of it, and see if it would answer all these fine purposes of the
Umossee, which deaan Mevarrow was somewhat doubtful of, though very
eager to know; and therefore, having sprinkled his hives with the
eastern root according to directions, he proposed it to several to make
the experiment, and he would give them an ox as a reward, but nobody
would venture; Whereupon he ordered it to be published about the
country, and by this means I came to hear of it. Now I had before
observed the simplicity of the people on these occasions, and plainly
perceived that these artful Umossees took the advantage of their
ignorance to cheat and impose upon them. I was very sensible there was
nothing more in all this, and that it had already met with the effect
desired, by striking terror into the people; and having a considerable
quantity of honey myself, I imagined, if I gave out that I had the
secret, it would also preserve mine. I sent word, therefore, to my
master, that I would oblige him if he would communicate the secret to
me, in case I survived the experiment. He not only sent for me
immediately, and agreed to my proposal, but made me a promise of a
considerable reward besides.
I went, accordingly, with my master and several others to the hive,
which was sprinkled, as they call it, with the poison; and swallowed the
honey down by handfuls before them, asking them at the same time if they
would eat some with me? They would not touch it, they said, for ten
thousand cattle; making several grimaces in the mean time, and expecting
every moment some dismal calamity would befall me for my presumption.
When I had filled my belly, my master would have me home with him, in
order to have the cure at hand, but I chose rather to stay with my
comrades; by which means, I had time to contrive some way to deceive
them. As fortune would have it, being in the fields, I saw at some
distance a calf sucking a cow; and nobody being in sight, I tied up the
calf with my lamber, and milked the cow into my mouth as long as ever I
could. This, and the honey together, had the desired effect, for it
began to swell me immediately, and rumbled in my belly so loud that it
might be heard. Away went I to my comrades, who perceiving my belly
swelled, and hearing the unusual noise, advised me to run home, and cry
out I was poisoned. I pretended to step behind a hedge on some private
occasion, but it was only to whip myself with some nettles. The pimples
and redness raised from this stratagem terrified them still more and
more; for there appeared on me all the symptoms of poison which the
Umossee had before described; and to crown the deceit, you may be sure I
did not fail to comply, and cry out most heartily; thereupon, some ran
before me, and others helped me home.
My master, before I came, had prepared the water with the vauhovalumy,
or root of life; the people, terrified at the danger I was in, flocked
round the house; some pitied me, and stood astonished at the profound
learning of the Umossee, who did not, himself, perceive the cheat. Well,
I drank the medicine, and after reposing myself for three or four hours,
all the tokens of danger disappeared, and I was well. The vauhovalumy
was looked upon as a sovereign medicine, and the Umossee as a very great
and wise man, who did not a little value himself upon the success of his
secret, repenting that he had parted with it at so cheap a rate; saying,
he would have twenty cows for it of the next that wanted it. Deaan
Mevarrow, as a gratification, bid him choose any two cows and two calves
out of all his cattle in the cow-pen, which he did accordingly, and
departed. My master, on my promise of secrecy, discovered both the roots
to me, and showed me not only how to find them, but how to use them to
the best advantage; for the pain, he imagined, I had suffered, and the
hazard I underwent, he presented me with a cow and calf; I then thought
I had spent my time to a very good purpose.
When I returned to my plantation, my neighbours and fellow-slaves having
observed the sudden and terrible effects of this poison, begged of me to
put a mark upon all my hives, that when they went out a honey-stealing,
they might not be killed by eating any of mine. This was the very thing
I aimed at, and, accordingly, I put a white stick before every hive, and
never lost my honey afterwards. Nobody would go near my hives for fear
my bees should sting them, and the wounds should prove of more dangerous
consequence than those of others.
Having now a cow and a calf, I had milk of my own, and was as rich as my
fellow-slaves; besides the advantage I made of my honey, by selling
forty or fifty gallons a year for hatchets, beads, &c., to those who
make toake with it; more especially against their circumcision, and
other solemn festivals.
I lived in this manner about three years, which, with the two years and
a half I had spent before, made up almost an apprenticeship in this
country. One day my master came to survey our work, and taking peculiar
notice of the method I observed, he told me I must go home with him and
keep his cattle, which were near the town. This employment was not near
so laborious as digging and cultivating his plantation; however, I was
pretty well improved, but as he provided for me now, and my honey was
safe, I was not much concerned at my removal; so away I went, driving my
own cattle, which were considerably increased, having two heifers,
besides my cow and calf. My household furniture too was not so
cumbersome, but I was able to carry it all away at once; yet I was as
rich, and had as much as other people in my mean station, and much more
than many of them.
