some of his people into the woods for some fuel to dress it; which he
readily did, and they soon brought us sufficient for our purpose. But
all this time we wanted water, and complained thereof to the king; who
assured us that there was none to be got near that place by several
miles; and that what small quantity was given him in the horn was
brought from that very pond where we left the wounded man; which could
not be less than about ten miles’ distance. This very much disheartened
us; for we were parched with thirst, which was the more increased by the
fatigue of our long march, and the heat of the country. However, there
was no help for us, and patience was the only remedy. When the king and
his son had supped, we bound their hands before them that they might
sleep as easily as they could; so after we had cut up our bullock, and
divided it amongst us, broiled and eat it, though with but little
satisfaction, for want of water; and when we had made as good a supper
as our unhappy circumstances would admit of, we also used our best
endeavours to repose ourselves. The three captains, however, agreed to
watch alternately, and divided our people into three parts for that
purpose. The king entreated his wife to go home and to comfort his
children; but more particularly recommended his beloved daughter to her
care. She went at his request, but shed tears at her departure; as did
also the king and his son. Such of us as were not on the watch lay down,
but we had a wretched night; for the ground was stony, and there was but
little grass; and what was a still greater affliction, we were excessive
dry, and had nothing to quench our thirst.
At dawn of day we arose, which was the second day of our travel, and the
better to support ourselves under the fatigue of it, we eat part of the
remains of our beef; but it was a miserable repast, as we had nothing to
drink. However, we put ourselves in the same order as we had done the
day before, and went forwards; the natives perceiving us in motion,
moved too, but kept at a greater distance, and went into our camp after
we had quitted it to see what they could find, and their labour was not
altogether lost; for many of our people thought proper to leave half
those India goods they had brought out of the town behind them, that
they might travel with less fatigue. We walked with more ease half this
day than we did the day before, it proving cloudy weather and cool.
About noon the general who had been with us before, came with some roast
meat, and a horn of water for the king and his son. As we did not loose
their hands, we were forced to feed them. The general ordered Sam to ask
the captains if they would release the king for six guns. I perceived
there was a debate between them and Mr Bembo: some thinking the six guns
would be of great service to us, especially as we should still have the
king’s son. Others were of opinion that it would be more for our safety
to keep the king; however it was agreed at last that he should be
dismissed. We informed the general that if they would give us six very
good guns, and promise on their honour not to follow us, but return with
their king, we would let him go; and that as soon as we came to the
river Manderra, which divided his dominions from those of Port Dauphine,
we would release the king’s son, and leave all their arms behind us.
The general was startled at this unexpected condescension of our people,
and despatched away one of his attendants to the king’s other sons, who
were not far off with their army, to acquaint them with our proposal;
and in half an hour’s time returned to us with six of the best guns.
They made the more haste lest our minds should alter. We kept them no
longer in suspense than while we took the guns to pieces, to see whether
they were in good condition or not; and finding them better than we
could reasonably have expected in such a country, we released their
king, and sent him away with the general. He took his leave of the
prince, and went directly to his army. We were so near as to see the
ceremony of his sons meeting him, who fell down and embraced his knees,
and with all the earnestness imaginable, shedding tears for joy. After
they had kissed and licked his knees and legs for about five or six
minutes, they arose to give his head officers an opportunity of paying
the like homage; and after them, some others of an inferior station;
who, in general, expressed a most sincere and passionate affection to
his person, and showed all the demonstrations of joy imaginable on
account of his return. This ceremonial over, they all hallooed and fired
their guns as a public testimony of their general joy and satisfaction.
We could not help halting to observe this scene, but before it was
perfectly concluded we marched forwards as well as we could, though with
no small difficulty: for notwithstanding it continued cloudy, yet the
afternoon was sultry hot, and our thirst increasing, we began to grow
sensibly weaker and weaker; our captains, however, walked slowly on,
which made our journey something easier. We asked the prince if there
was no water near at hand; he informed us that there was none to be got
till we came to Manderra river, which we should not be able to reach
that night. Though it was not easy for us to miss our way, yet we made
him our guide. The natives had told us before, that the plain we were in
was long, and of no great breadth in proportion to the length; but
extended itself near east and west to the river. As soon as we came to a
sandy place, we halted and formed our camp, it being then near sunset.
