CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY BEQUEST OF STEWART HENRY BURNHAM 1943 Cornell University Library arV14699 Adventures by sea and land : 3 1924 031 432 093 olin,anx The original of tliis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924031432093 Adventures By Sea and Land, SHIPWRECKS, TRAVELS AND ADVENTURES !N FOREIGN LANDS. BY T. S. ARTHUR. NEW YORK : THE F. M. LUPTON PUBLISHING COMPANY, Nos. 72-76 Walker Street. & tfi cf^i s. Thb Islaitd 07 Cbtlos, .......5 FmB AT Sba, ..-..-.- 58 Thb Deskbt, ..-------81 Shipwreck asi» S^tartatiox, - _ . . - 125 Thb Little African's Asyentdkss. - - - 147 An Adventure in the Time of thb Circassian War, 171 The Tschutski, ..-_-.., i^l The Fair of Nishni Novogoboo^ .... 196 (m) PERILS OF THE WILDERNESS Jo flje l^\^h of 6el)Ioo. **The very thing!" exclaimed my old friend Templjn, as he suddenly burst in upon me, — ^'*read there ! There's good news!" TTia good news consisted in nothing more nor less than that the superintendent at Colombo, the capital of the Dutch possessions in the Island of Ceylon, was about to return to Europe, and would endeavor to secure the lucrative post he was going to quit to my honest friend Templyn. Like mjrself, Templyn found himself on account of the unhappy war with England, which had brought us both to the East Indies, in not very brilliant circimistances ; we Kved comfortably however upon our small estates which adjoined each other, on the northern coast of the Island Templyn, a man somewhat advanced in years, but still animated with the fire of youth, in the bosom of a numerous family, and I, in my best years, with a young wife whom I had married only a few months before. Templyn knew the untamable passion for travel, Trhich, from my childhood, had involved me in all sorts of adven- tures and had early led me fcom. home to the far east, and (5) 6 The Island of Ceylon. he appeared to have reckoned upon my weak side to accomplish his ^lan. But this time I hoped to resist the temptation, and after congratulating him heartily upon hia smiling prospects, advised him to lose not a moment but seize the first opportunity and set sail for Colombo. " As if I were such a fool," he replied with a sly smile, " and run into the hands of the English who are cruising all round the Island ! No. I am going by land, and in your company. Upon that I have reckoned." My ruling passion began to bestir itself, but I endea- vored to excuse myself, declaring that such a journey oflfered no excitement; the way from our residence to Colombo — a hundred leagues and more, through a poor, exhausted country, would not pay the expense of a palan- quin. "And besides," I added, "what is to become of my young wife ? How could I answer it to myself, if I were to leave her without comfort and protection ?" "Who wishes you to do so?" said Templyn eagerly. " Tour sweetheart shall live, eat, drink, and sleep with my dear old lady until we come back. I have no idea of dawdling along the old beaten way by the coast. Who wants to joggle along on other men's shoulders ! No, my dear fellow, on foot ! — on foot," he repeated with a loud voice and a confident slap on my shoulder; " please God, on our own legs, and right across, high up in the country through the tremendous forests of Ceylon, just as you have always wished. We will get two or three of the natives to join us, take some fellows with us well laden with provis- ions and travelling tackle, be well armed with guns The Island of Cetlok. , Bwords, and pistils, and well see whether hunger oi wild beasts will attack such fellows as we." At this picture the ashes were all blown away from my smouldering passion for travelling. All at once it burst into fiill flame, and my assent flew over my lips. The preparations for the adventurous undertaking Templyn's impatience would not suffer to be delayed. They were commenced the next day. They did not escape my loving wife who, however, regarded the whole thing at first as a somewhat extravagant jest, or as a whim which she would have little difficulty in laughing us out of Such was her impression, until somewhat embarrassed and not without the confusion of conscious guilt, I very gravely assured her that my word was given and that it was too late to draw back. Many ebullitions of love and anger I had to endure, but when she found that I was not to be changed, her dissatisfaction was turned into anxiety. She let nothing be wanting in the way of good counsel, and contented herself at last with making me promise to provide myself-with a pair of boots, in order that I might not be exposed to the bite of venomous reptiles. In my neighbor's house also many a lively scene was enacted. Frau Templyn, in addition to the reproaches she poured upon her good man, had yet something else to lay in the scale in his age which little comported with such a mad adventure, the consequence of which might be so disas- trous to his large family. But the old man was a tough piece, who said little, and asserted his authority. The worthy woman saw the uselessness of resistance, swallowed down her objections, and with my wife, comforted herself 8 The Isjuand of Cetloit with the prospect of the quiet time they would have together in our absence. Still more difficult than the reconciling of our wives to our adventure, was the attempt to procure companions for the journey. But here fortune favored us. Templyn found an old soldier, originally from Strasburg, who had wandered to Ceylon as a journeyman baker and cook, an honest chap of inexhaustible good humor, incomparable in making faces, at the same time a burly fellow in size and of unquestionable courage. He had only two faults, which indeed rendered him of doubtful value as a travel- ling companion ; he was deaf as a post, and such a deter- mined friend of all kinds of strong drink, that to be more or less drunk was the order of the day with him. We had no choice, however, and all things considered, he was about as valuable to us as our other companion, a French- man of the name of d'Allemand, a man of excessive politeness but of no great valor, who, having important papers to cany to Colombo, did not dare to attempt the journey alone, and so attached himself to us. Our arms corresponded to our wants, and were such as vrould serve to procure us game for food, and protect us from the wild beasts upon which we expected to stumble at every step. For the latter purpose we had to make pe- culiar preparations against the wild elephants who reigned supreme in the forests, and who not rarely assaulted remote settlements in immense troops, trampling down the tilled fields, and destroying human life. As our hunting arms would harldly suffice, and we could not hope to overpower fcnes« animals, should they take it into their heads to The Island of Getlon. S attack us, our point was to scare them off; accordinglj we provided ourselves with a hundred rockets, and a copper alarm kettle. To protect ourselves against the men, who are oftentimes no less dangerous than the wild heasts, I procured from the government a passport, in the native language, written on a pahn leaf, directing all wh«:ra it concerned to provide me Jacob Hafiier, Clerk of the Dutch East India Company, and my companions with all needed assistance. This kind of official protection is indispensably necessary in a country where the oppressed natives hate their oppressor, and where every European, who claims their hospitality, finds himself poorly off without such a pass. All our preparations finished, after a moderate mid-day meal, we took farewell of our wives not without tears. We men bore ourselves stoutly — ^father Templyn scolded a little ; a sobbing good-bye sounded after us, and so we broke away with our company, sixteen in all. Almost the whole population of the place turned out to witness the commencement of such an unheard of enterprise. To speak the truth, we four Europeans looked very much like so many highway robbers starting upon an expedition for plunder. Three of us were armed with cutiasses, a brace of pistols in our belts, cartridge boxes, and rifles over our shoulders ; the deaf baker wore a huge sabre, which clat- tered behind him as he marched. II. In order to cut off a good piece of the way to the Dutcb £brt, Panoryn, whence we were to start on foot, we crossed 10 The Island op Ceylon. an arm of the sea ; the voyage was short, but not withoutv an adventure, for just as the baker was taking a drink of rum to our health and a good journey', a flying fish shot by so close to his nose that in pure fright he let the glass fall to the ground. And his fright was not without reason, for the creature, pursued by his enemies, darted out of the water as if he had been shot from a bow, and his pike- shaped mouth-piece, which was so hard and pointed, like the biU of a bird, that it entered an inch or two into the ship's flanks, was not a very pleasant thing to come in contact with. On the third day we reached the fort, and found a right hearty welcome from the commandant of the same ; but all his well meant efibrts to turn us from our purpose were fruitless. As, however, we were approaching the scene of danger, we lost no time in putting our arms in order. Immediately after dinner we shook hands with our friendly host, and turned towards the thick forest which lay spread out like a carpet within half a mile of us. A majestic, awe-inspiring sight ! especially as imagination suggested what a host of blood-thirsty, ravenous wild beasts, with strength far exceeding that of man, were hidden behind the curtain. A dim twilight received us as we entered the skirt of the wood between the huge trees, which wove over oui heads a dome of branches, variegated ' by flowers, and blossoms, and accessible to no ray of the sun. At every step, as we entered farther into the forest, the trees mse larger and closer, and were so thickly woven together with underwood and running vines, that sometimes we were The Island of Ceylon. 1L nnable to proceed a dozen steps without cutting our way, axe in hand. It grew every moment more diflBcult, and we were heartily glad when one of our attendants, an elephant-hunter, who acted as our guide, at last found a narrow foot pajih, which we instantly followed. I found myself by accident at the head of the march ; the Frenchman, with whom I had fallen ioto livelj- chat, trotted after me, when suddenly a monstrous bear shot out of a bush right before my feet, and stood apparently in doubt whether he should attack me or make off. For my part I did not see him until he was so near to me that T tumbled over his broad back, and we both rolled on the ground. The Frenchman was more fortunate, and had time to retreat a few steps. I instantly tried to rise, either to flee or to defend myself; but before I could get upon my feet the monster stood growling over ue, with open mouth and raised claws, prepared to at tuck me. The frightfid sight struck me motionless with fear, and I gave myself up for lost, for, at the slightest movement on my part, the outstretched claw would have descended on my head; I closed my eyes, and commended mj'^ soul ta God. At this critical moment I heard something whizz over me, and at the same time a shot was heard, at which the startled animal left me, and with a horrible cry darted away through the opening whence he had made his appear- ance. Thus was I, contrary to all hope, rescued from death, and indeed in a double form, for I was not in more peril from the uplifted claw of the bear than from the pistol ball spnt by the trembling hand of the excited d'Allemand, and yet I owed it to this bad shot that I wa» 12 The Island of Cetlon. not torn to piieces, before one of the company, who were some distance behind, could render me any help. While these, as much astonished as rejoiced, congratu- lated me upon having escaped the rough embrace of the ehaggy fellow, our baker was doing his, best, with his drawn sabre, to find the impudent beast that be believed to be still in the neighborhood; but not succeeding, on account of the thorns in penetrating the thick and tangled underwood, he would fain show us what he considered an infallible means of putting the wildest and fiercest animals to instant flight. He seized his hat between his teeth, crawled on all fours, and, with all sorts of shouts and cries, made such comical leaps that we were ready to burst with laughing. His nonsense at least helped to restore our composure. Besides, this adventure sharpened our wits, and we perceived the necessity of redoubled caution in pursuing our narrow and crooked path, where we could see so little distance ahead. For had an elephant or any other wild animal rushed on us, we should have had no chance either for defence or escape. We sent on our kettle drummer, with some of our armed attendants, a few steps , before us, so that we could not easily be taken by surprise. We proceeded somewhat more orderly; the day was beginning to decline, and the thickness of the forest increased the darkness ; the cries of wild beasts began to be heard, and the spot which our guide proposed for our night camp was still distant. We lighted the torches which we had procured at Panoryn, and which, being of a very resinous wood, rivalled the best wax tapers. The Thk Island of Ceylon. 13 bright flashes of our torches, connected with the far sounding noise of our kettle drum, disturbed the feathered inhabitants of the woods, who, startled by the light, flew about as if intoxicated, while the monkeys, likewise dis- turbed in their sleep, signified their displeasure by ear- piercing cries, and by pelting us with leaves and fruits. At last, about nine o'clock, we reached, heartily tired, our first resting-place — a lonely, ruinous straw hut, in the thickest of the forest; but as we knew that several kinds of poisonous serpents were wont to take up their abode in such old moulding straw, we preferred to encamp round a good fire out of doors, where we prepared our supper, and, after setting a guard, laid ourselves down to rest. Our order of the day remained the same during cur whole journey. As soon as daylight appeared we broke up our camp, in order that, while we were fresh, we might accompUsh a good piece of the way. It was indescribably agreeable, travelling through those forests in the early jnoming — life every where, every where in motion. Apes, with their young in their arms, leaped with odd antics firom bough to bough ; birds of the most brilliant plumage flew in every direction. From millions of throats gushed song or cry. Parrots chattered, and beetles and insects buzzed monotonously in our ears. We exhaled the most rgfireshing air, impregnated with fragrant flowers and plants, which pushed themselves up amidst the bushes. About noon, as soon as we could find a spot where it was somewhat lighter, and the ground was dry, and water near, we made halt and spread out our mats, whicb served for chairs, tables, and beds. Our attendants took turn in 14 The Island of CETLoif. collecting dry wood to light a fire, while others attended to the cooking; the idle slept, sang, smoked, or chattered. As soon as dinner was ready we seated ourselves cross- legged in groups, and each one placed before him a large leaf from the tree that yielded us shade, and received upon it his portion of steak and rice. Gay jests and laughter seasoned the meal, and the baker acted excel- lently his part of a jovial fellow. Our hunger appeased, we threw aside our green dinner plates, and the cooking utensils were washed and packed up again. An hour we devoted to a most welcome siesta, but as soon as our guards shouted their " ready," all were again in motion, the baggage was strapped up, and we took up our line of march. We were much more careful in our selection of a resting place for the night, and carefully avoided the neighbour- hood of any water, as we knew that all savage animals, before commencing their nightly search for prey, betake themselves to such places, either to quench their thirst or to bathe. For the sake of quiet sleep we were obliged, as well as we could, to avoid the proximity of these dwellers of the forest, and chose a spot free from underbrush, and commanding a wide view of the surrounding country. Then our people were obliged to procure a large supply of wood, as well for the great fire around which we were to encamp, as for the smaller ones in the circle, which were a great protection to us. One of us, with a pair of cocked pistols, or the baker with his huge sabre, accom- panied them as a guard. Our evening meal was prepared and partaken of with far less noise and bustle than our TuE Island of CETU)i(. 16 dinners had been, either in consequence of our increased fatiga«i, or of a kind of timid anxiety, a discomfort of mind, if I may call it so, always induced by darkness and i^loneliness. Each edged himself closer to his neighbor, and was vovy careful to go no farther from the fire than was necessary' ; even oiu- eyes avoided any long or sharp Investigation of the surrounding darkness, for however charming these forests may appear illuminated by the clear light of day, they .are unspeakably fearful to the traveller when veiled under the thick mantle of night. No longer, as in the morning, do a thousand flute-like songs awake the slumbering echoes, but a death-like still- ness broods over a wasted desert, broken only by the fidghtful tuwhoo of the night owl, the short bark of the jackal, the growl of a tiger, or the trumpeting of an (elephant, breaking through the thicket, and then suddenly every thing relapses into the former stillness, as of the grave. III. One evening the whole party, after a long day's march, quite wearied out, arrived at our place of encampment, and as the^ervants were especially fatigued with carrying our heavy baggage, d'Allemand and I undertook the first watch and from time to time replenished the fire that was burning in our midst. About midnight we perceived a shaking and quaking of the earth as if a squadron of cavalry were dashing upon us. We immediately aroused our whole company except the baker, whom we allowed to snore on quietly, as he had as usual taken too much drink, 16 The Island op Ceylon. and might perhaps, in such a confused state of mind, have committed some folly which would have ruined us all. Scarcely had friend Templyn, upon whose cool courage I placed the greatest reliance, rubbed the sleep from hia eyes, when we heard just behind us, from the crashing thicket, a clear piercing cry, and turning our frightened gaze in that direction, we saw the monster from whose throat it had proceeded, illuminated by the light of our fire — a huge elephant, who was glaring directly at us, and who whirled his trunk aloft in such a threatening manner, and so quickly, that we seemed to hear the whirring of a great spinning-wheel. We were just about to greet our unwelcome guest with a few bullets, when one of the servants, who had all hastily climbed the nearest treej besought us to desist, as the terrible creature would, if our balls did not happen to strike it just in the spot where a wound would be mortal, trample us all under his feet in his mad fury. If we took this advice we were entirely without means of defence, for unfortunately our torches and rockets lay so near the dreadftil creature that any one attempting to seize them would meet with certain death. In this extremity we thought of our gongs, and instantly sounded them, with, as it proved, the very best success, for no sooner did the sound reach his ear than the monstei uttered a yell so loud and so terrible that the boldest heart quaked for fear. At the same time, in his fierce rage, he tore up with his trunk a young tree that stood near him by the roots, bent it up together, and crushed it under his feet like a cabbage-stalk. After thus moderately giving vent to his anger, he turned towards u,s again and anpeare^y The Island of Ceylon. 17 to be meditating a like destruction of our baggage. Invol- untarily we pressed forward to the rescue of our treasures, and uttered a loud piercing shout which was echoed back by our people in the tree, who now gave us up for lost. And as our gongs were aU the while going like mad, our disagreeable guest found it so intolerable that, shaking his ears in a waggish manner to express his disapprobation of orur concert, he at last fairly turned round and made off. His retreat soon changed into such a hasty flight that in a few minutes he was out of the reach of the balls that we sent after him. So ended, happily enough, an adventure which had well- nigh put an end to our expedition ; at which we were all abundantly rejoiced, not merely because we had escaped with only a good fright, but also because in this first real danger we had discovered and learnt well how far we might depend upon our servants in such a time of need ; we immediately divided among them our torches and rockets that we might have something at hand to serve for weapons, for we had often heard, and can now testify, that nothing frightens even the most savage animals, so certainly as fire. Afl I had always been accustomed in any urgent situa- tion to rely upon myself I kept myself always prepared to meet the enemy at any moment, and earnestly warned our servants every evening to be upon their guard, and never during their watch allow themselves to be overcome by deep. But words are always easier than deeds, and on the following night I was unconsciously nodding when the two ervants wlio were watching with me, roused me with the 2 18 The Island of Ceylon. cry of " master, a tiger !" Wide awake in a moment, I looked around, and they pointed me to two spar kling little balls that gleamed upon us from the thicket not far from our outermost watch-fire. There was no doubt that they were the eyes of a tiger who only awaited a favourable opportunity to seize and carry off some one of us. Father Templyn, our ever ready protector, was awakened, and we agreed to aim at the same time for the spot just between the two points of light. We shot and immediately heard a struggling and writhing as of some creature in the death struggle, which grew less and less distinct, and then oea,sed. In the meantime the noise of our rifles had roused the rest of our party, and as I really could keep awake no longer, the baker undertook to watch in my stead for the rest of the night. But at break of day we were again aroused by a joyful shout from him. He informed us that we had been fortunate enough to kill a Royal tiger of the largest size, and our servants were already engaged in skin- ning him. We found that both balls had taken effect, and had shattered his skull ; as then we had each an equal claim to the beautifully spotted hide, we drew lots for it, and fortune favored me. As soon as our people had finished their task of skinning the tiger, we again started on our way. We were now quite near to the mountains which cross the island, and as the path in the plain swarmed so with ants that we every moment simk deep into their nests and progress was most difiicult, we determined to ascend the mountains for a little distance in hopes of finding a better path and satisfying our curiosity as to the surround- The Island Of Ceylon. 19 ing country. This plan d'AUemand did not reUsh at all and he did his best to dissuade us from adopting it ; yet, had it not been for a sad accident which we shortly met with, and which frustrated our purpose, he would hardly have succeeded in altering our fixed determi- nation. We had already turned our steps in the direction deci- ded upon, when in passing by a thinly-clothed tree we observed a mass of honey — a bee hive so immense that it awakened in us a strong desire to possess it; but the bough from which it hung was so high as to preclude the possibility of smoking out the bees according to the usual custom. We were just turning from it when one of our servants offered to climl) the tree and chop off the bough with an axe, so that we could easily overcome our little enemies. We accepted his offer and promised him a double share of the sweet booty for his daring. The poor fellow climbed the tree and reached the heavily-laden bough in safety ; it already quivered with the first stroke of his axe, but he was prevented from giving another by the bees, who rushed raging in thick swarms fi"om their cells, and so cruelly attacked his naked body that he uttered a loud cry, and closing his eyes, turned to come down ; unfortunately, in his descent he made a mis-step, fell and broke his leg. This misfortune drew a cross through our reckoning — a continuation of our former plan was not to be thought of, as we could not possibly leave the sufferer to the mercy of fate, or rather to certain des- truction. Nothing was left for us but to place him upon a litter of boughs, hastily woven together, and seek the 20 The Island of Ceylon. nearest inhabited place, which our guide assured as we eouid reach the same day. If this untimely event made us sullen and silent, the Frenchman provoked us still more by his ill-timed and extravagant merriment. He made no attempt to conceal his delight at the stupidity of the man, which had brou^rht us to our senses, and destroyed our nonsensical plan. He blessed the bees, and vowed he would write a song in praise of their brave defence of their property. We could not listen to him without vexation, but we did not think it worth while to point out to him his want of courtesy and good feeling. Fate, however, revenged us upon him. In the joy of his heart he attempted to spring over the trunk of an old decayed tree that was lying directly in his path ; with one leap he was on the other side, but sank up to his shoulders in the soft mud, which only a thin treach- erous bark, as it were, covered. His sudden disappearance caused a loud shout of joy, which continued until, not without trouble, we had drawn him from his prison. As soon as he had brushed from his clothes all marks of the accident, we begged him for a song in praise of decayed trees, which he refused with great politeness and vivacity. He was really fortunate to have escaped so well, for these old trees often are hiding places for a peculiar tind of venomous snake, or for poisonous spiders of an enormous size. • Late in the evening we reached Vedative, quite a large village, situated in the midst of a wide open plain, where we saw human faces for the first time since our departure from Panoryn. The Island of Ceylon. 21 Our first care was to entrust our patient to the best of the many potters inhabiting the surrounding countiy, who often combine with their trade quite a degree of skill in setting broken bones. IV. We now followed the low monotonous sea beach for several days, until we arrived at the river Calnar, where we again, to escape the heat of the sun, and the increasing tedium of the journey, steered our course inland. The river, that we chose for our night encampment, was quite dry, and only here and there were to be\seen hollows in its bed, filled with water and surrounded by thick bushes. Father Templyn, the insatiate hunter, proposed to me to conceal ourselves for one night in the vicinity of one of these basins of water, that we might have a glimpse of the monsters who came hither to quench their thirst. I had email desire to do so, as the low brush afibrded no protec- tion against the savage creatures, and there was great danger of treading upon snakes and other poisonous rep- tiles. But I allowed myself to be persuaded, and concealed myself in a bush, while Templyn and the Frenchman took up an advantageous position in another, at a little distance. We waited long in vain, and were thinking with regret of our camp, when the roaring of some wild animal was heard, and we presently saw thre6 bufialoes approach the stream. They satisfied their thirst, and then waded fay into the water and laid themselves down, so that only 22 The Island of Ceylon. fcheir snouts were visible above the surface. They had remained thus, in this comfortable position, quite still and tmmovable for about fifteen minutes, when a fourth buf- falo appeared, and, after he had snuffed the air for a few moments, began to drink. The others, indeed, raised their heads above the water at his approack, but did not seem inclined to hinder him from drinking. No sooner, how- ever, did he prepare to lie down in the water, than one of the three others raised himself up, and with the most fearful snortings rushed upon him. The heavens were perfectly free from clouds, and the moon revealed dis- tinctly every thing around, so that, in the excitement of 4his sight, I did not regret the loss of my sleep in the camp. It is perfectly impossible to describe the power and fierceness with which these enraged creatures attacked one another. Before each onslaught they retired a little epace, pawed the sand, threw it high in the air, and then with a snort that actually seemed to be accompanied by sparks of fire, like an arrow from a bow, they rushed upon one another, each time with so much force as to drive their opponent staggering back again. Sometimes they would stand apart for a breathing space, like statues, until, . their heads bent down to the ground, they renewed the fight. Each time, however, that they retired they lessened the distance between them — blow followed blow with a dull crashing sound that echoed far and near, up and down the thickly wooded banks of the river. Fortune decided in favor of the defender of the bath, who gave the disturber of his rest such a decisive butt in the side that the latter, deeming it imprudent to await a second, left the The Island of Cetlon. 23 field of battle, and hastened towards the forest. Hif valiant conqueror did not think it worth while to follow him, but contented himself with a deafening roar of tri umph, and returned to his companions in the water. Spite of my enjoyment of this fearful duello, I had not- beheld it without a secret shudder; judge then of my terror when a ball, whistling past me, immediately aroused all three buffaloes. They immediately arose with a loud roar, and two of them rushed towards the place M'hence the flash of the musket had proceeded, while the third directed his furious course directly towards the bush in which I lay concealed. In a terror which no words can describe, I betook myself to flight, but flight deprived me of my usual presence of mind. I had only proceeded a few steps when I lost my hat, and my long hair became inextricably entangled in the thorny bushes around me. I heard the bellowing of the dreadful beast not very far firom me, and in despair I made one final effort to extricate myself, which almost prostrated me upon the ground, and left nearly one half of my curls behind me. I had now some hope of reaching our camp, which was about a hun- dred steps distant, but I felt, as one often does in a dream, that my legs were paralyzed by fear, and an in^^sible power seemed to detain me immovably on the spot. My destroyer was now so near that I could feel his hot breath, but sufficient strength remained for me, fortunately, to throw myself directly in his path, and the fearful creature plunged, in his headlong career, directly over and past me. I had given myself up for lost, and well I might do so, for the hind hoof of the buffalo left its impression in the 24 The Island op (Jetlon. earth only a hand's breadth from my head, and I was covered with the sand which it had tossed up over me. I now, recovered sufficient presence of mind to creep upon my hands and knees into the nearest thicket, and there, chattering and trembling with fear, conceal myself. How long I remained there I do not know; my full conscious- ness returned for the first time when I heard the voices of my compa,nions and of our servants, who had come, armed with torches, to seek for me. I cried out to them and they released me with some difficulty from my hiding place, wondering how I had contrived to force myself so far into the thorny thicket. All this mischief had been caused by Templyn's eager desire for the chase at all hazards, and spite of his excusing himself by the assurance that his piece went off by accident, and of my warm friend- ship for him, I could not forbear expressing my displeasure at his folly which had so nearly cost me my life, especially as I had accompanied him this night only upon the express condition that no large animals should be attacked. In consequence of this adventure I suffered the next day from headache and fever, and could not continue the jour- ney; accordingly we remained during the following. night at our dangerous encampment by the side of the river, but were all upon our guard. From time to time we heard a strange rustling which inreased towards morning. A splashing in the pools and a suppressed grunting led us to believe that wild boars were wallowing in the swampy bed of the river. In spite of the darkness which followed the moon's setting and which prevented us from distinguishing anything beyond our watch-fires, we directed our rifles The Islakd op Cetlon. 