_Containing what happened to the Residue of the Ship's Company
during the Author's Absence; and the rest of their Adventures
'till their Departure from this Country._
You know, _continued he_, that when you went away, we were
building a Bark to carry us off. At first, every Man wrought hard
at it, but as fast as the Work advanc'd, the Zeal of our People
slacken'd. The greatest part of the Company were afraid she was
too small, besides that they began insensibly to be reconcil'd to
these Southern Coasts, where scarce a Day pass'd but they made
some new Discovery of Use for the Support of Life. It was five
Months before the little Vessel was rigg'd. How rigg'd? _said I_,
and pray whence had you wherewithal? The Captain, _reply'd he_,
had been very sparing of the greatest part of his Provisions; he
had still a Quantity of Bacon, Butter, Oil, Salt, Biscuit, and
Candles left, besides what we were able to pick up here for the
Sustenance of the Body. When, all was ready, he summon'd the
Crew, and order'd all that had a mind to go with him to be in a
Readiness. I don't desire, _said he_, to force any Man; but for
my own part, I'll venture a Passage in the Bark, and tho' the
Voyage is dangerous, 'tis to be hop'd, that he who has preserv'd
us hitherto will take care of us for time to come. Several came
to a Determination on the Spot, the others knew not what to
resolve on: At length, we agreed to the Number of sixteen of us,
to remain together in this Country after having had a Promise
from the others upon Oath to use their Interest and Intreaties
with the King of _Portugal_ to take Pity of us, and to order the
first Ship that went off to the _Indies_, to come and fetch us
away. There was great Grief, and many Tears shed at parting. They
weigh'd Anchor one Morning at Break of Day, with a moderate Wind
at South South West, which together with the Tide carry'd them
quite out of Sight in less than two Hours. They set out so well
that we envy'd their Happiness, and wish'd to be with 'em,
because we could not doubt that if the same good Weather
continued, they would be soon at the _Cape of Good Hope_. The
Wind held thus in the same Quarter above two Days, but on the
third about Noon it chang'd, and on the 5th and 6th we had very
bad Weather, so that we were in some Pain to think how the honest
Lads far'd.
Having left the Shore, we went to settle in a Valley about four
small Leagues from this Place. The Country which is really very
agreeable, is water'd with a Rivulet full of Fish, and abounds
with Roots as big as red Beet, which are very good when well
boil'd. On the South South West Side there's a Wood of a
considerable Extent, where we have Apples, Pears, Nuts, and other
very pleasant Fruits in abundance; and the other Side furnishes
us with as many Pease and Beans as we want. Our Captain left us
all the Instruments he could spare: We had Fire-Arms, Shot,
Powder, Ropes, Hatchets, Spades, Hammers, Saws, Nails,
Packthread, Needles, Blades, Pots, Kettles, Caldrons, and other
Utensils. With all this Baggage we went to that Place, and built
two very commodious Huts, which have the true Air of Peasants
Cottages, and we cover'd them so well with Rushes, that we defy
the Wind or Rain to hurt them.
We liv'd there about a Year without scarce ever straggling from
one another, for we saw nothing on the Right Side or Westward,
but barren Hills which no Body had yet thought worth their while
to ascend. Three of our Comrades resolv'd one Day to hunt there,
and at the same time to see if they could make no new Discovery.
It took them up about three Hours to pass the Mountain; from
thence they enter'd into a very thick Wood, where they travell'd
two Leagues without seeing any Way to get out of it. Whilst they
were musing whether to return or go forwards, one of them said
that he heard a Noise which he could not tell what to make of,
but it very much resembled the Voice of a Man. This was a little
surprising to the others, but they advanc'd that Way, and
clapping their Ears to the Ground, they found that what he had
said was true. Two of them were for going nearer to see what it
was, but the other stifly oppos'd it, and affirm'd that what they
heard was the Voice of Savages, who would give them no Quarter if
they fell into their Hands. He had no sooner spoke, but they saw,
a hundred Paces from them on the other Side of some Bushes, a
great Villain cover'd with the Skin of a Beast who no doubt
spy'd them, and ran probably to tell his Gang that there was a
Prey at hand. This at least was what our Companions thought of
it, and not judging it proper to stay for their coming, they
turn'd back and scamper'd away. They had learnt by Experience the
Necessity of observing the Sun or Stars in a Forest which one is
not well acquainted with, and they did this to such a Nicety that
they got out almost at the very same Place where they enter'd.
When they came upon the Hills, they stood still to take a little
Breath; for then they were out of that Danger which threaten'd
them in the Wood where, tho' perhaps it was only a Panic Fear,
they imagin'd several times that they heard the Noise of Pursuers
just at their Heels.
