For the future therefore I must call _Oroonoko Caesar_; since by that

Name only he was known in our Western World, and by that Name he was

received on Shore at _Parham-House_, where he was destin'd a Slave. But

if the King himself (God bless him) had come ashore, there could not

have been greater Expectation by all the whole Plantation, and those

neighbouring ones, than was on ours at that Time; and he was received

more like a Governor than a Slave: Notwithstanding, as the Custom was,

they assigned him his Portion of Land, his House and his Business up in

the Plantation. But as it was more for Form, than any Design to put him

to his Task, he endured no more of the Slave but the Name, and remain'd

some Days in the House, receiving all Visits that were made him, without

stirring towards that Part of the Plantation where the _Negroes_ were.

At last, he would needs go view his Land, his House, and the Business

assign'd him. But he no sooner came to the Houses of the Slaves, which

are like a little Town by itself, the _Negroes_ all having left Work,

but they all came forth to behold him, and found he was that Prince who

had, at several Times, sold most of 'em to these Parts; and from a

Veneration they pay to great Men, especially if they know 'em, and from

the Surprize and Awe they had at the Sight of him, they all cast

themselves at his Feet, crying out, in their Language, _Live, O King!

Long live, O King!_ and kissing his Feet, paid him even Divine Homage.

Several _English_ Gentlemen were with him, and what Mr. _Trefry_ had

told 'em was here confirm'd; of which he himself before had no other

Witness than _Caesar_ himself: But he was infinitely glad to find his

Grandeur confirmed by the Adoration of all the Slaves.

_Caesar_, troubled with their Over-Joy, and Over-Ceremony, besought 'em

to rise, and to receive him as their Fellow-Slave; assuring them he was

no better. At which they set up with one Accord a most terrible and

hideous Mourning and Condoling, which he and the _English_ had much ado

to appease: but at last they prevailed with 'em, and they prepared all

their barbarous Musick, and every one kill'd and dress'd something of

his own Stock (for every Family has their Land apart, on which, at their

Leisure-times, they breed all eatable Things) and clubbing it together,

made a most magnificent Supper, inviting their _Grandee Captain_, their

_Prince_, to honour it with his Presence; which he did, and several

_English_ with him, where they all waited on him, some playing, others

dancing before him all the Time, according to the Manners of their

several Nations, and with unwearied Industry endeavouring to please and

delight him.

While they sat at Meat, Mr. _Trefry_ told _Caesar_, that most of these

young Slaves were undone in Love with a fine She-Slave, whom they had

had about six Months on their Land; the Prince, who never heard the Name

of _Love_ without a Sigh, nor any Mention of it without the Curiosity of

examining further into that Tale, which of all Discourses was most

agreeable to him, asked, how they came to be so unhappy, as to be all

undone for one fair Slave? _Trefry_, who was naturally amorous, and

delighted to talk of Love as well as any Body, proceeded to tell him,

they had the most charming Black that ever was beheld on their

Plantation, about fifteen or sixteen Years old, as he guess'd; that for

his Part he had done nothing but sigh for her ever since she came; and

that all the White Beauties he had seen, never charm'd him so absolutely

as this fine Creature had done; and that no Man, of any Nation, ever

beheld her, that did not fall in love with her; and that she had all the

Slaves perpetually at her Feet; and the whole Country resounded with the

Fame of _Clemene_, for so (said he) we have christen'd her: but she

denies us all with such a noble Disdain, that 'tis a Miracle to see,

that she who can give such eternal Desires, should herself be all Ice

and all Unconcern. She is adorn'd with the most graceful Modesty that

ever beautify'd Youth; the softest Sigher--that, if she were capable of

Love, one would swear she languished for some absent happy Man; and so

retired, as if she fear'd a Rape even from the God of Day, or that the

Breezes would steal Kisses from her delicate Mouth. Her Task of Work,

some sighing Lover every Day makes it his Petition to perform for her;

which she accepts blushing, and with Reluctancy, for Fear he will ask

her a Look for a Recompence, which he dares not presume to hope; so

great an Awe she strikes into the Hearts of her Admirers. 'I do not

wonder (_reply'd the Prince_) that _Clemene_ should refuse Slaves,

being, as you say, so beautiful; but wonder how she escapes those that

can entertain her as you can do: or why, being your Slave, you do not

oblige her to yield?' 'I confess (_said +Trefry+_) when I have, against

her Will, entertained her with Love so long, as to be transported with

my Passion even above Decency, I have been ready to make Use of those

Advantages of Strength and Force Nature has given me: But Oh! she

disarms me with that Modesty and Weeping, so tender and so moving, that

I retire, and thank my Stars she overcame me.' The Company laugh'd at

his Civility to a Slave, and _Caesar_ only applauded the Nobleness of

his Passion and Nature, since that Slave might be noble, or, what was

better, have true Notions of Honour and Virtue in her. Thus passed they

this Night, after having received from the Slaves all imaginable Respect

and Obedience.

The next Day, _Trefry_ ask'd _Caesar_ to walk when the Heat was allay'd,

and designedly carried him by the Cottage of the fair Slave; and told

him she whom he spoke of last Night lived there retir'd: _But_ (says he)

_I would not wish you to approach; for I am sure you will be in Love as

soon as you behold her._ _Caesar_ assured him, he was Proof against all

the Charms of that Sex; and that if he imagined his Heart could be so

perfidious to love again after _Imoinda_, he believed he should tear it

from his Bosom. They had no sooner spoke, but a little Shock-Dog, that

_Clemene_ had presented her, which she took great Delight in, ran out;

and she, not knowing any Body was there, ran to get it in again, and

bolted out on those who were just speaking of her: when seeing them, she

would have run in again, but _Trefry_ caught her by the Hand, and cry'd,

Clemene, _however you fly a Lover, you ought to pay some Respect to this

Stranger_, (pointing to _Caesar_.) But she, as if she had resolved never

to raise her Eyes to the Face of a Man again, bent 'em the more to the

Earth, when he spoke, and gave the Prince the Leisure to look the more

at her. There needed no long gazing, or Consideration, to examine who

this fair Creature was; he soon saw _Imoinda_ all over her: in a Minute

he saw her Face, her Shape, her Air, her Modesty, and all that call'd

forth his Soul with Joy at his Eyes, and left his Body destitute of

almost Life: it stood without Motion, and for a Minute knew not that it

had a Being; and, I believe, he had never come to himself, so oppress'd

he was with Over-joy, if he had not met with this Allay, that he

perceived _Imoinda_ fall dead in the Hands of _Trefry_. This awaken'd

him, and he ran to her Aid, and caught her in his Arms, where by Degrees

she came to her self; and 'tis needless to tell with what Transports,

what Extasies of Joy, they both a While beheld each other, without

speaking; then snatched each other to their Arms; then gaze again, as if

they still doubted whether they possess'd the Blessing they grasped: but

when they recover'd their Speech, 'tis not to be imagined what tender

Things they express'd to each other; wondring what strange Fate had

brought them again together. They soon inform'd each other of their

Fortunes, and equally bewail'd their Fate; but at the same Time they

mutually protested, that even Fetters and Slavery were soft and easy,

and would be supported with Joy and Pleasure, while they could be so

happy to possess each other, and to be able to make good their Vows.

_Caesar_ swore he disdained the Empire of the World, while he could

behold his _Imoinda_; and she despised Grandeur and Pomp, those Vanities

of her Sex, when she could gaze on _Oroonoko_. He ador'd the very

Cottage where she resided, and said, That little Inch of the World would

give him more Happiness than all the Universe could do; and she vow'd it

was a Palace, while adorned with the Presence of _Oroonoko_.

_Trefry_ was infinitely pleased with this Novel, and found this

_Clemene_ was the fair Mistress of whom _Caesar_ had before spoke; and

was not a little satisfy'd, that Heaven was so kind to the Prince as to

sweeten his Misfortunes by so lucky an Accident; and leaving the Lovers

to themselves, was impatient to come down to _Parham-House_ (which was

on the same Plantation) to give me an Account of what had happened.

I was as impatient to make these Lovers a Visit, having already made

a Friendship with _Caesar_, and from his own Mouth learned what I have

related; which was confirmed by his _Frenchman_, who was set on shore

to seek his Fortune, and of whom they could not make a Slave, because

a Christian; and he came daily to _Parham-Hill_ to see and pay his

Respects to his Pupil Prince. So that concerning and interesting myself

in all that related to _Caesar_, whom I had assured of Liberty as soon

as the Governour arrived, I hasted presently to the Place where these

Lovers were, and was infinitely glad to find this beautiful young

Slave (who had already gain'd all our Esteems, for her Modesty and

extraordinary Prettiness) to be the same I had heard _Caesar_ speak so

much of. One may imagine then we paid her a treble Respect; and tho'

from her being carved in fine Flowers and Birds all over her Body, we

took her to be of Quality before, yet when we knew _Clemene_ was

_Imoinda_, we could not enough admire her.

I had forgot to tell you, that those who are nobly born of that Country,

are so delicately cut and raised all over the Fore-part of the Trunk of

their Bodies, that it looks as if it were japan'd, the Works being

raised like high Point round the Edges of the Flowers. Some are only

carved with a little Flower, or Bird, at the Sides of the Temples, as

was _Caesar_; and those who are so carved over the Body, resemble our

antient _Picts_ that are figur'd in the Chronicles, but these Carvings

are more delicate.