This was somewhat softer for us to lie on than our situation the night
before. The natives perceiving that we began to encamp, followed our
example. They divided themselves accordingly into six parties, and so
ordered their matters that they almost surrounded us; which did not a
little surprise us. However we appointed our watch as before; but here
to our misfortune we could find neither victuals nor water; and were
almost parched with thirst. In short, we were reduced to so great an
extremity, that we crawled on the ground to lick the dew; and this was
all the refreshment we could then meet with.
On the third day of our march we rose early, and put forward as well as
we could. The negroes, who strictly observed our motions, were as ready
as we; but we placed our armed men in the front, determining to make a
bold push for it, if they attempted to obstruct our passage. They
divided, and let us proceed without molestation; and though we travelled
all the morning yet we met with nothing remarkable, till we arrived at a
little round hill, whereon there stood a prodigiously large tub, about
six feet high, which held near a hundred gallons, and was full of toake.
Our people were going immediately to drain it dry, but Sam threw it down
and spilt all the liquor; asking us with some warmth, if we were so
blind as not to see the plot that was laid for our destruction: for it
was planted there to tempt us to drink, with no other intention than to
poison us all; or at least to intoxicate us to that degree, that they
might rescue their prince without opposition, and murder us at their
pleasure.
While we were reflecting on this extraordinary action, the general and
two or three more came up to us, and asked Sam what reason he could
offer for spilling the toake. To which he made no regular reply, but bid
him begone about his business. The general desired to speak with the
young prince, and after a little discourse with him, directed Sam to
acquaint captain Younge that if he should think fit to release the
prince, they would give him three of the head-men of the country in
exchange. The captain told him, if he would consent to be one of them,
they would agree to it. He excused himself on account of his family,
who, as he pretended, would be inconsolable should he leave them;
however, he would engage that his own brother, who had no children,
should be one of the hostages.
Captain Younge, who imagined that they followed us on account of their
prince only, and that if we should release him they would return back,
complied with the general’s proposition. Upon this he posted away to the
army, and acquainted the other princes with the agreement he had made;
for the king went directly home as soon as he left us. We marched on,
determining to lose no time, and the general returned in less than an
hour with three men; and informed us, that he had brought his brother
and two more of the chief of their people in exchange for the prince;
and as to the arms then in our possession which belonged to their king,
we might, when we had no further occasion for them, leave them according
to our promise with these three men, who would take care to send them
home.
We took the three men, and having tied their hands behind them,
delivered up the prince. He shook hands with our captains, and went to
the army; as soon as his brethren saw him at a distance they ran to meet
him, as did also many others, who seemed to be more transported with joy
for his deliverance, than they were before for his father’s.
We proceeded on our journey as well as men could without provisions, and
were too soon convinced of captain Younge’s mistake; for the negroes
instead of retiring approached nearer to us, and some marched before us;
so that we expected every minute when they would attack us. We had a
young lad in our company who lost his leg at Bengal. Notwithstanding he
was well recovered, and supplied with a wooden one well fitted, yet it
cannot be imagined that he should be able to keep up with us; for being
now surprised by their surrounding us, we doubled our pace; and, in
short, were obliged to leave this poor lad behind us. We saw the
barbarians come up with him, take off his wooden leg, and first insult
him; then they thrust their lances into his body, and left him wallowing
in his blood. Being eye-witnesses of this act of inhumanity, and
apprehensive of the like treatment, we hurried on as fast as our feeble
limbs could carry us till sunset; when we came to a large tamarind tree,
the leaves whereof, as they were sour, we chewed to moisten our mouths.
The fruit itself was not then in season.
