Mr Penrose, page 41
“Well, say no more, good Norman. I dont Want to talk any more upon the matter, and I find he is quite Gone off his old humour, by Harry’s account.”
About this time, I think it was, we had a shock of an Earthquake which lasted full half a minute and about Midnight. It was attended with a noise like that of a cart Shooting rubbish; and my Wife complain’d of a sickness at her Stomach caused by it. What was very remarkable, All the Ducks, Geese and fowls began to make a great Noise in their different ways, but on a new alarm of a much greater kind they all became silent. And at that time came in Messmate Bell and Owen; they call’d to us to know how it went with us. I got Up and asked them what had happened, when they Said they knew not unless the old dead Ceder tree had fallen down by the Shock of the Earthquake, And on going to the place they found it so. It had fallen thwart our way up the Hill or lookout and Broke down another which stood opposite of a less size. This kept us all awake for the rest of the night; and On the morrow the lads fell too on cutting away All its branches to clear the road up the hill and to chop It in sunder for a pass.
While they were about this work Bell and I went on the look, but such swarms of Butterflys Of a new sort were to be seen all though the woods that it was Surprizing to behold. These flies were not large; they were of A Pale Red, and disappear’d in less than a Week so that not A flie was to be seen. Our Indians said it proved there Would be great heat for the time was coming. This was as I think about March.
While we were thinking one day on Various circumstances of our lives and how lonely we dwelt Sequstered from the society of Eurpeans, out of the knowledge Of all trade and what the busy world were about, our Young Boys came down out of breath from the Hill and told us that all the Sea was full of Great Fish fighting. This took the curiosity of the whole family, and soon the whole of us were on the Hill. We found it as the Boys reported. We saw a number of Grampuss’s2 sporting and throwing Up water to a great height; and while we were viewing them Messmate Started a notion that suppose we should go out And try to catch one of them, It would yield us a fine large Parcell of Oil for our burning. I could not help laughing At the proposal, asking him how he would proceed on his Whimsical project.
“Have we not got a good length of stuff,” Said he, “from the Polacre wreck will serve us for line? And you know we have a good harpoon. What say you, Harry, Are you for a trial?”
“If Brother is willing,” said he, So Nothing would appeace them but out they would go, and Owen one of the formost to be sure. But here I chose to interfere and said he should not go, But that Rory Might go with them, but that Owen should absolutely Remain at home with me. To work they all three Went and got ready soon and were off in less than an Hour. I cannot say but I thought it one of the most Presumptive undertakings Bell ever took in hand, but His will was for it and the Lads were full as willing for the sport as he for the proffit. But little did I imagine what dire effects the curst undertaking Would work in the end. Oh, what may not man prevent Would he give himself five minutes cool reflection. But Bell was an older man than myself and as I thought needed not my precaution. How short Sighted are the young and heedless! Owen became quite Chapfallen on being denied going, and retired to his hutt.
Mean time I kept a constant look out after them and Saw the boat at length out beyond the Bay in full pursuit after them. By this time it was become evening And I kept my station untill I could see no longer, nor could I for my life devise what was become of them. I came then down from the hill, concluding they had given them Chase round the Long Key to the Southward.
When night had closed in I gave order that none should Go to sleep but make up a large fire and watch for their return. Owen said I need not fear, they would be Back in the morning. “Well, Get me my Pipe,” I said, “and We will sit here untill Sleep sends us to bed for I am By no means that way disposed at present.” I sat musing And smoaking untill fair day light, then with fresh ardour Mounted the hill with Owen by my side but could not see the least sign of any Canoa, nor was there a fish left on the Coast. What to think or imagine we knew not, but that somthing extraordinary had happened I greatly dreaded.
About nine oclock Job came running down and said he saw two People with the Glass from the hill. Up I ran and Owen after me, when out on the Long Key I saw two of them Plain enough but no boat. We waited with impatience to se them put off, but after two hours longer patience we had the grief to see them both sit down as no way concern’d at all. I then left the Children on the hill to keep a Good lookout. While I was standing with the Women about me, little Somer camd down, and told us the men were both Gone into the Sea to swim over to the other side the bay. I claspt my two hands togather and followed the child Up the hill, and by the help of the Glass plainly saw them swim for the opposite shore.
On this I bad Owen to run down and get the other Canoa ready and off He and I went with all speed, leaving the whole Family roaring and bellowing. We paddled away as fast as we could lay hands to the paddles, and in about two hours landed opposite the place they swam for. There we waited with eager desires untill they landed. I seated myself on the Beach and in a melancholy Mood looked on them as they drew towards the shore; but As to describe the condition of my poor heart at that time Is beyond my power. When they got ground I sent Owen Down to meet them for I could not go myself, being certain that somthing of a sad consiquence had fallen out.
