Governor William Mathew--Insurrection of the Negroes--A Legend
of the Ravine--Punishment of the Conspirators.
In 1730, William Mathew, Esq., the lieutenant-governor, succeeded
to this government, vacant by the non-acceptance of Lord Forbes
and General William Crosbie; and, in the first year of his
appointment, fresh regulations were made for the payment of such
slaves as suffered death for crimes, according to the ancient
custom of the island. The affairs of Fort James were also looked
into. In 1680, Colonel James Vaughan, of Antigua, had granted to
his majesty Charles II. and his successors, a certain promontory,
generally known as St. John's Point, for the purpose of building
a fort, and for the support of the matrosses. This had been done
as far as the erection of Fort James; but the other part of the
land was not used; and consequently, this year, (1730,) it was
determined that it should be given to the matrosses; only
reserving a part which might be wanted for the purpose of
building hospitals or magazines. In 1731, Antigua suffered very
much from a long drought; when the want of water was so
excessive, that a pail of that fluid sold for 3s. The following
year (1732) amendments were made in the court of chancery. By the
regulations of 1715, this court was made to consist of the
captain-general or governor-in-chief, and five or more members of
council; but as his excellency was not always upon the island
when such courts were held, great delays were occasioned, and it
was determined that in future the president of Antigua should, in
the absence of the governor, or lieutenant-governor, preside.
After a temporary absence, the Lieutenant-governor William Mathew
returned to Antigua in the early part of the year 1733, assuming
the government as captain-general of the Leeward Islands, and
presented his additional instructions to the council and
assembly, directing that body to be no longer restricted, as
formerly, from making any additional allowance to the salary of
1200l. per annum, allowed by the home government, namely:--
"Whereas, it has been represented to us, that the salary of
1200l. sterling per annum, which we have hitherto thought fit to
allow out of the duty of four-and-a-half per cent., arising in
our Leeward Islands, for our governor-in-chief of these islands,
is not at present sufficient for his support and the dignity of
that our government, we have taken the same into our
consideration, and are graciously pleased to permit and allow
that the respective assemblies of our said islands may, by any
act or acts, settle upon you such sum or sums, in addition to
your salary of 1200l. per annum, as they shall think proper; and
you are hereby allowed to give your assent to any act or acts of
assembly to that purpose. Provided, such sum or sums be settled
on you and your successors in that government; at least on you
during the whole time of your government there, and that the same
be done by the first respective assemblies of our said island
after your arrival there."
In accordance with this new arrangement, the council and assembly
readily granted an annual sum of 1000l. Antigua currency.
In 1734, copper coins were imported from England, and passed at
about the same rate they do at this day. Bayonets were also
introduced this year into Antigua, for the use of the militia,
they having been found to answer so well in the late wars in
Flanders. These weapons obtained their name from being first
manufactured at Bayonne, in France.
The events of the year 1736 were such as to strike horror into
the hearts of all the white inhabitants of Antigua. The negroes,
who, as we have before seen, attempted an insurrection in 1728,
attributed their want of success to the fact of their having no
regular plan; and accordingly they chose one of their tribe, a
very powerful black man, to be their king; and vowed to render to
him the strictest homage, and follow his every order. This man,
whose real name was "Klaas," although his master called him
Count, was a person of undaunted courage and strong resolve; and,
was it not on account of the demise of Governor Mathew's son,
which frustrated their original plan of blowing up government
house (or at least the house which was hired for the governor at
Clark's Hill) with gunpowder, the night a grand ball was to be
given in honour of the anniversary of the king's coronation, no
doubt Antigua would have been another "Hayti," and "Klaas"
another "Christophe."
There is still an old tradition, which relates to this melancholy
subject; and as it may not prove uninteresting to some of my
readers, I will give it in a newer dress.
The Fate of Klaas.
A LEGEND OF THE RAVINE.