25 towards the spot whence the sound proceeded end fired. It immediately seemed to us that the creature left the water and hurried to the thicket. After all was quiet again we heard a breathing and grunting as of some creature that might have been wounded by us ; we awaited with impatience the break of day, and with the first dawn instituted a search. As the animal had long been quiet, our search was for some time fruitless, and we had already determined to lose no more time about it, when Templyn's servant discovered behind a large bush a wild boar stretched out without any signs of life, and we immediately declared him to be our property. I, with the baker, was nearest at hand when the discovery was made, and my companion instantly prepared to cut off the tail to present to the Frenchman, whom none could endure since his unfeeling conduct. He seized hold of the tail, laughing, and was just about to apply the knife, when the creature, which had lain, to all appearance dead, rose upon his fore feet with a horrible grunt. The expression on the face of the amateur surgeon at this moment was a rich study. Pale as death, he stood with open mouth, immovable, and gasped for breath. I, myself, was startled, and seized my rifle. But as we both soon perceived that the animal tried in vain to rise, and then sank back again, I was relieved, while the baker grew so angry that, full of rage, he at last buried his huge sabre in the creature and quieted it forever. His ridiculous wrath furnished material for many a joke against him for sometime afterwards. After many other insignificant adventures, we at last am- ved happily at the end of our journey, where we met many 26 The Island of Ceylon. friends and acquaintances whose kindness made our stay among them, a continued festival. Every day they drove us about in the country near the city, and every evening we were invited either to a wed- ding, ball, or assembly. I was in excellent spirits, for I had attained the object of my journey, the satisfaction of my curiosity, but friend Templyn was quite cast down, for he found that his hopes had deceived him, and the profita* ble oflSce that he had come to seek, had been given away before our arrival. It fared still worse with the French- man, fo)c instead of receiving a cordial reception from the government, which he had supposed that the important papers that he carried with him would ensure him, he was arrested and imprisoned as an English spy. To the baker fell the best lot of all, for he married the rich widow at whose house he lodged, and gave himself up to domestic life. During my stay in Colombo I became acquainted with a Portuguese who had travelled much as a merchant, soldier, pilgrim, and what-not, and who fascinated me by his agreeable and instructive conversation. He informed me one day that he was determined to undertake a journey to the mountains in the middle of the island, as soon as he could find a companion upon whom he could rely, and who could bear the hardships of such an excursion. He thought me " the very man whom he had been looking for," and told me, after I had promised the strictest secrecy, that during his last excursion in the above-mentioned moun- tains, he had lost his way, and had discovered in a deep valley, a stream almost dry, whose banks were covered The Island of (jetlon. 27 with rubies and other precious stones, but that he had not dared to take any away with him for fear of the natives, who are commanded by their chiefs, to search every trav- eller, and to murder without hesitation, all in whose pos- session precious stones are found. He had, however, marked the spot and it would be very easy to find it again, if I would accompany him. The undertaking appeared to me by no means as easy as he represented it, as we should be obliged to avoid all frequented paths and penetrate through pathless wilds and forests ; I reminded him of this and also of the danger of meeting with the aforesaid unpitying savages. But he knew well how to answer all my objections and I at last consented to accompany him upon the condition that father Templyn should be informed of the expedition and invited to join it, for I imagined that in his straitened circumstances, he would grasp eagerly this opportunity of enriching Jiimself. But the old man shook his head, and laughing scornfully at my proposition, advised me kindly not to be led astray by the fancies of the brain-struck Por- tuguese, who had certainly mistaken pebbles for precious stones. He brought forward other and better arguments against the expedition, and as the Portuguese was passing by our room at the time, he called him in, reproached him bitterly with putting such ideas into my head, and threat- ened if he did not leave me in peace, to find some way of forcing him to do so. The wily Portuguese concealed his displeasure, and soothed Templyn with the assurance that he had himself, after more mature consideration, given up the expedition and was determined to visit the Indian 28 The Island of Ceylon. continent. He added that it would be a great pleaisure to him if we would receive him into our company on our way home, as far as Fort Chilaw, where he had business to transact. His request was so modest that without any hesitation we granted it. Early the next morning we bade farewell to Colombo, and soon afterwards reached the village of NegombO; where storm and rain obliged us to seek shelter, and where I determined to remain for some days and await better weather. Templyn now, in consequence of his disappointed expectations, in perpetual ill-humor, insisted so obstinately the next morning upon departure, that we separated, and I sent him on his way with the servants and baggage-carriers. Before he went, however, he drew me aside, and with a kind of frank honesty which never deserted him, warned me for God's sake not to give any heed to the Portuguese who remained with me, and not to allow myself to be dragged to ruin and death by the phantoms of his brain. One more pressure of the hand, and he was gone. In fact the Portuguese, who bore the name of Manuel de Cruz, had not ceased, since our departure from Colombo, to endeavour to excite my imagination until he became convinced that his wondrous golden mountain had no longer an effect upon me. But now he believed that the departure of my friend opened a new field for him, of which he did not fail to take advantage, and followed up The Island of Ceylon. 29 his wondrous assertions with the entreaty that I would yield to his wishes and follow him. " And whither ?" I interrupted him, with a quiet smile ; "over mountain and valley, through thicket and thorns, to fill my pockets with pebbles and dream of diamonds. My way hes in the direction of my home, where dear ones are awaiting my return with longing." Manuel returned my quiet smile, and begged me to listen to him seriously and attentively. The moment had arrived when all reserve must be laid aside, and when he should have revealed to me the true state of the case, he had not the slightest doubt of what my determination would be. After he had reminded me of the well known fact, or rather report, that in the war with the Portuguese, the native kings had packed their enormous wealth in great iron chests, and had thrown these into some river, he continued that he had learnt from his father that the Portuguese had obtained possession of one of these chests, but being obliged to effect a hasty retreat, they had not been able to take it with them, but had concealed it in the mountains. He had, indeed, told me of the discovery of the wonderful mountain, but that was not so ; neither had he lost his way in the mountains, but had gone thither with the express purpose of finding the hidden treasure. After a long search, and incredible pains, he nad at length succeeded in finding it in a little cave in the rocks, on the bank of a small stream, but he could discover neither opening, cover, or lock, and his eflforts to break it open with a stone were entirely unavailing; the spot, however, where the chest lay hid, he had so firmly im- 30 The Island of Ceylon. pressed upon his memory that he could find his way thither in the^ark. It would only cost three or four days of fatigue and labor, such as is gone through with on every hunting expedition, and certainly that was not paying too dear for a future of pleasure and plenty. Why should I deny that these treacherous words sounded sweeter than ever in my ears. They had the more weight with me as I had often heard the sinking of the treasure spoken of as an indubitable fact. And yet the adventure that the Portuguese proposed, appeared so strange and romantic, that I was perfectly undecided what to do. Here the wildness of the undertaking, the hope of riches allured me, and there thoughts of my young wife beckoned me in quite another direction. After a long con- flict, my folly and the charm of such a strange expedition gained the mastery, and I promised the Portuguese who was still importuning me, to accompany him, if he would solemnly assure me upon his honor and conscience that every thing that he had told me was true and that he had falsified in nothing. With flashing eyes and the most solemn oaths he assured me that all he had said was literally true, and then all remains of indecision vanished from my mind. We now hastened to Chilow, quickly made the necessary preparations for our journey, and after a few days set out before sunrise without haAnng informed a soul of our piu:- pose. Our only baggage, besides our guns and swords, consisted of a bag containing about 20 pounds of rice, a kettle to cook it in, a bottle holding three quarts of brandy, a bear The Island of Ceylon. 31 skin, a coil of etrong rope, some copper basins which were to answer as gongs, an axe, and lastly some files and forc- ing tools, with which to possess ourselves of the contents of the mysterious chest. At noon we arrived at a little stream that came so swollen from the mountains, that we were obliged to ford it. We undressed, and, in order to lure away the croco- diles, that had plumped into the water at our approach, my companion begged me to go some hundred steps up the stream and shout with all my might, while he could then take over the baggage in two loads. Our stratagem suc- ceeded, and now it was my turn to cross the stream which I prepared to do, relying far less, however, upon the shouts of the Portuguese than upon my good sword, which I held in my right hand, ready to plunge down the throat of any monster who should dare to come too near me. As I reached the middle of the stream I looked up at my com- panion whose face was turned towards me and who was shouting most fiiriously, when I saw, (judge of my hor- ror !) not many feet from him a tiger with crooked back and cat-like motions, creeping stealthily nearer. Even if fear had not deprived me of voice, I should not have dared to utter a sound while I was in the water, and, unfortu- nately, he did not understand the repeated signs that I made him. I sprang from the stream as the savage animal was just bftbind him, and forgetting my own danger, uttered » shriek so piercing that the beast stopped and turned towards me. My companion now became aware of his dan ger and had the presence of mind to jump into the river. 32 The IsiAJin) of Ceylon. As soon as the tiger perceived that he was discovpred,; he gave up his chase and returned, to the wood, from whence our loud cries had attracted him, looking round at us from time to time, and showing a double row of cruel white teeth. We now followed the bank of the river, till we arrived at an open space about two hundred yards square and quite free from trees and underbrush, where we determined to spend the night. Our first care was to provide ourselves with a quantity of dry wood and brush, which we arranged in heaps in a half circle in such a way that the two wings stretched to the bank of the river which formed our de- fence in the rear. This precaution was the more necessary as I had discovered the traces of buffaloes, of which I was more in dread than of any other wild animal whatever; for the buffalo of the East is a perfectly untamable beast, and woe to him who approaches too near one of the hor- rible monsters and happens to displease him either by wearing red, by discharging a gun at him, or by happening to meet him after he has been put to rout by a stronger opponent. Should he ever succeed in avoiding his first furious onset and climbing a tree — he is still lost unless his hiding place furnishes him with eatable fruit of some kind, for hip cunning persecutor will not leave the spot until he has either dislodged his victim or dies himself of hunger, at the root of the tree. When we had eaten our supper, as my companion had determined to watch during the first part of the night, I stretched myself upon the bearskin, and composed myself to rest, with as much carelessness and indifference, as it' The Island of Cetlon. 33 I had been lying upon my bed at home, in the eonssious- ness of safety. I even listened with a kind of satisfaction to the roaring that was occasionally heard in the woods around — listened until my eyelids drooped and I fell asleep. When it came my turn to watch I spent the time in the same easy state of indifference, prepared for whatever might occur, my pistols in my belt, my gun upon my shoulder, and my cigar in my mouth. Outside of our en- campment I heard the crashing tread of the elephants, and the low roar of the buffaloes who passed by us in their headlong career ; sometimes the snorting crocodiles stirred in the river behind us, but these last gave me no uneasi- ness, for I knew their dread of fire. At last the dawn appeared, and fresh and hopeful we re-commenced our ad- venturous journey. We soon discovered on the other side of what seemed an interminable forest, the peaks of the wished for moun- tains, and with a joyful shout my companion pointed to the goal of our exertions which we hoped to reach in two or three days. "Courage!" he cried to me, "let us dare anything and everything! I do not require thanks, my friend, but you will bless the hour that brought us together." VI. On the third day we left the river bank and took our way across an immense sandy plain only relieved by a few straggling bushes here and there : and in the evening we reached the borders of the forest which we entered the next morning. 34 The Islaj^d of CETLOjf. Our path became more and more intricate ; we made our way with difficulty through the briars and heaps of dried leaves, but too often the abode of deadly reptiles ; at every rustling we -stopped and looked carefully around, our cocked rifles ready in our hands, in dread lest we should encounter some savage animal. At noon we came upon two bears, one of whom was endeavoring to climb a tree, while the other walked around him as if keeping watch. The first quickly accomplished his object and hid himself in the boughs, but the other, evidently more courageous, looked fixedly at us and showed his teeth. " Hold !" I cried, " he is aiming for us ; let's try the temper of our weapons, or better still, let us take a small circuit here and save our strength for him." " Nonsense !" replied Manuel, " an elephant or a buffalo might make such precaution necessary. But that fellow there — let us see how he can show his heels." And he rashly advanced, applying the most abusive terms to the monster, but quickly slackened saU, tor the beast, instead of running away, turned round and trotted briskly towards us. " Jesu Maria, here he comes !" he cried, and we threw ofi" our packs, seized our guns and placed ourselves, ready for filing, behind two thick trees. It was high time, for the beast, growling fearfully, was already only a stone's throw distant from us ; I fired, and had the good fortune to shatter his right fore paw ; he fell, but recovering him- self immediately upon his hind legs, rushed upon the Por- tuguese, behind whom I had placed myself, in order to The Island of Ceylon. 35 re load my piece, and who immediately fired, but mfssed, and then, instead of presenting his bayonet, ran to conceal himself behind another'tree. The furious bear had almost reached him when another of my balls pierced his side; he tottered, and proped upon his uninjured paw, leaned agaanst a tree, and with foaming jaws, began to roar most horribly. We expected to see him faU to the ground, but with a loud yell, he suddenly raised himself, and ran at me so quickly that I had but just time to draw my sabre and plunge it up to the hilt in his body. I then sprang back, leaving him the weapon, which he tore out of the wovmd, and endeavored, in the death-struggle, to tear it to pieces with his teeth. I cut off one of his ears as a trophy and we went our way; but the further we penetrated into the wood, the more diflBcult became our progress. We were often forced, in order to gain five steps forward, to take twenty in a zig- zag direction ; sometimes we came upon old decayed trees, into which, if we attempted to climb over, instead of going round them, we sunk up to our waists ; sometimes, immense quantities of ant hills impeded our progress, or we encoun- tered morasses from which issued swarms of musquitoes that attacked us with unexampled fury ; sometimes the trees rained red ants, who also assailed us unmercifully in spite of the most careful covering of our faces and hands, and whose bite left a most painful inflammation. But worst of all was a kind of reed which grew everywhere, and in which our feet were continually entangled as in a net. To cap the climax of our misery, these reeds were S4 The Island of Cetlon. filled with sharp thorns which penetrated our stockingB and scratched our legs, most cruelly. Half dead with fatigue, our faces and hands covered with great red blotches, and our legs with blood, we arrived at last at a large pond, where we determined to encamp for the night. We had scarcely sufficient strength left to collect the wood that was necessary for our fires ; a glorious meal of roast woodcocks refreshed us somewhat, however, and we enjoyed the prospect of a delicious sleep. This, it soon appeared, was not to be thought of, for scarcely had the night closed in upon us when, close around us, we heard the roaring of tigers, the hoarse bark of the jackal, and the cries of numerous other animals, whom we could not recognize by their voices. And soon the savage beasts were discovered by the light of the fire, here, there, and every where between the trees, and it seemed as if every beast of the forest had determined to a,ttack us. Even our fires appeared scarcely to terrify them, and they crept nearer and nearer until we were actually surrounded by them. The most horrible roars resounded through the forest, where they appeared to be fighting among themselves, then suddenly a dead silence would ensue until some one raised his voice alone, and was immediately answered by the whole band. And now it flashed upon us that we had brought this all upon our- selves ; how could we have been insane enough to have chosen our place of rest so near to a pool of water, and thus prevented these wild monsters from quenching their thirst. Could we wonder that these creatures, exasperated and driven almost to despair by their desire for water, The Island op Ceylon. 37 should angrily surround our fires, which separated them from the water. Most willingly would we have allowed them to drink, but no tree stood near enough to serve as a refuge for us without our being torn in pieces before we could reach it. Midnight passed over us in our terror, and we expected every moment that thirst would overcome the fear of our fire in some one of our dreadful enemies, and that then an universal onslaught would be made upon us. Our fears were not groundless, for two tigers, bolder then the rest, approached cautiously, with measured steps, and were instantly joined by several other beasts, among whom we recognized some bears. The two leaders ventured close to our fires, then suddenly halted and gazed steadily at us for some seconds with flashing eyes, while they gnashed their teeth with suppressed rage. , At last, raising their noses in the air, they commenced such a frightful diiet, that in terror we sank upon the ground, and' could scarcely hold our rifles in our trembhng hands, for this roar, which was echoed from all sides, seemed to us the signal for an uni- versal attack. Only one of the tigers ventured nearer, and he came so close that he could easUy have reached us with one spring. The extremity gave me fresh courage, I hastily seized a huge firebrand, and hurled it in the face of the bold creature with so sure an aim that he fell back ; recovering himself he fled hastily, carrying the rest of the animals with him. From time to time more of our thirsty foes drew near, and we had trouble enough to keep them at a safe distance, by means of our guns and fire-brands. Long aft«r the day began to dawn we heard their angry 38 The Island or Cetlon. growling in the distant parts .of the forest, and could hardly believe that we had actually survived the dargera of this dreadful night. Perfectly exhausted, and staggering with sleep we con- tinued our arduous journey until, towards nine o'clock, I found it utterly impossible to proceed ; I threw myself on the ground under a tree and immediately fell asleep. My companion waked me ia about two hours, as he had been . for some time watching a tiger who had been creeping cautiously around us, only awaiting a propitious momen* to make us his prey. He had just appeared from a bush not twenty steps distant, when we, steadying our pieces against the trunk of a tree, fired upon him. Mortally wounded, he sprang a few feet into the air and as he fell we saw him struggling with death, but we were so cast down by our continued perils that we never even stopped to look at him, but continued our weary way. About noon the forest became less dense, but as the number of trees decreased the underbrush grew so thickly that it formed one closely woven mass like a thick brush, spreading out before us to the very foot of the mountain, which was at least three or four miles distant. At first sight it appeared utterly impossible to efiect a path through this desert plain; but we were determmed to make the attempt. VII. And now we were in the midst of what seemed an inter- minable labyrinth, and often when with compass in hand, we had with infinite difficultv advanced, as we thoucrht The Island of (Jetlon. 39 several steps, to our vexation we found ourselves upon some spot already traversed by our footsteps, for the bushes were almost all about a man's height, and any view of the country round us was impossible. We knew besides that this part of the island actually swarmed with tigers, always lurking in such thickets, and no tree stood any- where near to which we might escape if attacked, nor could we see a spot where we could obtain a firm foot-hold to defend ourselves, even if we had had the strength in our exhausted condition to do so. The foot-prints of enor mous tigers, and the trail of serpents were seen every where around us in the glowing hot sand, which heated by the sun, in the more open spots of country, added to our discomfort. Towards evening a cloud obscured the sun, and the weather, hitherto mild and clear, was varied by a shower of rain which was to us at first an unspeakable blessing, as it cooled the air and the sand, but which shortly de- scended in such torrents that we were obliged to take shelter under a lonely tree. But scarcely had we deposited our baggage here, when we heard a rustling in tliu boughs over head, and, looking up, discovered a tiger-cat, which, disturbed by our approach, was springing from bough to bough. At any moment this savage animal which, if driven to extremity is more to be feared than even the tiger, could have leaped down upon us, so we judged it expedient to retire a few paces and give him an opportu- nity for flight, of which he quickly availed himself and was out of si^t in a few seconds. _ The day now began to declir e, and as the tree was quite 40 The Island of Ceylon. high ami very thickly leaved, we determined to pass the night in its branches, a determination to which we were brought by necessity, for we could neither discover a spot free from underbrush, large enough to accommodate our circle of fires, without being burnt to ashes ourselves, nor could we collect dry wobd sufficient to feed our fires when made — indeed we had scarcely enough to cook our supper of rice. After our simple meal we prepared our couches, which we did by weaving the rope that we had with us, between two strong boughs in a kind of net, upon which we could repose without fear of breaking our necks, and covering it with young under leaves. Although this bed was so nar- row and inconvenient that we were obliged to sleep in almost a sitting posture, we scrambled joyfully into it in order, with a sort of comfort that sprang from a sense of safety from all unseen danger, to indulge in a cigar. We listened with indifference to the screams of night-birds and the roars of savage beasts that resounded from all sides. From time to time it appeared to rain just above us, and the thought would intrude sometimes that we might be harboring most uncomfortable room-mates in our tree, although we had been prudent enough to clear the field by several pistol shots. While we were talking about it, howevor, our eyelids drooped and we slept pro- foundly. At day-break we were awakened by the cawing of the forest raven and the shrill pipe of the wood-cock — and we left our pleasant couch without delay, loosened our rope from the tree, loaded our guns anew, refreshed The Island op Ceylun. 41 ourselves by a hasty breakfast, and then continued oui journey. The sun rose in glorious majesty, and gUded so richly the mountain which lay just before us, and which we hoped contained such a rich treasure, that we took fresh courage and inspiration, and hastened on, not doubting that we should arrive at our journey's end before nightfall. Our progress was quite as difficult as it had been the day before, for the sun seemed hotter than ever after the storm, and we went on cutting our path through the thicket until fatigue overcame us, and we threw om^elves down at the foot of a lonely tree to refresh ourselves by sleeping alternately for several hours. Invigorated by this rest, and a hasty dinner, we began for the first time, as we fondly hoped, our weary march towards the desired mountain, which was now only about two miles distant. We were still more encouraged by perceiving that the thicket became less dense at every step, the footing more firm and strong, and trees in layers and groups were every where seen around us. We could pursue our path with- out being continually obliged to make most tiresome circuits, and towards evening we reached a thick forest of most beautiful trees, which we recognized at once, by their thick bark, for ebony. Fruit trees we found none, and this rejoiced us, for we argued that few beasts of prey would, without that inducement, venture into a forest so bare of underbrush which could afford them concealment. In excellent spirits we approached the mountain, our hopes and delight increasing at every step. We thought of nothing but the gratification of our avarice, f f the con- 42 The Islaot) op Ceylon. tents of the iron chest, and future plans of life, upor which we were placing the firmest reliance. All distress, danger, and fatigue, were forgotten, and we were about to give vent to our feelings in a loud joyful shout When suddenly we stood still on the edge of a steep and profound abyss, about thirty feet wide, which opened just across our path, and which stretched unbroken to the right and left as far as the eye could reach. It had appa- rently been formerly the bed of a river, which had either run dry or chosen another channel. The ground was dry and covered from the brink downwards with ' such a thickly woven rank growth of underbrush, that the utter impossibility of working our way down and up again through such a living wall, was clear at the first glance The attempt to reach the opposite bank in this way would have been certain ruin. If we persisted in doing so some other path must be found. For a long time we gazed speechless at one another, until at last I endeavored to recover myself, and observed to my companion that no other course remained for us but to pursue the brink of the precipice until we could find some path to the other side. He agreed with me, and according to his advice, we turned to the left ; but the further we went the wider grew the dreadful abyss, and as nigh* approached we encamped and prepared our evening meal. At day-break we patiently continued our journey, without however, any success, until, after several fatiguing hours, I stopped and conjured Manuel to turn and pursue a path to the right. He yielded, and we retraced our steps, but BO sadly that it would be difficult to imagine a more dreary The Island of Cetlow. 43 journey. At the same time we had not the smallest douht of arriving at the end of this unlucky abyss, but we were vexed at the detention which we believed it would cause us in reaching the place of our destination. Covered with dust, we arrived about noon, at a large tree just on the edge of the precipice, in the shade of which we prepared to take our mid-day meal. But the Portuguese would taste nothing, and sat still in a deep reverie, until he suddenly sprang up with a cheerful coun- tenance and declared that he had at last found a means of transporting both ourselves and our baggage to the other side of the abyss. His plan was as follows : A tree cor- responding to the one under which we were sitting, stood directly opposite, upon the bank over against us, and the boughs of each were only about twenty feet apart. Now Manuel proposed to descend into the abyss and cut his way, axe in hand, through the thicket. When he had reached the opposite bank I was to make fast the end of our rope to my ramrod and then shoot it over with a small charge of powder. This end ha was to fasten to a stout branch of the opposite tree, while I, on my side, did the same with my end of the rone, only taking care to select a bough somewhat higher than his ; then nothing would be easier than to slip our baggage from one bank to the other, and myself after it, if I was afraid to follow him through the thicket. The plan was odd enough, but it did not seem utterly impracticable, and there was no choice left us. But how Manuel could hope to penetrate the thickly woven thicket and escape the savage beasts that might lay concealed 44 The Island of Cetlon. therein, I could not conceive, and I told him so, with pres. sing entreaties to think of it no more ; but he insisted that he must succeed if he covered his face and hands with cloths, leaving only a little opening for his eyes ; as for the wild beasts — as he brought all this upon us, it was but fair, he said, that he should have the largest share of the dan- ger. I yielded, but only upon the condition that if he found the undertaking more difficult than he had imagined, or met with any unexpected danger, he should immedi- ately return. After he had taken a heavy draugh|; from the brandy flask, he commenced his perilous descent through the horrible thicket, upon his hands and knees, while I stood above aud clashed our copper basins together, and from time to time, threw heavy stones into the abyss to scare away the poisonous snakes and reptiles that might be con- cealed there. He refused to allow me to fasten one end of our rope around his waist, that I. might hastily draw him back in case of urgent need, for he feared that it might become so entangled as to impede his progress. It was sometime before he could even penetrate so far into the thicket as to conceal himself from my view, but when at last I lost sight of him I sat down on the edge of the abyss and passed a quarter of an hour in such dis- tress that I could hear my heart beat against my ribs, while my eyes remained immovably fixed upon the spot where he was to appear upon the other side. Suddenly I observed in the midst of the thicket, a strange commotion, and instantly a loud piercing shriek of agony from my poor companion, fell upon my ear. "What could I in my The Island of Ceylon. 45 Treakuess do bat return shriek for shriek. There was no doubt of his danger and 1 could give him no help. I do not know myself what I attempted in my despair. I dis- charged my pistols, clashed the copper basins, and ran hither and thither, like one possessed, then plunged into the opening where he had disappeared, and hstened with breathless attention. In vain ! A deathless silence reigned in the abyss, and only*my loud wailing filled the air. VIII. Almost unconscious, with sensations that cannot be described, I at last seated myself upon the spot where I had taken leave of my unhappy friend, and gazed down fixedly into the abyss, where he had paid so terribly for his and my folly. Every thing that I had hitherto suffered shrimk into nothing before the woe of this hour. Sunk in despondency no thoughts of guarding my miserable existence remained in my mind, and at this moment I should have been an easy prey to any savage animal that might have been lurking near. But the love of life at last gained the mastery ; I con- sidered how useless and dangerous it was to remain any longer on this unhappy spot, and determined to seek the shortest path out of this wilderness. But whither should I turn. I could not dream of returning to Chilaw, through the perilous thickets which our united exertions had so hardly penetrated ; that would have been ofiering myself up to destruction. Still less was it advisable to follow the abyss to the north, for I should only arrive among the mountains. 