I was too much absorbed by grief at the death of Sir Charles to ask
Captain and Mrs Northcote any questions during that day as to the
misfortune to which he had alluded; but during the night the matter
several times occurred to me, and next morning I could no longer
restrain the curiosity I naturally felt to learn the truth. I ought to
say that Sir Charles had some time before begged them to come and stay
with him; and when he became dangerously ill, they had remained to nurse
him. Captain Northcote had gone out to make arrangements about the
funeral, and I therefore asked Mrs Northcote to give me the information
I required. Tears came into her eyes as she spoke.
"It must be told, so that it is better now than later," she observed.
"You have heard that Major Clayton was unwell, and that a voyage was
recommended to him. At that time an uncle of his, a merchant, residing
at Macao, was seized with a severe illness. His uncle having sent for
him, he resolved to take a voyage to that place, in the hopes of being
of use to his relative, and at the same time of benefiting his own
health. We saw him as he was on the point of embarking, when he
appeared so much debilitated that I even then feared that he could not
recover. Poor Mrs Clayton, too, could not bear the thought of parting
from your sweet little sister, who, it was resolved, should accompany
them. They sailed in an English ship, which was to touch at Singapore,
and from thence to proceed direct to Macao. The voyage did Major
Clayton some good; and in a letter I received from his wife, at the
former place, she said that she entertained great hopes of his recovery.
However, I regret to say that, by the accounts received by the next
ship which sailed from Macao after their arrival, my worst forebodings
were fulfilled--Major Clayton had gradually sunk, and a few days after
his uncle had breathed his last, he also died, leaving his poor wife and
your little sister to return home without any relative, or any friend on
whom they had claims, to protect them."
"What!" I exclaimed, bursting into tears I could not restrain, "is
Major Clayton dead? Then do tell me where are dear Mrs Clayton and my
own darling little Eva. I will fly to them immediately."
Mrs Northcote shook her head, and looked more grave than before, as she
replied, "You must, indeed, be prepared for a very sad history. I
cannot tell you where your sister and your friend are. You shall hear.
On the death of her husband, it was natural to suppose that Mrs Clayton
would wish to return to England; but it was absolutely necessary that
she should first visit India, where her property had been left, with
arrangements made only for a short absence. No ship was, however,
sailing direct to Calcutta at that time; and as she was anxious to leave
Macao at once, she secured accommodation on board a small fast-sailing
brig, bound to Singapore, whence she hoped to find the means of reaching
India. A few days only, therefore, after her husband's death, she
sailed, carrying with her a considerable amount of property, which had
been left to him by his uncle, and which was now his. Thus much we have
heard from the merchants at Macao; but I regret to say, that no accounts
have been received of the arrival of the brig at Singapore, and serious
fears are entertained that some misfortune has happened to her. Either
she has been wrecked, or has been run away with by her crew, or has been
attacked and carried off or destroyed by pirates. The latter conjecture
is but too probable, as, from her small size, those marauders of the sea
are likely, if they have fallen in with her, to have been tempted to
capture her."
"I must go and find them," I exclaimed, jumping up as if I would start
off immediately. "It is too dreadful to think of, to suppose that those
dear ones should be in the power of such ruffians. But why do you talk
of their being carried off by pirates? Is it not just as likely that
the brig may have been wrecked?"
"I wish that I could say so; for then we might hope to discover them on
one of the thousand islands of that thickly-studded sea," was her
answer. "At first we hoped that such might prove the case, and we half
expected to hear of the arrival of our friends on some Chinese junk or
Malay prahu at Singapore; but accounts were afterwards received by two
ships, stating that a brig, exactly answering her description, was seen
steering for the Billiton passage, on the western coast of Borneo; so
that either her crew must have turned pirates, or she must have been in
the hands of the Malays, if the vessel seen was the one supposed. Of
that, however, we can be in no way certain; indeed, the whole
circumstance remains wrapped in the most painful mystery."
"I must solve it, or perish in the attempt," I exclaimed, jumping up,
and walking about the room in a state of agitation more easily conceived
than described. "I must find them--I will find them--nothing shall stop
me in the search. I must consider how I can accomplish the
undertaking."