We were very sure when they came back that they had been in a
Fright, for they look'd as if they had been hag-ridden, and were
all over in a Muck-Sweat as if they had been dipp'd in Water, but
we little thought what was the Matter. We were prodigiously
alarm'd at so unexpected a Narrative, and really knew not what to
do, whether to keep our old Quarters, or to abandon Bag and
Baggage, and encamp on the other Side of the River. For my part,
I was for fortifying our present Post. I had been in three or
four Campaignes heretofore, and had learnt the Art of guarding
against an Enemy, so that my Companions agreed to do as I thought
fit. In the Evening we only posted Centinels to prevent a
Surprize.
Next Morning at Day-Break, I mark'd out a Square about our two
Huts, each Side whereof I was 35 Geometrical Paces in length,
after which we broke Ground, and began with a Breast-Work 4 Foot
high to shelter us from any Attacks that might be made that Way.
Then we rais'd and widen'd our Works in such a manner that the
Rampart was 20 Foot in the Base, and 6 in Height, besides a
Parapet above that of 5 Foot. The Ditch form'd by the Earth we
cast up for this Purpose was very broad and deep. In the Front
opposite to the Mountain, I left a Slope of 6 Foot only, which I
cover'd also with a small Half-Moon and secur'd with a Traverse.
All this was finish'd in 7 Weeks. Mean time, we heard no Talk of
any Enemy, and sometimes could not help rallying those who had
put us into such a Ferment.
At first every Body was afraid to stir out for Provisions, and
now they did it without any Scruple, but it did not hold so long.
Two of our Men going out one Day at Sun-rise for Plunder; had not
the good Luck to come back again; perhaps they were so imprudent
as to expose themselves more than others had done, at least they
had talk'd of doing so more than once. The Loss of them made us
very uneasy, and we thereupon encompass'd our Fortress with
Palisadoes.
While we were at this Work, we perceiv'd a Company of Men coming
down the Mountain very fast, which put us into the greater
Consternation, because three of our Comrades were then gone a
hunting, so that we were but eleven in Number. I order'd my Men
to charge their Muskets, and not to discover themselves 'till the
Enemy was come to the Ditch, where they were to be saluted with
at least five Discharges. When the Drolls were at hand, we saw
very plain that they were Savages. They seem'd to be about
threescore and ten, all lusty well-made Fellows cover'd with
Skins down to their Legs, and laden with Bows and Arrows. A great
many of 'em had Clubs 5 or 6 Foot long. 'Tis probable that the
Knaves had spy'd us before they came in a Body, for they did not
seem in the least surpriz'd at the Work we had made. Not one of
our Men discover'd himself. I had planted a great Branch full of
Leaves before me, thro' which I could observe the Enemy without
being seen. 'Tis probable that they thought to have surpriz'd us,
because they came without making the least Noise to the Brink of
the Ditch, and there they stopp'd, not knowing what Course to
take to come at the Place; but I did not think proper to give
them time to examine Things too closely, so that I order'd five
of my Men to fire upon 'em, and to charge again with all
Expedition that they might be entertain'd with a continual Fire.
They perform'd their Part so well that three of the Savages fell
upon the Spot.
This terrify'd them, because they knew not what to think of their
Comrades sudden Fall. Indeed they saw the Fire and Smoak of our
Arms, but I very much question whether they discover'd the Men
that gave Fire. They must conclude it to be Lightning, or some
Devil that struck them, at least we imagin'd so by the horrid
Cries they all made looking towards Heaven. I said to my
Comrades, Let us make an Advantage of the Terror of those
Miscreants; let the other five give Fire. This Discharge with the
Fire I made fetch'd down two more which increas'd their
Astonishment. Then we shew'd ourselves all at once crying out
like Madmen, at which time the five first gave Fire again, and
kill'd two more upon the Spot. We should have dispatch'd 'em all
after this manner, but they were not such Fools as to stay any
longer. Seven of the strongest took each a dead Man upon his
Shoulders, and fled with as much Precipitation as if they had
been pursued by an Army.
The three Men of our Company that were absent, were not so far on
the other Side but they heard us fire very plainly. They imagin'd
there must be something more than ordinary in the matter, because
they knew we would not have wasted our Gunpowder without a great
Necessity. They lay hid for some time in a Thicket, with as much
Game as they could carry, and in the Evening they advanc'd, and
glad they were when they first saw the Centinel walking on the
Breast-Work, where he was posted on Purpose to give them the
Signal that there was no Danger.
Our apprehension that the Rascals would return stronger, and more
resolute, made us finish our Palisadoes with all Speed; and for
want of a Breastwork we fortify'd the Rampart with Fraises.
