Mr Penrose, page 31
One Evening Owen came in to me as I was reading and said Mr. Bell desired I would come out to see the great Rainbow. “A Rainbow in the night, boy?” said I, as it might then be 10 oclock. But as I knew somthing more than common was to be seen I went out, and in the North East was a large dense cloud with a perfect Bow of a large magnitude in colour like to Skim milk, much more distinct than any I ever saw given by the suns orb. Norman said he had seen one before, but it was a novelty to me as in all my travels I had not seen the like, but Harry was not so great a stranger to the like.
About this time our fishermen brought in two fish of a kind I have not yet discribed. One of them is called by some Seamen ye Ballahoo if I am not mistaken. It is a fish long, round and slim shaped much like to the Garr fish, but differs much in all but the body, the upper fly of the tail being short and the under 4 times the length; but few fins, and in regard to its mouth very singular as the under jaw or mandible projects to ten times the length of the upper, terminating in a very sharp point so that it is impossible it should seize prey as other fish do. But nature has given it such an address that when Hying on the Surface of the water and percieving its object it instantly darts as an arrow from a bow, piercing its prey with the lower bill, then sinking to the bottom where it remains darting of it untill it becomes no longer able to escape when it takes it in at its pleasure. And this is to be seen if in shoal water.
The other sort is a Fish constructed much like a Flying Fish but grown to the size of an ordinary Mullet. It is curiously marked with blew, green, yellow, brown and red. The Wings or fins are much longer than the whole body, tail and all, and almost transparent. When these wings are extended they spread broader than a mans hand and are beautifully variegated with many colours.
I shall now give the Reader some account of the vast variety of Lizzards we see frequently and Seldom. The most frequent and common are those call’d the Lion Lizzard. They are most numerous abroad in the heat of the day, exceeding swift of foot altho they seem to go much on the belly. This belly is chequered much like our common English Green snake but its back is striped horizontally from head to tail with delicate broad Stripes of a brown and yellow colour resembling velvet. The male is very vicious after the female, and much larger. I have seen them above a foot in length. Their conjunction is Lateral; and it is to be observed that in their courtship when the Male first espies the Female he protrudes a large bag from beneath his throat, puffing it out as full of wind & drawing it back at pleasure, so that when he is not thus employed nothing of that bag is perceptible. This is common to the Guano and all the Lizzard tribes.
Galliwasp—this is another species frequenting the Woods and lurk much in holes in ye Ground, in colour dark grey and black. They bite Sharply as the Indians say, but not poisonous as reported in the Islands of ye Westindies by the Negros. They are of the largest kind of Lizzards and if persued take to their holes, but smoke soon dislodges them. They are also very indolent, remaining long in one place.
Sattin Lizzard—these are of a Solitary disposition. You seldom find more than one in a place and that always in the shade under a rock or in the chinks and cleft of Rocks, where they lurk day and night. I have known them to remain in one place for three days and nights without once changing their position. They are striped black, brown, white and grey, and shine like sattin as they move. But it had one quality differing from all the other kinds which is, it has the power to make its body so flat that it can at pleasure adapt itself to any chink it chuses to lurk in.
I have mentioned that sort called the Wood Slave already, but it is beyond my power to discribe the whole genera of them. Some are Yellow, others black, brown, red, speckled &cc. Some come forth most in the heat and dryest time; on the contrary some kinds are seldom to be seen but after rains, and so forth. They in general live on insects and have the tongue forked as the snake.
Now it happened after the family had retired that my Betty being awake shook me, and when I answered her she told me that some one or other of them was sick, saying she heard a very sad moaning. I soon heard it my Self and got up, call’d Harry, and finding him well sent him to learn who was out of order. But on Enquiry all were well; yet every now and then we heard sad and deep groans. The dogs were call’d but they were all well enough, and what to think we could not tell. Somtimes it ceased and then began again, now strong, then weaker, and thus it went on untill fair dawn. None went to sleep the whole night but the younger sort.
