Mr Penrose, page 30
Thus we remain’d twixt hope and fear day after day. I never left home once farther than to go down to the lagoon to catch a few Grunts and the like, living chiefly on vegetable diet. In about a week after this about 9 at night Owen cried out that he had heard sombody hollow. We all ran out to listen but could hear nothing. A short time after, he said he heard it again, and we soon heard one of those birds I had mistaken on my first landing for a Yoho. This threw us quite aback again, and we all turned in with heavy hearts. And thus it went on untill the whole time elapsed for their return, and no appearance.
About 5 days after this Swift came runing into the Cave. “Here they are!” I cried in a transport. Upon going out I percieved Harry and another Indian coming down the hill. My mind now misgave me at once, and I ernestly call’d out, “Where is Bell?” When they came in Harry said they had left him there, being sick. Now, think I, Eva is not there for certain. Harry said Eva never went there. “What is the matter with my friend?” said I. “Tell me at once.”
“He will return with some of our friends in a few days,” said he. I then told Betty to sound Gaynasunto, the other Indian. She told me that after Bell and Harry arrived there the Indians held a private council. When they had done this they told Harry that they concluded Eva was either took off by some strange Indians or eaten by the Tigers, saying they knew me to be such a true friend that I would not give consent to Shewing any blood as they could never find, by all their industry and vigalance, so hard a charge against their White Brother in blood and flesh.
“Surely,” said I to her, “have they then had Spies to watch over us and privatly to observe our conduct? Tell me, I charge you, have you a knowledge of any such proceeding?” She then frankly own’d that some of their People had been deputed to come on such an Errand and had actually been at times so nigh our habitation as to get a fair view of all our behaviour. This news startled me, but as I know full well they came for no other end than to make their observation after what manner we treated their Women I soon became cool again. Yet I could not but wonder they should take so great a trouble mearly to satisfy curiosity. But when I once reflected that from that source arose such a mutual friendship between us, I could do no more than highly commend them in so doing.
All this time Harry seem’d to be on the reserve, as I took it, And I asked him the reason that he did not give me a full account of all that had happened during their abscence. “Oh,” sd. he, “Owagamy told me to keep my mouth shut, saying he will be the Mouth when he comes back next time with Mr. Norman, and then Gaynosanto is to go back with him.”
“What occasion,” said I, “can they have in giving me so much uneasiness? If Eva be there let her return with her husband.”
“No, no,” said Harry, “she has been meat for Tigers long ago, or starved to death.”
“Then if it be so, why did he not return with you?”
“Owagamy sent me off with that Man,” said he, “as thinking you would grieve, but they will come soon and that is all I know.” Well, thought I, if he has taken a conceit as to reside among them, a’ Gods name I must reconcile myself to my first manner of life the best I can.
Above a fortnight elapsed, and no news of Bell. Then an odd notion popt into my head that perhaps the Spaniards had got knowledge of him and the Indians had given him up. Then I thought such a conjecture was dealing unjustly by my friends. But about two days after, as Harry was coming out of the Bushes he espied about three Canoas coming into the bay. “Hoist our colours,” said I. We then got the boat ready and went down, to have them entertain the better opinion of us as I knew not how matters had changed from the time Bell left me. Gaynasunto and I were only in the boat as I had charged Harry to abide by the Girls.
We met them at the mouth of the Lagoon. Now observing Women with them I began to think they had some Sort of Sport to play off and intended to surprize me With a sight of Eva again. I gave them a Salute and put away in before them. When we landed Owagamy and Bell jumped on shore and saluted me, which overjoyed me. I saw two Women in the canoa but strangers to me. When they came out I lead them up to the house. After some talk I asked my Messmate who those ladies might be, as my Betty knew them not. Then taking one of them by the hand he presented her to me as his Wife. “O ho,” said I, “if that be the case much joy to you!” He thanked me and said the whole business had been conducted by my friend Owagamy and his council, and that he had condesended not from Choice but as knowing should he decline the proposal it might prove of an Ill consiquence in future and involve us in much trouble. “You were very prudent, Messmate,” I replied, “and I am heartily glad the matter has come to so pleasing a conclusion.”