At a late period in the evening of the 3rd of October, 1736, two
horsemen might be seen riding slowly along the high road which
leads from the capital to English Harbour. The eldest of these
travellers was probably past the meridian of life; but his round
florid face bore not a mark of care, nor could a single wrinkle
be detected upon his open forehead. Age, indeed, had tinged his
hair with grey, and, perhaps, slightly bent his form; but had
neither depressed his spirits nor robbed his laughing blue eye of
its lustre. In person he was tall and robust; and although
jollity was written upon every feature, he possessed at the same
time that air of determination which would make few wish to
thwart him in his views, or offer an insult that was sure to be
resented. The animal he bestrode was of a coal-black, and, like
his master, bore his years well. Logo, as he was called, had
often followed the hounds in "merrie England;" and, when his
master came to take possession of a property in Antigua, his
faithful steed, the sharer of many a long day's sport, was not to
be left behind.
The companion of this first-mentioned traveller was, in every
respect, far different. Scarcely had seventeen summers passed
over his head; and his slight, but well-formed person, was in
direct contrast to the large and heavy make of his friend. His
rich brown locks clustered around his lofty brow unspoiled by
powder; but in his large dark eye, consumption had lit its fire,
and flushed, at times, his naturally pale cheek.
"Come, Edward," said the elder traveller, addressing the youth;
"we must mend our pace, lad: here's Logo champing his bit with
every mark of anger at being kept with tightened reign: the old
fellow has too much mettle still left to like this hippopotamus
trot, when he has an hungry stomach, and the prospect of a
well-stored stable before him."
"Ay, uncle; and one there is at home, who must be as anxiously
looking for us, as Logo is for his stable."
"What, Marien? Well, I dare say the girl feels the loss of her
cousin Edward from the side of her spinet, if she don't her old
father from his settle in the gallery. Women love those little
attentions you know so well to offer; and Marien would miss you
from tuning her lute, or turning the pages of her music book, as
I should old Logo, were anything to happen to him. Dame Nature
has made you, boy, to shine in lady's bower, more, I think, than
in tented field."
The deepest hectic sprang to the face of the youth, as his uncle
uttered these words, and a half-smothered sigh broke from his
lips, which, catching the attention of his companion, caused him
to turn and look ardently at him.
"Nay, dearest Edward, I meant not to distress you; I hope your
trip to these sunny shores may restore you to stronger health;
and then you may follow the steps of your brave father, and fight
your country's battles. But we must not loiter any longer upon
the road; for, in truth, I like not the appearance of the night,
and we have no shelter near. I care not for myself, for I have
weathered too many a storm to shrink from a sprinkling; but you
are still delicate; and your cousin Marien will scold me for
having already kept you out in the heavy night dew of this
climate."
So saying, they gave their steeds the rein, and dashed on,
throwing the loose pebbles with which the road was strewed, on
every side.
The night, indeed, was far from promising; the wind blew in
sudden gusts, and whirled the dead leaves on every side. A low
moaning sound came from the distant mountains, the sure
forerunner of a storm; while peals of thunder broke upon the ear.
The black clouds drifted rapidly along the sky, and several
meteors gilded the night with their evanescent glories. Suddenly
a deep silence prevailed, broken only by the sound of the horses'
feet upon the flinty road, as the benighted travellers struck
their rowels into the sides of the animals, to urge them to
greater speed. But this boding silence did not last long; the
wind again rose with redoubled violence--the thunder rolled in
awful peals--and a sheet of vivid lightning covered the whole
face of the heavens; clap followed clap in rapid succession,
shaking the very earth to its centre; the rain came down in
torrents, yet still the red-winged lightning struggled through
it, and kept up its terrific fire.
A moment's pause in the storm gave the elder traveller time to
exclaim--"Well, Edward, my prognostications have proved true,
have they not? Poor Marien must indeed feel anxious;" when, just
at this instant, a dark object issued out of a kind of ravine
which appeared on one side of the road, and darted across the
path close to the horses' heads. "What was that?" continued the
speaker. "Was it man or animal? My glance was so momentary, that
indeed I know not." "A boy," returned his companion, "an' my eyes
deceived me, or it was Marien's dumb page." "What! Julio?
