Murnanzack’s attack on deaan Mundumber’s town, where he took three
hundred cattle, and a great number of women and children; for it is not
customary to take men prisoners, if they cannot get away from their
enemies, they are immediately cut off. Among the captives were deaan
Mundumber’s wife and daughter, the only child he ever had. Having
plundered the town, they were going to reduce it to ashes, but deaan
Murnanzack prevented them; and marching into the plain, waited to see if
deaan Mundumber would rally, and give him battle. His people appeared,
indeed, but at a great distance, not daring to come nearer; which, as
soon as he perceived, he marched homewards, but first did a very
generous action, and sent back deaan Mundumber’s wife and daughter to
him; telling her, he did not intend it as a compliment to her husband,
but as a token of his respect to herself and family: she being niece to
the king of Yong-Owl, one of the most powerful princes on the island.
Nor did he do it with any view that he should return the like favour,
for he had no wife, and was well assured by God’s assistance, who would
favour his just cause, that it would never be in his power to prove
prejudicial to any of his relations.
As soon as deaan Crindo heard that his son’s town was taken, he thought
it high time to seek revenge; and accordingly mustered up a great army,
threatening to lay the country waste, to destroy all the men, and make
slaves of their wives and children. He sent, likewise, to our master to
join him, but he peremptorily refused; saying, he would never join with
his professed enemies against his experienced friends. However, he did
not declare his intentions of opposing him. They both sent to deaan
Mephontey, but he refused to be concerned on either side, and kept his
word; for his dominions extending to the river Manderra, the boundaries
of Antenosa, he was apprehensive that the inhabitants of those parts
might take the advantage of his absence, plunder his towns, and lay
waste his country.
When deaan Crindo marched from Fennoarevo, he did not wholly abandon his
towns, but left a considerable number of men in them, for fear of Rer
Mimebolambo and Afferrer. He had no jealousy of us, however; whilst he
was gone Rer Mimebolambo and my master deaan Mevarrow joined forces, and
went out to see what they could find; they soon surprised three towns,
for the men made a very weak resistance; so they brought off about two
hundred cattle, and fifty slaves. My master was discovered by having a
white man (meaning myself) along with him. This was altogether
unexpected to them, and deaan Crindo’s wife immediately sent him notice
thereof, and that she was in no small concern on that account. To which
information he returned for answer, that he would soon despatch the
business he was about, and then he would be amply revenged of deaan
Mevarrow. But we took care to be provided for him.
In our way homewards, the cattle and slaves were equally divided between
deaan Mevarrow and Rer Mimebolambo; and they then came to this
resolution, that it was absolutely necessary for them to live together
in one town. Ours was the strongest, but not so big as we could wish;
theirs was of a larger extent, and they had, moreover, abundance of
empty houses, which were deserted by those who went away upon the war’s
breaking out; so it was agreed we should settle there. We lost no time,
for the very day we went home we packed up all our goods, and marched
away directly to Merhaundroverta, which was the name of Rer
Mimebolambo’s town, and abandoned our own in less than a fortnight after
we had built it. Thus were we driven about like our wild boars that
change their holes every day, and fly from one wood to another, lest the
wild dogs should find them out. And we were not only forced to secure
ourselves against the surprises of a body of our enemies, but as we
lived so near one another, three or four, or half a dozen of their men
would often lie lurking in the woods near towns, and catch a woman,
child, or slave of ours, that happened to stroll out on any occasion
whatever, as digging of wild yams, &c., so that we had little else to
eat but beef; and such as had it of their own gave it to those who had
none.
