on any one who shall presume to curse another -man’s parents. They never swear profanely, but allow -oaths sometimes requisite, because, as they said, they -were necessary and convenient; and men could not -live one by another if there were not such laws; and -for that reason there was no occasion for the great God -himself to prescribe those rules. The fourth commandment, -indeed, they seem to have no idea of; unless it -be that they allow even their slaves to spend one day -in seven, as they think proper, without control; but -they have no religious duties to perform. And when -informed that we kept it holy, because God rested on -the seventh day, they said this was as improbable as -any thing I had before asserted; and asked, how I -could tell what God did before there was a man living? -And indeed, I could plainly perceive that they despised -me for talking of these things, and looked on me as a -common notorious liar, insomuch that I was obliged to -desist.</p> - -<p class='c007'>In short, I had no way to prove what I asserted: and -that mistake in regard to the rib, in my conversation -with deaan Murnanzack, was a mortifying stroke to -me; and though at first I imagined my ill success in -the argument was wholly to be imputed to my own -<span class='pageno' id='Page_138'>138</span>ignorance, I have since had a thousand scrupulous -thoughts arise in my mind upon that head. And sure -I am, that all was not owing to my weakness, for our -divines have not furnished us with sufficient arguments -to defend it. And I do not know, since miracles are -ceased, but they would find it a difficult task to demonstrate -those truths themselves to these people’s satisfaction. -Nor do I know what miracle could possibly now -be wrought to prove what was done before any mortal -man was in being. Though they are fools enough here -to be imposed on by the umossees, or conjurors, yet -they will entertain no notion of conversing with the -great God. They allow, indeed, that there are demons -or spirits, which may be good or bad, who appear to -them in dreams, and discover to these umossees many -surprising things; yet they do not look upon them to -be more pious or better men than others, though, indeed, -they imagine they are more knowing. The awe, -however, that my education has impressed on my mind -prevented me from joining in their worship, lest it -should be idolatrous; and there never was such a thing -as persecution for religion ever thought of amongst -them; so that I was free to think and do as I thought -proper, so long as I took care not to affront them: and -I think it is both a shame and a sin that it should be -countenanced or practised by any sect of christians -whatsoever. I have not here forgot deaan Mevarrow’s -threatening to kill me at first; but it must be observed -there was nothing more in that transaction than a -secret pride and ill-nature peculiar to the man; as -appeared by deaan Sambo’s preventing him, and reconciling -us, without laying me under any obligation to -join in the ceremony.</p> - -<p class='c007'>I had not lived here above six weeks, before I heard -that deaan Crindo had attacked Rer Mimebolambo’s -town, and reduced it to ashes, killing two men, and -taking some of their wives and children captive, with -almost their whole stock of cattle. This ill news affected -me very much, notwithstanding deaan Mevarrow had -several times in his passion attempted to kill me, yet -<span class='pageno' id='Page_139'>139</span>living so long in his family I could not but be concerned -at their misfortunes. We used to have here a great deal -of flying news with respect to their wars; one day an -account of a battle fought, and the next day a contradiction -of it; their reports being as little to be relied on as -some of our common newspapers at London, so that I -paid but little regard to them. Besides, we lived here at a -distance in peace and plenty, and heard now and then, -perhaps, of the losses sustained by our friends: however, -as we felt none of the miseries ourselves, they -served us for conversation; in which we, like coffeehouse -politicians, sleep in security remote from danger, -censured the conduct of our superiors according to our -several factious inclinations, for facts we knew little or -nothing of, or at most, but by external appearances, -and those too from very precarious reports. Our business -was to make our lives as easy and happy as our -circumstances would permit us; and among the many -things which we met with to divert us, one, I think, -will bear the relation; which was a project of my -governor’s, and proved as profitable as it was entertaining.</p> - -<p class='c007'>There are some people in the remote parts of this -country, whose habitations are in secret recesses in the -woods; they live easy, indolent lives, never come near -a town, nor concern themselves with any affairs of -peace or war, either foreign or domestic. They keep -no cattle, lest the vociferations of their herds or flocks -might possibly betray them, and induce some evil-minded -men to disturb their peace by plundering them -of so valuable a treasure; but content themselves with -small plantations and the product of nature, which is, -indeed, sufficient to support them. They never concern -themselves who is the lord of any particular place, -or sovereign of the whole dominions. Deaan Murnanzack’s -cow-keeper, my governor, formerly lived after -this manner, and by that means was acquainted with -some of their private settlements. As they are very -illiterate, he imagined that I, being a man of a singular -colour, might easily be imposed on them for a prince -<span class='pageno' id='Page_140'>140</span>of Murnanzack’s family; as, indeed, many of our -vulgar people in Europe are, who think the royal -family are something more than mortal, and the nobility -superior in beauty to the rest of the human species. In -short, the farce was agreed to be played, and I was to -have one third of what presents should be made us; he -another, and the persons who composed my retinue the -remainder. Accordingly they procured me a gay silk -lamber, two or three strings of the most glittering beads -for a necklace, and a gun of the best sort to carry on -my shoulder; my assumed character was Rer Mimebolambo, -who living in the most remote parts and far -from them, there was little or no danger of a discovery, -since none of them had ever seen any of the family in -their lives. Twenty of our neighbours made up my -retinue, and we practised or rehearsed our parts three -or four days before we went, they waiting on me, and -calling me by that name and title, that every one might -be perfect, and know his cue. The plot in short was -this:—</p> - -<p class='c007'>We set out in a very formal and pompous march, -with shells blowing in the rear, as is the custom of the -country. The place we proposed to visit was about -ten or twelve miles off; when we came within half a -mile, my governor, and one appointed to attend him, -went as heralds to acquaint them that deaan Murnanzack’s -youngest brother, Rer Mimebolambo, was travelling -that way, and understanding there were some inhabitants -in those parts, desired they would spare him such -provisions as they thought proper for himself and his -retinue. We halted till we thought our envoys had -delivered their message and prepared them for our -reception, then we marched on in form and order. As -soon as we came into their little village I perceived a -mat was spread for me to sit down upon, and the whole -clan, men, women, and children, came crawling upon -their hands and knees to lick my feet. My people -played their parts artfully enough, observing every -punctilio of respect that was due to the person I represented; -for the moment I was seated, one ran to fetch -<span class='pageno' id='Page_141'>141</span>me water, another brought a calabash to receive it, and -a third very obsequiously washed my feet. I ordered my -principal attendant (who was in reality my governor) -to procure a house for me; there were but five in the -whole place, except a few huts or separate apartments -for their children. He soon pitched upon one of the -best, and left the owner to shift for himself.</p> - -<p class='c007'>They stood with awe and attention before me, having -never seen any one command with such authority -before. The chief called a kind of council, and consulted -with them what present was most proper to -make me, in some measure suitable to my dignity. -Several of them returned in a short time with some -gallons of Guinea corn, and more of carravances; but -the old man did not make his appearance till near the -evening, when he brought with him four men loaded; -two with as much honey as they could well carry, and -two with as much carravances; all which were placed -in a very formal manner before me. The old man sat -down at a humble distance, and struck with awe, in a -hesitating tone, made a modest apology, and said, he -hoped I would excuse the meanness of his present; but -as he had no more to command on so short notice, he -should be proud if it met with my acceptance. I -showed a tender concern for the poor man, and cheered -him up, telling him I was well pleased; that what he -had done was a sufficient testimony of his respect, and -more than I expected from him. Upon this, I desired -him to sit down and keep me company, whilst my -people went to visit some of their neighbours; for I -had sent some of them one way and some another, to -collect all they could by fair means, and whatever the -people could spare. I particularly ordered they should -attend me themselves, and taste the provisions they -furnished us with, lest they should be damaged by the -incantation of the umossees. The old man recovered -his spirits in a short time, and began to talk with me -in a more familiar manner, saying, it was no wonder -that my father and his royal family ruled over them, -for God and the demons had peculiarly distinguished -<span class='pageno' id='Page_142'>142</span>us from other men; and, “had I met you,” said he, “in -a wood alone, I should instantly have fallen down, and -paid my duty to you; for the varzachars, or white -men, can never surely be whiter than this young prince -is.” Thus his tongue ran on, expatiating on each feature -of my face, and extolling every part about me in -so lavish a manner, that I could scarce tell what to say -to him; nor did I know when he would have ceased, -but as good fortune would have it, an arch fellow in -my retinue came in, and in a drolling, though very -serious manner, answered him, saying, it is no wonder, -old father, that you stand astonished at the different -colour, the regular features, the graceful symmetry, and -proportion of the prince; but you must consider, -venerable sir, that God has not created all mankind -alike, but is pleased to distinguish those whom he constitutes -for the government of mankind, by making -them in such a particular form, and of such a particular -colour, that no one can be ignorant of their superiority. -For (says he farther) were all of one shape and colour, -people would choose out of their own clan whom they -thought most wise and valiant to be their sovereign -lord and chief commander; and should they happen -not to approve of his conduct, they would abandon him, -perhaps, and live under subjection to some other prince; -but when God appoints any particular men to be -princes and rulers over the rest of mankind, you may -depend upon it, he bestows upon them such excellent -forms, and distinguishes them by such marks that every -one who sees them must know them at first view, must -immediately fall down before them, and acknowledge -their divine right and authority over them. “Ay, ay,” -says the old man, “what you observe is very true; for -I remember my father went once in two or three years -to carry honey to deaan Mernindgarevo, who was deaan -Crindo’s father; and, as I have been informed, his skin -was of copper colour, though his hair was black, indeed, -like ours.” “Yes,” says the other, “he was somewhat -different, but not very much; deaan Mungazeungarevo, -however, who was this prince’s father, married a lady -<span class='pageno' id='Page_143'>143</span>from Port Dauphine, who was a white man’s daughter.” -“Yes, yes,” says the old man, “no doubt there is something -in that, but I have not a right notion of those -marks which you mention by which God distinguishes -princes. Are all princes, pray, of his fine colour and -make? And has God set such glorious marks on all -kings?” “I cannot say,” says the other, “but that this is -the whitest that was ever heard of.” In the interim came -some of the people who were sent for, bringing their -presents and offering to lick my feet, which, to my no -small satisfaction, put a stop to their insipid conferences.</p> - -<p class='c007'>I found that my people had formed this artful scheme -among themselves to delude these poor peasants, and -carried it on with good success; for one of these last, as -I was informed, asked how he should know the person -to whom he was to pay his respects? And was roundly -answered, do you think God has not distinguished -princes from other men? You will know him at first -sight by his fine colour and majestic mien.</p> - -<p class='c007'>But I fear I have tired my reader with the too -tedious narration of this petty farce. However, it -plainly appears, that it turned out to all our advantages; -we proposed at first to have proceeded further into the -country, but were so well provided with whatever we -wanted, that we had no occasion for more, every man -having as much as he could well carry. So the next -day all made up their enters, except myself, who still -kept up my grandeur. When we came home, we -divided the spoil according to contract, and though I -sent several presents to my neighbours, I had sufficient -for two or three months.</p> - -<p class='c007'>This was too happy a life to last long. Before a -year came about, I was ordered home again with my -cattle, three men being sent by deaan Mevarrow to -conduct me. The civil war had now subsisted about a -year and a half, which reduced every one to the greatest -difficulties, so that they wanted these cattle to live -upon, the rest being consumed by themselves, or taken -by their adversaries; the enemy, however, was in as -<span class='pageno' id='Page_144'>144</span>bad circumstances, if not worse. We returned the -same way we came, through the forest of wild cattle, -and hunted as we went along till we came to deaan -Afferrer’s town on Yong-gorvo. I was much dejected -all the way, and here I began first to think of making my -escape to some seaport town at the peril of my life; -though it was a long time before I had opportunity to -accomplish it. As soon as I arrived at Rer Mimebolambo’s -town, where my master and his people still -resided, I found none but melancholy countenances; -however, they were glad to see me safely arrived, being -richer by that means than the rest of their neighbours, -whether friends or enemies; for my cattle were considerably -increased. They thanked me, indeed, for my -care, which was all the reward I had; but my master -was too proud and surly to do that; my butchering -office, however, brought me the usual fee, by which -means I lived as well as any of the others.</p> - -<p class='c007'>My employment was still to follow the cow-tail for -the town in general, for nobody was willing to trust -either their children or servants; and deaan Mevarrow -durst not peremptorily command, even his own young -slaves, to do any thing which might hazard their being -taken by the enemy, lest their parents and friends -should resent it, and leave him to live under other -lords. As for his white slave, he had neither parents -nor relations to mourn his loss if killed or taken; and -for that reason was the only proper person to be exposed -to danger.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The war was not carried on with so much vigour as -at first, for their courage on all sides was pretty well -abated; nor was there so much advantage arising from -the plunder of one another, as at the beginning; but it -was not long before Chahary and Frukey, who were -our original enemies, heard that we had cattle; and -one day, as I was tending them at some considerable -distance from the town, they, with two hundred men in -a body, surprised and took them, and pursued me in a -most violent manner; firing and darting their lances, -yelling out, kill him, cut him to pieces, &c.: however, I -<span class='pageno' id='Page_145'>145</span>got the start of them, and fled into a thicket, which was -so full of prickles and strong large thorns, that I was -most miserably scarified from head to foot; nevertheless -I concealed myself in the midst of it. They still followed -me with their hideous cries, beginning to cut -down a passage in order to come at me; but just as I -was on the very brink of despair, I observed them all -on a sudden run as fast back again. It was some time -before I could comprehend the meaning of it: till at -length, I perceived some people had been alarmed, and -came upon them; so that now they found it difficult -to save their own lives. They could not drive off the -cattle, but resolving to do as much mischief as they -could, they killed some, and others they wounded, and -then fled. I was obliged to keep my station, and was -still apprehensive, that some of them would be driven -upon me; till by the noise of the guns, I found, that -they went farther from me; I then ventured to creep -out, and perceived one of their chief men was fallen, -and wounded with two lances in his hand. He looked -me full in the face with his eyes swimming, and was -going to speak, when I snatched one of the lances out -of his hand, and told him, it was my time now; and as -he was my enemy in a double capacity, I immediately -struck him dead. When our people first saw me they -imagined that I was cut with lances, for I was all over -bloody. My flesh was torn in several places, my feet -were almost cut to pieces, and many large thorns were -still visible in them. So that when I recovered from -the fright I was in, and came to be cool, I was in -excessive torment. The women and children soon -helped to carry the slain cattle into the town, there not -being above fifteen alive, and those most barbarously -used. Whilst these were busy with the beasts, I told -deaan Mevarrow that I had taken two lances from one -that seemed to be mortally wounded; though alive -when I left him at the side of the thicket. I durst not -own that I had laid violent hands on him, for some of -our people were his near relations, and I did not know -but they might privately seek revenge, for they lamented -<span class='pageno' id='Page_146'>146</span>his loss, and begged his body, in order to bury it; -which was readily granted.</p> - -<p class='c007'>When I came home, my mistress was very kind to -me, and ordered one of her slaves to wash and dress -my wounds, and pick out the thorns. It was some time -before I was perfectly well, and it was no small comfort -to me, that I had no more cattle to take care of: -though I was conscious, at the same time, of the ill consequence -that would soon attend the want of them. -However, we had beef enough for some few days; and -more than we could well dispense with, whilst it was -sweet.</p> - -<p class='c007'>I was no sooner recovered, than my master found out -another employment for me, which was to dig in the -woods for wild yams; all our beef was now spent, and -scarcely any thing else was to be found hereabouts to live -upon: we now severely felt the miseries of a civil war; -and so must all countries wherever they are, feel in proportion -to their circumstances, whether christian or -heathen. I went a long way sometimes before I could -find sufficient for my master and mistress, and myself, -being seldom able to bring home more than would serve -one of us for a meal the next day: I, indeed, always -made sure of one private meal; for I took care to kindle -a fire, and roast some of them in the woods.</p> - -<p class='c007'>One morning just about sunrising, as my master -and some of the chiefs were sitting at the town-gate, -condoling with each other on account of the sad state -of their affairs, deaan Mevarrow said, he had tasted no -beef for some considerable time; and asked, if there -were any cattle near them? They told him, none that -either belonged to him, or any of Rer Mimebolambo’s -people; but there was one in deaan Mephontey’s jurisdiction, -about four or five miles off, who had several -good fat beeves. He immediately ordered me and another -man to bring away one of the best of those beasts -with as much privacy and expedition as we could. I -began to make several excuses, and said I was afraid to -go upon so dangerous an adventure: besides (said I) -as I am the only white man you have amongst all your -<span class='pageno' id='Page_147'>147</span>people should I be seen at a distance, they will know -me immediately to be your slave, and by that means -you yourself will be discovered. All I could urge had -no influence over him; he was resolutely bent that I -should go, and ordered the man to provide a rope that -instant. I begged on my knees that he would send -another in my stead, but to no purpose; however, -whilst he turned away, and was speaking to some other -people, I withdrew, in hopes that when he did not see -me, he would substitute another in my post; but the -old villain turning short and perceiving what I aimed at, -took up his gun and fired at me; the shot went through -the straw cap I had on, and I was so near him, that -the wadding struck my back. Finding he had not -killed me, he took up a lance, and before any one could -stop his hand, he threw it at me. He raved, and gave -me all the opprobrious language he could think of. As -to swearing, they are not any ways addicted to it; a -custom too prevalent amongst us christians, to the -shame and reproach both of high and low. However, -at last he was pacified, and on my submission, and the -solicitations of his friends, he forgave me; but peremptorily -insisted on my obedience to his commands. As -there was no remedy, I proceeded with the man, though -with many bitter reflections on my wayward fortune, -and state of bondage.</p> - -<p class='c007'>We soon came near the place to which we were directed, -and after we had wandered about some short -time, we espied about half a score of cows grazing; our -next concern was to see if any cow-keeper was tending -them. To confess ingenuously, I was scarcely ever in -more fear in my whole life; the noise of the pretty little -lizards, who hop about the trees, and create a rustling -amongst the leaves, appeared at that time in my ears -like the rushing out of so many men from an ambuscade; -but after we had listened very attentively, and -taken a short tour with the utmost precaution, we at -length ventured to sally out from behind the covert of -the trees, and pitch upon one that was for our purpose; -my comrade took the rope, which till then he had -<span class='pageno' id='Page_148'>148</span>twisted about his middle, and secured her; we had -much ado to get her from the rest of the herd; but at -last we mastered her, and drove her through the woods, -for we thought it safest to avoid all open places, and by -noon we reached home. In a few minutes she was cut -up by a dozen hands at once, for fear the right owner -should have missed her, and should follow our track. -The meat was divided into two hundred pieces, and -distributed to the same number of men. My partner -and I had the udder, and a slice of the buttock, which -is the customary fee to such as bring in either a stolen -beast, or one taken from an enemy; as almost every -one in the town had a small portion, all of it was despatched -immediately; and the next day we were in the -same plight as we were in before.</p> - -<p class='c007'>It was now winter, and as the stalks of the yams are -then withered, they are very difficult to be found; insomuch -that we were reduced to the utmost distress, -and almost famished. If we could get a meal once a -day it was luxurious living; when the children, therefore, -cried for food, though they had none all day, their -mothers could with authority take them up short, and -say, would you be gluttons? Did you not eat yesterday? -These shocking taunts from their poor and distressed -parents, I heard for some months together; and -our calamitous circumstances were visible in our ghastly -countenances. Here were no wars, no acts of hostility -now; our enemies never concerned themselves about -us, nor we with them. Thus we lived for eight or nine -months after we had lost our cattle. Our enemies, -however, were in a worse condition, if possible, than -we were; because deaan Murnanzack and his brother, -who lived on the other side, frequently interrupted their -repose, and deprived them of the only happiness that -attends a state of poverty; and that is, to sleep away -one half of their tedious hours, and so lull the acute -sense of their misfortunes.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Deaan Crindo, and, indeed, every body else, sincerely -wished for a peace, without finding any expedient -to accomplish it; and though deaan Murnanzack’s -<span class='pageno' id='Page_149'>149</span>success had made them despair of one upon any -honourable terms, yet Providence threw an accident in -the way, by which it was effected. Rer Vovvern, king -of Feraignher, which is St. Augustin-bay country, had -declared war against Woozington, our common enemy; -and had sent an ambassador, one Ry-Nanno by name, -a very able and experienced person, whose commission -was to reconcile the contending lords of Anterndroea; -and procure their friendship and assistance in the common -cause. No sooner was he arrived at Fennoarevo, -than the joyful news spread round the country, and -reached our ears. Deaan Crindo, without any hesitation, -permitted Ry-Nanno to make the first overtures from -him to his nephew Murnanzack; to whose residence -the ambassador was then gone when he heard it.</p> - -<p class='c007'>It was with no small reluctance, that this prince listened -to a peace; for not only his uncle’s deportment, -but that of his sons too, was so inhuman and savage, -in destroying the cattle belonging to their nearest relations, -rooting up their plantations, and committing -other flagrant enormities, that he almost forgot his own -private wrongs, and looked upon deaan Crindo as the -general enemy of mankind, who, to gratify his unruly -passions, endeavoured to lay his country waste; notwithstanding -he himself, at the first breaking out of the -quarrel, had shown him so glorious an example. With -what generosity did he treat both Crindo and Mundumber, -and all who belonged to them? How careful was -he of their towns and effects? Evidently demonstrating -that he aimed at nothing more than doing himself justice, -and deciding a controversy that was too warmly -pursued, and that the murder of men in cool blood, -and the destruction of countries, were actions of horrid -impiety. And as Ry-Nanno told me afterwards, it was -his innate virtue that at last determined him to a reconciliation; -for he thought the Supreme Being could never -look down with a favourable eye on a man who would -refuse to relieve his fellow-creatures from such calamities -as his countrymen then laboured under. And this -was the principal motive, in the height of his success, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_150'>150</span>to waive the prosecution of his own interest, when it -stood in competition with the public good. These were -the truly noble sentiments and generous resolutions of -this great man, notwithstanding his contempt of revelation; -or, at least, of the christian religion, as I had represented -it to him in a disadvantageous light. I wish -our priests who build so much on their superior knowledge -of God’s will, would be as exemplary in their -lives and conversations, and would teach princes as -well as others, to be in reality so truly just, honourable, -and good as this gallant black prince was in all his actions; -and yet I doubt not, but he will be stigmatized -with the odious character of an illiterate heathen.</p> - -<p class='c007'>As soon as Ry-Nanno had concluded his negotiation -with deaan Murnanzack, he passed by deaan Afferrer, -well knowing he would acquiesce with what his brother -had done, and came to us, in order to compromise the -quarrel we were engaged in with Chahary and Frukey. -He condemned them for their rashness in the prosecution -of their private resentments to the ruin of themselves -and their country, and told them it was represented -in a very bad light to all the kings on the island. -He met with no great difficulty in the accomplishment -of the reconciliation he aimed at; which being effected, -he told them that Rer Vovvern had a pique against -Woozington, for several very gross affronts. Amongst -others, he had called a dog by the name of Rer Vovvern; -and Ry-Nanno expected he should wait on them -next summer to beg their assistance against Woozington; -but his errand was at that time principally out of -friendship, to put an end to their destructive divisions. -In a few days a peace was concluded and publicly -proclaimed all over the country.</p> - -<p class='c007'>While Ry-Nanno was delivering his first speech to -Rer Mimebolambo and deaan Mevarrow, I observed -that he fixed his eye attentively upon me, and seemed -to view me with some concern; and calling to me in -broken English—you, white man, come hither. When -he asked me my name, he turned to my master and -asked, here is a white bird among a parcel of crows; -<span class='pageno' id='Page_151'>151</span>in our country, indeed, they are common enough, ships -come there frequently, but then they wear clothes, and -eat and drink with our lords. This poor young lad looks -piteously: why do you suffer him to go naked? Pray -show some charity to a distressed stranger, and do not -use him with inhumanity. Deaan Mevarrow answered, -I have used him more tenderly than he deserves; you -do not know how his friends served deaan Crindo. Yes, -says Ry-Nanno, I know the whole story perfectly well; -and that deaan Crindo treated them in a barbarous -manner in refusing to let them go at their request to a -seaport, where ships come, in order to return to their -native home. Had Rer Vovvern this white man, he -would give him some of the clothes which his countrymen -have left behind them, and take as much care of -him as he would of his own son, till some ship should -come to carry him home to his friends.</p> - -<p class='c007'>I listened to this discourse with the utmost attention, -and waited with impatience for a favourable opportunity -of talking with him in private, which I did that -night; for he brought part of the cattle which deaan -Murnanzack gave him, as he very well knew that we -had none, and I was sent for to kill a bullock. I embraced -this lucky opportunity, and told him in broken -English, that I would wait on him at night. Accordingly -I went, and he received me with abundance of -humanity and respect. After we were seated, he inquired -into the whole history of our shipwreck and -misfortunes. I gave him a long and faithful detail -thereof, not forgetting to acquaint him with the cruel -treatment I met with from my master, and to set my -wretched state of slavery in the strongest light. The -relation of this melancholy tale, not only made me -weep, but drew tears likewise from his eyes. He told -me he would endeavour to purchase me of deaan Mevarrow, -and desired me not to be too much dejected. -I stayed late with him, and when we parted, the hopes -I had entertained of his kind intentions to release me, -kept me awake all night. The next day, after he had -discoursed with my master about their own private -<span class='pageno' id='Page_152'>152</span>affairs, he asked him if he was inclined to sell his white -man; and in case he was, he would give him in exchange -a handsome young fellow, capable of doing him -more service, or a buccaneer gun, if that would be a -more agreeable compensation.</p> - -<p class='c007'>I was sitting among my fellow-slaves, and waiting -with the utmost eagerness and attention to hear the result -of this conference. When my master ordered me -to stand up, I was in hopes it was to strike the bargain; -but, instead of that, says he, look on that white slave -there; for looking after cattle, digging of wild yams, -and improving of honey, there is not his fellow; and -though a buccaneer gun is the common price of a slave, -I will not take two for him. Ry-Nanno thereupon -showed him three or four slaves, but Mevarrow told -him in direct terms that he would not part with me on -any conditions whatever. Then turning to me, he asked -if I was not willing to dig some wild yams for him, as -well as his other slaves who were just gone on the same -errand before. Not daring to refuse, I was forced to -take up my hatchet, shovel, and lance, and go into the -woods; but instead of searching for yams, I sat down -and wept till I was almost blind. However, I was -under an indispensable obligation to find some to carry -home, which was no easy task, for the stalks were now -withered; yet I made up a bundle, after roasting them, -but had none myself. When I came home, my master -thought I had been idle, and said, you are mightily -concerned I suppose, that Ry-Nanno is not your master. -I went home and laid me down on my mat, and had -nothing but a log of wood under my head for a pillow -till some considerable time after it was dark, and then -I stole privately to Ry-Nanno.</p> - -<p class='c007'>I was no sooner seated, than he told me he was glad -to see me again, and asked me what success I had met -with, which I told him; and, moreover, that my master -had abused me to the last degree for bringing no more -yams. He said I was the first man he ever saw who -had a black for his master; and though he could not -purchase me, yet he did not question, but Rer Vovvern -<span class='pageno' id='Page_153'>153</span>would find some ways or means to get me into Feraignher, -when he came next summer into this country. To -that I replied, that I was afraid my master would not -take me to the wars for that very reason, and that I -despaired of ever regaining my liberty; but I was determined -to make the experiment as soon as ever my -master went out on another expedition, and left me behind -him. Ry-Nanno endeavoured all he could to -comfort me, and said, the same Providence which has -hitherto preserved you, will deliver you at last; and I -have great hopes of seeing you at St. Augustine-bay; -for, said he, since Tuley-Noro’s death, there are but few -ships come now to Port Dauphine, though that, indeed, -is the nearest seaport, for ours is a great way off. I desired -to be informed how many days’ journey it was, -and which way he came; for I am determined, said I -to attempt my escape; if they overtake me, I am sensible -I shall be killed, but then I shall be freed from -my present bondage, which is worse than death; and -should I fall into any other master’s hands, it is morally -impossible he should treat me worse than this has done. -The whole country of Merfaughla, said Ry-Nanno, lies -between us, extending itself from the utmost part of -Anterndroea, where deaan Murnanzack’s cattle are all -kept, to the river Oneghayloghe, which runs into St. -Augustine-bay; and I think I was about forty and two -days on my journey, but could have performed it in -less than half the time, had we not hunted by the way; -for the whole country, said he, is so well stocked with -proper subsistence, that no one need carry any provisions, -unless he be in a more than ordinary hurry. There -are abundance of wild cattle in great part of it; besides, -there is a large quantity of faungidge, verlaway, wild -honey, and wild yams to be had, wherever you go. I -inquired what kings lived in the way? He said three. -Rer Trortrock is the first to the northward; the next -Rer Chulu-Mossu-Andro, and Zaffentampoey; this last -resides at the head of the river Oneghayloghe, to the -eastward; all their people, however, live near two long -days’ journies from the road. The nearest way, said -<span class='pageno' id='Page_154'>154</span>he, is by the foot of Yong-gorvo hills, till you come to -the west side of it, then strike over to the northward -half a day’s journey, and take your course betwixt the -north and west, and you cannot lose your way. I asked -him a great many more questions till it was late and -time to depart, but he would not permit me till I had -supped with him. The next day he took his farewell -of my master, and I stole away privately to thank him -for all his favours. As they were packing up his provision, -&c., he advised me to oblige deaan Mevarrow -as much as possible, lest he should kill me or do me -some secret injury, and bid me likewise not despair of -getting home to England. He then made me a present -of a large piece of beef, and after repeated expressions -of my gratitude for his tender concern for me, I parted -from him, though with abundance of reluctance. When -I reflected on what had passed, I began to entertain -quite different thoughts of being in another country -from what I had done; for I found here were great -numbers of people, nay, whole nations too, who were -civilized, and understood the laws of decency and good -manners; but it was my misfortune to fall among the -most savage people of the whole island.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The next day the crier went round the town with -orders to all deaan Mevarrow’s slaves to muster before -his door. Among the rest I went to know his pleasure, -which was to get ready and march with all our baggage -the next morning to our own town; which was cheerfully -complied with by every body but myself, who was -very indifferent where I lived. So when we had taken -our leave of Rer Mimebolambo and his people, we -marched home and found our habitations very little -worse than when we abandoned them, for they were at -that time newly built. The orders were to attend and -receive axes and hoes for the cultivation of the ground. -Whilst some cleared it of the wood and briars, others -hoed it up instead of ploughing it. Our master sent to -his uncle Mephontey for a considerable quantity of -guinea corn and carravances, which were soon sowed; -and then indulged his slaves for a fortnight, in order to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_155'>155</span>improve their own plantations. I desired deaan Sambo -to use his interest with my master, that I might have -two days more to take care of my honey, which I had -secured from thieves, by setting up white sticks as a -testimony that it was poisoned by the charms of the -umossee. He gave consent; and thereupon, I took -three large tubs, each of which would contain five or -six gallons, and as many calabashes. I had farther to -go than from our old town, which had been burnt; but -when I came there, I found my hives all safe and untouched, -and my stock of honey prodigiously increased. -I smoked the bees out, and took the greatest part of -their treasure away, but not all, leaving them some to -subsist on, for they will return of themselves to the -hives, and when they swarm, go directly to new ones -without any of that fatigue we have with them in England. -I found some fine Virginia honey with white -wax, which I put into my calabashes. As it was near -two years since I had seen them, I had almost forgotten -where to look for a good part of them, they being planted -at a great distance from each other in different corners -of the wood. I filled, however, all my vessels, and left -as large a quantity behind me for the next day’s journey. -As soon as I got home, I waited on my master -and made him a present of one of the tubs: now these -lords always expect an acknowledgment on such occasions. -When my master saw how large a quantity I -brought him, he was surprised, and asked me why I -brought him so much? For to do him justice, I cannot -say he ever discovered a covetous disposition.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Besides, we have no officers to exact any certain -quantity, but the people must go voluntarily, and carry -a present of such commodities as their plantations and -industry have produced; as carravances, guinea corn, -potatoes, &c.; but this is only by way of acknowledgment -of homage, and a calabash only would have been -looked upon as a sufficient compliment. But as I was -sensible that he had a circumcision-feast to make, and -I had a large stock, I desired him to accept it. He -told me it was true, and for that purpose he would -<span class='pageno' id='Page_156'>156</span>purchase all the honey I had to spare, and give me a -cow and a calf for it the first cattle he had.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The civil war being now over, we lived at ease, and -could dig our wild yams without the least apprehensions -of danger. People now went backwards and -forwards to visit each other as usual, and every one -attended his plantations; it was six months, however, -after this, before we had plenty. My conversation with -Ry-Nanno was ever in my mind, and I only waited for -a favourable opportunity of my master’s going abroad -upon some exploit, to make my escape, if possible, at -all adventures. After some time, it happened that one -Rer Ambarroch, a petty prince to the northward, having -received and detained eight slaves of deaan Mevarrow’s, -and thirty head of his cattle, a little before the -civil war began; and the deaan sending a special messenger -to demand them, he sent word back that he -might come himself and fetch them, if he thought fit. -He being now at leisure, Rer Mimebolambo and he -agreed to join their forces, and having obtained leave -of deaan Crindo, they prepared for their expedition.</p> - -<p class='c007'>I expected to be left behind, as usual, to take care -of his wife, and pleased myself with the hope that the -time was near at hand for putting my design in execution; -but standing before him with two lances in my -hand, you shall not, says he, always live at home like a -woman, but shall go to the wars with me; the sight of -a white man in arms will strike terror into the people -upon the mountains where we are going. Hereupon -he took my lances, and said, here is one of your grandfather’s -arms; you can manage this, I presume, somewhat -better than ours; prepare yourself for the march.</p> - -<p class='c007'>I desired, however, that I might have one of my -lances, which he gave me, and twenty musket balls, a -sufficient quantity of powder, and two flints. I took up -my mat as usual, but my master gave it to one of his -slaves to carry for me, so I walked, gentleman-like, -without any luggage.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Our little army consisted of about three hundred -men, exclusive of the slaves; we went to the northward -<span class='pageno' id='Page_157'>157</span>all the first day, on the second we got into the forest to -the east of Yong-gorvo, where the wild cattle are; -there we hunted, and killed some beef, while four men -were sent out as spies toward Rer Ambarroch’s town, -to survey the fortifications of it. We were almost a -day’s journey from it; and, indeed, it was not advisable -to go nearer, lest some of their people should have discovered -us, and alarmed the town; for those wild cattle -were their principal maintenance and support. Our -spies returned, and brought intelligence, that it was an -open place without any fortification at all. Thereupon -we marched all night, and arriving at the town by -break of day, we divided ourselves to surround it, and -fired into their houses to alarm them; the barking of -the dogs and the noise of the guns soon roused them, -and away they scowered, for we gave them no time to -collect themselves into a body: so we plundered them -at once, and took what prisoners we could find. I saw -the prince’s house, and ran directly up to it, in hopes of -taking him prisoner; but he jumped out and fired at -me: as I was going to return it, a man threw a lance -at me, which I put off and fired at him, and put a stop -to his running; but by that means the prince escaped.</p> - -<p class='c007'>I entered the house, and found his wife and daughter, -with two or three slaves attending them. I took hold -of the ladies’ hands, and led them both out, and left -others to plunder the house as they pleased, since I had -a good prize enough; but one of Rer Mimebolambo’s -men, who had got no booty, would fain have taken one -of my captives from me; whereupon I told him, I supposed -he was a coward, and had sneaked behind a tree -in the action, or else he might have found something -worth his acceptance. He insisted on his demands, -and reproached me with being a slave, till some of our -people came up, at which time he was obliged to -depart with shame; for a complaint being made to -deaan Mevarrow, he justified me, and severely reprimanded -the poltroon. For there was an agreement -made before we set out, that what cattle should be -taken be divided; but all captives should remain in -<span class='pageno' id='Page_158'>158</span>the custody of those who took them. When we had -driven all the men away, we got what cattle we could -find together, and made the best of our way through -the wood with them, lest the enemy should rally and -attack us. As soon as we got into the plain we halted, -and made preparations to receive them; and about -two hundred of them soon came as we expected.</p> - -<p class='c007'>I delivered my two captives, as every one else did -theirs, to the slaves that were in the rear, whilst we -marched; and as we came near them, they also met us; -so that we made a discharge almost all at once, and -killed three or four of their men. We halted a while -to load again, and perceived that they stood confounded, -and looked in a very wishful manner on one of their -party who was fallen. Having loaded again, I and -some few more ran directly up to them; seeing us -approach, which is not usual, they fired at us and ran -away. We followed them till they got shelter in the -wood, and then returned to the main army. On our -retreat, they sallied out of their coverts, and followed -us at a distance, being desirous to take one view more -of their wives, children, and cattle; and to observe our -motions, in hope some accident might happen, that -might give them a favourable opportunity to avenge -their cause, and retrieve the losses they had sustained.</p> - -<p class='c007'>At noon we came to a shady grove, and there halted -near a spring, in order to refresh ourselves; for we -were all fasting. As soon as my master was seated, he -ordered me to bring my two captives before him; and -applauding me for my courage and conduct in the -action, he told me I should keep one of them myself, -and have my choice too, and that he would be contented -with the other. I soon determined in favour of -the young one, who, in truth, was extremely agreeable; -and I was pleased with her from the first moment I -took her. She was not above sixteen years of age; -her mother, whom I presented to my master, was about -four or five and thirty. Deaan Mevarrow was pleased -with my choice, for he was inclined to do a generous -action; and thereupon calling her to him, he told her, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_159'>159</span>her husband had brought all this misfortune upon himself -by his unjust and obstinate proceedings; and (said he) I -have only followed his directions; I am come myself -as he bid me, and have fetched away all my women; -and I perceive, some of my own cattle, with a sufficient -quantity of his, to pay me and my friends for our -trouble. As for yourself, I will restore you to your -liberty; go back to Rer Ambarroch and acquaint him, -that if he be inclined to have his daughter and cattle -again, he must come and fetch them. You see she is -fallen into my white man’s hands, and for my part, I -will never take her from him. And, said I, I will lose -all the blood in this white man’s body, before he shall -have her again.</p> - -<p class='c007'>After she had refreshed herself with some meat, which -deaan Mevarrow presented her with, she came to me in -order to take her last farewell of her daughter. They -both wept heartily, not expecting ever to see each other -more; I pitied them, I confess, and would have dismissed -the young one, had I not really been in love -with her. To confess ingenuously, I never saw any -woman before that time I liked so well; though I had -been so many years in the island. I comforted the -mother, however, as well as I could; and desired her, -not to be too much concerned for the loss of her daughter, -since she should live as well as I did; nay, I -assured her, that I would take more care of her than -of myself; and though I was not of a sable hue, I had -a heart as fond and indulgent as any black whatever; -and therefore, though she fell to my lot by the chance -of war, yet it was my design to make her my wife, if -she approved of it; if not, it was possible, I said, she -might lead a less comfortable life. Her mother asked -her, what she thought of the motion? She answered, -she was at my disposal, and not at her own; and desired -her duty might be presented to her father. And -present mine too, said I, if you please, mother. So -after some farther discourse for a short time, they -parted. She took her leave of deaan Mevarrow, -returning him many thanks for his courteous treatment, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_160'>160</span>and went away by herself; though she had not, I presume, -far to go alone; for her friends were, doubtless, -as near as they durst come in the woods, to observe our -motions. And though we never saw them more, yet -we kept a strict guard all that day, and the following -night. I was very fond and careful of my pretty prisoner, -tying a rope about her middle, with the ends -about myself, and laid her close to me, folding her fast -within my arms; she only smiled and rallied me for it, -but I was so fearful lest she should get away, that I -could not sleep. We marched apace the next day, and -when we halted, Rer Mimebolambo and deaan Mevarrow -divided the cattle, each had two hundred and -eleven; and then they parted, each taking the nearest -way home.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Before we entered the town, we made another halt, -in order to divide the cattle among ourselves; the -deaan had thirty, his brother ten, and each of the other -principals one. He that had two slaves retained one -of them, and delivered the other to his lord, and had a -cow and calf in lieu of it. If two men got a slave -between them, they had each of them a cow for it; -even he who had taken no slave was to have a cow, -provided the number would admit of it; if not, one -was divided between two; and this is a general and an -established law, with respect to the division of an -enemy’s spoils.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Deaan Mevarrow told me I had but one slave, -whereupon I alleged he had taken one away, and -might have kept her, if he thought proper; but I perceived -he was only in jest, for he gave me a cow and a -calf as an equivalent for her; and generously enough -offered me another cow and calf for my honey, but I -modestly declined that favour; so he chose them for -me himself out of the fattest of the herd. By this -means I became rich at once, having two cows and -two calves, and a handsome jorzerampeller; that is to -say, a handsome girl.</p> - -<p class='c007'>No sooner were we come to the town, than the shells -were blown, and all the women ran out to see what -<span class='pageno' id='Page_161'>161</span>was the cause of it, not expecting our return in so -short a time; but when they knew who we were, they -ran back to their houses till we had made our triumphal -entry, and deaan Mevarrow was seated; then his wife -came out, and as it is the custom there, licked his feet, -and after her, the rest of the women paid him the same -homage; and after that, each of them testified her duty -to her own husband in the same submissive manner. -I thought, indeed, I had now a wife, and as fine a one -as the best of them all; and that the next time we -returned from such an expedition with the like success, -I should have homage done me too. My mistress -sent and desired to see my young spouse; I went along -with her accordingly, and she would make her sit down -on the same mat with herself, and could not refrain -from tears, it having been her own case; whereupon -she charged me to use her tenderly. I did not intend, -I told her, to make a slave of her, but a walley, that is, -a wife.</p> - -<p class='c007'>As I had a stock of honey in a neighbour’s hands, -as also some carravances, and a sufficient quantity of -milk, I made a very tolerable repast for my bride and -myself; and mimicked matrimony so far as to take her -by the hand, and assure her that I was willing to make -her a constant and tender husband; and asked her, if -she was equally willing to be a faithful and loving -wife? to which she cheerfully consented. So we lay -down together, and though we had no bride-men or -bride-maids, or throwing of stockings, yet we were as -happy as our circumstances would well admit of.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Some of my readers, perhaps, may wonder how I -could be so passionately in love with a black woman; -but as I had been several years in the country, and -they were become natural to me, I think the wonder -ceases. Besides, she was extremely handsome, of a -middle stature, very straight, and exactly shaped; her -features were regular, and her skin as soft, fine, and -delicate as any lady’s in Great Britain. And to do -the women there justice, all who are of any rank and -well brought up, have the last good quality to boast of. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_162'>162</span>There are uncleanly, coarse-skinned creatures, indeed, -amongst the vulgar, as well as in Europe; but the -women do not go naked as some of the Guinea negroes. -Their dress is a lamber, much longer than that of the -men’s, and reaches to their feet from their middle; -above and under the lamber, they wear a kind of shift, -which covers all the body to the neck, and short sleeves. -This, for the generality, is made of cotton, and is of a -dark colour; those of the better sort embellish it with -beads, in a very neat manner, more especially on the -back, where they are ranged in rows and cross one -another; and as they are of different colours, they form -a large double cross so like a union-flag, that one -would imagine they copied after it.