ARTES
1837
SCIENTIA
LIBRARY
VERITAS
OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN |
ZA PLURIBU
TUEHOR
SI QUERIS PLAIN SELAM AMŒNAM
CIRCUMSPICE
GIFT OF
REGENT LLHUBBARD
Imag. Voy.
PR
3318
345
AF
T8
v. 1
Frontispiece
2.
हर्ट्
Boitard Feat
According to Act 1752. –
?
THE
TRAVELS
AND
ADVENTURES
O F
William Bingfield, Eſq;
CONTAINING,
As furprizing a Fluctuation of Circum-
ſtances, both by Sea and Land, as ever
befel one Man.
WITH
An accurate Account of the Shape, Nature,
and Properties of that moft furious, and
amazing Animal, the Do G-BIRD.
Printed from his own MANUSCRIPT.
With a Beautiful FRONTISPIECE.
VOL. I.
LONDON:
Printed for E. WITHERS, at the Seven Stars,
in Fleet-ftreet; and R. BALDWIN, at the
Rofe in Pater-nofter-Rowe
M.DCC.LIII.
Bingfield, William, peeina.
Rue.
Figent 2. & Hattard
4+
10-27-19254-
z vola
(iii)
THE
CONTENTS
OF THE
FIRST VOLUME.
CHAP. I. THE Author's Account of himſelf.
Obtains a Commiffion. His A-
mour with Sally Morton. Sent to Africa.
Take to their Boat. The Ship finks, Page 1
CHAP. II. A State of their Condition, and
Stores on Board the Boat. Effects of their De-
fpair. Their Hands die off. Effects of Drought.
A most feaſonable, but unexpected Relief. Sur-
render themſelves to Death, and take Leave.
Delirium the Effect of Emptiness. See Land.
Lofe it in the Night. Exceffive Labour till
Morning. Land before them. Devour the Green
Herbs like famished Cattle,
CHAP. III. Reflections on Providence. Benefit
of the Plants they found. Part their Friend's
Effects. Character of Ensign Fuller. The Au-
thor's Reflections on his Condition with two Com-
panions. The Method he took for his fafety with
them. Knew not the Country. Vaft Flights of
Birds. A Defcription of the Dog-Bird. Of
P
a 2
19
Birds
CONTENT S.
46
Birds an elegant Mcal. Vaft Regale. Gather
Spirits. Afraid of Wild Beafts. Surprized in
the Night. At a Lofs which Way to take. -De-
bates thereon. Some Propertics of the Dog-Bird.
Kill two of them,
32
CHAP. IV. Examire the Creatures they had
killed. Dog-Birds fine Eating. Arrive at an
Hill all Stone. Surprized by a Lion there.
Great Debate on the Cave he was lodged in.
Flea him. Method of entering his Cave. De-
fcription of it. Fix their Refidence there,
CHAP. V. Find Difficulty in fleeping. Lie on
Skins. Odd Sort of Door to their Cell. Travel
inland. Dog-Birds kill a Stag. Auther feafts
on him. Shoot a fhe Dog-Bird. Find her Neft.
Debate about destroying the Young ones. Pre-
Serve three of them. Differtation on true Cou-
rage. The Young refufe to eat their Dam. Eat
all other Flefb. Exceffive Growth of them. Be-
come tame and quite tractable. Name their
Birds. When at full Growth. All Creatures
fly them. Exceeding fwift. Seize any Thing.
Under great Command,
58
CHAP. VI. Dog-Birds a fure Guard. Quit
their Cell for the open Country. Fourteen tame
Dog-Birds with them. Kill a Bull. How they
managed their Dog-Birds. Diftunt Prospect
of the Sea. Approach the Coaft. Covered with
Boats. Get nearer for Intelligence. See a
Smoak at the Bottom of the Hill. Hear Shouts.
From their Cover ſee many Blacks leading a
Perfon to Execution. Shoot at him. Bring him
back dead to the Hill. Roaft his Limbs there, 75
CHAP.
CONTENTS.
CHAP. VII. Author beholds their Barbariſm
with Horror. They eat the Man. Another
Shout. Lead a white Perfon to the fame Exe-
cution. Author determines to relieve him. His
Encouragement to his Companions. They decline
it; but follow him. Rout all the Hoft with
the Dog-Birds. All fly to their Boats. Author
finds Sally Morton in the Victim, and covers
her with his Coat. Their Greeting. Informs
his Companions. Remove to Shelter for the
Night,
85
CHAP. VIII. Sally delivers her Story. That
her Aunt had decoy'd her to Sea. Crew melan-
choly. Hopes for Relief at the Canaries. Dif
appointed. Tries to deftroy herself. Ship-
wrecked. Taken by Blacks. Sent to their King.
Kept amongst his Women. King and People eat
their Prifoners. Perfuafions to become the King's
Mistress. Refufe. Suffers daily Torments. Ef
capes with an Eunuch of the King's. Retaken.
Was erammed for
pelling them to eat.
Defired her Death.
Author,
CHAP. IX. Author relates his Story to Sally.
Reafon for the Name of his Dog-Bird. Sally
begs Partnership in her. Set a Watch. Sally's
Objections answered. Settle their Rout for fear
of the Blacks. They have quitted the Coaft.
Kill a Stag. Coaft the Country in Quest of
Shipping,
CHAP. X. Find feveral Shell-fish on the Shore.
Encompass a Swamp and Rock.
killing. Manner of com-
Brought thither to be flain.
Craves an Account of the
97
115
See the Blacks
behind
vi
CONTENTS.
behind it. Kill fome. Avoid a Flight of Ar-
rows. The Dog-Birds put them to Flight.
Many drowned,
126
CHAP. XI. Secure what Boats were left behind.
Call Sally out from her Shelter.
Find a
Black tied. Learned that he was that Day
to have been killed. Was of another Coun-
try. Sally understood him a little. Many dead
Blacks caft up by the Tide. Catch a furprizing
Beaf. Defeription of it. Blacks return no
more,
131
CHAP. XII. Travel Eastward. Malack, the Black,
a most honeft Fellow. Sally and he understand
each other. Author fufpicious of Sam and Joe.
Engages Malack in his Intereft by Means of
Sally. Sufpects his Companions defign to Debauch
Sally. Caball feparately. Two Birds follow-
ing a Lioness. Author purfues. Sally's Cries
recall him. Sam and Joe attempting a Rape
on Sally. Author kills Joe. Shatters Sam's
Arm with a Bullet. Sam confeffes the Plot.
Dies. Relieves Sally. Malack recounts the
Onfet. Sally confeffes her Obligation. Cloath
Malack,
139
CHAP. XIII. Proceed on their fourney. Sally
teaches Malack Engliſh. The Author's Difcourfe
of Marriage with Malack, Malack evinces
it was no Crime to marry Sally. Propofes it
to her. Her Anfwer. Perfuafive Arguments of
the Author. Sally complies. The Ceremony, 156
CHAP. XIV. Malack's Joy at the Marriage.
Lived happily. Had given over all Thoughts
of England. Gain a l'iew of the Eastern Sea.
Hear
CONTENTS:
vii
Hear Niufuck. A vast Train afcending from
the Sea. Gain a Hill for further View of
them. A Vally full of Stone Erections. The
Train march back again. Take Shipping. De-
fiend to the Valley. Find two Men chained.
Make Signs to each other. Author had Thoughts
of releafing them,
166
CHAP. XV. The Author's Reflections. Sally
dubious Malack paffive. Tries to relcafe the
two Men. Malack underftands them. Releafe
one.
Forces the Stones of a Tomb. Releajes
Bomarrah, a Captive King, from it
His
Gratitude. And Majesty. Bomarrah's Story.
Was entombed alive by his Nephew an Ufurper.
Mentions where they are gone to crown him, 177
CHAP. XVI. Author offers to reinftate Bo-
marrah. Gives him an Account of his Dog-
Birds. Relates the Engagements with the Blacks.
Monftrous Projects. Sally amazed at her
Huſband's Talk. Refolves to rifque his Life
in the Enterprize. Difcourfe between him and
Bomarrah. Gives him a Sample of his Dog-
Birds Abilities. He comes into the Author's
Scheme. Set forward to find the Ujurper, 190
CHAP. XVII. The Situation of the Ufurper's
Army. Author gives his Orders. Bomarrah
would have a Gun; but refufed. Author's
Fears for Sally. Shoots the Ufurper. Dog-
Birds win the Field. Bomarrah's Raptures on
the Occafion. Some Prifoners taken. Sent to
reclaim their Comrades, and bring Almanor.
His Proflration to the King. Bomarrah's
Speech. His Orders to the Troops. They all
defcend,
viii
CONTENT S.
204
defcend, and are pardoned. Recalls Sally. Bo-
marrah recrowned. The Author embarks with
the King for Kronomo,
CHAP. XVIII. Send Meſſengers to prepare the
Army for the King's Reception. Dread their
Officers; but tacitly approve the King. The
Author flays the Chiefs of the Faction. The
Army recognize their King. Bomarrah de-
barks. Grand Parade to the Palace. Excess
of Joy. His Mother fet at Liberty. Great
Compliments paid the Author. Largefs for the
Populace. The Author's Advice for Lenity,
with his Reafons,
223
CHAP. XIX. Sally and the Dog-Birds land.
Great Staring at them. Account of the Author's
Houſe and Family. A grand Hunting-Match.
Dogs compared, and tried with the Dog-Birds.
Found deficient. Surprising Actions of the Dog-
Birds. Return to Kronomo,
238
CHAP. XX. Bomarrah would not let the Author
leave him.
Bomarrah's Illneſs. Affemble to
chufe a Succeffor. Bomarrah recommends the
Author for his Succeffor. The Nobles inflamed.
The King calls a Convention. Put it to the lote.
Divided; but Majority against him. The Au-
thor ill, and knew nothing of their Proceedings.
Denied Admittance to the King. Bomarrah's
Death,
250
CHAP. XXI. The Author is fentenced to Ba-
nifhment. Receives an Account of it. Garis's
Advice for Speedy Departure. Diftributes all
his Effects to his Servants. Sally's Behaviour
on the Occafion. Set forward. Malack's Fide-
lity. They leave Kronomo,
260
THE
THE
TRAVELS
OF
William Bingfield, Efq;
CHAP. I..
The Author's Account of himself. Obtains
a Commiffion. His Amour with Sally
Moreton. Sent to Africa. Take to their
Boat. The Ship ſinks.
T was not many Days after the
Landing of the ever-renown-
ed William, Prince of Orange,
that my Mother was deli
vered of me
while my
my Fa-
ther was abfent in the Service of the late
VOL. I.
B
King
2 The TRAVELS of
King James the Second, a Captain in thoſe
Forces which were diſpatched to Salisbury,
to oppoſe that Hero's Progrefs: But my
Father, with his Regiment (amongſt ma-
ny others) joining his Highnefs, became
afterwards in fuch Favour with him, and
was ſo conſtantly upon Duty, that he had
no poffible Opportunity of vifiting my
Mother at his Seat in Norfolk, before he
was fent to Ireland; where he was flain in
the very Sight of his Mafter, at the Battle
of the Boyne, on the thirty-first Day of
May, 1690.
His Death left me wholly under the Care
and Tuition of my Mother, whofe Indul-
gence proved fo exceffive towards me, that
I no fooner became fenfible of Life and Ac-
tion, than I found myſelf at the Head of
her Family. My Mother's Jointure of about
two hundred Pounds a Year arofe from
her own Fortune, which had been fettled
on her Marriage with my Father upon
them both, and the longer Liver of them;
fo
}
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Eſq; 3
fo that, at my Father's Death, the Whole
was at her Diſpoſal.
I was put to School, where I continued
'till the Cloſe of my feventeenth Year,
under her own Eye; when, becoming
fomewhat manly, for I was tall of my
Age, I began to look above the flaviſh
Confinement of a fcholaftick Life, and
my Mind hankering after other Employ-
ment, I could no longer apply to my
Studies with any Profpect of Proficiency,
but was perpetually teizing her to intro-
duce me to the World.
About this Time fome Regiments, with
their Officers, were quartered all round us;
waiting Orders for their Embarkation to
Holland. My Father having been of that
Profeſſion, and myſelf being fmitten with
the Gaiety of their Appearance, and the
Reſpect that was every where paid to them;
I could not reft fatisfied, till by fome Means,
I had introduced myfelf to their Notice.
B 2
This
4
The TRAVELS of
This I miffed no Opportunity of accom-
pliſhing; by firft hinting to fome of them,
that my Father had been of their Cloath,
and what a preffing Defire I myſelf had,
of being initiated amongst them; and at
the fame Time, remarking an Enfign,
who ſeemed to be but little my Senior, I
demanded whether I might not be admit-
ted to a Pair of Colours?
The Officers were fo pleaſed with my
Diſcourſe, that they raiſed my Expecta-
tions, by Affurances, that it would prove
no difficult Matter to gratify me, if my
Mother would carry me to Town and ap-
ply properly. I thereupon grew fo ex-
tremely fond of their Company, that dur-
ing their Stay, which was about three
Weeks, I never once attempted to find my
Way to School; but having Money at my
Command, I ſpent as they did, they calling
me Captain, and encouraging me in my
Refolves.
Being
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq;
5
ન
Being now refolutely bent againſt any
more Learning, I opened my Determina-
tion to my Mother, who feemed exceed-
ingly ſtartled at it, as nothing that I could
have choſen, ſhe ſaid, could poſſibly have
given her more Uneafinefs: For having
loft the beſt of Hufbands in the Wars,
ſhe looked upon my Engagement in the
fame Sphere, as the committing of me to
certain Slaughter. However, I prevailed
for inviting feveral of the Officers to dine
with her, not doubting but that they would
be able, by their Arguments, to remove
her Prejudices, and inſtruct her in fome
Method of Application, for obtaining me
my Defires.
She entertained them very genteely;
but
poor Woman! Could fcarce refrain from
Tears at the Sight of them, when ſhe re-
collected the Satisfaction fhe had taken in
my Father's Converfation, under the fame
Livery. I had previously inftructed them
how agreeable it would be to me, that
B 3
they
6
The TRAVELS of
they fhould commend my Choice of the
Army, amplify the Advantages, and re-
duce the Dangers, and Diſcommodities of
that Courſe of Life, to a meer Trifle;
which they not only promiſed me that they
would do, but fo happily effected, that be-
fore we parted, they had brought my
Mother to the Sally, whither Side of the
Queſtion to refolve on.
Obferving my Mother to be thus waver-
ing and unfettled, I was feldom without
one or more of the Officers at our Houfe;
till by Degrees ſhe entered plum into my
Meaſures, and no fooner were they ſhipped
off for Holland, than we fet out for Lon-
don, to procure my Admiffion upon the
Eſtabliſhment.
We took an Houfe near Whitehall,
where my Mother renewed her former
Acquaintance, with fome of my Father's
Cotemporaries, who by that Time, were
advanced to fuperior Ranks in the Army;
and
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Eſq;
more eſpecially with one, a Lieutenant Ge-
neral, with whom ſhe had formerly been
intimate. She unfolded to him the Deſign
of her Journey to London, in Compliance
with my Inclinations, begging both his
Advice and Affiftance, in procuring me
what I fo ftrenuously fought after.
2
The General pronounced it a Matter of
no fuch fmall Difficulty to gratify me, as
my Mother had imagined; urging many
Reaſons for what he offered; but con-
cluded, with his Inclinations to be helpful
to the Son of his old Friend, to the ut-
moft of his Power; and that he would
employ his Intereſt to promote me.
My Mother and I waited upon the Ga-
neral for ſeveral Months, under conftant
Expectation of my Preferment, of which
he fometimes gave us great Hopes, fome-
times none; till growing almoft weary of
an ineffectual Solicitation, we were juſt en-
gaging in other Methods of obtaining it::
B 4
When
The TRAVELS of
When the General calling upon my Mo-
ther one Morning, affured her of his hav-
ing now compleated the Affair; for that
he had found out an Enfigncy, in the Dif
pofal of a great Lady at Court, with
whom he had an Intereft; but that ſhe
would expect a Prefent of two hundred
Pounds to be made her upon figning my
Commiffion.
My Mother and I, who had buoyed our-
felves up with the Profpect of my being
prefented with this Poft, through the Ge-
neral's Intereſt in the Army, and at Court,
were fomewhat ftartled at the Propofal;
but rather than to have our Work to be-
gin again, and that I might not fuffer a
Diſappointment, the fubmitted to make
the Prefent, (as the General called it) or
in other Words, to pay for the Com-
miſſion.
I had not long been in Poffeffion of my
Poft, before accidentally I fell into Com-
pany
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 9
pany with a young Lady, every Way fo
agreeable to my Tafte, as to engage me
to offer her Marriage. She was very
young, very beautiful, and an excellent
Economiſt; but had only a ſmall For-
tune of her own, fave what he might
reaſonably expect from ſeveral rich, Child-
lefs Relations; for her Parents being dead,
the lived with a maiden Aunt, in whofe
Power alfo it was to do very handfomely
for her. I was then but in my twentieth
Year myſelf, when after a Courtship of
full two Years Continuance, wherein our
Affections were unalterably confirmed for
each other: I at once loft all further Sight
and Knowledge of my Miſtreſs, or to
what Part of the World fhe was removed;
fave, that after a long and minute En-
quiry, I gained a Sort of flying Informa-
tion, that he was gone to an Uncle
which ſhe had ſomewhere beyond Sea; but
in what particular Region, I could not ob-
tain the leaſt Intelligence.
B 5
The
10
The TRAVELS of
The Lofs of a Perfon fo dear to me,
and in this furprizing Manner, without the
leaft previous Notice of her Defign, or
any the leaft Ray of Hope, or future Pro-
fpect of reclaiming her again, almoſt over-
came me. I languiſhed, nor could I ad-
mit the leaft Thought of any other Thing,
than my dearest Sally, to occupy both my
fleeping and wakeful Hours (for her Name
was Sarah Moreton) I lost all reliſh, not
only for my Diverfions but for my very
Food; daily declining in my Strength and
Vigour and had it not been for a Draught
that was made out of my Regiment, and
feveral others, to go Abroad, I doubt not,
but my Melancholy would foon have
brought me to the Grave.
;
The draughted Men were to be tranf-
ported to Africa, to guard fome of the
Company's Forts there, and we took our
Turn by Lot, both Officers and Men ;
when I happened to be exempted from
that Service; but in my cloudy Mood,
one
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Eſq; 1.1
one Day repreſenting to one of my Bro-
ther Lieutenants, who was by Lot to go
as Captain with the Tranſports, (for I was
by this Time advanced to a Lieutenancy)
that I wiſhed it had but been my Turn to
have gone Abroad; he told me, that al-
tho' he was to enter upon Captain's Pay,
fo foon as he embarked, and rank as fuch
ever after; yet if I could get Leave for
him to exchange with me, he could relin-
quifh to me that Advantage; for that he
dreaded the Voyage to fo hot a Country.
I had been ſo long diffatisfied with my
Confinement to England, fince the Lofs of
my dear Sally, that joyous for any Oppor--
tunity of but ſhifting my Place, in Hopes-
of fome Comfort by the Change, I left no
Stone unturned to get the Exchange rati-
fied, being at the fame Time highly com-
mended by all my Superiors, for the Bra--
very of
my Refolution; and the Exchange
being confirmed, I fet fail as Captain, with
the firft Embarkation of two hundred and
fixty?
12
The TRAVELS of
fixty Men, in three Veffels; a larger
Number being to follow us, with all Ex-
pedition.
Our Ship was fo crouded, and the Wea-
ther fo fultry, that (advancing near the Line)
our Men fell down ſo faſt, that we were
in Fear of loafing greateſt Part of them;
when the Mafter affured us, that we ſhould
reach our Port in a few Weeks. We had
but twelve Officers on Board, nine of whom
were fo ill, that they could not ſtir off
their Beds, and the tenth could ſcarce
crawl out upon Deck for Air; but myſelf
and one Roger Fuller, an Enfign in my
Regiment, ftill held out in perfect Health;
tho' the Concern of ninety Men lay fo
heavy upon us, that we could ſcarce find
Time either for Eating or Sleeping; nor
had we Hopes long of bearing up againſt
the general Calamity ourſelves.
We had now croffed the Line, where
the Weather was fo exceffive hot, that we
were
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Eſq;
13
were almoſt melted; but Fuller and I were
obliged to be thrice a Day between Decks,
to viſit the fick Men round, and ſupply
them with what Neceffaries we were able
to provide them, and our Circumſtances
would afford: So that I have often won-
dered, how it was poffible for either of
us (who were the only two found Land-
men on Board) to remain in any tolerable
Vigour, or for the poor Men to ſurvive
twenty-four Hours in the fuffocating Heat
and Stench they neceffarily fuftained be-
tween Decks; but the only comfortable
Hope of furviving was, that we were told,
our Confinement would now be but ſhort.
It was of a Sunday Night, I very well
remember, juft after Fuller and I had been
reading in the Bible to ſeveral of the fick
Officers and Men; that before we went our
Evening Rounds, we took a Turn upon
Deck, to fweeten and refreſh ourſelves;
when in less than a Quarter of an Hour,
from as clear a Sky as ever was feen, about
Sun-
14 The TRAVELS of
Sun-ſet, there aroſe ſome very black Clouds,
fucceeded by fo tempeftuous a Storm at
North-Eaſt, and then at Weſt, that in leſs
than an Hour, it had fnapped off the main
Maſt in the Middle, carried away the Fore-
maft, Yards, and Sails, and fo miferably
torn and ſhattered the Shrouds and Tack-
ling, that the Mariners had not the leaſt
Command or Government of the Ship,
nor were there well Hands enough on
Board to keep her in any proper Direc
tion to the Wind.
Our Maſter, who was but in a very
drooping Way himſelf, had not the leaſt
Courage left, either to affiſt at, or order
what was neceffary to be done; but both
himſelf and the Crew, giving up all for
loft, feemed to confent by their Inactivity,
that the Bottom of the Sea would but
prove an eafy Remedy to their Affliction:
Nor is it conceivable, what little Concern
was fhewn by the few who were able to
ftir at all, for their own Preſervation as
for
}
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 15
for thoſe confined between Decks, and to
their Hammocks, they were obliged to
fubmit to Fate; for none of us, had Lei-
fure to adminiſter the leaſt Aſſiſtance.
Fuller and I had been upon Deck all
Night, offering the Mafter what Help we
could afford him, and executing fuch Or
ders, as by meer Compulfion we extorted
from him; but tho' we were extremely
jaded, and had ran infinite Hazards in the
Performance of fuch Things, as the Sai-
lors themſelves might fecurely have under-
taken, from their fuperior Dexterity, had
they been but zealous in the Service: Yet
we were in never the better Condition;
for the whole Cry upon Deck was, Lord
have Mercy upon us, all's loft.
This Storm drove us (but not with equal
Violence) for eighteen Days fucceffively;
during which Time we loft Abundance of
our Landmen, and most of the rest of
the Sailors, with perpetual watching, fell
down.
16
The TRAVELS of
down. Infomuch that the Living had not
Strength left to diſcharge the Ship of the
Dead, till on the nineteenth Day, we hav
ing had a fine Night preceding, and when
we were in great Hopes that the worſt
was over, we heard a violent Crack at the
Bottom of the Veffel, but from what Ac-
cident we know not; ſo that ſhe went
downright to the Bottom, in lefs than a
Quarter of an Hour.
Fuller and myſelf, with the Maſter, and
two more Sailors, who were on Deck, be-
ing fhocked at the Stroke, and perceiving
her to fink fo very faft, heaved over the
Boat, and with what little Provifions and
Ammunition the Shortnefs of the Time
would allow us to collect together, we em-
barked in her, having firft called out to
all the fick Men and Officers, to inform
them of their Danger, and to affure fuch
as were able to reach the Boat, that they
ſhould be received; but not a Soul ſtirred
fave one of my Brother Officers, who
with
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 17
with great Difficulty creeping forward, we
helped into the Boat, and one more Sai-
lor.
We had ſhipped a confiderable Quan-
tity of Bread, and Salt Provifions; but
our Water lying deep, and the Ship fink-
ing at a great Rate, no one would venture
at procuring that, left (in the mean Time)
the Ship ſhould have been at the Bottom:
So that one quarter Caſk of Water, was
all that we could get into the Boat.
We might certainly have done better,
in the little Time we had to ferve our-
felves in; but that it was plain, not one
of us chofe to lofe Sight of the Boat, for
Fear, left the reft fhould be gone with-
out him; nor would the Mafter fuffer us
to carry any Man to the Boat, who could
not come of himſelf; for he faid, if we
brought one, why not another? And then,
we ſhould in his Opinion, be guilty of
murdering thoſe we left behind, and could
we
18
The TRAVELS of
we bring them all, the Boat would not
contain them.
For my Part, however juſt the Maſter's
Argument might be, it went extremely
againſt the Grain with me, to leave a Soul
behind, that we could by any Means have
faved; but the Ship was juft now going,
and we were obliged to fhove off from her,
left we ſhould have been fucked down in
the Eddy, the Mafter affured us the Wa-
ter would form itfelf into, upon her De-
parture; but the Cries and Shrieks of the
wretched Crew, and Soldiers, as the Wa-
ter reached them, and they perceived
themſelves juft fwallowing up into the
Abyſs of Eternity, will never be abfolute-
ly diſcharged from my Ear, whenever I
recollect their Cataſtrophe; nor had we
rowed thirty Fathoms from the Veſſel be-
fore we loſt all Sight of her forever.
CHAP.
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 19
CHA P. II.
A State of their Condition, and Stores on
Board the Boat. Effects of their De-
Spair. Their Hands die off. Effects of
Drought. A moſt ſeaſonable but unex-
pected Relief. Surrender themselves to
Death, and take Leave. Dilirium the
Effect of Emptiness. See Land. Lofe
it in the Night. Exceffive Labour till
Mirning. Land before them. Devour
the Green Herbs like famished Cattle.
Z
No
O Tongue can defcribe, or Fancy
paint, the Horrors of our little
Crew, when cafting our Eyes towards the
Veffel, our Ears were pierced by every
Shriek, and our Hearts felt every Groan
that was uttered, by fuch a Number of
poor helpleſs Souls, under the Proſpect of
their Deſcent into that Abyſs of Waters,
and that without the leaft Gleam of Hope
from
20
The TRAVELS of
from any external Accident in their Fa-
vour.
At our firſt going off, we looked upon
ourfelves as fuperlatively happy in our then
Situation; but a very moderate Share of
Reflection, diverted the Flux of our Joys
into the Channel of Defpair: For we no
fooner began to compare Notes, and to
fix a Kind of Limit to the Profpect before
us; but the Captain, or Mafter declared,
that he knew not in what Longitude we
were, or could he form the leaſt Gueſs of
our Latitude; for that he had neglected
every Kind of Obfervation from the Com-
mencement of the Storm; nor had we
(upon Examination) either taken any Sea
Inftrument, or even fo much as a Com-
paſs with us, in our Confternation.
had a Piece of a Sail indeed, which ferved
to cover them who flept; and we had Salt
Provifions for a full Month; but had not
Water (at ſhort Allowance) for above
Half the Time: And then, fhould the
Wind
We
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq;
21
Wind (which was much abated) increaſe
to an hard Gale, it would be next to im-
poffible for us to weather it: So that upon
all Confiderations, our Scene changing fo
much for the worfe, we began to lament
that we had not been fo happy, as with
the rest of the Ship's Crew, to have been
by this Time, releaſed from that Miſery
which itared us in the Face, on which-
ever Hand we turned to.
Our Boat's Crew confifted of the Ma·
fter, Fuller, myſelf, Lieutenant Overton,
and three Sailors; but Fuller, myſelf, and
two of the Sailor's only, were fit for Ex-
erciſe or Action; nor did we in the leaft
ftint our Endeavours; but to the beſt of
our Abilities, undertook the labouring
Oar as we were directed: For fometimes
we rowed a whole Day together to one
Point, fometimes to another, almoſt di-
ftracted, at neither the Sight of Land, or
of any Veffel to relieve us.
On
22
The TRAVELS of
On the fifth Day Overton died, and we
threw him over Board. In three Days
more, we thought we ſhould have loft the
Mafter; but he furvived for a Week, and
feemed to recover a little, but then dropped,
as did the fick Sailor, the Day before
him.
On the eighteenth Day our Water was
tilted, and ran very low; when being but
four of us left, we came to half Quarter
Allowance, having lived very ſparingly for
fome Days before. We had eaten our
Beef Salt, to fave the Expence of Water,
till it created fuch a Loathing for Want of
Moiſture, that we could not bear it in our
Mouths; and Bifket was now our only
Suſtenance: For the Captain had given us
the Hint at firſt, to ſpare that for our laſt
Refort, and it proved very wholeſome
Advice to us.
We had one Day hung about fix Pounds
of Beef at the Stern of the Boat, by a
Cord,
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 23
Cord, in Order to foften and freſhen it
fomewhat, if poffible, by the Motion of
the Water; but it had not been long there,
before we obferved the Boat to draw fo
heavily, that we could fcarce make her
ftir; then going to remove the Beef, which
we judged to be the Occafion of it, we
drew up a very fine Fish, of upwards of
twenty Pounds Weight, which had with
great Eagernefs fwallowed the Beef; but
it being fo large and ftubborn, and the
Cord fo ftrong, it could neither bite this in
two, or difgorge that. Thus unexpected-
ly we procured a Variety, which, had we
been able to have dreffed, would have
been extremely agreeable to us: But as it
was, we made feveral Meals of it, with
our Bread, and this having fo much Moi-
fture in it proved a great Saving to our
Water.
