Mr Penrose, page 7
Up the side of the Creek I went for near a mile, saw thousands of Fish in it; here I found the trees hanging over the water in many places. It now became difficult for me to pass on that way; therfore I took more into the wood, keeping the creek still in view. Here I saw many lime trees full of fruit. These were most pleasing objects to my sight. I pluck’d one of them and cut it, and altho they are the most sharp acid the taste was most gratfull to me and exceeding refreshing. Now I found the creek to change its course. Therfore I began to suspect that I might loose my self as I could no longer see the Coast, so concluded to seat myself and take a short repast. Not far from this on a small rising ground I sat down and saw at its foot a small ripple of fresh water, with multitudes of Land crabbs about it. Down I seated myself and began to relieve hunger, amidst numbers of birds of various kinds some of which warbled most delightful.
In this place I observed a singular kind of bird call’d the Old Man from its having the feathers of its crop of such a length that when it perches it resembles the Grey beard of an ancient person. After this I arose and pondered whither to proceed or return, but at length curiosity gained the better and I went up a small height where it became very level and full of brush excep here and there. But I now fell upon a sight that really was uncouth enough. At a small distance grew Several Manchiniel Trees whose fruit is deadly poison to Man. The very juice of its leaves will raise terrible blisters so as to deprive a person of his sight.—Now from beneath those trees, to my no small amusement, I beheld armies of Land Crabs marching off on my coming, with each an Apple in his claw and many of them had two. The sight was truly drool, the more so as they carried them upright.
After this I walked on for the distance of 100 yards, keeping a good observation of the Sun. Here an odd appearance catched my sight. On a plain place stood a huge Rock stone almost upright, about the magnitude of a small Church tower and as I judged 40 feet in height and almost a square. When I came up to it I found many scratches on it made by some instrument or other, in the form of Ovals, Triangles, rude immitations of heads and the like. These I judged to be the work of Indians. As I walked round it I found many letters cut as with knives. These I judged to have been done by Spaniars and others, perhaps Pirates. Some few of them I took down afterwards for my own curiosity, and I shall give them a place here.—M + A. P + V. JL. E + S. L+O. V+M. R + C &ccc. I also observed four dates in different places added to names as thus, I + E 1589. Bat S.s 1605. A + A 1582, and Wm R 1673. In another place was to be seen the following characters, N.B. Those letters having crosses between them I attributed to the Spaniards. The others were the marks of Buckaneers or Pirates who had rambled over these parts in former times.
I now thought of returning home and arrived at my small cove where the boat lay towards Evening, then put away along shore for home and got in just in the dusk, well pleased with my cruise. I found all safe as I left it and was kindly recieved by my new Comrade who expressed great joy, raising his large Wings, Stretching forth his neck, making a soft and murmering noise, and rubbing his head and beak against my bare leggs.
The following night I had a very troublesome dream occasioned without doubt from my Excursion the day before. In my sleep I thought that I was then sitting by the aforesaid huge Stone I have mentioned, when all at once as from behind me I heard diverse voices approaching. Casting my eyes back I beheld several men advancing toward me. The uncouth garb they were dressed in caused me to jump directly. They came on and hail’d me thus: “Buenos dia, Signior.” These men had all of them whiskers and were in armour. Then an old man asked me if I had seen any thing of Manuel Guiterez that way. I answered that I had not seen any Mortal man since my first landing on this shore except three or four Indians. They then asked me how long and by what means I came there, to all of which I answered in good Spanish as I then thought. Upon this they all began upon me and said I was the King of Spain’s prisoner, and laying hands upon me said I must go with them to the Mines for a Slave.