46 The Island of Ceylon. where certain death awaited me ; I had no choice but tc follow the horrible abyss to the south, and trust my deliv- ery to some happy accident. Slowly I set out, oppressed with the weight of woe, and almost loaded down with the various necessary utensils, whose weight had hitherto been shared by my unfortunate companion. Beside my weapons, I carried a copper kettle, about ten pounds of rice, and a brandy llask. I also took with me my poor companion's sword, whio-h he had laid aside, and which must in future serve me instead of the axe, which he had taken with him. Tlit bank, along which 1 slowly wandered, was very monotonous, and as evening approached I determined to take up my abode for the night in a tree. But sleep fled my eyelids, and if fatigue sometimes closed them, the howling of the tiger and jackal immedi- ately roused me. Horrible fancies oppressed my spirit in my half-awake state, and I seemed to see my companion standing at the foot of a tree, gazing upon me with hollow eyes, and beckoning me to follow him. I started up, my hair stood on end, and I should certainly have fallen from the tree had I not bound myself firmly to a bough. At last, towards day-break, I fell asleep, and the sun was wandering in the heavens before I again awaked. Its burning rays scorched me, a violent thirst consumed me, and I experienced severe pains in my back and side, the consequences of my forced position on my airy couch. As soon as I had quenched my thirst by a draught from the brandy flask, the contents of which I had diluted with water the day before, I collected my baggage and wan The Island of Ceylon 47 dered on, but the violent pain in my head and limbs increjised by the heat of the sun, agjinst which I had no protection, and the dust raised by my footsteps which in- flamed my eyes, and covered my parched lips, made my lonely progress more difficult than ever. After a weary march of a few hours, I sat down on the bank of a small pool of water to drink and to fill my flask — my dinner I resolved not to prepare until I had accomplished several hours more of my journey. As I was about to rise I saw with horror close beside me one of those hateful insects, the mere description of which had so often made me shud- der and which I now saw for the first time, it was the homed spider. Spite of my horror I -could not resist the temptation of examining it more closely. Imagine its brown hairy body about six inches in circumference, its legs as thick as a qmll pen, with which it had clutched a lizard and was stripping the flesh from the bones of the poor creature, and its eyes which seemed to glow with savage rage. I took a little rice and held it out to it, but it sprang at it with such lightaing rapidity, that I let it fall and took to flight to escape from its poisonous fangs. The heat of the day was so intense that it was impossi- ble to quench the thirst in my dry throat, I continued, however, to walk on, as, from various signs, I apprehended a storm. Black clouds, with copper-colored edges col- lected threateningly around the horizon, and brooded with a leaden weight upon the dark forest, soon concealing the sun behind their black veil. I hastened my steps in order to reach a tree with heavy foliage that I saw before me in my path. As soon as I arrived beneath its shade 1 48 The Island op Cetlon. commenced kindling my fire, that I might cook my me* gre meal before the approach of the storm. While my rice was boiling, I ascended the tree, wove some of the branches together and covered them with leaves that I might have a more comfortable couch than I had enjoyed on the previous night. I then eat my supper, and as the clouds still remained far off on the horizon, I hoped to get off this time with nothing but the anticipation of a storm, and crept into my nest somewhat comforted to resign my- self to sleep ; sleep came, but scarcely had I closed my eyes when I was again haunted by the most horrible dreams. I seemed to stand in the midst of a raging storm upon the summit of a rock in the boiling ocean which broke in gigantic waves at my feet, and drenched me with foaming spray. Suddenly I awoke, and found with horror that my dream was at least half reaJity. The heavens above and around me seemed one vast sheet of flame, varied each second by pitchy darkness. My eyes were blinded by the incessant lightning which darted through the heated air all around me. Peal upon peal of thunder burst over me, and was echoed from the distant mountains ; all nature seemed seething and fermenting around me in an universal insurrection of its mighty forces. In the midst of the din there rolled directly over my head, as it seemed, such- a peal of thunder that transcended every thing I have ever heard before or since, and language fails me even now when I attempt to describe it. It sounded in my ears like the springing of a mine — the earth trembled, and a sti- fling smt'li of sulphur almost suffocated me. This crash The Island of Ceylon. 4& appeared to be the signal for the commencement of one of those tremendous tropical storms, which sometimes pros- trate whole forests, and in which my tree waved and bent so that I was obliged to hold on to its branches with all my strength to avoid being dashed to the ground. I was enveloped in a perfect cloud of sand and dust ; niy fire flew about in every direction, and was utterly extin- guished when the hitherto imprisoned rain poured down like a second flood. Three hours its infernal fury con- tinued, but I retain only a cOnfused recollection of this war of the elements, for I sat with closed eyes, my head sup- ported on my knees, in a kind of unconsciousness. If startled by some frightful peal of thunder, I roused myself for a moment, but quickly closed my eyes again, for the sharp blue lightning revealed too distinctly the desolation around me. I could not endure the sight. As the storm subsided I thought for the first time of my dangerous situation in the high tree, surrounded by my metal weap- ons. To be struck dead by the lightning would not be such a horrible fate as, crippled and disabled, to fall an easy prey to the first savage beast who might find m^ at the foot of the tree ; this thought was anguish to me. But this time my fears were vain; the storm ceased at last, and I awaited anxiously the break of day. At the first streak of dawn I descended, dripping with rain and shivering with cold, from my tree, and continued my journey, hoping to warm myself by exercise. After some time the abyss, which had hitherto extended directly towards the south, took another direction, and I began to hope that I should soon reach an inhabited part of the 50 The Island of Ceylon. country ; but my hopes did not last long, for I caiue sud- denly upon a huge steep rock, which towered up far to the right and left, in one unbroken mass, about fifty feet high, like a great wall. I stood immovable, and gazed around me for some passage, some cleft or projection, which might make it possible for me to climb over it. I found myself cut off from every hope of deliverance. This cruel dis- appointment extinguished the last spark of hope in my bosom. In despair I threw myself upon the ground, tore my hair, and beait my breast, until I fell into a kind of stupor, and a death-like chill pervaded my limbs. This lasted about a quarter of an hour, and when I came to myself I filled the air with lamentations and curses upon the Portuguese whose folly had caused all this grief and woe. My state of mind was too unnatural to last long, and the instinct of self-preservation impelled me to search around still more narrowly for some mode of egress from this horrible place. To the left was the frightful abyss whose sides, before sloping, now descended sheer below me, and forbade any attempt to descend from above ; and before the huge rock, which hung over the precipice and was lost in the dense thicket on my right. Only where the rock overhung the abyss could I observe a few clefts and holes in its smooth surface, by which an ape, or some otlier animal used to climbing, might have reached its summit; but the thought of hanging over that dreadful abyss, where the least slip would be fatal, was frightful to me ; should I undertake the ascent, I must leave my gun and bag of pro visions behind, and what could I do without them. There was nothing left for me but to go round the rock The Island of Ceylon. 61 through the thicket, and yet to ascend the rock would be as easy as to penetrate that mass of roots, boughs, and briars. I skirted the edge of the wood for a few steps to find some less tangled spot, and to my great joy discovered an opening in the thicket, into which I immediately plunged, only, however, to retreat in the greatest terror; for a horrible breathing sounded in my ears, and I noticed a rustling in the boughs above me, which boded no good. In my despair I determined to retrace my steps to the spot where I had lost my companion, and then strike into the path by which we had come from Chilaw. I was about to seize my gun and baggage, which I had thrown upon the ground, when I heard again the hissing sound that had terrified me just before, and turning round, I saw not many steps from me, a serpent of gigantic size. IX. It emerged slowly from the opening which I had per- ceived so joyfully, a few moments before, in hopes that it would prove a path through the thicket for me. Ring after ring unfolded itself, and hemmed in by the abyss, rock, and thicket, every means of escape was denied me. I was a dead man. The monster glared at me with his flashing eyes, his neck swollen with rage. I uttered a shriek of horixtr ; for a moment I was motionless with fear ; every thing seemed to spin around me, and a sudden faintness almost overcome me. How long this lasted I do not know, but I was not quite stupified; I hesitated whether to plunge head over heels from the precipice or attempt to 52 The Island of Ceylon. climb the rock where it overhung the abyss. I deter- mined upon the last ; fear lent wings to my feet. I was obliged to jump about five feet before I CDuld fijid a cleft for my hands, and I succeeded in reaching it. For some seconds I hung over the abyss, vainly trying to find some foothold, expecting momentarily, to be seized by the mon ster behind me. Most fervently did I pray for strength, and at last I managed to find a little ledge for my feet, I climbed still higher, until at last my hands grasped the summit of the rock and I swung myself upon it. Safe, but trembling in every limb, I sank upon the ground, for my strength was entirely exhausted by my superhuman exertions. My breath failed me ; my heart beat violently ; a thick jnist came before my eyes ; I hardly recollected where I was or what I had been doing. The past seemed to me like a dream, and I should really have believed it so, if my eyes had not convinced me that I was fifty feet higher than I had been a few momenta before, and if my gaze had not fallen upon the gigantic serpent so far below me, who was busied in swallowing my rice in its goat-skin bag. As soon as he had accomplished this, he coiled himself up with a loud hiss, and commenced beating up the dust and sand with his tail. Secure on the summit of the rock, I considered the enormous size of this monster, who was encased in yellow and black scales. He must certainly have measured seveaty feet in length, and his body was twice as large round as mine. From time to time he raised his head as if in search of some new prey, but as none was at hf-ud, he contracted and lengthened his shining rings, slipped slowly The IsUuNd of Cetlon. 53 over trie sand and disappeared in the wood through the Bame opening from which he had emerged. This horrible, disgusting creature had been the uncon; Bcious means of my delivery, for without the excitement of the terror which he had caused me, I should never have attempted the perilous ascent of the rock. I looked sor- rowfully and wistfully at my weapons, which I had left behind me, for how was I, deprived of them and my pro- visions, and almost naked, to sustain my wretched exist- ence. The point which I had now reached was not calca lated to relieve my anxiety. The rock that I had just ascended was one of this smallest of a circle of steep cliffs heaped around, which surrounded a fearful abyss, upon whose brink the path that I had been following, appeared the only thread of hope left to me. As it was already past noon, I continued my journey as well as I coxild through the steep cliffs which were piled up all around me. When night set in, I chose my resting place under an overhanging rock that formed a kind of grDtto, kindled my fire, although there was small fear of wild beasts among these rocks, and laid my weary head upon a broad flat stone that served me for a pillow. But spite of my fatigue, I could not sleep, and my thoughts busied themselves with painfully analysing my misery. It might have been about midnight when I heard a distant sound as of the barking of dogs, mingled with faint, hollow voices ; they grew louder and louder, and I thought I could distinguish the voices of several men talking and laughing loudly. I sprang up and felt my heart beat quicker, and a cold chili ran up and down my back. I listened ; every 54 The Island of Cetloh thing was still around me, when suddenly mocking voices again sounded through the air and were answered by the echoes from the mountain. I listened more attentively, and just behind the cliff under which I was, there burst forth a yelling scream that almost froze my blood in my veins ; I seized a stone in my hand and rushed forward to contend with the Kobolds who were teazing me. Then it seemed as if a hundred dis- cordant, strange voices were calling all around me, that deprived me of the last particle of composure; I thrust my fingers into my ears, shut my eyes, and sprang back again into the grotto. In my hasty retreat I struck my forehead severely against a sharp-pointed rock, and the blood which flowed from the wound and mortification at my rashness brought me to my senses, of which I never stood so much in need as at this moment. These strange noises are still inexplicable to me ; they might well have shaken the courage of a bolder man than I, and reminded^ me afterwards of the European legends of the Wild Hunts- man. Men of weight and understanding in India, to whom I have related this adventure, have assured me that such wonderful" voices are frequently heard in the mountains 4nd forests of Ceylon, and are ascribed by the natives to evil spirits. After this fatiguing night, in which I did not enjoy one moment of refreshing sleep, the day at last broke forth frcui the east, and with it I commenced again my hopeless journey. I was obliged still to work my way over steep rocKS and sharp stones, and was besides, tormented with the most violent thirst After a lona search. I rHspn-pprod The Island of Ceylon. ^5 a little water in the hollow of a rock, and this dirty watel tasted more deliciously to me than any drink that I had ever before enjoyed. My thirst once quenched, hunger tormented me, and I looked in vain for something wherewith to satisfy it, until I observed -a, snake about three feet long and as thick as my fist, giving chase to a poor little lizard. I seized a stone and killed the snake, cut off its head, which I knew contained all its venom, stripped off its skin, and roasted my prey at a little fire which I had managed, with great difiiculty, to kindle. Whilst I was enjoying this delicious meal, thick clouds collected above and around me, enyeloping" me in such a mist that I could distinguish nothing around me. I knew that these mists sometunes surrounded the mountain-peaks for days at a time, and were not unfrequently the precur- sors of dreadful storms ; fear of being detained by them upon this bare rock, where I should surely perish with hunger, determined me to descend, or rather to sBp down the mountain in the midst of the mist. After being several times almost precipitated from the precipice, I arrived safely at the bottom, and found myself again on the bank of the old abyss and between two rows of cliffs, where I threw myself down utterly exhausted, and did not awake from the deep slumber into which I fell, until the Bun was tolerably high in the heavens on the follow- ing day. My limbs felt as if they had been broken on the wheel, I shivered with pain and cold, as in the beginning of a fever, and jny tormenting thirst and increasing weakness 56 The Island of Ceylon. warned me only too plainly that, unless I was speedily delivererJ, I should be beyond all sensation of pain and terror in a few days. With these sad forebodings I arose from my hard bed, took a few drops of water, and con- tinued my way along the edge of the abyss. Evening again approached, and filled with despair, I was about to throw myself under a tree, to await my death calmly, when I perceived at a Httle distance, a spot where the brink of the abyss seemed much less fearful, and a path across it almost possible. Strengthened anew by the sight, I looked around me for some nourishmfent, and succeeded in catching by the tail a little alligator that was just slip- ping into a hole. I killed it, and prepared a delicious meal ; then, protected by a large fire, I lay down to rest. On the following morning I began my dangerous journey through the thicket, and reached in safety the other bank of the abyss, which had been the cause of all my suflFering' and misfortunes. A few steps further, and there — a loud shout of joy burst from me, my senses forsook me, and I Bank fainting on the ground. When I came to myself, and stood up, I found myself in a broad frequented path, where I discovered quite recent footprints. I followed it as quickly as my fatigue would allow me to, and soon" encountered a troop of trav- elling natives, who were proceeding slowly with their mules. They were not a little terrified to behold in this wilderness a man wandering towards them, travel-stained and hollow-eyed, but received me most kindly when I had told them my story,- strengthened me with a most refresh- ing Boup, and brought me safely to the coast in three The Islajstd op Cetlon. 57 days. In a short time I found an opportunity to embark, and returned safely to my friends and dear ones, who were mourning most bitterly my disappearance and proba- ble death, and who regarded me almost like one risen firom the dead. fii^e ^t §e^. After a short delay on the eastern coast 3f Madagascar, where we had laid in fresh water and provisions, we weighed anchor, and with a favourable wind, steered firf Java, the place of our destination. It was a beautiful November day. I stood on deck enjoying the prospect of the quiet sea, congratulating myself that the most tedious as well as the most dangerous part of our voyage from Holland was accomplished, for the Cape of Good Hope lay far behind us, and counting over the profits that our rich cargo must ensure us, when all at once the terrible cry of fire ! fire ! was heard. I hastened down into the hold, whence the cry proceeded, but saw nothing ; to my inquiry as to what was burning, one of the sailors replied, " in that cask there." I thrust my hand into it, but as I pe^ ceived no fire, I ascended again to the deck to ascertaia the cause of the noise. The steward had gone down into the hold in the after- noon, as usual, to fill a bucket with the spirits which were to be distributed to the crew the following day, when after accomplishing his task, he took up the candlestick which held the tallow candle, and which he had set down upon a cask near that from which he had filled his bucket, a spark fell into the open bung-hole and the flames burst forth from the cask; immediately the top and bottom fell out, aud (58) Fire at Sea. 59 the burning spirit flowed down into the coal hole beneath. The careless fellow had, as he told me, poured upon the flames several buckets of water that stood near, and entirely extinguished them. To make all sure, I gave orders to have all the coals damped, and then went my way, think- ing no more of the matter. Half an hour afterwards some sailors again shouted fire, which terrified me greatly ; when I went below the flames were already blazing up from the lowest part of the hold ; the half extinguished fire had spread fearfully among the coals, and unfortunately several rows of brandy casks were piled up just above this spot. We hoped now to check the rapidly increasing flames, and the greater part of the crew brought water in leather buckets and poured it down into the hold in torrents. But this led to new and dan- gerous consequences ; the water falling upon the glowing coals caused such a thick sulphurous smoke that we were in danger of stifling, and it was almost impossible to remain any longer in the hold. I, however, continued to do so, that I might give the necessary orders, desiring my crew to work by turns, that they might have every now and then a whiflf of fresh air, for I feared that several who could not reach the port holes, were already suffocated; indeed, I was myself several times so confused that I scarcely knew what I was doing, and was obliged to lean my head upon a cask and turn my face towards a port-hole to get fresh air. When, at last, I was forced to go on deck, I wenl. to the supercargo, Hein Rol, and told him that I thought it advi- sable to throw the powder overboard, but he could not 60 FiBB AT Sea. make up his mind to it. " If we throw our powder into the sea," said he, " we may, it is true, tope to extinguish the fire, but how, without powder, shall we defend our- selves against the enemies who- infest these seas, and how shall we justify ourselves if our ship should be taken ?" In the meantime the fire was rapidly gaining ground, and as no one could any longer endure the sufibcating smoke that filled the hold, we seized axes and cut holes in the lower deck, through which we poured floods of water upon the flames, but with no success in extinguishing them. Three weeks before our long boat had been fitted for sea, and fastened to the stem of the ship ; now we let down the boat from the upper deck, as it was in the way of the sailors who were bringing water. The confusion became greater every moment, we saw ourselves expose^ to th6 double danger of fire and water, and the sure prey of one or the other. We could not hope for help, for there was neither land nor ship in sight. The sailors now began one by one to slip away ; they let themselves down into the water and swam to the long boat, where they concealed themselves under the benches, to wait until their number should be sufficient to enable them to cut loose from the burning vessel. Hein Rol, who was standing on the quar- ter deck, was not a little surprised to see the boats so full of men ; they cried out to him that they were about to put to sea, and that if he wanted to go with them he must come quickly. He was easily persuaded, as he was greatly terrified, but as he was getting into the long boat, " Wait friends," he exclaimed, " till the captain comes." Of course Fire at Sea. 61 they listened neither to request nor sommand, but quickly cut the rope and pushed off from the ship. Whilst I was still issuing orders, and hoping to subdue the flames, some of the sailors rushed up to me, exclaim- ing in the greatest terror, " Oh, captain, whg,t shall we do ; .the boats have both cut loose, and are making off as rap- idly as possible." '* If that is the case,'\I answered, " things look badly enough ; they have determined to leave us to our fate." I hastened upon deck, and was soon satisfied of the shameful purpose of the cowardly sailors. " Let us bear down upon them," 1 cried ; " if they refuse to take us with them, they must be taught their duty; we will Jrun them down." And we had already approached them within three ship's lengths, wheii they took the wind of us, and were soon out of our reach. " Friends," I said to the remnant of my crew, " there is now no help for us save in the mercy of God and our own exertions, which we must redouble, and once more attempt to stifle the flames. Eun to the magazine, and throijv the powder overboard before the fire reaches it." I took the carpenters with me, and ordered them to bore holes in the ship's side, so as to let a couple of fathoms of water into the hold ; but their tools made no impression, as the vessel was lined with iron. The failure of this last attempt occasioned an indes- , cribable panic, and a piercing shriek of terror filled the air. At my command they began again to pcur water upon the flames, which really began to subside, when sud- denly the oil casks caught, and blazed up fearfully. We 62 Fire at Sea. now gave ourselves up for lost, for the flames appeared t« eain strength from every bucket of water poured upon them, and the burning oil ran every where, kindling every thing that it touched. In this extremity the crew, who had now lost all courage, raised such a horrible scream of agony and despair, that my hair stood on end, and the cold, sweat started from every pore. In their despair, however, they still worked on, pouring water into the hold and throwing the powder into the sea. Already, of more than three hundred, only sixty casks were overboard, when suddenly what remained caught on fire, and the ship, in which there were one hundred and nineteen souls, was shivered into a thousand fragments. I was standing just behind the mainmast, with about thirty men near me busy with the water buckets ; in one mo- ment of time they had vanished none could say whither; the rest shared a like fate. As for myself. Captain Wilhem Isbrand Bontekoe, I awaited my destruction with the others, stretching my arms towards heaven, and exclaiming, " Lord have mercy on me !" II. Although I distinctly felt myself lifted into the air, and thought that all was most certainly over with me, I retained my perfect consciousness, and a spark of hope still glimmered within me. I fell into the sea in the midst of the ruins of my shattered vessel. When I found myself in the water, my courage revived wonderfully. I seemed quite a different man. I looked around me and perceived the Fire at Sea. 63 mainmast upon one side of me ; clinging to this, I began to consider the sad destruction around m-?, " heaven," I sighed, " has then my beautiful ship sunk forever !" Wherever I turned I saw no Uving soul ; bait after a few moments, a young man emerged from the water not very far from me, and swam hastily. He soon reached the bro- ken bowsprit, which was floating near him, placed him- self upon it, and said to himself, "I am at least alive!" When I heard his voice I looked around and exclaimed, " God, does any one beside myself survive !" At the same time I recognized in him,Harman Van Kniphausen, a young man from Eyden. I saw near him, a stout spar, and as I retained my hold, only with the greatest difficulty, upon the main-mast, which was continually rolling over, I cried out to Harman: "Push that spar towards me; I will swim to you upon it, and we will then both seat ourselves upon the bowsprit." The attempt succeeded, most fortu- tunately, for I should not have been able to reach him without the spar, as I felt myself much bruised in the back, and had received two wounds upon the head. All these injuries, which I had hot felt at first, now be- gan to be so painfiil that I could scarcely hear or see, and the words broke from me, " heaven if this suffering increases I shall die." We swam together, both clinging to the bowsprit; from time to time we gazed around in hopes of seeing one of the boats; at last we discovered them, but at such a distance that we could not tell whether they were approaching us or sailing in a different direction. The sun was already near its sitting, and I said to my com- panion : " Friend, there is no hope for us ; we cannot pos- 84 Fire at Sea. sibly keep our hold all night ; we must raise our souls to God and pray for a speedy rescue, or for perfect submis- sion to his will." We began to pray and our prayers were answered, for when we again looked around, we perceived the boats quite near to us, to our great joy, for we had cer- tainly given ourselves up for lost. " Save the captain !" I cried now as loudly as possible, and I heard shouted back from the boat, " The captain is still living!" They now sailed towards us as fast as pos- sible, but were afraid to come close to us, lest the heavy bowsprit should injure their boats. Harman, who had been very little injured by being blown up, felt strong enough to swim, and so was saved. "^ "If you would save me," I cried, "you must come for me, for I am so badly wounded that I cannot swim. The boatswain, a stout youth, sprang immediately into the water and handed me the end of a rope, which I wound around my body, and by the mercy of God, at last reached the long boat, where all wondered not a little to see me again. I lay down in the stern to recover myself a little^ for I felt so miserably that I thought my end must be fast ap- proaching ; my back was very painful, as were also, the wounds in my head. Yet, I recovered myself somewhat,' and said to Hein Eol and the others : " We shall do well to reniain near the wreck all night long, for when the day breaks we can certainly recover something to eat, and per- haps we can find a compass, which we must have, if we ever hope to reach land." Among many almost indispensable things, we wanted Fire at Sea. 66 a compass charts, and quadrant ; our provisions, too, were very scanty, so great had been the haste to get away from the vessel. Hein Kol did not heed my advice, and con- tinued to sail on through the night in hopes of seeing land in the morning ; but when he saw this hope disappointed, and found the next morning that we were still far from the land, he remembered my advice, and the men, finding me yet alive, cried out to me : " Captain, what will become of us ? we are far from the wreck, and can discover no land ; we have nothing to eat or drink, and no compass or charts, what shall we do ?" " My friends," I replied, " you should have followed mj advice, and remained all night near the wreck, for whilst 1 was clinging to the mast I saw such quantities of things floating about me, that they hindered me from swimming, and were quite dangerous." With their assistance I crawled upon deck ; and when I saw that they were still rowing on, I asked them, " My friends, how much food have you ?" They pointed to a cask which might hold at most seven or eight pounds of biscuit." " Stop rowing," I continued, " for you will exhaust yourselves, and then have nothing to eat wherewith to recruit your strength." " But what shall we do ?" they asked. I advised them to take off" their shirts and make sails of them. As we had no thread, I bade them untwist some ends of rope that were lying about, and with these they sewed together, as well as they could, some small sails. We found that we numbered forty-eLs. in the long- 66 FiEE AT Sea. boat, and twenty-six in the other. A sailor's blue jacket, and a cushion, which we found in the boat, were, by com- mon consent, accorded to me, in consideration of my suffering condition. The ship's surgeon was among us, but he had no medicines; chewed biscuit was the only thing that he could apply to my wounds, and in the mercy of God it healed them. I wished to give my shirt, like the others, for the sails, but they would not consent, and I most gratefully acknowledged the consideration with which I was treated. We rested all day long, that we might not weary our- eelves with rowing ; but we finished the sails, which were up before night. All this happened on the day after the shipwreck. We directed our course by the stars, whose rising and setting we observed carefully; and I drew, as well as I could, upon one of the planks of the deck, a chart repre- senting the islands of Sumatra and Java, with the straits between them, through which we hoped to steer. On the day when the ship was blown up, we were, by the most exact calculation, five and a half degrees south of the line and twenty miles from land. The nights were now so cold that in the mornings we were perfectly stiff, while in the day time we suffered from the most intense heat, for the sun was directly above our heads. The few pounds| of biscuit, which was all our store, I divided into rations and distributed daily among the men ; but we were very near the end of them, althrugh the piece that each one had for the whole day, was scarcely half a finger in size. Our supply of fresh water had failed Fire at Sea. 67 eutirelj, so the first time that it rained we spresui out the Bail and caught the water, with which we filled two small cask». to serve us on days when we had no rain. But we were s<)on obliged to break into this last supply, and I dipped up the water in the end of a shoe ; each man came to me, drank his portion, and then went quickly back to his place. But in the midst of their thirst, the men all said to me, " Drink yourself, captain, as much as you want, for we all depend upon your Although their kind- ness touched me, I could not bring myself to take more than my share. Up to this time the two boats had always ke^t in sight of each other, but as the long boat sailed much faster than the other, the men in the latter exerted themselves to get nearer to us ; and, as they knew almost nothing of the management of a boat, entreated us to take them up into ours, lest they should be separated from us during the night. But our crew refused their request, and cried out to me, " Captain, if we take them in, we shall all go to the bottom, for the boat will not be able to sail" I could not prevail with them, and we were obliged to leave them to their fate. We were now miserable in the extreme. Our biscuit was all consumed, and we could see no land. I used all my powers of eloquence to convince the men that we could not be far from the coast of Java, and prayed them to hiive patience, but their patience did not last long ; they soon ceased to listen to me, and began to murmur and whisper among themselves, "Let the captain sav wliatie es FiBE i.T Sea. will, we are just as likely to be sailing abcut on the open sea as approaching the coast of Java." After we had fasted for a long time, and starvation seemed inevitable, a few sea-mews chanced to fly so near to us that we caught them in our hands, stripped off the