Mr Penrose, page 19
I made him this reply: “When a man is in Rome he must comply with the Roman custome or he will lead a miserable life there, Somer.”
“But I can let those Indian Girls to them selves if I do not like them I suppose,” said he. I told him me need never to stand in any great dread of being ravished by any of them either a Wake or in his Sleep. But what a change took place! My poor Messmate had the natural frailty of Man working strong within him, and knew not that to be the principal cause of all his uneasiness. Could he have had only one of our fine blooming Girls transported to our habitation from Europe, all perhaps would then become Elesian Fields to him. Alas, how little do we know what we are, thought I; and now is my Messmate gone to look for the very thing he so much despised.—So have I rejected dainties at my Mothers table, but Want brings us to a due sense of things and we eagerly jump at the rejected crust we so late dispised, and heartily thank our gracious God for it. And sure I am that he who studies to make any state of life which shall fall to his lot easy, even tho it were at the very Gate of Despair, yet by due reflection he may obtain comfort if he will but zelously put his confidence in God his Maker by daily imploring his divine aid, He being Omnipresent.
I had contrived me an Angling Rod and line with which at times I used to amuse my time at the head of the Lagoon with the small fish. Now as I was one day at this sport and in one of my Contemplations I heard the sound of a Conck shell. Directly I quitted my sport and returned up to the house and informed them of it. I then got out our Colours and my Glass and mounted the Hill. I soon percieved three Canoas coming round the point of the Key. I then came down and put on a suit of Dutch seamans cloaths, and told Ocuma to put on my Tigers jackket. I then gave a piece of Red cloth to her brother and a blue piece to Patty, and thus we got into the Yawl and went down the Lagoon to meet them, leaving Jessy with the children. They soon came into the Lagoon and met us, blowing their shells.
No sooner did they draw nigh than I heard Shipmate Somer begin a Dutch song, display his hands, and shew every token of joy. So, so, thought I, you are pleased again, I hope; and I waited to see the Marketing brought home. Shortly after, Harry began his song. This was all my desire, but poor Patty burst into a mad fit of crying for Joy. Soon after this we landed and they all came in. The first Man who jumped on shore was Harry. He ran with open arms to hug me, then his Wife and all the rest. Then came forward Somer and shook me by the hand most heartily. I observed that he was now a doubloon, I hoped.
“Oh, yes, yes!” said he. “Over I vill shew you mine bretty young Vife Wanee.” Our company consisted of Komaloot, Futatee and four more Indians who had all been here before, and 4 ladies, Mrs. Komaloot, Mrs. Owagamy, The Bride, and another Young Woman. As soon as we got up to our dwelling Mr. Godart brought his Lady by the hand and presented her before me and said, “Dare is Madam Somer, as you bleases.” She was a good Jolly Dame aged about 18 as I judged.
“Well, now, I hope you are cured of the Mully Grubs,” said I.
“Vat is dat, dan?” said he.
“Why, have you not been feeding on chopt Hay for a long time before this?” I said.
“Vel, over all, Mr. Penrose, dare is neet comfort for man if he bin out von goot kirl, unt dat is drue!”
I then welcomed them all, and desired Komaloot to send away a gang to Strike fish as we were not provided for a Wedding. Upon this Harry cried out they were married already. “That is not to my purpose,” I said. “I am determined to have it celebrated here anew.”
“Dat is right,” said Somer. “Come an, dan!” This was made known to the whole company, and all whooped for joy. I then went and made up a brave bole of Grog for them, and then we enjoyed it with our pipes. The Ladies soon after retired into the house to chat by themselves. As for my Shipmate, he was now become quite a new Man. No long silent puffs of tobacco—his tongue ran to me the whole time on the reception he met with among them, and of their manners and customs.