This, as I suppose, gave my whole frame such a shock that I awoke, Hollowing in a most fearful way. It so frighted the poor Hawk that he flew into ye water and would most certainly have been drown’d had not the sight of its distress brought me to my senses again. I ran away to its relief, and then seated my self before the Cave, where while poor Yellowbill was endevouring to replace his plumage I fell into a deep revery as thinking perhaps this Vision might be veryfied on me one day or other, and perhaps that day not far off. Now I had good grounds for this fear, as I had learnt it to be the practice with the Spaniards in this part of the world upon English men who should be caught on their coast through misfortune; and most certain it is that many a poor Woman has lamented the loss of a husband, Son or Sweetheart as supposing them dead when perhaps they were at the same time in a far worse condition. I became so greatly troubled by these ruminations that it caused a fever which lasted three days. After this I got better again and threw it off as a mere dream. And now I determined in my mind sincierly to resign myself up to Gods disposal, concluding for the future to be as placid under all my sufferings as the nature of the thing would admit of.
Soon after this I went to my reckoning and found by the number of my shells that I had been here above one year and four months. I never omitted casting in a Shell every morning of my life directly after I had turned out, having some provided near for that End. And in this place I must observe one thing, as thus. I cannot be expected to give a just record of time and things at this distance, as then I was not posses’d of materials for the purpose; so that the reader must be content with circumstances as they come to my Remembrance.
After some time I came to the resolution of making a Voyage westward as I had nothing to hinder me spending my time in one round of Fishing, Eating, Drinking, and Sleep. So, fixing all in order at home with provision for Yellowbill, I put out on a fine morning expecting to return the next day. I kept along shore for the Space of two hours untill I began to explore new scenes, the land running here high, there low, indented with fine sandy bays. At length I opened a fine Lagoon. Into this place I put and proceeded up it for a good distance. Every thing appeared most inviting when, as I turned round a low rocky point, I was struck with the sight of several human Sculls as I then took them to be. They were white as snow. To shore I put and went up to them. I now judged my opinion right, and that they had belonged to a Gigantick race of people nigh this place. I saw there had been fire in time past by some remains of ashes and burnt ends of sticks. Now, thinks I, this proves beyond all doubt that this place is, or has been, frequented by a Wretched crew of Cannibals. I then took up two or three of the heads and put them in the Canoa, and determined to get out of that place as soon as possible. Away I went, needing no driver, and put along shore.
After this I spent so much time in viewing places that night came on and I put on shore. Not long after this the clouds began to gather thick all round, the ran came on with thunder and lightning. Here I haled up my boat high and dry. Here I walked up to get under shelter, but to little purpose. The flashes were so frequent and the Thunder so terrible that I thought one of the claps had seperated the whole mass of Nature. I was so stunned by it that I stood motionless for some time, and as soon as I could well recover myself I ran down and flang the Sculls out on the beach through a foolish and Idle Superstition. After this I marched about the shore untill day began to peep, when it all dispirsed and the sun arose fair and clear.
Now I had not a dry thread about me. My fire tackling and food was all afloat in the boat. There was no help for it and I fell to spreading out my dudds and baleing out the Canoa, and thus I remain’d untill the sun was about two hours high. Curiosity made me take up one of the Sculls, and as I turned it round in my hand I observed that it had no signes where the teeth should be. I then examined another and found it the same, when it came into my head that they could not be human but that they were the Sculls of Loggerhead Tortoises. After I was thus convinced I got into my boat and like a poor convicted fool paddled away homewards and arrived safe, but should have been miserably at a loss for fire had I not been master of spare tinder in ye Cave as all the other fire was totally out.
After this frolick I staid a long time at or near home and employ’d my thoughts as much to make my life easy as I possibly could. And, indeed, to make honest Confession, untill now I had never felt a gleem of that true contrition a Man in my condition ought to feel in his heart. But from this time I frequently called myself to account when my thoughts earned [yearned] for the onions and garlick of my native shore. After a time I so reasoned with my own heart that I became quite resigned and easy.