On the twenty-ſecond Day, our Water
Cafk was drained, and with Watry Eyes,
we ſhook each other by the Hand, and
drank
24 The TRAVELS of
'
drank (as we verily imagined) our laſt
earthly Liquor, it not amounting to more
than a Gill a-piece. We were then re-
duced to our own Water; but in a few
Days, we had none of that left, and for
two full Days more lay upon our Oars,
neither being fenfible of any Motion, or
(if we ſtirred at all,) to what Point of the
Compass it was; for there was no Wind,
heavy Weather, nor any Tide to carry
us.
We ſcarce ſpoke one Word all the while
to each other; but hung down our Heads,
as if aſhamed of either viewing the others,
or exhibiting our own Misfortune. I
could perceive my Head to grow very
light, from the Hollownefs of my Sto-
mach, and my Fancy roved as extrava-
gantly as in a Dream; nor could I fcarce
perfuade myſelf, but that I was in one:
When of a fudden, Fuller jumped up;
I'll be your Dupe no longer, faid he, No,
the Earth, and all that's in it, ſhall not de-
tain
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 25
tain me from Paradife.- Come, fweet In-
viter, come, take me to my Happiness, where
Plenty lies in Store for the hungry Soul,-
I come.
I come-
This odd Harangue of Fuller's ftartled
us all; but perceiving him about to plunge
into the Sea, we caught hold of him, and
brought him again to his Seat; when
feeming to recollect himſelf, as if awaking
from Slumber, I began to reafon with
him upon the Heinoufnefs of Suicide,
urging to him, that whilft Life ſubſiſted,
there might be Hopes: That other
Men had (at Times) been reduced to the
Extremities which we then fuffered, and
that tho' fome had perifhed under thoſe
Severities; yet that others had providen-
tially eſcaped at the very laft Gaſp; at
leaſt, that we ought not (to avoid diſtant
Death) run into an inftant Deſtruction.
Poor Fuller heard me very patiently, and
tho' he was fenfible of what he had been
VOL. I.
C
about
26
The TRAVELS of
about to do, fhewed no further Refolu-
tion of perfifting in it, or even ventured
at any Argument in his own Juftification :
But as near as I could guess by his Beha-
viour, was in a good Degree delirious;
for he ſtill ſeemed to have fixed his Mind
upon Meat and Drink, where he was go-
ing, and talked as rationally from thoſe
miſtaken Premifes, as if he had been rea-
foning from a Reality: So that I was fear-
ful of removing to my former Seat, left
he fhould fuddenly leap overboard; but
kept cloſe to him for the remaining Part
of the Day.
We held each a Piece of Biſket in our
Hands, and often put it to our Mouths;
but they were too much parched to pre-
pare it for our Swallow; for tho' we could
grind it to a Sort of Powder, it would
have choaked us but to have attempted
forcing it down; for it lay in our Throats
like Chaff, caufing us to cough and reach
till the Blood flowed from our Stomachs.
I was
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 27
I was become ſo ſpent that Day by Sun-
fet, that I had great Hopes if I could but
fall aſleep in the Night, I fhould not have
Strength left ever to awake again; and
had for fome Time pleafed myſelf with
that Notion; when just as the Sun was
finking beneath the Horizon, one of the
Sailors who fat fronting it, ftarting up,
cried, Land, Land.
We were all on our Tiptoe in a Mo-
ment to reconnoitre it; he ftill pointing
with is Finger, and crying, Land, Land.
I then judging him to be in my Friend
Fuller's Way, for I could fee nothing like
it, was for fecuring him; but he confi-
dently affirming, that what he faw was
Land, and conferring upon its Appear.
ance with the other Sailor, they foon be-
came both of a Mind: And then indeed,
I imagined that I faw fomewhat like a
thin blewish Cloud, on the Edge of the
Horizon; but could not conceive it to be
any Thing elſe.
C 2
The
28
The TRAVELS of
The Sailors both infifting upon its be-
ing Land that we faw, and that being fo
defirable a Profpect; more in Compliance
with their Judgment, than from any Con-
viction of my own Senfes, I clapped my
Hand to the Oar with them, and as bold-
ly we pulled, as if nothing had befallen
us to impair our Vigours: But poor Fuller
was by this Time too far gone, either to
yield us any Affiftance, or to participate
of our Joy for the Profpect.
We obferved, that three of us rowing
together, would neceffarily carry the Boat
about to the weakest Side, rather than
ftreight forwards; fo that two of us only
rowed, and the third kept the Steerage, to
direct our Courfe to the delightful Spot,
which we ftill called Land.
We ſhould have thought ourſelves ex-
tremely happy had it been earlier in the
Day, that we had made this pleafing Dif
covery; for in leſs than an Hour, fuch a
Mift
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 29
Mift aroſe from the Water, as prevented
our remarking any Thing ten Yards be-
fore us; but not before we had (to the
Sailors thinking) reduced our Diſcovery
to a Certainty.
Nothing in the World could be more
melancholy to us at this Juncture, than the
Abſence of Light; for tho' we ſhould la-
bour ever fo hard, we were not certain of
ſteering right, there being neither Wind
or Star to direct us: Nay, we might even,
by pursuing a wrong Courſe, caft our-
felves by Morning beyond Poffibility of re-
covering the Land again: But yet, to lie
by, when there was but the leaft Hope of
Success by Labour, and that too at a Time,
when at beft we had not a Moment to
ſpare, would be an inexcufable Overfight.
So that refolving at all Adventures to do
our utmoſt, in spite of former Weakneſs
and Fatigue, we alternately plied at the
Oars, till Day began to break in the Morn-
ing.
O, the
C 3
30
The TRAVELS of
O, the Transport! the Joy! the Rap-
ture that ſmiled on every Face, at the Ap-
proach of the Day! Which delivered to
our View the Platform of a large Coun-
try, not a League and a Half before us!
Not but that our Joys (efpecially my own)
were in a great Meaſure allayed, by the
Death of Fuller that Night; tho' we not
being apprised of it, before our Senfes had
indulged themfelves with a Profpect of
Refuge from our Diftreffes, it made not
that Impreffion on me, which otherwife it
muſt have done.
Never did willing Courfers ftrain each
Muſcle for Victory more anxiously than
we plied ours at the Oars, thinking each
Boat's Length a Mile, till we arrived at
our defirable Harbour; but upon planting
our Feet on Shore, we were all Extafy.
We thanked the Almighty Ruler of the
Ocean, and all Creatures, for our Prefer-
vation; then having moored the Boat, we
flew to the Herbs, which lined the Banks
of
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 31
of theſe Waters, devouring them like fa-
mifhed Cattle, broken into freſh Paſture;
nor did we, to our thinking, ever fare fo
deliciouſly in our Lives before.
?
C *
CHA P.
32
The TRAVELS of
CHA P. III.
Reflections on Providence. Benefit of the
Plants they found. Part their Friend's
Effects. Character of Enfign Fuller.
The Author's Reflections on his Condition
with two Companions. The Method he
took for his Safety with them. Knew not
the Country. Vaft Flights of Birds. A
Defcription of the Dog-Bird. Of Birds
an elegant Meal. Vaft Regale. Gather
Spirits. Afraid of Wild Beafts. Sur-
prized in the Night. At a Lofs which
Way to take. Debates thereon. Some
Properties of the Dog-Bird. Kill two
of them.
I
Have often reflected, how providential
it was, that we met with fo many
wholfome and Juicy Plants, before we fell
in with any freſh Water; for had we not,
we might (in our then parched Condi-
tions) have, very probably, yielded up
thofe
J
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 33
thofe Lives on Shore, which the Ocean.
had fpared: But we having fo plentifully
moiſtened our Bowels and Stomachs with
the Herbs, were very little anxious for
Water, nor indeed did we go in Search of
it, till we had fecured both our Boat and
Cargo on Shore, and had paid the laſt
Debt to poor Fuller; but as his Cloaths
were too valuable to be committed with
his Body to the Water, I made bold with
his Watch, and fome other Trinkets that
he had about him, and then ftripping him,
we funk the Corps by fome Stones, below
low Water Mark, and divided his Appa-
rel amongſt us; I taking only his Shirt,
Neckcloth, and Handkerchief, for my
Share of the Booty: For my Comrades
were now as good Men as myfelf.
I was the more fenûbly affected for the
Lofs of Fuler, not meerly for the Sake
of his Company, tho' I prized that beyond
any Gentleman's in the hgment, he be-
ing one of the fweeteft tempered Crea-
C 5
tures.
34
The TRAVELS of
tures in the World, had read much, was
a true Friend, and hearty Companion; and
for Courage, and cool Refolution, almoſt
without an Equal; but for that, the Sailors,
my now Companions, being both of the
fame Clafs and Rank in Life, and having
long been Intimates, I judged that by his
Death the Ballance would be broken be-
tween us, and that they would look upon
me but as an impertinent Fellow, fhould
I oppoſe any Opinion of theirs; and that
right or wrong, I must be obliged in eve-
ry Thing to conform to their Sentiments;
it moftly happening, that when Inferiors
gain the Dominion, their Betters muft ei-
ther fubmit, or fmart for it, and that in
no mean Degree, from a certain Invete-
racy in Inferiors to thoſe who rank above
them: Nay, I judged, that fhould I be
any Ways refractory or incompliant, I
might be perhaps knocked on the Head
by them, that they might with greater
Freedom enjoy their own Schemes.
Theſe
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 35
Thefe Reflections gave me for fome
Time great Uneafinefs, and very much
foured my natural Temper: However, I
uſed all the Caution in my Power not to
diffent from any of their reaſonable Pro-
pofitions; but on a little clofer Intimacy,
and Intercourfe with them, I had hopes
that my Jealoufies were groundleſs, and
that we ſhould preferve a good Under-
ftanding together; for tho' I avoided all
Claim to Pre-eminence and Authority
over them, yet they readily condefcended
to my Propoſals, and of themſelves, would
always confult my Opinion, e'er they un-
dertook any Thing of publick Utility;
and this Method ſtrengthening into Cuſtom,
not only restrained me from a too rigid
Maintenance of my own Refolves, but
engaged me to weigh theirs with the niceft
Deliberation, and to concur with them in
whatever I could not plainly demonftrate
to be grofsly erroneous; fo that we foon
lived in the ſtricteft Harmony imaginable.
The
36
The TRAVELS of
The Land we were fallen upon being
wholy unknown to us; whether it was
Inland or Continent, inhabited or not in--
habited, we could form no Gueſs; but
near the Shore it was very bare, and ſeem-
ingly barren: Whereas the inland Parts
prefented us with towering Woods, and
very high Grounds; fo that the Heat
of the Climate foon drove us thither for
Shelter, after the Search of fome River,
or freſh Water Rivulet, to allay our Thirſt
with.
We had turned our Boat upfide down,
ftowed our Goods under it, and covered it
thick with wet Sea-weeds, to prevent the
Influence of the parching Sun from ſplit-
ing its Timber, not knowing as yet how
long it might be e'er we ſhould have Oc-
cafion to make further Ufe of it; then
each of us taking his Gun, with all our
Powder and Ball, we directed our Courſe
to the Uplands. Here we met with fuch
innumerable Flights of Birds, as are not
to
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 37
to be conceived; but moſtly of Sorts.
which we had never before feen; efpecially
a very large Creature of the Bird Make,
walking upon two Legs, but without the
leaft Feather or Down about it, its Cover-
ing being of long fhaggy Hair. It had
a fhort thick Neck, and Bony Head, in
Make like a Greyhound's, with the ſharpeft
and ſtrongeſt Teeth in its Mouth, of any
Creature of its Size that I ever faw, and
a long Tail hairy, and like a Pig's.
It had no Wings, or any Thing in the
Place of them; but it's Feet and Legs
were very long and large, with fharp
Claws reverted, and bedded in the Flefh
like a Panther's; but exceedingly ftrong
when put forth for Uſe.
This Creature was of prodigious Abili-
ties, and fwift in running, and was of the
fierceft Nature imaginable. They general-
ly went in Couple (as we oblerved after-
wards) and never fcrupled to attack what-
ever.
38
The TRAVELS of
ever oppoſed them, being abfolutely de-
void of all Fear, as was demonſtrable from
numberless Inftances, which appeared to
us, during our Stay with them, and which.
I shall have further Occafion to mention ;.
and from their Affinity to both Species.
we called them Dog-Birds.
Having (as I faid before) fallen amongſt
fuch large Flights of Birds, moſt of which
were too fmall for beftowing a Bullet upon,
we picked up fome Stones, and therewith.
hammering fome of our Bullets flat, we
cut them into little fquare Pieces with our
Knives, and charged our Guns with them;
then watching our Opportunity, we fhot
at two Shoots a Dozen and an half of
them, about the Size of a Fieldfare. We
were not long in preparing them for the
Tooth by broiling; and of theſe we made
the firſt Meal we had eaten with Comfort,
fince the Lofs of our Ship; for whatever
we had fwallowed in the Boat, was rather
for the Preſervation of our Beings only,
than
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Eſq; 39.
than from any Delight that we took in the
Repaft.
Had any human Perfon been Spectator
at this our Regale, he muſt have rejoiced
at the Expreffions of our Satisfaction on
the Occafion; for furely, no Creatures
ever indulged more, or exhihited more De-
monſtrations of it, than we did; after
which, laying ourſelves down at a Spring
Head which we had difcovered near us,
each Sip we took was more refreſhing than
the richest compounded Cordial: But I
prevailed with my Companions for not
making too plentiful a Meal, and pro-
pofed for each of us to content himſelf
with three of thefe Birds at once, when
we ſhould have the like Number in Referve
for our next Refreshment; and this being
readily agreed to, we pocketed the remain-
ing Half of them, till Supper Time; nor
can it be conceived, that any Creatures
fhould be fo inftantly altered for the better,
as we perceived ourfelves to be, after this
wholfome
40
The TRAVELS of
wholfome Nourishment; our Spirits and
Vigour returned, and the Strength we had
acquired by it diffipated all paft Weak-
neſs and Fatigue.
Being thus in high Spirits, our next
Concern was for fome Place of Safety,
to fhelter us in from the Danger and An-
noyance of the Beasts of the Country, of
which we were fenfible there were no fmall
Store, from the feveral Voices and Cries
which we had heard in different Parts of
it; but not being able to fuit ourſelves that
Day, we were obliged to take our Lodging,
amongſt the Woods in the Upper Lands,
fitting round a large Tree, with our Backs
againſt it, the more readily to obſerve
whatever ſhould approach us from either
Quarter.
It was our good Fortune to paſs the
Night without further Inconvenience to
ourfelves, than that we were often pur un-
der the Terror of ſome favage Creatures,
whofe
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 41
whofe Howlings, Roaring, and other
Noifes, we frequently heard in the Wood,
and once very near us, when fome Beaſt
was in Purſuit of another, fo cloſe to us,
that we could hear them brush through a
Brake at a ſmall Diſtance from us, and
afterwards fee them by Moon-light thro'
the Trees, tho' not diftinctly enough to
particularize what Beafts they were.
It is not to be fuppofed that we could
fettle to fleep under thofe Circumftances,
nor indeed, did we cloſe our Eyes till
Morning; when being very heavy with
watching, we flept by Turns, under the
Guard of one of us, which proved an ex-
traordinary Refreshment to us; and no
fooner were we all ftirring, than we fet
forward again, to examine futther into the
Country; when after fome Hours Travel
in the Wood-Lands, we beheld before us
an immenfe Valley of many Miles Diame-
ter, wholly covered with Under-wood
and Buſhes; and almoft at the oppofite
Side
42
The TRAVELS of
Side of it ran a large River. We were
now at a Stand, whether we fhould ven-
ture into this Valley, which we could not
but conclude to be a Receptacle of the
Wild Beafts, or whether we fhould purfue
fome other Courfe through the Wood;
when it was concluded, that as the Wood
feemed to rife very ſharp to our Right, we
would attain to the Heighth of it, where'
poffibly we might command fuch a Pro-
fpect of the Country as might direct us
in our future Travels.
From the Point of this Hill we could
plainly diſcover, that all that Part of the
Country which we had before traverfed
and viewed, was only Part of an Oblong
Neck of Land, which pushed much for-
warder than the main Land into the Sea,
and was encompaffed with it, fave only
to the South-Weft, where it joined the
Main.
Here
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 43
Here aroſe another Debate, whether we
fhould fix our chief Settlement on this
Eminence, where we could have fo great a
Command of the Sea three Ways, or
whether we ſhould retire more into the
Continent (as I may call it) and ſeek a Re-
fuge there. However, as I feemed in-
clinable to fearch farther (tho' I admitted
that our fole Hope of Deliverance muſt
depend upon the Waters, from fuch Ship-
ing as might pafs within View of our Sig-
nals) the Sailors came into my Way of
thinking; for that at laft, we could but
return where we were, in Cafe nothing
better ſhould offer.
With this Refolution we quitted the
Wood, and made the beſt of our Way
to the main Land. It was in this Journey
that we had a Proof of the Courage and
Abilities of the Dog-Birds I have before
mentioned; for paffing by the Skirt of a
large Clump of Bufhes, we faw two of
theſe Birds before us, at no great Diſtance;
when
44
The TRAVELS of
when not underſtanding their Natures, or
imagining them to be properly edible, we
fmote upon the Bufhes with our Guns, in
Order (by the Noife we made) to have
fri, htened them away from the Courſe we
were in; but they took no Manner of
Notice of the Ruttle we made, or moved
a Foot for it, till having advanced much
nearer to them, we again fmote the Buſhes,
when out leaped a Beaſt of the Tyger
Kind, as near as we could gu.fs it, and
fcoured cross a Plain to our Right; but
no fooner had the Birds a View of him,
than ſetting up a Sort of a barking Howl,
they purſued it with incredible Velocity.
The Plain lying open to our View for
fome Diſtance, gave us no mean Proſpect
of the whole Race; but tho' the Creature
almoſt flew to avoid them, yet they were
in with him in a Furlong's running, had
mounted his Back, fixed their Tallons into
his Body and brought him down; and be-
fore we could near reach them, tho' we
followed
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 45
followed with all our Might, they had
killed and eaten great Part of him; nor
moved they in the leaft from the Carcafe,
upon our Approach, till we were advanced
within a few Paces of them; when one
of them turning its Head, and grinning
like a Dog at us, occafioned us to halt;
but they were fo far from deferting their
Prey, that obferving us to ftir again, one
of them made at one of the Sailors, and
if I had not that Inftant fhot him, would
undoubtedly have torn him to Pieces.
We expected that the other would have
fled upon the Report of our Gun; but in-
ftead of that, it quitted the dead Beaſt,
and ran open mouthed at me, feizing my
Gun which I held out againſt him, and
with the Violence of his Fury would
have difarmed me of it, had not the
other Sailor fhot him likewife.
#
CHAP.
46
The TRAVELS of
CHA P. IV.
Examine the Creatures they had killed.
Dog Birds fine Eating. Arrive at an
Hill all Stone. Surprized by a Lion
there.
Great Debate on the Cave he was
lodged in. Flea bim. Method of en-
tering his Cave. Defcription of it. Fix
their Refidence there.
O
UR three Creatures being now ſe-
cured, we had Leifure to examine
them diſtinctly; and firſt we ſurveyed
the Birds, which were fo formed as I have
before deſcribed them: As for the Beaſt
it feemed fuch a prodigious ſtrong Crea-
ture, when we had fcanned over its Parts,
that we were amazed it had not made its
Party good againſt the Birds; for upon
a Scrutiny into their apparent Capacities,
one would have judged it had been able
to have coped with feveral of them.
Having
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 47
Having compleated our Survey, we
concluded upon drawing what Benefit we
could from each; then fuppofing that the
Tyger-like Beaft would have proved the
moſt edible Morfel, we firft flead him;
but his Fleſh not appearing fo inviting as
we expected, we went to work upon the
Birds, which under a much fouler Cover-
ing produced us Fleſh as white as the fineſt
Veal I ever faw, nor was it a whit inferior
upon the Palate, to the niceft Turkey in
the World, and upon this we regaled very
amply.
We were very curious both in fleaing
off and preferving all the Skins, expecting
no fmall Benefit from them, in feveral Ca-
pacities; fo that having packed up a good
Parcel of the Birds Flefh in one of them,
we proceeded on our Journey to the Con-
tinent.
After fome Days Travel, we arrived at
a Hill, or rather a Rock,
being all of
Stone,
48
The TRAVELS of
Stone, not the leaſt Blade of Grafs, or
other Herb whatever, growing upon it;
the Afcent not being very ſteep, but much
broken and uneven. At about half Way
to the Top, on one Side of it, we paffed
by a large Craig, with a fmall Hole at the
Bottom of it, fo big as that a Man lying
along, might juft about creep horizontally
into it. The two Sailors who were before
me had paffed by it, without taking No-
tice of it; but I cafting my Eye that Way,
and imagining its Entrance not to penetrate
far, ftooped down to fee whether I could
perceive the Extremity of it or not; but
it was fo dark that I could but juft fee the
Opening: I then thruft in my Gun, to fa-
tisfy myſelf of its Demenfions, but (by
what Accident it happened I know not) as
I was moving it about to and fro, it went
off, giving a violent Jar to my Hand.
This unexpected Noife brought my two
Companions back to me, to know what
was the Matter, and whilft I was beginning
to
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 49
to rehearſe the Accident, and was pointing
to the Hole, I obferved the Gun (which I
dropped from my Hand in its firing) to
move; then fixing my Eye more narrow-
ly upon it, it ſtirred again pretty much;
this cauſing no fmall Terror, either to me
or my Companions, we retreated from be-
fore the Mouth of the Hole for a few
Paces, and in less than a Minute perceived
the Paws of fome large Beaft puſhing for-
wards out of the Cavity, and inftantly
followed the Nofe and Head of a Lion;
but he proceeded very flowly, and his
Eyes looking dim, and almoft funk into
their hollow Sockets, tho' my Compani-
ons had each of them their Guns at their
Shoulders ready for firing, yet as he ap-
peared farther and farther to our View,
he looked fo weak and almoft a Skeleton,
that it feemed too unmanlike an Action in
us to diftrefs fo worn out an Object; for
which Reaſon, tho' they stood prepared,
they refolved not to fire at him unleſs he
firft affaulted us.
VOL. I.
D
At
50
The TRAVELS of
At length the poor Creature having with
much ado difingaged himſelf from the
Hole, inſtead of making towards us, turn-
ed about the direct contrary Way, mov-
ing off very ſtiff, and fo feebly that he
tottered as he went. We followed him
at fome Diſtance, watching him down the
Hill; but before he had arrived quite at
the Bottom, he fell, unable to riſe again;
and before we returned to him was ſtark
dead.
We had no fooner diflodged the Beaſt,
than I was apprehenfive that this Cave.
might be more capacious within than we
were aware of, and poffibly might prove
a good Shelter to us in the Night-Seaſon,
the Want of which had hitherto been the
greatest Terror we had upon us. This I
hinted to the Sailors, who were ſo far from
flighting the Surmife, that they were for
making immediate Experiment; but could
not contrive how to get a Light in with
them; for abfolutely in the Dark, they had
no
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 51
no great Inclination to venture. Says Joe
Horn (for that was the Name of one of them
as Samuel Peck was of the other) “It is not
(6
impoffible, but that this may be a com-
"mon Receptacle for theſe Sort of Crea-
"tures, and here may be many more of
"them now in it, for aught we know."
Sam feemed to be of the fame Opinion, till I
told them, that if the Smell of the Powder
and the Noife of the Gun were fo terrible
as to rouze an almoſt dead Lion, and
make him exert his feeble Efforts fo ftrong-
ly for a Releafe, they might reſt ſatisfied,
that if there had been any more lively
Beast in the Cell, that would have been
the firſt at making its Way into the Air;
adding, that it was my Opinion, that the
poor Creature had only taken Refuge there
by Way of Sepulchre, finding himſelf
ftruck with mortal Illnefs, and Decay of
Nature; for I told them, that it was na-
tural for moft magnanimous Creatures,
eſpecially fuch as in their Vigours avoided
Light, and fought their Prey by Night,
D 2
to
52
The TRAVELS of
to retire at the Approach of Death, and
fall in Private.
This Argument brought them into my
Meaſures again; fo that now the Abſence
of Light was the fole Preventive of our
entering the Cave immediately: But whilſt
we were heſitating on this, fays Sam,
"How if you ſhould have ſhot the Lion,
"and that fhould have occafioned his
<C
'
quitting his Den? then there may ſtill
"remain more behind, who being unhurt,
"had not the fame Caufe for Removal
"as this had?" "Sam, faid I, It is not im-
"poffible but my Ball may have hit him;
"but you can't fay that I ftarved him
"too; for that is plainly his Cafe, being
nothing but Skin and Bone: However,
"we'll foon clear that Doubt, by fearch-
CC
<6
ing whether he is wounded: You fee
"he is fallen, and if not dead already,
"which I little fear, we'll diſpatch and
flea him; for I cannot relinquish the
.. Hopes
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 53
,
Hopes I have of his Lodging for our-
"felves."
'
We deſcended to the Spot where the
Lion lay, and furrounding him, found him
quite defunct, and ſtretched out; but hav-
ing fkinned him, not the leaſt Wound
was to be diſcovered; then ſpreading out
his Hide to dry in the Sun, we returned
to the Cell, anxious for the Knowledge of
its inward Dimenfions.
We collected fome of the moſt inflam-
able Wood near the Foot of the Hill,
which having conveyed to the Mouth of
the Hole, and having burnt fome large
Pieces to Fire-brands, Joe Horn, who of
fered himſelf to enter firft, directed Sam
immediately to follow him; when, if he
called out to be releaſed, Sam was to hold
hard by his Ancles, and I was to pull at
Sam's till they were both extracted again.
D 3
Thus
54
The TRAVELS of
Thus having concerted our Meaſures,
Joe crept in on his Belly, with a lighted
Brand in one Hand, and feveral fmall
Sticks in the other, that when he was got-
ten as far as he faw fit, by applying the
Sticks to the Brand's End, he might blow
it into a Flame, juft fufficient to look about
him, make himfelf Maſter of the Con-
tents of the Place, and fo return.
Joe had juſt forced in his whole Length,
and Sam had lain down to follow him; but
before he had entered his Head and
Shoulders into the Hole, Joe's Legs and
Feet were both out of his Reach and
feeling. Sam upon this
raifing up his
Head, turned as pale as Death, (for by
the Way he had no great Stomach for the
Job at beft) "Alas! faid he, Joe is de-
"voured, I fear." "How fo? replied I."
4
Why, faid he, he is dragged in all on
"a fudden, and I can feel nothing of
"him; but there is an horrible Growling
"within Side." "Try again, faid I, we
"fhould
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 55
"fhould have heard him cry out, had he
"met with aught to annoy him." Sam
anſwered, that he durft go no farther,
for that by the Noife he heard within,
Joe was certainly deſtroyed.
I must confeſs, tho' I had heard not the
leaft Noiſe, I was not without my Sufpi-
cion, that Sam's Fears were but too true,
eſpecially from the Growling he reported
to have heard within; but that the poor
Fellow might not be loft for Want of Af-
fiftance, as I had encouraged Sam to fol-
low him, I could do no lefs, upon his Re-
fufal, than take the Poft myſelf. I laid
myſelf along for that Purpoſe, but refolved
to venture myſelf in no further than I
could fairly feel my Legs to be without
Side of the Hole.
I had ſcarce got more than my Head
and Shoulders under the Stone, before I
perceived a Fire at fome Diſtance before
me, and Joe walking about by it; but
D 4
I could
56
The TRAVELS of
¡
I could not ſee higher than his Knees, till
I had gotten in my whole Length, and
then I perceived, that little more than
Man's Length from the Entrance, the
Cell widened into a large Cavity, being a
commodious Habitation for a dozen Peo-
ple. Joe was mighty glad to fee me there,
but the Smoak (which almoft fuffocated
us) prevented our tarrying longer than juſt
to fearch every Corner of it, to fee if it
contained any Thing offenfive; and find-
ing it did not, we returned again to Sam,
who had by this Time given us both over
for loft; but we joked him out of the
Growling he had heard, and laughed him
into good Humour again.
This fafe Retreat, as we judged it to be,
adminiftred ample Content to our Minds ;
for that nothing could poffibly come at
us, but from the Paffage we went in at,
where our Guns would prove a fure De-
fence to us; but we forely lamented the
Impoffibility of admitting any Light, fave
what
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Eſq; 57
what little would penetrate at the Bottom,
and we thought, that to be ftowed up in
the Dark would be very uncomfortable;
but as Light was no Ways to be ob-
tained, we refolved to reft fatisfied without
it.
We were fo intent upon preparing our
new Apartment, that having with a:
Bundle of Twigs fwept it very clean, and
tied up a Sort of Faggot, of the Size of
the Hole's Mouth, to draw in after us,
by Way of Prevention to the Approach
of any Thing from without, we that Night
fpread our Skins upon the Floor, and took:
up our Lodging in it.
D 5.
CHA P.
58
The TRAVELS of
CHA P. V.
Find Difficulty in fleeping. Lie on Skins.
Odd Sort of Door to their Cell. Travel
inland. Dog-Birds kill a Stag. Author
feafts on him.
Shoot a fhe Dog-Bird.
Find her Neft.