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Thus much as to a general detail of the person and -habits of these women, though I shall not, indeed, -give them the preference to our Europeans; yet I must -ingenuously confess, that it is with pleasure I reflect on -mine, and remember our parting with the utmost -reluctance and concern. For as to their fidelity, duty, -and submissive deportment to their husbands, goodnature, -and agreeable conversation, so far as their little -knowledge extends, I think the Europeans come far -short of them. We white people entertain a very contemptible -and mean idea of these blacks, and a high -and partial one of ourselves: they, on the other hand, -have an exalted opinion of our merit; and modestly -imagine, that we are far superior to them in point of -knowledge, arts, and sciences: and therein, doubtless, -they are right; but if an impartial comparison were to -be made of their good qualities, the black heathens -would, in my opinion, excel the white christians. I -presume the reader will readily allow, that the best -character I could give myself, in order to recommend -me to my wife’s mother, was, to assure her, as I did, -that I had as tender a heart as any black whatever; -for it must be acknowledged, though to our shame, -that they treat one another with more humanity than -we do. There are none miserable amongst them, if -it be in the power of their neighbours to assist them. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_163'>163</span>There love, tenderness, generosity, and moral honesty, -too, are very conspicuous; and that not only just in -this one country of Anterndroea, but throughout the -whole island, and even in other places more than here. -My master, deaan Mevarrow, indeed, may be produced -as an exception to this general rule, on account of his -stealing his neighbour’s cattle, I grant it; but it must -be considered, that there are some men of bad principles -in every country; he did it, it is true, against -conscience, and stood self-convicted: for he knew what -justice was, as well as any one, as appeared by his -paying me my cow and calf in return for my honey; -and in many other particulars. There is a wide distance -between the capacities and virtues of some men; -though it is with regret that I mention deaan Murnanzack’s -name in the same page with Mevarrow’s; yet -the peculiar vices of the latter are no objection to the -national virtues of his country.</p> - -<p class='c007'>My reader will excuse this digression, I hope, when -he recollects the only pleasure that alleviated the weight -of my slavery while in Anterndroea. I looked after my -master’s cattle indeed, as I did before; but then I had a -few of my own, and an agreeable companion to spend -my leisure hours with, who took care of my house; -and as I had plenty of honey, I never was without -toake, for my wife and I to enjoy ourselves with, and -entertain a friend upon occasion. So that I lived as -well as the best of my neighbours, and being now much -less fatigued than formerly, I was capable of taking -more notice of the religion and laws of the country: -and as I propose to amuse the reader with a particular -detail of one of their circumcision-feasts, it will not be -improper to give first an account of that little religion -which they professed.</p> - -<p class='c007'>They acknowledge, indeed, and adore the only one -supreme God, whom they call deaan Unghorray, which -signifies the Lord above. There are, according to their -notion, four other sovereign lords, and that each superintends -one quarter of the world. The northern lord -is styled deaan Antemoor; the southern, deaan Meguddumdummateme; -<span class='pageno' id='Page_164'>164</span>the western, deaan Androwfertraer; -and the eastern, deaan Anabeleshey. This last, say -they, dispenses plagues and calamities amongst mankind, -by the command or permission at least, of the -great God; the others also are subservient to his commands, -but are chiefly dispensers of his favours and -blessings. They look upon these four as mediators -between men and the Supreme Being; on which account -they have a peculiar regard for them, and in -their prayers and sacrifices, recommend themselves to -their indulgence and protection.</p> - -<p class='c007'>I have already given the reader some account of the -owleys, by which they seem to entertain the same idea -as some superstitious people in Europe formerly did of -familiar spirits; because they employ them as their -favourite messengers with their petitions and prayers -to their great God; and, after a sacrifice, expect that -they should come and tell in dreams what they have -to do, and also to warn them of any approaching danger. -This bears a great conformity to the idea, which -some christians have entertained of guardian angels, -or some old philosophers of a good or evil genius; or -rather, is more exactly conformable to a very ancient, -and long received notion of demons; and for that reason, -as we have no other term so fit in our language, I -choose to distinguish them by that; for the owley is no -more than the general name of the utensil, or altar; -which is rather like a talisman, or sigil, to which the -demon is thought to be attached, and by which, as a -proper medium, they expect to be invoked. For there -are almost as many different demons with proper names, -as there are persons who have owleys; some of which -are, Ry-Leffu, Tompack-Offnarevo, Laka-petu, Deer-mefacher, -Deer-hurzolavor, Ry-mungary, Ry-ove. Then -they invoke likewise the spirits of their forefathers, -and have a great veneration for them; calling upon -them by names that are given them after their decease; -insomuch that they look upon it as a crime to address -them, or speak of them by the names they had when -living; and this name is principally known by the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_165'>165</span>word garevo at the end of it; as may be observed in -the repetition of deaan Crindo’s and deaan Murnanzack’s -fathers’ names by my mock retinue among the -peasants.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The veneration they have for the memory of their -ancestors, and the assurance they have of their spirits -always existing, is apparent in almost every circumstance -of the few religious ceremonies which they perform: -the burial of their dead is very particular and -solemn. I have frequently hinted at the great humanity -with which they treat each other on all occasions, -and under all difficulties of what nature or kind -soever. In sickness they daily visit and contribute -all that in them lies to the relief of the afflicted family, -and the restoration of the patient. When any one is -dead, all the relations and neighbours come to the -house; the women make doleful lamentations, and the -men assist in the necessary preparations for the funeral. -In the first place, they pitch upon a tree for the coffin, -after that, a cow or an ox is killed, and some of the -blood sprinkled upon it: imploring at the same time -their forefathers, and the demons, and demigods to aid -and assist them, and take care that the tree does not -split in the falling, or that any one be not hurt either -by cutting or felling it. When the tree is down, they -cut it about a foot longer than the corpse, and split it -directly lengthways, (for they always make choice of a -tree which they know will split after this manner,) and -dig both parts hollow, like two troughs. It is then -carried to the house, the corpse being in the mean -time washed, and wrapped up in a lamber, or frequently -in two and sewed together. There is frankincense, or -a gum very much like it, burning all the time in the -house. They seldom keep the corpse above one day, -especially in hot weather. They put the corpse in the -troughs closing them together, and carry it upon six -men’s shoulders. Every family has a burying-place of -their own, which no one dare infringe upon or break -into; nor indeed does any one attempt it. This is -enclosed, and fenced round with sticks, like palisadoes. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_166'>166</span>When they come near the place, the corpse is set down, -and then they proceed to the rest of the ceremony; -that is, to make four fires, one at each corner on the -outside of the burying-place; on these fires they burn -the ox or cow, which was killed before for that purpose; -then they divide it into quarters, which are all consumed -in the flames: after this, they sprinkle frankincense -upon the coals, and spread them all about. This -being done, the chief or eldest of the family goes close -to the entrance of the burying-place, and hollas aloud -several times; after a short pause, he calls upon all the -dead that are there deposited, commencing at the -earliest, and proceeding to the last, and each one distinctly -by his name; and in the conclusion tells them, -that there is a grandchild, or near relation come to lie -amongst them; and that he hopes they will receive -him as a friend. Then the gate is opened, and two or -three persons are sent in to dig the grave, which is -made for the generality seven or eight feet deep; and -the corpse is placed in it, and covered over with the -earth without any further ceremony. None are permitted -to enter here, but some of the nearest relations, -and the bearers, and the door is immediately shut fast -again. There is commonly a crowd of people without, -who are busy in carving up, and dividing among themselves -the cattle, that are distributed amongst them for -that purpose, if it be a great and rich family that can -afford it; but the poorer sort cannot gratify their friends -in so bountiful a manner. They generally visit this -burying-place once a year, to clear it from weeds and -make it clean; but never enter it till they have first -burnt a cow, or bullock before it.</p> - -<p class='c007'>I knew some who, during a friend’s sickness, would -make a sacrifice and prayer here, to invoke the aid -and assistance of the spirits of their forefathers; -but this is not a very common custom. And if any -man have any peculiar ceremonies of his own, which -others do not think proper to put into practice, no person -is offended, nor do they concern themselves about it; -and the reason is, because there are no people here, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_167'>167</span>who pretend to be greater favourites of the Supreme -Being than other men, and to have a particular commission -to interpret and declare his will. No one -here has yet been so presumptuous as to attempt this; -and if any one should be so hardy, he would meet -with but few to credit him.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Every man here, the poor man as well as the rich -lord, is a priest for himself and his family; and expects -the demons should answer his requests in his dreams. -If he differ from his neighbour in point of ceremony, -as there is no damage given or received, so there is -no hatred arises. But were they to set apart particular -persons, and to give them a certain number of cattle -and slaves every year, for the performance of some certain -ceremonies, and instead of making their prayers to -God for themselves, leave it to these to officiate for -them, and prescribe rules and seasons to them, these -very people would soon lord it over them. For they -would terrify them with the anger of the great God, and -demigods, and foment divisions among the people for -the support of their interest, lest they should lose their -substance and honours; and at last punish any innocent -person for their insolent inventions, under a sanctified -pretence of demons coming in the night from the Supreme -Being, and enjoining them so to do. We had -an instance how easily mankind might be imposed on -by these pretenders to prophesy, in my master Mevarrow; -and how artfully the imposition was carried on in -one of our neighbours.</p> - -<p class='c007'>There was a person of distinction lived about two -hours’ walk from us, called deaan Olaavor, whose -father died whilst I was here; he was making preparations -for his interment in the burying-place of his family; -and the night before, he dreamed his father appeared -to him. Or, according to his own expression, -his father appeared to him in a dream, and earnestly -desired him not to bury his corpse; but keep it in a -sundock, or chest, and erect a little house for the reception -of it.</p> - -<p class='c007'>This request he very dutifully complied with, building -<span class='pageno' id='Page_168'>168</span>a house about three hundred yards from the town -to the eastward, to which place he used frequently to -resort, and make his prayers and oblations, and then -pretended that the spirit of his father, which he called -lulu-bay, or the great spirit, used to come and tell him -strange things, which should occur to his neighbours. -He frequently visited deaan Mevarrow, who gave the -utmost attention to every thing he said; Olaavor perceiving -his weakness, soon found out ways and means -to turn the credulity of his friend to his own advantage: -and when any troublesome time came on, he -would industriously wait on Mevarrow, and inform him -how angry his lulu-bay was, and what misfortunes he -had just grounds to fear would attend him. Now -whether, as he was an artful man, he conjectured rightly -from the reason of things; or, whether he dreamed rightly -(for sometimes, indeed, it happened as he said, and -often otherwise) I shall not presume to determine; -but his principal aim was (as it appeared to me) to get -a heifer now and then for a pretended sacrifice, and -frequently a present of some beads, and such other -trinkets, for the pains he was at, using his best endeavours -to appease the wrath of his lulu-bay, and procure -his favour and assistance. The advantage he made of -this was so conspicuous, that many people grew jealous -of his conduct; but at length a brother of deaan Olaavor’s -was killed in the wars, and his lulu-bay never -came in a dream to warn either one or the other of the -impending danger. This not only opened their eyes, -but convinced a great many more; however an excuse -was at hand. That his brother had been remiss and -negligent in regard to his prayers and oblations to lulu-bay; -and for that reason he suffered him to fall. Deaan -Mevarrow, and some of the weakest of the people, -swallowed the cheat, and still continued their superstitious -opinion of this great spirit, and were afraid to -speak, or entertain the least contemptible thought of it; -having always the plea of mean spirited bigots, that -they were safer who paid an awful regard to lulu-bay, -than those who despised him. But be the case how it -<span class='pageno' id='Page_169'>169</span>may, if he were not a great and powerful spirit, either -capable of injuring them, or doing them any good offices; -if the whole were a mere fiction of deaan Olaavor’s, -yet there was no harm in thinking he was so, or -in paying him honours; but upon the supposition that -he was really such a potent spirit, and they should neglect -him, then they were sure to suffer severely for -their contempt.</p> - -<p class='c007'>This was all the idle answer those poor timorous -creatures would give, on their being asked a reason for -their tame compliance with deaan Olaavor; which, -doubtless, would have been as good a plea for their -paying divine honours to a potato, had any one told -him he had a revelation in his dream, that it was a -demigod. The reader, I presume, may entertain a -more adequate idea of the natural disposition of the -people, with respect to their morals and religion, from -such instances and occurrences, than from any formal -description which I can pretend to make; I shall therefore -pursue my history, and give a particular detail -here of the feast and ceremony of the circumcision of -deaan Mevarrow’s son.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The toake was made some weeks beforehand, by boiling -the honey and combs together, as we in England -make mead. They filled a great number of tubs; some -as large as a butt, but some indeed smaller; a shed -being built for that purpose, which was thatched over, -to place them in. On the day appointed, messengers -were despatched all round the country to invite the relations -and friends. About three or four days before -the ceremony of the circumcision was actually performed, -you might see the beginning of a festival; -people went about blowing horns, and beating drums -both night and day; to whom some toake was given -out of the lesser vessels as a small compensation for -their trouble: deaan Mevarrow had procured two -large oxen from deaan Murnanzack. They, who lived -in the most remote parts, came a day or two before; -and they were entertained with toake. In the evening, -I found the town full of people, some wallowing on the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_170'>170</span>ground, and some staggering; scarcely one individual -person sober, either men, women, or children. And -here one might sensibly discern the effects of peace and -security, the people abandoning themselves without -fear or reserve to drinking, and all manner of diversions. -My wife I found had been among them indeed; -but had the prudence to withdraw in time, for she was -fast asleep when I came home.</p> - -<p class='c007'>And now the day being come, I returned from feeding -my cattle before noon, in order to bring up the two -oxen and a bull, whose legs being at once tied fast, -they were thrown all along upon the ground. The child -was about a year old; for they have no stated time for -the observance of this custom. He was decked with -beads, and a skein of white cotton thread was wound -about his head. A great crowd attended the festival. -Some brought such presents as their abilities would -admit, such as a cow, or a calf, beads, iron shovels, -hatchets, and the like. Every one was served once -only with a small quantity of toake in a calabash before -the ceremony began. All things being now duly prepared, -they waited for the signal from the umossee, -who was all this time very busy, to all outward appearance, -in measuring his shadow with his feet. When it -came to the length of three and a half, he gave the -word. Upon which, one of the nearest relations, who -had the child in his arms, ran with him up to the bull, -and putting the child’s right hand on the bull’s right -horn, repeating the following form of words.</p> - -<p class='c009'>Tyhew deaan Unghorray, deaan Antemoor, deaan -Anebeleshey, deaan Androfertraer, deaan Meguddumdummateme, -an Ruey Owley, Heer-razehu, ittoey -acquo toey Anomebay loyhe ittoey handrabeck -enney raffa loyhe.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Which in English runs thus:—</p> - -<p class='c009'>Let the Great God above, the Lords of the four quarters -of the world, and the demons prosper this child, and -make a great man of him. May he prove as strong -as this bull, and overcome all his enemies.</p> - -<p class='c007'>If the bull roar whilst the boy’s hand is on his horn, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_171'>171</span>they look on it as an ill omen, portending either sickness, -or some other misfortunes in life; and all the business -of the umossee is nothing more than this:—to -tell them what is the most unlucky hour or minute -(like our strolling fortune-tellers) to do it in; for, as to -the religious part of the ceremony, he is no ways concerned -in it; if there be any religion intended by it, -which is somewhat to be questioned; for any experienced -man of the neighbourhood, whom they imagine -understands it best, performs the operation by feeling -for the head of the yard, and cutting off the fore-skin -as closely as possible, two men holding the child’s legs -and arms at the same time. As to the name, it is given -long before, and frequently is changed afterwards; this -child was named Ry-Mocker. After the fore-skin is -cut off, an attendant having a stick in his hand like a -gun rammer, the biggest end whereof is pointed, puts -the fore-skin upon it, and going to the wood, throws -it towards the east. The ceremony being over, the child -is delivered to the mother, who is all this time sitting -upon a mat with the women round her. And now their -merriment began; the thatch was all pulled off the -toake-house, and I was ordered to kill the bull and the -oxen; but these not being sufficient, my master sent -for three more which had been brought him by his -friends, for there were abundance of mouths to be fed. -Before they began to drink, he took particular care to -secure all their weapons, and no man was permitted to -have so much as a gun or a lance; and then they indulged -themselves in boiling, broiling, and roasting of -meat, drinking of toake, singing, hallooing, blowing of -shells, and drumming, with all their might and main. -I do not believe there were twenty sober persons -among the whole company. These revels continued all -night; some went away the next morning, but most -stayed till evening, so that the feast lasted three days -successively.</p> - -<p class='c007'>These people are great admirers of toake, and some -of the vulgar sort, as arrant sots, and as lazy as any in -<span class='pageno' id='Page_172'>172</span>England, for they will sell their guinea corn, carravances, -nay, their very spades and shovels, and live -upon what the woods afford them. Their very lambers -too, if worth any thing, must go for toake; and they -make an ordinary one serve turn, so it will but just -cover their nakedness. It is made of the tree called -the whooring, which they cut down with their lances. -The outer bark is taken away, and the inner, which is -white, is peeled off whole, and beat with a stick till it -is made soft and pliant; and then they wear it as a -lamber, but it can never be washed. Their lambers, -however, for the generality, are made of cotton dyed in -the yarn. The richer sort, indeed, and people of distinction, -buy silk and calicoes at seaport towns, and -often give a cow and a calf for no more than will make -them one lamber. The men wear no other clothes, but -they adorn themselves with mananelers, which are rings -round their wrists; and these, both men and women of -distinction, are very fond of. They are sometimes made -of gold (but where they get them I cannot say), oftener -of silver, but more frequently of copper; which, at last, -I found was produced and made in the country, as well -as iron. They dress their heads in a very agreeable -manner, curling up their hair to make it lie close, for -they have hair, and not wool on their heads, as the -Guinea negroes; neither are their noses flat, though -small, nor their lips so big as theirs, but their hair is -always black, and for the generality, has a natural curl. -Deaan Crindo’s family are particularly distinguished, -on account of their long hair, and their copper-coloured -skins. Notwithstanding they have no idea of letters, -yet they have here very wholesome laws, which are -fixed in their minds and handed down from generation -to generation. I well remember many of them, the recapitulation -whereof, I flatter myself, will be no disagreeable -amusement to the reader.</p> - -<p class='c007'>If one maliciously assault his neighbour, and break -a leg or an arm, the offender is fined fifteen head of -cattle, which are delivered to the party injured.</p> - -<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_173'>173</span>If one break another’s head, and he that is wounded -have not returned the blow, he has three beeves by way -of damage.</p> - -<p class='c007'>If two men quarrel, and one happen to curse the -other’s father or mother, whether they be living or dead, -and his antagonist have so much command of himself as -to refrain from cursing the other’s father or mother, he -recovers two beeves as a compensation.</p> - -<p class='c007'>If a man be caught robbing his neighbour of an ox, -or a cow, he is obliged to restore it tenfold; and this -is executed too with the utmost rigour, notwithstanding -my master frequently broke this good law; but, like -other great men, in more polite parts, he was not to be -curbed by the ordinary laws of his country; and yet -he, as well as most others, found, to his cost, that there -were those who could cope with him; and was at last -convinced, that if a man will live amongst his fellow-creatures, -he must be observant of the fundamental -laws, which the community wherein he lives has framed -for their mutual peace and tranquillity; without which, -men are not sociable animals, but each one is a mere -savage, and the world an uncultivated desert.</p> - -<p class='c007'>If any one be found guilty of stealing guinea corn, -carravances, potatoes, or the like, out of any of the -plantations, he forfeits a cow and a calf to the owner, -or more, in some measure proportionate to the offence.</p> - -<p class='c007'>In case one man’s cattle break into another’s plantation, -the owner, for every beast found there, must give -an iron shovel.</p> - -<p class='c007'>If any one steal another man’s hive of honey, and -be caught, the fine is three iron shovels. These iron -shovels, hoes, &c., are a kind of small money with these -people, for here is no trade but by barter, or the exchange -of one commodity for another; and, therefore, -they are as exact as they possibly can be, in proportioning -the value of one thing to another.</p> - -<p class='c007'>If a man borrow an ox, or a cow, of his neighbour, -and does not return it in a year’s time, six calves are -looked upon as an equivalent for the ox; and if he -neglect payment at that time, those calves are supposed -<span class='pageno' id='Page_174'>174</span>to be three steers, and three heifers; and the increase, -which by a fair computation arises by their growth -and production, is the man’s right of whom the ox was -borrowed; and if it go on for ten years, or any longer -term, it is computed what three bulls and three cows -might have produced in that space of time, and all that -produce is due to the creditor.</p> - -<p class='c007'>If a man lie with the wife of another man who is -his superior, he forfeits thirty head of cattle, besides -beads and shovels in abundance; but if the men are of -equal degree, then the fine is twenty beasts only.<a id='r1'></a><a href='#f1' class='c010'><sup>[1]</sup></a> In -this country of Anterndroea, they are not addicted to -such a plurality of wives as in some other parts of the -island. If a man have but two wives here, and his brother -or an intimate friend come to visit him, he never -scruples to let him lie with one of them.</p> - -<div class='footnote' id='f1'> -<p class='c007'><a href='#r1'>1</a>. A man can put away his wife at pleasure.</p> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>The nearest of kin, even brother and sister, marry, if -they have not the same mother.</p> - -<p class='c007'>One brother, after the decease of another, often takes -his wife; nay, his father’s too, and lies with them, if -they be not their own mothers.</p> - -<p class='c007'>To lie with one of the king’s or prince’s wives, is -death by the established laws.</p> - -<p class='c007'>My master Mevarrow was jealous of a young man’s -being great with his wife, or, as he said, was well assured -he used to lie with her. Whether he had any -just grounds for such a suspicion, I cannot say; yet -every body expected the young man would be killed -for it; but his brother being a chief man, and a favourite -of the deaan’s, and the civil wars coming on, -he seemed at that juncture to take little notice of it; -but two years after the offence, when those dissensions -were appeased, the man being constantly in his view, -he determined to punish him; and, accordingly, when -the young man, his brother, and some few slaves of us -that attended them, were in the woods, it being so contrived, -under pretence of stealing and killing a cow, -he and deaan Sambo drew the young man into a remote -<span class='pageno' id='Page_175'>175</span>part of the woods, at a considerable distance from -us, and in a short time we heard him halloo three times, -at which instant deaan Mevarrow arose, and pretending -to stretch himself with his lance in his hand, he -struck the young man’s brother through the body. This -so surprised us all, that some of us ran one way, and -some flew another, imagining our master mad; and -some went home and positively asserted it as fact, this -person whom he killed not being the adulterer. He -had been our master’s counsel-keeper, it is true, and -knew all the secret recesses of the women and cattle; -and taking it for granted that he would turn his enemy -and revenge his brother’s death, thought it most advisable -to despatch him likewise. Deaan Sambo killed -the supposed adulterer that moment the halloo was -made, which was the signal agreed on between them; -but whether he was apprized of deaan Mevarrow’s -wicked design upon the other, I cannot determine, for -there were several others whom he brought there, as if -he intended they should be witnesses of it. As deaan -Sambo was the executioner, I was inclined to think -there was more than suspicion, for that he was no cruel -man, I was very sensible, by experience. I must own -I had entertained a very favourable opinion before of -my mistress, as I had never observed any thing like it -in her conduct; but I had now almost done, not only -with this family, but the country likewise; for every -circumstance in my affairs had some tendency to promote -my departure and escape, which, at length, I -effected.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Not long after this, it happened, whilst I stole out to -visit my own plantation (my corn, &c., being near ripe) -that some of my cattle broke into the plantation of a -principal man, and did him some considerable damage. -My fellow-slaves soon informed me of the misfortune, -and went to seek the beasts; but they were driven home -by the planter’s servants with very heavy complaints: I -knew the danger of going within reach, or, indeed, within -sight of my master; and therefore turned aside into -the wood, to consider what measures were best to be -<span class='pageno' id='Page_176'>176</span>taken. At length, I recollected the friendship between -deaan Olaavor and deaan Mevarrow: and for that -reason went directly to him, and laid my unhappy case -before him, and begged he would use his best endeavours -to reconcile me to my master. He readily complied -with my request, made me very welcome, and -desired me to stay, not only that night, but the next -day and night too; and then assured me, that he would -go with me himself; but business would not permit -him to go before. By this means I was absent long -enough to alarm them, and give them just grounds to -suspect that I had deserted. Deaan Olaavor, however, -went with me according to his promise, and after he -had expostulated the case with my master, and obtained -pardon, I was sent for in, and restored to favour, with -only some friendly admonitions for my better conduct -for the future. As soon as their conversation relating -to my fault and pardon was over, they fell into discourse -on other matters; and deaan Mevarrow put his -hand to his mouth, which is an action they frequently -use to express their surprise at any thing more than -common.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Deaan Olaavor, says he, I sent yesterday for an -umossee, to consult with him about Robin, and to -know what was become of him. After he had conjured -a long time, he assured me, that I should see Robin -once more; but the next time he went away, I should -never see him again in the capacity of his servant or -slave; for he will have a new master to the northward, -with whom he will tarry but a short time; and then he -will still go farther northward and have more masters; -till, at length, he will return to his native country. I -listened, I own, not only with attention, but pleasure, -to what he said, though I put no great confidence in -these fortune-tellers. Just as I was getting up to go -home to my wife, my master called me; stay, says he, -I have something to say to you before you go. Perceiving -that I looked a little startled and surprised; I -shall do you no harm, says he, only secure you. The -umossee was sent for immediately, and then I found -<span class='pageno' id='Page_177'>177</span>they were going to enchant me (as they imagined) that -I should not run away. I had seen this magical farce -acted before upon such slaves as they are jealous of, -frequently forcing an oath upon them by the demon -Fermonner. And when these poor wretches have afterwards -attempted to fly, and bewildered themselves in -woods and unfrequented paths, or hurt themselves by -any fall, or any common accident, they are weak enough -to imagine that the demon Fermonner was the cause; -that he confounded them, and dazzled their eyes in such -a manner that they should not find their way. Two or -three instances of this kind in an age, are enough to -make fools give credit to the whole.</p> - -<p class='c007'>At length the wrinkled old wizard enters with solemn -pace, and with a leering sneer in his haggard countenance, -shakes his projecting noddle: Ha! Well I see -you have him fast. I told you so. Who is he that -shall presume to despise my prophetic spirit? You see -as much is proved true, as the time will permit. Neglect -my advice for the future; and look to the northward -for your slave. But you may look, and send too -in vain; it will be then too late. The spirits who are -at my command may do somewhat now. What (says -deaan Olaavor, who was not so great a bigot as deaan -Mevarrow, notwithstanding his lulu-bay) has proved -true? Robin never ran away at all, he would have -been here yesterday, if I could have spared time; so -that there is nothing at all in what you talk of. Pray, -venerable sage, says deaan Mevarrow, (interrupting -Olaavor,) pray proceed; I sent for you on purpose to -take your advice. Prepare your charms. Away goes -the fumbling old fool to work, scraping a root, and -mixing several ingredients together, which, I was well -satisfied, had neither good nor harm in them; (for I was -afraid of nothing but his nose dropping into it;) muttering -all the time, between his few broken teeth, words -that neither he, nor any one else knew the meaning of. -When the dose was prepared, he called it the fermonner, -and put it into some carravances, which were boiled -on purpose, and it was given me in a calabash. But -<span class='pageno' id='Page_178'>178</span>before I took it, he hung several roots about me; one -over my eyes, another at my back, one upon my breast, -and one upon each leg, giving each of them a distinct -name: then scraping a small quantity from each of -them, and putting it into the mess of carravances, I -was ordered to eat it, which I did without the least -fear or reluctance; in the mean time he pronounced his -curses, as well as prayers over me. Whenever (says -he) he thinks of running away, remember, O thou, -deaan Fermonner, how he has eaten what belongs to -thee; and also, O ye, &c. [Here he named all the -spirits belonging to other charmed roots.] how he has -eaten what belongs to you; and if he offer to run -away, arise in his stomach, O deaan Fermonner, and -make him so sick that he shall be incapable of stirring. -And ye, which have hung at his back break it asunder; -let his breast be tormented with pain, and his legs fettered -as with parra-pingos; and if he attempt to fly, -join all your united forces, and break his legs whenever -he jumps and steps over any thing that lies in his way. -Thus the old dotard went on for a long time, but in a -more abrupt manner, and without any method. He -tossed his hands about, and changed his voice almost -every minute. He made, in short, a hundred impertinent -repetitions and cant words of his own invention, -and foamed like a fanatical enthusiast. When he had -quite tired himself with preaching, he took off the charm -and made me lick every individual root. Now let him -go, says he, where he will; the demons which regard -these charms will soon inform me where he is, and I -shall acquaint his master.</p> - -<p class='c007'>I had a holiday that day; for my master was in a -good humour, being highly delighted with what he had -done; and sent a proper servant to do my business. -When I came home, I found my wife in a very melancholy -posture, being under great concern for fear I -should be killed. She would have provided something -for me to eat, but I had dined, I told her; and then related -to her the whole affair. She was overjoyed to -find I got off so well, and was surprised that I should -<span class='pageno' id='Page_179'>179</span>be so dull at it; since she knew well enough I did not -regard any of these ceremonies, and made a jest of them; -but my thoughts were quite otherwise engaged than -she was aware of, and I did not think proper to let her -know the truth; which broke my rest to that degree, that -I scarcely ever slept soundly there any more. I found -myself now under the necessity of running away at all -adventures. For should sickness, or any common accident -attend me, so great was deaan Mevarrow’s superstition, -that he would, doubtless, have thought it had been -effected by these demons or spirits, which were invoked -in this incantation; and have taken it for an infallible -testimony of my resolution to go from him; and then, -very probably, in his passion he might have killed me. -So that these conjurations, which Mevarrow depended -on to prevent my departure, had the direct contrary -effect, and was the strongest motive that could have -induced me to it, and made it absolutely necessary that -it should be so; yet I have often smiled to think how -unexpectedly true his prediction or guess proved, even -in all its circumstances.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Whilst my head was full of projects in order to accomplish -my flight, I could not forbear saying something -in relation to it to a very civil, honest young fellow, -who kept cattle always near me; and was a captive -from another country. One day I asked him, from -whence he came? and he said from the northward. -Was I so near my own country, said I, as you are, I -would not stay much longer in slavery. Nor would I, -said he, if it were not for the demons; who I am afraid -will break my bones, ever since the umossee cursed -me in the same solemn manner as he did you. At -which I laughed. Why, if you have no apprehensions -on that account, said he, you may get away with as -much ease as I. At this I started, and told him, I suppose -he only said so to try me. But he offered to enter -into a solemn oath before the owley, that he meant as -he said, and would assist me in my flight.</p> - -<p class='c007'>However, I dropt the argument for that day, but I -tried him next; for after I had sworn him in a religious -<span class='pageno' id='Page_180'>180</span>manner (knowing him to be like most people, more religiously -inclined under misfortunes than in prosperity) -I confessed ingenuously my secret intention, and asked -his friendly advice. You have nothing to do, said he, -but to fly directly to deaan Afferrer, who will protect -you, and treat you in a courteous manner. When Rer -Vovvern’s army comes next summer, continued he, you -may easily get to them; who would be proud to oblige -the white men, by sending you home in the first ship -which arrives at Feraignher. For nobody, says he, in -the whole island will make a white man a slave, or keep -him against his inclination, but these people. So that -if you can but fly from hence, you will soon get to some -town where ships come. I returned him many thanks -for his kind advice, and told him I would show him my -beehives, and the roots of which the charm was made. -This I did with a view to make him keep the secret. -And now,</p> - -<p class='c007'>I had but one hard task more to go through, and that -was to prevail on my wife to accompany me, or let me -conduct her to her father. It was a difficult point to -break my mind to her; but at length observing her in a -humour to talk of her friends, and wish she could see -them, I told her, if she had courage enough, and -would keep the secret, and always love me, I would -venture to carry her to them, and stay with her; but -she was superstitious too, and afraid I should be hurt -by the incantations of the umossee. So that I pressed -it no farther. But to part with her, and leave her not -only in bondage, but to be ill-treated, perhaps on my -account, was a mortifying consideration; for I sincerely -loved her.</p> - -<p class='c007'>However, there was an absolute necessity; my resolution -was fixed, and no time was to be lost. It was -then wet and rainy, and I stayed only till the weather -was more favourable; which was about a fortnight. -Near which time I took my comrade into the woods, -and showed him my hives, and the manner how I dug -the roots for the charms; for to attempt to undeceive -him would have been to no purpose. The night before -<span class='pageno' id='Page_181'>181</span>I took my flight, I wilfully left a heifer in the field; -having told my friend when I called, and desired him -to look after my cattle whilst I went after the heifer, -that should be the private signal of my departure. He -told me it was two days’ long walk to Yong-gorvo; but -I said I would run it in one, and did not question but -that I should get safely thither, (though my master should -send after me,) if I were but two hours before them. -When I came home with my cattle, my master took a -survey of them, and missed the heifer; but after reprimanding -me a little, he ordered me to get up betimes -in the morning, and look for it, before it broke into -any neighbour’s plantation.</p> - -<p class='c007'>This was what I aimed at, in order to have the whole -day before me; but now came the hardest struggle, -which was to take a last farewell of my wife. It was -some secret satisfaction, however, that I had no child -by her. I was almost afraid to reveal the secret to her: -but at length, after making her swear in the most solemn -manner by the owley, that she would never disclose -it, I told her in direct terms that I was going; -and the only thing that disturbed me, was parting with -her. She begged, and cried most bitterly; but there -was no staying for me any longer, my life being every -day in danger. Had I been in any other part of the -country, where I could have lived with freedom, ease, -and safety, I don’t know what effects the unaffected -love I had for her might have produced. At length, -however, she was somewhat appeased, and I broke -from her arms by break of day; but with what sorrow -and reluctance, such of my readers as are tender lovers, -can better imagine than I describe. I drove my cattle -into the field, where my comrade was ready; I did not -go near him for fear of being observed; but called, and -bid him take care of my cattle: he said yes, yes, and -away I walked, or rather ran; for by the time the sun -was two hours high, I had got beyond the first woods, -which is not less than ten English miles, if it could be -measured.</p> - -<p class='c007'>I had now a large plain of five or six miles to go -<span class='pageno' id='Page_182'>182</span>over, here I looked back every now and then, for fear -of being pursued; but saw the coast was clear. My -wife and friend, as I was informed afterwards, were -true to the trust reposed in them. About noon, I came -to a pond, where I just washed and refreshed myself, -and kept jogging on till at last I espied the white cliff -of Yong-gorvo. It is very high, and appeared like -land that is seen about seven or eight leagues at sea; -that however did not discourage me, and two hours -before night I was at the foot of it. It is half an hour’s -brisk walk to go up the hill to deaan Afferrer’s town, -where I arrived safely, and went directly to him. He -thought as soon as he saw me, that I came with some -message from deaan Mevarrow, but I threw myself -immediately at his feet, and begged his indulgence and -protection; then I informed him of all the miseries I -had undergone through my master’s cruel treatment of -me, and the apparent danger my life was in every day, -and at that time more than ever.</p> - -<p class='c007'>No sooner was he convinced of the true reason of -my making thus my earnest application to him, than I -perceived a pleasure glowing in his countenance; and -he at once assured me, that he would protect me at all -adventures, and that I should be a slave no longer; -that I should do nothing but go with him wherever he -went: and as a testimony of his sincerity, he would -present me with a gun. Now carrying a gun here, -like wearing a sword in England, is the mark of a -gentleman; with this lance in your hand, said he -smiling, you look like a mall-a-cross, which is a nickname -they give to one of the meanest of their natives; -you shall now appear like what you are, a free-born -man. I licked his feet with all the satisfaction imaginable, -in conformity to the custom there, and returned -him a thousand thanks; nor did I forget my grateful -acknowledgments to the Divine Goodness, who had thus -far given success to my honest endeavours, to recover -my former state of freedom; and to implore his assistance -in the completion of so happy a project, which I -had no hopes of ever putting into execution.</p> - -<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_183'>183</span>When I assured them that I came from my own -house in one day, there was scarcely any one would give -credit to the assertion. About a week or two after, -two messengers from deaan Mevarrow came to demand -his white slave; and to reproach deaan Afferrer, for -not sending me back by some of his own people on my -first arrival. This imperious message made him smile: -send him back, says he, and by my own people! and -his white slave too! why, no one ever saw a white slave -before; nor has he the least authority to make him -one. I look upon him as a distressed man, fled to me -for succour, and he shall never be exposed to misery -any more. I shall make no slave of him; he shall be -at his free liberty to stay with me, or go where, or -whenever he sees convenient. He here expatiated on -the conduct of our people, with regard to deaan Crindo; -which being much to the same purpose as has been -hinted before, I shall not recapitulate.</p> - -<p class='c007'>In short, he convinced the two men of the unreasonableness -of their master’s demand so far, that they excused -themselves, and said, that they only came with a -message. And I only tell you, says he, what answer -to return to deaan Mevarrow. After this, he entered -into familiar discourse with them, and asked them, -what day I came away? When they told him he was -perfectly surprised, and so were they to find I had -actually walked it in one day; for it could not be much -less than sixty English miles. I could not forbear -rallying them, on account of their superstitious confidence -in their umossees. See, says I, how my legs -are swelled! how the spirits have made my bones -rattle within my skin! I was a white man they said, -and they had no power over me. As soon as deaan -Afferrer had ordered them a house and provisions, and -I had made some inquiry after my wife, which proving -more to my satisfaction than I expected, I took my -leave of them with pleasure; for I had some doubt -before, what might be the effect of such a peremptory -demand from deaan Mevarrow.</p> - -<p class='c007'>And now I lived, I must confess, with more freedom -<span class='pageno' id='Page_184'>184</span>than ever I had done as yet; for I walked about with -my gun upon my shoulder. When the deaan was disposed -to eat, I ate with him; though not in the same -dish, indeed, for no one here has that privilege. I had -little else to do, than to go with him a hunting; by -which means I made myself expert in all the arts of -taking wild cattle. My principal business was to -observe the situation of the country, and to inquire the -route which Ry-Nanno was expected to take.</p> - -<p class='c007'>I was fond of going often a hunting, in order to -take particular notice of the most remarkable mountains, -which might hereafter be as so many landmarks -to me. Besides vohitch futey, or white hill, here is -another high mountain more to the northward, called -vohitch manner, or red hill. It is in form of a cone, -or sugar-loaf, and runs spiring up a great height; the -inhabitants are of opinion, that it is the highest in the -whole world. After I had lived in this manner six -months, Ry-Nanno met me by accident in the forest, -as he was coming to give deaan Crindo, and the other -lords, intelligence of the Feraignher army being upon -their march. This was such agreeable news to me, -that I was at a loss how to conceal my joy; and for -that reason I walked into the woods, for fear they -should discover my inclinations by my deportment. I -attempted to return my humble and hearty thanks to -the Almighty in my native tongue, for the fair prospect -I had of getting to a seaport town; but found I had -forgotten my English, and could scarcely with propriety -put three words together. However, the Madagascar -language served me well enough to express the sentiments -of my heart.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Deaan Afferrer told me as soon as I came home, -that he had seen Ry-Nanno; that Rer Vovvern was -dead, and that his son deaan Mernaugha now succeeded -him; and that his nephew deaan Trongha, -assisted by his brother Rer Befaugher, and deaan Mernaugha’s -brother Rer Mundrosser, commanded the -army. As I was conversing with the deaan, I could -not help expressing my sorrow for Rer Vovvern’s -<span class='pageno' id='Page_185'>185</span>death; because he was so faithful a friend to all white -men. I found he suspected my design immediately, -for he told me, though in a very courteous manner, that -he hoped I had no temptation to change my place of -abode through his treatment of me. To which I replied, -after thanking him for all his favours, that I had -no thought of removing from my habitation; that I -was conscious to myself that I lived as well, or better -than I could do in any other place. And, indeed, -this was really fact, for he treated me with the utmost -humanity and complaisance. I eat and drank as he -did, and did no manner of work; but I perceived by -this, he was not inclined to part with me. For which -reason, I was under a necessity to be more close and -artful, than I should have been had I made such a -discovery.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Orders were sent to the three towns under deaan -Afferrer’s command, that instead of hunting the wild -cattle, they should make proper preparations for hunting -the wild boar; by which they meant the king of -Merfaughla. Whereupon, all hands were instantly -at work, cleaning and fitting up their arms; for there -are artificers here, who can make or mend a spring, -and do twenty other things to guns as well as lances. -The women employed themselves in making caps, to -distinguish us in the wars; these were made of the -same materials as our mats. The children beat Guinea -corn in order to carry with us. I made it my business -to put deaan Afferrer’s and my own gun in order; and -to cast a considerable quantity of shot or rather slugs, -by making a hole with a round stick in a lump of clay, -to cast the lead in; and cutting it afterwards into little -pieces about half an inch long. Though they frequently -buy shot at the seaports, yet this was made, as I imagine, -of the lead which they had procured from the wreck -of our ship.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Ry-Nanno went back, after he had given notice of -the Feraignher army’s march to deaan Trongha, in -order to meet him at vohitch manner, according to -appointment. Deaan Crindo sent orders that we -<span class='pageno' id='Page_186'>186</span>should march, and meet him at the river, where we -watered our cattle, in deaan Murnanzack’s country. -I might have stayed at home, if I had thought proper; -but I was resolved at all adventures to go with them, -though I told deaan Afferrer, I was under some apprehensions -of my old master Mevarrow, whom, I concluded, -I should see there. But he bid me be under no -concern on that account, for he would protect me; -and deaan Mevarrow, he was well assured, would make -no disturbance in the army. However, it happened -better than I expected, for Mevarrow was left behind -sick of the colah; which, in Guinea, or the West Indies, -is called the yaws. It is a cruel distemper, and -bears a near resemblance to the venereal disease, affects -the bones and joints with great pain and soreness, breaks -out all over in blotches and dry scabs, and is mostly in -the privy parts, and under the arm-pits. However, it -is not actually that complaint; for I have known children -of three or four years old have it, whose parents -never knew by experience what it was. There are but -few who escape it once in their lifetime, but then they -never have it more. In that respect, it is like the -small pox, or the itch; and caught also as they are. -If a person, who never had it, follow one infected in -the long grass or bushes, if he lie or sit on the same -mat, or even eat and drink after the diseased person, -he most assuredly catches it. For which reason they -send their children, when afflicted with it, out to nurse, -to such persons as live alone in remote places; and -when a man, woman, or a whole family is taken with -it, they oblige them to go into the woods, and tarry -there till they are perfectly recovered; which is frequently -a whole year, and sometimes two.</p> - -<p class='c007'>It was good news to me to hear that deaan Mevarrow -was left at home infected with this distemper, and that -deaan Sambo had the command of the people in his -stead; for I knew, by experience, that he was none of -my enemy, though he demanded me in his brother’s -name upon his first arrival; but when deaan Afferrer -had expostulated the case with him, and told him what -<span class='pageno' id='Page_187'>187</span>answer he had returned him by the messengers; when -he urged, that it was natural for a man to fly for his -life, who was every day in danger, and treated like a -brute, had he been a lawful slave, which was not the -case here, deaan Sambo gave up the argument, and -turning to me, asked if he had not several times saved -me? I readily owned the obligation. Do not be afraid, -said he, for I shall not insist on my demand any more; -but pray come often and see me as a friend. I gratefully -acknowledged all his favours, and particularly -thanked him for this last signal one, for he confirmed -the account I had given of myself before.