mother, whether they be living or dead, and his antagonist have so much
command of himself as to refrain from cursing the other’s father or
mother, he recovers two beeves as a compensation.
If a man be caught robbing his neighbour of an ox, or a cow, he is
obliged to restore it tenfold; and this is executed too with the utmost
rigour, notwithstanding my master frequently broke this good law; but,
like other great men, in more polite parts, he was not to be curbed by
the ordinary laws of his country; and yet he, as well as most others,
found, to his cost, that there were those who could cope with him; and
was at last convinced, that if a man will live amongst his
fellow-creatures, he must be observant of the fundamental laws, which
the community wherein he lives has framed for their mutual peace and
tranquillity; without which, men are not sociable animals, but each one
is a mere savage, and the world an uncultivated desert.
If any one be found guilty of stealing guinea corn, carravances,
potatoes, or the like, out of any of the plantations, he forfeits a cow
and a calf to the owner, or more, in some measure proportionate to the
offence.
In case one man’s cattle break into another’s plantation, the owner, for
every beast found there, must give an iron shovel.
If any one steal another man’s hive of honey, and be caught, the fine is
three iron shovels. These iron shovels, hoes, &c., are a kind of small
money with these people, for here is no trade but by barter, or the
exchange of one commodity for another; and, therefore, they are as exact
as they possibly can be, in proportioning the value of one thing to
another.
If a man borrow an ox, or a cow, of his neighbour, and does not return
it in a year’s time, six calves are looked upon as an equivalent for the
ox; and if he neglect payment at that time, those calves are supposed to
be three steers, and three heifers; and the increase, which by a fair
computation arises by their growth and production, is the man’s right of
whom the ox was borrowed; and if it go on for ten years, or any longer
term, it is computed what three bulls and three cows might have produced
in that space of time, and all that produce is due to the creditor.
If a man lie with the wife of another man who is his superior, he
forfeits thirty head of cattle, besides beads and shovels in abundance;
but if the men are of equal degree, then the fine is twenty beasts
only.[1] In this country of Anterndroea, they are not addicted to such a
plurality of wives as in some other parts of the island. If a man have
but two wives here, and his brother or an intimate friend come to visit
him, he never scruples to let him lie with one of them.
Footnote 1:
A man can put away his wife at pleasure.
The nearest of kin, even brother and sister, marry, if they have not the
same mother.
One brother, after the decease of another, often takes his wife; nay,
his father’s too, and lies with them, if they be not their own mothers.
To lie with one of the king’s or prince’s wives, is death by the
established laws.
My master Mevarrow was jealous of a young man’s being great with his
wife, or, as he said, was well assured he used to lie with her. Whether
he had any just grounds for such a suspicion, I cannot say; yet every
body expected the young man would be killed for it; but his brother
being a chief man, and a favourite of the deaan’s, and the civil wars
coming on, he seemed at that juncture to take little notice of it; but
two years after the offence, when those dissensions were appeased, the
man being constantly in his view, he determined to punish him; and,
accordingly, when the young man, his brother, and some few slaves of us
that attended them, were in the woods, it being so contrived, under
pretence of stealing and killing a cow, he and deaan Sambo drew the
young man into a remote part of the woods, at a considerable distance
from us, and in a short time we heard him halloo three times, at which
instant deaan Mevarrow arose, and pretending to stretch himself with his
lance in his hand, he struck the young man’s brother through the body.
This so surprised us all, that some of us ran one way, and some flew
another, imagining our master mad; and some went home and positively
asserted it as fact, this person whom he killed not being the adulterer.
He had been our master’s counsel-keeper, it is true, and knew all the
secret recesses of the women and cattle; and taking it for granted that
he would turn his enemy and revenge his brother’s death, thought it most
advisable to despatch him likewise. Deaan Sambo killed the supposed
adulterer that moment the halloo was made, which was the signal agreed
on between them; but whether he was apprized of deaan Mevarrow’s wicked
design upon the other, I cannot determine, for there were several others
whom he brought there, as if he intended they should be witnesses of it.