From that happy Day _Caesar_ took _Clemene_ for his Wife, to the general

Joy of all People; and there was as much Magnificence as the Country

could afford at the Celebration of this Wedding: And in a very short

Time after she conceived with Child, which made _Caesar_ even adore her,

knowing he was the last of his great Race. This new Accident made him

more impatient of Liberty, and he was every Day treating with _Trefrey_

for his and _Clemene's_ Liberty, and offer'd either Gold, or a vast

Quantity of Slaves, which should be paid before they let him go,

provided he could have any Security that he should go when his Ransom

was paid. They fed him from Day to Day with Promises, and delay'd him

till the Lord-Governor should come; so that he began to suspect them of

Falshood, and that they would delay him till the Time of his Wife's

Delivery, and make a Slave of the Child too; for all the Breed is theirs

to whom the Parents belong. This Thought made him very uneasy, and his

Sullenness gave them some Jealousies of him; so that I was obliged, by

some Persons who fear'd a Mutiny (which is very fatal sometimes in those

Colonies that abound so with Slaves, that they exceed the Whites in vast

Numbers) to discourse with _Caesar_, and to give him all the Satisfaction

I possibly could: They knew he and _Clemene_ were scarce an Hour in a

Day from my Lodgings; that they eat with me, and that I oblig'd them in

all Things I was capable. I entertained them with the Lives of the

_Romans_, and great Men, which charmed him to my Company; and her, with

teaching her all the pretty Works that I was Mistress of, and telling

her Stories of Nuns, and endeavouring to bring her to the Knowledge of

the true God: But of all Discourses, _Caesar_ liked that the worst, and

would never be reconciled to our Notions of the Trinity, of which he

ever made a Jest; it was a Riddle he said would turn his Brain to

conceive, and one could not make him understand what Faith was. However,

these Conversations fail'd not altogether so well to divert him, that he

liked the Company of us Women much above the Men, for he could not

drink, and he is but an ill Companion in that Country that cannot. So

that obliging him to love us very well, we had all the Liberty of Speech

with him, especially my self, whom he call'd his _Great Mistress_; and

indeed my Word would go a great Way with him. For these Reasons I had

Opportunity to take Notice to him, that he was not well pleased of late,

as he used to be; was more retired and thoughtful; and told him, I took

it ill he should suspect we would break our Words with him, and not

permit both him and _Clemene_ to return to his own Kingdom, which was

not so long a Way, but when he was once on his Voyage he would quickly

arrive there. He made me some Answers that shew'd a Doubt in him, which

made me ask, what Advantage it would be to doubt? It would but give us a

Fear of him, and possibly compel us to treat him so as I should be very

loth to behold; that is, it might occasion his Confinement. Perhaps this

was not so luckily spoke of me, for I perceiv'd he resented that Word,

which I strove to soften again in vain: However, he assur'd me, that

whatsoever Resolutions he should take, he would act nothing upon the

_White_ People; and as for myself, and those upon that _Plantation_

where he was, he would sooner forfeit his eternal Liberty, and Life

itself, than lift his Hand against his greatest Enemy on that Place. He

besought me to suffer no Fears upon his Account, for he could do nothing

that Honour should not dictate; but he accused himself for having

suffer'd Slavery so long; yet he charg'd that Weakness on Love alone,

who was capable of making him neglect even Glory itself; and, for which,

now he reproaches himself every Moment of the Day. Much more to this

Effect he spoke, with an Air impatient enough to make me know he would

not be long in Bondage; and tho' he suffer'd only the Name of a Slave,

and had nothing of the Toil and Labour of one, yet that was sufficient

to render him uneasy; and he had been too long idle, who us'd to be

always in Action, and in Arms. He had a Spirit all rough and fierce, and

that could not be tam'd to lazy Rest: And tho' all Endeavours were us'd

to exercise himself in such Actions and Sports as this World afforded,

as Running, Wrestling, Pitching the Bar, Hunting and Fishing, Chasing

and Killing _Tygers_ of a monstrous Size, which this Continent affords

in abundance; and wonderful _Snakes_, such as _Alexander_ is reported to

have encounter'd at the River of _Amazons_, and which _Caesar_ took great

Delight to overcome; yet these were not Actions great enough for his

large Soul, which was still panting after more renown'd Actions.

Before I parted that Day with him, I got, with much ado, a Promise from

him to rest yet a little longer with Patience, and wait the Coming of

the Lord Governour, who was every Day expected on our Shore: He assur'd

me he would, and this Promise he desired me to know was given perfectly

in Complaisance to me, in whom he had an entire Confidence.

After this, I neither thought it convenient to trust him much out of our

View, nor did the Country, who fear'd him; but with one Accord it was

advis'd to treat him fairly, and oblige him to remain within such a

Compass, and that he should be permitted, as seldom as could be, to go

up to the Plantations of the _Negroes_; or, if he did, to be accompany'd

by some that should be rather, in Appearance, Attendants than Spies.

This Care was for some time taken, and _Caesar_ look'd upon it as a Mark

of extraordinary Respect, and was glad his Discontent had oblig'd 'em to

be more observant to him; he received new Assurance from the Overseer,

which was confirmed to him by the Opinion of all the Gentlemen of the

Country, who made their Court to him. During this Time that we had his

Company more frequently than hitherto we had had, it may not be

unpleasant to relate to you the Diversions we entertain'd him with, or

rather he us.

My Stay was to be short in that Country; because my Father dy'd at Sea,

and never arriv'd to possess the Honour design'd him, (which was

Lieutenant-General of six and thirty Islands, besides the Continent of

_Surinam_) nor the Advantages he hop'd to reap by them: So that though

we were oblig'd to continue on our Voyage, we did not intend to stay

upon the Place. Though, in a Word, I must say thus much of it; That

certainly had his late Majesty, of sacred Memory, but seen and known

what a vast and charming World he had been Master of in that Continent,

he would never have parted so easily with it to the _Dutch_. 'Tis a

Continent, whose vast Extent was never yet known, and may contain more

noble Earth than all the Universe beside; for, they say, it reaches from

East to West one Way as far as _China_, and another to _Peru_: It

affords all Things, both for Beauty and Use; 'tis there eternal Spring,

always the very Months of _April_, _May_, and _June_; the Shades are

perpetual, the Trees bearing at once all Degrees of Leaves, and Fruit,

from blooming Buds to ripe Autumn: Groves of Oranges, Lemons, Citrons,

Figs, Nutmegs, and noble Aromaticks, continually bearing their

Fragrancies: The Trees appearing all like Nosegays, adorn'd with Flowers

of different Kinds; some are all White, some Purple, some Scarlet, some

Blue, some Yellow; bearing at the same Time ripe Fruit, and blooming

young, or producing every Day new. The very Wood of all these Trees has

an intrinsic Value, above common Timber; for they are, when cut, of

different Colours, glorious to behold, and bear a Price considerable, to

inlay withal. Besides this, they yield rich Balm, and Gums; so that we

make our Candles of such an aromatic Substance, as does not only give a

sufficient Light, but as they burn, they cast their Perfumes all about.

Cedar is the common Firing, and all the Houses are built with it. The

very Meat we eat, when set on the Table, if it be native, I mean of the

Country, perfumes the whole Room; especially a little Beast call'd an

_Armadillo_, a Thing which I can liken to nothing so well as a

_Rhinoceros_; 'tis all in white Armour, so jointed, that it moves as

well in it, as if it had nothing on: This Beast is about the Bigness of

a Pig of six Weeks old. But it were endless to give an Account of all

the divers wonderful and strange Things that Country affords, and which

we took a great Delight to go in Search of; tho' those Adventures are

oftentimes fatal, and at least dangerous: But while we had _Caesar_ in

our Company on these Designs, we fear'd no Harm, nor suffer'd any.

As soon as I came into the Country, the best House in it was presented

me, call'd _St. John's Hill_: It stood on a vast Rock of white Marble,

at the Foot of which, the River ran a vast Depth down, and not to be

descended on that Side; the little Waves still dashing and washing the

Foot of this Rock, made the softest Murmurs and Purlings in the World;

and the opposite Bank was adorn'd with such vast Quantities of different

Flowers eternally blowing, and every Day and Hour new, fenc'd behind 'em

with lofty Trees of a thousand rare Forms and Colours, that the Prospect

was the most ravishing that Sands can create. On the Edge of this white

Rock, towards the River, was a Walk, or Grove, of Orange and

Lemon-Trees, about half the Length of the _Mall_ here, whose flowery and

Fruit-bearing Branches met at the Top, and hinder'd the Sun, whose Rays

are very fierce there, from entring a Beam into the Grove; and the cool

Air that came from the River, made it not only fit to entertain People

in, at all the hottest Hours of the Day, but refresh the sweet Blossoms,

and made it always sweet and charming; and sure, the whole Globe of the

World cannot shew so delightful a Place as this Grove was: Not all the

Gardens of boasted _Italy_ can produce a Shade to out-vie this, which

Nature had join'd with Art to render so exceeding fine; and 'tis a

Marvel to see how such vast Trees, as big as _English_ Oaks, could take

Footing on so solid a Rock, and in so little Earth as cover'd that Rock:

But all Things by Nature there are rare, delightful, and wonderful. But

to our Sports.

Sometimes we would go surprising, and in Search of young _Tygers_ in

their Dens, watching when the old ones went forth to forage for Prey;

and oftentimes we have been in great Danger, and have fled apace for our

Lives, when surpriz'd by the Dams. But once, above all other Times, we

went on this Design, and _Caesar_ was with us; who had no sooner stoln a

young _Tyger_ from her Nest, but going off, we encounter'd the Dam,

bearing a Buttock of a Cow, which she had torn off with her mighty Paw,

and going with it towards her Den: We had only four Women, _Caesar_, and

an _English_ Gentleman, Brother to _Harry Martin_ the great _Oliverian_;

we found there was no escaping this enraged and ravenous Beast. However,

we Women fled as fast as we could from it; but our Heels had not saved

our Lives, if _Caesar_ had not laid down her _Cub_, when he found the

_Tyger_ quit her Prey to make the more Speed towards him; and taking Mr.

