is upon the severest trial, when the immediate hand of death is ready to
put for ever a period to this mortal life; and indeed so much compassion
had I to this creature, that it was with difficulty I restrained from
tears. But, however, as another sort of countenance was necessary, and
to convince him that I would do no harm, I took him smiling by the hand,
then laughed at him, and pointing to the kid which I had slain, made
signs to him to fetch it, which accordingly he did. No less curious was
he in viewing how the creature was killed, than he had been before in
beholding the Indian; which, while he was admiring at, I charged my gun
again, and presently perceived a great fowl like a hawk, perching upon a
tree within shot; and therefore, to let Friday understand what I was
going to do, I called him to me again, pointing at the fowl, which I
found to be a parrot. I made him understand that I would shoot and kill
that bird; accordingly I fired, and bade him look, when immediately he
saw the parrot fall down. Again he stood like one amazed,
notwithstanding all I had said to him: and the more confounded he was,
because he did not perceive me put any thing into my gun. Undoubtedly a
thing so utterly strange, carrying death along with it, far or near,
either to man or beast, must certainly create the greatest astonishment
to one who never had heard such a thing in his whole life; and really
his amazement continued so long, that had I allowed it, he would have
prostrated himself before me and my gun, with the greatest worship and
adoration. As for the gun in particular, he would not so much as touch
it for several days after, but would come & communicate his thoughts to
it, & talk to it, as if the senseless piece had understood and answered
him; all this I could perceive him do, when he thought my back was
turned, the chief intent of which was, to desire it not to kill him, as
I afterwards came to understand.
I never strove to prevent his admiration, nor hinder him from those
comical gestures he used on such occasions; but when his astonishment
was a little over, I make tokens to him to run and fetch the parrot that
I had shot; which accordingly he did, staying some time longer than
usual, by reason the bird not being quite dead, had fluttered some way
further from the place where she fell. In the mean time, as he was
looking for her, I took the advantage of charging my gun again, that so
I might be ready for any other mark that offered; but nothing more
occurred at that time. So I brought home the kid, and the same evening
took off the skin and divided the carcase as well as I could. Part of
the flesh I stewed and boiled in a pot I had for this purpose. And then
spreading my table, I sat down, giving my man some of it to eat, who was
wonderfully pleased and seemed to like it very well: but what was the
most surprising to him was to see me eat salt with it: upon which he
made me understand, that the salt was very bad for me; when putting a
little into his mouth, he seemed to nauseate it in such a manner as to
spit and sputter at it, and then washed his mouth with fresh water: but
to shew him how contrary his opinion was to mine, I put some meat into
my mouth without salt and feigned to spit and sputter as much for the
want of it, as he had done at it; yet all this proved of no
signification to Friday; and it was a long while before he could endure
salt in his meat or broth, and even then but a small quantity.
Thus having fed him sufficiently with boiled meat and broth at that
time, the next day I was resolved to feast him with a roasted piece of
the kid. And having no spit to fasten it, nor jack to turn it, I made
use of that common artifice which many of the common people of England
have, that is to let two poles upon each side of the fire, and one cross
on top, hanging the meat thereon with a string, and so turning round
continually, roast it, in the same manner as we read bloody tyrants of
old cruelly roasted the holy martyrs. This practice caused great
admiration in my man Friday, being quite another way than that to which
the savages were accustomed. But when he came to taste the sweetness and
tenderness of the flesh, he expressed his entire satisfaction above a
thousand different ways. And as I could not but understand his meaning,
you may be sure I was as wonderfully pleased, especially when he made it
also very plain to me, that he would never, while he lived eat man's
flesh more.
It was now high time I should set my servant to work; so next day I set
him to beat out some corn, and sat it in the same manner as I had done
before. And really the fellow was very quick and handy in the execution
of any thing I ordered him to go about. I made him understand that it
was to make bread for us to eat, and afterwards let him see me make it.
In short, he did every thing as I ordered him, and in a little time as
well as I could perform it myself.