Impossible! What could the boy do abroad in such a night? unless"
--and the speaker paused; "unless, indeed, Marien sent him forth
to gain some tidings of us; for although the poor little fellow
was born deaf and dumb, he has the brightest intellect and
swiftest foot of any negro I ever knew. I have often promised to
tell you his story; and as the tempest seems to have worn away a
little, I may as well give it now, which will tend to make the
road seem the shorter.
"Julio's mother was the foster-parent of my own Marien, although
at that period she did not belong to me. But she was a great
favourite of my wife's, and for that reason we hired her to nurse
our child; and after my wife's death, I purchased her from her
old master, who was a friend of mine. Nuno was a very superior
negress; and was it not on account of her husband, 'Count,' whom
I pointed out to you the other day as the reputed king of the
negroes, I do really think she might have been living now. She
never would say _what_ he did to her, or indeed make any
complaint against him; but I am certain there was something
mysterious about it; for when afterwards she was confined with
Julio, she made it her dying request to me that Count might never
know the child was his, or the boy be told who his father was.
This 'Count,' as he is called, although I believe he bears
another name, made a great deal of talk in the country some few
years ago. It appears, his master had him severely flogged for a
trifling offence, and Count ran away; but he afterwards came
back, and all was forgiven, although his master might have had
him hung for it, without any loss to himself. There is a law of
the island, which punishes with death any negro who runs away for
longer than three months, and the country pays their value to
their owners. I heard a flying report of an intended insurrection
of the negroes while we were in town to-day; but for my part, I
give no credit to it. They have not forgotten the rebellion of
Crump's negroes yet, and the punishment awarded to the offenders,
which will keep them quiet, at least for a little time. I have
heard, that Count was concerned in that affair; but none of the
culprits mentioned his name; and although, from the character of
the man, I should not think it unlikely, for the sake of poor
Juno, I would not accuse him. But to return to Julio. His mother
died immediately after his birth, and no one but ourselves, and
his mother's brother, a slave named Cuffee, know who is his
father. Upon finding the poor child was deaf and dumb, our hearts
have been drawn the closer to him; and as soon as my affairs are
arranged in this island, I shall return to England, and intend
carrying Julio with me."
By this time, the travellers had gained an ascent, and before
them was spread a cluster of negro-huts, various out-buildings,
and works of a flourishing estate; while on the top of another
eminence stood the hospitable mansion of the owner. In a moment,
all was bustle. "Massa come home!" was shouted from one to
another, as a party of black boys and men started from their
slumbers upon the dry trash, and ran to take the horses. After
seeing Logo properly attended to, the travellers walked to the
house, where, at an open jalousie, a slight figure, whose
graceful outline bespoke it Marien's, was seen watching their
progress. The family party having once more met, and a thousand
inquiries as to their ride &c. having been made, Marien touched a
silver bell, and a domestic entering, orders were given to send
in Julio. "By-the-bye," exclaimed the elder gentleman, "didst
thou send forth Julio in search of your _absentees_ to-night,
Marien?"--"No, dearest father; Julio has not left the anteroom
since dinner, that I am aware of. Anxious as I was to gain
tidings of you, the night was too inclement to send the poor
child abroad. But why do you ask that question?"--"Oh! nothing;
only that our bright-eyed Edward thought he saw him cross the
road at the ravine down yonder; but I think it must have been a
dog, or something of the kind. However, to be certain, I
mentioned it to you." At this moment the door opened, and Julio
entered. He had, perhaps, attained his eighth year; but from his
diminutive form, a stranger would have thought him even younger.
His dress was a kind of white tunic embroidered with crimson, and
a broad belt of gilded leather, with tassels of bullion, gathered
it in folds around his slender waist. Smart silk stockings
encased his legs, and white leather shoes, ornamented with gold,
graced his little feet. When abroad, a small crimson cap, in
which was placed a single ostrich feather, reposed upon his head:
its snowy plume strangely contrasting with his ebon complexion.
It was Marien's whim to dress her page in this fantastic manner,
and her indulgent parent never thwarted her in any of her little
pleasures.