feathers, and cut them up into little pieces, which we divi- ded most conscientiously; each man devoured the share that fell to him with the greatest avidity. As for myself, I thought it better than any delicacy I had evdr tasted ; honey had never been half so sweet to me, and we lamen- ted that there was no chance of our again enjoying such a treat. There was still no sign of land, and the men lost all courage, and silently awaited their fate, when the other boat again approached us, and the men in it renewed their entreaties to be taken in. As death seemed inevitable, we consented at least to die all together, and they left their boat to the mercy of the waves, bringing with them their thirty oars, which I arranged upon the benches, so as to form a kind of deck under which our seventy-two men, divided into two parties, alternately rested. In spite of all this, we were, as can easUy be imagined, huddled very closely together, and gazed upon each other with the despairing expression of men who had nothing to "eat, no water to drink, and who could not see a bird upon the sea, nor a cloud in the air which might bring them relief. When we had given up all hope and had begun to prepare ouselves for death, it pleased God to reanimate our sinking courage once more, for a great number of flying Qsh sprung out of the waves and fell into the Voat ; we seized them eagerly, and devoured them raw, with as much Fire at Sea. 69 enjoyment as formerly in the case of the searmews. But now our thirst increased fearfully, and in their despair, Bome of the men began to drink the water from the sea, although I cried out, " friends, forbear to drink the salt water, it will not quench your thirst and will kill you." Others sought refuge in the Uttle pieces of lead and rusty naUs that they could find in the vessel, which they chewed for a temporary relief. Our misery increased every day, and despair took pos- session of us, for the men cast upon each other angry, greedy looks, as though they longed to fall upon and devour one another; indeedj they soon began to speak openly of it, declaring that they would begin with the cabin-boy. Such horror seized me at this dreadful ide^ that I almost lost my courage and presence of mind. In this extremity I turned to God, and begged him as fer- vently as I could, not to permit such a horrible crime ; I then addressed my men, who were actually preparing to kill the cabin-boy, with all the earnestness, and with the most touching words at my command : "Friends, what are you about to do ? Do you not recoil from such a crime? Turn your thoughts to God; he wiU look in mercy upon you, and deliver you from this dreadful temptation, for we cannot be far from land." Then I showed them on the chart which I had cut on the deck, the spot where I believed we were, but they replied that I had said the same thing for many days, and deceived them with hopes that were never realized ; they could not tell whether I was deceived myself, or was only bent upon deceiving them. Spite of these threatening 70 Fire at Sea. speeclies, they consentedj^ at my entreaty, to wait for three days, but swore to carry out their cruel determination if help did not appear at the end of that time. This decis- ion almost broke my heart. I redoubled my prayers, and implored God to have pity upon us and prevent the com- mission of such a crime. In the meanwhile the time flew by, and our hunger and thirst were so intense that they could scarcely be endured. " Ail," cried some, " if we were only on land, we could at least eat grass like the cattle." From this, one can form some idea of our fierce hunger; I tried to cheer up the men with the most encouraging words that I could think of Hope, which was decreasing rapidly in my breast, still sustained me, and although my wounds had weakened me much, and still pained me, I was among the strongest, and could still walk from one end to the other of the boat, while many could not stir from the spot where they were lying. Thirteen days had passed since the shipwreck, and our hope of reaching the coast of Sumatra, which I had not thought far distant, grew every hour more indistinct. All declared that our thirst was no longer to be borne, when the weather grew cloudy and rain began to fall; we imme- diately spread out the sail and laid down upon the deck to catch every drop that we could in our mouths, while we filled our casks as before. I was steering the vessel at this time, and according to my calculations, we were very near land ; I hoped that the weather would clear up, but it continued to rain so vio- lently, and I was so cold and wet that I could hold out no FiBE kT Sea. 71 longer. I called to one of the sailors to relieve me, and crept under the deck to warm me. IV. "Land! land! Friends, we are close to the coast," suddenly cried the steersman, before he had been more than an hour at the helm, quite beside himself With joy. The land which we should have discovered much sooner in clear weather, lay really just before us, and it was a pleasure to see how all immediately aroused themselves, and came eagerly forward to see how far distant it was and how soon we could reach it. We spread all sail that we might arrive before nightfall. As we approached we perceived that the breakers were too strong to admit of our weathering them, and we discovered a little island where was a small bay, in which we cast anchor. The starved crew, gathering together all their remaining strength, sprang on shore, and distributed themselves every where, in search of something to eat; I threw myself upon the ground, kissed it, and gave thanks to God for his timely ?iid, and for having shielded us from the> commission of so foul a crime as the men would have per- petrated on the following day, for this was the last of the days that they had promised to wait, and the cabin boy would have been killed on the morrow. We found an abundance of cocoanuts on the island, but no sweet water ; we were, however, quite satisfied with the refreshing juice of the youngest and tenderest nuts, while the harder ones served us for meat. We indulged too freely in this delicious food after our long fast, and were extremoly 72 Fire at Sea, ill the next day ; we rolled on the ground and shrieked with agony; but it did not last long, and on the following morning we were well again. We explored the island but found no food but cocoanuts, and encountered quite a large serpent ; we saw no human beings, but found traces of vessels having touched there. As it could not be far from Sumatra, according to our cal- culations, we loaded our vessel with cocoanuts and set sail again towards evening. The next morning, Sumatra lay in sight, and with a favourable breeze we bore down upon the coast and sailed along, looking for a harbor where we might land, until our provision of nuts was exhausted. Then, as the breakers seemed every where too strong to trust ourselves to them, it was decided that four or five of the best swimmers should attempt to reach the shore, and search more narrowly for a good landing place. This plan succeeded, and they soon arrived upon the shore of a river where they gave us the signal agreed upon.; we steered in that direction, but just at the mouth of the river there was a sand-bank, upon which the waves broke with great fury. " Friends," I cried, " I cannot undertake to land here without your unanimous consent and co-operation, for if the boat strikes, which is quite possible, I cannot bear the blame alone." I then asked them for their advice ; they had but one opinion — it was best to attempt the landing. " Well, then," I replied, " if you are all willing, I am ready to share the danger with you." I then placed myself at the helm, and prepared to eut Fire at Sea. 73 directly through the breakers, but the Sni wave filled our boat half full with water. " Friends," I cried, " bale her out as quickly as possible." This they did as well as they could with hats, shoes, and the two casks that we had on board, and with such success that our boat was almost empty again, when a second wave filled it anew, so that for a while it could make no further progress, and was near sinking. " Keep her as steady as possible," I cried, " and redouble your exertions, or we are all lost." The men worked, indeed, with superhuman energy ; the third wave was small and did not bring us much water, and, as immediately afterward the sea ebbed, we passed safely through the raging breakers. When we had sailed a little further, we tried the water and found it firesh ; this occasioned us no little joy. We landed on the river, which was covered with low bushes, upon which we found a kind of small sweet beans, which tasted excejllently. Some of our people, ascending a little hill just before us, found the glimmering coals of a recent fire, and some tobacco, with which they joyfully returned. Some natives had probably encamped there, and had forgotten the tobacco, or left it there purposely. We now fell to with the axes that we had with us, and cut down several small trees, of which we made fires in five or six different places, and the crew, l3dng at their ease around them, smoked the tobacco with the most intense enjoyment. In tne evening we replenished the fires, and three of us Kept watch to guard against an attack from the natives, whom we stood in great dread of, particularly as the moon 74 FiEE AT Sea. was on the wane, and the night was very dark. Sea icely had we lam down, when the beans, which we had eaten in such quantities, caused us such fearful agony that we scarcely hoped to survive it. Just when the pain was most violent, our watch startled u^ with the cry, " The savages are coming !" We started up, and spite of oux illness, and although we had no weapons beside the two axes and an old rusty sword, the instinct of self-preservap tion gave us new courage and strength. We all with one accord seized the fire-brands, and ran towards the enemy ; the sparks, being scattered on all sides, must have pre- sented an imposing appearance, for the natives took to flight, and concealed themselves in a neighboring forest. Our people now assembled again around the fires, but the rest of the night was spent in great suffering. Hein Rol and I did not like the idea of remaining upon the land, and we betook ourselves to our craft. On the following morning, at sunrise, three natives ap- proached us from the forest, and we sent three of our peo- ple to meet them, who had learnt the Malay language, which is spoken in Sumatra. A conference was immedi- ately held, and the natives inquired first of all to what nation the strange men belonged. " We are Dutchmen," our men replied, " and have lost our vessel by fire, and have landed here to buy provisions of you, if you have them." " We have chickens and rice," they replied, to our {rreat satisfaction, for it was just this kind of food that we stood most in need of. During the conversation the savages drew nearer to the Fire at Sea. 75 vessel, aiid asked inquisitively if we had any weapons with, us ; we answered as prudence dictated, that we were welt provided with them, as well as with powder and shot. As I had spread out the sails upon our hoat, they could not look in to convince themselves of the truth of our asser- tion. They now brought us some boiled rice and a few chickens, for which we paid with a few Spanish coins that we had in our pockets. " Well, my friends," I said, " let us betray no fear, but sit directly down, and eat what we have procured, and then consider what we shall next do." When we had finished our meal, we consulted how we should supply our necessities. As we were not perfectly sure of our whereabouts, we asked the natives to tell us^ the name of their country, and though we could neither understand, nor make ourselves understood perfectly, we gathered from them that we were really upon Sumatra, for when we mentioned Java, they pointed towards the south- east, and uttered distinctl}'^ the name of Jan Coen, who was the Dutch commander upon that island. We were now convinced that we were upon the right road, and were not a little rejoiced. Being still in need of provisions, it was determined that,, in order to procure them, I, with four of our men, should go in a light pirogue, belonging to the natives, to one of the nearest villages. I reached it safely, bought a good supply of rice and chickens, and sent them to Hein Eol to dis- tribute amonff the men. Then 1 and my four men cooked 76 FiRK AT Sea. several fowls and some rice, and eat a good hearty meal; we drank besides a quantity of a kind of wine made from the sap of a tree, so strong as to be intoxicating. "While eating, the inhabitants of the village sat round us, and fievoured with their eyes every mouthful that we took. After dinner I bought a buffalo, which, however, was too wild to be led away. As we had already wasted some time, I proposed to return to our friends, and leave the buffalo till the next day. My four sailors begged me so earnestly to allow them to spend the night in the village, assuring me that they could easily take the buffalo when he should lay down for the night, that although I hesitated ; at first, I at last consented, took leave of them, and /bade them good night. "When I came to the bank of the river, where the pirogue lay, I encountered a multitude of savages, who were arguing with one another very earnestly, the point being, as I gathered from their gestures, whether they should detain me or let me go. Without a moment's delay I seized two of them by the arms, and pushed them forwards, whilst I gave them to understand by signs that they must row me down the river, as my servants or slaves. They eyed me maliciously, but were so overawed by my boldness that they obeyed, and entered the canoe. I seated myself in the middle of the boat, and the two savages, who both wore daggers in their girdles, took their places before and behind me. They had only made one or two strokes \yith the oars, when the one sitting behind me, gave me to understand, by signs, that he wanted money ; 1 quietly put my hand in my pocket and gave FiEE AT Sba. 77 him a small coin, wliich he looked at for some tinle, evi- dently undecided what to do, and finally tied it up in the comer of the girdle that he wore around his waist, and then resumed his oars. When the other savage perceived how his companion's request had been answered, he also made the same signs ; with the same coolness I drew a small piece of money from my pocket and handed it to him. He turned it over in his hand and seemed still more undecided than his companion, whether he should take it ,quietly or fall upon me. He niight have overcome me very easily, for I was unarmed, and I felt like a lainb between two wolves. Heaven knows how my heart was beating at that moment. In the meantime, as the tide was ebbing we glided • quickly down the river, and were, about mid-day, on our return, when the two natives commenced a conversation which grew more and more earnest, and from which t could only too clearly understand their murderous inten- tions. This threw me into such a panic that I actually ^liila-embled, and I inwardly prayed most fervently that God would instruct me what to do in this trying emergency. Scarcely was my prayer ended when a voice within ine suggested that I should begin to sing. Althougli .i cold shudder was running over me, I began to sing immediately with aU my might, so that the forests which lined the shore echoed again, and I discovered for the first time that fear will drive a man to singing. When my two guides heard me singing they broke out into peals of laughter, and I read plainly in their faces that thej' considered my conduct as a proof that I enter- 78 FiKE AT Sea. tained neitner fear nor suspicion. They were, however, quite mistaken ; my state of mind was very different from what they imagined it. I sung on without interruption, and very soon the canoe came in sight of our vessel. I arose and made a sign to some of my men stationed as a guard along the shore ; they observed it and hastened towards me. My courage rose, and when they were near enough to lend me any assistance that I might need, I commanded my two oarsman to land before me, for I thought this the surest way of guarding against a stab from behind; they obeyed me without the slightest hesi- tation, and thus I rejoined my companions in safety. The savages, without betraying the least vexation at the des- truction of their plan, asked various questions as to where we stayed and slept, and after I had satisfied them by pointing out to them the vessel and some huts made of the boughs of trees, they got into their pirogue and rowed oflf. The night passed without any disturbance, and we all slept so soundly that we did not wake until long after sun rise. When I heard that the men whom I had left behind in the village, had not yet returned, I became uneasy and began to fear that they might have met with some acci- dent. A few minutes afterwards, two natives appeared in the distance, driving a buffalo before them ; as they came nearer I observed that it was not the same that I had bought the day before, and asked them, through a sailor, who understood their language, why they had made an exchange, and where our four men were. They replied fihat they had found it impossible to bring the unruly ani- Fire at Sea. 79 mal that I had bought, and that our men would soon appear with another buffalo. This answer somewhat allayed my apprehensions, and as I saw that the creature that they were driving was yery fierce and unmanagable, I told one of my men standing near, to take the axe and lame the beast, as we could not afford to lose him. The man obeyed, and the buffalo fell to the ground. At the same moment the savages uttered a fearful yell, and at this sign two or three hundred more rushed out of the forest where they had been cancealed, and ran towards our vessel, evidently with the intention of cutting off our retreat to it. At first this gave me no uneasiness, and I said coolly to my men, " Stand still and show no fear ; we are quite strong enough to make our way through that cowardly mob." But scarcely were the words out of my mouth, when the savages burst forth from all parts of the forest in such overpowering numbers that it seemed as if the whole pop- ulation of the island were resolved upon our destruction. They were armed with spears and shields, and made the most frantic gestures. " My friends," I cried, when I comprehended our danger, " make for the vessel as quickly as possible. If they suc- ceed in cutting us off from it we are lost." We began to run with all our might, and most of us reached our destination in safety ; others sprang into the stream and swam down the river. The savages were so close behind us that, before we pushed off, several of our people had perished by the spears of their blood-thirsty 80 FisE AT Sea. assailaats. The sails were stretched out like a roof over, the deck, and it seemed almost impossible to draw up the anchor. While working at it we fought bravely with our two axes, and killed several of the savages, who boldly attempted to get on board. Our ship-baker, a tall, strong man, particularly distinguished himself by his courage in using an old rusty sword. " Now cut the rope," I cried to him, but his weapon was not sharp enough. I sprang to his side, and drawing the rope upon the deck, we quickly severed it, and pusl^ed'off from the shore. The savages rushed into the water after us, but they lost their footing on the steep bank, and were obliged to give up the chase. We now picked up our people, wlio were swimming down the river, and, as a favorable wind was blowing from the land, set sail. The breakers, which had nearly over- whelmed us in first approaching the shore, were passed through now without much difficulty, and we thus defeated the expectations of the savages, who were all collected upon a projecting point of land, awaiting our destruction. Our joy at our fortunate delivery from so imminent a danger, was embittered by the suffering 'of our poor baker, whose countenance now began to be much discoloured. He had received a slight wound from a spear in his side, of which at first he took no notice, but as the spear was poisoned, it began to grow black, and inflamed in a few moments. I cut out all the flesh that seemed to be afieo ted, but I gave him needless pain, for he died shortlv after- ward in' the greatest agony, and we threw the body into the sea. Fire at Sea, 81 When we numbered over our men we found that sixteen were missing ; eleven had perished in our flight, the baker and the four who had remained in the village, and who had probably fallen victims to their imprudence during the night. I had to thank them, however, for my safety, as if all five had attempted to return, we should undoubtedly have fallen a prey to the savages, from whom I had been 80 wonderfully preserved. VI. We now sailed rapidly along the coast, before the wind ; the provisions which we had with us comprised only eighl; fowls and some rice — rather a moderate supply for fifty men. It was soon exhausted, and as the sea afibrded us no food, we were obhged to land in the first bay that we discovered. Not far from the shore a crowd of natives was assembled, but as they instantly took to flight, we could not ask them for provisions. Meanwhile we found excellent water to drink, which we were very glad of, and on the shore of the bay quantities of small oysters, with which, when our hunger was satisfied, we filled our pock- ets. A hatfuU of pepper, which I had bought at our first landing-place, stood us in good stead in helping us to digest this food. We soon pushed off again and hold out more to sea, but we had not proceeded far when tha wind rose and soon increased to a storm; we drew in the sails, spread them over the deck, crept under them, and resigned ourselves to the waves. Towards morning, the storm abated, and we set sail again. At day-break we discovered before us three 82 Fire at Sea. amall islands, upon which we determined to land, although they appeared to be uninhabited. We reached the nearest the same day and found fresh water, of which we stood in great need. We saw here also, great bamboo reeds as thick as a man's wrist. We cut these down, cutting througL one of the solid knobs at the bottom, filled them with water and stopped them up with a cork at the top. Thus we obtained quite a supply of fresh water ; but although we explored the whole island, we found no fruits or living creatures, and we were obliged to contend Cif- eelves with the cabbage-like leaves of the palm tree. One day I left my companions, who wore lying on the ground at the foot of the mountain, and iiiounted to its summit, to endeavor to discover some spot which might be inhabited or have been visited before, for all the hopes of the crew rested upon me alone. But as I had never been in these seas before, and had no compass or any other instruments so necessary to the mariner, I could not decide what course we should take to arrive at Java. When I had reached the summit, I saw around me nothing but sky and sea, not a trace of land. As I always had in my Borest need, turned to God, I did it now, fell upon my knees and prayed him earnestly to open the eyes of my spirit, that I might discover the true path of safety for myself and my companions. 1 then arose to descend again, and cast my eyes around me once more. Then it seemed to me that some clouds on my right hand were dispersing, and in a little while the atmosphere became so dear that I could discern in the far distance, two high blue mountains. I now suddenly remembered that at home T FmE AT Sea. 83 had heard a traveller from the East Indies, say that in approaching Java from Europe, the island could be recog- nized by two mountains on its western extremity, which looked blue in the distance. But we had come along the left coast of Sumatra to the island where we now were, and these mountains were upon the right. I saw distinctly between them an empty space and could discover no land in the back ground ; as I knew that the straits of Sunda sep- arated Java from Sumatra, I felt confident that I had disr covered the right way, and descended the mountain, to impart my discovery to Hein Eol. " Your supposition," said he joyfuUy, " appears to me perfectly correct; let us immediately collect the crew and prepare to take the direction you propose." We all hastened our preparations, and as the wind was favorable, we set sail the same day, and steered directly for the strait that I had discovered. At midnight we saw in the distance a glimmering light, and thought at first that it must be the signal light of some vessel, but as a second soon appeared in almost the same place, we could not but think that we were near the land. At day-break the wind left us entirely, for we were already upon the inner coast of Java. A sailor, whom I sent to the mast- head to look roimd, cried out, " I see a quantity of ships," and immediately counted thirty-three of them. We were filled with inexpressible joy, and most of our men began to spring and dance like children. As the calm continued, they seized the oars and rowed to the place where the fleet lay at anchor. We soon recognized the Dutch flag, and thanked Grod 84 Fire at Sea. that we were surrounded by countrymen. The commandej of the squadron, Frederick Houtman, of Alkmaar, was standing in the prow of his vessel, and, attracted by ou* curious sails, examined us through his spy-glass ; not being able to understand the strange appearance, he sent a boat out to us to know who we were, and whence we came. The men in this boat had sailed with us from Holland in another ship ; they instantly recognized us, and took Heia Rol and myself to the admiral's vessel. He received us most cordially, carried us into the cabin, and without delay had the table covered with a hearty meal for us. When I saw the bread and the other food, I was so much affected that the tears roUed down my cheeks, and I could scarcely eat. In the meantime my men had arrived, and had been divided among the other vessels, where they met with the greatest kindness. After the admiral had listened with astonishment to our adventures, he sent us in a yacht to Batavia, the capital of the Dutch possessions in the East Indies. We arrived on the following morning, presented ourselves before the Governor-general, Jan Pieters Coen, and related the story of our sufferings to him. " Who can be blamed — ^it was a great misfortune," he said drily, after he had heard us to the end without once interrupting us. Then he asked us concerning several incidents of our voyage. " Who can be blamed — it was a great misfortune," he repeated again, just as drily, after we had answered his questions. FiBE AT Sea. 85 Then he had a golden goL^*».t brought to him, and said somewhat more cordially : " Captain, I wish better luck to you for the future, and drink your health. Tou should remember, all your life- time, the mercy that has been shown to you, for the Al- mighty has repeatedly spared your life when you ha,d given yourself up for lost." Then drinking to the health of Hein Eol, he added, " Remain as guests in my house U7»,til I can provide further for you." In the course of a fortnight he made me captain, and Hein Rol the supercargo, of a vessel of thirty-two guns. We thanked him most heartily, and were not a little rejoiced that we two, who had stood by each other in mis fortune, were again serving in the same vessel. Ii|e Segert. On an uncomfortable evening, when the fog was bo thick that we could scarcely see the end of the bowsprit, I was walking backwards and forwards on the deck of my vessel, which was steering for the island of the Green Mountains, to take ia a cargo of salt, oppressed by an inexplicable terror which quite overcame my better judg- ment. No one on board was thinking of danger, and the man at the helm was just calling " ten o'clock," when retired to my cabin. Soon after I heard ominous sounds among the men on watch, and as I hastened upon deck I was greeted by a piercing cry. At first I thought of nothing but a sudden gale of wind, and was about to issue the necessary orders, when I perceived breakers foaming and raging on our left. As none, however, were to be seen ahead, I hoped to escape even this danger, and ordered the ftnchor to be in readiness ; but this hope vanished utterly when the vessel was driven by the current and a mighty w^ave directly towards the breakers, and I saw she must be vrrecked. We dropped our largest anchor, and drew in all sail, but wave upon wave urged us forward and we were driven upon the saud with such a shock that the crew were prostrated upon the deck. I knew now that there was no hope for the ship, which must soon fill with water, and instantly I gave orden to (86) The Desehi. 87 have all the provisions, that C9uld be got at, brought upon deck, and we then emptied several wine casks, that they might hold the water drawn from the hogsheads on board. The waves broke over our bows, and swept the forward deck, but we succeeded in launching both the long and small boat, and had loaded the former with five casks of water, as many of wine, three casks of biscuits, and four others with salt meat, besides books, charts, nautical instru- ments, and clothes, before the day dawned and allowed us to discover our proximity to the land ; as I found it quite near, I secured one end of a stout cable to the mast of the ship, and the other to our small boat, into which I, with one of the crew, descended on the side of the vessel where the fury of the waves was broken. In pushing off v/e were perfectly overwhelmed in the boiling, angry flood, and im- mediately driven forwards more than a hundred yards ; the foaming breakers only now and then allowed us a short breathing space, but at last we were with our boat hurled upon a low sandy shore. My first care, after recovering from the shock, was to bale out the boat and drag it high up upon the shore. For- tunately, the cable was still secured to it, and we fastened it securely by means of a part of the vessel which had been already thro'wn upon the shore. Our ship lay at high tide, about a hundred yards from the shore, and in order to rescue the crew, a strong rope was tied to the cable, which stretched from them to us ; we drew it over to us and secured it firmly. This accomplished, two men got into the long boat which was loaded with our provisions, &c., and on the back of a huge wave, reached the land, but the 88 The Desekt. boat was dashed upon the shore with so much violeace that it broke. With the greatest difficulty we succeeded in saving three casks of buiscuit and two of pork. For the rest of the crew on board of the vessel, no means of safety now remained but the tightly stretched rope, and I immediately urged them, by signs, to avail themselves of it. The boldest of the sailors threw off his jacket, seized the rope, and began his perilous journey ; as soon as he got beyond the protection of the wreck, the waves rose, each, some yards above his head, and seemed to bury him in their depths ; he, however, held on with the gripe of one working for his life, and gained a little distance between each wave, until one more powerful than the rest, tore the rope from him and hurled him upon the shore, where we rolled him over and over, until he came to himself. I stood up to my chin in the water, although the waves broke over my head, and gave all the assistance in my power, to the men coming over on the rope, and I was so fortunate as to recei/e the whole crew safe upon the land. As we saw that we were upon a desert, barren coast, our first, care was to secure the casks of water and provision that we had fished out of the breakers ; we then erected with our oars and two sails a kind of tent, foolishly pupT[>o- sing that no one would discover us in this inhospitable country, and purposing to mend our boats with the wood and planks that would be thrown on shore from the wreck, BO that we might put to sea in a calm, and with the help of our compass, reach some European settlement or friendly vessel. The Desert. S9 While were diligently occupied in the erection of our tent, we perceived a human form emerging from behind a sand-hill, and proceed to the shore to plunder our effects, which were strewn about there. I approached the stran- ger with every sign of peace and amity that I could think of; but he seemed very shy, and gave me to understand, by signs, that I must keep myself at a distance, while he continued to possess himself of our property. I then grew angiy, and as he was imarmed, approached until I was within twenty paces of him. Apparently, he was quite old, but stUl powerful and agile ; the color of his skin was darker than that of a North American Indian, and lighter than that of a negro ; his clothing consisted of a piece of coarse woollen cloth that reached from his breast to his knees. His hair was long, matted, and stood out far around his head like a stiff brush ; his face resembled more an ourang-outang than a human being ; red, fiery eyes, a mouth stretching from ear to ear, but filled with sound teeth, and a beard hanging down upon his breast from his upper Up and chin, gave him a frightful appearance and suggested forcibly to my mind, the idea that those teeth had been sharpened in feasts of human flesh. Two old women, of a Kke exterior, appa- rently his wives, soon joined him. Although they were not quite as repulsive as the old man, and wore their long hair in braids, yet they were anything but attractive, for their brown skin hung in flabby folds from their bodies, and their eye-teeth projected like the tusks of the wild 90 The Desebt. boar. A girl from eighteeu to twenty years old, who was just not hideous, and six children of various site and sex, entirely naked, completed the group ; they took what they wanted, and carried the articles of clothing in-shore, where they spread them out to dry. They emptied the beds of their contents as they perceived the utility of the outside only, and amused themselves with the blowing about of the feathers by the wind. All appeared perfectly satisfied with their booty, and even the forbidding features of the old man brightened a little when he encountered no opposition on our part. We were, indeed, provided with no fire-arms or other efiective weapons, but it would not have been difficult to have driven this mob away with some of the poles and planks of the wreck. Some of the sailors were preparing to do so, but I dissuaded them from it, as I saw clearly that in our present wretched condition, the friendship of these people was a matter of great importance to us. We qui- etly let them take what they wanted and determined to defend our provisions only, to the last. After spending the day in the erection of our tent, and in mending our injured boat, upon which rested all our hope of safety, we kindled a great fire and prepared an excellent meal of salt meat, not suspecting that this would be the last of our provisions that we should enjoy. When we had thus refreshed ourselves, we set two of our men as a watch, and stretched out our weary limbs upon the soft sand. Night had already enveloped every thing in her dark mantle, the savages were at a distance, and all was •till except the restless waves which broke \apon the for- The Deseet. 