I now gave order that things should be provided that we might shew them every civility possible. They were all in high spirits. Owagamy desired that the ceremony should be repeated, for he said they had done the Broom work at their place already to the great mirth of all the Indians; and it was repeated accordingly. I then learn’d that the Bride was a Widow. She seemed to be about 25 years of age and named Aanora, or a thing desired. Mr. Bell satisfied me the next day as to his remaining so long with them, as follows: That after they well had weighed the matter they called a council and that they took him to it in a large Wigwam, and after they had all got togather he was placed by Owagamy’s side. Then a profound silence held for the space of about half an hour, during which time about 12 of them kept smoking. At last an Indian got up and spake to Bell in Spanish, saying that his people desired Gattaloon (meaning himself) to be the one mouth or Voice through which he was to hear them all. That they knew of a certainty he was a fair or true Man, and that they saw his heart through his Eyes. They knew he had lost his wife some days before he came to visit them, and they were satisfied much in regard to his coming to them on that account. Otherwise they should have entertained an opinion of him far different; but now knowing such a sad misfortune to have befallen him, not of our own seeking but through an oversight, their council had—finding him to grieve so much for the loss—determined to keep him among them untill they could find a plant propper for his cure but that it took them some time to find it out, but that they had now found one. It was a little drooping for want of nourishment, as it had been a dry time lately where it grew.
Then an odd kind of noise was heard and there came three women to the door, one of which was call’d in and Owagamy, rising, took her by the hand and said: “This is a Woman not of our Nation but our friend. She has lost her nourisher, and we give her thee by her own consent. Nourish her as thou hast so done by Mattanany our sister, now lost from life. We think it hard you should be without a Woman, as you know so well how to respect One. We sent our valuable Brother Gaynasunto with Ayasharry least our great heart White Brother Penoly should stand in need of friends in the mean time. We will return with Aanora and thee to thy friend as soon as convenient.”
I bade Harry return them our most hearty thanks for their Love and the great care they had been at in salving the late great wound my friend Bell had recieved. I had no liquor to treat them with now in store. This they were informed of. Owagamy answered that all things decayed in time except the Sun, Moon and Stars, so that he wondered not at it in the least. After they had been with us about 5 days they took their leave. Before they went I distributed some pieces of blue Cloth among them but the Moth by the length of time had eaten all such things much.
When I was about to take my farewell of Owagamy at the boat and saying what great friends he and his people were to me, he Smiled and told Harry that I had one thing to do yet to convince his people of my faith. Upon this I Insisted to be acquainted in what way I could shew them the great trust and confidence I had ever had in him and his people. “You have many times looked toward the place where we reside in the long time of your being here, but you have never put one foot willingly before the other to visit me and my People. You knew not the path through ye Wood yourself,” said he, “but Ayasharry can lead you by the hand when your mind turns so toward us.”
I told him that sole reason of my never doing them that duty was owing to the great charge I had on me to preserve these his Blood and Flesh consigned over to my care, but that he might acquaint his people on his return that I now made it my firm resolution to pay them a visit the first fair opportunity. Upon this they all shouted, and we went down the lagoon to see them off.
I shall in this place observe that both Harry and my self could speak at this time as much Spanish so as to be understood, as I had desired the favour of Mr. Bell to take all opportunities with us for to learn enough of that tongue so as to be able to converse, thinking it would prove of infinite service in future as we knew not what might come to pass. And this he did very willingly. I came the sooner on as I had got a smattering before while prisoner at ye Havannah.
It now came into my head, as thus. I consulted messmate Bell that I was determined to study Spanish with a full resolution, and as I knew he understood marking peoples skins in characters he should mark a Cross on one of my hands, and that I would get him to shave my beard and platt my hair behind after the Spanish mode. He laughed at me, saying how could I pretend ever to pass for one of those people when my tongue would soon betray me. “Let me alone for that,” said I. “I have got my own plan.”