The deficiencies of poor Julio's external faculties did not
extend to his intellects. The slightest action of Marien's was
noticed by him, and her every wish gratified, if possible. Did a
shade pass over her brow, he flew for her lute, or arranged her
books at the spinet; did a smile illuminate her face, Julio
jumped for joy. It was his task to gather for her the sweetest
fruits, and range the tangled copse and dell to cull the fairest
flowers; and when she walked abroad, he attended the steps of his
young mistress, and swept from her path every noisome insect.
Bright were the eyes of Julio, and joyous was the look expressed
in his dark round face; but on this evening, when, at the summons
of his mistress, he stood before her, every one was struck with
the alteration in his appearance. His cheek was blanched to an
unearthly hue--his eyes, bloodshot and dim, sought the floor;
while a shudder seemed to run through his frame, as if he saw
some dreaded form. To the anxious inquiries of the party,
expressed by significant gestures, the boy only shook his head,
while a darker shade of sadness passed over his brow. Thinking
that a slight degree of illness was the cause, Marien kindly
dismissed him to his repose, in hopes the morrow's dawn would
restore him to his usual gaiety, and rising from her seat, placed
in her father's hand a small billet. "A grand ball at Government
House, eh! to be given in honour of our good king's coronation.
What say you to that, young people? Wilt thou pay thy devotions
at the shrine of the laughter-loving muse? No doubt, all the
beauty and fashion of Antigua will be there. But come, the hour
is past midnight; and if I keep our Marien up so late, she will
lose the last of her roses she brought from Old England." So
saying, the party separated for the night; and the scene changes
to another spot, at an earlier hour.
* * * * *
In one of the deepest parts of a ravine grew a variety of tangled
bushes, which clothed it to its very bottom with their verdant
foliage. Disrupted rocks were thickly scattered about, over which
glided the speckled snake, while cricket and frog kept up an
incessant chirping. About the commencement of the storm already
described, a dark figure was seen slowly, but firmly descending
the steep bank of the ravine, whose nearer approach bespoke him a
son of Ham, one who wore the chain of bondage. In height he
measured about six feet, while his broad chest and muscular arms
shewed his Herculean strength. His complexion was of the deepest
jet, and his large black eye shone with the fierceness of a
firebrand. A mantle of dark blue cloth was wrapt around his form,
leaving his arms and legs bare; and his head was bound round with
a scarlet handkerchief, the ends of which floated in the breeze
with graceful negligence. In one hand he bore a massive club,
which assisted his steps in his descent; while the other rested
upon a horse-pistol, which, heavily loaded, lay hid in the folds
of his garment. Upon gaining the bottom of the ravine, he looked
cautiously around; and then, as if satisfied all was right, he
raised a conch-shell to his lips, and blew a low but clear blast.
This repeated thrice, he seated himself upon one of the rocks;
and burying his face in his hands, mused in silence, unmindful of
the threatening appearance of the heavens. But a few minutes
passed, when he again started to his feet, and blew a louder
blast, which at a short interval was answered by a low whistle;
and the crackling of dry leaves (as if trodden under foot)
proclaimed the approach of other visitants. Drawing the pistol
from its confinement, the first occupant of the ravine stepped a
few paces forward, and, in a voice rendered thick by contending
passions, demanded the word. "Death to our foes!" was the answer;
and in another moment, about forty negroes stood around their
king. "Welcome, brave friends, to this lone spot; for here at
least we can feel we are free, and bid defiance to the hated
whites. But where is Morah? Surely she will not desert us,
Tomboy?" And he directed his looks to a short stout man, who
ranked as his general, and answered to that name, and who had
taken up his post at the right shoulder of his sable majesty.
"Oh, no; Morah knows too well to desert Klaas at his need.