As deaan Sambo was the executioner, I was inclined to think there was
more than suspicion, for that he was no cruel man, I was very sensible,
by experience. I must own I had entertained a very favourable opinion
before of my mistress, as I had never observed any thing like it in her
conduct; but I had now almost done, not only with this family, but the
country likewise; for every circumstance in my affairs had some tendency
to promote my departure and escape, which, at length, I effected.
Not long after this, it happened, whilst I stole out to visit my own
plantation (my corn, &c., being near ripe) that some of my cattle broke
into the plantation of a principal man, and did him some considerable
damage. My fellow-slaves soon informed me of the misfortune, and went to
seek the beasts; but they were driven home by the planter’s servants
with very heavy complaints: I knew the danger of going within reach, or,
indeed, within sight of my master; and therefore turned aside into the
wood, to consider what measures were best to be taken. At length, I
recollected the friendship between deaan Olaavor and deaan Mevarrow: and
for that reason went directly to him, and laid my unhappy case before
him, and begged he would use his best endeavours to reconcile me to my
master. He readily complied with my request, made me very welcome, and
desired me to stay, not only that night, but the next day and night too;
and then assured me, that he would go with me himself; but business
would not permit him to go before. By this means I was absent long
enough to alarm them, and give them just grounds to suspect that I had
deserted. Deaan Olaavor, however, went with me according to his promise,
and after he had expostulated the case with my master, and obtained
pardon, I was sent for in, and restored to favour, with only some
friendly admonitions for my better conduct for the future. As soon as
their conversation relating to my fault and pardon was over, they fell
into discourse on other matters; and deaan Mevarrow put his hand to his
mouth, which is an action they frequently use to express their surprise
at any thing more than common.
Deaan Olaavor, says he, I sent yesterday for an umossee, to consult with
him about Robin, and to know what was become of him. After he had
conjured a long time, he assured me, that I should see Robin once more;
but the next time he went away, I should never see him again in the
capacity of his servant or slave; for he will have a new master to the
northward, with whom he will tarry but a short time; and then he will
still go farther northward and have more masters; till, at length, he
will return to his native country. I listened, I own, not only with
attention, but pleasure, to what he said, though I put no great
confidence in these fortune-tellers. Just as I was getting up to go home
to my wife, my master called me; stay, says he, I have something to say
to you before you go. Perceiving that I looked a little startled and
surprised; I shall do you no harm, says he, only secure you. The umossee
was sent for immediately, and then I found they were going to enchant me
(as they imagined) that I should not run away. I had seen this magical
farce acted before upon such slaves as they are jealous of, frequently
forcing an oath upon them by the demon Fermonner. And when these poor
wretches have afterwards attempted to fly, and bewildered themselves in
woods and unfrequented paths, or hurt themselves by any fall, or any
common accident, they are weak enough to imagine that the demon
Fermonner was the cause; that he confounded them, and dazzled their eyes
in such a manner that they should not find their way. Two or three
instances of this kind in an age, are enough to make fools give credit
to the whole.
