Mr Penrose, page 40
I proposed my own bed for the Captain to sleep in for the night, and we all turned in about Eleven oclock. On the morrow I went off with the Captain to the Long Key and there renewed my discourse with my Old fellow Sailor, Tady Lort. He no sooner espied me than he gave me this reception: “Oh, the Devil from me! Are ye there, Welly? Sure and Ime glad to see you again with all hearts. I have been telling my shipmates all about you and where I know’d you first. Faith, and thats a long, long time since. This is the last turn and we shall soon abord, my Soul, and then we’el have a small drop of the Crater togather for ould acquaintance sake, honey.”
I thanked My old Shipmate and went on board with the Captain, And about half an hour after, the boat came along side With the Water. The Captain proposed to take his Leave of us that afternoon or Early the next day, when Tady came aft and making his leg to the Captain Asked me if I would not take a parting drop of Grog With him before I left the Schooner, altho he was But a poor foremast man; and perhaps I might have more money than he now, yet he hoped I would not forget Old times.
“Forget?” said I, “No. For the honour of Old Ireland If it shall prove the last Grog I shall ever drink of more I’le drink with thee, my Old Boy, altho I am not used to drink spirituos liquors.”
“Wel, Well, then, enough said. Shall I call you Capt. Penrose?” said he. “I suppose You trade in some craft or other by this time. Come, here is merry madness to all Misers, Mr. Penrose!” said he. I recieved the Calabash from his hand and drank to all True hearts and Sound bottoms. But while I was Drinking, “Ads flesh, man!” said he, “do you never send home to the ould Country atall? Give me a letter and I’le be Bound to deliver it at Surinam safe on board some Dutchman bound home, and that you may be as sure of as that the Devils in Ireland, I’le be Bale for that,” said he. I return’d him thanks and promised that if They did not sail before the next day I would send one off.
Just at these words a lad at Masthead cried, “Vela! Vela!” This I knew meant a Sail, and he pointed her to be in the offing with his hand. Directly orders Was given to hoist a Saint Andrews Jack or what our Seaman call a Ragged Staff. This was no sooner done than the word passed forward to run up the Anchor. On this I went aft to the Captain to take my leave. He told me it was a Sloop which Sail’d in company With them and he would stand out to joyn them as She was bound to Surinam with them but had parted company in thick weather about 7 days ago. I bid Owen Jump into our boat and had but just time to shake hands with C. Valdes when they filled and Stood out to sea, Lort waving his red cap and crying, “Long life to you, Welly, Long life, my Soul!”
We Waited among the Reefs striking fish for some time to observe their motions. At last we saw them Speak each other and both stand away South, when we return’d home to our place of abode. We lived on after the old sort without any thing new happening untill the year ran out, and by my own Account I had been here now full twenty three Years and better.
1. Campeche in Yucatán.
2. Semi-mythical Irish hero, the subject of Ossian’s poems. He was possibly a third-century warrior.
3. A fifty-gun ship named the Oxford was built in Bristol in 1674, and was twice rebuilt at Deptford and Portsmouth.
Chapter 37 : Twenty Fourth Year
Messmate Bell Observed to me on a day as he and I were out in the Bay togather Concerning my Son Owen, saying had I not remarked a sort of change in the behaviour of him of late? I answered that I had not, except that he grew more sedate, I thought, than before but that I supposed was owing to his time of life, being now grown almost a man. “What age may he be,” said Mr. Bell, “at this time?”
“About eighteen,” Said I, “or therabout. What causes this curiosity?” said I to him.
“Because I think, Messmate, the sooner you can Obtain him a Wife it may be the better for him As well as your self, and indeed the whole of us, For there is not a soul among us but truly regards him.”
“As to that matter, Messmate,” I replied, “you need Not doubt but that I could easily obtain a Wife for Owen among our friends, and they would be proud enough to provide him one or even give him the preferrence of any Indian Girl belonging to their whole tribe.”
On this Bell began to laugh and said, “I find you are Quite Ignorante of the whole matter, Mr. Penrose; for That your Son is in love already nothing was ever more Certain, to my sorrow.”
“To your Sorrow in love already? My friend, what mean you, for Gods sake?” cried I in a commotion. “Not with your wife, I hope!”
