No.
V
LIBRARY OF
CHASE S. OSBORN
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Imag. Voy.
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1826
1721

THE
PLEASANT AND SURPRISING
ADVENTURES
OF
ROBERT DRURY,
DURING HIS
FIFTEEN YEARS' CAPTIVITY
ON THE
ISLAND OF MADAGASCAR.
WRITTEN BY HIMSELF.
LONDON:-1826.
PRINTED FOR HUNT AND CLARKE,
TAVISTOCK-STREET, COVENT-GARDEN.
pas
Kame(Sourc
Treneris
KUINUMA
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Labudovy
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اما
EDITOR'S PREFACE.
AMONG the various attractions of " Autobiography,"
that of singular and extraordinary personal adventure,
when faithfully related by the person to whom it has
occurred, is by no means the least alluring. The ship-
wreck of Robert Drury, at the age of sixteen, in the
Degrave East Indiaman, on the southern coast of the
island of Madagascar, in the year 1702, supplied a
remarkable opportunity for one of those accurate deli-
neations of an isolated and barbarous people, which
are at once so amusing for their novelty, and instructive
for the additional lights which they throw upon the
innumerable varieties of human situation and character.
The following volume affords a plain and unsophisti-
cated account of a fifteen years' captivity or detention
of the author (the only one spared in consequence of
his youth out of many murdered shipmates) in an
island, the interior of which, at that time, was little
known; but which, happily, at present seems likely to
enter slowly into the career of civilization. Obliged to
conform to the usages of the natives, and rendered to
all intents and purposes a member of their community,
he necessarily became intimately acquainted with their
manners, customs, and proceedings; which, together
with his own adventures among them, he narrates in
that plain and unpretending manner, which in a writer
of his class advances the strongest claims to confidence.
The veracity of Drury is, indeed, corroborated by the
journal, as far as it went, of Mr Bembo, son of the
celebrated admiral of that name, who was first mate of
the Degrave, and who, by inducing a part of the crew
to refuse putting that trust in the islanders, which was
unfortunately placed in them by the murdered compa-
nions of Drury, escaped their fate, and was enabled to
B 3
vi
EDITOR'S PREFACE.
get back to England. Our brief sequel will also show
that Drury was a steady man, and that he maintained
a very respectable character after his return. To con-
clude: his book has been deemed so curious and
interesting, not only for the mention of the facts but
the manner of detailing them, that the present will
form the fourth edition; the first appearing in 1729,
and the second and third in 1743 and 1808. Thus
much as to its merits; as to the rest, works of this
nature falling directly within the plan of the proposed
series, no apology is necessary for having an early
recourse to one of them in aid of the contrast and
variety which is desirable in the way of support and
relief of so comprehensive an undertaking.
PREFACE
ΤΟ
The Edition of Seventeen Hundred and Forty-three.
Miss Edition was bulb. 1778-
in foreko 1779 = (0/0)
our sale
As nothing is of a more amiable nature, so nothing
makes a stronger and more lasting impression on the
mind, than truth; and whatever regard some may pay
to a wittily-contrived and ingenious tale, the best that
can be said of it is, that it is a gay delusion, and an
idle amusement exposed to view in the fairest and most
advantageous light.
The following historical narrative needs no such dis-
guise or ornament to recommend it; for captain W.
Macket, (who, by his certificate, has assured the public
that he believed the account our author has given of his
surprising adventures to be just and true,) was not only
a gentleman of an unblemished character in regard
to his honour and veracity, but well known to be a
man of too great a fortune and good sense to counte-
nance and give a public sanction to a trivial fable, or
imposition. Without doubt this gentleman, as well as
the captains of other ships, informed himself of a case
so singular and surprising, for at Yong-old, where he
took the author on board, William Purser, a native of
Feraingher, was their linguist for some months; he
spoke English well, and knew Mr Drury there, and
was an eye-witness to many of the most doubtful adven-
tures here related for several years together.
The captain after this went to Munnorgaro, or Mas
saleege; there he saw Nicholas Deve, who was one of
viii
PREFACE.
the boys shipwrecked in the Degrave, and saved in the
massacre in Anterndroea; besides the opportunity he
had of conversing with Mr Drury in their voyage to
the West Indies, and after to England. To this we
may add, the second voyage Mr Drury made was also
in captain Macket's service, though not in the ship
under his command, he being a principal proprietor in
captain White's ship and cargo, as well as of his own
and others. These circumstances were confirmed by
the captain, who added, that he had seen others in his
last voyage there, as well natives who spoke English,
and knew Drury, as some who were saved by flight
with captain Drummond and others, with this particu-
lar account, that this very captain Drummond was the
man Mr Drury supposes him to be, and that he was
killed at Tullea, seven leagues to the northward of Au-
gustine-bay, by one Lewes, a Jamaica negro. Besides
all this, and the captain's continued friendship to him
to the last, even our author himself, though in a lower
station of life, was well known to many persons of
probity and worth now in London, who frequently
conversed with him while living, and who always
esteemed him an innocent, inoffensive man, free from
all artifice and design. As this was the character he
had amongst his friends and acquaintance, we think it
would be needless, if not impertinent, to doubt of his
veracity in the relation of any one of his adventures,
more especially after such substantial proofs for the
truth hereof.
It is probable that the account here given of the
religion of the natives of Madagascar, may by some be
thought a mere fiction, and inserted with no other
view than to advance some latitudinarian principles;
but so widely distant is this from the real case, that the
most to be suspected part of the conversation between
deaan Murnanzack and Mr Drury, on divine topics, is
real fact as here related; and the deaan's ludicrous
reflections on Adam's rib, God's converse with man-
kind, and his creation of the world in six days, and his
resting the seventh, &c. his taking these things for
PREFACE.
ix
Drury's childish notions, and saying they were old
women's stories, were delivered in that prince's own
words. And if we consider the then circumstances of
our author, that he was but fourteen years of age when
he set out on this unfortunate voyage, his education at
a grammar-school, and in the principles of the esta-
blished church; and that ever since his arrival in Eng-
land, and settlement in London, he has been firmly
attached thereto, even to bigotry; it would be very
weak and absurd to suppose him capable, or inclined to
advance an imaginary conference with the deaan upon
so serious a topic, with no other motive than to favour
free-thinking, or natural religion, in opposition to that
which was revealed, especially as they are points about
which he scarcely ever concerned himself.
In all those places where religion, or the origin of
governments are casually mentioned, there are inter-
spersed some occasional reflections, which are not,
properly speaking, the author's, which is all the artifice
made use of throughout the whole. It must be owned
that topics so entertaining could not well be passed
over, without making some proper and useful applica-
tions: yet no motive, how tempting soever, could pre-
vail on the editor to alter any real fact, or add any
one single fiction of his own. Every transaction here
related, as likewise the character and conversation of
every person introduced, are properly Mr Drury's own.
The religion of the natives of Madagascar, some
authors will have to be Mahometanism; but without
any manner of grounds for such a conclusion, since it
has no resemblance of it in any other particulars, than in
circumcision, and abstaining from their women at
certain times, which were common to some eastern
nations long before the Jews had it; or, indeed, where
there is no reason to imagine that the name of the Jews
was once so much as heard of.
There are good grounds, on the other hand, to con-
jecture, that the Jews derived several of their religious
ceremonies from them. For that their religion is much
more ancient, is plain from several reasons. First, from
X
PREFACE.
their regard to dreams, and divining by them, which,
by the Mosaic law, the Israelites were expressly for-
bidden. Secondly, from their shaving off their hair in
mourning for their dead; whereas among the Jews the
growth of it is strictly commanded, and as superstiti-
ously observed to this day. Thirdly, from their sacri-
fices; as Moses commanded none but males to be
sacrificed; so, on the contrary, cows are the greatest
part of the Madagascar sacrifices, and are thought by
these people to be the most acceptable oblations to their
Supreme Deity. They have no burnt offerings but near
their sepulchres, when occasionally opened, which,
with the gums burnt with them, serve for a defence
against all ill scents. Fourthly; but the most notable
reason of all is, that the owley, which these Madagascar
people make use of for their divinations, and procure
their unusual or extraordinary dreams with, is mani-
festly the ephod and teraphim, made use of by the
Levite who lodged in Micah's house, as we read Judges
xvii. and from which the Israelites could never be
wholly brought off, though directly repugnant to the
law of Moses, concerning which there seems to be no
occasion for enlarging farther in this place.
That the people of Madagascar did not derive their
religion from any learned or polite nation, is evident by
their retaining no idea or remembrance of letters; nor
their having a horse, or so necessary a machine as a
wheel of any kind, either for carriage or use, which
could never have been forgotten had they ever had
them. That these Madagascar people came first from
Africa, seems most probable by their colour; and
perhaps from the Abyssines, or even from Egypt. The
Virzimbers, indeed, by their woolly heads, must come
from the more southern part of Africa. Deaan Toke-
offu told captain Macket they had a tradition of their
coming on the island many years ago in large canoes.
But from wheresoever they came, it is manifest that
their religion is the most ancient in the world, and not
far from pure natural religion.
We may reflect with pleasure on the devotion of these
PREFACE.
xi
people, who address the Supreme Being on every occa-
sion for his aid and assistance when in necessity or
distress; and with true piety and hearts full of grati-
tude return him their humble and unfeigned thanks
for those blessings and benefits he confers upon them;
yet have they no temples, no tabernacles, or groves for
the public performance of their divine worship; neither
have they solemn fasts, or festivals, or set days, or
times, or priests to do it for them. But we may here
observe, that as Melchizedeck was a king, and stiled the
priest of the most high God, (a phrase strictly corres-
pondent to that of deaan Unghorray, the highest God,)
so it is the practice of the Madagascar kings, or lords,
to be themselves the performers of all religious offices.
Their umossees or prophets, indeed, directed the
making their owleys of particular roots, or woods,
having, as they tell them, magical properties agreeing
to the spirits; as also that they must be made at pro-
per times.
There are two things in this history highly worthy of
observation: one is, that there is a law among them
against cursing a man's parents. What a reproach is
this to countries called christian, where there is no law
or punishment against even those who have the impu-
dence and impiety not only of cursing others, but their
own parents. The other is, that such is their regard
and reverence to the most high God, that they swear
not profanely but such is the profaneness of even our
christian nation, that a man can hardly pass the streets
(as archbishop Tillotson observes) without having his
ears grated and pierced with horrid and blasphemous
oaths and curses, as are enough, if we were guilty of no
other sin, to sink a nation. These give reputation to
the general character of these people, that where the
Europeans or Mahometans have not corrupted them,
they are very innocent, moral, and courteous; and
more so, with shame be it spoken, than most nations,
who have all the advantages of a liberal and christian
education.
There is yet one observation more, which, we hope,
xii
PREFACE.
[
will not be thought improper here; which is, that our
author's many deliverances are glorious and wonderful
displays of the goodness and power of Divine Provi-
dence; and gave him, no doubt, an awakening sense of
his obstinate disobedience to the will and entreaties of
his tender parents and friends, who so much and often
pressed him to lay aside those wilful resolutions of his
first voyage to the East Indies; wherein we may see
the marks both of divine displeasure and goodness, the
first in his shipwreck and slavery, the other in his deli-
very or release from thence. All which may serve as
a lesson to the youth of future generations to beware,
lest by their disobedience and obstinate forcing of them-
selves from the care of their parents or friends, they
bring upon themselves those miseries and misfortunes
which occasion a too late repentance.
Much more might have been said on this occasion,
but as we have not room, we refer our readers to the
perusal of the book itself; in which, we presume, they
will not only find an entertaining, but profitable
amusement.
This is to certify, that Robert Drury, fifteen years a
slave in Madagascar, now living in London, was re-
deemed from thence, and brought into England, his
native country, by myself. I esteem him an honest,
industrious man, of good reputatation, and do firmly
believe that the account he gives of his strange and
surprising adventures is genuine and authentic.
WILLIAM MACKETT.
May 7, 1728.
THE
ADVENTURES
OF
ROBERT DRURY.
As my design in the ensuing narrative, is to give
a plain and honest account of matters of fact, I shall
make use of no artful inventions, or borrowed phrases,
to lengthen or embellish it; nor shall I introduce any
other reflections, than what were the natural result of
my many uncommon and surprising adventures. And,
Here, I hope, it will be no ways improper to inform
my readers, that I was not fourteen years of age when
these heavy misfortunes first befell me; so that my
youth, as well as want of knowledge in the Madagascar
language, rendered me incapable of making such curious
observations, as one of a riper age, better judgment,
and freed from slavery, might have done to much
greater advantage. For,
I, Robert Drury, was born on the 24th of July, in
the year 1687, in Crutched-friars, London, where my
father then lived; but soon after he removed to the
Old Jury, near Cheapside, where he kept for several
years afterwards that noted house, called the King's-
head, or otherwise distinguished by the name of the
Beef-steak-house; and to which there was, all his time,
a great resort of merchants, and other gentlemen of the
best rank and character.
с
14
THE ADVENTURES OF
Notwithstanding the education my father bestowed
on me, I could not be prevailed on to think of any
business but going to sea, to which course of life my
genius wholly inclined me. And I well remember,
that from eleven years of age, my mind was so intent
on the profession of a sailor, that it grew up with me,
and at length became such an obstinate resolution, that
not all the entreaties of my dear and indulgent mother,
(though she once begged me on her knees,) nor the
persuasions of my father, or any other friends, could
make the least impression upon me.
When they found their endeavours were ineffectual,
they then formed a new scheme, and by a seeming
compliance with my inclination, proposed to procure a
short voyage for me, hoping that the many dangers
and hardships to which I should naturally be exposed,
and should see others undergo, would deter me from
persevering in that course of life.
But, as wilful persons never want woe, such was
my obstinacy, that nothing would content me, but what
contributed to my ruin; and Providence justly frus-
trated all my hopes, by indulging me in the choice I
had so foolishly and ungratefully made, in direct oppo-
sition to my duty, and the repeated solicitations of my
most affectionate friends: thus did this perverseness of
mine bring with it its own punishment. Nothing but
an East India voyage would please me; for no other
reason that I can think of, but because I had a cousin
at Bengal, whose name was John Steel, in the New
East India Company's service; the companies at that
time not being united.
My father showed a due care and concern for my
welfare, by the manner in which he fitted me out; and
by plentifully supplying me with provisions, clothes,
and other necessaries for the voyage; besides which, I
had a cargo to the value of a hundred pounds, which
was a large trust for a boy of my age. 1 went as
a passenger, well recommended to captain William
Younge, with whom my passage and the freight of my
cargo were agreed for, and we soon after embarked.
ROBERT DRURY.
15
The ship captain Younge commanded in this un-
fortunate voyage, was the Degrave, of seven hundred
tons burthen, with fifty-two guns. I shall not here
enter into a long detail of any of the common occur-
rences of the voyage, or take notice of any other acci-
dents, than what are absolutely necessary to my present
purpose; which is a true and impartial narrative of our
hard fate at Madagascar in our return homeward; to-
gether with my own miseries, and the various turns of
fortune, during my residence for near fifteen years, in
that scarce known, though extensive country.
We passed through the Downs on February 19, 1701,
when admiral Bembo, (whose son, Mr John Bembo,
was fourth mate of our ship,) lay there with the squad-
ron of ships under his command, bound to the West
Indies, and we arrived at Fort St. George in the East
Indies, in three months and twenty days from the
Downs, having stopped in our passage one week at the
Canaries, and came to an anchor in the evening.
We had on board Monsieur Lapie, a jeweller, and his
son, who set out with design to settle there; and one
would have thought, being so near the end of his voy-
age, he had great reason to hope, or rather to be mo
rally assured, that he had obtained his desire; the ship
being safe at anchor within half a dozen miles, and in
sight of the place. But how soon does Providence
disappoint us, and interrupt our designs! What an
adverse fate directed, and accompanied this unhappy
ship, and all who were concerned in it, though so near
the accomplishment of their wishes!
The barge was hoisted out the next morning, in order
to put these unfortunate persons on shore; the ship
riding about two leagues distance. They put off, and
we did not expect their return till the next day; but
about eight o'clock at night we heard somebody hail
the ship; it surprised our people, but some of them
soon knew it to be the voice of Joseph Chamberlain,
one of the barge's crew. They thereupon hoisted out
the pinnace, and rowing towards the voice, found him
swimming on an oar; he told us, that as soon as they
c 2
16
THE ADVENTURES OF
came to the bar, a great sea struck them on the lar-
board gunnel, and overset them; he knew not what
became of the rest of the company, and therefore sup-
posed they were all drowned, for the current set to sea-
ward; but he being an experienced swimmer, and with
the help of one of the boat's oars, which he providen-
tially found, he made shift to reach within call of the
ship. We immediately hung a light on the top-mast
head to guide others, if happily any had been like him
alive swimming; but not one of them was ever seen, or
heard of more. Mr John Lapie, his son, and their
cook, the cockswain, and nine of the boat's crew, all pe-
rished through this sad disaster. They had also with
them very considerable effects in goods, silver, &c. to
the value of some thousands of pounds.
Two days after we weighed anchor, and sailed to
Maslapatan, where we stayed a month, and from thence
proceeded to Bengal. My cousin hearing of my arrival,
came on board to see me, and take me and my effects.
on shore with him; but my father had a more prudent
regard for my welfare, than I could be capable of at
those tender years; my cousin being only a pilot, my
father desired captain Younge privately to inquire into
his circumstances, and the character he bore, and in
case he found him not of sufficient ability, or honesty,
to be intrusted with me, and my effects, not to let me
go on shore to him.
The captain performed the trust my father reposed in
him with honour and integrity, and would not permit
me to go with my kinsman, but took my cargo, dis-
posed of it himself, and bought me a just return in the
commodities of the country, and would have carried me
back again according to his contract with my father,
had Providence so thought fit. My cousin soon after
our arrival, died, and we had a great mortality among
our ship's crew; for in nine months' time, we buried
above forty of our people. The chief mate was the
first of note, and about a month after him, captain
Younge himself died of a fever; happy at least in this,
that he died in peace, and lived not to bear his share
ROBERT DRURY.
17
in the miseries which his son and we afterwards under-
went; for this son being second mate, and the chief
mate being already dead, as also the captain his father,
he became captain of course, so that there was still a
captain Younge.
The only art I attained at Bengal, and which proved
of any considerable service to me afterwards, was, that
I here learnt to swim, which has two or three times
since saved my life and liberty. I attained to so great
a proficiency in that art, by the assistance of my com-
panions, that it was a common practice for half-a-dozen
of us to tie a rupee apiece (which is about the value of
two shillings and sixpence English,) in a handkerchief
round our middles, and swim four or five miles up or
down the river for our diversion; and when we came
on shore, the Gentees, or Moors, would lend us clothes
to put on while we stayed; thus we used to sit and
regale ourselves for a few hours with arrack punch, and
a dinner, and then swim back again.
Our business being at length finished at Bengal, we
sailed from thence, and had at that time about one
hundred and twenty hands on board, besides two wo-
men and myself, and a few other passengers. As we
were going down the river, our ship ran aground and
stuck fast; but there being a very strong tide, it turned
her round, and we got off the next high water without
any damage, as we imagined; but when we came out
to sea, she proved so very leaky, that we were obliged
to keep two chain-pumps continually at work. We
were two months in this sad condition; at length we
reached Mauritius, which is an island in the latitude
of 161° south, and to the eastward of Madagascar, in-
habited by the Dutch, who treated us with abundance
of humanity, and assisted us with whatever was in their
power. We made a tent on shore, in which we stowed
great part of our cargo to search for the leak-but to
no purpose.
Captain Boon, a pirate, had been here about two
months before, having just then plundered a very rich
Moorish ship, and taken out of her fifty Lascars. (For
c 3
18
THE ADVENTURES OF
that is the name by which our English seamen distin-
guish these Moorish people.) Boon lost his own ship
on this island, and the pirates were glad to make a
small sloop of their long-boat to get off the island with,
and were therefore glad to leave the Lascars behind
them. These people we took with us, thinking they
would be of service, and save our hands from re-
turning so often to the pump; they having for two
months before but little rest.
We found here plenty of good fish, turtle, and goats,
with some beef; we stayed about a month, and then
shaped our course directly for the Cape of Good Hope.
Our leak gained upon us more and more, and it was
with great difficulty we kept her above water. Our
men were all spent with continual labour, pumping
and bailing night and day; when according to our
reckoning we were one hundred leagues to the south-
ward of Madagascar. We heaved overboard several of
our guns and heavy goods to lighten her. The captain
was for continuing his course to the Cape, but the ship's
company in general opposed it; being of opinion that
they could not keep her above water long enough, ima-
gining they were at that time about six hundred leagues
from it, and but one hundred from Madagascar, which
was the nearest land.
At length they prevailed on the captain, though with
much difficulty, to put back to Madagascar. The wind
favouring us, the third day in the morning they sent
me and the captain's boy up to the mast-head to look
out for land, since nobody else could so well be spared.
