Mr Penrose, page 10
After this I asked Harry how they happened to come to my place. To this he made answer that they came out to fish and catch turtle but after they had been out two days the Old man fell into a fit, as I understood him then, which he was much subject to; and that the wind came off the shore so strong that they could never regain it; and finding the Old man to grow still worse they had at length gained my shore after being out 9 days, drifting away with the current quite out of their knowledge, having never been so far from home before. “Should you be willing to go back?” said I. On this they both Eagerly cried, “Go, yes, go! You go, you go!” I told them I would go when I could find the way thither, and drop’t it.
Thus things went on untill my fourth year ran out.
1. The Central American tigre is a wildcat, not a tiger. The author later refers to “Tigers and Wood Cats.”
Chapter 7: Fifth Year of My Residence
Fifth year commenced. One evening as we were all three sitting togather I reasumed the Subject of their going back again. On this they both caressed me fondly and said, “Yes, go, one, two, three!”
“No,” said I, “if I should go your folks dont know me and so would have nothing to say to me. But there is your Canoa—go when you please, and I can remain as you found me.”
Upon this a kind of Sullen Silence ensued, and I observed the tears to fall from the Girls eyes. Upon this I took her in my arms, and told Harry to observe his Sister. He then fell to blubbering and said, “I never go, Penoly, out you and Luta.”
In the midst of this affecting scene all at once I felt a thing sting me on my thigh sharply. I got up and found a huge Centipeed under me. In a short time it becam almost Intolerable and gave them so suddain an alarm that it quite dissipated the other passion. Harry ran and killed the inseect and pounding it with some wet dirt laid it on my thigh, and Luta bound it up after the best way she could. I then retired to lay down, was in a feaver for above an hour with my head on the Girls lap, weeping over me in the most tender manner; and thus I fell asleep. How long I lay I know not, but when I awoke I was almost choaked with thirst. They gave me some fish soup, and by the morning I felt not the least uneasiness. But when I began to shew myself as was usual, Luta said to me softly, “I never go, Penoly, no go. But Penoly go, and Harry too.”
I now began to reflect within myself that there can be no true pleasure proceed from giving pain to others; and as it was but a wanton kind of trial in me of their affection, I was but fitly served and had met a very just cheque for my wanton inquisition.
I began now to consider Harry as my chief mate in all undertakings; and one day as he returned from gathering Wood he brought a large Yellow Snake with him. I had seen of them before, also a small Green sort with another like a Barbers pole, one sort Black and long, another Yellow as Safron. I asked him what he woud do with it. “Eate it,” he said.
“Do so,” said I, “if you can stand Poison.” He then cut off the head and skin’d it, after this gutted it and laid it on the coals, and when it was done he brought it to me to taste it but I declined it. Then I asked Luta if she liked it. She said yes, that “it very good.” So when I found them fall too I tast’d it and must confess it to be tender as a chick and of a fine relish.
Another time he brought home a prodigious large Callabash on his head. I was then in the cave and Luta called me out to see it, and I must confess it was the largest production of any Fruit kind I ever beheld. To speak within reason, it could not weigh less than of ¼ a hundred. Harry cut it in two and then seated himself to scoop it out, and certainly when it was made hollow each part would contain above a Gallon of water. This monstrous pair of Shells he laid by in the Shade to harden, and when so it became of very material use to us standing always in the cave full of Water for our use by way of Buckkets.
Shortly after this, as being now become better able, I determined to revisit the new lagoon where I found those Turtle Sculls I have mentioned. Therfore I bade Harry to get ready both the Canoas, and the next day we dressed a few fish and filled one of the large shells with water and left the cáve, Luta and myself in my Canoa, Harry and Miss Doe in the other. We had no interruption on our passage but arrived at the place of the Sculls with ease, then proceeded up untill we came to a place full of Mangroves. Here we saw a great multitude of Mullets and other fish, with plenty of Whistling Ducks, Cranes, Galldings and other fowl of those kinds. The Bald Eagles, Fish hawks, &cc were in greater numbers than I had seen before, which was a sure signe of much fish in the lagoon. There was a channel about four or five feet deep all the way to the mouth of it, but at the enterance the water deepened to two fathom in most places untill we came up it the distance of halfe a mile, where it became shoaler by degrees. The whole length of this Lagoon Is about I mile or perhaps more, with its Enterance so shut in by a point that at the distance of 100 yards it is not perceptible. Now when we had got to the head of it we discovered a large and spacious place with a beautiful fall of water coming down from a Clift seemingly about forty feet high, with fine Trees overhanging the clifts. This water had its course to the Lagoon head down a fine lawn mixed with patches of gravel. This lawn gently ascended to the fall for about the distance of 100 yards. Nothing could exceed the beauty of this fine View. It form’d a kind of halfe Circle measuring by computation about a mile, Every where environed by groves and thickets except on the right as you advance, where you may walk up among the trees untill you gain the summit where you may have a View of the whole Area, the lagoon and all, seeing out to sea for a vast distance.