_Martin's_ Sword, desired him to stand aside, or follow the Ladies. He

obey'd him; and _Caesar_ met this monstrous Beast of mighty Size, and

vast Limbs, who came with open Jaws upon him; and fixing his aweful

stern Eyes full upon those of the Beast, and putting himself into a very

steady and good aiming Posture of Defence, ran his Sword quite through

his Breast, down to his very Heart, home to the Hilt of the Sword: The

dying Beast stretch'd forth her Paw, and going to grasp his Thigh,

surpriz'd with Death in that very Moment, did him no other Harm than

fixing her long Nails in his Flesh very deep, feebly wounded him, but

could not grasp the Flesh to tear off any. When he had done this, he

hallow'd to us to return; which, after some Assurance of his Victory, we

did, and found him lugging out the Sword from the Bosom of the _Tyger_,

who was laid in her Blood on the Ground. He took up the _Cub_, and with

an Unconcern that had nothing of the Joy or Gladness of Victory, he came

and laid the Whelp at my Feet. We all extremely wonder'd at his daring,

and at the Bigness of the Beast, which was about the Height of an

Heifer, but of mighty great and strong Limbs.

Another time, being in the Woods, he kill'd a _Tyger_, that had long

infested that Part, and borne away abundance of Sheep and Oxen, and

other Things, that were for the Support of those to whom they belong'd.

Abundance of People assail'd this Beast, some affirming they had shot

her with several Bullets quite through the Body at several times; and

some swearing they shot her through the very Heart; and they believed

she was a Devil, rather than a mortal Thing. _Caesar_ had often said, he

had a Mind to encounter this Monster, and spoke with several Gentlemen

who had attempted her; one crying, I shot her with so many poison'd

Arrows, another with his Gun in this Part of her, and another in that;

so that he remarking all the Places where she was shot, fancy'd still he

should overcome her, by giving her another Sort of a Wound than any had

yet done; and one Day said (at the Table), 'What Trophies and Garlands,

Ladies, will you make me, if I bring you home the Heart of this ravenous

Beast, that eats up all your Lambs and Pigs?' We all promis'd he should

be rewarded at our Hands. So taking a Bow, which he chose out of a great

many, he went up into the Wood, with two Gentlemen, where he imagin'd

this Devourer to be. They had not pass'd very far into it, but they

heard her Voice, growling and grumbling, as if she were pleas'd with

something she was doing. When they came in View, they found her muzzling

in the Belly of a new ravish'd Sheep, which she had torn open; and

seeing herself approach'd, she took fast hold of her Prey with her fore

Paws, and set a very fierce raging Look on _Caesar_, without offering to

approach him, for Fear at the same Time of loosing what she had in

Possession: So that _Caesar_ remain'd a good while, only taking Aim, and

getting an Opportunity to shoot her where he design'd. 'Twas some Time

before he could accomplish it; and to wound her, and not kill her, would

but have enrag'd her the more, and endanger'd him. He had a Quiver of

Arrows at his Side, so that if one fail'd, he could be supply'd: At

last, retiring a little, he gave her Opportunity to eat, for he found

she was ravenous, and fell to as soon as she saw him retire, being more

eager of her Prey, than of doing new Mischiefs; when he going softly to

one Side of her, and hiding his Person behind certain Herbage, that grew

high and thick, he took so good Aim, that, as he intended, he shot her

just into the Eye, and the Arrow was sent with so good a Will, and so

sure a Hand, that it stuck in her Brain, and made her caper, and become

mad for a Moment or two; but being seconded by another Arrow, she fell

dead upon the Prey. _Caesar_ cut her open with a Knife, to see where

those Wounds were that had been reported to him, and why she did not die

of 'em. But I shall now relate a Thing that, possibly, will find no

Credit among Men; because 'tis a Notion commonly receiv'd with us, That

nothing can receive a Wound in the Heart, and live: But when the Heart

of this courageous Animal was taken out, there were seven Bullets of

Lead in it, the Wound seam'd up with great Scars, and she liv'd with the

Bullets a great While, for it was long since they were shot: This Heart

the Conqueror brought up to us, and 'twas a very great Curiosity, which

all the Country came to see; and which gave _Caesar_ Occasion of many

fine Discourses of Accidents in War, and strange Escapes.

At other times he would go a Fishing; and discoursing on that Diversion,

he found we had in that Country a very strange Fish, call'd a

_Numb-Eel_, (an _Eel_ of which I have eaten) that while it is alive, it

has a Quality so cold, that those who are angling, tho' with a Line of

ever so great a Length, with a Rod at the End of it, it shall in the

same Minute the Bait is touch'd by this _Eel_, seize him or her that

holds the Rod with a Numbness, that shall deprive 'em of Sense for a

While; and some have fallen into the Water, and others drop'd, as dead,

on the Banks of the Rivers where they stood, as soon as this Fish

touches the Bait. _Caesar_ us'd to laugh at this, and believ'd it

impossible a Man could lose his Force at the Touch of a Fish; and could

not understand that Philosophy, that a cold Quality should be of that

Nature; however, he had a great Curiosity to try whether it would have

the same Effect on him it had on others, and often try'd, but in vain.

At last, the sought-for Fish came to the Bait, as he stood angling on

the Bank; and instead of throwing away the Rod, or giving it a sudden

Twitch out of the Water, whereby he might have caught both the _Eel_,

and have dismiss'd the Rod, before it could have too much Power over

him; for Experiment-sake, he grasp'd it but the harder, and fainting,

fell into the River; and being still possess'd of the Rod, the Tide

carry'd him, senseless as he was, a great Way, till an _Indian_ Boat

took him up; and perceiv'd, when they touch'd him, a Numbness seize

them, and by that knew the Rod was in his Hand; which with a Paddle,

(that is a short Oar) they struck away, and snatch'd it into the Boat,

_Eel_ and all. If _Caesar_ was almost dead, with the Effect of this Fish,

he was more so with that of the Water, where he had remain'd the Space

of going a League, and they found they had much ado to bring him back to

Life; but at last they did, and brought him home, where he was in a few

Hours well recover'd and refresh'd, and not a little asham'd to find he

should be overcome by an _Eel_, and that all the People, who heard his

Defiance, would laugh at him. But we chear'd him up; and he being

convinc'd, we had the _Eel_ at Supper, which was a quarter of an Ell

about, and most delicate Meat; and was of the more Value, since it cost

so dear as almost the Life of so gallant a Man.

About this Time we were in many mortal Fears, about some Disputes the

_English_ had with the _Indians_; so that we could scarce trust our

selves, without great Numbers, to go to any _Indian_ Towns, or Place

where they abode, for fear they should fall upon us, as they did

immediately after my coming away; and the Place being in the Possession

of the _Dutch_, they us'd them not so civilly as the _English_; so that

they cut in Pieces all they could take, getting into Houses and hanging

up the Mother, and all her Children about her; and cut a Footman, I left

behind me, all in Joints, and nail'd him to Trees.