Now Bell started this notion, that some strange Indians had perhaps discovered us and it might be a scheem to decoy us among the Woods, as the sound seem’d to come from a part beyond the place where we found the money and plate. “Po, po!” said I. “They have been long enough in finding us out then, and this is a poor method for them, indeed, as should they have any disposition to annoy us they could do it in a more manly way if they were so disposed.”
“What if it should be the departed Spirit of the Victim they left as guard over the treasure?” said Harry.
This made us smile and I said joakingly, “By my troth, then, he has been very remiss or on some long journey thus to begin his hones1 after so great a length of time.” But the women were sure some Indian or other person must be there very bad or dying, saying perhaps it might be one of our friends either much hurted as he was on his way to our place. This carrying some weight with it, I Told Bell that he and Harry might arm themselves and take along the dogs to find out the cause.
“Come,” said Harry. They then loaded their Guns, took Mascheets and away they went boldly. In about 20 minutes they returned.
“What news?” cried I. “Have you found it out?”
“Found it out?” said he with a very serious countenance. “Ay, ay, and if you had been with us you would have found it out also.”
“Make me acquainted at once,” said I, “let the thing be how it will, for I must be satisfied.”
“It is one of the Natives of a most Gigantick size,” said he, “and dying as I take it, but not of our friends as I never saw him come hither in their company. Nor do I think him of ye tribe as he differs greatly in colour from our friends. He has not the least sense we could percieve, but groans heavily.” All this time our Harry kept aloof. The Girls were all gathered round the Story and standing there with open mouths. As for my part I saw Bell begin to look seriously on the ground after he had given his account.
I began to form strange notions in my brain, saying, “He is not dead yet—I hear him groan still.”
On this Bell burst into a monstrous laughter and holding his head up cried, “I am to windward of You now, my good Messmate.” Then came up Harry to help him, and after they had laughed their fill Bell said, “Come, come, what do you think it may be?”
“You have the game to your own selves,” said I.
“Well, to clar off all farther conjectures It is yon great Cotton Tree which the lightning split. There is a broken limb fell thwart another and as the wind dies or freshens it rubs more or less with a groaning noise. But when one is near it the sound is above the tone of any dying person.”
After Messmate Norman had play’d off this fit of the horrour so well with us all, I came to a determination for my Visit to see my good friends to the Southward, and for the journey I got Bell to make us a knapsack each to carry our roasted yams &cc in. Harry was to stand Pilot, and the company were to be Harry, Owen and my self with the dog Rover. When the time came for our departure I told Mr. Bell that I gave the whole charge into his hands, Saying that I rested satisfied with his conduct in our abscence to be kind to my Wife and all the rest. Then calling all togather I charged them that they gave good heed to my friends advice in every respect. And as it was a thing Incumbent on me and what I could not in fair play be off, as they had been such a number of times to visit us, I took a Sailors leave of my Wife and the rest, leaving them all in tears abruptly, and away we went. Owen wept out for his part. The novelty of the thing gave him spirits enough.
I need not to mention a discription of our road as that has been done, but we arrived all three in safety; but as I and the Child were never used to go such vast lengths our feet became much blistered. Now as we drew nigh to their residence, which was about 5 in ye Evening, Tired to death having been six days on the trampoose—sleeping on the bare Ground every night with a large fire round us, living scantly as we got no more than 4 Parrots and one Pidgeon the whole journey; but Harry shott a duck in a pond and as he could not come at it he wanted to send the Dog in for it—this I absolutely refused least he might be devoured by ye Alligators.
When we had got thus far I made my Child sit down by me and sent Harry into the town before me to find how the land lay, and inform them of our being arrived. In a short time we heard a confused noise of many people advancing toward us; and soon after we percieved a throng of men, Women and Children coming up with little bells, callabashes and immitations of German flutes making a most confused noise, with Gattaloon, Harry and several other faces I well knew. We then arose and Gattaloon took me by the hand with a generous smile on his face and gave me a most kind welcom. Such a pleasing aspect was to be seen in all their faces mixed with a kind of admiration that I never beheld the like before, and It raised my spirits much after my fatigue.