However, I had an employment here which maintained me handsomely enough,
and it seemed as if Providence had thought fit to appoint it, on purpose
for my support in this seasonable conjuncture. Few of this part of the
island will eat any beef unless it is killed by one descended from a
race of kings; now my master, just before the war broke out, growing
haughty to excess, and having none but himself and his brother to
execute these high offices, they were sometimes obliged to go five or
six miles to kill an ox. He at last reflected that these people have an
exalted opinion of all white men, and taking me for the captain’s son,
whom they looked upon to be no ways inferior to a king, I was thought of
honourable descent enough to be preferred to the dignity of a butcher;
though in fact I did nothing more than cut the throat of the beast, and
they carved him up themselves: however, for this, I always had my fee,
which was a large piece of meat. Though my master and some others, as
discerning as myself, plainly perceived that this was a very idle
custom; yet he knew that the vulgar are not to be opposed in their old
ways, be they ever so ridiculous and absurd; and had deaan Mevarrow
obstinately declined this office, and called it a mere caprice of
theirs, so abrupt an innovation would, in all probability, have been
attended with an almost general desertion, for they would instantly have
gone and lived under other lords. He contrived, therefore, to substitute
me in his room, and by that means did, (as all wise governors will,)
seemingly conform to custom to humour the people; yet by an ingenious
expedient shifted off from himself a mean and troublesome employment.
The next morning the cattle were divided; my master had ten, his brother
six, and the principal men one a piece: some others had one between two,
and we slaves one between four of us. For my part I wanted no beef; for
I was often employed, during my residence in this town, to kill the
beasts. I was obliged, however, to agree with my partners to kill ours,
for they had little enough, though I had plenty. I lived tolerably well
here, often exchanging beef for potatoes, &c., with the towns-people;
and here we heard of the havoc deaan Crindo had made in the country. The
people who were allied to deaan Murnanzack, and dwelt in small towns,
left their habitations and removed with their families and cattle beyond
deaan Murnanzack’s toward the sea, where they were sheltered under his
protection. When deaan Crindo came to such towns as were abandoned, he
burnt them down, and utterly destroyed the plantations, pulling up every
thing by the roots, as if his intention were to create a famine in the
country.
Deaan Murnanzack was all this time with his brother Mussecorrow, on his
march towards them, and had such good intelligence, that, under the
cover of a wood, he came undiscovered almost upon them. They were then
ravaging a very large plantation of potatoes, and some others not far
distant from it. He divided his army into four parts, resolving to
attack them on all sides, whilst they were thus mischievously bent; and
boldly showed his face in front, whom they hurried to oppose; the other
parties fired each from their post, killed several, and put the rest
into confusion. However, they made a vigorous resistance, retreating and
forcing their way into a wood, where it was almost impossible to follow
them. Here deaan Crindo rallied them, and disposed them in good order,
each either under his own, or one of his son’s command; for Mundumber,
Chahary, and Frukey, his three sons, were with him. They were much
superior in number to the other; some said, nearly twice as many; which
deaan Murnanzack was no stranger to, nor to the courage of his uncle;
but he was resolute notwithstanding to engage him: and though he had
time sufficient to have retreated, yet he only marched back into the
plain, to secure an advantageous ground, and have time to form his army;
which he did accordingly, and waited for his enemy’s approach to attack
him. It was not long before the engagement began, which was carried on
with great vigour and warmth on both sides; till deaan Murnanzack
perceiving his brother Mussecorrow’s division began to give ground, he
was determined to make a bold push himself; and throwing away his gun,
with six small lances in his hand, he challenged several of his
principal men to follow him, if they durst, into the thickest of the
enemy’s body, which they very gallantly did. But he, being foremost, ran
like an enraged lion, and in spite of all their fire and flying lances,
came to close quarters, hand to hand with his lances; and those gallant
men with him, following his example, drove all that division of their
enemy’s army back, and put it into utter confusion, who not being able
to abide their fury, ran away. They broke into the very part where deaan
Crindo himself was posted, who would have been struck through with a
lance by one of Murnanzack’s companions, had not the deaan himself very
generously prevented it, desiring them not to kill his uncle. He left
his people to pursue them, whilst he ran to the aid and assistance of
Mussecorrow, who, at the same time made a vigorous push, being ashamed
to be outdone; however, they would have been utterly ruined, had not
deaan Murnanzack himself stept in to their assistance in that critical
conjuncture. But they were soon in one general disorder, flying towards
the woods with the utmost precipitation, where deaan Murnanzack followed
them to prevent them from rallying, and carried on the pursuit till he
saw they were quite dispirited, and making homewards to recruit
themselves.
