After I had been there awhile, the Cloud of their smoak was somewhat
dissipated, so that I could discern two more in my own condemnation: but
alas poor Sheep, they ne’re considered where they were going, it was
enough for them to be freed from a seven years Apprenticeship, under the
Tyranny of a rigid Master (as they judged it, coming but lately from
sucking the breasts of a too indulgent Mother) and not weighing (as I
know not how they should) the slavery they must undergo for five years,
amongst Brutes in foreign parts, little inferior to that which they
suffer who are _Gally-slaves_. There was little discourse amongst them,
but the pleasantness of the soyl of that Continent we were designed for,
(out of a design to make us swallow their gilded Pills of Ruine) & the
temperature of the Air, the plenty of Fowl and Fish of all sorts; the
little labour that is performed or expected having so little trouble in
it, that it rather may be accounted a pastime than any thing of
punishment; and then to sweeten us on the farther, they insisted on the
pliant loving natures of the Women there; all which they used as baits
to catch us silly Gudgeons. As for my own part, I said but little but
what tended to the approbation of what they said.
* * * * *
For all my aim (as I related before) was to understand the drift of this
Rogue, and then endeavour to get what I could from him. By this time
supper was talkt of by our Masters; so choice they were in their dyet,
that they could not agree what to have. At last one stands up, and
proclaiming silence, said, that a Dish of Bruiss was the most _Princely
Dish_ of any. And to tell you truly, by his looks, I thought he had been
begot just as his Mother had put a Sop into her mouth, of that
Stomach-murdering stuff, the grease running about her chops, which
pleasing her fancy, struck so deep an impression in the imagination upon
her conception, that the face of that thing she brought forth, lookt
much like a _Toast_ soaking in a Cooks _Dripping-pan_.
That he might perswade the rest this way to indulge his appetite, he
added farther, that it was a Dish would not be expensive, and soon
ready. My Landlady to back him on, said, she had some skimmings of the
pot, which she had been collecting these three moneths, some whereof she
questioned not but to procure, and let her alone to order it so, that we
should say we never had a better Dish aboard in our lives.
Another contradicting him, preferred a bowl of Pease-pottage before the
cheifest meat whatever, that he could never look into the pot and see
them boyl round, but that his heart leapt within him, and kept time with
their motion. My master (that was their Senior) scorned to be controlled
in his fancy; and therefore positively determined to have some _Poor
John_, swearing that the _Great Mogul_ did eat nothing else thrice a
week, and that _Atabalipa_ (that Indian King whom _Cortez_ conquered)
caused a sacrifice every day to be made of them to his Idol, commanding
them to be laid on an _Altar_ made of some coals of fire, then the fat
of some beast rubbed thereon, (because they had no Butter) and so
presented to the _Idol_, afterwards to the King, which he did eat with
inexpressible satisfaction. Order was given that this delicate fare
should be provided. Though they did _beat_ it most _unmercifully_, yet
it would not _yield_, resolving rather to be _broken_ in _peices_, then
to become unlike its _Masters_ heart, or shew any thing of a _tender
nature_. There was one allotted me for my proportion, which I used as
they had done, laying it on the coals a little while, and so committing
it to my teeths disposal, I never found till now that my teeth could be
thus shamefully baffled. They made several assaults upon it to little
purpose. My teeth at length fearing a total conquest, desperately and
inragedly seiz’d on the thinnest and weakest part, and holding it as
fast as a Vice, at last in the conflict overpowered one small fleak, but
not being able to stay the swift backward motion of my head, the hinder
part thereof (the seat of Memory) flew so violently against the wall,
that I not only instantly forgot what I was doing, where I was, but the
pain then I sustained by the knock. Strong-water they poured down my
Throat to revive me, but there was nothing did sooner fetch me than a
small fleak of the _Poor John_, which sticking in my Throat had well
nigh choaked me, which caused a strugling, and summoned the spirits
together to oppose what might be destructive to Nature.