Shortly after this it came into my head why did I not Endevour to penetrate into the Woods nigher home. Now this put my wits to work how to accomplish that End. I had neither Ax or any other cutting instrument wherby I could expect to gain my point, and to venture the use of my knives would be a sort of cutting against my own interest. Nevertheless I took it upon me to put it in force but with the greatest oeconomy possible, and to this end looked out for the most convenient place to begin my incursion. I chose a place about half a mile west of my dwelling, and a few days after made a beginning. In the first place I cut me a large Pole, which took up some time as it was both hard and heavy. With this, after I had cut away with my knife, I beat down the bushes so as to get about twenty yards into ye Woods. At last I came athwart a huge yellow Snake and killed him with my pole. This animal measured as I judged full six feet, and ten inches round. This made me begin to grow a little timid and I began also to find I had given myself a large task and could not tell to what great end, so had a mind to decline it when a thought popt into my scull, that suppose I try fire. Accordingly, waiting a favourable wind least it should draw toward my dwelling, I went to the place one morning, and with a load of dry brush sat fire to it. It soon began to work with great force. N.B. I simply thought it would burn only the low bushes, but to my great surprise in the space of an hour Even large trees were on fire.
I retired down to the shore, and now I began seriously to repent of the deed as the fire became dreadful, such amazing crackings I heard at times that were wonderful. After this sort it burnt for the whole day, but when night came it was awful indeed. I slept not a winck that night, as a thought struck me—what if the wind should shift, it would then come directly toward my Cave perhaps. But toward morning it became quite a calm, yet the fire continued to burn more or less for seven or Eight days. At last a glutt of Rain came and subdued it; nevertheless, a huge smoke ascended for above a week longer.
In time when I thought the fire must needs be all out I took a march over a part of this desert of ashes. The scene was truly odd. Every here and there stood the trunk and limbs of a Cedar or Cotton tree, with other sorts I knew not. At last I came to a stump which gave me great vexation—it was of the true Plantain tree of which the Creoles use the fruit as a substitute for bread. Now how did I grieve that there was no getting at them but by their destruction, a means flatly against my interest, and answered only this end to inform me that they did grow in the neighbourhood.
I now began to turn my mind to making of fishing lines. This I was informed how to do by an old Negro on board of our Schooner, which to soak the leaves of the Corritoo or the Aloe and work it into fibrers. And I found it to answer my purpose well so that I never wanted on occasion after. And in this sort I spent the day by day, being seldom idle. Had it been otherwise I should have lead the life of a mope. But here let me note I had one kind of attendant who generally whetted my memory every two or three days, (Viz) a small insect called a Chigua which, getting into the feet, there nestle and breed. These must be got out with a needle or the point of a knife. But after I had gotten callous footed they seldom gave me much trouble.
Chapter 5: Third Year of My Residence
By my account I found I had exceeded two years by some few days, for I cared not to reckon too often as it generally gave me a melancholy fit after ward. About this time as I was on my walk Eastward I had the curiosity to taste of the Prickley Pear fruit, and Eate three of them. I was then going in quest of Guano’s. Now when I arrived on the spot nigh to where the Stone Tower stood I had a call of nature, when to my great terrour I saw my urine Red as Claret. The reader may judge my consternation before I recollected the true cause, as that it must proceed from eating those Pears. Yet I was not quite reconciled all that day, but on the morrow all my fears vanished as I did not find any ill consequences follow.
I shall observe that during the time of the wet seasons I stir’d little abroad excep to catch fish, and I could not dispence well without them. In all this long series of Solitude I never had the sight of one vessel moving on the face of the Ocean, nor did I open my lips to a fellow of my own form from the time I left the Long Key; yet I had learnt by this time not to repine at this my desolate scituation.
