Mr Penrose, page 29
Now as we were thus at contending which should have the fish, another Shark being in chase of it at the same time by mistak in the great scuffle bit his antagonist. In a few minutes after this as we were both very merry on the circumstance, as he put the laugh on me for catching no more than the head of a fish, he became at once bound with a witness; and being not so much used to the sport as Harry and I were I cried, “Hold on, Messmate, and play him well.”
But he through Eagerness fell down backward in the boat, crying, “Hoot, Hoot, Mon! What for sort of Muckle horned Deel is dealing with us now thats just luging us aboot?” For by this time I had got hold with him. Owen laughed to that degree that he lay down and kicked with his heels. But soon after, we tired the fish and he sheer’d alongside. I then up with an ax and soon gave him his quietus, and it proved to be the very Shark which had snapped away my fish from the hook. The other had bit him into the Bone through a part full 7 inches thick.
After we had caught as much as we wanted, which we did in less than an hour, as we had been desirous we might have filled the boat, I then gave the line into Owens hand, he being like all children full of novelty and ambitious to do great things. But he soon began to hollow out, “Oh, Daddy, Daddy!” I then took him round the waist and bid him pull with all his might, but he soon began to cry lustily and quietly resigned the line to me—otherwise he would have been overboard inevetably. I haled the fish in for him, and then we stood in for the old place where we had left our ladies, and there found a rowzing fire burning, my Wife saying she had Got it ready agains we came as she could see plainly with the glass that we had good luck.
We had not long landed before we heard Jessy cry out lustily. I sent Harry to know what was the cause, but he soon came back and snatching up his Mascheet flew off like a dart and we after him. There we saw Jessy standing with a load of dry wood on her head and Harry chopping at a large black Snake which lay right in the narrow path. This Snake was at least 6 feet long but not venomous in the least, as Harry said. This Snake he brought with him to the fire to roast and did so, offering a part to us but we declined it, keeping our stomachs for better fare. “Well, well,” said he, “he had no business to be there to frighten Jessy, and I would serve forty of them so if they came in my path.”
“Deel stick ye weem [worm]!” said Bell.
“I forbid that,” said I, “so belay that speech, Messmate.”
“Hoot, hoot!” said he. “Thes Indians wad devoor the auld Whaapnab5 himsel, gin he were weel cooked, and sup his broth after that, Ime thinking. Foul fare on such beast!”
“Why, Norman,” I replied, “you dont know that I have eaten of them before now with him, and really they tast well enough.”
“Weel, then, ye had better, the next ye find, be getting one of ther muckle tree paddocks6 for sauce too ut,” said he.
In the Evening we all embarqued and got home safe to our abode. Our stock of liquor was now become very low so that we seldom touched it but on a case of necessity. The next thing came on was to repair the damages we sustained in our thatch during the late Tempest, and this business took up some length of time. Our Plantain trees suffered also. After this time matters went on in the old channel with little variation of circumstances untill such time as I had compleated another year.
1. Strake: a longitudinal board or plank.
2. A small cabin, sometimes a cook-room.
3. Halliard or halyard, from ME halier, that which hales or hauls; here in the sense of partially hoisted.
4. Tholes: wooden pegs inserted in a boat’s gunwale to hold the oars in position.
5. Deel and Whaap-nab: the Devil.
6. Toads or frogs.
Chapter 25: Sixteenth Year
Sixteenth Year began. It happened as Harry and Owen came in from fishing they brought up to me a curious bunch or Whipp of some living substance much resembling Catgut and of the same hue or pale yellow colour. It was so interwoven that we could not by any means seperate it, neither could we discover either end so as to find head or tail; yet it kept continually in motion appearing like to a hand full of thread animated, and might be as we judged 12 fathom long. I had seen one of them before which I found in the stomach of a Groupar, but if bred in the maw of the fish or taken in as food we knew not, as this which I am now describing came up on the hook.
This singular Insect leads me to a discription of one I found in the Woods on a day about 4 years ago. It was lying on the ground, and as its shape was a little peculiar I took it up to examine it and found it to be of a hard substance black as jett, and in make the true form of our Barbers curling pipes and in length and bulk of that magnitude. It seemed to be composed of a rang of scales and at each end had a small aperture, and when on the ground could advance slowly with either end forward, and that with ease. There were neither Eyes, mouth, or any detached member to be seen.
Many extraordinary things which are absolute curiosities of Nature have escaped my memory, especially such as fell under my observation in the first years of my residence here, for want of means to record them as in those days I little expected to become master of materials for that purpose. Yet whatever came within reach of my speculation never escaped my inquisitive inclination, having from a Child ever taking much delight in prying into the works and wonders of Nature. Now what ever I have or shall advance, I declare has passed within my view; and as thousands have passed or traversed over many part of this vast continent they may confute me easily if I advance falshoods. But where could a Man, scituated as I am expect to recieve a benefit from by imposing untruths on the World?—especially as I have but a scant expectation that what I write may ever fall under the inspection of my own Nation and Brother Tars, for whose information in chief I thus amuse my time. As to the lerned I stand not in any dread of their sensure, being a man of no Education my self, therfore beneath their scrutiny and Envy. Yet I may venture so far as to think they will not carp at what may be honestly advanced by me, who am but an Illiterate Sailor.