The three negroes whom we had taken as hostages, observing what had
passed, and thinking their lives in danger, called to Sam and the
captains, and told them they had a scheme to propose which would be for
the safety of us all, which was this:—that as soon as it was dark we
should keep marching on as silently as possible all the night. The
captains approved of this proposal, and ordered none of us to sleep, but
to be ready as soon as the watchword was given. This was very grievous
considering how tired we were the day before; but we submitted
cheerfully to any thing which gave us hopes of escaping from the violent
hands of those bloodthirsty barbarians. As soon as it was dark enough to
conceal our flight we assembled together, and took a considerable
quantity of muslins and calicoes and hung them upon the bushes, that the
spies, who we knew watched us, might not any ways mistrust our sudden
removal.
We walked off accordingly undiscovered by them. Captain Drummond,
however, being taken so ill that he could not walk at all, none of us
being strong enough to carry him, we resolved to make the three negroes
perform that office by turns. After we had thus travelled most part of
the night, we came to a thicket among some cotton trees, where the man
who had the charge of captain Drummond, pretending to ease himself,
threw the captain upon the ground, ran away into the wood, and we never
saw him more. Upon this we had a more watchful eye over the other two
and led him whose turn it was to carry the captain with a rope about his
neck.
Weak as we were, we travelled a great many miles that night, and were
glad when the day broke in upon us; for the negroes had told us before,
that if we walked hard all night we should be at Manderra river betimes
in the morning. And their information was just; for as soon as we came
to a little hill, the sun then just rising, we had a prospect of the
river, though at a considerable distance; however, the hopes we had of
coming to it in a short time, and of getting water to quench our thirst,
gave us no small pleasure, and our spirits began to revive at the very
sight of it. It was some comfort to us likewise to think that the king’s
dominions extended no farther; notwithstanding there were no inhabitants
to protect us within several miles on the other side. Some of our
people, who were more tired than the rest, took liberty to sit down to
refresh themselves; as taking it for granted, that the negro army would
never come in sight of us again.
But this vain notion of being safe and secure too quickly vanished; for
as soon as they missed us in the morning, they pursued us like so many
greyhounds; and before we got within a mile of Manderra river overtook
us. Thereupon they began to butcher our men then resting under the
trees, striking their lances into their sides and throats. Though I was
one of those who could not travel well, yet there were twenty behind me;
the woman, whose life was preserved in our ship, was next to me. I
seeing them kill our people in this barbarous manner, threw off my coat
and waistcoat, and trusted to my heels, for the foremost of our people
having passed the river, and I not being far off took courage; but
hearing the report of a gun, I looked back, and saw the poor woman fall,
and the negroes sticking their lances in her sides. My turn was next,
for the same negroes pursued me, and before I was got to the brink of
the river they fired a gun at me; but I jumped in. Our men who had got
safely over, made a stand, in order to defend those who were behind; and
notwithstanding the negroes followed me so close, I could not refrain
from drinking two or three times out of my hat, let the consequence
prove what it would.
However I got over safely, and whilst we were on the bank and faced
them, they never attempted to follow us. Our captains asked me, if I
thought there were any of our companions still behind us? I answered, I
believed that there were none alive. We waited a while, and then marched
forwards. We had a wood to pass through, and the negroes as soon as they
saw us quit the banks, immediately pursued us. They got into the woods,
and firing behind the trees every now and then, they killed three or
four of our men. We had not travelled above two miles in this wood,
before we came to a large sandy plain, to which we could see no end, and
here they determined to stop our progress; since if we went much
farther, we should be within hearing of king Samuel’s subjects, who were
their mortal enemies, and would readily assist us. They divided
themselves, therefore, into several bodies, in order to break in upon us
on all sides; and we being apprized of their designs, were resolved to
sell our lives and liberties as dearly as possible. Hereupon our
captains put us in as good a posture of defence as they could, and
divided our men who bore arms into four classes: one under the command
of each of our three captains, and the other under Mr John Bembo; such
as had no arms or were disabled, were covered in a little valley; and
with them were the two negro hostages.