91 gaken wreck and dashed upon some rocks at no great di* tance firom us. Up to this moment, the exertion which our situation rendered necessary, had so occupied my mind as to banish all reflection, but now it broke like a flood over my soul and the necessary sleep forsook my weary frame. The crew relied for safety upon the miserably mended boat, but I doubted if we could ever escape from the coast through the raging breakers in such a jfrail skiff. On land, danger menaced us from the wild, greedy savages, who might be evfea now preparing to rob us, if not of Hfe yet of freedom, dragging us away to a slavery worse than death. I was distressed and despairing ; a thousand anx ieties filled my mind. I was a husband and the father of five little children, whom I dearly loved and whom I must soon leave orphans. I shuddered, but at last was able to say within myself, " Thy ways, great Father of the uni- verse, are wisdom and goodness, and who am I ? A grain of dust; shall I complain of thy decrees?" I soon found consolation in the thought that my com- panions, who lay around me buried in the deepest slumber, were still alive and with me, and I felt it my solemn duty to exert all my power for their preservation and safety. Occupied with such thoughts, the night passed slowly for me ; at last day dawned in the east, not upon a oheering prospect of rescue for us, but upon new scenes of misery. It was scarcely light when the old man, with his wives and children, and two young men whom I had not seen the day before, came down to us. He brandished a long spear above his head, as if he were about to throw it at ug, and signified by threatening gestures that we must retreat 92 The Desert. to the wreck if we would not fall into the hands «f eome of his people, whom I already perceived in the distance, approaching us with a herd of camels. The women, at the same time, raised a fearful shriek, and threw sand into the air. When I ran towards the shore, to seize a plank lying there, the old man ran like a maniac to our tent, chased out of it, with a few pricks of his spear, the men who were yet sleeping there, and so terrified them, by his gestures and pointing to the drove of camels, that they aU rushed towards the little boat, whilst I kept the old man at ahttle distance with my plank. They prepared to embark in such confusion and disorder that the boat fiUed and sank. Then we attempted to escape along the shore, leaving behind us all our provision^, but the terrible spear was turned against us, and we were surrounded by the women, screaming and gesticulating like fiends. We now saw that no way of escape was left for us ; they were forcing us to embark that they might be rid of us without danger to themselves. I therefore shoved the long boat into the water, and insisted that the crew should get in at the stem one by one ; thus we at last succeeded in escaping to the ship, which was by this time half full of water. III. The natives, as soon as we were no longer in the way, collected around our tent, and, brandishing their weapons, made their camels kneel down — loaded them with our pro- visions and other artibles, and then bade their children drive them off. The malicious old man cut open our wine and water casks, and let the contents escape; the other The Desert. 93 articles, for which they could find no use, books, nautical instruments, and charts, were heaped up together and burned. Now that we had neither food nor water, no choice was left us but to put to sea in our leaky boat, to remain in the vessel all night and be drowned, or to die in the hands of these cruel savages. These, we gathered from their gestures, would shortly return with fire-arms; besides they could easily reach the wreck, for a sand bar extending some distance into the &ea, was even nov,- visible, and would be quite dry at low tide. We therefore deter- mined to make preparations for our departure as quickly as possible; we fished up some pickled beef and bottles of wine firom the hold at the risk of our lives. We had no water, and our biscuit was all ruiaed. We rigged the long boat as well as we could, and were about to set sail, when the natives, touched with pity, as it seemed, for our wretched condition, approached the shore, bowed to the ground, and beckoned to us, with every sign of amity, to come again to the land. As we showed no inclination to do so, the old man advanced alone into the water up to his waist, with a leather bottle of water, and invited us repeatedly to come and drink. As we were not a little thirsty, I advanced towards him by means of the rope which stm stretched from the wreck to the land, took the bottle and brought it to my companions. The old man then signified to me that he wished to go on board of the wreck, if I would stay on shore until his return. Convinced that it was best to maintain a friendly under- standing with the natives, I accepted his proj^osition, and returned to the beach again. 94 The Djssert. The young men, women and children, all nearly naked, Bat down on the edge of the beach, and repeated the friendly signs, looking upwards, as if they called heavtu to witness that their intentions were honest. I placed my- self in the midst of them and they behaved in a very friendly manner, putting their hands into mine, trying on my hat, and feeling my clothes, and searching my pocksts most thoroughly. When the old man had been taken on board by my peo- ple, I tried to make them understand that they must keep him until I had been set free, hut the roaring of the waves prevented me from being understood, and after he had examined every thing carefully, from the provisions swim- ming about in the hold, to the money, fire-arms, ^nd what- ever else valuable was to be found, he was allowed to return. I now attempted to rise ; but two tf the strong- est of the young men who were sitting licside me, threw themselves upon me like lions, and held me down, while the women and children drew their daggers and knives, which they had hitherto concealed, and pointed them at my breast. Resistance would have availed me nothing, I therefore, remained perfectly quiet and determined to betray no fear. They now laid aside the hypocritical ex- pression of kindness frtjni their faces, and their former malignity appeared ; thoy gnashed their teeth and pricked my skin with the points of their knives, while the old man took up a sabre, seized me by my hair, and made as if he would cut oflf my head. I was satisfied that my last hour had come, and that my body was destined to appease the hunger of these monsters, whom I firmly believed to be The Desert. 95 cannibals. " Grod, thy will be done," I mentally ejacu* lated, and resigned myself to m}- inevitable fate. But all these threatening gestures were only meant to terrify me ; as I showed no signs of fear, the old man released my head from his grasp, after he had touched ray neck gently with his sabre. Then he made me to under- stand that if I valued my life I must immediately have all the money that we had on board brought to land. My people were about to come to my relief when the old man released me, and I shouted to them to bring all the gold from the vessel ; they were again prevented by the dis- tance and the noise of the waves, from hearing what I added, that they must not give it up until I was perfectly at liberty. In the hope of effecting my rescue, they col- lected all the money that they possessed, amounting to about a thousand piastres, and putting it into a bucket, slipped it along the rope to the shore. The old man emp- tied the bucket into his woollen apron, and commanded me to follow him. The two young men led me along by my arms, and held their long knives to my breast, while the woman and children followed close behind me with their spears and daggers. In this way we proceeded about seven hundred paces ; then they sat down upon the ground and the old man divided the money into three parts, one he gave to the young men, and one to his wives, reserving the third for himself While they were thus busied, they released my arms, and I thought to myself, " If I do not now escape my fate is sealed." I felt sure that an unsuo- cessfiil attempt at flight would be followed by certain death, but I, nevertheless, determined to attempt it, and seized a 96 The Desert. moment for it when I thought the attention of all directed from me. But one of the young men, observing my in- tention, struck a blow at me with his sabre, and although I avoided it by falling back upon the ground, it cut through my waistcoat ; he was about to repeat the blow, when the old man commanded him to desist. My tormenters now arose, and still holding me by the arms, and threatening me with their knives, continued their inland progress. I was in despair, when suddenly the thought struck me of appealing to the avarice of these savages. I signified to them that the crew possessed much more money ; they received this communication with great delight, and, sending one of the young men on with their booty, they instantly returned with me to the shore, where they seated me as before, and commanded me to have the promised money brought on shore. Although I knew that there was no more money in the vessel, I hoped that my men would attempt my rescue, but they now saw clearly the danger that threatened them, and were not inclined to hazard the venture. I therefore waited an hour on the beach, threatened every moment with instant death, and finally became so hoarse with hallooing that I could not make myself audible to those around me. At last one of the sailors, whose humanity conquered his fears for his life, came over upon the rope. The natives immediately flocked around him, thinking that he had brought more money with him; when they discovered their mistake they struck him with their fists and the handles of their daggers ; the children pricked him with the points of their knives, and all appeared determined upon giving him up The Desebt. 97 to a slow, cruel death. He begged upon hifl knees for hit life, but they did not heed his prayers. To free him from the fury of these monsters, I cried out to him to make them understand by signs that there was money hidden on the spot where we had erected our tent. We had actually buried a purse containing four hundred dollars there, which I just then remembered. They soon understood him, and dragging him to the spot, made him begin to dig. I sat upon the sand, my face turned toward? the sea, between the old man, who held his spear at my heart, and the strongest of the young men, who held his sabre just above my head. When the diggers find what ihey are searching for, thought I, my guards will turn their heads to see, for the place where they were searching was directly behind us. I thought over my plan of escape, Mid without exciting suspicion, drew my legs up under me, that I might be ready for a spring at any moment. Suddenly there was a shout behind us, and as I had foreseen, my guards turned their heads around. Quick as lightning I sprang from under their weapons, and fled towards the sea ; my life hung on my speed, and in less than a minute I reached the water. As I h«ard some one close behind me, I plunged head foremost into the waves, ! and swam under water as long as I could ; then I Ufted i my head, and looked round at my persecutors. The old 8 man, up to his chin in the water, was only about ten steps i behind me, and in the act of hurling his spear through my li body, when a wave, rolling over me, rescued my life, and In hurled him and his companion upon the beach. I now jl Bwam as quickly as possible towards ):he vessel, and spite 98 The Desekt. of the gigantic breakers that broke ove- me, I reached it, and was dragged half unconscious into the boat by the sailors. Completely exhausted, I could not see what ensued upon the shore, but I learnt from my men that my pursuers stood like statues at the water's edge until they saw me safe in the vessel. Then they rushed upon the poor sailor, pierced him through the heart with a spear, and withdrew immediately with every thing they had found. When I came to myself again, I saw the bloody corse of the sailor stretched out upon a sand hill, and was indescribably pained at the thought that perhaps I had caused his death by my flight ; and although calmer reflection has convinceif me that my death would have been the ruin of my thought less companions, still the remembrance of the murder ot the poor fellow, who owed his death to sympathy for m^ embitters my thoughts to this hour. After this cruel murder, we no longer had the shghtest doubt that the savages would return in greater force, and that we should all share the fate of our poor companion as soon as they could succeed in overpowering us in any way. The wind was blowing strong, and the waves broke thirty feet high upon the wreck ; any hope of gaining the , open sea, in our frail boat, was more than doubtful, for tossed about by the waves, now against the sand bank, and now against the wreck, it was bent Uke an old basket, and leaked so badly that two men could scarcely keep it empty by the most diligent bailing. Still, a'^ there was no otbei Missing Page Missing Page The Desert. 101 heavy with storms. The wind blew more fiercely from the north-east, and about midnight the waves raged so that that the boat was half full of water. All hands were occupied in bailing it out with hats and shoes and we believed our last hour was at hand. The sea rushed through the holes and seams of our craggy skiff and the nails that I had driven in on shore appeared to keep their hold only by the pressure of the water on the outside. Sharp, blinding flashes of lightning darted through the gloom and added to the horrors of our situation. All courage now forsook the crew, and they declared it useless to exert themselves to keep the boat empty, as it must, in spite of all our labor, fill and sink. Some even dipped their heads in the sea to find out what effect the water would have upon them, and whether drowning werf really painful; others began to prepare themselves fol death, and to pray for forgiveness for their sins. Thil hour of trial was fearful, and I was scarcely able, by my entreaties and example, to induce them to continue to paS. the boat. Thus passed this dreadful night, in which out burning thirst, increased by our exertions, was not the least part of our misery, and we could only moisten out lips with 5 few drops of wine. The storm continued through the whole of the following day, and even increased at night-fall, so that our boat was tossed about most fearfully, and leaked even worse than before. The next morning we were entirely exhausted by hunger, thirst, and toil, and to add to our misery, the sun sent its burnltog rays directly upon our uncovered boat. No ship was in sight, and as our water was all gone bat 102 Thb Desert. two or three drops, and our strength was vanish .ng, I lost all hope of rescue upon the open sea, and towards noon, told my companions that I judged it best to s^^eer again for the coast. All assented joyfully, and with great patience continued to bail out the boat, although the wind was still very high. Twice a day we moistened our lips with a little wine, and devoured, at the same time, the flesh, bones, and at last, even the skin of the pig. The boat was in such a miserable condition that it could scarcely hold together a day longer, and yet the coast, which was much farther oflF than I had thought, was not to be seen. Some of the men began again to despair; thirst induced them to forget what they owed to their companions in misery, and during the night they drank up one of the two bottles of wine that was all our store. When in the morning I asked for the missing wine, all ienied having taken it, each declaring that he should consider such an act an unpardonable crime, and he who should perpetrate it worthy only to be thrown overboard. The vehemence of the protestations of the guilty ones betrayed them to me, but the wine was gone, and nothing remained but patience and stricter watchfuless for the future. At last we discovered land at a great distance, and directly ahead ; it appeared very level ; not the slightest elevation was to be perceived, and I therefore judged that we were approaching a sandy desert shore, where death would soon put an end to our sufferings. But as we came nearer we found t to be a coast, bordered by steep, upright rocks, among which we could find no landing place ; no The Desebt. 103 path by which to ascend the steep heights. I therefore advised passing the night on the sea, and searching in the morning for a less perilous landing place. But all the men opposed this plan, and I therefore steered for a place between some high rocks, where a little spot of sand was visible. A gigantic wave seized our boat and threw it just upon the spot that I' had chosen, but with such violence that it was shattered to pieces. Every where around us, great broken masses of rock projected from the water, upon which the breakers dashed with fury, and we felt that we oad again been preserved only by the special care of Pro- ridence. V. After we had recovered our scant remains of food from foe waves, I climbed the rocky shore, and found that we were upon a high cape, which I learned afterwards was tailed the White cape. As, however, the summit appeared inaccessible from this side, and the night was falling, I returned to my companions, who had, in the meantime, prepared a sleeping place upon the sand between the rocks. We were most miserable indeed; our meat was almost eaten up ; oiu; stiffened limbs refused their office, and our parched tongues could scarcely articulate, although we had exhausted our last bottle of wine before making an attempt to land, lest we should lose it. However, we eat a little piece of salt meat, laid down to rest with a prayer of thankfulness, and spite of our wretched condition, slept soundly all night long. Kefreshed and encouraged by our undisturbed slumbera, 104 The Desebt. we arose the next morning determined to find our way over the clifis to the country beyond, where we hoped to find water and some nourishing roots. The rocks rose perpendicularly over our heads, sometimes five and six hundred feet high, and we clambered among them, just on the edge of the sea, for the rest of the day, often up to our necks in water, without finding any path to the summit. We were often in imminent peril of our lives, for the least false step would have plunged us into the fearful abyss beneath us, where the foaming breakers would have dashed us to pieces upon the sharp rocks. Our shoes were almost cut to pieces, our feet torn and bleeding, the rays of a ver- tical sun scorched our emaciated bodies, and there was no breath of air among the high clifis to cool our boiling blood; to complete the measure of our miseries, I had, in climb- ing, broken my bottle, which had contained two or three drops of wine, and my tongue almost rattled in my throat When night came on we had scarcely ■ advanced half a mile ; entirely exhausted, we prepared our couch for the night upon some soft sand, under an overhanging cliff close apon the sea, and after taking a mouthful of be6f, and ofiering a prayer for succor, we laid down to rest. The following day, although fatigue scarcely allowed us to stand upright, we continued our journey, and soon dis- covered, not far off", a broad level shore of sand, upon which the rpcky wall appeared to be less steep, and to open a path for us. We approached this spot with joy ; but when almost there found ourselves cut off fi-om it by a steep fragment of rock, extending far into the sea, which, con oealing the base of the rock, beat with great fury against The Desert. 105 its head, fantastically shaped by the dashing of the waves for thousands of years. To damber over this rock ap- peared just as impossible as to go round it through the water, and this last could not have been done quickly enough to avoid the breakers, which would have seized the unhappy man venturing such an attempt, and hurled him upon the sharp rocks in the hollows of the cliff. To press on any further in this direction, was to doom ourselves to destruction, but to turn back would only in- crease our sufferings without affording us any aid. We stood still in despair. Fortunately, just at this moment, we discovered in the sea, about half way around this steep cliff, a smaller frag- ment of rock, which had apparently rolled down from above, and which, although it was concealed by every j breaker as it dashed upon it, was left bare when the waves receded. In hopes of gaining this spot between the waves, I rushed into the water as one was receding, and, reaching it, clung to it for my hfe, while the next rushed over m« and broke upon the chff. As this last rolled back, I plunged again into the water, and reached the other side of the cliff — clung there again until the next breaker had spent its fury, when I clambered up out of the reach of the water. My men followed my example, reached th« first rock as I had done, and thence the spot where I lay stretched out on the sand, ready to draw them up. Al- though our limbs were not a little bruised and lacerated by these exertions, we felt somewhat encouraged, and soon gained the sandy plain. Here we dug for water in several different places, but 106 The Desert. every where found it salt. While my companions were thus occupied, I endeavored, in the hope of finding Water or something green, to climb the wall of rocks before as, and succeeded in doing so. But what was my dismay when, on reaching the desired summit, I saw nothing, as far as my eyes could reach, but a barren sandy plain, with not even a bush or a green leaf to be seen. Fainting with fatigue, I threw myself on the ground; after some time I came to myself, and looked axound — despair seized me, and I was about to cast myself from the rock into the sea, when the recollection of my anhapjiy companions, who looked to me for advice and encouragement, and of my wife and children, who depen- ded upon me for their support, brought me to my senses, tnstead of burying myself in the water, I only took a bath iu it, which refreshed me exceedingly, and I descended ►gain to my men with a lighter heart. As they had found no water in digging, and had every where struck upon rock, they desisted, and we determined to pursue our weary wfay. It was noon when we all stood before the steep height which I had climbed in the morning, and which seemed to us, in our exhausted state, perfectly inaccessible ; we therefore laid down in the shadow of an overhanging cliff to rest and to escape the rays of the sun, which had so heated the air that we could hardly breathe. No breath of wind was stirring, and a hot mist rose from the damp sand. We were so worn out that neither thirst nor our sad thoughts could keep our eyos open ; we were bwned for two hours in a jdeath-like deep, during which a soft The Desert. 107 breeze sprang up from the sea that refreshed us somewhat We clambered up the rocks on our hands and knees ; I had prepared my companions for the sight of the desert above, but the actual prospect of the immense waste so affected them, that they involuntarily sank upon the ground, crying out, " All is over with us ; here we must breathe our last, after such horrible suffering, such superhuman exertions; we shall find here neither water nor food, neither man nor beast, nothing can exist here." All the moisture left in our bodies flowed over at our eyes ; but when the salt tears rolled down over our cheeks, we could not refrain from catching them upon our fingers, and then moistening our tongues, which were now almost as dry as tanned leather, so that we could with difficulty articulate intelligibly. I urgently entreated my despairing comrades to proceed flowly a little farther, as we might still find help. The soil was very hard and stony, but at last we came upon some bitter plants about the size of a man's finger, which we dug up with some difficulty with our sticks. They were very dry, but tasted well, and we only lamented that we had no more of them. Towards evening we discovered the traces of camels, with here and there human footsteps, and after sunset we noticed the Ught of a fire not very far off. We were once more inspired with hope, but as we were utterly unable to take another step, we took up our quarters for the night upon a spot where the sand was soft, firmly convinced that the next day we should reach some human habitation. By sunrise the next morning, we con- tinued our journey, and had not gone fiir, before, on iOS The Desert. ascending a sand hill, we saw right before us, on a level open place by the sea, a drove of camels and a crowd c£ Arabs, who appeared to be engaged in watering their cattle. VI. As soon as they observed us, a man and two women hastened towards us ; I went to meet them with two of my men, and bowed myself to the earth before them, beseeching their sjmipathy by signs. The man held a drawn sabre in his hand, and made as if he would cut me down with it, but as I bowed in token of my entire submission, he proceeded, without further delay, to tear my clothes from my body, whUe the two women did thf same to my companions. In the meantime, about fortj Arabs with their wives came up, and stripping the rest of my men to the skin, divided us among themselves, giving us to understand that we were now their slaves and must obey them. We were then led along, or rather, driven with sticks to the place where the camels were feeding although we were so weary and wretched that we could scarcely drag one foot after the other. As I, naked and barefoot, could not walk as quickly as the woman who was driving us desired, I showed her my mouth, which was perfectly dry and quite white. She immediately brought a great wooden basin of water, and placing it on the ground, made us kneel down around it, and dip our heads into it as if we had been camels. I now found out how much easier it is to give good advice than to follow it; I had often warned my men if they found any waterj The Desekt. 109 aftar their long thirst, not to indulge in it too freely, but now I drank huge draughts myself, and suffered torments for my indiscretion for the next two days. We begged the Arabs for something to eat, but they were suffering themselves for want of food and appeared to be very sorry that they could not satisfy our hunger. They afterwards gave us. some sour camel's milk which tasted more deliciously than the greatest delicacies had ever done before. After our new masters had taken possession of us, on the following day the caravan made preparations to con- tinue our north-easterly progress through the desert. Each of us was mounted, amid the shrill laughter of the Komen, on the back of a camel, and advised to hold on by the long hair of the hump. The back of the animal upon which I was perched, was as sharp as the edge of an oar, while his body, distended with water, was so round that tny legs stretched out across it, could find no firm hold, and I was afraid every moment of slipping off his steep back behind. My unfortunate companions fared no better. ,,, The rough gait of the camels, urged to their utmost speed by the women, was like the laboring of a small skiff upon a f?tormy sea, and so violent that the skin of the inner side of our legs and feet was soon flayed off, while the rest of our bodies was covered with blisters, caused by the heat of the sun. Thus sore from head to foot, suffering too from hunger and thirst, we rode all day long over the level, stony plain. At last the night drew near, and as the cool night wind congealed the blood that had liitherto flowed from our feet, and rendered our wounds much more 110 The Desert. painful, and as the women neither heeded our entreaties to be allowed to alight, nor noticed our sufferings, we let our- selves down, at great peril, from the backs of the camels while they were trotting at full speed, and endeavored to persuade the women to give us a drink of water. But they were not only deaf to our heart-rending cries, but they urged on the camels so that we were obliged to run as fast as we could to keep up with them. My courage now left me again ; I cmrsed my unhappy fate, and repented that I had not thrown myself into the sea rather than have trusted to the mercy of such unfeeling wretches. K I could have procured any weapon I should have put an end to my life. I even searched for a large stone with which to shatter my skuU. But at last this fi< of madness passed away, and I reflected that my life be- longed to the power who had given it, and that in his jus tice and mercy he would do with us as seemed to him best Quite resigned, and not even heeding the pains that racked my frame, I again mounted my camel, and have nevfer since broken the resolution that I then formed of never lament- ing my fate, whatever it might be, and never losing cour- age. With this determination I also endeavored to inspire my companions. We had hitherto entreated our guides loudly that they would have compassion upon us, and as we were silent, they feared to lose us in the darkness of night, and saw that we were all well mounted again, although they continued to drive the animals forward with the same speed, until at midnight we arrived at a spot where thety encamped for the night. To shelter our- selves from the damp cold night wind, we crowded together The Desert. Ill as doBely aa possible, but in vain did we look for sleep, which alone could s(X)tiie our pain, lying as we were, on the ground, which was covered with small sharp pointed stones. After the women had mUked the camels in the night, we each received about a pint of fresh milk, which warmed us and appeased, in sone measure, our hunger and thirst. In the morning wo agecn received a cup full of milk, which hardly suSced to moisten our mouths, and were instantly ordered to prepare for moving on. I cannot even now think without shuddering, of our wretched condition, espe- cially as to our feet ; but we rode patiently on and had proceeded some miles when wt saw some tents in a small hollow, and joined our masters, who had ridden on befora The rest of the horde appeared to be collected here, and when they heard of the arrival of the straifige men, the women came curiously out of their tents to see us. Of course, naked and covered with bruises, we could not but seem to them wretched and disgusting, a fact of which they maae us sufficiently aware by distorting their ugly faces and spitting. SfX)a after noon the whole caravan was again in motion, but towards evening halted again at a small oasis, where a considerable number of men was assembled, who ex- pressed some sympathy for our sufferings, and induced our masters to provide ji tent for us, into which we all crowded, not a little rejoiinnl to be again united. In the meantime about a hmidred and fifty people, of all ages, collected around the tent, and placed themselves in circles of from ten to fifteen each, with legs crossed under them, to discuss 112 The Desert. as. After a long discussion, an old man approached me, and asked me, in very bad Spanish, which he rendered Intelligible by signs, what my name was, whence we came, and how we had happened to fall into their power. As in the course of the conversation he showed himself quite an intelligent man, I related to him circumstantially our mis- erable story, and. told him that my name was James Eiley, and that I was the captain of a North American vessel, which had been wrecked upon their coast. He appeared to understand perfectly all that I said. I also assured him ihat he should receive a large ransom if he would carry tie and my men to Morocco, but he shook his head, and intimated that Morocco was a great way off, and that no food for the camels was to be found on the journey. After this conversation he returned to his people, but I did not entirely relinquish all hope of regaining our freedom, ulthough I endeavored in vain to inspire my companions *dth a like trust. Day after day we continued our journey with our mas- ters in this manner, without reaching the place of our des- tination; the dissert always presenting the same appear- ance, very like the sea in a dead calm. Gradually the provisions and water came to an end, and it may easily be conceived that we poor prisoners suffered most severely. Often we received nothing during a whole day but a few drops of milk, and when we were driven to declare that we were too hungry and tired to proceed, they drove us on with blows and threats. I vainly attempted to work upon the sympathy of the women, and obtain a drink of water from them; they The Deseb?. 