(_To be continued._)
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_A remarkable account of two Brothers,
extracted from Linschoten’s Voyages._
In the sixteenth century, the Portuguese carracks sailed from _Lisbon_
to _Goa_. There were no less than twelve hundred souls on board one of
these vessels. The beginning of their voyage was prosperous; they had
doubled the Cape of _Good Hope_ and were steering their course
North-east, to the great continent of India, when some Gentlemen on
board who having studied Geography and Navigation, found in the latitude
they were then in, a large ridge of rocks laid down in their Sea-charts.
They no sooner made this discovery, than they acquainted the Captain of
the ship with it, desiring him to communicate the same to the pilot,
which request he immediately granted, recommending him to lay by in the
night, and slacken sail in the day, until they should be past the
danger. It is a custom among the Portuguese absolutely to commit the
navigation, or sailing part of the vessel to the Pilot, who is
answerable with his head for the safe-conduct or carriage of the King’s
ships, or those that belong to private traders; and is under no manner
of direction from the Captain, who commands in every other respect. The
Pilot being a self sufficient man, took it as an affront to be taught
his art, and instead of complying with the captain’s request, actually
crowded more sail. They had not sailed many hours, before the ship
struck upon a rock. In this distress the Captain ordered the pinnace to
be launched, into which having tossed a small quantity of biscuit, and
some boxes of marmalade, he jumped in himself with nineteen others, who
with their swords prevented the coming in of any more, lest the boat
should sink. In this condition they put off in the great Indian ocean,
without a compass to steer by or any fresh water, but what might happen
to fall from the heavens, whose mercy alone could deliver them.
After they had rowed to and fro for four days the captain died: this
added, if possible, to their misery, for as they now fell into
confusion, every one would govern and none would obey. This obliged them
to elect one of their company to command them, whose orders they
implicitly agreed to follow. This person proposed to draw lots, and to
cast every fourth man overboard; as their small stock of provision was
not sufficient to sustain life above three days longer. They were now
nineteen persons in all; in this number were a friar and a carpenter,
both of whom they would exempt, as one was useful to absolve and comfort
them in their last extremity, and the other to repair the pinnace, in
case of a leak or other accident. The same compliment they paid to their
new captain, he being the odd man, and his life of much consequence. He
refused their indulgence a great while; but at last they obliged him to
acquiesce, so that there were four to die out of sixteen.
The three first, after having confessed and received absolution
submitted to their fate. The fourth was a Portuguese gentleman that had
a younger brother in the boat, who seeing him about to be thrown
overboard most tenderly embraced him, and with tears in his eyes
besought him to let him die in his room, telling him that he had a wife
and children at _Goa_, besides the care of three sisters: that as for
himself he was single, and his life of no great importance; he therefore
conjured him to suffer him to supply his place. The elder brother
astonished with this generosity, replied, That since the divine
Providence had appointed him to suffer, it would be wicked to permit any
other to die for him; especially a brother to whom he was so infinitely
obliged. The younger would take no denial; but throwing himself on his
knees held his brother so fast that the company could not disengage
them. Thus they disputed for awhile, the elder brother bidding him be a
father to his children, and recommended his wife to his protection, and
as he would inherit his estate, to take care of their common sisters;
but all he said could not make the younger desist. At last the elder
brother acquiesced, and suffered the gallant youth to supply his place,
who being cast into the sea, and a good swimmer, soon got to the stern
of the pinnace and laid hold of the rudder with his right hand, which
being perceived by one of the sailors, he cut off the hand with his
sword: then dropping into the sea, he frequently caught hold again with
his left, which received the same fate. Thus dismembered of both hands,
he made a shift to keep himself above water with his feet and two
stumps, which he held bleeding upwards.
This spectacle so raised the pity of the whole company that they cried
out, he is but one man! let us endeavour to save his life! and he was
accordingly taken into the boat; where he had his stumps bound up as
well as the place and circumstances would permit. They rowed all that
night, and the next morning, when the sun rose, as if heaven would
reward the piety and gallantry of this young man, they descried land,
which proved to be the mountains of _Mozambique_ in _Africa_, not far
from a Portuguese colony. There they all safely arrived, where they
remained until the next ship from _Lisbon_ passed by and carried them to
_Goa_.
At that city, _Linschoten_, a writer of good credit, assured us, that he
himself saw them land, supped with the two brothers that very night,
beheld the younger with his stumps, and had the story from their mouths,
as well as from the rest of the company.
[[Source:
Original: Jan Huyghen van Linschoten (1563-1611), _Voyages_.
First English translation: 1598, rpt. by Hakluyt society 1885.
Notes: “At that city, _Linschoten_, a writer of good credit, assured
us, that he himself saw them land.”
The article is loosely adapted from chapter CXII, “Of certaine
memorable Things”, vol. II, pg. 179-181 in the reprint.
Link: http://www.archive.org/details/voyagejohnhuygh01tielgoog
and
http://www.archive.org/details/voyagejohnhuygh02tielgoog]]
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