I make this digression on account that perhaps many things which may in the great length of time I have resided here have been seen and described by my pen have never been noticed by any others before. The reason is obvious: they keep moving from place to place and perhaps give themselves little concern to explore the beauties of this Universe, When on the contrary I remain as a Man consigned over to such a purpose, with time sufficient to answer all such ends.
One Evening about 5 oclock as Messmate Bell was reading over some of the Scotch Songs to me and giving me the explanation of some of the old words in them, All at once the Earth began to lift us up and down, twice. Upon this we began to stare at each other wildly. Bell threw by the book, crying, “It is an Earthquake. Bring away the children from the side of the hill,” said he. “Perhaps it is not over yet, and some of the stones may give way.” Just after this we had another motion but much weaker. I had never felt the like in my life before, but my Messmate said he had felt several since he had been in this country, and had been shewn large Hills and Clifts split from clew to Earing1by them, as we sailors term it—saying there was little danger where we were as there were no Volcano’s in our neighbourhood that he knew of. And as I found our Indians heeded it not, it passed of, they carlessly observing it was only a sign of heat which really was the case soon after.
The Butterflies now became more numerous than I had seen them in all my time before, and now I have mentioned them it may not be improper to say somthing concerning them. In the first place they all differ from any I know in Europe, are much wilder and swifter, in general flying up over the tops of the loftiest Trees in the Woods; but as to discribing their plumage it would be endless, there being so many different sorts. But I shall remark that I have seen some full as broad as ye palm of my hand and many much larger, and I have often found Pods of the Silk work sticking in crevices of the rocks and clefts of Trees. But there is one sort we find at times fixed to the limb of a small twig 5 times the size of the ordinary, and in colour of a dark Brown resembling Ocum.
These pods are so strong that it is hard to Rend them asunder. The Fly which it produces is as broad as a Mans hand and of a beautiful variety of colours, Grey, red and white, with a pair of fine yellow feathers in front of its head. There is Yet another Sort of a Brimstone colour with a circle in each wing which is as transparent as Glass, with the after parts of their wings tapering away like to a Swallows tail. We sometimes see a sort which are yellow with bars running thwart in a very regular manner of black; another kind Green with black bars transverse to the other sort.
But I must observe one thing truly remarkable and beyond my comprehension, as follows. At times we found a kind of Brown Wasp which, falling head formost to the Ground from the Trees, there takes root, from whence springs up a small plant through their bodies. Mr. Bell’s opinion was that it proceeded from some kind of Seed they swallow which intoxicates them, so that when ye Wasp falls to the Earth those seeds take root and immediately spring up again.
We were now Visited by a Single Canoa from our friends. In it came Soroteet or the Crabcatcher, Yewarrabaso and Kayuaza; the two last had never been at our habitation before. These Indians came out of curiosity to see us, and brought with them a pair of Young Fowls as breeders, saying they were as a present from Owagamy with his heart, as they termed it; and that he had them sent to him from over the great hills. Nothing could have delighted me more. Among other things they informed us that they had another of thos People call Moonlights born, a female, but that she soon died which all were very glad of. This put me on making another enquiry about these odd beings, but to no manner of Satisfaction. After they had been with us about three days they left us, but after Soroteet had got on board of the Canoa he reminded Harry of a flute he was to make for him, and I gave him to know he should make it.
Some days after the Indians were gone we heard a great noise among the fowls in the Kitchen. Eva sent Job to see what might be the cause, when he came running out and said Jackko had got one of the new Birds in his arms and was pulling out ye feathers. This fired my blood and off I ran. When I got in, there sat Mr. Monkey with a fowl in his lap picking out its feathers one by one. Directly he held out the fowl to me. On this I took the fowl in one hand and him by the head in the other, and thus brought them out. The fowl was not much hurted, but to prevent his doing the like we Tied him up and with a small switch I made Owen flog him while Job held the Fowls feathers to his nose. After this disciplin he was dismissed, but he grew so shy from that time that whenever one of the fowls happened to come nigh him he was off in an instant. But when one of the young Cocks began to Crow the Monkey would rave and run into the first corner he could find and there clap his hands before his face, which caused much diversion among our younkers; but he never touched them afterward. Yet to give him his due character, he acted the downright Skulker on board of a Man of War, alway at hand when any thing was to bee shared.
But among the multitude of his tricks I think one of them merrits recording. One day I observed his Impship very busy down among the graves and sent little Luta to learn what he was at. The Child came back and said Jackko had got a heap of round things in a hole there. On this I went down myself and found a hole wherin he had de posited 50 Dollars or more. Altho it was true we stood in no need of it then, yet I thought some day or other we might have a call for it. I then bid them Call Norman who was then down at the boat. When he came I shew’d him that Jackko had found a treasure likewise. “Ay,” said he, “and yours is grown less, I dare say.” How he came by the discovery I know not, but must have seen us at it, as he had been at the labour to remove many Stones before he could get at it. But to prevent the like Messmate Bell and Harry removed the whole in the night so that none knew where it was except us three.