Besides, it was resolv'd that some of our Men should go by Turns
to the Downs to fetch two small Pieces of Cannon which our
Captain left behind him. It cost a great deal of Time and Pains
to draw them to our Fort. Then we provided a Quantity of little
Flints, of which our Brook was full, in order to put into the
Cartridges. In the mean time, we did not hear the least Word of
the Enemy for 8 Months together, so, that we scarce thought any
more of the Scoundrels 'till one _Sunday_ at Noon, when the
Centinel alarm'd us, just as we were at Dinner. Upon this I ran
out to see what was the matter, and God knows I was not a little
astonish'd to see the Mountain cover'd with a Swarm of our
Enemies advancing like hungry Wolves to devour us. To speak the
real Truth, the stoutest Hearts among us trembled for Fear, for
we did not doubt but the Rascals came resolv'd either to conquer
or die, and that they had taken all the necessary Precautions for
executing their Design. They advanc'd very quietly; I was of the
same Opinion as at the first time, that it was advisable for us
to conceal ourselves, and not to fire 'till they came upon the
Glacis, but _Le Grand_ thought on the contrary, that the best Way
would be to intimidate them before they came too near, and to
make use of our Cannon, since we had them at hand. Accordingly,
as soon as we saw them advanc'd within 3 or 400 Paces of our
Fort, one Piece was discharg'd: Whether it did any Execution or
no, we could not see, but they stopp'd short, whereupon we
discharg'd the other Piece which carry'd off several of their
Men, as we were told by some of our Comrades who being to the
Windward, protested they saw it very plain. However, this did not
terrify them, on the contrary they renew'd their March, and came
on apace. They were at least 400 resolute Men, a Number far
superior to ours. As soon as they were within Reach, we fir'd
upon them briskly, but they were not dismay'd, and
notwithstanding the Number of Men they lost, they came up even to
our Palisadoes, where some stoop'd, and others leaping on their
Backs threw themselves over with great Agility and terrible Fury:
In the mean time our Cannon, which were charg'd with Stones, did
Wonders, and yet for all this, if they had but attack'd us in
several Places at a time, instead of attacking us in one only, we
should have been infallibly ruin'd. Our _Chevaux de Frise_ were
also of great Service to us, because for want of proper
Instruments to pluck them up, they broke but two of them. This
however made a Gap which gave an Opportunity to one of the
boldest of them to climb even to our Breast-work, and others were
preparing to follow; but three of our Men falling desperately
upon them, put them to the Sword, and made them tumble from Top
to Bottom. In fine, three or four of the best Men they had, being
Eye-Witnesses of this smart Rencounter gave way, upon which they
all fled, and after a Fight of three Hours, quitted the Field
with, much more Rapidity than they came to it.
We were overjoy'd at this Deliverance, which we had Reason to
think a happy one. Next Day when we went out to see what
Slaughter we had made, we found 72 dead, and 13 Wretches gasping
for Life, whom we instantly dispatch'd with the But-Ends of our
Musquets, and after having made a great Pit, we cast them all
into it, for fear the Stench of their Carcases might infect the
Air. The only wounded Man we had was one that was polled upon the
Breast-work, who was shot in the Thigh with an Arrow, but was
soon after cur'd.
After this Skirmish we doubled our Diligence or our Preservation;
we were still in Dread of our conquer'd Enemy, because we
apprehended that in time they would be wiser; but we never saw
them afterwards, nor heard any thing of 'em any more than of our
two Comrades, whom to be sure the Villains murder'd and devour'd.
Now you mention eating, _said I_, methinks 'tis time to talk of
laying the Cloth. If you'll be rul'd by me, we will dine first,
and then see what we have to say to one another more. Since that
time, said _Normand_, nothing happen'd worth your Notice. Are you
all living still? I ask'd him. No verily, _said he_, four died
two Years ago, and there's another very ill, but perhaps the
Sight of you will contribute to his Recovery; at least I am
persuaded, that both he and others will be transported to see
you. I beg let us go to them, we have time enough before us, else
the poor Fellows will not know what's become of us. Tho' we were
not yet recover'd of the Fatigues of the preceding Days, yet
after having taken a Bit without Loss of Time, we travell'd away.
The Sun had been set a long while when we came to our Journey's
End, but the Sky was clear; and the Moon almost at Full. I could
not help laughing when we came about 100 Paces from the Fort, to
hear one cry, _Who goes there?_ and to hear _Normand_ say, _A
Friend_. Yet this was not all; you were but two when you went,
said the Centinel, but I see more. Officers! Guard! At these
Words, _Le Grand_ came out with a Gun in his Hand to take a View
of us. I was very well pleas'd with this good Guard, especially
at that time when I was come from a Country where they knew not
what a Guard meant. _Normand_ stepp'd before us, and discover'd
who we were, at which they came upon us all at once, and had like
to have smother'd us with Embraces. Here we were oblig'd to give
another Narrative of our Adventures, and to hear ourselves
bitterly reproach'd for not having improv'd our Fortunes.