In less than two days I built me a house, and a cow-pen for my cattle.
Now was I in my former situation, and looking after my master’s cattle;
the hardest of my labour was, as I observed before, the bringing home
every other night, either a tub or a calabash, four or five miles, full
of water; but considering I was a slave, I lived in as much ease as I
could reasonably expect.
I had not continued long in this last station, before a general calamity
reduced us to the most deplorable circumstances. The epidemical evil of
this island is, their frequent animosities and open quarrels with one
another, which is the principal reason why such numbers of them are sold
to the Europeans for slaves. This is a dangerous and destructive
misfortune to a people, otherwise good-natured and well disposed; who
have wholesome laws for the determination of all disputes, and the
punishment of all crimes, of which I shall give an account in a more
proper place; but what I have to observe here is, that the sovereign
prince of any country has seldom force sufficient to oblige the lesser
chiefs in his dominions to answer, in a judicial way, to the wrongs they
do each other, or the mistakes and errors which they casually commit;
but they fight it out, making slaves of, impoverishing, and destroying
one another, after the manner I am now going to relate, in which I
myself was a severe sufferer.
All things appeared in a state of peace and tranquillity. No foreign
enemy for a long time molested us. But what I took particular notice of
when first a slave, was, my master and others clandestinely driving away
their neighbours’ cattle, and their neighbours being equally guilty of
the same practice, so that it was a very difficult point to determine
who was the aggressor in the present quarrel. But one day, as I and some
others went about five or six miles to water our cattle, having two men
armed with guns to guard us according to custom, it happened, on our
return home, that notwithstanding the greater number of them went on
slowly, grazing as they passed along, some of the milch cows, wanting to
be sucked by their calves, ran homewards before the rest. The man
knowing me to be very active and nimble, desired me to run forwards and
stop them, in order to keep them in a body; but they being got at a
great distance, it was some time before I could turn them. When I
wheeled about, I was surprised to see one of our men shooting amongst a
body of men, who were driving the cattle another way, and running from
them towards me; they soon espied us, and our cattle, and ran after us.
Hereupon I quitted my post, and fled as fast as I could home to my
master, and was the first messenger to relate our disaster. I puffed and
blowed, being frightened, and out of breath, and in imperfect
exclamations I told him, that an army had seized our cattle; and that
one of our men, named Roynsowra, had fired and killed somebody; but I
could not inform him who the enemy were, nor on what account they thus
attacked us. While my master and some others were discoursing with me,
in came two or three more, who informed them that deaan Chahary and his
brother deaan Frukey, two of deaan Crindo’s sons, were the parties
concerned. Our master, it seems, had been found guilty of stealing three
of deaan Frukey’s cattle, and this they did by way of retaliation. All
was in an uproar and confusion at once. Each man took up his arms in a
hurry. Deaan Mevarrow ordered them to follow him, which they were as
much inclined to do as he was to lead them, for the loss was general.
All the milch cows and home-kept cattle were gone, and now away went all
the men in pursuit of them, except such as were old and infirm. Amongst
others, I was demolished, having lost my cow and my two heifers; my
calf, indeed, was left at home, lowing for its dam, as did every body’s
else; between which vociferations, and the outcries of the women and
children, there was a most confused and hideous uproar.
Deaan Frukey, who then was, or at least pretended to be, the injured
person, lived within two or three miles of our watering place; but they
drove our cattle more to the northward, to deaan Chahary’s town, which
was better fortified, and much more capable of sustaining the assault,
which they justly imagined we should make against it. Though our people
were highly provoked, and very expeditious, yet they followed them with
all the circumspection imaginable; having spies who ran softly before,
by whom they found their enemies were entered the town with their booty.
Our people, not being provided with strength sufficient, and having no
time to call in their neighbours to their assistance, did not attempt to
assault deaan Chahary’s town, but turned off without being suspected,
and went about five miles farther, where they kept their breeding
cattle. As it was now late in the night, they took them all without any
opposition, the few keepers they had being at a distance, and fast
asleep; so that they drove away the beasts without any noise, and made
their way homewards as fast as possible. We looked out all the morning,
expecting every minute they would return; and, at length, we espied them
with a vast drove of cattle, containing as many at least, if not more
than our own, being above five hundred. All of us imagined they had
recovered their own; and for my own part, I was thinking how I should
kiss my cow for joy of seeing her again; but too soon we perceived they
were strangers, and as I was not with them, I had no share of the booty.