"You will have many, many difficulties to undergo; I fear they will be
insuperable," observed Mrs Northcote. She said this not to deter me,
but because she was considering how I could possibly perform the work.
"You will, in the first place, require large funds to carry out the
search efficiently. The first difficulty will be to provide them; for,
though we would most gladly aid you, I regret to say that Captain
Northcote has not the means to do so to any extent; and we have great
fears that Sir Charles has left no provision for you."
I stopped in my walk, and meditated on what my friend had said. My
thoughts immediately flew to a subject which I had not before
considered. How was I to exist in the future? I had been brought up in
luxury, with a supply of everything that I required, and I had literally
never thought of the future. I had a vague idea that Sir Charles would
find me a post in the civil or military service of the East India
Company, but I never supposed, as my friends appear to have done, that
he would have left me any fortune. That he had not done so, under any
other circumstances, would not have caused me any disappointment. Now
that money was of so great importance to me, I keenly felt the want of
it.
"I will go, then, as a seaman before the mast," I cried energetically.
"I will work my passage from place to place; I will go in every sort of
craft, from the Chinese junk to the Malay prahu and sampan. I will
wander through every portion of the Indian seas till I discover those
dear ones, or gain tidings of their fate."
"I do not see how you can accomplish the work; but consult with Captain
Northcote. If there is a way, he will advise you," said the lady.
"There must be a way," I replied vehemently. "I will consult with him
how I am to begin the work; but not whether it is to be performed--on
that I am determined."
"I pray Heaven that you may succeed," said Mrs Northcote. "I feel as
anxious as you do for your success; but I dread to see you risk your
life on an almost hopeless undertaking in those strange lands, among
lawless and bloodthirsty people, who would not for a moment hesitate to
destroy you."
"I fear no danger or difficulty," I replied. "I remember Sir Charles's
last words, `God is everywhere.' In a just cause He will protect me."
Such was the spirit and such the feeling with which I resolved to set
out on my undertaking; and God did protect me. When Captain Northcote
returned, I discussed the matter in every point with him. He pointed
out to me that I should lose the chance of employment in the Company's
service; that, after wandering about, as I must do, I should be unfit
for any steady employment, and that I should be without funds to enable
me to commence any profession should the Company not afford me an
opening. He soon, however, saw that it would be useless to attempt to
dissuade me, and he then most generously told me that he would place at
my disposal all the means he could possibly spare, and that he would
endeavour to interest other friends who might enable me to prosecute the
search.
After the funeral of my kind benefactor had taken place, search was made
for his will. It was discovered without difficulty, when it appeared
that the bulk of his property was left to his relatives in England. But
on looking over his papers a codicil was found, by which the sum of ten
thousand pounds was bequeathed to me, and five thousand to my sister,
should she survive, naming us as the children found in a boat at sea by
the ship _Governor Harcourt_, and named Mark and Eva Seaworth; while a
further sum of two thousand pounds was left to me to be expressly
expended in searching, as he named it, for his dear friend Mrs Clayton,
and her young charge Eva Seaworth. I was much affected by this
unexpected mark of his regard. I found also that a writership would,
from his application, be given me on my return; and I ought to say that
any surplus from the two thousand pounds was to be expended in
prosecuting inquiries respecting my birth, whenever I should return to
England, should I continue to feel any anxiety on the subject; though he
advised me not to waste my energies in an inquiry which would probably
prove unavailing. The first difficulty was thus got over. My friends
offered no further opposition to my plan, and I immediately set about
making active preparations for my departure.
Singapore was my first destination; from thence I intended to sail north
or south as I found most advisable; and to one of the most reputable
merchants there I transferred a considerable sum of money to meet the
expenses which I expected to incur. I found a fast-sailing schooner on
the point of starting, and at once engaged a passage on board her.