But now considering that I had two mouths to feed instead of one, it was
necessary that I must provide more ground for my harvest, and plant a
larger quantity of corn than I commonly used to do; upon which I marked
out a larger piece of land, fencing it in, in the same manner as I had
done before; in the execution of which I must give Friday this good
word; that no man could work, more hardy or with better will than he
did: and when I made him sensible that it was for bread to serve him as
well as me, he then very passionately made me understand that he thought
I had much more labour on his account, than I had for myself; and that
no pains or diligence should be wanting in him, if I would but direct
him in those works wherein he might proceed.
I must certainly own, that this was the most pleasant year I ever had on
the island; for after some time Friday began to talk pretty well, and
understood the names of those things which I was wont to call for, and
the places where I used to send him. So that my long silent tongue,
which had been useless so many years, except in an exclamatory manner,
either for deliverance or blessings, now began to be occupied in
teaching, and talking to my man Friday for indeed I had such a singular
satisfaction in the fellow himself, so innocent did his simple and
unfeigned honesty appear more and more to me every day, that I really
began entirely to love him; and for his part, I believe there was no
love lost, and that his nature had been more charmed by his exceeding
kindness, and his affections more placed upon me, than any other object
whatsoever among his own countrymen. I once had a great mind to try if
he had any hankering inclination to his own country again; and by this
time, having learned the English so well; that he could give me
tolerable answer to any question which I demanded. I asked him whether
that nation to which he belonged, ever conquered in battle? This
question made Friday to smile, and to which he answered, _Yes, yes, we
always fight the better;_ as much as to say, they always got the better
in fight. Upon which we proceeded on the following discourse: _You say_,
said I, _that you always fight the better; why, then, Friday, how came
you to be taken prisoner_?
Friday. _But for all that my nation beat much_.
Master. _How say you, beat? if your nation beat them, how came you to be
taken_?
Friday. _They more many mans than my nation in the place where me was;
they take one, two, three, and me: my nation much over beat them in the
yonder place where me no was, there my nation mans beat one, two, three,
great tousand_.
Master. _Then why did not your men recover you from the hands of your
enemies?_
Friday. _They run one, two, or three, and me: they make all go in the
canoe; my nation have no canoe that time_--
Master. _'Tis very well, Friday; but what does your nation do with the
prisoners they take? Do they carry them away and eat them as these
have done_?
Friday. _Yes, yes, my nation eat mans too, eat up all_.
Master. _To what place do they carry them to be devoured_?
Friday. _Go to other nations where they think_.
Master. _Do they bring them hither_?
Friday. _Yes, come over hither, came over other place_.
Master. _And have you been with them here, Friday_?
Friday. _Yes, me been here_, (pointing to the north-west of the island,
being the side where they used to land.)
Thus having gotten what account I could from my man, I plainly
understood that he had been as bad as any of the rest of the cannibals,
having been formerly among the savages who used to come on shore on the
farthest part of the island, upon the same bloody occasion as he was
brought hither for; and some time after I carried him to that place
where he pointed; and no sooner did he come there, but he presently knew
the ground, signifying to me that he was once there when they ate up
twenty men, two women and a young child; but as he could not explain the
number in English, he did it by so many stones in a row, making a sign
to me to count them.
This passage I have the rather mentioned, because it led to things more
important and useful for me to know; for after I had this satisfactory
discourse with him, my next question was, how far it was from the island
to the shore, and whether the canoes were not often lost in the ocean?
to which he answered, _there was no danger, that no canoes were ever
lost; but that after a little way out to the sea, there was a strong
current and a wind always one way in the afternoon_. This I thought at
first to be no more than the sets of the tide, of going out or coming
in; but I afterwards understood it was occasioned by the great-draught
and reflux of the mighty river Oroonoko, in the mouth or gulf of which I
imagined my kingdom lay: and that the land which I perceived to the W.
and N.W. must be the great island Trinidad, on the north of the river. A
thousand questions (if that would satisfy me) did I ask Friday about the
nature of the country, the sea, the coasts, the inhabitants, and what
nations were nearest them: To which questions the poor fellow declared
all he knew with the greatest openness & utmost sincerity. When I
demanded of him the particular names of the various nations of his sort
of people, he could only answer me in general that they were called
_Carrabee_. Hence it was I considered that these must be the Carribees,
so much taken notice of by our maps to be on that part of America, which
reaches from the mouth of the river Oroonoko to Guiana, and so on to St.