_Le Grand_ said, why Friends, do you seek for Treasures and
Empires? What need have we of any thing but plain Food and
Raiment? You were in a Place where you enjoy'd these two
Advantages at once, where all Persons are upon a Level, except
here and there a few to whom the others pay a small voluntary
Deference on Account of their Virtues, and the Care they take to
administer Justice. You were also familiar with the King, who
nourish'd you with the Fat of a plentiful fruitful Country, a
Land of Blessing and Peace, from whence Soldiers are banish'd as
much as Hangmen, and where humane Blood is sacred and safe from
the Rage and Tyranny of great Men? I pray, what would you have
more? Go where you please, you will never find so much again
elsewhere. But 'tis the Foible of most Men, they seldom are
contented with what they enjoy, and in whatsoever State and Place
they are, they always think that to be happy they must change it.
All this moralizing, reply'd _La Foret_, is to no Purpose, we are
come away, and we will not go back again were we to want Bread
elsewhere. He is in the right, _said I_, when Errors are
committed, 'tis needless to think any more of 'em, unless it be
to be a Warning to us at another Time. If ever such good Luck
should happen to us again, perhaps we shall know better how to
improve it.
Next Day we went to fetch the remainder of the Baggage which we
had left near the River, and came hither with it, designing to
live and die here with the rest of our Company.
I was mightily pleas'd to see the good Order which _Le Grand_
kept in this Fort with Respect to Manners. The least immodest
Word was forbid on Pain of public Correction. He read Prayers
every Morning and Evening at which they all attended, for tho'
they were for most part Catholics, yet they liv'd together as if
they had been all of one Religion. They all profess'd to love God
and their Neighbour, as much as themselves; every one took his
Turn to go and fetch in Provisions, to dress the Victuals, to
mount the Guard, and so of the rest, while others walk'd Abroad
for the Air, or employed themselves in what they pleas'd. It was
an easy Matter for us to accommodate ourselves to the Maxims of
this petty Republick. The sick Person I found there was cur'd, so
that our Company consisted of 12 Persons.
We liv'd 27 Months together without any considerable Accident
among us, but then one of our Comrades died, whose Name was
_Gascagnet_, a Native of the _Cevennes_. He had been sadly
afflicted with an _Asthma_ for several Years, which had made him
as lean as a Rake. When he was dead, I begg'd Leave to open him,
which was readily granted. For this Operation I made use of some
sorry Rasors and Scissors which my Comrades had sav'd. I found
his Lungs contracted, and dry as a Spunge. The Trachian Artery
or Pipe of the Lungs was hard, inflexible, and wide enough to put
an Egg into it. The Liver was green, one of its Parts was gritty,
and the other which seem'd perfectly ulcerated, stuck to his
Kidneys. I found 4 Stones as big as Prune-Stones in the Bladder
of the Gall, which was as yellow as Wax. As to the Heart, it
seem'd in as good Order to outward Appearance as one could wish,
but when I open'd it, I found a Hole in the _Septum Medium_ of
the Size of a Silver Penny, edg'd with a Membrane which without
doubt was form'd there to hinder its closing up.
I confess that this surpriz'd me, but after a little
Consideration I guess'd that the Deceased having always labour'd
under a Difficulty of Breathing, and his Lungs by consequence
wanting to be sufficiently cool'd, Nature was willing to provide
a Remedy, as it does, tho' by other Means, for Infants in their
Mother's Womb, and which indeed do not breathe at all, inasmuch
as the Blood is circulated in them in a very different Manner
from what it is when they are born. For, whereas in this Case,
the Blood which is contain'd in the Veins, and push'd from the
Extremities of the Body towards the Heart, which it enters thro'
the _Vena Cava_, discharges itself into the right Cavity from
whence it passes into the Arterious Vein, afterwards into the
_Arteria Venosa_, and from thence into the left Cavity of the
Heart, from whence it is push'd to the Extremities of the Animal
by the _Aorta_, which communicates by its Branches with those of
the _Vena Cava_; in the other case on the contrary, the Blood
which issues from the Right Cavity passes immediately from the
Trunk of the Arterious Vein into the _Aorta_, at the same time
that it also flows immediately from the _Vena Cava_ into the
Trunk of the Veinous Artery, which from thence enters and dilates
it self in the Left Cavity of the Heart.
