for not only his uncle’s deportment, but that of his sons too, was so
inhuman and savage, in destroying the cattle belonging to their nearest
relations, rooting up their plantations, and committing other flagrant
enormities, that he almost forgot his own private wrongs, and looked
upon deaan Crindo as the general enemy of mankind, who, to gratify his
unruly passions, endeavoured to lay his country waste; notwithstanding
he himself, at the first breaking out of the quarrel, had shown him so
glorious an example. With what generosity did he treat both Crindo and
Mundumber, and all who belonged to them? How careful was he of their
towns and effects? Evidently demonstrating that he aimed at nothing more
than doing himself justice, and deciding a controversy that was too
warmly pursued, and that the murder of men in cool blood, and the
destruction of countries, were actions of horrid impiety. And as
Ry-Nanno told me afterwards, it was his innate virtue that at last
determined him to a reconciliation; for he thought the Supreme Being
could never look down with a favourable eye on a man who would refuse to
relieve his fellow-creatures from such calamities as his countrymen then
laboured under. And this was the principal motive, in the height of his
success, to waive the prosecution of his own interest, when it stood in
competition with the public good. These were the truly noble sentiments
and generous resolutions of this great man, notwithstanding his contempt
of revelation; or, at least, of the christian religion, as I had
represented it to him in a disadvantageous light. I wish our priests who
build so much on their superior knowledge of God’s will, would be as
exemplary in their lives and conversations, and would teach princes as
well as others, to be in reality so truly just, honourable, and good as
this gallant black prince was in all his actions; and yet I doubt not,
but he will be stigmatized with the odious character of an illiterate
heathen.
As soon as Ry-Nanno had concluded his negotiation with deaan Murnanzack,
he passed by deaan Afferrer, well knowing he would acquiesce with what
his brother had done, and came to us, in order to compromise the quarrel
we were engaged in with Chahary and Frukey. He condemned them for their
rashness in the prosecution of their private resentments to the ruin of
themselves and their country, and told them it was represented in a very
bad light to all the kings on the island. He met with no great
difficulty in the accomplishment of the reconciliation he aimed at;
which being effected, he told them that Rer Vovvern had a pique against
Woozington, for several very gross affronts. Amongst others, he had
called a dog by the name of Rer Vovvern; and Ry-Nanno expected he should
wait on them next summer to beg their assistance against Woozington; but
his errand was at that time principally out of friendship, to put an end
to their destructive divisions. In a few days a peace was concluded and
publicly proclaimed all over the country.
While Ry-Nanno was delivering his first speech to Rer Mimebolambo and
deaan Mevarrow, I observed that he fixed his eye attentively upon me,
and seemed to view me with some concern; and calling to me in broken
English—you, white man, come hither. When he asked me my name, he turned
to my master and asked, here is a white bird among a parcel of crows; in
our country, indeed, they are common enough, ships come there
frequently, but then they wear clothes, and eat and drink with our
lords. This poor young lad looks piteously: why do you suffer him to go
naked? Pray show some charity to a distressed stranger, and do not use
him with inhumanity. Deaan Mevarrow answered, I have used him more
tenderly than he deserves; you do not know how his friends served deaan
Crindo. Yes, says Ry-Nanno, I know the whole story perfectly well; and
that deaan Crindo treated them in a barbarous manner in refusing to let
them go at their request to a seaport, where ships come, in order to
return to their native home. Had Rer Vovvern this white man, he would
give him some of the clothes which his countrymen have left behind them,
and take as much care of him as he would of his own son, till some ship
should come to carry him home to his friends.
I listened to this discourse with the utmost attention, and waited with
impatience for a favourable opportunity of talking with him in private,
which I did that night; for he brought part of the cattle which deaan
Murnanzack gave him, as he very well knew that we had none, and I was
sent for to kill a bullock. I embraced this lucky opportunity, and told
him in broken English, that I would wait on him at night. Accordingly I
went, and he received me with abundance of humanity and respect. After
we were seated, he inquired into the whole history of our shipwreck and
misfortunes. I gave him a long and faithful detail thereof, not
forgetting to acquaint him with the cruel treatment I met with from my
master, and to set my wretched state of slavery in the strongest light.