I shall remark in this place a circumstance which always happened whenever any light shower of rain fell, which was this. Immediately a noise as of multitudes of chicken began, nor could I with all my industry learn what it might proceed from altho it would be frequently close by me—unless it were done by the Lizzards, yet I have kept my Eye fixed on one of those animals without percieving any cause to proceed from them. N.B. This never happened but in the Woods. I could never learn the true cause as yet.1
I shall now give the reader an account how my houshold affairs Stood in regard to provision and the various methods I used at times. In the first place I never wanted the three grand articles, Fire, Water, and Fewel. Fish never fail’d—I had that kind of food in plenty and of great Variety Such as Groupars, Hinds, Porgies, Black and Red Snappers, Grunts, Rainbows, Parrot fish, Coneys, Gillambours, Doctor fish, Yellowtails, Pork fish, Marget fish, Cuckold fish, Schoolmasters, Tango, Squirril fish, Sucking fish, and Cray fish. As for Sharks and Barrowcooters [barracudas] I industriously avoided them least they should rob me of too many hooks, as I valued them above pearls. Yet at times I would run the venture with my lines made of Corritoo. I then went out into about three fathom water perhaps a mile distant by way of novelty. There I caught an Old wife, Hogfish or a Small Jew fish. Nevertheless a Shark would get the better of me at times and carry away a hook.
And here it may not be amiss to relate an odd adventure I had as I was at this amusement. The day was very still and flat calm. Now as I sat very composed at my line hanging over the side of the Canoa, all at once I heard the violent rushing as of a Cannonshott through the Air. Down I dropt into the boats bottom, and so lay for about a minute. But when I raised my head I saw a large Bird called a Man of War rising up from the surface of the water with the garbage of a fish I had lately caught in its tallons. I having caught a Groupar who gorged my hook, I had opened it to recover it and had thrown the gutts overboard, and it had drifted away to some distance. Altho this affair may seem trifling to many, yet to me—a poor lonely creture—it was truly alarming, being never disturbed with any noise louder than the cry of a poor bird.
As to fruit and vegetables I never touched those I was a stranger to. Sappodillo’s, Guavas, Limes, Mammees, cocoplumbs, Cassia fistula and Sea-Grapes, Colliloo &ccc I made use of as I found them. Flesh, except that of Guanos and a few birds out of nests, were what I seldom tasted. I found out a way to catch the Ground Doves, as thus. I took notice that after my great Fire in the wood numbers came thither to bask in the ashes. I took the hint and now and then made fires in bare places, among the ashes of which I laid snares and by this means caught many of them from time to time, which I roasted.
Now I well remember, as I happened to be after this game Chance brought me to the spot where lay a Young Faun about two or three days old. I was eagerly going to take it up in my arms to take it home when a thought came into my head, in what way I should feed it. This made me conclude to leave it where I found it, and thither I repair’d every day to scrape its feet. Thus it remained for three weeks or more. I then got some corritoo twine and belay’d it to a stump. The old one came always in the night to suckle it as I suppose, for I coud never get one sight of her in the day time. When it was about 5 weeks old I brought it home to my place, and there made it fast among the low trees hard by. It soon became the tamest of cretures, and if at times I cast it loose it still attended me. It was a female and I gave it the name of Miss Doe. It now fed any where round my dwelling and at last became so familiar that she followed as a Dog.
One day I took a notion to have a trial with her so made her fast, then got the boat round to the beach. I then returned and cast her loose. She followed me to the seaside. I then got into the boat and she jumpt in also, gazing round her wildly; but no sooner did I put off and she felt the motion than out she sprang in an instant to a good distance, and there fell to capering like a mad thing. After this I put along shore and she stood with her head erect gazing after me, but on my whistling she began to frisk it along the sands after me. Now as I could not coax her into the Canoa I put too and got out. She then ran to me, reared up her forefeet on my shoulders, and then fell to licking my face. And here I must needs observe that this was a scene of real pleasure to me, reflecting in my mind how the Divine Providence should thus throw in my path this poor inoffensive animal as an innocent amuser of my disconsolate hours. Some time after, she became so used to the boat that she would jump in the moment I took my seat, and went with me any where.