In such apparent danger, my being a passenger was no
excuse; and, accordingly, I went up and sat there two
hours and a half before I could discern any thing like
land; and when I first saw it I told my comrade, but
not being certain, I would not call out, for the case
was of such importance, that they were not to be trifled
with, or flattered into vain hopes. However, at length,
I plainly discovered a white cliff and a smoke at a dis-
tance from it, whereupon I boldly cried out land! land!
Several immediately ran up the shrouds, and even
ROBERT DRURY.
19
One
the captain himself to make his observations.
among them knew the land, and said it was Port Dau-
phine; and that the king of that part of the island was
an enemy to all white men, and treated all the Eu-
ropeans in a most barbarous manner.
The reason
whereof, and a succinct history of king Samuel, (for that
was his name,) I shall have occasion to mention here-
after. This information put us into the utmost confu-
sion and despair, and proved, indeed, our utter ruin.
The man who made this report, spoke his real senti-
ments; for they were, indeed, enemies to the French,
and had murdered all they could find on the island, in
revenge for an affront some of that country had formerly
given to king Samuel, but to no other white men; so
that had we put in there, we had at least saved our
lives, and some of our cargo; but our fate was fixed,
and we were destined to be destroyed in the most tra-
gical manner, and all our endeavours to save our lives
served only to prolong our misery.
We durst not put into Port Dauphine, for fear of
falling immediately into the hands of these revengeful
and bloody murderers, as we then concluded them to
be. We could not get to the northward, the wind
being north-east; neither was there any harbour or
port to the westward, but what was a week's sail, at
least, to it! Besides the western shore is very steep.
Hereupon the captain resolved to steer along the
western coast, and see if he could find a proper place
to run her into, or put ashore with safety of our lives.
At length we drew near the shore, but no place could
be found; and our hold being now half full of water,
the men went to the captain and asked him what he
proposed to do, for the ship could swim no longer. He
went into the round-house for a few minutes, and when
he came out, he asked them if they approved of his
running the ship on shore at all adventures; to which
they all unanimously agreed, and cried out, “Any thing
to save our lives." Now here was a sand which ran
along for two leagues; we came within a quarter of a
20
THE ADVENTURES OF
mile of the shore, and let go an anchor first without the
breakers, and then cut down our masts and rigging, and
threw our guns and heaviest goods overboard, and
tried all means to keep her up till we could get on
shore. Having lost our long-boat and pinnace at Ben-
gal, we had but one small boat left, for which reason
we made a raft with some planks and yards.
At that time some of the natives were fishing, who,
seeing us in distress, made a smoke to guide and invite
us to shore; but we had entertained such a bad idea of
them, that we could not tell presently how to determine,
though we were informed these were another prince's
dominions.
We finished the raft that night, and in the morning
sent Mr Pratt, our chief mate, and four men in the boat
with a long rope for a warp, to fasten on the land. A
great sea constantly runs here upon the rocks, and be-
fore they got to land their boat was staved in pieces;
however, being pretty near it, by the help of some of
the natives, who were negroes, they saved that part of
the boat to which the rope was fastened. We had two
English women on board, one of them would not ven-
ture on the raft, nor would the captain, but the other
woman, and about forty or fifty of us did. I stript off
all my clothes, but took two purses of money and a
silver cup, and tied them fast round my middle; we
hauled by the rope towards the shore, but were no
sooner among the breakers, than the first sea turned the
raft topsy turvy, and washed us off; some swam to the
raft again, but were soon washed off, and though the
woman was drowning just by me, yet I could not save
her. I sunk under every wave, and with great difficulty
got on shore, as did every one else that were on the
raft, but the woman. There was such a surf ran, and
the sea broke so high, that we durst not venture out
with the raft again; which the captain perceiving, or-
dered the cable to be cut, and let the ship drive nearer
the land, where she soon beat to pieces. The captain
got on shore with his father's heart in his hand, which,
ROBERT DRURY.
21
according to his request, when dying, was put into a
bottle in order to be brought to England, and buried at
Dover.
At length they all got on shore on pieces of the ship,
planks, &c. two men only excepted, who were drowned,
and the woman before-mentioned. The other woman
escaped, though she was so full of water as well as some
others, that we were obliged to roll and rub them well,
to make them disgorge the water; we laid them also
before a great fire made for that purpose, and in a little
time they revived. We were, in all, above one hundred
and sixty, including the Lascars.
The country began now to be alarmed, and we had
already two or three hundred negroes flocking round
us, picking up several pieces of silk and fine calicoes;
the muslin they had little or no regard for. Our goods
were driven ashore in whole bales, for what with salt-
petre and other things, we reckoned there might be
three hundred tons left, after all that was thrown over-
board at sundry times before.
One of the negroes brought an ox to us, and inti-
mated, by signs, that we should kill him; but we made
signs to them again to shoot him for us, we having no
ammunition; when one of them perceived this, he lent
us his gun ready charged, and with it one of our men
shot the bullock dead on the spot.
It was extremely shocking to see the negroes cut the
beast, skin, and flesh together, and sometimes the guts
too, then toss them into the fire, or ashes, as it happened,
and eat them half roasted. I shuddered for fear they
should devour us in like manner, for they seemed to me
to be a kind of cannibals, of whom I had heard very
dreadful stories. Every thing, in short, appeared hor-
rible to nature, and excited in us the most dismal
apprehensions.
If I here discovered some greater concern than be-
came a man, I hope my tender years, my little know-
ledge, and less experience, will plead in my behalf.
This tragical scene made such a deep impression on
me, that as often as it occurs to my mind, I start, and
22
THE ADVENTURES OF
am shocked with the frightful remembrance. If my
observations are not so many, or so just and judicious
as they should be, they must be considered as the re-
flections of a youth, and not of a man; for as I grew
in years, it will appear I increased in knowledge and
courage, was capable of making more solid remarks,
and also of engaging in more bold and hazardous
adventures.
While the negroes were busy in opening our bales
and taking what they liked best, I observed several of
them regarded the iron they found, much more than all
those goods we looked upon as valuable, and took a
great deal of pains to break all such pieces of timber as
had iron in them. I broke open my chest and took out
only one suit of clothes, leaving the rest to those who
had most mind to them.
us,
We remained thus two days and nights without
coming to any final resolution, not knowing what to do.
We were told Port Dauphine was but sixty miles from
but the idea we had entertained of their being such
a barbarous people, prevented our going thither; but
this debate was soon put an end to by the dean (or as
our English sailors call him king) of that part of the
country.
For the next evening about nine o'clock, we heard a
man call out "Halloo," at a great distance, like an Eng-
lishman, as he proved to be, who, being immediately
answered, came nearer, and asked who we were. We
told him the crew of an English East India ship, which
proved so leaky, that we were obliged to run her in
here, as the first land we could make for the preserva-
tion of our lives. Hereupon he came to us, and at our
request sat down with us by our fire, and told the cap-
tain that the king had sent him to inform us we had
no reason to be under any fearful apprehensions, though
we were in a strange country, and that he would come
down himself the next day to pay us a visit. The cap-
tain desired him to give us what account he could of
the country and the natives, and also to inform us how
he came there. We all crowded about him, not so
ROBERT DRURY.
23
much out of a spirit of curiosity as to be able, by his re-
lation, to form a better judgment of our happy or un-
happy situation. The circumstances of his story were
so very remarkable, and of so great importance to us,
that I dare say I can repeat them almost in his own
words, which were as follows:-
"I am an Englishman, born in the county of Mid-
dlesex; my parents, and every body who should have
taken care of me, being dead, I went to sea very young.
My first voyage was to the West Indies, but as I found
little or no encouragement there, I resolved to take a
trip to the East Indies, and in my passage thither, our
ship was taken by a pirate about a hundred leagues
to the eastward of this island; they plundered her of
all her rigging, ammunition, and provisions; they took
me and nine more out of her, and then left the ship.
During the time I was with them, they took several
rich prizes, and since there was no possibility of avoid-
ing it, I seemingly approved of all they did, and made
one amongst them. Whenever we wanted refreshments,
we resorted to this island, where we seldom failed of a
supply. However, I soon grew weary of these piratical
proceedings, and being at anchor in Mattatan Road,
where the canoes came off as usual to sell us rice,
plantains, milk, and honey, &c., for our boat could not
go ashore, such a great sea breaking upon the strand;
I took this favourable opportunity to feign myself very
sick and weak, and accordingly sent word to the cap-
tain, (whose name I must not divulge, being sworn to
the contrary,) of my ill state of health; and thereupon,
I entreated him to let me go on shore, in hope the
land air might refresh me, to which request he readily
consented. I dressed myself, and took with me as
much gold and other valuable things as I could possibly
put into my pockets; but intrusted no one with my
secret resolution, since there was not a man on board
who showed the least inclination to leave their dan-
gerous and villainous engagements. I stepped into the
canoe with all the satisfaction imaginable, thinking
24
THE ADVENTURES OF
myself much more happy in this country, barbarous and
savage as it is, than with my former wicked companions.
The captain, indeed, sent a canoe for me, but as I sent
word that I was not capable of going to sea any more,
he never sent again.
After I had been here about three months, captain
Drummond, a Scotchman, came in a merchant ship, to
trade about the island; but in less than three days
after his arrival, a pirate took him as he rode at anchor:
however, he gave captain Drummond his own long-
boat, and a few necessaries. One captain Steward
being with captain Drummond, the pirate permitted
him and three or four more hands to go ashore; and
as the sea, at that time, was very calm, they all landed
very safe. Here was at the same time another English-
man and his wife, who came from Sancta Maria, who
were companions for me. When we saw the long-
boat come on shore, and the ship sail away, we guessed
how the case stood, and went to meet them, and gave
them a friendly invitation to our cottages, which were
a mile from the seaside. My companion and his wife
were, I own, better provided to entertain them than
myself. However, as we could all speak enough of the
country language to deal with the natives for what we
wanted, we were very serviceable to our new comers.
Captain Drummond being very much dejected at
the loss of his ship, and his melancholy situation,
resolved, if possible, to get to St Augustine's Bay,
which is a place where ships frequently come to get
water and fresh provisions. He asked us if we were
willing to go with him, to which proposition we readily
assented. In a week's time we had got provisions
enough, such as beef, rice, water, and fuel; and got
our long-boat in good repair. We were nine in all
with my companion's wife, and a negro.
For three or four days we sailed along the shore,
and got to the southward of Port Dauphine, but at last
the wind shifted, and blowed so hard we could sail no
longer; so that in short, we drove on shore within three
ROBERT DRURY.
25
or four leagues of the place where we are at present.
We saved all our lives, with our money, guns, powder,
shot, &c. but the long-boat was staved in pieces.
The natives, who lived near the sea, perceiving our
distressed condition, came down to succour us, and
carried us up to their town; for they found we had a
smattering of their language; and as we had a negro
with us they were no way afraid, though they never
saw any white men before: nay, they were so civil,
that we wanted for nothing with which they could
assist us. However, they soon sent up into the country
to inform their dean, or king, of our arrival; who sent
his son, and a commanding officer with fifty men to
bring us up before him. Though they were all armed
with guns and lances, yet we refused to go with them,
and were as resolute as we durst be in opposing them:
but they soon made themselves masters of our ammu-
nition.
C
Captain Drummond was for defending ourselves to
the last extremity, and not to deliver up our arms; but
being fully persuaded, that it was impossible to get off
from them by force, on account of their number, I
advised him to comply; and see if we could not obtain
our desires by softer measures. We told them we
desired to go to Port Dauphine, (St Augustine's Bay
being too far for us to travel by land,) but in short,
we could not prevail; for they obliged us to go with
them.
We made it three days' journey to the place of their
king's residence: when we came there, and were car-
ried before him, he was drinking toake, (which is made
of honey and water like mead ;) his sons and generals
were with him, and all perfectly merry. He asked
captain Drummond to drink, but the captain, pretend-
ing to be sick, refused it. I was their interpreter; the
king bid me tell him, he should want for nothing the
country afforded. The captain desired I would return
for answer, that as he wanted to be in his own country,
he begged he might be permitted to go where we might
get shipping.
D
26
THE ADVENTURES OF
On this the king, with a stern aspect, replied, let the
captain be informed. if he does not know when he is
well used, I do; there are several kings on this island,
who have white men among them, and why shall not
I? Since our gods have been so good as to send you
here, you shall never go with my consent, as long as
I govern here.
Upon this, captain Drummond's colour rose, and
looking sternly at the king, let him know (said he to
me) that had I suspected this beforehand, he should
never have seen my face alive; I would have sent some
of their black souls to hell. It is not their gods but
fortune that has put me into his power, and the same
fortune may again deliver me out of it. Hereupon he
got up without taking his leave, and went to our cot-
tage. I stayed long enough to tell the king what he
had said, and without waiting for an answer, got up,
and followed the captain.
The king seeing captain Drummond go away in a
passion, in order to appease him, sent one of his gene-
rals with an ox for us to kill; and desired the captain
to make himself easy, since both he and his friends
should be well provided for; if we could eat an ox
every day we should be welcome to it. The captain
sent my companion's wife, whose name was Deude,
with a compliment to the king, and to return him
thanks for the care he took to provide so plentifully
for our support; but withal to tell him, we did not
think life worth preserving without the freedom of
enjoying it; and if we were not permitted to go home
to our native country, no indulgence whatsoever could
make us easy.
In this state we continued about a fortnight, before
we made any attempt to escape; but at last, considering
we were about five days' journey from Port Dauphine,
we agreed to go thither; to steal away by night, and
get what provision we thought proper: as to ammu-
nition, or arms, we had none, nor could we get any:
except that my companion had two pocket pistols,
which the natives had not discovered when they
ROBERT DRURY.
27
plundered us; and the country being woody, we
thought we should be able to conceal ourselves well
enough.
According to this resolution, on a moonlight night,
we got out of the town undiscovered; and were soon
among the thickets. By daylight, however, they missed
us; and the news being carried to the king, he ordered
us to be pursued. They soon tracked us, for our shoes
distinguished our footing, and came up with us before
night; but as they knew we had nothing to defend
ourselves, they did not offer any violence to us; but
only told us we must go back with them to their king.
Captain Drummond peremptorily declared, that we
would not go back. When they saw our resolution,
and that fair words were ineffectual, they then took
hold of us. My companion, not having his hands
secured, took out his pistols, and wounded one of
them. They seemed enraged at this action, however
they did nothing more than bind us, till they had made
a strict search for more pistols; but finding no more,
they marched back with us to their king. As soon as
he saw us, he looked upon us with a frowning and me-
nacing aspect, and having but one eye and thin jaws,
his countenance seemed still more terrible. He bid
me tell the captain and all of them, that if ever we
offered to run away again, he would make us dearly
repent it. As to the man who was wounded, though
we were apprehensive of being called to account for it,
neither he nor any one else said any thing about the
matter.
This was about two months ago; since that time
nothing remarkable has happened, till yesterday news
came of your being cast away; and the king imme-
diately ordered me down with the message I have
delivered to you from him. My friends are guarded
for fear they should make their escape, and come to
you; as for my own part, I endeavour to sooth him
and tell him I will remain with him as long as I live;
and he puts some confidence in me. This, sir, is a
short, but true narrative of the miseries and misfortunes
D 2
28
THE ADVENTURES OF
we are under; and which, I am afraid, will be more
now our numbers are increased.
Sam having made an end of his story, to which every
body listened with the utmost attention, we parted and
went with heavy hearts to our respective quarters,
which were under the bushes. It was very late, and
we endeavoured to repose ourselves as well as we
could; the pieces of muslin served us to spread on the
ground for beds; but as for my own part, I could not
close my eyes to rest. I now began to reflect on my
former obstinacy and perverseness; the thought of my
tender mother's begging me on her knees not to go to
sea, gave me the most distracting torture. I could
now see my error and repent; but who could I blame
but myself? Here were many poor men, who had no
other way to live; but I was reduced to no such ne-
cessity I ran headlong into misery, and severely felt
the effects of it. Tears I shed in plenty; but could
not with any justice, complain of fate or Providence ;
for
my punishment was but the natural result of my
own ill conduct.
:
We were all up by daylight, and most of my fellow-
sufferers got as little rest as I; for the man's relation
had made us give over all hopes of relief, and nothing
but sorrow, distress, and despair appeared in all its dis-
mal forms in each man's face, according to his different.
constitution. We could save neither arms nor ammu-
nition, the want of which completed our ruin; for
near one hundred and seventy of us would have made
our way through that part of the country we wanted to
travel, had we but wherewithal to defend ourselves;
but fate had ordained it otherwise, which was in all
respects as bad as bad could be. So that we had
only our lives left us, for no other purpose than to be
conscious of pain, misery, and perpetual slavery ;
which was no more than we could reasonably expect.
About one o'clock in the afternoon, the king came
down with about two hundred negroes. They brought
no fire-arms with them, lest we should seize them by
force; but they were armed with lances. As soon as
ROBERT DRURY.
20
(6
cr
we saw them approaching us, we all stood together in
a body, with our captain at the head of us.
When
they drew near, he called Sam, which was the man's
name he sent to us, and asked him, who was our cap-
tain? As soon as he was informed, he came up to
him and took him by the hand, and said in a familiar
manner, salamonger, captain ;" which is a term of
salutation, much like our saying your servant, sir."
The captain returned the compliment; Sam having
informed him before in what manner he should behave
himself to the king. His majesty brought with him
four large bullocks, six calabashes of toake, ten baskets
of potatoes, and ten pots of honey; all which he pre-
sented to our captain, and gave us moreover two or
three earthen pots to dress our victuals in: we imme-
diately roasted the potatoes. He stayed two hours
with us, before he withdrew to the cottage, where he
proposed to lodge that night; and asked several ques-
tions about our ship, and the manner of her being lost.
He told the captain he was heartily sorry for his mis-
fortunes, though in my opinion that was nothing but a
compliment; for as I found afterwards, he was more
brutish and dishonest, than most of the other kings on
the island; and his whole nation was clothed for
many years out of the effects they saved from our
wreck. At this time he took no notice to our captain of
carrying us up to his own residence.
The next morning he paid us another visit, and then
he told us that he expected we should prepare to go
along with him to his town; and there we should
want for nothing the country could afford us. Captain
Younge ordered the interpreter to acquaint the king,
that he returned him a thousand thanks for the civilities
he had already received; and that he was not only
unable to make him satisfaction, but very unwilling to
put him to further trouble, and charge of maintaining
so great a number of people. The king replied, that
if we were as many more he should not think us either
a burthen or a charge; since he should look upon it as
an honour to have so many white men in his dominions.
"
D 3
30
THE ADVENTURES OF
The captain, by this last artful speech, perceived his
whole intention; which shocked him to that degree,
that he could scarce tell what to say to him; but after
a little reflection, and looking wishfully on Sam, he
directed him to say that we have wives, children, and
relations, who are impatient to see us, and we are as
desirous of seeing them; that it was impossible for us
to live here always; and for that reason, we begged he
would permit us to go to some port where we might
meet with ships and return to our native country.
The king paused awhile before he made any reply;
but at length he ordered Sam to tell us, that we should
stay in his country till some ships should come there
to trade; and that then we should go home. The
captain knowing there was no port in his dominions,
nor any harbour for a ship to put into, took it to be
artifice all, and a mere compliment, for we might stay
for ever before a ship came there with the view he
proposed. He therefore desired Sam to tell him he
would think of it, and return an answer the next day;
upon this the king departed and gave us no farther
trouble at that time.
As soon as he was gone the captain called us all
together, and in a very pathetic speech addressed him-
self to us in the following manner:-"I am now on an
equality with the meanest man here present, my
fortune is as low and my life is as little to be regarded:
I do not pretend, therefore, to command, but to con-
sult with you what is most expedient to be done in
the present unhappy situation of our affairs. How-
ever," said he, "I am happy in this, that though my
life and liberty are lost as well as yours, yet this mis-
fortune is not any ways chargeable on me, for I would
rather have kept on my course to the Cape of Good
Hope, and relied on Providence in a leaky ship, than
put in here, but you strenuously opposed it; for death,
in my opinion, is to be preferred to our present slavery,
and the consequences that will naturally attend it.
In death our sorrows will have an end, but now, who
can tell the troubles and torments we shall yet undergo;
-
ROBERT DRURY.
31
(at this the tears stood in his eyes.) Consider, gen-
tlemen," said he, "we have neither arms nor am-
munition wherewith to defend ourselves; and I have
endeavoured to prevail on the king to give us a passage
through his country to a seaport, but in vain; think
of it, therefore," says he, "and consult your own
safety as well as you can; be but of one mind, and I
am ready to comply with any thing you would have
ine: as for my own life, I set no value upon it; it
would not now be worth preserving, but for the hopes
I have of being serviceable to my friends. Remember
I must return an answer to-morrow morning, and I
will advise nothing, nor do any thing without your
concurrence."