</p> - -<p class='c007'>As deaan Crindo had intelligence of the day the -Feraingher army was to join them, he put himself in a -posture to receive them with abundance of form and -ceremony. He was seated under a great tamarind tree, -with his sons according to their seniority on his right -hand, and all their people; on his left were deaan -Murnanzack and his brethren, with all their people. -The whole assembly formed a line of above a quarter -of a mile in length. After a short time, the Feraingher -army appeared, and as they advanced, they came -dancing, each with a gun in his left hand, and a lance -in his right, their shells sounding, and their drums -beating. At a small distance they fired some pieces by -way of salutation, which we immediately returned; -and now the three generals, deaan Trongha, Rer Befaugher, -and Rer Mondrosser, went up to deaan Crindo -and the rest. After the usual salutations, they were all -seated under the tamarind tree, and ten calabashes of -toake were sent for by deaan Crindo to entertain them. -I sat all this time behind deaan Afferrer, with his gun -in my hand. After mutual assurances of an inviolable -friendship, the division of the prices of cattle was settled -and adjusted. Deaan Crindo and his sons were -to have one third; deaan Murnanzack and his brethren -another; and deaan Trongha and his brother and cousin -the remainder.</p> - -<p class='c007'>After they had amicably concluded their own affairs, -and begun to be gay over their toake, says deaan Trongha, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_188'>188</span>you have got a white man amongst you, I perceive. -Yes, says deaan Crindo, this is one of those who took -me and my nephew prisoners, and would have delivered -us into deaan Tuley-Noro’s hands, who was our adversary. -I don’t think, says deaan Trongha, they would -have done you any harm; you must doubtless have -given them some provocation first. I did them no injury, -replied the other, as I know of, unless maintaining -them well was doing them injustice. They were -inclined, indeed, to go to Antenosa, and I would rather -have detained them to assist me in the wars; and was -not this, says deaan Trongha, a manifest injury, and a -just provocation, to keep free men against their wills in -a country far from their native homes. I’ll tell you, -however, a very remarkable transaction of my grandfather’s -with these white men, before he was rightly acquainted -with them.</p> - -<p class='c007'>An English ship came to our seaport town, which -they call St. Augustine-bay, in order to buy provisions -and furnish themselves with water. They did not go -up to my grandfather’s town, but he thought proper to -visit them, and made the captain a voluntary present -of two oxen; and the captain as voluntarily gave him -a gun, and some powder and shot, as a compensation. -The whites built themselves a house upon the shore, -for the reception of their sick men. Some few days -after we had been here, the white men and some of -ours got in liquor together, and a quarrel arose amongst -them. At first, indeed, they only beat one another -with their fists; but at length, they made use of weapons, -and a white man was killed upon the spot by -one of ours. The news being carried immediately to -the ship, the captain came on shore, and after a strict -inquiry into the matter, he laid hold of the king whilst -his people ran to the boat and fetched their arms. My -father and Rer Vovvern instantly placed themselves at -the head of our people, and would have attacked them, -but my grandfather prevented them, for he was morally -assured of being killed by one side or the other, so he -went contentedly on board their ship. The fishermen -<span class='pageno' id='Page_189'>189</span>were under no apprehensions of danger from the whites -notwithstanding this disturbance, for they knew them; -and, besides, were well acquainted with their manners; -so they went on board, and asked what the captain’s -demands were of the king? He said satisfaction for -the loss of his white man. They returned, and in the -name of the king’s two sons, asked what satisfaction he -required? The captain insisted on their sending him -the man who killed the Englishman and ten oxen as -an equivalent. The fishermen had no more wit than -to deliver their message in the hearing of the murderer; -whereupon, he fled directly into the woods, so that -when they sent to secure him, he was not to be found. -The fishermen returned to the captain, and assured him -that they had made strict search for the criminal, but -could not find him; however, if he would be contented -with a slave or two in his stead, or with twenty oxen, -they were willing to give him them. At this the captain -was very angry, and peremptorily insisted on their -producing the same man; for he had murdered his -man in a most barbarous manner, and unless they found -him, he would keep their father; but, notwithstanding, -he would allow them ten days’ time to make their farther -search for him.</p> - -<p class='c007'>During all that interval, my grandfather’s legs were -loaded with irons, in order to prevent his making his -escape; however, he eat and drank with the captain all -the ten days’ time, and was treated in a very courteous -manner. When the term granted was expired, and the -captain was fully satisfied they had done all they could -to find out the murderer, though to no purpose, he took -the irons off the king’s legs, and asked him if he would -enter into a solemn oath, never from that hour to do -any act of injustice to an Englishman, or suffer any of -his people to do it, if he could possibly prevent it. To -which my father readily consented. When he had -dined with the captain, they came on shore together. -What! says deaan Crindo, do you and your family eat -with white men? Yes, says deaan Trongha, we Andry -Voler, for that is the surname of the family, not only -<span class='pageno' id='Page_190'>190</span>eat out of the same dish, but drink out of the same cup -too, and look upon them as a part of our own family. -We never attempted to assume any authority over -them; they come when they please, and go where they -please with us; and if any idle fellows do what they -ought not to do, their captain never hinders their being -punished. These white men are very advantageous to -us, and they would not come amongst us, if we did -not treat them with civility; besides, our grandfather -has laid us all under a solemn oath, with a curse annexed -to all our posterity, who shall treat an Englishman -with severity; for, as soon as he and the captain -came on shore, the owley was brought out, and they -entered into a solemn and perpetual friendship, which -all of us strictly observe, and imagine that God will -not prosper us should we break it.</p> - -<p class='c007'>My grandfather hereupon gave the captain twenty -oxen, which, though he received, he would return an -equivalent in guns and other things; and had we this -white man amongst us, we should give him such clothes -as his countrymen have left who died there. He will -never wear any of his own country clothes again, says -deaan Crindo, I believe. Better you were hanged, -thought I, though I durst not say so.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The next day we marched to the borders of Merfaughla, -and there encamped. I lay always in deaan -Afferrer’s tent. The next morning, however, we shifted -our quarters and marched a great way into the country -towards Manner-ronder, a small river passing through -several small towns, but found the inhabitants had -abandoned them, and from the dung of the cattle, -which was very dry, we judged they had been gone -about a fortnight; for Woozington was a politic man, -and would leave nothing for us to subsist on; neither -would he weaken his army by fruitless skirmishes and -unnecessary attempts, but wait till he was fully apprized -of our strength by his spies, and had collected all the -force he could to oppose us. A man came to me from -deaan Trongha, and told me privately that his master -desired to speak with me, to which I answered, I would -<span class='pageno' id='Page_191'>191</span>wait on him, as soon as I could possibly contrive to -come without being observed. Accordingly, in about -two or three days, I found a proper opportunity, and -told deaan Afferrer I was going to see deaan Sambo. -You need not ask me leave, said he, but don’t go any -where else; by which I knew his meaning, and found -he was jealous of me. However, I returned, and by -private ways, and in the dark got to deaan Trongha’s -tent, where was a numerous assembly. He spoke to -me in English, and asked me how I did? I was obliged -to answer him in the Madagascar language, for I had -forgotten I told him my mother tongue. This, and my -being naked withal, moved his compassion to that degree, -that he spoke as indulgent things to me as my -own father could; and assured me, that if he could find -any means to take me with him, he would send me -home in the first ship. Whilst we were talking, Rer -Befaugher came in, who shaking me by the hand, said, -Brother, how do you do? I answered very well, but -could speak no more English, without a mixture of this -country language. They informed me that there had -lately been some English men of war in quest of pirates; -and that they had directed them to St. Mary’s, -and Mattatanna, which are situate on the other side of -the island; and that there was but one white amongst -them, and he a Dutchman; and moreover, that an Englishman -had been killed not long since in the wars. -I told him I was determined, at all adventures, to escape -and follow them, but they said they would purchase -me, though they gave six slaves for me. After -thanks for so courteous a promise, and a mutual agreement -not to take any public notice of each other, I took -my leave of them and went to deaan Sambo’s tent, who -also treated me in a very handsome manner. He told -me he was going to live by himself, and asked me if I -would come to him? and I promised him I would. I -took my leave and returned to our tent. The next -morning we held a consultation, in which it was determined -to throw the army into three divisions and -march abreast; but at a quarter of a mile distance from -<span class='pageno' id='Page_192'>192</span>one another. We saw nobody all this time, till we -were near the capital town, and then we perceived their -spies that observed us, but the inhabitants were all fled. -We passed the river Manner-ronder, and encamped -upon the plain; we had not been long there before -three men called to our people, and desired them to -acquaint deaan Crindo that deaan Woozington proposed -to pay him a visit next morning. Now he was -an artful man, and full of stratagems, so they knew he -would endeavour to surprise or overreach them. Upon -which, we went hard to work to fortify the camp, which -was thrown in a circular form. We cut down several -trees and set up forked limbs; the spaces were filled -with great pieces of wood, piled one upon another -lengthways, at least four feet high, and as they joined -close, they made a wall of it. In the next place, we -dug the ground about a foot deep, and about seven feet -wide, and threw up the earth against the wooden pile -to make the wall still stronger; we left only two narrow -entrances. The loose small boughs, with the leaves, -were thrown carelessly, as it were, without side to hide -the fortifications, so that it looked like nothing but a -common method they observed, in order to conceal -their numbers. When our camp was made secure, -some few cattle were killed and we all went to supper, -and then laid us down under our tent clothes, for we -did not set our tents up, neither did we pull off our -lambers, but lay close under the fortifications, prepared -for an attack; the slaves that carried the provision were -planted in the center.</p> - -<p class='c007'>We arose by break of day, putting our guns through -little holes which we had left in our wall on purpose, -and kneeled to fight with the more ease, and to take -the better aim. We had not been in readiness above -ten minutes before we saw them coming down with -fury upon us. Whilst we were preparing to receive -them, another party appeared on the contrary side, and -proposed to have come upon our backs, but as we were -in a circle we were all front. Our shells were immediately -sounded, and our drums beaten, but we soon -<span class='pageno' id='Page_193'>193</span>altered this for another kind of noise. When they came -within thirty yards of us, they fired briskly, still approaching, -and having no notion of our wall, expected -we should soon retreat from behind the boughs. I observed -their eyes red with smoking jermaughla, which -made them more resolute than usual. Of this I shall -give a particular description after the account of the -engagement. Ry-Opheck, with a body of men, attacked -one of our entrances; he came skipping along, his eyes -glowed like fire; he had a lance in one hand, and a -gun in the other; his people ran after him in so furious -a manner, that Trodaughe and his people, who should -have defended the passage, gave way. We were employed -on our side, and knew nothing of it till he had -got within our camp; at which time one of our chief -men turning about and seeing Ry-Opheck stabbing our -men, fired at him, and shot him in the belly. When -he found himself wounded, he retreated, and fell about -thirty or forty yards from the place: his people, instead -of revenging his cause, turned backward when he did. -How common men will sometimes mimic a general’s -behaviour! But when they saw him fall, they returned -to bring off his body, and this brought on a warm engagement -in the open field; for deaan Afferrer jumped -over the works, and most of us, who were his people, -after him, and forced them to retreat. Here one, who -was distinguished from the rest by his yellow complexion, -and who seemed of superior rank, took aim at -me, but luckily missing me, I wounded him in the -thigh and ran up to him. I found his hand was full of -powder, in order to charge again, and he threatened -me hard, but I snatched his lance from him, and prevented -him from either doing me any farther mischief, -or hurting any body else. Another such push on the -contrary side so totally defeated the enemy, that they -flew for it; and we pursued them, but not indeed very -far; because we were unwilling to divide ourselves, -lest Woozington should have turned and taken the advantage -of our confusion, which he certainly would -have done, had an opportunity offered.</p> - -<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_194'>194</span>When we returned to our camp, the deaans all -assembled at deaan Crindo’s tent, who took notice of -each individual man according to his merit, returning -them thanks for their courage and conduct. He next -made inquiry what men were lost on our side, and -found no more than sixteen killed, and thirteen -wounded. After that he sent out to number the dead -bodies of the enemy, and found the total amounted to -one hundred and seventy-five; among whom were -sixteen persons of distinction; two of Woozington’s -younger sons, Metorolahatch and Rer Fungenzer; his -nephews, Ry-Opheck and Rer Chula; the names of -the rest I never heard. Deaan Crindo gave orders -that the bodies of these sixteen great men should be cut -to pieces and scattered about the field, that their friends -might not bury them. Two or three days afterwards -we marched farther into Merfaughla, plundering and -spoiling all their plantations.</p> - -<p class='c007'>As these people are more addicted to smoke jermaughla -than any others, it will be proper to give a -description of it here. It is a plant that grows about -five feet high, and bears a small long leaf with a cod, -which contains about a dozen seeds like hempseed. -These leaves and seeds are mingled together, and laid -in the sun for three or four days successively, till they -are very dry, and so prepared, are fit to be smoked. -Their pipes are made of reeds, or rather small canes. -Sometimes they make use of a very long shell, which -answers the end proposed. The quality of it is such -that it makes them drunk; their eyes look red and fiery, -and their looks fierce and savage. It is easy to know -a man who smokes jermaughla; whilst the effects last, -they are more vigorous and resolute, acting as it were -like madmen. Those who are too much addicted to it -are good for nothing but during the time they are -intoxicated with it. My curiosity led me once to smoke -a little myself; but it made my head so giddy, that I -was drunk, as it were, for three days together, and so -sick that I never meddled more with it.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Our spies were two days before they could discover -<span class='pageno' id='Page_195'>195</span>any cattle. At length, however, they informed us they -had heard some bellow, whereupon a thousand men -were detached to fetch them. They were gone a whole -week; they returned, however, with above two thousand -beeves, and two hundred and fifty captives, -women and children. This great prize made them fond -of a second expedition; so, upon a consultation, a new -camp was formed, and fortified in the same manner as -before; in which deaan Crindo remained with four -thousand men, whilst two thousand went out to plunder; -and on their return two thousand more were to -go.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Deaan Afferrer, deaan Sambo, Rer Mimebolambo, -and Rer Befaugher, went out with two thousand men. -We had three or four for our guides who were perfectly -well acquainted with the country, and knew where the -cattle were usually fed. We were two days before we -came to any of their tracks, and then they were driven -off, and, as appeared by their marks, quite different -ways. So our army divided, deaan Sambo and Rer -Befaugher went northward, and we south-west. We -marched in the tracks all day and all the next night, as -it was moonshine. We found ourselves in the morning -near the sea, where they had driven the beasts to the -margin of the water, that the ebbing and flowing and -the wash of the sea might efface their footsteps on the -sands; as indeed it did in a great measure: but we -continued our march all day, till we found out where -they turned off towards the woods. The next morning -our spies came in, and informed us, that they heard a -cow bellow. We soon came to the plain, where we -found a hundred at least, but these were not sufficient; -and therefore, narrowly observing their footsteps, we -traced them farther, and found eight or nine hundred -more. Here were besides two or three hundred sheep, -which we killed, the best of them we dressed, and left -the others behind us. However, we were in great want -of water, for we had none for nearly two days. At length -one of our scouts discovered a pond, where the cattle -used to drink, and this, though hot and foul, we eagerly -<span class='pageno' id='Page_196'>196</span>drank, as we could get no better. Till this time we -saw no enemies, though we expected them, for we -could see the cow-herds fly from their cattle, in order, -no doubt, to alarm their masters. And as some of us -were taking up this water, as clean as we could, in our -calabashes, and whilst one in particular was stooping -down to wash his lamber, a volley of shot was fired -amongst us before we perceived any body. We looked -up and saw about eight or ten men, who ran back into -the wood, which extended along on the other side of the -water, within three or fourscore yards. We fired at -them, but they vanished out of sight. None of us were -hurt, but the man who was washing his lamber; he -received a shot in his fundament, of which he instantly -expired.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Though I had been superstitiously addicted to -observe certain fixed characters, or hieroglyphics, when -they occurred to me in dreams, which was indeed but -seldom, and used to find they foretold some things to -me; yet I could not but observe a remarkable instance -which we had here of relying on dreams, and I did not -fail taking notice of it to deaan Afferrer, and thereupon -to turn their superstitious devotions to their owleys -into ridicule. For seeing me come in a hurry, and -hearing guns go off, he asked, “What news?” -“Nothing,” said I, “but a man was killed by the order -of his gods.” “How!” says the deaan, “by the order -of his gods? I do not understand you.” “Why,” says -I, “a man prayed to his owley last night, and when -he lay down, bid it not fail to come when he was -asleep. The demon which attends his owley, according -to his desire, came, and told him in a dream, or, -which is the same thing, he dreamed he told him, that -he must wash his lamber the next morning. He went -along with us in obedience to this divine vision, to the -watering place, though he had no other business there; -and as he stooped to wash his lamber, was killed by a -random shot, which he received in his posteriors from -some of our fugitive enemies, who fired, ran away, and -hurt nobody else.” I was under no apprehensions of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_197'>197</span>deaan Afferrer’s anger on this piece of raillery, for persecution -on account of difference in religion is not -thought of there.</p> - -<p class='c007'>I remember one instance, whilst I lived with deaan -Mevarrow, of a piece of bigotry more blind and senseless, -if possible, than this. A young man had an -owley, the demon of which was called Ry-Leffu. He -made his addresses one night to him, and Ry-Leffu in -a dream told him, that his brother must shoot at him. -Early in the morning he took above an hour’s walk to -his brother, told his dream, and desired him to perform -the order of Ry-Leffu. His brother endeavoured to -dissuade him from it, but the other insisted it must be -done, or worse would ensue. “Well then,” said he, -“I will shoot near you, but take care to miss you.” -“No,” said the bigoted idiot, “it must be executed according -to order, without the least prevarication; for -I am fully persuaded that the demon will defend me -from all harm.” At length he prevails on his brother, -who loads his piece, and stands about thirty yards -distant, and fires at his lower parts; but notwithstanding -all his precaution he broke a leg; and then, blaming -himself for his credulity, and being so easily overruled -in an action he no ways approved of, ran with tears in -his eyes to the assistance of the wounded bigot. In short, -with the usual means, together with some of the fat of -a sacrifice, laid on the owley of Ry-Leffu, the wound was -healed, but he never recovered the free use of that leg.</p> - -<p class='c007'>We drove our cattle to the seaside, the same way -we came, by the verge of the water, and went round -the bay called St. John’s. I took particular notice of -it; there is a ridge of rocks which seemed to extend -quite across it, so as to leave no entrance; but were -there a channel wide enough for ships to sail in, it -would be a very commodious harbour, the waters being -smooth within. Not far from hence, as I have heard, -on the coast of Merfaughla, a French ship was cast -away about two or three years before ours, and the -whole crew destroyed; but the reason of their inhuman -<span class='pageno' id='Page_198'>198</span>murder, or the particular circumstances of it, I could -never learn. They have no canoes, either here or in -Anterndroea, for which reason the natives can have no -commerce with ships. For they are very treacherous -to white men of any in the island. Whether their little -acquaintance with Europeans gives them a dread of -them, I cannot say; but I am sensible they imagine -that white men are extremely addicted to fighting, and -not so tender-hearted as themselves. This received notion -may be a great motive to their destroying them on -very trivial provocations; for they are always jealous -that the white men have some cruel designs upon them. -So that they are ever on their guard, dreading the audacity -and superior skill which the Europeans have over -them in point of war.</p> - -<p class='c007'>As to their mercy. In such places where they have -subdued them, as the French did in Antenosa, they -made them all slaves, inverted the whole order of their -government; and most of them being illiterate seamen, -who took upon them to rule, they showed no regard, -either to morality, civility, or indeed common decency; -made no distinction of persons, confounded all order, -and treated every black as if he were a brute; and so -much inferior to themselves, as not to have the least -right or title, in their opinions, to the common privileges -of human creatures. So that to kill one of them was -no more than killing a dog, or any other noxious animal -whatsoever. I do not make this as a general reflection -on the French only, though if credit were to be -given to half that the natives say, they were guilty of -the most scandalous and execrable actions. Our own -countrymen (too much addicted to their follies and -vices) are not exempt from the just cause of this scandal -upon white men; for the conduct of our British pirates, -and others too, who are not willing to be thought -inhuman, has been barbarous to the last degree. And -in the countries of Anterndroea and Merfaughla, where -no stories are told but what are very strange; and as -they cannot distinguish by experience, that wicked men -<span class='pageno' id='Page_199'>199</span>are the product of every land; and having seen no good -ones here, every white man is looked upon by them as -much a monster as a cannibal is by us.</p> - -<p class='c007'>We returned to our camp with our booty four days -before Rer Befaugher, who not only got a good prize -of cattle, but of captives likewise: which they discovered -by the observance of a smoke. Deaan Crindo was -in pain to be at home, lest deaan Woozington should -go into his country and plunder it; but Rer Mundrosser -and deaan Mussecorro would take their turn to see -what they could find, and return with slaves as well -as cattle. We had no enemy all this time come near -us; for deaan Trongha stayed in the camp till we returned. -I told deaan Afferrer I would go and pay -deaan Sambo a visit as before, on purpose to conceal -my visit to the other. He treated me with the same -good manners as at first; but whilst we were in discourse, -one of deaan Afferrer’s slaves came in and told -me his master desired to speak with me. I durst not -speak privately to deaan Trongha before him, nor would -I stay, as he would have had me; but went directly -with the man, being apprehensive of some ill treatment. -When I came, he was in a terrible passion, charging -me with being deceitful; and asking me, if I intended -to go away with them? He would take care, however, -that I should not go out of Anterndroea. I might go -any where among his own countrymen; but he would -not part with me. I perceived he was determined to -be my master, though he was a much better than deaan -Mevarrow; for he never offered to strike, much less to -kill me. It was fourteen days before Rer Mundrosser -returned; he brought, likewise, several slaves as well -as cattle. As soon as the cattle were divided, which -was the next day, the army marched back into Anterndroea; -for deaan Crindo would not consent that the -Feraignharians should go home, till they had accompanied -him into his own country, and till he was out -of danger. Our habitation on Yong-gorvo hills lay in -the way. Deaan Trongha, with his brother and cousin, -came the night before we parted, to take their leave of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_200'>200</span>deaan Afferrer; and after some general discourse, he -said if you will part with your white man, I will give -you three slaves for him. Though this was a handsome -price, yet my master, for so I must call him, made answer, -I will not take three times three for him. So no -more was said, and deaan Trongha went his way. The -next morning before they marched, I had the opportunity -of seeing one of the Feraignher men; whereupon -I desired him to assure his general that I would be -with them in three or four days at farthest; for I was -determined to run away, and follow their tracks at all -adventures. At present, indeed, I was prevented; because -as they were jealous of me, two men were ordered -never to let me go out of their sight, either by night or -day, till we got home. And for two months afterwards, -I was never suffered to go any where without somebody -with me.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Before I take my farewell of Anterndroea, my readers -may justly expect an account of such things as I -thought most worthy of observance, and which have -not hitherto been described; and which, indeed, are -but few, considering the great variety of things, which -a more curious person than myself would have employed -himself in inquiring into. But when they consider -how young I was when I first came here, how I -passed the prime of my years in slavery among these -savages, and the little or no hopes I had of ever -making my escape; it will not, I presume, be expected, -that, at this time, I should have known what was worth -a virtuoso’s regard. I shall not, however, supply these -deficiencies of mine, as many travellers frequently do, -with inventions of my own. I could not help knowing -such things as were of daily service, and in common -with other places; such as bonanas, plantanes, monkies, -turtle, and a hundred other things of the like nature; -of which it would be impertinent to give a particular -detail.</p> - -<p class='c007'>There is no good thing to be met with, either on the -trees, or in the earth, that lie within three or four miles -of the sea; nothing but short prickly wood, that bears -<span class='pageno' id='Page_201'>201</span>no eatable fruit. In the country there is great variety; -among which is a currant that grows on a tree, not a -bush, as in Europe, and is very pleasant. Here is a -very large tree likewise that bears a plumb; which is -black when ripe, and as big as a cherry, with little -stones like those of grapes. There are thorns too on -the tree about two inches long. Here is a fruit like a -sloe, which grows also on a prickly bush, but is very -sweet. Another fruit grows on the most stately trees, -that are speckled like a sparrow’s egg, and in the same -shape, which is full of seeds, and very juicy. It is -looked upon as an infallible cure for fluxes; the leaf of -it is like that of a pear-tree. Here is a tree, the leaves -and tender sprigs whereof will sting like nettles. The -root of this is of great service when water is scarce, -which it often is in many parts of this country; and as -this root is spongy, it retains abundance of juice. We -beat it in a wooden mortar (as we beat our Guinea -corn) and express the liquor. They make ropes of the -bark of this tree. Here is wood in plenty fit for building; -as also some cedar and ebony, but none proper to -make ship masts of. The plains are well covered with -divers kinds of grass, and of various colours; which -grow much taller than any in England. They never -cut any down for hay, for before the old is dead, there -is new springing up under it; but the old grass is commonly -set on fire. Here is also some tobacco, which -they smoke in reeds; or shells, as they do the jermaughla.</p> - -<p class='c007'>When I was in deaan Murnanzack’s country, I frequently -went fishing; but they have no canoes, as I -hinted before, so we only go upon the rocks and fish -with hooks and lines, and not with nets. Night is the -best time, when it is low water. Then we carry lights -with us, and take the fish out of deep little holes (as -the negroes say) fast asleep. Here are abundance of -lobsters and crawfish, which never run away at sight -of the lights. We have also a sharp pike made for no -other purpose than to strike fish. Here are eels and -the sword-fish, and some such other fish as are common -<span class='pageno' id='Page_202'>202</span>to countries in the same climate: but many of a species -I never saw elsewhere. Here is one fish as round as -a turnip, and full of prickles; which, I suppose, may be -called the sea hedgehog, but in their language it is -called sorer-reake. Here is likewise great plenty of -fine turtle.</p> - -<p class='c007'>I never knew the country infested by any beasts of -prey, such as tigers, lions, &c., the wild foxes, wild -boars, and wild dogs are the worst we have in Anterndroea. -Here is a creature of the species and form of -the serpent; which is very large. One of which I -killed, by tearing its huge jaws asunder with my hands; -it was no way venomous, nor did I ever know of a -serpent which killed or hurt any man by its venom. -Several of them have been bitten by them, and no worse -hurt has accrued, than is customary from the bite of -any beast.</p> - -<p class='c007'>While I was in Yong-gorvo, our employment as well -as diversion was principally hunting wild cattle; and -here I observed the people call these cattle, Hattoy’s -cattle, or Anomebay Rer Hattoy. The tradition they -have of their original, is, that they belonged to a great -man named Hattoy; and he being very avaricious -would kill none of them, but let them multiply and run -about wherever they would. He lived in the desert, -but his family and people, after his decease, lived with -a king of an inland dominion, called Untomaroche, -and left most of their cattle behind them. Others say, -that Rer Hattoy and most of his people were killed; -and that the other cattle being better approved of, his -were neglected, and strolling about in the forests, they -multiplied without interruption. But this no way accounts -for the manner in which they came into the -island. This Hattoy, as all allow, was a native; so that -I am apt to believe these were the original cattle of the -country, and the tame beeves were imported; for there -are the same cattle with humps on their backs, on the -coast of Natal, and Dillagoe in Africa. These were -preferred to the others, and bred up whilst the Hattoy’s -were neglected. And what confirms me in this notion -<span class='pageno' id='Page_203'>203</span>is, here are two sorts of people, as if they were two distinct -species of mankind; of which I shall have occasion -to give a full account in a more proper place.</p> - -<p class='c007'>When deaan Afferrer had kept strict watch over me -for about two months, and thought the track of the Feraingher -army was impossible to be found, as the grass -was grown up again, he took me with him hunting -these Hattoy’s cattle again. We had very good diversion, -had not the conclusion proved tragical; for we -killed five cows, and had thoughts of departing: but a -bull ran off with a lance in his side, and we, being loth -to lose it, pursued him, and stuck two or three more in -his belly. When his wounds smarted, he grew enraged -and turned upon us. One man more bold than the -rest threw another lance, and hit him on the back. -Upon which he ran directly at the man; we hallooed to -frighten him off, but he pursued his adversary; and -when he had overtaken him, he tossed him several -yards above his head. The ground where he fell was -stony, and we were afraid of throwing lances lest we -should hit the man, who was all this time endeavouring -to rise; but the bull pushed him down, as often as he -made the attempt, and gored him to that degree with -his horns, that he soon died. When we perceived the -man was past all recovery, we threw more lances at the -bull, till he fell down like a log. I have known them -fight so long, that they have been absolutely dead before -they fell; for they will fix their feet so wide, and -die standing so firmly, that we have been obliged to pull -them down by the tail. They were forced to dress the -meat this evening, because of going home next day -with the corpse of their neighbour. When we had roasted -the beef, and made an end of our supper, we made -up our enters for the next morning. For my part, I -packed up as much as I could conveniently carry; for -I was determined to go away this very night. I laid -down, indeed, when the rest did, but could not sleep -much, it may be supposed, for thinking of the hazardous -journey I was about to undertake. Every one -else slept soundly enough, as they were tired, and their -<span class='pageno' id='Page_204'>204</span>bellies were full; so about midnight I took up my burden, -and away I marched, directing my course to the -northward, not without recommending myself to the -good providence of God to be my conductor.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The instructions I received from Ry-Nanno, and -which on inquiry I found from others, was to go to -the southward, till I came to Vohitch Futey; and to -leave it on my right hand, directing my course between -the north and west, till I got to the great river Oneghaloyhe, -which goes to St. Augustine’s bay; then to -keep along the river till I saw highland running along -the westernmost parts of the forest: and then when I -had passed over the river, to go away to the westward.</p> - -<p class='c007'>I walked very briskly all night, and at break of day -I saw the white mountains very near. By this I perceived -I had made a great progress, and therefore would -not conceal myself as at first I proposed; but proceeded -on my journey, looking sharply about me, thinking it -morally impossible for them to overtake and find me, -should they have attempted it. I went, therefore, merrily -on, singing Madagascar songs; for I had forgotten -all my English ones. The bellowing of the wild cattle -would now and then make me start; imagining they -were my pursuers. When I came to a pleasant brook, -I baited there; and at sunset I looked out for a covert -in a thicket to lie in; but I could not find one near at -hand. So I was contented to repose myself in the open -plain, pulling up a sufficient quantity of grass for a bed -and a pillow, and making a small fire to warm my beef. -I did not think proper to make a great one, for fear of -its being discerned at a distance; for in the afternoon -I observed some fires to the eastward of the mountain. -I was disturbed in my sleep by night-walkers, whom I -imagined were my pursuers; and accordingly I took -up my lances in order to defend myself; but when I -was thoroughly awake, I found they were only some of -Hattoy’s cattle, that snorted at the smell of my fire, -and ran away, much more afraid of me than I was of -them.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The second day in the morning, I stayed till the sun -<span class='pageno' id='Page_205'>205</span>appeared before I moved forward, that I might not be -deceived in my course; for being abreast of Vohitch -Futey, I walked more easily; and though I was under -no apprehensions of being overtaken by deaan Afferrer’s -people, yet as there might be others in the forest a -hunting of beeves, I was very circumspect. Nothing -remarkable happened this day. I looked out early this -evening for a lodging, the clouds gathering very black, -and soon found a large thick tree, where I made me a -fire, warmed me some meat, and hung up the remainder, -to keep it as dry as I could; for I had nothing else that -could be prejudiced by the rain. At length, it poured -down as I expected, in a violent manner, attended with -thunder and lightning; it soon penetrated my roof: -however, I crowded myself up together, with my head -on my knees, my hands betwixt my legs, and my little -lamber over my ears. The rain ran down like a flood, -but as it was warm I did not so much regard it; in -three or four hours it was fair weather again, and I laid -me down and took a comfortable nap.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The next morning I dried my beef at a fire, which I -made for that purpose, for it was the third day after it -was killed; but I was very careful of it, not knowing -how to kill more at that time: so I put it up in clean -grass and marched forward. The mountains over -which I was to pass seemed very high, craggy, and -thick with wood, and no path or opening could I find. -It looked dismal enough, but I was determined to run -all hazards. Those mountains seemed to me to traverse -the island, and appeared, as we call it at sea, like -double land; one hill behind another. I saw nothing -all this day but a few wild cattle, and now and then a -wild dog; the weather was fair, and I slept soundly all -this night.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The fourth day I walked till noon, at which time I -baited; my beef was now but very indifferent. In the -afternoon as I was walking I saw about a dozen men -before me; upon this I skulked in a bush, peeping to -observe whether they had discovered me; but I was -soon out of my pain, for they were surrounding some -<span class='pageno' id='Page_206'>206</span>cattle a good way to the westward on a hill. I was -likewise on another hill, so that I could see them throw -their lances and kill three beeves, which I was well -assured were more than they could carry away with -them at once. I stayed where I was, proposing when -they were gone to have some beef. To work they fell -immediately, cutting up the beasts, and each man making -up his burden, hanging the remainder up in a tree -that the wild dogs might not get it, and went home to -the eastward. As soon as they were gone, and I had -looked well about me, I threw away my bad meat, -made up to the tree, and took as much as I could well -carry. Away I marched with my booty towards the -mountains, not daring to rest lest they should return -and discover me. In less than an hour I reached the -foot of the hills in the thick woods, and finding no -path or track of men, or any hopes of any, not knowing -what to do, I determined to go through all; but as -I happened on a run of water, I took up my quarters -near it, made me a fire, cut me some wooden spits, and -roasted my beef; I kept my fire burning all night lest -the foxes should come and attack me.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The next morning I made up my enter with grass, -binding it with the bark of trees, and moved forward -up the hill. My burden was now much lighter. In an -hour, though I could find no path but what some swine -had made, I got to the top of it. I perceived here were -faungidge and verlaway enough, with which I was -very well pleased, though I did not at present much -want them. I climbed a high tree to take a survey, but -could discover no entrance: nothing but hills and vales -one beyond another; a cragged dismal desert was all -that presented itself to my view. I would have descended -had I not been in danger of being seen by the -hunters; besides I could not tell which way to look, -whether east or west, for the passage; so setting a lance -up on end, I turned the way it fell, though I imagined -it was due north, or rather somewhat to the eastward. -However, superstition prevailed where reason was no -way concerned, for I was as likely to be right one way -<span class='pageno' id='Page_207'>207</span>as another; and in case I went to the northward, so -long as I knew it, I must go as often as I could to the -westward; as sailors are forced to do, run their latitude -first and their longitude afterwards. I went down -this hill and up another, which was about an hour’s -walk; but when I came to descend this, it was right up -and down. Without due thought I threw down my -lances, hatchet, and burden, thinking to descend by a -very tall tree, whose top branches reached close to the -brow, but I could not do it. However, I made ropes of -the bark of a tree, and fixing them to the strongest -branches, I slid down, I dare say, no less than thirty -feet rather than I would lose my lances and other materials. -I passed over a fine spring and run of water -in the vale. Though the hill on the other side was a -craggy steep rock, I found a way to ascend it; and on -the top climbed another tree to take my view, but had -the same dismal prospect. Here I dug faungidge, it -being sunset, and seeing a hole in a large rock I had -thought to take up my lodging there; but peeping in, -on a sudden I heard such an outcry, which, with the -echo in the rock, made so confused a noise, that I knew -not what it could be. My fears prevailed, and I imagined -it might be pursuers, for it drew nearer and nearer; -so setting my back to a tree, with a lance in each hand, I -waited for the murderers; when instantly came squeaking -toward me a herd of wild swine, who ran away -more terrified than myself. After I was well recovered -from my fright, I made two fires for fear of the foxes, -and then laid me down on my stony bed, for here was -no grass.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The next morning, which was the sixth day, I made -a hearty meal on faungidge and beef, and the hill extending -north and south, I went straight on till it -declined gradually into a valley, in which was a small -river that ran westward; I am apt to think it was the -head of Manner-ronder, where we fought deaan Woozington. -By the time I arrived at the top of the -next hill, it drew towards evening, for I was not much -less than two hours ascending it; and yet, considering -<span class='pageno' id='Page_208'>208</span>my burden, though it was not very heavy now, I went -a very good pace. As I was looking out for a commodious -lodging, that is to say, a place with the fairest -stones in it, I uncovered a swarm of bees; this was a -joyful sight, for it was food that would not spoil with -keeping. I soon cut down a vounturk to secure the -honey in, and smoked them out.</p> - -<p class='c007'>I made such a hearty meal this night of honey, -faungidge, and beef, that I slept too soundly; insomuch -that I was waked with a severe mortification for my -thoughtless security. A fox caught hold of my heel, -and would have dragged me along; whereupon I -startled, and catching up a firebrand gave him such a -blow as staggered him; but as soon as he recovered he -flew at my face. By this time I was upon my feet and -recovered one of my lances, with which I prevented -him from ever assaulting me more, but his hideous -howling brought more about him. I saw three whose -eyes sparkled like diamonds, however they kept at a -distance; for with some dry light wood that lay near -me I made a blaze directly, in order to keep a flame all -night, but did not wake to renew it as I ought to have -done: so that both my fires being almost reduced to -ashes, one of them boldly ventured between them, and -it was very happy for me that he did not seize upon my -throat; for when men have negligently slept where -they haunt, I have known them meet with such a mischance. -After I had made up my fires, and put my -enemies to flight, I examined my heel and found two -great holes on each side, where his teeth had entered; -I bound it up with a piece of my lamber in the best -manner I could; and making a great fire, threw the -fox upon it by way of resentment. I had not that pleasure -in eating my breakfast this morning as I had in my -last night’s supper; besides, my beef was now a little -too tender; however, as I had honey enough for a week -and here was faungidge in plenty, I did not concern -myself much about it.</p> - -<p class='c007'>I walked on this seventh day; and though I favoured -my lame foot as much as I could, yet I rested but once -<span class='pageno' id='Page_209'>209</span>all day. This way happened to be plain and easy. At -evening I came to a place where lay several bodies of -trees which were dead and dry. Thinking this, therefore, -a proper lodging, I made four very large fires, sat -me down to supper, and afterwards ventured to go to -sleep with all those fires around me. But my heel now -grew so very painful, and was swelled to that degree, -that I could not go forward the next day; but as there -was faungidge enough within twenty or thirty yards of -me, I dug up several, and determined to continue here -till my foot grew better. My beef was soon gone, but -faungidge was both meat and drink to me. I saved -part of my beef-fat to dress my heel with; which, as I -gave it six days’ rest, took down all the swelling. During -this time I made such large fires every night, that -could they have been seen, were like those of an army. -I had not far to go for wood or any thing else that I -wanted, or at least that I could any way expect in such -a place.</p> - -<p class='c007'>After these six days’ rest, it being the fourteenth since -I left deaan Afferrer, I went forward, and that day -passed over three very high mountains. By this time my -honey was all gone, and I could find no more; so that -I lived altogether upon faungidge.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The fifteenth day I walked very smartly again, and -passed over several hills that were very rough, craggy, -and tiresome. I took particular care however to get -dry wood enough, for I never ventured to sleep without -four fires.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The sixteenth day I had not travelled above three -hours, before I perceived the earth to be of another -colour; it was chalk then, and now clay. This excited -my curiosity, to climb the first high tree I could meet -with, from whence I discovered an opening to the -northward, with which I was highly delighted, but it -was too far for me to reach that night, so I took up -my lodging as before. This night I was disturbed by -a herd of wild swine.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The seventeenth day I walked very hard, being very -desirous to get through this wilderness, which still -<span class='pageno' id='Page_210'>210</span>abounded with hills. About noon I reached the open -country, where I could look about me with some pleasure -and walk upon level ground. I was now like -one just delivered from a prison, having been twelve -days in this mountainous desert. I was actually -travelling near six days, and I imagine I did not walk -less than twenty miles a day; it might have been passed -indeed in three days, had I been so fortunate as to -have found out the path.</p> - -<p class='c007'>I had not been long in the plain before I came to a -little wood, where I took up my lodging, because here -was firing and faungidge in plenty, which I was very -glad to see, having been under some melancholy -apprehensions of wanting provision in the plains; but -I had soon a still greater hope of being better supplied, -for in the night I was waked by the roaring of a bull, -by which I was very well assured it was the great -northern forest of wild cattle, which Ry-Nanno had -informed me of.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The next day, which was the eighteenth, I saw -several herds of Hattoy’s cattle; and perceived there -were more here than in the southern forest. I looked -wishfully about to discover some hunters if I could, -or to observe if any crows hovered about any particular -place, for then I might reasonably expect some beast -that had been wounded was fallen there. In the -afternoon I came to a river, which was both deep and -large. As I was searching for a proper place to wade -through or swim over, I spied a large alligator; I -still walked upon the banks, and in a short time saw -three more. This was a mortifying stroke and almost -dispirited me. I went on till I came to a shallower -place, where I entered the river about ten yards, with -a view to swim over the rest in four or five minutes, -but seeing an alligator make towards me, I ran back -directly; he pursued me till I got into very shallow -water, and then he turned back into the deep, for they -will never attack a man near the shore. It nettled me -to be stopped by a river that was scarcely a hundred -yards over. A length I recollected that at Bengal -<span class='pageno' id='Page_211'>211</span>there are the largest alligators in the world, and so -bold that they will take a man out of a shallow boat, -insomuch that whenever we came off from the shore -in the night we made one small fire at the head, and -another at the stern of the boat, which no alligator -would ever come near. Distress puts a man’s invention -upon the rack; something, thought I, like this -must be done, for it was to no purpose to stay here, -neither could I go back; so making choice of a stick -for a firebrand, I cut it into long splinters, and waited -till it grew dark, then, after I had bound my two fire-sticks -to the top of one of my lances, I went into the -water, and recommending myself to the care of Providence, -I turned upon my back, and swam over with -my two lances and hatchet in one hand, and my firebrand -burning in the other; my lamber being twisted -and tied fast about my lances.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The place where I pitched upon to swim over had -a gap through the thicket on each side one against -another, which made it look like a common passage -either for men or cattle. No sooner was I landed, -than I heard some wild cattle grazing; whereupon I -extinguished my fire immediately, and washed myself -as silently as possible, that they should not smell me. -I stood some time close under the cover of a thick -bush in the passage expecting that they would come -to drink. The wind, as it luckily fell out, was with -them, so that they could not scent me, though they -often snorted for that purpose. I stood prepared with -my lance, and did not wait long before a numerous -herd came running through the passage to the river, -and as they passed by, I pushed my lance with all the -force I was able into above forty of them, and used my -utmost endeavours to wound them in the belly. They -ran roaring away, fighting, and goring one another, -to revenge as it were the blows they felt, for they expected -no other enemies than what were amongst -themselves. I thought I had struck a sufficient number, -and hoped some of their wounds would prove mortal; -however, I would not run any hazard by night, and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_212'>212</span>therefore sat down contented without roast meat, and -secured myself from their attacks in a thick wood. -The next morning I went to see what success I had -met with, and I found one bull and three cows dead -upon the sand; I soon cut up the youngest and fattest -and carried it to my quarters, near which I made an -oven to bake it. This is a common practice, though I -never described it before; however it is made after -the following manner: a hole is dug about five feet -in length, two over, and about three in depth; this is -filled with wood, which is then kindled; on the top -of the fire I put about a dozen large stones, each -weighing about a pound. Whilst the fire was burning -I cut off the bark from a tree, called the succore, and -took the outer part away, and the inner being pliant -and lying flat it served for the cover of my oven. -When the fire was burnt to ashes, I laid three or four -green sticks across, that my beef might rest upon them; -the stones being red-hot, I placed them about the -bottom and sides; I laid likewise more sticks over the -top, and then the bark covered all close with the earth. -This is our method of baking meat in the forests. I -broiled some for my breakfast, and then went out to -see what farther execution I had done, and found six -more beeves lying dead upon the plain: however I had -enough here. When I returned, my beef was as well -baked as it would have been at any baker’s in London. -When it was cold, I made it up into an enter, but -went no farther this day.