Hard journey--Encampment--Division of the tribe--My new
guardian--Story of the capture of a British
vessel--Reunion--Gambling--Culinary arts--Hunting--Symptoms of
danger--Mutual deceptions--Tough yarns--The fatal ring--An
effective oration--Indecision of the Indians.
The reader left me just rising from a half-stupor into which a double
disappointment had thrown me, feverish with the excitement of new
purposes and resolutions. The first aim was for some fresh water, to
allay a burning thirst. After a long and unsuccessful search, I went
deliberately to the beach and took a deep draught of the briny waves.
Expecting that the chief would shortly return for me with a train of his
followers, it occurred to me that I might secrete myself, though there
was nothing certain to be gained by it, if I were successful, of which
the probability was not great. With this object in view, I walked along
close on the water's edge, that my footprints might be obliterated by
the waves. After proceeding in this way for some distance, I left the
shore, and started towards the interior, in quest of a place where I
might dig a hole in the earth and cover myself with grass and bushes. I
had gone but a little way inland, when, on ascending a slight eminence,
whom should I meet, face to face, but the old chief and another of my
tormentors! So the scheme came to nothing; but after others more
feasible had so dolefully miscarried, it was not in human nature to lay
this disappointment very deeply to heart. I made as though I was glad to
see the old fellow, though, could I then have had my will of the
savages, they would have been safely anchored in the middle of the
straits. I told him (Heaven forgive me!) I was looking for them. The
chief responded to my greeting only by ordering me to mount his horse. I
requested leave to stay a little longer, and was refused. I again
requested to be taken to Port Famine;--no, I should be taken to
"Holland."
I mounted behind him, and we travelled all day in the direction of Cape
Virgin. For two days and nights I had eaten nothing, and drunk nothing
but sea-water, and, in fact, had taken very little food for three days.
We arrived about dark at an eminence commanding a view of their new
squatting ground. Here we halted to take a short survey of the
encampment. To them, doubtless, the prospect was beautiful; to me it was
heart-sickening, but I strove to keep up cheerful appearances. Down in a
valley or deep marshy hollow, covered with tall grass or rushes, an
almost innumerable drove of horses were seen grazing; and beyond, at a
short distance, the surface was thickly dotted with huts, erected, or in
process of erection, by female architects. Children, in swarms like
summer flies, and with no more artificial covering than those insects,
were capering and shouting in high glee. At length we descended to the
rude village; after tacking about, first to the right and then to the
left, like a ship against a head wind, we came gallantly into town, and
drew up at the chief's lodge. I was glad to dismount, sore with
bestriding the skeleton of a horse.
Here I again took the liberty of proposing a trip to Port Famine,
offering to go alone, if they would not go with me. The chief told me,
with emphasis, to say no more about it. He would take me to "Holland,"
and there get rum and tobacco. "Only get me there," I said to myself,
"and much good may your rum and tobacco do your old carcass!"
On the third day of our encampment here the tribe was divided, and I was
sent off with one of the chief's lieutenants. A more blood-thirsty
rascal could not be found in the tribe. This step was probably taken by
the chief to get rid of my importunities to visit Port Famine, the
frequent renewal of which had evidently worried him. My new guardian
regaled my ears, from time to time, with stories of his murderous
exploits, most likely in order to instil into me a wholesome dread of
his power, and a submissive temper under his authority. The details of
his bloody yarns are too shocking to repeat. One story, on which he
seemed to dwell with peculiar satisfaction, as it was confirmed by more
reliable authority afterwards, I will here relate, with such other
particulars as I gained by subsequent information.