Deaan Crindo perceiving he could do no good with Murnanzack, was
determined not to be idle, and permit deaan Mevarrow and Rer Mimebolambo
to join forces; so out of policy as well as revenge he resolved to
attack us first. But no sooner had he declared his intentions, and made
preparations for that purpose, than a friend of Mevarrow came out by
night, and acquainted him therewith. On this information he held a
consultation with Rer Mimebolambo about their defence; and in order
thereto, considering there were so many cattle in town, as would disturb
them in an engagement, he proposed to send part of them to deaan
Murnanzack’s; where the other people had secured theirs. Rer Mimebolambo
would send none of his; my master, however, willing to have something to
subsist on, in case they should lose what they had here, picked out
forty beasts; some of our richest men also sent six, and others more or
less; in short, there were in all about fourscore and ten beasts
separated from the rest, to be sent away. I perceived what was going
forward, and would fain have concealed myself; for I did not know
whether I should live so well there as here: besides, it was a large
number for one person to take care of. But there was no remedy; nobody
else would send a slave with me, and my master himself would spare no
more than one, and he looked upon me as the best qualified of any one
man to do it; whereupon he gave orders to six or seven men well armed to
guard, and conduct me, and I took my leave of my friends and
acquaintance, and proceeded accordingly.
We were forced to go round about by several tedious, unpractised ways,
and to look out as narrowly as possible, lest our enemies should
intercept us; but we embraced a very favourable opportunity when they
were all dispirited by their defeat, and suspected nothing of any such
prize being near them. So in two days we arrived at deaan Afferrer’s
town, situate on the hills of Yong-gorva, where we stayed two days to
rest our cattle, and were going upon the third in the morning, at which
time we heard a shell blow. This alarmed not only the town, but the
whole country; they ran immediately to defend the passage up the hill
(for there is but one) when instantly came two messengers from deaan
Murnanzack to deaan Afferrer, to acquaint him that he was at the bottom
of the hill, in order to pay him a visit. When my guardians saw them
join, and found it was deaan Murnanzack, they went (as soon as the usual
compliments were past between the two brothers) to deaan Murnanzack, and
informed him, that deaan Mevarrow had sent some cattle and a proper
person to look after them, in order to be conveyed somewhere under his
protection. He desired them to thank deaan Mevarrow for his friendship
and assistance, and assure him that his cattle should have all the care
taken of them imaginable, and be put amongst his own. As soon as they
had delivered up their charge they took their leaves of me, and
returned.
When deaan Murnanzack saw the cattle, and found that I was left with
them, he seemed surprised; and asked me if I was cow-keeper, saying, he
never heard of a white man being put upon that employment. I made
answer, since it was my master’s pleasure, I did not think proper to
dispute it with him, and would execute my office as well as I could.
Three days after, deaan Murnanzack went homewards, giving orders to
three servants to assist me, and we followed in the rear; we had also
above a dozen other people with us, who carried provision, bedding, &c.
for their masters. As soon as we were down the hill, I discovered a new
scene; the soil was of a quite different nature as well as colour;
yellow clay with stones; which made my feet very uneasy, having been
used to a sandy ground before: however, I was soon inured to it. The
trees, likewise, were different; much loftier, and more straight and
regular. This was the place I had often wished to see, on account of the
wild cattle, of which I had heard so much. I soon found the large tracks
they made through the woods, which rendered the driving of mine much
easier here, than in other woods.
About noon we lay down to refresh ourselves in a grove. The whole
country is very beautiful, and well watered with springs and rivulets.