We went together and consulted, as the captain
advised, and came soon to an agreement; for the
matter in debate lay within a small compass; the king
had refused to give us leave to go to a seaport, and
we had no arms to fight and force our way, if we could
have found it; we therefore determined to go quietly
up the country with the king, to the place of his
residence, where we were in hopes of seeing and con-
versing with captain Drummond, captain Steward,
and the other people, who (being gallant and cou-
rageous men, and by this time somewhat acquainted
with the natives) might probably be capable of giving
us more proper and seasonable advice.
We then acquainted the captain with our resolution,
and he seemed to be very well contented with it; for
indeed, he was not over solicitous what became of
nimself since he had in so unhappy a manner lost his
ship and fortune, and despaired of ever getting off the
island.
Next morning the king paid the captain a visit ;
they saluted each other in their usual manner, and sat
down together upon the sand, whilst we all stood round
them; soon after the king ordered Sam to ask the
captain if he was ready to go, for it would be best to
walk in the cool of the morning and rest at noon.
The captain observed that he did not ask whether he
ぶこ
​THE ADVENTURES OF
was inclined to go or not, as might reasonably be
expected since he pretended to give him time to con-
sider of it, but peremptorily asked, if he was ready to
go.
As the captain saw there was no avoiding it, and
having our consent, it signified nothing to dispute it;
so he told him we were ready to wait on him when he
pleased. At this the king seemed fully satisfied, and
ordered Sam to tell us he would breakfast first and
advised us to do so too, that we might be the better
enabled to perform our journey.
We had little satisfaction, however, in eating and
drinking, especially since the hour was come in which
we were obliged to leave the seaside; and it galled us
severely to think how we were forced up the country
like a flock of sheep, at the pleasure of a parcel of
barbarous negroes, without any power to make terms
for ourselves like men. Some cursed and others be-
wailed their hard fortune, nor were reflections wanting;
for my own part, though I could not, at that time, see
any reason for complaint, yet I have since thought
that our captain was young, and had not so much
experience as his father, who would not have put to
sea from Mauritius in a leaky vessel, but have taken
out the company's cargo and left it there, till another
ship had been sent for it, and saved all our lives; how-
ever Providence ordained it otherwise.
The king sent, and the word was given to march.
I was ready in an instant, for I carried nothing with
me but what I brought ashore; but many of our
people took pieces of silk and fine calico. We as-
sembled together, and went to see the place where the
ling's tent was pitched. We were no sooner come,
than he was for marching. We left the sea with heavy
hearts, looking very wishfully back as long as we
could discern it; and as oft as we did, we observed
the negroes hard at work, breaking up our bales, and
enriching themselves with the plunder of our goods;
in short, they were so busy that but few went back
with the king.
ROBERT DRURY.
33
Our people were but ill-disposed for travelling, since
every body was tired with working, and want of rest;
many were lamed with hurts received in getting on
shore; some were also without shoes, and most of us
had but bad ones; then again, the country near the
seaside and some few miles further, is full of short
underwood and thorny shrubs, which tore our clothes
to rags, for the path was very narrow, and before this
accident but little frequented; the ground also was
sandy, so that when the sun was advanced pretty high,
it scorched our feet to that degree that we were scarcely
able to walk.
About noon we came to one of their small mean
villages, consisting of about eight or ten houses, or
rather huts, for they were not above six or seven feet
high, and about eight or nine feet in length, and their
doors not above three or four feet high; our people
crept into these hovels to rest, and to see what they
could meet with to refresh themselves. Some found
honey, others milk, and others beef, for the king had
given us free permission to take what eatables soever
came to hand. The inhabitants were all absent, the
men at the seaside making advantage of our wreck,
and the women and children fled into the woods at
our approach. We passed several of these poor vil-
lages, but saw few of the people. Here we reposed
ourselves till the heat abated, when we made ourselves
but a poor compensation by robbing them of their trifles,
while they were enriching themselves with our most
valuable commodities; however, I observed some of
our people found a secret pleasure in gratifying their
resentment.
In the cool of the evening we marched again, and
in a little time came to a more open and better road.
As we were now some miles from the sea the king left
us, and went before to his seat, leaving us to march at
our leisure; having before taken care that we should
not want provisions, and left his chief officer (whom I shall
call his general) strict orders to supply us with whatever
we wanted, and what the country would afford
W
21
THE ADVENTURES OF
At night we came to another of these little villages,
where we killed a bullock, and got a few earthen
pots to cook our meat in; the water was very thick
and nasty, they having none but what they fetched at
a great distance out of holes and pits in the woods,
and kept in calabashes, or long tubs, which hold about
four or five gallons each; however it served our pur-
pose, for at that time we were not very curious. We
reposed ourselves on the ground in the best manner
we could, and rose the next morning by daylight. We
had beef for our breakfast without any bread or roots
in the room of it, and our meat was full of sand; how-
ever, eating and drinking was the least of our concern
at that time. We passed this day much after the same
manner as the day before, with this difference only,
that those who wanted shoes were sadly harassed in
the woods.
On the third day of our march we came to our
journey's end; we were obliged to walk much faster
than either of the two former, having more ground to
traverse and less time to do it in, for we were ordered
to be at the king's town before sunset. I missed one
of my purses in this day's journey, but the loss of it
was not of any great importance to me at that time,
for it would have been of little service to me had I
kept it; but the loss of a medal afterwards which my
dear mother had presented me as a testimony of
her love, and a token to remember her, was no small
addition to my other misfortunes.
The residence of this king is about fifty miles from
the seaside, for I reckon we might travel sixteen or
seventeen miles a day. It stands in a wood secured
with trees all round it, which seem to have been
planted there when very young; they grow very regular
and tall, and so close together, that a small dog cannot
pass between them. They are likewise armed with
large strong thorns, so that there is no breaking through
or climbing over them. There are but two passages or
gates, which are so narrow that two only can go
abreast; one of these is to the northward, and the
ROBERT DRURY.
35
I
other to the southward; the whole is about a mile in
circumference.
When we came near our journey's end we halted,
whilst Sam went to inform the king of our arrival. We
were ordered to wait till he was ready for our recep-
tion; our captain too put us into the best form he
could, ordering all our baggage and such things as
our people brought with them, to be lodged under a
tamarind tree, and three or four Lascars to look after
them. He soon sent for us, and we marched in order
by fours. The king was sitting on a mat, cross-legged,
in the open air, just before the door of his palace, with
a gun leaning on his shoulder, and a brace of pistols
lying by his side; his sons and kinsman sat in the
same manner on the ground on each hand of him,
armed with guns and lances; the natives joined then
on both sides, and formed together a semicircle; most
of these were likewise furnished with guns and lances.
There were mats spread from one end of the people
to the other for us to sit on, so that when we had
joined them, the assembly was almost a circular form.
We were somewhat concerned to see them all thus
in arms, till Sam informed us, that they never go from
one house to another without them.
As soon as we were seated, the king (by Sam)
assured the captain he was welcome, and sent for ten
calabashes of toake, six he gave to our people, three
to his own, and one he reserved for our captain and
himself. He also sent for captain Drummond, captain
Steward, and the rest of their company. Captain
Younge arose to salute them, and after the usual com-
pliments were passed, the captains sat down together.
The king ordered a servant to pour out some toake
into a clean earthen cup which he kept for his
own use, and drank it up without drinking to any
body, but ordered some more to be poured out for
our captain in another cup, but as it was dirty he
refused it. The king asked Sam the reason of it, who
told him the truth, so the king sent a man immediately
to wash it. The captain, indeed, expected to be
36
THE ADVENTURES OF
served out of the king's cup, but Sam informed him,
that neither black nor white, nor even his wives or
children, ever drank out of his cup; and this is the
general custom of the country.
When I saw the servant returning with the cup our
captain had refused, I took out my silver one, and
presented it to him; after we had all drank out of it, the
king desired to see it, and was so wonderfully pleased
with it that he desired to keep it. But the captain
informed him that it was none of his, but belonged to
a lad that was behind him. I called to Sam and
desired him to acquaint the king, that since so many
people had drank out of it, I humbly conceived it
could not be fit for his use. At this he and the people
round him laughed heartily. He ordered me to stand
up that he might see me; however I saved my cup
this time. Night drawing on he withdrew, ordering us
a bullock for our supper. Notwithstanding his court-
eous reception of us, he would not trust us all to lie
within the gates of the town; our captain, Mr Prat,
our chief mate, Mr Bembo, our second mate, and my-
self, were the only persons that were so far indulged.
We had a hutch ordered us next to captain Drummond
and his companions, but the rest of the people lay
without the gates under the trees.
In this manner we lived for some few days; what
particular amusements some of our people found out
to pass away their tedious hours I know not, but there
occurred to me an affair of a most agreeable and sur-
prising nature, which some would have improved, and
made use of to advantange.
This king had a daughter about thirteen or fourteen
years of age who would talk to me sometimes an hour
or two together, though I did not comprehend one
word she said. Though she seemed to be very desirous
I should know her meaning, yet she was very modest,
and used no indecent gestures to intimate any vicious
inclinations, neither did I entertain any idea of an
intrigue, so that our conversation on my side aimed at
nothing; this she at length perceived, and sent Sam to
ROBERT DRURY.
37
me one day to desire I would come to her nurse's
house where she was educated, and partake of a small
entertainment. I went along with him, and as soon
as we entered I found a mat spread on one side of
the house, on which she desired us to seat ourselves,
and ordered one of her attendants to boil some guinea
corn and milk and roast some beef. She sat down
over against me, and though I had no notion of love,
yet I could not help observing a particular softness in
the tone of her voice; and when she inquired of Sam
about our misfortunes, she showed abundance of con-
cern for us; and looked at me with a more than
common pleasure, as people of taste do at pictures
which please them; and, in short, stared me almost out
of countenance. I imagined she was resolved to know
me again, by her narrow observance of every motion.
She was extremely courteous and obliging, and often
sighed with pity at the sense she seemed to have of our
deplorable condition. I looked upon her as a good-
natured creature, and that curiosity more than love had
made her fond of conversing with a white man, which
is a novelty in their country.
We were just entering into the best part of the con-
versation, and our interpreter had begun, at her request,
to acquaint me with the reason of her extraordinary
complaisance and observance of me, when her mother
came to the door, and desired her to take a walk with
her without the gates to see the white men. I was a
little nettled at this interruption, and she seemed much
more concerned at it herself; however it would have
been an act of the highest disobedience in her to have
refused her mother's request; so she complied with a
seeming readiness, and we returned.
Sam told me he had private orders from her to in-
form me, that she was in love with me; but laid her
commands upon him to say nothing of it to any person
whomsoever, either white or black. I was strangely
startled at this open declaration, and that this was the
private motive that induced her to be fond of my com-
pany and conversation. Since I came to be a man, I
L
C
38
THE ADVENTURES OF
have stood astonished at my own stupidity in putting
a modest young lady of her birth and character to the
mortification of acquainting me with her love, and ex-
posing herself to the censures of another man. I have
nothing to plead in my excuse, but that being a lad
scarce sixteen years of age, the discovery of so import-
ant a secret created in me more fear than affection; lest
the consequences of so dangerous an affair might prove
fatal to me. She sent again for me that very night, and
I attended her accordingly; and behaved myself with
all the decency and good manners, as common prudence
and gratitude for her civilities obliged me to. I knew
she was the king's darling, and therefore dreaded to dis-
oblige her, lest she might tell her father what story she
thought proper and destroy me in a moment. At length
I perceived she was equally afraid of her father's know-
ledge of her passion; so that I looked upon myself in
danger on both sides: for which reason, when Sam in-
formed me that she desired my company again the next
night, I pretended to be very sick and unable to go
abroad; so that this affair, which might have proved
highly agreeable to some warmer persons, proved to
me, in the circumstances I was then, a matter of vexa-
tion and fatigue; but two days after, our amour, if I
may call it so, was totally disconcerted.
Every morning we went, as was expected, in a body
to visit the king; but one morning he ordered Sam to
inform us, that he had an inveterate enemy to the west-
ward, who had hitherto proved too powerful for him;
but since his gods had been so indulgent as to send
some white men into his dominions, he would embrace
so favourable an opportunity once more to try his
strength with our assistance; but in the mean time he
should be obliged to distribute us among his sons, who
lived at distant towns, not only for the convenience of
providing for such a number of us,(there not being
room enough in this town,) but to ease himself of a
charge which was too great and burthensome for him to
support alone. He also sent to me this night to beg the
silver cup beforementioned, with which request (know-
ROBERT DRURY.
39
ing it was in his power to take it by force if he thought
fit) I readily complied. This unexpected separation was
a terrible blow to us, and we returned to our cottages.
with heavy hearts, well knowing, if we could not find
out some way to prevent it, there were no hopes of ever
getting off the island.
Hereupon the three captains, viz. Drummond, Stew-
ard, and Younge, with some of the chief of our people,
entered immediately into a consultation about what was
proper to be done in this emergency; and to make
some bold attempt for our lives and liberty. Captain
Drummond, as I heard afterwards, was the man who
proposed to take the king prisoner; and by that means
to make their own terms with the natives.
Now cap-
tain Drummond and some others were men of experience
and undaunted resolution: our captain, indeed, had
courage enough, but he was too young. However, the
proposition was universally approved of, and the time
and manner of the execution was fixed. I was too
young to be admitted as one of the council; therefore
I shall not pretend to relate what reasons were produced
either for, or against the proposal; though I was told
afterwards that night, however, I was wholly ignorant.
I observed captain Younge and Mr Bembo to talk with
great earnestness, but in whispers, and with the utmost
precaution. As I was then a stranger to that design I
slept soundly, till I was roused in the morning by a
great and sudden noise in the town, occasioned by the
plot being put into execution. Our people went, as
usual, betimes in the morning to pay their compliments
to the king; and whilst some of them were at the
prince's house the signal was given by one of captain
Drummond's men firing a pistol; at which the king was
seized, and his son at the same instant.
:
This instantly alarmed the whole town.
I started up
without my shoes, being frighted at the sudden outcry.
Not knowing what was the matter, and seeing the
negroes flocking out of the town, I ran with them, till
I was taken notice of by one of our men, who called me
back and I was as much amazed as the natives to see
;
E 2
10
THE ADVENTURES OF
the king, his consort, and one of his sons, with their
hands tied behind them, under the guard of our people.
They soon plundered the king's mansion-house, and
every other place where they could find any agreeable
plunder. We happened to find about thirty small arms,
a small quantity of powder and shot, and a few lances.
The natives (as I observed before) ran out of the town,
but they did it with no other view than to procure
assistance; for they soon alarmed the country, and
returned with great numbers from all the adjacent
towns; and immediately besieged us. They fired in
upon us, and wounded one of our men in the groin; on
which captain Younge ordered Sam to tell the king if
they fired any more they would kill him that very mo-
The king hearing their resolution, called to his
men, and desired them to desist if they had a mind to
save his life.
ment.
This attempt, indeed, was bold and hazardous, and
some perhaps may censure it as criminal; I shall not
say much in its defence: but since I have arrived to
years of maturity, I cannot forbear reflecting that if
nature, even in a christian country, will rebel against
principle, what will it not do for life and liberty under
the tyranny and oppression of a barbarous and savage
nation!
However, at length we put ourselves in a posture of
defence and marched out of the town. Six men under
arms marched in the front, and in the body where the
king was, six went armed before him and six behind;
three before his son and three behind him; and six
brought up the rear, in which were the Lascars. Cap-
tain Younge, out of compassion, would have released
the queen, and let her go wherever she pleased, but she
would not abandon her husband.
We had not gone above four miles on our march, be-
fore our wounded companion fainted; and not being
able to carry him off, we were forced to leave him by
the side of a pond of water; where, as I was afterwards
informed, they soon put him out of his pain, by striking
their lances into several parts of his body.
Having
ROBERT DRURY.
41
marched about two or three miles farther, we got out of
the woods, and found ourselves in a spacious, open plain,
where we could see all around us; and soon found that
our enemies were not only near, but numerous, and
threatened immediately to attack us. We faced towards
them, our armed men being in the front, with the king
bound before them. Sam was ordered at the same time
to tell him, that our design was not to hurt either him
or his son, nor to carry them into their enemies' country,
but only to detain them as hostages for our safeguard
while we passed through his dominions; and that as
soon as we came to the borders of Port Dauphine, we
would let them go again, and give them back the arms
and ammunition we had taken from them; but if the
least violence were offered to us we would sacrifice them
both; and this we desired him to tell his people.
Hereupon he called one of his generals to him,
assuring him that he should receive no harm. Accord-
ingly he left his gun and lance behind him and came to
us, where he was informed, both by us and the king, of
our resolution; upon which he told us there should not
be a gun fired whilst we preserved the king alive, and
gave him civil treatment.
This parley being over, we continued our march
through the plain till near evening; many of us with-
out shoes as well as myself, and some sick; which
obliged us to take up our quarters sooner than we would
otherwise have done; so that every one was almost
faint and glad of rest. The king ordered Sam to tell
us that an ox should be sent to us forthwith. We made
a trench, like a ring, in the midst whereof we planted
the black king and his son; our captain, and some few
others were appointed as a guard over them: our armed
men were divided into four parts, in order to secure us
in the best manner they could. We had just finished
our camp, when the officer, who had been with us be-
fore, and three other men brought us a bullock. He
brought likewise some roasted meat in his hand, and a
horn of water for the king; so we loosed our royal
prisoners' hands that they might feed themselves. They
E 3
42
THE ADVENTURES OF
eat some small matter, and gave the remainders to
captain Younge.
Whilst we were employed in killing the ox, we
desired the king to send some of his people into the
woods for some fuel to dress it; which he readily did,
and they soon brought us sufficient for our purpose.
But all this time we wanted water, and complained
thereof to the king; who assured us that there was none
to be got near that place by several miles; and that
what sinall quantity was given him in the horn was
brought from that very pond where we left the wounded
man; which could not be less than about ten miles' dis-
tance. This very much disheartened us; for we were
parched with thirst, which was the more increased by
the fatigue of our long march, and the heat of the
country. However, there was no help for us, and
patience was the only remedy. When the king and
his son had supped, we bound their hands before them
that they might sleep as easily as they could; so after we
had cut up our bullock, and divided it amongst us,
broiled and eat it, though with but little satisfaction, for
want of water; and when we had made as good a sup-
per as our unhappy circumstances would admit of, we
also used our best endeavours to repose ourselves. The
three captains, however, agreed to watch alternately,
and divided our people into three parts for that purpose.
The king entreated his wife to go home and to comfort.
his children; but more particularly recommended his
beloved daughter to her care. She went at his request,
but shed tears at her departure; as did also the king
and his son. Such of us as were not on the watch lay
down, but we had a wretched night; for the ground was
stony, and there was but little grass; and what was
a still greater affliction, we were excessive dry, and had
nothing to quench our thirst.
At dawn of day we arose, which was the second day
of our travel, and the better to support ourselves under
the fatigue of it, we eat part of the remains of our beef;
but it was a miserable repast, as we had nothing to
drink. However, we put ourselves in the same order as
ROBERT DRURY.
43
we had done the day before, and went forwards; the
natives perceiving us in motion, moved too, but kept at
a greater distance, and went into our camp after we had
quitted it to see what they could find, and their labour
was not altogether lost; for many of our people thought
proper to leave half those India goods they had brought
out of the town behind them, that they might travel with
less fatigue. We walked with more ease half this day
than we did the day before, it proving cloudy weather
and cool. About noon the general who had been with
us before, came with some roast meat, and a horn of
water for the king and his son. As we did not loose
their hands, we were forced to feed them. The general
ordered Sam to ask the captains if they would release
the king for six guns. I perceived there was a debate
between them and Mr Bembo: some thinking the six
guns would be of great service to us, especially as we
should still have the king's son. Others were of opinion
that it would be more for our safety to keep the king;
however it was agreed at last that he should be dismissed.
We informed the general that if they would give us six
very good guns, and promise on their honour not to
follow us, but return with their king, we would let him.
go; and that as soon as we came to the river Manderra,
which divided his dominions from those of Port Dau-
phine, we would release the king's son, and leave all
their arms behind us.
The general was startled at this unexpected conde-
scension of our people, and despatched away one of his
attendants to the king's other sons, who were not far
off with their army, to acquaint them with our proposal;
and in half an hour's time returned to us with six of the
best guns. They made the more haste lest our minds
should alter. We kept them no longer in suspense than
while we took the guns to pieces, to see whether they
were in good condition or not; and finding them better
than we could reasonably have expected in such a coun-
try, we released their king, and sent him away with the
general. He took his leave of the prince, and went
44
THE ADVENTURES OF
directly to his army. We were so near as to see the
ceremony of his sons meeting him, who fell down and
embraced his knees, and with all the earnestness ima-
ginable, shedding tears for joy. After they had kissed
and licked his knees and legs for about five or six
minutes, they arose to give his head officers an oppor-
tunity of paying the like homage; and after them, some
others of an inferior station; who, in general, expressed
a most sincere and passionate affection to his person,
and showed all the demonstrations of joy imaginable on
account of his return. This ceremonial over, they all
hallooed and fired their guns as a public testimony of
their general joy and satisfaction.