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The next morning I went forward well pleased with -my load: though I discovered some smoke to the -eastward, yet I saw no people, but many herds of -wild cattle; as there were several little woods in this -plain, I never wanted either a covert for a lodging, or -grass to make me a tolerably soft bed to lie on. The -country was pleasant enough, and travelling was so -easy, that I determined if it should be my misfortune -to meet with as bad a master as Mevarrow, and there -were no hopes of getting to England, that I would run -away and live by myself in this forest.</p> - -<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_213'>213</span>The twenty-first day in the morning I saw several -wild dogs engaged with, and pulling down a bull -that had been wounded as I imagined some time -before, for I never knew the dogs attack them unless -they were. It was no business of mine to interrupt -them, and if it were, it would have been a very dangerous -thing to make the attempt, for though they do -not seek to assault a man, yet upon provocation they -have been known to destroy several. This night was -the first time I ever felt mosquitoes in the island; -for, lying in the evening in a covert near a run of water, -they stung me to that degree, that I was forced to -shift my quarters, and as it was moonlight I got up -and walked three or four miles farther to the top of a -hill, where I slept without molestation. I had no -occasion to light more than one fire, for there was no -great danger of wild beasts here.</p> - -<p class='c007'>On the twenty-second day I discovered a fog in one -long canal that ran from east to west, which as it -continued all the day long, and at a vast distance, I -conceived it to hang over the great river Oneghaloyhe, -that runs into Augustine-bay. This put new life into -me, to think I drew near to a seaport; I saw two -men that day laden with beef, and would have spoken -to them, but they dropped their enters and ran from -me, though I called and laid down mine, and went -towards them. As soon as they imagined I was gone, -I saw them return and take their beef up again.</p> - -<p class='c007'>On the twenty-third day in the morning the fog appeared -again, but much nearer. I walked as hard as -I well could, being desirous to get to the river: it was -afternoon, however, before I reached within a mile of -it, and then the bushes and thorny small wood were -so thick that it was with great difficulty, and many -severe scratches, that I got to the river side. When I -saw the river so very broad I was surprised, for at least -it was twice as broad as the Thames at London. I had -been informed that a man might wade over it near the -head, but that they always made use of canoes to -transport themselves over other parts, which way they -<span class='pageno' id='Page_214'>214</span>got them I cannot say, for my own part I had no such -help. I made my fire, went to supper, and then reposed -myself to rest, or rather to study which way I -should get over. In the morning I determined to look -out for some old trees or branches that were fallen, -and in a short time I met with several that were fit for -my purpose, not only great arms but trunks of trees -broken off by tempests, these I dragged down to the -river side. In the next place I made it my business -to find out a creeper, which is as large as a withy, but -twining round trees is very pliant. I lopped the -superfluous branches off of six long and thick arms of -the trees, and placing three at bottom and three at -top, I bound them together, making what we call in -the East Indies, a catamaran. I built it afloat in -the water, for otherwise I could not have launched -it; and moored it to a lance which I stuck in the shore -for that purpose; I then fixed my enter in order to -preserve it as dry as I possibly could, as also my -hatchet and my other lance, after that I made a paddle -to row with; then I pulled up my lance and kept it in -my hand to defend myself against the alligators, in -case any of them should assault me, for I was informed -they were very numerous and very fierce here. It -blowed a fresh gale at west against the stream, which -in the middle made a sea, and gave me no small -concern; for I was in great danger of being overset -and becoming a prey to the alligators. It pleased -God, however, to protect me, and I landed safely on -the other shore. This being a pretty good day’s work, -I determined not to go much farther that evening -before I took up my lodging.</p> - -<p class='c007'>On the twenty-fourth day, though I travelled a great -way, yet nothing material offered; I saw indeed a few -wild cattle, but not near the number that was on the -other side of the river, and those too were somewhat -shyer, by which I concluded it to be an inhabited -country.</p> - -<p class='c007'>On the twenty-fifth day my burden grew lighter and -began to smell, but I did not concern myself much -<span class='pageno' id='Page_215'>215</span>about that, since I resolved to speak to the first people -I could see; for I remembered, that deaan Trongha -had told me that his town lay by the north side of this -river. I forded over a brook which runs into the great -river. The country is very pleasant, and here are -abundance of palmetto trees, which they call satter-futey. -They bear a long leaf like a cocoa-nut tree, -but the fruit is quite of another nature: of these leaves -the people make baskets, caps, &c. I saw no wild -cattle all this day.</p> - -<p class='c007'>On the twenty-sixth day, though I walked very -hard again, yet I baited in the heat of the day, -and in the afternoon, making the best of my way, I -espied a smoke; and being determined to speak to -those who made it I mended my pace, lest they should -be passengers only that baited as I did, and would be -gone; but I soon heard the tongues of several children, -who ran into the woods as soon as they saw me. -Upon which, immediately three men, armed with guns -and lances, started out. I looked behind me for a -commodious shelter, not knowing what to think of -them, and retreated a little; which they perceiving, -left their guns behind them, and came towards me. -Upon that I went to meet them, and, at a distance, -desired to know what king they belonged to. They -answered deaan Mernaugha, and as a farther testimony, -perceiving that I was a white man, they spoke two or -three words in broken English; and after that we -shook hands, and saluted each other with the usual -compliment, salamonger. They invited me to go with -them to their habitations, where we sat down, and I -gave them a short detail of my travels. They said they -had heard of me, and having some susers in the pot -just boiled, they desired me to eat with them. After -which, I asked them several questions relating to their -trade, their war, and peace; and one of the most -experienced of them gave me the following melancholy -account of it.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Our late king, Rer Vovvern, said he, killed himself -with grief at an irruption which Rer Trimmenongarevo -<span class='pageno' id='Page_216'>216</span>made with nine thousand men, and took his two daughters -captives. Our prince pursued him with seven -thousand, but the enemy, by a stratagem, got privately -into Feraignher, and plundered it; deaan Woozington -at the same time attacked the southern parts, having -made canoes and passed the great river; the other -passages being first stopped. He took also a great -many people, but deaan Trongha, and his brother Rer -Befaugher, who stayed at home with two thousand -men, disconcerted his measures and prevented his carrying -off the captives; which so enraged Woozington, -who was a man of a barbarous disposition, that he -slew a great many women and children. Rer Trimmenongarevo -took a contrary method, for he sent messengers -with friendly invitations to the people to come -and live in his country and be his subjects, and with -repeated assurances, that he would restore to them -their wives and children; which promise he punctually -performed, and still continues so to do; so that some -hundreds are gone away: and he still so embarrasses -us, who are unwilling to leave our native country, -that many of us are obliged to fly into these forests -and secret recesses in order to be safe, contenting ourselves, -as you see, with what the country naturally -affords us; for we dare neither plant nor keep cattle, -lest we should be surprised. We have another petty -prince in the mountains, who takes this opportunity to -make incursions, and helps to impoverish us, so that -we have enemies all around us; and those who remain -in towns are almost famished. For we have no friends -but white men, and there has not been a ship come -this way a long time; and should they be apprized of -our poverty they would come no more. Thus this -kingdom, which was lately the glory of the island, is -now almost reduced to nothing.</p> - -<p class='c007'>This melancholy tale so shocked me, that I sat mute -and as fixed as a statue, till the man perceiving my -concern, roused me by asking me my name; and if I -had not thoughts of going to the king before I went to -deaan Trongha, as, they said, was my duty; but I told -<span class='pageno' id='Page_217'>217</span>them I was a freeman, and would act as I had already -told them; so they gave me a mat, and I lay down -ruminating on the hard fortune that attended me; but -as Providence had taken care of me hitherto, I did not -question but in due time my deliverance would be -accomplished; and with this resignation I laid me -down to rest.</p> - -<p class='c007'>These men were very courteous to me, and pressed -me to stay two or three days with them; but I only -breakfasted there, giving them some of my beef, which -they accepted, though it was far from being good. -When they found I was determined to go, they made -me a present of a parcel of roasted susers to carry with -me, and accompanied me as far as the path, and showed -me how to find these susers, which till then I had -never seen; they grow like wild yams, which were -their principal diet. This was the twenty-seventh -day of my travels, and turning out of the path into the -wood, I hunted about for such an inn as had served -me many a night before; which I soon found, made -a fire, and after supper slept very contentedly.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The next morning I met with four men, who informed -me, that though I could not reach deaan -Trongha’s town, yet I might Rer Befaugher’s, and he -would send a man to direct me. My way lay over a -high hill, from whence I saw the sea, and the road -where the ships used to lie in Augustine-bay; on the -other hand was the great river, and the country very -pleasant along its banks. When I came to the bottom, -some boys who were tending their cattle ran up to me, -for they are not afraid of white men, and one of them -very courteously offered to show me the way to the -town.</p> - -<p class='c007'>On my arrival, the people stared to see a white man -without clothes; some said, a ship was arrived; but -most said, I could not come from a ship naked, and -without a hat. When I came near Rer Befaugher’s -house, I perceived he looked earnestly at me, not -knowing me at first; but, when I came nearer, he -arose from his seat, clapped his hand to his mouth and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_218'>218</span>cried, “Ah! Ry-Robin, how came you here?” Had I -been his brother, he could not have embraced me with -more affection. As soon as I was seated, several came -about me; some who knew me in the army asked me, -who were with me? And when I answered, nobody, -they wondered how I could find the way by myself; -but when I informed them how I lost my way, and -came through the mountainous wilderness, and what -stratagems I made use of to pass the rivers, they were -perfectly astonished.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Rer Befaugher took me into his house, and made me -sup with him; he had roast beef, and his wife brought -milk on purpose for me. I asked about the state of -the country, and he gave much the same account I had -heard before; with this addition, that he expected -every day that Rer Trimmenongarevo would come, -and ravage the whole country, for they were altogether -incapable of making any resistance; those, however, -who were the pillars of the land, were determined to -stand till they were cut down by death, and not to fly. -For indeed, said he, we have nowhere to go but into -the sea, and we have no notion of living there as you -white men have.</p> - -<p class='c007'>When we had supped, and talked till I was sleepy, -he sent a man with me to a house prepared for my -reception. The next morning I begged the favour of -him to send a man to direct me in the right road to -deaan Trongha’s; but he would go himself. I told -him that it was too great a condescension, and too -much beneath his dignity, to attend a slave as I was. -He answered, that he never looked on white men as -slaves, and that he had waited on several. And Rer -Vovvern, as well as he, had clothed and maintained -some who did not deserve it, but they did it for the -sake of others; for, says he, here have been some very -quarrelsome people who come ashore, and never go -aboard again, and behave themselves shamefully ill. -I asked him what they trafficked for here. He said, -for nothing but provision, for which they gave them -gold and silver in exchange, and sometimes pieces of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_219'>219</span>silk; and when they sail away, no one, nay, they themselves -don’t know to what country they are going: for -they are wicked, careless wretches, and their whole -business is to plunder other ships. I told him, they -were to blame either to assist them, or sell them any -provisions; and that the government of England was -at a prodigious expense to fit out ships on purpose to -destroy them, for they spoil the merchants’ trade, and -were a disgrace to their country. The English, for the -generality, said he, were very good people, and by the -trade which they drove with them, were of singular -service to their country. That he had been on board -divers ships, and had met with several captains, who -were very honest men, for they used to receive him in -the most courteous manner, and entertain him with -wine, punch, and brandy; and sometimes another sort -of liquor that was very bitter, what the name of it was -he could not tell, but they loved it themselves. I told -him it was beer. He said, yes; but he could never -drink it with any pleasure. Thus we went chatting -along to deaan Trongha’s, which was about two hours’ -walk. When we arrived the people flocked round me, -some saying a samb-tuley; that is to say, a ship was -arrived, but others said no, for men seldom come naked -from a ship.</p> - -<p class='c007'>When I came before deaan Trongha, I perceived he -did not recollect me, I offered to kneel and lick his -feet, but he would not permit; saying, be he who he -may, he is a white man, and they shall never lick black -men’s feet. At length, his brother informed him who -I was: no sooner had he heard it than he rose up, and -embraced me with abundance of joy and friendship. -When we had been seated some time, and I had given -them an account of my travels, he told me, I was still -a very unfortunate man; for they were in a very poor -state and condition, and I should be miserably mistaken, -if I expected to live happy there. I told him, -it could not well be worse than it had been with me -all along, and I was determined to live with him all -my life long, if he pleased to admit me into his service, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_220'>220</span>unless he would be so indulgent to me as to send me -home when a ship came. He told me, I should fare -as he did himself; for he looked on it as his duty to -relieve a white man in distress, for the favours he and -his family had received from my countrymen. In -short, he received me with such tokens of friendship, -and treated me with so much tenderness, that my own -father could not have shown me more compassion. -He lamented very much the deplorable circumstances -to which his country was reduced, and was extremely -afraid lest the white men should know it; for then, -said he, they would never come to trade with us any -more, nor give me an opportunity of sending you to -your native home.</p> - -<p class='c007'>When I had eaten and drunk with him, he took his -leave of his brother, being obliged to guard the slaves -who were at work in the plantations, lest they should -be surprised and taken by small parties of their northern -enemy, who lay in ambuscade, in order to sally out, -and carry off what they could steal on a sudden, and -so run away again. When we were a little way out -of town, we came to a spacious thicket of wild canes, -reeds, and rushes; in the midst of which were the -plantations, bounded on the other side with the great -river Oneghaloyhe. Here were plantains, bonanoes, -sugar-canes, and rice, with all these the southern country -from whence I came were wholly unacquainted; -but here were likewise several things which I had seen -before, as anbotty, anchoroko, &c. These were but -lately planted and sowed; the enemy having destroyed -all the plantations in the incursions they made, whilst -deaan Trongha, &c. were in the late war in Merfaughla. -I began to suspect that he intended to set me to work, -but I soon perceived he had no such design; for he -gave me his gun, and told me since I was willing to -be his servant, all he should require of me should be to -carry his gun, and never to be the length of it from -him, that in case of a surprise he might have it at hand.</p> - -<p class='c007'>As we went homewards, some of our people climbed -up tamarind trees, and gathered abundance of the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_221'>221</span>fruit. I asked them what they did with it. Eat it -said they. I told them, it was impossible to eat much -of it, without setting their teeth on edge. It is sour -enough, indeed, said they, if we do not put ashes to it -to make it sweet. I laughed at them for their ignorance, -but when I came home there were platters full -mixed with them for our supper. The strings of the -tamarinds, which are white, appearing in it when thus -mixed, I could not forbear comparing it to mortar -with hair in it; but when I tasted it, I found it was -sweet beyond my expectations. I could not, however, -be rightly reconciled to it at first, being prejudiced as -men too frequently are, even against the testimony of -their senses. Deaan Trongha perceiving that I did -not much like my mess, assured me that this was always -esteemed amongst them a pleasant dish, when -they had the greatest profusion of other things. Sometimes, -indeed, said he, we have nothing else to eat. I -have seen many odd things eaten, but nothing ever -surprised me more than sour tamarinds mixed with -wood ashes, becoming sweet and palatable. Let the -chemists reason and philosophize upon it at their -leisure, I can assure them it is matter of fact; and -can produce several gentlemen now living in London, -to testify the same who have seen me mix it. It did -not rightly agree with me, indeed, the first time I eat -it; but after I was used to it a little, I never found any -inconvenience attend it afterwards.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Deaan Trongha had two wives, who lived in separate -apartments. He divided himself pretty equally -between them, living nearly as much at one house as at -the other, in order to prevent any jealousies on either -side, and to keep up a harmony between them. Now -it is customary for them to appoint every slave his proper -mistress, to whose commands he is peculiarly to attend; -and it is her business to see what they want, and -give it them. He did not, however, appoint me any -such service; but said, that as I was a person in distress, -and my lot by Providence was cast amongst them, -it was their duty to provide for all such; but as for me, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_222'>222</span>he had a more particular regard for my misfortunes, -for the sake of my fathers and brothers, (meaning Englishmen;) -and for that reason, he had ordered that I -should be taken care of at both their houses, and had -free liberty to go to either of them at my pleasure, -where I found the best entertainment; and, indeed, -as long as there was meat, I had my proportionable -share with them. Though he behaved himself with -decency enough to both of them, yet I observed the -first wife was a greater favourite than the other, upon -which account, she was distinguished by the title of -his head wife. He was at her apartment when I came -first, and when these directions were given; so she immediately -furnished me with a pot or two, and calabash, -&c. for my use; but as she had not every thing I wanted, -he sent a servant with me to the other, and she as -cheerfully supplied me with what my occasion required, -chiding me in a friendly manner for not coming sooner -to pay her a visit: so I sat down and had half an hour’s -conversation with her; and to do them both justice, -their behaviour towards me was perfectly courteous -and engaging.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The next morning two messengers came from deaan -Mernaugha; deaan Trongha being desired to go and -consult with the king on some affairs of importance. -When they were taking their leave, he would not let -them depart till he had killed a heifer to entertain them -with, notwithstanding provision was so very scarce; -and here I found the same generous manner of treating -one another as was practised in Anterndroea, for most -of the people in town came about the house, and no -one went away without some portion of beef. As to -their cookery, they have but a slovenly manner of dressing -their meat here, for the liver, as soon as it was extracted, -was thrown directly into the fire and broiled in -smoke and ashes, and the entrails were broiled likewise -with but very little cleaning. I had a piece of -beef given me to dress at home, and we all lived well -as long as this lasted. When I went the next morning, -the deaan was dressing himself in order to go; for -<span class='pageno' id='Page_223'>223</span>though he had no clothes to put on, yet some time -was spent in curling his hair and platting it into knots. -After he was shaved, the owley was brought out and -dressed to be carried before him, for he went in state. -The friendship between deaan Mernaugha and him not -being over hearty or sincere, made him go in more -form than otherwise he would have done. I carried -his gun after him. We marched up an easy ascent of -nearly two miles, when I perceived we were near the -sea; the descent on the other side extended to the -shore of St. Augustine-bay, where there were ships generally -at anchor. Here deaan Trongha showed me -the spot of ground on which the English built their -houses during their residence in these parts. It was an -agreeable prospect to me, though at that time there -were no ships. I saw some canoes a considerable way -out at sea; some men I could perceive were striking -and darting fish, and others in the water, as high as -their knees, at the same diversion; for the sand is almost -flat, so that one may walk at low water above a mile -into the sea. The seacoast lay almost north and south, -but from whence I came, it lay east and west. After -we had passed through a wood, on a point of land, we -came among the towns which belonged to deaan Mernaugha. -Every body stared to see a white man naked, -and at first took me for the Dutchman who had lived -amongst them, and who would have sometimes very -odd freaks; but my fame flew before me, and when I -came to deaan Mernaugha’s, I was very well known; -for after the usual compliments were over, he asked -“where was the white man who came from Anterndroea;” -I not being in sight, having delivered my gun -to my master. Whereupon I was called, and seated -amongst them. The king asked me about my travels, -and the adventures I had met with; and I very -readily gratified him with my whole story at large. A -bullock was given to deaan Trongha, for the entertainment -of himself and his retinue.</p> - -<p class='c007'>At night there was a long consultation about the -posture of affairs: none were admitted to this august -<span class='pageno' id='Page_224'>224</span>assembly, but a few principal men, among whom I had -the honour to be one; but to my no small mortification, -I heard deaan Mernaugha propose to send nine hundred, -or a thousand people, under the command of -deaan Trongha into Merfaughla, to join with deaan -Crindo against deaan Woozington. This scheme was -approved of, and unanimously agreed to; the manner -and time were both appointed, which was not to be till -some months after. When we broke up, deaan Trongha -told me the whole assembly had confidence in me; as -knowing it to be my interest to keep their secrets. But, -says he, a more than ordinary care is absolutely necessary -at this juncture; for the common people abandon -us to live under other lords, if our proceedings do not -please them; though we aim at nothing but their own -security and welfare. They have not, however, the -sense to know it, and will be for ever throwing reflections -on our conduct, and finding fault, though we -lose our wives, families, and cattle, and run all hazards -to protect them. It is natural for the refuse of the -people to abuse their superiors; but yet governors -ought nevertheless to study the good of their country, -and defend those under their care from injuries and insults, -without regarding such reflections; but then those -things which we very well know beforehand, and they -have not the sense to understand or judge of, ought -never to be divulged.</p> - -<p class='c007'>I assured him of my fidelity, but told him that what -I heard gave me no small uneasiness, since I was apprehensive -that he would press me to go with him; -where my former master, Mevarrow, would very probably -be, whose barbarous treatment I had too much -experience of, not to dread the consequence of being -again in his power. He replied, that could never be; -for they know (said he) that I am resolute, and that it -would be dangerous for any man to provoke me so far, -since it might prove the ruin of the whole army; for I -am determined to protect you at the hazard of my own -life, and revenge with the utmost severity any affront -that shall be offered to you. I was not perfectly satisfied, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_225'>225</span>but as I knew him to be a man of strict honour, -I had all the reason imaginable to depend upon it. -When I returned to my companions, they used their -utmost endeavours to sift out of me the purport of their -council; but I told them with a very careless air, that -I stood at a distance, and did not observe one word -that passed.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Deaan Trongha took his leave the next morning, acquainting -the king, his nephew, that his owley had -warned him in the night of some danger that attended -his town from the enemy, in case he stayed much longer. -As I was on this side the country, I desired to -go and see Eglasse the Dutchman. The deaan assured -me he would make it in his way home. Eglasse was -very much surprised when the children came running -to him, and cried, “Arve verzahar!” that is, a white man -is coming; for he knew of no one in the country. One -Efflep a negro of the West Indies, who was left ashore -by pirates many years before, lived not far from him, -and spoke nothing but English; for being very deaf, -he never learned the Madagascar language. He had two -sons, however, born on the island of a native mother, -who spoke both languages tolerably well. When I approached -Eglasse, he pulled off his hat to me; but poor -Robin was not in a condition to return the compliment. -At first he spoke Dutch to me, but perceiving -I did not understand him, he spoke a little broken -English; and I had as little to say for myself in that, -as the other. Thereupon I asked for an interpreter to -speak English for me; which set deaan Trongha and -the rest a laughing at first; but they pitied my hard lot -afterwards, to have lived in a foreign country all the -flower of my age. But James, Efflep’s eldest son, carried -on a conversation amongst us to the entire satisfaction -of every one then present. Eglasse pressed me -to live constantly with him; but I told him I would -not leave deaan Trongha on any account whatever. For -he was a man of great generosity and humanity; one, -moreover, of great authority, and consequently able to -protect me. I desired, however, that they would procure -<span class='pageno' id='Page_226'>226</span>leave of him, to let me stay two or three days with -them, which they did; and he as readily agreed to indulge -me a whole week. I had heard but an indifferent -character of Eglasse, with respect to his temper; -he was rash and passionate, and would threaten the -great men, not excepting the king himself, upon the -slightest provocation, with what he would do as soon -as the first ship arrived. This ill conduct of his rendered -him distasteful to them; and for that reason I was -cautious how I entered into too strict an amity with -him. And it will soon appear, that my fears were -justly grounded; for his continued indecent behaviour -cost him his life at last.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Having now taken our farewell of deaan Trongha -and his retinue, the pot was set on the fire by a slave -named Toby, with a piece of salt beef, and potatoes -dressed after the English manner. In the mean time, -Eglasse ordered James to relate to me the history of his -arrival and adventures here; and this conducing to my -purpose, which is to give such an account of the various -customs and manners of this island as may be -useful to traders and navigators, and pleasing to the -curious, I shall only transcribe here what he then -told us.</p> - -<p class='c007'>“At a place called Masseelege,” said he, “on this -island to the northward, there comes once a year a -Moorish ship that brings silk lambers, and many other -things to trade with for slaves. At this place one Burgess, -called captain Burgess, and Robert Arnold had a -sloop; Burgess, indeed, commanded, for Arnold knew -nothing of navigation; one was as rich as the other, -and both were equally concerned in the vessel. With -this sloop they used to come to Augustine-bay and -other places on the island, in order to buy slaves and -carry them to Masseelege against the moor’s ship arrived. -Eglasse sailed with them in this sloop. In one -of their voyages to this place, Burgess and Arnold fell -out to that degree, that the latter would stay no longer -with Burgess; but prevailing on Eglasse to come on -shore for his companion, he brought all his effects with -<span class='pageno' id='Page_227'>227</span>him, consisting of several bags of dollars, a great many -guns, powder, shot, chests of clothes, beads, &c. -amounting in the whole to a considerable value. In a -word, every thing that is proper to trade with in these -parts. He told Eglasse that in case he survived him -he should have all his effects; but their design was -only to stay till a ship arrived in which they could procure -a passage to Europe. Whether they durst go to England -or not I cannot absolutely say; though I had good -reason to suspect that a great part of these riches were -obtained by piracy. There were two black slaves, this -Toby and another, who in the sequel of this story will -be called Robin, who could speak good English. These -swam ashore the same night that captain Burgess sailed -away, and surrendered themselves to Arnold.</p> - -<p class='c007'>“It happened a little before Rer Vovvern’s death, -(and which was, indeed, the occasion of it,) that this -country was invaded by two enemies at the same time; -and whilst the greater part of the lords and people were -marched off in order to oppose the northern enemy, -Woozington, who was a southern foe, came unawares -upon us, having passed the great river without being in -the least suspected, and a bold general of his, named -Ry-Opheck, attacked the town and the king’s house -about midnight; Rer Vovvern himself was wounded in -the thigh. Another party was likewise coming against -us, whereupon every one was for flying to some shelter -or other; as is not only customary, but indeed necessary -in such cases. Arnold and Eglasse, however, -having great riches, were resolved to defend them, and -therefore armed themselves with guns, pistols, and cutlasses; -but they no sooner appeared at their door than -Arnold was shot dead on the spot. Eglasse was then -glad to fly with his two slaves, Robin and Toby, for -they never left him. The enemy plundered the house -of what they saw convenient; which was all his wearing -apparel, or any thing like it, even his beds for the -ticking sake; the silver being black they knew not what -it was, and therefore contented themselves with throwing -it about. As to the cattle which they found in the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_228'>228</span>pens they killed them all, for they had neither time nor -strength enough to carry them off; nor were they able -to defend themselves when once the country should -make head against them. However, they took some -captives and marched off in as great a hurry as they -came, lest deaan Mundrosser, our present king’s brother, -who is very well beloved by his countrymen, and -feared by his enemies, should fall upon them; for we -have not a greater man in war than he, deaan Trongha -only excepted. Ry-Opheck’s fears and haste were just -and proper; for deaan Mundrosser mustered an army -in a few hours after, and overtook them before they could -pass the river. The sound of his shells added wings to -their flight, insomuch that they left their captives behind -them; and he brought most of our women and -children again, so that our loss was inconsiderable: for -as to our valuable goods, we (who were apprehensive of -surprise, and well knew the manner of the country) had -dug holes in the ground and buried them there, and -they had no time to search after them. When my -father Efflep, my brother, and I returned, we missed -none of our effects, but very much concerned and surprised -to find Arnold not only dead, but naked; but as -to his dollars they lay neglected and scattered up and -down; till some of our people, who were no strangers -to their use and value, took up a great many and concealed -them from Eglasse. We threatened some of -them, however, and made them refund, complaining to -deaan Mernaugha; but they were above half lost. -Eglasse was so confounded, that he never returned till -some messengers, who were sent out after him, met -with him at last, and conducted him and his two slaves -home. He lives handsomely enough still, though he -lost so much, having a plantation of his own and three -or four good milch cows; and he is able to join with -my father to buy an ox notwithstanding it is a very -dear time, a good one being worth now ten dollars. Our -king, Rer Vovvern, died in six weeks after, more with -grief than of his wounds. He was very well beloved, -being a good man and a gallant warrior; he was also -<span class='pageno' id='Page_229'>229</span>a great friend to white men, but more especially to the -English. I must not forget, however, to tell you here -is another family you must be acquainted with too, -and that is one Hempshire, a Guinea negro, who was -formerly among the pirates, but has been settled here -some considerable time. He has a very pretty woman -to his wife, and also a daughter by her. Though the -man is both blind and poor, yet Eglasse makes him -many presents out of respect to his wife, as we imagine, -for they are very intimate.”</p> - -<p class='c007'>Here Eglasse interrupted James, on hearing his own -name and Mrs Hempshire’s too often, as he thought, -mentioned together, and suspected that James was telling -me of their supposed amour; so he broke off the -discourse; though James said he was only expatiating -on the christian-like manner in which he behaved to -Hempshire and his family; but by this time dinner was -ready. I found myself here a perfect negro in my way -of eating, for I devoured my meat alone which made -them laugh heartily; but what was a still greater mortification -to me was, Hempshire, his wife and child -came to pay me a visit; and Eglasse and he talked my -adventures over in English, and it seemed like unintelligible -jargon which I could not form my tongue to -imitate; insomuch that I was apprehensive that I -should never be able to speak my mother tongue again. -A few days’ conversation however among these people, -gave me hopes of recollecting it in time. Efflep and -his sons were near neighbours to Eglasse, where I was -invited the next day, and entertained in a very handsome -manner after the English fashion, and much better -than at Eglasse’s. We had not only a couple of -capons boiled with rice, like a pilaw, but another dish -of fried meat and boiled potatoes, served up on pewter -plates, so that I began to fancy myself in a christian -country. They also procured some toake for me, as -Eglasse had done before; but it was scarce, there being -no honey to be got. This was made of sugar-canes, -which were likewise scarce at this time, and the toake -was much inferior to what we had to the southward; it -<span class='pageno' id='Page_230'>230</span>was strong enough however to make us a little gay and -lively.</p> - -<p class='c007'>As soon as the week was expired I was determined -to stay no longer, notwithstanding they importuned me -very much, assuring them I would procure leave to -come again in a short time: nor would I accept of a -guide, since I knew the way. When I came to the seaside -I espied a sail as I thought, though it proved -nothing but a large canoe returning from sea, where the -men had been fishing. I waited till they reached the -shore, who seeing me white, though naked, came up to -me, and a great deal of conversation passed between -us, they being very inquisitive after my uncommon adventures. -I gave them all the satisfaction I could, and -inquired if there were any likelihood of a ship’s arrival. -Before I took my leave they made me a present of as -many fish as I could well carry with me. When I came -home to my own house, I picked out four of the best, -and went to wait on my mistresses, presenting them -with two a piece. Deaan Trongha coming home soon -after, was surprised to find fish there, and highly pleased -that I was returned; but was so complaisant as not to -suffer me to lick his feet. He had been all day in the -plantations, pushing the work as forward as he could, -that they might not want for provisions when they came -back from the wars; for every body was busy and making -preparations for it. He told me he had ordered one -of his wives to make me a cap; such as we usually -wore by way of distinction. I did not like the proposal, -but there was no opposing it. He gave out to his -wives and people that their intention was to invade -deaan Morrochemek, a petty king in the adjacent -mountains; this he did, for fear some of his people -should desert and alarm the country of Merfaughla.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Upon my return home I found visiters in abundance, -who flocked about me for the sake of my fish; but as it -was a customary thing, and what I used to do myself, -I could not take it amiss; so I shared them out as far -as they would go.</p> - -<p class='c007'>I slept but this one night in peace and quietness; for -<span class='pageno' id='Page_231'>231</span>next morning I was called up to attend the deaan, and -carry his gun with me to the plantation. At that time -he had no project of great importance in his head, but -before noon a messenger came running in haste with -the news, that an army of ten thousand Saccalauvors -(our northern enemies) were at a town called Murnumbo, -within ten or twelve hours’ march of us. Deaan -Trongha was too impatient to hear the whole story, before -he ordered his slaves to leave their work and go -home; the hoes and spades were thrown aside, and the -lances taken in hand, every man running home and -making preparation for a march. Messengers were -sent to Rer Befaugher, and all the other neighbouring -lords to give their friendly assistance. Some of the -principal men of each town were directed to stay at -home, with a sufficient force to defend their families -and cattle, in case Woozington should be at hand as he -was before, in order to take the towns by surprise, -while the fighting men were all engaged another way. -I went home under the plausible view of whetting my -lances, but with a resolution of being out of sight, and, -if possible, forgotten; which succeeded to my wish, for -they were soon on their march. When I was well assured -that they were gone, I went in a violent hurry to -the head lady’s house, asking for my master; and being -informed he was gone, I pretended to be in a confusion, -and in all the haste imaginable to follow him; -but the women would not let me go; for they ordered -the men, who were left as a guard, to stop me. At -length, with much ado it may be supposed, I was prevailed -on to stay, and sat down very contentedly -amongst the women. Most of the town, nay, the very -children were there; or round about the house. Their -clamour, prayers, and cries for their husbands, and idle -tattle about the war, were troublesome enough; but not -so bad as running the risk of either life or limb, in -fighting the quarrel of a people, for whom I had no -manner of concern.</p> - -<p class='c007'>At night I had several young female visiters, who -supped with me on carravances, of which my mistress -<span class='pageno' id='Page_232'>232</span>had made me a present. Our conversation was innocent -and pleasant, though some of my gay readers may -perhaps imagine otherwise. But be that as it may -I can assure them (to the shame of christianity) there -are more modest women in proportion to the number -of people here than in England; even such as would -sooner part with their lives than yield to a man’s -embraces, unless they were taken to wife according to -the custom of the country; but such women as sailors -find for their turn, are only slaves brought down to -the seaside and dressed with beads and silk lambers, -with no other view than to allure their gallants and -get from them what they can, and though the gain -they make of their prostitution is their master’s, yet -most of them are generous enough to present them -with part of the fine things they get from their cullies; -but were these sailors to go up into the country, they -would not find it an easy matter to procure a mistress. -The conversation, however, I had with my young -visiters, gave me some melancholy reflections in bringing -to my remembrance the pleasure I formerly enjoyed -in the company of my dear wife, whose beauty and -conversation were in my opinion far superior to any of -these.</p> - -<p class='c007'>During the men’s absence, we had little else to live -on than tamarinds and ashes, a little milk only excepted; -but in twelve days they returned, and were -received with all the demonstrations of joy imaginable -by the women. I went myself likewise with a good -assurance to welcome them home. Deaan Trongha, -indeed, rallied me a little about it; but his wife ingenuously -confessing, that she hindered me from following -him, I heard no more of it.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The account they gave of their expedition was, that -a general belonging to Rer Trimmonongarevo’s army -was at the place, but the messenger’s fear augmented it -to nearly double the number of men that in reality was -in it, for there were not five thousand in all. Our -people were so expeditious, that they secured a narrow -pass, which the enemy designed to have taken; and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_233'>233</span>after a small skirmish or two, Rer Mimebolambo -withdrew to a plain and encamped, to whom Rer -Mundrosser sent a messenger to demand the reason -why he (more especially) marched an army into a -country to destroy it, since his late king Rer Vovvern, -had relieved and protected him, when he fled from his -uncle Rer Trimmonongarevo, at his father’s decease; -for Rer Mimebolambo’s father was king of Morandavo, -and this son of his was to have been his successor; but -there was a dispute between his uncle and him, several -years, till Rer Vovvern, at last, brought about a reconciliation -between them. Rer Mimebolambo replied -in a few words, that those matters were made up, that -his uncle was king and he was under his command, -and therefore could not help it. We understood afterwards -that deaan Woozington had appointed to meet -him and failed, however he was unwilling to return -home without doing somewhat, and attempted, for that -reason, to make an incursion and carry off a booty of -slaves and cattle, but was prevented. Our army -followed them at a distance, to conduct them safely into -their own country, and then returned home.</p> - -<p class='c007'>But that part of the news, which was most agreeable -to me, was that deaan Mernaugha and they had agreed -to defer for this season their intended expedition with -deaan Crindo against Merfaughla, for I always dreaded -the thoughts of going into Anterndroea, not only lest -a ship should arrive whilst I should be absent, which -would be six or seven months, but for fear of seeing -my old master deaan Mevarrow; but these fears, -however, being dissipated for the present, I lent a -helping hand with a good will enough, in the fortification -of the town, with such stones as were here in -great plenty. No one was exempted from work, the -women and children assisted according to their strength, -and we made a wall round the town, at least a yard thick -and three yards high, with loop-holes to look through, -or fire out at, as occasion offered. As we had no -mortar the stones were only laid one upon another, and -yet we were about two months before we finished it.</p> - -<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_234'>234</span>Some of our principal men soon after procured leave -to go into the country to get honey, and hunt such wild -cattle as they could find, of which there were many on -this side the river Oneghaloyhe. We looked on ourselves -to be perfectly safe at this time, it being between -November and April, when the river was swelled very -large and there were no canoes except here and there -one, but it was impassable for an army. With my -master’s consent I accompanied them; we walked half -a day very briskly before we came to a proper place -to bait at, and where we could find ove (that is wild -yams) or susers, which we found here in plenty; but -we had still a hard day’s journey to go to the place -proposed for our country habitation, and when we -came there we had our house to build. After our first -arrival, which was in the evening, we took care to get -a good supper; two of us, who well knew the place, -went to look out for honey among the rocks, in the -fissures or openings whereof bees make their combs; -the other two (for we were four in all) dug ove and -susers. Our companions succeeded and brought some -honey, and we regaled ourselves in an elegant manner. -The next day by noon we finished our house, which -we thatched with palmetto leaves. The day following -we employed ourselves in getting some araffer, which -is a pleasant liquor that I had not tasted before; the -tree from whence it flows is something like a cocoa-nut -tree but not quite so large, and rather a kind of palmetto, -called in their language satter. The long leaves or -branches are burnt off, and the trunk is left bare; then -we cut off part of the top of the tree, and with our -lances or hatchets make a hole in the middle, which in -a short time fills with a liquid which issues as from a -spring. This may be sucked out with a reed till it is -dry, yet it will fill again the same day, and so continue -for six or seven days before the juice is totally exhausted. -It is not like a sirup, but very sweet and -pleasant, and I never knew it give any one the flux, -as some may imagine, nor did any one of us meet -with the least inconvenience from drinking it. We -<span class='pageno' id='Page_235'>235</span>wanted, however, some roast meat; so roving about the -next day, we espied a herd of about twenty of Hattoy’s -cattle, and with a little difficulty made ourselves masters -of a bull. Now we lived luxuriously; we made drinking -cups of the bull’s horns; for by thrusting them -into the fire, and giving them a knock or two, the pith -came all out, and we were as well contented as some -folks with fine glasses. It is indeed surprising, though -delightful, to see how plentifully Providence has furnished -this country with every thing, not only with all -the necessaries of life, but even with a delicious variety. -If ever any country flowed with milk and honey it is -this; and with so much ease are they to be had, that -as the natives have no knowledge of the curse of Adam -and his posterity, so one would be tempted to think, -as well for this reason as from their colour, that they -are not of his race, or that the curse ever reached them, -for they can get their living without the sweat of -their brows, or the least hard labour. Notwithstanding -all this, the follies and passions of men will too often -lead them into misery, though they have happiness in -their power; in this fine country their frequent quarrels -with one another and open wars reduce them to -the greatest necessity in the midst of the greatest -plenty. But they are confined sometimes by so -powerful an enemy, that they are afraid to stir out of -their houses to fetch what the land naturally produces; -and this was the then hard fortune of Feraingher, and -the substance of our conversation after supper; my -companions having entertained me with an account -of the great power and strength of their country but a -little before, in the days of Rer Vovvern; and how -deplorable its case was at present, how they were -obliged to confine themselves and get close together, -that they might be ready at a call to repulse an enemy, -and by that means abandon the finest and most plentiful -part of the country.</p> - -<p class='c007'>We lived now, however, very happily, and in affluence, -during our continuance at our country-house; we -made just such an oven as I have before described, and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_236'>236</span>baked our beef in it; then we went in quest of some -honey to carry home with us. In which, as I was -better acquainted with the nature of bees than they, I -had better fortune, and got as much as I could carry -off. When our beef grew so far touched that we could -not eat it, we looked out for more; it was my good -fortune in particular to meet with a young heifer, -which I drove into a thicket, and having killed her, -I hallooed to my companions. This we agreed to dress, -and carry as much of it home as conveniently we could; -in the first place, however, we baked the marrow bones, -boiled the liver, and spread the marrow on it, as a -dainty morsel; and then we made up our enters, and -marched homewards as well satisfied as we were heavily -laden, but not being in haste, we travelled very softly.</p> - -<p class='c007'>We would not enter the town till midnight, lest we -might be observed; and now once more I wished for -my wife to have been at home to receive me. The -next morning I waited on the chief lady with a horn -of honey and a piece of beef, who was highly delighted, -but thought I had brought too much; from her I went -to the other where deaan Trongha was, and paid my -compliments to her. The deaan was very glad to see -me eat a plentiful breakfast, and was extremely pleased -to hear me tell the various circumstances of our sport; -the others by this time, according to custom, were -come to present their lord with some part of what they -had got, by way of acknowledgment. As I was going -home one met me who wanted to buy some honey, it -being rumoured about, that I had brought home a -large cargo; he gave me a fine silk lamber for a calabash -of honey that contained about two gallons. I -thought myself very fine in it, and sure I am, I was the -first of the family who was ever dressed so much like a -Madagascar lord. Deaan Trongha told me, I had -bought it cheaply enough in conscience; for if honey -had not been scarce it was worth four times as much; -silk is very plentiful in this country, if they would take -the pains to gather it.