After this sort we spent the time untill our sportsmen were all return’d with plenty of fish and fowl. Now Evening came on, and I told Harry to make a good parcell of torches. By the time all our sportsmen had drank round they had swallowed down 5 of my great Pans of Grog which was at least 7 or 8 gallons—yet none were drunk for I kept a tought hand that way least Sport should be spoiled. About 6 in the evening I ordered a Broom to be brought out, and now the In dians knew what was next to come on. Then the Ladies were called forth and we made them both jump over it. After this I saluted the Bride and all the Ladies; this was followed by all the rest to the no small Mirth of the whole company. I then bade Harry tell Komaloot to make all as merry as possible, which he soon put in practice. After Supper we all fell to Dance, sing and play untill the Sun rose upon us. At last all became so weary that we were glad to turn in to rest, not a man being much the worse for liquor. Thus ended Messmate Godarts Wedding, and I must own this, I was never merrier in my days. What gave me such Spirits was to see my Comrade so much altered; and he afterward declared he believed his whole melancholy proceeded from his being, as it were, bird alone without a Mate. So that Nature is the same throughout the Universe.
The Company tarried but 4 days with us, then took Vinniquote away with them. Mrs. Somer and my lady soon became sociable, And every thing was now in a fair way again. But Harry told me I had forgot one great thing, which was to give My Wife and Mrs. Somer new names in English. “Well, then,” said I, “in the first place what is the young girls name?” Somer told me it was a long one and he could not speak it well. Then Ocuma told me her name was Mattanany or a sweet taste. I then desired her husband to call her what he thought proper, and he called her after a Sister of his own Eva or Eve. “Well, then,” said I, “we will call Ocuma after my Sister also”—which was Betty, which names became established.
I now told Somer it was high time for us to think of Turtleing, the time being come; and we followed it up with good success for a time. And on the 7th day of January Patty brought forth a son to Mr. Harry. Full of Joy he came to me with the news, but it was all smashed at once—little Morgan was missing and could not be found. At last I had the melancholy news brought in that he was drown’d in the Lagoon, having been with a stick aiming to catch fish, and had been dead perhaps above an hour. I took this misfortune as cool as patience would let me; and after the burial was over Harry came over very innocently to know what Name I would give his son. This coming so abrupt on me, I said, “Call him Job.”
“Job,” he said, “what is Job?”
“Patience,” I told him.
“Well, that is a good name,” said he.
Nothing happened worth my notice for some time so that I but seldom went to my book, and we all lived together very friendly. We were now nine in number and Jessy grew to be a fine young Woman, quite obedient in all things, and would have sacrificed her life to Serve either My Wife or self. So that I now enjoyed my full peace of mind, nor had I once a Wandering thought in my heart. And thus I closed my year as to the state of my own reckoning.
1. Chafer, a beetle; in U.S. chiefly a June bug.
2. William Falconer, born in Edinburgh about 1730 and as he says “condemn’d reluctant to the faithless sea,” achieved some fame for such nautical verses as “The Midshipman” and his magnum opus, The Shipwreck in 1762. He was lost at sea en route to India.
3. Mousing (nautical): turns of a small rope to unite shank and point of a hook.
Chapter 16: Tenth Year
On a day I stood leaning against ye side of our Kitchen with my face toward our dwelling I was so struck with the scene that I imagined in my mind, Could but some Ingenious Artist have a sight of it twould certainly make a curious Picture, as thus. First was to be seen the mouth of a large Cavern, somewhat resembling a very high Cathedral door way excep the arch much wider. On the right hand was to be seen My Betty with Patty sitting behind her braiding her long black hair. A little without the Cave enterance was to be seen my Young Owen taking aim at his Uncle Harry, who stood on the other side of the enterance with his back against the Rock as a kind of Butt for him, and catching the Arrows as they came in his hand; Somer sitting against the side of the rock within, with his red pipe in his mouth, tayloring with an old dutch cap faced with furr on his head; Eva recieving a bole of Stewed fish from Young Jessy before the door. N.B. We wore but little cloathing when within doors, the Girls seldom any more than a short breetch cloth.—My Self as sitting about the Center within at my table, Writing, the table covered with a piece of Sail Cloth; Patty with her young child slung at her back with a scrip of cloth; the two dogs and Cat before the door way; and our Parrot cage on one side of the Cave, but the Birds on the top of it in general, the cage oblong and square. From a chinck in the Rock projected a long stick with an other to sloop toward it, whereon Moggy the Macaw bird was in general to be seen. Over the Cavern was to be seen huge rocks overhung with trees excep a place wher stood our flagstaff, the flag about 7 feet long and 5 deep consisting of only two stripes, the upper blue and the under white.