Debate about deſtroying
the young ones.
Preferve three of them.
Differtation on true Courage. The young
refuſe to eat their Dam. Eat all other
Flefb. Exceffive Growth of them. Be-
come tame and quite tractable. Name
their Birds. When at full Growth. All
Creatures fly them. Exceeding fwift.
Seize any Thing. Under great Command.
T may reaſonably be ſuſpected, that
IT
being void of Care in our new Lodg-
ing, and under no Apprehenfions from the
wild Creatures, we fhould have indulged
ourſelves in Sleep without Reftraint; but
I can affure my Reader, that according to
the Proverb of Use making Perfectness,
juſt
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 59
juſt ſo it befell us; for our Fears having
fo long kept us on our Guard, we could
not with the Diſcharge of them, at once
diveft ourſelves of our accuſtomed Watch-
fulneſs; but tho' upon ftarting up we
would check ourſelves, and were foon com-
poſed again, yet our Sleep was ſo inter-
rupted and confuſed for many Nights, that
it required Time to bring our Minds to a
State of Tranquility; nor were we then
without frequent frightful Dreams, which
more or less perplexed us, with Scenes of
combating the Lions, Birds, and Beafts
of the Country; but Time and Security
by Degrees wore off thofe Horrors, and
we then repofed contentedly.
We had now (with the Lion's) four Skins.
for our Bed, and were peculiarly cautious
of ſtopping up the Hole of our Cell with
the Faggot, as well at our Departure from
it, as while we repofed in it, left in our
Abfence, fome unwelcome Gueſt ſhould
take Poffeffion of it, whofe Society might.
by
60
The TRAVELS of
1
by no Means prove agreeable to us; nor
did we (fo long as our Provifions lafted)
flir very far from the Foot of the Hill;
but having obferved that our firing often
thereabouts had caufed a Scarcity of our
Provifion, we had come to a Refolution of
penetrating further up the Country, in
Search of a freſh Supply.
In this Journey the first living Creature
that we ſaw (fave ſmall Birds) was a Beaſt
of the Stag Kind, which bellowing very
loud, ran cross our Way at a fmall Di-
ſtance before us; but paffing by ſo ſwiftly
and unexpectedly, we had but just a
Glimpse of it between the Buſhes, as it
made towards a Plain to our Left; but it
appeared to be of the oddeft Make and
Figure that we had ever beheld, about its
Hinder-parts, which put us upon a more
careful Obfervation of it; fo ftepping for-
ward to the Skirt of the Shrubs, we could
view its Flight at Pleaſure, and cloſe at
its Heels followed one of the Dog-Birds.
No
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Eſq; 6·1
No fooner could we perfectly obferve
the Creatures Parts than we perceived, that
another of the Dog-Birds had feized up-
on the Haunch with his Tallons, while
with his Teeth he was devouring the
Flefh of the Beaſt within his Reach. The
Mifery and Anguiſh whereof, drove the
poor Fugitive to fuch Extremity, that hav-
ing (to avoid its cruel Perfecutor) urged
his Flight beyond its Strength, he fell
under the Severity of his Torments; but
not before the other Bird had mounted it-
felf likewife on the Back of the poor Beaſt,
and had occupied himſelf in the fame Ex-
crcife with his Fellow.
We had purſued the Game with our
beft Speed, from the Moment that it firſt
prefented to us, and were in with them
foon after the Creature had dropped; but
were now come to an Argument amongſt
ourfelves, whether we fhould fhoot the
Birds for Subfiftence, or fuffering them to
gorge upon the Stag (if they fhould when
full
62
The TRAVELS of
full withdraw) then come in for the Re-
mainder ourſelves, for our Labour: At
length, we refolved upon the latter, and
being about an hundred Yards from them,
we fat down to reft ourſelves, and wait the
Iffue.
As we fufpected, fo it happened; for
the Birds having eaten their Fill, retired
to the Woods, whereby we, without La-
bour or Toil, became poffeffed of their
Leavings, which, according to our ufual
Cuſtom, we flead, and taking ſo much as
would ferve us while fweet, we returned
again to our Cell with it.
Having no Method of preferving our
Meat edible above two Days, and feldom
that, in this hot Country, we were out
again in Search of Game, taking the fame
Rout as before; but intending more for
the inland Parts. We had travelled a
whole Morning without the leaft Proſpect
of a Shot, when coming cloſe by a Growth
of
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq;
63
+
of thick Buſhes, in our Return we heard a
Growling (but could fee nothing) which ſtill
increaſing, we drew up fronting the Buſhes,
and preſented our Pieces in Readineſs, let
what would appear. It was not long be-
fore we obferved the Shrubs to ſhake, and
the Growling ftill continuing, a Dog-
Bird prefented, with his Head puſhing
through the Brake. Sam, who fronted
the Place of his Appearance, judged it
prudenter to fire before he was difengaged
from the furrounding Brufhwood, than to
give him the Opportunity of affaulting us,
(for having been fo often Eye-witneffes of
their Ferocity, we all began to dread them
exceedingly) fo he fhot him dead upon the
Spot; but tho' the Creature never ſtirred
more, yet we heard a ſmall ſhrill Cry con-
tinuing within the Cover, which ſtill re-
tained us on the defenfive, left more of
them ſhould be concealed there, and rufh
out upon us unprepared; till having watch-
ed for fome Time, and hearing no more.
ftir in the Buſhes, but the Cry ſtill pro-
ceeding
64
The TRAVELS of
ceeding as of a young Puppy, very faint,
I was refolved to fearch the Caufe of it;
then planting Joe and Sam properly for
affifting me, in Cafe of Danger, I edged
forward into the Thicket, under Direction
of the Cry; when, upon a large Parcel of
dried Leaves, I found a Litter of the
Dog Birds, very ſmall, fcrabbling over one
another..
--
It immediately darting into my Head,
that if we could but breed up thoſe Crea-
tures tame, they might be of exquifite Ufe
to us, I called to my Companions, inform-
ing them what I had found. Knock them
on the Head, cried they; but I begging
them to excufe me, declared, that I was
far from thinking they deferved fuch
hard Fate; for that as they were at pre-
ſent too feeble to be noxious, fo if we
could but breed them up tame like Dogs,
we might in Time have an Hunt of them,
and on Failure of our Powder and Ball,
they might prove a Means of fupplying
us
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 65
us with Provifion for the Remainder of
our Lives.
I then picked up three of them into the
Flap of my Coat; but perceiving the
Back of the fourth to be broken, and
bloody, I threw it out to them, where the
Fall killed it. What furprized me not a
little in this Adventure was, that feeling
fomewhat very hard at the Bottom of the
Neft, when I took out the laſt young one,
upon producing it, it appeared to be a
real Egg, but little bigger than that of a
Gooſe, and was plainly an Egg of the
Dog-Bird, that had not been vivified; fo
that I was now fatisfied, they were an
oviparous Animal, tho' I had before fuf
pected them to be viviparous.
I brought out my Cargo to my Com-
panions, who ftill feemed retentive of their
former Opinion, that the beft Way would
be to deftroy the Litter; for could it be
imagined, they faid, that Creatures fo
fierce
66
The TRAVELS of
fierce as they were, could ever be tamed?
No, we might as well pretend to tame a
Viper; and tho' they might be fomewhat
brought off from their favage Difpofition
by handling while young; yet let who
would truſt them for them, their Nature
would return when hungry, and they
would undoubtedly fall upon, and devour
us one Day or other.
Having given their Plea a full Hearing,
I enquired whether they had ever ſeen a
Bull or Bear-Dog in England? Which they
both refolved in the Affirmative. Now,
can there on Earth, faid I, be fiercer Crea-
tures than theſe are? And yet, they fuffer
themſelves to be beaten and managed, and
in every Way mifufed by Mankind, ra-
ther than turn again to offend him. True,
replied they, but then they are domeſtick
Animals. I demanded who made them
fo? And whether they did not imagine,
that thofe Dogs, before tamed, and reduced
to Familiarity and Dependence on Man,
were
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 67
were as untractable, fierce, and noxious to
Mankind, as the Dog-Birds could be?
Nay, added I, there is more Hopes of
fubduing a courageous Enemy, void of
Fear, by mild and gentle Treatment, than
one who is violent only through Timi-
dity; for it has ever been my Obſervation
amongſt Men, that the truly valiant is
fooneft wrought upon by Benevolence;
nay, that he hath in moſt Caſes the largeſt
Share of Compaffion, and is the moſt ge-
nerous; for that he acts not but upon a
fettled Principle of Virtue and Honour;
and as to thofe Creatures, added I, fhould
Nature break forth in them too powerfully
to be reclaimed, their innate Difpofitions
will unfold themfelves by Degrees, and
we ſhall have fufficient Opportunities of
diſpatching them, before they can practice
any Thing detrimental to us.
With theft, and the like Arguments, I
prevailed with my Comrades to admit of
the Experiment; and now our chief Care
was,
68
The TRAVELS of
was, how we ſhould nourish up our tender
Family, left we ſhould lofe them for Want
of proper Suſtenance; for they were fo
feeble to my thinking, as not to be able
to eat Meat. I then drew the old one
from the Bush, and turning it on its Back,
obferved fix Dugs under its Belly; fo that
I was certain it fuckled its young ones;
but what to do for Milk for them, could
not be conceived by us, we not being Ma-
fters of one Beaft which yielded any.
As we had killed the Creature, we re-
ferved the Fleſh for ourſelves, and when
we had dreffed a Part of it, I chewed it as
fine as poffible, till it was little more than
a foft Pulp, and tried my young ones with
it; but from the Moment that I put it into
their Mouths, they never ceafed fhaking
their Heads, till they had diſcharged it all,
not enduring the Tafte of it; nor indeed
was I able to urge them to a fecond Trial,
it was ſo contrary to my own Sentiments,
for the young Brood to feed on their
own.
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 69
own Dam; fo that it being too late to
feek after any Thing elſe that Night, we
returned towards the Cell; but I laboured
with ftrong Concern, for Fear my little
Flock fhould all be dead by Morning.
When we were within half a Mile of
the Cell, feeing a large Flight of ſmall
Birds, I enquired whofe Gun was charged
with Shot, (for we always carried two
charged with Bullets, and one with our
fquare Shot) when Joe replying, that his
was, I defired him to fetch down fome of
the fmall Birds for me, which he hid, pre-
fenting me with four of them: Thefe I
carried Home, and having dreffed them
and chewed the Fleſh as before, the little
Creatures all ſwallowed it down very greedi-
ly, from whence I conceived great Hopes,
that I fhould be able to rear them; nor
did they give out, till they had each al-
moſt eaten an whole Bird. So foon as I
had given them their Suppers, I made
them a Bed of Leaves in one Corner of
our
7༠
The TRAVELS of
our Cell, where I incloſed them with Stones
and Sticks, to keep them cloſe together,
and from that Time forward we never
killed either Bird or Beaft, but we reſerved.
them their Share of it.
Theſe Creatures, when we first took
them, were not bigger than a Gofling of a
Week old, and to be fure had not been
many Days hatched; but their Growth
was very furprizing; for in about two
Months Time, the leaſt of them weighed
full fourteen Pounds Weight.
Our conftantly handling and feeding
them, brought them to fuch a Gentleneſs
of Difpofition, that fo foon as they were
able, they run`after us like Dogs, nor
were they in the leaft fearful of our Guns,
having been daily uſed to the Noife, from
their Cradles; (as I may fay) for at firſt,
whenever we took a long Walk, each of
us carried one with him, till they grew too
big for our handling, and then wherever
we
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Eſq; 71
We every
we went they were after us.
now and then gave them a Piece of Fleſh
as we travelled, and whenever we fhot
any Thing we provided amply for them
out of it; ſo that it was not long before
they would regularly watch for our ſhoot-
ing, that they might partake of the Game.
In short, their conftant Attendance up-
on us, and the kind Treatment they met
with from us, rendered them fo tame,
that no real Dog was ever more fo; readily
comprehending every Sign, Word, and
Motion of ours: For at Night, we lay
upon our Skins Cheek by Jole, and were
all Day infeparable Companions; nay, my
Fellow-travellers began to be as fond of
them as myſelf; fo that for Diſtinction
Sake, we gave them Names, fo ſoon as
their Sexes could be diſcovered.
There being two Females, and but one
Male, I defired to have the naming of
one of thofe, and each of them ſhould
name
72
The TRAVELS of
name one of the others. Now, ſaid I, as
there hath yet been but one of that Sex in
the World, whofe Memory I have a more
than ordinary Value for, and her Name
was Sarah, I will call this (pointing to it)
by the Name of Sally, as I uſed to call her.
A good Hint, ſays Sam, and I'll name the
other Hen from my Miſtreſs, who lives
with Mother Shove, in Wapping, that I
will, and it fhall be Black Beffey. Fce then
taking the Cock by the Ears, “Old
Friend, fays he, if thou hadst been a
"Hen, I could have matched thee to
"an Hair, with the Name of the fineſt
"Girl in Chriftendom; but that thou
C6
..
66
..
'
may't put me in Mind of an old Bene-
factor, who has given me many a Pen-
nyworth of Gingerbread, and Pocket
full of Marbles, thou, from henceforth
fhalt be David." Thus having given
them all Names, by applying them con-
ftantly to the Individuals, they foon dif-
covered who and who was together, and
each of us feeding and fondling his own
Choice,
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Eſq; 73
Choice, they feverally, more and more,
appropriated themſelves to us.
When they had arrived to about the
Age of fix or eight Months, they became
in every Reſpect like the old ones, and we
were from thenceforth under no more Ap-
prehenfion of Mifchief from the Beafts of
the Country, travel where we would; for
every Kind of Creature avoided them.
They would attack and deftroy a Lion,
or a Tyger, with the fame Facility as a
Kid; nor could we ever obferve, that any
Beaſt whatſoever would turn upon them;
and when he fled, they were fure of him.
Now running fo exceeding fwiftly, they
no fooner were within Reach of what they
purfued, than by a violent Spring, they
either alighted on his Back, or hung to
his Buttock, (for where-ever they touched
they ſtuck) when with Teeth, and Tallons
digging, and tearing away, they could
bring the ftouteft living Creature to the
Ground. After we had been there two
VOL. I.
E
Years,
74
The TRAVELS of
Years, we had near a Score of them, all
under fo true Command, that they would
feize on any Thing that we encouraged
them to attack, and would ſtop at our
Call, even in full Purfuit.
CHA P.
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 75
CH A P. VI.
Quit their Cell
Fourteen tame
Kill a Bull.
Dog-Birds a fure Guard.
for the open Country.
Dog-Birds with them.
How they managed their Dog-Birds.
Distant Profpect of the Sea. Approach
the Coaft. Covered with Boats. Get
nearer for Intelligence. See a Smock at
the Bottom of the Hill. Hear Shouts.
From their Cover fee many Blacks leading
a Perfon to Execution. Shoot at him.
Bring him back dead to the Hill. Roast
bis Limbs there.
UR Cell, fecure as it was in itſelf,
and defenfible against all Danger
from without, was not however fo wholly
defirable as it had been, fince our Dog-
Birds were grown up, as an unconquer-
able Life-guard around us; which Confi-
deration, together with the Scarcety of
Provifion, within the Diſtance of a Day's
E 2
Hunt
L
76
The TRAVELS of
Hunt only from Home, had by this Time
brought us to the Refolution of deferting
our Quarters, at leaſt for a Time, and of
taking a direct Walk for forty, or fifty,
or more Miles, as we fhould meet with
Accommodation; when finding nothing
more agreeable to us, we could but return
again to our old Habitations at laft.
It was about the Conclufion of our fe-
cond Year, that we fet forward with a Bo-
dy of feventeen of us, Men and Birds;
and as the inward Parts of the Country
abounded moſt with living Animals, we
feldom travelled with more than a Meal's
Provifion with us; but ufually killed a
Beaft a Day, for the Support of our
whole Family.
After ſeveral Days March in this Man-
ner, we arrived at a vaſt open Lawn,
where were ſeveral wild Kine feeding,
and were determined to try our Birds at
this new Game; when very opportunely,
as
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 77
as we were entering it, an Heifer prefented
fingly to us, at but a very fmall Distance
off. Sam and I were then (it may be)
fifty Paces forwarder than Joe, and the
Birds, who generally brought up the Rear.
The Beaſt upon a Sight fo unaccustomed
to him as we were, toffed about his Head,
gave a loud Low, and was preparing
to attack us. We made an Halt, called
up our Birds, and (with a Chear) pointing
towards the Creature, away fprung three
of them at her in an Inftant. The Beaft
turning Tail, ran for Life; but her Courſe
was but ſhort, e'er they had made their
Stands upon her, when faltering in her
Speed, in a few Minutes more the fell.
The rest of the Cattle having been
Spectators of what was going forward,
all fled with Precipitation, and inftantly dif
appeared. So foon as we could arrive at
the flaughtered Beaft, calling off our
Birds, we proceeded to cut her Throat,
being by this Time paſt Reſiſtance; when
having
E 3
78
The TRAVELS of
having fecured fo much as ourſelves fhould
have Occafion for, we cut the Remainder
into Slices, till our Birds alfo had made a
good Meal, (for we chofe rather to cut
and feed them, than to let them help
themſelves, becauſe it kept them in more
Dependance upon us) and it was very
pleaſant, to fee them all ſtanding at one
Diſtance, in a Circle round the Carcafs,
each watching for his Turn to be ſerved
by us.
We had now paffed above fixty Miles
(as we gueffed) up the Country; when
one Day, in croffing a confiderable Hill,
we faw the Sea at about ten Miles to our
Right. This Proſpect was ſo pleaſing to
us, that in Hopes of meeting ſome of the
human Species as the Reward of our Tra-
vels, we refolved (tho' out of the Rout we
had propoſed to ourſelves) upon defcending
to it, in Cafe Fortune fhould throw any
Veffel into our Way.
As
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 79
As we had no Profpect of reaching the
Shore that Night, we lay at the Edge of a
fmall Wood, as we commonly did, with
our Guard round us, and fet forwards
again the next Morning. In our Way,
we had a ſmall Hill to pafs, where we
could command the Water for a long
Way very diſtinctly; at the Defcent of
which, we took a Deer, which having
dined upon, we proceeded, in Hopes of
reaching the Shore early in the Day.
We were now arrived within half a Mile
of the Coaft, with the Shore full in View,
when we apprehended that we had dif
covered fomewhat like a long Row of
Boats, lying cloſe by each other, juft with-
in the Water's Edge, which feeming to
multiply to our View, upon a nearer Ap-
proach, we began to falter in our Attempt
upon the Coaſt, till we ſhould be reſolved
to whom they could belong, and (if they
were Boats) what could be the Meaning
of fuch a Number of them being there..
E 4
We
80
The TRAVELS of
We did not chufe to thrust ourſelves into
Danger, or to fall into the Hands of
Enemies, who might be too powerful for
us; but rather judged it to be adviſeable,
(for we were now defcending to the low
Ground) to remove to an Eminence ftill
nearer to the Objects, but fomewhat ob-
lique, where, if we fhould not meet with
Encouragement to proceed, we might fe-
cure a fafe Retreat, before we ſhould be
difcovered.
With this View, we mounted the rifing
Ground, from whence we might make
our Obfervation, not only towards the
Sea, but upon Land too, for a confider-
able Way to the Right and Left; but
the Water being the principal Object that
had drawn us up thither, (and directly
fronting us) first claimed our Attention.
From hence we could plainly difcover ma-
ny Boats, to the Number of Threefcore or
more; when not being able to defcry any
large Veffel, or other Land, from whence
this
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 81
this fmall Craft could arrive thither, we
were of Opinion, that they must belong
to fome Fiſhermen, or People dealing on
the Waters, and that they were Inhabitants
of the Country we were then upon; tho'
we had not as yet difcovered their Settle-
ment.
Our Perplexity at this Sight increafing,
we determined not to defcend nearer to
the Water; but to ftay where we were,
and from thence make our Remarks, till
either the Boats (if they fhould have been
driven thither by Accident) ſhould be carried
off again by the Ebb of the Water, or at
leaft, till we ſhould be able to give fome
Guess at their Owners, and their Deſigns,
in Caſe they ſhould belong to any who
were landed on our Coaft, which feemed
to be most likely, from the regular Or-
der they were difpofed in.
We had ſcarce formed this Refolution,
when not far from the Baſe of the Hill
E 5
We
82
The TRAVELS of
we then ſtood upon, we difcovered a
Smoak afcending, which by Degrees grew
more ftrong and black; but there being
fome Underwood and Trees towards the
Bottom of the Hill, as alfo feveral ftrag-
gling Trees interfperfed on the Sides of it,
we could not readily penetrate into the
Occafion of it. Whilft we were rumi-
nating upon this unuſual Appearance, we
heard a loud Shout, and prefently another;
and not many Minutes after the fecond, we
perceived a large Number of naked Per-
fons, of black Complexion, advancing
from the Smoak towards a fmall Plain, on
which there ftood one large fpreading
Tree, almoſt in the Middle of it.
We were fo little a Way above them,
that tho' we could obfcure ourſelves be-
hind the Wood, yet we could plainly dif
cern every Motion, and Action of theirs;
when by the Courfe they took, and their
Method of Behaviour, they appeared to
cur Imagination, to be conducting fome
cne
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; &3
one with a Rope about his Neck, to-
wards the great Tree; where we fufpected:
that they were going to hang him up, for
fome Crime or other that he had com-
mitted; but they were no focner advanced
to the Tree, than they placed the Male-
factor (as we took him for) with his Back
to it, tying him round the Neck faft to
it, with a Cord; then all having Bows
and Arrows in their Hands, they retired
for about forty or fifty Paces nearer to us,
and drew up fronting the confined Per-
fon, and each in Order, fhot at the poor
Sufferer. The first two or three Arrows
we could plainly trace beyond the Tree, on
each Side of it; the next entered the
Tree above the Head of the Victim; but
the fucceeding one piercing his Body, fuch
a Shout enfued, attended with leaping and
dancing, in fuch antick Poftures, as one
would fearce have gueffed to have pro-
ceeded from Perfons of the human Species..
Their
84
The TRAVELS of
Their Mimickry ended, they began their
Shooting again, when each Arrow that
entered the unhappy Object of their Aim,
recalled their diabolical Rejoicings; till
having all ſhot round, they ran up to the
Tree, where untying the wretched Crea-
ture, his Corpfe dropped to the Earth;
this fix or eight of them feizing on, re-
turned with it to the Hill, where the
Smoak was, with violent Mirth and Shout-
ings, the rest of the Company confuſedly
following.
It proved no fmall Uneafinefs to us, to
be deprived of all Sight of their further
Proceedings, by the interpofing Wood;
nor could we (upon a Repetition of their
Shouting) refrain from creeping fo low as
to become Spectators of what was then in
Agitation; but before we could properly
difpofe ourſelves for that Purpoſe, they had
hung up all the Limbs of the poor Crea-
ture, upon a long tranfverfe Pole, (fup-
ported by two forked Sticks) juſt over a
vaft
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 85
vaft Fire, which they had prepared for
them.
CHAP. VII.
Author beholds their Barbarifm with Hor-
ror. They eat the Man. Another Shout.
Lead a white Perfon to the fame Execu-
tion. Author determines to relieve him.
His Encouragement to bis Companions.
They decline it; but follow him. Rout
all the Hoft with the Dog-Birds. All
fly to their Boats. Author finds Sally
Moreton in the Victim, and covers ber
with his Coat. Their Greeting. In-
forms his Companions. Remove to Shelter
for the Night.
N
O Sight can appear more afflictive
to the human Soul, than difgraceful
Treatment even to the dead Carcafs of
its Fellow-Creature; the generous Heart
ever
86.
The TRAVELS of
ever beholding it as a Part of his own.
Mortality, behaves to it with Honour and
Decency: The inhuman Spectacle therefore,
in the laſt Chapter, had ftruck us Chri-
ftians with an Excefs of Horror; but ex-
pecting that the Fire would every Moment
have been increaſed, to have conſumed
them to Aſhes, we waited for its Execu-
tion: When, O tremendous Sight! No
fooner were the divided Members reduced
to a Standard for their Palates, than theſe
worſe than Brutes devoured them, as greedi-
ly as a Bear would Horfe-Flefh.
Our Stomachs turned at the Repaft; nor
could we endure to be longer Spectators of
this inhuman Banquet: We thought to
have ftolen away from all further, both
Sight, and Knowledge of thoſe beftial
Creatures; but had not afcended far, before
another Shout recalled our Attention;
when locking behind us, we beheld ano-
ther Victim (as we fuppofed) leading to
the Plain in Manner of the first; but with
this
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Eſq; 87
this Difference, as to the Degrees of our
Indignation, that the prefent was not one
of themſelves, as the first was; but a white
Perfon, that was thus conducting by theſe
Savages to Slaughter.
My Choler arofe fo at this Sight, that
I could ſcarce contain myſelf, nor was I
to be reſtrained by any Reprefentations of
my Companions, from appearing as the
Champion of this condemned Creature.
"What, faid I, my Friends, fhall we
"ftand here idle Spectators of the Death
"of a white Perfon like ourſelves, and
"perhaps a Chriftian too, now about to
"become a Sacrifice at the Pleaſure of
thefe black Beafts, who delight them-
"felves with human Carnage? Nay, per-
((
haps only to appeafe fome Idol Deity,
"or poffibly the Devil himſelf, whoſe
"Votaries they are? And fhall we not,
"at the Hazard of our Lives, affift and
"releaſe him? What have we to fear from
"their Bows and Arrows (appearing in
"" fo
88
The TRAVELS of
"ſo righteous a Cauſe) the only Weapons
66
66
they are Maſters of? Surely, our Guns
(for it is not likely that they are ac-
"quainted with thofe Inftruments) will
«ftrike that Terror into them, as may
"enable us to gain an eafy Conqueft, and
"to releaſe yon miferable, condemned
"Captive."
I could perceive no great Readineſs ei-
ther in Joe, or Sam, to fecond me; but
the poor Priſoner moving forward, and
my Indignation boiling into Rage at the
Profpect; I declared, that live or die, tho'
every human Power ſhould oppoſe me, if
they would flinch from the Danger, I
never would; but would fummon to my
Aid every the moſt daring Refolution, to
prevent the horrid Scene then before us,
from being carried into Execution; nor
do I fear, faid I, but that Sally, and the
reſt of her Kind, will ftand by me, tho'
you
fhould not; for down I am determined
to
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 89
to venture, let what will prove the Con-
fequence.
Calling to my Aid Sally, and the reſt of
the Dog-Birds, I fet forwards at a round
Pace down the Hill, to gain the Plain;
which my Comrades obferving, and that
I ſeemed refolute, I had fcarce got fifty
Paces, before they were clofe at my Heels,
promifing either to bring me off victorious,
or fall by me. I thanked their Love, and
being thus feconded, moved on with more
Intrepidity; till perceiving that the Blacks
had reached the fatal Tree, when what
was to enfue would foon be perfected, I
began to run, but they were drawing up
for the Slaughter, before I could poffibly
come up with them. In Order therefore
that I might at leaft divert their Purpoſe
for a while, till our Aid could arrive, I
hollowed out as loud as I poffibly could;
when inftantly, they all facing us, began
to prepare for Action: But being loath to
rifque a Shot, till I was within proper Di-
ftance,
90
The TRAVELS of
ftance, and near enough to avail myſelf of
it; I wheeled about, if poffible, to get be-
tween them and the Prifcuer, that I might
looſe the Victim, or at leaſt have that in
my Rear, when I fhould first let go my
Birds at the Murderers, left they ſhould
miſtake their Direction, and deſtroy the
Priſoner.
I had never yet had any Opportunity
of diſcovering whether our Birds would
feize the human Species, and much doubt-
ed whether they would or not, being ſo
conftantly uſed to us; but having now fo
fair an Occaſion of Trial, I called them
all round me, and giving them the ufual
Chear, to fpirit them to the Onfet, I pre-
fented my Gun at the Blacks; when fpring-
ing forward like Lightening, they made
but few Steps up to them. The Birds
fixing on fome of them, their extravagant
Cries, and bloody Profpect, fet the reſt to
their Heels; who running for Life to their
Boats, left us Mafters of the Field of
Battle,
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 91
Battle, without a fingle Shot of ours, and
but very few of theirs, and theſe without
the leaſt Effect.
Immediately upon their Flight, I called
off the Birds, fuffering the wounded Men
to get off if they could, after the reft; then
running to the poor confined Man (as I
thought him) what a Meffage did my Eyes
tranfmit to my Heart, at the Sight of my
deareft Sally Moreton, bound ftark naked
by the Neck to the fatal Tree! The lovely
Creature, at the Inftant recollecting me
too, intreated me to ftop. "O, Mr.
66
Bingfield, faid fhe, let me die, rather
"than become a Spectacle to you in this
"Condition!" Her Modefty turned me
round in Confufion, with my Back to her;
when perceiving Joe and Sam were making
what Hafte they could up to me (for I
had left them in Purfuit of the Fugitives)
I made Signs to them to keep back, whilft
I taking off my Coat, and holding it up
before my Face, walked up to Sally, and
delivered
92
The TRAVELS of
delivered it to her; then ftepping behind
the Tree, I cut the Cord, and gave her
Liberty.