113 laughed at and mocked me, and when I continued my entreaties, drove me from the shadow of the tent, so that I was compelled to lie in the heat of the sun at high noon. To add to all this, a great negro slave, belonging to my master, a coarse bully of a fellow, undertook to tease us in every possible way, calling me "captain," with great mock respect. His witticisms pf this kind were greatly applauded by my master's family, to please whom he exerted himself in this way. Sometimes his jokes were cruelly rough, and he even used to poke our wounds with a pointed stick, to show the Arabs what miserable crea- tures we were, not to be able to endure even the heat of the sun. My men determined often to give him a deserved chaetiflement for his impudence, but I dissuaded them from doing 80, lest we should give our masters a pretext for still more rough usage of us. As my companions were more exasperated than I at the conduct of the negro, they were also more tormented by hunger, and resorted to the most horrible means to satisfy it. Thus I was once obliged to tie the hands of one of the men behind his back, that he might not gnaw his own flesh, and another time I discovisred, just at the right time, that two of them had enticed a child of four year;* old to some distance from the tents, and were about to kill him with a stone and devour him. I rescued him with difficulty, as they were burning with a desire for his blood, "We will willingly die for it afterwards," they replied to my entreaties and representations that we should all be murdered cruelly by the Arabs, if they persisted. God be praised, I was at last able to convince them that it was 114 The Desert. far more manly to die of thirst and hunger than to becoma cannibals. VII. Our affairs were in this wretched condition when, one day, two Arabs with several well-laden camels, approached our camp. They made their weary beasts kneel down, dismounted, and seated themselves opposite my master's tent. As the men were absent on a hunting, or rather a marauding expedition, the women came out to receive the strangers. As soon as the latter observed them, they rose and greeted them with the words, " Peace, peace be with you !" to which salutation the women replied in the same •words, and then went to work and erected a tent for their guests, into which they carried their saddles and all their baggage ; among this last were two skins of water which they brought. The strangers remained in the meantime sitting upon the ground beside their weapons, for each had a good double-barreled gun that shone like silver in the sunUght. After finishing their work, the women seated themselves beside the men, and asked them, as I gathered from my small knowledge of Arabic, which I had been diligently attempting to learn, whence they came, how long they had been on the way, and what goods they had with them. After their curiosity had been satisfied, an old woman, in whom I had never before discovered a trace of sympathy for us, came to me, and gave m« to understand that Sidi Hamet, one of the two strangers, came from the dominions of the Sultan of Modcco, and could, if he would, buy The Desert. 115 me and cany me where I might return to my wife and children. As my master would soon return, I went without further reflection to the strangers' tent, with a cup in my hand, and begged Sidi Hamet, pointing to my parched lips, for a little water. He looked at me, and asked if I were the captain. I nodded assent, and he then requested his brother to give me some water. But as the latter did not appear inclined to obey, he took the cup himself, poured about a pint of clear crystal water into it, and said, " Drink captain !" I greedily emptied half the cup, called down Heaven's blessing upon him for his humanity, and turned to carry the rest of the water to the tent, where one of our sailors lay, worn to a skeleton, suflfering the last cruel pangs of hunger and thirst. But Sidi Hamet signified to me that I m'jst drink the water myself. Still, when I told him as wt-U as I could of the misery of my unfortunate companion, he kindly let me go. It was perfectly clear, the first good water that we had tasted since we had left our boat. It was a luxury indeed ; it gave the poor sailor new life, and his sunken eyes flashed in their sock- ets. " That is magnificent water," he said, " and must ,come from a better land than this ; if we were only there, and could have a good drink, I might be saved^i but now I' shall not survive to-morrow." In the meantime our masters returned, sat down with the strangers and conversed with them until dark, when they all withdrew to their tents. For reasons unknown to me, I and my companions were not permitted to sleep in our tents, but were thrust forth without shelter ?r cov- 116 The Desebt. ering, into the cold damp night air. About the milking time, our master, quite an old man, brought us, not with- out some show of anxiety, a pint of milk for each one, which was better than any we had ever had before, and which saved my poor companion from death. It was the first nourishment that our master had given us for three days, and I gathered from his attention to us, that he was unwilling to lose his property by death, and had hopes of selling us to the strangers. That they would buy us all I very much doubted ; I therefore determined to use every exertion to have the youngest of our sailors, who was called Horace Savage, bought with me. He was the son of one of my dearest friends, and had been entrusted to me, after his father's death, by his mother, to whom I had solemnly promised that I would care for him as I would my own child. The fulfilment of this promise lay next my heart at this moment. The following day Sidi Hamet called me to him, made me sit down beside him, and began to question me concerning my country and my misfortunes, and I rejoiced that I had made such progress in Arabic as to be able to make myself intelligible to him. I told him that I was the father of five children, and that my oldest son, Horace, was with me in captivity. I described our shipwreck to him ; our horrible sufierings in consequence, and mingled sighs and tears, and every expression of love and despair in my nar- rative. I had a man of intelligence and feeling before me, and although my story could not have been very exact or clear, yet he understood me so well that he shed tears, contrary to the custom of the Arabs, who consider aU The Desebt. 117 weeping as womanish. Ashamed of his weakness, he said at last that bearded men should shed no tears, and drying his eyes he rose hastily and left me. As I had succeeded in awakening his sympathy, I hoped by hberal promises of money, to awaken his avarice also, and to persuade him to buy me and my companions and carry us out of the deeert, as soon as I met him alone again. I proceeded to carry out my plan, and promise him a large ransom if he would buy me and my companions and carry us to Mqgadore or any other sea-port town in Morocco, where Europeans or Americans were to be found. " I cannot take the othei-s," he said, after some hesita- tion, " but how much will you give me if I buy you and take you to your friends ?" * A hundred dollars," was my reply. " Have you money in Mogadore, or do you expect to wait there until you can receive some from your own coun- try ?" he asked further, by signs and words. " My friend in Mogadore," I replied, " will certainly pay you if you take me to him." After some remarks betraying doubt as to whether I was not deceiving him, he said at last, with great solemnity: " Well then I will buy you, but if you are deceiving me (here he made a very intelligible gesture with his hand) I will cut your throat myself — remember." In vain did I entreat him to buy Horace also, whom 1 called my son, nor would he hoar of purchasing any of my companions, insisting that it would be impossible to carry more than one through the desert. At the close of our 118 The Desert. conversation he enjoined it upon me to tell neither his brother, my master, or any other Arab, of his intention, and then left me. The next day the whole horde continued their journey to the northwest, in company with the two strangers, When in the evening my masters' wives erected his tent, they always erected one for Sidi Hamet. As I was now frequently with him, I lost no opportunity of entreating him, on my knees, to buy my companions. I was soon so happy as to see my purchase money, which consisted of two coarse mats, a blue haick, and a bushel of ostrich feathers, handed over to my old master, who seemed well pleased with his bargain. The same day Horace came with his master to our tent to bring something. I hastened towards him, embraced him with tears, and shared with him gome snails which I had found in the morning, and which were almost our only nourishment.. Sidi Hamet, who was present, doubted no longer that I was really Horace's father, and told me that in two days he should start for Mogadore, but that he had endeavored to buy my son in vain, for his master would sell him at no price. " If that is the case," said I, " leave me here, and take my son to Mogadore; I will be a faithful slave to his master as long as I live. You will receive the same sum for him that you would for me, and will then send him to his mother, whom I cannot see again without him." " By Allah 1" cried Sidi Hamet, " you shall have your son." The Desebt. 119 VIII. To eflfect this purchase the whole horde was collected together ; the transaction lasted the whole afternoon, and was several times so warm that blows and even sabre-cuts were interchanged. In the evening I learnt that Horace had been purchased at a high price, and his master had been forced by his friends to give him up to Sidi Hamet. I now redoubled my exertions to induce him to buy my other companions, and promised him a large ransom for them ; but he always refused, saying that our road lay through a most unsafe part of the country, where, if he had any quantity of slaves with him, he should be mur- dered for them by the wild robber Arabs. Nevertheless T succeeded at last in persuading him to buy three more oi my companions. All further entreaties were in vain, for Sidi Hamet declared that he had now invested his whole property in us, and that if I had deceived him he was a^ ruined man. I was therefore obliged, in the presence of his brother, a siirly, disagreeable man, whom Sidi himself called a bad fellow, but who had assisted in purchasing us, to repeat solemnly my promise, and the exact amount of our ransom, adding that I would willingly give myself up to death, if I should be found to have practised a fraud. Kefreshed and strengthened by the milk that Sidi Hamet begged for me from my old master, and yet more by the hope of a speedy deliverance, I felt like quite another man, although we had very little food, and could sometimes find nothing but snails with which to appease our hunger. We were, therefore, not a little rejoiced whe»j 120 The Deseet. « Sidi Hamet determined to slaughter a camel for provision for our farther journey. "We obeyed with alacrity his orders to collect a heap of dry brush during the day. To- wards midnight he showed us a hollow, where we could make a fire, secure from the prying eyes of' our neighbors. My master and two others then led up an old camel, which was too weak to follow the drove, and which they had bought for a mat, and made it kneel down. They then made a sUp knot in a rope, which they put round his neck just under his chin, and drawing his head to the left side, fastened the rope to his tail. Then Sidi Hamet opened a vein in the right side of his neck, and let him bleed to death. The blood was caught in a copper kettle, and boiled, being stirred all the time until it was about the consistency of the liver of an ox, when they took it off the fire, and handed it to me, saying " eat Riley !" I did not wait to be bidden twice, but set to work with my compan- ions ; ' our enjoyment of food bordered on gluttony. '■ Although the night was far advanced and our business had been conducted with the greatest secresy, several of our hungry neighbors discovered it and came around us, to assist, as they said, in the slaughter of the animal. Our ' dehcious food so attracted them that, spite of the prohibi- tions of our master, they possessed themselves of a con- siderable portion of it. They helped, very officiously, to skin the camel and take out the entails ; then they cooked all the bowels without washing them, together with the lungs and liver, in the dirty water that they found in the stomach of the beast, trying it every moment to see if it was done, while half a dozen hungry men, who pretended The Desebx. 121 thfrt their hospitality would not allow them to stand idle while their guests were at work, cut up the camel, and contrived in the darkness to carry off almost half of it. Our masters, when they discovered the theft the next day, let it pass without notice, for it is a law among the Arabs to feed the hungry even if they suffer for it themselves. In the morning we dried the flesh and packed it away, but we baked the bones for our masters, who broke them between two stones and sucked out the marrow. Sidi Hamet provided us with some articles of clothing, and after we had taken leave of our companions, with heavy hearts, and held out to them the prospect of being speedily set at liberty through our exertions, we set off, taking a southeasterly course that we might find some spring that would yield us a supply of water. Soon the aspect of the desert changed, and instead of the hard soil covered with stones, we saw around us now, nothing but small burning, hot heaps of sand, into which our feet sunk at every step. We had preferred walking to tl^ weary riding, but the heat of the ground compelled us to mount the camels, and from their high backs we discovered as far as the eye could reach, countless high sandhills ; soon we were in the midst of them. Terror seized us at the sight of these mountains of loose sand which lay around us on every side like drifted snow, sometimes several hun- dred feet high, and often threatened to bury our little party alive. There was no path ta guide us out of this labyrinth, and the wind which had cooled us refreshingly when almost fainting under the vertical rays of the sun was now our most dreaded enemy. The sand, whirled 122 The Deseet. about by the wind, sometimes wholly impeded c it pro- gress ; we- could not even see each other in the thick cloud of it that enveloped us. So the days passed on amid the severest sufferings, for a month ; Sidi Hamet provided for us as well as he could tinder the circumstances, but his brother Seid was continu- ally threatening and maltreating us; the two brothers were ceaselessly disputing about us, and their quarrels increased as we approached nearer the Morocco boundary. One day as I and my companions were wandering on, faint and exhausted, only kept alive by a dim spark of hope in our hearts, Seid suddenly commanded us to stand still; Sidi Hamet, who was riding on a few steps before us, r/oticed it and commanded us to proceed ; then Seid seized upon Horace and one other of our company, decl ared that they were his property, and that he was going to sell them to an Arab who had been travelling with us for several days. Then Sidi Hamet's anger was kindled; be sprang from his camel, rushed upon his brother and freed my two companions. Like lions the two brothers now fell upon each other, wrestling furiously, they attempted to throw each other upon the ground. As this did not succeed they seized their guns, retired a few paces apart in angry haste, and took aim ; the least pressure of the trigger and both would have fallen ; we stood dumb with horror. " God in heaven !" I cried, " have mercy upon us and upon these brothers, that they may not commit murder !" At the same moment I heard two shots, and thought they must both have fallen, but I soon saw that Sidi Hamet, having quickly irecovered his mastery of himself The Desert. 123 had fired both barrels into the air, while, baring bis breast, he advanced towards his brother with a firm step, and said touchingly : " I am now unarmed ; shoot if you wish to slake your , anger in your benefactor's blood ; your brother's heart does not tremble before your ball." Seid, overcome by this unexpected turn of afiairs, laid aside his gun, and both brothers seated themselves upon the groimd to decide the dispute in words. But they could not agree, for Seid would not relinquish his clain* upon Horace. " You shall not separate the. son from the father," cried Sidi at last, angrily. " I have sworn it !" " Then I will destroy him !" shouted Seid ; raging, hft sprang up, seized Horace by the throat, and hurled him with such force upon the ground, that he lay like one dead. Overpowered by the most heart-rending anguish, I sank down beside him; he soon recovered himself, and though severely bruised, did not appear to have sustained any fiirther injury. Seid's anger was somewhat appeased, and they postponed th6 decision of the dispute to a more fitting time We now continued our journey with all the expedition possible, and although we were continually ill-treated by Seid, and once very nearly fell into the hands of seme Arabs through his means, we at last reached Mogadore in safety, where we were ransomed by the English consul, a very humane man, supplied with every thing needful, and Bent to Gibraltar, whence we goon returned to our home is an American vessel. 124 The Desebt. After I had seen and embraced my family, I hastened to "Washington, the seat of government, and took the necessary st^eps for freeing my unfortunate companions, whom I had left in the desert. They were all found, and nir«(omfld, after enduring the most incredible hardships. In the great Gallery, at Paris, there hangs a finished picture, by Gencault, one of the most famous of modem artiste, which no one can contemplate without horror and deep emotion ; it represents the shipwreck of the French fngate, " Medusa," which was wrecked on the AMcan coaat in the year 1816. The artist has not drawn upon his fancy for the details of hia masterpiece, but has adhe- red strictly to the truth of the following narrative, which we have heard from one of the survivors of the ship- wrecked crew. On the 17th of June, 1816, the frigate « Medusa," of forty-four guns, bound for Senegal, and having on board the governor of the French possessions in that place, and four hundred men, mostly soldiers, set sail with four other vessels from a French port, and after a prosperous voyage came in sight of the promonotory of Bogadore and the low coast of the desert of Sahara. The captain, Chaumaneys, one of those distinguished individuals who owe their posts rather to the influence of their friends and relatives than to any superior knowledge or merit of their Own, joked with the passengers, and amused himself with the sailors, while an ignorant officer, who had gained his confidence, governed the vessel in his place, and regarded the coast (125) 126 Shipweeck and Starvation. that they were approaching with indifference, although it is one of the most dangerous on the face of the earth. Some better informed officers on board, looked on with dissatisfaction, and at last distinctly declared that they should either run upon the coast, or be wrecked upon the sand bank of Arguin, so dreaded by all mariners, but they were laughed at for their fears. During the night the ship that sailed nearest in our company, made us repeated signs to be careful; but so great was the negligence of our watch that they did not heed them, and even when the light hanging at the mast- head went out, it was not lighted again. The following morning the better managed vessel had vanished. A young ensign who had hitherto attentively observed the course of the frigate, now declared repeatedly that we were already upon the shoals, but the conceited under-officer refused to listen to the young man who pretended to be wiser than he. In the meantime the color of the water changed ; thick bushes and green plants were seen floating along fiide, and the waves seemed to be mixed with sand. The lead that they threw out at last, at first shewed only eighteen, and soon after only sixteen fathoms ; the captain, who was at last made aware of these suspicious circumstan- ces, gave orders to crowd sail and to turn and face the wind ; but, unfortunately, it was too late, for while the vessel was turning, the rudder struck; it was soon pushed off, but a second and third shock followed and the vessel remained sticking fast. Although it was high tide, the lead showed only seven- teen feet of water ; universal dismay pervaded the whola Ship-wkeck and Starvation. 127 vessel, and terror was exhibited in the strangest way. here were fear-distorted countenances ; there, faces deadly pale, but calm; some stood motionless as if turned to stone ; others lay upon the deck without power to move. Aroused from the first numbing fear, many broke out into a shriek of despair ; others cursed aloud those whose igno- rance had caused the misfortune ; only a- few were compo- sed, and among these, two women, the wife and daughter of the governor, particularly distinguished themselves. All exertions to get the vessel afloat were vain, ag the captain had neither self-possession nor knowledge, and the crew, convinced of his want of capacity, were in no hurry to obey his contradictory orders. On the 5th of July, after we had lost a whole day in ineffectual exertions, as night drew near, dark clouds appeared, and a stiff breeze arose, which grew more and more violent, and raised huge waves ; the vessel labored fearfully, and we expected its destruction eVery minute. In the night it was wrecked and the keel split into two parts. The rudder broke off and only hung in the chains, where, tossed to and fro by the waves, it struck against the stem of the vessel and shattered the floor of the cabin so that the water had free access to the hold. At daybreak the water in the hold was already from eight to nine feet deep, and it was determined to leave the vessel, and to think only of the preservation of those on board. But as it was impossible for the six boats that we possessed to hold four hundred people, they constructed, by the advice of the governor, an immense raft out of the masts, poles of the sails, and other pieces of the wreck 128 Shipweeck and Staeyation. It was to be loaded with two hundred men and provisioni, and then the boats were to take it in tow, and draw it to land, where a caravan might be formed which could pro- ceed to the French possessions at the mouth of the Sene- gal. The plan was wisely conceived, and might have had the most fortunate consequences, but, as we shall see, it was not carried into execution. The raft was completed the same day. Two great • masts formed the two long sides, other masts in the mid- dle gave firmness to the whole, and small pieces of wood connected the layer; in front two poles were so arranged as to make a pointed end, and the whole was bound together by strong cables. But as the raft was scarcely sixty feet long, and only about twenty broad, it was impossible that it should hold two hundred people, stiU less the necessary provisions. They had, with praiseworthy foresight, made a list of the people and provisions destined for each boat, and for the raft; but as no one thought of obeying orders, the embarkation was conducted in the most disorderly manner, each endeavoring to rescue himself in the surest way. The provisions, too, were dispensed in the most incon- siderate fashion ; the raft was provided with wine and meal in abundance, but no meat or other provisions of any kind ; a bag of biscuits, that was thrown down at last, fell into the sea and was so drenched with salt water that the contents were a perfect dough. Towards evening the sign for getting on board was given, but scarcely had fifty men descended to the raft when it sunk almost two feet; they immediately threw Shiptvueck and Staevation. 129 the meal casks overboard, and retained only six casks of wine and two of water. When the whole crew were on board it sank again about three feet, so that those in the back and front part of it stood up to their hips in water, and were so crowded together that no one could move a step. No one had thought of a mast, and the sail that was thrown down to us, as we pushed off, was entirely useless, as we had no rope to hoist it with. There were a hundred and fifty people huddled together upon the raft, and among them about a hundred and twenty soldiers, who were armed only with swords, as from fear of a mutiny, none but the officers had been allowed to carry fire-arms. The boats were crowded full, and yet seventeen people remained behind on the wreck, eithef because they would not trust themselves to the frail, over-loaded skiff, that pushed off last, or because they were too much intoxicated to think of their safety. At first we sailed along in the most orderly manner; the boats took the raft in tow, and the commanding officers in them swore not tb forsake us, but if no rescue were possi- ble, to die with us. The coast was about fifteen leagues distant, and was seen from the boats before sunset; From this moment those in them appeared to consider only their own safety ; one after another they dropped the rope that bound us to them, and finally even the last boat, which contained the governor, followed this cruel and shameiuj example. 130 Shipwreck and Stabvation. II. We were now left entirely to ourcelves, and our condi- ticxa upon the bare raft, with neither masts, sails, nor raiider, was indeed a desperate one. But the officers soon recovered themselves, and succeeded in inspiring the sol- diers and sailors with some self-coi-fidence ; one of the latter had in his possession a little po'jket compass, which we hailed with delight as a dear friend, but our joy did not laat long, for the compass was carelessly dropt into the sea and lost. Our greatest distress now arose from the want of food, as no one had eaten any thing since our departure from the vessel ; some wine was therefore poured over the salt-soaked biscuits, and this was divided among all the nen, who, somewhat strengthened by this refreshment, jxerted themselves to erect the half of a bowsprit for a mast, and provide it with a sail, for which purpose they used the fragments of the ropes by which we had been towed along, which still hung to the raft. The sail caught the wind very well when it came from behind, but in order to approach the land we were obliged to take it from the side, so that our raft was tipped up fearfully, one side fcinking into the water, while the other was elevated above it. In the mob of soldiers there burned a fierce desire for revenge upon the boats that had left us in the lurch, and cotild we have come up with any of them, a Ijloody scene wouW have ensued. The day faded -quietly away, and we entei tained the hope of reaching the coast in a few days at least. In the "evening we joined in prayer, and even the Smp^fTEEOK AjfD Starvation. 131 rough men, who had been filled with thoughts of revenge only a short time before, learned to pray in this hour of need. After prayer each experienced new faith, we all felt our courage increased, and found consolation with Him who is ever present and ready to befriend the unfor- tunate. We could not yet relinquish the belief that the boats would row quickly to shore, disembark their crews, and then turn back to relieve their unfortunate companions whom they had left upon the raft. In this hope we saw the day depart. After sunset the wind rose, and set the waves in motion ; the raft was thrown hither and thither ; the soldiers, unaccustomed to the sea, were thrown about by every wave, and cried out fearfully, so that the sailors fastened various ropes to the raft, to which the soldiers clung, and some even lashed themselves down. At mid- night the wind grew fiercer, huge waves rolled over us and threw the men upon each other. Their shrieks mingled with the roar of the sea which now tossed the raft on high and then hurled it down to the depths. Some shrieked aloud ; some prayed, and others made vows, which they were to fulfil after their rescue ; all prepared for death, took i';ave of each other, and called upon God for mercy. Towards morning the wind subsided somewhat, and the sea became more quiet ; but a horrible spectacle was pre- sented to our eyes Several unfortunate men had slipped into the holes in the raft, and being unable to extricate themselves, had miserably perished ; othen? had been lost in the sea; in all, twenty people were missing. Although each was occup ied with his own saleiy in this druadlul sit- 132 Shipwbeck and Starvation. uation, an instance of filial love drew tears from ail eyea. Two young men extricated an old man from under the feel of the others and then recognized him for their father. At first they thought him dead, and their grief was expres- sed in the most heart-rending cries ; but they soon found that he yet breathed, and we used every means that were in our power, to restore him ; he soon came to himself, to the unspeakable joy of his sons, who clung to him and covered his neck with kisses. While this scene was enacting, two ship boys and a baker calmly took leave of their companions, and commit- ted suici4e by jumping into the sea, boldly as it might seem, but in reality it was a cowardly arid despairing act, or perhaps the result of the insanity that had already begun to appear among these wretched men. Some ima- giried that they saw land ; others, that vessels were coming to our relief, and at any of these imaginary discoveries they would burst out Into shouts of joy. The second day that we passed upon the raft was per- fectly clear, and the friendly aspect of the heavens inspired us with fresh courage ; most of us were firmly convinced that the boats would soon appear. But when the evening came and the comfortless night followed, all seemed crianged. Not only did all hope vanish, but the spirit of rebellion reigned instead ; no one would obey orders and cur former prudence was turned to despair. Dark clouds agam veiled the heavens and the wind increased so that the Bea raged and foamed more fearfully than on the foregoing' night. Huge waves rolled over us, throwing us into heaps upon one another; fortunately, we had the wind on our Shipwibeck and Staeyation. 133 backs so that the force of the sea was somewhat broken by the swiftness of our course ; still the waves beat upon us from before and behind, and carried off some men spite of all their exertions in clinging to the masts that composed the raft; all gathered together in the middle of our vessel, as that was the point of least danger, and crowded so closely that several were stifled. As _the raft continually turned its broadside to the wind, it stood almost upright, so that in order to keep the balance, one was often obliged to rush towards the side that was high in the air, spite of the foaming waves. In this extremity the rage of the soldiers awoke again, and as they considered themselves lost, they determined to enjoy their last moments and to drink their fill. They threw themselves upoil the wine casks, cut great holes in them, and filled their tin cups, which had been given to them on board of the frigate, as often as they pleased with the contents, utterly disregarding all the commands of their officers. When the wine had increased their fury and they were thoroughly intoxicated, they formed a plan of des- troying the raft and .thus releasing themselves and their companions from their misery. Scarcely was the plan formed when they hastened to carry it into execution. One of them, by birth an Asiatic, a gigantic fellow with short curling hair and a brqad flat nose, who had already made much mischief by his rough and violent temper, step- ped to the edge of the raft, with an axe, and began to cut the ropes that bound it together. We rushed towards him to put a stop to this senseless project; the maniac raised hiB axe against the officer who endeavored to push him 134 Shipwreck aot) Stasvation. away, but instantly paid for his madness with his life that was terminated by a sword cut. The mutineers now seized their swords and knives and rushed upon us. All who held their lives dear, seized also their weapons, and another soldier who raised his sword against an officer, was kiUed. This unexpected resistance somewhat surprised the rebels; they grew quieter, but bidding us defiance, re- treated slowly io the end of the raft, to carry out their intentions there. One of them pretended to stoop and cut the rope through with his knife. As soon as we saw this we rushed upon him, and threw him overboard, with another man who attempted to defend him. Now the fight became universal ; part of the mutineers cut and tore up the sail, and then threw down the mast, which in falling shattered the leg of an officer, and prostrated him unconscious upon the raft. The soldiers immediately shoved him overboard ; we drew him up and placed him upon a cask, but he was pushed off again by the rioters, who tried to put out his eyes with a pen-knife. Enraged at the sight of such barbarity, we pressed upon the mon- sters, sword in hand, broke through their ranks, and killed many of them. After this second combat the fury of the soldiers suddenly gave place to the most abject cowardice ; many of them fell upon their knees and begged for mercy, which was granted them. It was now midnight, and as we believed that order waa finally restored, we returned to our places in the middle of the raft, but were upon our guard, and did not lay aside our weapons. About an hour afterwards the muti- Shipwreck and Stakyatioit. 