Martha. Then Friday proceeded to tell me, _that up a great way beyond
the moon_, as much as to say, beyond the setting of the moon, which must
be W. from their country, _there dwelt white-bearded men, such as I
was_, pointing to my whiskers, _and that they kill much mans_. I was not
ignorant with what barbarity the Spaniards treated these creatures; so
that I presently concluded it must be them, whose cruelties had spread
throughout America, to be remembered even to succeeding generations.
Well, you may be sure, this knowledge, which the imperfect knowledge of
my man had led me to, was very comfortable to me, and made me so curious
as to ask him how I might depart from this island, & get amongst those
white men? He told me, _Yes, yes, I might go in two canoes_. In two
canoes, thought I, what does my man mean? surely he means one for
himself, and another for me; and if not, how must two canoes hold me
without being joined, or one part of my body being put in one, and
another in another? And indeed it was a long time before I understood
his meaning; which was, that it must be a large boat, as big as two
canoes, able to bear with the waves, and not so liable to be overwhelmed
as a small one must be.
I believe there is not a state of life but what may be happy, if people
would but endeavour for their part to make it so. He is not the
happiest man that has the most riches; but he that is content with what
he hath. Before I had my servant, I thought myself miserable till I had
him; and now that I had enjoyed the happy benefits of him, I still
complained, and begged a deliverance from a place of retirement, ease,
and plenty, where Providence had sufficiently blessed me. In a word,
from this time I entertained some hopes, that one time or other I might
find an opportunity to make my escape from this island, and that this
poor savage might be a great furtherance thereto.
All the time since my man became so intelligent as to understand and
speak to me, I spared no pain nor diligence to instruct him, according
to my poor share of knowledge in the principles of religion, and the
adoration that he ought to pay to the TRUE GOD. One time, as I very well
remember, I asked him who made him? At first the innocent creature did
not understand what I meant, but rather thought I asked him who was his
father? upon which I took another way to make him sensible, by demanding
from him an answer to this question. "Friday," I said, "who is it that
made the sea, this ground whereon we walk, and all the hills and woods
which we behold?" And here, indeed, I did not miss my intention; for he
told me _it was Old Benamuckee_ (the God whom I supposed these savages
adored) _who lived a great way beyond all_. But as to his attributes,
poor Friday was an utter stranger. He could describe nothing of this
great person; and all that he could say was, _that he was very old, much
older than the sea and land, the moon, or the stars_. "Friday," said I
again, "if this great and old person has made all things in the world,
how comes it to pass, that all things, as you in particular, do not
adore and worship him? upon this looking very grave, with a perfect
sweet look of innocence, he replied: _Master all things say O to him_,"
by which it may reasonably be supposed he meant adoration. "And where,"
said I, "do the people of your country go when they die?" He answered
_to Benamuckee_. "What, and those people that are eaten up, do they go
there?" _Benamuckee_, said he, _love 'em dearly; me pray to Benamuckee
in the canoe, and Benamuckee would love me when dey eat me all up_.
Such discourses as these had I with my man, and such made me sensible,
that the true God is worshipped, tho' under imperfect similitudes; and
that the false adoration which the Heathens give to their imaginary
Deity, is as great an argument of the divine essence, as the most
learned Atheists _(falsely so called)_ can bring against it; for God
will be glorified in his works, let their denominations be what it will;
and I cannot be of that opinion which some conceive, that God should
decree men to be damned for want of a right notion of faith, in a place
where the wisdom of the Almighty has not permitted it to be preached;
and therefore cannot but conclude, that since obedience is the best
sacrifice, these poor creatures are acting by that light and knowledge
which they are possessed of, may undoubtedly obtain a happy salvation,
though not that enjoyment with Christ, as his saints, confessors, and
martyrs must enjoy.