This Feud began while I was there; so that I lost half the Satisfaction

I propos'd, in not seeing and visiting the _Indian_ Towns. But one Day,

bemoaning of our Misfortunes upon this Account, _Caesar_ told us, we need

not fear, for if we had a Mind to go, he would undertake to be our

Guard. Some would, but most would not venture: About eighteen of us

resolv'd, and took Barge; and after eight Days, arriv'd near an _Indian_

Town: But approaching it, the Hearts of some of our Company fail'd, and

they would not venture on Shore; so we poll'd, who would, and who would

not. For my Part, I said, if _Caesar_ would, I would go. He resolv'd; so

did my Brother, and my Woman, a Maid of good Courage. Now none of us

speaking the Language of the People, and imagining we should have a half

Diversion in gazing only; and not knowing what they said, we took a

Fisherman that liv'd at the Mouth of the River, who had been a long

Inhabitant there, and oblig'd him to go with us: But because he was

known to the _Indians_, as trading among 'em, and being, by long living

there, become a perfect _Indian_ in Colour, we, who had a Mind to

surprize 'em, by making them see something they never had seen, (that

is, _White_ People) resolv'd only my self, my Brother and Woman should

go: So _Caesar_, the Fisherman, and the rest, hiding behind some thick

Reeds and Flowers that grew in the Banks, let us pass on towards the

Town, which was on the Bank of the River all along. A little distant

from the Houses, or Huts, we saw some dancing, others busy'd in fetching

and carrying of Water from the River. They had no sooner spy'd us, but

they set up a loud Cry, that frighted us at first; we thought it had

been for those that should kill us, but it seems it was of Wonder and

Amazement. They were all naked; and we were dress'd, so as is most

commode for the hot Countries, very glittering and rich; so that we

appear'd extremely fine; my own Hair was cut short, and I had a Taffety

Cap, with black Feathers on my Head; my Brother was in a Stuff-Suit,

with Silver Loops and Buttons, and abundance of green Ribbon. This was

all infinitely surprising to them; and because we saw them stand still

till we approach'd 'em, we took Heart and advanc'd, came up to 'em, and

offer'd 'em our Hands; which they took, and look'd on us round about,

calling still for more Company; who came swarming out, all wondering,

and crying out _Tepeeme_; taking their Hair up in their Hands, and

spreading it wide to those they call'd out to; as if they would say

(as indeed it signify'd) _Numberless Wonders_, or not to be recounted,

no more than to number the Hair of their Heads. By Degrees they grew

more bold, and from gazing upon us round, they touch'd us, laying their

Hands upon all the Features of our Faces, feeling our Breasts, and Arms,

taking up one Petticoat, then wondering to see another; admiring our

Shoes and Stockings, but more our Garters, which we gave 'em, and they

ty'd about their Legs, being lac'd with Silver Lace at the Ends; for

they much esteem any shining Things. In fine, we suffer'd 'em to survey

us as they pleas'd, and we thought they would never have done admiring

us. When _Caesar_, and the rest, saw we were receiv'd with such Wonder,

they came up to us; and finding the _Indian_ Trader whom they knew, (for

'tis by these Fishermen, call'd _Indian_ Traders, we hold a Commerce

with 'em; for they love not to go far from home, and we never go to

them) when they saw him therefore, they set up a new Joy, and cry'd in

their Language, _Oh, here's our +Tiguamy+, and we shall know whether

those Things can speak._ So advancing to him, some of 'em gave him their

Hands, and cry'd, _Amora Tiguamy_; which is as much as, _How do you do?_

or, _Welcome Friend_; and all, with one din, began to gabble to him, and

ask'd, if we had Sense and Wit? If we could talk of Affairs of Life and

War, as they could do? If we could hunt, swim, and do a thousand Things

they use? He answer'd 'em, We could. Then they invited us into their

Houses, and dress'd Venison and Buffalo for us; and going out, gather'd

a Leaf of a Tree, called a _Sarumbo_ Leaf, of six Yards long, and spread

it on the Ground for a Table-Cloth; and cutting another in Pieces,

instead of Plates, set us on little low _Indian_ Stools, which they cut

out of one entire Piece of Wood, and paint in a sort of Japan-Work. They

serve every one their Mess on these Pieces of Leaves; and it was very

good, but too high-season'd with Pepper. When we had eat, my Brother and

I took out our Flutes, and play'd to 'em, which gave 'em new Wonder; and

I soon perceiv'd, by an Admiration that is natural to these People, and

by the extreme Ignorance and Simplicity of 'em, it were not difficult to

establish any unknown or extravagant Religion among them, and to impose

any Notions or Fictions upon 'em. For seeing a Kinsman of mine set some

Paper on Fire with a Burning-Glass, a Trick they had never before seen,

they were like to have ador'd him for a God, and begg'd he would give

'em the Characters or Figures of his Name, that they might oppose it

against Winds and Storms: which he did, and they held it up in those

Seasons, and fancy'd it had a Charm to conquer them, and kept it like a

holy Relique. They are very superstitious, and call'd him the Great

_Peeie_, that is, _Prophet_. They shewed us their _Indian Peeie_, a

Youth of about sixteen Years old, as handsome as Nature could make a

Man. They consecrate a beautiful Youth from his Infancy, and all Arts

are used to compleat him in the finest Manner, both in Beauty and Shape:

He is bred to all the little Arts and Cunning they are capable of; to

all the legerdemain Tricks, and Slight of Hand, whereby he imposes on

the Rabble; and is both a Doctor in Physick and Divinity: And by these

Tricks makes the Sick believe he sometimes eases their Pains, by drawing

from the afflicted Part little Serpents, or odd Flies, or Worms, or any

strange Thing; and though they have besides undoubted good Remedies for

almost all their Diseases, they cure the Patient more by Fancy than by

Medicines, and make themselves feared, loved, and reverenced. This young

_Peeie_ had a very young Wife, who seeing my Brother kiss her, came

running and kiss'd me. After this they kiss'd one another, and made it a

very great Jest, it being so novel; and new Admiration and Laughing went

round the Multitude, that they never will forget that Ceremony, never

before us'd or known. _Caesar_ had a Mind to see and talk with their

War-Captains, and we were conducted to one of their Houses, where we

beheld several of the great Captains, who had been at Council: But so

frightful a Vision it was to see 'em, no Fancy can create; no sad Dreams

can represent so dreadful a Spectacle. For my Part, I took 'em for

Hobgoblins, or Fiends, rather than Men; But however their Shapes

appear'd, their Souls were very humane and noble; but some wanted their

Noses, some their Lips, some both Noses and Lips, some their Ears, and

others cut through each Cheek, with long Slashes, through which their

Teeth appear'd: They had several other formidable Wounds and Scars, or

rather Dismembrings. They had _Comitias_, or little Aprons before them;

and Girdles of Cotton, with their Knives naked stuck in it; a Bow at

their Back, and a Quiver of Arrows on their Thighs; and most had

Feathers on their Heads of divers Colours. They cry'd _Amora Tiguamy_ to

us, at our Entrance, and were pleas'd we said as much to them: They

seated us, and gave us Drink of the best Sort, and wonder'd as much as

the others had done before to see us. _Caesar_ was marvelling as much at

their Faces, wondring how they should be all so wounded in War; he was

impatient to know how they all came by those frightful Marks of Rage or

Malice, rather than Wounds got in noble Battle: They told us by our

Interpreter, That when any War was waging, two Men, chosen out by some

old Captain whose fighting was past, and who could only teach the Theory

of War, were to stand in Competition for the Generalship, or great

War-Captain; and being brought before the old Judges, now past Labour,

they are ask'd, What they dare do, to shew they are worthy to lead an

Army? When he who is first ask'd, making no Reply, cuts off his Nose,

and throws it contemptibly on the Ground; and the other does something

to himself that he thinks surpasses him, and perhaps deprives himself of

Lips and an Eye: So they slash on 'till one gives out, and many have

dy'd in this Debate. And it's by a passive Valour they shew and prove

their Activity; a sort of Courage too brutal to be applauded by our

_Black_ Hero; nevertheless, he express'd his Esteem of 'em.

In this Voyage _Caesar_ begat so good an Understanding between the

_Indians_ and the _English_, that there were no more Fears or

Heart-burnings during our Stay, but we had a perfect, open, and free

Trade with 'em. Many Things remarkable, and worthy reciting, we met with

in this short Voyage; because _Caesar_ made it his Business to search out

and provide for our Entertainment, especially to please his dearly

ador'd _Imoinda_, who was a Sharer in all our Adventures; we being

resolv'd to make her Chains as easy as we could, and to compliment the

Prince in that Manner that most oblig'd him.

As we were coming up again, we met with some _Indians_ of strange

Aspects; that is, of a larger Size, and other sort of Features, than

those of our Country. Our _Indian Slaves_, that row'd us, ask'd 'em some

Questions; but they could not understand us, but shew'd us a long Cotton

String, with several Knots on it, and told us, they had been coming from

the Mountains so many Moons as there were Knots: they were habited in

Skins of a strange Beast, and brought along with 'em Bags of Gold-Dust;

which, as well as they could give as to understand, came streaming in

little small Channels down the high Mountains, when the Rains fell; and

offer'd to be the Convoy to any Body, or Persons, that would go to the

Mountains. We carry'd these Men up to _Parham_, where they were kept

till the Lord-Governor came: And because all the Country was mad to be

going on this Golden Adventure, the Governor, by his Letters, commanded

(for they sent some of the Gold to him) that a Guard should be set at

the Mouth of the River of _Amazons_ (a River so call'd, almost as broad

as the River of _Thames_) and prohibited all People from going up that

River, it conducting to those Mountains or Gold. But we going off for

_England_ before the Project was further prosecuted, and the Governor

being drown'd in a Hurricane, either the Design died, or the _Dutch_

have the Advantage of it: And 'tis to be bemoan'd what his Majesty lost,

by losing that Part of _America_.

Though this Digression is a little from my Story, however, since it

contains some Proofs of the Curiosity and Daring of this great Man,

I was content to omit nothing of his Character.

It was thus for some Time we diverted him; but now _Imoinda_ began to

shew she was with Child, and did nothing but sigh and weep for the

Captivity of her Lord, herself, and the Infant yet unborn; and believ'd,

if it were so hard to gain the Liberty of two, 'twould be more difficult

to get that for three. Her Griefs were so many Darts in the great Heart

of _Caesar_, and taking his Opportunity, one _Sunday_, when all the

_Whites_ were overtaken in Drink, as there were abundance of several

Trades, and _Slaves_ for four Years, that inhabited among the _Negro_

Houses; and _Sunday_ being their Day of Debauch, (otherwise they were a

sort of Spies upon _Caesar_) he went, pretending out of Goodness to 'em,

to feast among 'em, and sent all his Musick, and order'd a great Treat

for the whole Gang, about three hundred _Negroes_, and about an hundred

and fifty were able to bear Arms, such as they had, which were

sufficient to do Execution, with Spirits accordingly: For the _English_

had none but rusty Swords, that no Strength could draw from a Scabbard;

except the People of particular Quality, who took Care to oil 'em, and

keep 'em in good Order: The Guns also, unless here and there one, or

those newly carried from _England_, would do no Good or Harm; for 'tis

the Nature of that Country to rust and eat up Iron, or any Metals but

Gold and Silver. And they are very expert at the Bow, which the

_Negroes_ and _Indians_ are perfect Masters of.

_Caesar_, having singled out these Men from the Women and Children, made

an Harangue to 'em, of the Miseries and Ignominies of Slavery; counting

up all their Toils and Sufferings, under such Loads, Burdens and

Drudgeries, as were fitter for Beasts than Men; senseless Brutes, than

human Souls. He told 'em, it was not for Days, Months or Years, but for

Eternity; there was no End to be of their Misfortunes: They suffer'd not

like Men, who might find a Glory and Fortitude in Oppression; but like

Dogs, that lov'd the Whip and Bell, and fawn'd the more they were

beaten: That they had lost the divine Quality of Men, and were become

insensible Asses, fit only to bear: Nay, worse; an Ass, or Dog, or

Horse, having done his Duty, could lie down in Retreat, and rise to work

again, and while he did his Duty, endur'd no Stripes; but Men,

villanous, senseless Men, such as they, toil'd on all the tedious Week

'till _Black Friday_; and then, whether they work'd or not, whether they

were faulty or meriting, they, promiscuously, the Innocent with the

Guilty, suffer'd the infamous Whip, the sordid Stripes, from their

Fellow-Slaves, 'till their Blood trickled from all Parts of their Body;

Blood, whose every Drop ought to be revenged with a Life of some of

those Tyrants that impose it. 'And why (_said he_) my dear Friends and

Fellow-sufferers, should we be Slaves to an unknown People? Have they

vanquished us nobly in Fight? Have they won us in Honourable Battle? And

are we by the Chance of War become their Slaves? This would not anger a

noble Heart; this would not animate a Soldier's Soul: No, but we are

bought and sold like Apes or Monkeys, to be the Sport of Women, Fools

and Cowards; and the Support of Rogues and Runagades, that have

abandoned their own Countries for Rapine, Murders, Theft and Villanies.