Wishing the Northcotes good-bye, and many other friends who warmly
sympathised with me, I was the very next morning on board the schooner,
and dropping down the Hoogly. Having now commenced the more interesting
portion of my adventures, I must be more minute than I have hitherto
been in my descriptions. While the schooner, the _Nelly_, is gliding
down towards Diamond Harbour, I will describe her and her officers. She
measured about one hundred and sixty tons, was low, with great breadth
of beam, and very sharp bows, and a clean run aft. Her master, Captain
Griffin, was a young man, not more than twenty-four or twenty-five,
perhaps; strongly though slightly built, with a profusion of light
crispy curling hair, and a complexion which would have been fair had it
not been thoroughly tanned by the sun. He had polished manners, great
primness, and was a thorough seaman. He had once been in the Royal
Navy; but had left the service for some reason, which he did not explain
to me, and was now engaged in the opium trade, or, in other words, he
smuggled opium into China. At first I was much pleased with him; but
when I came to be more thoroughly acquainted with him, I found that I
could not approve of the principles which guided him, or many of the
acts he committed without compunction. I have, however, seldom met any
one who, at first sight, was more likely to win confidence and regard.
I have frequently met people like him; and I consider them much more
dangerous companions than men with inferior manners and education. His
first officer was a dark, large-whiskered, tall man, with an expression
of countenance not in any way prepossessing--he was called Mr Laffan.
He was a bold seaman, and not without education. The second mate was a
young man of very active and enterprising disposition, and who, I think,
was formed for better things than to serve in an opium smuggler. There
was an important officer on board who was called the gunner, though his
duties were similar to those of a boatswain; he was of Portuguese
descent, a native of Macao, though as dark as an Indian. He was
especially placed over the Lascars, of whom we had twelve on board. The
rest of the crew were Europeans, or of European parentage--mostly
English--all picked men, and of tried courage: such qualities were
necessary, for, in the prosecution of their lawless trade, they often
had to fight their way through the Chinese junks sent to capture them.
We were some time getting down the river, for the wind was too light to
enable us to stem the tide, and we therefore had to anchor during each
flood. It consequently took us five days before we got down to Diamond
Harbour. Weighing at daylight the next morning, we got a little below
the Silvertree, where we anchored. The next day we passed Kedgeree, and
anchored in Saugur Roads; furled sails, and veered to forty fathoms. On
the following day we passed the Torch, the floating light vessel, which
is moored in the eastern channel of the tail of the Saugur sand, for the
purpose of guiding vessels up the river during both monsoons. When we
once more got into blue water, I felt that I had really commenced my
undertaking. I am not going to copy out my log, and I must run quickly
over the incidents of my voyage. In standing through the straits of
Malacca, we sighted the beautiful island of Paulo Penang, or Prince of
Wales' Island, a British possession, on the coast of Tenasserim, a part
of the Malay Peninsula. It is hilly and well wooded, and is considered
very healthy. It is inhabited by a few British, and people from all
parts of India, China, and the neighbouring islands. Nothing of
importance occurred on our passage to Singapore. I found cruising in a
clipper schooner very different work to sailing on board a steady-going
old Indiaman; and had a constant source of amusement in the accounts of
the wild adventures, in which the master and his officers had been
engaged, and their numberless narrow escapes from Chinese custom-house
junks, Malay pirates, New Guinea cannibals, storms, rocks, fire and
water.
I was surprised, when anchoring in Singapore Roads, to find myself
before so large and handsome a town, remembering, as I did, how short a
time had passed since its foundation by Sir Stamford Raffles. It stands
on the banks of a salt-water creek, which has been dignified by the name
of the Singapore River; one side contains the warehouses, offices,
stores, etcetera, of the merchants and shopkeepers, with fine and
extensive wharves; and on the same side are the native streets and
bazaars. Opposite to it is an extensive plain, adorned by numerous
elegant mansions; and beyond is the Kampong Glam and Malay town, with
the residence of the Sultan of Jahore and his followers. From this
chief the British Government purchased the island, with an agreement to
pay him an annual stipend.