I observ'd nothing extraordinary in the Intestines. The Ureters
and Kidneys were full of Gravel, so that no wonder the poor Man
was always complaining, and that he died in the flower of his Age
when he was but 34 Years old. We bury'd him in the Counterscarp.
'Twas scarce six Weeks after, that we had a horrid Earthquake,
which was follow'd with as furious a Tempest as I ever saw in my
Life. The Mountain to the West of our Fort, rent in twain from
Top to Bottom, and at the same time there gush'd out a Torrent of
muddy Water with extraordinary Impetuosity. By good Luck it did
not come down directly upon us, otherwise our Works would have
run a very great Risque. This Inundation lasted 'till next Day.
All our Valley was under Water, and we were three Days without
being able to get Abroad. When the bad Weather was over, and our
Meadows dry, we ascended the Mountain to see part of the Damage
done by it. We found that the Cleft made in the Mountain was at
least 120 Foot wide below, and above 50 towards the Top. There
was a Fountain near the Top of it, which after this was never
more seen, and I was the first who observ'd that it was gone.
This surpriz'd us all, but what astonish'd us more, was that half
of the Forest which was below on the other Side, was swallow'd
up, and that instead of Trees which were there before, there
appear'd a very great Lake. These prodigious Events gave us
Occasion to admire the Works of Providence.
_Le Grand_ was sorry for the Loss of this Fountain, because we
often went that Way to divert ourselves, and were very fond of
its Water, which was wonderfully fine and clear. He could not
comprehend what Relation this Fountain had with the cleaving of
the Rock, and the others were even more astonish'd at it than he.
Don't you see, _said I_, that there could not have been such a
Gap in this great Body, unless the Particles of which 'tis
compos'd had met together, and that consequently the Channels
thro' which the Water pass'd that form'd the Fountain were
stopp'd up, just in the same manner as the Pores of a Spunge
close in Proportion as 'tis squeez'd. I am not sure whether you
don't banter, _said one of 'em_, one would think so by your
Looks, tho' what you say seems probable enough. No doubt I
banter, _said I_, for there's a Natural and Physical Reason for
what you admire, which they are not ignorant of who have the
least Notion of Philosophy. We know nothing of Philosophy, said
_Le Grand_, but if you think we are capable of understanding you,
it will be a Pleasure to us to philosophize with us concerning
our Fountain. I will, _said I_, with all my Heart, because we
have nothing else to do now, provided you won't think me a
Pedant.
The Globe we inhabit, _said I_, is compos'd of an infinite Number
of various Particles, the chief of which are Terrestrial and
Aqueous. This compound Body turns in 24 Hours round its proper
Center. What, said _Le Grand_, does the Earth turn round? Yes,
yes, reply'd _La Foret_, I heard him explain this Phœnomenon
before so clearly, that there's no room to doubt of it. Let him
explain it ever so clearly, said _Le Grand_, I will never believe
any thing contrary to my Senses and the Holy Scriptures, in which
there are a great many plain Passages that positively contradict
what you advance. That your Senses often deceive you is very easy
to prove, continued I, and as to the Scriptures, 'tis certain
that the Design of the Holy Ghost was never to make us
Mathematicians and Philosophers, or else he would have taken care
to explain those Passages of _Genesis_ concerning the Creation,
which puzzle a great many People, and which a Priest of the
Country where _La Foret_ and I have been, observ'd that he had
heard talk of. Nor would he have fail'd to have told us the true
Proportion of the Circumference of a Circle to its Diameter, when
he treats of the Sea of Copper which _Solomon_ caus'd to be
plac'd in his stately Temple, and which is pretended according to
the Vulgar Opinion to be from 30 to 10, or from 21 to 7, whereas
it is as from 22 to 7, or at least there does not want much of
it, as is demonstrable from the Mathematics. God, in order to
render himself intelligible, condescends to talk with us in our
own Jargon, and accommodates himself to our Phrase; for when he
speaks after his own Manner, 'tis impossible for us to understand
him, and what he says is mysterious beyond our Penetration. Now
all this is easy to be comprehended, and is liable to no
Objection.
Granting therefore that the Earth turns, the Parts of it which
are in greatest Agitation must be those which are farthest from
its Centre, as is easy to prove from several curious Experiments.
This being so, the Water which besides the Motion of the whole
Body wherewith it is carry'd, has a particular one that renders
it liquid, must by consequence lead the Van. Then comes the Air
which is another Liquid compos'd of Parts much more subtle, and
more agitated than those of the Water, which also makes it go
before it, and form a sort of Down round the terrestrial Globe,
which composes our Atmosphere, and extends about 2 Leagues
distance round the Surface of the Earth; and 'tis in this
Atmosphere, by the Way, in which are form'd Rain, Snow,
Lightning, Thunder, and all the Meteors in general.