Owen stuck close by me all the way we went into theyr ranges of houses or Wigwams and stared about him as one astonished, being the first time the poor Soul had made his appearance in publick, as I may say, for the whole universe was to him one scene of wonder. As we advanced more people made their appearance. I had rigged my Owen out in such sort that he looked like a young Cupid with his sheaf of Arrows at his back and Bow over his arm. We were lead into one of their places of dwelling And at the Enterance were met by Zulawana and others. There sat on a mat a very ancient Woman to whom Zulawana lead up my Child, and she took great pains to examine him, being dim sighted. She then placed her left hand on his shoulder and muttered some few words, which I desired might be interpreted to me and it was to this Effect: “Let not an Arrow hit him, let not fire burn him, a tree fall on him or the waters choak him. All you strong men preserve him from the hot spirit of those who would kill him while he remains in the days of tenderness.”
Now Harry observed to me that she was one of their good cunning Women and had told many Strang things; and that an Indian had told him they expected us that Moon, she having foretold it to them for some days.
The young Indians gathered round Owen and by gentle usage coaxed him out, when they got bows and began to dastardise2 him with feats of activity. Owen having Harry his Uncle at his side, took courage and shewed them some of his skill. Some of the children would gently touch him and look on their own fingers after it, as thinking his colour might rub off as he was lighter coloured than themselves, yet he looked much more the Indian than an Europian.
1. Complaints, objections.
2. Daze, impress.
Chapter 28
Now after I had been among them two days Gattaloon say’d he was mighty glad I had turned Spaniard, as there was at that time an Old Spanish Soldier come among them and intended to come and see me in about two hours, being then abscent with two of their people; but that he and his friends had taken care to spread the report that I was a Spaniard. This put me to my trumps, so that I became under the necessity of acting my part the best way I could. Accordingly he came and saluted me in the Spanish way. I returned the civillity and a conversation commenced When I gave him my whole history—that I was a native of Barcelona but had when a boy entered into the service of an English Gentleman who was at that time in Venice, with him went to England, &cc. That In the course of time I lost much of my Mother tongue, and after a multitude of changes became a Servant to a Gentleman bound to England from Jamaica and was taken, carried into Havannah, put prisoner on board of a Spanish Man of War. That after many other turns of fortune I became lost in a Canoa on this shore where I had resided many years, part of which time quite alone.
He seemed amazed at what I related and said he found I could not speak Spanish fluently but that I looked like a Biscain or Biscayan very much. He then asked my name and I told him it was Louis Penalosa. Now as we were talking I happened to mention the passage which happened from the Ships top when I was a Prisoner. On this the Old Man gave a Start and said he well remembered that affair, being then a Marine onboard that Ship. I then Enquired his name and he said Pablo Nunez, but as that class of Men did not associate much with us I could not recollect him at first. He mentioned to me concerning a man whose Name was Nick Jones, that he had been placed Centry over him while in the stocks for drunkeness—calling him Nico Yone—and that he was a drunken mad English dog.
Now as we were thus talking, I happening to call my Owen in English, when the child came too us Nunez took him by the hand and said, “Good boy, hablar Englse? Me hablar Englese tambien. What is yournama, boy?” Owen answered. I then interrogated the Old Man where he learnt English, when he told me that he had been taken by the English in the reign of Queen Ann, said he was prisoner in a castle there by Portsmouth. That he on being released went to Sr. John Norris’s fleet, was up the Baltic with him on board a Ship call’d the Boyn,1 and remembered Peter the Great when on board the fleet, and recited some few things concerning him—as on the Queens birth day he refused to drink her health with the Admiral out of Silver pint can but ordered a pipe of Wine on the quarterdeck, then calling for an ax knocked in the head, took a Mess Can and dipt it into it, then lifting the can to his head drank such a quantity that Norris could not venture to do the like. Also that to please him the Admiral ordered a Sham Engagement and that Peter took up a shott in his hand desiring the Admiral would make use of some of those, as such a game was but childrens play without them; that the Admiral replied he must beg to be excused as he could not make so free with his mistress’s Subjects.
