deaan Woozington was marching toward us with a numerous army. Spies were
sent out to observe them, who at their return told us, that according to
the best computation they could make, there were about three thousand
under arms, and within three days’ march. Deaan Mernaugha hearing this,
gave us orders to send all our cattle, wives, and slaves to the river
Feraingher, which runs on one side of deaan Mernaugha’s town. I was so
careful of the little stock I had, that I attended them to the river;
and went immediately to James’s house, (the son of Efflep,) where I met
with Hempshire, his wife, and daughter. Two days after, upon information
that Woozington had passed Oneghaloyhe, we were ordered farther
northward to Murnumbo; where in less than three days we were alarmed
with fresh news of an army of Saccalauvors being just ready to attack
us; whereupon we were obliged to retreat immediately, and Woozington, as
we were informed, not having penetrated so far as the river Feraingher,
we made an attempt to go there again; but the Saccalauvor army was so
near us, that we were forced to fly for our lives, and leave all our
cattle behind us, and make the best of our way to the river. Those of
our people who had any arms made a running fight of it, in order to save
the women and children; though we reached the river, yet they were in
sight of us by this time. As for Hempshire’s wife she ran away from him;
so out of compassion I took him by the hand, and hurried him into the
very same cane-thicket where I fled at the death of Eglasse. We had not
long seated ourselves there, before we heard some women and children
shriek out, who were taken prisoners at a very small distance from us in
the same thicket; which put us into the utmost consternation, for we
could expect nothing but instant death. We had not been long under these
frightful apprehensions before I espied the enemy. Upon which we got up
to run, but knew not whither; one of them, however, fired, and shot poor
Hempshire in the back; of which wound he died upon the spot. I was more
nimble, and got out of his reach; but just at the entrance of the
thicket I met another, who ran directly at me. He took a lance in order
to throw at me, but I called out to him to save my life, and told him I
would go with him. As he saw I had no weapons (for I had neither lance
nor gun) he bid me come forward; so I went and licked his feet according
to custom, and owned myself his slave. Whereupon he told me, that he
would spare my life, since I was a white man, and was unarmed.
He carried me with him into the body of the army, and the news was soon
spread abroad, that a white man was taken prisoner; insomuch that the
general heard of it, and thereupon my conqueror and I were both sent
for. Upon my kneeling and licking his feet, he asked if there were any
body about him who could speak either English or Dutch? but he was
surprised to hear me address him in his own language. He asked me
abundance of questions with regard to the strength of deaan Mernaugha;
the number of his people, and a thousand other things of the like
nature; all which I avoided answering as artfully as I could for Rer
Befaugher’s sake. However, after the examination was over, he gave the
person who took me another slave in exchange, at which I was somewhat
better pleased than before; for it was a miserable thing indeed to be
the slave of a slave. My new master ordered me to follow him, which I
did whilst they marched, though that was not long; for soon after they
encamped on the banks of the river. This was the best and finest camp I
had ever seen in this country, for all the tents were very good. As soon
as the general’s tent was erected, he desired me to sit down, and inform
him by what accident I came upon the island; and how it came to pass,
that, as I was a white man, I spoke their language with so much freedom.
I gratified him with a long detail of my whole history, to which he
listened with great attention; and we had abundance of discourse
concerning my surprising adventures. After he saw that I had supped,
(for I did not eat with him,) he gave one of his head officers strict
charge to see that I wanted for nothing; and when one of his people
advised him to set a guard over me, he said, there was no danger of my
running away; for as white men have no home on this island, all places
are alike to them; and they will stay with those longest who entertain
and feed them best; and he was well assured that the people of
Feraignher, at that time, were in no capacity to oblige me. And his
notion was very just, for so heartily did I feed this evening, having
eaten no beef for a long time before, that I was very sick. And when I
came to reflect that ships came to this country, and the poor state and
condition of St. Augustine-bay rendered it very improbable that they
should come to trade there, I found, that by this Providence, I had more
hopes of getting sooner to England here, than at any other place I had
ever yet been at: and the general was right in his notion, for I had no
business to fly or desert since I could not mend myself. Having free
liberty to go where I pleased, my curiosity led me to see if I knew any
of the captives; and upon examination I met with Hempshire’s widow and
daughter, Toby, and Robin, and Sambo, my own man; I shook him by the
hand, and told him I was a slave now as well as he. He said, I am sorry
for it; for I had much rather have served you than any one else; and
sure I am I shall never live so well again.