About two years before, the British brig Avon was in the Santa Cruz
river. Captain Eaton, her commander, went on shore with his men, and
bought some horses of the Indians, which he paid for in rum, tobacco and
trinkets. After receiving their pay, they played the same trick as with
me,--refused to deliver the horses. The captain was about getting under
weigh, when the Indians, perceiving his intention to leave them, went
down to the shore opposite the vessel, and beckoned him to come on
shore, signifying that they would give up the horses, as agreed. The
boat was sent ashore, and six or eight Indians returned in it to the
brig. They surrounded the captain on the quarter-deck, and told him the
horses were coming. He stepped to the rail with his glass, to observe
motions on shore; while thus engaged, the savages came up behind, drew
out their long knives, and stabbed him to the heart. He sunk lifeless on
the rail, and fell upon the deck. Seizing him by the hair, and raising
him partly on their knees, they cut his throat, and stabbed him again
and again, to make the work of death sure. They then rushed upon the
mate and stabbed him, but not mortally; he threw himself exhausted down
the hatchway, and had just strength enough to secrete himself among the
cargo. The boy was dealt with in the same manner as the captain, and one
or two sailors, being wounded, succeeded, like the mate, in getting
below deck and secreting themselves. The remainder of the crew were
fortunately off in a boat at this time, and escaped the massacre. The
savages ate and drank on board, and then plundered the brig of such
articles as suited their fancy. Mr. Douglass, of "Holland," being on
board the brig, was not murdered, but carried on shore and detained. A
gentleman named Simms afterwards endeavored to effect the release of Mr.
Douglass. He gave them all that they demanded as ransom, and was then
himself detained to keep his friend company. A third embassy was
undertaken by Mr. John Hall, of whom the reader will learn more
hereafter. He paid a large ransom for his two friends, and was then
served as they had been. He succeeded in effecting his escape the next
day; but Douglass and Simms were carried off, murdered, and, it is
supposed,--I believe with good reason,--that their bodies were eaten.
The Avon, after being plundered, fell into the hands of the remainder of
the crew, and sailed for Montevideo.
I travelled with this ruffian about ten days. He was a hard master,
though I cannot charge him with personal ill-treatment that amounted to
cruelty. Our life was monotonous enough. We slept a good share of the
time when we rested, drank pure water when we could get it, and ate what
fell in our way; though the reader may be assured that we saw some
hungry days. At the expiration of ten days, the tribe was reunited at a
place agreed upon. Here we continued several days, the natives occupied
exclusively with gambling, which was alike their daily labor and
recreation. When the demands of hunger became too imperative to be
longer postponed, they would go out and hunt, after which they resumed
their games.
Gambling is a vice to which they are greatly addicted, and they pursue
it with a perseverance and ardor worthy of amateurs in more civilized
communities. The implements used are bits of guanaco-skin, about the
size of common playing-cards, on which are rudely depicted dogs and a
variety of other beasts, with divers mystic marks and scrawls, done with
a stick in a pigment composed of clay, blood and grease. Unlike their
compeers in more enlightened circles, they put down stakes on only one
side, for which the opposite players contend. In this way they rid
themselves of their saddles, bridles, knives, and whatever other
portable articles they may have to hazard. Nay, I have seen them
inflamed to such a passion as to take the mantles from their women's
shoulders, telling them to protect themselves from the cold as they
could.
But where was "Holland," all this time? They told me at first that we
should be only four days reaching it, and already more than ten had
passed. On inquiry, they said that the journey would be completed in six
days; on we went, for _sixteen_ days more, with the same dull routine,
the Indians assigning seven or eight days as the minimum time. The place
seemed to be all the while receding. I had long since become aware that
there was no truth in them; but persisted in questioning them, to call
forth fresh lies, which they uttered with marvellous fluency, as if it
were vastly easier than speaking the truth.
After the reunion of the tribe, I implored the old chief to take me back
to his lodge, and to his especial care; to which he consented, much to
my satisfaction. With him I felt a kind of security unknown elsewhere;
under God, I relied alone on his protection. He alone of the tribe had
the power to defend me, and I spared no pains to secure his good-will.
To this end, I made him large promises of such things as I thought would
arouse his cupidity, or stimulate his appetites, as well as an abundance
of ornaments for his wives and children, if he would only take me to
some place inhabited by white people. This policy was extended to his
household; disagreeable as the task was, I forced myself to caress his
dirty children, and to tell them what pretty things I intended to give
them. By these, and such-like demonstrations, I flattered myself it
might be possible to keep on peaceable terms with old Parosilver, and
enlist his authority for me, if circumstances should compel me to appeal
to it.