“As how?” said I.
“Thus,” I replied. “I can report that I am a native of Barcelona, went into the service of an English Gentleman at Venice when a Boy, and remained with him and others after I came to England many years, by which means I lost my Mother tongue in a great degree.”
“Troth,” said he, “that move will do if you can but carry it off well. And your Name—how will that answer?”
“I will fix on one for the purpose by your help,” said I, “sounding as nigh my own as possible.” This motion being determined on, Messmate Bell shaved off my beard in the first place and ordered my hair, but when we put it in practice it was done in my cave and Harry was at the time gone down ye Lagoon. My wife and the Girls were exceedingly diverted at my transformation, saying that I was gone back many, man Moons and had brought back a pretty little young head with me. My Messmate then put one of the old Sambraros on my noddle and making me a low bow welcomed me to his abode in the name of Signior Louis Penalosa. “That will do,” said I. “Bless me, my face feels as tho the half my chin was carried away,” said I. We had a kind of berries whose pulp washed equal to Soap and these we always used for such purposes.
Soon after this I missed Owen. I enquired after him and they said he was gone with Harry. When I saw them coming we all kept our countenances the best way we could, but to see the behaviour of Harry and Owen on the occasion is beyond my skill to describe. No sooner did Harry see me sitting so altered but he fixed his Eyes on Norman and looked so confoundedly simple that a man would have thought he was turned a downright fool, but poor Owen burst into a flood of tears in hearing me speak. I call’d him to come to me but he ran and got behind Patty, clung to her, and there began to bellow at a sad rate. Upon this Bell took him hold to bring him to me but he resisted with all his might, saying it was not his father. At last I call’d to Harry to come and shake hands with me. “O!” said he, “I know it is you, a little not you, sideways one way, but Mr. Norman has cut your face and made it so sharp that it looks like a young callabash now.”
“I thank you for your fine comparison,” said I, “Harry.”
“You look like a young Spaniard now,” he said, “and you always was afraid of Spaniards. Now you make us all fools.”
“Never you mind that,” said I. “Mr. Bell and I have done it to cheat them if we can.”
“Ay,” said he, “but you will never do so with my Indian people for we can smell the difference well enough.”
Now Owen began to smile a little and asked Bell what he cut his father for. But the thing pleas’d my Wife highly, she saying every now and then how pretty my new head looked, only she thought it quite too small. I told her it would soon grow larger; yet I was a singular object among them for a few days.
The next thing was to mark my hand, and this Norman did with two small needles tied togather and filled the punctures with wet powder. It cost me both pain and patience before he had done. His own arm had a Crucifix drawn on it long before. I then proposed we should make some small crosses to wear at our breast occasionally, and for this end Bell went to work with a dollar out of which he cast two or three small ones. And thus we were compleated as two counterfeit Spaniards.
After this I spoke to Mr. Bell that we should give his Lady another name as it was become our stated custom. “Troth, gie her the name ye like best,” said he.
“Not at all,” I replied, “you must do that your self.”
“Well, then, we will call her Janett if you like.” And Janett was her name. I then told my Wife to inform her of it and she became mighty fond of it herself.
About the latter end of March as Bell and I were out fishing in deep water a prodigious large Shark came ranging along close in View. My Messmate said It was very different from any he had seen before. “Let us bait the Shark hook,” I said; “perhaps we may catch him.” Directly he whipt out the bowels of a fish and hung it on, then threw it out right before his nose; but he flew like a dart from it at first, yet return’d immediately and took it in. We let him have time, and had the Gentleman fast. He gave us brave sport for a time, sheering down below with great strength. At last he became tired out and let us hale him in sight. When we got a fair view of him we found this Fish had a piece of a three inch Rope in a knot just above his tail and that it had been on him a great length of time. The fag ends were about a foot long and had been yet longer, as we thought; it was become white as flax. This fish was about 16 foot in length and the largest we had ever seen, having many rows of teeth, and had been an old cruiser in his time—perhaps had followed some ship from the coast of Africa after the dead Slaves, was caught by one of those Ships and had been let go again or made his escape, as he was a true Tiger Shark of a blue colour with the tips of his tail and fins yellow. Fortune at length brought him hither to make his Exit. We got several quarts of Oil from his liver which was of material service to us.