They soon joyned me and with all the tokens of unfeigned Grief the two poor naked Indians related their dismal Story, while I sat looking at the earth with my Head On my knees and arms claspt round my legs, Owen with his Arms claspt togather round his neck which was a Custom with him when any thing extraordinary happened and was relating. This is what they declared to us as the true circumstances of their misfortunes.
That when they got out and about halfe a mile from the end of the Long Key A large Fish came bogueing3 Athwart them and Harry got the dart in order to Strike him but Mr. Bell insisted that he would have the Dart and staff out of his hands, and that he gave it Up to him as he knew I would have it so. That then Mr. Bell advanced forward and sent the dart right Into the fish nigh the tail. The fish on that flew to the Southward with great speed and they were forced to heave out all the rope they had, with a large piece of Wood fastened to the other end. They told me that they never saw Norman in such high spirits before, And that they followed the fish to about a miles distance where they saw him rise again. They came up with the log of wood and haled in several fathoms of it, intending to cut it off least the fish should carry it all away with him out of their reach again; and while they were doing this Mr. Norman said to Harry, “We will get as much of it as we can while he is So still.”
He had no sooner spake when the fish gave a Sudden commotion and with one Stroke of his tail he Struck athawart the Canoa such a violent sweep that They were all beat in to the sea. That for his part it was Some time before he could draw his breath so as to have Power to look round him. He soon discovered Rorys head at About a boats length from him, but that they could not Find Mr. Bell, altho he could swim so well, so that they were certain the fish must have killed him with his tail When the Canoa was split. For that she was split from one end to the Other, and one of the ends quite through so that she was of no more use to them, on which they were obliged to swim for the Key back again.
“Say no more,” cried I, “you have told enough already. When you are Rested take me back again home. I have heard enough this day to last me months.” Soon after this we all four put away home In silence, not a soul speaking untill we got to our landing. We were soon surrounded by the whole family, and on my requesting Owen and Harry that they would not trouble me untill I sent for them a general howl began. I walked up to my cave with arms folded and there threw myself at my length on my bed.
Soon after this my wife came in to me weeping, and as I refused to Speak she began after the following manner with pushing me: “Penoly, dont you be mad sorry. You cant break great Canoas Like great Fishes. You wont go away from me and the children Like Norman did because you know you cant kill them very Well, or else you would have let Owen go with them. I did love Norman, Penoly, indeed, but not so much as you do, because he was foolish mad to take away himself from his Wife to Go catch what he could not catch, because it was to strong for all Men. The Great fish has eat him up now down his belly for it. You must not kill me and the Children because he would go, for You know I did not send him. So, then, get up and Eate fish With me, and we will love you as long as we have days.”
“Full well do I know,” Said I to her, “that the Man was well Esteem’d among them all, and I loved him as a Brother. Can I then refrain from paying due respects to his memory? After I have subdued my grief a little I will Eate with thee. Untill I give liberty then to be visited I pray keep them all away, as I have some thoughts In my mind which Must be composed before I shall again be myself.” Upon that She arose and left me to my cogitations to go and Condole with Janet, as I supposed.
And I fell into a Serious rumination. What, thought I, have I to say or think that these things are not as they are permitted by the Great Author of nature, and for causes I know not or wherfore. Shall I then pine thus because my friend has been removed from me quick, as I may say, and before I had even reflected that such a time would Surely happen to us, as it does to all friends after one way or other. I need not launch out in his praise. He was lent to me For a few years. I loved him, it was return’d, he is call’d as my Dear Somer was, and I am left. But why I am spared or for how long is a profound secret, as it is to What end. Let me be resigned, then. For wherever I am scituated on this Glob of Earth is equal to Him who created me; and Sure am I if I live according to the divine ordinances He will enable me to bear up against all sudden alarms and Casualties, let them come when they will….
1. Polacre: a three-masted vessel found chiefly in the Mediterranean area.
2. Grampus: a small but fierce cetacean, also called killer whale.
3. To bogue, or to bog: to sink, submerge, or entangle.
Chapter 38: Twenty Fifth Year
It is now several months since my Sinecer friend died, from which time I have not put pen to paper untill now, being May of my Twenty fifth year, having rather Indulged my melancholy humour to much and finding Nothing worthy recording, the time passing on in a sort of Sameness day by day. But I shall remark that Bell’s Wife has determined never to have another husband any more while She lives, as she says, and indeed she seems to Be resolved theron as my Wife thinks, too.
My Son Owen has been gone with Harry on a Visit Among our Indian neighbours above two months On the great business of Getting him a Wife, for his Passion for European Women has subsided a considerable time past. So that I am at this present time of writing In a scituation almost as forlorn as I was twenty years ago as to my own colour.
I must not forget to Observe that Rory the other day found a Young Faun in the back Woods and brought it home to my wife. She insists on rearing of it altho I am not much for it. Yet we have seen no Tigers now for years. Nor do I think they frequent our Quarter, altho our Woods are grown almost as ample as ever. But it May be the constant fires and frequent chopping in the Wood may have caused them to abandon these parts. And indeed their abscence is the best company, As we have Goats breeding among us frequently.