The relation of this melancholy tale, not only made me weep, but drew
tears likewise from his eyes. He told me he would endeavour to purchase
me of deaan Mevarrow, and desired me not to be too much dejected. I
stayed late with him, and when we parted, the hopes I had entertained of
his kind intentions to release me, kept me awake all night. The next
day, after he had discoursed with my master about their own private
affairs, he asked him if he was inclined to sell his white man; and in
case he was, he would give him in exchange a handsome young fellow,
capable of doing him more service, or a buccaneer gun, if that would be
a more agreeable compensation.
I was sitting among my fellow-slaves, and waiting with the utmost
eagerness and attention to hear the result of this conference. When my
master ordered me to stand up, I was in hopes it was to strike the
bargain; but, instead of that, says he, look on that white slave there;
for looking after cattle, digging of wild yams, and improving of honey,
there is not his fellow; and though a buccaneer gun is the common price
of a slave, I will not take two for him. Ry-Nanno thereupon showed him
three or four slaves, but Mevarrow told him in direct terms that he
would not part with me on any conditions whatever. Then turning to me,
he asked if I was not willing to dig some wild yams for him, as well as
his other slaves who were just gone on the same errand before. Not
daring to refuse, I was forced to take up my hatchet, shovel, and lance,
and go into the woods; but instead of searching for yams, I sat down and
wept till I was almost blind. However, I was under an indispensable
obligation to find some to carry home, which was no easy task, for the
stalks were now withered; yet I made up a bundle, after roasting them,
but had none myself. When I came home, my master thought I had been
idle, and said, you are mightily concerned I suppose, that Ry-Nanno is
not your master. I went home and laid me down on my mat, and had nothing
but a log of wood under my head for a pillow till some considerable time
after it was dark, and then I stole privately to Ry-Nanno.
I was no sooner seated, than he told me he was glad to see me again, and
asked me what success I had met with, which I told him; and, moreover,
that my master had abused me to the last degree for bringing no more
yams. He said I was the first man he ever saw who had a black for his
master; and though he could not purchase me, yet he did not question,
but Rer Vovvern would find some ways or means to get me into Feraignher,
when he came next summer into this country. To that I replied, that I
was afraid my master would not take me to the wars for that very reason,
and that I despaired of ever regaining my liberty; but I was determined
to make the experiment as soon as ever my master went out on another
expedition, and left me behind him. Ry-Nanno endeavoured all he could to
comfort me, and said, the same Providence which has hitherto preserved
you, will deliver you at last; and I have great hopes of seeing you at
St. Augustine-bay; for, said he, since Tuley-Noro’s death, there are but
few ships come now to Port Dauphine, though that, indeed, is the nearest
seaport, for ours is a great way off. I desired to be informed how many
days’ journey it was, and which way he came; for I am determined, said I
to attempt my escape; if they overtake me, I am sensible I shall be
killed, but then I shall be freed from my present bondage, which is
worse than death; and should I fall into any other master’s hands, it is
morally impossible he should treat me worse than this has done. The
whole country of Merfaughla, said Ry-Nanno, lies between us, extending
itself from the utmost part of Anterndroea, where deaan Murnanzack’s
cattle are all kept, to the river Oneghayloghe, which runs into St.