Never were poor Creatures under more
Confufion, between Joy, Shame, and
Aftoniſhment, than Sally and I were; for
by this Time fhe had cloathed herſelf in
my Coat, which being too big for her,
I tied it about her with the Cord. I put my
Hat upon her Head, tho' in Fact it was
little better than none; and was plucking
off my Shoes and Stockings (bad as they
were) to defend her Feet from the Ground;
but ſhe infifting upon not ufing them if I
did, and affuring me that fhe had worn
none for above two Years, I defifted from
urging her any further.
We then fat us down under the Tree,
nor could I perfuade myſelf, that I was
in Poffeffion of fuch a Treaſure as I ac-
tually was. I embracing her over and
over, we had each too many Queftions la-
bouring
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Eſq;
93
bouring for Utterance, to know to which
to give the Preference; but I ftill claſp-
ing her to my Heart, could have retained
her there for ever.
Sam and Joe, who as yet knew not
whom I had met with, (but taking it for
a Man) were not a little amazed, at the
Tokens of Love we expreffed for each
other. This I fufpecting they would, told
Sally, that I would leave her a Moment,
to acquaint my Companions of my good
Fortune, that they might not be furprized
at fome Paffages, which they could not but
have taken Notice of, between us. She with
Reluctance confented to my Departure, in-
treating me not to be out of Diſtance to re-
lieve her, in Cafe the King and his Nobles
ſhould return again. I could not conceive
what she meant by the King and Nobles;
for my Eyes much deceived me, or I had
beheld no fuch Perfons, or indeed any
other than a naked Rabble of Black-
Guards; but it was no Time to ſettle that
Point
94
The TRAVELS of
Point now, fo I went to my Affociates
with a fmiling Countenance; they, who
were lying along with the Dog-Birds by
them, at the fame Time rifing to meet
me.
"Gentlemen, faid I, (when I came
" within hearing) I wiſh from my Soul,
"that I could greet each of you as the
<<
happy Man, which I now find myfelf
"exalted to." "What is the Matter
"there? fays Joe, by your hugging and
"kiffing, one would have imagined that
"you had recovered your Sally, inſtead
"of a condemned Criminal." O Joe!
''
..
replied I, there are both in that Perſon;
nay more, if more can be; there is all
"that I have ever coveted in Life. It is my
..
very Sally herſelf."
"Sam." CC
Impoffible, fays
Identically the fame, faid I;
"and that you might not form a Preju-
"dice from our Behaviour, I juſt ſtepped
"to acquaint you of it; but, poor Crea-
< ture, ſhe was naked as he was born,
‹‹ till
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 95
"till I fpared her my Coat." " How
"the Devil came fhe here? fays Joe."
"That, replied I, is more than I am yet
<c
..
<<
apprized of; but we'll hear all by and
by. Come, let us all go together, for
"I much queſtion, whether it may be
proper to remain long here, for Fear of
"the Return of thefe Savages in the
"Night; as you may depend upon it,
"they'll feek Revenge, and murder us,
"if poffible."
We all judging this to be wholfome
Advice, fet forward to Sally, to whom I
introduced them, and they faluted her;
then we agreed to go to the Plains, be-
yond the laft Hill that we came over,
where one of us fhould watch all Night,
while the reſt flept; not doubting but that
if we could difcover the Blacks ever fo
little before they came up with us, our
Dog-Birds would rout them again for
us.
We
96
The TRAVELS of
We chofe the very Middle of the Plain
to repofe in, with the Birds about us;
where arriving in full Day, we dreffed fome
of the Flesh of our laſt Beaſt, and having
ſupped thereon, intreated Sally to favour
us with the Reaſons for her leaving Eng-
land, and an Account of what had befallen
her fince; and particularly, what had been
the Occafion of her coming thithet to die,
in the ftrange Manner we apprehended fhe
was defigned for.
CHA P.
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 97
CHA P. VIII.
Sally delivers her Story.
That ber Aunt
Grew melancho-
had decoyed her to Sea.
ly. Hopes for Relief at the Canaries.
Difappointed. Tries to destroy herself.
Shipwrecked. Taken by Blacks. Sent to
their King. Kept amongst his Women.
King and People eat their Prifoners.
Perfuafions to become the King's Miftrefs.
Refuses. Suffers daily Torments. Ef
capes with an Eunuch of the King's.
Retaken. Was crammed for killing.
Manner of compelling them to eat.
Brought thither to be flain. Defired her
Death. Craves an Account of the Au-
thor.
“M
MR.
R. Bingfield, fays Sally, your
Friends and you must not ex-
"pect, in what I am about to deliver, a
"regularly formed Narrative of the Oc-
currences which have happened to me
VOL. I.
F
" fince
98
The TRAVELS of
" fince I had the Pleaſure of ſeeing you
laft; for that the Fluctuation of my
"Circumſtances, and the Diftreffes I have
laboured with, have not only deſtroyed
:
my
Peace; but almoft diftracted my -
Brain to fuch a Degree, that I can
fcarce form any progreffive Plan of my
"Misfortunes to proceed upon; but fo
far as I am at prefent able to recollect,
"in fhort, it is this:
'
'
€6
'
"My Aunt, with whom I had long refid-
ed, fufpecting but too truly, the Intima-
cy which at that Time fubfifted between
"yourſelf and me, had ufed her utmoſt
"Endeavours to prevent its Arrival at
Matrimony, (I muſt be excuſed, Gen-
tlemen, faid fhe, fince you defire the
Truth, if I palliate not fome Things
"which poffibly may be judged better
omitted; for I fhall, for the Sake of
Verity, poftpone Niceties, leaving them
for fuch as are better qualified for dif-
guifing Truth, than I at prefent find my
< C
66
$6
"felf
Z
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Eſq; 99
"felf to be) but perceiving that her Re-
"monftrances carried but little Weight
"with them in my Efteem, fhe having
"received an Invitation from an Uncle of
"mine, who then lived, and for many
"Years had refided at Surat, in India,
"for me to come over to him, where he
" doubted not of marrying me to fome
"rich Factor, in a fhort Time: My
"Aunt, I fay, unknown to me, made.
*
(6
proper Preparations for my Voyage
thither, hiring me a Maid-Servant to
"attend me, and upon Pretence of a Vi-
"fit to a Captain lately arrived from her
"Brother, took me and the young Wo-
"man, my Servant, (tho' I then knew
"her not in that Quality) on Board with
" her. We were very handsomely en-
"tertained there, and my Aunt pretend-
"ing fome private Bufinefs with the Cap-
66
tain, defired me to wait in the Cabbin
"till fhe had communicated it to him,
"when he would return again; but I
"never faw her from that Time to this.
"I waited
F 2
100
The TRAVELS of
..
"I waited with great Impatience for
my Aunt's Return, and expreffing fome
"Uneafinefs upon that Account to the
66
young Woman, who by this Time was
come into the Cabbin to me; fhe af-
"fured me, that my Aunt was gone off
"to London, that the Ship was then un-
"der Sail, and that herfelf had been hired.
to attend me to the Indies; thinking,
as fhe pretended, that I had been ap-
"prized of the Voyage.
"I too late became fenfible of the
"Trick that had been played me; but
"my fole Trouble now was, that I could
"have no Opportunity of informing you,
"Sir, of my Deftination: For whenever
"I required Pen, Ink, and Paper, of the
Captain, (my Aunt having taken Care
"I fhould have none of them amongſt
''
''
my other Stores, whereof I had Plenty)
"tho' otherwife he was all Complaifance
"to me, I was fure to be put off with
"fome trifling Excufe or other, till we
. were
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Eſq; 101
<<
66
were out at Sea, and they could be of
no further Benefit to me.
66
My Melancholy grew fo upon me,
" and my poor Maid's Compaffion aroſe
"to fuch an Height for me, that the
CC
fairly confeffed, fhe was fet as a Spy
"over me, and with Tears, begging my
"Pardon, offered every Thing in her
"Power for my Relief; but alas! it was
"too late. We had concerted together,
"that when we fhould touch at the Ca-
"naries, I fhould feign myſelf ſo very
"bad, that he would inform the Cap-
"tain of the abfolute Neceffity there was
"for my going on Shore for my Reco-
very; where, when we were once land-
"ed, we hoped the People of the Coun-
try would affift us, in reftraining the
Captain from compelling us on Board
again, contrary to our own Inclinations ;
"and from thence, I purpofed either to
"have procured Shipping for England,
"to have given you Advice of my Situa-
<<
66
6.
F 3
❝tion;
ļ
102 The TRAVELS of
"tion; not doubting but that your Good-
"nefs would fome how or other have re-
"covered me: But every Scheme proved
"fruitlefs; for the Captain, on our Ar-
"rival there, refufed to land us, and
ſtaying but four Days, we fet Sail
66 again.
"I took this Difappointment fo to
"Heart, that I had come to a final Re-
"ſolution of cafting myſelf over-board,
"and had very nearly effected it; had
"not a Nail, on which my Petticoat
..
hung, prevented me, and hindered my
"Fall, till Affiftance came to fave me.
"I was after this fo ftrictly watched and
"fecured, that any future Attempt of
"that Kind became impracticable: I
"therefore concluded upon ftarving my-
"felf to Death, nay, would have perfect-
"ed what I had begun, but for a terrible
"Storm that fell on us (wherein I greatly
(6
66
pleafed myſelf with the Profpect of pe-
rifhing, which at that Time I fhould
"have
*
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Eſq; 103
66
'
"have eſteemed a confummate Happi-
nefs) with fuch Impetuofity, that not
"a fingle Man on Board ever imagined
"that we ſhould be able to weather it.
"In twenty-four Hours Time it drove
"us upon the African Shore (as I heard
"them fay) where the Ship was daſhed to
"Pieces against the Rocks, from which
"the Savage Inhabitants of the Country
" removed us in their little Veffels, and
"and made us all Prifoners.
"I was then in daily Expectation of re-
"ceiving Death, from fome Means of
<<
my own procuring, or from the Na-
"tives Cruelty, and had fet my Heart
<t at Reſt upon that Profpect; but alas!
"I was referved for harder Fate: For I
"had not been above fix Days on Shore,
"before I was driven above fifty Miles up
"the Country, to the King's Court (as
"they called it) together with my Maid,.
"and clapped into fafe Cuftody, with a
"vaft Number of his black Women, and
6.6 two
F 4
104 The TRAVELS of
"two more Whites; where we were at-
tended, not only with due Circumfpec-
..
tion, but with fuch Submiffion, as had
"we been real Queens, no greater De-
"ference could have been paid to us, ac-
cording to the Methods and Cuſtoms of
"that Nation.
<c
<6
"The King being juft upon the Com-
mencement of a War, fet out with his
"Court the Day after my Arrival; fo
"that I did but juſt fee him before his
66
Departure; and really for a Black, he
"was a well proportioned, and comely
"Perfon. He gave very particular Orders
"for my fafe keeping and Accommodation
till his Return, which proved to be
"about fifteen Months afterwards, when
"he entered his City victorious, with a
"vaft Train of Priſoners, of the con-
"quered Nation, at his Heels.
"Soon after his Arrival, a great Num-
"ber of theſe Prifoners were tied two and
' two
E
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Eſq; 105
"two together, and eſcorted to diftant
"Parts to be fold; but many others were-
"referved for a grand Feftival, which
"was proclaimed in Commemoration of
"the Victory.
"To this Feſtival greateſt Part of the
"Nation reforting, above fixty of the
"miferable Wretches were butchered un-
"der the very Walls of my Lodging, by
Way of Treat to the Populace, for
"three Days together; the Sight of which
"inhuman Barbarity, gave me fuch a
"Difreliſh to the Monarch, who enter-
"tained himſelf with the reft on this ge-
"neral Carnage; that from that Inftant,.
"I could neither behold him, or any one
"of his Subjects, in any other Light than
"as Beafts of Prey, my Averfion was fo
"heightened against them.
"No fooner was this bloody Feaft end-
"ed, and the Town compofed again,
"but myſelf and Maid were uſhered in:
F 5
"before
106 The TRAVELS of
''
"before his Majefty, when his Behaviour
"to us was fo beaftly, that I even abo-
"minated him more than ever, and we
pofitively refusing to proftitute our-
"felves to his Embraces, and to an Ob-
ftinacy perfifting in it, he ordered us
"back to our Piifon, there to undergo
"fuch fevere Tortures as his Women
"(for that Purpoſe appointed) without the
"leaſt Remorfe or Pity, executed upon
"us for a long Time. Theſe were
fo exquifite, that at laft, my Maid,
66
86
ſpent with her Torments, and Deſpair
"of their Removal, yielded to his De-
"mands; but all that he could devife to
"afflict me with, rather rendered me
"more flubborn than in the leaft wrought
86
my Compliance; till by Habit, and
from the conftant Expectation of their
"Return and Continuance, I became fo
familiarized to my Sufferings, as to
"conceive them lefs grievous to me; nor
"had I other Hope left than that Time
"would wear me out under them.
"During
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 107
66
During the Preffure of thofe Calami-
"ties, his Majefty met with the fre-
'
quent Mortification of my Refufal of
"his Paffion, which Gratification of my
66
Obftinacy, was the greateſt Comfort
"that I was then capable of enjoying;
"till at length, my Conftancy, even in
"the Extremity of my Perfecution, pro-
"cured me a Friend, in the unhappy Eu-
"nuch, who was this Morning executed.
before me; who commiferating my
..
Hardſhips, offered his Affiftance in fur-
"thering my Eſcape, himſelf profering
"to be my Guide and Conducter in it.
"This being fuch an Offer as was by no
"Means to be withftood, I cloſed with;
"and having appinted the next Night for
"the Purpofe, he locked all the other
“Women into their feveral Apartments
"as ufual; but leaving me at large, I
"met him at an appointed Rendezvous,
ઃઃ
from whence we fled, with what Speed
"we were able, towards the Mountains.
66 It.
108
The TRAVELS of
"It happened, as I hitherto thought,
"moft unluckily for me, (tho' the Event
"hath proved fo contrary) that the very
Morning of our Departure, the King
.
66
not having refted well in the Night be-
"fore, ordered me to his Chamber, with
"full Refolution (as I have fince heard)
"of forcing me to his Defires; but nei-
"ther myſelf or Ulda, my Keeper, were to
"be heard of, or feen; after diligent
"Search to no Purpoſe. His Majefty,
66
ftung at the Report, fummoned his
"Court, and gave ftrict Orders for fcour-
"ing the Country (efpecially the moun-
"tainous Parts, as the moſt likely for us
66
to procure Shelter in) with Injunction
"to bring us before him, dead or alive.
"This Search being carried on with
"fuch Rigour, nothing lefs than a Mi-
racle could poffibly have fcreened us
"from the vigilant Eyes who were upon
the Hunt for us; but that we not being
"bleffed with, before the Evening of the
en-
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 109
"enfuing Day a Party came up with us,
"and brought us back to the King.
"We were confined in feparate Holds
"for fome Days, till the King had deter-
"mined on our Sentence; when at length,
"he refolved, that according to annual
"Cuſtom, he with his Nobles would feaft
"upon us on this Coaft, inftead of two
"others, who had been many Months
"kept fattening for that Purpoſe; and
"accordingly, we were cubbed up, and
"crammed with the very beft of every
"Edible that the Country would afford,
"for about fix Weeks before the defigned
"Day of our Slaughter.
"Tho' I have hinted at extravagant
"Severities inflicted upon me, yet they
"were all as nothing to this one Miſery
of being crammed for killing; for as it
is fcarce to be believed, that any one
"fhould officioufly contribute to his Ene-
"mies Enjoyment, by enriching his own
"Fleſh
FIO The TRAVELS of
"Fleſh for their Repaft; fo the little Sto-
"mach every one has to that Exerciſe,
"would rather wafte him to Skin and
"Bone, than multiply his fleſhy Sub-
"ftance, did not the cruel Officer, to
"whom that Poft is allotted, attend with
"his Inftruments of Torture, to en-
"force his Commands; for upon the
Party's Refufal to admit the Quantity
"appropriated for his Ufe, this vile
"Practicer of Barbarity, puts the Finger,
"the Wrift, or other Joint, into a Sort
"of Screw, till the Pain obliges the Pa-
"tient to gape open his Mouth; when
"putting in what he thinks proper, the
"Inftrument is again fcrewed harder and
"harder, till he fwallows it; and this the
"baſe Agent repeats fo long as he pleaſes,
"and fometimes (if the fuffering Par-
(6 ty thrives not) even till he almoſt
"burfts, than which it is impoffible to
"conceive more acute Mifery..
" I
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 111
"It is furprizing how fome of the
"Blacks themfelves, appointed to this
"Sort of Death, will of their own Ac-
"cord feed beyond the Call of Nature,
meerly to avoid this Torture by Force;
"and will grow extremely fat, in a fhort
"Time, by it, going to Death with all
"the Alacrity imaginable..
..
"After this Manner was I uſed many
"Times, for refufing my Allowance,
"when I could poffibly fubmit to receiv-
"ing no more; but perceiving that thoſe
"Cruelties (painful as they were) would
"not end my Life, (for could I but have
expected that, I would have perfifted in
my Refuſal to the Death) for the Eaſe
of my Limbs I complied with eating
"whatever I poffibly could, and grew
furpriſingly fleshy, for the Time I had
"been in Feeding.
CC
<<
""
6.6
"At length, the Day being come, the
King and his Nobles met at the Water-
"Side,
112 The TRAVELS of
"Side, when each ſtepping into his Boat,
"we were placed in two others, and
"drawn along with Cords, by thofe who
"preceded us; for the Cuftom general-
ક
"ly is, that the King and Nobles firſt fa-
"crifice on this Land two Victims, to
"render their Gods propitious, and ſome
66
Days after they have been to break the
"Way, the People flock from all Quar-
<<
ters, with ſeveral other Prifoners, for
"themſelves to feaft on; fo that there are
"a vaſt Number more expected here in
66 a little Time.
"The Method of facrificing us, you
"poffibly might have obferved in the
"Death of the Eunuch, who fuffered juſt
"before I was brought to the Tree; and
"if your Humanity had not interpofed,
"before this Time I myſelf had been grilled
" and eaten, as that poor Creature was,
" for their Entertainment: But I am now
"amazed to reflect, with what a Conftancy
"I perfevered fo long as I did, and with
"what.
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 113
"what Chearfulneſs I went to the Tree,
"in Expectation of my final Deliverance;
"for I had already been fuch a Sufferer,
"that what was to fucceed fhocked me
"not in the leaft, but rather infpired me
"with a Defire of obtaining a Period to
८८ my Afflictions.
"Thus, faid he, hath Providence (for I
"can visibly difcern it in all this) at length,
by its own devifed Means, not only
"extricated me from my paſt Dangers,
"but by the moſt agreeable Inftrument,
in your feaſonable Interpofition for my
"Relief; and that fo far from all Cre-
"dibility of Expectation, that the pleaf-
<
66
ing Senfation of its Author over com-
penſates me for all my paſt Hardſhips,
"by laying me ftill under freſh Obliga-
❝tions to you, Mr. Bingfield. But it
66
66
begins to be Time for me to turn my
Enquiries towards your Life and Tranſ-
"actions, and by what poffible Means
<C you.
114 The TRAVELS of
66
you can have been conveyed to this
"defolate Country, as to that Spot in all
"the Globe only, where you could have
"contributed to my Freedom and Safe-
ty."
(6
CHA P.
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Eſq; 115
CHA P. IX.
Author relates his Story to Sally. Reafon
for the Name of his Dog Bird. Sally
begs Partnership in her. Set a Watch.
Sally's Objections answered.
Rout for fear of the Blacks.
quitted the Coast. Kill a Stag.
Country in Quest of Shipping.
A
Settle their
They have
Coaft the
T Sally's Requeft, I began my Sto-
ry, from the Time of her leaving
me, with my Diftrefs for the Lofs of her;
proceeding to my Embarkation for Africa,
our Shipwreck, and narrow Eſcape to this
Country, with the Means and Methods by
which we had hitherto preferved ourſelves:
Then calling Sally, Sally, the Lady won-
dered what I meant; when my Dog-Bird
coming and fawning upon me, I told her,
that that poor Creature had in her Ab-
fence been her Reprefentative; that I had
named it after her, that not only her be-
loved
116
The TRAVELS of
loved Name might ever be paffing o'er
my Tongue, and founding in my Ears, for
their Gratification; but that her Image,
ever ſo dear to me, might by that Means
be hourly renewing to my Imagination.
The lovely Sally glowed with Delight,
upon perceiving herfelf ftill accepted by
me with fuch Sincerity; and calling the
Creature Namefake, made very much
of her; affuring me, that whatever had
contributed to conferve the Remembrance
of her alive in my Breaft, would be ever
the firſt in her Efteem, and that she might
ftill have a further Intereft in her Name-
fake, begged that fhe might ſhare with
me the Right and Property to poor Sally.
We were now about to fet our Watch,
when we three Men drew Lots who fhould
take the firſt Turn; and as our Nights at
that Time were about equal with our Days,
each was to do Duty four Hours, which
would juſt carry us through it. The firſt
Turn,
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 117
Turn, upon producing our Lots, fell up-
on foe; the ſecond on myſelf, and the
third on Sam; ſo that Joe roſe up to pa-
troll with his Gun on his Shoulder, as
Centinel; but I could perceive fomewhat
of Concern to hover over Sally, by her of-
ten offering to ſpeak, and checking her-
felf; which giving me fome Uneafineſs, I
enquired into her Diſcompoſure. She re-
plied, That truly, the imagined we had
felected the very worst Spot we could have
chofen for fleeping on; for that in Cafe of
the Blacks Return, they might here behold
us at a Diſtance by Moon light, and fur-
rounding, deſtroy us all, before we knew
where we were; for that there being fo
many of them, and fo few of us, if we
were encompaffed, it would be next to an
Impoffibility to break through and eſcape.
I agreed that her Argument proceeded
upon a juſt Hypothefis, taking all to be
as fhe fuppofed it; but, faid 1, you take
not the greateſt Part of our Strength into
your
118
The TRAVELS of
your Account. Our little Army confifts
of more uſeful Hands than you think for.
"I know not what you will make of me,
replied the, which is all the additional
"Strength you have acquired; but fear,
"upon the Trial, I fhall rather prove an
"Incumbrance than any Ways ferviceable,
"fhould we come to an Engagement." I
then anfwered, that we were feventeen
ftrong without her. "I prefume, faid
"fhe, you reckon my Namefake and the
"reft of her Fraternity into your Mufter."
We do fo, I replied, and that they were
a furer Defence than any double Number
of armed Men I could felect, had I a good
Army to draw them from. Then demand-
ing whether he was not Eye-witneſs of
the Execution they did that Day, ſhe aſ-
fured me it had efcaped her Notice; for
that her Enemies fled the perceived, but
from what Motive, exclufive of their Ap-
prehenfions from the Sight of us, fhe
could not fay.
I then
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 119
I then gave her a Sketch of the Pro-
perties of our Dog- Birds, their Undaunt-
ednefs, and Method of engaging, with
the Benefit they had been of, in procuring
us a Subſiſtance; promifing her, in Cafe
of no Attack from the Blacks, that fhe
ſhould be a Witnefs of their Strength and
Ferocity the next Day. Thus having
calmed her Doubts, we laid us down to
reft, till Joe fhould fummon me upon
Duty.
My Spirits had been fo hurried and fa-
tigued that Day, that altho' my Body
craved Refpite from further Labour, yet
my Mind would not permit me to be Par-
taker of Refreſhment, till that alſo had
fubfided, and all was quiet within; for
having Sally fo near me, contrary to all
Expectation, my Concern for her future.
Welfare, and my Solicitude for her Eafe
and Comfort, (which at beſt could not, in
that wild Country, be provided for accord-
ing to my Wiſh) kept me wakeful as much
as
120
The TRAVELS of
as my Duty upon Watch would have
done.
Joe had no great Difficulty in raifing
me to fupply his Place, which at my ap-
pointed Hour I took upon me, and in
due Time refigned to Sam; when laying
myſelf down by Sally, who had never ſtirred
during the beft Part of the two firſt
Watches, I gained about three Hours
Sleep myfelf.
No fooner had the Sun proclaimed his
Approach, by his Fore-runners gilding the
Edges of the Eaſtern Clouds, than we
were all on our Feet, in clofe Confulta-
tion where to begin the Operations of
the enfuing Day. Our Victuals was ſpent,
and muſt be recruited; that was unavoid-
able. Our next Concern was, to gain
Satisfaction, whether the Blacks had quit-
ted the Country, or were only withdrawn
to the Woods; and if the latter, how we
might beſt avoid any Ambush they might
have
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Eſq; 121
have formed to furprize us; for as their
Arrows would penetrate at a Diſtance as
well as our Guns, we not having a ſingle
Man to fpare, the Lofs of one of us might
prove an Inlet to the Ruin of all; and
moreover, I had ten Times the Induce-
ment now I had Sally with me, to avoid
Danger, than ever I had before.
We determined to proceed to the Hill,
from whence we had made our Diſcovery
of the Boats; for if they were removed,
we might with fome Certainty conclude,
that either their Owners were entirely gone
off together, or that at leaft, we had dif-
lodged them from this Part of the Coaft,
tho' they ſhould happen to be relanded
at fome greater Diſtance.
We had a great deal of Cover to paſs,
before we arrived at our Profpect Hill,
and were to a Scruple circumfpect in crof
fing it; for tho' we kept the open Coun-
try, as much as poffible, yet when we
VOL. I.
G
came
122
The TRAVELS of
•
came near the Covers, we difpatched in
our Dog-Birds firft, to beat about, and
clear the Way for us, and if after fome
Time hunting they returned quiedy, we
ventured boldly on, without Fear of Dan-
ger.
From the Ridge of this Hill (when we
arrived there) we beheld the Shore entire-
ly clear from the Boats; and were then in
great Hopes we had been freed from any
further Company of our Vifiters; for be-
ing able to take into our Proſpect a large
Tract of the Coaft, we fuppofed, that
they were returned to their own Country,
and would put a Stop to the Excurfion of
the Commonality, which Sally had in-
formed us were to have followed them;
fo that under thefe Conjectures, we
quietted our Minds with Regard to them.
We now agreed to defcend the Hill on
the Land Side, and look out for an Hunt
of
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 123
of Veniſon or Beef, or what elſe might
preſent to us; when in less than a Mile's
Walk, we rouſed a Stag, after which we
fent our Dog-Birds, who prefently brought
him to the Ground. This Courfe was an
high Gratification to Sally, who had never
ſeen any Thing like it before; but what
was ftill more fenfibly pleafing to her was,
that our Sally was the firſt that took Stand
upon it.
After refreshing ourſelves on this Dain-
ty, we began to have an Hankering after
our Cell again, having met with nothing
importing fo fecure an Afylum as that,
in all our Travels; but we were now at
fuch a Diſtance from it that for the Sake
of that alone, we would not turn back
again.
Our March had hitherto been due
Weft from the Cell, nor could we be
lefs, as we imagined, than fix or seven-
fcore
G 2
124
The TRAVELS of
fcore Miles from it; but now the Sea be-
ing our Boundary to the Weft, we re-
folved upon fixing our future Rout full
Southward, that we might acquaint our-
ſelves as near as we could, with the moſt
probable Parts for obtaining Relief in;
for as there was ſo vaſt a Coaft, we could
not but conclude, that fome Shipping or
other muft frequent it.
Our Journey continuing for five or fix
Days on the Top of one Hill only, with-
out the leaft Defcent or Valley all the
Way; on the ſeventh, we arrived in Sight
of the Sea again; when being vaſtly above
it, and obferving the Courfe both of the
Land and Water, we judged ourſelves
to be upon fome Promontory, which had
extended itſelf a long Way into the Sea,
and that, proceeding further Southward,
would be to no Purpofe; fo that we al-
tered our Courfe more Eafterly; for as
we had at Times had a Profpect of the
Northern
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 125
Northern Sea, and now lately of the Weft,
and South; we fhould by travelling to
the Eaft, arrive at a Certainty, whether
we were on an Ifland, or on fome Limb
of the Continent only.
G 3
CHAP.
126 The TRAVELS of
CHA P. X.
Find feveral Shell-fifh on the Shore.
compaſs a Swamp and Rock.
Blacks behind it. Kill feme.
En-
See the
Avoid a
Flight of Arrows. The Dog-Birds put
them to Flight. Many drowned.
EING all unanimous as to the Rout
BE!
we had fixed upon, and the Shore
being but at the Foot of the Hill, we
were fome of us defirous of furveying that
before we returned to the Inland again, fo
far as poffibly to fee no more of it. As
we feldom had a protefting Voice amongſt
us, we all fet forward to the Shore, where
being arrived, and finding it inclined Eaſt-
ward, we refolved to coaft it fome Way.
In this Paffage we picked up feveral
Shell-fish upon the Sands, which afforded
us a pleafing Variety; and one Evening,
our Birds feized upon a Beaft, for which
we
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 127
we had no Name, it not wholly refembl-
ing any other that we had ever beheld,
(but what hath fince been exhibited to me
as a Sea Lionefs) fo that finding it very
agreeable travelling there, we continued
our Progreſs, refting on the Land every
Night, above High-water Mark.
I think it was on the fifth Day of cur
Perambulation on this Flat, that we were
oppofed by a deep Swamp, which put a
Stop to our further Proceedings near the
Shore, and obliged us to take a Circuit of
a Quarter of a Mile or more Inland, to
come round it, and a low Rock which
run on the other Side, parallel with the
Swamp to the Sea; but we had no fooner
arrived at the further Bounds of the Rock,
on the Land Side, than we were agaſt, at
an Army of Blacks, who were there col-
lected in different Exercifes, and alfo at
the prodigious Number of Boats, which
darkened the Face of the Waters for a long
Way together, on the Edge of the Shore.