Now it came into my head to ask Somer for a regular account of the Journey when he went a Female hunting. He told me that now and then they caught Land Crabs and roasted them. The Indians killed two Monkeys which they feasted. Then they went over one very long and high hill with but little wood on it, and then descended to a large pond or inland lake. Here they walked 5 miles as he judged, and in it he saw numbers of large and very frightful animals with very long tails, both in and on its banks. These I judged to have been Aligators. He said travelling hard made his feet full of blisters, so that his guides were forced to walk at his rate and were ever willing to halt when ever he shewed a desire. On the 5th day in the evening they came to a place where some Plantain trees grew, and there seating themselves eate all they had in store. But instead of making up a fire according to custom They got up to put forward, which did not a little dismay him finding Harry had known no more of the way than himself untill now. He then enquired whether they were going to travel all night. “No, no,” said he. “We are now come,” and that in a short time they heard ye Crowing of Cocks.
Presently after that they came to a large Wigwam. Here the Indians seated themselves And began to make an odd noise with their hands held hollow before their mouths. This brought forth two Indians who directly knew them, and they all entered the Wigwam; here they slept till ye day appeared.
At this time a number of Voices were to be heard, with conks blowing &cc. Soon after this many Indians from all quarters came and saluted them, among them bothe Women and children gazing with much curiosity. Then finding himself in the midst of them he offered to shake hands with some of them, but none of the younger sort would touch him by any means. Then Owagamy came and took Harry by the hand and lead him about from house to house as a great curiosity or lost sheep found again; but in a day or two they behaved more free and would gather round Harry and him to hear them speak English, with which they were highly delighted and frequently aimed to repeat the words after them.
He said it was above a fortnight before they took the least notice of the affair he came upon, and that Harry advised him Komaloot should be pushed on in the affair. This was done, and his answer was that he did not percieve the Girls to run away from him. Soon after this Harry told him there was a Girl at the next Wigwam with whome he had conversed and that she expressed a sort of desire to live with Ocuma; so that if he was but to get her brother once to concent he was sure she would have him, as he had given her great encouragement in regard to the love Penoly shewed his own wives. He then got Harry to speak to her brother. This he did and soon after Owagamy and the rest assembled on the occasion; and Harry told him they so managed the affair by representing me to such an advantage that her brother gave full consent. He then begged Harry to ask the Girl before them all if she was willing to go with him, as he desired they should all be thoroughly satisfied before they took their departure. The Girl then had the question put to her, to which she answered in the affirmative. As this all became settled the brother took her by the hand and delivered her to him saying, as he was told by Harry, “You are now my brother flesh.” Here ends Somer’s account of his journey & reception among the Indians.
I had suspected my new lady to be pregnant before she became mine and now found it really so, but an affair soon happened which reversed the matter. Harry happening to be chiping at the flint of his Gunlock, the piece went off, and as his own Wife sate very near him he had like to have shott her. This so terrified my Dame that she was soon forced to retire, and therby lost her Child. She remain’d quite ill above a week and on this account we procured her every little article of nourishment in our power.
Now it so fell out as she was sitting on a day before the door with a little Crab soup before her, She call’d to me and desired I would take notice What a large Guano there was on the Green among the Lime trees. On this I called to Harry and said, “See, there is a fine mark for your Bow and Arrow.” He then took them in hand and shott but missed the mark as it just at that interim passed behind a bush. On this he snatched up a Mascheet and gave chase to it, and soon after he call’d out, “Here he is.” Upon this I followed and came up just as he had killed it.
The Guano had got into an odd kind of Nook covered with bushes. Now as I was thus surveying the place I percieved through the bushes farther in a heap of Stones piled up like a kind of Piramid, about the height of 4 feet. “Here has been Some Indian buried,” said I to Harry.