Hold, said _Le Grand_, according to your Philosophy the Bodies
that have the least Motion must be the nearest to the Center of
our Globe: Now the Aqueous Parts move faster than the
Terrestrial, therefore the Water must consequently cover the
whole Surface of the Earth, and we should have a perpetual Flood,
which is not the Case.
The Objection is good, _said I_, and 'tis certainly true, that if
God by his Almighty Power should level the Mountains, and lay all
the Hills in general even with the Valleys, there would be no
Appearance of dry Land. 'Tis an Argument which perhaps might very
well be made use of also to favour the Notion of the universal
Deluge, were it not that the Scripture speaks of Mountains
before and after. But you ought to consider that Nature cannot
always have its free Course, by reason of Obstacles which hinder
it. The Water of a River ought according to the Laws which are
prescrib'd it, to follow the Course of its Channel, yet it often
happens that an impetuous Wind stops it, and drives it back even
to its Source. The Mountains and Rocks form'd by Providence are
Barriers which the Ocean cannot go over, just as Liquor which is
in a Vessel cannot surpass the Brims, but bring the Brims lower,
as I said just now of Mountains, and you will see it quickly run
over.
I return therefore to my Subject, and say that there being no
Vacuum in the World; No Vacuum in the World! said _Le Grand_,
interrupting me. Alas! I submit, _said I_. No, _reply'd he_, I am
in the wrong to interrupt you so often: Go on, I beg; you did
well to check me, for I am sensible I should have talk'd idly;
from this time I won't speak a Word more. The Moment, _continued
I_, that any Particles of Air or Fire more subtile and agitated
than others rise, an equivalent Portion of others must
necessarily descend at the same time to supply their Place. Now
you must know that most Mountains are hollow towards the Bottom
as you see this is now 'tis open, and for as much as the Earth is
porous, and full of Crevices and Channels, it happens that the
Sea forces into those Passages, and fills those hollow Mountains
to the same height as the Ocean.
I understand you, said _Le Grand_, you need say no more, you mean
that the Sea being as high as the highest Mountains, which all
the World acknowledges, and is easy to perceive when one is upon
the Coast, the Air which presses the Water upon the Ocean, forces
it to pass thro' the low Conduits of the Earth, and to rise to
the Top of the Rocks, from whence it runs out by Streams, which
form the Fountains or Springs, just as the Liquor which is pour'd
into a Vessel where there's a Pipe or an Arm, rises in that Arm
to the same Height as it is in the Vessel, and there runs out of
it if there be the least Hole. This is reasoning exactly like a
Philosopher, _said I_, your Conclusion is very good, 'tis pity
that your Principles are bad. For 'tis not true, that the Sea is
so high as the Shore, if it were, we should soon be drown'd; so
that 'tis a vulgar Error, the Reason of which is very well known
to those who have only learnt the first Elements of Opticks. But
the Case is thus.
When the Water comes to the Foot of those hollow Mountains, 'tis
heated by the Sun-Beams, and rises in Vapours to the Roofs, which
when collected like the Water of a boiling Pot against the Lid,
form Drops, and those Drops, Streams which run out at the first
Out-let they meet with, and form what we call Springs, as several
Springs form a Brook, and several Brooks a River, which carries
back to the Sea the Water that came from it, and by consequence
only circulates it like the Blood in the Veins of a living
Animal.
There! said _La Foret_, what d'ye say to that? yet this is
nothing. The Explanation as clear as it is, depends on the
Knowlege of other Things which I have heard him relate
elsewhere, and which you must needs be acquainted with in order
to understand the Matter throughly. Be that as it will, reply'd
_Le Grand_, I think all this is very good, and I wish that our
Doctor would entertain us in the same Manner on the Formation of
Meteors, which must needs be a most diverting Subject. I had
rather, _said I_, give you some Notion of the Mathematics, of
which I have learnt something. 'Tis a Science which perhaps may
be of Service to you if ever we go from hence, at least it will
help to pass away the Time. They all consented to my Proposal
with Joy, only _Le Grand_, who was fond of the Sciences, shook
his Head. You have put in a Clause for Natural Philosophy, _said
he_, which is not displeasing to me at all; I dearly love to
treat of the Works of Nature, nevertheless we must not require
too much at the Hands of our Matters: Be so good only before we
conclude this agreeable Conversation, to tell us what your
Opinion is with regard to the Deluge; for in the Manner you
talk'd just now, I fancy you are of the Vulgar Opinion: Tell us
freely whether you think it was Universal or Partial.