We could not help halting to observe this scene, but
before it was perfectly concluded we marched forwards
as well as we could, though with no small difficulty:
for notwithstanding it continued cloudy, yet the after-
noon was sultry hot, and our thirst increasing, we
began to grow sensibly weaker and weaker; our cap-
tains, however, walked slowly on, which made our
journey something easier. We asked the prince if there
was no water near at hand; he informed us that there
was none to be got till we came to Manderra' river,
which we should not be able to reach that night.
Though it was not easy for us to miss our way, yet we
made him our guide. The natives had told us before,
that the plain we were in was long, and of no great breadth
in proportion to the length; but extended itself near
east and west to the river. As soon as we came to a
sandy place, we halted and formed our camp, it being
then near sunset. This was somewhat softer for us to
lie on than our situation the night before. The natives
perceiving that we began to encamp, followed our ex-
ample. They divided themselves accordingly into six
parties, and so ordered their matters that they almost
surrounded us; which did not a little surprise us. How-
ever we appointed our watch as before; but here to our
misfortune we could find neither victuals nor water; and
were almost parched with thirst. In short, we were
ROBERT DRURY.
45
reduced to so great an extremity, that we crawled on the
ground to lick the dew; and this was all the refresh-
ment we could then meet with.
On the third day of our march we rose early, and put
forward as well as we could. The negroes, who strictly
observed our motions, were as ready as we; but we
placed our armed men in the front, determining to make
a bold push for it, if they attempted to obstruct our
passage. They divided, and let us proceed without
molestation; and though we travelled all the morning
yet we met with nothing remarkable, till we arrived at
a little round hill, whereon there stood a prodigiously
large tub, about six feet high, which held near a hun-
dred gallons, and was full of toake. Our people were
going immediately to drain it dry, but Sam threw it
down and spilt all the liquor; asking us with some
warmth, if we were so blind as not to see the plot that
was laid for our destruction: for it was planted there
to tempt us to drink, with no other intention than to
poison us all; or at least to intoxicate us to that degree,
that they might rescue their prince without opposition,
and murder us at their pleasure.
While we were reflecting on this extraordinary action,
the general and two or three more came up to us, and
asked Sam what reason he could offer for spilling the
toake. To which he made no regular reply, but bid
him begone about his business. The general desired to
speak with the young prince, and after a little discourse
with him, directed Sam to acquaint captain Younge
that if he should think fit to release the prince, they
would give him three of the head-men of the country
in exchange. The captain told him, if he would consent
to be one of them, they would agree to it. He excused
himself on account of his family, who, as he pretended,
would be inconsolable should he leave them; however,
he would engage that his own brother, who had no
children, should be one of the hostages.
Captain Younge, who imagined that they followed
us on account of their prince only, and that if we should
release him they would return back, complied with the
46
THE ADVENTURES OF
general's proposition. Upon this he posted away to the
army, and acquainted the other princes with the agree
Tent he had made; for the king went directly home as
soon as he left us. We marched on, determining to
lose no time, and the general returned in less than an
hour with three men; and informed us, that he had
brought his brother and two more of the chief of their
people in exchange for the prince; and as to the arms
then in our possession which belonged to their king, we
might, when we had no further occasion for them, leave
them according to our promise with these three men,
who would take care to send them home.
We took the three men, and having tied their hands
behind them, delivered up the prince. He shook hands
with our captains, and went to the army; as soon as
his brethren saw him at a distance they ran to meet
him, as did also many others, who seemed to be more
transported with joy for his deliverance, than they were
before for his father's.
We proceeded on our journey as well as men could
without provisions, and were too soon convinced of
captain Younge's mistake; for the negroes instead of
retiring approached nearer to us, and some marched
before us; so that we expected every minute when they
would attack us. We had a young lad in our company
who lost his leg at Bengal. Notwithstanding he was
well recovered, and supplied with a wooden one well
fitted, yet it cannot be imagined that he should be able
to keep up with us; for being now surprised by their
surrounding us, we doubled our pace; and, in short, were
obliged to leave this poor lad behind us. We saw the
barbarians come up with him, take off his wooden leg,
and first insult him; then they thrust their lances into
his body, and left him wallowing in his blood. Being
eye-witnesses of this act of inhumanity, and apprehen-
sive of the like treatment, we hurried on as fast as our
feeble limbs could carry us till sunset; when we came
to a large tamarind tree, the leaves whereof, as they
were sour, we chewed to moisten our mouths. The fruit
itself was not then in seasou.
ROBERT DRURY.
47
The three negroes whom we had taken as hostages,
observing what had passed, and thinking their lives in
danger, called to Sam and the captains, and told them
they had a scheme to propose which would be for the
safety of us all, which was this:-that as soon as it was
dark we should keep marching on as silently as possible
all the night. The captains approved of this proposal,
and ordered none of us to sleep, but to be ready as soon
as the watchword was given. This was very grievous
considering how tired we were the day before; but we
submitted cheerfully to any thing which gave us hopes
of escaping from the violent hands of those bloodthirsty
barbarians. As soon as it was dark enough to conceal
our flight we assembled together, and took a consider-
able quantity of muslins and calicoes and hung them
upon the bushes, that the spies, who we knew watched
us, might not any ways mistrust our sudden removal.
We walked off accordingly undiscovered by them.
Captain Drummond, however, being taken so ill that he
could not walk at all, none of us being strong enough to
carry him, we resolved to make the three negroes per-
form that office by turns. After we had thus travelled
most part of the night, we came to a thicket among some
cotton trees, where the man who had the charge of
captain Drummond, pretending to ease himself, threw
the captain upon the ground, ran away into the wood,
and we never saw him more. Upon this we had a more
watchful eye over the other two and led him whose
turn it was to carry the captain with a rope about his
neck.
Weak as we were, we travelled a great many miles
that night, and were glad when the day broke in upon
us; for the negroes had told us before, that if we walked
hard all night we should be at Manderra river betimes
in the morning. And their information was just; for
as soon as we came to a little hill, the sun then just
rising, we had 2 prospect of the river, though at a con-
siderable distance; however, the hopes we had of coming
to it in a short time, and of getting water to quench our
thirst, gave us no small pleasure, and our spirits began
And
THE ADVENTURES OF
to revive at the very sight of it. It was some comfort
to us likewise to think that the king's dominions ex-
tended no farther; notwithstanding there were no
inhabitants to protect us within several miles on the
other side. Some of our people, who were more tired
than the rest, took liberty to sit down to refresh them-
selves; as taking it for granted, that the negro army
would never come in sight of us again.
But this vain notion of being safe and secure too
quickly vanished; for as soon as they missed us in the
morning, they pursued us like so many greyhounds;
and before we got within a mile of Manderra river
overtook us. Thereupon they began to butcher our
men then resting under the trees, striking their lances
into their sides and throats. Though I was one of
those who could not travel well, yet there were twenty
behind me; the woman, whose life was preserved in
our ship, was next to me. I seeing them kill our peo-
ple in this barbarous manner, threw off my coat and
waistcoat, and trusted to my heels, for the foremost of
our people having passed the river, and I not being
far off took courage; but hearing the report of a gun,
I looked back, and saw the poor woman fall, and the
negroes sticking their lances in her sides. My turn
was next, for the same negroes pursued me, and before
I was got to the brink of the river they fired a gun at
me; but I jumped in. Our men who had got safely
over, made a stand, in order to defend those who were
behind; and notwithstanding the negroes followed me
so close, I could not refrain from drinking two or three
times out of my hat, let the consequence prove what it
would.
However I got over safely, and whilst we were on the
bank and faced them, they never attempted to follow
us. Our captains asked me, if I thought there were any
of our companions still behind us? I answered, I
believed that there were none alive. We waited a
while, and then marched forwards. We had a wood
to pass through, and the negroes as soon as they saw
us quit the banks, immediately pursued us. They got
ROBERT DRURY.
49
into the woods, and firing behind the trees every now
and then, they killed three or four of our men. We
had not travelled above two miles in this wood, before
we came to a large sandy plain, to which we could see
no end, and here they determined to stop our progress;
since if we went much farther, we should be within
hearing of king Samuel's subjects, who were their mor-
tal enemies, and would readily assist us. They divided
themselves, therefore, into several bodies, in order to
break in upon us on all sides; and we being apprized
of their designs, were resolved to sell our lives and
liberties as dearly as possible. Hereupon our captains
put us in as good a posture of defence as they could,
and divided our men who bore arms into four classes :
one under the command of each of our three captains,
and the other under Mr John Bembo; such as had no
arms or were disabled, were covered in a little valley;
and with them were the two negro hostages.
We had not above six and thirty fire-arms amongst
us all, and not many more persons fit to fight; so that
we were a poor handful to withstand an army of two
or three thousand. When they found we made a stand,
they did so too; and according to their wonted manner
(where it could be done) three or four of them in a
place threw up the sand before them, and being also
beneath us, we could see only their heads: their shot
flew very fast over us, and we kept them in play from.
noon till six in the evening; by which time all our
ammunition was spent. Those of us who had money
made slugs of it; their next shift was to take the mid-
dle screws out of their guns, and charge their pieces
with them. When they had used all these means, they
knew not what to do farther: now we began to reflect
on those who advised us to deliver up first the king,
and afterwards his son; since the keeping of them
would have been our principal safeguard. The two
negroes in our custody expected, no doubt, every minute
to be killed, as very justly they might; but as their
death would be of no service to us, we did them no
injury.
F
50
THE ADVENTURES OF
At length it was unanimously agreed, that Dudey
and her husband should be sent to them with a flag of
truce, not only to prolong the time, but to know what
they farther wanted: so we tied a piece of red silk to
a lance, and despatched them away. They kept firing
at us all this time, not knowing what we meant by not
returning it. They shot at those who carried the flag,
but perceiving that they were not armed, the prince
ordered them to cease. Dudey was interpreter, and
told them that our captain was inclined to make peace
with them, and to deliver up the two hostages with
the guns and ammunition we took with us, as soon as
we were advanced a little farther into the country.
They said they would suffer us to go in the morning,
in case we would deliver up our arms and the men;
but not that evening, because it was dark. Their true
reason was this, they knew if we got away that night,
we should send some of king Samuel's people, who
were their utter enemies, to be revenged on them for
the ill treatment we had met with.
We were at a loss what determination to come to:
we were willing, indeed, to let the two men (whom
they called generals) go; but loath to part with our
arms: most of us, as well as our captain, were of
opinion, that they followed us for nothing else, and
were for delivering them up; but captain Drummond,
captain Steward, and their people, with Mr Bembo,
and some of our men, opposed it. Captain Drummond,
in particular, expressed a great concern to see us so
easy to be imposed upon; and told us that it was too
visible their words were not to be relied on: most
voices, however, carried it, and captain Younge being
of the opinion it was best to resign them, it was agreed;
and in short, soon actually performed; for Dudey
having orders to acquaint them with such resolution,
they sent proper messengers immediately to receive
them.
Captain Drummond, however, and his companions
claimed theirs as their own right and property, and
therefore would not deliver them; nor would Dudey's
ROBERT DRURY.
51
husband part with his. The negroes well knew we had
but few left, and went away to all outward appearance
well contented for that night. Dudey returned, and
assured us that they would let us go in the morning;
and as night was coming on, we laid down upon the
sand, to repose ourselves as well as our distressed cir-
cumstances would admit of; for besides the hunger
and fatigue we had already suffered, we reflected a
thousand times on the barbarities we had seen com-
mitted the day before; and that it was now in their
power to treat us as they pleased.
The next morning as soon as we could see, we
missed captain Drummond, captain Steward, Mr
Bembo, Dudey, and her husband, and four or five
more, who deserted us in the night, without communi-
cating their intentions to us. Now we plainly saw
destruction before us, and the end of this miserable
journey; which, after so bold an attempt, we under-
took for the preservation of our lives and liberty; and
a tragical one it was. For,
No sooner was it broad daylight, than the negroes
came up to us, and the prince had a short conference
with Sam. Captain Younge asked him the purport of
their discourse. He answered, they wanted to know
what was become of captain Drummond, and the rest.
The words were no sooner out of his mouth, than one
of the princes took hold of me, and delivered me to
one of his attendants; there were three or four lads
like myself and much about my age, who were seized
at the same time and delivered to their people in the
same manner; who bound our hands with cords.
The same prince who ordered my hands to be thus
tied, stuck his lance into captain Younge's throat, and
afterwards into his sides. Having killed him, he went
on to another; and the rest of his barbarous train im-
mediately following his example, they soon murdered
every man belonging to our company; they then
stripped off their clothes, and like inhuman butchers,
ripped open several of their bellies. As for my part,
I expected death every moment, but in what shape I
F 2
52
THE ADVENTURES OF
could not tell; for one of the generals lifted up his
lance, with an intention to pierce me through, but was
prevented by the man who had me in custody, for
some reasons I could not then rightly understand; but
as I heard afterwards, he informed him I was reserved
to wait on the king's grandson. Though this saved
my life, yet it would not hinder the officer from rifling
me of what I had valuable about me; for he feeling
my purse in my breeches pocket, and not readily finding
it, in a fury, with his lance cut away my breeches, and
narrowly missed my flesh.
When they had concluded this bloody scene, and
clothed themselves with the spoils of the slain, they
marched away in very great haste, for fear of the na-
tives of Port Dauphine; whom they imagined captain
Drummond and the rest had by that time alarmed, and
prevailed on them to send some forces down to our
rescue. Now whether the negroes might not think we
had sent them away on purpose to get such assistance,
and thereby provoked them to murder us, I cannot say ;
but certain it is, we were the most unfortunate wretches
in the universe: for I was afterwards informed, before
our murdered people were well cold, two thousand of
king Samuel's men came down to rescue us out of their
merciless hands.
Perhaps the reader will say, why did we not send
two or three of our people as soon as we had passed
the river? To which I can only answer, I think we
were all infatuated, for with ease it might have been
done; especially since we had the woman Dudey to
go with them as an interpreter; and we might have
kept Sam with us. But none of these reasons at that
time occurred to me; for I was but a raw, inexpe-
rienced youth. And what motives could induce cap-
tain Younge to release both the king and his son, is
what I cannot pretend to account for. The plot was
doubtless well concerted, and as duly executed at first,
but most shamefully conducted afterwards; and, in-
deed, it is scarcely credible, that such a number of us
could be so stupid as we then were; and since I have
ROBERT DRURY.
53
attained to a mature age, and been capable of any
reflection, it is what I have been surprised at.
The only reason that can be offered I now think, is,
that as all of us had a great affection for our captain's
father, so it caused us to be too partial, and to enter-
tain too good an opinion of the son. But I since
found to my great concern that our captain wanted
not only judgment, but experience in the world; for
captain Drummond, as I very well remember, fre-
quently opposed him; but by whatsoever ill conduct
or folly we might contribute towards our ruin, so it
was; and I am relating a real faet, and not inventing
a fiction, or telling the reader what might or ought to
have been done in the unhappy situation of our affairs
at that time; however, through his imprudence were
my friends massacred, and myself with three more
made perpetual slaves: the eldest of us was not above
sixteen years of age, and we were immediately parted,
for they marched directly off the spot. As for Sam,
I do not reckon him as one of us, because he went off
with the negroes. I never saw him afterwards, but
was informed, that he lived a freeman under deaan
Crindo; and whether he was so faithful to us as in
justice and gratitude he ought to have been, is some-
what dubious.
All the way we went I had the shocking prospect of
our men's mangled bodies, as we passed through the
woods to the river. I was not so thirsty now, as when
I passed it first; but so faint for want of victuals, that
I could scarcely stand upon my legs, having had no
sustenance for three days together. Though my master
expressed some little concern for me, yet he would not
bait till he was past the river; however, he ordered
his people to stop at the first commodious place, and
make a fire. And now I was in hopes of some agreeable
refreshment; for some of his servants had carried beef
on their backs for that purpose. Though they cut it
into long pieces, (like ropes,) with the hide, and
dressed and eat it half-roasted according to their cus-
toin, and gave it me in the same manner, yet I thought
F 3
54
THE ADVENTURES OF
this contemptible food, and what a beggar in England
would not have touched, the most delicious entertain-
ment I ever met with. We rested here about an hour,
when he, to whose care I was intrusted, made signs to
know if I could walk; and as I was a little refreshed,
I got up, and travelled the remainder of the day with
more ease than I expected; since they walked but
slowly, as I perceived on purpose to indulge me.
At night we came to a wood, the place appointed
for our lodging; and there we met with three or four
men, whom my master had sent out a foraging, and
they brought in with them two bullocks; one of which
my master sent to his brother, for the use of him and
his people, and the other was killed for us; for the
army was now disbanded, and each party was march-
ing home with their respective chiefs to their own ha-
bitations. Here my master came to me and gave me
a lance, intimating that I might cut out as much as I
thought proper. I cut about a pound without any part
of the hide, which he perceiving, imputed it to my igno-
rance, and so cut a slice with the hide and dressed it
for me; which I ate with seeming thankfulness, not
daring to refuse it. As soon as supper was over, each
man pulled up as much grass as was sufficient for
himself to lie on; my guardian, however, provided
enough for himself and me. I then reposed myself
accordingly, and he lay by me; but his back skin
smelled so rank, that I was forced to turn my back
on him all night long. I had very little rest, for the
ghastly spectacle of my massacred friends was ever
before me, and made me start from sleep as soon as
I closed my eyes.
At break of day we arose, and after a short repast
marched on till noon, when we baited among some
shady trees near a pond of water; which very pond
we had passed by three days before, or at least within
two hundred yards of it, when we were dying with
thirst, and the negroes told us there was no water
near us.
Whilst some employed themselve in kindling a fire,
ROBERT DRURY.
55
others were busy in digging up and down amongst the
grass. I could not conceive what they were doing at
first; but I soon observed one of them pulling out of
the ground a long white root, which I found was a
yam, having seen many of them at Bengal; they soon
furnished themselves with a sufficient quantity. I per-
ceived they grew wild without any cultivation : some
of them were a yard long at least, and about six or
seven inches in circumference; they obliged me with
some of them, which I roasted, and eat with a great
deal of pleasure, instead of bread, with my beef: they
are very agreeable to the taste, as well as wholesome
food.
We arrived that evening at a small town, which we
no sooner entered than the women and children flocked
round about me, pinched me, struck me on the back with
their fists, and showed several other tokens of their de-
rision and contempt; at which I could not forbear
weeping, as it was not in my power to express my
resentment any other way; but when my guardian
observed it, he came to my assistance and freed me
from my persecutors. All the houses that were empty
were taken up by my master, his brother, and other
head-men; so that my guardian and I lay exposed to
the open air. The ill treatment I met with from the
women and children, put a thousand distracting
thoughts into my head. Sometimes I imagined that
I might be preserved alive for no other purpose, than
to be carried to the king and his son, who would, in
all probability, be fired with resentment at our late
seizing of them, and making them prisoners; then, again,
I thought that to gratify their pleasure and revenge,
they would order me to be put to death before their
faces by slow degrees, and the most exquisite torments.
Such melancholy reflections as these so disordered me
that when once through weariness I fell into a slumber
I had a dream which so terrified me that I started
upright, and trembled every joint of me; in short, I
could not get one wink of sleep all the night long.
When it was broad daylight we marched homeward
56
THE ADVENTURES OF
(for now I must call it so) and in three or four hours
time we arrived at a considerable town, with three or
four tamarind trees before it. One of the negroes
carried a large shell, which, when he blew, sounded
like a post-boy's horn. This brought the women to
a spacious house in the middle of the town, about
twelve feet high, which I soon perceived was my
master's. No sooner had he seated himself at the
door, than his wife came out crawling on her hands and
knees till she came to him, and then licked his feet;
and when she had thus testified her duty and respects,
his mother paid him the like compliment, and all the
women in the town saluted their husbands in the same
manner then each man went to his respective habi-
tation, my master's brother only excepted; who though
he had a house, had no wife to receive him, and so he
stayed behind.
:
My mistress intimated by her motions that she
would have me go in and sit down. A great deal of
serious discourse passed between my master and her,
and though I knew nothing of what they said, yet by
her looking so earnestly at me whilst he was talking,
I conjectured he was relating to her our tragical tale,
and I perceived that the tears frequently stood in her
eyes. This conference over, she ordered some carra-
vances to be boiled for our dinner; a kind of pulse,
much like our grey pease: she gave me some, but as
they had been boiled in dirty water, I could not eat
them. She, perceiving I did not like them, strained
them off the water and put some milk to them, and after
that I made a tolerable meal of them. She gave me
not only a mat to lie down upon, but a piece of calico
likewise about two yards in length to cover me. She
intimated that she wanted to know my name, which
I told her was Robin. Having received so much
civility from my mistress, I began to be much better
satisfied than I was at first; and then laid me down
and slept without any fear or concern about four hours,
as near as I could guess by the sun. When I waked
my mistress called me by my name, and gave me some
ROBERT DRURY.