We
G 4
128
The TRAVELS of
We had unthinkingly ftumbled upon
this vaft Body of People, before we were
aware of it; and had now neither Leifure
nor Opportunity of confulting Meaſures
for our Prefervation, by Engagement or
Retreat. I had but juft Time to order
Sally out of Sight, fhe being fo terrified,
that ſhe was ſwooning away, and if the
had, muſt have been her own Doctor, for
we could have provided her no Remedy.
The Blacks who had obferved us, as
foon as we had diſcovered them, tho' they
fled not, neither did they approach us;
which Irrefolution of theirs, (feeing them
who were fo numerous at a Stand) inſpired
us with freſh Courage; but we chofe not
to venture too near their Arrows, they
being to the full as dangerous as our Guns,
at Point Blank Shot; but whilft we kept
them at the Diſtance of a curved Flight,
we could the better avoid them in their
Fall.
In
J
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 129
In this Manner ftood both our Armies
viewing each other, for fome Minutes;
when Joe, who was a very warm Fellow,
impatient of Delay, fired amongſt them,
killing one outright, and wounding ano-
ther, both of whom we faw. drop. He
had no fooner fired than our Birds (waiting
for no further Encouragement) ran upon
them, while they were diſcharging a Flight
of Arrows at us, who retreating behind
a Corner of the Rock in our Rear, avoid-
ed them; then fpringing forward again,
for Fear of a Purfuit, we levelled our
Pieces, and I brought down another, by
which Time, Joe having recharged, was
preparing to fire again; but the Enemy
(being most of them Spectators of the
Fate of fuch of their Companions as the
Birds had faftened on, who all cried out
in the utmoft Extremity, and each fuf-.
pecting his own Turn to be next,) filed
with fuch Precipitation to their Boats, that
many of them broke loofe empty, by
others pushing upon them; feveral were
turned
G 5
130
The TRAVELS of
3
turned Keel upwards, with their Lading,
and the Confufion was fo great, that many
more Men were to be feen fwimming
in the Water, than were ſhipped on Board
their Craft, of which feveral were left be-
hind them moored to the Shore.
CHAP.
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 131
CHAP. XI.
Secure rehat Boats were left behind. Call
Sally out from her Shelter. Find a Black
tied. Learned that he was that Day to
have been killed. Was of another Coun-
try. Sally understood him a little. Ma-
ny dead Blacks caft up by the Tide. Catch
a furprizing Beaft. Defcription of it.
Blacks return no more.
I
T is impoffible, but that the Mind
muft exult at Conqueft; then what
muſt thoſe three Travellers do (for Saliy
was wholly neuter) at the Diſperſion
of fuch a vaft Multitude, fufficient by
their Numbers, had their Courage and
Conduct been equal, to have eaten up our
little Army for a Breakfaſt. Sam and Joe
followed till they had quitted the Land for
the Water; but I obferving that one of
our Birds was faftened upon a Black, who
was tied with his Hands behind him, I
called
132
The TRAVELS of
called him off, leaving the unhappy Suf-
ferer bound till our Return.
the Shore all that Day,
Boats to Land, that the
We guarded
drawing up the
Swimmers might
have no Proſpect of recovering them; for
at a vaſt Diſtance, we could obferve them
helping one another on Board, till they
were fo loaded, that the Boats turned over
with them, or funk outright, whilft others
affifting the Unfortunate, were reduced to
the fame Calamity; but before Night they
were all out of Sight,
No fooner were we clear of them, than
I called to Sally to come forth, who ap-
peared with Trembling; but upon the
News of their Difperfion and Departure,
fhe exulted prodigiouſly. I then took her
with me to the poor confined Creature, on
whofe Back and Shoulders, one of the
Birds had but juſt fixed his Tallons, when
he was called off; but he had left fuch
Marks remaining as never after diſappear-
ed.
I de-
*
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 133
I defired Sally, whom I expected to have
well known their Dialect, to ask him the
Occafion of his being bound; but he ſcarce
underſtood her, being as we afterwards dif-
covered of another Country, a Priſoner
taken in the Wars of the two Nations.
She demanded whether he was the only
one? And was anfwered affirmatively, that
was then alive, there having been forty-
nine of them killed and eaten; and ſaid,
that he was juft tied for Execution, as we
came round the Rock; for that they were
all to have left the Inland next Day: Then
turning his Eyes up forrowfully to us, he
humbly begged that we would not eat
him. Sally affured him we would not;
but, added fhe, had we been your Pri-
foners, you would not have fcrupled eat-
ing us. The poor Fellow then fpit, in
Deteftation of the Action; but he not
taking that for a Reality, afked him what
he would have done with us? He replied,
that he would either have made us his
Slaves, or have fold us to thoſe who
would;
134
#
The TRAVELS of
would; for that his Countrymen never
eat Men in their Lives.
I defired Sally to afk him, what he would
do with himſelf, if we ſhould releaſe him?
ſeeing that all his Friends were departed.
My Friends! faid he, I never deſire to ſee
their Face more. I will be your Slave, and
ferve you. She then aſked, whether he
would go to his Country in one of the
Boats? But he knew no more where it was
he ſaid, than we did; giving us fome ve-
ry cramp Name for it, which never after
having Occafion to repeat, I have now
forgot. We then gave him his Freedom,
upon his Parole; with Liberty either to
accompany us, or to fhift for himſelf, as
he faw fit, either by Sea or Land: Then
loofing his Manacles, he fell on his Knees,
kiffing our Feet, and demonſtrating his
Gratitude by each fenfible Means that he
could devife; whereupon, we defired Sally
to affure him, that fo long as he retained
his Fidelity to us, he fhould be treated
as
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 135
as our Friend, rather than our Slave; tho
even this we had a Right to, by giving
him his Life. He acknowledged it, and
made Signs for us to hang him if he proved
untrue.
The laft Thing, we did before reft
Time, was to go to the Sea, to obſerve if
any Remainder of the fhattered Squadron
of the black Gentry was yet in View;
when the Wind fetting in to the Shore,
tho' we could not difcover any of the
People, feveral of their Boats were driv-
ing about, all empty; fome in one Figure,
fome in another, with no few dead Car-
caffes, thrown in by the Surges.
The poor Fellow afked Sally, if we had
nothing to eat, for that he having been
fatted, had only fubfifted upon Water for
the three laft Days, that he might die
empty. Sam hearing him inquifitive after
Food, pointed to one of the Blacks, who
had been killed by the Dog-Birds; but
he
136
The TRAVELS of
he ſhook his Head, faying, that he could.
at worſt lie down and die by him, but that
he would not eat him, to preferve his own
Life.
Whilft we were watching the Shore, for
we never entirely left it all Night, the Tide
being down, we faw fomething, to our
thinking, move at the Edge of the Swamp,
behind the End of the Rock, next the
Sea; and obferving it to retire from the
Shore, we took it by its Bulk, for a Bull,
or Cow; fo having nothing elſe to do,
we went forwards towards it. We were
now ſure that it was a large Beaſt, but of
what Denomination we could not be pofi-
tive; for it having entered the Flaggs, we
could only fee a Shaking of them to di-
rect us to it: So clapping on two or three
of our Dog-Birds, they foon drove it
through the Swamp, Inland, to the fur-
ther Part of the Rock, whence we had
firſt feen the Blacks; but as we could not
poffibly follow it the Way that it took, we
ran.
•
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 137
ran round the Rock to meet it, and came
up juft as the Birds had brought it to the
Ground. Upon Examination of its Parts,
it was fo far from refembling any fingle
Beaft that we had before feen, that we
were amazed at its Bulk and Proportion ;
however, we cut his Throat, and fleaing
it, prepared a Part for our Suppers, re-
ferved a Portion for our future ſpending,
and feafted our Dog-Birds on the Re-
mainder.
This Creature I would willingly deſcribe,
but can ſcarce draw it into Compariſon
with any others, fave that its Head was
between that of an Ox and an Horfe; but
larger than either of them, and very broad.
It had very ſhort Ears and fmall Eyes, and
the Forepart came the nearest to a Bull's
of any Thing; but had a fhort thick
Neck, with monftrous Legs, and large
cloven Feet. The Body was prodigiouſly
thick and protuberant, fomewhat like that
of an Elephant, with much fuch a whiſk
Tail;
138
The TRAVELS of
Tail; but in Proportion to the Legs, the
Body was far larger than the Elephants.
Whether it was a fierce or docile Ani-
mal, was impoffible to know; becauſe it
was dead before we could have an Oppor-
tunity of examining its Difpoſition; but
certainly it was an amphibious one,
and could fubfift in either Element,
Air or Water; and what more confirmed
me in this Belief was, a fifhy Taſte that
the Flesh was impregnated with; for other-
wife, to the Sight, it appeared like large
Beef.
We deſerted not this Spot for fome Days,
for the Sake of this large Beaft, of whofe
Fleſh both we and our Birds partook, fo
long as it remained fweet and edible; by
which Time being thoroughly perfuaded
that the Blacks had quite forfaken the
Ifland, we fet out again for the Eaftern
Tour we had before projected.
CHAP.
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 139
CHAP. XII.
Travel Eastward.
Malack, the Black, a
most boneft Fellow. Sally and be under-
Stand each other. Author fufpicious of
Sam and Joe. Engages Malack in his
Intereft by Means of Sally. Suspects bis
Companions defign to debauch Sally. Ca-
ball Jeparately. Two Birds following a
a Lioness, Author purfues. Sally's Cries
recall him. Sam and Joe attempting a
Rape on Sally. Author kills Joe. Shat-
ters Sam's Arm with a Bullet.
confeffes the Plot. Dies. Relieve Sally.
Malack recounts the Onfet. Sally con-
felles her Obligation. Cloath Malack.
WE
Sam
E were now upon our Eaſtern
Journey, and a moft loving Com-
panion we had of poor Malack (for that
was the Name of the Black whom we had
releaſed.) He would carry all the Guns for
us, and would even have born ourſelves
too,
140
The TRAVELS of
too, by his Good-will, had it been pof-
fible; nor could the honeft Creature think
that he could ever recompenfe us, for the
Benefit we had done him. He was here,
there, everywhere, at the leaft Nod, or
Beck of ours; nor could we afford him
greater Delight, than in accepting of his
Service, by putting him upon any Em-
ployment.
Sally and he being able to make out
each others Speeches, he was extremely
fond of her Converfation; but when he
had heard her Story, and how ſhe was to
have fuffered in the fame Manner with
himſelf, if we had not opportunely inter-
poſed, and prevented Execution; how did
he blefs us, and after beſtowing all the
other Encomiums that he could heap to-
gether upon us, he told her, that he be-
lieved us to be more than Men, and near
Relations of his God Scarf, which was
certainly the greateſt Honour he could pay
Us.
Being
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Eſq; 141
Being now five of us in Company, our
Travel became very agreeable to us for
feveral Days; till we were centered in the
Heart of the Country: It was then I firſt
began to perceive, that Joe and Sam (in
ſpite of the thin Covering they veiled it
with) were ever cafting a wanton Eye on
Sally, and by a certain Reſervedneſs in their
Behaviour, and contrary to Cuſtom, afſo-
ciating more and more by themſelves, I
began to fufpect that fome Mifchief was
hatching againft me, for Sally's Sake;
for notwithſtanding we were in our then
prefent Conditions, fo much upon a Le-
vel; yet I having by their Choice, born
a Pre-eminence heretofore, had without
feeking it, preferved a Sort of Authority
among them, and they had all along paid a
voluntary Submiffion, and Deference to my
Opinion and Judgment; but now I plainly
perceived, that on a fudden, the Cafe was
altered, all Diftinction was loft, and that
it being my Propofal was fufficient Grounds
for a Contradiction; nor could I recollect
from
142
The TRAVELS of
from what other Source this Change could
proceed, than my interpofing between
them and Sally, against whofe Honour I
perfuaded myſelf they were forming At-
tempts. I was thoroughly fenfible what
little Streſs is uſually laid upon old Friend-
ſhip, where once Luft has gained Domi-
nion in the Heart; nor could they, as I
imagined, look upon themfelves more fe-
cure from me in the Profecution of their
Paffions for her, than I could efteem my-
felf from them.
Now it appearing daily more and more
confpicuous to me, that fome fuch Thing
was actually in Agitation, as might, nay
muft in its Confequence, if not of my
Life, at leaft deprive me of all my future
Hopes in Sally: I endeavoured by every
Means to counterplot them, and for that
Purpoſe formed a ftriéter Alliance with
Malack, by expreffing a moft tender Re-
gard for him, and employing every Arti-
fice (in their Abfence) for attaching him
to
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Eſq; 143
to my intereft. I likewife declared my
Sufpicions to Sally, and ufed her Influence
over Molack, to rivet me in his Affection,
preferable to Joe or Sam, and by private
Hints to bring them into Difrepute with
him.
All this having pretty well effected, we
conjointly took the Opportunity of men-
tioning to Malack our former Engage-
ments to each other, in our own Country;
and the Diſtruſt we had, (as there was but
one Woman amongst us) of our Compa-
nions ill Deſigns on me, in Order to pave
their Way to the debauching of her, which
they muſt be fenfible would prove a fruit-
lefs Attempt, fo long as my Life remained
whole in me. I therefore told him, that
as I was the fole Inftrument of firft en-
gaging the Blacks, at the Releaſe of Sally,
which had I not brought them into, we
had never attempted relieving him; fo it
would be but a Part of generous Retallia-
tion in him to protect and affift Sally and
me,
144
The TRAVELS of
me, in his Turn, in Cafe either my Life
or her Virtue fhould be in Danger, from
two lawleſs, luftful Villains, without the
leaſt previous Offence given on our Parts.
Having with no fmall Difficulty given
Malack a Senfe of our Fears, the Reaſons
for them, and of the Part we would have
him take, in Cafe of an open Rupture be-
tween us; he readily acknowledged it to
be his Duty to affift the Inju.ed, againſt
Oppreffors too mighty for them; and
heartily eſpouſed our Cauſe, and engaged
in our Defence.
When I had brought him to my Cue,
I affured him, that I fhould make but little
more Ufe of him, than to fland by me if
we fhould engage; for as that would pro-
bably be with our Guns, of which they
would have two to my one, I would pre-
pare a fecond Charge for mine, which he
holding in Readinefs, fhould apply as I
would
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 145
would direct him, that I might not be
left long defencelefs after my firing.
Malack promifing to act according to
my Orders, I cut him up a ftrong Stick
to defend himſelf with, and to annoy the
Enemy, when he fhould fee the fittest
Opportunity; for I told him, that ſhould
we once enter upon Action, I was deter-
mined not to fkin it over, fo that it might
break out unexpectedly again upon me;
for that I would never more than once,
truft my Life in the Hands of any Man,
who ſhould attempt it, in Profecution of
fuch baſe Views as they must have (before
they could even with me any Miſchief)
tho' upon the folemnet Proteftations of
Repentance, which I was very certain,
would last but till they could gain a pro-
per Advantage over me.
We had now enjoyed but little of Joe
and Sam's Companies for feveral Days; and
indeed, ſcarce any of it, faveat Meal Times;
VOL. I.
H
tho'
146
The TRAVELS of
tho' they withdrew themſelves not far from
us, and what I feared the moſt of any
Thing was, that they would murder me.
in my Sleep; for it was very viſible to
me, that they were no lefs jealous of me,
than I was of them.
A few Days afterwards, as Malack,
Sally, and I, were purfuing our Journey
together, through a Thicket towards the
Edge of a Lawn, Joe and Sam being
fomewhat further in the Buſhes to our
Left, a Lionefs and two Whelps ruſhed
out of the Cover, juft before us. The
Beaſt made a Stop fronting us, and to my
thinking, was about to leap on us, when
giving a Shout and Chear to the Dog-
Birds behind me, the Creature no fooner
efpied them than the fled, with the young
ones after hier, to the Lawn. The Birds
now being in Purfuit, I followed to the
Plain, leaving Malack and Sally behind
me, ftill in the Thicket; fhe, poor
Soul, being under fuch a Surprize at Sight
of
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 147
of the Lionefs, that ſhe was ready to fink,
and confequently unable to follow me.
I had not run a Furlong upon the Plain,
before I was ftruck with fuch an horrid
Cry for Help, as put a Stop to my Pur-
fuit of the Beaſts, and returned me with
equal Speed back again, to the Relief of
Sally, from whofe Voice I was but too
fure the Cry proceeded; but it ftill conti-
nuing louder, added Wings to my Feet,
and the moſt acute Diftrefs to my Mind,
till I could arrive to aid her. I doubted
not but that Joe, or Sam, or both of them,
were perpetrating their Villainy upon her,
and fhould the Mifchief be done before I
am able to reach her, faid I, then I am
paft all Redemption undone for ever.
Juft as I was pufhing into the Thicket,
I met Malack with a Gun in his Hand,
who began to inform me what was tranf-
acting, but in fuch Confufion and broken
Dialect, as my Hafte would not permit
H 2
me
148
The TRAVELS of
me to interpret; but beckoning to him to
follow me, I fprung through the Under-
wood to the Place where the Cry called
me; when it was but too demonftrable,
what thofe Ruffians were preparing to
tranfact.
Poor Sally lay extended on the Ground,
with Sam at her Feet, and Joe at her Head,
ftreightening and drawing out her Limbs,
while fhe contended with all her ſtrongeſt
Efforts against their Attempt. Their
Eagerness in the Perfecution of their Vil-
lainy prevented their Difcovery of me;
fo that being well affured no real Injury
had as yet happened to her, I reſted a Mo-
ment for Breath, and to recollect my Spi-
rits for Direction, in what Manner to pro-
ceed with them.
I had my Gun at my Shoulder, but
the Dread of accidentally hurting Sally,
prevented my difcharging it; till Joe,
ſeemingly in great Heat, raifing himſelf
to
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Eſq; 149
to wipe his Face with his Sleeve, I could
no longer withſtand the offered Occafion,
but directly ſhot him through the Head;
fo that his Corps fell crofs Sally's Body.
Sam, starting at the fudden Burst of
the Gun, and the Fall of his Comrade,
fnatched up his Piece which lay by him,
in Order to return me the Salute; but had
not Time to fire before I had difburthened
Malack of the Gun he brought me, and
that Inftant letting fly, had fhattered Sam's
Right Arm to Pieces; when his Gun
dropping, I ruſhed in upon him. "Raf-
"cal, faid I, your Treachery is returned
upon your own Heads, nor fhall you
"long furvive the Lofs of this Member,
"which hath fo lately been employed in
(6
abuſing Innocence." Then taking up
his Gun, I was preparing to diſpatch him.
The poor Wretch was fo faint with the
Lofs of Blood, which flowed from his
Arm, that he could ftand no longer; but
fat down and begged for his Life.
H 3
I ob-
150
The TRAVELS of
I obferving then that Sam was paft fur-
ther Miſchief, delivering the Gun to Ma-
lack, ran to the Affiftance of the diftreffed
Sally, who ftill lay under the Weight of
Jee, fo terrified, that he was unable to
free herſelf from his Corpfe. I turned him
afide, and raiſed her on her Seat; but the
Shock had feized her fo violently, that ſhe
was fcarce able to fupport herfelf, when
calling Malack to my Aid, we fet her with
her Back againſt a Tree; then kiffing her,
I begged her to compofe herfelf, fince her
Enemies were no longer able to diſtreſs
her, and returned again to Sam, for cer-
tain Knowledge of his Circumftances.
The Blood fprung from the great Arte-
ry of his Arm with fuch Violence, that
had I prized his Life ever fo highly, I per-
ceived it would be impoffible, (with the
beſt Help that I could afford him) to fave
it. Then affuring him, that I judged him
to be a dying Man, I urged him to make
a true Confeffion of who had firſt framed
this
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Eſq; 151
this wicked Defign against Sally, and what
was to have followed, had they been
fuccefful; for I told him, that they could
not but imagine I would have perfifted to
Death in Defence of her Chastity.
Sam, who by this Time was as fenfible
of his Departure being at Hand as I was,
extending his Left-Hand to my Right,
(which I gave him) heartily begged my
Pardon for the intended Injuries to myſelf
and the Lady, which he affured me was
all his own contriving; tho' Joe very rea-
dily came into it, in Hopes of having a
Woman between them, in that defolate
Country; but that their Defign was not
to have uſed any Practice againſt her, be-
fore they had diſpatched me; till the Op-
portunity of her being left with only Ma-
lack offering, they could then no Ways
poftpone their Refolution; expecting, that
after deflowering her, they fhould have
been prepared for my Death, e'er I fhould
have
H 4
152
The TRAVELS of
have returned; when their Purpoſe was,
to have ſhot me from behind the Buſhes.
Sam making fo fincere a Confeffion, I
could ſcarce refrain from pitying him;
but he had much ado to deliver his whole
Account; nor had he fooner finished it,
than he dropped on his Side, when a few
convulfive Struggles carried him off.
On my Return to Sally, I found her re-
covering apace, to which the Report of
Sam's Death not a little contributed. I
informed her of his Confeffion, and of the
Scheme they had laid for my Deſtruction;
but having not as yet been apprized of the
Particulars, I began to queſtion Malack
in what Manner the Affault upon Sally had
begun?
Malack anfwered, that no fooner had
I quitted the Thicket, than Sam and Joe
rufhed
upon him and Sally, and prefent-
ing their Fire-Arms at him, ordered his Re-
treat,
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 153
treat, which he obeyed, well knowing that
any Oppofition of his againſt two defpe-
rate armed Men would be fruitlefs. He
went not far, he faid, before he heard
Sally cry out violently; when fufpecting
what they were at, he again advanced to-
wards them, who had by this Time thrown
her on the Ground, and were behaving as
he thought fo barbaroufly to her, that had
it been in his Power, he would have killed
them both; but obferving one of their
Guns to lie at fome Diſtance from them,
he took it up, with Defign to have done
as he had once obſerved me to do; but
faid, that he knew not how to go about it.
He had then an Intent of fecuring the
other Gun too; but that he muft have
paffed cloſe by them for it, when poffibly,
he might have loft what he had gotten, if
not his Life with it; fo he judged it pru-
denter to content himſelf with one, than to
lofe both.
Sally
H 5
154
The TRAVELS of
Sally having interpreted to me all Ma-
lack's Difcourfe. "O, Mr. Bingfield, add-
"ed fhe, this is now the fecond Time
"that I ftand indebted to you for my
66
6.6
Life, at the Peril of your own. What
owe I not to your Goodneſs to me!
"But this Accident having fo much re-
"duced our Number, what fhall we be
"able to do, fhould the Blacks return to
"us again?"
I told her, that I was under no Appre-
henfions from them, we being now fo far
from the Sea Coafts, and in a quite dif-
ferent Part of the Country to what they
frequented; however, having our Dog-
Birds ftill with us, I told her, I feared nei-
ther them or any Thing elfe hurting us:
But, fays I to Malack, take you up the two
Guns, and put on one of the Deceased's
Cloaths, (for he was ftark naked, fave a
Piece of Sam's Skirt of his Coat tied round
his Middle) and bring me the Breeches for
Sally
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 155
Sally (who as yet had no other Covering
than the Coat I gave her at firſt) and then.
we'll leave this melancholy Spot; for the
very Thought of it fills my Mind with.
Confufion and Horror.
CHA P..
156
The TRAVELS of
CHAP. XIII.
Proceed on their Journey. Sally teaches
Malack Engliſh. The Author's Difcourfe
of Marriage with Malack. Malack
evinces it was no Crime to marry Sally.
Propoſes it to her. Her Anfwer. Per-
fuafive Arguments of the Author. Sally
complies. The Ceremony.
W
HEN we had adjuſted Matters
according to my Inclinations, we
fet forward from that deteſted Place, in
further Search of the Country; but being
unwilling to leave the Lioneſs and Whelps
behind us, (for I doubted not but that the
Dog-Birds had killed them) we turned to-
wards the Plain, where we met two of the
Birds returning from the Slaughter, fo
full, they were ready to burft; nor were
they the only ones that had feafted them-
felves, for there was but very little of the
Carcaffes left, and what was, remained
upon
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 157
upon the Bones of one of the Whelps,
which had ran the furtheft. We picked
up fufficient however, for our own Din.
ners, giving the reſt amongſt fuch of the
Birds as, remaining with Sam and Joe, had
not been at the Chace.
We purſued the Eaftern Point for many
Days, under Amazement, that after fo
long Travel, we ſhould neither have reach-
ed the Ocean, or the leaft Traces of hu-
man Beings; but as we were now at Eaſe
in our Minds, Time lay not fo difquietly
on our Hands, as while our Lives and
Honours feemed dependent on the preca-
rious Caprice of other Men; and in Order
to amuſe ourſelves at leifure Times, Sally
taught Malack to ſpeak English, till he
could do it intelligibly enough to us, who
were uſed to him; after which, he would
divert us mightily with Stories of his own
Country, where, from his Report, he was
no mean Perfon, being the King's Bro-
ther; but ſurely fo good a Creature, fo
harm-
158 The TRAVELS of
harmleſs, and fo inviolably attached to our
Intereft, never lived as Malack was,
He having heard the Hiftory of our
Loves, and its long Standing, was faying
to me one Day, Ah Neve! (which with
them fignified Mafter, as Nefs did Mi-
ftrefs, he always ufing that Form of
Speech to Sally and me)" How bleſſed
"are you, to have the Woman you love,
"and who loves you, always fo near to
"you! But I am amazed at your making
"no better Ufe of it; for you only con-
"verſe, and feem pleaſed with each other's
Company: Now had I my Love here,
"I ſhould uſe her otherwiſe, and as a
"good Woman ought to be treated."
$
ઃઃ
“Malack, faid I, it is not the Cuſtom
"of my Country to lie with any Woman
"we love, and would be conſtant to, till
46 we are married." "Married, replied.
"he, what you call that?" I then ex-
plained (as far as few Words would per-
mit).
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 159
mit) what I meant by Marriage, and the
folemn Engagement Man and Wife enter-
ed into, to be true and faithful to each
other; and that we were to take upon us
that Obligation before an holy Man, ap-
pointed for that Purpoſe.
"What? Says.
"he, I prefume he is to be Witneſs to
"it." I replied that he was; but that the
King of Heaven was alfo the Grand Wit-
neſs to it, to whom we appealed for our
Sincerity. And are you, and my Nefs,.
faid he, never to enjoy more of each
"other than you do, till you can meet
"with an holy Man?" I told him no,
it would not be decent, till we were
wholly appropriated to each other; but
that Ceremony being once over, then, we
could no more part, tho' it were to gra-
tify the Humour of either of us ever fo
much.
Malack was very inquifitive, whether
the holy Man made any Promife for us?
I anſwered no, we only made it for our-
felves.
160
The TRAVELS of
felves.
"If that be the Cafe, replied he,
"and you are both willing to make the
"Promife, can't I be Witnefs to it, as well
"as the holy Man? For it may be as well.
"made here as in your own Country, I
"fhould think: A Promife once made,
CC
being as strictly to be performed in one
"Place as another; neither matters it,
"who it is made before, ſo it be but
"made; but you fay, it muſt be before
"the King of Heaven; then think you
" he can't hear us in this Country, as
well as in yours?"
‹
I must confefs, that Malack's Difcourfe
feeming fo void of all Manner of Preju-
dice, flowed ſo eaſily from natural Reaſon
that I was at a Lofs how to oppofe his
Argument; and yet, my Plea was wholly
infignificant without it. Sally in whoſe
Abfence our Theme was begun) coming
up, I repeated to her Part of our Dia-
logue, which having finifhed: "What,
66
fays I, is your Opinion of this Sally ?"
She
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 161
She modeftly anſwered, with a Bluff, that
having never confidered it, fhe left thofe
Niceties to the Learned; beginning to vary
the Diſcourſe, by relating what ſhe had
been taking Notice of in her Walk, with
Endeavour to withdraw our Attention
from the Subject we were upon; but un-
willing to drop the Argument, now we
were fo fairly engaged, I purfued it, by
making Malack re-deliver his Opinion (up-
on what, I told her, I had advanced on
the contrary Side of the Queſtion) in his
own Sentiments; nor would I quit my
Hold, till we had fo thoroughly canvaffed
it, that I was in Hopes a Propofal of that
Nature would not be contemptuouſly re-
jected, even by Sally herſelf, for whofe
Virtue I had ever retained the fublimeſt
Notions, confidering the Neceffity of the
preſent Cafe.
I had for fome Days fo deliberated,
confulted, ſcanned over, and canvaſſed this
matrimonial Affair in my own Mind, that
I had
162
The TRAVELS of
I had wrought myfelf into a clear Con-
viction of its Legality; and then having
prepared my whole Force of Artillery in
Support of my Pretenfions, I attacked
Sally, moft earneftly intreating her to di-
veft herſelf of all Prejudice and Prepof-
feffion, and to reflect that we re (even
in England fo united in Affections, that
nothing from within either ci us pro-
craftinated our Happineſs, or aught but the
formal Fears, and Jealoufies of Diobedi-
ence to Superiors, and our future Welfare
dependent thereon, fhould we have pro-
ceeded contrary to their Inclinations; but
as that, I told her, could not bear a Part
in the preſent Debate, where only the Le-
gality of the A&t (under our prefent Cir-
cumſtances) could come in Queſtion, I
could fee no other Reſtraint upon Earth
capable of debarring us thofe Freedoms,
and that Felicity, which our Inclinations
(I hoped) both tended to; and as to the
Legality of it, I affured her, that I meant
to promiſe her the fame Fidelity, and to
adhere
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 163
adhere to it in the fame Senfe and Manner,
as if compelled to it by the ftricteft Laws
of our own Country.