At length the wrinkled old wizard enters with solemn pace, and with a
leering sneer in his haggard countenance, shakes his projecting noddle:
Ha! Well I see you have him fast. I told you so. Who is he that shall
presume to despise my prophetic spirit? You see as much is proved true,
as the time will permit. Neglect my advice for the future; and look to
the northward for your slave. But you may look, and send too in vain; it
will be then too late. The spirits who are at my command may do somewhat
now. What (says deaan Olaavor, who was not so great a bigot as deaan
Mevarrow, notwithstanding his lulu-bay) has proved true? Robin never ran
away at all, he would have been here yesterday, if I could have spared
time; so that there is nothing at all in what you talk of. Pray,
venerable sage, says deaan Mevarrow, (interrupting Olaavor,) pray
proceed; I sent for you on purpose to take your advice. Prepare your
charms. Away goes the fumbling old fool to work, scraping a root, and
mixing several ingredients together, which, I was well satisfied, had
neither good nor harm in them; (for I was afraid of nothing but his nose
dropping into it;) muttering all the time, between his few broken teeth,
words that neither he, nor any one else knew the meaning of. When the
dose was prepared, he called it the fermonner, and put it into some
carravances, which were boiled on purpose, and it was given me in a
calabash. But before I took it, he hung several roots about me; one over
my eyes, another at my back, one upon my breast, and one upon each leg,
giving each of them a distinct name: then scraping a small quantity from
each of them, and putting it into the mess of carravances, I was ordered
to eat it, which I did without the least fear or reluctance; in the mean
time he pronounced his curses, as well as prayers over me. Whenever
(says he) he thinks of running away, remember, O thou, deaan Fermonner,
how he has eaten what belongs to thee; and also, O ye, &c. [Here he
named all the spirits belonging to other charmed roots.] how he has
eaten what belongs to you; and if he offer to run away, arise in his
stomach, O deaan Fermonner, and make him so sick that he shall be
incapable of stirring. And ye, which have hung at his back break it
asunder; let his breast be tormented with pain, and his legs fettered as
with parra-pingos; and if he attempt to fly, join all your united
forces, and break his legs whenever he jumps and steps over any thing
that lies in his way. Thus the old dotard went on for a long time, but
in a more abrupt manner, and without any method. He tossed his hands
about, and changed his voice almost every minute. He made, in short, a
hundred impertinent repetitions and cant words of his own invention, and
foamed like a fanatical enthusiast. When he had quite tired himself with
preaching, he took off the charm and made me lick every individual root.
Now let him go, says he, where he will; the demons which regard these
charms will soon inform me where he is, and I shall acquaint his master.
I had a holiday that day; for my master was in a good humour, being
highly delighted with what he had done; and sent a proper servant to do
my business. When I came home, I found my wife in a very melancholy
posture, being under great concern for fear I should be killed. She
would have provided something for me to eat, but I had dined, I told
her; and then related to her the whole affair. She was overjoyed to find
I got off so well, and was surprised that I should be so dull at it;
since she knew well enough I did not regard any of these ceremonies, and
made a jest of them; but my thoughts were quite otherwise engaged than
she was aware of, and I did not think proper to let her know the truth;
which broke my rest to that degree, that I scarcely ever slept soundly
there any more. I found myself now under the necessity of running away
at all adventures. For should sickness, or any common accident attend
me, so great was deaan Mevarrow’s superstition, that he would,
doubtless, have thought it had been effected by these demons or spirits,
which were invoked in this incantation; and have taken it for an
infallible testimony of my resolution to go from him; and then, very
probably, in his passion he might have killed me. So that these
conjurations, which Mevarrow depended on to prevent my departure, had
the direct contrary effect, and was the strongest motive that could have
induced me to it, and made it absolutely necessary that it should be so;
yet I have often smiled to think how unexpectedly true his prediction or
guess proved, even in all its circumstances.
Whilst my head was full of projects in order to accomplish my flight, I
could not forbear saying something in relation to it to a very civil,
honest young fellow, who kept cattle always near me; and was a captive
from another country. One day I asked him, from whence he came? and he
said from the northward. Was I so near my own country, said I, as you
are, I would not stay much longer in slavery. Nor would I, said he, if
it were not for the demons; who I am afraid will break my bones, ever
since the umossee cursed me in the same solemn manner as he did you. At
which I laughed. Why, if you have no apprehensions on that account, said
he, you may get away with as much ease as I. At this I started, and told
him, I suppose he only said so to try me. But he offered to enter into a
solemn oath before the owley, that he meant as he said, and would assist
me in my flight.
However, I dropt the argument for that day, but I tried him next; for
after I had sworn him in a religious manner (knowing him to be like most
people, more religiously inclined under misfortunes than in prosperity)
I confessed ingenuously my secret intention, and asked his friendly
advice. You have nothing to do, said he, but to fly directly to deaan
Afferrer, who will protect you, and treat you in a courteous manner.