When the general had fully gratified his curiosity in inquiring after my
affairs, I had likewise as strong an inclination to know who was my
master, and was informed that he was dignified by the names of Rer
Towlerpherangha and Rer Vove. It is a custom here for persons of
distinction to have two names; and as the last is the most in use, I
shall hereafter distinguish him by that only. He was grandson to Rer
Trimmonongarevo, king of Saccalauvor; though called Yong-owl by the
Europeans, and Morandavo from a river of that name. Rer Vove intrusted
me to the care of one Guy, who was a considerable man, and a relation
(though at some distance) of the king’s. All the great families in this
country have a general name of distinction, which they value themselves
upon; as most of our European gentlemen do on their coat of arms.
We continued here two days, in hopes that deaan Woozington would in that
time have penetrated through the country on that side, and have joined
us; but we were informed that Rer Befaugher, by his good conduct, had
blocked up some passages, and so well defended others, that he was glad
to withdraw without effecting any thing to the purpose. On this news,
our general retired to Murnumbo, pleasing himself with hopes that deaan
Mernaugha would be foolish and hot enough to follow and fight him.
Mernaugha, however, wisely chose to sit down for once contented with his
present loss, rather than hazard all for the gratification of his
revenge, which might be more justly deemed foolish pride and passion,
than real valour. Rer Vove perceiving no more could be done when he had
continued here about seven or eight days, till the parties ordered out
were returned, marched homeward, and instead of putting a guard over me,
as he did over others, gave me a blunderbuss, and made me guardian
general over several of my late country folks, giving me full commission
to shoot the first who should attempt to run away.
I had several under my care, but more particularly Hempshire’s widow,
and three other women, who, as I attended them one evening into a
private recess in a wood, told me, “it was a great mortification to them
to be guarded by one who so lately fought for, and defended them;
telling me, moreover, that it was no great difficulty for them to find
means of making their escape, in case I was but willing.” “You are
right,” said I, “and it is your interest, as you have families; besides,
you may possibly be sold to some ships:” which was what I heartily
wished for, as my interest was contrary to theirs. I told them,
moreover, that “I would never have gone from Feraignher, if I had not
been forced away; but since the good providence of God had thought fit
thus to dispose of me, I would not oppose the divine will, nor act
inconsistently with my own reason, for I was well assured of better
provision here than in Feraignher, in its present unhappy state,
especially as I had lost all the cattle I had, though my stock, indeed,
was but small.” I assured them, however, that I would never mention what
they had proposed, which they, being under fearful apprehensions, begged
that I would never disclose the secret; neither did I, but looked a
little more circumspectly after them than I did before.
Though our marches were but short, yet we soon arrived to the confines
of Saccalauvor, where there were no inhabitants. It is a delightful
country, and I saw a great variety of monkies, baboons, virjees, and
wild swine, &c., in abundance, but very few, or none of Hattoy’s cattle.
About three days afterwards we passed by divers towns, which belonged to
Rer Mimebolambo, alias Moiang Andro; it being the selfsame country which
Rer Vovvern, late king of Feraignher, procured for him by treaty, of his
uncle Rer Trimmonongarevo. In the towns and meadows there were abundance
of humped cattle, and such as were much larger than any I had ever seen
in the island before, but was informed these were kept near home for
private use; that the prince and lords took care to have their principal
stock of cattle a great way farther to the northward, and in such
numbers, that they could not tell how many they had. Of the truth of
which I was soon afterwards very fully convinced. Our forces now
dwindled away apace, since numbers went daily home as they came near to
the several towns to which they belonged, without taking any formal
leave of the general, since they had no pay to take, or any to demand;
for every one being conscious to himself that it is his interest to join
with his neighbours in preventing an enemy from committing plunder, no
one ever murmured at their generals for leading them forth to war, it
being their own cause, and not the general’s, in which they engage; for
if they found their lords proved imperious and tyrannical, they would
refuse to go with them, since they could easily remove and live under
others. They fight for their own security and ease, and when they get
any plunder from their enemies, they think themselves sufficiently
rewarded.
Moherbo is the principal town, or rather city, and royal residence of
the king, who is our general’s grandfather, to whom, as in duty bound,
we paid a visit before he went home. When we arrived within a mile or
two, three messengers were despatched for form sake, to give him notice
of our approach, and to learn his royal pleasure, who made answer, “that
if Rer Vove should come, he was very ready to receive him.” Hereupon he
put his people in order, and appointed fifty men to stand in the front
and discharge their guns; and then fifty more to relieve them; the
shells all the time sounding. When we came within sight of the king, who
was sitting with his courtiers and people round about him, we heard
their shells sound and drums beat; this, their congratulatory music, was
but a dull empty sound; in some measure, indeed, like their country
tubs, which are made of a light tree hollowed very thin, and covered
with a calf’s skin that is dressed much like our parchment. Both ends
are beaten at once, one with a stick, and the other with the hand.