I argued then from feveral other Mo-
tives more fpeculative, as that the Will
alone made the Wedlock, in Fact, and
that we ought not to live in Sufpence, and
Diffidence of each other. That the Ce-,
remony performed in Publick, only de-
noted to the World that we were Man
and Wife; which Malack now, being the
only one who could condemn us, would
himſelf be deprived of, by being Evidence
of our Union; and concluded, that for
two Perfons to be for ever incapable of
uniting happily, becaufe fuch a particular
Ceremony was incompatible with their then
Situation, was to me the moſt abfurd and
fhocking Pofition imaginable, and tended
to the annulling that univerfal Precept of
encreafing our Species, and compleating
the Demands of our Natures.
In
164 The TRAVELS of
In fhort, I urged thefe Reaſons, and
many more too tedious to be repeated, in
fo convincing a Manner to Sally, that fhe
told me, he had too great a Senfe of
my Eſteem for her, and of my own natural
Probity, to imagine that I would aim at
the Commiffion of any Thing, contrary
to my beſt informed Judgment on the Di-
vine Law; much lefs that I would, for any
Satisfaction to myfelf, endeavour to im-
poſe upon her Weakness to accompany
me in it; therefore, added fhe, give me
but Affurance that yourfelf are fully con-
vinced of the Legality of the Act, under
our prefent Circumſtances, and that alone
fhall filence all further Objections of mine
to it.
I complied with her Demand, and kifs-
ing her, proteſted before Malack, that I
propofed eternal Truth and Conftancy to
her, in as ample Manner as if our Mar-
riage had been celebrated in the moſt fo-
lemn Form uſed on Earth; then taking
her
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 165
her Hand in mine, fhe engaged the like
Fidelity to me; but could not at the fame
Time avoid protefting, that nothing but
the poſitive Impracticability of receiving
me as her Huſband according to the Eng-
liſh Cuſtom, fhould have engaged her to
the prefent Compliance; from which In-
ſtant we became Man and Wife, and
lived together ever after as fuch.
CHAP.
166
The TRAVELS of
CHA P. XIV.
Malack's Joy at the Marriage. Lived
happily. Had given over all Thoughts of
England. Gain a View of the Eastern
Sea. Hear Mufick. A vaft Train af
cending from the Sea.
further View of them.
Stone Erections.
The
Gain a Hill for
A Valley full of
Train march back
again. Take Shipping. Defcend to the
Valley. Find two Men chained. Make
Signs to each other. Author bad Thoughts
of releafing them.
F I was under the ftrongest of Obliga-
15!
tions to Malack for thoſe Hints, which
in their Confequence had fupplied me with
every Felicity I had ever craved in Life,
they centering in the Enjoyment of my
dearen Sally; Malack was no lefs delighted
to fee us thus happy, than if himſelf had
obtained the Miſtreſs he left behind him
but what heightened his Satisfaction was,
my
,
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 167
my frequently affuring him, that but for
the Hints he had given me, I ſhould ſtill
have lain under the Embara ffment of my
former Scruples; fo that he now having
an Intereft in our Profperity, efteemed it
not the meanest Part of his own Happi-
nefs.
We ſpent the Remainder of this Year
in great Tranquility ftill, by gentle Stages,
gaining to the Eaſtward: Nor (having
now fo long been Mafters of our own In-
clinations) caft we many anxious Thoughts
towards either England, or any other
Country; for we were become fo habi-
tuated to the Soil we were fixed on, that
we had few other Thoughts than of living
and dying there: But alas! How broken
and confuſed are human Dreams of Hap-
pinefs! How fmall a Portion of Futurity
can we poor Creatures comprehend! We
are neither certain of the Continuance of
prefent Bleffings, or capable of warding
off future Evils.
Our
168
The TRAVELS of
Our long Walk to the Eaft was at
length terminated, in a Proſpect of the
wide Ocean, which afcertained to us, that
the Land we inhabited was an oblong
Iſland; and that unleſs, by the Means of
Shipping, we could procure a Diſcharge
from it, we might end our Days in Tra-
vel, like an Horſe in a Pound, without
ever exceeding our Limits; but as we had
Room enough, and no Want of Provi-
fions, fave Salt and Bread, we had it only
in our Choice to render our Lives as com-
fortable as we could, without either.
We were now defcending from the
Eaſtern Hills to the Shore, between us
and which there was ftill one fingle Cliff
to be afcended, whence was a very ſteep,
and almoſt perpendicular Fall to the Water.
As we were mounting up the laſt Aſcent,
it may be a Quarter of a Mile from the
Shore, we of a fudden heard Mufick.
This unaccustomed Sound engaged all our
Attention; but the Strand lying fo high
againſt
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 169
againſt the Shore, we could only imagine
it to be cauſed by the Inftruments of fome
Ship failing near the Coaft, and as yet
under Cover of the Cliffs; for we could
only behold the Sea at fome Diſtance over
them.
The nearer we approached to the Sum-
mit of the Cliffs, the more fenfibly were
we affected with the Sound, which feemed
to be very folemn and engaging. "We
were fatisfied that it must be compoſed of
a great Variety of Inftruments, but they
were moſtly of fuch Tones as we had not
been acquainted with; however, imagin-
ing it to be Ship Mufick, our Hopes were
elevated by the Expectation that we might
by their Means be conveyed to fome known
Shores, which fpurred us on to the View
of them.
The Eagerness of our March in afcend-
ing the Cliffs, had prevented our behold-
ing a vaſt Company of People, cloathed
VOL. I.
I
all
170
The TRAVELS of
all in White, who had entered from the
Shore, through a narrow Paffage in the
Cliff, and were by this Time, gotten
more inland than ourſelves; but at the
Heighth of the Cliff we beheld not one
fingle Ship only, but a great Number of
fmall Veffels, lying juſt off the Land.
Not ſeeing them under Sail, or any
living Creature moving upon the Sands,
we could not imagine to whom they ſhould
belong, or what Occafion fhould have
brought them thither: But while we were
attentive to them, we thought we heard
the Mufick more behind us, when looking
about us, we eſpied this prodigious Train
of People, walking three and three a-
breaft, with the Mufick before them,
and at a few Ranks Distance from the
Mufick, there feemed to be fomething
White, lying on a Sort of Stage, borne
upon Mens Shoulders.
The
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 171
The Nakedness of the Cliff prevented
any Concealment of ourſelves from them;
but they moving obliquely from us, we
could not perceive that they took the leaſt
Notice of us. They proceeded very flow-
ly, but with great Regularity and Solem-
nity, through a ſmall Wood in their Front,
till we had entirely loft all Sight of them.
Being very curious to diſcover the My-
ftery of this grand Proceffion, I propoſed
to gain the Top of another Hill, a little
Diſtance from the Wood they had entered,
from whence I fuppofed we might be able
to obferve their further March, and gain
fome Inſight into the Defign of it.
We made towards this Hill with all
Speed, and from its Summit perceived them
ftill in March to a Valley furrounded by
fmall Rifings and Trees; on the Area of
which ſtood a Number of low Erections,
feemingly built of Stone, in the Nature
I 2
of
172
The TRAVELS of
of feparate Cells, or fepulchral Monu-
ments, of different Forms and Devices.
We were determined to maintain our
Stations till we ſhould diſcover with what
Intent they marched thither; for the whole
Train could confift of little lefs (in our
Apprehenfion) than a thouſand People.
No fooner were they arrived at theſe ſmall
Buildings, than the Stage was grounded;
but what followed we could not defcry for
the Crowd, who were collected about it,
all into a Ring, as clofe as ever they could
ſtand by each other, and many deep.
When they had continued in this Pofi-
tion about an Hour, the Stage was ele-
vated again; and inſtead of the white
Thing, which before lay upon it, we could
plainly diſcover a Man, in an upright Po-
fture, ftanding thereon; and the Multi-
tude now moving very brifkly, ſhouted
all the Way they went, and the Mufick
diſplayed its Harmony in the moſt chear-
ful
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 173
ful and fprightly Airs. In fhort, the
whole Scene was changed, from a grave
Solemnity to an Excefs of Mirth and
Jollity.
We could not ſtill conceive what all this
Parade tended to, nor did we chufe to gra-
tify our Curioſity, by an Expoſure of our
Perſons to an Affembly, for whom we had
very much varied our Efteem fince their
firft Appearance; fo that we lay ftill till
they had all embarked again, and were
put out to Sea; then taking one more
View of the Valley, before we defcended
the Hill, we conjectured that we ſaw two
fmall Heaps of fomewhat, which they
muft have left behind them; fince we
were all fure, that we had not obſerved
them before the Multitude retired.
Whilft we were debating on what theſe
Heaps (as we called them) fhould be, I
ſtarted the Propofal, that as we had Day
enough before us, we would take a Walk
I 3
to
174
The TRAVELS of
to the Valley, and examine what theſe
feeming Buildings were; for we could not
imagine them to be inhabited, by our not
being able to point out any one ſtirring
near them; and I told Sally, that it was
not improbable, but we might find a
Place of Retreat there, which might ſerve
us for a future Habitation.
This Propofal I had only Time to ſtart,
before I put it in Execution; but upon
our nearer Approach to thefe Heaps, how
were we amazed at the Sight of two
fine jolly Men fitting, one on each Side
of one of the little Buildings, with their
Heads inclined forwards, wringing their
Hands and bemoaning themſelves moft
lamentably!
We halted at about thirty Paces from
them, and calling to them, beckoned them
forward to us; when they holding up
their Legs, and rattling their Chains, in-
dicated, that they could not remove from
their
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 175
their Pofts. Malack was for leaving them
there, but they feeming to implore our
Aid and Pity, I could not confent to it;
then advancing ftill nearer, I now heard
fuch a Groan as almoſt ſtupified me; when
being fatisfied that it proceeded from nei-
ther of the Perfons whom we faw, I
ftopped fhort, and again hearing another,
was about to fly, for Fear of fome Am-
bufcade; but were it fo, thinks I, they
would be filent. At length however, I ven-
tured up to one of the chained Men, en-
quiring (by the beft Signs that I could ufe
to him) the Caufe of his Confinement.
The poor Man wept, and after much
ado, by Signs to his Head, and to the
Stone Building, and fuch other Tokens as
he judged to be moft fignificant, he gave
me to underſtand, that his King was en-
tombed alive under thoſe Stones, and that
himſelf and the other Prifoner were two
of his best Friends, and chained there to
periſh with their Mafter; nor did he ſeem
I 4
fo
176 The TRAVELS of
fo much concerned for himſelf as for his
King; for upon my attempting to free
him, he put by my Hand, and pointing
to the Stones, intimated, that his Maſter
was first to be regarded.
I not perfectly underſtanding all this
Man's Motions, could not abfolutely di-
veft myſelf of all Doubt of the Reality of
his Story; for tho' that fomebody was in
the Building was very apparent, from the
Groanings which proceedod thence, and
that himſelf and his Companion were
chained to it, was as true; yet whether he
within Side was a King, or a Robber; or
whether the chained Men were his Mini-
fters, or Accomplices in his Villainies, was
more than I could penetrate into; but yet,
it grieved me but to think of leaving them
all to perish there.
CHA P.
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 177
CHA P. XV.
The Author's Reflections. Sally dubious.
Malack paffive. Tries to release the two
Men. Malack understands them. Re-
leaſe one. Forces the Stones of a Tomb.
Releaſes Bomarrah, a Captive King, from
it. His Gratitude. And Majefty. Bo-
marrah's Story. Was entombed alive by
his Nephew an Ufurper. Mentions where
they are gone to crown him.
As
S what I had an anxious Mind to
undertake, was not without its Dif-
ficulties, I would not rafhly purſue the
Bent of my Inclination, till I had ſeriouſ-
ly reflected on the Confequences. At
length, after feveral other Cogitations,
thinks I, what if I fhould releaſe them,
and they ſhould prove as bafe to me, as
Sam and Joe, and upon the fame Account
too? What ſhould I fay? Or how could
I excufe myſelf to Sally, or even to my-
1 5
felf?
178
The TRAVELS of
felf? At length, my Compaffion gaining
the Afcendant, I could no longer fuffer
my Fellow-creatures to languish in that Mi-
fery, which I was capable of difcharging
them from; fo fummoning my Council,
of Malack and Sally, I reported to them,
what I appehended the Man had meant by
his Motions, and likewife my Scruples
on the Head, together with my anxious
Concern for their Releafe; at the fame
Time fubjoining, that believing it to be
my Duty to free them, we muſt ſubmit
the Event to Providence.
Sally was no more void of her Fears than
I was, and on the fame Account too; but
ftill faid, that it would be cruel to fuffer
them to perish, for a Surmize only, which
probably might never be verified. As
for Malack, he was wholly paffive in the
Affair; fo having gained my Wife's Con-
fent, I went to Work to releaſe the Cap-
tives.
Tho'
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 179
Tho' the Man and I were both fully
apprized, that neither of us understood a
fingle Syllable that the other faid; yet
neither of us could forbear talking to the
other, as regularly as if we had; but fo
foon as Malack came up, and heard him,
he immediately put a Queſtion to him,
the Words of which, tho' I now forget,
the Purport of it was, whether we could
Ipeak the Songee? (which I afterwards un-
derſtood to be a general Language, which
would carry a Man through as many King-
doms in that Part of the World, as French
will amongst us in Europe ;) to which the
Stranger earnestly replying, that he could,
they fell into immediate Difcourfe toge-
ther; but the Prifoner's Impatience for
the Diſcharge of his Mafter, would ſcarce
allow us Time for affifting him, nor did I
well know how to compafs what I had un-
dertaken; for the Chain was too ftrong to
give Way to any Force that I could ap
ply to it; till obferving that the Staple,
with which it was faftened to the Stone,
pro-
180 The TRAVELS of
projected about three Inches, I defpaired
not (by repeated Blows with a large Stone)
of bending it backwards and forwards,
till it broke, which in feveral repeated At-
tempts I compaffed.
The poor Man was no fooner freed,
tho' the Chain ftill had his Leg in Hold,
than he embraced me; then laying his
Head on the Ground, he took my Foot
and would have placed it thereon; but I
was ſo far from permitting it, that I raiſed
and kiffed him, which he accepted as the
greateſt Honour imaginable; then running
to the Tomb, he fmote it with his Hand,
and looked round it on every Side, but
was wholly at a Lofs for opening it.
I left Malack in Diſcourſe with the other
Priſoner, whilft I took a Survey of the
Tomb, and confidered how I might beſt
uncover it. As for the Sides, and Ends,
(for it was an oblong Square) there was no
Probability of penetrating them; but the
whole
!
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 181
whole Roof being compofed only of three
Stones, as I could difcern, two large flat
ones, which ſtood Edge-ways, inclining
inwards, and almoft touching at the Top,
and one other laid Length-ways, upon
the upper Edges of them; I had Hopes
of gaining Admittance there, tho' the
Joints were fo fine, and the Stones fo thick
and ponderous, that I was not infenfible of
the Difficulty it would be.
I took the broken Staple, and flatting
the broken Ends of it between the Stones,
I drove them into the new Mortar, by re-
peated Strokes, till I had forced the upper
Stone to gape a little; then I cut a Stick
Wedge-wife, driving that in to take the
Bearing off from the Staple, then alter-
nately driving the Staple, and the Stick,"
at length we heard the King (as they call-
ed him) within, making fome low Noiſe,
(for he was almoſt fuffocated) but he foon
made much more, as the Air entered the
Crevice; and (as the Stranger told me, by
his
182 The TRAVELS of
his Speeches) was afraid, that his Enemies
were coming to put him to a worſe Death;
but he foon fatisfied him to the contrary,
and that we were about to releaſe him.
We had now raiſed the upper Stone
above an Inch from the other, but could
move it no further, till by cutting a ſtrong
Lever, and prizing with it, we threw it
quite off from the Top; but not regarding
where it fell, if Malack, who obferved it
was coming, had not dragged the other
Priſoner away to the Length of his Chain,
he had certainly been cruſhed to Pieces by
the Fall of it.
Having removed the Top Stone, we
had but little Difficulty in prizing off one
of the Side ones, when out ftepped the
King; but had I had no prior Intimation
who he was, I fhould eaſily have diſcover-
ed Majefty in his very Movement and
Gefture. The Mein and Sentiments where-
with he accofted me, as his Deliverer, were
truly
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 183
truly noble and magnificent; tho' I am
perfuaded, the latter loft much of their
Energy, by paffing from the Mouth of
the Stranger, in the Songes Tongue, to Ma-
lack, my Interpreter; and I am the rather
of that Opinion, for that when his Ma-
jeſty underſtood that Malack ſpoke the
Songee, he addreffed himſelf to him, who
delivered his Sayings to me, in much
more refined Elegance than I had before
received them from a third Hand.
I remember that one of his Speeches,
or pretty like it, was, when he took me
by the Hand, and kiffed me: "Let it be
"recorded, great Sir, amongst the glo-
"rious Atchievements of your Life, as
Co
none of the leaft worthy of your Ac-
❝tions, that by your Hand alone, the
"moft illuſtrious Bomarrab was raiſed
"from his Sepulchre, to triumph over
"his own, and his Country's Enemies."
It
184
The TRAVELS of
It was furprizing, amidſt the Horrors
of a defolate Wild, alone too, (as I may
fay) and deſerted (in Compariſon of the
Crouds about the Ufurper, as we after-
wards underſtood) what true State and
Majeſty that Man preferved, within the
proper Bounds of a decent Modefty, and
Gratitude to his Benefactors; but I muſt
not, in extolling the Virtues of his King,
leave the other Favourite any longer in
Durance; for having freed him too from
the Stone, tho' not from his Chain, I re-
ceived his Applauſes, and Careffes, with
abundant Satisfaction.
Having nothing more now to do, but
to enjoy ourſelves, after the Benefits be-
ftowed, and received on both Sides, we
retired to the little Wood, (it growing
into the Evening) and took up our Reſt
there for that Night; but none of us in-
clining to fleep directly, I ordered Malack
to fignify to his Majefty, what a Satisfac-
tion 1 fhould receive at the Relation of that
Misfortune,
1
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Eſq; 185
Misfortune, which had induced his late
Cataſtrophe.
The King then began with enumerating
his long Train of Noble Anceſtors, from
whom (by uninterrupted Succeffion) his
Crown had devolved on him. That he
had reigned twenty-two Years, that is,
ever fince he was twenty Years of Age.
That having long been victorious in his
Wars with many Nations, and having
added a vaft Extent of Dominion to his
Empire, his Subjects almost adored him.
That a freſh War lately breaking out be-
tween him and a neighbouring Power (he
having been dangerously wounded in his
laft Campaign) his Subjects obliged him
not to expoſe himſelf in Perfon in this;
but to fend his Army under the Conduct
of a Nephew, whom he had educated,
and trained up in the Exerciſe of Arms
from his Youth, as his own Son, and to
whom he had promiſed the next Succeſſion
of the Crown, having no Iffue of his own.
This,
186 The TRAVELS of
This, he faid, he did, at their Request;
but his Nephew having gained a compleat
Victory; by Infinuations, Prefents, and
large Promifes, had fo wronght upon the
Officers under him, and all the Soldiery,
that cafting off their Allegiance to their
natural Lord, they had embraced his Of-
fers; and upon entering the Palace at their
Return, proclaimed him King, fecured
his Majesty's Guards, and confined his
Perfon.
I had many Offers of Life and Liber-
ty fent me, added he, if I would but have
renounced my Throne to him, and con-
tented myſelf with a peaceable Retirement
to a Caſtle on my Frontiers; but what-
ever might be my private Sentiments, as
to the Value of a Diadem (for I who have
fo long experienced it, can truly declare
that a private Station is by far more eſteem-
able) I disdained to receive a Bounty from
my Nephew, a Traitor; fuch a one efpe-
cially,
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 187
cially, as came attended with Compul-
fion.
My Refolution of parting from my
juft Inheritance, but with my Life, being
known to him, he ordered inſtant Prepa-
ration to be made, for immuring me in
this Place, which contains the Sepulchres
of all my Anceſtors, and in which, each
new King, foon after his Inſtallment, cauſes
his own Monument to be erected; as this
from which you have freed me was, about
twenty-two Years fince appropriated to my
Ufe, tho' little did I then imagine I
fhould have been brought alive to it.
My Subjects were inconfolable for my
Misfortune; but could afford me no Re-
lief, the City and adjacent Country being
both in the Poffeffion of the Soldiery, and
they (hardhap for the good Offices I had
done them) my Enemies, or at leaſt ob-
liged to feign themſelves fo.
I was
188
The TRAVELS of
I was conducted hither by them as a
dead Corpfe, and left to perifh with theſe
two worthy Servants, who alone durft
withſtand their Menaces, and adhere to
their proper-Mafter. Thus Sir, faid he,
have I as fuccinctly as poffible, laid before
you a Sketch of my Sufferings; and now
my baſe Nephew is gone forward, to
hold his Coronation Solemnity, at a Place
fome Stages further in the Country,
where we ufually receive our Crowns, and
hold a Feſtival of fourteen Days upon
that Occafion; but alas! it fhames me to
think how mean the Ceremony will ap-
pear. They have but forty Barks, and
but few above a thouſand Men, all Sol-
diers; for had they not left a strong
Guard behind, my Servants would never
permit him to land again.
When I was crowned, faid he, we
had above five hundred Veffels, for not a
Soul, but who were either too feeble
through
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Eſq; 189
through Youth, or decrepid through
Age, would stay behind. A vaft Alte-
ration between a lawful Prince, and an
Ufurper!
CHAP.
190
The TRAVELS of
CHAP. XVI.
Author offers to reinftate Bomarrah. Gives
him an Account of his Dog-Birds. Re-
lates the Engagements with the Blacks.
Monstrous Projects. Sally amazed at
ber Husband's Talk.
Refolves to rifque
his Life in the Enterprize.
Difcourfe
between him and Bomarrah. Gives him
a Sample of his Dog-Birds Abilities.
He comes into the Author's Scheme. Set
forward to find the Ufurper.
Y Indignation was fo aloft againſt
MY
this new King, and his Rebel
Crew, that I could fcarce contain myſelf
within Bounds of Moderation. I told
the King, that from my Soul I pitied his
Fate; but yet, that if he would give me
Leave, I would undertake to reinftate him
in his Dominion.
His
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 191
His Majefty fhook his Head, but
thanked me for my kind Wiſhes in his
Favour, affuring me, that it was too late.
I begged him to be of good Heart, for
that if he would venture himſelf with me,
I would engage my Life for it, that I would
put all his Enemies, with their King, to
Flight, by a peculiar Method that I had.
I then pointing to my Dog-Birds, which
were lying around us, aſked him whether
he had any fuch Creatures in his Country?
He replied, that he had not; and was
about enquiring into their Qualities: When
I told him, that they were a new Species
of Creatures to me, (as well as I obferved
they were to him) till my Arrival on that
Iſland, but that I had fince applied them
to fuch Purpoſes, as would furpafs Be-
lief to recount; adding, that one of them
would vanquish the boldeſt Lion, or other
Creature that could be produced; for that
neither Man nor Beaft had hitherto, from
many Experiments that I had made, been
able to ftand before them.
I then
192
The TRAVELS of
I then opened the Scene of the Blacks
to him, in two Engagements, in both
which, I affured him, that by their Means
I routed them. I then fignified, that by
the Inftrument which I held in my Hand,
I could lay any fingle Man dead upon the
Spot, at fuch a Diſtance as I then pointed
out to him.
During my Diſcourſe, his Majeſty and
his Miniſters fat very attentive, not offer-
ing a Word in Reply; whereupon I bad
Malack afk them, whether they would
ftand by their King, and affiſt at reinſtat-
ing him at Kronomo? (that being, as they
had informed me, the Name of his Coun-
try.) I obſerved, that they both eyeing the
King, by their Motions, feemed highly
to diſapprove of my Project, efteeming
it both monftrous and chimerical.
I then defired Information to what Part
of the Country the Soldiery were retired
with their new King? They faid, a great
Way
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 193
Way round the Coaft, at least three Days
Sail to the Southward. I demanded next
how many Days Sail it was to Kronomo,
and towards what Part of this Country it
lay? They pointed South-Eaſtward, and
that it was twenty Days Sail, they faid. I
then enquired what Sort of Weapons their
Soldiery bore? They replied, Bows and
Arrows in the Field; but on the preſent
Occaſion, only fhort Pikes.
Having gained fuch Information as I then
judged moſt material, I told the King,
that if he pleaſed, we would now go to
Reft; defiring him, and his Courtiers, to
reflect on what I had faid, and to deliver
me their Opinions in the Morning.
Poor Sally, who had very attentively
watched each Word that had paffed;
when we were laid down (we fleeping at
fome Diſtance from the reft) aſked me
what I could mean, by offering my per-
fonal Affiftance to three naked, unarmed
VOL. I.
K
Men,
194 The TRAVELS of
Men, against a thouſand difciplined Troops?
We shall not make them a Breakfaſt, fays
fhe; for fhould we deſtroy a few of them,
yet
their remaining Numbers muft over-
whelm us. Pray Sally, faid I, look back,
to our two Encounters with the Blacks;
were not they, eſpecially the laſt Body of
them, far more numerous than theſe are
and much better armed? Yet they were
fo far from overrunning us, that they over-
ran each other to avoid us; rather fubmit-
ting to perish in the Waters, than to ftand
the Shock of our Dog-Birds. It is true,
faid Sally, but they were only a Rabble,
theſe veteran Troops, juft flushed with
Victory, and animated by the Preſence of
their new created Soveraign; you will
furely make a juft Diftinction between
thefe and them. My Dear, replied I,
they fight but with Cat-Sticks, and having
no miffive Weapons, their Efforts againſt
us will be entirely fruitless, be their Cou-
rage what it will: And if the King will
but trust me, and by appearing in Perfon
give
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Eſq; 195
give Countenance to my Views; I have
conceived fuch a Veneration for his Merit,
and fuch an Impulſe for his Service, that
I am determined to rifque my Life in his
Cauſe; for I was bred up under a lawful
Soveraign, and abominate all Rebellion.
Again, faid I, no Opportunity could offer
more luckily, for procuring our own Dif
charge from this miferable Country; and
can we but once fet Footing on the habit-
able World again, I defpair not of reach-
ing England.
Sally, perceiving me refolute, tho' fhe
no Ways relifhed my Scheme, affured
me, that I ſhould not want her Prayers
for a Bleffing to attend us; which, being
all that ſhe could perform, fhe would not
be wanting in.
In the Morning, I expreffed my Con-
cern to the King, at having no Victuals to
accomodate him with; but acquainted
him, that, if he and his Friends would take
K 2
a Walk
196
The TRAVELS of
a Walk with us to the Plains, my Ani-
mals would ufe their beft Endeavours for
his Service. His Reply was, that I had
already performed too much for him to
have no further Expectations from me;
and that notwithstanding I could not be
faid to be his Subject, (tho' his Predecef-
fors had always claimed that Ifland as
theirs, and to preſerve their Title were all
crowned and buried in it) yet from thence-
forth, he would, through every Turn
of his Fortune, commit the Cuftody of
his Head to me.
I returned my Compliments to his Ma-
jefty, for the Honour intended me; but
added, that unless he would concur with
me in the Profecution of the Scheme I pro-
pofed laft Night, of exalting him to his
proper Dignity, my new Office would
be of the greateft Incommodity to me,
in placing conftantly before my View
Virtue in Diftrefs; for that nothing could
poffibly adminiſter Joy to me, whilſt I
fhould
WILLIAM BING FIELD, Efq; 197
fhould be a daily Spectator of fo much
afficted Merit.
The King anfwered, that my Propofal
had not paffed difregarded by him; for
that in Truth, it had engroffed both his
fleeping and waking Attention; nor could
any Obſtacle arife to prevent his Accept-
ance of it but the Reflection on that Cala-
mity he muſt fuffer on my Account,
should I prove unfucceſsful, or fall in the
Attempt; for as to the Lofs of Life to
himſelf, it was of no further Confidera-
tion, than as it might poffibly be rendered
beneficial to me, to whom he fo juftly
owed it.
I begged his Majefty to fufpend his
Opinion of me, till a few more Days were
paſſed; and of my Companions, for a
few Hours only; when, if I did not de-
monftrate to him, that two of my Dog-
Birds were a Match for an hundred Pikes,
I would
K 3
198
1
The TRAVELS of
I would forfeit my Credit with him for
ever.
We had by this Time ftraggled above
a Mile from our Lodging, and were crof
fing a narrow Valley, between two ſmall
Woods; when we heard a Bull grumbling
towards our Right; and his Noife grow-
ing louder and louder, we judged that he
was defcending into the Valley. The
King and his Friends, all feemed in the
greatest Terror imaginable; all together
demanding of me which Way we ſhould
fly with Safety. I fmiling, and offering
my Hand to the King, affured him, that
I intended that very Creature for his Break-
faſt, at the fame Time defiring him not
to be difmayed; but only to be a Specta-
tor of the Diverfion, which I was fatis-
fied would be very grateful to him.