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Here, through ignorance, I committed an egregious -<span class='pageno' id='Page_237'>237</span>error, for as deaan Trongha was saying, the man bought -the honey dear. I answered a little too smartly. “If -this war continue but three or four years longer, a -man will be glad to sell a child for such a calabash of -honey.” The prince took me up with some warmth, -and said, “Then I presume you will leave us, and go -to some inland prince for a belly full of victuals.” I -assured him, however, that I would stay with him -till he could send me home in some ship or another; -and that no other motive should ever part us. Though -he said no more, I found he was uneasy, and could -not find out the reason till after we returned from the -plantation, at which time, as we were walking homewards -alone, “Robin,” says he, “you are not aware, -perhaps, that our people imagine you can conjure; and -as you know the torratos, that is, writing and reading, -you can foretell things to come. Now by your talking -of worse times in our country than the present before -these illiterate people, they will take it for granted that -it will certainly be so, and you will so discourage -them, that they will all run away; for they would pay -as superstitious a regard to you as to an umossee, if you -thought it proper to act such a part; since necessity -(for the reason I have told you) seems to require it at -this juncture.” I replied that, though I was conscious -of my error, yet I could never think they would take -me for a conjuror, or one who knew things before they -happened; for if I had been possessed of that talent, I -would never have taken this last unfortunate voyage, -in which I was cast ashore on this island. “What you -say is true,” says he; “but these people are too ignorant -to be instructed, and it is not in your power or mine -to convince them: and to make the attempt is but to -give them an ill opinion of us; they must be indulged -in their superstitious notions, be humoured, and talked -to like peevish sickly children.” “As this is the case” -said I, “I beg pardon, and faithfully promise you to be -very careful of my words, lest they should prove any -means of discouragement to them for the future.”</p> - -<p class='c007'>In three or four days at most, our fine provision was -<span class='pageno' id='Page_238'>238</span>gone; for I distributed what I had, as is customary, -among our neighbours; and then we had little else but -tamarinds and ashes. About three weeks after, Eglasse -and his man Toby came to pay me a visit, and brought -some beef and potatoes with them; for they knew our -poverty. We had an odd sort of conversation between -Eglasse’s broken Madagascar, and my broken English; -but Toby, who spoke both languages, helped us out. -He stayed with me all night, and went the next day to -deaan Trongha, and begged for me to live with him -five or six weeks, which was readily granted; so I shut -up my house, and in five or six hours arrived at Eglasse’s, -where Efflep and his two sons, James and John, -gave me a hearty welcome.</p> - -<p class='c007'>I used to walk about to the adjacent towns with -Eglasse, and met with several of the natives, who could -speak English tolerably; but here was one of them, -who, when a boy, used to go of errands, and transact -business for the English pirates, who frequented this -place; so that he spoke English as well as his native -tongue. He was very rich, had three wives, many -slaves and cattle; he had also wearing clothes which -belonged to such persons as died there; for when any -one was sent sick ashore, he used to take care of them, -and if they died, he had what they left. His true name -was William Purser, though the natives called him -William Poser. He always treated me in a very handsome -manner, when I went to see him; but he never -offered me any clothes, nor did I desire any. For there -I should have behaved but awkwardly in an English -dress; and as I had now a fine lamber to wear after -their manner, I was very well contented.</p> - -<p class='c007'>I had been here above a month, before old Efflep -died, and his son James made a grand burial for him, -after the manner of the country; which is the same as -in Anterndroea. He killed four or five beeves, to entertain -his friends who attended the funeral. The -princes and lords do not kill the beasts here; but a prince -will eat any thing, even swine’s flesh, though a slave -should kill it.</p> - -<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_239'>239</span>I lived very well between Eglasse and James, till -about three or four days before I was to go home; at -which time I was seized with a violent fever which -turned to an ague, and brought me down so low that -I was unable to stir out of the house. They sent a messenger -to acquaint deaan Trongha with my misfortune, -and took as much care of me as they possibly could; -and James would now and then boil a fowl to make -a little broth for me. I lay once for dead, and Eglasse -being abroad, Toby, who was left with me, called in -the neighbours, and all of them thought that I had -taken my last gasp; insomuch that they went home, -and James was consulting which way to bury me. But -when Eglasse returned about two or three hours after, -he perceived me breathe, and James burning something -under my nose, I revived, indeed, but was not sensible -for two days, nor able to sit up for many more. Deaan -Trongha being informed that I was dead, sent a messenger -to know the truth, who found me alive, but not -able to speak to him. After this I gradually recovered; -the ague hung upon me three months, and I was two -more before I had strength sufficient to go home; insomuch -that I had a strong inclination to see deaan -Trongha: Eglasse, however, was willing to detain me -as long as he could: for now I began to talk English -tolerably well, and was good company for him as long -as he lived; which was but a little while after my recovery.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Five men having a cow to sell to Eglasse, asked me -for him; and he being in the plantation, I went and -told him. He came away directly with me to the men, -and begged the favour of me to treat with them about -the purchase. They asked six pieces of eight, but insisted -on four: I would give them, however, no more -than three. At last they said, if Eglasse would give -them the old lance which he had in his hand, they -would take the money. This alarmed me, they whispered, -I perceived, two or three times to one another; -and having heard that Eglasse threatened the king, -deaan Mernaugha, I began to be terribly frighted, and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_240'>240</span>told him in English that they wanted the lance; and -that I had good reasons to suspect their behaviour; for -the lance was not worth a meal of potatoes. He, however, -in a bravado, gave the man the lance: “Here,” said -he, “we won’t disagree; take the lance.” No sooner had -he delivered it, than a man came behind him, and with -both hands pushed the lance in at his back with that -force, that it came out of his breast. I turned about at -the shriek which Eglasse made, and seeing the man -pulling the lance out of his body, I ran amongst the -wild canes, which grew by a river side; and the rustling -I made appeared to me like the noise of pursuers. -So that it was some time before I could recover my -senses; and when I did, I still continued to listen with -attention. In a short time I heard some persons call -after me, which proved to be James, and his brother -John. I was almost afraid to trust them, but seeing -no other company, I came out in tears to them. They -told me that deaan Mernaugha had contrived Eglasse’s -death for threatening him so often; but that as I was -an Englishman, and belonged to deaan Trongha, I -need not fear any thing, for they could have killed you -(said they) before you fled, if they had been ordered so to -do. This I thought was true. “Then” said I, “he may -imagine, perhaps, that I shall tell the captains of ships -at their arrival, that he kills white men; and under pretence -of danger, may think it expedient to kill me too.” -But they assured me as I was an Englishman he durst -not do it; and that the executioners had told him so.</p> - -<p class='c007'>I went home with them, where lay the wounded -corpse all naked. They seized likewise on his goods, -cattle, and on his two slaves, Robin and Toby; and -stayed in the town all night. The next morning they -came to me, and requested that I would go to the king -along with them. “If I were not afraid” said I “I would, -were it on no other account than to beg the body to -bury it.” They answered, the king was so far from doing -me any harm, that he would be glad to see me, and -they were well assured he would grant my request; -and, perhaps, give me some share too of Eglasse’s goods. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_241'>241</span>Upon this, James and I went; and calling on William -Purser, took him along with us. When I entered the -town my heart misgave me, but I considered there was -no receding. Deaan Mernaugha was sitting at his own -door, with a great many people round about him. I -approached, and falling prostrate on the ground before -him, licked his feet according to the custom of the -country; which the people were surprised at, having -never observed a white man ever to do so before. He -permitted me, indeed, at first; but soon after bid me -rise, and not be afraid; for he would not hurt a hair of -my head.</p> - -<p class='c007'>He then ordered Eglasse’s cattle to be brought before -him, and commanded them to take a white cow -(not a bullock) and tie her to a tree. After that the -owley was brought out, and an altar was erected, as -before described, by placing the owley across two forked -sticks, about six feet high, upon a beam; when this -was done, the cow was killed; then the king rising -from his seat, took a green bough, dipped it in the -blood, and sprinkled the owley. In the next place he -took a small quantity of the fat, and some of the sweet -scented gum, and burnt them under it, making the -smoke ascend to the owley. After that he took two -cutlasses, and whetting them one against another (as a -butcher does a knife and steel, but not so quickly) he -began his prayer to God, and the Lords of the four -quarters of the world, and to his forefathers by their -respective names, ending with his grandfather who -made the oath with the English captain; an account of -which deaan Trongha had before given me. His name -after his death was Munguzungarevo. The form and -manner of his prayer was this, or to this effect.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Bless me, O deaan Unghorray, thou Supreme God. -Bless me, O you deaan Meguddummateem. Bless -me, O you deaan Antyfertraer. Bless me, O you -deaan Aneebeleesby. Bless me, O you deaan Antymoor. -Bless me, O ye [here he repeated several -other names of his forefathers] but more especially, -O you deaan Munguzungarevo; bless my family, and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_242'>242</span>this kingdom; for I have had regard to your oath -and the man whom I have now slain is not an Englishman, -but of another country; neither would I -have put him to death were it not for my own preservation; -since he often threatened to take away -my life, whenever any ships should happen to arrive.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Whilst he was praying, his slaves were cutting up the -beef; when he had done, he ordered me to take the -whole breast; and then he divided the rest among the -people. He was pleased to say, that I had none of -that barbarous disposition which some white people -have; for he looked upon me as a native; since I had -long accustomed myself to the manners of their country. -I had no great inclination to take his beef, but recollecting -that Eglasse’s destruction was too much owing -to his own ill conduct, I thought it was safest to appear -pleased with his offer. Robin, the slave, was given -to the executioner; but James bought Toby of the king. -I begged leave to bury the body, which favour was readily -granted me: and we returned back to James’s -house. The next morning two messengers came from -deaan Trongha to inquire into the truth of this story; -for it had been reported that I was killed; and in case -it had proved so, they were ordered to go directly to -deaan Mernaugha, and demand satisfaction of him, he -being fully determined to revenge my death; but as it -was otherwise, and they had no instructions relating to -Eglasse’s case, I went home with them.</p> - -<p class='c007'>At my arrival I was received with as much joy as if -I had been a friend of the last importance to them: -I went soon after to the chief lady’s house, where the -other was then present, though she had not been there -in half a year before. Deaan Trongha seemed very -well pleased likewise, and made me give a particular -detail of my own severe sickness, and the tragical end -of poor Eglasse; saying, at the same time, that I had so -many fortunate escapes, that he did not think I should -die in their country; but that it would be my lot once -more to see old England. Here he repeated his promise -to send me thither. In the interim, however, he -<span class='pageno' id='Page_243'>243</span>ordered my house to be repaired, the cattle having eaten -up most of the thatch; and provisions to be given me -not only for the present, but for the time to come; for -he had lately a good harvest, so that we lived in more -affluence than before.</p> - -<p class='c007'>One day I asked leave to pay a visit to Rer Befaugher; -for in times of danger from enemies, none -went out of town without permission. As I was passing -by a river, and walking down to it, I perceived the -track of an alligator, which gave a great check to that -inclination, and there being two or three houses at but -a small distance from it, I was going towards them to -beg a little water; but a young woman who was going -with her calabash to dip for some, desired me to stay, -and she would supply me with as much as I would -drink; I told her I would accept the favour, but as she -went into the water up to her knees to fill her vessel, -an alligator with a spring caught fast hold of both her -thighs, and dragged her into the stream; but as she -kept her head and hands above water, I threw one lance -away, and ran to her assistance with the other; which -she took hold of, and pulled her to me with all my might, -but the alligator still keeping his hold, we called aloud -for help. At length I got hold of her hand, and she -directing me where the creature lay, I struck him with -my lance, and wounded him; but not so deeply as to -oblige him to let go, till a second stroke. By this time -proper assistance came, and we brought her off safely -with two large wounds only, made with his long jaws, -and sharp teeth. She was now perfectly naked, for she -had lost her lamber in the struggle; but that was not -worth regarding. We saved her life, and every body -was highly pleased with that. Rer Befaugher entertained -me in a very courteous manner, and having gratified -his curiosity, in hearing a short narrative of my -late dangerous adventures, I returned home.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The people were ordered to get ready to march in -three days at farthest; and the umossee was employed -to prophesy of the success of the war. Upon this he -<span class='pageno' id='Page_244'>244</span>took some sand, tossed it about, and made several -scrawls with it upon a board. At length he bid them -look for a tree that was perfectly upright, and after -that for a black and baldfaced cow, which being found, -and brought to the tree, was killed; then the umossee -took some of the blood with his hand, smeared the tree, -and invoked not only the demons, but the spirits of -deaan Trongha’s forefathers; calling on them all to arise -and hear what he had to say; which was to this effect. -That their grandson, deaan Trongha, was going to war -against their most implacable enemy, the king of Merfaughla. -In the next place, he ordered two men of -equal strength to cut the tree down with hatchets, one -to the northward, and the other to the southward, and -to give stroke for stroke with each other; saying if the -tree fell toward the former, bad success would attend -their enterprise. Those of the vulgar sort who were -then present, stood gaping to swallow, as it were, every -divine word, that came out of the mouth of this wonder-working -prophet. How the mistake happened, I can -not say, but the tree fell to the northward, though it was -beyond all doubt intended to fall the other way; for -when deaan Trongha perceived it, let us cut up the -beef (said he) with a smile, and be merry; that is the -best part of the ceremony. We forgot to observe, that -what little wind there was, was to the southward. We -should have chosen a more proper time. He strictly enjoined, -however, all present to say nothing at home to -the women of what had passed: so we told them at our -return that the tree fell to the southward; in order that -they should tell their husbands the same story.</p> - -<p class='c007'>This conduct of deaan Trongha’s confounded me in a -suspicion, which I had entertained for some time, which -was this: that some of these lords, who are men of sense, -keep one of these umossees with a political view, and -only to amuse the ignorant populace; who here, as well -as in other parts, must be cajoled in their superstitious -notions, and allured by such artifices as political governors -know how to practise to advantage; though -<span class='pageno' id='Page_245'>245</span>they themselves regard but little what their conjurors -say, of their talking with, and having familiar converse -with the demigods and spirits.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Here now was a seeming ill omen, and too many of -the vulgar sort had seen it, to be trusted with the secret; -for which reason an expedient must be found out -to avert and disannul it. The demons must be consulted -and addressed a second time, to procure their -favour and protection; so away goes the umossee, invoking -again and again, and conjuring till he conjured -me into the wars. A bird, called tuluho, which is something -like our pheasant, but smaller, and very scarce to -be found, must be caught dead or alive; then a sea-crab, -and a variety of other things, which he particularly -named. These he blended all together, muttering -incantations all the time. Then he bound them up in -a clout, which was afterwards fixed on the top of a stick -about the length and bigness of a walking-cane. This -was a charm which was to prove destructive to the -enemy. This he called the elodge; and this was to be -carried in solemnity before the army. But who should -be a proper person to be the bearer was the next -question; and the demons were to be again consulted -on this important part of the affair; who were pleased -to reveal to him, or (which is all the same thing to -stupid bigots, who implicitly rely on whatever he shall -say) that no one was qualified to carry this charm, but -he who had no relations living on this island. Now -from my former observations, I used frequently to contemn -these umossees, and smile at their conjurations; -and after this hint, I need not, I presume, urge many -words to demonstrate from whence his pretended revelation -came, though he was pleased to father it on the -demons, or demigods; or whatever other name we -English may call them. For, to do the man justice, he -had not the impiety or assurance to introduce deaan -Unghorray, or the Supreme God, into any part of this -religious farce.</p> - -<p class='c007'>“Upon this declaration of his,” said deaan Trongha, -in my absence, “where shall we find a man without -<span class='pageno' id='Page_246'>246</span>some relations!” “That,” says he, “I cannot tell, -but this is the mind of the demons, and they would -never direct it, were there no such man to be found; -you must therefore recollect yourself. Now I think of -it,” says he, “there is your white man Robin is the only -man, I dare say, who is qualified for that important -office;” “but then,” said deaan Trongha, “notwithstanding -he may be such a man, yet it is not proper for him to -go, besides I have given him my word he shall not go -against his inclination.” “Why then,” said the umossee, -“you must find out some other person more proper if -you can.” Having done his business away he went, -leaving the deaan in no small perplexity, who was a -man of strict honour and a punctual observer of his -word. Whereupon he sent for me, and told me, it -was in my power to be very serviceable to the whole -country, but more especially to himself, and that I -should be gratefully rewarded for my compliance with -his request; but he insisted first on my promise. “If it -be not to kill a man,” said I, “I should be proud of an -opportunity to oblige you.” He then told me ingenuously -the whole story, and that it could not possibly -be helped, or else he would not have asked it of me. -I paused a while, but upon a short recollection, said, -all I feared was what I told him before; but since -there was an absolute necessity for it, I should readily -acquiesce. “Hereupon,” said he, “I will protect you, and -take as much care of your life and health as of my own.” -And immediately ordered a slave to attend me, and all -things necessary to be got ready for me. I was to carry -this charm, called the elodge, in my left hand, at about -three or four stones cast distant from the army, during -their march, and at night pitch it at the same distance -from the camp, pointing it toward the enemy’s country, -then wash myself and mix among the crowd wherever -I pleased. This was to be done till we should have -an engagement with Woozington’s army; I was to -have ten beeves and two slaves for my trouble. The -vulgar imagine that this charm has a poisonous quality, -and that was the reason I was to wash before I came -<span class='pageno' id='Page_247'>247</span>near any of them; but deaan Trongha told me privately, -that he knew well enough I did not think it any way pernicious. -“No sir,” said I, “I am very well assured there -is neither harm nor good in it, and they shall see me -lick it before their faces if they please, which none of -them would venture to do for a hundred oxen. I can -never think,” said I, “that you yourself have that confidence -in it, as you tell them, but you see the ill consequence -of making use of these conjurors; for the -common people are so strongly persuaded of their -power over them by these charms, that were your own -life to be in danger, you must do what this imaginary -prophet says his demigods direct, though you were to -carry this yourself.” “What you say,” said he, “is very -true, and were I to refuse to let you carry it, they would -refuse to march; or if they did, would charge me with -every miscarriage consequent upon it.” “Yes sir,” said I, -“but there is still a farther danger, for had the umossee -but courage and cunning enough, you have put it in -his power to make even yourself subservient to his -directions; under the pretence of their being the orders -of the demons. And it is but his saying his demons -or spirits have ordered such or such a thing to be -done, though it be even against yourself, they durst -not disobey his orders; for he has them all at his beck, -if he did but know it.” And here I cannot but reflect, -that not only Madagascar, and other heathenish countries -are possessed with this vice of superstition; but -even christian nations have been, and are yet too much -tainted with it: of this and its mischievous consequences, -there have been many flagrant instances.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Soon after we marched out of town, I had a slave, -like other great men, to carry my mat and provision -for me, and was furnished with every thing I could -reasonably desire. Now came the umossee, and put -the elodge into my left hand, and I marched in state -before them. The next day we joined Rer Befaugher, -and two days after that, Rer Mundrosser; James, the -son of Efflep, and his man Toby, were both in the -army, so that we had good company every evening, as -<span class='pageno' id='Page_248'>248</span>soon as I had fixed my elodge and washed myself. -We passed the great river Oneghaloyhe, wading through -a ford, which lay a great way higher than where I passed -it before. Here our people stocked themselves with -beef; for we frequently halted at noon, on purpose to -give them time to hunt Hattoy’s cattle.</p> - -<p class='c007'>When I came to the river where several alligators -lay, though I had my firebrand in my hand, yet I -would not venture to pass over by myself. Then the -umossee came up to me and said, I need not be afraid, -for whilst I carried the elodge, the demons would protect -me from all harm. I laughed at him and told -him, “I was well assured he did not imagine that I gave -any credit to his assertion, neither have you any such -notion of its power; but if you have, do you carry it -over here, and either go with me or before me.” However, -though he had more wit, I forced him to fetch -two guns, that I might discharge them into the water -to make the alligators retreat; and then I went over. -We saw several people who belonged to two petty -princes not far off, and were hunting here for their -diversion; as they were not enemies, our people had -abundance of discourse with them. Though we passed -through a very mountainous wilderness, yet we lay but -two nights in it, for they knew a much nearer way -than I did when I came alone. When I saw Vohitchfutey, -I returned in a very melancholy mood into the -camp; insomuch that deaan Trongha took notice of it, -and asked me, what I ailed? I told him, we were now -drawing near to Anterndroea, which had been a scene -of misery to me, and I had terrible apprehensions of -deaan Mevarrow. But he cheered me up, and said, -they durst not venture to injure me, and he was very -well assured that they would not attempt it, as well -out of fear, as out of respect to him.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The next day we arrived at Madamvovo, the river -at which I used to water my cattle, when in deaan -Murnanzack’s country. This was ordered to be the -place of rendezvous, and deaan Murnanzack with his -brethren, and their forces all met here. Deaan Afferrer -<span class='pageno' id='Page_249'>249</span>soon took notice of me, and when I went to lick his -feet he lifted me up and seated me by himself, asking -deaan Trongha at the same time how I came to him? -I was desired to tell my own tale, which accordingly I -did to his satisfaction. He said, I had taken a great -deal of pains for liberty, but it was no more than he -would have done himself under the same circumstances; -and wished me all the good success imaginable.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Deaan Crindo and his sons came the next day, and -deaan Mevarrow and his brother along with them. -Though I was sorry to find he was recovered of the -yaws, yet I ventured to go to him, when I found his -brother was with him. After the usual ceremony of -licking their feet, they said they were glad to see me, -and asked me why I left them? I pretended, in case -he would give me my wife, to return as soon as the -army parted. Whereupon both told me, she would -not marry any other man, but continued constantly to -lament my absence. This drew unfeigned tears from -me, and here I must confess, that if a sincere conjugal -affection be a weakness in man, I must own, let the -world think as it pleases, myself guilty of that weakness. -These tears, however, as it proved afterwards, -were the happy means of deceiving them, and of my -escape from danger. And had my shedding them been -a piece of artifice only, it might carry its own justification -with it; since I had good reason to fear he would -have murdered me privately, when he perceived I either -contemned or hated him. At night I let deaan Trongha -into the secret, lest he should suspect I was carrying -on some sinister design in visiting Mevarrow. Here -I met with my old trusty friend, who had all this time -kept my secrets. He told me likewise, that my wife -continued inconsolable, and repented every day of her -life that she did not go with me.</p> - -<p class='c007'>In about three days, the army, which now consisted -of about four thousand men, marched, and I went before -them with the elodge. On the day following we entered -the country of Merfaughla, and here the army -divided into three parts as in their former expedition, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_250'>250</span>and marched with much more circumspection than -before, for we were in an enemy’s country; I still -marched in the front. As we were passing between -the two woods, a volley of shot was all on a sudden -discharged at me; but the enemy ran away as soon as -they had fired. They were a small party in ambuscade, -on purpose to lay hold on such opportunities. The -shot whistled about my ears, and some small boughs -that flew off from the trees striking me, I could not -immediately tell whether I was wounded or not. However -I stopped, and was determined to proceed no -farther. Deaan Tradaughe, who was the nearest commander, -ordered me to go on; but I peremptorily -refused, unless they would send a party to march before. -The umossee too came, and talked to me in his old -conjuring dialect; and with the same success as he did -at the river. At length deaan Crindo came, and commanded -me to go on, declaring he would otherwise -compel me. I was terribly nettled at the haughtiness -of one, whom I had so much reason to hate, and boldly -told him he was a proud prince, and that I thanked -God I was not under his jurisdiction. “It is true,” said -he, “or else I would take care you should go no farther.” -Deaan Trongha was now come forward, and asked -what was the matter? To whom deaan Crindo complained -of my being both obstinate and saucy. He -answered, it was unreasonable as well as cruel to -desire I should be exposed to danger at that silly rate; -and as to the man’s pertness, said deaan Trongha, you -forget he is a white, and as good as any of us all. In -short, deaan Crindo was obliged to let a hundred -young men go before me, and in good time truly it -was; for there were several such firings at us that -afternoon from small ambuscades.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Two days after this we came to the river, not only -where we had encamped before, but fought and defeated -deaan Woozington, and killed his brave general -Ry-Opheck. Here we encamped again, and as no -enemy appeared, most of us were for plundering the -country; but deaan Trongha persuaded us against it, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_251'>251</span>and advised us to march still on, in order to find the -enemy out, if possible, before they divided their forces -into small parties. As for my part, I did not care how -soon we came to a battle, for then I should get rid of -the elodge.</p> - -<p class='c007'>At length when we had marched four days, a body -of the enemy of about a thousand appeared on a plain -before us, and deaan Trongha drew out his countrymen -to fight them. The umossee came up to me, charging -me to march before my master with the elodge, and to -throw it towards the enemy as soon as the engagement -began. We marched forwards, and they advanced, -though but slowly to meet us, for they had a secret -design. Deaan Trongha, as they wanted, drew near, -and they still kept firing, though at a distance; however, -it was fight enough for my purpose, as being a fair -excuse for throwing away the elodge. I did it with -alacrity, and returned forthwith to the camp; for I had -neither gun nor lance to fight, and was glad at my -heart to be eased of so troublesome a post. The enemy -withdrew into a wood, and our people eagerly followed -and fired at them, till the general, who, with eagle’s eyes, -looked round about him, notwithstanding the heat of -the action, and discovered a long train of fire-arms on a -rising bank of earth, among the trees and bushes. -Upon that he immediately called out to his people to -stop, discovering, moreover, a great number of men -concealed in a ditch, that was cast up for that purpose, -so he marched back without the loss of one man; for -there was no fighting in an unknown wood, and with -an unknown force.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Deaan Woozington was, doubtless, one of the most -subtile artful men on the island, for though he had not -force enough to face an army of four thousand men, -and his country was ruined, yet he found out ways -and means to be revenged in the severest manner; nor -did my valiant master deaan Trongha, notwithstanding -his great conduct and bravery, escape his resentment. -Our beef being all spent and no enemy to be found -that would fight, parties were sent out in quest of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_252'>252</span>cattle and slaves, and returned with good success; -though the principal generals, that is to say, deaan -Crindo, deaan Murnanzack, and deaan Trongha continued -in the camp. Some scouts, however, who had -discovered where a large herd of cattle were, coming -in, Trongha would go out himself to fetch them; deaan -Crindo, indeed, advised him against it, but he would -not hearken to his counsel. So about a hundred of -the Anterndroeans, with a like number of his own -people went with us, for I determined to go, but, Providence -designed otherwise, I was taken with a violent -pain in my thigh. I went out with them, however, for -I was very loth to stay behind him; but my pain increasing, -the deaan would not permit me to proceed, -and I was forced to hop as it were back, for I could -scarcely walk, and never saw this great good prince -more; for in three days’ after, three men brought the -melancholy news of deaan Trongha’s death, as follows.</p> - -<p class='c007'>About sunrising, a man informed the general, that -a party of about fifty of the enemy appeared upon the -plain; whereupon he marched his little army out of -the wood towards them, and soon saw their number -increase; he was resolved, however, to attack them. -Here he was guilty of a piece of ill conduct, forgetting -that the Anterndroeans were good for little else -but bush-fighting. When they came nearer, they saw -another party, and though soon after a third appeared, -yet there was no retreating. Some of the Anterndroeans, -it is true, ran away, and others concealed -themselves in the high grass; so that there were but -threescore of his own Feraignher people, stood with -him to oppose some hundreds. They maintained the -fight, however, half the morning; the general received -two wounds without falling, but at length, a third -killed him. By this time there were not above twenty -of his party left, and they resolutely forced their way -through the enemy, of which number were those, who -gave us this account. The Anterndroea men who skulked -in the grass, were most of them killed; for the grass -there being very long, and very dry at this time of the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_253'>253</span>year, the enemy set fire to it, and it ran like wildfire, -scorching the men who lay concealed under it; so that -they were obliged to rise, and most of them were overtaken -and cut to pieces.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The death of this great man was an inexpressible -loss to the whole army, and by all was sincerely lamented. -It was, indeed, a mortifying stroke to me; -and I was inconsolable, not knowing what calamities -might befall me in this country. Rer Befaugher did -not return till ten days after, at which time, though he -brought a good prize of cattle and slaves, yet his joy was -all damped at once with the news of his brother’s -decease; which was so shocking to him, that he was -not composed enough to talk of any affairs of the army -till the next day. This unfortunate accident obliged -me to carry on the deceit with Mevarrow, by assuring -him that I would come privately to him, as soon as the -army broke up; but I was very uneasy till I had a -favourable opportunity of communicating my whole -project to Rer Befaugher, and of begging his protection, -which he readily granted. Whereupon it was agreed -that I should absent myself two or three days before -their separation, in order to blind deaan Mevarrow, and -make him think that I ran away from the Feraignher people -and fled to his town before him; when, in reality, I -and my man only went by night to a place appointed, -and stayed till Rer Befaugher and the rest came to us.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The several parties who went out for plunder returned; -and after the cattle were divided, which were -some thousands, besides slaves, the army decamped. -The Feraignher people did not see the Anterndroeans -home, as they did before; but took their leave here, -and went directly to their own country a much nearer -way. I and my servant, as was privately agreed on -with Rer Befaugher, went away, and met them according -to appointment, to the great surprise of all the people; -for there had been a diligent inquiry made after -me, every one imagining that I was lost. Rer Befaugher -made such a clamour with deaan Mevarrow, -and some others, that deaan Crindo gave him two -<span class='pageno' id='Page_254'>254</span>slaves to pacify him, lest a quarrel of dangerous consequence -should have ensued. One of the slaves, who -was a young man, Rer Befaugher made me a present -of. I was somewhat surprised, not knowing immediately -what he meant by it; but telling the whole -story, and saying, that both were by right mine, I was -satisfied; he called my slave’s name Sambo. It was -near a month before we passed over the river Oneghaloyhe, -spending our time gaily in hunting, eating, and -drinking, making but very short marches. We did this -out of a charitable design to feed our captives; for we -had ruined their country to that degree that for many -months they had very little to subsist on; so that the -poor wretches looked dismally thin.</p> - -<p class='c007'>When we came within one or two days’ journey of -Rer Befaugher’s, the cattle were divided; and such as -had two or more slaves presented one of them to their -lord, in conformity to the same law and custom which -is used in Anterndroea, as I have before related. This -I thought a proper time to mention to Rer Befaugher -what I was promised as a gratuity for carrying the -elodge; and told him the fatigue and hazard I underwent -did very well deserve it. He said, there would -have been no objection against it in case deaan Trongha -had lived: however, he would go to deaan Mondrosser -and see what he said to it. He returned soon with five -cows, and some short time after that a girl slave was -sent me; but as I had already a man, who was as much -as I wanted, I desired to have two cows instead of the -girl, which request was readily complied with. My -cattle I intrusted to the care of my man Sambo.</p> - -<p class='c007'>When we arrived at Rer Befaugher’s town, I left my -cattle with my slave, and went to deaan Trongha’s town -to visit his widows. There I found a melancholy scene. -The eldest lady would fain have persuaded me to live -with her; but I told her I was not safe unless I was -under the protection of some such great man as Rer -Befaugher was; but I would embrace every opportunity -of coming to see her, and would for ever testify the -veneration I had for the memory of her dearly beloved -<span class='pageno' id='Page_255'>255</span>lord, as well as my gratitude to her for all former -favours.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Upon my return I met my man Sambo, who informed -me that he was going to build me a house; -Rer Befaugher had provided one for me, and gave him -likewise the necessary furniture for it. When I paid -my respects to Rer Befaugher on that account, I was -informed of deaan Crindo’s death, which (according to -the relation of some who came from his country after -us) was very sudden and unexpected.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Deaan Woozington, with what forces he could get -together, kept always within a day’s march of us, having -spies for ever out to observe all our motions every way, -and who were going and returning alternately to and -from his little army with intelligence of what they observed; -so that he knew very well when we parted -from the Anterndroean people. They were still too -strong for him, so that he was obliged to wait some -time longer for an opportunity of executing his revenge, -and accordingly followed them at a considerable distance -till they arrived at Madamvovo; where deaan -Murnanzack, and brethren, Afferrer and Mussecoro, -parted from them in order to go home; and this was -the crisis that he then wanted. So waiting but one day -more, till they were at too great a distance to assist -each other, he attacked deaan Crindo in the night, and -killed him with a great number of his people, and put -the rest to flight, deaan Mevarrow narrowly escaping; -and this he did so expeditiously and so successfully, that -he had time to withdraw into Merfaughla with most of -the cattle which they had taken from him.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Deaan Mundumbo, indeed, upon his father’s decease, -endeavoured to act as king; but he had neither -courage enough to maintain his claim, nor was he so much -beloved by the people to stand in competition with -deaan Murnanzack. He wanted some of those valuable -qualities which his father was possessed of; for it must -be acknowledged that Crindo was undaunted in war, -and had the spirit of authority at home, which alone -supported his dignity, and made him useful to his -<span class='pageno' id='Page_256'>256</span>country. Murnanzack had his uncle’s magnanimity in -war, and his majesty at home, besides all the human -and social virtues; and was, in reality, a truly great -man: so that Mundumbo was obliged to fly into Antenosa, -till matters were accommodated; and what became -of either of them I never heard, for not long -afterwards I was moved into another country at a -farther distance from Anterndroea.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Rer Befaugher entertained me as handsomely as his -brother had done. He had but one wife, with whom -he had cohabited nine years, without any issue. This -was a great misfortune, especially as she was a very -agreeable, good-natured woman, and behaved herself -after so endearing a manner, that he preferred her to -all the women in the world. In short, she was universally -respected, and extremely kind to me. As -three of my cows gave a considerable quantity of milk, -and as they furnished me with carravances and Guineacorn, -I and my man Sambo lived well enough. This -continued all the rain-time, and though we planted and -sowed, yet we never stayed to reap. For,</p> - -<p class='c007'>News was brought by some people who lived at a -great distance, that deaan Woozington was marching -toward us with a numerous army. Spies were sent out -to observe them, who at their return told us, that according -to the best computation they could make, -there were about three thousand under arms, and within -three days’ march. Deaan Mernaugha hearing this, -gave us orders to send all our cattle, wives, and slaves -to the river Feraingher, which runs on one side of deaan -Mernaugha’s town. I was so careful of the little stock -I had, that I attended them to the river; and went immediately -to James’s house, (the son of Efflep,) where -I met with Hempshire, his wife, and daughter. Two -days after, upon information that Woozington had -passed Oneghaloyhe, we were ordered farther northward -to Murnumbo; where in less than three days we -were alarmed with fresh news of an army of Saccalauvors -being just ready to attack us; whereupon we were -obliged to retreat immediately, and Woozington, as we -<span class='pageno' id='Page_257'>257</span>were informed, not having penetrated so far as the -river Feraingher, we made an attempt to go there again; -but the Saccalauvor army was so near us, that we -were forced to fly for our lives, and leave all our cattle -behind us, and make the best of our way to the river. -Those of our people who had any arms made a running -fight of it, in order to save the women and children; -though we reached the river, yet they were in sight of -us by this time. As for Hempshire’s wife she ran away -from him; so out of compassion I took him by the -hand, and hurried him into the very same cane-thicket -where I fled at the death of Eglasse. We had not long -seated ourselves there, before we heard some women -and children shriek out, who were taken prisoners at a -very small distance from us in the same thicket; which -put us into the utmost consternation, for we could expect -nothing but instant death. We had not been long -under these frightful apprehensions before I espied the -enemy. Upon which we got up to run, but knew not -whither; one of them, however, fired, and shot poor -Hempshire in the back; of which wound he died upon -the spot. I was more nimble, and got out of his reach; -but just at the entrance of the thicket I met another, -who ran directly at me. He took a lance in order to -throw at me, but I called out to him to save my life, -and told him I would go with him. As he saw I had -no weapons (for I had neither lance nor gun) he bid -me come forward; so I went and licked his feet according -to custom, and owned myself his slave. Whereupon -he told me, that he would spare my life, since I -was a white man, and was unarmed.</p> - -<p class='c007'>He carried me with him into the body of the army, -and the news was soon spread abroad, that a white man -was taken prisoner; insomuch that the general heard of -it, and thereupon my conqueror and I were both sent -for. Upon my kneeling and licking his feet, he asked -if there were any body about him who could speak either -English or Dutch? but he was surprised to hear me address -him in his own language. He asked me abundance -of questions with regard to the strength of deaan -<span class='pageno' id='Page_258'>258</span>Mernaugha; the number of his people, and a thousand -other things of the like nature; all which I avoided -answering as artfully as I could for Rer Befaugher’s -sake. However, after the examination was over, he -gave the person who took me another slave in exchange, -at which I was somewhat better pleased than -before; for it was a miserable thing indeed to be the -slave of a slave. My new master ordered me to follow -him, which I did whilst they marched, though that was -not long; for soon after they encamped on the banks of -the river. This was the best and finest camp I had -ever seen in this country, for all the tents were very -good. As soon as the general’s tent was erected, he -desired me to sit down, and inform him by what accident -I came upon the island; and how it came to pass, -that, as I was a white man, I spoke their language with -so much freedom. I gratified him with a long detail -of my whole history, to which he listened with great -attention; and we had abundance of discourse concerning -my surprising adventures. After he saw that -I had supped, (for I did not eat with him,) he gave one -of his head officers strict charge to see that I wanted -for nothing; and when one of his people advised him to -set a guard over me, he said, there was no danger of -my running away; for as white men have no home on -this island, all places are alike to them; and they will -stay with those longest who entertain and feed them -best; and he was well assured that the people of -Feraignher, at that time, were in no capacity to oblige -me. And his notion was very just, for so heartily did -I feed this evening, having eaten no beef for a long time -before, that I was very sick. And when I came to reflect -that ships came to this country, and the poor state -and condition of St. Augustine-bay rendered it very -improbable that they should come to trade there, I -found, that by this Providence, I had more hopes of -getting sooner to England here, than at any other place -I had ever yet been at: and the general was right in -his notion, for I had no business to fly or desert since I -could not mend myself. Having free liberty to go -<span class='pageno' id='Page_259'>259</span>where I pleased, my curiosity led me to see if I knew -any of the captives; and upon examination I met with -Hempshire’s widow and daughter, Toby, and Robin, -and Sambo, my own man; I shook him by the hand, -and told him I was a slave now as well as he. He said, -I am sorry for it; for I had much rather have served -you than any one else; and sure I am I shall never live -so well again.</p> - -<p class='c007'>When the general had fully gratified his curiosity in -inquiring after my affairs, I had likewise as strong an inclination -to know who was my master, and was informed -that he was dignified by the names of Rer Towlerpherangha -and Rer Vove. It is a custom here for persons -of distinction to have two names; and as the last is -the most in use, I shall hereafter distinguish him by -that only. He was grandson to Rer Trimmonongarevo, -king of Saccalauvor; though called Yong-owl by the -Europeans, and Morandavo from a river of that name. -Rer Vove intrusted me to the care of one Guy, who -was a considerable man, and a relation (though at -some distance) of the king’s. All the great families in -this country have a general name of distinction, which -they value themselves upon; as most of our European -gentlemen do on their coat of arms.</p> - -<p class='c007'>We continued here two days, in hopes that deaan -Woozington would in that time have penetrated through -the country on that side, and have joined us; but we -were informed that Rer Befaugher, by his good conduct, -had blocked up some passages, and so well defended -others, that he was glad to withdraw without effecting -any thing to the purpose. On this news, our general -retired to Murnumbo, pleasing himself with hopes that -deaan Mernaugha would be foolish and hot enough to -follow and fight him. Mernaugha, however, wisely -chose to sit down for once contented with his present -loss, rather than hazard all for the gratification of his -revenge, which might be more justly deemed foolish -pride and passion, than real valour. Rer Vove perceiving -no more could be done when he had continued -here about seven or eight days, till the parties ordered -<span class='pageno' id='Page_260'>260</span>out were returned, marched homeward, and instead of -putting a guard over me, as he did over others, gave -me a blunderbuss, and made me guardian general over -several of my late country folks, giving me full commission -to shoot the first who should attempt to run -away.</p> - -<p class='c007'>I had several under my care, but more particularly -Hempshire’s widow, and three other women, who, as I -attended them one evening into a private recess in a -wood, told me, “it was a great mortification to them -to be guarded by one who so lately fought for, and defended -them; telling me, moreover, that it was no great -difficulty for them to find means of making their escape, -in case I was but willing.” “You are right,” said I, -“and it is your interest, as you have families; besides, -you may possibly be sold to some ships:” which was -what I heartily wished for, as my interest was contrary -to theirs. I told them, moreover, that “I would never -have gone from Feraignher, if I had not been forced -away; but since the good providence of God had -thought fit thus to dispose of me, I would not oppose -the divine will, nor act inconsistently with my own -reason, for I was well assured of better provision here -than in Feraignher, in its present unhappy state, especially -as I had lost all the cattle I had, though my stock, -indeed, was but small.” I assured them, however, that -I would never mention what they had proposed, which -they, being under fearful apprehensions, begged that I -would never disclose the secret; neither did I, but -looked a little more circumspectly after them than I -did before.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Though our marches were but short, yet we soon arrived -to the confines of Saccalauvor, where there were -no inhabitants. It is a delightful country, and I saw a -great variety of monkies, baboons, virjees, and wild -swine, &c., in abundance, but very few, or none of -Hattoy’s cattle.</p> - -<p class='c007'>About three days afterwards we passed by divers -towns, which belonged to Rer Mimebolambo, alias -Moiang Andro; it being the selfsame country which -<span class='pageno' id='Page_261'>261</span>Rer Vovvern, late king of Feraignher, procured for him -by treaty, of his uncle Rer Trimmonongarevo. In the -towns and meadows there were abundance of humped -cattle, and such as were much larger than any I had -ever seen in the island before, but was informed these -were kept near home for private use; that the prince -and lords took care to have their principal stock of -cattle a great way farther to the northward, and in such -numbers, that they could not tell how many they had. -Of the truth of which I was soon afterwards very fully -convinced. Our forces now dwindled away apace, since -numbers went daily home as they came near to the several -towns to which they belonged, without taking -any formal leave of the general, since they had no pay -to take, or any to demand; for every one being conscious -to himself that it is his interest to join with his -neighbours in preventing an enemy from committing -plunder, no one ever murmured at their generals for -leading them forth to war, it being their own cause, -and not the general’s, in which they engage; for if they -found their lords proved imperious and tyrannical, they -would refuse to go with them, since they could easily -remove and live under others. They fight for their own -security and ease, and when they get any plunder from -their enemies, they think themselves sufficiently rewarded.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Moherbo is the principal town, or rather city, and -royal residence of the king, who is our general’s grandfather, -to whom, as in duty bound, we paid a visit before -he went home. When we arrived within a mile or -two, three messengers were despatched for form sake, -to give him notice of our approach, and to learn his -royal pleasure, who made answer, “that if Rer Vove -should come, he was very ready to receive him.” Hereupon -he put his people in order, and appointed fifty -men to stand in the front and discharge their guns; -and then fifty more to relieve them; the shells all the -time sounding. When we came within sight of the -king, who was sitting with his courtiers and people -round about him, we heard their shells sound and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_262'>262</span>drums beat; this, their congratulatory music, was but a -dull empty sound; in some measure, indeed, like their -country tubs, which are made of a light tree hollowed -very thin, and covered with a calf’s skin that is dressed -much like our parchment. Both ends are beaten at -once, one with a stick, and the other with the hand.