Believe not that," returned the man. "We should have been here
long before, but she was knocked up with her walk, and we were
obliged to wait her will. But see!"--and touching the arm of
Klaas, he pointed to two lusty youths who were coming down the
bank, bearing between them some object, which could scarcely be
pronounced human. Placing their burden safely at the feet of
Klaas, the young men drew back, while he, giving her his hand,
raised and placed her upon a rocky seat near himself. The woman,
(for so she proved,) although looking more like the habitant of
another world, must have numbered her hundredth year. Her face,
which had lost its naturally black hue from age and sickness, was
puckered up in a thousand wrinkles; while her toothless gums were
seen through her thick open lips. The few hairs which time had
left her were bleached to a snowy white; but her black eyes had
lost none of their brightness: they gleamed from beneath her
overhanging brow with a supernatural ray. Her form was bent
almost double, and the skin hung about her hands and arms like
black and shrivelled parchment. An old blanket partly covered her
attenuated person, which she firmly grasped with her long bony
fingers; but it afforded her no defence against the inclemency of
the evening; for she shivered and trembled at every blast. Such
was Morah, the old Obeah woman,[46] who was hated, yet dreaded,
by nearly all her tribe.
"Morah," said the leader of the band, after she had rested for a
few minutes, "Morah, dost thou not know me? hast thou forgot the
purpose for which we have met? The time is short, remember."
"Oh, no, no! me no forget," said the old crone; "me know you very
well; you're 'Count,' the negro king, as you call yourself, but
your massa call you 'Count the Runaway,'" and she laughed
demoniacally.
"Call me Klaas," shrieked the negro; "oh! call me not Count--the
name of my servitude--the name those detested whites gave me
when, torn from all my heart holds dear, and forced into their
ships, they brought me to this country, and sold me, for a
miserable pittance, to the man I despise--the man who, for a
small fault, had me flogged until the blood gushed down my back.
Yes! flogged _me_, who was born heir to a kingdom, and who
followed the chase in my own bright land, free as the zephyr
which kisses its sunny mountains, until the fortunes of war made
me the despised, degraded slave I am. Call me not 'Count,' I say;
for every misery I have ever borne is recalled by that hated
name. Why was it I spurned poor Nuno from me, and embittered her
after life? Because, in a moment of repose--when the weary toil
of the day was over--seated before our hut in the bright
moonbeam, I talked to her of Africa, and of my hopes of soon
escaping from my degraded state, she raised the demon within me
by calling me 'Count,' when I had taught her to use no other name
but 'Klaas;' and thus bringing all my wrongs before me, I vowed
to sacrifice our child to the gods of my country should its eyes
ever see the light. Oh, then, call me not 'Count' in this wild
ravine, where everything breathes an air of freedom, although I
am obliged to bear it (but not for long, I hope) before the
abhorred Christians. Oh! call me not 'Count.' unless--" and he
flung his arms on high, while his eyeballs rolled in fire, and
every nerve quivered with emotion--"unless you wish to see me,
like the hunted lanté turn on all alike. But enough;"--and by
strong effort he mastered his turbulent passions, although the
perspiration flowed from off his forehead in large drops, and his
breast heaved like the stormy billow;--"I came not here to-night
to recite my wrongs, or the wrongs of these my comrades; but to
plan our redemption from them, and the destruction of our
enemies. To business, then. But first let me ask you, Morah, has
Obeah given the sign?"
"An' think you me come here to-night had he not?" returned the
old woman, doggedly; "ay, that he has, and a good sign it is; but
p'raps you no want white man dead, eh? And again the hag uttered
her horrible laugh, which seemed still more so in the midst of a
clap of thunder, while her miserable form looked more unearthly
in the lightning's flash.
"Death to our foes!" broke from the lips of the leader, which was
repeated by all the band; and then breaking up the circle in
which they had been standing, they proceeded to prepare the
different articles used in their superstitious orgies, under the
inspection of old Morah, while Klaas and his general, Tomboy,
conferred apart.
A large hole being dug in the middle of the ravine, and all
things properly arranged, the king and his companion were called;
when, joining in a rank around the opening, the mysterious rites
began. Morah, squatting at one end of the aperture, called upon
Obeah, under the title of Nzambiampongee, to assist them in the
extirpation of their foes; and after many a mumbled incantation,
proceeded to bury in the hole small quantities of gunpowder,
rusty iron, a little money, and a portion of human hair; while
Klaas added to the heap by throwing in a few bujis.[47] After
another incantation was chanted by them all, the hole was
carefully covered over with black dog-bush,[48] and the earth
once more thrown in and pressed down. At this moment a
night-raven screeched, and Morah interpreted it as a kindly sign
from Obeah; whilst a beautiful speckled snake, gliding over the
spot, was greeted by Klaas as his country's god. This ceremony
over, Morah departed, and other business was discussed. Seated
upon his rustic throne, Klaas issued his mandates to his
attentive subjects, who, stretched around, looked up to him as
their presiding divinity.