57
milk to drink. She talked for some considerable time
to me, but I could not understand one word she said.
My master was all this time with his brother at the
door regaling themselves with toake.
When night came on I perceived that I was to lie
with them, for there was no other room. My master
and mistress lay in the middle, and the whole house
was not above fourteen feet in length, and twelve in
breadth, so that I lay crosswise close to his feet: in
this odd manner we lay three or four nights successively.
At last he called me by .my name several times to
know, I presume, whether I was awake or not; but as
I answered him whenever he called, I imagined he
would have been better pleased if I had slept soundly,
and had not heard him at all; for the next evening he
carried me to his aunt's house, where he told me I
must lie for the future. There I remained both day
and night, and did little but walk out with her and
her daughter to visit the plantations which had been
lately sown with Guinea corn and potatoes. In the
evening I used to visit my master and mistress, and
for supper I generally had milk, which was sometimes
fresh and sometimes sour. They were not over fond
of putting me to work, as I could do them but little
service, being altogether a stranger to what was said
to me, and more especially as he had above two hun-
dred slaves always ready to answer his occasions.
My master, whose name was deaan Mevarrow, was
grandson to deaan Crindo, who was absolute lord of
this country, and his wife was the daughter of a
northern king whom they had conquered in battle,
and she was one of my master's captives. For this
reason I presume it was that she took so much com-
passion upon me; considering herself a slave in a
strange country, and only preferred to my master's
bed by courtesy.
In a short time I began to reconcile myself to their
manner of eating, since no better provision I found
was to be had, only I would strip off some of the hair
from the hide of the beef, whenever I could do it
58
THE ADVENTURES OF
without being observed. I used often to reflect on my
brother and sister's more agreeable manner of living at
my father's table; being conscious that even some
beggars in England fared much better than I did here.
However as I found nobody lived better, I made myself
as easy as I could; I was now under no apprehensions
of being killed till an accident happened soon after,
which put me into a violent panic for about an hour.
My master, attended by several of his slaves, took me
with him one evening into the woods; I observed great
preparations made for killing and dressing a bullock
or some such thing, but there being none to kill, and
it being then dark, I perceived that they walked about
with great circumspection, talked softly, and testified
all the symptoms of some secret design; upon this the
tears stood in my eyes, imagining that they intended
to cut me up and make a meal of me, but my fright
was soon over when I saw two slaves hauling along a
bullock by a rope fastened to his horns, and my master
sticking his lance into his throat in order to despatch
him. They immediately cut up his carcass and dressed
the entrails after their own manner. The booty was
equally divided, and I observed that each man took
care to hide his portion in some private place, from
whence he might convey it away by night. As soon
as our business was over we parted, some one way
and some another, for fear of being taken notice of.
I now plainly perceived that we were all this time
plundering of our neighbours. I often wondered
indeed that the aunt with whom I lived, dressed meat
so often in the nighttime, but this unravelled the
mystery; this was not the only time I was forced to
assist in this clandestine practice.
In about four months' time I began to have some
tolerable notion of their language; I knew the names of
most common things, and could express myself so as to
be understood. My master and mistress took me one
day into the plantations, where the slaves were hoeing
the weeds from the caravances, that were just shooting
up. They gave me a hoe, but I had no inclination to
ROBERT DRURY.
59
work; I pretended to be very ignorant and hoed up
plants and weeds together, at which they laughed
heartily, and took away my hoe to prevent more
mischief.
This artifice, however, proved of but little service to
me, for my master perceiving that I either could not
or would not work in the plantations, was determined
to employ me some other way, and about such business
as I could not well do amiss. Accordingly the next
day he showed me his cattle, and told me I must take
care of them, drive them to water, and see that they
did not break either his own or any other neighbour's
plantations. This business I liked much better than
the other, because there were three or four lads more of
this town about my age, who had cattle to attend to as
well as myself. What I disliked most was, that we
had a very considerable way to drive them to water,
and at night to drive them back again; besides I was
obliged to drag home a long tub which held about
three gallons; for all the water we used in the house
was fetched from this watering place. However we
had no just cause of complaint, for we joined our
herds together, and in the heat of the day, when the
cattle would lie down in the shade, we had three or
four hours' time to ramble through the woods and
gather yams. I had been thus long in the country,
yet I never knew how they struck fire, till wanting to
roast some of my yams, I asked my comrades where
their fire was; they showed me their hands and laugh-
ing, said, here it is, but one of them soon informed
me how to do it. He took one short round stick about
half the length of a gun rammer, and another con-
siderably thicker, but both of one sort of wood, and
rubbed the former upon the latter till there came a
dust from it first, then a smoke, and soon fire after.
We sometimes traversed the woods and stole people's
honey, and eat it just as we found it. When we could
spare time, we used to look for a creature which I
call a ground-hog, and which in their language is
called tondruck; it is about the size of a cat, snout,
60
THE ADVENTURES OF
eyes, and ears are like an English hog's, it has bristles
on its back but no tail, the feet of it are like a rabbit's ;
its principal food is beetles and young snails, which
they grub up with their snouts; they are very prolific,
and have above twenty young ones at a litter, to all
which they give suck. In the cold season of the year
(for though there is no time which can properly be
called winter, yet one part of the year is sensibly much
colder than the other) these creatures hide themselves
in the ground in a most surprising manner. They
first dig a hole about two feet deep directly in the
earth, and after that they work obliquely two or three
feet one way, and as much another, making angles;
though they throw the earth up with their fore feet,
yet they make it as firm with their hind feet as if no
passage had been ever made. When they have worked
in this manner for some time, they then work aslant,
upwards, till they get within half a foot of the surface:
there they make a kind of lodgment, just big enough
for them to turn themselves round in, where they lie
for four or five months successively without any sus-
tenance whatsoever; and what is still more strange,
they are as fat at the expiration of that term as when
they first went in. It is no small difficulty to catch
them, for when we have discovered some marks of the
place where we imagine they began to burrow, we are
often disappointed in digging after them; they work
so artfully, that we know not which way to find out
their secret recesses; but we spare no pains to take
them, for they are excellent food, and their skin when
dressed is as brown and crisp as a pig's. Their hedge-
hogs too are agreeable enough, but nothing near so
delicious as their tondrucks; these conceal themselves
all the cold winter in holes of trees, where they remain
for some months without any visible support.
This employment of attending the cattle was agree-
able to me, except in excessively hot weather, when it
was a great fatigue to drive them several miles to
water, at least every other day; but in the colder
season we had no occasion to observe that practice,
ROBERT DRURY.
61
for the dew falls so plentifully in the night, that we
find it sufficient to drive them into the grass about
break of day; and even the inhabitants of this part of
the country of Anterndroea, who have no water near
them, go into the fields in a morning with two wooden
platters and a tub, and in less than an hour will collect
about eight or ten gallons of dew-water, which is very
good while fresh, but will turn sour in a day or two,
and disagreeable to the taste.
I had not followed this employment above a year,
when my master went to war, or rather (as I under-
stood afterwards) to plunder a people to the westward
whom they pursued with the most implacable hatred,
they having surprised deaan Crindo's father in his
own town by night, and murdered him in a most bar-
barous manner.
My master informed me that I must look after the
cattle no more, for he was going to war, and had
other business for me of much greater importance. I
offered my service to wait on him, but he answered,
we shall travel night and day; it is a long and tedious
journey, and you cannot, I believe, be able to undergo
the fatigue, but your principal business must be to
look after my wife, and act as her guardian. He gave
me a strict charge to lie in the same house with her,
and never to let her stir out without me. After he
had given her instructions to the same effect, he took
his leave, and accompanied by most of his people, went
on his intended expedition.
I now lived at perfect ease, and my mistress was
very kind and indulgent to me. I went abroad
wherever she went, partook of every thing she had for
herself, and lay in the same house with her, both of
us strictly observing our master's orders; neither could
I perceive that her compliance therewith was any way
repugnant to her inclinations. I was not, it is true,
absolutely easy myself; for the thoughts of my
friends and native country, and the improbability of
ever seeing them again, made me very melancholy,
and dejected me to that degree that sometimes I coul
G
62
THE ADVENTURES OF
not forbear indulging my grief in private, and bursting
into a flood of tears.
My mistress would frequently ask me whether I was
indisposed, or wanted any thing; I could not prevail
on myself to reveal the real cause of my anxiety;
however one day I took the liberty to tell her, I should
be very glad of an opportunity to see the other three
lads, whose lives were preserved, and who were taken
prisoners when I was. She desired me not to afflict
myself on that account, for she would go with me,
and should be highly delighted to hear us converse
together in our own language. Accordingly she made
inquiry amongst her neighbours where they were, who
informed us that they were at some distance from one
another; but that the nearest to be met with was about
four or five miles off. So the next morning we set out
and inquired for the white boy: we were told that
he was gone to carry his fellow-servants some pro-
visions to the plantation, but as soon as a messenger
was sent to him he returned immediately, being as
desirous of seeing me in particular as I was of him;
we embraced each other in a very passionate manner,
and expressed ourselves at first rather in tears than
words. We had been very intimate on shipboard, and
I used to treat him frequently with punch, being de-
lighted with his company as he had a taste for music,
and could play extremely well on the violin. We
condoled with each other, and observed how wretchedly
we looked, all naked, except a small clout about our
middles, and our skins spotted like a leopard's; for
neither of us being ever before so exposed to the sun,
we were scorched, and flead as it were, and our skins
often rose up in blisters. After our mutual condolence
we came to an agreement, that if either of us got safe
to England, we would give the other's friends a parti-
cular account of all our misfortunes. We inquired of
each other after our other comrades, but were equally
strangers to their particular places of abode. My mis-
tress seemed very attentive to our discourse, and
showed a compassionate regard for our afflictions; but
ROBERT DRURY.
63
with great reluctance, and many a tear, we were
obliged at last to part.
We had not been at home above two hours, before
an express arrived from my master with news of his
success; and that he would be at home in a fortnight.
My mistress, and all the women who had husbands
abroad, expressed their general joy in large bowls
of toake. In the mean time I was very much indis-
posed, but tolerably well recovered before my master's
return.
He made his public entry in a very triumphant
manner; the trumpet-shells blowing, and crowds of
people dancing before him all the way with their guns
in their hands. On his first approach, the foremost
men fired their guns towards the ground; which with
them is the signal of a victorious return. Deaan Mevar-
row, and his brother deaan Sambo, came after them
with their attendants; next followed the cattle, which
he had taken from the enemy, and the prisoners of war
brought up the rear. After they were seated in form
before my master deaan Mevarrow's house, not only
his consort, attended by the other women of the town,
came as usual, and licked his feet, but the men too,
whom he left behind him when he went to war.
I stood all this time as a spectator, till he seeing me
at a distance, called me to him. I approached him in
the usual form of the country on such a public occasion;
that is, with my hands lifted up, and in a praying pos-
ture. When I came near him, I paid him the compli-
ment of salamonger umba; but did not kneel down as
all the others did, having a kind of conscientious reluc-
tance to such an act, as thinking it an adoration that I
ought to pay to no one but the Supreme Being; but he
seemed to resent my being so over religions; for he
asked me,
"If I thought it beneath me to pay him the
same respect that his own wife, (who was a king's
daughter,) and his own mother too, so readily conde-
scended to?" However, I peremptorily refused, and
told him, “I would obey all his lawful commands,
and do whatever work he thought proper to employ me
G 2
64
THE ADVENTURES OF
in; but this act of divine homage I could never comply
with."
On this he fell into a violent passion, and upbraided
me with being ungrateful, and insensible of his saving
me from being killed among my countrymen; and
urged, moreover, that I was his slave, &c. ; but notwith-
standing all this, I still continued resolute and firm to
my purpose. Whereupon he rose from his seat, and
with his lance made a stroke at me with all his might;
but his brother, by a sudden push on one side, pre-
vented the mischief he intended. He was going to
repeat his blow, but his brother interposed, and entreated
him to excuse me; but he absolutely, and in the
warmest terms, refused to forgive me unless I would
lick his feet. His brother begged he would give him a
little time to talk with me in private, which he did; and
after he had told me the danger of not doing it, and
that in submitting to it, I did no more than what many
great princes were obliged to do when taken prisoners,
I found, at length, it was prudence to comply; so I
went in, asked pardon, and performed the ceremony as
others had done before me. He told me he readily
forgave me, but would make me sensible I was a slave.
I did not much regard his menaces, for as I had no
prospect of ever returning to England, I set but little
value on my life. The next day I incurred his displea-
sure again, and never expected to escape from feeling
the weight of his resentment.
My master then performed the ceremony of thanks-
giving to God, for his happy deliverance from all the
hazards of war, and for the success of his arms; which
is performed in the following manner :-The inhabit-
ants have in all their houses a small portable utensil,
which is devoted to religious uses, and is a kind of
household altar, which they call the owley. It is made
of a peculiar wood, in small pieces neatly joined, and
making almost the form of a half-moon with the horns
downwards, between which are placed two alligator's
teeth; this is adorned with various kinds of beads, and
such a sash fastened to it behind as a man ties about
ROBERT DRURY.
65
his waist when he goes to war. [I shall not here pretend
to give an exact account of their religious worship, for I
had not been long enough in the country to be a perfect
master of the true meaning of what they either did or
said.] However, I observed that they brought two forks
from the woods, and fixed them in the ground, on which
was laid a beam, slender at each end, and about six feet
long, with two or three pegs in it, and upon this they hung
the owley. Behind it was a long pole, to which a bullock
was fastened with a cord. They had a pan full of live
coals, on which they threw an aromatic gum, and planted
it under the owley. Then they took a small quantity
of hair from the tail, chin, and eyebrows of the ox, and
put them on the owley.
Then deaan Mevarrow, my
master, used some particular gestures with a large knife
in his hand, and made a formal prayer, in which the
people joined. In the next place they threw the ox on
the ground with his legs tied fast together, and the
deaan cut his throat; for as there are no priests among
them, the chief man, whether of the country, town, or
family, performs all divine offices himself. As soon as
the people were all seated on mats in a circular form,
my master ordered me to sit down too, and say as the
people said, which I absolutely refused. However he
pursued his devotion, and when the service was over,
took the owley in one hand and his lance in the other,
and came directly to me, asking me with a frown, which
I rather chose, either to assist in their solemn and
public thanksgiving, or to a fall a sacrifice to his just
resentment? At first I was startled, but as I thought
this sort of worship to be downright idolatry, and
that they paid their adorations to the owley, I resolutely
told him that I would sooner die than pay divine
homage to any false deity whatsoever. Upon this, as
soon as he had put the owley in its place, he came to
me again, and taking me by the hand was determined to
lead me out of the town and kill me; but his brother
and all the people round about him pleaded for me,
and used their utmost endeavours to persuade him
agamst so rash an action, but to no purpose; till his
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66
THE ADVENTURES OF
brother at last very warmly told him, he would that
minute depart and see his face no more, if he offered to
be guilty of such an act of inhumanity, and rose up to
be gone accordingly. When my master saw his brother
was going in good earnest, he called him back, and
promised to spare my life; but assured him he would
punish me very severely for my contempt of his orders.
Deaan Sambo told him, he should submit that to his
own discretion; all he begged of him was not to kill
me. Upon this, by a secret sign, he advised me to
kneel down and lick his feet, which I readily complied
with, and asked his pardon. When I got up, I kneeled
down to deaan Sambo of my own accord, and licked
his feet as a testimony of my gratitude and respect
for thus saving my life a second time.
As soon as this storm was blown over, I was remanded
to my former post of cowkeeper. I had a great deal of
trouble sometimes with these cattle, for they are very
unruly; and notwithstanding they are larger beasts
than any I ever saw elsewhere of the kind, they are so
nimble that they will leap over high fences like a grey-
hound. They have an excrescence between their
shoulders, somewhat like that of camels, all fat and
flesh; some of which will weigh about three or four
score pounds; they are also beautifully coloured, some
are streaked like a tiger, others, like a leopard, are
marked with various spots. They do not give so much
milk as our cows in England, nor will they ever suffer
themselves to be milked till their calves have first
sucked; so that they keep one calf for every cow all the
year, or till the cow is pregnant again, and they seldom
miss a season. Here are also some sheep with large
heavy tails, like Turkey sheep; they are not woolly as
ours, but more like a goat. Here are also a small
number of goats, like those in other countries. They
bring up no hogs, though there are enough in the coun-
try; for they are so mischievous to the plantations,
that we are forced to set traps to catch them; but in
this country of Anterndroea nobody eats them, except
the very refuse of the people.
ROBERT DRURY.
67
Whilst I was peaceably tending my cattle, and all
things seemed perfectly quiet and easy, the scene of
our affairs was changed at once by some sudden news,
and my master was summoned to war in good earnest.
It is a common practice for parties to stroll out and
surprise their enemies by night, when least they expect
them on these expeditions it is customary for every
man to carry a piece of meat in his hand, and when
they have entered a town in the dead of night they
throw the meat to the dogs, in order to prevent their
barking. When they are all got in, one fires a musket,
but makes no other noise; the inhabitants thereupon
being alarmed, and hastily creeping out of the doors
of their low huts in a stooping posture, are stabbed
with lances as to the women and children they take
them captive, and drive away with them all the cattle
they can find, set the town on fire, and return home
by private unpractised ways. In this manner did my
master, his brother, and some others belonging to
deaan Crindo, enter several of the king of Mefaughla's
remote and defenceless towns; whereupon, in order
to retaliate the indignity offered him, the injured king
mustered up an army of three thousand men, and en-
tered Anterndroea, with a firm resolution either to
fight the deaan in the field, or attack him in his own
town, called Fennoarevo; and by fire to lay it level with
the ground: accordingly he sent a messenger to deaan
Crindo, to tell him that he should soon feel the weight
of his just resentment. To which he answered, he
would not stir out of the town but wait for him there;
and defied him to put his purpose in execution.
Deaan Crindo, therefore, summoned all his people to
his assistance, and to be ready at hand in Fennoarevo, or
the adjacent villages. He had four sons who were
chiefs of towns, besides nephews and grandsons. His
sons were deaan Mundumber, deaan Frukey, deaan Tro-
daughe, but deaan Chahary was unfortunately gone
with five hundred able men to traffic into Feraignher;
which is Augustine-bay country.
It is a constant custom amongst them in time of
08
THE ADVENTURES OF
war to conceal their wives, children, and cattle in
remote and secret places in the woods, that the enemy
when they plunder the country may not be able to
find them; but the women and children are never
with the cattle, lest their bellowing should discover
them. The women for the most part secure themselves,
by trailing a bough after them as they go to their
recess; which prevents their track from being followed.
Thus did my master and his people secure their wives,
children, and cattle. I was left with the latter; for that
reason am incapable of giving an exact account of this
war, knowing no more of it than what was told me at
their return; which in general was to the following
effect.
1
That deaan Woozington, the king, and his son Che-
mermaundy, with Ryopheck his nephew, a gallant man
who commanded the army of Merfaughla, entered the
country without the least opposition; for deaan Crindo
having received his menacing message, took care in
the first place to secure the families and cattle be-
longing to his people, and then drew up all his armed
men in the town, resolving to wait for his coming;
but deaan Mundumber, Frukey, and the younger chiefs,
had not patience to hear of his passing without resist-
ance; so they prevailed on the king, though against
his will, to let them go out with two thousand men
and obstruct his march. Deaan Crindo, however, was
resolute and would not stir out of the town. This
army was commanded in chief by deaan Mundumber
and Frukey; who behaved themselves with great cou-
rage and conduct, first sending word to deaan Woozing-
ton, that they were come by their father's command
to give him a suitable reception into their country,
and hoped he would not fail to meet them. To which
he answered, he would most assuredly pay them a
visit and make himself welcome; and was as good as
his word. They joined battle, and Mundumber was
obliged to retire, which he did in good order after a
sharp and obstinate fight; in which deaan Woozington's
son was dangerously wounded. Deaan Mundumber
ROBERT DRURY.
69
returned to his father with eight hundred men, and
used his utmost endeavours to prevail on him to go
out with his forces, and give deaan Woozington battle;
but the old king persisted in his first resolution. So
Mundumber continued at home with him, and fortified
the town as well as the time would admit.
After this, deaan Frukey and Trodaughe made them-
selves masters of a pass between two hills, and cut
down several large trees to defend them; by which
means they entirely stopped deaan Woozington's pro-
gress, notwithstanding he attacked them in the most
vigorous manner, and was as gallantly repulsed: at
last, Ryopheck, by the direction of a man who was
well acquainted with the country, got behind them,
and deaan Woozington, at the same time, with Ryopheck
charged them again. Frukey, however, and his bre-
thren, were obliged to retire, which they did with great
resolution, even through Ryopheck's party. In this
action Ryopheck, who was always in the hottest place,
with much difficulty escaped.