This king lives in a more splendid manner, and has a gayer retinue than
I had ever seen before. He has twenty or thirty several houses, or
rather a large court enclosed with palisades in the town; but as it was
not large enough for the reception of so many people, he sat on this
occasion without the town. Our first fifty men advanced like
morris-dancers, and fired their guns very regularly one after another;
and upon their retreat, the other fifty advanced. After this, the
general stept forwards, and bending one knee, licked the king’s. Several
principal men bowed likewise their knees, but licked his feet. This
ceremony over, a mat was spread at about four yards’ distance, and the
general with three or four of the chieftains sat down, and Guy was
amongst them. As for my part, I stood behind my master with my
blunderbuss.
This prince, Rer Trimmonongarevo, made, as I thought, a very odd and
formidable figure, whether it was because I had heard many stories of
some of his rash and barbarous proceedings, which had prejudiced me
against him. His dress was very singular, and such as I had never seen
before; his hair was plaited in ringlets, beginning at the crown of the
head; then another range of knots was bigger than the former, and so
downwards, every lower circle was larger than the upper; on several of
these knots of hair hung a large quantity of fine beads. Some part of
his fore-headpiece of beads hung almost over his nose, among these were
several gold ones. He had a very fine gold necklace about his neck; over
his shoulders hung two strings of beads, and several of them gold, in
much the same manner as our aldermen of London’s chains; on each wrist
about six manelers of silver, seeming large enough to weigh nearly three
dollars apiece, and four rings of gold on his fingers. Nearly twenty
strings of beads, closely set, were twisted round his legs; a silk
lamber hung over his shoulders, loose like a mantle, and another, as
usual, twisted round his waist. He was an old prince, not less, by what
I could understand, than fourscore years of age at least, yet of a
robust and healthy constitution. His colour was rather tawny, like an
Indian, than perfectly black; his eyes fierce, and his whole appearance
formidable; or the singularity of his dress and character made me
imagine so; he soon took notice of me, and asked Rer Vove if I was the
white man he had taken prisoner? and what was my name? He called to me,
“Robin, mehove a toee,” which is come hither. I then laid my blunderbuss
down, and approached him with my hands lifted up and closed before me.
As soon as I got to him I fell on my knees, and licked first one of his
feet and then the other, as the common people did before me. He ordered
me to sit by him, but not on his own mat neither. He asked several
questions in relation to my first coming on this island, and informed me
that he had a white man of his own; “but he is an Englishman,” said he,
“and whether you can speak that language, or not, I cannot say.” I told
him I was an Englishman myself. I began to cheer up, and have a little
more courage upon this agreeable news; and was surprised that my master
had not mentioned this circumstance before. I asked the king how long
his white man had been with him? and what his name was? “Six or seven
years,” said he: “his name is Will.” Upon this, he ordered a man to call
him immediately, who brought word that Will was gone out of town, and
would not be back in less than three or four days; so finding the king
enter upon some new discourse with the general, I withdrew to my former
post.
Soon after we went to a house which was ordered for our reception, where
I was discharged from guarding his slaves; for he did that, as he told
me afterwards, only to try my fidelity, since he knew very well, if I
had not been honest, they would have all got away; but as he was
convinced I did him justice, he had a post of much greater importance to
intrust me with. By this time, came in Ry Chemotoea, the king’s
principal wife, and the grandmother of Rer Vove, my master. She was the
largest woman I had ever seen in all my life. When she sat, her breasts
hung down to her lap; she walked but little, being generally carried on
a kind of bier on men’s shoulders. She had a numerous retinue, besides
slaves, who brought four calabashes of toake; two of honey, and two of
sugar canes, together with six baskets of rice. The king sent ten
beeves, four of which were very large fat oxen. As soon as Ry Chemotoea
was gone, we sat down to drinking the honey-toake, till Rer Vove was
perfectly intoxicated, and fell asleep, at which time three slaves came
from his grandmother laden with presents; one with a fat capon boiled,
for they made capons here; another with a pot of dried rice; and the
third with a basket, a wooden dish, and a spoon. This was the best
supper I had seen of the natives dressing, and I had my share of it; but
for all this good cheer, I could not forbear thinking of this Will, the
Englishman, and was very much concerned that we could not stay till he
came home.
The next day we marched homewards, and though it was two days’ journey,
yet we hastened to come in as early as we could the second day, because
of the great triumph we were then to make. The solemnity of which was
much the same as I have described in other places, and consisted in
their wives licking their feet, &c.
Rer Vove’s house was nearly eight yards long, and about six broad, built
of boards, as all the great men’s houses are in Saccalauvor.
Notwithstanding they have no saws, with a great deal of labour, however,
they hew out boards very even with their hatchets. The language is much
the same with that in other countries, except as English in Yorkshire,
or the west of England, where each place has a particular dialect, and
some small difference in its pronunciation.