Do you not hear every Day how they upbraid each other with Infamy of

Life, below the wildest Salvages? And shall we render Obedience to such

a degenerate Race, who have no one human Virtue left, to distinguish

them from the vilest Creatures? Will you, I say, suffer the Lash from

such Hands?' _They all reply'd with one Accord_, 'No, No, No; _Caesar_

has spoke like a great Captain, like a great King.'

After this he would have proceeded, but was interrupted by a tall

_Negro_, of some more Quality than the rest, his Name was _Tuscan_; who

bowing at the Feet of _Caesar_, cry'd, 'My Lord, we have listen'd with

Joy and Attention to what you have said; and, were we only Men, would

follow so great a Leader through the World: But O! consider we are

Husbands and Parents too, and have Things more dear to us than Life; our

Wives and Children, unfit for Travel in those unpassable Woods,

Mountains and Bogs. We have not only difficult Lands to overcome, but

Rivers to wade, and Mountains to encounter; ravenous Beasts of

Prey,'--_To this +Caesar+ reply'd_, 'That Honour was the first Principle

in Nature, that was to be obey'd; but as no Man would pretend to that,

without all the Acts of Virtue, Compassion, Charity, Love, Justice and

Reason, he found it not inconsistent with that, to take equal Care of

their Wives and Children as they would of themselves; and that he did

not design, when he led them to Freedom, and glorious Liberty, that they

should leave that better Part of themselves to perish by the Hand of the

Tyrant's Whip: But if there were a Woman among them so degenerate from

Love and Virtue, to chuse Slavery before the Pursuit of her Husband, and

with the Hazard of her Life, to share with him in his Fortunes; that

such a one ought to be abandoned, and left as a Prey to the common

Enemy.'

To which they all agreed--and bowed. After this, he spoke of the

impassable Woods and Rivers; and convinced them, the more Danger the

more Glory. He told them, that he had heard of one _Hannibal_, a great

Captain, had cut his Way through Mountains of solid Rocks; and should a

few Shrubs oppose them, which they could fire before 'em? No, 'twas a

trifling Excuse to Men resolved to die, or overcome. As for Bogs, they

are with a little Labour filled and harden'd; and the Rivers could be no

Obstacle, since they swam by Nature, at least by Custom, from the first

Hour of their Birth: That when the Children were weary, they must carry

them by Turns, and the Woods and their own Industry would afford them

Food. To this they all assented with Joy.

_Tuscan_ then demanded, what he would do: He said he would travel

towards the Sea, plant a new Colony, and defend it by their Valour; and

when they could find a Ship, either driven by Stress of Weather, or

guided by Providence that Way, they would seize it, and make it a Prize,

till it had transported them to their own Countries: at least they

should be made free in his Kingdom, and be esteem'd as his

Fellow-Sufferers, and Men that had the Courage and the Bravery to

attempt, at least, for Liberty; and if they died in the Attempt, it

would be more brave, than to live in perpetual Slavery.

They bow'd and kiss'd his Feet at this Resolution, and with one Accord

vow'd to follow him to Death; and that Night was appointed to begin

their March. They made it known to their Wives, and directed them to tie

their Hamocks about their Shoulders, and under their Arms, like a Scarf

and to lead their Children that could go, and carry those that could

not. The Wives, who pay an entire Obedience to their Husbands, obey'd,

and stay'd for 'em where they were appointed: The Men stay'd but to

furnish themselves with what defensive Arms they could get; and all met

at the Rendezvouz, where _Caesar_ made a new encouraging Speech to 'em

and led 'em out.

But as they could not march far that Night, on _Monday_ early, when the

Overseers went to call 'em all together, to go to work, they were

extremely surprized, to find not one upon the Place, but all fled with

what Baggage they had. You may imagine this News was not only suddenly

spread all over the Plantation, but soon reached the neighbouring ones;

and we had by Noon about 600 Men, they call the Militia of the Country,

that came to assist us in the Pursuit of the Fugitives: But never did

one see so comical an Army march forth to War. The Men of any Fashion

would not concern themselves, tho' it were almost the Common Cause; for

such Revoltings are very ill Examples, and have very fatal Consequences

oftentimes, in many Colonies: But they had a Respect for _Caesar_, and

all Hands were against the _Parhamites_ (as they called those of

_Parham-Plantation_) because they did not in the first Place love the

Lord-Governor; and secondly, they would have it that _Caesar_ was ill

used, and baffled with: and 'tis not impossible but some of the best in

the Country was of his Council in this Flight, and depriving us of all

the Slaves; so that they of the better sort would not meddle in the

Matter. The Deputy-Governor, of whom I have had no great Occasion to

speak, and who was the most fawning fair-tongu'd Fellow in the World,

and one that pretended the most Friendship to _Caesar_, was now the only

violent Man against him; and though he had nothing, and so need fear

nothing, yet talked and looked bigger than any Man. He was a Fellow,

whose Character is not fit to be mentioned with the worst of the Slaves:

This Fellow would lead his Army forth to meet _Caesar_, or rather to

pursue him. Most of their Arms were of those Sort of cruel Whips they

call _Cat with nine Tails_; some had rusty useless Guns for Shew; others

old Basket Hilts, whose Blades had never seen the Light in this Age; and

others had long Staffs and Clubs. Mr. _Trefry_ went along, rather to be

a Mediator than a Conqueror in such a Battle; for he foresaw and knew,

if by fighting they put the _Negroes_ into Despair, they were a sort of

sullen Fellows, that would drown or kill themselves before they would

yield; and he advis'd that fair Means was best: But _Byam_ was one that

abounded in his own Wit, and would take his own Measures.

It was not hard to find these Fugitives; for as they fled, they were

forced to fire and cut the Woods before 'em: So that Night or Day they

pursu'd 'em by the Light they made, and by the Path they had cleared.

But as soon as _Caesar_ found that he was pursu'd, he put himself in a

Posture of Defence, placing all the Woman and Children in the Rear; and

himself, with _Tuscan_ by his Side, or next to him, all promising to die

or conquer. Encouraged thus, they never stood to parley, but fell on

pell-mell upon the _English_, and killed some, and wounded a great many;

they having Recourse to their Whips, as the best of their Weapons. And

as they observed no Order, they perplexed the Enemy so sorely, with

lashing 'em in the Eyes; and the Women and Children seeing their

Husbands so treated, being of fearful and cowardly Dispositions, and

hearing the _English_ cry out, _Yield and Live! Yield, and be Pardon'd!_

they all ran in amongst their Husbands and Fathers, and hung about them,

crying out, _Yield! Yield, and leave +Caesar+ to their Revenge_; that by

Degrees the Slaves abandon'd _Caesar_, and left him only _Tuscan_ and his

Heroick _Imoinda_, who grown as big as she was, did nevertheless press

near her Lord, having a Bow and a Quiver full of poisoned Arrows, which

she managed with such Dexterity, that she wounded several, and shot the

Governor into the Shoulder; of which Wound he had like to have died, but

that an _Indian_ Woman, his Mistress, sucked the Wound, and cleans'd it

from the Venom: But however, he stir'd not from the Place till he had

parly'd with _Caesar_, who he found was resolved to die fighting, and

would not be taken; no more would _Tuscan_ or _Imoinda_. But he, more

thirsting after Revenge of another Sort, than that of depriving him of

Life, now made use of all his Art of Talking and Dissembling, and

besought _Caesar_ to yield himself upon Terms which he himself should

propose, and should be sacredly assented to, and kept by him. He told

him, It was not that he any longer fear'd him, or could believe the

Force of two Men, and a young Heroine, could overthrow all them, and

with all the Slaves now on their Side also; but it was the vast Esteem

he had for his Person, the Desire he had to serve so gallant a Man, and

to hinder himself from the Reproach hereafter, of having been the

Occasion of the Death of a Prince, whose Valour and Magnanimity deserved

the Empire of the World. He protested to him, he looked upon his Action

as gallant and brave, however tending to the Prejudice of his Lord and

Master, who would by it have lost so considerable a Number of Slaves;

that this Flight of his should be look'd on as a Heat of Youth, and a

Rashness of a too forward Courage, and an unconsider'd Impatience of

Liberty, and no more; and that he labour'd in vain to accomplish that

which they would effectually perform as soon as any Ship arrived that

would touch on his Coast: 'So that if you will be pleased

(_continued he_) to surrender yourself, all imaginable Respect shall be

paid you; and your Self, your Wife and Child, if it be born here, shall

depart free out of our Land.' But _Caesar_ would hear of no Composition;