"In eight days' time," began their king, in a distinct and
audible tone, "there is to be a ball given by the governor, in
honour, they say, of their king, and as all our tyrants are
expected to be present, it has been determined to make that night
the scene of our grand endeavours, that, at one stroke, shall
destroy our enemies, and make us once more free. Under yonder
bushes, where the earth looks fresh, are buried the kegs of
gunpowder which we have, at various times, been enabled to
collect; and the night before the ball takes place do you,
Quashey Coonah, make it your business to remove them carefully up
to Clark's hill, where Harry, who has been lately hired there,
will have them placed under the cellar. Frank, I look to you to
take care of what arms we have procured, and also to distribute
them. You will also have those bills sharpened--they may prove
very useful. I make it my duty to fire the train about the time
the moon rises above the top of yon mountain, while Tomboy will
lead the party who is to prevent any of the whites escaping.
Hercules will lay in wait with his band at the entrance of the
town; so that, when the flames rise high, and the inhabitants
hasten to give them assistance, he may fall upon them and prevent
them. I have sent him and Jemmy to meet a large party of negroes
up to windward to-night, who, no doubt, will aid us with their
force; and as many of them are in the habit of going out shooting
for their masters, they may be able to add a little to our stock
of powder. Ned, do you try and obtain what arms you can; in such
a cause, any means are fair.
"Ah! that I will, King Klaas; and look what I have brought you
to-night," and turning round, he drew from its sheath a blade of
the finest steel; "what say you to Massa Colonel's own good
sword. He told me to take care of it to-day, after he had done
looking at it, and to put it carefully up; and so I have, ah!
ah!" and Ned laughed until the water ran down his cheeks.
"That's right, my fine fellow!" exclaimed Klaas; and taking it
from the hand of his comrade, he examined, with intense interest,
its shining surface. After some moments had passed in this
employment, he replaced it carefully in its sheath, and, with
something like a sigh, exclaimed,--"Well, I have been driven to
this. They might have made me their friend, but harshness,
contempt, and insult, has conspired to render me what I am; and
for this bright weapon, perhaps the gallant Colonel Morgan has
often drawn it in a far less worthy cause. But hist! I hear the
sound of horses' feet, and it is time we part. At the close of
three more days, meet me here again to receive final orders; till
then, farewell; and remember our motto--'Death to our foes!'" So
saying, Klaas rose from his seat, and grasping once more his
club, prepared to depart. At this moment, however, a slight
rustle was heard among the brushwood, as if some person was
retreating, and Klaas, drawing his pistol from his bosom, started
forward in that direction, followed by the others. "What could it
be?" was the anxious inquiry, when, after a strict search, no
object met their view. "What, indeed!" replied their chief; "if
it was any of our friends, why did they not come forward; but if
it was a foe--a spy--our plans of vengeance will be defeated, and
we ourselves dragged to a felon's death;" and he ground his teeth
at the thought. As nothing else could be done, they once more
bade good night, and departed to their respective homes, leaving
Klaas and his general to make one more attempt to discover the
cause of the noise.
* * * * *
Six times had the chariot of the sun rolled along the heavens,
and bright-eyed Phoebus sought his golden couch, since the
conspirators gathered around their king in that wild and silent
glen. Among the inhabitants of Antigua nothing was talked of but
the governor's ball, which was to be upon the grandest scale
imaginable. Many a young heart beat high at the prospect of its
gaieties, and many a bright eye grew brighter at the thoughts of
the conquests to be made on that eventful night. The few shops
which dealt in European fashions were crowded from morning to
night with fair visitants, or their _femmes de chambre_; and
laces and bugles, catgut and tiffany, were in constant demand.