His Majefty hinted his Wonder at
ſeeing me fo pofitive, before I had even
feen the Creature, or could form any No-
tion
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Eſq; 199
tion of its Parts and Abilities; for tho' he
believed (from my Report) that myſelf
and Birds might perform great Feats; yet
he wifhed me to wait till I fhould have
fully furveyed the Bulk, the Strength, the
Fury of the Creature, before I condemned
it for a Breakfaſt.
Your Majefty, faid I, miſtruſts my Vera-
city, which cannot but fill me with Con-
cern. May I fucceed but in the Subduc-
tion of your Rebel-Nephew, as I fhall in
this; and if I give you not a Breakfaſt of
the Fleſh of the approaching Animal,
let my Head pay the Price of my Pre-
fumption.
The Creature had by this Time entered
the Valley, and a vaft one it was; which
tho' it gave me the greater Satisfaction,
yet the King exulted the more in his own
Conclufions. It lowered its Head, and
was making at us on a full Trot, which
gave the King ftill further Grounds for
K 4
ſuſpect-
200 The TRAVELS of
1
fufpecting me a Madman; when he ob-
ferved me, rather to meet than fly from
it. I had before given Malack the Charge
of all the Birds but two, with which he
was retired to the Woods; then fuffering
the Beaſt to advance within thirty Paces
of me (the King, and his Friends having
flunk off a good Way behind me) I gave
the Charge to my two Birds for the At-
tack.
The Bull no fooner perceived them
fpring from behind me, than he turned
Tail; and while they were in Purſuit, I
called to the King, and the reft to come
forward; but before they could reach me,
the Birds were pearched on the Creatures
Back, when flackening his Pace, and bel-
lowing moſt hideouſly, he foon dropped.
The King, who little fufpected fo fpeedy
a Conclufion of the Race between theſe
Creatures, held up his Hands as in Amaze;
then claſping me in his Arms, " Forgive,
"cried
1
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 201
"cried he, a faithlefs Man, whofe Dif-
"belief, I must confefs hath injured you.
(6
I am convinced; nor will I evermore
oppofe my Judgment against your Af-
"firmation."
I called up Malack, and having pre-
pared the Beaſt for the Fire, we broiled
fuch Part as we thought proper for preſent
fpending, made a Referve of what we
fhould further want, and then feafted our
Birds on the Remainder. This was all
performed, before even the King and his
Companions could well give Credit to their
own Senfes, that it was a Reality; for they
all protefted, that nothing but ocular
Demonftration could have given them
the Satisfaction they had then received
they not being any Ways able to have
comprehended either the Vigour, or Acti-
vity of the Birds, from Imagination only;
but they foon admitted, that, if thefe
Creatures would in the fame Manner faften
upon Mankind, nothing could be able to
K 5
with
202 The TRAVELS of
withſtand them; this I affured them they
would do, and alfo defift from their Im-
petuofity, barely for a Word ſpeaking.
His Majefty and his Courtiers began
now to have ſo good an Opinion of my
Propofal for his Reinthronization, that I
no fooner mentioned it again, than they
all engaged to follow, wherever I ſhould
lead them, and to act entirely at my Dif-
cretion; being affured, they faid, that I
would not engage in any Thing that I
could not perform; then giving me the
beſt Information they could of the Place
where the Coronation Ceremony was
ufually performed, we fet forward that
very Day on our Expedition, being well
convinced in my own Mind, that, if it
was not more than two or three of their
Days Voyage by Sea, it muſt be a much
nearer Cut by Land, could we but hit
upon the readieſt Way.
The
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 203
The fourth Day in the Morning, we
diſcovered the Shipping, from an Emi-
nence we were then croffing, from whence
we concluded, that the Company were
not far off; which proved very true; for
we foon defcried the Outskirts of them,
below the Hill we were then upon, mak-
ing merry in very careleſs Order; where-
upon we made an Halt to furvey our
Ground, and by what Means we might
approach neareſt to them unobferved, til
ourſelves ſhould first make the Diſcovery.
CHAP
204
The TRAVELS of
CHA P. XVII.
The Situation of the Usurper's Army. Au-
thor gives his Orders: Bomarrah would
bave a Gun; but refused. Author's
Fear's for Sally. Shoots the Usurper.
Dog-Birds win the Field. Bomarrah's
Raptures on the Occafion. Some Pri-
foners taken.
rades, and bring Almanor. His Pro-
Atration to the King. Bomarrah's Speech.
His Orders to the Troops.
Sent to reclaim their Com-
They all de-
fcend, and are pardoned. Recals Sally.
Bomarrah recrowned.
The Author em-
barks with the King for Kronomo.
HE Side of the Hill under which
THE
they lay was very ſteep, and almoſt
inacceffible in the middle Parts; but funk
confiderably at each Extremity. It was
formed like a half Moon, with the Horns
extending towards the Ocean, and within
this Sort of Amphitheatre, were they all
col
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 205
collected, very near to the Hill; but much
nearer to that End of it, which we pur-
pofed to defcend by, than the other. I
then charged all the three Guns; for tho
I had but two or three Bullets left, I had
Sufficiency of Powder for feveral Shots;
and to fupply the Place of Bullets, I
had, at Times, formed feveral cylindrical
Pieces of ſtiff Clay, which, when baked
hard in the Sun, tho' they were ſomewhat
deficient in Weight, would do almoſt as
much Execution as the Balls themfelves,
and with theſe I charged two of the Guns.
I then demanded what Force was ufual-
ly left on Board the Ships on theſe Occa-
fions for their Security? And was an-
fwered, very inconfiderable; and fome-
times, not a Man on Board many of them;
for they were under no Apprehenfion of
Storms in thofe Seas, for fome Months
yet.
I told them, that my Defign being
to intercept their Flight to the Shipping,
I would defcend the Hill, on that End
which
206
The TRAVELS of
which lay between them and it, that not a
Soul of them might efcape, till they had
recognized Bomarrah for their Soveraign.
Then, taking a Survey of my Guns to fee
that all was right there, I delivered two of
them to Malack, with Orders for his Be-
haviour in all Refpects, and placing the
third on my own Shoulder, I gave the
Word to march.
I told the King and Courtiers, that as
they had no Weapons, I ſhould not ex-
pect them to engage; but all that I defired
of them was, that they would ſhew them-
felves to be alive; which the King and
they promifing to do, and further to be
guided in all Things by my Direction,
we proceeded down the Hill. The King
then arguing, that it ill befeemed him to
be deſtitute of a Weapon, defiring me to
favour him with one of thofe which Ma-
lack carried. I aſked him, what Uſe he
intended to put it to? He replied, to
knock down the firft Man that approached
him.
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 207
him. I begged Pardon for declining to
gratifying him; but replied, that he not
yet underſtanding the Ufe of it, fhould
he employ it in the Exerciſe he mentioned,
that would for ever after render it inef-
fectual for my future Purpoſes; and that,
when once he ſhould have been Witneſs to
my Management of it, he would perceive
the Meaning of my Refuſal.
We had now arrived at my projected
Spot for the Engagement, (having left
Sally behind us a confiderable Diſtance off
among the Buſhes) when taking the Ad-
vantage of ſome Shrubs, for advancing as
near as poffible, before we expoſed our-
felves to their Notice; I demanded, whe-
ther either of them could point out the
new King to me? The Branches which
furrounded us grew fo thick of Leaves,
that it was with no fmall Difficulty they
could diſcover Faces; till after fome Ob-
fervation, his Majefty fingled him out to
me,
208 The TRAVELS of
me, with a Golden Circle. or fmall Co-
ronet about his Head.
My Heart bled for poor Sally, who fat
alone, anxious, and trembling for our
Fate; but as I was just about to enter upori
a Scene of Action, which would other-
wife afford fufficient Matter for the Em-
ployment of my Cogitations, I had only
Leiſure to caft back a ſingle Reflection on
her.
Fearing left my Companions fhould im-
bibe as much Terror from the Burſt of my
Gun, as the Enemy would, I juft apprized
them, that they would immediately hear a
violent Noife, which they must not be
furprized at; but place their Eye upon
the
new King, whom I would promiſe his
Majefty, ſhould never offend him more,
after he had heard me thunder; but that
as to themſelves I told them it would prove
of a quite contrary Effect. Stepping to
the Skirt of the Brakes, which had hi-
therto
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Eſq; 209
therto ſheltered us, and levelling my
Piece at his new created Majefty, I gave
Fire, and faw him drop in the Midft of
his People, which put them all into the
utmoſt Confternation; then delivering my
Gun to Malack, and receiving another
from him, I expofed myſelf to their View,
charging Malack to keep cloſe to my
Heels with the third Gun. I then called
to the King to come forward and (a-breaft
with him) was advancing to the main Bo-
dy. They made a Stand, and were col-
lecting into Order for Refiftance; when
cafting off my Dog-Birds amongſt them,
they ſeizing each his Man, the Cries, and
bitter Howlings of thefe poor Sufferers
threw the reft into fuch a Confuſion and
Panick Dread, that happies was the
Man who could leave the Birds, and their
dying Companions fartheft behind them.
The King having been Witneſs to the
Fate of his Nephew, and now to the Flight
of his Army, ran to me: " Thou more
"than
210
The TRAVELS of
"than Man, ſays he, fhall I believe my
66
Eyes, that this has been done by thee
"alone?" I was then under too much
Anxiety to receive his Compliments, fo
begged him to ftand compofed a while,
and he ſhould ſee an happy Iffue to his
Affairs; for that we muſt follow the Con-
fternation before it cooled again; after
which I would talk to him as much as he
pleaſed; then rating off the Dog-Birds.
from the poor Men, I obferved one or two
of them to be yet alive, and juſt able to
walk.
Theſe I brought before the King, charg-
ing them with their Perfidy, and finding
by their Confeffions, and Sorrow, that they
were compelled to act the Part they had
appeared in; I took their Oath of Fide-
lity to his Majefty, which one of his Cour-
tiers adminiſtered to them and begged
him to pardon them, which he granted,
upon their due Submiffion.
I then
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 211
I then led them to the Corpfe of their
late elected King, to fatisfy them that he
was no more; and efpying the main Body
of them collected upon the other Horn of
the Hill, to obferve our Motions; I de-
manded of his Majefty, whether amongſt
all the Officers of Note in that Corpfe, he
had no one, whom he ftill had Reafon to
believe was at Heart his Friend? He re-
plied, that he believed they were moſtly
fo; the Superiors only having been fe-
duced, and the reft obliged to adhere to
them, from a Dread of the Confequences
of their Diffention. He then naming one,
for whom he had had a more peculiar Re-
gard, and who till this Defection had ever
behaved with the moft becoming Duty,
and Affection to him; I ordered theſe two
Fellows to go to their Comrades, and not
only publish the Death of their King; but
that Bomarrab, their natural Lord, was on
the Plain, ready with open Arms to re-
ceive them; and upon their due Submif-
fion to grant them an Oblivion for their
paft
212
The TRAVELS of
paſt Offences, and on the Honour of a
King to paſs by their Error, and receive
them under his Protection; but withal to
fignify to them, that their obftinate Refu-
fal of this offered Grace would be at-
tended with the Deſtruction of every Man
of them, by the fame Means as themſelves,
and their new King had fuffered; giving
them particularly in Charge, to inform
Almanor, that the King required him (by
Name) to attend him immediately.
Having diſpatched this Embaffy, we
waited on the Plain for their Return;
when (as we heard afterwards) the Report
of Bomarrah's Life ran like Lightening
through the whole Corpfe, and the Death
of the new King being received with equal
Certainty, they inftantly drew themſelves
into Cabals, to confult on their future Be-
haviour, on this fo critical a Juncture; but
the Meffengers having pofitive Orders on-
ly for Almanor, he alone returned to the
King.
No
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Eſq; 213
No fooner was Almanor within due Di-
ftance of his Majefty, than he fell on his
Face before him, ftretched out his Neck,
in Token of his Submiffion, and obferv-
ing that the King had no Weapon with
him, he drew his own (a Sort of Sabre)
and fent it to him by one of the wounded
Men, begging him to make the proper
Uſe of it; but his Majefty, greatly mov-
ed with this fevere Token of his Repent-
ance, raiſing him by the Hand, kindly fa-
luted him. “○ Almanor, faid he, had
"it been told me, that my Right-hand
"would have raiſed itſelf againſt my
Head, I might have credited it, as what
was barely poffible; but nothing, fave po-
fitive Proof, could have miniftred even
a Jealouſy of Almanor's Fidelity." Al-
manor, with Tears in his Eyes, intreated
his Majesty to accept his forfeit Life,
which from thenceforth could but be ex-
tended in Mifery; infifting, that the King
fhould ſtrike; but the gracious Bomarrab
returned him his Weapon, with this Com-
pliment:
214 The TRAVELS of
pliment: "I am fatisfied Almanor, that,
"fince you have, all Mankind may err;
bear this, for the Time to come, in
"Defence of that Life, which this, the
66
Keeper of my Head
"hath preferved to me.
(pointing to me)
You have had
your Failing, and I am perfuaded, will
"be feduced no more. Remember you
66
66
now take Place in my Heart as uſual;
"then deferve it."
Almanor was fo much caft down for his
Offence againſt ſo gracious a Maſter, that
he wanted Words to exprefs himſelf by;
but having taken his own Oath to the
King, he begged his Majefty's Pleaſure,
whether he would pardon the whole Army
on their Submiffion; for he faid, that
tho' the Defection had (through the In-
tereſt and Intrigue of a very few deſign-
ing Men) become fo general; yet he could
vouch for the Hearts of ninety-nine in each
Hundred of the whole Army, that they
were entirely with his Majefty; and that,
with
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 215
with his Leave, he would lead them all
down, to receive his Clemency. The King
fignifying it as his Defire, that it ſhould be
fo, he returned to the Hill, having firſt
received the Courtiers Request for bring-
ing the Keys of their Chains with him.
An Hour had not paffed fince Almanor's
Departure, before the whole Soldiery were
in Motion to the Plain, when I diſpatched
one of the wounded Men to Almanor,
with Orders for them, to paſs Man by
Man before his Majefty; at whofe Feet,
each was to drop, and leave his Pike.
This Method being exactly purſued, each
Man as he paffed proftrated himſelf, and
fwore Allegiance; the King fpeaking
mildly to feveral of them, but especially
to the Leaders and Officers.
The Review was fcarce well over, when
I ordered Almanor to draw his Men into a
Circle, where they ſtood with the utmoſt
Dejection in their Countenances; for be-
ing
216
The TRAVELS of
ing now wholly unarmed, not only their
paſt Fault, but the Thoughts of fucceed-
ing Puniſhment, kept their Spirits in vio-
lent Agitation. When his Majefty with his
Miniſters, entered it, they, by his Com-
mand, proclaimed an univerſal Indemnity
to them all: The Words were but juſt pro-
nounced, when there fucceeded fuch a ge-
neral Shout as ſhook the furrounding Hill:
But when he had ordered every Man to
refume his Arms again, and had eſta-
bliſhed each Individual in the Place and
Preferment, that they held before their
Crime, the whole Shore rang with their
Clamour of long live Bomarrab; then
each Officer having had Leave to kifs his
Majefty's Robe, it was by all agreed, that
the Joy, occafioned by the Reconciliation,
far exceeded that at the Coronation of
the late King, and was far more hearty
and fincere.
This Work had fo engaged my Atten-
tion, till I had brought it to Perfection,
that
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 217
that I had not ſo much as once reflected
on poor Sally, in her Retirement; but
now I fent Malack to, introduce her, and
to give her ſome Account of our Pro-
ceedings. She complimented the King
upon his Re-affumption of the Royal
Function, and was faluted by him, and
cauſed to fit on his Right-hand. I then
afked her, in what Manner fhe had en-
ployed her Time in our Abfence, and
whether he had not ventured to gain a
Proſpect of our Proceedings. To my first
Queflion, the replied, that having once
affured me, that her whole Time was oc-
cupied in imploring Succefs on our Un-
dertaking; fhe believed he need not
trouble me with any Reply to my fecond
but fhe added, that our fo long Stay had
exercifed both the Paflions of Hope and
Fear in her, to great Excefs; the former,
for that we might poflibly be in Purfuit of
a flying Enemy; and the latter, left
Death or Captivity, fhould have detained
us; but when he heard the Shouts of fuch.
VOL. I.
L
number-
*
218
The TRAVELS of
-
numberless Voices, as could no Ways pro-
ceed from our diminutive Forces, her
Heart at once finking within her, füch
a Diſtraction of her Faculties enfued, as
had almoſt bereaved her of Life and Mo-
tion; for from what lefs could it be formed,
as fhe imagined, than the united Voices.
of our Enemies at our Overthrow.
We now prepared for carrying on the
Feſtival upon a more glorious Footing,
than their Provifion had been made for;
and after the Repaft, I propofed to the
Company, that, as his Majefty had been
forced from his Kingdom, and not only
another King acknowledged but crowned
too, it would in my Opinion, be but
taking a neceffary Step to prevent Scru-
ples at his Return to Kronomo, that he
fhould accept the Crown a-freſh from the
Hands of the Army then preſent.
This, upon due Confideration, received
both his Majefty's, and all the Affemblies
Affent ;
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 219
Affent; being acknowledged by them all,
to be moft expedient: So that Preparations.
were inftantly put in Hand, for Perform-
ance of the Ceremony the next Day; when
furely, never was more Ardour expreffed
from the General, to the meaneſt Centi-
nel, in teftifying their Gratulations.
Having now ſpent the Remainder of
the Time allotted for the Feſtival, to the
mutual Satisfaction of every Party, we
drew up for our March to the Ships,
where I defired his Majefty's Leave for
myſelf, and little Family to depart. He
ftarted at the Propofition. What! Said
he, will you not accompany me to Krono-
mo? I affured him that my Heart would
ever be there; but that he was pleaſed to
confer Marks of Diftinction upon me, fo
far beyond what a crowned Head ought
to beſtow upon the beft Defervings of a
Subject, that, I feared, it would not only
cauſe my placing an higher Value upon
myſelf than I ought, but give his Cour-
tiers
L 2
220
The TRAVELS of
tiers Occafion to envy me, and perhaps
by their Combinations againſt me, at laſt,
draw his own Difpleafure upon me, than
which, I was unable to conceive any State
more miferable.
6%
66
"Thou worthy Man, replied his Ma-
jeſty, can thy Penetration reach ſo far
already? No, added he, I know what
it is to lofe a Crown, but will never
"know the Lofs of thee, till Death parts
"us; and tho' I will make Ufe of no
"Compulfion with you, yet I folemnly
"declare, that you fhall either attend me
"to Kronomo, or I myfelf will remain
"here with you; where tho' I fhould be
poffeffed but of a fingle Subject, I
"ſhall be fure in you, of finding a faith-
<ful one.
66
I told his Majefty, that his Will ſhould
ever be a Law to me, and that if ever I
fhould deviate from it, nothing but my
Duty to him, and my Concern for his
Welfare,
WILLIAM BING FIELD, Efq; 221
Welfare, fhould occafion it; and that if
he commanded my Attendance, I fub-
mitted: But by his Permiffion, would em-
bark my whole Family with me.
By all
Means, he replied, and pray let the Dog-
Birds be of the Number; for, tho' they
are Maſters of the Beafts of this land,
I durft affirm, that my Country abounds
with Creatures, which they will be afraid
to venture upon.
Before we arrived at the Shore, I dif-
patched away fix of the Officers, to in-
form the Fleet of his Majefty's Refto-
ration; and to command them to attend
him on the Strand, to make their Sub-
miffion, and accept his Pardon.
This News, furprizing as it was to
them, who had no other Conception but
of his Majeſty's Death, was neverthe-
lefs, joyfully received by them all; and fo
eager were they in their Expreffions of
Zeal for the King, that they even met
L 3
US
5
222
The TRAVELS of
us at fome Diſtance from their Veffels,
not leaving a Soul behind them; when
his Majesty having received them with his
ufual Benevolence, taken their Fealty, and
pardoned them, they returned ſhouting to
their Ships, to prepare for our Reception
on Board,
CHAP.
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 223
CHA P. XVIII.
Send Meſſengers to prepare the Army for
the King's Reception. Dread their Of
ficers, but tacitly approve the King. The
Author Jays the Chiefs of the Faction.
The Army recognize their King. Bo-
marrah debarks. Grand Parade to the
Palace. Excess of Joy. His Mo-
ther fet at Liberty. Great Compliments
paid the Author. Largess for the Popu-
lace. The Author's Advice for Lenity,
with his Reaſons.
W
E hoiſted Sail with a fair Wind,
and in our Paffage, I adviſed the
King to diſpatch away one of the lighteft
Veffels, and beft Sailors, with fome truſty
Officers on Board, to make Report of his
Reſtoration: Firft, to fuch of his Friends
as he could beſt confide in; then to the
Army; and lastly, to the Populace; with
Orders to publiſh an Indemnity to fuch as
fhould
L 4
224
The TRAVELS of
fhould return to Duty; to ſtay for a Day
or two on Land, and then to re-embark
for the Fleet; during which Time, we
would lay out of Sight of Shore, waiting
for them.
At their Return, they brought the
agreeable News, that the Nobleffe declared
to a Man their Satisfaction for the King's
Safety: That the Populace immediately
began their Teftimoniais of Joy on the
Advice; but that the Soldiery were too
fullen to fhew forth any Tokens, either
of their Approbation or Diflike, fave that
fome of the Officers privately hinted, that
they durft not declare an Inclination con-
trary to their Leaders, till they could fee
h's Majefty fafe landed to head them,
when there were Few who would refufe
returning to their natural Allegiance; but
added, that a publick Declaration of ſuch
Sentiments, as Matters then flood, would
but fubject themfelves to Death, withou
any Benefit to the King.
Our
i
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 225
Our Embaffy having fo well anſwered
the intended Purpofe, which was only to
found the above three Orders of Men,
tho' our Meffengers had well nigh in-
volved themſelves in abfolute Ruin by it;
we proceeded to a fmall Diſtance from the
Shore, which on our Approach, we found
lined with Soldiers. This put an imme-
diate Stop to our Landing, till we were
afcertained whether they appeared in an
hoftile Manner, or as Friends to welcome
our Return.
We fent Almanor, and fome other Offi-
cers, within a fmall Diftance of the Shore,
to diſcover the Sentiments of their Bre-
thren, who, upon Converfe had with the
Heads of the Faction, especially two fu
perior Officers (both undefervedly ad-
vanced to the Rank of Generals by the
King's Nephew in the late War) found
them wholly intractable; but gained pri-
vate Information from fome Signs of the
L 5
inferior
226 The TRAVELS of
inferior Claſs of Officers, that not a Man,
but would, if he durft, willingly have de-
clared for the King; and the fame Vein ran,
in general, through the common Men: But
their Commanders having pronounced it
Death, for any Man under their Com-
mand, to exprefs themſelves favourably of
the King, they would fay nothing to it.
I confidered, that it might be a Work
of Danger, too implicitly to confide in
thefe Men, who are the moſt ſubmiſſively
attached to their Leaders, be they who
they will, of any People in the Univerſe;
for which Reaſon, I judged it very impro-
per to trust the King's Perfon on Shore,
without better Affurances. I therefore
defired Leave to change my Ship; for I
was till then in the fame with the King,
and taking Malack and my Guns with
me, I ordered the Commander to fteer to
the Shore.
My
:
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 227
My Ship advancing before the reſt,
drew the Soldiery to that Part I feemed to
have an Inclination to land at; and fo
foon as we arrived within Hearing, I or-
dered the Commander to call out for Ve-
Sek and Weem, the two Generals, for that
I wanted to hold a Parley with them. We
waited till they came; then demanding by
what Authority they had gathered the
Soldiery on the Shore, to oppofe the
Landing of their lawful Lord. They an-
fwered, that they acknowledged no Lord
but Urrhim, the late Ufurper. We replied,
that he was dead, and that the Army had
recognized his Uncle Bomarrah. They
returned, that no King whatever ſhould
fet Foot on that Shore but Urrbim (if alive)
or fuch other as themſelves fhould appoint;
that as for Bomarrab he was their Enemy,
and they would ufe him as fuch, if he
dared to land there; then, by Way of
Confirmation of their Sentiments, they at
the fame Inftant, diſcharged fuch a Flight
of Arrows at us, as darkened the Air; but
they
228
The TRAVELS of
they being pointed too high, did no Exe-
cution; (themſelves ftanding in no Fear of
a Return, prefuming, that our only Wea-
on was an half Pike, fave my Guns
which they were not apprized of) but
whilst they were preparing for another Dif-
charge at us, I fired at Weem, and before
the Smoke was diffipated, fnatching ano-
ther Gun from Malack; I by the Diſcharge
of that, laid Vefek on the Sands, by the
Side of his Brother-General.
Then ordering the Commander to puſh
nearer to the Shore, I asked who was a
Friend to Bomarrah? When an Officer at
a Diſtance anſwering, I am. I (by my
Interpreter) bad him defcend; for that his
Majefty would diftinguifh, between thoſe
who firſt returned to his Obedience, and
fuch as perfifted in Defiance of his Au-
thority.
Upon this Speech, the Officer anfwering
my Summons, his Men all followed him;
which
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Esq; 22g
which the reft obferving, and that they
were well received by us, they one by one
defcended, with their Companies at their
Heels, till all had recognized Bomarrah.
The King was ftill at too great a Di-
ſtance to diſtinguiſh what was tranfacted;
he faw, indeed, and heard the Guns fired;
but was not apprized of the Confequence.
He obſerved me to debark, and the whole
Army to collect round me; he alfo heard
their Shouts; but whether they betokened
Good or Evil to him, he was ftill igno-
rant, and under diſmal Apprehenfions
of my Safety.
Having reduced the Soldiery to Tem-
per, I would not re-embark; but fent a
Meffenger for the King to come on Shore.
I careffed the Officers, and fignified to
them the Pleafure their King would re-
ceive at their Return to their Duty; affur-
ing them, that this their ſeaſonable Regard
to him ſhould not pafs unrewarded.
The
230
The TRAVELS of
The King being about to debark, I de-
fired the Officers to cauſe their Men to
lay down their Arms, and meet their
King; they did fo, welcoming him on
Shore, with loud Demonftrations of Af-
fection; in Return for which, his Majefty
flood ſtill amongst them, till his Indem-
nity was proclaimed, which he having alſo
confirmed by Word of Mouth, ordered
them to reſume their Arms, and attend
him to the Palace.
We tarried till all were debarked, when
both Companies uniting, made but one
Guard for their Soveraign; the Populace
expreffing their Satisfaction at the Event,
as his Majefty paffed by them on Foot;
and the Nobility, in a Body met him,
and congratulated his Return; which end-
ed, they preceded him to his Palace; nor
was there a Voice, or mufical Inftrument
of any Kind whatever, but bore fome
Share in the Rejoicings of that Day; fo
that
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Eſq; 231
that we moved in one continual Clangor
all the Way.
His Majefty's Mother, and two Sifters,
(for he had neither Wife or Child) who
had been under Reftraint ever fince his
Misfortune, were immediately fet at Li-
berty, and paid their Congratulations to
him, at a private Audience, whereat only
myſelf, and his two baniſhed Friends were
admitted. His Mother, the fineſt old La-
dy that ever I beheld, falling on her
Knees, and embracing his, as he was fitt-
ing after his Walk. "O, my Dear Son,
"faid fhe, by what Turn of Providence
"have you escaped that miferable Death
<6
you was configned to? What! Am I
"now in Poffeffion of my only Son, and
"he of his Kingdom? And this fo fud-
66
denly, that fure fome Angel hath re-
"conducted you to my Arms. Declare
"it to me, my Dear Child, that I may
pay it all
it all proper Reverence."
66
His
232
The TRAVELS of
His Majesty then pointing to me:
"There Mother, faid he, there ſtands my
Guardian-Angel, and Conductor; to
"him, and him alone it is, that I ftand
"indebted for my Life, my Crown, my
"prefent Felicity; nor have I any Thing
"fo much to condemn myſelf for, as my
66
•
Incredulity: For I must confefs, that
"when I had received that, and he
"had made me an Offer of thefe, I
"eſteemed him for a Madman, rather
"than one in his right Senfes, and flight-
"ed his Concern for me, till the Event
"demonſtrated his nice Judgment to be
"too difcerning to admit of a Miftake."
The Queen Mother flew to me upon
this Report, clafped her Arms about my
Neck, and almoft fmothered me with her
Careffes, till recollecting herfelf: "Son,
"faid fhe, and you, Dear Sir, excufe the
"Fondneſs of an indulgent Parent, the
Transports of whofe Paffion, on Reco-
"very of a dead Son, to Life and Ho-
'
M
nours
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 233
"nours again, muft have Vent; for
"dead indeed he was to me till this In-
"ftant; nor could I give the leaſt Credit
"to thofe, who bringing me the Tidings
"of his Survival, releaſed me, till my
"own Eyes had beheld thee, my Dear
"Son." Then he fell again upon his
Neck, weeping for Joy to great Excefs.
The Hurly Burly about the Palace was
fo great, of every Rank and Order of
Men, intermixed with the Soldiery, that
I begged Leave (with the Freedom that
his Majeſty had invefted me) to offer a
Word to his Ear. He ordered me to fay
on: "Great Sir, faid I, as no Occafion
can poffibly create more Joy to all your
"Family within Doors than the prefent;
"I muſt beg to remind you of the ex-
66
traordinary Number of Souls without,
"who are all expreffing their Satisfactions,
at the Tranſactions of this Day, fo
"much to your Glory; and to intercede
"for fome Largefs, and Entertainment
" for
234
The TRAVELS of
"for them, that they may return no leſs
"gladſome at Heart to their own Dwell-
ings, than they have hitherto attended
your Majefty to yours."