They soon showed me some wild cattle which were standing under the
covert of the trees: I was very desirous of viewing them closer, and
taking a gun in my hand, I went toward them; but when I was got within
thirty yards, I was obliged to creep on the ground, and conceal myself
as well as I could with the grass, which is very high. Before I came up
to them, I saw three bulls running directly towards me; their eyes
sparkled with fire, their ears pricked upright, and they foamed at the
mouth; in all probability they fled from some that gave them chase. They
put me into such a terrible fright that I thought of nothing but firing
at them, to save myself from being torn to pieces; but as Providence
would have it, I fired and wounded one so deeply, that he fell. Though I
was safe with respect to him, I expected the others would have attacked
me; and to avoid their fury, I lay flat on my face, not daring to stir,
till hearing no noise, but the halloos of my companions at a distance, I
looked up, and found that all of them had run away, except the wounded
one, which lay kicking on the ground: however, I durst not go near him,
till my friends came up, and put us both out of our pain, by cutting his
throat, and applauding me for my courage, and being so expert a
marksman. How contrary to one’s expectation things often happen! I
imagined they would have laughed at me for my cowardice; and by mistake,
and mere chance, I was looked upon as one of more than common courage as
well as conduct.
Whilst they were cutting up the bull, I could not forbear gazing with
admiration on those which they called wild cattle, and in fact they are
so; but they are so like those in England, that I could then perceive no
manner of difference: nor have I been able since to discover any, except
in two trivial particulars; the horns, I take it, of our English bulls
are somewhat shorter, and their bellowings deeper. When we had cut up
our beef, we roasted some part of it, and pleased ourselves with the
thoughts of our masters having left us behind, because we should not
spoil their sport; we happened, however, on better luck than they, and
had not only beef to eat sooner than they, but got some ready to dress
for them at the place of rendezvous at night. This bull-beef, you may be
sure, could not be any thing extraordinary, nor any ways equal to the
flesh of such as are tame; especially after it had run so far, and so
hard, before it was killed. These wild cattle will give the hunters a
chase sometimes of several miles together after they are wounded; which
makes the flesh but indifferent meat, especially if it be a bull; but
people in want are glad of what comes first to hand; for these wild
cattle are a great help to such as live in the remote parts, who, in
necessitous times, come here a hunting. However, they are frequently
found in another vast tract of forest land of some hundred miles extent;
of which, and of their supposed original, I shall have an occasion
hereafter to give a particular account. The place where we baited at
noon, and lay this night, were very agreeable and delightful groves; and
indeed, all this country is so, for several days’ journey together. It
abounds with wild honey, wild boars, and such a variety of pleasant
fruits, that men may not only find enough to satisfy their hunger and
thirst, but to indulge their luxurious appetites, without the fatigue of
any cultivation; and there are many that live in a state of indolence
and ease.
Amongst the most wholesome as well as delicious fruits of the earth, and
that which I first tasted of here, is their faungidge; it grows (as my
companion showed me) in the thickest woods. They search first for the
plant, which is a tender creeper, or wild vine that takes hold of a tree
or any thing near it, twining round the trunk and shooting into several
branches like a vine. I never perceived that it bore any fruit, and was
surprised when they told me it was the root of this which produced the
faungidge; however, instead of digging at the root, they went at least
half a dozen yards from it, and struck the ground with the points of
their lances to observe where it sounded hollow; and digging there they
found the faungidge. The root spreads a great way under ground, and but
few of the branches bear the faungidge; so that it would be to little
purpose to trace it from the spot, where it appears above ground.
The first I saw was not much less in bulk than one of our gallon
runlets; it is red and very smooth without, and the coat is as thin as
parchment; the inside is white and has a milky juice; it eats as soft as
a water melon, but has no seeds in it; it is both meat and drink, very
wholesome, and always eaten raw.
The verlaway is of the same species, and in all respects much like it;
with this difference only, that the skin of the latter is thinner, but
so tough that it must be pared with a knife. There is another kind,
called the verlaway-voler, which is reckoned unwholesome: I once saw a
man, who had tasted some of it swell immediately, and was ready to die;
but by giving him some melted fat to drink, he brought it up and soon
recovered. This verlaway-voler is easily known, for it is much more
beautiful to the eye than the other; and the leaf which springs from it
is very different.