The busy sempstresses plied their needles with double speed; and
various were the flounces and furbelows, pinkings and quiltings,
they invented. In the midst of this bustle and activity, this
anticipation of joyous festivities, a plaint of distress was
borne down upon the gale: the governor's best-beloved son--the
hope and pride of his parents--tossed his fevered head upon the
couch of sickness; and in a few short hours, that beautiful and
blooming youth lay a stiffened corse.
* * * * *
In a large but well-arranged apartment, whose open _jalousies_
admitted the evening breeze, loaded with the fragrance of the
Arabian jasmine, were seated three persons. Two out of the group
ranked under the lofty title of "lords of the creation;" but the
third was a young and beautiful creature, whose elegant figure
and flowing ringlets bespoke her one of Nature's fairest flowers.
Reclining upon a _fauteuil_, she drew from a lute sounds so soft
and sweet that every sense was held in thraldom; and anon, when
she joined her liquid voice, and sang of other days, few were
there who would wish to break the spell. But the spell was
ordained to be broken--broken in a sudden manner. The door opened
hastily, and a negro, darting into the middle of the room,
exclaimed, in a voice of terror--"Massa, me must speak with you!"
--"What's the matter?" returned our elder acquaintance, rising
up, "what's the matter, Cuffee? You frightened us by your sudden
entrance, and sent my Marien's roses back to her heart."--"Beg
your pardon, massa, and yours, young missis, but me have
something to tell you make your ears ring again: but, massa,
where's Julio?--please let him come in." And without waiting for
an answer, he left the room in search of the boy. "Marien,
dearest," said her father, "take your cousin's arm, and retire
for a little, until I have heard what the mad fellow has to say:
his foolish nonsense has frightened you more than I like to see."
And fondly pressing his daughter's hand, he led her to the door.
In a few minutes Cuffee returned with the boy Julio, who wore the
same downcast look as he did on the evening of the storm; and,
holding the boy by the hand, gave his master the following
narration. Julio, who, from being deaf and dumb, appeared to
possess the other senses in a higher degree, had one evening
observed a strange negro loitering about his master's estate, and
hiding behind the bushes when any one passed. Thinking this
peculiar, the dumb boy determined to watch his proceedings, and
if he discovered anything wrong, to endeavour to acquaint his
master with it. After spending more than an hour in this
employment, the stranger departed, and Julio, unable to
comprehend his motives, and fearful of not being understood, kept
his discovery to himself. Some weeks had elapsed, and he had
almost forgotten the circumstance, when, on the evening before
the storm, he saw the same person lurking about the same spot;
and, watching him unobserved, perceived he was shortly joined by
a slave, of the name of Quelch, who, for repeated bad behaviour,
had been punished by his master a few weeks before. After they
had consulted for some time together, the stranger pointed in the
direction of the ravine; and putting his hand under his cloak,
drew forth a long sharp-pointed knife, which he shewed to his
companion, giving at the same time a peculiar look. The knife
being returned to its owner, the negroes parted, leaving Julio
with the determination of watching Quelch more strictly.
On the next evening, leaving his young mistress engaged with a
book, the boy left the house with the intention of going to look
for his master; and, upon gaining the high road, he saw Quelch
entering an opening on the other side. Following his steps, he
hid himself among the bushes, and thus became a witness of that
lawless meeting, where, although he could not hear the words
uttered, he saw enough to inform him some evil was intended.
Frightened, and uncertain how to tell his discovery, his first
care was to reach home; and, harassed in mind and body, the poor
child stood before his mistress in the manner described. The next
morning, he sought his uncle Cuffee, and, by significant gestures
and passionate mutterings, at length made him understand the
above relation. Cuffee's first care was to inform a friend of his
of the name of Robin, and these two negroes watched the ravine
every night in hopes of discovering what poor Julio could not
inform them--the names of the conspirators. All, however,
remained silent: the ravine had no occupants: and Robin and
Cuffee were almost inclined to think they had misunderstood the
boy, when, one evening, just as they had gained their accustomed
post, they thought they heard the sound of voices; and, creeping
upon their hands and knees, espied the whole band, with Klaas,
or, as they called him, "Count," at their head, plotting their
dreadful schemes. Knowing that this negro king was the father of
Julio, Cuffee liked not to inform against him; and the next
morning bringing intelligence of the death of the governor's son,
and consequently the prorogation of the ball, he was in hopes the
negroes would get disheartened at the failure of their plans, and
forego their horrible intentions. Still he determined to keep an
eye upon their movements; and a few weeks after, through the
medium of another slave, named Manuel, he discovered that the
conspirators intended to put their designs into execution on the
15th of December; and that they were to have a final meeting in
the ravine, to receive orders from their king.