though _Byam_ urged, if he pursued and went on in his Design, he would

inevitably perish, either by great Snakes, wild Beasts or Hunger; and he

ought to have Regard to his Wife, whose Condition requir'd Ease, and not

the Fatigues of tedious Travel, where she could not be secured from

being devoured. But _Caesar_ told him, there was no Faith in the White

men, or the Gods they ador'd; who instructed them in Principles so

false, that honest Men could not live amongst them; though no People

profess'd so much, none perform'd so little: That he knew what he had to

do when he dealt with Men of Honour; but with them a Man ought to be

eternally on his Guard, and never to eat and drink with Christians,

without his Weapon of Defence in his Hand; and, for his own Security,

never to credit one Word they spoke. As for the Rashness and

Inconsiderateness of his Action, he would confess the Governor is in the

right; and that he was ashamed of what he had done in endeavouring to

make those free, who were by Nature Slaves, poor wretched Rogues, fit to

be used as Christian Tools; Dogs, treacherous and cowardly, fit for such

Masters; and they wanted only but to be whipped into the Knowledge of

the Christian Gods, to be the vilest of all creeping Things; to learn to

worship such Deities as had not Power to make them just, brave, or

honest: In fine, after a thousand Things of this Nature, not fit here to

be recited, he told _Byam_, He had rather die, than live upon the same

Earth with such Dogs. But _Trefry_ and _Byam_ pleaded and protested

together so much, that _Trefry_ believing the Governor to mean what he

said, and speaking very cordially himself, generously put himself into

_Caesar's_ Hands, and took him aside, and persuaded him, even with Tears,

to live, by surrendring himself, and to name his Conditions. _Caesar_ was

overcome by his Wit and Reasons, and in Consideration of _Imoinda_; and

demanding what he desired, and that it should be ratify'd by their Hands

in Writing, because he had perceived that was the common Way of Contract

between Man and Man amongst the Whites; all this was performed, and

_Tuscan's_ Pardon was put in, and they surrender'd to the Governor, who

walked peaceably down into the Plantation with them, after giving Order

to bury their Dead. _Caesar_ was very much toil'd with the Bustle of the

Day, for he had fought like a Fury; and what Mischief was done, he and

_Tuscan_ performed alone; and gave their Enemies a fatal Proof, that

they durst do any Thing, and fear'd no mortal Force.

But they were no sooner arrived at the Place where all the Slaves

receive their Punishments of Whipping, but they laid Hands on _Caesar_

and _Tuscan_, faint with Heat and Toil; and surprizing them, bound them

to two several Stakes, and whipped them in a most deplorable and inhuman

Manner, rending the very Flesh from their Bones, especially _Caesar_, who

was not perceived to make any Moan, or to alter his Face, only to roll

his Eyes on the faithless Governor, and those he believed Guilty, with

Fierceness and Indignation; and to complete his Rage, he saw every one

of those Slaves who but a few Days before ador'd him as something more

than Mortal, now had a Whip to give him some Lashes, while he strove not

to break his Fetters; tho' if he had, it were impossible: but he

pronounced a Woe and Revenge from his Eyes, that darted Fire, which was

at once both aweful and terrible to behold.

When they thought they were sufficiently revenged on him, they unty'd

him, almost fainting with Loss of Blood, from a thousand Wounds all over

his Body; from which they had rent his Clothes, and led him bleeding and

naked as he was, and loaded him all over with Irons; and then rubb'd his

Wounds, to complete their Cruelty, with _Indian_ Pepper, which had like

to have made him raving mad; and, in this Condition made him so fast to

the Ground, that he could not stir, if his Pains and Wounds would have

given him Leave. They spared _Imoinda_, and did not let her see this

Barbarity committed towards her Lord, but carried her down to _Parham_,

and shut her up; which was not in Kindness to her, but for Fear she

should die with the Sight, or miscarry, and then they should lose a

young Slave, and perhaps the Mother.

You must know, that when the News was brought on _Monday_ Morning, that

_Caesar_ had betaken himself to the Woods, and carry'd with him all the

_Negroes_, we were possess'd with extreme Fear, which no Persuasions

could dissipate, that he would secure himself till Night, and then would

come down and cut all our Throats. This Apprehension made all the

Females of us fly down the River, to be secured; and while we were away,

they acted this Cruelty; for I suppose I had Authority and Interest

enough there, had I suspected any such Thing, to have prevented it: but

we had not gone many Leagues, but the News overtook us, that _Caesar_ was

taken and whipped liked a common Slave. We met on the River with Colonel

_Martin_, a Man of great Gallantry, Wit, and Goodness, and whom I have

celebrated in a Character of my new Comedy, by his own Name, in Memory

of so brave a Man: He was wise and eloquent, and, from the Fineness of

his Parts, bore a great Sway over the Hearts of all the Colony: He was a

Friend to _Caesar_, and resented this false Dealing with him very much.

We carried him back to _Parham_, thinking to have made an Accommodation;

when he came, the first News we heard, was, That the Governor was dead

of a Wound _Imoinda_ had given him; but it was not so well. But it

seems, he would have the Pleasure of beholding the Revenge he took on

_Caesar_; and before the cruel Ceremony was finished, he dropt down; and

then they perceived the Wound he had on his Shoulder was by a venom'd

Arrow, which, as I said, his _Indian_ Mistress healed by sucking the

Wound.

We were no sooner arrived, but we went up to the Plantation to see

_Caesar_; whom we found in a very miserable and unexpressible Condition;

and I have a thousand Times admired how he lived in so much tormenting

Pain. We said all Things to him, that Trouble, Pity and Good-Nature

could suggest, protesting our Innocency of the Fact, and our Abhorrence

of such Cruelties; making a thousand Professions and Services to him,

and begging as many Pardons for the Offenders, till we said so much,

that he believed we had no Hand in his ill Treatment; but told us, He

could never pardon _Byam_; as for _Trefry_, he confess'd he saw his

Grief and Sorrow for his Suffering, which he could not hinder, but was

like to have been beaten down by the very Slaves, for speaking in his

Defence: But for _Byam_, who was their Leader, their Head--and should,

by his Justice and Honour, have been an Example to 'em--for him, he

wished to live to take a dire Revenge of him; and said, _It had been

well for him, if he had sacrificed me, instead of giving me the

comtemptible Whip._ He refused to talk much; but begging us to give him

our Hands, he took them, and protested never to lift up his to do us any

Harm. He had a great Respect for Colonel _Martin_, and always took his

Counsel like that of a Parent; and assured him, he would obey him in any

Thing but his Revenge on _Byam_: 'Therefore (_said he_) for his own

Safety, let him speedly dispatch me; for if I could dispatch myself,

I would not, till that Justice were done to my injured Person, and the

Contempt of a Soldier: No, I would not kill myself, even after a

Whipping, but will be content to live with that Infamy, and be pointed

at by every grinning Slave, till I have completed my Revenge; and then

you shall see, that _Oroonoko_ scorns to live with the Indignity that

was put on _Caesar_.' All we could do, could get no more Words from him;

and we took Care to have him put immediately into a healing Bath, to rid

him of his Pepper, and ordered a Chirurgeon to anoint him with healing

Balm, which he suffer'd, and in some Time he began to be able to walk

and eat. We failed not to visit him every Day, and to that End had him

brought to an Apartment at _Parham_.

The Governor had no sooner recover'd, and had heard of the Menaces of

_Caesar_, but he called his Council, who (not to disgrace them, or

burlesque the Government there) consisted of such notorious Villains as

_Newgate_ never transported; and, possibly, originally were such who

understood neither the Laws of God or Man, and had no sort of Principles

to make them worthy the Name of Men; but at the very Council-Table would

contradict and fight with one another, and swear so bloodily, that 'twas

terrible to hear and see 'em. (Some of 'em were afterwards hanged, when

the _Dutch_ took Possession of the Place, others sent off in Chains.)

But calling these special Rulers of the Nation together, and requiring

their Counsel in this weighty Affair, they all concluded, that (damn

'em) it might be their own Cases; and that _Caesar_ ought to be made an

Example to all the _Negroes_, to fright 'em from daring to threaten

their Betters, their Lords and Masters; and at this Rate no Man was safe

from his own Slaves; and concluded, _nemine contradicente_, That _Caesar_

should be hanged.

_Trefry_ then thought it Time to use his Authority, and told _Byam_, his

Command did not extend to his Lord's Plantation; and that _Parham_ was

as much exempt from the Law as _White-Hall_; and that they ought no more

to touch the Servants of the Lord--(who there represented the King's

Person) than they could those about the King himself; and that _Parham_

was a Sanctuary; and tho' his Lord were absent in Person, his Power was

still in being there, which he had entrusted with him, as far as the

Dominions of his particular Plantations reached, and all that belonged

to it; the rest of the Country, as _Byam_ was Lieutenant to his Lord, he

might exercise his Tyranny upon. _Trefry_ had others as powerful, or

more, that interested themselves in _Caesar's_ Life, and absolutely said,

he should be defended. So turning the Governor, and his wise Council,

out of Doors, (for they sat at _Parham-House_) we set a Guard upon our

Lodging-Place, and would admit none but those we called Friends to us

and _Caesar_.