My post here was a grand one, for I was constituted captain of my
master’s guard. There were palisades all round his house, and at the
portal, or gateway, was a little house for several young men of a higher
degree to lie in, who were his guard, and over whom, as I said before, I
was appointed chief, but this did not last above a month; at which time
he thought proper to go a shooting wild fowl, and took no one but me
with him. In our private conversation, he told me how vicious the people
of Saccalauvor were grown within a few years, as their country grew
rich; and that young men living so high, and drinking such large
quantities of toake, induced them frequently to lie with other men’s
wives, by which means murders, and several other misfortunes, have
ensued. “As for my part,” said he, “I have no reason, indeed, to suspect
my wife Ry Kaley; however, to prevent all jealous thoughts for the
future, I will intrust her to your care, and desire that she may never
be absent from your charge by night or day, on any pretence, how
plausible soever, unless she be with me. I am very well satisfied she
will not take this amiss, and you have no occasion to regard any one
else.” I returned him thanks for the favourable opinion he had of my
integrity; and assured him I would take the same care I had done
hitherto, in the due discharge of my duty to him in all things, wherein
he thought proper to command me; but I was afraid, lest some of his
trusty old servants should envy me my post, and insinuate to him things
prejudicial to his honour and my care. “Upon that account,” said he,
“you have no cause for fear, since it is always expected here, that
marks of favour and distinction be shown to white men.” When we came
home, he broke his mind to her, with much such another apology as he did
to me. She prevented him, however, from asking her consent, apprehending
in a moment what he aimed at; so saying, “I desire nothing more than
that you will take all the measures you think proper, in order to retain
the same opinion of me you always had; and in case Robin is to be my
guardian, I will submit with pleasure to his directions; and from
henceforth, Robin,” said she, “I will never be out of your sight, but
when I am with Rer Vove himself; and as I am now under your
jurisdiction, be sure you discharge your trust as you ought, and don’t
imagine that you can displease me by the strictest observance of your
orders. On the other hand, I propose abundance of pleasure in your
conversation, by telling me stories of your uncommon adventures.”
Indeed, she gave me good grounds to think she was not displeased with
me. It was my business to attend her on all occasions. Sometimes,
indeed, her women slaves were with her, but we were oftener by
ourselves, and that too through her own contrivance; and whether my
master had, in reality, so great an opinion of her chastity as he
pretended, I cannot determine; but I found her to be a very gay, wanton
lady, and was forced to exert all the art I was master of, in order to
keep her out of other company, as well as to preserve my own innocence.
However, as my life lay at stake, I was resolved to be true to my trust.
It was full three quarters of a year before I got rid of this
troublesome office; during which time, my master took a fancy to another
woman who had lately been divorced from a cousin of his, and made her,
if we may call her so, his supernumerary wife. He was extremely fond of
her at first, but soon quarrelled with her, used her ill, turned her in
short quite off, and returned with as much indulgence as ever to my
charge, Ry Kaley, again.
Not long after this, Rer Vove proposed to take a tour to the northward,
for his pleasure, and to take a survey of his cattle; so ordering his
furniture to be removed to his head slave’s till his return, our house
was locked up, and away we marched. We were a large company of us, Ry
Kaley, his wife, his friend Guy, with several other attendants, besides
slaves. It had rained very hard for some time before we set out; so
coming to a small river, which was considerably swelled with the floods,
the people made a halt, not caring to push forwards with too much
precipitation, lest some alligators might have come up into the marshes,
as is customary, and return again to their old haunts upon the fall of
the waters. As the river was shallow enough to wade through, I was so
fool-hardy as out of a bravado to lead the way. Two fine dogs, that were
my master’s favourites, went into the water along with me, but kept
close to my heels, one on each side of me, for the dogs are very
apprehensive of alligators. I was up to my belly in the water, or
thereabouts, when an alligator, all on a sudden, gave such a spring at
the dog on my left side, that the monster’s nose struck me down. The
alligator, dog, and I vanishing, as it were, at once, our people took it
for granted I had been carried off; but rising at a small distance and
finding myself not hurt, I went directly over; upon which they all
followed me. For if a noise be made by a great number of people, an
alligator will sink, like a stone, to the bottom, and lie without the
least motion, and though you tread on him, he will not stir an inch. As
we took our journey for pleasure only, we had no occasion to fatigue
ourselves, so we marched but slowly. In a few hours we arrived on the
banks of a very large river, called Mernee. Here we came to a town
inhabited by a people of a different species, as it were, from the rest
of mankind, and of a language peculiar to themselves, though they can
speak the general language if they please. Their customs too, and
manners, being as different as their persons, of which I shall give a
particular detail, according as I was farther informed soon after.