The reunited tribe remained in camp three or four days, dividing their
time between gambling and hunting. When I accompanied the hunters, as I
sometimes did, I was sure to get something to eat towards night, as they
invariably kindled a fire and cooked part of the game on the spot where
it was killed. Their method of preparing all meats was essentially the
same as has been described; tossing large pieces into the fire, or
suspending them over it, till they were somewhat smoked and dried, and
then devouring them, without salt, or any other condiment but the sauce
of hunger. Cooking the ostrich, however, forms an exception: the
feathers are plucked out, the bones dissected and removed; hot stones
are placed within the body, the skin is tightly sewed together, and the
whole is partially roasted on the embers. The lacings are then cut, and
the meat is served up; it has an excellent flavor, far surpassing that
of the domestic turkey. The bird is covered with a layer of fat, half an
inch thick, which is melted, and collects in the body, forming a
condiment which is relished as the greatest luxury of Patagonian living.
If any fragments of the repast remain, they are slung to the backs of
the saddles, and so carried home, dangling at the horses' sides, till
they are so begrimed with dust as to defy all conjecture as to their
quality or origin. These choice morsels are proffered to the home
department, are received with smiles of gratitude, and devoured with a
gust sharpened by long abstinence. It was noticeable that the plumage of
the ostrich, though beautiful, was not at all valued by the Indians;
large quantities of the feathers are blown all over the country,
without attracting the least regard, while men and women disfigure
themselves with paint, and load their persons with the cheapest of all
trumpery, brass and copper and beads, picked up from traders, or stolen.
The hunting of the guanaco is not only their chief reliance for food,
but a spirited amusement, conducted after a fashion peculiar alike to
hunters and hunted. Patagonia, as before mentioned, has no trees, but is
covered here and there, in patches, with a kind of under-brush of scrub
growth, and the plains extend back for hundreds of miles from the
Atlantic shore, like a vast rolling prairie. This affords a clear and
excellent hunting-ground, with nothing to conceal the game, or hinder
the pursuer, except now and then a clump of low bushes, or the tall
grass of the marshes. Two to four hundred Indians on horseback,
bare-headed, and with their skin mantles about them, and each having the
bolas and his long knife tucked beneath his belt, the whole followed by
an innumerable pack of dogs of every kind, down to curs of low degree,
make up a hunting party; as far as the eye can reach, their gigantic
forms, diminished by the distance, may be seen projected on the horizon,
their long hair streaming in the wind. Presently a thickness is
perceived in the air, and a cloud of dust arises,--a sure indication
that a herd of guanacos has been beaten up, and is now approaching. All
eyes are fixed intently on the cloud; it soon appears as if several
acres of earth were alive, and in rapid motion. There is a herd of from
five hundred to a thousand of these animals, infuriated, rushing forward
at their utmost speed whatever direction they may chance to take, they
follow in a straight line; and, as soon as their course is ascertained,
the Indians may be seen running their horses at break-neck pace to plant
themselves directly in the course of the living tide. As the game
approach, the hunter puts spurs to his horse and rushes across their
track. When within twenty or thirty yards, he jerks the bolas from his
girdle, and, whirling it violently above his head, lets fly. The weapon
usually strikes the head or neck of the animal, and winds itself about
his fore-legs, bringing him to the ground. The hunter dismounts, cuts
the victim's throat, remounts, and is again in pursuit. The whizzing
missile, unerring in its aim, brings down another and another, till the
party are satisfied with their chase and their prey. The dogs fall upon
the poor animals, when helplessly entangled by the bolas, and often
cruelly mangle them before the hunter has time to despatch them. Seldom
does any one miss the game he marks. It is the height of manly ambition
among them, the last result of their training, to excel in the chase.
The sport being over, then comes the dressing of the meat. The body is
split open, the entrails removed, the heart and large veins opened, to
permit the blood to flow into the cavity. The Indians scoop up with
their hands and eagerly drink the blood. When their thirst is satisfied,
the remainder is poured into certain of the intestines selected for the
purpose, to become (to their accommodating tastes) a luxury as highly
prized as any surnamed of Bologna. The ribs are disjointed from the
back-bone, and, with the head, discarded as worthless. The body is
quartered, cutting through the skin; the quarters, tied together in
pairs, are thrown across the horses' backs, and conveyed to the camp.