Chapter 39: Twenty Sixth Year
August 20. My Son Has been now returned about a month and has brought With him a Young Indian Girl, By name Bashada. She is the Grandaughter of Old Komaloot and not above fifteen Years of Age, altho so tall that she measures at least above Five feet four inches; so that if he could not obtain one of the fair Ladies of his Fathers country he has made it up In length of person as to one of his own sort. But she seems to be of an agreeable temper and Person, so that I am at Ease on that score—were it not for the misery I undergo As to the agony of my limbs, being so much tormented at times that Sleep is a stranger to my nights. Nor can I but Seldom hold a pen or any other light thing in my hand, such A tremor attends me almost constantly. Yet I can Strike Fish or do other laborious work as easy as heretofore. And what adds to my sorrow is that I fear I shall soon be past the power of writing unless my disease should abate, Which I little expect from the nature of disorder which Is Fish Poison; and I am sufficiently confirmed in it As none tasted of it except my Girl America and myself, She being touched with the like simptoms but being young May outgrow it. As for my Part, I can take but little joy or comfort nowadays, but if my disorder continues to gain Ground my days cannot be many more either here or any Where else in this World….
October 30. It is impossible for me to carry on my poor Account any farther, being entirely helpless of my right hand And almost of my other, So that what may be wrote from this Date must be carried on by my Son as I shall direct him, Or otherwise by My Brother Harry as they have both learnt to Write tollerably enough. I find my memory much impair’d Also at times by my disorder, yet my Girl America seems to Have but small simptoms of the poison left about her. How many Times have I feasted on Red Snappers before, quite clear Of all danger. But Death has his Agents planted in every place Both by Sea and Land, and when the Grand Summons comes We must be gone, sooner or later as the Lord wills it. Therfore Let me be content. Let me be dumb and patiently bear my pain, As I know that I shall be as surely relieved as that I began first to Exist. There must be a last time for every Mortal Man….
[The Journal Continued by Owen]
My Dear Father has been so bad in all his joints for above Six months that we have been forced to feed him like a Child. But he is now getting better fast, for the pains begin to leave him. This came about by the good help of some of our friends Who have been here of late as they know many kinds of Roots good for several disorders. But my father has lost much of The feeling in his limbs and cannot speak plain enough At times for us to understand his meaning….
Chapter 40: Twenty Seventh Year
July 21. I had a Son Born and we carried him into the Cave to my Father And Mother. My Father would have the Child in his lap And asked me What name we intended for it. I said he Should call it what he liked best, but that I should like To have him named Lewellin if he pleased. “Call him so,” Said he, “Son, but yet I think one is enough of the Name Unless more fortunate in regard to his passage through this Vale of Tears.”
About the middle of September as My Uncle and I were Out in the Bay fishing Two Ships hove in sight in the East Quarter. But as my Father was now become quite past all his Curiosity or care for such things we let them pass to the Southward without stirring from our business or giving our selves Any concern about them, but only told him of them when we Got home. “I dont think, Owen,” said he, “that I shall ever See another Sail with my Eyes Unless it should happen that I may be carried up to the Hill by some of you should another Appear before I die. And, Indeed, Owen,” said he, “I cannot think the day of my death very far off if any stress may be put on Dreams.
“I Dreamed that I was become a very ancient man And that I lived alone at the Old Plantation, and as I was Walking along the strand by the Whale Point I thought I saw two Men going on before me. At last they stopped As tho they halted untill I came up, which I did soon After, and to my surprize found them to be my two Old Companions Somer and Bell. I thought they Were overjoyed at my joyning them and told me there Was a Ship waiting for them at Boom Bay bound For Europe, and that if she did not Sail that day they Would make interest with the Captain to give me My Passage—on which they were gone from me in an Instant and I was left alone. It awoke me.”
About three Weeks after On a Morning early came young Somer and call’d me to come with him for that he was Sent by my Father to fetch me, and his own Father directly Would die if I did not make haste to come. I soon judged what My Brother would be at and ran directly thither, where was Harry my Uncle and most of the rest got before me, which Grieved me, fearing he would think I neglected him. But He turned his Eye on me and said, “Owen, come by my side,” Which I did and sat down by him on the right. He then call’d to Uncle Harry and he came and seated himself on the left. “Now,” said he, “give me your hands and I have a few words to Say to you both.”
He then began: “Remember what I am Going to deliver to you. Love that Woman at my feet now on her knees, my Children, and yourselves. I shall not See another Sun arise. Lay me by Your Mother Luta. Preserve my Journal and with care deliver it into the Hands of the first European or White Man shall chance to touch on the Coast; and pray, and pay him to deliver It safe if possible among my Country men.”