It is highly requifite, replied the King.
This ftill fhews me, Mother, added he,
how happy that Monarch ought to eſteem
himſelf, whofe choiceft Friends prefer
his Glory to their own Intereft; but alas!
Where is that to be found, but in this
one Man? O joyful Day, that ever my
Misfortunes (as I wrongfully thought them)
conducted me to the Knowledge of him!
His Majefty then ordering the proper
Officer to attend, commanded fixty fat
Kine, and five hundred fat Sheep, to be
delivered out of his Paftures to the Sol-
diery, and Populace, with the Proportion
of every other Thing, that would be ne-
ceffary for their Feftivity; ordering alſo
as magnificent an Entertainment in his
Palace, as the Time would admit, for his
Noble
}
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 235
Nobles and Captains. He commanded
alfo, that all Prifon-Doors fhould be open-
ed, and a general Releaſe of all Debts and
Crimes, from the Beginning of the Mo-
narchy to that Day, to be proclaimed.
The ample Provifion which had been
made for the Commonality, by Degrees,
drew the remoter Inhabitants from all
Quarters, to which the Report of the
Feſtival had reached; fo that Kronomo,
was never fo full of People fince its Foun-
dation, as at that Time; for the Rejoicings
laſted, both within the Palace, and with-
out, for full ten Days: And this Inter-
mixture of People of all Inclinations, in
Commemoration of this joyful Event,
more eſtabliſhed his Majefty in his Sub-
ject's Affections, than ten Times the Ex-
pence, beſtowed on any other Method
that could have been conceived.
When Matters grew more compofed
again, there were not wanting fome about
the
236 The TRAVELS of
the Court, who were for Enquiries in-
to particular Miſdemeanors; as there
were poffibly fome, tho' very few in the
Army, whofe Hearts kept not equal Pace
with their Profeffions; nor could it be
otherwiſe expected amongst Numbers;
but as the King would now tranſace no
Affair without my Opinion, I prevailed
for fuffering Things to take their natural
Courſe, and to fubfide of themfelves; for
I urged, that to fhew Diftruft was the
only Way to create Jealoufies; whereas
feeming Confidence would neceffarily ex-
cite Regard, eſpecially in generous Minds;
and that where Numbers had been tainted
with the like Defection, tho' not equally,
yet the Puniſhment of one, would raiſe
fuch Sufpicions in the Breaft of each Par-
ticipater, as might occafion Plots againft
his Crown, meerly for the Safety of the
Individuals, not knowing whofe Turn it
might next be to fuffer.
The
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Eſq; 237
The King approving of my Argu-
ments, no one Perſon was ever called to
an Account for the late Revolution; nor
was a Finger ever raiſed, or did a Tongue
ever wag againſt him for his whole Life-
time.
-
CHAP.
238
The TRAVELS of
CHAP. XIV.
Great
Sally and the Dog-Birds land.
Staring at them. Account of the Au-
thor's House and Family. A grand
Hunting-Match.
Dogs compared, and
tried with the Dog-Birds. Found defi-
cient. Surpriſing Actions of the Dog-
Birds. Return to Kronomo.
N
OT being fully able at our firſt
Landing to judge what Spirit might
prevail amongst the People, or what Di-
fturbances might happen; I thought it
moft adviſeable to leave my Wife, and
the Dog-Birds on Board, till all Things
fhould have fallen into their natural Chan-
nels, and not to bring them into fuch a
confuſed World, as at our Landing feemed
to furround us; and as I imagined them
to be in a Place of Safety, where they
were, I made not the leaft Enquiry after
them, till the Feſtival was over, when I
defired
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Eſq; 239
defired his Majefty to affign me fome little
Habitation, that I might bring my Fami-
ly Home to. This he did, by beſtowing
on me his late Nephew's Houſe, with his
Goods and Grounds, Cattle, and Imple-
ments, which was fituate within the Pa-
lace-Walls, they being upwards of five
Miles in Circuit. I then brought Home
my Wife, and my Dog-Birds, nor was
there lefs Staring at them in their Parade,
than there had been at his Majeſty on his
Entry; for no one but thofe who had
been at my Iſland, had ever feen fuch
Creatures as the Birds before; nor were
they, the proper Inhabitants of more than
one Side of the Country which they came
from.
Sally and I bleffed ourſelves, under the
Cover of a warm Roof again, with every
Convenience of Life about us; but Ma-
lack alone (tho' he was never eaſy but un-
der fome Employment) was not now ca-
pable of executing the Buſineſs of our
Family
240 The TRAVELS of
Family; fo that we purchaſed three more
Servants, two Maids and a Man; when
ftill our Gardening, and Cattle, requiring
more Attendance, we added two more
Men; and the King being exceeding li-
beral to us, leaving no Room to require a
larger Support than he from Time to Time
fupplied us with; we, trom one Addition
to another, had at last advanced the Num-
ber of our Servitors to eleven (exclufive of
Malack) one whercof, was in conftant Em-
ployment for the Dog-Birds; the King
infifting, that I increaſed their Breed, as
faſt as poffible, for ſupplying him with a
Stock of them.
About three Months after our Arrival,
the Weather growing more moderate, than
it had been in fome of the former Months,
the King propoſed an Hunting-Match, he
having feveral very fine Dogs, of different
Kinds, which he purpoſed to run againſt
my Birds. I told him, that I feared he
would repent it, fhould he put it to the
Experi-
$
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 241
Experiment; for fhould a Bird, inſtead of
the defigned Beaft, fix on one of his Dogs,
he would ſcarce eſcape with Life.
He made a Pifh at my Sufpicion, be-
ing of Opinion, that many of his Dogs
would prove an Over-match for my Birds,
if once pinched, and rouzed to Fury. I
was fenfible that the King fet a vaft Va-
lue upon his Dogs, which made me the
backwarder from coming to any Engage-
ment with them; but it being his Plea-
fure, that a fingle Bird and Dog, ſhould
be turned off, at fome ftrong Beaſt in his
Prefence, I would not oppofe it; fo we
fet forward to the Deferts, and lefs fre-
quented Parts of the Country, in Order to
encounter ſome of the terrible Creatures,
he had promifed me we fhould there meet
withal.
At the End of eleven Days Journey;
for we had a vaft Train attending us, with
feveral of the King's Dogs, and all my
VOL. I.
M
Dog-
242
The TRAVELS of
Dog-Birds, (tho' we purpoſed the firſt
Courſe ſhould be between one Dog, and
Bird only) we faw a very large Elephant,
ftalking gravely crofs a large defart Plain.
Now, fays the King, let them ſtart fair
at that Beaſt. We flipped (to our think-
ing) alike, but the Dog having ſome how
got the Start of my Bird, kept it a few
Strokes; till my Bird fpringing forward,
I perceived by his pointing at the Dog,
that he would feize on him. Your Ma-
jefty, faid I, I hope will excufe my
poor Bird; but I'll anfwer for it, you ne-
ver more will behold your Dog alive.
Stay Einfee, faid the King (for both him-
felf and all the Court called me fo) let the
Bird come up with him firft.
The King had fcarce fpoken the Words,
before the Bird was on the Dog's Back,
upon which the Creature making a moft
lamentable Howl, and ftopping to eaſe
himſelf, dropped inftantly; and tho' we
made all the Speed we could up to them,
we
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 243
we could not arrive, before the Bird had
torn the Dog's Shoulder off, and had de-
voured great Part of it.
I watched the King's Countenance, up-
on the Diſappointment, to obferve how he
would take it: When he commending the
Bird, and feeming no Ways concerned for
his Dog, I told him, that now he ſhould
behold my Bird deftroy the Elephant by
himſelf, in the fame Manner; then giv-
ing him the Word, he foon got Sight of
it, and was on his Back as quick as
Thought, at Work both Tooth and Nail.
The prodigious Creature roared, caſting
about his Trunk from Side to Side, to
no Manner of Purpofe, the Bird being
feated out of his Reach. The Beaſt made
to fome Trees, at a confiderable Diſtance,
imagining (as we fuppofed) to brush off
the Bird againſt them; but before he could
attain them, was brought to the Ground,
M 2
while
244
The TRAVELS of
while the King and his Train applauding
the Action, ſtood in Amazement at it.
The Bird had fo gorged himself before
we came in, that he become too unactive
for further Exerciſe, for that Day; fo that
we coupled him, and loofed another,
which we foon after let go at a wild Horfe.
Here the King fent out a Dog firft; but
two or three Jerks from the Creature's
Heels, having forely bruifed him, one
Stamp from its Forefeet broke his Back,
and killed him. I then gave a Looſe to
my Bird, which had very near fuffered the
poor Dog's Fate, as he was taking his
Spring to the Creature's Back; but by
good Fortune avoiding it, he attempted
the Horſe no more behind, but over-
running him, and turning about, gave a
violent Spring upon his Head, where with
one Gripe of his Tallons in the Pole, he
deſtroyed him.
After
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Eſq; 245
After theſe Experiments, the King gave
up the Cauſe, acknowledging it to be his
Belief, that there was no Creature fo fierce,
and fuch a Maſter of his Buſineſs, as the
Dog-Bird: But as we were ſeeking out a
Place for pitching our Tents, a few Days
after, a more dangerous Creature (in all
our Opinions) prefented from a Cover
near at Hand, than any we had before
feen; and indeed, my Doubts aroſe very
ftrongly, whether my Birds would attempt
it or not.
This Creature was of the Serpent-Kind,
but at leaſt fix Yards long, with a Body
bigger than my Middle. It was the moſt
hideous Beaſt that I ever beheld, having
a Dark-grey Back, and Yellow-fpotted
Belly; but its Eyes were fo piercing, that
there was no encountering them for any
Time. It moving not towards us, but
rather cross our Way, we did not fly it;
but turning about its Head, which it car-
ried erect, at leaſt a Foot and a Half from
M 3
the
246 The TRAVELS of
the Ground, it wagged its Tongue, and
now and then gaping its wide Mouth,
difclofed fuch a Set of Teeth as would
make one tremble.
The King aſked me, what I thought
of it? I replied, that, in my Opinion, it
was one of the most horrid Creatures in the
Creation; and what think you, faid he,
of lofing a Bird with it? I aſked him,
whether he would venture a Dog with it
Which he anſwered in the Negative, af-
furing me, that a Lion would turn Tail
to a far lefs than that, which was the
Then, with your
largeſt we had ever ſeen.
?
Majefty's Leave, faid I, that Bird fhall
try its Luck with it:
King; but you must
he'll never return alive,
he durft attack him.
Be it fo, ſaid the
leave him here,
nor can I believe
We gave the Serpent fair Law, that
the Bird might have a Run before he came.
up with him; then chearing him forward,
the
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Eſq; 247
the Serpent turned to front him; but be-
fore we could well perceive what Part the
Bird aimed at, he had clafped his Tallons
about the Creatures Throat, and in two
Minutes had torn his Head to Pieces;
and when we came up to him was feeding
heartily on the Neck and Body.
This Engagement both delighted and
furprized the King, and all the Company;
and made the King ftill more anxious for
a Breed of them; for he thought it afto-
nifhing, that a Creature fo favage, and
ravenous in Nature, fhould yet fubmit to
the leaſt Call or Check of Man.
We had continued this Chace about fix
Weeks, in which Time we had killed in-
numerable Creatures by the Dogs, befides
what the Birds had deftroyed, fome edible,
others not; and having all Manner of
Conveniencies with us, we paffed the
Time moft agreeably: But I must not
omit one other Exploit of my Birds, in
M 4
OUF
248
The TRAVELS of
our Return; for having taken a Sort of
round Tour, within a few Days March of
Kronomo, by the Side of a large Stream,
we eſpied a Crocodile afleep. I told his
Majefty, that I would now make one
more Experiment, and if that failed not,
I ſhould from thenceforth, pronounce my
Birds unconquerable; but not chufing that
the Bird fhould feize the Beaft off his
Guard, we by Stones, and other Things,
which we caft at it, fet it upon the Run
to the River. I then let go my Bird,
who immediately took his Stand upon the
Back, as ufual; but not being able either
with Tooth or Nail, to penetrate there,
the Uneafinefs he expreffed at his Difap-
pointment was amazing. He ran the
Creature over from Head to Tail, back-
wards and forwards, till at laft, fixing his
Tallons on each of the Fore- Legs of the
Crocodile, with his Tail towards its Head,
he tore away, juft behind the Elbow, (for
we were near Spectators of this all the
while) till before the Beaſt could reach the
Water,
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 249
Water, he had drawn Part of his Liver
through the Wound, and killed him,
In about four Days after, we reached
Kronomo, where little was difcourfed of
for fome Time, but the Accompliſhments
of my Birds; and had each Hen, of which
Sort I had nine, laid, and hatched an hun-
dred Eggs in a Year, I could have dif
pofed of them; nor were they lefs plenty
in a few Years in Kronomo, than Dogs are
in England.
M 5
CHAP,
250
The TRAVELS of
1
CHA P. XX.
Bomarrah would not let the Author leave
him. Bomarrah's Illness. Affemble to
chufe a Succeffor. Bomarrah recommends
the Author for his Succeffor. The Nobles
inflamed. The King calls a Convention.
Puts it to the Vote. Divided; but Ma-
jority against him. The Author ill, and
knew nothing of their Proceedings. De-
nied Admittance to the King. Bomar-
rah's Death.
B
О
MARRAH (whoſe Generoſity
to me was ſcarce to be equalled by
any other Prince upon the Globe) daily
ſtudied more and more to load me with
his Favours; whilft I lived in more Dread
of them, than the vileft Malefactor would
of his Wrath; for I was not fo ignorant,
as not to diſcover a different Behaviour to
me in his Minifters, from what they had
expreffed at my firft Arrival; fo that af-
ter
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 2:50
ter I had been about five Years amongſt
them, I employed every Argument with
the King, either to permit me to depart,
in Search of my own Country by Shipping.
(for I had no Doubt but by coafting the
Country, or by fome Shipping we fhould
fall in with by the Way, I fhould diſcover
in what Part of the World I was, and by
that Means concert my Meaſures for at-
taining Old England again) or elſe, that he
would fuffer me to retire far from his
Court, to fome private Retreat, that I
might not be expofed to the Envy of his
Minifters: But I never could draw more
from him, than this, Did I want any Thing?
If fo, I might command it. Was not all
the Regard he had expreffed to me capable
of fixing me with him? If I would de-
fert him, it ſhould be without his Confent,
which he imagined, I had an Heart too
refined to fubmit to. Theſe, and fuch
like broken Replies, were all that I coukl
ever obtain to my Requeſts.
About
252 The TRAVELS of
About my ſeventh Year, Bomarrah was
feized with a defperate Fit of Illneſs, and
having no Male-relation to fucceed him in
his Government, the Nobles held a Meet-
ing to confult what was to be done, in
Cafe of the King's Death, and to intreat
him to nominate a Succeffor. They de-
puted fome of their Body to attend him,
for his Pleafure therein; when he told
them that it was his Opinion, that in
Cafe they choſe to continue an happy Peo-
ple, they must make me their King,
which, if they would confent to, he was
ready to confirm their Choice, by any
Regal Act that they fhould advife, while
he was yet living.
I having been ill of a Cold, and Pain
in my Head for fome Days, this Affair
was wholly tranfacted without my Know-
ledge, or I fhould entirely have diffwaded
the King from any fuch Defign, as the
moft prejudicial Thing that he could have
attempted for my Intereſt. However,
upon
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 253
upon the Deputies Return, they reported
the King's Inclination to the Reſt of their
Members, which raifed fuch a Flame
amongst their Body, that fome of them
proceeded fo far as to give it for their
Opinions, I was a Sorcerer, and had be-
witched the King thereby, not only to
heap more than juſtifiable Favours upon
me in his Life-time, but alfo to confer on
me the Inheritance of his Crown at his
Deceaſe. Nay, fo inveterate were they
grown againſt me, that they fcrupled not
to affirm, that the King's Diſorder was
wholly owing to my Practices upon him,
in order to pave my own Way to the
Diadem.
Theſe Hints and Surmifes, tho' kept
wholly ſecret from me, were not only
buzzed about the City, but had found their
Way into the Court too, till at length they
reached his Majefty's Ears.
the World could have given
Nothing in
him greater
Concern than thefe Rumours, which he
was
1
254
The TRAVELS of
was certain were as malicious, as ground.
lefs; nay, they ftuck fo cloſe to his Heart,
that tho' he was unable to rife from his
Bed, he fummoned a Convocation of his
States in his own Chamber, where, as
well as he was able, he opened the Tenor
of theſe Reports to them, as having come.
to his Ears; at the fame Time, upon the
Word of a Prince, declaring my Inno-
cence.
He affured them, that the happy Tran-
quility which his State had enjoyed, ever
fince his Reſtoration, had been wholly
owing to my Advice; for that I had
counſelled him to Meaſures of Lenity,
nor had I ever fince I had been in his
Country, once moved my Tongue againſt
a fingle Member of the Community, but
in Benevolence and Amity; notwithſtand-
ing the repeated Occafions that had been
offered me for a contrary Purpoſe.
His
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Eſq; 255
His Majeſty added further, that furely
no Friend to his Throne, and to the Na-
tion's Welfare, would, after his Royal
Word had paffed upon my Conduct, pre-
fer the leaſt Infinuation to my Prejudice;
and that, if notwithſtanding any ſhould do
fo, they could no longer expect his Pro-
tection.
He defired that they would give their
Opinions, whom they would approve for
his Succeffor; for that nothing would more
diſturb his laft Moments, than to ſuſpect,
that he ſhould leave his good Subjects li-
able to the Calamity of a Civil War, the
neceffary Concomitant of various Compe-
titors; and that, if they could but agree
upon any one, more capable of fuftaining
its Dignity, with Honour, and Reputa-
tion, than myſelf, he would accord to their
Choice, and confirm it.
Here, his Majefty (having harangued
them as long as his Strength would per-
mit)
256 The TRAVELS of
mit) pauſed; while the whole Affembly
ftood mute around him, none daring to
oppoſe his Sentiments. What! added he,
are we fo wretched amongst ourſelves as
neither to accept a worthy Prince, when
offered, or to propofe a more excellent
in his Room? Then one of his Majeſty's
Minifters, whom I had releaſed with him,
anfwered, that but for the Dread he had
upon him, at furmiling his Majeſty's
Death to be approaching, in ſo readily ap-
proving of a Succeffor, he fhould have no
Scruple in joining his Voice to his Ma-
jeſty's for Benfee; being well affured, that
no fitter Perfon could be nominated, or
one (tho' a Foreigner by Birth) who bore
a greater Regard for their Nation.
This Speech of the Courtier brought
feveral others into his Sentiments; when
the King, demanding of his other Fa-
vourite, what was his Opinion, he replied,
that furely that Nation was unworthy of a
King, that could not amongſt themſelves,
pro-
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Eſq; 257
produce a Man qualified for Government;
that nothing but his Majefty's Command
ſhould have extorted his Sentiments from
him; but that he could not answer for the
Confequence of fo unprecedented a Thing,
as the Nomination of a Stranger, from
thoſe who might fufpect themſelves injured
by it; not doubting but many fuch there
would be, when Opportunity fhould offer;
by which Means, the State would be more
convulfed, than by permitting Things to
take their natural Courfe.
This Minifter had no fooner broke the
Ice, than it was apparent, he had far the
Majority with him: Whereupon, the
King defifted from urging the Affair any
further; but recommending Unity amongſt
them, difmiffed the Affembly.
My Illness, as I faid before, having de-
tained me for ſeveral Days from Court,
I was a perfect Stranger to all that had
paffed
258
The TRAVELS of
paffed there; but it being reported, that
the King grew worfe, I offering to pay
what I expected to be my laſt Duty to
him, was refuſed Admittance; which be-
ing what had never before happened,
extremely confounded me; and the
flight Regard paid to me by each Face
I met, but too plainly demonſtrated,
that fome Evil was in Agitation against
me.
J, fufpecting that what had happened
durft not have been done but by the
King's Order, made it my Requeſt to
his Majefty, by feveral Hands, who had
hitherto courted my Commands to the
King, as an Honour to themſelves, that
that he would be pleafed to fignify to me
wherein I had fo heinoufly offended him,
as to be denied Accefs to his Prefence;
but could not receive any Anfwer, though
I was affured, my Requefts fhould be
performed; nor doubt I of the King's
Con-
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 259
Concern at my fo long Abfence; for
undoubtedly, my Meffages had never
been delivered to him: And early, the
third Morning afterwards, the King died.
CHAP.
260
The TRAVELS of
CHA P. XXI.
The Author is fentenced to Banishment. Re-
ceives an Account of it.
Garis's Advice
for Speedy Departure. Diftributes all his
Effects to his Servants.
viour on the Occafion.
Malack's Fidelity.
nomo.
Sally's Bela-
Set forward.
They leave Kro-
O foon as the States could be affem-
bled for Nomination of the Succeſſor,
and before they proceeded to Election, it
was put to the Vote, that I might be
forthwith banifhed the Kingdom, and
carried by the unanimous Voice of all
pre-
fent; nay, ſo implacable was their Malice
againſt me, that the Time for Perform-
ance of my Sentence, was limited to the
next Morning Light; after which, if I
was feen within four Stands (much about
the Diſtance of our Miles) of the City
of Kronomo, I was to be put to Death:
And
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 261
And further, if, after the Space of fix Days,
I fhould be difcovered within the Domi-
nions of the late Bomarrah, I was to fuffer
the like Puniſhment.
I had heard of the King's Death, foon
after it happened; but what had occurred
in my own Affairs, had been more referv-
edly carried, till on the Afternoon of that
unhappy Event, one of the junior Nobles,
who through my Means had attained to
his Honours, was difpatched to me, with
the melancholy State of my own Con-
cerns.
He was ſtill my Friend in his Heart,
as were feveral others, he afterwards af-
fured me, who durft not oppoſe the Im-
petuofity of the Current againft me, by
their uſeleſs Voices. He opened the Con-
tents of his Diſpatch, with Tears in his
Eyes: Alas! my Friend, faid he, how
unhappy am I, in being the Meffenger of
the ill Tidings I am now about to relate
to
262
The TRAVELS of
to you, and pauſed. I expecting it only
to be the News of his Majefty's Depar-
ture, replied; that my firſt Tranſports for
that afflicting Event were paft, and that
confidering the King but as one of the
Rank of Mankind, his Death was but oc-
cafioned by the fame Stroke of Fate,
which fooner or later muft reach us all;
and that overmuch Sorrow became not
Men of Genius and Reflection: What
remained of Life, I told him, to us who
furvived, ought to be applied to the pro-
pereft Purpoſes; for that only the Time
to come was ours.
He obferving, that what I had urged
related only to his late Majeſty, replied;
that however I might have fummoned
Reafon to my Aid, which had compofed
me as to the Lofs of the King, who was
fo true a Friend to me; yet he feared,
that, when he had diſcloſed the Purport of
his Meffage, relative to myſelf, the Pref.
fure of it would overwhelm me.
I own,
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Eſq; 263
I own, that having grounded no further
Hopes from my Enjoyment of the Bene-
fits his late Majefty had conferred upon
me, than for his Life, I could not con-
ceive what his Preface tended to; till
Garis (for that was the Name of my In-
former) beginning with the King's first
Intention of the Crown for me, and pro-
ceeding Step by Step, as I have above re-
lated it, entered upon the Sentence that
had been paffed upon me; when my Knees
fmote together, my Heart failed me, and
I became helpleſs as an Infant.
He further added, that Melchi (one of
thoſe whom I had releafed at the King's
Sepulchre) had himſelf an Eye upon the
Crown, and by his Intrigues, and Intereſt,
would probably prevail; and that he, pre-
fiding in the Affembly, had both framed
and delivered my Sentence, which having
paffed the Votes of his Dependants, no
one durft gainfay, left his immediate Death
might
264 The TRAVELS of
might have only proved a Warning for
others, to avoid the like Diffention.
He adviſed me to fly with all poffible
Diſpatch, left Melchi, who beheld his
own Infecurity in my Safety, fhould pre-
vail for an Alteration of my Condemna-
tion to fome more bitter Doom. When
I had recovered my Spirits fomewhat,
from the fudden Terror which this Mef-
fage had fuperinduced over me, I defired
Garis, on his Return, to inform the Af
fembly, that I had eſteemed myſelf very
happy, had the Knowledge of my Crime
arrived to my Ear, at cqual Speed with
my
Sentence of Condemnation; but that,
not fufpecting that auguft Body of Error,
or Miſconception, I fhould punctually
obey their Commands, and in my Ab-
fence, fo long as Life remained, implore
of Providence to be propitious to that
Kingdom, from which I had received fo
many, and fo great Benefits.
No
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 265
No fooner was Garis returned, than I
fummoned my Family around me: I re-
peated to them the Meffage I had re-
ceived, affured them, I was upon the In-
ftant of putting my Sentence in Execu-
tion; and then, as if I had been actually
on my Death-Bed, and formally making
my Will, I gave to each of them fuch a
Proportion of my Effects, as their ſeveral
Stations in my Family required; and as
for my Houſe, that, faid I to Malack, I
will beftow on you, whom I have ever
found nioft faithful to me, with the feveral
other Things I then mentioned, and which
even furpaffed all my other Donations.
My whole Family (fave my Wife) wept
bitterly, at the Report of my Cataſtrophe ;
but the fhed not a Tear, or feemed under
the leaft further Concern, than what was
occafioned by her Impatience for my De-
parture, that I might not incur the Pu-
niſhment annexed to my too long Delay. I
could not avoid taking Cognizance of this
VOL. I.
Com-
N
266 The TRAVELS of
Compoſure of hers, adding, that I was
furprized at her being no more affected,
by this fo fudden Turn in our Affairs.
"Mr. Bingfield, faid the lovely Crea-
"ture, I have already paffed thro' fo ma-
<<
ny Changes in Life, that thefe Things
"feem no Novelty to me; what I have
"coveted ever fince I was the leaft Judge
"of my own Affection, I am now pof-
"feffed of in your Perfon; and fince I
<6
*
never once raiſed my Heart to a Wiſh
beyond that, you ftill remaining mine,
"each other Occurrence in Life is equally
difregarded by me. As I have neither
Hope, or Fear, which extends itſelf
"further than the Enjoyment, or Priva-
❝tion of you, I am prepared, under
"your Security, at a Moment's Warning,
66
45
cloathed, or naked, full or empty, rich,
Pro-
"or poor, to attend and affift
you.
"ceed then to your Donations, a fmall
"Matter will fuffice to carry with us, for
having you I poffefs all Things."
$6
Tho'
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq;
267
Tho' I had behaved to my Family with
the utmoft Refignation, that I might not
unman myſelf before them, and had braved
it out as chearfully as poffible; yet, I
confefs, my Heart bled within me, at the
Profpect that awaited us: But this Speech
of Sally's, for whoſe Sake I forrowed ten
Times more than for my own, proved the
moft comfortable Cordial, that could have.
been miniſtered to my fhaken Frame. I
clafped her to my Breaft; Thou only
Comfort of my Soul, faid I, furely if
thou can't fcorn the Difficulties that muft
attend us, in the dreary Wilds, and defo-
late Country we muft (if Providence
fpares us) be configned to; fhall not I
much rather, whofe only Care hath ever
been to prevent thy Woes? Then order-
ing Sally to collect fome few valuable
Things, of fmall Burthen, which the late
King had preſented me with, we purpoſed
to fet forwards, fo foon as the Evening
cloſed in upon us.
N 2
We
268
The TRAVELS of
We kiffed each Servant, wifhing them
happy in their new Acquefts, and defiring
their Prayers for our Safety, in our Jour-
ney, were now just ready to depart, when
Malack appeared, with a fmall Kettle
on his Head, a Loaf of Bread under
one Arm, a large Wallet of fomewhat
bundled up in a Cloath on his Back, and
one of my Guns in his Hand. Whither
now Malack? faid I, what are all theſe
for? He replied, that we fhould want
them in our Journey. And pray, faid I,
which of us muft carry all that Load?
for I can affure you I will not, and your
Miſtreſs ſhall not. O ho, fays he, Ma-
lack carry thefe himſelf. Why Malack,
replied I, have I not just now beſtowed
this fine Houſe upon you? What mean
you then by carrying thefe for us? No,
no, good Soul, live happily here, and
may you meet with gentler Treatment
than I have, for my good Offices. “What?
"I live in fine Houfe? Neve live in
"Wood? faid he, no, Malack love Wood,
" when
WILLIAM BINGFIELD, Efq; 269
"when Neve in Wood; Malack live fine
"Houfe without Neve? who will live
"there, Malack live with Neve."
Obferving that Malack was really in
earneft, and would go, I defifted from re-
ftraining him, and gladly accepted his Of-
fer. I then calling up two of my Dog-
Birds, in Hopes that they might be of
the greateſt Utility in procuring us Sufte-
nance, we quitted our Houfe, and fet for-
ward on our Journey. Upon our Arrival
at the Outer-gate of the City, the Watch
efpying the Birds, informed us, that they
had Orders to prevent our Removal of
them from the Country, and inſiſted on
our leaving them behind us.
This was
a cruel Shock to me; but it was to no
Purpoſe to contend: I was fatisfied that
Orders must be obeyed, and with feeming
Readineſs, acquiefced.
The End of the First Volume.
Blenheim.
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