My master, and several others, after they had divided them, killed some
of the oxen; a jovial feast was made immediately, and our people sent me
part of the banquet. The day following my master despatched me to look
after the cattle as before, whilst he went to repair some breaches in
his town walls, by putting in several poles, which were cut down for
that purpose, and made preparations for a war. He had not patience,
however, to stay at home and see whether his enemies would come to
create him any new disturbance, though he might be very well satisfied
with the reprisals he had made on them, since he had taken away more
than he had lost. However, in two or three days’ time after, he was
resolutely bent to surprise the enemy’s town by night, though he left
his own unguarded, and met with such success as so precipitate a conduct
justly deserved; for the very next morning after their expedition, as I
and others were watering our cattle, and looking carefully after them,
lest they should run to their own home, which was considerably nearer to
the watering place than our town, about twenty men rushed out of a
thicket of bushes, and leaped upon us like so many tigers on their prey.
However, I and three or four more boys had time to start out of their
clutches and fly for it; but they soon overtook the rest, carrying them
back, and all the cattle and the other slaves that were with them; while
some followed me, hollaing out, and menacing to kill me if I did not
stop and surrender myself their captive. Thereupon I turned about, and
perceiving I had gained ground of them, I ran directly forwards for a
mile and a half at least, before I came to any proper shelter. At length
I came to a wood, with which I was well acquainted, where I soon lost
them. They returned back to their companions, and went off with their
prisoners and cattle. Perceiving them gone I hastened home; when I
entered the town the women immediately flocked round about me, for they
saw by my countenance and the confusion I was in that some misfortune
had attended our party. I soon acquainted them with the loss we had
sustained, and they as soon reflected on their husband’s ill conduct;
who, to gratify the dictates of a blind passion, and to avenge
themselves on their enemies, would leave all that was valuable to
themselves unguarded to become their prey; for they might be very well
assured that they had spies out to give notice of every opportunity
which might tend to their advantage.
Deaan Mevarrow returned about evening, when, for his welcome home, the
news of this morning’s expedition was related to him. I also understood
the project they went upon had proved fruitless and ineffectual; for
though they arrived at the enemy’s town an hour before daylight, yet so
cautious and vigilant were they in sending out their spies all ways both
night and day, that they discovered our people, and alarmed the
townfolks, who came out and met them. And all that was done, as I could
hear, was only a tongue-battle, and vollies of opprobrious language.
Deaan Mevarrow, indeed, fired at them at a distance, which they
returned, but no execution was done on either side. A kinsman coming
soon after daylight to deaan Frukey’s assistance, deaan Mevarrow thought
it most advisable to withdraw; but not without telling them, if his
kinsman and his people had not come in to his assistance, he would have
had all his cattle again in a few hours. To this they replied, that they
would not only keep the cattle they had of his, but that their own,
which had been lately carried away by surprise, were by this time in
their own hands again, as he would find at his return. And what they
asserted, indeed, proved too true: at this he was heartily nettled. We
had killed, however, a considerable number of them first, and stocked
ourselves with provisions. He vowed to be revenged on his uncles, and
accordingly made preparations for another enterprise, which was entered
upon in three days after. He asked me if I was willing to make one of
the party? I very readily embraced his offer, for there was safety
nowhere now; and being at home was as dangerous as being with them. So
he furnished me with a gun, cartouch box, and powder-horn, and thus
accoutred, I commenced soldier.
We sallied out of our town as soon as it was dark, for we had a great
way to go. Deaan Frukey, with all his people, having abandoned his own
town, not thinking it sufficiently fortified, and moved to his
brother’s, which was many miles farther to the northward, we marched
very briskly, but as silently as possible, never speaking to each other,
but in whispers. As my skin appeared white, they imagined it must be
discerned at a distance in the dark, and expose us by that means to our
enemy’s spies; they therefore made me besmear myself all over with mud.
We came near the town about two hours before daylight, and sent two men
who were perfectly acquainted with every part of it, in order to search
for breaches, or at least some weak places in the fortifications. They
succeeded as they could wish, and returned, having discovered not only
two breaches, but the private way too, which is always prepared for the
women and children, by which to make their escape into the woods in case
of a surprise. Near this place we laid an ambuscade of thirty men, who
were ordered not to fire, or make the least noise, and to seize the
women only in their flight. Our army was divided into three parts: deaan
Mevarrow, with his people, attacked the more difficult breach of the
two; a chief man of his the other; and deaan Sambo the gate, in whose
party I was; for my master would not take me with him, thinking I could
not well bear to tread upon the thorns in the fortification.
There were three gates, one within another. The signal for our attack
was the firing the first gun, which was not to be till the deaan
Mevarrow and the other chief had secured the outside of the breaches,
and it was a quarter of an hour before we had accomplished it. The
townsmen were by that time all in arms, and almost as well prepared as
we, for they secured the inner gate, at the same time we entered the
outer one, and came furiously towards us with warmth and resolution;
however, we drove them back. They maintained the other, indeed, a long
time, till deaan Mevarrow had, with much difficulty, gained a passage
through the breach; one of his principal men was shot in the belly just
before him, which so provoked him that he leaped down, and the rest
followed.