We had not above six and thirty fire-arms amongst us all, and not many
more persons fit to fight; so that we were a poor handful to withstand
an army of two or three thousand. When they found we made a stand, they
did so too; and according to their wonted manner (where it could be
done) three or four of them in a place threw up the sand before them,
and being also beneath us, we could see only their heads: their shot
flew very fast over us, and we kept them in play from noon till six in
the evening; by which time all our ammunition was spent. Those of us who
had money made slugs of it; their next shift was to take the middle
screws out of their guns, and charge their pieces with them. When they
had used all these means, they knew not what to do farther: now we began
to reflect on those who advised us to deliver up first the king, and
afterwards his son; since the keeping of them would have been our
principal safeguard. The two negroes in our custody expected, no doubt,
every minute to be killed, as very justly they might; but as their death
would be of no service to us, we did them no injury.
At length it was unanimously agreed, that Dudey and her husband should
be sent to them with a flag of truce, not only to prolong the time, but
to know what they farther wanted: so we tied a piece of red silk to a
lance, and despatched them away. They kept firing at us all this time,
not knowing what we meant by not returning it. They shot at those who
carried the flag, but perceiving that they were not armed, the prince
ordered them to cease. Dudey was interpreter, and told them that our
captain was inclined to make peace with them, and to deliver up the two
hostages with the guns and ammunition we took with us, as soon as we
were advanced a little farther into the country. They said they would
suffer us to go in the morning, in case we would deliver up our arms and
the men; but not that evening, because it was dark. Their true reason
was this, they knew if we got away that night, we should send some of
king Samuel’s people, who were their utter enemies, to be revenged on
them for the ill treatment we had met with.
We were at a loss what determination to come to: we were willing,
indeed, to let the two men (whom they called generals) go; but loath to
part with our arms: most of us, as well as our captain, were of opinion,
that they followed us for nothing else, and were for delivering them up;
but captain Drummond, captain Steward, and their people, with Mr Bembo,
and some of our men, opposed it. Captain Drummond, in particular,
expressed a great concern to see us so easy to be imposed upon; and told
us that it was too visible their words were not to be relied on: most
voices, however, carried it, and captain Younge being of the opinion it
was best to resign them, it was agreed; and in short, soon actually
performed; for Dudey having orders to acquaint them with such
resolution, they sent proper messengers immediately to receive them.
Captain Drummond, however, and his companions claimed theirs as their
own right and property, and therefore would not deliver them; nor would
Dudey’s husband part with his. The negroes well knew we had but few
left, and went away to all outward appearance well contented for that
night. Dudey returned, and assured us that they would let us go in the
morning; and as night was coming on, we laid down upon the sand, to
repose ourselves as well as our distressed circumstances would admit of;
for besides the hunger and fatigue we had already suffered, we reflected
a thousand times on the barbarities we had seen committed the day
before; and that it was now in their power to treat us as they pleased.
The next morning as soon as we could see, we missed captain Drummond,
captain Steward, Mr Bembo, Dudey, and her husband, and four or five
more, who deserted us in the night, without communicating their
intentions to us. Now we plainly saw destruction before us, and the end
of this miserable journey; which, after so bold an attempt, we undertook
for the preservation of our lives and liberty; and a tragical one it
was. For,
No sooner was it broad daylight, than the negroes came up to us, and the
prince had a short conference with Sam. Captain Younge asked him the
purport of their discourse. He answered, they wanted to know what was
become of captain Drummond, and the rest. The words were no sooner out
of his mouth, than one of the princes took hold of me, and delivered me
to one of his attendants; there were three or four lads like myself and
much about my age, who were seized at the same time and delivered to
their people in the same manner; who bound our hands with cords.