When Rer Vovvern’s army comes next summer, continued he, you may easily
get to them; who would be proud to oblige the white men, by sending you
home in the first ship which arrives at Feraignher. For nobody, says he,
in the whole island will make a white man a slave, or keep him against
his inclination, but these people. So that if you can but fly from
hence, you will soon get to some town where ships come. I returned him
many thanks for his kind advice, and told him I would show him my
beehives, and the roots of which the charm was made. This I did with a
view to make him keep the secret. And now,
I had but one hard task more to go through, and that was to prevail on
my wife to accompany me, or let me conduct her to her father. It was a
difficult point to break my mind to her; but at length observing her in
a humour to talk of her friends, and wish she could see them, I told
her, if she had courage enough, and would keep the secret, and always
love me, I would venture to carry her to them, and stay with her; but
she was superstitious too, and afraid I should be hurt by the
incantations of the umossee. So that I pressed it no farther. But to
part with her, and leave her not only in bondage, but to be ill-treated,
perhaps on my account, was a mortifying consideration; for I sincerely
loved her.
However, there was an absolute necessity; my resolution was fixed, and
no time was to be lost. It was then wet and rainy, and I stayed only
till the weather was more favourable; which was about a fortnight. Near
which time I took my comrade into the woods, and showed him my hives,
and the manner how I dug the roots for the charms; for to attempt to
undeceive him would have been to no purpose. The night before I took my
flight, I wilfully left a heifer in the field; having told my friend
when I called, and desired him to look after my cattle whilst I went
after the heifer, that should be the private signal of my departure. He
told me it was two days’ long walk to Yong-gorvo; but I said I would run
it in one, and did not question but that I should get safely thither,
(though my master should send after me,) if I were but two hours before
them. When I came home with my cattle, my master took a survey of them,
and missed the heifer; but after reprimanding me a little, he ordered me
to get up betimes in the morning, and look for it, before it broke into
any neighbour’s plantation.
This was what I aimed at, in order to have the whole day before me; but
now came the hardest struggle, which was to take a last farewell of my
wife. It was some secret satisfaction, however, that I had no child by
her. I was almost afraid to reveal the secret to her: but at length,
after making her swear in the most solemn manner by the owley, that she
would never disclose it, I told her in direct terms that I was going;
and the only thing that disturbed me, was parting with her. She begged,
and cried most bitterly; but there was no staying for me any longer, my
life being every day in danger. Had I been in any other part of the
country, where I could have lived with freedom, ease, and safety, I
don’t know what effects the unaffected love I had for her might have
produced. At length, however, she was somewhat appeased, and I broke
from her arms by break of day; but with what sorrow and reluctance, such
of my readers as are tender lovers, can better imagine than I describe.
I drove my cattle into the field, where my comrade was ready; I did not
go near him for fear of being observed; but called, and bid him take
care of my cattle: he said yes, yes, and away I walked, or rather ran;
for by the time the sun was two hours high, I had got beyond the first
woods, which is not less than ten English miles, if it could be
measured.
I had now a large plain of five or six miles to go over, here I looked
back every now and then, for fear of being pursued; but saw the coast
was clear. My wife and friend, as I was informed afterwards, were true
to the trust reposed in them. About noon, I came to a pond, where I just
washed and refreshed myself, and kept jogging on till at last I espied
the white cliff of Yong-gorvo. It is very high, and appeared like land
that is seen about seven or eight leagues at sea; that however did not
discourage me, and two hours before night I was at the foot of it. It is
half an hour’s brisk walk to go up the hill to deaan Afferrer’s town,
where I arrived safely, and went directly to him. He thought as soon as
he saw me, that I came with some message from deaan Mevarrow, but I
threw myself immediately at his feet, and begged his indulgence and
protection; then I informed him of all the miseries I had undergone
through my master’s cruel treatment of me, and the apparent danger my
life was in every day, and at that time more than ever.