I now told Harry to make fast our Canoas and then we all proceeded up the lawn for the Waterfall; and as we advanced a large flock of Parrots flew over our heads making a most confus’d Outcry. This made me halt a little, it being the first time I had Ever seen any of those birds wild. As I was thus gazing round me I percieved a kind of vacancy at a distance among the rocks. Thither we bent our course, and on a nearer view we opened a kind of passage between them. Here we discovered a fair Cavern with its enterance oblique to the Lagoon and, as it were, facing the run of water which came from the fall. It is difficult for me to give any exact discription of its form unless I say that the enterance resembled a kind of high Arch resembling some of our Cathedral doors, about 20 feet perpendicular but irregular and about thirty feet wide, all of a ragged kind of Rock and the floor fine gravel and small stones. I then told them to follow me, being determined to explore the whole place.
As we advanced the Eccho was so great that our common words sounded very loud. When we were got in to the distance of 5 yards I found the roof more lofty by much than at the enterance. At this place I thought it proper to return, and bade Harry gather some sticks and kindle a fire. This he did, and after it had burnt for a time I concluded to go in farther with fire brands in our hands. Now while this work was doing I discovered many marks and letters cut on the Rock on both sides the enterance in like manner with those I found cut in the Tower Stone as before mentioned. By this time I knew full well many had been at the place before my time. It is needless to give any discription of them as they are similar to what I have given a sample of already, Except that I remark that Two of the marks contained the names at length of perhaps two very great villains, and are as follows: Martin Fletcher and George Needham 1670.
We now took each of us a brand in our hands and advanced forward. When we got in about the length of 8 yards it then Contracted on all sides to about halfe the magnitude and inclined much to the left, so that a total darkness would have ensued had it not been for our lights. Soon after this we heard a strange bustle within, which put us all to our heels in a moment; but we were soon followed by such a Posse of Harpies that we were out into the blessed light of day in a trice with numbers of fluttering fiends at our Van. These were huge Batts, whose ancesters had inhabited that old mansion for many ages for ought I know.
After this alarm was a little over I told Harry to get fresh light and make another search. This he did boldly, contrary to my way of thinking. All the time he was gone I could not refrain from Laughter, as expecting him to return again after the same sort. At last he came running and Whooping out with a whole legion of those nocturnal gentry before him, crying, “Poo, poo, poo, poo!” and laughing at no small rate, whisking the fire brand over his head like a crazy fellow.
“Well, what now,” said I, “Harry? Have you found the end?”
“Yes, yes,” he said. “I hand me put there, too.”
“And how is it?” I said.
“Very dark, very little short,” he replied. By this I knew he had been to the end of it.
Soon after this Harry pointed and shewed me a very fine Plantain tree, and I directly espied two more. This so charmed me that I turn’d short round to Luta and asked her if she should like to live there. She said yes, if I liked to come live too. Upon this I came to a full resolution of moving without farther delay, being so taken with the place that I never once reflected on those necessary obstacles which then stood in the way such as retiring so far from our Yam patch, and becoming quite land locked from the sea. But when I once reflected on that it put me to a sort of stand. Yet when I came to weigh the great gain on the other hand such as that we should be quite safe from storms and inundations, togather with many more advantages, and that we could by the help of the hatchet clear a way up to the clift and there have a more grand view of the Sea than from the simple beach below, I gave wholly into it at all events.
Here we spent the remainder of the day and then went into the great enterance and prepared to Sleep there for that night with three large fires burning before us, without any disturbance untill the next morning except now then a Bat would fly into the place. At the breake of day we prepared to set of, and got home to our old place in good order without anything happening and found all safe on our arrival. Now my mind began to run strongly on my new Scituation and I communicated my thoughts to Harry on the matter. He seemed to like my proposal but made objections I had never thought of, (Viz) we should be far from our Turtle Crawl, the Guano ground, and that we could find no drift wood there. That was all true, but I observed to him as the place was by far more to our comfort in all other respects I was determined to remove, and that very soon; that in regard to our Guano ground and plantation It was but to go the farther for it on occasion; and that after we were settled we would plant afresh nigher home, and make us a new Crawl for our turtle at the most convenient place we could find. And so far we all agreed.
We had fixed the day of our leaving the Cave when on a Morning shortly after, as Harry was out after wood on the shore, he espied a Canoa and came running away to us almost out of breath, crying, “Boat! Boat! Canoa boat!” Away I ran with him, Luta in the greatest fright after us, not understanding the meaning. When I came on the beach I saw a Canoa standing right in for shore about a mile off with three Savages in her standing quite erect with their paddles, intending to land about half a mile below us as I judged. Upon this we all three retired into the bushes. What means to take in this critical moment I knew not, but concluded first to observe how they would act. Now I found that Harry and Luta became uneasy altho they had been so much for my going with them before, but I spirited them up the best I could and thus we waited their landing.