Beyond them, again, is an undulating country, backed by thickly-timbered
hills, which add much to the beauty of the landscape. It may truly be
called a town of palaces from the handsome appearance of its colonnaded
buildings, and, still more justly, a city of all nations; for here are
to be found representatives of every people under the sun engaged in
commercial pursuits. The costumes of Europe, Arabia, Persia, all parts
of India, China, Siam, and all the islands of the Archipelago, may be
seen in the streets together, while their flags wave above the
residences of their consuls, or at the mast-heads of the barks which
crowd the harbour. Even at the time of which I speak, there were
upwards of twenty thousand inhabitants, while in no place are so many
flourishing merchants to be found. A few years ago this place was a
mere swamp, with a few huts on it, inhabited by barbarians. It will be
asked, What has worked this change? I reply, Commerce. Its position on
a great highway of trade--a strong government, and protection to all
comers, and perfect freedom to well-doers. Besides those attracted by
trade, numbers take refuge here from all parts of the Archipelago, from
the tyranny and misrule of their chiefs; and were other ports
established by the English, they would, from similar causes, be peopled
with equal rapidity.
The river near where we lay presented an animated scene, from the
arrival and departure of native boats, with fruit, vegetables, and live
stock, as well as from the numbers of neat sampans plying for hire, or
attending upon the commanders of vessels; while at anchor were numbers
of the Cochin-Chinese, Siamese, and Chinese junks, as well as the Bugis
and other prahus from all the far-surrounding islands.
I went on shore as soon as we dropped our anchor, to endeavour to obtain
information regarding the object of my search. I saw several merchants
to whom I had letters, and they were all very anxious to aid me; but I
could learn nothing, and therefore resolved to proceed to Macao, and to
commence my inquiries from thence.
Once more at sea, away we flew over the light curling waves, thrown up
by the fresh but favouring breeze. In ten days we came in sight of the
Ladrone Islands, off Macao, at the entrance of the Tigris river, on
which Canton is situated. The captain and crew were now on the alert to
guard against surprise from any of their enemies, either from the
pirates who take shelter among the islands I have named, or from the
Chinese revenue cruisers--not that the latter are much feared. We ran
into the harbour of Cap-sing-moon, and went alongside a large
opium-receiving ship, into which we were to discharge our cargo. From
this ship it would, I learned, be conveyed up to Canton in Chinese
smuggling boats. These boats are well manned and armed; and if they
cannot get away from the mandarin boats, the crews will often fight very
desperately.
I, in the meantime, proceeded to Macao. This ancient colony of the
Portuguese in China has a very picturesque appearance from the sea, and
has received its name from the supposed resemblance of the peninsula, on
which it stands to a mallet, of which _macao_ is the Portuguese name.
The streets are narrow, dirty, and ill-paved, but the houses of the
merchants are large and commodious. Besides the Portuguese and Chinese,
there are a large number of English and also American residents. Of
course I had but little time or inclination for visiting the objects
which usually interest strangers. I managed, however, to take a glance
at the Cave of Camoens, the poet of Portugal, where it is said he
composed his immortal _Lusiad_. It is rather a pile of granite rocks
than a cave; and the garden in which it is situated is full of shrubs
and magnificent trees--a romantic spot, fit for a poet's meditations.
After many inquiries, I found that the vessel in which my friends left
Macao had been consigned to a Mr Reuben Noakes, an American merchant;
and to him I accordingly went, in the hopes of gaining some information
to guide me. His counting-house had not an attractive appearance; nor
did I like the expression of countenance of two clerks who were busily
writing in an outer room. When I asked for Mr Noakes, one of them
pointed with the feather of his pen to a door before me, but did not get
up. I accordingly knocked at the door, and was told to come in.
"Well, stranger, what's your business?" was the question asked me by the
occupant of the room, a tall lank man, with a cadaverous countenance.
He was lolling back in an easy chair, with a cigar in his mouth, a jug
and tumbler, containing some potent mixture, by his side, and account
books and papers before him.
Wishing to be as concise as he was in his questions, I asked, without
attempting to look for a chair, (he did not offer me one):--
"Were you the consignee of the _Emu_ brig, which sailed from here last
year, and has not since been heard of?"
"Well, if I was, and what then?" said he.
"I wish to know full particulars about her," I replied.
"By what authority do you ask me?" he said, looking suspiciously from
under his eyebrows.
"I had friends on board her, and wish to know what has become of them,"
I answered.
"Oh, you do, do you? Well, I wish, stranger, I could tell you; good
morning."