As Salvation is not at all concern'd in the Question, _said I_,
which way soever it be determin'd, I came without any Scruple
into the Opinion of one of the Regents of my College, who
publickly declared, that it was impossible for all the Water in
the World to cover the whole Earth to such a Height as the
Scripture seems to mention. But is not God Omnipotent, said _Le
Grand_, and besides, is it not said that the Flood-Gates of
Heaven were open'd? Undoubtedly, _said I_, but the Divines don't
pretend to make this a Miracle; if they did, I should not have
one Word to say. I don't deny but he who created the Universe can
create new Bodies of Water when he will, but I affirm that if he
made new Waters for that Purpose, he afterwards annihilated them.
And as for the Flood-Gates of Heaven, 'tis a poetical and
metaphorical Expression us'd by the Author to dignify his
Subject.
How comes it to pass, _said another_, that as there is a Region
of Fire, there might not as well be a Region of Water, which
Providence might make use of upon Occasion, as an inexhaustible
Magazine, either to moisten the Earth in a Time of Drought, or to
lay certain Countries under Water? That, reply'd _Le Grand_, is a
meer Trifle. The first is a Fiction of the ancient Philosophers:
The second a _Chimæra_ of Children, which nevertheless I have
heard urg'd by Persons of Sense. For in short, where should a
watery Region be plac'd? If above the Firmament, it would have no
Correspondence with the Earth; if under, 'tis impossible we
should see the Fix'd Stars, because the least Mist deprives us of
the Light of the Sun. But without going so much out of the way
for a Remedy, let it only be consider'd, that when it has rain'd
8 or 10 Days together in any one Place, there is a Flood; now,
suppose it only to rain every where with the same Violence for
forty Days together, and then the Thing does not seem to me to be
attended with so much Difficulty.
You don't consider, _said I to him_, when there is a great deal
of Rain in one Place, there's too great a Drought in another, and
that what the Sun exhales in one Part the Clouds carry to
another. If it were to rain every where with so much Violence,
the whole Ocean as it were must first of all be exhal'd in
Vapours, in which Case all that fell would but barely suffice to
fill the low Places from whence the Water was drawn to form the
Clouds, so that it would require a great many more to cover the
whole Globe to the Height of 15 Cubits above the _Alpes_ and the
_Peak of Teneriff_; Mountains that are perhaps two Leagues high;
which you plainly see is impossible.
Mean time, another Difficulty occurs with respect to the Size of
the Ark. My Master, who taught me Mathematics, had the Curiosity
to take the Dimensions of this great Vessel, and to calculate the
Contents of it; then he examin'd _Pliny_, and consulted all the
Books of Voyages in order to make out an exact List of all the
various Animals that we have any Knowlege of at this Time.
Finally, he computed how much Provision would be necessary for a
Year's Subsistence of all those Creatures, and 8 Persons; but
when he had collected all this together, he found the Bulk to be
so great, that the Vessel could not be big enough by far to
contain it, not to mention the Animals which we never heard of,
and which are undoubtedly very numerous.
But, said _Le Grand_, have we a right Notion of the Measures
mention'd by _Moses_? Yes, said I, the Cubit we read of in the
Scripture was a Foot and half long, and that you may not think
we talk at random, you must know that the Ancients perceiving
that Men are not alike tall and stout, and that consequently
their Limbs must be in Proportion very different from one
another, agreed, instead of making use of their Elbows for their
common Measures in Traffic, to take four Barley-Corns laid flat
one by another for the Measure of a Finger's Breadth, four of
which made a Hand's Breadth, or three Inches, and twelve Inches
or sixteen Fingers Breadths a Foot: One and half of these Feet
made a Cubit, and five Feet the Geometrical Pace, whereas the
ordinary Pace is but two Foot and half. The Rod was twelve Foot.
The Furlong consisted of a hundred and twenty five Foot, and the
_Italian_ Mile of eight Furlongs, from whence you perceive that
the first Measures that were invented by Mankind, came afterwards
to the _Greeks_, _Romans_, and several other Nations. This being
so, 'tis natural to conclude that the Deluge related by _Moses_
was not universal with regard to the Earth, but only with regard
to Man, The World was then in its Infancy, and its Inhabitants
had not had Time enough to multiply and spread. God said that
Part of it which was inhabited under Water, it was not necessary
for him to drown all the other Parts, accordingly it was enough
for _Noah_ to preserve only the Species of Cattle which were in
those Countries, in which case the Ark was sufficient to hold
more, and consequently all the other Difficulties vanish. For as
to the Expression of _the whole World_, 'tis very common for the
Sacred Writers to make use of it to signify a Part of it;
witness the Passage where 'tis said with respect to _Joseph_ and
_Mary_, that all the World should be enroll'd, which every Body
knows cannot be understood of more than those Countries which
were under the Government of the _Roman_ Emperor.