Though deaan Woozington at last arrived at Fenno-
arevo, and attacked it in a vigorous manner, yet he
was as bravely repulsed; deaan Crindo and his sons
resisting till they were overpowered, and when their
enemies were got within the town, they even disputed
every inch of ground, till deaan Crindo himself was
obliged to cut down several trees, which are their walls,
to make a way for their escape. He so much depended
on his own courage and conduct, that he kept his wife
and daughter in his own house, notwithstanding all
the other women and children were sent away long
before; these unhappily fell into the hands of deaan
Woozington, and were made his captives. The town
was reduced to ashes, as soon as they had plundered it
of such trifles as their treasures consist in, the principal
of which are beads; these they often conceal in holes :
so that there is nothing to be got but iron shovels,
hoes, earthen and wooden dishes, spoons, &c. some
cattle, indeed, they found, which were brought into the
town for their necessary subsistence during the siege;
70
THE ADVENTURES OF
and in such cases these cattle live well enough upon
the thatches of their houses. They had also filled a
great many tubs with water.
Deaan Crindo was inconsolable for the loss of his
wife and daughter, and like a distracted man; when
his sons told him if he would now join them, as he
should have done at first, they were yet able to deal
with deaan Woozington. And accordingly they mus-
tered all their forces into one army, and made a number
equal to their enemies. Deaan Woozington having
no intelligence of this, was detaching a thousand men
to plunder the country, and bring in all the women,
children, and cattle they could find; which is their
constant practice after a complete victory. Just at
this juncture deaan Crindo appeared with his potent
army, and sent messengers to acquaint him that he
must either deliver up the queen and princess with the
other people and cattle he was possessed of, or imme-
diately decamp and give them battle. Deaan Woozing-
ton in answer thereto, assured him he had no thoughts
of detaining his wife and daughter, neither did he
come for slaves or cattle, he having plenty of both; but
since deaan Crindo had sent him a challenge boasting
of his superior strength, and bidding defiance to all
the kings on the island, on account of the number of
white men that were his friends, he came to see them;
but as he could find none, he hoped that the proud
deaan Crindo was sufficiently mortified; so he was
ready to send him his wife and daughter again: but as
to the few slaves and cattle which he had taken, his
people should detain them to make themselves some
compensation for the robberies which Mevarrow, and
some others, had committed in his country.
At last a peace was concluded, and sworn to by the
generals on both sides, with the usual formality of
killing an ox, and eating a piece of the liver from off
the point of a lance; each general wishing at the same
time, that whoever first fired a gun might die upon the
spot. The ceremony being over, public rejoicings were
made on both sides; deaan Woozington returned into
ROBERT DRURY.
71
his own country, and deaan Crindo to rebuild his shat-
tered town, which was finished with the utmost expe-
dition, and all his chiefs with their people repaired to
their respective homes.
As soon as we were well settled again, three boys who
belonged to some principal men of our town, and my-
self, were sent some miles off with about two hundred
head of cattle, to look after them and provide for our-
selves. There were not above five or six of them
however, which gave milk, so that we were at a short
allowance if we expected any other diet, we must
search for it in the woods, and get it where and when
we could find it. My mistress furnished me with an
earthen pot to warm my milk in, a calabash to drink
out of, and a mat to lie upon. My master gave me
a hatchet to make fences with, and a lance to fight
with if any body came to steal my cattle: he also gave
me a new clout, to wear after their country fashion,
my old one being worn out; the common people sel-
dom wear one broader than a napkin; they call it a
lamber, and so shall I for the future; the name of
a-se-clout (by which our English seamen distinguish it
by way of derision) being too vulgar an expression.
We drove our cattle to the proposed place, and the
first thing we employed ourselves about was, the erec-
tion of a house, which we completed in about a day
and a half. We finished our cow pen next, and
made a small one for the calves, to keep them from
sucking while we milked the cows. Our house, how-
ever, was but a poor little hut, and but badly thatched;
and it being the rainy season, (which is their winter,
and sometimes very cold,) we had but a very indiffe-
rent lodging. We kept, indeed, a fire, and happy was
he who could lie nearest it; for we had no other cover-
ing than our lambers, which we pulled off to lay over
Now I began to feel the weight of my slavery,
being almost famished; for all the food we could get,
was a small fowl now and then, which creeps upon the
ground; and which we caught in traps.
us.
72
THE ADVENTURES OF
We lived in this melancholy situation almost three
months, but at last we formed a project for killing one
of our master's beasts, and dressing it in private. A
great many schemes were offered, till at length I pro-
posed one, which was unanimously agreed to; namely,
to kill a cow by stabbing her in the side with a sharp
pointed stick, and make the horn of another cow, which
belonged to the same man, all over bloody, that he
might imagine the misfortune came by goring. But
then a debate arose, whose beast should be killed; for
every one was unwilling that his master should be the
sufferer. However, I soon determined that point, by
drawing lots with four sticks shorter than each other;
and I so contrived it, that I kept the longest in my
hand, and by that means secured my master's.
When the job was done, away ran the boy to inform
his master that one heifer had killed another; he and
his family came immediately upon the news, and find-
ing a cow with a bloody horn, they all concluded it
was done by her. Though the master was sadly net-
tled at the disaster, yet he soon cut up the dead beast,
and gave us a good large piece of it, besides the legs
and the entrails; and then went home again. Thus far
our scheme succeeded to our wish, but our principal
aim was, under colour of having meat given us by our
masters, to despatch another heifer privately; and if
any person happened to see us (as we were not far
from strangers, though we were from our own homes)
and ask how we came by our beef, we could say our
masters gave it us. But success made us too bold,
for one day having killed a beast that had strayed from
some other people amongst ours, our masters came to
see their cattle, which they found in the cow pens, but
finding none of us near them, they began to suspect us:
whereupon they divided themselves, and made a more
narrow inquiry; one of them heard a noise in the
wood, like the felling of trees, where we were very
busy; and following the sound, they soon smelt roast-
meat in short, our masters surprised us, and came at
ROBERT DRURY.
73
once amongst us with their guns cocked, crying out,
vonne terach com boar; which in English is, kill the
sons of bitches.
The reader may imagine we were frightened to the
last degree, and expected nothing but immediate death ;
and indeed it proved almost fatal to the other three.
They asked us whose beast it was? We answered, a
strange one. They told us, however, that the crime
was the same; for if we had practised the art of killing
cattle privately, they were sensible that theirs must
some time or other be our prey, when no others offered;
and for that reason were resolved to punish us with
the utmost severity. Hereupon each of my comrades'
masters took his slave, and in an instant castrated him.
I, not relishing that sort of punishment, fell down at
my master's feet, and endeavoured all I could to con-
vince him that I had been peculiarly careful of his
cattle; and told him, moreover, that I would stand the
chance of being killed by submitting myself to be shot
at, provided he stood at any reasonable distance; or
run any other hazard he should think fit, rather than
be deprived of my manhood. My proposition was ac-
cepted, and accordingly he took me out of the wood
and tied my arms behind me round a tree, and placed
himself at about fourscore yards; then seeming to take
good aim at me, fired, but missed me: whether he did
it on purpose I can't say, but I presume he did; ima-
gining the terror was sufficient, having seen bow se-
verely the others were punished. They went away,
and told us if ever they found us at such pranks again,
nothing should save us from immediate death.
They were no sooner gone from us than I began to
reflect on the injustice of our masters, who, though they
had cattle of their own, would frequently oblige us to
go with them on their thievish expeditions; and yet so
severely punish us for one poor crime to satisfy our
craving appetites. However, after all, I was forced to
be doctor to my comrades in distress, for their masters
took no care of them; so I warmed some water and
washed off the blood, and dressed their wounds: I was
H
71
THE ADVENTURES OF
also forced while we remained there to look after all
the cattle, and milk them too; for they were not per-
fectly recovered, when orders were brought us to re-
turn with our cattle. As my poor comrades could
scarce walk, I made the messenger who came to us as-
sist me in driving the cattle home.
When I came home, I was soon informed that deaan
Tuley-Noro, king of Antenosa, had given my master all
this trouble by marching his people into Anterndroea,
and demanding satisfaction of deaan Crindo for the
murder of the white men. Now, though this was two
years and a half before (for so long I had been in the
country) yet I soon heard that captain Drummond,
captain Steward, Mr. Bembo, and the rest, who escaped
the night before the massacre, were with him; and that
there had not been, during all that time, a ship at Port
Dauphine, for them to return in; but that notwith-
standing they lived free and entirely at their own dis-
posal. This deaan Tuley-Noro was king Samuel,
whom I mentioned before, and whose dominions were
on the other side of the river Manderra.
As soon as I got home I was taken from the cattle,
and two men were ordered to guard me and see that I
did not run away to king Samuel. The next day we
heard the Antenosa people were within ten miles of
our town, which put them all into a great hurry and
confusion. The cattle were sent one way, and the
women and children another; poor Robin, their white
slave, was along with them, but had his hands tied be-
hind him. I had not been long there before a messen-
ger came to my mistress in great haste, with order to
send me to my master in the camp, for the white men
were to purchase me, and proposed to give two Buc-
caneer guns as a valuable consideration. My mistress
was loth to part with me; I dissembled as much as I
could, and showed a seeming reluctance at parting
since I had been so long amongst them; though at the
same time I struggled hard to conceal my joy. I
kneeled down and licked her feet, thanking her for all
her favours, and away I went with the messenger, in
ROBERT DRURY,
75
great hopes now of seeing some of my countrymen
again, and getting a passage to England. But see how
fortune tantalized me! It was twenty miles, or there-
abouts, to the camp where my master was; and it might
be somewhat after midnight when we arrived there:
my master set a watch over me the remaining part of
the night, and made me swear I would never discover
the hiding places of their wives and cattle; which I
readily complied with.
The next morning king Samuel sent to know if I was
come, and desired they would permit a hundred men
to be sent down with me between the two camps; and
he would send the like number to meet them with the
two Buccaneer guns. This being agreed to, deaan
Crindo ordered my master to go with the party; and
king Samuel seeing them approach, gave directions for
his men to meet them; among whom were captain
Drummond, and the rest of the white men. When we
came near one another, captain Drummond, being glad
to see me, called me by my name; and asked me how
I did. My master, thereupon, clapped his hand upon
my mouth, and vowed if I offered to speak he would
kill me; so that I durst not return any answer. Cap-
tain Drummond finding I made no reply, imagined, as
I suppose, that I could not hear, whereupon he and
the white men came nearer. My master, on their ap-
proach, thought they came to take me by force, and
cheat them of the two guns; upon this he ordered his
men to fire at them: so that instead of a parley and an
exchange of me for the two guns, a skirmish ensued,
and both armies advanced to support each other's party.
I was immediately sent away under a strong guard to
the woods, where I parted with my mistress the night
before so that this pleasing prospect of deliverance
was nothing more than a short transitory dream of li-
berty, which immediately vanished; and made me only
feel the weight of slavery much more sensibly than be-
fore. Which way I returned back I cannot tell; but
sure I am, I was in such a disorder of mind as a con-
demned criminal is when going to execution In a few
H 2
75
THE ADVENTURES OF
hours, however, I found myself in my former station ;
my legs in parra-pingo (a fastening almost like fetters)
for fear I should run away: my old companions stood
round about me, and my mistress and the women were
glad to see me again. But I was in too melancholy a
mood to return them any compliments; nor could they
extract from me any thing but tears and exclamations
at my hard fortune. I wished for death, and was very
near being gratified in my desire two days after.
The next day news came that deaan Tuley-Noro
was returning back to his own country; he being (as
they said) obliged to retire by deaan Crindo, though
the Antenosa army was twice their number. We were
also ordered to return home, and I was released from
parra-pingo, and set at liberty; my guard being also
discharged.
The day following came deaan Mevarrow, deaan
Sambo, and their little army, entering the town with
great pomp and grandeur, as if they had gained some
extraordinary victory; though I heard of nothing but a
little bush-fighting and ambuscades. The deaan, how-
ever, sat himself down with his brother, the other chiefs,
and the rest in the usual form before his house: my
mistress, according to custom, crept out to lick her
hero's feet; when she had done, the rest of the women
performed the same ceremony; and after them the
slaves, among whom I was one. As I was getting up
to depart, he ordered me to stay; I stood some time
to hear him tell his wife, how like a coward deaan
Tuley-Noro behaved himself, though he had twice their
number of men. After he had told his tale, he turned
his head, and with an angry countenance asked me
what the white men said when they called me? Sir, said
I, they only asked me how I did? And nothing else,
said he. I replied, no, sir. At this he rose up in a
rage, cocked his gun, and put the muzzle to my breast
saying, if I did not tell him the truth he would shoot
me that moment. I was not much daunted, as I had
little or no regard for my life in my then melancholy
humour; so with little concern I repeated what I said.
;
ROBERT DRURY.
77
At this he pulled the trigger, but Providence being
pleased to preserve me for some other purpose, the
cock snapped, and missed fire. Whether the prime
was wet in the pan, or by what other miracle it was I
escaped his fury, I cannot say ; but that not succeeding
to his wish, he took his lance to stab me; when his
brother and the rest of his chief men ran in between
us and told him it was cruel and inhuman, and that he
had better have killed me at first, than saved me only
to terrify me with death on every slight occasion; there
being no reason at all for such severe treatment. With
inuch persuasion he returned to his seat and told them
there were just grounds to suspect the white men had
formed a design to commit some treacherous action,
since they came nearer than they ought to have done.
And, indeed, their fears proceeded from a natural dread
they have of white men, ten of whom will drive fifty
black men before them. Besides, captain Drummond
and the rest being completely armed with pistols in
their girdles, was an additional terror to them. What
was the true reason of king Samuel's retiring I know
not;
but when this broil was over, my curiosity led me
to understand the whole affair; which was thus related
to me.
King Samuel's intention was to have marched di-
rectly to Fennoarevo, and fall upon deaan Crindo be-
fore he could be provided for him: his way lay over a
large plain called Ambovo, leading to a great wood;
through which they must also pass. Deaan Crindo
having more timely notice than they expected, laid an
ambuscade in the wood; king Samuel being lame of
the gout was carried on men's shoulders; they suffered
him and great part of his army to enter the wood, and
then gave the signal: whereupon deaan Crindo's men
arose and attacked them so vigorously and with so
much advantage, (knowing the wood which the others
did not,) that king Samuel himself was in danger of
being taken; but was gallantly defended by the white
men, and others of his bravest people. They were
obliged, however, to retire into the plain, where they
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encamped, as did deaan Crindo's people close by the
wood side, and even in it; by that means securing
themselves from the superior number of the Antenosa
army, which, as they were informed, consisted of six
thousand men. Here they came to a parley: king Sa-
muel sent one of his chiefs to acquaint deaan Crindo,
that he had no intention to deprive hin either of his
cattle or his slaves; but that as he had been brought up
among white men, all such were his friends; and he
looked on himself obliged in duty and honour to de-
mand some satisfaction of deaan Crindo, for the white
men he had so inhumanly sacrificed to his resentment;
and if there were any yet alive, he desired to have them
in order to send them to their native country.
Deaan Crindo gave good attention to the messenger,
and then returned an answer to this effect: that he
wondered deaan Tuley-Noro should concern himself
with other people's affairs; that as to the white men
who were shipwrecked on his coast, he looked upon it,
that the great God had sent them there for his assist-
ance; and that as he had a potent enemy, and was con-
scious of the white men's courage, as well as superior
skill in war, he should not slight the help his gods had
sent him. Accordingly he treated them with the ut-
most civility as friends, and maintained them in as
handsome a manner as his country would afford; they
wanting for nothing he could procure them: and after
all, though they had in so violent a manner seized him,
and prince Murnanzack, and made them prisoners, he
would condescend so far to Tuley-Noro to inform him
(though under no obligations to give him an account
of his actions, or frame any excuses) that neither he,
nor prince Murnanzack was present, or any way aid-
ing or abetting in their deaths; but that action was
done by some of his sons and nephews to revenge the
indignity offered to himself and prince Murnanzack.
And to convince him he did not tell him this as a plea,
through a mean spirited fear; since his sons thought fit
to do it, he would justify and defend them in it; and
thought they did the white men justice. That he knows
ROBERT DRURY.
T9
but of one that was living out of four boys, who were
saved at that time, whom by inquiry he finds to be in
deaan Mevarrow's hands: as to the other three, one
died by sickness; the second was killed by his master
for his obstinacy and perverseness; and the third ran
away or was lost; for nobody knew what was become
of him and as to him who was living, he should not
have him without paying such a ransom as his master
required.
:
Now, by several circumstances, I am apt to imagine,
that this answer might seem highly reasonable to king
Samuel; and that in my opinion prevailed more on him
to return to Antenosa, than all the force my master
boasted of, or than all that Crindo's army was capable
of performing.
They told me, however, that king Samuel in his an-
swer hereto, excused the violence the white men offered
to deaan Crindo, by asserting that they did it only to
secure their liberty; that they did not, nor ever intend-
ed to hurt or injure him. However, as there was no
raising the dead to life, if he would send six hundred
head of cattle, it should be deemed a sufficient com-
pensation; as for me, he was ready and willing to pur-
chase me, and desired to know what they demanded
for my redemption. Deaan Crindo sent word that
with respect to me, they insisted on two Buccaneer
guns; but as to his demand of six hundred head of
cattle, he was not to have laws, or any arbitrary com-
mands imposed on him by any king whomsoever; that
if they wanted provision he was ready to supply him:
for it should not be said that deaan Tuley-Noro came
to see him, and he would not give him a dinner; and
for that reason he had ordered his people to present
him with six oxen and a bull.
King Samuel, as some would have it, resented this
as an affront, and would have attacked the Antern-
droeans immediately upon it, but was dissuaded by
captain Drummond and the rest, there being no likeli-
hood of any engagement but bush-fighting; which must
be to the advantage of the Anterndroeans in their own
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THE ADVENTURES OF
country, who were in possession of the wood: so find-
ing that no other terms would be agreeable, they ac-
cepted of deaan Crindo's present, which his men want-
ed, indeed, and went on in their parley about me; the
success whereof you have already seen. However,
I must not pass over a piece of superstition practised
here. There are a sort of people in this country who
pretend to a profound knowledge in the magical virtue
of roots, trees, plants, and other products of the like
nature; and of their power to perform wondrous things
by charms composed of them. One of these conjurers,
or Umossees (as the natives call them) prevailed on
deaan Crindo to take a certain powder which he gave
him, and to strip off a piece of the skin of the tail of
a white bull, because deaan Tuley-Noro was a whitish
man, and to clap this powder upon the wound; as also
to mix some of it with water, and give it to the bull to
drink thereof, before it was given to the Antenosa men.
Now this was not done in order to make the creature
unwholesome, and by that means to procure deaths, or
diseases among their enemies in the common way; but
with a view to work some witchcraft or supernatural
operation upon them. Now it happened that in two
months after this king Samuel died: at that time he
was very infirm, and had been so long before; which,
with the fatigue of this journey, might hasten his end.
There was not wanting, however, people superstitious
enough to think his death was the effect of this incan-
tation; though it is reasonable to suppose he eat none
of the bull, there being oxen at the same time; for
these negroes would make oxen no more than we white
men, were they not sensible that the flesh of them is in
all respects more grateful to the taste than that of bulls.
And since I have had an opportunity of saying thus
much of king Samuel, I suppose my reader will be so
curious as to inquire who this king with a christian
name was? and what reason should induce him to as-
sist us, and revenge our wrongs? His living near the
sea, and the immense treasure he and his people
amassed together by trading with the English, may
ROBERT DRURY.
81
serve as a sufficient motive for the friendship this king
showed to our people: and indeed they are friends to
the English all over the island, except in some few
places far distant from the sea. King Samuel's history,
however, being very particular, I shall here relate it as
I had it at different times from the natives themselves.
Whether any of the French authors of voyages have
written any memoirs concerning him, I cannot positively
affirm; nor have I had the opportunity of seeing their
histories of Madagascar, to compare them with my
own; I shall not, therefore, vary from the account I
had of it, whether it be agreeable to what others have
said, or not.
This part of the country to which the French have
given the name of Port Dauphine, is called in the Ma-
dagascar language Antenosa. There came hither about
ninety years ago two French ships, on what account I
cannot learn; however they came to an anchor close
under the land, in a very good harbour. The captain
observing that there were plenty of cattle, and all pro-
visions, as also a very good soil, determined that one
of them should stay here, and establish a settlement:
hereupon they cast lots who should continue on the
island, and the person on whom the lot fell was captain
Mesmerrico. [I must here desire my reader to observe,
that this is the name by which the natives distinguish
him; though in all probability as they are unlearned
they may pronounce it very incorrectly: but, besides,
as it is some considerable time since, and they have no
writings or records, so consequently, they can have no
other history than that of tradition, from father to son,
and so on to succeeding generations.] This captain
Mesmerrico landed with two hundred white men, well
armed, and provided with store of ammunition and
other necessaries for the building of a fort, which they
immediately began. No sooner had the natives ob-
served their intention, than they used their utmost art
and industry to prevent them this created a war, in
which the French were the victors, who took at several
times a great number of prisoners. In this war the king
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THE ADVENTURES OF
of Antenosa and his brother were killed; and amongst
many other children that were made captives, the
king's son was one. When the French had suppressed
the natives and completed their fort, the ships set sail
for France, and carried this young prince and several
others of distinction with them.
