VOYAGE TO BRAZIL—FIRST MEETING WITH ROSETTI—WE ENGAGE IN
TRADE—ZAMBECCARI'S ARRIVAL—THE UNITED PROVINCES—ENGAGE
IN THE SERVICE OF RIO GRANDE—SAIL—MY FIRST PRIZE—CONDUCT
OF MY MEN—MY RULE FOR TREATING PRISONERS—RECEPTION AT
MALDONADO—SUDDEN DEPARTURE.
I made another voyage to the Black Sea, in the brig Unione, and
afterwards one to Tunis, in a frigate, built at Merseilles for the Bey.
From the latter port I next sailed for Rio Janeiro, in the Nautonier, a
Nantes brig, Captain Beauregard.
While walking one day in a public place in Rio, I met a man whose
appearance struck me in a very uncommon and very agreeable manner. He
fixed his eyes on me at the same moment, smiled, stopped, and spoke.
Although we found that we had never met before, our acquaintance
immediately commenced, and we became unreserved and cordial friends for
life. He was Rosetti, the most generous among the warm lovers of our
poor country!
I spent several months in Rio, unoccupied and at ease, and then engaged
in commerce, in company with Rosetti: but a short experience convinced
us that neither of us was born for a merchant.
About this time Zambeccari arrived at Rio, having been sent as a
prisoner from Rio Grande, when I became acquainted with the sentiments
and situation of the people of that province. Arrangements were soon
made for Rosetti and myself to proceed on an expedition for their aid,
they having declared their independence. Having obtained the necessary
papers, we engaged a small vessel for a crusier, which I named "_The
Mazzini_." I soon after embarked in a garopera, with twenty companions,
to aid a people in the south, oppressed by a proud and powerful enemy.
The garope is a kind of Brazilian fish, of an exquisite flavor; and
boats employed in taking it are called garoperas. My feelings, at that
epoch of my life, were very peculiar. I was enlisted in a new and
hazardous enterprize, and, for the first time, turned a helm for the
ocean with a warlike flag flying over my head—the flag of a republic—the
Republic of Rio Grande. I was at the head of a resolute band, but it was
a mere handful, and my enemy was the empire of Brazil.
We sailed until we reached the latitude of Grand Island, off which we
met a sumaca, or large coasting boat, named the Luisa, loaded with
coffee. We captured her without opposition, and then resolved to take
her instead of my own vessel, having no pilot for the high sea, and
thinking it necessary to proceed along the coast. I therefore
transferred everything from the Mazzini on board the sumaca, and then
sunk the former. But I soon found that my crew were not all men like
Rosetti, of noble and disinterested character and the purest morals;
and, indeed, I had before felt some apprehensions, when I saw among them
several physiognomies by no means prepossessing. I now found them, when
on board the sumaca, affecting ferocity, to intimidate the poor
Brazilian sailors, whom we had made prisoners. I took immediate steps to
repress all such conduct, and to tranquilize the fears which they had
excited, assuring the crew that they should be uninjured and kindly
treated, and set on shore at the first convenient landing-place, with
all their own personal property. A Brazilian, a passenger in the sumaca,
took the first opportunity, after coming on board, to offer me a casket
containing three valuable diamonds, in a supplicating manner, as if
afraid for his life; but I refused to receive it, and gave peremptory
orders that none of the effects of the crew or passengers should be
taken from them, under any pretext whatever. And this course I pursued
on all subsequent occasions, whenever I took any prizes from the enemy;
and my orders were always strictly obeyed.
The passengers and crew were landed north of Itaparica, the launches of
the Luisa being given to them, with all their movables, and as much
brandy as they chose to take with them. I then went to the south, and
soon arrived in the port of Maldonado, where the favorable reception
given us by the authorities and the people, afforded us a very
flattering prospect.
Rosetti set off for Montevideo, to arrange things connected with the
expedition, leaving us to await his return; and during eight days we
enjoyed one uninterrupted festival among the hospitable inhabitants. The
close of that period of gayety would have been tragical, if the
political chief of the town had been less friendly than he proved
himself to be. I received unexpected notice, quite different from what I
had been led to expect, that the flag of Rio Grande was not recognized,
and that an order had arrived for our immediate arrest. Thus compelled
to depart, although the weather was threatening, I hoisted sail without
delay, and steered up the river Plata, with scarcely any plan or object,
and almost without opportunity to communicate to any one that I should
await, at the Point of Jesus Maria, news of the result of Rosetti's
deliberations with his friends in Montevideo. After a wearisome
navigation, I reached that place, having narrowly escaped shipwreck on
the Point of Piedras Negras, in consequence of a variation of the
compass caused by the muskets placed near it.
I found no news at that place; and our provisions were entirely
consumed. We had no boat to land with: but it was indispensable to
procure food for the men. At length, after some deliberation, having
discovered a house about four miles distant from the shore, I determined
to get to the land, by some means or other, and, at any cost, to procure
provisions and bring them on board. The shore being very difficult of
approach, because the wind was blowing from the pampas, the vast plains
which extend far and wide, it was necessary to throw out two anchors to
draw up a little nearer. I then embarked on the dining table,
accompanied by one of my sailors, named Maurizio Garibaldi, and moved on
towards the land, not navigating, but rolling through the breakers of
that dangerous shore. In spite of the difficulty attending the
enterprise we reached the river's bank in safety, and drew up our
strange craft on the sand. Then, leaving my companion and namesake to
refit, I set off for the house which I had seen from the vessel.
Walking up the bank I reached the level of the pampas, and then, for the
first time in my life, caught a view of one of those vast South American
plains. I was struck with admiration:—such a boundless scene of
fertility, where wild horses and cattle were running free and
unrestrained, feeding, resting, and racing at full speed, at will. My
mind was filled with new, sublime and delightful emotions, as I passed
on towards the solitary habitation to which I was bound. When I reached
it I found a welcome, and easily obtained a promise of an abundant
supply of food for my crew. The daughter of the proprietor of that vast
estate was an educated, refined and agreeable young lady, and even a
poetess; and I spent the remainder of the day very pleasantly, in
company with her and the rest of the family.
The next day I returned to the shore, with the quarters of a fat bullock
which had been killed for me out of the immense herd of cattle, at the
order of the proprietor. Maurizio and I fastened the meat to the legs of
the table, which were in the air, the table itself being placed upside
down on the water, and then we launched out into the river to make our
way to the vessel. But the weight of the cargo and crew proved entirely
too great, and we immediately began to sink until we stood in the water;
and on reaching the breakers, the agitation caused so much rocking that
it was almost impossible to proceed, or even to keep our footing.
Indeed, we were in actual danger of drowning. But, after great
exertions, we reached the Luisa with our load of provisions, and were
hailed by the shouts of our companions, whose only hope for subsistence
depended on our success.
The next day, while passing a small vessel called a Balandra, we thought
of purchasing her launch, which we saw on her deck. We therefore made
sail, boarded her, and made the purchase for thirty dollars. That day
also we spent in sight of Jesus Maria.
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