These were the tidings Cuffee conveyed to his master's ear--
tidings which made his stout heart beat faster, and caused a
shade of care, for once, to cross his brow. The time was short:
the next night was the one on which the negroes were to meet, and
Mr. ------, after leaving a kind message to his daughter, to
excuse his absence, started immediately for the capital,
accompanied by Robin and Cuffee, to lay the information before
the proper authorities.
* * * * *
The evening was calm. There was no moon, but the stars shone
bright, and, by their refulgence, parties of men were seen
walking cautiously along in the same direction. Every now and
then they stopped as if to listen, and then proceeded again, as
no sound met their ear. Leaving the high road, they struck across
a wild and sterile plain, until, arriving at the bank of a kind
of rocky defile, where the sable conspirators held their
nocturnal meetings, they separated; and taking up their position
on all sides, and holding their very breath, they presented more
the appearance of marble statues than living men. After remaining
in this situation for some time, a noise was heard as the tramp
of a body of horse passing over a flinty road--no uncommon
occurrence at that period. The sound came nearer and nearer, and
presently a large band of soldiers appeared in sight, led by a
middle-aged officer, and accompanied by several gentlemen. Riding
for a short distance past the ravine, the word was given, "Halt!"
and in a moment the horses stood motionless. "Dismount!" broke
from the lips of the commander, and the men, all heavily armed,
sprang to the ground. Walking quickly forward, they joined the
watchers around the ravine, while their leader, followed by many
others, bounded down the bank, and exclaimed, in a stentorian
tone, "Surrender! or you are dead men." All was confusion among
the assembled conspirators. Hemmed in on all sides, and daunted
by the gleaming arms and pointed muskets of the soldiers, who
came so silently but surely upon them, the negro band were driven
to despair. Klaas alone maintained his firmness, and shouted in a
voice of thunder, "Fire the gunpowder, lads, fire the gunpowder,
and let us die as brave men, and not as cowards. Who will mourn
the fate which will be shared by our hated tyrants!" But this was
not to be. Overpowered by numbers, their arms tightly pinioned
behind them, their mouths gagged, and held between two soldiers,
negro after negro was marched off--the ravine was left to its
usual silence--and the reign of "Klaas," the "Slave King," was
over.
------
So ends the legend. The conspirators being conveyed to the
capital, various were the punishments awarded them. Klaas, or, as
he was more generally called, "Count," Tomboy, and Hercules were
broken alive upon the wheel. In their last moments their
fortitude did not forsake them; and their last words expressed
their hatred to the whites. Some were gibbeted alive in a place
called Green's Bay. Frank, who belonged to E. Chester, Esq., and
several more, were burned in Otto's pasture, at the outskirts of
the capital; and the rest, who were looked upon as the dupes of
their reputed king, were transported to the Spanish coasts.
Quelch was pardoned: he played the traitor's part, and amused the
ear of Klaas and his comrades with some chimerical scheme while
the soldiers passed by who accomplished their destruction; and
old Morah, the Obeah woman who attended their meetings, escaped
punishment by falling a prey to death before her trial. So signal
was the victory obtained, and so severe the punishment of the
conspirators, that the remaining slaves became intimidated, and
quietly bore their yoke without seeking for deliverance. In 1739,
the country emancipated Cuffee and Robin for their discovery of
this insurrection, paying to their masters their respective
value, and presented Manuel with a reward for his services in
that affair.[49]
------
[46] A dealer in necromancy.
[47] A small white shell, about the size and shape of an olive,
used as the general currency in Guinea.
[48] A wild shrub, supposed to be of great use in witchcraft.
[49] For some further particulars, see Appendix, No. 14.