In about a year after this expedition, the natives be-
gan to be better reconciled to the French; notwith-
standing they were secretly disgusted at the indignity
offered to their young prince, and could by no means
relish the government and direction of foreigners.
However, the French, by their artful and cunning de-
portment and insinuations, gained so much friendship
amongst them, that they married, and lived up and
down in several towns, at some distance from each
other, and not above five or six in a place. They oc-
casionally assisted the natives in their wars against a
king that resides to the northward, whom they defeated,
took a great number of slaves and many cattle. In this
manner they lived for some years with great tranquillity,
neglecting their fort, and extending themselves all over
the whole country of Antenosa: but at last, as their fa-
milies grew numerous, the natives grew jealous; and
recollecting how inhumanly they had treated their
prince, and perceiving them thus scattered and dis-
persed, they thought this a favourable opportunity to
free themselves from a foreign yoke. Hereupon they
formed a conspiracy to cut off all the white men in one
day; and the Wednesday following it was put in execu-
tion, not leaving a white man alive in Antenosa.
Soon after a French ship came there as usual; the
maurominters, or slaves, who retained a respect for the
French, got a canoe and went off to them, and informed
them that their countrymen were all massacred. The
captain was startled, and deeply concerned at this me-
lancholy news, but could not revenge their cause, being
glad to steer another course without making the least
attempt to go on shore.
Having now nobody to interrupt them, they put their
government into its original form, and made choice of
•
ROBERT DRURY.
83
one for their king, who was the most nearly related to the
former; there being no other son than he whom the
French took captive. Under this new king's direction
they lived peaceably and quietly for several years, no
French ship ever presuming to come near them; but
now and then an English ship paid them a visit ; and
they traded in a very fair and honest manner with the
officers on board.
Some years afterwards, a French ship, homeward-
bound from India, happened to be in great distress for
want of water and provisions, and could not compass
the Cape. Port Dauphine lay very commodious for the
captain, but he knew that the natives were their impla-
cable enemies, neither was he ignorant of the real oc-
casion; and therefore resolved to make use of the fol-
lowing stratagem. Under a pretence of being sent
ambassador from the French king, he went on shore in
great pomp, and with proper attendants. The ship lay
at anchor as near the shore as possible, in order to be
within reach of their guns in case any acts of hostility
should be shown them. The natives who came down
to them, asked if they were English or French? They
replied, the latter; but they were sent by express or-
ders from the French king with some valuable presents,
and were inclined to make a treaty of peace. The king
they had last chosen, whom I mentioned before, died
about a month before their arrival, and no new one was
then elected in his stead; but the old queen (mother
of the prince whom they had so clandestinely conveyed
away some years before) being then alive, gave direc-
tions that the ambassador should be conducted to her
house. His men carried a great many things of no
great value amongst them; but such, however, as they
knew would be highly agreeable in this country. These
were formally presented in the name of the French
king, and the queen testified her satisfaction in the re-
ception of them, by entertaining the captain in the
most elegant manner she could devise. This day passed
in compliments, mutual presents, and such other cere-
monies as were consistent with their ideas of public
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THE ADVENTURES OF
grandeur; the next day she sent for the captain and in-
formed him, that she expected his men, as well as him-
self, should take the oaths according to the custom of
her country.
:
The captain having readily agreed to her proposition,
the ceremony was performed after the following man-
ner :--the holy owley, of which we have already given
some account, was brought out and hung upon a piece
of wood laid crosswise on two forks, all which were
cut down on this solemn occasion; as was also a long
pole, to which a bullock was fastened this was provi-
ded by the queen, and when killed, they took part of
the tail, and some of the hair of the nose and eyebrows,
and put them on some live coals that were under the
owley; they then took some of the blood, which they
sprinkled upon it, and upon the beam whereon it hung;
the liver also was roasted, and a piece placed on it;
two other pieces were put on two lances, which were
stuck in the ground betwixt the queen and the ambas-
sador; the queen swore first to this, or the like effect :-
"I swear by the great God above, by the four gods of
the four quarters of the world, by the spirits of my
forefathers, and before this holy owley, that neither I,
nor any of my offspring, nor any of my people, who
assist at this solemnity, or their issue, shall or will
wittingly, or willingly, kill any Frenchman, unless he
prove the first aggressor: and if we, or any of us, mean
any other than the plain and honest truth by this pro-
testation, may this liver, which I now eat, be converted
into poison, and destroy me on the spot."
Having repeated this form of words, she took the
piece of liver off the lance and eat it, and when she had
done, the sham-ambassador did the same.
The captain, or quondam ambassador, stayed on
shore about three or four days after this solemn con-
tract, and sent on board what provision his people
wanted. A firm friendship being now established be-
tween them, they strove who should outvie the other in
the arts of courtesy and complaisance. The captain in-
vited the queen to go on board his vessel, and she very
ROBERT DRURY.
85
readily went with several of the chief of her people,
who were treated by the captain with great magnifi-
cence, and to her entire satisfaction. She returned on
shore in the ship's boat, and stood looking about her
for some time after she was landed. The Frenchmen,
not regarding the presence of the black queen, stripped
and swam about to wash and cool themselves; the
queen observing the whiteness of their skins, indulged
her curiosity in looking on them; at last, perceiving
one man whose skin was much darker than the rest of
his companions, as he came toward the shore, and was
going to put on his clothes, she espied a particular
mole under his left breast; she went to him imme-
diately, and looking more wishfully on it, would not
permit him to put on his shirt, but claimed him as her
son, who had been carried away, when a child, many
years before; and had not patience to contain herself,
but ran to him, (crying for joy that she had found her
son,) threw her arms about his neck, and almost stifled
him with kisses. This surprised all the people, as
well blacks as whites, till having recovered herself a
little, she turned to them and told them this was her
son, and showed them the private mark. They who
had known the young prince drew near, viewed the
mole, and acquiesced with her that it must be he, and
no other. The Frenchmen could not tell what to make
of this odd discovery, nor what might be the fatal con-
sequences that might possibly attend it.
The captain, therefore, taking the man aside, advised
him to give as artful answers as he could to what ques-
tions they should ask him for their safety's sake. Now
there were several blacks who spoke French, and by
their means the Frenchmen as soon understood the
queen as they did. She desired they would ask him if
he knew the country he was born in? He answered,
he could remember nothing of it, for he was carried
from his native place when a child. She asked him if
he knew her? He said, he could not pretend to say
absolutely that he did, but he thought she bore a great
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THE ADVENTURES OF
resemblance to somebody he was much used to when
young.
This confirmed them more and more in their opinion.
As to his being white-skinned, they thought that might
easily be from his wearing clothes during the time he
was absent from home; his hair was as black as theirs,
so that it was concluded it must be their prince. The
old queen was transported with joy at finding her son,
and the natives were for choosing him their king di-
rectly, he being the next heir. They asked what was
his name.
He told them he never remembered that
he was called by any other name than that of Samuel;
but they gave him what they thought was his original
name, compounded with Tuley, which denoted his re-
turn, or arrival; so they called him deaan Tuley-Noro.
Deaan, it may be observed, is a universal title of
honour, and signifies lord; and he was also farther
saluted immediately with the title of Panzacker, that is,
king of Antenosa.
The captain and other Frenchmen were surprised to
find the man play his part so dexterously; not per-
ceiving, at first, that he was in earnest, and was as
fond of being their king as they were of electing him,
though it was in so heathenish a place. He had here
twelve thousand fighting men immediately under his
command, and a fine, spacious, and plentiful country
to live in at his pleasure. The ship's crew sailed away
and left him behind them; but as often as the French
had occasion for what this island afforded, they made
it a constant practice to put into Port Dauphine, and
traffic with him.
About three or four years before we were cast away,
a French ship happening to be there, some of the men
got drunk on shore, and in a quarrel with some of the
natives, told them that king Samuel was not their law-
ful prince, but that he was still resident in France.
This might have proved of very fatal consequence to
him, but he took such care to prevent it, as no one
could justly blame him for. He sent for the man who
ROBERT DRURY.
$7
made this public declaration, and ordered him to be
shot to death; he commanded, likewise, his companions
to depart forthwith, and assured them, that if ever
they, or any of their countrymen presumed to come
within his territories again, they should feel the weight
of his resentment. And our man, who advised us
from putting into Port Dauphine, being informed of
this last adventure, made him say he was barbarous
to all white people; but he had heard the story im-
perfectly, and from thence arose the mistake which
proved so fatal to us.
By this conference between deaan Crindo and king
Samuel, I came to the knowledge of what happened to
the white boys, who were my fellow captives, at least,
so far as the natives knew themselves; as also, that the
prince whom we seized and made prisoner with deaan
Crindo, their king, was not, properly speaking, his son,
but deaan Murnanzack, his nephew, whose right deaan
Crindo had usurped, as we find in the sequel of this
story; but a word in their language, signifying off-
spring, and comprehending as well grandsons and ne-
phews, as sons, was the cause of our mistake. But,
To return to my own history: the contest between
my master and me being pretty well over, through the
intercession of deaan Sambo and the other chiefs, he
ordered me to go and work in the plantations, and told
me with a stern countenance, that if I hoed the car-
ravances and weeds together, as I did before, he would
hoe my
out. I went away very well satisfied,
not caring where I was sent, so it was but out of his
sight, for he now became more my aversion than ever.
Our plantation was near five miles from home, and
he seldom came above once in a month to visit us. As
to my maintenance, or that of the rest of his slaves, we
must provide for ourselves, or starve, for he never con-
cerned himself about us. However, each man had as
much land as he thought proper to cultivate for his
own use, and one day in a week without control.
When I first came there, I thought I must have starved.
I was obliged on moonlight nights, after I had done
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THE ADVENTURES OF
my task, to go into the woods and hunt out for wild
yams for my sustenance, and too often I found no more
than was sufficient for one meal; which, however, I
was forced to husband to the best advantage.
My fellow slaves were, indeed, as courteous to me as
I could well expect; and as they had plantations of
their own, they gave me carravances and such other
victuals as they had; especially on dark nights, and at
such times as I could not shift for myself. I worked
sometimes two nights in a week in cleaning and burn-
ing down the weeds and other things off the spot of
ground I had allotted for my own plantation; the best
root, however, that I could plant to produce myself
food in a short time was potatoes. I lived in this mise-
rable plight for nearly three months successively, and it
was a year before I was well settled, and could say I
had plenty.
Honey is one of the most profitable, as well as most
useful things this country produces; and they may have
it in plenty, if they will but take proper care. There is
little trouble in the management of bees, which are here
very numerous; they will readily come to their hives,
or toakes, as the natives call them, and I took a parti-
cular delight in making them. They are part of the
body of a tree, called fontuoletch; which is first cut off
about a yard long, and then split right down. After
we have dug out the middle with our hatchets, in which
operation we are not over nice, we bind the two parts
together in their natural position, so that the hive is a
hollow cylinder; we leave a hole at the bottom for the
bees to enter, and this is all the care that need be
taken.
I had a large stock of these hives, but my neighbours
too often plundered them. Once, however, I caught
a young fellow; and about three or four days after, I
went to his father to demand satisfaction for the honey
he stole, and the destruction of my hives. The old man
made very few words with me, but gave me two
hatchets, a hoe, and ten strings of beads. I was very
well satisfied with this compensation, and looked upon
ROBERT DRURY.
89
myself as no inconsiderable person; but soon after, I
found out a sure method to preserve my honey; the
relation whereof will give the reader an adequate idea
of almost the only superstition to which these people
are addicted.
I have made mention before of the Umossees who
pretend to be magicians, sorcerers, and fortune-tellers.
One of these was on his travels from Antenosa into our
country, and took up his lodgings at my master's town;
my master had been that day in the woods to visit his
beehives, and perceived several of them robbed of
their store: he returned before night in a very great
passion, and threatened to shoot the person that was
found stealing his honey, let him be who he would.
This Umossee coming to pay his respects to him just at
that time, and hearing his complaint, told him he could
give him a secret, or charm, that would effectually pre-
vent his honey from being stolen; but he was afraid to
communicate it, because it would infallibly kill the
person who should but taste of it. Deaan Mevarrow
replied, he did not care if they were all killed. Here-
upon, it was agreed, that the Umossee should have two
cows and two calves, in case his project proved effec-
tual, and should stay to see the desired success.
Accordingly, the next morning, he went into the
woods and singled out a tree which the natives call
roe-bouche; we have none like it in England, nor is it
very material, for any tree would have done his business,
I presume, as well. He went to the eastward of this
tree and dug up a piece of its root, and then turned to
the westward, and dug up another piece; after this, he
took the eastern root, and ordered deaan Mevarrow to
rub it on a stone with a little water, and sprinkle
the water among the bees, and the honeycombs in
the hives; and, if any one, said he, shall steal the
honey, and eat the least morsel of it in a quarter of a
day, (for they reckon not by hours, as we do,) they will
swell and break out in spots, like a leopard, from head
to foot, and in three days they will die. Deaan Me-
varrow was highly pleased at this discovery, and said,
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THE ADVENTURES OF
how shall I do when I want to make use of my
honey for myself and family? The Umossee replied,
the remedy is here in my hand, which is no other
than a root of the same tree, but dug to the westward;
and when you take your honey, rub a little of this upon
another stone with water, and sprinkle the hives; this
being done, your eastern root will have no power. But if
any one have stolen your honey, and feel the bad effects
of it, and you are inclined to be merciful and save his
life, give him a small quantity of this western root,
which he called vauhovalumy, or root of life, and it
will take down all the swelling; the spots will all
vanish, and the person be restored to his former state
of health.
All this was mighty well, but the principal point was
to try the virtues of it, and see if it would answer all
these fine purposes of the Umossee, which deaan Me-
varrow was somewhat doubtful of, though very eager to
know; and therefore, having sprinkled his hives with
the eastern root according to directions, he proposed it
to several to make the experiment, and he would give
them an ox as a reward, but nobody would venture;
Whereupon he ordered it to be published about the
country, and by this means I came to hear of it. Now
I had before observed the simplicity of the people on
these occasions, and plainly perceived that these artful
Umossees took the advantage of their ignorance to cheat
and impose upon them. I was very sensible there was
nothing more in all this, and that it had already met
with the effect desired, by striking terror into the peo-
ple; and having a considerable quantity of honey my-
self, I imagined, if I gave out that I had the secret, it
would also preserve mine. I sent word, therefore, to
my master, that I would oblige him if he would com-
municate the secret to me, in case I survived the ex-
periment. He not only sent for me immediately, and
agreed to my proposal, but made me a promise of a
considerable reward besides.
I went, accordingly, with my master and several
others to the hive, which was sprinkled, as they call it,
ROBERT DRURY.
91
with the poison; and swallowed the honey down by
handfuls before them, asking them at the same time
if they would eat some with me? They would not
touch it, they said, for ten thousand cattle; making
several grimaces in the mean time, and expecting every
moment some dismal calamity would befall me for my
presumption. When I had filled my belly, my master
would have me home with him, in order to have the
cure at hand, but I chose rather to stay with my com-
rades; by which means, I had time to contrive some
way to deceive them. As fortune would have it, being
in the fields, I saw at some distance a calf sucking a
cow; and nobody being in sight, I tied up the calf with
my lamber, and milked the cow into my mouth as long
as ever I could. This, and the honey together, had the
desired effect, for it began to swell me immediately,
and rumbled in my belly so loud that it might be heard.
Away went I to my comrades, who perceiving my belly
swelled, and hearing the unusual noise, advised me to
run home, and cry out I was poisoned.
I pre-
tended to step behind a hedge on some private occa-
sion, but it was only to whip myself with some nettles.
The pimples and redness raised from this stratagem
terrified them still more and more; for there appeared
on me all the symptoms of poison which the Umossee
had before described; and to crown the deceit, you
may be sure I did not fail to comply, and cry out most
heartily; thereupon, some ran before me, and others
helped me home.
Cavi
My master, before I came, had prepared the water
with the vauhovalumy, or root of life; the people, ter-
rified at the danger I was in, flocked round the house;
some pitied me, and stood astonished at the profound
learning of the Umossee, who did not, himself, perceive
the cheat. Well, I drank the medicine, and after re-
posing myself for three or four hours, all the tokens of
danger disappeared, and I was well. The vauhovalumy
was looked upon as a sovereign medicine, and the
Umossee as a very great and wise man, who did not a
little value himself upon the success of his secret,
1
I
.
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repenting that he had parted with it at so cheap a rate;
saying, he would have twenty cows for it of the next
that wanted it. Deaan Mevarrow, as a gratification,
bid him choose any two cows and two calves out of all
his cattle in the cow-pen, which he did accordingly,
and departed. My master, on my promise of secrecy,
discovered both the roots to me, and showed me not
only how to find them, but how to use them to the best
advantage; for the pain, he imagined, I had suffered,
and the hazard I underwent, he presented me with a
cow and calf; I then thought I had spent my time to
a very good purpose.
When I returned to my plantation, my neighbours
and fellow-slaves having observed the sudden and ter-
rible effects of this poison, begged of me to put a mark
upon all my hives, that when they went out a honey-
stealing, they might not be killed by eating any of
mine. This was the very thing I aimed at, and, ac-
cordingly, I put a white stick before every hive, and
never lost my honey afterwards. Nobody would go
near my hives for fear my bees should sting them, and
the wounds should prove of more dangerous conse-
quence than those of others.
Having now a cow and a calf, I had milk of my own,
and was as rich as my fellow-slaves; besides the ad-
vantage I made of my honey, by selling forty or fifty
gallons a year for hatchets, beads, &c., to those who
make toake with it; more especially against their cir-
cumcision, and other solemn festivals.
I lived in this manner about three years, which, with
the two years and a half I had spent before, made up
almost an apprenticeship in this country. One day my
master came to survey our work, and taking peculiar
notice of the method I observed, he told me I must
go home with him and keep his cattle, which were
near the town. This employment was not near so la-
borious as digging and cultivating his plantation; how-
ever, I was pretty well improved, but as he provided
for me now, and my honey was safe, I was not much
concerned at my removal; so away I went, driving my
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93
own cattle, which were considerably increased, having
two heifers, besides my cow and calf. My household
furniture too was not so cumbersome, but I was able
to carry it all away at once; yet I was as rich, and had
as much as other people in my mean station, and much
more than many of them.
In less than two days I built me a house, and a
cow-pen for my cattle. Now was I in my former situ-
ation, and looking after my master's cattle; the hardest
of my labour was, as I observed before, the bringing
home every other night, either a tub or a calabash, four
or five miles, full of water; but considering I was a
slave, I lived in as much ease as I could reasonably
expect.
I had not continued long in this last station, before
a general calamity reduced us to the most deplorable
circumstances. The epidemical evil of this island
is, their frequent animosities and open quarrels with
one another, which is the principal reason why such
numbers of them are sold to the Europeans for slaves.
This is a dangerous and destructive misfortune to a
people, otherwise good-natured and well disposed;
who have wholesome laws for the determination of all
disputes, and the punishment of all crimes, of which
I shall give an account in a more proper place; but
what I have to observe here is, that the sovereign
prince of any country has seldom force sufficient to
oblige the lesser chiefs in his dominions to answer, in
a judicial way, to the wrongs they do each other, or
the mistakes and errors which they casually commit;
but they fight it out, making slaves of, impoverishing,
and destroying one another, after the manner I am
now going to relate, in which I myself was a severe
sufferer.
All things appeared in a state of peace and tran-
quillity. No foreign enemy for a long time molested
us. But what I took particular notice of when first a
slave, was, my master and others clandestinely driving
away their neighbours' cattle, and their neighbours being
equally guilty of the same practice, so that it was a
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very difficult point to determine who was the aggressor
in the present quarrel. But one day, as I and some
others went about five or six miles to water our cattle,
having two men armed with guns to guard us accord-
ing to custom, it happened, on our return home, that
notwithstanding the greater number of them went on
slowly, grazing as they passed along, some of the milch
cows, wanting to be sucked by their calves, ran home-
wards before the rest. The man knowing me to be
very active and nimble, desired me to run forwards and
stop them, in order to keep them in a body; but they
being got at a great distance, it was some time before
I could turn them. When I wheeled about, I was sur-
prised to see one of our men shooting amongst a body
of men, who were driving the cattle another way, and
running from them towards me; they soon espied us,
and our cattle, and ran after us. Hereupon I quitted
my post, and fled as fast as I could home to my master,
and was the first messenger to relate our disaster.
puffed and blowed, being frightened, and out of breath,
and in imperfect exclamations I told him, that an army
had seized our cattle; and that one of our men, named
Roynsowra, had fired and killed somebody; but I could
not inform him who the enemy were, nor on what ac-
count they thus attacked us. While my master and
some others were discoursing with me, in came two or
three more, who informed them that deaan Chahary
and his brother deaan Frukey, two of deaan Crindo's
sons, were the parties concerned. Our master, it seems,
had been found guilty of stealing three of deaan Fru-
key's cattle, and this they did by way of retaliation.