About the middle of August we had a most tremendous Gust of thunder, Lightning and Rain but no wind, scarse, during which the large tree wheron those Vultures lodged at my friends death Was split from top to bottom so that it parted like a pair of sheers. I had all the family within the Cave the whole time, not above three quarters of an hour; and all becoming calm we ventured forth again. “Well,” said I, “we are all safe, thanks to kind Providence.” But shortly after as my little Rees was runing about he came and told his Mother that one of our Indian Dogs was so fast asleep that he could not get up; but when Jessy went to see it she said the Dog was quite dead, struck by ye lightning as we supposed. We could percieve no mark of violence externally, yet he was stone dead.
1. Literally, from the lower corner of a square sail to the rope attached to its [upper] edge, used in reefing.
Chapter 26
It was not long after this before we had a dismal stroke befell us, attended with fatal consiquences to us all, as thus. The while we men happened to be out in the bay after the Turtle the cursed Monkey overset a Yabba as it was boiling on the fire, by which my son Owen got one of his feet scalded. This so greatly alarmed them all, as they knew how much I prized him, that my Wife packed Eva off into the Woods after certain roots to stew as a remedy. The poor creture went off with speed altho then with child. We did not return untill about 4 oclock. When I went into the house I found the boy with his foot lap’d up, and had the story in full. My Wife said Eva had been gone a great time after herbs or roots, and wonder’d what detain’d her so long. I took no notice at that about her, but ordered the Monkey to be drown’d at once, being determined it should never be the cause of more mischief; and Harry settled that point with a stone about its neck in the Lagoon.
Now as the evening advanced Mr. Bell grew uneasy about his Wife, saying perhaps She had rambled beyond her knowledge and had lost herself. “How can that be? She has been all over the wood diverse times.” said I. “But you and Harry had better go off in quest of her with one of the Shells.” And away they went and did not return untill Sun down but without any tidings. Now I began to be much alarm’d and advised that they should get torches without loss of time, arm themselves and off again at once, dreading her being alone in the Forest after night as I made no doubt of her being devoured before ye morning. We heard them almost the whole time tooting and shouting. I ordered Patty to make up as large a fire as she could as a direction for them back again. Every now and then I blew a Conck, and thus time passed until midnight. Now all were in tears about me; and if I did not hear their sound now and then my Soul filled with horror least they should all three be lost.
At length about two oclock they came in. Mr. Bell was almost frantic with distress. No Eva could they see or hear of. I now becam sensibly touched both on account of the Woman and my disconsolate friend. I put on all the most favourable circumstances and used all my skill to keep up his spirits, yet I feared much we should never see her alive more. Thus we remained untill the dawn, and then I proposed to go in quest of her myself. I took Harry with me and left Norman with the Women as he was in so much trouble. We scowred the woods in the strictes manner untill high noon without any discovery, and then returned.
Now I began to reflect heavily on my own neglect so as to leave the Women at home without a guard, but I was by the length of time become self secure, as I may say. Poor Norman, observing me to fret at such a rate, said with his Eyes full of water, “My friend, let me entreat you not to charge yourself as being any way the original cause of this my sad disaster, for had you stay’d at home the misfortune might still have happened.”
“Pray let me have my opinion,” said I. “From henceforth nothing shall ever delude me so far from my reason as to neglect a thing of such consiquence.”
“My good brother,” said Harry seeing me in such a preturbation, “perhaps She is gone home to see her Brother.”
“Blockhead! Fool!” said I, “could she go so far without Victuals and alone?”
“You dont know what the Indians can do when the great ugly Spirit is on them,” he said.
“I cannot be brought to think such a thing unless Messmate and she have differed lately.”
“We never have as yet,” said he. “Yet who knows but she has took some mad fit in her head and may be gone off thither. But such a thought would not have taken place with me had not Harry hit on it.”
“I shall be glad we may find your tongue true,” said I, “with all my soul.”—Yet at the same time I could not entertain such a mad notion.
And thus our time passed on in a dolorous way for three days longer. Now Harry said to me that if Bell was so minded he would go over land with him to their people. “Go and call him to me,” said I. When he came I mentioned what he had hinted. Upon this he said it was highly needful, he thought, as otherwise we knew not what constructions the Indians would put on the thing. “That is a very just observation, indeed,” I said. “Therfore if you are willing, pray go; you have my approbation so to do.”
He came at once into the motion and, arming themselves, went off the next day with a few trifles of provision and the dog Swift with them. I charged Mr. Bell to have his Eyes about him and strictly to follow Harry’s advice as he best knew the country; and if in case they found her there to bring her back by water, but if it proved abortive in that case for to return as they went, by Land, as by that conduct we should be the better prepared on their arrival. I then said, “I give you a fortnight and if you return not in that time we shall be wretched.”
After they were gone I formed many conjectures about the Girl, as somtimes thinking that perhaps some Strange Indians had found her and took her off with them, or that she might be drown’d in some pond. Again, that she had roved so far beyond her knowledge that she had starved to death for want. But the chief thing I dreaded was that she was destroyed by Wild beasts, and the Women joyn’d in that opinion.