About the same time we pushed vigorously towards, and entered the town.
Immediately we heard the outcry of the women, who were surprised by our
ambuscade, and almost all of them taken. The men got off by a breach,
which they themselves made into the woods, and left us the town to
plunder and reduce to ashes, which was done accordingly. I got for my
share a small quantity of cotton, and a few wooden platters, and some
spoons. We found here several of our cattle, and among the rest I espied
my cow, and did not question then but I should soon have her again: but
see the fatal effects of an ill-grounded security! We had now a great
booty of slaves and cattle; the latter we drove out of the town before
us, without any guard before them, thinking we had gained an entire
victory and dispersed all our enemies; when, in fact, the number of them
was greatly increased. They kept in a body in the woods, observed our
motions, and only waited for a favourable opportunity to show their
resentment. They soon perceived that the cattle were left defenceless,
and that they had little more to do than to drive them into the woods,
where we lost them all almost as soon as we had got them. For on our
march, in order to recover them, the enemy appeared in a formidable
body, firing at us, and even giving us battle. In this action one of our
men was killed. Several of our people were missing before, even whilst
we were in the town; and upon strict inquiry, we found three wounded,
and four of our principal and bravest men cut off. Deaan Mevarrow and
all the rest seemed very much concerned at this unexpected misfortune;
and were not near so active or sanguine as they were before, so that now
they thought of nothing but making a retreat with the slaves they had
taken, and getting out of the reach of the enemy as soon as possible.
Accordingly they left the plain open road by which we came, and went
through the woods, a most uncomfortable way, for ten miles or more,
overrun with thorns and briars, and in perpetual fear of ambuscades. We
stopped, however, to make a bier to carry away our men who were wounded,
and then marched on with the utmost circumspection, thinking every bird
that stirred an enemy in ambush. Notwithstanding we got through this
long wood very safely, we still went by unbeaten ways, so that it was
almost dark before we got home. It is a constant custom, be the success
of their engagements good or bad, for the chief to sit down with his
people before his own door; the women soon flocked round him to hear the
news, and though we brought with us a considerable number of slaves, yet
there was no room for rejoicing; for the wives, relations, and friends
who were killed made a most hideous outcry. However, a few calves were
killed, and we refreshed ourselves as well as we could after our long
fatigue; every man retired to his own apartment, and being weary, lay
down to rest; but before daylight we were alarmed by the firing of a
gun. The enemy, by our conduct the day before, perceived we were
dispirited, and determined to give us no time to recruit; so they
pursued us and attacked our town, as we had before done theirs; but I
cannot say their judgment or conduct was equal to ours. For the first
thing we did upon the alarm was, to have a party ready to secure the
wives, children, and other valuable slaves, in which we succeeded to our
wish, and conveyed them safely out of the town to their proper recesses.
Though we defended ourselves as long as we could, yet we did not show so
much courage and resolution as we should have done at another time;
however, we retreated with but a trivial loss, and left them the town to
plunder. There was nothing of value for them, since the women had
carried off what their haste would admit of; and as for cattle, there
was none but a few calves, whose dams they had seized at first; and such
was their precipitation, that they could not drive even them away; so
they killed them, and carried as much of their carcasses away for
provision as they conveniently could. They never once offered to go in
search for the women, but called to us, and vowed we should have no rest
till they recovered their wives and children. We told them on the other
hand, that we would have our cattle again, and not restore them their
wives neither. They seemed pleased with thus showing their resentment;
it was no small satisfaction to our people, though defeated this time,
to find that notwithstanding all the disadvantages they then lay under,
they were still able to cope with them.
But deaan Crindo, our king, by this time was apprized of all that had
happened, who immediately undertook to reconcile all differences between
us; and accordingly sent messengers to both parties to know the grounds
of our quarrel, and the demands on both sides. Deaan Mevarrow sent word
he was ready to oblige the king, and would live in peace with his uncles
in case they would send him all his cattle again; and as deaan Frukey
and Chahary wanted their wives again, they said, they were ready and
willing to return what cattle were left alive of ours; but having killed
a third part, they would never be accountable on that score. So that the
king could not persuade deaan Frukey to make up the number of our
cattle; nor on the other hand could he prevail on us to send them their
wives unless they made restitution. Our master boldly sent the king
word, that all the force he had, united with that of his sons, should
not oblige him to restore their wives and children on any other terms.