“No, no, no, Messmate. No, a far different Object, I can assure you, One fairer than she by many degrees. No, no, pray don’t Give your self the least uneasiness that Owen would Once attempt the Virtue of my dame. His Amours are of a more refined taste, I can assure you.”
“Upon my Soul, Bell, you stagger my understanding,” said I. “Come to the Point at once, friend.”
“Well, dont be startled, then. What Think you of the Virgin Mary?”
“Oh, pray, Bell, give over. You cannot be in ernest now, I am sure, or the Boy is of A certainty loosing his senses unless it be in a Spiritual Way; and, poor fellow, he has never recieved edification to work such eager love in his breast, I am sure.”
“No, No,” said Bell, “it is all Carnal, you need not doubt. But to put you out of pain, dont you remember what a Beautiful Picture of the Virgin and Child he saw on board of Captain Valdes vessel? Tis that has set his heart so on fire, as you may remember to have heard him speak frequently about it. And, indeed, you And I have been the innocent cause of All Owens sad malady by our extolling the beauty of our own fair Country women, and the frequent repetitions of their charms in the songs he has learnt. So that I Judge it a hard trial to bring his stomach to come to digest one of our Mahogany coloured beauties for Some length of time at least. But when he finds that You are acquainted with the affair he May be brought to some degree of reason and think More reasonably of the thing, as I am sure he can not think of Obtaining any object of that cast in this forlorn part of the World.”
When Bell had made an end, “Let me alone to find Out a method of cure,” said I. So the subject dropt for that time and we returned home with our game.
Some time after this on a day when Harry and Owen were Standing togather Bell observed that Owen was the tallest of the two. “Ay,” said Harry, “Owen big enough for a Wife now. But he wont never have one here among our trees and rocks.”
This made me laugh. “And pray where is She to come from, then?” said I. “And who made you so wise, Harry?”
“Oh, I Know,” said he, “if one ship would come here with some of the fine White and Red women of your country, he knows You would not begrudge to give some of the Gold and silver We have yonder hid in the hole for one of them to be a Wife for him, for I know he loves them quite madly.”
“What say you, Owen?” said I to him. “Are you so mad to Desire a thing cannot be obtain’d ? Pray, cannot one Of our friends Daughters serve your turn as a Wife as they have done for Mr. Bell and your Father before you?” But they were not so White and Red, he said, Nor would I or Bell have had any like his Mother had we had our own choice in our own country. “You silly Blockhead, where did you gather all these Whims?” I said. “How can you be such a fool to fall in Love with what your Eyes never saw?”
He replied, did He not se the mark of one of my Sort of Women on Board of the Captains Vessel? I answered, true, that Was the mark of one who was much finer that [than] many Thousands; but could he think one of our country Women would ever condecend to marry such a black Fellow as he was?
“Why, then,” said he, “did you and Mr. Norman marry black people yourselves?” I said the reason was plain—we knew that where we were No other Wives could be had, and therfore we were Content to have such as God ordain’d for us, and that It became him best to think after ye same way, and not to aim to touch the clouds with his fingers, Notwithstanding they lower so much at this time.—For the Sky was at the time overcast very much and it threatened to come up thick and dirty from the South East. This was about five in the Evening when it began to freshen Up smartly so that it soon banished all matrimonial thoughts out of our minds, And we began to collect all our light gear And stow it away the best we could.
About the shutting in of night the Rain came on attended With such tremendous Lightnings and Thunder that the Like we never had heard in our lives. Add to this, Job the Boy about Eleven years of age had got little Somer with him dow the lagoon in the Canoa, and what to think or Do in that case none could tell, as it blew so strong none Could keep their legs by this time. Yet Harry would insist, as he saw what a taking my Wife was in, to endevour to go to seek them; but while we were all in this distress The poor boy Job came in with the child safe and sound to our great surprize. I asked him how far off they had Been. Not far, he said, but that on their return he could not keep the Canoa clear of the Mangroves so that He and Little Somer were forced to take the water And Swim to the landing, a task fit for few except Indians. The Storm continued the best part of the Night.