“No, no,” he said, “we dont do that way.” However, being flushed with curiosity I told him to go and fetch Somer, and I shewed it to him to know his opinion. He said he could not judge what it signified, and stooping into the bushes drew out the bottom of a glass bottle and said he now thought it was the grave of some Christian person. “Well,” quoth I, “let us move away the brush and make a serch farther into the affair.”
“Oh! no, no,” he cried. “Dont offer to disturb any mans bones.”
“Never mind that,” said I. “Come, Harry, let us begin.” So to work we went. After we had been employed for some time I told Somer, laughing, “You shall have no share in the prize if you don’t turn too and lend a hand.” Upon this he began. After we had worked a considerable time we came down to a thick Plank. “Now,” said I, “let us lift it up.” When we had removed it we found beneath it a part of a Skeleton with its head almost intire but much decayed. Now Godart would have no more to do in the business. Then finding it lay between three other boards I told Harry to move the bones off to another place. As he was at this work I took up the Scull in my hand and found a cut on one side of it as with an ax or some sharp Wepon. I shewed it to Somer, saying this had been foul play some time or other. When all was cleared off and the Under board removed I percieved the neck of a large Bottle above the Ground and close stopped with a black substance as of pitch. This I bade Harry to dig up with his Mascheet. By this time they were all got around to satisfy curiosity.
This Bottle I carried away with me up to the house and there seated myself, then taking out my knife cried, “What say you, Godart, will you go shares with me?”—and began to work round the neck of the bottle.
“I think your a Man of strong heart, Mr. Penrose,” said he.
“Well,” said I, “here goes!” But I found unless I broke it the business would prove tedious. I knew it did not contain any quantity of liquid by its weight. Upon this I got a stone and prepared to knock off the neck but when I came to the breaking part, Somer shewing the example, they all left me and ran off to a good distance least some Hobgoblin should make his escape and devour them all. This made me laugh, as it was impossible to refrain. With a Mascheet I soon clinkt off the neck and found the contents to be a roll of Paper. Then I bid Somer draw near but he absolutly refused so to do.
I then determined to overhall it my self and found three Rolls of Paper one within the other. The first contained the contents of what the Seamen term a Round Robbin, and as thousands may not be acquainted with the true meaning of such a thing I shall give it after the most simple way I can. The true meaning is this. When ever a Conspiracy is forming for to carry any scheem into execution Either on board or on shore among Seamen wherby to gain the point intended, then the Ringleaders form a circle on a piece of Paper round the margin of which they sign their names, causing the rest of the conspirators to sign their names round in rotation untill the whole be filled up, by which means it becomes imperceptible to the Spectator who was the person did first put his hand thertoo. This being done, they then bind themselves by Oath to stand by Each other, let what difficulty arise to oppose the undertaking even to life itself if it be a thing of desperat consequence.
The Second Paper contained a most infernal Oath devised by some of the Devil’s own principal agents, undoubted. This was accompanied with some of the most horrid Imprecation ever uttered by man Against any He, or they, who should presume to disturb that place unless he had their own infernal right so to do; also against anyone of their own party who should dare to betray the secret to a Stranger or any who were not propper claimants thertoo unless they previously knew the rest of their diabolical old fraternity to be dead and gone.
The Third Paper contain’d some very odd characters mixed with readings, yet not so artfully contrived as to put it wholly out of a Mans power to unravel ye Secret. Had it indeed been otherwise I am certain many of those Ignorant reprobates would have been far enough to seek in any length of time; but fate ordered their hellish plot and booty should remain unmolested by them forever.
After I had thoroughly examined these papers and formed the best conjectures I could concerning them, I then called to my friend Somer telling him he need not give himself any Superstitious conjectures about the matter; that it was Some of the Devils manufactory was certain but he knew God to be above him; and as he saw I was in no way moved about it, he as a Man should never give way to any such Idle Ideas. This brought him to me saying, “Vat you have gotten dare?” I then gave him the papers to look at but found he could make nothing of them.