</p> - -<p class='c007'>This king lives in a more splendid manner, and has -a gayer retinue than I had ever seen before. He has -twenty or thirty several houses, or rather a large court -enclosed with palisades in the town; but as it was not -large enough for the reception of so many people, he sat -on this occasion without the town. Our first fifty men -advanced like morris-dancers, and fired their guns very -regularly one after another; and upon their retreat, the -other fifty advanced. After this, the general stept forwards, -and bending one knee, licked the king’s. Several -principal men bowed likewise their knees, but -licked his feet. This ceremony over, a mat was spread -at about four yards’ distance, and the general with three -or four of the chieftains sat down, and Guy was amongst -them. As for my part, I stood behind my master with -my blunderbuss.</p> - -<p class='c007'>This prince, Rer Trimmonongarevo, made, as I -thought, a very odd and formidable figure, whether it -was because I had heard many stories of some of his -rash and barbarous proceedings, which had prejudiced -me against him. His dress was very singular, and such -as I had never seen before; his hair was plaited in -ringlets, beginning at the crown of the head; then -another range of knots was bigger than the former, and -so downwards, every lower circle was larger than the -upper; on several of these knots of hair hung a large -quantity of fine beads. Some part of his fore-headpiece -of beads hung almost over his nose, among these -were several gold ones. He had a very fine gold necklace -about his neck; over his shoulders hung two -strings of beads, and several of them gold, in much the -same manner as our aldermen of London’s chains; on -each wrist about six manelers of silver, seeming large -enough to weigh nearly three dollars apiece, and four -<span class='pageno' id='Page_263'>263</span>rings of gold on his fingers. Nearly twenty strings of -beads, closely set, were twisted round his legs; a silk -lamber hung over his shoulders, loose like a mantle, -and another, as usual, twisted round his waist. He was -an old prince, not less, by what I could understand, -than fourscore years of age at least, yet of a robust and -healthy constitution. His colour was rather tawny, -like an Indian, than perfectly black; his eyes fierce, -and his whole appearance formidable; or the singularity -of his dress and character made me imagine so; -he soon took notice of me, and asked Rer Vove if I -was the white man he had taken prisoner? and what -was my name? He called to me, “Robin, mehove a -toee,” which is come hither. I then laid my blunderbuss -down, and approached him with my hands lifted -up and closed before me. As soon as I got to him I -fell on my knees, and licked first one of his feet and -then the other, as the common people did before me. -He ordered me to sit by him, but not on his own mat -neither. He asked several questions in relation to my -first coming on this island, and informed me that he -had a white man of his own; “but he is an Englishman,” -said he, “and whether you can speak that language, -or not, I cannot say.” I told him I was an Englishman -myself. I began to cheer up, and have a little -more courage upon this agreeable news; and was surprised -that my master had not mentioned this circumstance -before. I asked the king how long his white -man had been with him? and what his name was? -“Six or seven years,” said he: “his name is Will.” -Upon this, he ordered a man to call him immediately, -who brought word that Will was gone out of town, and -would not be back in less than three or four days; so -finding the king enter upon some new discourse with -the general, I withdrew to my former post.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Soon after we went to a house which was ordered -for our reception, where I was discharged from guarding -his slaves; for he did that, as he told me afterwards, -only to try my fidelity, since he knew very well, if I -had not been honest, they would have all got away; -<span class='pageno' id='Page_264'>264</span>but as he was convinced I did him justice, he had a -post of much greater importance to intrust me with. -By this time, came in Ry Chemotoea, the king’s principal -wife, and the grandmother of Rer Vove, my master. -She was the largest woman I had ever seen in all -my life. When she sat, her breasts hung down to her -lap; she walked but little, being generally carried on -a kind of bier on men’s shoulders. She had a numerous -retinue, besides slaves, who brought four calabashes of -toake; two of honey, and two of sugar canes, together -with six baskets of rice. The king sent ten beeves, -four of which were very large fat oxen. As soon as -Ry Chemotoea was gone, we sat down to drinking the -honey-toake, till Rer Vove was perfectly intoxicated, -and fell asleep, at which time three slaves came from -his grandmother laden with presents; one with a fat -capon boiled, for they made capons here; another with -a pot of dried rice; and the third with a basket, a -wooden dish, and a spoon. This was the best supper -I had seen of the natives dressing, and I had my share -of it; but for all this good cheer, I could not forbear -thinking of this Will, the Englishman, and was very -much concerned that we could not stay till he came -home.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The next day we marched homewards, and though it -was two days’ journey, yet we hastened to come in as -early as we could the second day, because of the great -triumph we were then to make. The solemnity of which -was much the same as I have described in other places, -and consisted in their wives licking their feet, &c.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Rer Vove’s house was nearly eight yards long, and -about six broad, built of boards, as all the great men’s -houses are in Saccalauvor. Notwithstanding they have -no saws, with a great deal of labour, however, they hew -out boards very even with their hatchets. The language -is much the same with that in other countries, except -as English in Yorkshire, or the west of England, where -each place has a particular dialect, and some small difference -in its pronunciation.</p> - -<p class='c007'>My post here was a grand one, for I was constituted -<span class='pageno' id='Page_265'>265</span>captain of my master’s guard. There were palisades -all round his house, and at the portal, or gateway, was -a little house for several young men of a higher degree -to lie in, who were his guard, and over whom, as -I said before, I was appointed chief, but this did not -last above a month; at which time he thought proper -to go a shooting wild fowl, and took no one but me -with him. In our private conversation, he told me how -vicious the people of Saccalauvor were grown within a -few years, as their country grew rich; and that young -men living so high, and drinking such large quantities -of toake, induced them frequently to lie with other -men’s wives, by which means murders, and several -other misfortunes, have ensued. “As for my part,” said -he, “I have no reason, indeed, to suspect my wife Ry -Kaley; however, to prevent all jealous thoughts for the -future, I will intrust her to your care, and desire that -she may never be absent from your charge by night or -day, on any pretence, how plausible soever, unless she -be with me. I am very well satisfied she will not take -this amiss, and you have no occasion to regard any one -else.” I returned him thanks for the favourable opinion -he had of my integrity; and assured him I would take -the same care I had done hitherto, in the due discharge -of my duty to him in all things, wherein he thought -proper to command me; but I was afraid, lest some of -his trusty old servants should envy me my post, and -insinuate to him things prejudicial to his honour and -my care. “Upon that account,” said he, “you have -no cause for fear, since it is always expected here, that -marks of favour and distinction be shown to white -men.” When we came home, he broke his mind to -her, with much such another apology as he did to me. -She prevented him, however, from asking her consent, -apprehending in a moment what he aimed at; so saying, -“I desire nothing more than that you will take all -the measures you think proper, in order to retain the -same opinion of me you always had; and in case -Robin is to be my guardian, I will submit with pleasure -to his directions; and from henceforth, Robin,” said -<span class='pageno' id='Page_266'>266</span>she, “I will never be out of your sight, but when I am -with Rer Vove himself; and as I am now under your -jurisdiction, be sure you discharge your trust as you -ought, and don’t imagine that you can displease me by -the strictest observance of your orders. On the other -hand, I propose abundance of pleasure in your conversation, -by telling me stories of your uncommon adventures.” -Indeed, she gave me good grounds to think -she was not displeased with me. It was my business -to attend her on all occasions. Sometimes, indeed, her -women slaves were with her, but we were oftener by -ourselves, and that too through her own contrivance; -and whether my master had, in reality, so great an -opinion of her chastity as he pretended, I cannot determine; -but I found her to be a very gay, wanton lady, -and was forced to exert all the art I was master of, in -order to keep her out of other company, as well as to -preserve my own innocence. However, as my life lay -at stake, I was resolved to be true to my trust. It was -full three quarters of a year before I got rid of this -troublesome office; during which time, my master took -a fancy to another woman who had lately been divorced -from a cousin of his, and made her, if we may call her -so, his supernumerary wife. He was extremely fond of -her at first, but soon quarrelled with her, used her ill, -turned her in short quite off, and returned with as -much indulgence as ever to my charge, Ry Kaley, -again.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Not long after this, Rer Vove proposed to take a -tour to the northward, for his pleasure, and to take a -survey of his cattle; so ordering his furniture to be removed -to his head slave’s till his return, our house -was locked up, and away we marched. We were a -large company of us, Ry Kaley, his wife, his friend -Guy, with several other attendants, besides slaves. It -had rained very hard for some time before we set out; -so coming to a small river, which was considerably -swelled with the floods, the people made a halt, not -caring to push forwards with too much precipitation, -lest some alligators might have come up into the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_267'>267</span>marshes, as is customary, and return again to their old -haunts upon the fall of the waters. As the river was -shallow enough to wade through, I was so fool-hardy -as out of a bravado to lead the way. Two fine dogs, -that were my master’s favourites, went into the water -along with me, but kept close to my heels, one on each -side of me, for the dogs are very apprehensive of alligators. -I was up to my belly in the water, or thereabouts, -when an alligator, all on a sudden, gave such a spring -at the dog on my left side, that the monster’s nose -struck me down. The alligator, dog, and I vanishing, -as it were, at once, our people took it for granted I had -been carried off; but rising at a small distance and -finding myself not hurt, I went directly over; upon -which they all followed me. For if a noise be made by -a great number of people, an alligator will sink, like a -stone, to the bottom, and lie without the least motion, -and though you tread on him, he will not stir an inch. -As we took our journey for pleasure only, we had no -occasion to fatigue ourselves, so we marched but slowly. -In a few hours we arrived on the banks of a very large -river, called Mernee. Here we came to a town inhabited -by a people of a different species, as it were, from -the rest of mankind, and of a language peculiar to -themselves, though they can speak the general language -if they please. Their customs too, and manners, being -as different as their persons, of which I shall give a -particular detail, according as I was farther informed -soon after.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Rer Vove gave orders that one of the houses of these -Virzimbers, which is the name they are generally known -by, should be made clean for him, and all the old furniture -be removed; and as for us, who were of his -retinue, we might shift as well as we could. There are -very few Saccalauvors care to lie in any of their houses, -for fear of an insect like a cow-tick, called poropongee, -which is frequently found upon cattle, and this insect -is found nowhere else; but these people breed them, -on purpose to make their houses shunned by the Saccalauvors; -for the Virzimbers, till very lately, were under -<span class='pageno' id='Page_268'>268</span>no government, and often changing their habitations; -so that upon their first settlement here, the natives used -to come into their houses, and take away whatever they -saw convenient; imposing most shamefully upon them, -till the king, under whose protection they are at present, -redressed their grievances upon hearing their complaints. -These poropongees will make those who are -bitten by them sick, sometimes for six weeks, or two -months together; sticking close to the skin, or penetrating -into it for a long time; but when a man has -been once tormented by them, and has overcome the -sickness, he never has it again, though he lies among -ever so many of them; or, at least, like persons who -have had the small pox, they never fear a return of -their distemper. These Virzimbers are very subject -likewise to what they call colah, which is a kind of the -yaws, a disease which has been described before. It is -so frequent, however, here, that a third part of the people -of a town are sometimes spotted like lepers, with -dry scabs. We continued here but one night, and -passed over this large river in canoes the next morning.</p> - -<p class='c007'>About half a day’s march from hence lives Rer Moume, -king Trimmonongarevo’s eldest son, and uncle to Rer -Vove, to whom we went to pay a visit. Messengers, for -form sake, were sent before; an agreeable answer -being received, we approached the town, and found him -sitting for the shade sake, in great state under a tamarind tree, -as it was excessively hot. He is a very great prince, -and extremely well beloved: there were twelve wives, -and a great many other people then with him. When -Rer Vove, accompanied by his wife Ry Kaley, came to -him, they kneeled and licked his knee. After which -she soon withdrew among the women, but he sat down -on a mat near his uncle. All his aunts in general, -except one who was blind, came to him and licked his -shoulder, for they had not seen him since his return -from his expedition at Feraignher. The toake went -about plentifully, and some was given to our principal -people, among whom I was constantly with Guy, who -had a particular regard for me. My master, however, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_269'>269</span>being not a little proud of his white man, called to me in -broken English, for he had just enough to say, “Come -hither;” or, “How do you do?” When Rer Moume -saw me; “Were it not for his hair and eyes,” said he, -“I should scarcely have known him to be white, his skin -is so scorched with the sun that it is as swarthy almost -as my own: Ry Anzacker there, is as white as he.” -And, to confess the truth, there was no great difference -in our complexion. This was his second wife, and -sister to deaan Tokeoffu, king of Munnongaro, alias -Masseleege. Rer Moume was of a copper colour, -rather than a black. Though he had no visible distemper -upon him, yet he had lost the use of his limbs, and -though he had no swelling in his legs or sores about -him, and looked well to all outward appearance, yet he -could not stand upright. This misfortune was supposed -to be brought upon him by poison, which was given -him by one of his wives with a treacherous intent to -kill him, she having been a captive, and the consort of -a neighbouring prince who opposed him, and was -killed in battle. He sat on a square seat, or throne, -made on purpose for him, but so low that he could rest -his legs on the ground if he thought fit.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Perceiving I could speak their language, he was -extremely delighted with me, for he was a good-natured, -courteous man, which I have just reason to acknowledge: -for by his compassion I was redeemed from the -hardships of slavery during my continuance here; and, -at last, dismissed in a friendly and genteel manner, -and by his means sent home to England. The whole -discourse now turned on me and my surprising adventures; -the women, too, bore a part in the conversation, -and expressed their pity, saying, they should be glad -to have me among them, and should think they could -never do enough for me, if I would oblige them with -the agreeable stories of my travels. But this happy -time was not yet come, I was to undergo a few more -fatigues first, though my state of slavery did not continue -long.</p> - -<p class='c007'>My master, Rer Vove, was a gay young man, who -<span class='pageno' id='Page_270'>270</span>pursued his pleasures and was guilty of some vices, -like many of our young noblemen in Europe, was -always in action, full of fire, and as his constitution -was very warm and sanguine, he would be guilty of -too many of the follies which youth are prone to. As -to his stature he was very tall, for in an army or crowd -he might be distinguished at a distance, being a head -taller at least than most of the people; however, he -was exactly proportioned and well-shaped, his legs and -arms were finely tapered. I was obliged sometimes to -assist him in his love adventures, of which a pretty -remarkable, as well as dangerous one, was on this journey; -as follows:—</p> - -<p class='c007'>No sooner had he parted from his uncle, than he -determined to visit his cousin, Rer Chemunghoher; -but coming near his town, and being informed that he -was gone from home as far as Moherbo, a thought came -into his head to send his wife one way, whilst he took -another under a pretence of business, and to meet -about four days after, advising her at the same time to -go through some towns of the Virzimbers, who always -make one present or another to those of the family, -according as their abilities will permit. His attendants, -or the greatest part of them, were ordered to accompany -his wife; and as for me, whom she expected to have -been left her guardian, he bid follow him. When -we were at a sufficient distance from the people, he told -me he had a secret to communicate to me of no small -importance, and desired, likewise, my assistance in a -particular affair, which he proposed to put in execution. -“You know my fidelity,” said I, “and are sensible -that I would scruple nothing but the commission of -murder to serve you.” “It is nothing of that nature, -I assure you,” said he, “but the consequence may -prove fatal if you do not act with discretion: Rer -Chemunghoher, in short, has married one who was -my consort before Ry Kaley; and, on a quarrel, I put -her away a little too rashly, and my kinsman also -married her in too much hurry, or we should probably -have agreed again. The woman I still have an affection -<span class='pageno' id='Page_271'>271</span>for, and as her husband happens to be abroad, I have -some thoughts of your procuring me an interview with -her. There is a Maurominter, that is to say, a black -man of any other country, who can speak English; you -shall pay him a visit, by which means you may come -to the speech of her.” I was fond of this opportunity -to see this English Maurominter; and for that reason -I readily agreed to his proposal; and having my full -instruction, and a man for my guide, I left my master -at a small village, about two hours’ walk from Rer -Chemunghoher’s town, and proceeded immediately on -my errand.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Lewis (for that was his name) received and entertained -me in a handsome manner. He was born, he -said, in Jamaica, followed the sea, and being taken by -pirates was set on shore at St. Augustine-bay, where -he lived some time, but the troubles of that country -coming on, he, as well as many of the natives, came -away, not only for their security, but for more plentiful -living: so that between the affairs of Feraignher and -England, we had subject matter of discourse enough -for a long time. His wife going out, I took the opportunity -of asking him, if he could possibly introduce me -to their lord’s wife? He, knowing the story, guessed at -my intention, though I told him no more than what -was requisite for my purpose. He went accordingly -to her, and she sent word she would come, which she -did soon, with one maid only to attend her. I was a -good excuse enough for her to say her curiosity led her -to see a white man. Lewis and his wife withdrawing, -and she saying I might freely speak before her maid, -whom she could trust with her life, I soon delivered -my message, and told her how disconsolate Rer Vove -was ever since he came near the town: I found her, in -short, as eager for the interview as himself, and she -appointed that very night in a wood at a convenient -distance. As soon as she returned home she sent her -maid with some toake to me; which, when Lewis and -I had drank up, I went with the good news to my -master. And as it proved a fine moonlight night, we -<span class='pageno' id='Page_272'>272</span>soon came to the place assigned; though by going over -a river, and through a plantation where there were -dogs, and they barking, the owner had like to have -discovered us; for the wild hogs often making great -havoc in the night, they are very attentive if their dogs -do but stir.</p> - -<p class='c007'>I left them in the wood, and went to Lewis, for -whom she waited. He conducted her through a breach -made in the palisade, for the gate was always guarded, -and I conducted her to her gallant. Her maid accompanied -her with a capon, some rice, and a calabash of -toake. They embraced each other with all the passion -imaginable; the maid, indeed, was for serving up the -supper, but they had affairs of greater moment to talk -of first, which we plainly perceiving withdrew, and -diverted ourselves for some time as well as we could. -In about two hours we heard him whistle, which was -the signal for our coming, when we supped all together. -Our bellies being full, Lewis and I roved about at a -distance, and left them again till it was daybreak. -“Now, Robin,” says he, “we must do as the wild -boars do, get a great distance from the place where -they have been doing their mischief.” So crossing the -river again, we walked about till noon; when a man -was to come and bring us some provisions. As I was -looking out sharply, and listening for the token, which -was a whistle, I approached him, but the fellow being -silly, and knowing nothing of a white man, threw down -the meat, and a whole calabash of toake, and took to -his heels. As soon as he got home he told his mistress, -that he saw a white spirit, and it ran after him for the -meat, which he was forced to leave behind him. This -gave us some diversion the next night, when she came -again: a capon, rice, and toake were brought this -evening likewise; and I could not forbear rallying my -master on having patience enough now to sup, and -regale himself with toake as soon as it came. When -we had drank plentifully they bid us go and watch at a -distance, and find out some amusement or other to -pass away the night. And, indeed, had we not made -<span class='pageno' id='Page_273'>273</span>ourselves merry, and been as agreeable to one another -as such an occasion required, the night would have -seemed very long and tedious. We slept a little -towards daybreak, and when I went to them they were -not up; however, they soon arose, and took their leave -too, by rubbing their noses together, and drawing their -breath like persons who take snuff. After this they -parted well satisfied for the present.</p> - -<p class='c007'>It was now broad daylight, so that when we -attempted to go over the plantation the same way as -we came, the people were up; and as we were both -remarkable persons, he by his height, and I by my -colour, the very seeing us at a distance would have -been enough to betray the whole secret. We had no -way, therefore, to take but through a thicket of thorny -wood. I went first upon my knees, and beat them -down with a stick, and my master followed. Though -our shoulders bled in many places, which we did not -regard at first through eagerness, and when we did it -was to little purpose, for it would have been as bad to -have retreated. So, in short, we went through; but -on our arrival on the other side of the river, we stood -still to look on one another, and perceiving how miserably -our hides were scratched and torn, we could not -refrain from laughter, though we were severely mortified. -We still endeavoured to find out private ways, -being as much ashamed now as we were afraid before -of being seen. As soon as Guy saw us, he could not -forbear smiling. Rer Vove told him, we had been -hunting a wild boar, and by pursuing him too eagerly -into the thickets, we got scratched in this piteous manner. -“It is much more probable,” said Guy, “a wild -woman, and the right owner pursuing you too closely, -you were glad to escape to the first wood you came at.” -Ry Kaley grew a little jealous too upon the occasion, -but we laughed it off.</p> - -<p class='c007'>We being all met again, we proceeded to the northward, -where the cattle are all kept. This is as fine a country -as ever I saw, and the best stocked with all the necessaries -of life. These people never go forth to war, but -<span class='pageno' id='Page_274'>274</span>constantly employ the whole of their time in taking -care of the king’s and their lord’s cattle: they have -plenty likewise of their own. The king’s cattle are -marked with the stamp called chemerango. Here are -such numbers of them, that it is not known within two -or three thousand how many belong to him. Some of -these oxen are scarcely able to walk for age, and others -are so fat they cannot stir. They never milk above the -fourth part of the cows, though the place is populous, -and as large as some king’s dominions. They have a -great many towns, and many Virzimbers dwell among -them. The chief town is of large extent, where the -principal herdsman keeps a great court, and has full -power and authority to decide all controversies, and -punish any offender without appeal. When we saw -him, he made as grand a figure as a king, and was -sitting with his attendants about him in the same -manner. However, he arose to kiss Rer Vove’s knee, -(not his feet,) as a testimony of his more than common -respect for him. He had eight thousand head of cattle -of his own, and near three hundred slaves. He made -my master a present of five of his own, and fifteen of -the chemango’s. He seldom, if ever, goes out on foot, -but is carried on a bier on men’s shoulders. He is -very old, indeed, having been cow-keeper to Rer Trimmonongarevo’s -father, deaan Lohefute.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Butter and cheese might be made here in plenty, -were there but people who understood the art of it, for -the cows give abundance of milk, though not altogether -so much as ours do in England, but then they continue -it longer; summer time in this hot country being the -worst for the cattle. In this place, however, there are -so many rivers, brooks, and springs, that they are never -incommoded with such droughts as they sometimes are -in Anterndroea. Here are tallow and hides too in -abundance, but few think it worth their while to regard -them. Several other commodities are to be found here -which are worthy of notice: wax is so plentiful that it -is thrown away; there is iron too in many parts of -the country, as well as here, and the natives are no -<span class='pageno' id='Page_275'>275</span>strangers to the making of steel. Here is copper, likewise, -of their own production, of which they make -mannelers. In some of the most mountainous and -inland parts of the country they have silver, and know -how to make ear-plates of it, and mannelers: so that I -have the highest reason to think the country produces -it, as well as it does a white metal, much like our British -tin, or tutanag; nor is there any reason to doubt -that gold is to be found here. Here are many other -things, but as I cannot give a satisfactory account of -them, I pass them over in silence. But,</p> - -<p class='c007'>I must not here omit to mention the several sorts of -silk, of which there is plenty in every part of the -island where I have been. Some is of a brownish -colour, others of a white; the outside is full of small -pointed prickles; the cod or bag is nearly three inches -long, and shaped like a nine pin; at the top, when we -take it, there is a hole, out of which I have extracted a -blackish worm; but I am not able to describe it, or -the manner of its transformation, as the common silkworm: -this I know, that there are no mulberry trees. -The silk of these worms is found upon three or four -several sorts of trees; for when they spin they cleave -to the thick branches or body of the tree. I have seen -the people on their knees, pull the cod out to a great -length, which they tease to pieces, and then spin it -with a spindle, made of bone, and a rock-staff; after -that they weave it as they do cotton, and it makes not -only pretty, but very fine lambers. There is some -trouble in the management of it, which is all the reason -I can offer for their making so little use of it. In this -part of Saccalauvor, where the cattle are kept, is a tree -called rofeer; which is of singular service to the -middle sort of people to make lambers of. The leaf is -like that of a cocoa-nut tree, but longer by two feet; -they take off the outer part, and put the other to dry -for two or three days together, which is then thin and -white like a long shaving. After that they moisten it -again, and split it into threads, which they knot in a -very neat manner, and weave into cloth: some of it -<span class='pageno' id='Page_276'>276</span>is frequently dyed, and made into lambers striped. -This tree bears a fruit that much resembles a damson.</p> - -<p class='c007'>After Rer Vove had taken a review of his cattle, and -left behind him about two hundred of them, which he -got by this journey, we returned home to plant rice; -for men of the highest distinction here look after their -plantations themselves, and take care to furnish their -families with proper provisions. He had not been long -at home, before some business called him to Moherbo, -and through Guy’s artifice and intercession I got leave -to accompany him, for I had a strong inclination to see -the Englishman. He soon perceived I was his countryman, -and we were more overjoyed to see each other, -than relations are who live ever so distant. His name -was William Thornbury, he had been nine years in the -country. It was his first voyage; for he was then a -boy, who like me, was resolutely bent on going to sea; -but a hard gale of wind arising suddenly, drove their -ship from her anchors, and whether some pirate was in -sight, or what was the real cause he could not tell, but -they never returned, leaving him with the surgeon and -another man ashore; the two last in a few months died -with grief, and he was left alone. The king took what -small quantity of goods their captain had left on shore, -and sent immediately for Thornbury. He went, and -his majesty very kindly told him he had no occasion to -fear any thing; for he would take care he should not only -be supplied with whatever he wanted, but that he -would, moreover, send him home by the first vessel. In -all which he was as good as his word, nor ever attempted -to make a slave of him, as Mevarrow did of me; so -that when we compared our hard destinies, mine was -much the severer of the two. He went to the king’s -eldest wife for some toake, in order to treat me with it, -which she readily granted.</p> - -<p class='c007'>I have already given the reader an idea of this king’s -person: as to his hasty temper and cruel actions I had -heard much talk of them before now; William Thornbury, -however, let me more fully into his character. I -found, upon taking in the whole detail of him, that -<span class='pageno' id='Page_277'>277</span>glory and ambition were his principal aim; which he -looked upon to consist in the wealth and prosperity of -his country. For Saccalauvor was neither richer nor -more powerful than other countries till his accession to -the regal state. But he having expelled both his -brothers upon his assumption of the supreme dignity, -one of them, as I have mentioned before, fled to -Feraignher, and got possession of part of the country -to the southward; the other, accompanied by about -eight hundred men, passed through the fine country -where the cattle are kept, and where the Virzimbers at -that time resided, moving still farther to the northward, -and settled on that river which the Europeans at this -time call Masseleege. The Virzimbers fled from him -on his first approach, but finding that his intentions -were peaceable, and that he was only seeking a place of -refuge for himself, they returned to their habitations, -and lived under his jurisdiction. Here he established -a kingdom almost as extensive and powerful as his -brother’s; which his son, deaan Tokeoffu is now in the -possession of. Rer Trimmenongarevo understanding -his brother had thus happily settled himself, sent ambassadors -to propose an amicable alliance between -them; which he, being a good-natured man, readily -came into; hoping God, and his deceased father deaan -Lohefute, would forgive his brother, and for the future -bless them both.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Rer Trimmonongarevo now caressed some of the Virzimbers, -and gave them towns on the banks of Mernee. -He was very generous likewise to his own subjects, and -made considerable presents, not only of cattle, but -slaves to those who had suffered losses in his service; -but more especially he took all the engaging and political -ways he could devise to tempt people from other -countries to come and live in Saccalauvor. I have -already mentioned his courteous treatment of the -Feraignher people whose families had been taken in -war; restoring all the captives and cattle to such masters -and relations as would come and settle in his -dominions. By this means they are grown not only -<span class='pageno' id='Page_278'>278</span>vastly populous, but rich, and the people live in plenty -as well as peace; they reverence and adore him, in -short, as a tender and indulgent father of his country. -But see now the danger of submitting implicitly to the -arbitrary will and pleasure of any man; even though -he has many useful and great virtues to recommend -him. People by such means become slaves to the man -who is not in every respect a hero, but attended with -human frailties, and subject to passions less governable -than in men of lower station. Superior greatness is -his view, which explained, is advancing his prerogative -beyond that of his predecessors, and showing that he -can determine according to his own will more absolutely -than any of his contemporaries. Absolute power is -what all ambitious princes aim at, and thirst to enjoy -it. This the world may see is the darling passion of -the vicious great; and this was the misfortune that attended -Saccalauvor; at least that part of it which was -under the immediate jurisdiction of Rer Trimmonongarevo: -for the other lords, his sons and nephews, were -as humane as those in any other part of the island; but -the authority he had usurped had made him so haughty -and imperious, that to show he could act as he pleased, -and was not to be governed by the traditional laws, -when an ambassador or any strangers were at his town, -he would order some one or other of any two contending -parties to immediate execution for very trivial -faults, and sometimes for none at all. This barbarous -disposition, however, did not appear till he was sufficiently -established in his government; and then several -instances of his cruelty were too conspicuous. By these -vile actions he lost the love of many of his subjects, -who withdrew to live under more humane sovereigns. -Some quite abandoned the country, and went to his -brother’s son Toakoffu; though they might have been -tolerably safe with his sons and nephews. And this is -the only remedy which these people have against -arbitrary power; for they have no notion of a <i>jus divinum</i>, -as we call it, nor think themselves obliged by -the laws of religion to suffer any impositions. The -<span class='pageno' id='Page_279'>279</span>lords likewise have contracted a very laudable and -humane custom of being extremely fond of relieving -such as are distressed, even though there has been -enmity before. This was deaan Crindo’s son’s case when -he fled to Antenosa, and this very king’s brother, Rer -Mimebolambo’s, when he fled to Feraignher; and to -this generous virtue my own deliverance was principally -owing.</p> - -<p class='c007'>I was one day in this king’s presence when there was -a crowd about him, and upon his coughing and fetching -his breath a little uneasily, the people fell immediately -prostrate on the ground. The reason, as I understood -afterwards was, because not long before, in such -a fit of short breathing, he took up a blunderbuss and -discharged it among them without speaking a word, or -making any other excuse, when he had thus killed two -or three of his attendants, than “why did they stifle -him?” I never saw such abject slavery on the island -before; and yet to do him justice I must say he was -far from being in all his actions and resolutions a bloody -tyrant; for, two or three instances of severe executions -only excepted, which he ordered out of ostentation, -his other barbarities were only now and then the -effects of his inordinate passion; which, indeed, grew -worse as he advanced in years. It must be acknowledged -that he directed corporal punishments oftener -than were practised in any other country. Here was -during my residence amongst them, a woman who complained -to him against another for robbing one of his -wives, who was her mistress; but upon examination -the accuser was found a very sorry creature, and one -whose ears had been cut off for a former misdemeanour. -Some ambassadors being then present, the wicked -wretch made choice of that time to accomplish the end -of her malice the more effectually; for as the people -expected a bloody decision, so it happened; yet one -can hardly pronounce it was unjust though very severe; -for after hearing, with a great deal of patience, all that -she alleged, and inquiring into every minute circumstance -of the case, he ordered the base accuser to be -<span class='pageno' id='Page_280'>280</span>carried off and killed directly. The person so unjustly -accused desired to have the liberty of being the executioner -herself, with which he complied, and gave her a -sword for that purpose. She soon overtook the proper -officer, who, seeing the king’s sword, held the criminal -while the other cut her throat. These are instances -sufficient to show the virtues and vices, as well as the -singular disposition of this extraordinary king.</p> - -<p class='c007'>During my stay here I saw William Purser, the interpreter, -and several others of Feraignher; and among -the rest my old friend Ry-Nanno, (Rer Vovvern’s ambassador -to deaan Crindo, who was the first that -directed me to Feraignher,) came to pay me a visit. -He lived as great as in his own country, having voluntarily -followed some of his family who were taken -prisoners.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Rer Vove was now on his return home, and my -countryman and I were to part, which we did with no -small reluctance; yet not before we had given each -other full instructions where to find our respective -friends, whoever should be so happy as to reach England -first, which proved to be his good fortune.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Some few days after we were got home the two -Amboer-lambo ambassadors, who were at Moherbo, -being on their return into their own country, and passing -through our town, Rer Vove prevailed on them to -stay a night with him, and allotted them a commodious -apartment, to which they invited me, and seated me on -their own mat between them. Their curiosity, they -said, led them to inquire after the manners and customs -of my country in general, and of my own adventures -in particular. I gratified them in the best manner I -could, or rather so as they were best capable of understanding -me. For as to the largeness and grandeur of -our court, city, fleets, armies, &c., on all which I expatiated, -they would give no credit to it, and looked upon -it only as a mere romance. In my turn I asked them -where their country lay. They told me it was a mountainous -inland place, divided into two kingdoms, -called Amboer-lambo, which were governed by two -<span class='pageno' id='Page_281'>281</span>brothers. They had vast large ears, with silver plates -in them that glittered like comets. I was very desirous -to know how they came so. They informed me that -when they are young a small hole only is made at first -and a piece of lead put into it; when the wound is -healed they have a small spring-ring put into it, which -extends it by degrees, and after this another, till the -hole is as large as they think convenient; then they -place these silver plates in it, which are neatly made, -and exactly fitted to the hole, with great precaution for -fear of breaking it. Some of these holes in their ears -are so large, that a woman may put her hand through -it. They have several artificers among themselves who -make these ornaments. The poorer sort, they said, -who could not afford silver, had them of tutanag; -which they call ferochfutey. They came into this -country to trade chiefly in iron, of which they make -abundance; however, they bring great quantities of -silk likewise. Their vallies are very foggy and marshy, -unwholesome for cattle, and not fit to be inhabited, so -that they buy cattle. The mountains are so stony, that -they have scarcely earth sufficient for the foundations -of their houses. They told me moreover, that Rer -Trimmonongarevo will not sell them any guns, nor suffer -his people to supply them with fire-arms. Before -the Europeans had stocked the island with guns, they -were too strong for the Saccalauvors in deaan Lohefute’s -time; but this king is at present too powerful. -They have (they said) a trade sometimes to Mattatanna -and Antenosa; but not sufficient to furnish them with -arms and ammunition. I observed, that metals of all -kinds were commodities they dealt in.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Hitherto I lived pretty well; and indeed for about -three months afterwards; at which time a ship came to -Yong-Owl to trade. Her name (as I have since been -informed) was the Clapham-galley, captain Wilks commander. -Those who had slaves to sell carried them -down to the seaside. My master was likewise preparing -some for that purpose; the thought of it almost -transported me, yet I could not tell how to make my -<span class='pageno' id='Page_282'>282</span>request known. At length I made my application to -my friend Guy, and having expostulated the case with -him and his wife, I prevailed on him to solicit my -master that I might be sent down and sold to the captain; -he made the motion accordingly one evening in -my absence. And it was happy for me that I was -abroad, for had it not been for the mediation of some -friends he would have found me out and shot me directly. -As soon as I came to him he ordered me to -deliver him my gun, saying, I was a prisoner of war, -and a slave too; and he would make me know as much. -As for Will. he was an unfortunate youth indeed, and -was left by mere accident upon the shore; there is a -wide difference between his case and yours. Upon -which he called his cook; “Here, Mechorow,” said he, -“take care of this white captive; and see that he, like -other slaves, obeys your orders.” Mechorow did not -fail to observe his instructions, and was the severer -upon me, because there was a time when I had authority -over him. He frequently made me carry an iron -pot on my head, when Rer Vove and his wife took their -pleasure on the islands in the middle of the river Mernee; -where one while he would go to kill wild fowl, -and at another to destroy alligators. But before the -ship set sail I endeavoured to inform the captain by -this stratagem. I took a satter-leaf, which was about -two inches broad, and a foot and a half long, and marked -upon it these words following. Robert Drury, son of -Mr Drury, living at the King’s-Head in the Old Jewry; -now a slave on the island of Madagascar in the country -of Morandavo, or Yong-owl. I desired the favour of -one who was going to the seaside to deliver this leaf -to the first white man he saw; but when he returned I -asked him what answer he had? “None at all,” said he, -“for I suppose the white man did not like it, since he -threw the leaf away; though I am sure it was as good, -if not better, than that which you gave me. ’Tis true, -I dropped yours, but then I pulled one of the best I -could find from off a tree.” My heart was ready to break -at this disappointment; whereupon I turned from him, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_283'>283</span>and went directly into the woods to vent my grief in -tears. I heard soon after, that Will. Thornbury was -discharged; I was then in some hopes that by his -means my redemption might be accomplished. But to -my no small mortification I soon heard the ship had -sailed, and not one word of me mentioned. This drove -me almost to madness, and what could be the reason -why the captain should take no notice of me, I cannot -conceive; for Will. Thornbury, doubtless, would have -mentioned me to him.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Not long after this I was taken with a violent pain in -my bones; which at first I took for a cold. But it increased -to that degree that I could not walk without -crutches. This disease continued three months successively, -and then I began to have large boils or blotches -break out all over my body; my neighbours soon perceived -it was the colah or yaws; and Rer Vove sent me -to a Virzimber’s house on the banks of Mernee, in order -for a cure. They took the bark of a tree, of which I -do not recollect the name, steeping it in water. With -this they washed and bathed me every day, which in a -few weeks made my bones much easier; and in a few -weeks more the blotches died, and wore away; after -which I recovered my strength apace. I lived with -these Virzimbers in all about six months.</p> - -<p class='c007'>These people are almost of a different species from -the others. Their heads are of a peculiar shape, the -hinder part and the forehead are almost as flat as a -trencher: but this I imagine to be unnatural, for it is -framed thus by a daily pressure of their children from -the cradle. Their hair is neither so long nor so woolly -as that of the other nations. Their religion, likewise, is -widely distant from other people’s. They have no owleys -in their houses, but pay an awful regard to the new -moon, and to several animals; namely, a cock, a lizard, -and the like. Whether they think these creatures have -spirits or not, or demons that attend them, I cannot -determine; for whenever they discoursed among themselves, -it was in a peculiar language, to which I was so -much a stranger, that I was not able to give a sufficient -<span class='pageno' id='Page_284'>284</span>reason for these particulars. When they seat themselves -to their meals, they take a bit of meat, and throw -it over their heads, saying, “There’s a bit for the spirit.” -In the next place, they cut four little bits more and -throw to the sovereigns or rulers of the four quarters of -the earth. This is the constant practice of such as have -any regard to religious ceremonies, but there are too -many who neglect it, as some in Europe, and look on -saying grace at their meals, as an idle fashion. They -dress their victuals much more agreeably than the other -people; for they always boil plantains or potatoes with -their meat, and make good soup, and well thickened as -they do in Europe.</p> - -<p class='c007'>They make curious earthenware, such as pots, dishes, -and jugs, glazing them both within and without; and -are very ingenious artificers in many other particulars. -Though their ingenuity was superior, yet I could not -perceive they ever formed themselves into regular kingdoms, -or into large commonwealths, but herded together -in towns; each town being a distinct and independent -republic, which too often produced quarrels and -bloodshed, one little town standing in opposition to -another. There being no general law or government -which could settle their just claims, or determine any -unhappy dissensions between one town and another; -till they in this part made Rer Trimmonongarevo their -patron and protector, whilst others put their whole -confidence in deaan Tokeoffu. There are more of them -as I have heard, in other parts of the island, scattered -up and down, who shift their habitations; which these -were wont to do formerly. ’Tis no easy matter to determine -whether these are not the original natives, or -first inhabitants of the land. I observed here, that difference -in religion was looked upon as no crime, nor -any offence to one another. Moreover, that they, like -the others, have no priests.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Having now in great measure recovered my strength, -I began to reflect on the misery of returning to my former -slavery; and for that reason, after some conflict -with myself, I determined to run the risk of throwing -<span class='pageno' id='Page_285'>285</span>myself at Rer Moume’s feet, to beg his protection, be -the consequence what it would; death being preferable -to perpetual slavery. Having imbibed this notion, I -desired my landlord one morning to put me over the -water in his canoe; for I would willingly pay a visit to -a friend on that side, it not being above two hours’ walk -to Rer Moume’s town.</p> - -<p class='c007'>At my arrival I found him sitting under a kind of -pent-house, with his wives round about him. I laid -down, and licked his feet, then rising upon my knees, -I lifted up my hands, and sued to him for mercy and -protection from the ill treatment of my master Rer -Vove; he having made the most abject slave of me, for -only desiring a friend to beg of him to sell me (not to -make a present of me) to my own countrymen; that I -might see my dear parents once more, from whom I had -been absent so many years. My master insisted that -I was his slave, his prisoner of war, though I was there -no otherwise than Will. was here, a poor unhappy -creature wandering about till I could find an opportunity -to get to my native country, and was no enemy of -his, neither was I taken in arms. Should you deliver -me up to him, he would doubtless kill me, and there will -be an end of all my sorrows; but I live in hopes of -finding mercy from you. I soon perceived that my -mournful tale affected him; for the tears stood in his -eyes, and some of the women actually wept. He bid -me rise, and be assured that he would not deliver me -up to Rer Vove. “Should my kinsman (says he) want -slaves to do his work (though I know the contrary) I -will send him two or three in your stead. Be not -afraid, I will both protect and provide for you.” Then -turning to one of his consorts, “Here Ry Anzacker,” says -he, “do you from henceforth be Robin’s mother; and -take care he wants for nothing. All I shall desire of -you (said he to me) will be to look after my chest of -arms, which are a hundred or more in number; and -see that my flints and shot are all kept in order, and -you shall have servants too to do the work.” Then calling -a slave, he gave him directions to build me a house -<span class='pageno' id='Page_286'>286</span>next to my mother’s within the palisade. In two days -I was a housekeeper. Ry Anzacker proved very kind -to me, and I never walked out without my gun in my -hand like a freeman.</p> - -<p class='c007'>In a few days after several messengers came from -Rer Vove to Rer Moume. I was by when, in their -lord’s name, they demanded his white slave. Rer -Moume examined them first, to know if what I had told -was matter of fact; and when he found it was, “I am -sorry (said he) my kinsman is so rash and thoughtless -a young man to act after this manner. Did any one -ever see before a white man a slave to a black man’s -cook-slave; unless it was among the worst of brutes in -that unpolished country Anterndroea? It was a very -unjust thing to force him from Feraignher; and when -he was here, it would have been the part of a wise and -honest man to have presented Robin to the English -captain, and made a merit of taking care of him. In -so doing he had done a generous action, and it would -have reflected an honour on himself, and on us all. He -should recollect the many benefits we have received -from the English, and that we were insulted by all our -neighbours, till they furnished us with arms. Here, -take this woman-slave, and give her to him; she is able -to do more service than Robin, in case he wants work -from him. As for my part, I shall make no slave of -him, I’ll assure you; he may go when he will, and live -where he will; even with Rer Vove, if he thinks proper; -and does not care to live with me. However, I shall -not consent to that, unless I am well satisfied of his -being more courteously treated. Here, take the woman -in his stead.” They came again the next day with the -woman, and renewed their yesterday’s demand; to -which he gave an answer in direct terms, that they -should not have me.