135 neers, who appeared to be entirely beside themselvea, arose and rushed upon us again with swords and knives ; those of them who had no weapons bit with their teeth, so that several of us were quite badly wounded. We numbered only fifteen, but we kept so weU together, and fought with such a scorn of death, that we once again gained the victory over our opponents, although they were five times as strong in numbers, and threw many of them overboard. These superhuman exertions deprived many of us, even those whom we had always considered as the most self- possessed and collected among us, so entirely of all pres« ence of mind, that they scarcely knew what they were doing. Sometimes, for a moment, indeed, the fearful reality flashed upon them, like lightning from a thunder-cloud, but they were haunted most of the time by the loveliest ima- ges. One imagined himself in the midst of the most beautiful Italian landscape; another said, very seriously, " I know that the boats have forsaken us, but be com- forted, I have written to the governor, and in a few hours help will arrive." There was need of the greatest self- command to keep from being thus bewUdered, for who- ever gave himself up to such fancies was lost. Thus iti was with most of the unhappy soldiers, for they were restrained by no consideration. Some of them plunged into the sea, crying, " We wUl soon return and bring you help." Others aimed blows at the waves, as if in the delirium of fever, not knowing what they were about, and others fell upon their companions with their swords, call- ing loudly for their favorite dish, a roast fowl The mad- 136 Shipwreck and Starvation. ness was so universal that inc?t of us did not know in the morning whether a fight had really taken place in the night, or whether we had only dreamed it. But all were overcome with weariness and lamed in every limb. III. When the day at last broke, we found that, in this fear- ful night, sixty men had disappeared, so had the sword, the ocean, and a desire for death raged among the ship wrecked ; of our party only two were missing, but several were wounded, and our clothes were all cut to pieces. The deepest dejection was legible upon every counte- nance, and many shed bitter tears over their hard fate As the sun rose the sea became more calm ; we replaced our mast, and did our best to steer for the coast, which we several times thought we perceived. The mutineers had destroyed, in their fury, two casks of wine, and our whole supply of water, so that only a small cask of wine yet remained, and the daily measure for each man was of course diminished, at which a murmur arose among the soldiers. We were all so weary with the exertions of the past night that we could scarcely stand up; and, although the raft had been so much lightened that it did not sink as at first, yet it was still under water, BO that we could not lie down. Hunger tormented us yet more ; we tried to catch some fish with the bent bayonet of one of the officers, but in vain ; one fish bit at it, but Bwam off again. Hunger deprived the soldiers of aU humanity, and they resorted to the most horrible means to sustain their Shipwreck and Stahvation. 137 wretched lives. At a given signal they fell upon the bodies of some of their companions who had either died or been killed during the previous night, cut them in pieces, and devoured them upon the spot. At first we shuddered at the idea of this horrible repast, but at last, urged on by the fiercest pangs of famine, we partook of it, and even dried the pieces in the air to make them more palatable. A few only could not bring themselves to any thing so horrible, for a long time, and preferred devouring linen rags or hat-felt ; any thing upon w"hich there was any greasg or dirt; but in the end the love of life prevailed; all over- came their aversion, and took their portions greedily. Our hope of rescue diminished every hour ; we looked anxiously around every moment but could descry neither shore nor ship. The day was fine, and we had not indeed to contend either with our companioins or with the sea. So we took some rest, but rest that was worse than wakefulness, for we were tormented by the mo,st fearful dreams, and the moans of those who were thus disturbed, waked those standing near them fix)m their stupor. The night was calm also, but the water reached to our knees and we were obliged to sleep standing, and so closely crowded together that we formed one immovable mass. When the fourth day broke we found twelve more men dead ; the living, who saw in them their own future fate, laid one body aside for food and threw the rest overboard. ( The evening of this day brought us a blessed relief; a quantity of, flying fish fell upon our raft and were caught in the holes in it. We fell upon them, and threw the remainder, about three hundred, into aa empty wine cask. 138 Ship-wreck and Staeyation In catching the fish we discovered in one of the holes of the raft, a flint, some lint, and some powder, and we suc- ceeded by means of these and some linen rags, in making a fire. An old cask served us for a hearth, after we had V\V\ covered it with some very wet articles to prevent its being burnt through, and placed it upon another cask to be above the water. We now cooked our fish and eat them with the greatest relish; but as this meagre supply soon came to an end, we again had recourse to the human flesh, which lost some of its repulsiveness by being cooked. We were soon obliged, however, to eat it raw again, for the bottom of the cask was burnt through, and besides, we had no more fuel. The next night, as the weather was very fine, and the sea smooth as a mirror, might have passed very quietly, but another mutiny broke out in which several soldiers took part, who had until now, befriended our party. This outbreak was caused by avarice, a passion which one would not dream could have existed among men in our situation. We had collected our money and all our articles of value in a bundle and hung them upon the mast. The muti- neers wished to possess themselves of this treasure, for a negro among them had assured them that we were now close upon the coast, and they determined to throw us into the sea. A Spaniard gave the signal for the attack ; stand- ing by the msfst, he drew a cross upon it with one hand, j] jj while with the other he brandished a knife above his head. • • • Our faithful sailors immediately seized him and flung him overboard, and another combat ensued, which was the more dangerous as we did not know now who were for vi Shipwreck and Starvation. 13 or who against us. We, however, drove the rioters back, and succeeded once more in restoring order. After the cause of the mutineers was lost, a servant of one of our officers, who had taken part in tne /mutiny, seized the onl}' remaining axe, and after in vain attempting to cut the rope that held together the forepart of the raft, plunged with it into the sea. With intense longing we awaited the morning of the sixth day, and when the sun rose, its rays fell upon only thirty people yet living on the raft. We had lost five of our faithful sailors in the last combat, and the remainder were all wounded more or less seriously. We were besides in a most wretched condition, the sun and the sea-water had bUstered the skin of our legs and feet, and many of us were so covered with bruises and gashes that we were shrieking with pain every minute ; only twenty at the most were able to move. The wine, our last refreshment, could, with the greatest economy^ only last four days longer, and even this nearly failed us. Two soldiers had secretly tapped the cask and were drinking the wine through a straw. They were, however, soon discovered, and as it had been decreed beforehand that any one guilty of such a deed, should be thrown into the sea, the law was instantly executed. Thus our number was diminished to twenty-eight, and of these, thirteen were so seriously wounded that it was more than improbable that they would live even a few days longer. The remaining fifteen entered irto a mourn- ful discussion and decided that even if the boats had reached the French possessions and sent out a ship in search of us, 140 Shipweeck and Startation. several days must elapse still before it could reach us. It was, therefore, all important to hold out as long as possi- ble, and when we considered that the daily allotment of wine consumed by the sick, deprived us of our last means of support, without benefitting them, we arrived, after long consideration, \in which despair guided us, at the horrible determination of throwing our wretched fellow-men into the sea that we might have a supply of wine for six more days. Three sailors and a soldier undertook the cruel business; we turned away our faces and wept over the fate of our unfortunate companions. It was all the more frightful as every one saw clearly what his own fate would be should he become disabled, for now the law was proclaimed : " We must save those who can be saved, and destroy all who are beyond the hope of rescue." This law, in direct opposition to God's law, saved us, however, from destruction, for when in six days succor really appeared, only a very small quantity of wine remained. Had we retained all the sick on board, our supply would ihave been consumed several days beforehand, and in our weak condition we could not possibly have survived twenty-four hours. But we were all filled with such horror, that to ensure quiet, we threw all our weapons into the sea, with the exception of one sword, which we kept to ^ke the place of a knife or axe, if we should need one. Shipwreck and Staetation. 141 IV. The following day was a sad one for us, for even in oui sleep the remembrance of the cruel death of our compan- ions haunted us, and we often prayed Heaven to end our lives also. Our condition upon the raft was much more comfortable, for, by the great diminution of our members, we gained more room, and as the weather remained calm and clear, we could improve our accommodations some- what. We therefore exerted all our remaining strength in tearing up some of the boards in the fore-part of the raft, and constructing, by means of them, a kind of floor in the middle, upon which we laid all the articles of clothing that -we could do without, to form a softer couch for our weary limbs. This contrivance protected us somewhat against the waves, which still broko over us continually, and caused us great suffering, especially in our legs, which were covered with bruises and wounds. Our worst tor- ment was a burning thirst, which the hot rays of the sun increased- We tried to quench it with salt water, but this only appeased it for a moment to cause it to return with greater fury. In +his extremity one of the oflicers found, by chance, a small lemon ; as he tried to keep it for himself, and was not to be moved by our entreaties to share it, the indigna- tion of his comrades began to show itself at his selfish behavior, and he would have fallen a yictim to his . greediness if he had not yielded in time. We contended " just as seriously about the division of whatever we could find that was eatable All these bickerinsrs were 142' Shipwreck and Starvation. accompanied by the most desperate threats, and bl(X)d would often have been shed but for the interference of those who were calmer and more self-possessed. One of US dipcovered in his pocket a bottle of medicine for the tooth-a,che, which he husbanded very carefully, and would only give us each a few drops in the hollow of our hands. It was a mixture of all kinds of berbs, tasted quite pleas- antly, and quenched our thirst for some moments. Some of us held a piece of tin in our mouths to induce a little moisture by means of it ; others filled their hats with salt water, bathed their heads and faces with it, and experi- enced from it a beneficial effect ; most of us sucked up our portion of wine through a quill, and contended that in this way our thirst was allayed for a longer time than if we drank it at once out of our cups. On the 16th we believed ourselves to be very near to land, and three of the boldest ol' us agreed to endeavor to reach it by meaiis of a mast about thirty feet long, which we broke off of the raft. Upon this we nailed little pieces of board to prevent it from turning round, stuck into it a pole with a little sail tied to it, and supplied it with a kind of rudder that we manufactured with our sword, out of a piece of an old cask. The attempt was to take place on the following day, and our bold companions received their whole portion of wine, which, for want of a better Tessel, was poured into a boot. After this machine was comple- ted, we made a trial of it, but it turned over when one of the sailors stepped upon it, and showed us the folly of the attempt. There was nothing left for us but to await death calmly upon the raft. Night came again, and we were Shipitseck and Stakyation. 143 Slled with the darkest forebodings ; we had scarcely three measures of wine left, and we had for some time experi- enced such an unconquerable disgust at the human flesh that we had soaked in salt water and dried, that the mere sight of it caused a shudder. On the morning of the 17th of July the weather was quite clear ; at sunrise we all prayed devoutly, and were drinking our wine, when suddenly an officer discovered a ship in the distance, and with a cry of joy announced the discovery. Although the vessel was so distant that we could scarcely distinguish the tops of the masts, an indes- cribable delight filled our minds ; we considered ourselves already safe, and gave thanks to the Almighty. But now arose the question, how to make our low raft seen from so great a distance. We immediately collected some sticks of wood, to which we tied handkerchiefs and cloths, and helped a man up the mast to wave these little flags. More than half an hour was passed between hope and fear; some thought that the ship gradually approached, and others maintained that it receded ; the latter were unhap- pily in the right, for it soon vanished entirely. The deep- est dejection ensued upon our joyful anticipations, and we envied the lot of those who had died at our sides. After this bitter illusion we determined to await death calmly, and, erected a kind of tent with a piece of sail, under which we were somewhat protected from the burn- ing rays of the sun. Here we conceived the plan of scratching a short account of our fate, which should be signed by all upon a board with the poinl; of our sword, in the hope that it might be picked up somewhere, with the 144 Shifweecr and Starvation. fragments of our raft, and convey to the government and our families some intelligence of our mournful fate. Thus we passed about two hours, when one of us went out of the tent to look round him once more, but instantly returned -v^ith a loud cry. Joy beamed from his counte- nance ; he stretched out his arms towards the sea, and breathing with difficulty, could scarcely stammer out the word at last : " Saved ! a ship !" We immediately left the tent, and even those whose sore feet and legs had prevented their standing for some days, managed to creep out to regale themselves with a sight of the ship which, her sails all set, was bearing down upon us at scarce a league's distance. We embraced each other with a rapture that bordered on frenzy, and tears of joy rolled down our wasted cheeks. Each seized some piece of cloth and waved it that we might be seen by the vessel, which, however, must have seen us for some time, as it approached us steadily. Our joy was increased when we saw the 'French flag floating from the mast, and recognized the vessel for the brig Argus which had sailed from Prance for the Senegal in company with the Medusa. The brig now lay to and put out a boat which took us in and carried us on board, where we met others who had been shipwrecked in the Medusa, and had deserted the raft. Deep emotion was painted on every countenance and tears of sympathy filled all eyes. Imagine fifteen wretches, almost without clothing, the skin flayed from their limbn, their whole bodies burnt by the' sun, and their faces fearfully emaciated ! Our hollow, wild-rolling eyes, and long beards must have given us a liigbtful SmPWEECK AND STARVATION. 145 appearance; we were indeed only the shadows c£ men, and ten of the fifteen could scarcely move. They gave us excellent meat broth immediately, into which they poured wine, to make it even more nourishing ; they tended us most tenderly; our wounds were bandaged, and on the following day several of those most severely iU among us could set upright. Misfortune still pursued several of us, for the room next to the kitchen, where they lay, caught fire and they would have perished in the flames if the fire had not fortunately been extinguished just in time. Some of the boats which had so shamefully deserted the raft reached the coast on the following day, where the crews landed to continue their journey towards the French colony by land ; others directed their course directly to the mouth of the Senegal, which they happily reached. The brig immediately received orders to weigh anchor and hasten to the succor of the shipwrecked ; they coasted along the shore, and supplied those who had landed with provisions, but could not succeed in finding the raft. They were already returning when on the morning of our rescue the wind changed, and the captain had the vessel turned round once more ; two hours afterwards they dis- cerned something firom the mast-head and soon recognized it for our raft. Another smaller vessel had gone to the rescue of the seventeen people upon the stranded frigate ; but contrary winds detained it and when, after fifty days, it reached the wreck, only three men were found on it alive. Each of these kept themselves secluded from the others, and when in thfiir search for food, which had been soaked and spoilt in the salt water, they encountered 10 146 Shtpweeck and Staevation. one another they threatened each other with their knives. We reached the Senegal the same day that we had been found, and were received in the colony with great kindness and sympathy, even the negro slaves wept bitterly when they saw our miserable, reduced condition. Six of our number died soon after, notwithstanding the greatest care ; the nine who survived returned as soon as they were strong enough, to their native country. We add to this narrative of the shipwrecked sailor, that most of his companions were ill for the re'st of their Kves, and the captain immediately upon his return to France, was tried before a court martial for his cowardice and unpardonable negligence, and was judged unworthy •f his post and expelled from the service. Ii|e Jlifle JtfHqi^'g S^benifq^eg. A LAEGE Village in one of the most beautiful and fertile valleys of the interior of AMca is my birth-place ; it must be very far from the coast, for I do not remember ever having heard, during my childhood, of the sea or of white men. My parents possessed quite a large estate and a multitude of slaves, and as I was the youngest of seven children, I was naturally my mother's favorite, and she took a great deal of pains with my education. From my earliest youth I practised constantly, shooting with a bow and arrow, and hurling the javelin. Thus I grew up to my eleventh year, when an end was suddenly put to my happiness. One day, when my parents had gone as usual into the fields to labor with the slaves, and no one was left at home but myself av.d one of my sisters, who was about a year my senior, two men and a woman climbed over the wall that surrounded the yard in which we were, seized us both, gagged us so that we could not scream, and ran with^ " us into the nearest forest. Here they bound our hands, and carried us on until the sun went down, and we reached a little house. Here they unbound us, but stupefied with fatigue and terror, we could not eat, and soon found some relief from our cruel fate in sleep. The next morning we (147) 148 The Little Atkican's Adventuees. continued our journey, and arrived, after travelling all day through a dense forest, at a place that seemed familiar to me. I soon saw several people, and began to scream out to them with all my might, but my shrieks produced no eflfect except to cause our persecutors to gag us again, and put us into a bag until we were out of sight of any one. At night they again offered us something to eat, but we refused it, and found a mournful satisfaction in crying in each other's arms the whole night long. But alas ! even this poor comfort was taken from us, for the next day they tore my sister away from me, and carried her away, leav- ing me in a state of perfect despair. I wept and sobbed, and for eight days eat nothing but what was forced down my throat. At last, after travelUng many days, they sold me, in quite a pleasant country, to a wealthy herdsman. This man had two wives, and some children ; they all treated me kindly, and took great pains to console me, especially the elder wife, who looked something like my mother. Although I was far from my own home, these people spoke my language. My master was, by trade, a smith, and my heaviest labor was to manage the bellows for him. I think the metal in which he worked was gold, for it was of a beautiful light yellow color, and was worn by the women upon their wrists and ankles. I had not been quite a month with these people, before they trusted me to go alone any where. I used this lib- erty to find out every thing that I could concerning the road that might lead me to my home. I often went in the cool of the evening, with the girls to the fountain, and helped them to fill their jars with water, and I then 'Ihe Little Afkicak's Adventures. 149 observed where the sun rose and set, and learnt also that my father's house lay toward the rising of the sun. I intended to seize some fitting opportunity, and start off in that direction, for grief for my mother and friends weighed upon me, and my love of liberty, always strong, was so increased by my state of servitude, that I could not even bear to sit down to eat with free children, although I was treated in every way as their companion. While I was meditating my plan of escape, a provoking occurrence put an end to all my hopes. I used sometimes to assist an old slave woman in the kitchen, and take care of the poultry. One morning, as I was feeding the chick- ens, I thoughtlessly threw a pebble at one of them that killed it on the spot. The old slave missed the chicken, and when I told her frankly what had become of it, (for my mother had taught me never to tell a lie) she flew into a rage, said I should suffer for it, and went straight to tell her mistress. I feared a whipping, and as I had never been struck at home, the idea of such a disgrace was so horrible to me, that I ran off and hid myself in a wood near at hand. They searched for me all day long unsuc- cessfully, although they were several times so near my hiding-place that I could hear them talking distinctly. From what they said, I learnt that I could never succeed in reaching my home, if I had attempted it, but would certainly fall a prey to wild beasts, or into the hands of slave-dealers. I therefore gave up my intention, and when night came on, and I began to be afraid of the snakes that I thought I heard hissing in the leaves around me, I slipt back into the house, went into the kitchen, and 150 The Little Afkican's Adventubes. as I was freezing with cold, lay down in the warm ashes, fervently praying that death might soon end my woes. I was hardly awake in the morning, when the old slave came in, and was much surprised to see me again. She promised to intercede for me with my master, who soon made his appearance, and after administering a slight reproof to me, told the slave to take good care of me. But after this they all seemed displeased with me, and soon sold me. I was now carried again through frightful forests, where I could continually hear savage beasts roaming around us. The people who had bought me, when I was tired, carried me sometimes upon their shoulders, and sometimes upon their backs. From time to time we arrived at convenient, well built huts, in which travellers and merchants could lodge very comfortably. In this wiay we travelled many miles, until one evening, to my surprise and delight, my dear sister was brought into the hut where we were to lodge for the night. When she saw me, she shrieked and rushed into my arms. Neither of us could speak, and we em- braced silently. Our meeting touched the bystanders, and they left us to talk together in perfect freedom. But this delight only lasted until the next morning, when my dear sister was taken from me, and carried oflf forever. I was now more wretched, if possible, than before. The little relief that her presence had been to me was gone, and my own sufferings were increased by the fear lest her's might be greater, and I should not be with her to soothe them. The same day I was sold, and after journeying through a quantity of small villages, arrived at last at a town that The Little African's Advjsntuees. 151 appeared to be very wealthy and was situated in the most charming country I had ever beheld. There I ate, for the first time, sugar cane and cocoanuts, which last I thought more delicious than any thing I had ever tasted. The money of the inhabitants consisted of little white shells about, the size of a finger nail, and for a hundred and seventy-two of these coins they sold me to a rich widow who had a son about my age and size. I was washed and anointed with perfumed oils, and when noon came I sat down to dinner with the son of my mistress in her pres- ence. This astonished me. I did not expect to be treated 80 kindly, and my pleasant circumstances almost made me forget that I was a slave. There were several slaves in our household, and we practised shooting and hurling the javelin every day. I spent two months in this pleasant mode of Ufe, so like what I had enjoyed in my dear home that I was quite reconciled to my lot and began to forget my former trials ; I even expected to be adopted as a son by the rich widow, when suddenly the dear illusion was dispelled. Without the least warning I was one morning awakened, and while my dear young master and the rest of the family were asleep, I was sold and hurried away to new trials among strangers. Hitherto, all the people that I had seen were like those of my own nation in language and customs, but now I was carried into the midst of a people diflfering entirely from any of whom I had ever heard. They offered no sacri- fices, adored no deity, never washed their hands before eating. They cooked their food in iron vessels, and had European swords and muskets, which I had never seen in 152 The Little Afeican's Adventures. my country. The men used to adorn thenwelves with great scars, and they filed their teeth sharp in front. They tried to induce me to submit to this latter operation, but I obstinately refused, for I hoped stUl to live again among nations with more reasonable customs. At last I reached the shore of a large river, which was covered with canoes, in which whole families lived. At this I was greatly astonished, for in my country I had never seen any quan- tity of water larger than a pond or a little brook, and I was somewhat terrified when they put me into a canoe and rowed down the stream till nightfall. We then landed and some made a fire on the shore, while others remained in the canoe all night long. I was not a little surprised when I saw not only men but women plunge into the water, dive to the bottom and then rising swim all about. After breakfast the next morning we again embarked and sailed down the stream. Thus, sometimes journeying by land, and sometimes by water, through all kinds of country and people, we arrived, six or seven months after I had been kidnapped, upon the sea coast. II. The first object that greeted my eyes here was a slave- ship that was lying at anchor waiting for its cargo. This Bight filled me with astonishment that was soon changed into terror. It were in vain to attempt to describe my sensations when I was carried on board the vessel. Some of the sailors seized me and examined me so roughly to see if I were healthy, that I felt sure that I had fallen among demons who were about to kill and eat me. The color The Little Ateican's Adventures. 153 of tlieir skin, so different from what I had ever seen before, their long straight hair, and their strange speech, all con- firmed me in this belief. Actually, what I saw and feared at this moment, threw me into such a state of agony, that if ten thousand worlds had been at my disposal, I would willingly have given them all for the power of exchanging my condition for that of the poorest slave ih my native country. I looked around and saw a great kettle hanging over a fire, around which many other negroes were standing with an expression of pain and terror upon their faces ; I was now sure that we were all to be cooked, and in my extrem- ity fell fainting on the deck. When I came to myself, several blacks came to me and tried to comfort me, but in vain. I at last summoned sufficient courage to ask whether these white men with red faces and long hair were going to eat us. They replied that I had nothing of the kind to fear, and one of the crew handed me a glass of brandy ; but I was so afraid of the man that I would not take it from his hand ; one of my countrymen, who had brought me to the ship, took it from him and handed it to me ; I tasted a few drops, but instead of strengthening me it made me more confused and frightened. My countrymen soon departed, and left me alone in my despair. AH hope of ever again seeing my dear home, now more than ever dear to me, was at an end. The uncertainty of what misfortunes might be in store for me increased my grief, but I was not left to myself long ; I was carried below, where the air was so close and filled with such a disagreeable smell, that, weakened already by the brandy, I called loudly 154 The Little Afbican's Adventures. for death to relieve me from such suffering. Two whita men now oflfered me something to eat, and when, disgusted with all food, I refused it, one of them threw me down and bound my feet, while the other beat me most unmercifully. It was the first time in my life that I had ever been beaten so, and dreadful as the water had seemed to me, T would gladly have thrown myself into it if I could have got over the side of the ship, but we were carefully watched when we were not chained, and if any attempted to throw them- selves overboard or refused to eat, they were unmercifully beaten, as I was several times. Some days afterwards I found some of my nation among the poor blacks on board, and this consoled me a little ; I asked what was to be done with us ; they replied that we were to be taken to the country of the white man to work fcr them. This again gave me some comfort, for I thought if there is nothing worse than labor in store for me there is no cause for despair ; yet I still feared lest they should kill me, for I had never seen anything so wild and fierce as the aspect and behaviour of these people, and nowhere had I witnessed such acts of barbarity exercised not only towards us blacks, but also towards the whites. One day while we were allowed to be on deck, I saw a sailor bound to the mast and flogged so cruelly with a thick rope that he died under the lash, and then was thrown overboard like an ox. My fear of these monsters increased. I expected to be soon treated in the same manner, and expressed this fear to my countrymen, who said all thai they could to console me. I asked whether these people bad no homes, and whether they always lived in these great The Little African's Adventures. 