Augustine-bay; and I think I was about forty and two days on my journey,
but could have performed it in less than half the time, had we not
hunted by the way; for the whole country, said he, is so well stocked
with proper subsistence, that no one need carry any provisions, unless
he be in a more than ordinary hurry. There are abundance of wild cattle
in great part of it; besides, there is a large quantity of faungidge,
verlaway, wild honey, and wild yams to be had, wherever you go. I
inquired what kings lived in the way? He said three. Rer Trortrock is
the first to the northward; the next Rer Chulu-Mossu-Andro, and
Zaffentampoey; this last resides at the head of the river Oneghayloghe,
to the eastward; all their people, however, live near two long days’
journies from the road. The nearest way, said he, is by the foot of
Yong-gorvo hills, till you come to the west side of it, then strike over
to the northward half a day’s journey, and take your course betwixt the
north and west, and you cannot lose your way. I asked him a great many
more questions till it was late and time to depart, but he would not
permit me till I had supped with him. The next day he took his farewell
of my master, and I stole away privately to thank him for all his
favours. As they were packing up his provision, &c., he advised me to
oblige deaan Mevarrow as much as possible, lest he should kill me or do
me some secret injury, and bid me likewise not despair of getting home
to England. He then made me a present of a large piece of beef, and
after repeated expressions of my gratitude for his tender concern for
me, I parted from him, though with abundance of reluctance. When I
reflected on what had passed, I began to entertain quite different
thoughts of being in another country from what I had done; for I found
here were great numbers of people, nay, whole nations too, who were
civilized, and understood the laws of decency and good manners; but it
was my misfortune to fall among the most savage people of the whole
island.
The next day the crier went round the town with orders to all deaan
Mevarrow’s slaves to muster before his door. Among the rest I went to
know his pleasure, which was to get ready and march with all our baggage
the next morning to our own town; which was cheerfully complied with by
every body but myself, who was very indifferent where I lived. So when
we had taken our leave of Rer Mimebolambo and his people, we marched
home and found our habitations very little worse than when we abandoned
them, for they were at that time newly built. The orders were to attend
and receive axes and hoes for the cultivation of the ground. Whilst some
cleared it of the wood and briars, others hoed it up instead of
ploughing it. Our master sent to his uncle Mephontey for a considerable
quantity of guinea corn and carravances, which were soon sowed; and then
indulged his slaves for a fortnight, in order to improve their own
plantations. I desired deaan Sambo to use his interest with my master,
that I might have two days more to take care of my honey, which I had
secured from thieves, by setting up white sticks as a testimony that it
was poisoned by the charms of the umossee. He gave consent; and
thereupon, I took three large tubs, each of which would contain five or
six gallons, and as many calabashes. I had farther to go than from our
old town, which had been burnt; but when I came there, I found my hives
all safe and untouched, and my stock of honey prodigiously increased. I
smoked the bees out, and took the greatest part of their treasure away,
but not all, leaving them some to subsist on, for they will return of
themselves to the hives, and when they swarm, go directly to new ones
without any of that fatigue we have with them in England. I found some
fine Virginia honey with white wax, which I put into my calabashes. As
it was near two years since I had seen them, I had almost forgotten
where to look for a good part of them, they being planted at a great
distance from each other in different corners of the wood. I filled,
however, all my vessels, and left as large a quantity behind me for the
next day’s journey. As soon as I got home, I waited on my master and
made him a present of one of the tubs: now these lords always expect an
acknowledgment on such occasions. When my master saw how large a
quantity I brought him, he was surprised, and asked me why I brought him
so much? For to do him justice, I cannot say he ever discovered a
covetous disposition.
Besides, we have no officers to exact any certain quantity, but the
people must go voluntarily, and carry a present of such commodities as
their plantations and industry have produced; as carravances, guinea
corn, potatoes, &c.; but this is only by way of acknowledgment of
homage, and a calabash only would have been looked upon as a sufficient
compliment. But as I was sensible that he had a circumcision-feast to
make, and I had a large stock, I desired him to accept it. He told me it
was true, and for that purpose he would purchase all the honey I had to
spare, and give me a cow and a calf for it the first cattle he had.
The civil war being now over, we lived at ease, and could dig our wild
yams without the least apprehensions of danger. People now went
backwards and forwards to visit each other as usual, and every one
attended his plantations; it was six months, however, after this, before
we had plenty. My conversation with Ry-Nanno was ever in my mind, and I
only waited for a favourable opportunity of my master’s going abroad
upon some exploit, to make my escape, if possible, at all adventures.