Arrived at their wigwams, the chivalrous hunters never unlade their
beasts, but lean upon the horses' necks till their wives come out and
relieve them of the spoil. They then dismount, unsaddle their horses,
and turn them loose.
Whilst remaining at our present encampment, strong indications of
dissatisfaction were apparent, which manifestly had reference to me.
There was a large party that had always entertained hostile feelings
towards me; and I now found it necessary to exert myself to the utmost
to quell their discontent, by making large promises of presents to men,
women and children, "due and payable" on arrival at some white
settlement; also, by humoring their caprices, and flattering their
vanity with the most honeyed words at my command. The reader, I hope,
will not harshly judge of the deceptions which are here and elsewhere
avowed in this narrative. I was placed in circumstances which, it seemed
to me, made this a legitimate and necessary mode of self-defence. It was
plain that my only way of escape would be by some negotiation for
ransom, and the Indians had conceived expectations of very large profit
to be made out of me. They were told, when we landed, that I was the
captain of the ship,--an unfortunate error, but one that I could not
repair. I was naturally looked upon as so much the more valuable
hostage. My only resource was to act in character: to magnify my own
importance, to increase their expectations, whenever I found myself
sinking in the scale of their favor,--to make them feel, in short, that
they had an immense interest in preserving my life, and getting me to
"Holland," or some other white settlement, with the most convenient
speed. And if some of the fictions appear gross, it is enough to say
that they were such as seemed, at the time, to be adapted to the
grossness of their apprehensions and desires, and to the most sure
accomplishment of the purpose in view.
Yet, so false-hearted and treacherous were they, that one could never be
for a moment certain what impression was made. Liars in grain
themselves, it was only natural for them to distrust every one else.
Whenever I spoke, and especially when making promises, the old chief
would look me steadily in the eye, as though piercing my inmost
thoughts. But, in process of time, I so schooled myself to the exercise,
that I could return his look and tell the toughest stories without
blinking. Some of them were to the full as credible as those of
Munchausen. It was constantly necessary to put memory and imagination to
the rack, to call forth something new and astonishing wherewith to
divert their fancy, and preoccupy their minds from meditating mischief
against me, of which I had continual reason to be afraid. Secure against
any detection of the plagiarism, I drew largely from the adventures of
Sinbad the Sailor, the marvels of the Arabian Nights, and the cunning
devices of Gil Blas, the materials of which served, when duly mixed with
my own veritable experience, to excite their curiosity, if not to awaken
awe and superstitious reverence. They would sit around me for hours, as
eager as so many children, their eyes and ears all intent, while in
broken Spanish, mixed with a few Indian phrases that had been grafted
into my speech through the ear, aided by abundant gesticulations, that
shadowed forth and illustrated whatever was obscure in expression, I
spun yarns of no common length, strength and elasticity. Sometimes, in
response to a general call from the company, the old chief at the end
of some marvellous tale, would command me to tell it again. This was no
easy task, considering the freaks which my imagination usually played,
without restraint, in the progress of the narrative. In no long time,
however, I learned to imitate the prudence of boys who turn down the
leaves of their books, or of Indians who break down the shrubs and twigs
along a new path, by taking special note of my deviations,--a sort of
mental dog's-ear, or way-mark, interposed at the point of departure. It
was not difficult to retrace the way at their bidding, and give them the
whole journey, to its minutest turnings.
The excitement and dissatisfaction which I had remarked and dreaded
appeared to have died away, when one night I had startling evidence that
it was still active. At the usual hour of rest, as I was expecting every
moment to be ordered, like a dog, to my cold corner of the lodge, a
gigantic, ill-favored fellow made his appearance, and exchanged, in an
under tone, a few words with the chief. Without comprehending a word
that was passing, I could see, by their significant glances, that the
colloquy concerned me, and that it boded me no good. The giant soon
disappeared. The chief sat a moment in silence, rose, and ordered me to
follow him. To the question where he was taking me, no other answer was
vouchsafed than "Come along!" We had proceeded but a short distance when
I observed a group of Indians sitting in a circle on the earth. The
sight almost froze my blood. The most dismal apprehensions seized upon
me. There needed no wizard to tell the import of the scene. The _fatal
ring_, so much to be dreaded by those who are cast upon the tender
mercies of savages, was set for me. The suddenness of it aggravated the
blow. It almost paralyzed thought, and arrested my powers of motion.