The next day I was extremely diverted: for deaan Murnanzack did not
leave us as he did the day before. In the morning, we saw a bull alone
in the midst of a large plain; the deaan, by way of amusement, ordered
us to stop, whilst he and two more drove my cattle toward the bull; who
no sooner saw them, than he roared and tore up the ground with his
horns, as if he expected some enemy to oppose him; but finding they were
cows, he showed an inclination to be better acquainted with them. The
deaan and his companions hid themselves under cover of the cows; they
let them graze a little, and then drove them forwards, till the wild
bull was amongst them; as soon as he put his nose to a cow’s tail, deaan
Murnanzack, concealed under another cow’s belly, stuck a lance in his
flank; away he ran with it, but not far before he had another in his
side; and now they had room for the sport they aimed at, which was not
unlike (as I have been informed) the diversion of a Spanish bull feast.
Several, by this time, joined in the chase; he ran nearly a mile
outright before he stopped, and turned to his pursuers; which they
always do, when they are closely beset; and then every one must take
care of himself: for it is a very dangerous encounter, and so it was
here, the beast grew outrageous, and turning upon them, ran directly at
the man who first wounded him, whilst another from behind, threw a lance
into his flank; then the bull turned again, as he always does, to the
person who last wounded him; and the hunters being divided to take him
all ways, and keeping at a good distance likewise, as well to prevent
hurting one another, as to give him room to play in, they at length
killed him; but this sometimes proves a very tragical pastime.
This night we lay in a wood, where we found faungidge in abundance; thus
we lived deliciously with only the natural produce of the country. I
tied up my calves every night that my cows might not stray, and was
forced to rise two or three times, to see that none of my cattle got
amongst the wild ones; for when they do, it is no small trouble to catch
them again; for whenever they see the others run, they follow likewise,
as fast as they can.
The next day at noon we halted at a spring, which rises from the highest
hill in this island, called Vohitch-maner, or red hill; vohitch
signifying a hill, or mountain. I drove my cattle into a fine valley,
where there was fine grass, but a wild bull came amongst them, and
covered one of my cows. I had a great inclination to kill him, though I
almost shook for fear; they are terrible creatures to any body’s
apprehension, who is not used to them, and my fear was the cause of my
ill success; for concealing myself under another cow, I took such an
awkward aim at him, that I struck one of my own herd instead of him.
However, as the wound did not prove mortal, I concealed it; not so much
out of any apprehension I had of my master’s anger, as out of fear of
being laughed at, for wounding a tame cow, instead of a wild bull.
We set up early this afternoon, in a place commodiously situated near
some good water; and then we went out to search for wild honey and
faungidge. I had the good fortune to discover a large hole in a hollow
tree, that was full of the former; I made a fire presently, and with a
brand smoked the bees out. In the next place I cut down a vounturk, to
make a vessel like a tub, to put my honey in. This vounturk is a tree or
plant, (for I don’t well know what to call it,) of a very particular
shape and nature. It grows upright as an arrow, about sixteen or
eighteen feet in length, is thin below, thick in the middle, and taper
again above, like a nine pin. At the top there are two or three
branches, that bear leaves of a great length; in the spring they have
blossoms, but I never saw any fruit that came to perfection; the outer
bark is whitish, like old lead, and full of long thorns, which are
easily struck off with a lance. We likewise cut the bark all round, and
the tree immediately falls down, not being able to support itself: after
this we take away what length we want, and pull out the spongy substance
on the inside, till we come within three or four inches of the bottom.
By this means we make a vessel light and easy of carriage, and in one of
these I secured my honey. The juice of this vounturk is good liquor, and
even fit to boil any thing in, when water is scarce. I found also some
faungidge. At my return I paid my respects to deaan Murnanzack, and made
him a present of some of my honey, which is a compliment our lords
always expect.