They soon came to shore and haled up their boat. Soon after, one of them pointed direct for our dwelling and then they began their march toward us. Now, thinks I, they have certainly seen us or our smoke, so resolved to meet them at all hazzards; and in this I was the more bold as I could not entertain an Evil thought of them. After they came within 200 yards of us I told Harry to go down on the beach, and I then took Luta by her hand and followed, she trembling with fear. We were all three as naked, in a manner, as those we were going to face Except that I had a pair of Striped trowsers on and my bonnet upon my head. The instant they percieved us they stopt short. Upon this I hail’d them and they answered me. Then to shew that I was in no kind of fear I advanced boldly up. Then an Elderly person call’d out, “Espania?” I answered, “No, Englese.” On this they all said to me, “Signor Capitano, bon, bon!” Now I took care to style myself an English man from what I had learnt from Harry and his Sister. I then made signs for them to follow me.
After I found them to behave friendly I told Harry to try if he could understand them, but how much was I struck when I saw Young Harry fly up to one of them in a transport of joy and call him by name. They all three got about him, but to give any just discription of their transport is beyond my power. He then pointed to his Sister. Here I had no need to enquire any way about the matter. The true language of the heart display’d it self amply, for I at once saw them to be old acquaintance. I could see that during the heat of the conference they cast a look of great esteem on me. At length I could contain no longer but joyned company, when Luta, throwing her arm round my shoulder, gave them to understand I was her husband. Then all three saluted me kindly in their way and made a regular survey of me, remark’d that I was larger than themselves, they being all three light low men but well proportioned.
The Reader may guess of my wanting farther information, and I told Harry to invite them home with us. I cannot but remark their great wonder and amazement when they heard Harry and Luta talk English to me. They would often lift up their hands over their heads betokening admiration, crying, ‘O wah, wah he!” As we went on I asked Harry what and who they were. He told me that the Elderly man was Komaloot, his Sisters own Husbands brother, and that the tallest of the other two was Futatee; but as to the third he did not remember his name because he was not much acquainted with him. This pleased me highly and, shortly after, we brought them to our cave. I now bade Harry and his sister to sit down with them and talk over every thing, and Luta soon became full of chatter. I found her topic to be upon their own affair of being lost; and I then bad Harry pre pare a sort of mess for them. This he flew to obey with speed.—I remarked one thing peculiar to these people, (Viz) that they all shewed their teeth much, never closing the lips in conversation but rarly.
Now I wanted to learn if accident or designe had brought them to our habitation. Therfore I put Luta on that Enquiry and she related it to me as thus, that there had been a great Canoa lost lately and that her friends had been out in the great water to it for what they could find. I told her to enquire if any of the people were saved. She said no, but they found four dead Man and that they buried them; but if true none could tell. I then enquired whither they were English or Spaniards. They replied they were the latter by their cloaths and little wooden crosses with beads about their necks, saying they knew the English threw such things away unless they were made of Gold or Silver, as they said the English did not use woodden Gods because they thought them little worth. This made me smile. Upon this Luta said something which made them all laugh also, and on enquiry she had told them I had no God at all that she ever saw. I asked her how she could tell that, when she made me such an answer that it closed up my mouth, (Viz) if I had one I had never shewed him to her.
But to return. I asked Luta what they said concerning their being lost in ye Canoa. She told me she was informed by them that they had been out all along the coast but had given them over long ago, thinking they had perished at sea or that some vessel had took them up and carried them away; that the old mans wife was dead, also one of her Sisters called Niuxa. When she mentioned her name I could see the tears fall. One of those Indians enquired whither I was not afraid to live there on account of the Rainey times. I bid her tell him I was going to remove to another place, and that I would shew it them before they went home again if they would stay a day or two. Harry told me they said they would, and were going to make a small hutt to sleep with us awhile. Then we all began to eat of such things as we had, and after this Harry and one of them went and brought round their Canoa.
When it came I observed they had collected several things out of the wreck by which I knew she had been of the Spanish nation. There were 3 pair of uncurried leather Shoes, 2 small brass Kettles, a large rowl of Sail cloth, Some woollen frocks and trowsers, a good Firelock but no powder or Shott, a great number of Spikes and small nails, a parcell of knives without springs like our clasp knives but open with a back stopper behind, about 20 balls of twine, 6 hatchets, some chizzels, three Saws with plenty of fish hooks and a pair of Shark hooks, a dozen of Fish grainges tied togather quite new, two felt hats and above a dozen new ones made of Straw, a bag of fine Lima Beans, four hammers and one mallet. But there was one thing gave me some concern, (Viz) a bloody Shirt. This gave me cause to suspect their honesty, but possibly they were innocent notwithstanding. I did not care to meddle with their booty, so what might be hidden underneath I knew not. Mr. Harry made very free to examine their cargo, and I curbed him as fearing they might take a pet and leave us, and anything of that nature would have given me much concern.