About five in the morning I turned out to se what devastation had happened and soon had the sad scene of desolation open to my view. As for our Kitchen, that was flat to the ground, I mean all the weightiest parts; for as to the thatch and lighter Materials, they were all blown as far as the clift would suffer them. Not a Goat, Dog or Fowl was to be seen. I then took a Shell and gave a blast. This brought forth All our family one by one, and I was well pleased to find all well. Bell observed had it been in a cold Climate in all probability most of us had died, as the Rain penetrated but through every place Except my Cavern. We soon found several of our Poultry dead and the poor old Mackaw also.
In a few days after, old Quamino shewed signs that he would not continue long among us, and on A Morning Harry came in to me and inform’d that the old man was departed in ye night, and that he went off quite easy without groaning in the least. The truth is he certainly died of Old Age unless the last Tempest had hastened him rather sooner, as perhaps it Was the case, for he wanted no kind of indulgence or care While he live among us. However, he lived long enough to be at least convinced that all White men were not of the like turn of thinking as to the poor Africans.
After Quaminos funeral was over, which we conducted after Our usual mode, we began to fall on repairing with all the Expedition possible as to what was most needful; but Harry, Owen and Rory did the chief of the business. And after all things were tollerably reinstated again Messmate proposed to take a trip out to Explore the coast, for we had not been Abroad above six weeks. According, we got all ready and Stood out for our Grouper Ground which was about two or three miles from the mouth of the lagoon. Now it happened as I was sitting with the glass in my Hand I discried away to the North a Wreck as I judged. I gave the Glass into Bells hand to look and he was Of the opinion also, but it was so far to northward that We could but just make it. We continued at our killick fishing for about two hours and then returned home, Intending to send the lads thither on the morrow.
It was not untill the third day that Owen, Job and Rory sat off on the discovery, well provided with All nesesaries for the trip. And as Owen was to be skipper I gave him strict charge that if it did prove a wreck and any people were saved, In that Case to inform them that they might have all the Assistance from us lay in our power, let them be of what nation soever, if he could but understand them; and if not, to bring us notice forthwith how matters lay. With this charge, off they went and we saw them full well out, from the hill.
On the third day in the morning they returned And Owen gave the following account of the Voyage. He reported that it had been a Vessel of three masts But that the Main one was gone down low, as he termed it, but that she lay a great way out on a sunken reef And was very low down in the water, quite in the sand; But that there was nothing to be found except some of the sails cloth and an Oar which was stuck up on end On the Shore right abreast of her with a Bottle made fast to it which they had got with them, But that They saw no people either dead or alive, only a Vast Smoak at a great distance along Shore more to the Northward. I sent down for the Bottle and when It was brought up Mr. Bell undertook to examine Its contents. When he had gotten out the stopper there Was within it a small note to this effect in Spanish : “The Polaccre1 Isabella shipwreck’d on this coast August 29 anno 1769. Andreas Lopez Capitain. Nine drowned and seven including the Captain left this coast in their boat on the 31st for the North.” So that she was lost in that dismal night I have mentioned above, but if She had guns or fired any We could not know as the wind was so strong and she Also too far away for us to hear.
In a short time after, Bell and Owen with Rory Paid a fresh visit to her and brought home with them all the Sail cloth that was left, and It came In a good time as we wanted Sails for our boats Very much, but, God wat! not at the expense of any poor unfortunate people whatever. Some of her Rigging also they got, which was of good use to us. Bell says she appear’d to him to have been a good stout Vessel almost new, as he conjectured by some of her things, Especially her blocks, burthened about 200 tons. A Saint was painted on her Stern in a white dress.
We had nothing of moment from this time Untill about 5 months after when the Indians came On a Visit, or rather deputed to enquire how matters Went among us. We were not a little surprized to find out how they learnt the way as they were all 5 Strangers and had never been here before. But Rory inform’d us that they had travelled by the Ttrees and the Sun as he interpreted it, and by sleeps. Harry well remember’d two of them and told me Their names were Atory and Manabo. I desired to be informed from them how it came that they had Neglected us so long a time. They gave for answer that their Old men thought it not proper to send so soon after the great sickness had been among them, least we being fresh, it should break out anew among Us; and that they were bid to tell us that now we Were grown men in our place and had all we wanted, We could the better live without them than in the Days of our first coming hither.