But laying these determinations aside, more fit for divines than me to
discuss, I began to instruct my servant in the saving knowledge of the
true Deity, in which the direction of God's Holy Spirit assisted me. I
lifted up my hands to Heaven, and pointing thereto, told him "that the
great Maker of Heaven and Earth lived there; that as his infinite power
fashioned this world out of a confused chaos, and made it in that
beautiful frame which we behold; so he governs and preserves it by his
unbounded knowledge, sovereign greatness and peculiar providence; that
he was omnipotent, could do every thing for us, give every thing to us,
and take every thing away from us; that he was a rewarder and punisher
of good, and evil actions; that there was nothing but what he knew, no
thoughts so secret, but what he could bring to light;" and thus, by
degrees, I opened his eyes, and described to him "the manner of the
creation of the world, the situation of paradise, the transgression of
our first parents, the wickedness of God's peculiar people, and the
universal sins and abominations of the whole earth." When these things
were implanted in his mind, I told him "that as God's justice was equal
to his mercy, he resolved to destroy this world, till his Son Jesus
Christ interposed in our behalf; and to procure our redemption, obtained
leave of his heavenly Father to come down from Heaven into the world,
Where he took human nature upon him, instructed us in our way to eternal
life, and died as a sacrifice for our sins; that he was now ascended
into Heaven, mediating for our pardon, delivering our petitions, and
obtaining all those good benefits which we ask in his name, by humble
and hearty prayers, all which were heard at the throne of Heaven." As
frequently I used to inculcate things into his mind. Friday one day told
me, _that if our great God could hear us beyond the sun, he must surely
be a greater God than their Benamuckee, who lived but a little way off,
yet could not hear them till they ascended the great mountains, where he
dwelt to speak to him._ 'What' said I, 'Friday, did you go thither to
speak to him too?' He answered, _No, they never went that were young
men, none but old men, called their Oowakakee_, meaning the Indian
priests, _who went to say O,_ (so he called saying their prayers) _and
they returned back, and told them what Benamuckee said._ From hence, I
could not but observe how happy we Christians are, who have God's
immediate revelation for our certain guide; and that our faith is
neither misled, nor our reason imposed upon, by any set of men,
such as these Indian impostures.
But to clear up this palpable cheat to my man Friday, I told
him, "that the pretence of their ancient men going up to
the mountain to say O to their God _Benamuckee_ was an imposture,
and that their bringing back an answer was all a sham, if
not worse; for that, if there was any such thing spoken to them,
surely it must proceed from an infernal spirit." And here I
thought it necessary to enter into a long discourse with him,
which I did after this manner.
"Friday," said I, "you must know, that before the world
was made, there was an Almighty power existing, by whose
power all things were made, and whose Majesty shall have no
end. To be glorified and adored by beings of a heavenly nature,
he created angels and archangels, that is glorified spirits
resembling himself, to encompass his throne, eternally singing
forth his praise in the most heavenly sounds and divine harmony.
And, among this heavenly choir, Lucifer bore a great sway, as being
then one of the peculiar favourites of these celestial abodes;
but he, contrary to that duty he owed his heavenly Sovereign,
with unbounded ingratitude to his Divine Creator, not only
envied him that adoration which was his due, but thought to
usurp that throne, which he had neither power to keep, nor
title to pretend to. He raised a dissention and civil war in
Heaven, and had a number of angels to take his part. Unbounded
folly! stupendous pride! to hope for victory, and aspire
above his powerful Creator! The Deity, not fearful of such
an enemy, yet justly provoked at this rebellion, commissioned
his archangel Michael to lead forth the heavenly host, and give
him battle; the advantage of which was quickly perceived,
by Satan's being overthrown, and the prince of the air, for so
was the devil called, with all his fallen angels, driven headlong
into a dismal place, which is called _Hell_."
The recital of this truth made my man give the greatest attention,
and he expressed a great satisfaction by his gestures, that God
had sent the devil into a deep hole. And then I desired him to
give great heed to what I had further to say.
"No sooner," proceeded I, "was God freed from, and the Heaven clear
of this arch-traitor, but the Father speaks to the Son and Holy
Spirit, who belonged to his essence, and were equal to him in power
and glory, _Come let us make man_, said he _in our own image, after
our own likeness_, Gen. i. 26. to have dominion over the creatures
of the world which we have created. And these he intended should
glorify him in Heaven, according to their obedience in this state of
probation on earth, which was, as it were, to be the school to train
them up for these heavenly mansions. Now, Satan seeing himself foiled;
yet that God had taken the power from him as prince of the air, which
power Heaven designed he should retain, whereby his creatures might
be tried; in revenge for the disgrace he had received, he tempts
Adam's wife, Eve, to taste of the tree of knowledge of good and
evil, which God had forbidden. He appears to her in the shape of a
serpent, then a most beautiful creature, and tells her that it was no
better than an imposition, which God had put upon her and her husband
not to eat of that fair fruit which he had created; that the taste
thereof would make them immortal like God himself; and consequently as
great and powerful as he. Upon which she not only eat thereof herself,
but made her husband eat also, which brought them both under the
heavenly displeasure."