In a day or two the Old Man became greatly taken with me, saying, “Brother Englese, I have no Wife or children. Neither have I any provision from the Crown now I am become Old and no longer of Service. I have been from the Old country above 30 years, and should I return to Burgos where I was born none would know me there at this day. Without Plata I have been a fool in my time and have now nothing left but rags and grey hairs.” Then giving a heavy sigh said he was grown weary of time, having been put off so many times for a passage home, where when he arrived the poor portion allowed was not worth going for, in a manner; that he had for some time followed the profession of a Barber and maker of Segares untill he had rambled hither, thinking that he would end his days after the simple mode of the Indians as he had now no more care for this world, saying he need not seek after friend or kindred knowing he had none in all the country.
The Old Man delivered himself in such plain, honest terms that I at once said to him, “Padre Nunez, know ye how to keep a faithful friend when you have found him?”
He turned his Eyes toward me and said, “Where, child, shall such grey hairs as mine find interest in falshood at this day? I am now almost 70 years of age.”
“Could you be content to reside with me at my place,” said I, “and fare as we do?”
“Peace and quiet, Signior,” said he, “with a little morsel in friendship is the utmost of my ambition. I will go with you if you will bury me in love.”
“Sware, then, only this,” Said I, “that you will never betray the confidence I shall put in you as a faithful friend, and then return with us to our habitation with all my heart.”
He then took me by the hand and swore by the Bd. Vn. [Blessed Virgin] to be true and faithful to me and mine, in presence of all my friends. As soon as they understood it they all gave a great shout, and thus he became Elected one of our society.
After this was settled I became uneasy to be gone, and mentioned it to my old friends who were by no means against it as they knew my reasons. I then agreed with Gaynosunto to Make me two stout Canoas for which I promised them 50 dollars, and he engaged to get them made and bring them round to us in about 3 Moons. And observing Hides among them I proposed they should Bring us such, with Cotton cloath and matts to be paid for by me, to wch. they agreed. After all was settled I proposed that I chose to return by Sea as Old Nunez could not travel well so far by land. This they all agreed to, and accordingly every thing was got ready. We left then In 4 canoas after I had been among them about a fortnight, and our Company consisted of Gattaloon as commander, Zulawana and 7 other Indians with our selves.
We took the favour of a Southwester and stood away large after we got clear of their creek. This lasted us the whole day. We then put in shore and landed on a beach. The Indians soon made up a shelter of bushes and we composed ourselves for that night. Erly at the peep of day we were off again; but the wind fell so that they took to their paddles; sometimes they stood, at other times they paddled on their knees. We went at least 7 knots an hour. In the Evening we put in to a low head land full of trees, but as the moon arose soon after, we remain’d there but just to Eat and then put out again. I now found they acted with great caution, speaking with a low voice; and thus we proceeded untill about 12 oclock, then put in again, took a Small Nap in our Canoas, and about 5 they got a fair wind again.
I now found Zulawana begant to grow a little uneasy, frequently spurring on the Indians when ever the wind fell. Upon this I wanted to know the cause. They spake in their own tongue so that I understood but little now and then. At last they informed me that as the Moon was then going to turn sides, (Viz), change, there might come on a strong wind from the North and bring rain also, saying if so we must be forced to put in and perhaps remain there some days. This was dull news, but as We were not Master or Pilots I said nothing. This evening Zulawana told me that we should see the Long Key by my place the next morning if they only went to Sleep a few hours. This we concluded on and to put out about 5 again.
