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. Wewanted, 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, andbaked 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 egregiouserror, 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 wasgone; 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, andtold 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, andthis 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, heordered 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 hetook 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; thoughthey 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 withoutsome 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 camenear 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, assoon 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 Afferrersoon 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 ofcattle 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 theyear, 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 twoslaves 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 belovedlord, 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 hiscountry. 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 wewere 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 deaanMernaugha; 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 gowhere 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 orderedout 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 whichRer 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 anddrums 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 fourrings 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 constitutedcaptain 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,” saidshe, “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 themarshes, 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 underno 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, whopursued 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 affectionfor, 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.