Speaking of Fish I must remark that at times we found an odd animal running over the bottom in shoal places, of a triangular form about ye size of a large Flounder, and carried its head erect as a hen does, with bright Eyes, the back mottled in a curious manner. It has four feet or fins shaped like to the back fins of a Turtle with a tail resembling a fan. The tail and fins or rather finfeet were edged with yellow. This creture can run along the bottom nimbly but in deep water swims with ease. We never ventured to take them as not knowing their quality.
We also found a sort of Insect or rather reptile creeping in ye Shallow Water, of a dark olive green full of black circles. This creture advances in the manner our Sluggs do, dilating and contracting after that fashion. But the most curious part of the story is that on being once touched they instantly emit a most glorious purple liquid all round them to the distance of a yard or more so that the animal is no longer perceptible.
About the beginning of May my Wife asked Harry to procure her some Sappadillos the next time he went out in the woods. Now on a day soon after Harry told me in private that he knew what had become of poor Eva. “Say you so!” I cried. “How came you not to tell me of it then before?”
“Because I thought Mr. Norman should not know it,” he said.
“I dont know what you mean,” I replied.
“When I was last in the Woods,” said he, “for Sappodillos—”
“Well, and how then?” I cried.
“Come with me, Penoly,” said he, and then took me up the hill where in a hole under some bushes he shewed me the remains of the poor duds she used to wear. My blood ran cold at the sight.
“Whence came these?” I cried in confusion. He then told me that as he was on his ramble about two miles off he came to a thicket where he first found a rib bone, and looking about found the scull and other bones with the rags, and knowing them directly he said his great spirit came to him so strong that had 5 Tigers been present he would have engaged them all. “Well, keep it secret,” I said. “I shall let him know of it at some propper time.” I then went down and privatly informed my Betty of it, charging her never to presume to leave home without a guard on any occasion whatever. Soon after this I gave them the whole of the discovery when they were all togather, and it proved warning sufficient from that day forward.
Chapter 27: Seventeenth Year
A few days after our new year had commenced came Gattaloon with 7 Indians more, all of them our old acquaintance. When we went to Salute them they all appeared Sad, seated themselves and remain’d silent for a few minutes. Then Gattaloon got up and held forth in a mournful strain a long discourse in Spanish to Mr. Bell, but I soon found it fraught with the melancholy news of Owagamys death. After he had done, seeing me so very dejected, he took me by the hand and said, “I am Owagamy now, and I will stand by friends as long as they or I live. Your friends shall be mine and I will be his, and my strength shall go forth against your haters.”
Mr. Bell became so enraptured with his speech that he clapped him on the Shoulders and cried, “Weel spaken, Hardicanute!” We informed them of Eva’s fate and as they were in no great flow of Spirits they soon left us which was in two days time, saying Owagamy had charged them to be friends to us and they were all determined so to be; that they were glad I had fell on ye scheem of passing for a Spaniard as it would take a great stone off their heads which they had carried on my account a long time, but that they had born it with willingness.
Owagamy had ever been a steadfast Friend from the first of our acquaintance and was a Man of great penetration and forecast according to what might be expected from an uncultivated Native. And I must own the news of his death truly efected me, knowing full well he had always been our Best Bower Anchor when ever storms arose; and he joyntly with our good friend Komaloot were ever ready and willing to stand our Pilots in conducting us to the safest harbours of calm repose so that we might remain intirely Landlocked from wind which might chance to blow. When ever either of our poor little Skifts chanced to touch on the quicksands of inquietude they made it their principal care to tow her off into a safe birth. And remembering all these good and generous offices they had performed in the course of our acquaintance, I desired Gattaloon to signifie on their return not to forget our unfeigned condolence to all friends.