After some time, it happened that one Rer Ambarroch, a petty prince to
the northward, having received and detained eight slaves of deaan
Mevarrow’s, and thirty head of his cattle, a little before the civil war
began; and the deaan sending a special messenger to demand them, he sent
word back that he might come himself and fetch them, if he thought fit.
He being now at leisure, Rer Mimebolambo and he agreed to join their
forces, and having obtained leave of deaan Crindo, they prepared for
their expedition.
I expected to be left behind, as usual, to take care of his wife, and
pleased myself with the hope that the time was near at hand for putting
my design in execution; but standing before him with two lances in my
hand, you shall not, says he, always live at home like a woman, but
shall go to the wars with me; the sight of a white man in arms will
strike terror into the people upon the mountains where we are going.
Hereupon he took my lances, and said, here is one of your grandfather’s
arms; you can manage this, I presume, somewhat better than ours; prepare
yourself for the march.
I desired, however, that I might have one of my lances, which he gave
me, and twenty musket balls, a sufficient quantity of powder, and two
flints. I took up my mat as usual, but my master gave it to one of his
slaves to carry for me, so I walked, gentleman-like, without any
luggage.
Our little army consisted of about three hundred men, exclusive of the
slaves; we went to the northward all the first day, on the second we got
into the forest to the east of Yong-gorvo, where the wild cattle are;
there we hunted, and killed some beef, while four men were sent out as
spies toward Rer Ambarroch’s town, to survey the fortifications of it.
We were almost a day’s journey from it; and, indeed, it was not
advisable to go nearer, lest some of their people should have discovered
us, and alarmed the town; for those wild cattle were their principal
maintenance and support. Our spies returned, and brought intelligence,
that it was an open place without any fortification at all. Thereupon we
marched all night, and arriving at the town by break of day, we divided
ourselves to surround it, and fired into their houses to alarm them; the
barking of the dogs and the noise of the guns soon roused them, and away
they scowered, for we gave them no time to collect themselves into a
body: so we plundered them at once, and took what prisoners we could
find. I saw the prince’s house, and ran directly up to it, in hopes of
taking him prisoner; but he jumped out and fired at me: as I was going
to return it, a man threw a lance at me, which I put off and fired at
him, and put a stop to his running; but by that means the prince
escaped.
I entered the house, and found his wife and daughter, with two or three
slaves attending them. I took hold of the ladies’ hands, and led them
both out, and left others to plunder the house as they pleased, since I
had a good prize enough; but one of Rer Mimebolambo’s men, who had got
no booty, would fain have taken one of my captives from me; whereupon I
told him, I supposed he was a coward, and had sneaked behind a tree in
the action, or else he might have found something worth his acceptance.
He insisted on his demands, and reproached me with being a slave, till
some of our people came up, at which time he was obliged to depart with
shame; for a complaint being made to deaan Mevarrow, he justified me,
and severely reprimanded the poltroon. For there was an agreement made
before we set out, that what cattle should be taken be divided; but all
captives should remain in the custody of those who took them. When we
had driven all the men away, we got what cattle we could find together,
and made the best of our way through the wood with them, lest the enemy
should rally and attack us. As soon as we got into the plain we halted,
and made preparations to receive them; and about two hundred of them
soon came as we expected.
I delivered my two captives, as every one else did theirs, to the slaves
that were in the rear, whilst we marched; and as we came near them, they
also met us; so that we made a discharge almost all at once, and killed
three or four of their men. We halted a while to load again, and
perceived that they stood confounded, and looked in a very wishful
manner on one of their party who was fallen. Having loaded again, I and
some few more ran directly up to them; seeing us approach, which is not
usual, they fired at us and ran away. We followed them till they got
shelter in the wood, and then returned to the main army. On our retreat,
they sallied out of their coverts, and followed us at a distance, being
desirous to take one view more of their wives, children, and cattle; and
to observe our motions, in hope some accident might happen, that might
give them a favourable opportunity to avenge their cause, and retrieve
the losses they had sustained.