</p> - -<p class='c007'>I was treated here in a most courteous manner by all -the king’s wives; but particularly by my mother, Ry -Anzacker; they taking great delight in the many stories -I told them of my misfortunes and adventures. I used -frequently to go with Rer Moume to a spacious lake -<span class='pageno' id='Page_287'>287</span>which had islands in it, several miles round, called the -Kereendea. This place was formerly drowned by the -Mernee’s breaking its banks. Rer Moume was always -carried in a vehicle, not much unlike a sedan; and had -a canoe large enough to hold twenty men, in which -was a seat made on purpose for him, he not being able -to sit, as other people did, upon the floor. Several -other canoes of ten and five hands, and some small -ones of two, used to accompany him. Our principal -employments were fishing and fowling; in which the -Virzimbers are very dexterous, making nets of various -kinds, and also fishhooks for angling, which was Rer -Moume’s favourite diversion. His son, Rer Chulu, -would often divert himself with killing alligators; and -the weapon he generally used was a harpoon, with a -head fixed on it, and a rope fastened to the steel and -staff both. Being thus furnished with tackle, they paddle -along the water towards the alligator, whom they -generally espy at a distance; for they keep their noses -above water, and appear like a floating cake of cowdung. -When they come within ten or a dozen yards -of him, he sinks to the bottom, and crawls a good way -before he stops; but his path is discovered by a bubble -that rises up, and where it stands they strike; for they -will lie flat on their bellies with their sides pressed out, -where they hear a noise; so that they are often stabbed -with the harpoon. Though should it light on their -backs, or heads, it will make no more impression than -it would on a rock. The Virzimbers make a net of -ropes, with large meshes, and with these they sometimes -take them; they also take them with snares made -of spring-sticks, which draw up a noose in a rope; -these they place at the mouth of a rivulet, or small -canal. And by these methods I have known Rer Chulu -and his company kill twenty or thirty alligators in a day.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Rer Moume made me a present of three cows, which -calved in four months. He asked me why I did not -marry? I told him I could not well maintain a wife, -and that at present I lived very well, and much better -than I could with a woman to provide for. He said, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_288'>288</span>it was not looked upon as decent for a man to live -single; and as for her maintenance, I’ll not only put it -in your power to do that, but recommend one to you -likewise. So as I perceived he was serious, I was soon -persuaded; but with this proviso, that he should not -compel the woman, but ask her consent, and leave it to -her own choice; to which he readily agreed. So sending -for one who was an attendant on my mother, he -opened the case to her and told her she should be my -wife if she thought fit; and bid her speak her mind -freely; for he did not intend she should submit to it -through any compulsion. But with an air of cheerfulness -she said she approved of the motion. Upon this -Ry Anzacker took her back again, to dress her up very -fine with beads, and a new silk lamber, &c., and presented -her to me. I desired that the prince would -make a formal marriage of it, by taking hold of her -hand first; and then asking us both, if we gave our -mutual consent? And then by giving her hand into -mine: all which he readily gratified me in, with abundance -of affability and good nature, and was very -merry; as the women were, likewise, according to custom -on such occasions. The ladies attended us home, -but not empty handed; for they gave us a large quantity -of such kind of furniture as we principally wanted. -The prince too gave me the day following a plantation -with rice and potatoes, &c. growing upon it, and fit to -dig. He gave me, moreover, a slave, a boy about sixteen -years of age; and in a short time, he sent me with -others to fetch away some cattle from a man, who, upon -examination before him, had been found guilty of stealing -several from his neighbours; for which facts he was -fined twenty beeves. This was the first time I was ever -sent on such an errand, though not the last; and people -of the best rank are fond of this employment; for they -never fail of a good present for their trouble. He gave -me, likewise, a cow with her calf, and a young bull of -three years old. Whenever I went on any such occasions -afterwards, I never had less than one beast for -my labour, and sometimes two; so that I grew rich and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_289'>289</span>sent most of my cattle four miles off, agreeing with a -man to give him the tithe calf of such as he should rear -for me, keeping three cows only at home for milk. So -that now I lived as happily as the country could afford -me; nay, so much to my satisfaction, that had I not a -desire to see my parents once again, I question whether -I should ever have taken any pains to get to England; -and even when I wished for it, I was perfectly easy; -since I was assured that Will. Thornbury would inform -my friends where I was, and how the world went with -me.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Some months after this, Rer Vove sent word that he -purposed to pay his uncle a visit; upon which I went -directly to Rer Moume, and told him, I was going for -three or four days to pay my respects to his son Rer -Chemunghoher. “I know (said Rer Moume) what you -mean, but you have no occasion to fear Rer Vove; for -he shall never have you against your will.” And at the -same time he persuaded me to stay and see him, which -I did. After some previous discourse about business, -and they had drunk a cup or two of toake together, he -cast his eyes on me, and told his uncle he was surprised -that he should use him in so uncivil a manner, as to -detain his slave. Rer Moume replied, he was not conscious -of keeping any slave of his from him, and if he -would nominate the person, he should be instantly restored. -“Why there he stands,” says Rer Vove. “I hope -(says the uncle) you don’t mean Robin, the white man. -Is he a slave of yours? I am ashamed of your imprudence -to say so. Is it not to the white men, but more -especially to his countrymen, the English, that we are -indebted for the riches we enjoy? We, who formerly -were insulted by the Amboer-lambo people, and other -nations around us, are by these Englishmen’s guns made -too powerful for them; and by the beads, looking-glasses, -&c., which they bring in plenty, our late enemies -are fond of our friendship and traffic. And don’t -you think it a fine story for Will. to tell, that one of his -countrymen, who happened to be shipwrecked in this -country, was made a slave of by a black lord of Morandavo? -<span class='pageno' id='Page_290'>290</span>But to satisfy you that I don’t treat him like a -slave, he is at his liberty to go this moment where he -pleases; and take his wife, his slave, and his cattle with -him; nay, back with you, if you can prevail on him so -to do; and give me your word and honour that you -will make him a freeman.” After this manner he argued -with his nephew, and reproached him with indiscretion -as well as inhumanity, by treating a man in distress -with too much severity, till he convinced him of his -mistake; insomuch that he desired I would come and -see him in the evening, which I did. At my entrance -into the house I licked his knee as a testimony of my -respect; but not his feet, to let him see that I knew I -was a freeman. He used many arguments to induce -me to live with him, and made me very large promises; -which, probably, he might have performed: for he was -no vile person, but only too rash and inconsiderate. -He also set Guy to influence me, if possible, who made -use of one engaging argument; namely, that Rer Vove -intended to travel into the dominions of other princes, -out of curiosity to see their various manners and customs. -I told Guy the true reason why I would not -consent to it; which was that I was much nearer the -sea now than when with them; and that I did not question -but Rer Moume would send me home by the first -ship that came. After this I sat and drank toake with -them, then took my leave, and was returning homeward, -but Rer Vove followed me and desired I would never -mention his amour with his kinsman’s wife; which I -assured him I never would whilst I lived in the country; -and so we parted good friends. It will not be improper, -I presume, to make one cursory remark here, -which is, that this gay young gentleman was highly to -be commended for so readily conceding to his uncle’s -arguments, attending to what he said with reverence, -and being convinced by reason.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Thus I lived with Rer Moume as easy and happy as -he could possibly make me; and the only misfortune -that now attended me, was my residence in a foreign -country, But my hard destiny had still one melancholy -<span class='pageno' id='Page_291'>291</span>scene or danger more to affright me with before -I left this island; and it was as horrible and shocking -to human nature, as any I had hitherto undergone; and -the more so, because altogether unexpected, not only -by myself, but by every one else; which was thus introduced. -There lived at Moherbo, one Francisco, an inoffensive -man, born in the East Indies, of Portuguese -parents; but as black as most of them. He had lived -here many years to his satisfaction, never proposing to -remove from off the island; he had been taken by pirates, -who, at his request, set him ashore. This man, -though a surgeon (as he said) by profession, had a -mechanical head, especially to carpenters’ and joiners’ -business, and had furnished himself with tools for his -purpose; and used frequently to oblige the princes and -lords with making them chests, &c. Rer Moume sent -and desired him to get leave of Rer Trimmonongarevo -to come and make him one; which he did. As this artificer -spoke the Madagascar language freely, we were -agreeable companions. He told me, as part of his secret -history, that he was violently in love with a young -woman, whose parents, though they were not inclined -to the match, did not positively give him a denial. -After he had stayed here nearly two months, and finished -what Rer Moume had to do, he was dismissed with a -generous reward.</p> - -<p class='c007'>When he had been some months at home, with Rer -Moume’s leave I went to visit him at Moherbo, and -found him very ill and melancholy, his mistress in his -absence having married another person, which he took -to heart. He had made her several presents during -his courtship, and received her promise of marriage, -which, on his ill treatment, he demanded of her parents -again, and on their refusal complained to the king; he -being in esteem and always near his person. His -request was rejected, the king saying, he would never -compel parents to dispose of their children against -their inclinations. Upon which, Francisco said indiscreetly -in the king’s hearing, that as soon as he was -recovered of his illness, he would leave Moherbo, and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_292'>292</span>live under Rer Moume. I had been here but a few -days before he began to gather strength, and then he -and I went to the king’s court. As I was standing by -him the king cast an angry eye upon me, and asked, -who that white man was with his gun upon his shoulder? -Francisco answered, “It is Rer Moume’s white -man, who came to give me a visit.” “Is it so,” said he, -“then I know what he wants. Come hither. What is -your business here, pray?” I, being conscious of his -barbarous disposition, answered in a faint and trembling -voice, “Only to visit my sick friend.” “Yes,” replied -the king, “your friend there, in my hearing, said he -would go to your master Rer Moume, as soon as he -was recovered, and I suppose you are come to conduct -him thither; but I will spoil your project. Here, -Mesoro,” calling to the officer, “take this white slave to -the place of execution, despatch him presently and -bring his gun to me.” The people were struck with -surprise as well as myself; however, I was led out for -execution, and multitudes followed me, some of whom -desired to shake hands with me, and take their leave -of me, which the executioner permitted. I was so -shocked with the tiger-like leap which this savage -brute made at my life, that I became stupid, not knowing -whether I was in a dream, till I came to the place -of execution, where I saw the bones of several wretches -lie unburied. Rousing from my lethargy, I began to -weep piteously, and to pray to God to receive my soul. -What a shocking turn of fortune was this! that one -who but some few minutes before was surrounded by -his friends, one whose mind was innocent and free -from evil, whose actions were inoffensive, and of -whom no man could justly complain, should, in a moment, -be doomed to die an ignominious death by the -hands of a common executioner, like a vile malefactor, -on no other account, than to gratify the resentment of -an old, doating, choleric savage. While I was thus -bemoaning my hard fate, and the people pitying my -deplorable case, instead of falling on the monster, and -freeing themselves and me from his tyranny, a voice -<span class='pageno' id='Page_293'>293</span>was heard at a distance, “Stay, stay, don’t kill Robin.” -The words were soon repeated, and the messenger came -forward with orders to bring me back; at which the -people gave a general shout for joy. When I came -before the king, not only his principal wife, but the -rest of them were on their knees, with tears in their -eyes; nay, some men too were expostulating with him, -telling him he would bring irretrievable ruin and desolation -on his country; the fatal effects of which his -great grandchildren would certainly feel, when the -white men should hear of his barbarity to one of their -countrymen, who had done nothing to deserve it. This, -at length, assuaged the heat of his fury; telling me I -might thank my friends, or I had been dog’s meat by -this time. “However,” says he, “I will mortify your -pride still.” “Here,” says he to three men, “take him -fettered as he is, and carry him and his gun to Rer -Moume, and pray tell my son I expect he should treat -him like a a slave as he is, and not let him strut about -like a lord, with his gun upon his shoulder.” Hereupon, -I fell prostrate on the ground and licked his -feet, the people making signs to me so to do. Upon -this he bid me thank his women; I then paid my respects -to Ry Chemotoea and two or three more, and did so -with all sincerity, for it was to their entreaties I owed -my life.</p> - -<p class='c007'>We went directly on our journey, and every town -we passed through, the people asked with astonishment, -what crime the white man had been guilty of, that he -should be thus bound? To whom my guard without -palliating the case in the king’s favour told the truth, -for which every one seemed to pity me, and resent the -king’s ill usage of me. At night when we came to lie -down to rest, they asked me whether I would have my -hands untied or not? I asked them what were their -orders; they said, “their orders were to keep me bound.” -“Then,” said I, “though it is somewhat painful to me, yet -you shall not hazard your lives for my ease.” So I lay -as well as I could all night, and the next day travelled -in the same manner; every now and then looking behind -<span class='pageno' id='Page_294'>294</span>me with fear, lest he should change his mind, and -send some one after us to despatch me, for I could not -think myself safe till I saw Rer Moume again.</p> - -<p class='c007'>As we walked along, my guards told me I was the -first who ever returned alive from the place of execution; -which I could not but impute to an all wise and -overruling Providence. They told me likewise, that he -stabbed one of his chief wives, though when his passion -was over he repented it, for yielding to an effort of -nature, whilst his head was in her lap with intention to -sleep. Another instance of his inhumanity, though attended -with some justice, was, in ordering one of his own -sons to be extended on a mat, and his throat to be cut -before his face, for being too free with one of his wives.</p> - -<p class='c007'>We could not reach to our journey’s end this evening -by two hours’ walk, so we rested, and the next morning -we set out early and arrived safely at our town; where -the people were all surprised to see me thus bound and -guarded. Some ran before to inform the prince, who, -before we came within his palisade, was sitting with -his wives and several others round about him in great -expectation. As soon as the men were seated, they -told their message; I stood all the while with my hands -bound behind me. After he had examined into the -affair, and found how the case was, his countenance -fell, the tears one while stood in his eyes as he viewed -me with pity; anon he frowned with indignation, the -women too shared in my distress. “And is this all,” -says he, “the poor man has been so severely used for? -Robin, come hither, I will show you how much I -regard my father’s advice in this case.” Upon which -he unloosed my hands, and ordered one of his attendants -to fetch him a fine silk lamber, which he would -make me put on directly; then taking my gun from -the men, he gave it me again; and made me a present -besides of six cows. I told him the messengers had -been very civil to me, for which he not only thanked -them, but made them a present of an ox. “It is my -father, I own,” says he, “who has done this: for that reason -I shall restrain my resentment and say little of it; -<span class='pageno' id='Page_295'>295</span>but had any other man, though a near relation, nay, -my own son, acted in this manner, he should have felt -the weight of my anger.” My wife came and licked my -feet, expressing both her concern for my ill treatment, -and her joy for my return. This was about fifteen -months from the first time I came to Rer Moume.</p> - -<p class='c007'>I was now possessed of nearly thirty head of cattle, -and lived in affluence and ease. I killed a young -bullock, and the part I kept to myself I flead, and -salted after the English mode; of the tallow I made as -good candles as I could. That part which I gave to -my neighbours had the skin on, for we have the same -friendly customs here as in other parts of the island, -neither do their manners differ, except in the idle custom -of the royal families killing cattle. Here they eat -swine’s flesh, and think it as good as other provision. -Rer Chulu kept a pack of dogs on purpose to hunt -wild boars, but they are not of the hound kind. Their -religion is the same exactly, and their superstitious -regard to unlucky days and hours, implicitly believing -all the umossee tells them; insomuch, that numbers of -poor children are privately murdered, who are born on -an Alhaida or a Jumor, which are Sunday and Friday; -for when I came on board the ship, I carefully remarked -how the days answered with ours; and found that -Alhaida was Sunday; Alletenine, Monday; Talewter, -Tuesday; Alarrerbere, Wednesday; Comemeeshey, -Thursday; Jumor, Friday; and Sarbuchee, Saturday. -Though these denominations are used throughout the -island, yet they regard no one day more than another, -only as they imagine some to be lucky and others unlucky, -for they have no notion of a sabbath amongst -them. Rer Moume, having lost the use of his limbs, -sent all over the island for the most famous umossees -he could hear of, to consult with them for relief; they -being physicians as well as prophets. One of them, -during my stay here, confined him for two months, -bathing, sweating, and cupping him to little or no -purpose; however, he made him ample satisfaction -<span class='pageno' id='Page_296'>296</span>for his trouble, as he did all others who did him any -service.</p> - -<p class='c007'>I lived with Rer Moume about two years and a half -in all, at the end of which term, news was brought that -two ships were arrived at Yong-Owl to trade. I was -overjoyed to hear it, and flattered myself that W. -Thornbury had not forgotten me. They stayed there -several days, and slaves were sent to be sold, and guns -and other goods were returned for them. I was at a -loss how to break my mind to Rer Moume, hoping he -would say something to me of his own accord; but as -I was sitting with him one evening, two men came in -with a basket of palmetto leaves sewed up, and delivered -it to the prince; who opened it and finding a -letter, asked the men, what they meant by giving him -that? “The captain,” they said, “gave it us for your -white man; but we thought proper to let you see it -first.” “Pray,” says he, “give it him all.” “Here, -Robin, your countrymen have sent you a present, -what it is I don’t know, but to me it seems of very -little value.” Accordingly I took the basket, and with -the letter there were pens, ink, and paper, in order for -my returning an answer. The superscription was this:</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>“To Robert Drury, on the island of Madagascar.”</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>I was so astonished, that at first I had not power to -open it, concluding I was in a dream; but at length, -recovering my surprise, and after a little recollection I -opened it, and found it came from captain William -Macket. The contents whereof were to the effect following:—</p> - -<p class='c007'>“That he had a letter on board from my father, with -full instructions as well from him as his owners, to -purchase my liberty let it cost what it would. And in -case I could not possibly come down myself, to send -him word the reason of it, and what measures he should -take to serve me.”</p> - -<p class='c007'>Rer Moume perceived that my countenance changed -<span class='pageno' id='Page_297'>297</span>whilst I was reading the letter, and asked me what was -the matter? I told him, that the captain desired to -speak with me, and that my father had sent for me -home, and hoped that he would please to give his consent. -“How do you know all this?” says the prince, -“can you conjure?” Then turning to the messengers, -“Have you, pray, heard any thing like this?” “Yes,” said -they, “it is all the discourse at the seaside, that Robin’s -father sent both these ships for him, and more than all -this, the king your father expects him there with your -leave, and desires to see him before he goes to the ship.” -Rer Moume took the letter, and turning it over and -over said, he had heard of such methods of conveying -intelligence to one another, but never actually saw it -before, and could not conceive which way it could be -done without conjuration. I endeavoured to demonstrate -to him, as well as I could, how we learned in -our infancy the characters first, and then we put them -together. “But,” says he, “I presume you have no inclination -to leave us now, since you live here so much at -your ease; you have several cattle and a slave, and if -you shall want more you shall have them, you shall -have too as many wives as you please, and be a great -man.” I begged him to make my case his own, and -that he would please to consider whether he should not -be desirous of seeing his parents and native country, -had he been absent so long as I had? “I think I should,” -he said, “and therefore I will take it into consideration, -and ask my wives’ advice about it, and give an answer -in the morning.”</p> - -<p class='c007'>My readers may easily imagine what a night of -disorder this was to my mind, agitated with hopes on -one hand and with fears on the other; however, I took -care to attend him as soon as ever he was stirring, and -seated with his wives about him. After he had looked -steadfastly on me for some time, “Robin,” says he, “I -have opened your affair to my wives here, and your -mother Ry Anzackar, and one or two more, consent to -your going, but the rest are all against it; however, -let them speak for themselves, it is out of respect to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_298'>298</span>you that they are desirous you should continue amongst -them.” Upon this, I turned towards them, and without -waiting to hear what they had to offer, begged them to -consider, as they were mothers, whether or no, if a -child of theirs was in a strange country, they should -not have an earnest inclination to see him, and he -them? Hereupon the prince told me, if I was willing -to stay, he would all along, as he had hitherto done, -treat me like his own son, but he would not make use -of compulsion, so that if I was resolutely bent on going -he would dismiss me. Moreover, he told me, that my -slave should go with me; that as to my cattle, they -were mine to dispose of as I pleased. I replied, if -he was so good as not to take my cattle from me, -though they were in fact his own, they might still remain -there as they were marked for mine; for I was -fully determined to make one voyage more here, in -hopes of having it in my power to make him some -amends for the great care he had taken of me, by -bringing a ship to traffic with him; (and in this I was -very sincere, and afterwards as good as my word.) I -asked him if he thought proper to demand any consideration -of the captain for my freedom. He answered, -nothing; but if my friends would make him a present -of a good gun, he should accept of the favour, and call -it Robin in remembrance of me. This noble, generous -answer, and so prince-like, gave me such transports of -joy, that I immediately kneeled down, and licked his -feet with the utmost sincerity, as justly thinking I -could never express my gratitude enough to this good, -this indulgent prince. He would not dismiss me -instantly, but did in a day or two after; and ordered -the messengers to be taken care of in the mean time. -When the day of my departure came, I had one remaining -difficulty to get over, and that was the parting -with my wife, the women of the prince’s family, and -himself, which I did with as much reluctance, as when -I left my natural parents at my departure from them; -and they discovered an equally tender affection for me; -he would not, however, let us go empty handed, but -<span class='pageno' id='Page_299'>299</span>ordered an ox for our subsistence on our journey, and -appointed likewise two of his own people to accompany -the other two; and then we set forward.</p> - -<p class='c007'>I had yet one suspicious circumstance still to pass -over, and that was to call on Rer Trimmonongarevo: -this gave me no small uneasiness; but when we came -near Moherbo, we were informed that he was gone to -a place within an hour’s walk of the seaside. As soon -as I approached him, he instantly made an apology -for his too warm constitution, and confessed that he -had sometimes done mischief in his passion, but hoped -I would excuse him for what had passed; and said he -was loth to let me go till the ship was near upon sailing, -lest I should prove detrimental to the trade. I told -him, I had no complaint to make, since his son had -been so indulgent to me; and that if he pleased to -dismiss me at my friend’s request, they would take it -as a favour; but should he detain me, when they knew -I was so near, I did not know what ill consequences -might ensue thereupon. He kept me, however, this -night, but dismissed me with his blessing the next -morning; praying that God and the demons would -be my guardians, and send me safely to my native -country. So I licked his feet and took my last farewell -of him, and of this odd and filthy custom likewise.</p> - -<p class='c007'>When I came down to the seaside, the first man -who spoke to me was William Purser, my old acquaintance -in Feraignher; he came away to live in -more security and plenty, as well as several others; -and was at this time interpreter for the trade. Here -were several houses, but such as the English call huts, -erected by the inhabitants at a small distance from the -factory, for the more commodious selling of milk and -other provisions. There I met Mr Hill, the steward -of the Drake, captain Macket’s ship, and two or three -more of their crew, who took me for a wild man; and -in a letter he sent off by a canoe to the captain, he told -him the wild Englishman was come. I desired William -Purser to inform them that I could speak but -little English; and though by the conversation I had -<span class='pageno' id='Page_300'>300</span>with William Thornbury I had regained some, yet I -was frequently puzzled for words to speak freely for -several days. Captain Macket soon came on shore, -and captain Bloom with him, for here were two ships, -the Drake and the Sarah. I gazed at them as intently -as if I had never seen a white man dressed before; -and what added to the wildness of my appearance, -was, that I had nothing on but my lamber; my skin -being swarthy and full of freckles, and my hair long -and matted together, I really made a frightful figure; -but they soon restored me to my original form, Mr -Hill cut my hair off, and ordered me to be shaved, and -dressed in a neat seaman’s habit, light and fit for the -country. The captain asked me what ransom was -expected for my freedom? I told him nothing but a -gun for a present, to be kept in remembrance of me. -He thereupon picked out a handsome and very good -Buccaneer gun, as also some powder, flints, and case -of spirits, as a present to Rer Moume. He gave likewise -knives and beads to his two men, and a small -gun to the messengers who went for me. For my own -part, I presented the captain with my slave Anthony. -After this he gave me the following letter from my -father.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r c012'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“To Robert Drury, on the island of Madagascar.</div> - <div class='line in8'>“<i>Loughborough, February 27th, 1715.</i></div> - <div class='line in2'>“Son Robert Drury,</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c013'>“I am informed by one Mr Thornbury, that he left -you in health on the island of Madagascar, which I -was glad to hear; my very good friend, Mr Terry, -hath a friend, commander of a ship, the bearer hereof, -that hath promised to do all he can to get you your -liberty; I therefore desire you to do the captain all the -service you can in the country; and so doing you will -oblige our good friend Mr Terry, and your ever-loving -father till death,</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r c012'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“<span class='sc'>John Drury</span>.”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>About three days after I went on board; but the sea -and change of diet made me very sick for some time; -after which the two captains went to Rer Trimmonongarevo, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_301'>301</span>and I with them, in order to settle some matters -in relation to the trade. It is a general custom all over -the island for the king of each place to make terms, -and settle one universal price, to which all the people -are obliged to conform; and this method is, doubtless, -not only very commodious, but prevents all quarrels -and disorders. They presented the king with a fine -gun, gilt and japanned. I was the interpreter, and -though I carried on the correspondence, my dress had -so altered me in these few days’ time, that he had no -notion who I was, till upon inquiry who that Englishman -was who spake so well their language, he was -told it was Robin.</p> - -<p class='c007'>A few days after, there came messengers from Rer -Moume, desiring the captains to come up the river -Mernee, for he had a great many slaves to sell, but -being lame he could not take a long journey; however, -he would come down to the banks of that river, to a -town near enough for trade. It was agreed that the -Sarah should go, so they ordered a long-boat out to -sound before them; I went on board, and we sailed -with a gentle gale, but could find no convenient harbour -or road in the mouth of the Mernee; however, -there was a convenient place for anchoring, in a saltwater -river, about three leagues on this side; from -whence the two captains and myself went up in the -boat a considerable way, till a canoe took us in and -carried us to the town, where Rer Moume with his -wives and people were waiting for us. Until I kneeled -and kissed his knee, he did not know me, for my -behaviour and grateful acknowledgments for his past -favours, he and they soon recollected me, and were -extremely glad to see me. Here we continued five days -successively, bought all the slaves they had, and agreed -to send our long-boat once a week as long as we stayed; -and then they went on board, weighed anchor, and returned -to their former road at Yong-Owl, where there -arrived that very day a third ship, that belonged to the -same owners, called the Mercury, captain White commander; -he had eight or nine natives of Dillagoe in -<span class='pageno' id='Page_302'>302</span>Africa on board him, who lived very merrily; they were -all freemen, and went with him the whole voyage, six of -whom lived to see their native country the next voyage he -took, in which I was with him. Soon after this a ketch -came in, which was fitted out in order to cruise off the -coast, and be serviceable in several affairs; captain Henry -Macket, the captain’s brother, was the commander of -her; another ship was still expected, but she did not -arrive till we were at Masseleege, otherwise called -Munnongaro; they now agreed to separate for the -more speedy despatch of business. Captain Bloom -accordingly had his choice, which was to go to Port -Dauphine, and captain Macket to Masseleege, where -we arrived in a week’s time, and went several leagues -up a great river, called Munnonbaugher; we had a -fisherman for our pilot, who informed us that the -king’s town was but about three hours’ journey up the -country. The captain asked me, if I would venture -to go there; I readily answered, that I would, and that -I was not apprehensive of any danger; so the fisherman -setting us ashore we went forward. Before we -had gone far from the shore, the fisherman told me the -king was gone out to war. Whereupon I flew into a -great passion, asking him why he imposed upon us; -he said the king’s wives would trade with us. I told -him, we did not want provisions; and as for slaves -they had no authority to dispose of them. The man, -however, prevailed on me to go to their town, assuring -me that four white men lived there, who came from the -island of St. Mary’s. “Then, I presume, they are -robbers of ships,” said I. “No,” he replied, “not -now, for they have lived there several years; their -names are captain Burgess, Zachary, John Pro, and -Nick.” So I walked forwards with my gun on my -shoulder, and the man carried another. I had also -several knives and beads, which the captain gave me -to buy provisions with, though I knew how to live -without buying any victuals, yet I took them, as thinking -they would be agreeable presents.</p> - -<p class='c007'>When I arrived at the town, a man ran before and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_303'>303</span>informed the king’s head consort, whom I shall call -queen, that a ship was arrived, and that one of the -white men was coming to see her. At my arrival, a -mat was ready placed for me to sit down on; no sooner -was I seated, than I heard the queen ask for some of -the white men to be interpreters between us, and one -ran that moment to fetch them. I soon convinced her, -however, that I wanted no assistants, and delivered my -message, as ambassador from the captain, saying, “I -was afraid no trade could be carried on, as the king was -absent.” She said, “she expected him in a fortnight, -and as there was a great number of slaves to be sold, she -desired me to prevail on the captain to stay till his -return.” By this time, came in two white men abreast, -making a formidable and hostile figure; upon which I -cocked my gun, laid the other by me, and planted myself -directly before them. One was John Pro, a Dutchman, -who spoke good English; he was dressed in a -short coat with broad plate-buttons, and other things -answerable, but without either shoes or stockings. In -his sash, he had stuck a brace of pistols, and held one -in his hand. The other was in an English dress, and -had two pistols in his sash, and one in his hand, like -his companion; they spoke to me in English, with the -usual compliment, which I returned; but Nick looked -me wishfully in the face, and after a short pause, took -hold of my hand, saying, “Robert Drury, how have -you done these many years? My name is Nicholas -Dove,” said he, “I am one of the four boys who were -saved with you when our ship’s company were massacred -in Anterndroea; and the very same of whom no -tidings could be given in the conference between deaan -Crindo and king Samuel.” Upon this, I went home -with them after I had finished with the queen, in order -to know whether captain Macket would think proper -to stay so long or not. John Pro assured me it would -certainly be well worth his while; that there were a -great number of slaves whom they wanted to dispose -of; that the king, deaan Toke-offu, was a very honest -fair-dealing man, as well as a great prince, and would -<span class='pageno' id='Page_304'>304</span>return in a short time, though not so soon, he feared, -as the queen said. They were gone to encounter with -a king to the northward, and about five or six thousand -of them went all the way up the river in canoes, that -were large enough to contain about thirty men a piece, -with their proper accommodations in them, to make -fires and dress victuals, and such as I had never seen -any where else. I wrote a letter to the captain the next -morning, and sent it by the fisherman, in which I gave -him a full and particular account of what had passed. -In his answer, he desired me to send some men to carry -him up to the town on their shoulders, in a hammock -affixed to two poles.</p> - -<p class='c007'>John Pro lived in a very decent manner, and his -house was furnished with pewter dishes, a standing-bed -with curtains, and all other things of the like nature, -except chairs; a chest or two, however, served for that -use well enough. He had an outhouse on purpose for -his cook-room, and cook-slave’s lodging, storehouse, -and summer house; all these were enclosed in a palisade, -as most of the great men’s houses are in this -country; for he was rich, had many cattle, and several -slaves. Nicholas Dove, indeed, was not near so rich. -In the evening came captain Burgess and Zachary: I -soon understood that these were the sloop’s crew, to -which Arnold and Eglasse the Dutchman belonged; -and, therefore, gave them the best account I could of -their fortune in Feraignher.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Nicholas Dove, however, told me more than I knew -before, viz.—That he ran away and got to Port Dauphine; -that after the expiration of two years, he got to -Mattatanna Road, in a large canoe, and there entered -himself on board a pirate, that cruised principally -among the Moors, from whom they frequently took -great riches, and carried them to St. Mary’s. This -place having a good harbour, they made it their settlement -and general rendezvous. It is a small island, -but three leagues from Madagascar, in the latitude -of 16 deg. 33 min. south; but as their ship grew -old and crazy, and none of the Moorish ships, which -<span class='pageno' id='Page_305'>305</span>they had taken, were fit for their business, they being -also vastly rich, they removed to Madagascar, made -one Thomas Collins, a carpenter, their governor, and -built a small fort, which they defended with their -ship’s guns; but here they led most licentious and profligate -lives, stealing whatever they could come at, and -ravishing the wives and daughters of the natives: living -by this means for some time in a state of perpetual war. -Upon this, I could not forbear reflecting that deaan -Mernaugha was not so much to be blamed in ordering -Eglasse to be killed for threatening him; since he had, -doubtless, a competent knowledge by some means or -another, to what a crew of vile abandoned wretches he -once belonged. Nicholas Dove said, they had not gone -out a pirating for nine years successively, contenting -themselves with building a sloop by this governor’s -assistance, and soon after left him and others, and settled -here, where they had continued ever since. By -him I understood that Mr Bembo got safe to England; -but captain Drummond was killed before he could get -off the island, though the particular manner and occasion, -he could not inform me; but they told me one -remarkable piece of news, namely,—that this captain -Drummond was the very man, for whose murder, and -his crews, one captain Green, commander of an East India -ship, was hanged in Scotland; whether it be -truth or not, I cannot determine. All I know of the -case I have already related, and can only observe, that -the time, the name, and the circumstances of his being -here, where no news of him could be had for several -years, give just grounds for the supposition. But to -return to my history.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The queen sent me a calf for a present, and I in return, -gave her a few knives and beads; I went to the -shore with John Pro, to welcome the captain to the -town. His surgeon, one Mr Strahan, was with him. -The queen entertained them as elegantly as she could, -and mutual presents passed in form.</p> - -<p class='c007'>We returned that evening to the ship, and built a -house the next day for the more commodious carrying -<span class='pageno' id='Page_306'>306</span>on of trade. The natives perceiving we were determined -to stay, they built several others near it, to accommodate -us with rice, milk, fruits, and other necessaries. -I went frequently up to the town to hear what -news I could, but it was a month or more before the -people came back from the wars; they came down the -river in canoes, as they went up, and met with great -success. At length the king arrived with the corpse of -his brother, who was killed in the fight. He deferred -his burial for nearly a fortnight, till he had settled all -his affairs with us, and had given audience likewise to -his brother’s ambassadors, who were waiting for him.</p> - -<p class='c007'>As soon as captain Macket heard of his return, he -came up to town again with a large retinue, and his -trumpeter sounding before him. They went to J. Pro’s -house whilst I attended on the king, with whom I had -some very familiar conversation, as he had often heard -of me; in the conclusion whereof, he told me that he -desired the captain’s patience till he had sent for his -people about him, and put himself in due order to receive -him, which, in about two hours’ time, he did; and -then all we white men, as well captain Burgess, and -the rest, as those who came with us, marched two -abreast, the trumpeter sounding before the captain, -having a crowd of black mob after us; the shells blowing, -and the drums beating at the same time in the -king’s palisade by way of compliment. As deaan Toke-offu -well knew how to treat white men, he had ordered -two stools for the captain and surgeon to sit upon. -After the mutual compliments were reciprocally passed, -I being their interpreter, the manner of trade was soon -settled and adjusted; and then the captain made a -present to the king of a gun or two, &c., and the king -presented him with a slave, &c. He gave me likewise a -girl of twelve years old, whom I sold immediately to -John Pro. The captain had thoughts of taking his leave -this afternoon, but the king prevailed on him to stay -till the next day, in order to make his court look the -more grand when he received the ambassadors.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Accordingly, the next day, we were seated in order, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_307'>307</span>when the ambassadors came with a numerous retinue, -making just such an entry as Rer Vove did before his -grandfather, when he returned from the wars. Some -capering as they advanced, and firing their guns, and -then retreating; others advancing in their places and -doing the same. When the principal ambassador approached, -he kneeled upon one knee, and licked the -king’s knee, saying—</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Tyhew an deaan Unghorra en Zaftana Lohefute.”</div> - <div class='line in16'>That is,—</div> - <div class='line'>“The Supreme God bless the progeny of deaan Lohefute.”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>Others came after him, repeating the same words. -This done, business was now no more talked of, but -the remainder of the day was spent in compliments and -drinking of toake; but our captain took his leave, and -made all the haste he could to despatch the affairs of -trade. The next day they sent down several slaves to -sell, and captain Macket fitted up Burgess’s sloop, and -sent her to fetch the ketch from Yong-Owl; during -which time, the Henry, captain Harvey, commander, -arrived; a ship of five hundred tons’ burthen. While -we continued here, deaan Toke-offu’s brother was buried, -and all the natives shaved off their hair, which is -the usual manner of their public mourning all over the -island; and he who does not comply with this, is -looked upon as disaffected to the government. When -a private person dies, the friends and relations only -do it.</p> - -<p class='c007'>It was about the middle of October when we arrived -here, and the 24th of November before the king returned; -but by the beginning of January, we had purchased -more than our cargo of slaves, so we left part -of them with the Henry, which remained after us. We -sailed from the river Munnonbaugher in Munnongaro, -or Masseleege, and arrived at Yong-Owl, where captain -White was trading, not having then got his complement -of slaves. On the 20th of January we departed -from thence, and bid adieu to the island of Madagascar.</p> - -<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_308'>308</span>We did not touch at the Cape of Good Hope, but at -St Helena, where I went ashore, and took all the care -I could of the slaves who were sick. From thence we -went to Barbadoes, where we stayed a week, then -weighed, and sailed to Jamaica, where we delivered -our cargo. The captain was not only tender of me -whilst on board, but supplied me with money likewise -at every port we came to, though by the little knowledge -I had of its use, I committed several mistakes, -which were subjects of laughter and merriment. As to -liquors, I could scarce relish any, since I had lost toake, -to which I had been so long accustomed. I was taken -sick here, which proved very chargeable; but the captain -sent me ashore, where, by his kind orders, I wanted -for nothing. Whilst we were here, the Mercury, -captain White from Madagascar arrived, but we were -ready to sail with the fleet, under convoy of the Winchelsea, -which was a forty-gun ship. On the 5th of -July, we departed from Jamaica, beating through the -windward passage. Under the Crooked Islands we -saw two sloops, which the Winchelsea endeavoured to -speak with, and imagining them to be pirates, struck -his pendant, in order to look like a merchant ship, -which deceived them so far, that the largest sloop gave -chase, and hoisted a black ensign and jack; but finding -her mistake, thought proper to alter her course, and -stand in for the land again. Though the man-of-war -could not follow her, yet our captain, whose ship was -a good sailer, and mounted sixteen guns, did, and exchanged -several broadsides with her. He stood close -under the land, and as night came on, got away from -us, but had the assurance to rob two of the stern-most -ships in the fleet. Moreover, they threatened to tie -captain Macket to the main-mast of his ship, and burn -him, if ever they met with him again.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Not long after this we had the misfortune to run -foul of the Winchelsea, which, tacking about unexpectedly, -staved our bow to the water’s edge, and carried -our foremast quite away; the man-of-war lost his head -and sprit-sail-yard. We must all have been inevitably -<span class='pageno' id='Page_309'>309</span>lost had the sea run high, but by good providence it -was fair weather; so by the assistance of the Winchelsea’s -crew and some others, we kept the water out, but -were forced to go back to the Crooked Islands, and -they accompanied us, where by the help of them, and -some other ships, our breach being made up, we proceeded -on our voyage; and on Saturday, September 9, -1717, arrived in the Downs, after I had been absent -from my native country sixteen years and about nine -months. Here, by the captain’s direction, I went -ashore, he having first supplied me with what was -necessary for my journey to London; yet did I not set -forward till I had returned God thanks in the most -solemn manner for my safe arrival, and for my deliverance -from the many dangers I had escaped, and from -the miseries I had so long undergone.</p> - -<p class='c007'>It may not be improper in this place to inform my -readers by what a wonderful providence my father -came to hear of my being alive in Madagascar. My -brother was one day at the Crown alehouse, at Cherrygarden-stairs, -in Rotherhithe, where William Thornbury -was in the next box; and hearing him talk of that -island to his friend, he said, he had a brother cast away -there several years before, and should be glad to hear -some tidings of him. Thornbury replied, he had never -seen but one white man upon the island, and his name -he had forgotten. My brother thereupon mentioned -several names, and at last Robert Drury, which Thornbury -no sooner heard, but said, that was it, and that -his father lived at the King’s-head, in the Old Jewry.</p> - -<p class='c007'>When I came to London, (it being Sunday about -three o’clock in the afternoon,) I thought it improper -to go in sermon-time to the King’s-head, in the Old -Jewry, the house in which my father lived before he -retired into the country, but went to the Bell alehouse, -(then the British coffeehouse,) at the lower end, and -desired to be admitted; assuring the master I was but -just come on shore. He seeing me in a sea jacket, and -hearing me speak in broken English, took me for a -foreigner, and let me in; asking me what countryman -<span class='pageno' id='Page_310'>310</span>I was, and from whence I came? I told him an Englishman, -which at first he would scarcely believe, till he -recollected me by the questions I asked; namely, who -kept the King’s-head? Whether John Drury did not -keep it some years ago? He told me, that John Drury -went to live in the country, and left it to his brother -William, who died some time since; and that his -widow kept the house. “How!” said I, “is William -Drury dead?” “Yes,” answered he, “and John -Drury his brother too died about a year ago.” This -news so dejected me, that I burst out into tears, and -afterwards bemoaned my hard fate before him; by this -he perceived who I was, having heard of my being -abroad, and of my friends expecting me soon in England. -Hereupon he asked me, if my name was not -Drury? I answered, it was, and that I had been -unfortunate for many years; I was like to continue so, -since my father was dead. As an addition to my sorrow, -he told me, moreover, that my mother died with -grief not long after she heard of our shipwreck, and -that my father had married again. After sermon I -went to the King’s-head, where they soon discovered -who I was, and were overjoyed to see me; and there I -had a full account of our whole family affairs. I found -my father had left me two hundred pounds, and also -the reversion of a house at Stoke Newington, then in -the occupation of Mr Richard Beardsley. I stayed in -town till I had visited all the friends I could remember, -and then went to Loughborough to see my sister, and -other relations, where I met with a very friendly reception, -after they imagined I had been lost so many years -before.</p> - -<p class='c007'>As soon as I had settled my affairs there, I returned -to London. Captain Macket continued still as kind to -me as ever, and said he would take care of me if things -did not answer my expectations. He asked me to go -with him again to Madagascar, but I had then agreed -to live with a relation in the capacity of clerk, or bookkeeper. -After captain Macket was gone, and things -did not answer as I expected, I agreed with captain -<span class='pageno' id='Page_311'>311</span>White, captain Macket’s friend, who was bound for -Madagascar likewise, to go the voyage with him, and -assist him in the trade, which my knowledge of the -language and customs of the country had sufficiently -qualified me for. So having left all my effects in a -friend’s hands (except what I thought proper to take -with me) I went on board the Mercury, and we sailed -from the Downs, September 13, 1718.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 class='c005'>AFTER-VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR.</h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_0 c006'>When I was but a boy, I had learned the art of -navigation in some measure by going to India, though -I had lost it again for want of practice; yet, applying -myself to a proper mathematician for farther instruction, -I soon recovered enough to enable me to keep a -journal, and give such an account of this voyage as -may be useful to those who have no knowledge of the -island.</p> - -<p class='c007'>On the first of April, 1719, we arrived at the Cape -of Good Hope, where we bought such provisions as we -wanted, and on the tenth set sail for Natal; on the -twenty-ninth we saw the land, in the latitude of 29 deg. -20 min. south, to the northward of Natal, about eleven -leagues off. We sailed a west-south-west course along -the shore, with a gentle breeze; at noon the point of -Natal bore south-west by west, about two leagues distant; -at two in the afternoon we came to an anchor in -fourteen fathoms’ water, within two miles of the point of -Natal, it bearing west-south-west. The current sets -south-south-west and north-north-east. Here we traded -for slaves, with large brass rings, or rather collars, and -several other commodities. In a fortnight’s time we -purchased seventy-four boys and girls. These are -better slaves for working than those of Madagascar, -being not only blacker, but stronger.</p> - -<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_312'>312</span>Captain White put six natives of Dillagoe on shore -here, whom he took with him the former voyage. They -had two or three king’s dominions to pass through -before they came to their own country, and were under -some apprehensions of being intercepted. The captain, -therefore, furnished them with guns, ammunition, hatchets, -and brass collars. Here I saw several humped -cattle, like those in Madagascar; but the natives have -short woolly hair, like Guinea negroes, and not like the -people of Madagascar.