The Governor having remain'd wounded at _Parham_, till his Recovery was

completed, _Caesar_ did not know but he was still there, and indeed for

the most Part, his Time was spent there: for he was one that loved to

live at other Peoples Expence, and if he were a Day absent, he was ten

present there; and us'd to play, and walk, and hunt, and fish with

_Caesar_: So that _Caesar_ did not at all doubt, if he once recover'd

Strength, but he should find an Opportunity of being revenged on him;

though, after such a Revenge, he could not hope to live: for if he

escaped the Fury of the _English_ Mobile, who perhaps would have been

glad of the Occasion to have killed him, he was resolved not to survive

his Whipping; yet he had some tender Hours, a repenting Softness, which

he called his Fits of Cowardice, wherein he struggled with Love for the

Victory of his Heart, which took Part with his charming _Imoinda_ there;

but for the most Part, his Time was pass'd in melancholy Thoughts, and

black Designs. He consider'd, if he should do this Deed, and die either

in the Attempt, or after it, he left his lovely _Imoinda_ a Prey, or at

best a Slave to the enraged Multitude; his great Heart could not endure

that Thought: _Perhaps_ (said he) _she may be first ravish'd by every

Brute; expos'd first to their nasty Lusts, and then a shameful Death_:

No, he could not live a Moment under that Apprehension, too

insupportable to be borne. These were his Thoughts, and his silent

Arguments with his Heart, as he told us afterwards: So that now

resolving not only to kill _Byam_, but all those he thought had enraged

him; pleasing his great Heart with the fancy'd Slaughter he should make

over the whole Face of the Plantation; he first resolved on a Deed,

(that however horrid it first appear'd to us all) when we had heard his

Reasons, we thought it brave and just. Being able to walk, and, as he

believed, fit for the Execution of his great Design, he begg'd _Trefry_

to trust him into the Air, believing a Walk would do him good; which was

granted him; and taking _Imoinda_ with him, as he used to do in his more

happy and calmer Days, he led her up into a Wood, where (after with a

thousand Sighs, and long gazing silently on her Face, while Tears

gush'd, in spite of him, from his Eyes) he told her his Design, first of

killing her, and then his Enemies, and next himself, and the

Impossibility of escaping, and therefore he told her the Necessity of

dying. He found the heroick Wife faster pleading for Death, than he was

to propose it, when she found his fix'd Resolution; and, on her Knees,

besought him not to leave her a Prey to his Enemies. He (grieved to

Death) yet pleased at her noble Resolution, took her up, and embracing

of her with all the Passion and Languishment of a dying Lover, drew his

Knife to kill this Treasure of his Soul, this Pleasure of his Eyes;

while Tears trickled down his Cheeks, hers were smiling with Joy she

should die by so noble a Hand, and be sent into her own Country (for

that's their Notion of the next World) by him she so tenderly loved, and

so truly ador'd in this: For Wives have a Respect for their Husbands

equal to what any other People pay a Deity; and when a Man finds any

Occasion to quit his Wife, if he love her, she dies by his Hand; if not,

he sells her, or suffers some other to kill her. It being thus, you may

believe the Deed was soon resolv'd on; and 'tis not to be doubted, but

the parting, the eternal Leave-taking of two such Lovers, so greatly

born, so sensible, so beautiful, so young, and so fond, must be very

moving, as the Relation of it was to me afterwards.

All that Love could say in such Cases, being ended, and all the

intermitting Irresolutions being adjusted, the lovely, young and ador'd

Victim lays herself down before the Sacrificer; while he, with a Hand

resolved, and a Heart-breaking within, gave the fatal Stroke, first

cutting her Throat, and then severing her yet smiling Face from that

delicate Body, pregnant as it was with the Fruits of tenderest Love. As

soon as he had done, he laid the Body decently on Leaves and Flowers, of

which he made a Bed, and conceal'd it under the same Cover-lid of

Nature; only her Face he left yet bare to look on: But when he found she

was dead, and past all Retrieve, never more to bless him with her Eyes,

and soft Language, his Grief swell'd up to Rage; he tore, he rav'd, he

roar'd like some Monster of the Wood, calling on the lov'd Name of

_Imoinda_. A thousand Times he turned the fatal Knife that did the Deed

towards his own Heart, with a Resolution to go immediately after her;

but dire Revenge, which was now a thousand Times more fierce in his Soul

than before, prevents him; and he would cry out, 'No, since I have

sacrific'd _Imoinda_ to my Revenge, shall I lose that Glory which I have

purchased so dear, as at the Price of the fairest, dearest, softest

Creature that ever Nature made? No, no!' Then at her Name Grief would

get the Ascendant of Rage, and he would lie down by her Side, and water

her Face with Showers of Tears, which never were wont to fall from those

Eyes; and however bent he was on his intended Slaughter, he had not

Power to stir from the Sight of this dear Object, now more beloved, and

more ador'd than ever.

He remained in this deplorable Condition for two Days, and never rose

from the Ground where he had made her sad Sacrifice; at last rouzing

from her Side, and accusing himself with living too long, now _Imoinda_

was dead, and that the Deaths of those barbarous Enemies were deferred

too long, he resolved now to finish the great Work: but offering to

rise, he found his Strength so decay'd, that he reeled to and fro, like

Boughs assailed by contrary Winds; so that he was forced to lie down

again, and try to summon all his Courage to his Aid. He found his Brains

turned round, and his Eyes were dizzy, and Objects appear'd not the same

to him they were wont to do; his Breath was short, and all his Limbs

surpriz'd with a Faintness he had never felt before. He had not eat in

two Days, which was one Occasion of his Feebleness, but Excess of Grief

was the greatest; yet still he hoped he should recover Vigour to act his

Design, and lay expecting it yet six Days longer; still mourning over

the dead Idol of his Heart, and striving every Day to rise, but could

not.

In all this time you may believe we were in no little Affliction for

_Caesar_ and his Wife; some were of Opinion he was escaped, never to

return; others thought some Accident had happened to him: But however,

we fail'd not to send out a hundred People several Ways, to search for

him. A Party of about forty went that Way he took, among whom was

_Tuscan_, who was perfectly reconciled to _Byam_: They had not gone

very far into the Wood, but they smelt an unusual Smell, as of a dead

Body; for Stinks must be very noisom, that can be distinguish'd among

such a Quantity of natural Sweets, as every Inch of that Land produces:

so that they concluded they should find him dead, or some body that was

so; they pass'd on towards it, as loathsom as it was, and made such

rustling among the Leaves that lie thick on the Ground, by continual

falling, that _Caesar_ heard he was approach'd; and though he had, during

the Space of these eight Days, endeavour'd to rise, but found he wanted

Strength, yet looking up, and seeing his Pursuers, he rose, and reel'd

to a neighbouring Tree, against which he fix'd his Back; and being

within a dozen Yards of those that advanc'd and saw him, he call'd out

to them, and bid them approach no nearer, if they would be safe. So that

they stood still, and hardly believing their Eyes, that would persuade

them that it was _Caesar_ that spoke to them, so much he was alter'd;

they ask'd him, what he had done with his Wife, for they smelt a Stink

that almost struck them dead? He pointing to the dead Body, sighing,

cry'd, _Behold her there._ They put off the Flowers that cover'd her,

with their Sticks, and found she was kill'd, and cry'd out, _Oh,

Monster! that hast murder'd thy Wife._ Then asking him, why he did so

cruel a Deed? He reply'd, He had no Leisure to answer impertinent

Questions: 'You may go back (_continued he_) and tell the faithless

Governor, he may thank Fortune that I am breathing my last; and that my

Arm is too feeble to obey my Heart, in what it had design'd him': But

his Tongue faultering, and trembling, he could scarce end what he was

saying. The _English_ taking Advantage by his Weakness, cry'd, _Let us

take him alive by all Means._ He heard 'em; and, as if he had reviv'd

from a Fainting, or a Dream, he cried out, 'No, Gentlemen, you are

deceived; you will find no more _Caesars_ to be whipt; no more find a

Faith in me; Feeble as you think me, I have Strength yet left to secure

me from a second Indignity.' They swore all anew; and he only shook his

Head, and beheld them with Scorn. Then they cry'd out, _Who will venture

on this single Man? Will nobody?_ They stood all silent, while _Caesar_

replied, _Fatal will be the Attempt of the first Adventurer, let him

assure himself_, (and, at that Word, held up his Knife in a menacing

Posture:) _Look ye, ye faithless Crew_, said he, _'tis not Life I seek,

nor am I afraid of dying_, (and at that Word, cut a Piece of Flesh from

his own Throat, and threw it at 'em) _yet still I would live if I could,

till I had perfected my Revenge: But, oh! it cannot be; I feel Life

gliding from my Eyes and Heart; and if I make not haste, I shall fall a

Victim to the shameful Whip._ At that, he rip'd up his own Belly, and

took his Bowels and pull'd 'em out, with what Strength he could; while

some, on their Knees imploring, besought him to hold his Hand. But when

they saw him tottering, they cry'd out, _Will none venture on him?_ A

bold _Englishman_ cry'd, _Yes, if he were the Devil_, (taking Courage

when he saw him almost dead) and swearing a horrid Oath for his farewel

to the World, he rush'd on him. _Caesar_ with his arm'd Hand, met him so

fairly, as stuck him to the Heart, and he Fell dead at his feet.

_Tuscan_ seeing that, cry'd out, _I love thee, O +Caesar+! and therefore

will not let thee die, if possible_; and running to him, took him in his

Arms; but, at the same time, warding a Blow that _Caesar_ made at his

Bosom, he receiv'd it quite through his Arm; and _Caesar_ having not

Strength to pluck the Knife forth, tho' he attempted it, _Tuscan_

neither pull'd it out himself, nor suffer'd it to be pull'd out, but

came down with it sticking in his Arm; and the Reason he gave for it,

was, because the Air should not get into the Wound. They put their Hands

a-cross, and carry'd _Caesar_ between six of 'em, fainting as he was, and

they thought dead, or just dying; and they brought him to _Parham_, and

laid him on a Couch, and had the Chirurgeon immediately to him, who

dressed his Wounds, and sow'd up his Belly, and us'd Means to bring him

to Life, which they effected. We ran all to see him; and, if before we

thought him so beautiful a Sight, he was now so alter'd, that his Face

was like a Death's-Head black'd over, nothing but Teeth and Eye-holes:

For some Days we suffer'd no Body to speak to him, but caused Cordials

to be poured down his Throat; which sustained his Life, and in six or

seven Days he recovered his Senses: For, you must know, that Wounds are

almost to a Miracle cur'd in the _Indies_; unless Wounds in the Legs,

which they rarely ever cure.