I then bid Harry to inform them that I should be glad they would think Mr. Bell and Myself their friends In every respect equal with all those who had been here before them. They then observed they had been Informed I had a custom to mark down the names Of all my good friends on stones but that I had not Done so for them. Upon this Harry went and got Four stones and gave them to me, then he gave me the name of each Indian one by one, as first Atory, Manabo, Rabaito and Pannee; and when they Were all inscribed they were placed among the rest.
After this ceremony we entertain’d them after our old fashion. They tarried with us a whole Week and in a Very friendly manner invited Harry and Owen to go Home with them on their return. But Owen declined the going, saying he had been there once before and that he had much rather go to Jamaica I [if] he could but Ever get the chance. N.B. This he spake in English And I was glad it so happened; otherwise their backs had Certainly been up on account of his disdainful Speech, but they parted in good friendship with us all. And when they were gone I concluded to have a Serious conversation with Master Owen, for now I Began to think on the matter in a more serious light. But after what way to treat it I was as yet A Stranger, therfore determined in my mind to hold A conferrance with Messmate Bell as to the point In hand—that to obtain the booby a White Wife as We were scituated was next to impossible and then what White Girl could be procured so indelicate as for to contaminate with an Indian? And even this could not be obtain’d but by sending him off with the Next Spaniard should by chance touch here, which When that might happen God only knew. And then Again, should he make any such proposals to any Spanish Girl he must first be baptized a Catholick And that would never go down with me.
Some time after, Mr. Bell and I being abroad in the Woods, he observed to me that he took notice I was not so cheerful as usual. I told him Owen Gave me much uneasyness on account of the strange humours he gave himself of late. In regard to that, he knew was quite out of my power or any one else as we were scituated, he knew. “Oh, let the whole be to me and I shall take a course with him that shall succeed, I’le warrant you.”
“You will do me A very kind deed, my good friend,” I answered, “if you Succeed, for truly I am too proud to let him se how much concern it gives me. Yet I love him as becomes a Father, but not to madness, my dear friend. Perhaps were he where White Women are to be got at, What money I could give him might induce Some giddy Girl to think him fair enough for A time. But such connexions are of short duration.”
After this I heard no more of the matter for Some months, and Owen seem’d to appear rather More sprightly than he used to be. But it chanced to Come about on the carpit among the women one Day when Bells wife said she hoped soon to se Owen, now He was come back from Jamaica, Married to one Of her own sort of Woman. “How so?” said I.
“Oh, ask my Man and he will tell you all about it,” said she. I Was now quite impatient to have a talk with Bell And asked my Girl what she knew of the matter, but She said she knew no more than that Mr. Bell had Quite cured Owen of White Red women, as she Understood it, And if I asked Owen, to be sure he Would confess the matter. But I rather chose to have It from Bell the first convenient opportunity.
Soon after, Messmate and I being down a stocking togather, I asked him how the affair between him And Owen went on. “Oh, Swimmingly,” said he. “He is as Much off now as on before. You remember the time Owen and I made a match after the Flamingoes? Twas then when I had him alone with me from All the rest. I began with observing that ‘Harry said you wished much to be in Jamaica, for there you Could soon obtain a White Red Girl for a Wife,’ but that he was much mistaken in that point. ‘As how?’ he said. I told him the Women in Jamaica were all White, Yellow, or as Black as old Quamino was; that it was in England where we came from these Charming White Red Girls lived. But there was One great secret I could tell him which, when he knew, he would not be so mad after my country Women. That raised his curiosity at once and he Desired to know. ‘Well, then, Owen,’ said I, it is a thing you would never pass by, I am sure. It is this —Should any Girl be so mad as to marry you, a Black Man, the other Girls would poison her soon out of Madness that she should disgrace herself so much Because it is what the White Women never do at all, And perhaps poison you after if they could but once Get the opportunity.’ Upon my saying these last words He hung down his head with his face to the ground and said not one word for the space of two or three Minutes, when breaking silence as from a trance, ‘My own colour for me,’ said he, ‘Master Bell. There Is enough of them would have me for love of my dear Father and Mother. I shall try to love one of them And make my self as easy as I can. I need not to go Out on the great Water to look for a Wife to get Poisoned, for then I should certainly kill the one Who did it, and I should not like to do such things.’ ‘O ho, my lad,’ said I, ‘they would hang you for that Up to a Tree and leave your flesh for the Eagles to Devour.’”