</p> - -<p class='c007'>On the seventh day of June, we made the land on -the east side of Madagascar. I went up to the mast-head, -where, discerning high land to the southward, I -took it for granted that we were to the northward of -Port Dauphine; the captain, however, not relying on -what I asserted, hoisted out the boat, and sent me and -the second mate in her towards the shore to speak -with any of the natives we could see. We rowed along -the shore a considerable time, till I discovered a small -town, and some of the inhabitants looking at us; but -the sea broke so much three or four hundred yards off -the shore, that we dare not venture to put the boat in; -hereupon I pulled off my clothes and swam. Two of -the natives observing me, swam to my assistance, and -walked with me afterwards to a point about a mile -farther, where they go off with their canoes. Here the -boat got in, and I persuaded one of the fishermen to -accompany us. This place is called Murnumbo, about -ten leagues to the northward of Port Dauphine. Here -was a strong current and large swell against us. The -next day about sunset, we anchored in fourteen fathoms’ -water, being unable to get into the bay. The ruins of -the fort bore west-south-west of us, Cape Ramus south-west -by south, and the point of the Seven Virgins, or -Seven Hammocks, east. The next morning we weighed, -stood into the bay, and anchored in three fathoms’ -water; the French fort bore south-east by east, the -ruins of the church south-south-east; we were within a -cable’s length of the shore, on either side almost landlocked. -However, as there is sometimes a strong -<span class='pageno' id='Page_313'>313</span>north-east wind, it is always best to keep a good anchor -and cable without.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Port Dauphine is in the latitude of 24 deg. 50 min. -south. The bay into which you must sail, is on the -east side of the point. You must take care of a rock -on your starboard side. Your course to steer is west-north-west. -When you are in you will see the ruins -of a fort on a hill, called “the nose of the port;” you -must keep close to this point till you open the bay, -and when the fort bears south-east by east, or east-south-east, -you may come to an anchor; and, if you -will, may moor your ship to the rocks. About two -miles to the southward there is a false bay, which may -deceive strangers; therefore, as it is a rocky place, -great care must be taken.</p> - -<p class='c007'>I went directly on shore to the king’s brother’s town, -and acquainted him, that we were come to trade, but -were in haste to be gone; and, therefore, if they had -any slaves to sell, he must despatch them down forthwith. -And this pretence must always be made, for -they have no notion of the expense that attends a long -delay. Messengers were immediately sent to the king, -who sent word by an Irishman, (who had deserted from -one captain Ware,) that he would be with us the next -day, and came accordingly. This prince’s name was -deaan Morroughsevea, he was dressed in a coat and -breeches, and had a hat on his head. The first day -was spent in the usual compliments, and making mutual -presents. The price was adjusted the next day; -whereupon we built a factory, and palisaded it round. -The king soon returned, though we stayed here till the -nineteenth of July. At which time the captain sending -me with some presents to the king, I stripped off my -clothes, and dressed myself like a native, with a lance -in my hand. I think it was not less than twenty miles. -The king was just going to dinner with salt fish, rice, -and roast beef, when I got there. He very courteously -desired me to sit down and partake of what he had -before him; saying, all white men, except the French, -were very welcome; for they had killed his grandfather, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_314'>314</span>and carried an uncle of his away captive. After dinner -he entertained me with some toake, and a dram of -brandy, and then dismissed me with some presents to -the captain, desiring we would return as soon as conveniently -we could, for he was going to war with Unter -Morrow Cherock to the northward, and hoped soon to -have more slaves for us.</p> - -<p class='c007'>On the twentieth I came on board, and then we -weighed, leaving four men and the natal slaves behind -us. Here we purchased one hundred and thirty, and -sailed with them to the Mattatanna Road; and on the -twenty-sixth we made the Thumb-cap off Mattatanna, -and came to an anchor within a league distance. Here -is no going on shore in our boats, by reason of the -great bar that is there, and the sea always breaking -upon it; the canoes, however, came off to us, and I -went on shore with them; and after that to the king’s -town, which was a great way up the river. One ran -before to inform him that the captain’s ambassador was -coming: whereupon he put himself in great order, and -appeared in state. He speaks English and French -very well, and so do several of his family. He told -me I was welcome. But as captain Macket had been -before us, and bought three hundred and thirty slaves -in less than twenty days, he endeavoured to raise the -price upon us. I soon informed him, however, that I -knew the country; and that if he had none to dispose -of, I could tell where to go to market. At last we -agreed, and I sent the captain word of what I had -done. It was so dangerous going over the breakers, -that I did not care how seldom I went. I did not like -the place, for they were so harassed with a neighbouring -enemy, that they were always on their guard, and -could not sleep in safety, nor get even common necessaries; -the country being in much the same state and -condition as was Feraignher when I lived there. The -captain, notwithstanding this, was obstinate; and after -he had sent me a cargo on shore, as also a man to -assist me, sailed away to Don Mascareen, an island -then belonging to the French, and about one hundred -leagues to the eastward.</p> - -<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_315'>315</span>As soon as he was gone, I removed my factory to the -king’s town, as thinking it more safe. I often lent the -natives guns and ammunition to repel their enemies, -and once I went with them. I bought fourteen slaves -in three days, but finding provision dear, I went more -artfully to work; I agreed for the slaves they offered -to sale, and left something as earnest in their hands, -but would not complete the bargain. Here I had a -scurvy trick put upon me, which I relate, that others -may beware of the like impositions. One night, notwithstanding -all my care, I missed two women slaves, -who were fastened by the arms together. I complained -thereof to the king, who, pretending to know nothing -of it, ordered inquiry to be made after them, but to no -purpose, till I published a reward of six pounds of gunpowder -to him who would restore them. The man who -sold them to me brought them again, pretending he -had found the place where they had concealed themselves, -and demanded the reward. I charged him with -imposing on me, but not being then able to make good -my assertion, he complained to the king, who threatened -me hard in case I did not give the man the reward. -I returned his menaces in warm terms, offering to defend -myself with my fire-arms, as I had six ready loaded -by me. What with tears and flatteries, the women -confessed before the next morning, that their first master -had injured me, and misused them after he had -them again. I went to the king’s brother directly, and -assured him I would take care that no white men -should ever trade there for the future; but in the end, -he desired I would speak with the king first, which I -did. He reconciled us before our ship returned, which -was in the middle of September, and then without captain -White, who had been dead and buried some time -before at Don Mascareen. He went there to sell slaves -to the French, and buy up others for the West India -cargo, but there happened to be no call for any.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Captain Christal, who was then commander, sent -one of his officers to assure me I might depend on the -same civility and friendship as I had received from his -predecessor, for he approved my conduct, and completed -<span class='pageno' id='Page_316'>316</span>the bargains I had begun, and brought my slaves -on board.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Mattatanna in the latitude of 22 deg. 15 min. south, -is a wild coast, where our boats can at no time come -ashore; these slaves, and those of Port Dauphine are -esteemed the best in the island. Before we went from -hence, I heard that deaan Morroughsevea of Port Dauphine, -was killed in the expedition he went on, after I -left him. Before I proceed farther in my account of -this voyage, as I am now on the east side of the island, -I shall take notice of the principal places on it.</p> - -<p class='c007'>About seven leagues to the northward of Mattatanna, -is Melancaro. Here is a river with eight feet of -water on the bar, which divides the two kingdoms of -Mattatanna and Tronghe. The inhabitants of the latter -are numerous and obliging, but cannot trade for want -of canoes. About ten leagues from Tronghe is Maninzarce; -they would willingly trade with the English, but -as they have no canoes, and it is a wild shore, where -our boats cannot land, it is impracticable. About twenty -leagues farther to the northward is Mungaro; the natives -whereof are always at war with the inhabitants of -Port St. Mary’s and the pirates. The king’s name is -Maulaunza. They have no canoes here, but if a captain -would take some with him from Mattatanna, they -would gladly trade with him. St. Mary’s is an island -three leagues off the main, in latitude 16 deg. 30 min. -and has a good harbour. Here are about twenty white -men, formerly pirates, who now live on their ill-gotten -treasures.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Antogeal is in the latitude of 16 deg. 15 min. Here -is a clear deep bay, keep the north shore on board. At -the bottom of it, is a small island of two or three miles -in circumference, in which is a good harbour. The -Dutch had formerly a fort on it. Here are grampuses -and whales, which the natives have the art of taking. -Barimbass is in latitude 15 deg.: the inhabitants have -canoes, and will come off at first sight of a ship. The -king is very courteous to white men, and takes pleasure -in trading with them.</p> - -<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_317'>317</span>Our next business was to go to Port Dauphine, where -the death of their king was confirmed; we found the -country in sad confusion, and in no condition for trading; -so we took our men, slaves, and goods on board, -and proceeded round the southernmost end of the -island.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The country next adjoining to Port Dauphine, or -Antenosa, is Anterndroea, where the Degrave was -wrecked, and which was the melancholy scene of my -captivity. Joining to this is Merfaughla, which lies -a little to the southward, in latitude 26 deg. south. -The want of canoes in both these countries renders them -incapable of trading. The next port is St. Augustine-bay, -in which is a fresh water river, with twelve feet of -water at spring tides; it flows south-south-east, and -north-north-west. Tulea lies seven leagues to the northward, -and is a very good harbour.</p> - -<p class='c007'>As you sail from St. Augustine-bay to Yong-Owl, -there are several little islands. The two first are in the -latitude of 21 deg. about five leagues distant from the -main island. A little farther is a single island with -lofty trees on it; and still farther to the northward, -there are three sandy islands, with breakers between -them. A north-east course carries you clear and along -shore, but keep in fifteen, sixteen, or seventeen fathoms’ -water. On the banks are nine, ten, or twelve fathoms’ -water. When you are past the sandy islands, the coast -is clear to Yong-Owl. This is an open road in the latitude -of 20 deg. 20 min. There is good anchoring in -sixteen fathoms’ water, not above a mile from the shore. -There is no high land near the shore on all this coast, -but there are high mountains up the country. Munnonhaugher -is a river which they call Manzerroy, in -which is fourteen or fifteen fathoms’ water. It flows east -and west twelve feet right up and down on spring -tides: you go up the river six or seven leagues to the -usual place where they traffic. A little to the southward -of this is another river, called Luna, to which a -ship comes from Arabia once a year. This place is -called Masseleege, or the country of Munnongaro, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_318'>318</span>whereof deaan Toke-offu is the sovereign, and of which -I have already given a sufficient account.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Our business now was at Yong-Owl, where we arrived -on the 16th of October; the captain went with -me up the country to Moherbo, and took his musicians -with us. As soon as I came on shore, I was informed -that Rer Trimmonongarevo was dead, and Rer Moume -succeeded him, and lived at Moherbo. I sent a messenger -before me to acquaint him that I was coming -to pay my duty to him, and had brought a ship to trade -here pursuant to my promise; but as soon as we came -to a town on this side Moherbo, we saw abundance of -people pulling down a wooden house, in which the -corpse of Rer Trimmonongarevo was interred; the reason -whereof, as the natives told me, was as follows:—“That -Rer Trimmonongarevo had appeared to Rer -Moume in the night time, and asked him why he put -him above his father Lohefutee? and he seemed to resent -his son’s ill conduct, and ordered his body to be -taken up, and put lower than his father’s, and his house -likewise, which was erected for a monument to be levelled -with his father’s.” When I came to Rer Moume, -he did not know me in my new dress; I soon let him -understand who I was, for I could not forbear to lick -his knees. His generous and humane deportment towards -me, made me esteem him as my father, and he -was equally overjoyed to see me. His wives, likewise, -expressed their pleasure. I went to review my cattle, -for, according to his promise, he had kept them all for -me; and as they were now considerably increased, I -marked the young ones with a particular signet, for he -insisted that they still are mine.</p> - -<p class='c007'>We got our whole complement of slaves here in ten -weeks’ time, and sailed from hence January 7. We -touched at St. Helena and at Barbadoes, from thence -we proceeded to Rapphanick river in Virginia, where -we sold our slaves, took in tobacco, and then set sail -for England. On the 11th day of September, 1720, we -arrived in the Downs.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Thus have I endeavoured to give a true and faithful -<span class='pageno' id='Page_319'>319</span>narrative of what I thought most remarkable in this -island. I have seen the “Atlas Geographicus,” which -is, I presume, a collection of what has been written concerning -this island. And though there are some things -mentioned there, of which I give no account, I see no -reason to depart from any particular herein contained, -or to make any additions. I have related only what I -saw, and know to be fact. There is an insect amongst -them I have not mentioned, called the scorpion, a -troublesome animal, and the only venomous creature I -ever saw there. As to what is asserted in the “Atlas” -before-mentioned, that the natives are Mahometans, -I have read, since I came to England, some account of -the Mahometan religion, but can find no conformity or -similitude in it to this of Madagascar; on the contrary, -Mahomet pretended to have familiar converse with -God, but these people would be shocked to hear that -deaan Unghorray, their Supreme God, ever conversed -with the greatest monarch. There is one custom I have -omitted, and that is, their abstaining from their women -at certain times, as the Jews do. The Virzimbers, whom -some imagine to be the first inhabitants of this island, -I have said before, differ in some points of religion; -but then it is to be understood in the forms and manner -of their worship and ceremonies, for they have owleys -as others have, and entertain the same notions of a -Supreme God, the lords of the four quarters of the -world, spirits, &c.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'><span class='sc'>Robert Drury.</span></div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>N.B. The author, for some years before his death, -was to be spoken with every day at Old Tom’s coffeehouse -in Birchin-lane; at which place several inquisitive -gentlemen have received from his own month the -confirmation of those particulars which seemed dubious, -or carried with them the least air of a romance.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_320'>320</span> - <h2 class='c005'>SEQUEL.</h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_0 c006'>Very little is known of the subsequent life of Robert -Drury, but that little is satisfactory both in regard to -his veracity and respectability in his humble situation. -On his return to England, he went in the first place to -Loughborough, in his native county, in which town he -had a sister and other relatives. He afterwards came -to London, where he obtained the situation of porter at -the East India House; and it is said that his father -left him two hundred pounds, and the reversion of a -house at Stoke Newington. His extraordinary adventures -procured him much attention, and many curious -persons were in the habit of calling upon him at his -house in Lincoln’s-inn-fields, then unenclosed; when he -used to amuse them by throwing a javelin in the manner -of the natives of Madagascar, who had taught him -to hit a small mark at a very surprising distance. Mr -Duncombe, who died in 1769, the translator of Horace, -and editor of the works of his brother-in-law, Hughes -the poet, had a friend who had frequently witnessed -this feat, and conversed with Drury, a fact which is -mentioned in the second volume of Hughes’s “Letters” -by Duncombe, page 258. Nothing farther is known of -the life of Robert Drury, nor has the time of his -death been recorded.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_321'>321</span> - <h2 class='c005'>A VOCABULARY<br> <span class='small'>OF THE</span><br> <span class='large'>MADAGASCAR LANGUAGE.</span></h2> -</div> - -<div class='lg-container-l c002'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line in8'>A</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>All <i>earbe</i></div> - <div class='line'>alive <i>valu</i></div> - <div class='line'>ants <i>vetick</i></div> - <div class='line'>arm <i>vorecka</i></div> - <div class='line'>ask <i>munganton</i></div> - <div class='line'>aunt <i>l’rorvovvaranuke</i></div> - <div class='line'>above <i>ambunna</i></div> - <div class='line'>adding <i>tovoungay</i></div> - <div class='line'>adorn <i>merervaugher</i></div> - <div class='line'>advise <i>mearnorro</i></div> - <div class='line'>afar off <i>larvitch</i></div> - <div class='line'>afraid <i>mertorhocks</i></div> - <div class='line'>after <i>afarrong</i></div> - <div class='line'>aged <i>antichs</i></div> - <div class='line'>agree <i>melongore</i></div> - <div class='line'>aiming <i>munondroer</i></div> - <div class='line'>age <i>antitch</i></div> - <div class='line'>alone <i>earare</i></div> - <div class='line'>altar <i>fesoronegher</i></div> - <div class='line'>alter <i>youvoyea</i></div> - <div class='line'>amaze <i>chareck</i></div> - <div class='line'>anchor <i>tumborto</i></div> - <div class='line'>anger <i>maluke</i></div> - <div class='line'>angle <i>merminter</i></div> - <div class='line'>ankle <i>pucopuke</i></div> - <div class='line'>anoint <i>whosora</i></div> - <div class='line'>answer <i>mungonore</i></div> - <div class='line'>any body <i>lerhulu</i></div> - <div class='line'>appoint <i>mermutore</i></div> - <div class='line'>arm-pit <i>kelleck</i></div> - <div class='line'>archer <i>permawlay</i></div> - <div class='line'>arise <i>fuher</i></div> - <div class='line'>army <i>taffick</i></div> - <div class='line'>arrow <i>anucfalla</i></div> - <div class='line'>ascend <i>munonego</i></div> - <div class='line'>ashes <i>lavanuck</i></div> - <div class='line'>asleep <i>lentey</i></div> - <div class='line'>awoke <i>mertearro</i></div> - <div class='line'>argument <i>meanconne</i></div> - <div class='line'>alligator <i>voarha</i></div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line in8 c002'>B</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Body <i>jorzarmaner</i></div> - <div class='line'>boy <i>jorzarloyhe</i></div> - <div class='line'>brother <i>royloyhe</i></div> - <div class='line'>basin <i>lerveerferuchs</i></div> - <div class='line'>brass <i>sarber</i></div> - <div class='line'>black <i>minetay</i></div> - <div class='line'>bull <i>omebayloyhe</i></div> - <div class='line'>brains <i>bettu</i></div> - <div class='line'>breast <i>trotter</i></div> - <div class='line'>belly <i>troke</i></div> - <div class='line'>back <i>lambosick</i></div> - <div class='line'>beef <i>haner</i></div> - <div class='line'><span class='pageno' id='Page_322'>322</span>bird <i>voro</i></div> - <div class='line'>belly-full <i>vinchy</i></div> - <div class='line'>beads <i>arraer</i></div> - <div class='line'>blood <i>raw</i></div> - <div class='line'>bandy <i>sekearf</i></div> - <div class='line'>boil <i>mundavy</i></div> - <div class='line'>broil <i>metonu</i></div> - <div class='line'>boil over <i>mundroer</i></div> - <div class='line'>butterfly <i>tondrotto</i></div> - <div class='line'>blunderbuss <i>bosse</i></div> - <div class='line'>bite <i>munghabecks</i></div> - <div class='line'>broke <i>foluck</i></div> - <div class='line'>buy <i>mevele</i></div> - <div class='line'>broth <i>ro</i></div> - <div class='line'>blow <i>chuffu</i></div> - <div class='line'>beat <i>fufuho</i></div> - <div class='line'>bullock <i>vosists</i></div> - <div class='line'>bitter <i>merfaughts</i></div> - <div class='line'>backbone <i>towler lambosick</i></div> - <div class='line'>bad <i>rawcthe</i></div> - <div class='line'>big <i>bay</i></div> - <div class='line'>bald-head <i>soroluher</i></div> - <div class='line'>barrel <i>brecker</i></div> - <div class='line'>bee <i>ranatcntala</i></div> - <div class='line'>before <i>ungulore</i></div> - <div class='line'>beg <i>mungortock</i></div> - <div class='line'>behind <i>affarro</i></div> - <div class='line'>bottle <i>folokuke</i></div> - <div class='line'>bosom <i>arrongher</i></div> - <div class='line'>beheaded <i>tompucluher</i></div> - <div class='line'>bullet <i>baller</i></div> - <div class='line'>bastard <i>sarray</i></div> - <div class='line'>by and by <i>andreck anna arny</i></div> - <div class='line'>broom <i>mermoffer</i></div> - <div class='line'>beard <i>somuchs</i></div> - <div class='line'>breath <i>onygha</i></div> - <div class='line'>bones <i>towler</i></div> - <div class='line'>beans <i>antuck</i></div> - <div class='line'>bed <i>keban</i></div> - <div class='line'>basket <i>harro</i></div> - <div class='line'>ball <i>hechurch</i></div> - <div class='line'>borrow <i>mungaborrow</i></div> - <div class='line'>book or paper <i>terra toss</i></div> - <div class='line'>buffuler <i>howlu</i></div> - <div class='line'>bee-hive <i>tohoke</i></div> - <div class='line'>bundle <i>mevorovore</i></div> - <div class='line'>blind <i>chemerheter</i></div> - <div class='line'>burning <i>mundavengher</i></div> - <div class='line'>bell <i>potchew</i></div> - <div class='line'>belly-ache <i>merrawrafu</i></div> - <div class='line'>bread <i>moffu</i></div> - <div class='line'>bladder <i>tervenneer</i></div> - <div class='line'>beauty <i>sengger</i></div> - <div class='line'>baked <i>tongoffu</i></div> - <div class='line'>bow <i>ranafalla</i></div> - <div class='line'>bark <i>hulitcharzo</i></div> - <div class='line'>barrel of a gun <i>cornu</i></div> - <div class='line'>burden <i>enter</i></div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line in8 c002'>C</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Child <i>annack</i></div> - <div class='line'>carravances <i>vungember</i></div> - <div class='line'>cocoa-nut <i>wooernew</i></div> - <div class='line'>cloud <i>rawho</i></div> - <div class='line'>cold <i>merninchy</i></div> - <div class='line'>calabash <i>vartarvo</i></div> - <div class='line'>copper <i>sarbermaner</i></div> - <div class='line'>cat <i>chacker</i></div> - <div class='line'>cow <i>omebayvovva</i></div> - <div class='line'>cattle <i>omebay</i></div> - <div class='line'>cheek <i>fawho</i></div> - <div class='line'>crow <i>quark</i></div> - <div class='line'>call <i>kyhu</i></div> - <div class='line'>clear <i>merlu</i></div> - <div class='line'>crooked <i>maluke</i></div> - <div class='line'>cock <i>kuholoyhe</i></div> - <div class='line'>capon <i>kuho vosist</i></div> - <div class='line'>candle <i>charreck</i></div> - <div class='line'>choose <i>mcchutors</i></div> - <div class='line'><span class='pageno' id='Page_323'>323</span>covetous <i>mertete</i></div> - <div class='line'>cotton <i>hawsey</i></div> - <div class='line'>conjuror <i>umossee</i></div> - <div class='line'>climb <i>munganeeher</i></div> - <div class='line'>chest <i>sundoke</i></div> - <div class='line'>coffin <i>harzowonger</i></div> - <div class='line'>come <i>haveer</i></div> - <div class='line'>cock crow <i>kuhumunganu</i></div> - <div class='line'>chin <i>somo</i></div> - <div class='line'>calf <i>anuack an omebay</i></div> - <div class='line'>clout <i>seeke</i></div> - <div class='line'>clean <i>merrere</i></div> - <div class='line'>comb <i>morrotondro</i></div> - <div class='line'>common or plain <i>munto</i></div> - <div class='line'>coward <i>merwoozo</i></div> - <div class='line'>calf of a leg <i>veete</i></div> - <div class='line'>canoe <i>lacker</i></div> - <div class='line'>change <i>mernercollu</i></div> - <div class='line'>carry <i>entu</i></div> - <div class='line'>creep <i>lomorly</i></div> - <div class='line'>circumcised <i>meforer</i></div> - <div class='line'>cane <i>tangerer</i></div> - <div class='line'>caul <i>sassuchhaner</i></div> - <div class='line'>choke <i>bohair</i></div> - <div class='line'>cream <i>hendro</i></div> - <div class='line'>cannon <i>futore</i></div> - <div class='line'>cotton-tree <i>zare</i></div> - <div class='line'>chamelion <i>taw</i></div> - <div class='line'>cloudy <i>merauho</i></div> - <div class='line'>cloud <i>rauho</i></div> - <div class='line'>cry <i>tomonghe</i></div> - <div class='line'>cutlass <i>vearawrer</i></div> - <div class='line'>come here <i>mehoveatowe</i></div> - <div class='line'>civil <i>woocust</i></div> - <div class='line'>come down <i>mejuchore</i></div> - <div class='line'>come along <i>aloyho</i></div> - <div class='line'>cartouch box <i>fitter pinner</i></div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line in8 c002'>D</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Daughter <i>annackampeller</i></div> - <div class='line'>dark <i>myeak</i></div> - <div class='line'>dish <i>ampondrer</i></div> - <div class='line'>dog <i>amboer</i></div> - <div class='line'>dry <i>mungetterhetter</i></div> - <div class='line'>day <i>hawndro</i></div> - <div class='line'>dirty <i>merlauchs</i></div> - <div class='line'>drum <i>azzoloyhe</i></div> - <div class='line'>drunk <i>wooersekarfe</i></div> - <div class='line'>dead <i>morte</i></div> - <div class='line'>dripping <i>solick</i></div> - <div class='line'>done <i>effer</i></div> - <div class='line'>duck <i>cherere</i></div> - <div class='line'>deaf <i>merrengha</i></div> - <div class='line'>dust <i>lumbook</i></div> - <div class='line'>dew <i>aundew</i></div> - <div class='line'>door <i>varavongher</i></div> - <div class='line'>divide <i>vackue</i></div> - <div class='line'>drone <i>ferzimber</i></div> - <div class='line'>dream <i>munganofee</i></div> - <div class='line'>dropped <i>larchuck</i></div> - <div class='line'>dropped it <i>larchorho</i></div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line in8 c002'>E</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Earth <i>tonna</i></div> - <div class='line'>ear <i>sofee</i></div> - <div class='line'>eye <i>moffu</i></div> - <div class='line'>eyelids <i>voloheak</i></div> - <div class='line'>eyebrows <i>volohondring</i></div> - <div class='line'>elbow <i>hehu</i></div> - <div class='line'>enemy <i>raffaloyhe</i></div> - <div class='line'>eat <i>humonner</i></div> - <div class='line'>even <i>merer</i></div> - <div class='line'>enough <i>tondra</i></div> - <div class='line'>ell <i>hanarlavver</i></div> - <div class='line'>egg <i>tule</i></div> - <div class='line'>evening <i>arever</i></div> - <div class='line'>eight <i>varlo</i></div> - <div class='line'>eighty <i>varlofolo</i></div> - <div class='line'>eight hundred <i>varlozawto</i></div> - <div class='line'><span class='pageno' id='Page_324'>324</span>eight thousand <i>varlo arevo</i></div> - <div class='line'>east <i>teenongher</i></div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line in8 c002'>F</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Father <i>royya</i> or <i>arber</i></div> - <div class='line'>fence <i>faretchs</i></div> - <div class='line'>forehead <i>hondring</i></div> - <div class='line'>foot <i>feendeer</i></div> - <div class='line'>fruit <i>wooerarzo</i></div> - <div class='line'>finger <i>tonedro</i></div> - <div class='line'>fish <i>feer</i></div> - <div class='line'>fishing lines <i>tollevinter</i></div> - <div class='line'>friend <i>lonego</i></div> - <div class='line'>four <i>effutchs</i></div> - <div class='line'>five <i>deeme</i></div> - <div class='line'>fifteen <i>folodeemeamby</i></div> - <div class='line'>five and twenty <i>rowafolo deeme amby</i></div> - <div class='line'>five and thirty <i>talufolo deeme amby</i></div> - <div class='line'>five and forty <i>effuchfolo deemu amby</i></div> - <div class='line'>five and fifty <i>deemefolo deeme amby</i></div> - <div class='line'>five and sixty <i>enuingfolo deeme amby</i></div> - <div class='line'>five and seventy <i>fetofolo deeme amby</i></div> - <div class='line'>five and eighty <i>varlofolo deeme amby</i></div> - <div class='line'>five and ninety <i>seveefolo deeme amby</i></div> - <div class='line'>five hundred <i>deeme zawto</i></div> - <div class='line'>five thousand <i>deeme arevo</i></div> - <div class='line'>fat <i>vonedruck</i></div> - <div class='line'>flower <i>turvolo</i></div> - <div class='line'>flea <i>peer</i></div> - <div class='line'>fly <i>lawletchs</i></div> - <div class='line'>fickle <i>harraravvo</i></div> - <div class='line'>fool <i>addoller</i></div> - <div class='line'>fly away <i>tumeelingher</i></div> - <div class='line'>file <i>choffer</i></div> - <div class='line'>full <i>fennu</i></div> - <div class='line'>full moon <i>volormer autchs</i></div> - <div class='line'>fright <i>mertawhoutchs</i></div> - <div class='line'>fight <i>mealleer</i></div> - <div class='line'>fighting <i>mealle</i></div> - <div class='line'>fire <i>ossu</i></div> - <div class='line'>fishing <i>merminter</i></div> - <div class='line'>flint <i>offovarto</i></div> - <div class='line'>flesh <i>nofuch</i></div> - <div class='line'>fox <i>foser</i></div> - <div class='line'>forty <i>effuch folo</i></div> - <div class='line'>fan <i>fernimper</i></div> - <div class='line'>fly <i>tumeeling</i></div> - <div class='line'>feathers, or hair, <i>volo</i></div> - <div class='line'>fetters <i>parra-pingo</i></div> - <div class='line'>flame <i>lellar</i></div> - <div class='line'>flower, or blossom, <i>vonegha</i></div> - <div class='line'>flesh-fork <i>fundrambahaner</i></div> - <div class='line'>freemen <i>lovohitchs</i></div> - <div class='line'>fill it up <i>fennuyea</i></div> - <div class='line'>forget <i>hawlingho</i></div> - <div class='line'>flux <i>tonchoruck</i></div> - <div class='line'>fry <i>mungendy</i></div> - <div class='line'>flag <i>floy</i></div> - <div class='line'>flood <i>fororawno</i></div> - <div class='line'>fetch <i>mungolor</i></div> - <div class='line'>fist <i>fettock</i></div> - <div class='line'>fortunate <i>moss</i></div> - <div class='line'>fast <i>fortuchs</i></div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line in8 c002'>G</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>God <i>deaan Unghorray</i></div> - <div class='line'>grandfather <i>rozackloyhe</i></div> - <div class='line'>grandmother <i>rozackampeller</i></div> - <div class='line'>grandchild <i>zaffu</i></div> - <div class='line'>guinea corn <i>ampember</i></div> - <div class='line'>ground <i>ton</i></div> - <div class='line'><span class='pageno' id='Page_325'>325</span>gold <i>volarmaner</i></div> - <div class='line'>green <i>michne</i></div> - <div class='line'>goat <i>osa</i></div> - <div class='line'>get up <i>fahavvo</i></div> - <div class='line'>go <i>mundaher</i></div> - <div class='line'>go along <i>mundahanner</i></div> - <div class='line'>garment <i>sekey</i> or <i>lamber</i></div> - <div class='line'>gun <i>ampegaurrutchs</i></div> - <div class='line'>girl <i>jorzorampeller</i></div> - <div class='line'>great <i>bay</i></div> - <div class='line'>goose <i>onego-onego</i></div> - <div class='line'>guinea-hen <i>congar</i></div> - <div class='line'>guts <i>tenaugh</i></div> - <div class='line'>get farther <i>mesorangha</i></div> - <div class='line'>grass <i>habbetchs</i></div> - <div class='line'>give me some <i>mungay may</i></div> - <div class='line'>give you none <i>chemung a may</i></div> - <div class='line'>give <i>youmayow</i></div> - <div class='line'>good <i>suer</i></div> - <div class='line'>guard <i>ambenner</i></div> - <div class='line'>grow <i>metombo</i></div> - <div class='line'>great way <i>larvitchs</i></div> - <div class='line'>gunpowder <i>pounday</i></div> - <div class='line'>not good <i>chesuer</i></div> - <div class='line'>get you gone <i>meangor</i></div> - <div class='line'>garlic <i>tonegulick</i></div> - <div class='line'>grindstone <i>sungherer</i></div> - <div class='line'>grind <i>sungheru</i></div> - <div class='line'>good while <i>ailer</i></div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line in8 c002'>H</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>House <i>trangho</i></div> - <div class='line'>honey <i>tentala</i></div> - <div class='line'>heat <i>merfanner</i></div> - <div class='line'>hail <i>avandrar</i></div> - <div class='line'>head <i>luher</i></div> - <div class='line'>hair <i>volo</i></div> - <div class='line'>hand <i>tongher</i></div> - <div class='line'>heart <i>fu</i></div> - <div class='line'>hog <i>lambo</i></div> - <div class='line'>hook <i>vinter</i></div> - <div class='line'>horn <i>tondrook</i></div> - <div class='line'>hide <i>mevonoor</i></div> - <div class='line'>hyde <i>hulutchs</i></div> - <div class='line'>hungry <i>homerserray</i></div> - <div class='line'>hundred <i>zawto</i></div> - <div class='line'>hat <i>satook</i></div> - <div class='line'>hoof <i>hooto</i></div> - <div class='line'>here <i>inteer</i></div> - <div class='line'>hear <i>merray</i></div> - <div class='line'>hen <i>coohovovva</i></div> - <div class='line'>hearken <i>metinoor</i></div> - <div class='line'>hot <i>moy</i></div> - <div class='line'>hill, or mountain, <i>vohitcht</i></div> - <div class='line'>head-ache <i>luhermungalelu</i></div> - <div class='line'>husband <i>valley</i></div> - <div class='line'>hatchet <i>fermackey</i></div> - <div class='line'>halt <i>tarehu</i></div> - <div class='line'>how do you <i>whosuer</i></div> - <div class='line'>hunt <i>mungoro</i></div> - <div class='line'>hole <i>lavvack</i></div> - <div class='line'>how many <i>fera</i></div> - <div class='line'>hoe <i>soro</i></div> - <div class='line'>horse <i>suwaller</i></div> - <div class='line'>heel <i>hehu</i></div> - <div class='line'>hedgehog <i>sorer</i></div> - <div class='line'>hiccough <i>suecendrotch</i></div> - <div class='line'>hire <i>metombozzar</i></div> - <div class='line'>hark <i>metinore</i></div> - <div class='line'>hammer <i>furnurore</i></div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line in8 c002'>I J</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Jar <i>senevolo</i></div> - <div class='line'>idle <i>merwoozzo</i></div> - <div class='line'>jealous <i>mermerrothhe</i></div> - <div class='line'>jest <i>somoneger</i></div> - <div class='line'>joint <i>sandre</i></div> - <div class='line'>I won’t <i>zawho merloy</i></div> - <div class='line'>I will <i>atawuck</i></div> - <div class='line'><span class='pageno' id='Page_326'>326</span>I’ll do no more <i>chemernowquere</i></div> - <div class='line'>itch <i>hauta</i></div> - <div class='line'>I <i>zawho</i></div> - <div class='line'>iron <i>ve</i></div> - <div class='line'>island <i>nosa</i></div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line in8 c002'>K</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>King <i>panzaccar</i></div> - <div class='line'>kick <i>timpaughho</i></div> - <div class='line'>kill <i>vonu</i></div> - <div class='line'>kidneys <i>wooerhaner</i></div> - <div class='line'>ketch <i>sumboro</i></div> - <div class='line'>knife <i>messu</i></div> - <div class='line'>kite <i>perponge</i></div> - <div class='line'>knee <i>luhalleck</i></div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line in8 c002'>L</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Ladle <i>suddro</i></div> - <div class='line'>land <i>tata</i> or <i>tonna</i></div> - <div class='line'>lance <i>luffu</i></div> - <div class='line'>lie down <i>mundraer</i></div> - <div class='line'>light <i>merzavvo</i></div> - <div class='line'>lightning <i>munghaluchs</i></div> - <div class='line'>lights <i>rabuchhaner</i></div> - <div class='line'>look, or see, <i>merchinsover</i></div> - <div class='line'>looking-glass <i>hachoro</i></div> - <div class='line'>low <i>eever</i></div> - <div class='line'>let go <i>ellyfoy</i></div> - <div class='line'>lie <i>mervanda</i></div> - <div class='line'>love <i>taark</i></div> - <div class='line'>little <i>kala</i></div> - <div class='line'>live <i>valu</i></div> - <div class='line'>lemon <i>voersarra</i></div> - <div class='line'>loss <i>lavo</i></div> - <div class='line'>leaf <i>ravven</i></div> - <div class='line'>lead <i>ferock</i></div> - <div class='line'>lips <i>soneghe</i></div> - <div class='line'>leg <i>tomebook</i></div> - <div class='line'>liver <i>attinhaner</i></div> - <div class='line'>louse <i>hough</i></div> - <div class='line'>long <i>lavvar</i></div> - <div class='line'>lend <i>mungaborro</i></div> - <div class='line'>lock, or key, <i>fungheily</i></div> - <div class='line'>lock of a gun <i>sophe ampegar satch</i></div> - <div class='line'>long while <i>alelur</i></div> - <div class='line'>locust <i>verloller</i></div> - <div class='line'>lizard <i>roso</i></div> - <div class='line'>left hand <i>tongher avveer</i></div> - <div class='line'>lean <i>merheer</i></div> - <div class='line'>looseness <i>ohorawha</i></div> - <div class='line'>lobster <i>orur</i></div> - <div class='line'>lick <i>lalouw</i></div> - <div class='line'>don’t love it <i>hallucht</i></div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line in8 c002'>M</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Man <i>loyhe</i></div> - <div class='line'>mad <i>tounzaccar</i></div> - <div class='line'>many <i>mawrow</i></div> - <div class='line'>maggot <i>oletchs</i></div> - <div class='line'>mother <i>ranna</i></div> - <div class='line'>moon <i>voler</i></div> - <div class='line'>men <i>hulu</i></div> - <div class='line'>milk <i>ronoonu</i></div> - <div class='line'>monkey <i>vergee</i></div> - <div class='line'>midnight <i>mutungalla</i></div> - <div class='line'>mouth <i>vovvor</i></div> - <div class='line'>muskmelon <i>wantange</i></div> - <div class='line'>mud <i>futuck</i></div> - <div class='line'>million <i>arrla</i></div> - <div class='line'>muskittoes <i>moco</i></div> - <div class='line'>morning <i>emerrawha</i></div> - <div class='line'>to-morrow <i>hummerrawha</i></div> - <div class='line'>mead <i>toak</i></div> - <div class='line'>marrow <i>manuccover</i></div> - <div class='line'>melt <i>tennoo</i></div> - <div class='line'>milt <i>arrachaner</i></div> - <div class='line'>mouse <i>varlarvo</i></div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line in8 c002'>N</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Nail of finger <i>oho</i></div> - <div class='line'><span class='pageno' id='Page_327'>327</span>navel <i>feutch</i></div> - <div class='line'>nine <i>seve</i></div> - <div class='line'>neck <i>woozzo</i></div> - <div class='line'>ninety <i>seve folo</i></div> - <div class='line'>nine hundred <i>seve zawto</i></div> - <div class='line'>nothing <i>shemishe</i></div> - <div class='line'>night <i>aulla</i></div> - <div class='line'>north <i>avarruchs</i></div> - <div class='line'>needle <i>fingihts</i></div> - <div class='line'>no <i>charra</i></div> - <div class='line'>nose <i>oroong</i></div> - <div class='line'>nigh <i>merreena</i></div> - <div class='line'>net <i>arratto</i></div> - <div class='line'>nettles <i>fundrozo</i></div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line in8 c002'>O</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Oath <i>mefontorr</i></div> - <div class='line'>one <i>eser</i></div> - <div class='line'>old <i>antichs</i></div> - <div class='line'>ox <i>vositchs</i></div> - <div class='line'>oil <i>tongon tongher</i></div> - <div class='line'>open <i>sucorffu</i></div> - <div class='line'>t’other day <i>orertroung</i></div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line in8 c002'>P</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Potatoes <i>ovemarme</i></div> - <div class='line'>plantain <i>ounche</i></div> - <div class='line'>plantation <i>tateck</i></div> - <div class='line'>plant <i>fumbulayher</i></div> - <div class='line'>pap <i>nunu</i></div> - <div class='line'>partridge <i>hattacottoe</i></div> - <div class='line'>pine-apple <i>mernasse</i></div> - <div class='line'>pillar <i>ounder</i></div> - <div class='line'>plumb <i>lomoty</i></div> - <div class='line'>powder <i>poundey</i></div> - <div class='line'>point <i>metrondroer</i></div> - <div class='line'>pistol <i>plato</i></div> - <div class='line'>poison <i>vorick</i></div> - <div class='line'>prisoner <i>sambuch</i></div> - <div class='line'>pot <i>velongha</i></div> - <div class='line'>pipe <i>keloyhe</i></div> - <div class='line'>poor <i>rarroc</i></div> - <div class='line'>people <i>hulu</i></div> - <div class='line'>pepper <i>saccavero</i></div> - <div class='line'>plunder <i>mundravor</i></div> - <div class='line'>pitch <i>leta</i></div> - <div class='line'>pleasant <i>mertarva</i></div> - <div class='line'>pirate <i>kindoc</i></div> - <div class='line'>purslain <i>toyanomebaloyhe</i></div> - <div class='line'>periwinkle <i>dedder</i></div> - <div class='line'>pigeon <i>dahew</i></div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line in8 c002'>Q</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Quick <i>merlacky</i></div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line in8 c002'>R</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Rain <i>orer</i></div> - <div class='line'>rainbow <i>avvar</i></div> - <div class='line'>rammer <i>funhochuck</i></div> - <div class='line'>razor <i>feharratchs</i></div> - <div class='line'>red <i>maner</i></div> - <div class='line'>rice <i>varray</i></div> - <div class='line'>rich <i>manzarry</i></div> - <div class='line'>rise <i>fuher</i></div> - <div class='line'>rough <i>meraffu</i></div> - <div class='line'>run <i>lomoy</i></div> - <div class='line'>rope <i>tolle</i></div> - <div class='line'>runaway <i>leffer</i></div> - <div class='line'>ripe <i>mossock</i></div> - <div class='line'>ribs <i>towlertahazuc</i></div> - <div class='line'>right hand <i>tongher avanner</i></div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line in8 c002'>S</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Sand <i>fasse</i></div> - <div class='line'>salt <i>serer</i></div> - <div class='line'>sail <i>loy</i></div> - <div class='line'>son <i>annacloyhe</i></div> - <div class='line'>sun <i>andro</i></div> - <div class='line'><span class='pageno' id='Page_328'>328</span>slave <i>andavo</i></div> - <div class='line'>steer <i>rorvovva</i></div> - <div class='line'>sugarcane <i>farray</i></div> - <div class='line'>sugar <i>serermarme</i></div> - <div class='line'>sweet <i>marme</i></div> - <div class='line'>star <i>verseer</i></div> - <div class='line'>spoon <i>suto</i></div> - <div class='line'>silver <i>volerfutey</i></div> - <div class='line'>scull <i>harrandluker</i></div> - <div class='line'>shoulder <i>soroke</i></div> - <div class='line'>sleep <i>meroro</i></div> - <div class='line'>shot <i>berseer</i></div> - <div class='line'>six <i>eanning</i></div> - <div class='line'>seven <i>feeto</i></div> - <div class='line'>seventeen <i>folofeetoambe</i></div> - <div class='line'>seventy <i>feeto folo</i></div> - <div class='line'>six hundred <i>eanning zawto</i></div> - <div class='line'>seven hundred <i>feeto zawto</i></div> - <div class='line'>six thousand <i>eanning arevo</i></div> - <div class='line'>seven thousand <i>feeto arevo</i></div> - <div class='line'>small <i>merlinick</i></div> - <div class='line'>sunrise <i>terrack</i></div> - <div class='line'>sunset <i>soffutch andro</i></div> - <div class='line'>small <i>oruff</i></div> - <div class='line'>small shot <i>pottchuck</i></div> - <div class='line'>spittle <i>eva</i></div> - <div class='line'>spit <i>mundorer</i></div> - <div class='line'>south <i>ateemo</i></div> - <div class='line'>sore <i>boy</i></div> - <div class='line'>sour <i>mervoyha</i></div> - <div class='line'>ship <i>sambo</i></div> - <div class='line'>stink <i>manche</i></div> - <div class='line'>strong <i>merharee</i></div> - <div class='line'>short <i>fuher</i></div> - <div class='line'>spirit <i>lulu</i></div> - <div class='line'>seize <i>samboro</i></div> - <div class='line'>shoe <i>hunghermaro</i></div> - <div class='line'>stool <i>feketrar</i></div> - <div class='line'>sick <i>merrawra</i></div> - <div class='line'>sky <i>longitchs</i></div> - <div class='line'>smooth <i>merlammer</i></div> - <div class='line'>sound, noise, or barking of a dog, <i>mungano</i></div> - <div class='line'>shoot <i>teferu</i></div> - <div class='line'>shave <i>haharu</i></div> - <div class='line'>soft <i>merlemma</i></div> - <div class='line'>smothered <i>settuck</i></div> - <div class='line'>smoke <i>lembook</i></div> - <div class='line'>smoke a pipe <i>metroher tobacco</i></div> - <div class='line'>shut the door <i>arradingho</i></div> - <div class='line'>sell <i>vele</i></div> - <div class='line'>sour milk <i>ronoonumandra</i></div> - <div class='line'>sea <i>reac</i></div> - <div class='line'>servant, sir <i>salamonger</i></div> - <div class='line'>snares <i>faundric</i></div> - <div class='line'>see <i>merheter</i></div> - <div class='line'>I see it <i>he tucko</i></div> - <div class='line'>shirt <i>commeser</i></div> - <div class='line'>seat <i>fetuaruc</i></div> - <div class='line'>speak <i>mevolengher</i></div> - <div class='line'>sweet scented <i>maungetchs</i></div> - <div class='line'>some <i>mishe</i></div> - <div class='line'>speckle <i>wander</i></div> - <div class='line'>shake <i>mungozooner</i></div> - <div class='line'>stay <i>munding</i></div> - <div class='line'>spring of water <i>vovo</i></div> - <div class='line'>spring of the year <i>sarrar</i></div> - <div class='line'>spring of a gun lock <i>allesoro</i></div> - <div class='line'>swim <i>lomong</i></div> - <div class='line'>shame <i>manghetchs</i></div> - <div class='line'>split <i>vaccu</i></div> - <div class='line'>small pox <i>creer</i></div> - <div class='line'>staff <i>zahharr</i></div> - <div class='line'>skin <i>huletchs</i></div> - <div class='line'>side <i>tohazuc</i></div> - <div class='line'>slender <i>merlenec</i></div> - <div class='line'>spinage <i>orngha</i></div> - <div class='line'><span class='pageno' id='Page_329'>329</span>serpent <i>manerrander</i></div> - <div class='line'>snake <i>mary</i></div> - <div class='line'>spin <i>mundoroutchs</i></div> - <div class='line'>stand <i>mechangonner</i></div> - <div class='line'>steel <i>veoffo</i></div> - <div class='line'>steal <i>mungaulutchs</i></div> - <div class='line'>scissors <i>hette</i></div> - <div class='line'>snore <i>mearoutchs</i></div> - <div class='line'>sweat <i>lingetch</i></div> - <div class='line'>sing <i>meansaw</i></div> - <div class='line'>shore <i>tomeboho</i></div> - <div class='line'>spit <i>fermerlarzor</i></div> - <div class='line'>silly <i>mernay</i></div> - <div class='line'>sheep <i>oundy</i></div> - <div class='line'>spider <i>morrotongher</i></div> - <div class='line'>stone <i>varto</i></div> - <div class='line'>sink <i>tumborto</i></div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line in8 c002'>T</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Tamarind <i>keley</i></div> - <div class='line'>tankard <i>furnumerrauno</i></div> - <div class='line'>take <i>rumbessu</i></div> - <div class='line'>think <i>mevetchevetch</i></div> - <div class='line'>trumpet <i>anchever</i></div> - <div class='line'>thirteen <i>folotaluambe</i></div> - <div class='line'>three <i>talu</i></div> - <div class='line'>thunderbolt <i>apmy</i></div> - <div class='line'>thigh <i>fay</i></div> - <div class='line'>thunder <i>hotook</i></div> - <div class='line'>town <i>tannarr</i></div> - <div class='line'>thread <i>fola</i></div> - <div class='line'>thorn <i>forte</i></div> - <div class='line'>told <i>mungaborrow</i></div> - <div class='line'>tears <i>rawnomossu</i></div> - <div class='line'>tobacco <i>tobacco</i></div> - <div class='line'>toe <i>annackinc</i></div> - <div class='line'>two <i>roaa</i></div> - <div class='line'>ten <i>folo</i></div> - <div class='line'>twenty <i>roaafolo</i></div> - <div class='line'>thousand <i>arevo</i></div> - <div class='line'>thief <i>ampegalutchs</i></div> - <div class='line'>teeth <i>neefa</i></div> - <div class='line'>tongue <i>leller</i></div> - <div class='line'>tie <i>fahaugh</i></div> - <div class='line'>trigger <i>funghatchu</i></div> - <div class='line'>tail <i>ohe</i></div> - <div class='line'>land turtle <i>hachaffu</i></div> - <div class='line'>sea turtle <i>faunu</i></div> - <div class='line'>tall <i>lavvor</i></div> - <div class='line'>turn <i>metuleher</i></div> - <div class='line'>tell one, two, &c. <i>mungesau</i></div> - <div class='line'>tread <i>hechawho</i></div> - <div class='line'>through <i>torawho</i></div> - <div class='line'>thrive <i>munzarre</i></div> - <div class='line'>take <i>rumbessu</i></div> - <div class='line'>tutanag <i>ferockfutey</i></div> - <div class='line'>timber <i>harzo</i></div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line in8 c002'>U V</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Uncle <i>ranaloyhe</i></div> - <div class='line'>under <i>umbonna</i></div> - <div class='line'>udder <i>vorotchs</i></div> - <div class='line'>ugly <i>rawtche</i></div> - <div class='line'>vomit <i>mundoer</i></div> - <div class='line'>uncivil <i>chewoocust</i></div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line in8 c002'>W</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Water <i>rawno</i></div> - <div class='line'>water melon <i>woerzarvo</i></div> - <div class='line'>wax <i>luco</i></div> - <div class='line'>warm <i>moy</i></div> - <div class='line'>wave <i>onezur</i></div> - <div class='line'>wind <i>ornghin</i></div> - <div class='line'>wood <i>auler</i></div> - <div class='line'>white <i>fute</i></div> - <div class='line'>wild <i>melampo</i></div> - <div class='line'>what <i>eno</i></div> - <div class='line'>what’s this <i>eno toey</i></div> - <div class='line'><span class='pageno' id='Page_330'>330</span>what’s the matter <i>eno zow</i></div> - <div class='line'>what are you doing <i>eno tough now</i></div> - <div class='line'>wadding <i>hueto</i></div> - <div class='line'>west <i>audreffer</i></div> - <div class='line'>wood for firing <i>hatoy</i></div> - <div class='line'>wonder <i>cherrec</i></div> - <div class='line'>work <i>mearsar</i></div> - <div class='line'>wife <i>walley</i></div> - <div class='line'>weary <i>mocoutchs</i></div> - <div class='line'>white man <i>verzarhar</i></div> - <div class='line'>wide <i>mertarcheths</i></div> - <div class='line'>whisper <i>bisabise</i></div> - <div class='line'>wasp <i>fundroso</i></div> - <div class='line'>wrist <i>soro</i></div> - <div class='line'>wise <i>merhehitchs</i></div> - <div class='line'>winter <i>fouser</i></div> - <div class='line'>whistle <i>fuke</i></div> - <div class='line'>weave <i>mernendru</i></div> - <div class='line'>wet <i>lay</i></div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line in8 c002'>Y</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Yam <i>ove</i></div> - <div class='line'>years <i>color</i></div> - <div class='line'>year <i>taough</i></div> - <div class='line'>yes <i>toquore</i></div> - <div class='line'>yonder <i>aruea</i></div> - <div class='line'>yesterday <i>umorla</i></div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line in4 c002'>DAYS OF THE WEEK.</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Sunday <i>Alhaida</i></div> - <div class='line'>Monday <i>Alletenine</i></div> - <div class='line'>Tuesday <i>Talorter</i></div> - <div class='line'>Wednesday <i>Alarrerbeer</i></div> - <div class='line'>Thursday <i>Commeeshe</i></div> - <div class='line'>Friday <i>Jumor</i></div> - <div class='line'>Saturday <i>Sarbueche</i></div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c002'> - <div><span class='small'>THE END.</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_331'>331</span><span class='small'>LONDON:</span></div> - <div><span class='small'>Printed by W. CLOWES,</span></div> - <div><span class='small'>Stamford-street.</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c003'> -</div> -<div class='tnotes x-ebookmaker'> - -<div class='chapter ph2'> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c001'> - <div>TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES</div> - </div> -</div> - -</div> - - <ol class='ol_1 c002'> - <li>Silently corrected obvious typographical errors and variations in spelling. - - </li> - <li>Retained archaic, non-standard, and uncertain spellings as printed. - </li> - </ol> - -</div> - -<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PLEASANT AND SURPRISING ADVENTURES OF ROBERT DRURY, DURING HIS FIFTEEN YEARS' CAPTIVITY ON THE ISLAND OF MADAGASCAR ***</div> - </body> - <!-- created with ppgen.py 3.57e on 2023-10-09 15:35:03 GMT --> -</html> |