Here Friday expressed a great concern: _Ah, poor mans!_ cried he,
_naughty womans! naughty devil! make God not love de mans, made mans
like devil himself._
'Friday,' said I, 'God still loved mankind, and though the devil tempted
human nature so far, he would not suffer him to have an absolute power
over them. I have told you before of his tender love to his people, till
they, like Lucifer, disobeyed his commands and rebelled against him; and
even then, how Jesus Christ, his only Son, came to save sinners. But
still every man that lives in the world is under temptation and trial.
The devil has yet a power, as prince of the air, to suggest evil
cogitations in our minds, and prompt us on to wicked actions, that he
might glory in our destruction. Whatever evil thoughts we have, proceed
from him; so that God in this our distress, expects we should apply
ourselves to him by fervent prayer for speedy redress. He is not like
_Benamuckee,_ to let none come near him but _Oowakakee_, but suffers the
people as well as priests to offer themselves at his feet, thereby to be
delivered from the power and temptation of the devil.
But though at first my man Friday expressed some concern at the
wickedness of Lucifer, I found it not so easy to imprint the right
notions of him in his mind, as it was about the divine essence of God;
for there nature assisted me in all my arguments, to show him plainly
the necessity of a great first cause, and over-ruling, governing power,
of a secret directing Providence, and of the equity and reasonableness
of paying adoration to our Creator: whereas there appeared nothing of
all this in the notion of an evil spirit, of his first beginning, his
nature, and, above all, of his inclination to evil actions, and his
power to tempt us to the like. And indeed this unlearned _Indian_, by
the mere force of nature, puzzled me with one particular question, more
than ever I could have expected.
I had, it seems, one day, been talking to him of the omnipotent power of
God, and his infinite abhorrence of sin, insomuch that the Scriptures
styled him _a consuming fire_ to all the workers of iniquity; and that
it was in his power, whenever he pleased, to destroy all the world in a
moment, the greater part of which are continually offending him.
When, with a serious attention, he had listened a great while to what
I said, after I had been telling him how the devil was God's enemy in
the hearts of men, and used all his malice and skill to defeat the good
designs of Providence, and destroy the kingdom of Christ in the world,
and so forth: _Very well, Master_, said Friday, _you say God is so
strong, so great, is he not much strong, much mightier than the naughty
devil?_ "To be sure, Friday," said I, "God is more wise and stronger
than the serpent: he is above the devil, which makes us pray to him,
that he would tread down Satan under his feet, enable us to resist the
violent temptations; and quench his fiery darts." _Why then_, answered
Friday quickly, _if God, as you say, has much strong, much might as the
devil, why God no kill devil, make no more tempt, no more do wicked._
You may be certain, I was strangely surprised at this question of my
man's: and, though an old man, I was but a young doctor, and
consequently very ill qualified for a causuist, or a resolver of
intricate doubts in religion, and as it required some time for me to
study for an answer, I pretended not to hear him, nor to ask him what he
said; but, to so earnest was he for an answer, as not to forget his
question which he repeated in the very same broken words as above. When
I had recovered myself a little, "Friday," said I, "God will at last
punish him severely, being reserved for judgment, and is to be cast into
the bottomless pit, to remain in fire everlasting." But all this did not
satisfy Friday, for, returning upon me, he repeated my words "RESERVE AT
LAST, _me no understand; but, why not kill devil now, not kill devil,
great, great while ago_?" "Friday" said I "you may as well ask me why
God does not kill you and me, when, by our wicked actions, we so much
offend his divine Majesty? He gives us time to repent of our sins, that
thereby we may obtain pardon." At these words _obtain pardon_, Friday
mused a great while; and, at last, looking me stedfastly in the face,
_Well, well_, said he, _that's very well; so you, I, devil, all wicked
mans, all preserve, repent, God pardon all._