At noon we came to a shady grove, and there halted near a spring, in
order to refresh ourselves; for we were all fasting. As soon as my
master was seated, he ordered me to bring my two captives before him;
and applauding me for my courage and conduct in the action, he told me I
should keep one of them myself, and have my choice too, and that he
would be contented with the other. I soon determined in favour of the
young one, who, in truth, was extremely agreeable; and I was pleased
with her from the first moment I took her. She was not above sixteen
years of age; her mother, whom I presented to my master, was about four
or five and thirty. Deaan Mevarrow was pleased with my choice, for he
was inclined to do a generous action; and thereupon calling her to him,
he told her, her husband had brought all this misfortune upon himself by
his unjust and obstinate proceedings; and (said he) I have only followed
his directions; I am come myself as he bid me, and have fetched away all
my women; and I perceive, some of my own cattle, with a sufficient
quantity of his, to pay me and my friends for our trouble. As for
yourself, I will restore you to your liberty; go back to Rer Ambarroch
and acquaint him, that if he be inclined to have his daughter and cattle
again, he must come and fetch them. You see she is fallen into my white
man’s hands, and for my part, I will never take her from him. And, said
I, I will lose all the blood in this white man’s body, before he shall
have her again.
After she had refreshed herself with some meat, which deaan Mevarrow
presented her with, she came to me in order to take her last farewell of
her daughter. They both wept heartily, not expecting ever to see each
other more; I pitied them, I confess, and would have dismissed the young
one, had I not really been in love with her. To confess ingenuously, I
never saw any woman before that time I liked so well; though I had been
so many years in the island. I comforted the mother, however, as well as
I could; and desired her, not to be too much concerned for the loss of
her daughter, since she should live as well as I did; nay, I assured
her, that I would take more care of her than of myself; and though I was
not of a sable hue, I had a heart as fond and indulgent as any black
whatever; and therefore, though she fell to my lot by the chance of war,
yet it was my design to make her my wife, if she approved of it; if not,
it was possible, I said, she might lead a less comfortable life. Her
mother asked her, what she thought of the motion? She answered, she was
at my disposal, and not at her own; and desired her duty might be
presented to her father. And present mine too, said I, if you please,
mother. So after some farther discourse for a short time, they parted.
She took her leave of deaan Mevarrow, returning him many thanks for his
courteous treatment, and went away by herself; though she had not, I
presume, far to go alone; for her friends were, doubtless, as near as
they durst come in the woods, to observe our motions. And though we
never saw them more, yet we kept a strict guard all that day, and the
following night. I was very fond and careful of my pretty prisoner,
tying a rope about her middle, with the ends about myself, and laid her
close to me, folding her fast within my arms; she only smiled and
rallied me for it, but I was so fearful lest she should get away, that I
could not sleep. We marched apace the next day, and when we halted, Rer
Mimebolambo and deaan Mevarrow divided the cattle, each had two hundred
and eleven; and then they parted, each taking the nearest way home.
Before we entered the town, we made another halt, in order to divide the
cattle among ourselves; the deaan had thirty, his brother ten, and each
of the other principals one. He that had two slaves retained one of
them, and delivered the other to his lord, and had a cow and calf in
lieu of it. If two men got a slave between them, they had each of them a
cow for it; even he who had taken no slave was to have a cow, provided
the number would admit of it; if not, one was divided between two; and
this is a general and an established law, with respect to the division
of an enemy’s spoils.
Deaan Mevarrow told me I had but one slave, whereupon I alleged he had
taken one away, and might have kept her, if he thought proper; but I
perceived he was only in jest, for he gave me a cow and a calf as an
equivalent for her; and generously enough offered me another cow and
calf for my honey, but I modestly declined that favour; so he chose them
for me himself out of the fattest of the herd. By this means I became
rich at once, having two cows and two calves, and a handsome
jorzerampeller; that is to say, a handsome girl.