Upon this all my Companions retir'd with Resolution to dive as
far as possible into the Mathematics, and to improve by my
Lectures. Accordingly we began next Day with _Euclid_'s Elements.
Tho' that Author had not gone thro' my Hands in several Years, I
had taken so much Care to revolve the principal Contents of his
six first Books often in my Mind that I seldom hesitated in the
Demonstrations I made from him. From thence we proceeded to
Geometry in which indeed I was not so expert, besides that in
order to go through a regular Course of it, we wanted Books and
Instruments, which there was no Appearance of recovering where we
were; and in fine we concluded with Fortification. I should have
been glad also to have taught them a little of Algebra, but _Le
Grand_ was the only Person that seem'd inclinable to apply to it,
which indeed was but now and then, and he was quite discourag'd
from proceeding, as soon as we came to the Cubic Equations.
We spent several Years in these fine Sciences, insomuch that
there were no smooth sandy Places but what were full of
Geometrical Figures, especially in the Downs and upon the Shore,
to which we often went for the Air. We were there one Day when
the Rolling-in of the Tide gave us an Occasion to discourse of
the Flux and Reflux of the Ocean, during which we were extremely
surpriz'd to see to the West as far as our Eye-sight could reach,
a Body which we had not discover'd before. We were at first
divided in our Opinions what it should be; some thought that as
the Water was low, it was the Point of some Rock, others would
have it to be a little Cloud. _Normand_ affirm'd he had seen the
same Thing before, and the rest asserted 'twas a Ship. To be
certain of the matter I fix'd two Arrows in the Ground, which
form'd a right Line with this Body, and placing myself behind
them, I observ'd immediately that it mov'd, and that consequently
it could not be a Rock. We then were very attentive to observe
whether the Figure of it did not change as Clouds do commonly,
which spread, increase, or vanish by degrees; but not perceiving
any Alteration for half an Hour, only that it was a little bigger
if any thing, we concluded that it must absolutely be a Ship,
which was sent by Providence to deliver us from our tedious
Solitude.
The Wind blew a little fresh, and as it was not yet Noon, we had
Hopes of its coming up with us before Night, since it coasted
along the Shore. _La Foret_, who was more afraid than any of us
that so rare and unexpected a Conveniency should escape us, was
of Opinion that four of us should go aboard our Long-Boat, which
we had carefully laid up near twelve Years ago in the Hut that we
built at our Arrival, and had not made use of since, and venture
out with nothing but our Oars in order to meet the Ship, for fear
she should put off from the Coast before they who navigated her
knew we were here, and that consequently we should never have
such another Opportunity if we neglected this. His Opinion was
approv'd of, the Boat was tackled out, and _La Foret_ with three
others went aboard her. Tho' they had but two Oars, they tugg'd
so hard that in a very little time we lost Sight of 'em. Mean
time the great Ship drew near, and we began to distinguish the
Sails when we observ'd the Sun approach the Horizon. We had at
least a League and half to travel to the first Lodge that we had
made between our Fort and the Sea, and the Moon rose late. These
Considerations made us think of retiring to it, which we did, and
found there some Remains of Provision that we had brought thither
in the Morning, which were a very seasonable Relief to us.
Tho' we were fatigued, it was impossible for us to close our
Eyes, and there was not one Man of us but was mortally uneasy. In
the Morning before Day we return'd the directest Way we could
find towards the Shore. At our Arrival we were overjoy'd to see
the great Ship lying at Anchor a little lower about a League at
Sea, and two Long-Boats at the same time coming Ashore, so that
we advanc'd to meet them at Landing. The Captain of the Vessel
not knowing who they were that came aboard him detain'd two of
'em, and made use of their Comrades as Guides to eight Men whom
he sent off in the Ship-Boat to know who we were. Immediately we
were order'd to go and fetch our Baggage, and to return with it
as soon as possible, because the Ground there not being very fit
for Anchorage, if the least foul Weather had happen'd it would
have been dangerous. Six of the Ship's Crew went along with us.
When we came to our Fort, we took what we thought the best of
every thing, and left the rest for the Savages, if ever they
thought fit to return. Notwithstanding all our Haste 'twas Night
before we came to the Ship. _La Foret_ had already inform'd the
Captain of the Nature of the Country which we were going to
leave, or rather had taken care to give him as disadvantageous a
Character of it as he could; so that having no great mind to see
it, he immediately set sail, and gave us Cause to thank God for
delivering us from that miserable Place, where 18 Years ago we
had the Misfortune to be cast Ashore.