When he was well enough to speak, we talk'd to him, and ask'd him some

Questions about his Wife, and the Reasons why he kill'd her; and he then

told us what I have related of that Resolution, and of his Parting, and

he besought us we would let him die, and was extremely afflicted to

think it was possible he might live: He assur'd us, if we did not

dispatch him, he would prove very fatal to a great many. We said all we

could to make him live, and gave him new Assurances; but he begg'd we

would not think so poorly of him, or of his Love to _Imoinda_, to

imagine we could flatter him to Life again: But the Chirurgeon assur'd

him he could not live, and therefore he need not fear. We were all (but

_Caesar_) afflicted at this News, and the Sight was ghastly: His

Discourse was sad; and the earthy Smell about him so strong, that I was

persuaded to leave the Place for some time, (being my self but sickly,

and very apt to fall into Fits of dangerous Illness upon any

extraordinary Melancholy.) The Servants, and _Trefry_, and the

Chirurgeons, promis'd all to take what possible Care they could of the

Life of _Caesar_; and I, taking Boat, went with other Company to Colonel

_Martin's_, about three Days Journey down the River. But I was no sooner

gone, than the Governor taking _Trefry_, about some pretended earnest

Business, a Day's Journey up the River, having communicated his Design

to one _Banister_, a wild _Irish_ Man, one of the Council, a Fellow of

absolute Barbarity, and fit to execute any Villany, but rich; he came up

to _Parham_, and forcibly took _Caesar_, and had him carried to the same

Post where he was whipp'd; and causing him to be ty'd to it, and a great

Fire made before him, he told him he should die like a Dog, as he was.

_Caesar_ replied, This was the first piece of Bravery that ever

_Banister_ did, and he never spoke Sense till he pronounc'd that Word;

and if he would keep it, he would declare, in the other World, that he

was the only Man, of all the _Whites_, that ever he heard speak Truth.

And turning to the Men that had bound him, he said, _My Friends, am I to

die, or to be whipt?_ And they cry'd, _Whipt! no, you shall not escape

so well._ And then he reply'd, smiling, _A Blessing on thee_; and

assur'd them they need not tie him, for he would stand fix'd like a

Rock, and endure Death so as should encourage them to die: _But if you

whip me_ (said he) _be sure you tie me fast_.

He had learn'd to take Tobacco; and when he was assur'd he should die,

he desir'd they would give him a Pipe in his Mouth, ready lighted; which

they did: And the Executioner came, and first cut off his Members, and

threw them into the Fire; after that, with an ill-favour'd Knife, they

cut off his Ears and his Nose, and burn'd them; he still smoak'd on, as

if nothing had touch'd him; then they hack'd off one of his Arms, and

still he bore up and held his Pipe; but at the cutting off the other

Arm, his Head sunk, and his Pipe dropt, and he gave up the Ghost,

without a Groan, or a Reproach. My Mother and Sister were by him all the

While, but not suffer'd to save him; so rude and wild were the Rabble,

and so inhuman were the Justices who stood by to see the Execution, who

after paid dear enough for their Insolence. They cut _Caesar_ into

Quarters, and sent them to several of the chief Plantations: One Quarter

was sent to Colonel _Martin_; who refus'd it, and swore, he had rather

see the Quarters of _Banister_, and the Governor himself, than those of

_Caesar_, on his Plantations; and that he could govern his _Negroes_,

without terrifying and grieving them with frightful Spectacles of a

mangled King.

Thus died this great Man, worthy of a better Fate, and a more sublime

Wit than mine to write his Praise: Yet, I hope, the Reputation of my Pen

is considerable enough to make his glorious Name to survive to all Ages,

with that of the brave, the beautiful and the constant _Imoinda_.

NOTES: Oroonoko.

p. 509 _Appendix. Oronooko: Epistle Dedicatory._ Richard Maitland,

fourth Earl of Lauderdale (1653-95), eldest son of Charles, third Earl

of Lauderdale by Elizabeth, daughter and heiress of Richard Lauder of

Halton, was born 20 June, 1653. Before his father succeeded to the

Lauderdale title he was styled of Over-Gogar; after that event he

was known as Lord Maitland. 9 October, 1678, he was sworn a Privy

Councillor, and appointed Joint General of the Mint with his father.

In 1681 he was made Lord Justice General, but deprived of that office

three years later on account of suspected communications with his

father-in-law, Argyll, who had fled to Holland in 1681. Maitland,

however, was in truth a strong Jacobite, and refusing to accept the

Revolution settlement became an exile with his King. He is said to have

been present at the battle of the Boyne, 1 July, 1690. He resided for

some time at St. Germains, but fell into disfavour, perhaps owing to the

well-known protestant sympathies of his wife, Lady Agnes Campbell

(1658-1734), second daughter of the fanatical Archibald, Earl of Argyll.

From St. Germains Maitland retired to Paris, where he died in 1695. He

had succeeded to the Earldom of Lauderdale 9 June, 1691, but was

outlawed by the Court of Justiciary, 23 July, 1694. He left no issue.

Lauderdale was the author of a verse translation of Virgil (8vo, 1718

and 2 Vols., 12mo, 1737). Dryden, to whom he sent a MS. copy from Paris,

states that whilst working on his own version he consulted this whenever

a crux appeared in the Latin text. Lauderdale also wrote _A Memorial on

the Estate of Scotland_ (about 1690), printed in Hooke's

_Correspondence_ (Roxburghe Club), and there wrongly ascribed to the

third Earl, his father.

The Dedication only occurs in the first edition of _Oronooko_ (1688),

of which I can trace but one copy. This is in the library of Mr. F. F.

Norcross of Chicago, whose brother-in-law, Mr. Harold B. Wrenn, most

kindly transcribed and transmitted to me the Epistle Dedicatory. It,

unfortunately, arrived too late for insertion at p. 129.

p. 130 _I gave 'em to the King's Theatre._ Sir Robert Howard and

Dryden's heroic tragedy, _The Indian Queen_, was produced at the Theatre

Royal in mid-January, 1663. It is a good play, but the extraordinary

success it attained was in no small measure due to the excellence and

magnificence of the scenic effects and mounting. 27 January, Pepys

noticed that the streets adjacent to the theatre were 'full of coaches

at the new play _The Indian Queen_, which for show, they say, exceeds

_Henry VIII_.' On 1 February he himself found it 'indeed a most pleasant

show'. The grandeur of the _mise en scene_ became long proverbial in

theatrical history. Zempoalla, the Indian Queen, a fine role, was

superbly acted by Mrs. Marshall, the leading tragedienne of the day. The

feathered ornaments which Mrs. Behn mentions must have formed a quaint

but doubtless striking addition to the actress's pseudo-classic attire.

Bernbaum pictures 'Nell Gwynn[5] in the true costume of a Carib belle',

a quite unfair deduction from Mrs. Behn's words.

p. 168 _Osenbrigs._ More usually 'osnaburg', so named from Osnabrueck in

North Germany, a kind of coarse linen made in this town. Narborough's

Journal, 1669 (_An Account of Several Late Voyages_, 1694), speaks of

'Cloth, Osenbrigs, Tobacco'. cf. _Pennsylvania Col. Records_ (1732):

'That to each there be given a couple of Shirts, a Jackett, two pairs of

trowsers of Oznabrigs.'

p. 174 _as soon as the Governour arrived_. The Governor was Francis

Willoughby, fifth Baron Willoughby of Parham (1613?-1666). He had

arrived at Barbadoes, 29 April, 1650, and was received as Governor 7

May, which same day he caused Charles II to be proclaimed. An ardent

royalist, he was dispossessed by an Act of Parliament, 4 March, 1652,

and summoned back to England. At the Restoration he was reinstated, and

arrived the second time with full powers in Barbadoes, 10 August, 1663.

About the end of July, 1666, he was lost at sea on board the good ship

_Hope_.

p. 177 _my Father . . . never arriv'd to possess the Honour design'd

him._ Bernbaum, following the mistaken statement that Mrs. Behn's

father, John Amis, was a barber, argues that a man in such a position

could hardly have obtained so important a post, and if her 'father was

not sent to Surinam, the only reason she gives for being there

disappears.' However, since we know her father to have been no barber,

but of good family, this line of discussion falls to the ground.

p. 180 _Brother to Harry Martin the great Oliverian._ Henry, or Harry,

and George Marten were the two sons of Sir Henry Marten (_ob._ 1641)

and his first wife, Elizabeth, who died 19 June, 1618. For the elder

brother, Henry Marten, (1602-80), see note Vol. I, p. 457.

p. 193 _The Deputy Governor._ William Byam was 'Lieutenant General of

Guiana and Governor of Willoughby Land', 1661-7. Even previously to this

he had gained no little influence and power in these colonies. He headed

the forces that defended Surinam in 1667 against the Dutch Admiral

Crynsens, who, however, proved victorious.

p. 198 _my new Comedy. The Younger Brother; or, The Amorous Jilt_,

posthumously produced under the auspices of, and with some alterations

by, Charles Gildon at Drury Lane in 1696. George Marteen, acted by

Powell, is the young and gallant hero of the comedy.

p. 200 _his Council_. In _The Widow Ranter_ Mrs. Behn draws a vivid

picture of these deboshed ruffians.

p. 207 _one Banister_. Sergeant Major James Banister being, after

Byam's departure in 1667, 'the only remaining eminent person' became

Lieutenant-Governor. It was he who in 1668 made the final surrender of

the colony. Later, having quarrelled with the Dutch he was imprisoned by

them.

[Footnote 5: Nell Gwynne had no part in the play.]