No sooner was he convinced of the true reason of my making thus my
earnest application to him, than I perceived a pleasure glowing in his
countenance; and he at once assured me, that he would protect me at all
adventures, and that I should be a slave no longer; that I should do
nothing but go with him wherever he went: and as a testimony of his
sincerity, he would present me with a gun. Now carrying a gun here, like
wearing a sword in England, is the mark of a gentleman; with this lance
in your hand, said he smiling, you look like a mall-a-cross, which is a
nickname they give to one of the meanest of their natives; you shall now
appear like what you are, a free-born man. I licked his feet with all
the satisfaction imaginable, in conformity to the custom there, and
returned him a thousand thanks; nor did I forget my grateful
acknowledgments to the Divine Goodness, who had thus far given success
to my honest endeavours, to recover my former state of freedom; and to
implore his assistance in the completion of so happy a project, which I
had no hopes of ever putting into execution.
When I assured them that I came from my own house in one day, there was
scarcely any one would give credit to the assertion. About a week or two
after, two messengers from deaan Mevarrow came to demand his white
slave; and to reproach deaan Afferrer, for not sending me back by some
of his own people on my first arrival. This imperious message made him
smile: send him back, says he, and by my own people! and his white slave
too! why, no one ever saw a white slave before; nor has he the least
authority to make him one. I look upon him as a distressed man, fled to
me for succour, and he shall never be exposed to misery any more. I
shall make no slave of him; he shall be at his free liberty to stay with
me, or go where, or whenever he sees convenient. He here expatiated on
the conduct of our people, with regard to deaan Crindo; which being much
to the same purpose as has been hinted before, I shall not recapitulate.
In short, he convinced the two men of the unreasonableness of their
master’s demand so far, that they excused themselves, and said, that
they only came with a message. And I only tell you, says he, what answer
to return to deaan Mevarrow. After this, he entered into familiar
discourse with them, and asked them, what day I came away? When they
told him he was perfectly surprised, and so were they to find I had
actually walked it in one day; for it could not be much less than sixty
English miles. I could not forbear rallying them, on account of their
superstitious confidence in their umossees. See, says I, how my legs are
swelled! how the spirits have made my bones rattle within my skin! I was
a white man they said, and they had no power over me. As soon as deaan
Afferrer had ordered them a house and provisions, and I had made some
inquiry after my wife, which proving more to my satisfaction than I
expected, I took my leave of them with pleasure; for I had some doubt
before, what might be the effect of such a peremptory demand from deaan
Mevarrow.
And now I lived, I must confess, with more freedom than ever I had done
as yet; for I walked about with my gun upon my shoulder. When the deaan
was disposed to eat, I ate with him; though not in the same dish,
indeed, for no one here has that privilege. I had little else to do,
than to go with him a hunting; by which means I made myself expert in
all the arts of taking wild cattle. My principal business was to observe
the situation of the country, and to inquire the route which Ry-Nanno
was expected to take.
I was fond of going often a hunting, in order to take particular notice
of the most remarkable mountains, which might hereafter be as so many
landmarks to me. Besides vohitch futey, or white hill, here is another
high mountain more to the northward, called vohitch manner, or red hill.
It is in form of a cone, or sugar-loaf, and runs spiring up a great
height; the inhabitants are of opinion, that it is the highest in the
whole world. After I had lived in this manner six months, Ry-Nanno met
me by accident in the forest, as he was coming to give deaan Crindo, and
the other lords, intelligence of the Feraignher army being upon their
march. This was such agreeable news to me, that I was at a loss how to
conceal my joy; and for that reason I walked into the woods, for fear
they should discover my inclinations by my deportment. I attempted to
return my humble and hearty thanks to the Almighty in my native tongue,
for the fair prospect I had of getting to a seaport town; but found I
had forgotten my English, and could scarcely with propriety put three
words together. However, the Madagascar language served me well enough
to express the sentiments of my heart.