The same prince who ordered my hands to be thus tied, stuck his lance
into captain Younge’s throat, and afterwards into his sides. Having
killed him, he went on to another; and the rest of his barbarous train
immediately following his example, they soon murdered every man
belonging to our company; they then stripped off their clothes, and like
inhuman butchers, ripped open several of their bellies. As for my part,
I expected death every moment, but in what shape I could not tell; for
one of the generals lifted up his lance, with an intention to pierce me
through, but was prevented by the man who had me in custody, for some
reasons I could not then rightly understand; but as I heard afterwards,
he informed him I was reserved to wait on the king’s grandson. Though
this saved my life, yet it would not hinder the officer from rifling me
of what I had valuable about me; for he feeling my purse in my breeches
pocket, and not readily finding it, in a fury, with his lance cut away
my breeches, and narrowly missed my flesh.
When they had concluded this bloody scene, and clothed themselves with
the spoils of the slain, they marched away in very great haste, for fear
of the natives of Port Dauphine; whom they imagined captain Drummond and
the rest had by that time alarmed, and prevailed on them to send some
forces down to our rescue. Now whether the negroes might not think we
had sent them away on purpose to get such assistance, and thereby
provoked them to murder us, I cannot say; but certain it is, we were the
most unfortunate wretches in the universe: for I was afterwards
informed, before our murdered people were well cold, two thousand of
king Samuel’s men came down to rescue us out of their merciless hands.
Perhaps the reader will say, why did we not send two or three of our
people as soon as we had passed the river? To which I can only answer, I
think we were all infatuated, for with ease it might have been done;
especially since we had the woman Dudey to go with them as an
interpreter; and we might have kept Sam with us. But none of these
reasons at that time occurred to me; for I was but a raw, inexperienced
youth. And what motives could induce captain Younge to release both the
king and his son, is what I cannot pretend to account for. The plot was
doubtless well concerted, and as duly executed at first, but most
shamefully conducted afterwards; and, indeed, it is scarcely credible,
that such a number of us could be so stupid as we then were; and since I
have attained to a mature age, and been capable of any reflection, it is
what I have been surprised at.
The only reason that can be offered I now think, is, that as all of us
had a great affection for our captain’s father, so it caused us to be
too partial, and to entertain too good an opinion of the son. But I
since found to my great concern that our captain wanted not only
judgment, but experience in the world; for captain Drummond, as I very
well remember, frequently opposed him; but by whatsoever ill conduct or
folly we might contribute towards our ruin, so it was; and I am relating
a real fact, and not inventing a fiction, or telling the reader what
might or ought to have been done in the unhappy situation of our affairs
at that time; however, through his imprudence were my friends massacred,
and myself with three more made perpetual slaves: the eldest of us was
not above sixteen years of age, and we were immediately parted, for they
marched directly off the spot. As for Sam, I do not reckon him as one of
us, because he went off with the negroes. I never saw him afterwards,
but was informed, that he lived a freeman under deaan Crindo; and
whether he was so faithful to us as in justice and gratitude he ought to
have been, is somewhat dubious.
All the way we went I had the shocking prospect of our men’s mangled
bodies, as we passed through the woods to the river. I was not so
thirsty now, as when I passed it first; but so faint for want of
victuals, that I could scarcely stand upon my legs, having had no
sustenance for three days together. Though my master expressed some
little concern for me, yet he would not wait till he was past the river;
however, he ordered his people to stop at the first commodious place,
and make a fire. And now I was in hopes of some agreeable refreshment;
for some of his servants had carried beef on their backs for that
purpose. Though they cut it into long pieces, (like ropes,) with the
hide, and dressed and eat it half roasted according to their custom, and
gave it me in the same manner, yet I thought this contemptible food, and
what a beggar in England would not have touched, the most delicious
entertainment I ever met with. We rested here about an hour, when he, to
whose care I was intrusted, made signs to know if I could walk; and as I
was a little refreshed, I got up, and travelled the remainder of the day
with more ease than I expected; since they walked but slowly, as I
perceived on purpose to indulge me.