The catastrophe of the tragedy, I thought, is at hand, unless arrested
by the interposition of a higher power. In my way to the dreaded spot I
sent up a silent supplication that He whose eye marked all my footsteps,
and whose power was all-sufficient for my protection against utmost
peril, would keep me in that hour of my "extremity," and make it,
according to the proverb, His "opportunity."
Arrived at the ring, I found the Indians squatting on the ice and snow
awaiting us, with their cutlasses and large knives tucked under their
blankets,--weapons they never carry except when they expect to use them.
I was ordered within, and seated myself as near as possible to the
chief. They presently began talking in rotation, as they sat, in their
own tongue. Their words were mainly unintelligible; but the deadly
malice that flashed from the eyes, kindled in the features, and animated
the gesticulations, of some of them, left no room to doubt the
significance of their speech. A part of them were clamorous against my
life, as they had constantly been. Others appeared to be irresolute, and
said little; but, so far as could be discovered, no voice was raised in
my favor. The chief spoke last,--I hung upon his lips, and anxiously
scrutinized his face and action. I gathered that he was in favor of
holding on a while longer, and using me as a decoy, to lure others
within their power; reminding them of my promises,--the quantities of
rum and tobacco they were to get from me, the trinkets destined for
women and children. He was for getting the booty before cutting the
matter short with me. His remarks evidently had great weight with the
council, and exerted a soothing effect on all of them. At this point I
thought it a meet season to impress upon their minds that I was of some
consequence in the world, and asked leave to speak for myself, which was
granted. Thereupon I launched forth in an oration, the chief acting as
interpreter, and retailing it to the circle sentence by sentence:
"Buenos Senores! Me mucho Grande Americano capitan, mismo commodant
mucho mass, mucha barca, mucha galeta, muchos soldados, muchos
marinarios. Me tene mucho mucho big guns, bastante poquito mismo
bastante, cutlass, pistols mucho bastante. Vuestros hombres buenos per
me, mi marinarios, mi soldados, buenos per vos. Othro corso usted malo
rumpe me," &c. &c. &c. In such a jumble of Spanish, English and Indian,
duly set off with grimace and gesture, I gave them to understand that
they were dealing with no inferior personage, but with one who was at
home as good as the president; one having at command abundance of
steamships and sailing vessels of all sorts, with soldiers and mariners,
big guns and little guns, pistols and cutlasses. That if they were good
to me they would receive good from me and mine; but that, if they did me
any harm, men would come from North America in numbers as incalculable
as the hairs of their heads, and kill every mother's son of them.
Furthermore, if they would take me to some white settlement, whether
American, English, French or Spanish, I would order the white people to
give them rum, tobacco, flour, rice, sugar and tea. _Of course_ the
white men could do no less than obey, and they would thus be enabled to
indulge themselves in luxuries almost without limit.
It was evident, at a glance, that my speech was seasonable, and took
effect in the right quarter. Their eyes stood out with wonder, and the
sternness of their countenances was relaxed. They acquiesced in the
proposal to postpone final action for the present, and see what could be
made out of me before doing their worst. In a few days, they said, they
would take me to "Holland;" but, no matter what time was limited, that
"undiscovered country" seemed continually further off,--"a name" without
any "local habitation." Their conduct in this was determined, as I was
afterwards assured, by the fact that they were entirely undecided what
to do with me. They longed for the good things I had told them of, and
their greedy appetites could only be satisfied by taking me to a white
settlement. On the other hand, they were painfully suspicious that I
meant to give them the slip, and dreaded the result of bringing me into
the vicinity of any settlement; while, at the same time, my
grandiloquent assumptions and lofty threats made them shrink from the
thought of doing me serious harm. The big guns and little guns greatly
disturbed their imaginations. In short, I seemed to them an ugly
customer--bad to keep, and bad to get rid of. They temporized,
therefore, promised and hesitated, and postponed, and promised again.
There was no use in trying to hurry their movements. So I gave them line
upon line, seeking every opportunity to deepen the troublesome
impression that they assumed a mighty responsibility when they made me a
prisoner, and that their welfare depended greatly on the issue.