155 boxes, and was told that these were not their homes, but that tney came from a very distant country. " But !" I asked further, " how comes it that we have never heard of them in our country ?" " Because they live so far away from us," was the reply. I now inquired what made the ship go, but my country- men could not satisfy me on this point; they supposed they said that the ropes that we saw which tied the cloth to the masts made it go, and the white men had a magical instrument that they let down into the water when they wanted to stop. I firmly believed that the white men were spirits, and was more desirous than ever to escape from them, but we were so closely guarded that such a thing was not to be thought of. As long as we remained near the shore we were allowed to be upon deck, and one day to our great astonishment we saw a ship coming towards us with spread sails. At sight of it the whites raised a shout that filled us with terror ; the greater as the ship grew larger as it came nearer. Suddenly it put out the anchor and stood stUl ; we were firmly convinced that, this was efiected by magic. Then a boat was put out, the strangers came on board, and the people on both vessels seemed very glad to see each other. Some of the strangers shook us by the hand and made signs to us, which however, we did not understand ; probably they meant to tell us that we should soon arrive at their country. When at last our vessel had got on board its full cargo of blacks, preparations were made for departure with a fearful noise, and we were all sent below, that we might 156 The Little African's Adventures. not see how the ship was managed. Sorry as I was to leave the deck, I could have reconciled myself to this had not the air in the hold, where all the slaves were confined, been perfectly pestilential. Imagine the heat of an African climate in this small room crowded with blacks. It was so ulihealthy that many of the slaves became ill and died. The shrieks of the women, and the groans of the dying, combined to render the scene more horrible than can be imagined. Fortunately I was soon so weak that I was scarcely noticed, and was allowed to lie on deck, and as I was so young they did not put me in fetters. In this miserable condition I awaited daily the fate of many of my companions, who were thrown overboard while breathing their last, and I even longed for death to end my sufferings, for every thing I saw of these white men only increased my fear of them. One day they caught a great quantity of fish, and after eating what they wanted, threw the rest back into the sea, turn- ing a deaf ear to our entreaties that they would relieve QUI himger by giving us some. One or two of my com- panions were induced to steal some, but they were discov- ered and fearfuUy beaten. One beautiful day, when the sea was calm, and we were all allowed to walk on deck, two of my countrymen, who were chained together, seized their opportunity and jumped into the sea. Another fine fellow, whose chains had been removed in consideration of his superior intelligence, followed their example, and many others would have sought deliverance from their miserable fate in the same manner, had not the crew been all called ■Dn board to prevent them. The most discontented were The Little Atkic ait's Adtentuees. 157 immediately sent below, and the ship's course stajed, while a boat was sent out to pick up those who had jumped over- board. Two were already drowned, but the third was rescued and flogged most severely. As I was effectually cured of all desire of throwing my- self into the sea, I grew somewhat more contented, and employed myself in observing every thing around me. The ship's charts and instruments, especially, provoked my wonder and admiration, and when the men allowed me to look through a spy-glass, and I saw the clouds approach and vanish, I was overcome with amazement, and believed most firmly that I was in another world, and that every thing around me was supernatural. III. At last we came in sight of land ; the whites on board shouted loudly, and gave us to understand by signs that they rejoiced greatly. We knew not what to think until we ran into a harbor among quantities of vessels of all shapes and sizes. Although it was evening, many people came on board, and examined us carefully, sorting us out into different groups. They made us leap, and sing, and pointed to the land, signifying that we were to be taken from the vessel. In our simplicity we imagined that these monsters were now really about to eat us, and when we were again shut up for the night, we commenced shrieking and lamenting our cruel fate, refusing to desist until two or three old negroes were sent to us from the land, who told us that we should not be eaten, but would only be obliged to work hard, and that we should find many of our 158 The Little African's Adventures. countrymen on shore. This quieted us, and wLen we landed on the following day, we found ourselves indeed surrounded by negroes of every race and tongue. We were immediately carried to the market house, and shut up like sheep in a pen. As every thing was new to me, I was filled with astonishment. The houses, built of stone, and several stories high, struck me with wonder. I had never seen such in Africa. But when I saw men on horseback, I could scarcely believe my senses, and thought that it must be the eflfect of the most skilful magic. In a few days we were put up for sale. Notice was given with drum and trumpet, and buyers flocked to the market-place, and selected those that they liked. The noise and confusion, and the evil expression on the coun- tenances of our purchasers, terrified us greatly ; we again thought that our last hour was near. The purchases were made without pity or consideration. Mothers were torn from sisters, husbands fi:om wives. Mends from friends. I remember the forcible separation of several brothers, who had been always together during the voyage, which was heart-rending indeed. I did not remain long upon this island, which I after- wards learnt was called Barbadoes, but was shipped for Virginia, with several others of my companions, who were too weak and emaciated to find a purchaser. We were much better treated than we had been on the voyage from Africa, and had plenty of rice and fat pork. We landed on the banks of a broad river, some distance from the ocean, where I saw very few blacks, and none with whom I could talk. I was set to work on a plantation, at weed- The Little African's Adventukes. 159 ing, and my companions were sent in different directions, so that I was quite alone. There I was wretched, indeed, for I could neither understand or make myself understood by any one, and I did indeed long for death. While I remained here, the master of the plantation was taken ill, and I w£.s sent for to fan him. When I entered the room where he lay, I saw much to surprise and frighten me. At the door I was met by a black girl bringing his dinner, who was loaded with several strange iron machines. Among others, she wore one on her head that shut her mouth so closely that she could neither eat nor drink, and could speak only with the greatest difficulty. I afterwards learned that this ingenious invention was call- ed a jaw-basket, and was a punishment for talkativeness or improper exclamations. I had no time to recover from my astonishment, when they put a fan into my hand, and bade me fan my sleeping master. When he slept soundly, I looked around the splendidly furnished apartment where every thing was so new to me. The first object that enchained my attention, was a clock that hung over the mantel-piece; the movement of the pendulum, and the loud ticking, was inexplicable to me, and I was sure that it would tell my master if I did any thing wrong. But I was still more impressed by a portrait that was looking steadily at me ; I had never seen any thing like it in my life, and I believed that here, too, magic was in play. As the figure remained perfectly quiet, I concluded that these whites had discovered a means of preserving their great men after death, that they might be offered up as sacrifices to the good spirits. Awed and terrified, I sat still until 160 The Littue African's Adventukes. • my master awoke, and sent me away, to my great joy, for I was but ill at ease with these people, who appeared to me to live in an atmosphere of unholy magic. At this place they called me Jacob; on board of the vessel they had called me Michael, but my real name at home was Olandah Equiand. Tn this miserable situation, where I had no one to speak with, life became every day more burdensome, and I should certainly have died of grief if the Almighty had not pleased to deliver me from such distress. A young man came one day to see my master on business, and saw me by chance in the house ; I pleased him, and he bought me for about four pounds. He was, as I learned afterwards, a lieutenant in the British navy, but was at present com- manding a merchant vessel, which was anchored further down the river. An elderly negro immediately took me before him on horseback — a new and most delightful way of travelling to me, and carried me down the river's bank to where the beautiful vessel lay at anchor. I was carried on board, and we soon set sail. My fortune had now taken the most favorable turn ; I had a hammock, in which I slept, and had plenty to eat and drink ; every one on board treated me kindly, very differently from any of the other whites whom I had seen, and I began to think that they were not all of the same stamp. I had already learnt a few words of Enghsh, and after we had been several days upon the sea, I inquired of one and another where we were going. Some told me, either to make sport of me or from a desire to please me, that they were going to take me to my home ; this gave me the The Little African's Adventures. 161 greatest delight ; I thought over all the wondrous things 1 should have to relate to my father and mother. But 1 was soon undeceived and learned that we were sailing for England, the birth place of my master. He named me Gustavus Vasa, and although I remonstrated as well as I could, and told him that I wished to he called Jacob as before, he told me shortly that it was to be as he said, and always called me Gustav. At first I pretended not to hear and thus suffered many a box on the ear, but at last I reconciled myself to being called Gustav. The ship was delayed by contrary winds and the voyage wan uncommonly long ; of course the rations grew smaller, and at last each man was restricted to a pound and a half of bread, about as much meat, and a can of water. The whole time that we were at sea we saw no other vessel, and only once caught a few fish. Some of the sailors and the captain said to me in joke, that they should have to kill Rnd eat me, and in my simplicity, I took it all for earnest ; grew very melancholy, and feared that each moment would be my last. While I was in this distress the sailors caught a large fish, and I was delighted, for I felt sure that they would eat it before they killed me; but to my consterna- tion, they only cut off a piece of the tail, and threw the fish back into the water. I was now more anxious than ever; I was indeed afraid that these whites, whom I could not understand, wpuld kill and eat me. There was on board a young man about four years older than I, named Eichard. He was an American by birth, had been very well educated, and was of a most amiable dispo- sition. Before I had been many days on- board he showed 11 162 The Little African's Adventures. quite a liking for me, and I became very warmly attached to him. The friendship commenced on this voyage con- tinued as long as we knew each other, and never can I forget the faithful friend who, at the age of fifteen, pos- sessed a soul superior to prejudice, and did not disdain to be the teacher and companion of a poor ignorant negro slave. Once a man fell overboard in the night, and as they stopped the vessel, such a noise and confusion ensued that my great terror returned; as I ceuld not understand what was going on, I felt convinced that they were about to sacrifice me to the spirit of the wavys, which were very high and stormy, for I could never believe that these whites were not arch-magicians. I did not close my eyes through the whole night, and although I was somewhat relieved when the daylight appeared, yet when ever I waa called, I imagined that I must prepare for death. Soon afterwards we met several very large fishes, which, as I afterwards learned, were called whales ; as it was just beginning to grow dark when they came in sight, thej looked particularly frightful as they spouted up the watel so that the deck was sprinkled. I believed them to be the rulers of the sea, and angry that the white men had made no sacrifice. I was strengthened in this belief by a sudden lull in the wind, which I was sure was occasioned by the fishes, and fearing lest I should be immediately sacrificed, I concealed myself on, the forward deck. My friend Richard soon came to find me, and I asked him what those fishes were, and what they wanted. As my English was very imperfect T could scarcely make myself intelligible to him; The Little ArRiciLN's Adventures. 163 still less could he comprehend me when I asked whether they were about to offer a sacrifice to the fishes; he told me that these fishes could easily swallow a man, and this was enough to terrify me almost to death. Before I could procure any further information the captain called Richard, and they stood talking and looking at the fishes, while the crew were busied setting fire to a tar barrel, which they were going to throw out to the fishes for sport. Eichard told the captain of the fright I was in, and I was called, trembUng and weeping, firmly convinced that my last hour was at hand. They made game of me and my terrors for a while, and then let me go, and threw the burning barrel into the water; as it was a very dark night the fishes were attracted by the blazing light, and to my unspeaka- ble joy we saw no more of them. , My fears entirely vanished when at last, after a tedious voyage of thirteen weeks, we came in sight of land, and anchored at Falmouth. All on board rejoiced, and cer- tainly, no one more than I. The captain immediately went ashore and sent us fresh provisions, which we were really in need of. We fell to without delay, and a long feast succeeded our weary fast. IV. When I arrived in England I was twelve years old ; I beheld with astonishment the large buildings and paved streets of Falmouth ; every thing that I saw increased my wonder. One morning when I went on deck I found it covered with Vhite spots ; as I had never seen any thing like it before. I ran to the helmsman and informed him that l^A The Little Afeican's Adventurks. during the night some one had strewn the deck with salt. He immediately perceived my ridiculous/ mistake, and asked me to bring him some of the salt. I gathered a handful of it, but felt a strange sensation of cold, and when he asked me to taste of it, my amazement exceeded all bounds. I asked him what it was, but could not under- stand when he told me snow. He inquired if we had not the same in our country ; I said no, and curiously asked who made it ; he replied that a great man in heaven, called Ood, made it, and I was again puzzled and in the dark, •especially as I now saw the whole air filled with the white fQOw flakes. Some days after our arrival, I went with several of the crew to church, and as I had never been in such a place before, my curiosity dnd wonder was unbounded. I asked ftbout every thing as well as I could, and was told that liere the God who made us and all things, was worshipped. t asked a thousand questions, but most of them were unin- telligible, or so strange that they could not be answered. My friend Eichard always understood me best, as well because I spoke to him freely and without fear, as because he explained every thing to me simply and with the great- est pleasure. What he told me about this God pleased me much, as far as I could understand it ; but I was par- ticularly pleased to see that these white people did not buy and sell each other, as is the custom with us blacks, and I concluded that in this respect they were much hap- pier than the negroes. The superior understanding of the whites, which did not escape me, filled me with admira- tion, and great was my astonishment when I saw that they The Little African's Adventubes. 16& never oflfered sacrifices to their God, and ate with unwashed hands. The slender form of their women struck me; I did not like it and thought my country women much handsomer. I had often seen my master and Richard reading, and I was very desirous to be able to speak with books also, and learn from them about every thing in the world. I often took a book when I was alone, spoke to it, and then held it to my ear to hear its reply, but as it was always per- fectly silent, I was extremely disappointed My master was stajdng in Falmouth, at the house of a iriend, who had a little daughter six or seven years old, who took a violent fancy to me, so that we were together all day long, took our meals together, and had the same servants to wait upon us. They treated me so kindly in this family, that I was often reminded involuntarily of thft happy days that I had passed in Africa with my good little master. After I had been in this house some time^ they took me again on board of the vessel, which wa» about to sail again with a fresh cargo, but the child wepl 80 bitterly at my departure, that I was carried on shore to pacify her. I now began seriously to fear that they would marry me to her, and when my master asked me if 1 would stay with the little girl, I began to cry, and begged him so earnestly not to leave me behind, that they carried me on board again secretly by night, and on the following day we sailed for the island of Guernsey, on the coast of Normandy, whither our cargo was destined. ' As I now lived among a people who neither disfigured their faces with gashes, nor filed their teeth to a point, as 166 The Little Atkican's Adventures. some of my former Afirican masters had done, I was glad that I had not complied with these foolish customs. At Guernsey I lived at the house of our pilot, who had several little boys and girls, and with them I passed many happy nours. I often noticed that the mother washed the chil- dren's faces, which then looked red as a rose, and I tried -epeatedly to produce the same effect upon my fece by washing it, but in vain. I was vexed that I never suc- ceeded ; I was as black as ever. The wife of the pilot Ireated me very gently and kindly ; she taught me as she Jid her own children. I remained several months in this pleasant home, until jay master, who had received an appointment as first lieu- tenant on a man-of-war, came for me, and carried me to Ciondon. We had scarcely got to the mouth of the Thames, when the boat of a man-of-war came alongside to take away our crew, for it is the custom in England, as I afterwards learned, when there is need of soldiers in time of war, to provide for it in this unjust manner. This business is called pressing, and the officers and men enga- ged in it a press-gang. Every one on board hastened to conceal himself. I was terribly frightened, and could not understand what it was aU about, but I immediately crept behind a chicken coop ; the press-gang came on board with drawn swords, pulled the men out from their hiding-places, and threw them into the boat. At last my turn came ; the man who discovered me held me up in the. air by my legs, and they all made game of me, while I screamed and shrieked until the helmsman heard me, and came to mj The Little Afkican's Adventubes. 167 rescue. He did every thing to soothe me, but I was not satisfied until the boat rowed away. Soon after, to my great joy, our master carried us on board of his vessel, which was called " The Gazelle," and I was again amazed at the multitude of men and cannons that I saw here, but as I gained in experience, my wonder at what I saw decreased, and I soon lost entirely all terror of the white people. I went to the other extreme, and instead of being jfrightened at the fire-arms and weapons that I saw, I longed for nothing more fervently than a lonflict with the enemy. All anxiety of any kind van- fehed from my mind. I was well contented with my lot. There were many boys beside myself on board, and we were continually together, and passed most of our time in play. One day, all the boys were assembled on board, and divided into couples, that they might measure their strength by wrestling for the amusement of the officers. It was the first time that I ever received a bloody nose. I was greatly excited, and fought for more than an hour with my opponent, until we were separated, when thor- oughly exhausted. I now joined repeatedly in these trials of strength, and the captain and officers used to encourage me in every way to do so. V. I had learned much of a sailor's duty, and could fire off a cannon very readily, but had never had the good fortune to assist in a battle, although we had coasted along the French coast for a long time, and had captured seventeen ships, which surrendered without any resistance. We now 168 The Little Ateican's Adventures. returned back to Portsmouth harbor, and my master, to my great delight, carried me with him to the capital, which I had long desired to see. But my curiosity was destined not to be satisfied, for I had been seized with very painful chiUblains in the cold climate to which I was so flnaccustomed, and they grew so much worse that I had to be carried to a hospital, where the evil increased to such a degree that the physicians feared mortification, and tried to persuade me to have my leg amputated ; but I obsti- nately refused to submit to the operation, declaring that I would rather die. My leg grew better at last without it. but just as I began to recover, I took the small-pox, and was obliged to keep my bed again. I grew quite well, however, in a few months, and went to my master, who had been appointed first lieutenant on board a ship of war of fifty guns. A few days after wa had set sail, an event occurred so sad in its warning, that it is yet indelibly impressed upon my memory. A young man, who was looking from the mast head one morningi for some trifle, cursed his eyes in the usual thoughtlesi way common on board of the ship. Scarcely had the curse left his lips, when a little grain of dust flew into his left eye ; by evening it was violently inflamed, the next day it was much worse, and in a week he had lost it entirely. Our vessel now joined a large squadron, and I saw my long cherished desire to witness a sea-fight about to be gratified, for one morning we discovered a division of the hostile fleet several miles before us. Although it was greatly our superior in strength, we immediately gave The Little Afeican's Adtentuees. 169 chase, and came up with it in the afternoon. Our vessel sailed directly past the whole hostile fleet in order to come up with the admiral's ship, which was at the head, and carried eighty-four guns. ' Although we were fired upon repeatedly, we could not return the fire without the cap- tain's orders, but were obliged to lie down flat upon the decks, until we came opposite to the admiral's ship, when we sprang up and gave him a broad-side. Our fire was imme- diately returned, and a fierce battle ensued, which lasted a long time. Deafened by the roar of the cannon, I stood still, trembling, and saw my companions falling on all sides ; at last the line of the enemy's fleet was broken and the victory was ours. This was announced by a loud " huzza" fi:om our men. We captured three vessels ; tha rest crowded sail and took to flight ; we followed and drov« them on the coast of France where they were wrecked The admiral's ship took fire and blew up in the nigh4 with a frightful noise. I never saw a more terrible sight for the space of one minute, thei dark night was changed to clearest day, and a rolling crash, louder and more di» tinct than thunder, threatened to overthrow and shatter every thing around us. My post during the fight was on the middle deck, where it was my duty to supply one of the cannons with powder. Fortunately, I escaped unwounded, although the balls fell thick around me, and some of my companions fell by my side, literally cut to pieces. My master had been wounded and carried down to the physi- cian, and although I was most anxious about him and longed to go to his assistance, I dared not leave my post, where I was for more than a half an hour in danger of 170 The Little African's Adventures. instant death. In many cases the bottom of the cartridge boxes was rusted through, and the powder from the maga- zine was all over the deck, so that we could scarcely pre- vent it from taking fire. My duty exposed me more than any other to the enemy's fire, for I had to ruij nearly the whole length of the ship to bring powder. At first I was as prudent as possible, and only ran just after the enemy had fired, but I soon found all precaution useless ; the thought that the hour of my death was as certain as the hour of my birth, relieved me from all fear, and I contin- ued my dangerous employment with renewed courage. As our vessel had sufiered greatly in the battle, and we tad many wounded on board, we returned to the Thames, where I again stayed with my master in the family of one of his friends. I had now become quite a different per- son; the manners and customs of my new fellows no jonger filled me with fear and dismay. I no longer re- garded the whites as spirits, but as mere human beings, and I was very anxious to resemble them as much as pos- sible. I had long wished to be able to read and write, and had often endeavored to learn, but I had not made much progress. Now that I was living in London I made known this desire to the family with whom we were staying, and they immediately sent me to school. As the ladies of this family were continually telling me that I could never get to heaven if I were not baptized I became very anxious again, for I had a very dim idea of a future state. I at last disclosed my anxiety to my master, and requested that I might be baptized ; this he refused me for a long time and his consent was only obtained at last through the The Little Ateican's Adventuees. 171 intercession of one of the family, to whom he considered himself under great obligations. The cause of this singular behaviour was soon clear to me, and destroyed the good opinion I had formed of the whites. Hitherto, it is true, my master had treated me with great kindness, although as it now appeared, from motives of self-interest. As soon as peace was concluded, he tried to sell me for the highest price he could procure. One day he took me on board of a ship which was about to sail for the West Indies, and carried me to the captain in the cabin. The captain asked me whether I knew him, and when I" replied in the negative, said, "Well, you are my slave now." I declared that my master could not sell me either to him or to any one else. " How so ?" he asked ; " did not your master buy you?" " Certainly," I replied, " but I have now been several years in his service, and he has in his possession all the prize money that I gained in the war. I have never had a penny of it ; besides I am baptized, and according to the laws of the land no one has any right to sell me." The captain told me that any one who had put such nonsense into my head, had been making game of me, but I answered boldly that it was strange if other people did not know what law was as well as he. Then he told me Boughly, that I talked too much, and that if I was not quiet and obedient, he had a quick way of making me so. 1 was too well convinced of his power over me to doubt what he said; the horrors that I had formerly endured on 172 The Little Afeican's Adventuees. board of the slaver, occurred to my mind, and made me shudder. I said that I knew well that there was no jus- tice for me among men, but that I hoped to find it in heaven, and then left the cabin, plunged in the deepest grief My master then took from me my only coat, and without deigning even to look at me, got into his boat and sailed away. I followed the retreating boat with a tearful gaze, as long as it was in eight, and when it vanished from tny gaze, I threw myself upon the deck, and gave myself up to the utter despair that filled my soul. Thus far we have the poor negro boy's recital written by his own hand. He made many voyages to the West In- dies, and other countries, under various masters, and at last succeeded in saving money enough to purchase his freedom. Then he retired to London, where by unceasing industry and enterprise, he became quite a wealthy man At his death he left his considerable property to be dev* ted to the education of kidnapped negro children. a^ aSbe»)fqi»e' IN THE TIME OF THE CIRCASSIAN WAB. The Caucasus, a chain of high, rugged mountains, whose Aimmits are covered with eternal snows, extend from the Caspian to the Black sea, a distance of one hundred and fifty miles. In wild and romantic scenery, calculated to awake admiration of nature in her most picturesque as well as sublimest form, they surpass the better known Alps and far-famed Pyrenees. Between their snow-clad summits are stretched immense fields of ice, and from the glaciers foaming cataracts dash down upon the rocks below, and losing their icy coldness as they proceed, the torrents are at length changed into calm brooks that wind like a thread of silver through the smiling vallies at their base. The steep dechvities are clothed with dark and tangled forests, with many a fruitful valley spread between For the protection of travellers on the highway which passes through these mountains, the Russians have estab- lished a chain of fortresses at certain distances along it j without this precaution there could be no escape from the marauding exactions of the robber chiefs, who dwell upon their rocky borders. No one journeys singly, but as in lands farther to the east, each one delays setting out until (173) 174 An Adventuee. a caravan is ready. Accommodating their day's march to reach one of these forts by night, where they remain until morning, when they set out guarded by a convoy of mounted Cossacks, and a band of foot soldiers, until they reach the next, where the same routine is observed. The road at first winds through narrow passes and deep defiles, where on one side the turbid Terek roars and rushes, while the steep rocky walls of the other are clothed with dark woods, between the trees of which frowning clifis, beetling over the flood, threaten every moment to hurl their rocky masses into its foaming waters. The frightful sounds of the torrents as they dash from one precipice to another, and the mountain brooks as they burst through every obstacle that opposes their progress, the gloomy shadows of the forest through whose interlacing branches no sun- beam ever reaches the earth, or illumines the dreary mountain pass, the hoarse roar of the river as he urges his wild flood in rapid progress over rock and fallen tree, the shriek of ravenous birds, and the dread of a lurking enemy, fill the traveller's mind with terror and sad fore- boding. At length ^he ascent begins ; he leaves the dusky valley and the frightful Terek; the forests become less frequent and less dense, and rising to a higher region, he finds himself in a wide amphitheatre encircled by rocks. The higher he ascends, the grander the prospect becomes, chaotic confusion tells of the wonders of nature, and shows to man his own insignificance. Huge blocks of mountain stone are piled upon each other, piUar-like, as if to reach the clouds ; some looking loose and far from perpendicular, eeem almost to waver in the air, threatening to crush the illimitable sea around him, and if so happy as to pass them safely, the remainder of the journey is then pleasantly pursued through the valley that forms the entrance to the blooming and fertile land of Georgia. As he continues to descend, the air grows milder, the vegetation more luxuri ant. Meadows clothed with richest green, gardens bloom- ing with flowers, and fruit-laden orchards, cheer the eye of the traveller who less than twenty-four hours previous had been encompassed by icy winter, arid spreading out a landscape of glowing beauty, fill his soul with rapture. The countries bordering on these stupendous mountains are inhabited by a warhke and freedom-loving people, and although living under separate governments, are known by the general name of Caucasians. They are, however, the bibjects of different dynasties, the most powerful among them being the Circassians. They are remarkable for beauty and strength of person, but disdaining the drudgery of agriculture, their favorite pursuits are robbery, the chase, and war. In open fight they are dangerous ene- ' mies, from their unerring aim as marksmen ; in the clefts of the rocks, or gorges of their native hills, they are invin- cible. The Russians, since adding the whole region of the Caucasus to their vast empire, have been attempting to subdue them ; although many years have passed the eflFort has been in vain. All they have been able to accomplish is the exaction of a mere form of submission, and by those fortresses along the road, where strong garrisons are con- stantly maintained, to keep guard over travellers, and 176 An ADVENTtTRE. shield the agricultural community from the aggressions of these indomitable children of the soil. Among the Circassian chieftains, no one was more dis« tinguished for intrepidity and daring than Mansur Bey. One of his relations had been taken prisoner by a party ■jf Russian soldiers, and carried to one of the fortresses, Inhere he was treated hardly. He sought to escape, but was recaptured, and put to death. When Mansur Bey feeard what had been done, he swore a fearful oath that he would exact blood for blood ; nothing would satisfy him but to kill the commander with his own hand. Placing nimself at the head of a small troop of followers, he sal- lied forth, and attacked the fortress. But owing to its ad vantageous position, and the strength of the garrison, it was almost impregnable ; it was impossible to take it by storm, and the Russians kept too close a watch to be overcome by any stratagem. The besiegers were obliged to retreat with great loss. Mansur Bey, still more embittered by the failure of his project, renewed his oath, and set all his wits to work in order to decoy the commandant from the strong-hold. His plan was certainly a most daring one, and fraught with danger to himself, for he staked his own iife on the game he was about to play, but he was willing to risk every thing rather than forego his determination of revenge. After disclosing his plan to his followers, he again ap- proached the fortress, fired several shots against it and then rode off at full gallop. He next pretended to reel in his saddle, arid at last fell from his horse, thus making it appear that he had been wounded by one of the many An Adventure. 177 )ullet