Now did I really imagine my self at Sea, where, for want of provision, I
was forced to feed on _Cordage_, or the _Ship sides_. Had this poor
creature been ground _small_, I might have made as hard a shift to have
swallowed it, as those Sea-men did the _Saw-dust_ of deal boards coming
from _Norway_, and destitute of other food. That night I slept but
little, neither could I, had I swallowed _Opium_ for that purpose, for
the innumerable quantity of _Buggs_ (as some call them) that had
_invaded_ my body; being weary (as I suppose) of inhabiting any longer
the _dry mansion_ of that old rotten Bedsted on which I lay. In the
morning I found the _ruines_ of a Looking-glass in the window, which I
took up to discover what _knots_ or nodes those were I felt orespreading
my face. The sight whereof struck into me a Pannick fear, verily
believing I had been infected with a spotted Feaver.
I began to curse the bed and sheets, imagining the Contagion proceeded
from them; to be satisfied herein, I drew aside at the beds feet the
Curtain (that is to say, part of a Tilt) pinned there to keep the wind
off, which otherwise would have fanned us to death, coming in so
furiously through the Port-cullise of the window: (for glass there was
little). At first sight I questioned whether I was not lately risen from
the Dead, since there was visibly before my Eyes, the black Cloath that
covered my Herse. Had not we gone to bed without a Candle over-night, I
should sooner have chosen a bulk than this bed to lye on. It might have
been a good _Quære_, whether those sheets had ever been washt since
their weaving, and continually since imployed by Whores and Bawds,
successively, to sweat out their Contagious humours, and matter
proceeding from their ulcerated Bodies.
My pretended friend perceiving my amazement, bid me be of good courage,
for those marks in my face, were only occasioned by a _stinging sort of
Vermine_, who seldome meddle with such as are accustomed to them, only
giving their welcome to such as were _New-comers_. I took these
sufferings as patiently as I could; but thinking it was an ill coming
for me to either of them; and it should not be long before I would take
my _farewell_. We had scarce breakfasted, before a Messenger came into
the room, and with much seeming respect pretended to deliver a Message
to my friend. I ghessed it was to inform him how the Tyde served, and so
it proved. My friend told me we must be gone instantly, for the Merchant
attended my coming: Wherefore we presently went down to the staires to
take Boat: by the way he told me, that he would go with me in the same
Ship, and take as much care of me as he would of his own Son, whom I
understood afterwards he had too sure, above a year since stoln away,
and sold him as a slave. One while I thought to have ran for it, another
time I thought to have cryed out, a _Spirit_, a _Spirit_, but that the
thought of the Water-men being his Accomplices, deterred me. I was at my
wits end, not knowing what to do. Coming into the Boat, being now
destitute of all relief, I asked him according to his former pretence,
whether he resolved to go to Sea with me? yes, replyed he, I question,
Sir, (said I) whether you ever told a truth in your life, but I am
resolved you shall now; and with that I flung my self with him
over-board. Those which were in the Boat, immediately endeavoured at our
rising to pull us up into the Boat: But I clapping my hands
unfortunately on the side of the Boat on which they within leaned,
overturned it upon me. The first thought this accident produced in me,
was that a Whale had swallowed me, and that I was in the dark concave of
his belly: or that Death had arrested me, and clapped me up a close
prisoner for my sins, in Hell’s deep and black Dungeon. But by the
industry and expedition of many Water-men, eye-witnesses of this
passage, (which had like to have proved Tragical) the Boat was
recovered, and I the first person taken up and set on shore.
_Multorum manibus grande levatur onus._
Many hands make light work. I ne’er staid to see what was become of my
good Friend, (a Pox take him) but with what speed I could, attended with
a great number of little _hooping Owlets_ (I mean the young fry of
Scullars) I secured my self from this _Anthropopola_, or Man-seller: A
charitable woman seeing me in this _pickle_, (for it was Salt water,
which my _Sous’d guts_ may testifie if they please, in their grumbling
manner of _speaking_) told me that she would entertain me till to
morrow. This was the greatest _Cordial_ could be applied to this
_cross_; and without many Complements, I thanked her for her great love.
Now because she saw what condition I was in, she immediately put me to
bed.