All was in an uproar and confusion at once. Each
man took up his arms in a hurry. Deaan Mevarrow
ordered them to follow him, which they were as much
inclined to do as he was to lead them, for the loss was
general. All the milch cows and home-kept cattle were
gone, and now away went all the men in pursuit of
them, except such as were old and infirm. Amongst
others, I was demolished, having lost my cow and my
two heifers; my calf, indeed, was left at home, lowing
ROBERT DRURY.
95
for its dam, as did every body's else; between which
vociferations, and the outcries of the women and children,
there was a most confused and hideous uproar.
Deaan Frukey, who then was, or at least pretended
to be, the injured person, lived within two or three
miles of our watering-place; but they drove our cattle
more to the northward, to deaan Chahary's town, which
was better fortified, and much more capable of sustain-
ing the assault, which they justly imagined we should
make against it. Though our people were highly pro-
voked, and very expeditious, yet they followed them
with all the circumspection imaginable; having spies
who ran softly before, by whom they found their ene-
mies were entered the town with their booty. Our
people, not being provided with strength sufficient, and
having no time to call in their neighbours to their
assistance, did not attempt to assault deaan Chahary's
town, bu turned off without being suspected, and went
about five miles farther, where they kept their breeding
cattle. As it was now late in the night, they took them
all without any opposition, the few keepers they had
being at a distance, and fast asleep; so that they drove
away the beasts without any noise, and made their way
homewards as fast as possible. We looked out all the
morning, expecting every minute they would return;
and, at length, we espied them with a vast drove of
cattle, containing as many at least, if not more than
our own, being above five hundred. All of us imagined
they had recovered their own; and for my own part, I
was thinking how I should kiss my cow for joy of see-
ing her again; but too soon we perceived they were
strangers, and as I was not with them, I had no share
of the booty.
My master, and several others, after they had divided
them, killed some of the oxen; a jovial feast was made
immediately, and our people sent me part of the ban-
quet. The day following my master despatched me to
look after the cattle as before, whilst he went to repair
some breaches in his town walls, by putting in several
poles, which were cut down for that purpose, and made
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THE ADVENTURES OF
preparations for a war. He had not patience, however,
to stay at home and see whether his enemies would
come to create him any new disturbance, though he
might be very well satisfied with the reprisals he had
made on them, since he had taken away more than he
had lost. However, in two or three days' time after,
he was resolutely bent to surprise the enemy's town by
night, though he left his own unguarded, and met with
such success as so precipitate a conduct justly deserved;
for the very next morning after their expedition, as I
and others were watering our cattle, and looking care-
fully after them, lest they should run to their own.
nome, which was considerably nearer to the watering-
place than our town, about twenty men rushed out of
a thicket of bushes, and leaped upon us like so many
tigers on their prey. However, I and three or four
more boys had time to start out of their clutches and fly
for it; but they soon overtook the rest, carrying them
back, and all the cattle and the other slaves that were
with them; while some followed me, hollaing out,
and menacing to kill me if I did not stop and surren-
der myself their captive. Thereupon I turned about,
and perceiving I had gained ground of them, I ran
directly forwards for a mile and a half at least, before
I came to any proper shelter. At length I came to a
wood, with which I was well acquainted, where I soon
lost them. They returned back to their companions,
and went off with their prisoners and cattle. Perceiv-
ing them gone I hastened home; when I entered the
town the women immediately flocked round about me,
for they saw by my countenance and the confusion I was
in that some misfortune had attended our party. I soon
acquainted them with the loss we had sustained, and
they as soon reflected on their husband's ill conduct ;
who, to gratify the dictates of a blind passion, and to
avenge themselves on their enemies, would leave all
that was valuable to themselves unguarded to become
their prey; for they might be very well assured that
they had spies out to give notice of every opportunity
which might tend to their advantage.
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Deaan Mevarrow returned about evening, when, for
his welcome home, the news of this morning's expedi-
tion was related to him. I also understood the project
they went upon had proved fruitless and ineffectual;
for though they arrived at the enemy's town an hour
before daylight, yet so cautious and vigilant were they
in sending out their spies all ways both night and day,
that they discovered our people, and alarmed the
townfolks, who came out and met them. And all
that was done, as I could hear, was only a tongue-
battle, and vollies of opprobrious language. Deaan
Mevarrow, indeed, fired at them at a distance, which
they returned, but no execution was done on either
side. A kinsman coming soon after daylight to deaan
Frukey's assistance, deaan Mevarrow thought it most
advisable to withdraw; but not without telling them,
if his kinsman and his people had not come in to his
assisatnce, he would have had all his cattle again in a
few hours. To this they replied, that they would
not only keep the cattle they had of his, but that their
own, which had been lately carried away by surprise,
were by this time in their own hands again, as he
would find at his return. And what they asserted,
indeed, proved too true: at this he was heartily
nettled. We had killed, however, a considerable
number of them first, and stocked ourselves with provi-
sions. He vowed to be revenged on his uncles, and
accordingly made preparations for another enterprise,
which was entered upon in three days after. He asked
me if I was willing to make one of the party? I
very readily embraced his offer, for there was safety
nowhere now; and being at home was as dangerous as
being with them. So he furnished me with a gun,
cartouch-box, and powder-horn, and thus accoutred, I
commenced soldier.
We sallied out of our town as soon as it was dark,
for we had a great way to go. Deaan Frukey, with all
his people, having abandoned his own town, not think-
ing it sufficiently fortified, and moved to his brother's,
which was many miles farther to the northward, we
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THE ADVENTURES OF
marched very briskly, but as silently as possible, never
speaking to each other, but in whispers. As my skin
appeared white, they imagined it must be discerned at
a distance in the dark, and expose us by that means to
our enemy's spies; they therefore made me besmear
myself all over with mud.
We came near the town about two hours before day-
light, and sent two men who were perfectly acquainted
with every part of it, in order to search for breaches, or
at least some weak places in the fortifications. They
succeeded as they could wish, and returned, having
discovered not only two breaches, but the private way
too, which is always prepared for the women and chil-
dren, by which to make their escape into the woods in
case of a surprise. Near this place we laid an ambus-
cade of thirty men, who were ordered not to fire, or
make the least noise, and to seize the women only in
their flight. Our army was divided into three parts:
deaan Mevarrow, with his people, attacked the more
difficult breach of the two; a chief man of his the
other; and deaan Sambo the gate, in whose party I
was; for my master would not take me with him,
thinking I could not well bear to tread upon the
thorus in the fortification.
There were three gates, one within another. The
signal for our attack was the firing the first gun, which
was not to be till the deaan Mevarrow and the other chief
had secured the outside of the breaches, and it was a
quarter of an hour before we had accomplished it. The
townsmen were by that time all in arms, and almost as
well prepared as we, for they secured the inner gate,
at the same time we entered the outer one, and came
furiously towards us with warmth and resolution; how-
ever, we drove them back. They maintained the other,
indeed, a long time, till deaan Mevarrow had, with
much difficulty, gained a passage through the breach;
one of his principal men was shot in the belly just
before him, which so provoked him that he leaped
down, and the rest followed.
About the same time we pushed vigorously towards,
KA
ROBERT DRURY.
90
and entered the town. Immediately we heard the
outcry of the women, who were surprised by our am-
buscade, and almost all of them taken. The men got
off by a breach, which they themselves made into the
woods, and left us the town to plunder and reduce to
ashes, which was done accordingly. I got for my
share a small quantity of cotton, and a few wooden plat-
ters, and some spoons. We found here several of our
cattle, and among the rest I espied my cow, and did
not question then but I should soon have her again
but see the fatal effects of an ill-grounded security!
We had now a great booty of slaves and cattle; the
latter we drove out of the town before us, without any
guard before them, thinking we had gained an entire
victory and dispersed all our enemies; when, in fact,
the number of them was greatly increased. They kept
in a body in the woods, observed our motions, and
only waited for a favourable opportunity to show their
resentment. They soon perceived that the cattle were
left defenceless, and that they had little more to do
than to drive them into the woods, where we lost them
all almost as soon as we had got them. For on our
march, in order to recover them, the enemy appeared
in a formidable body, firing at us, and even giving us
battle. In this action one of our men was killed.
Several of our people were missing before, even whilst
we were in the town; and upon strict inquiry, we found
three wounded, and four of our principal and bravest
men cut off. Deaan Mevarrow and all the rest seemed
very much concerned at this unexpected misfortune;
and were not near so active or sanguine as they were
before, so that now they thought of nothing but making
a retreat with the slaves they had taken, and getting
out of the reach of the enemy as soon as possible.
Accordingly they left the plain open road by which we
came, and went through the woods, a most uncomfort-
able way, for ten miles or more, overrun with thorns.
and briars, and in perpetual fear of ambuscades. We
stopped, however, to make a bier to carry away our
men who were wounded, and then marched on with
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THE ADVENTURES OF
the utmost circumspection, thinking every bird that
stirred an enemy in ambush. Notwithstanding we got
through this long wood very safely, we still went by
unbeaten ways, so that it was almost dark before we
got home. It is a constant custom, be the success of
their engagements good or bad, for the chief to sit
down with his people before his own door; the women
soon flocked round him to hear the news, and though
we brought with us a considerable number of slaves,
yet there was no room for rejoicing; for the wives,
relations, and friends who were killed made a most
hideous outcry. However, a few calves were killed,
and we refreshed ourselves as well as we could after
our long fatigue; every man retired to his own apart-
ment, and being weary, lay down to rest; but before
daylight we were alarmed by the firing of a gun. The
enemy, by our conduct the day before, perceived we
were dispirited, and determined to give us no time to
recruit; so they pursued us and attacked our town, as
we had before done theirs; but I cannot say their
judgment or conduct was equal to ours. For the first
thing we did upon the alarm was, to have a party ready
to secure the wives, children, and other valuable slaves,
in which we succeeded to our wish, and conveyed them
safely out of the town to their proper recesses. Though
we defended ourselves as long as we could, yet we did
not show so much courage and resolution as we should
have done at another time; however, we retreated with
but a trivial loss, and left them the town to plunder.
There was nothing of value for them, since the women
had carried off what their haste would admit off; and
as for cattle, there was none but a few calves, whose
dams they had seized at first; and such was their pre-
cipitation, that they could not drive even them away;
so they killed them, and carried as much of their car-
casses away for provision as they conveniently could.
They never once offered to go in search for the women,
but called to us, and vowed we should have no rest
till they recovered their wives and children. We told
them on the other hand, that we would have our cattle
ROBERT DRURY.
101
They
again, and not restore them their wives neither.
seemed pleased with thus showing their resentment ; it
was no small satisfaction to our people, though defeated
this time, to find that notwithstanding all the disadvan-
tages they then lay under, they were still able to cope
with them.
But deaan Crindo, our king, by this time was ap-
prized of all that had happened, who immediately
undertook to reconcile all differences between us; and
accordingly sent messengers to both parties to know
the grounds of our quarrel, and the demands on both
sides. Deaan Mevarrow sent word he was ready to
oblige the king, and would live in peace with his
uncles in case they would send him all his cattle again;
and as deaan Frukey and Chahary wanted their wives
again, they said, they were ready and willing to
return what cattle were left alive of ours; but having
killed a third part, they would never be accountable on
that score. So that the king could not persuade
deaan Frukey to make up the number of our cattle;
nor on the other hand could he prevail on us to send
them their wives unless they made restitution. Our
master boldly sent the king word, that all the force
he had, united with that of his sons, should not oblige
him to restore their wives and children on any other
terms.
Deaan Crindo resented this insolent answer, and was
determined at all adventures to reduce them to a com-
pliance; and in order thereto, mustered up an army of a
thousand men, and was resolutely bent to come to
deaan Mevarrow first. Now deaan Crindo could not
on these occasions raise any considerable army, because
there was a dispute always subsisting between him and
his nephew Murnanzack, whose father was deaan
Crindo's elder brother; who dying when his son was
an infant, and his country invaded, this uncle took
upon him the charge of the government; and when
possessed of it would never resign it. Deaan Murnan-
zack was not only an intrepid warrior, but a prince as
well accomplished as ever appeared in this illiterate
# 3
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THE ADVENTURES OF
country. He was just, honourable, generous, and of a
courteous disposition; he had three brothers, who were
lords, judges, and chiefs of towns, who together coul
raise an army not much inferior to their uncle's;
besides, he was universally beloved. Now, in case of a
foreign war, all were ready to oppose the common
enemy, as we have seen them withstand the kings of
Merfaughla and Antenosa; but they were ever jealous
and watchful of each other. For which reason deaan
Crindo could bring no greater an army against us than
was consistent with the safety of his own town, and
those belonging to his sons.
Deaan Mevarrow had notice of this design against
him, by a particular friend of his in Fennoarevo, who
ran from thence to our town by night, and returned
before daylight undiscovered. My master had a cousin
with whom he had contracted an intimate friendship,
and whose father was as powerful a lord as any in deaan
Crindo's dominions; to this uncle, whose name was
Mephontey, he fled with his people for protection. We
soon packed up our little all which we had left. My
whole stock of provision and household furniture con-
sisted of no more than about a gallon of carravances, a
mat to lie upon, a hatchet, and a little spade to dig up
wild yams. We wanted no hoes now, for that work
was put an end to in this country. All our plantations,
and most of the produce which was laid up in little
storehouses, were now left to the enemy's disposal. In
half a day we arrived at deaan Mephontey's town, who
treated my master with all due respect, and assured
him, that he would defend both him and his people to
the utmost of his power. The chiefs had houses given
them, but we common people were obliged to build
huts for ourselves in any part of the town where we
could find room. As for my own part, I erected but a
small one, not knowing how soon it might be burnt.
Deaan Crindo, in three days' time, encamped before
the town. He sent to deaan Mephontey, desiring him
to deliver up deaan Mevarrow, and all his people, and
bid him detain them at his peril. To this deaan Me-
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103
phontey sent a resolute answer, that he would protect
any strangers, who were in his opinion honest people,
and fled to him for succour in distress; and much more
should he be sanguine for the interest of his friends
and relations; and if deaan Crindo would have them,
he must take them away by force, for he would defend
them to the last extremity.
Deaan Crindo prepared to attack the town the next
morning, and we to defend it. In order thereto, the
women and children were that night sent away into the
woods, not all into one place, but at proper distances,
and in small companies. I was ordered with a guard
to take care of my mistress, and some other women
and slaves who were with her, which I accordingly did.
After I had marked the place, in order to find it again
with ease, I returned to the town, where we lived as
well as we could wish that night, dressing and eating
beef in plenty, &c. for we had some cattle of our own,
such as I was sent to keep at first, which were at a
great distance, when deaan Frukey seized the milch
cows; but we wanted water, which was a great misfor-
tune to us, since our enemies were so near that we
could fetch none all the day before.
The next morning we were all up by break of day,
and every man at his station, according to appointment
the day before. I was posted behind my master, who
had two guns, one of which I was to load, while he
fired with the other. It was broad day before the
enemy began the attack; they fired so briskly upon us,
that for nearly a quarter of an hour together we could not
see them for smoke; but as soon as their fire abated,
we returned it as hotly upon them. On the second
onset they drew nearer, and the lances flew briskly at
one another; one of which went through my lamber,
and scratched me. I was a little surprised at first, but
soon recovering my spirits, I returned them the lance
over the fortification, in the same manner as it came to
me. The cattle were very troublesome to us; for
several of them being wounded, they ran up and down
and put the rest into confusion. We fought thus for
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THE ADVENTURES OF
four hours successively, with great warmth on both
sides, till deaan Crindo perceiving he could not enter
the town, recalled his forces and withdrew to his camp.
Deaan Mephontey and dean Mevarrow were for sally-
ing out; but deaan Mephontey's son, Batoengha, with
much difficulty persuaded them to desist, suspecting an
ambuscade. Several were killed on both sides, and
some wounded, whom we conveyed out of the town
when the engagement was over to their wives. We
buried our dead under the fortification, and sent out
spies to observe the motions of the enemy, who brought
us intelligence that they were very quiet, and that their
whole time was spent in killing cattle, and fetching
wood to dress provisions. When this news was con-
firmed, and we were well assured that they would give
us no more trouble for that day, our people killed and
dressed beef likewise, but we were parched up with
thirst. You might here have seen men with their
tongues lolling out of their mouths through excessive
heat. This want of water is the most intolerable of all
calamities, and a misery too great for words to express.
I have before observed, that when I first came into this
country, I felt the anguish of it for almost four days;
and found by woful experience, that there was no
comparison between hunger and thirst. I had relief,
however, sooner than my neighbours; for my master
sent me and two slaves with provisions for our mistress,
and those who accompanied her, where, by the way, we
found a little water.
I had some difficulty, notwithstanding all my pre-
caution, to find the place where I left her the night
before; however, I got there at last. She seemed in
great concern for our welfare, and drowned in tears;
for hearing the guns firing, and, at length, ceasing all
at once, she imagined the town was taken and her hus-
band killed; but the sight of me dispelled all those
melancholy clouds. I cut down several boughs with
large leaves upon them, which served very well for
dishes and plates; and cutting the roast meat I brought
with me into pieces, I served it up to my mistress:
ROBERT DRURY.
105
and though she had not, as some may probably remark,
so much delicacy as some of our fine ladies of her birth
and distinction in Europe, yet she enjoyed as grateful
a repast, and I may venture to say was as well satisfied
as they would have been in her then circumstances.
When she was served, I divided the remainder amongst
my fellow-servants, her women, who were her attend-
ants. My orders being to stay with her, I sent the two
men away who had brought a very considerable quan-
tity of raw meat; and in the night I made a fire to
dress it, which could not be discerned through so thick
a wood; whereas, in the daytime, the smoke might
have discovered us. I went at some distance and dug
up several wild yams; these were very agreeable on
account of their moisture, this place being destitute of
water; but none of them, how much soever they might
long for them, would venture to dig for themselves til!
I came, lest the noise might betray them to the enemy.
At night we sat very sociably round the fire, whilst I
entertained them with the story of the engagement, and
the dangers I had escaped. I also roasted the meat,
and hung part of it up in one tree and part in another,
out of the reach of the wild dogs and foxes, with which
this country abounds. When it grew late, I told them
I had no bed to lie on, having forgot my mat in the
hurry. They laughed at this, and my mistress said,
"Sure, Robin, you do not think but we will make room
for one man amongst us?" and then bid me make
choice of my place. Now I could be free and jocose
enough with the young women slaves, though not with
herself; yet I laid myself down close by them all night,
and I can assure my reader we were very innocent.
I must here confess, I could not but wonder at first,
why my master trusted me so readily with his wife,
contrary to his care of her in regard to other men, aud
to the custom of the country; but when I began to
reflect how dangerous it was for any woman, who was
liable to be called to an account for all her actions, to
carry on an amour with a white man, the wonder
ceased; for, should a woman prove with child, the
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THE ADVENTURES OF
colour of the offspring would betray its mother, if not
point out the father. But I must not let this pass with
any thing which may be misconstrued to this lady's
prejudice; for I solemnly declare, I never once dis-
covered in her the least criminal inclination; notwith-
standing what may be said here or elsewhere, of some
such freedoms as would appear too condescending,
and be censured as too forward in our European
women.
We arose by daybreak, and listened very attentively
to hear, if we could, the noise of guns, but none were
discharged; and in a short time the two men came again
to us, and brought us more provisions. They informed
us that deaan Crindo had sent a menacing message to
deaan Mephontey, to let him know, that unless he
obliged deaan Mevarrow to come to him, and submit
to his determination of the quarrel between him and
deaan Frukey, that he would humble their pride, and
remain there with his army till he starved them; and
moreover, he would guard the watering place so
strongly, that they should not dare to approach it.
Deaan Mephontey, on the other hand, returned as
resolute an answer; that he was under no apprehen-
sions of starving, having provisions enough of all kinds;
a great number of cattle, and other conveniences for
them to live on for three months; but besides, he had
strength sufficient to force his way out of the town
whenever he thought proper; and advised deaan
Crindo, for that reason, not to put it to the hazard of a
trial, but to move off, and rest contented with the
repulse he had already met with.
After the men had told their tale they returned
home, and we all went to digging of yams; even my
mistress condescended to make one amongst us: so I
sharpened sticks for them, and they pulled off their
lambers to keep them clean; notwithstanding some of
them were such worthless things, that a rag woman in
England would scarce have picked them up. My
mistress's, indeed, was a fine silk one of various colours,
and very large, hanging almost down to her feet, with
ROBERT DRURY.
107
a handsome fringe at the bottom. They made more
free with me than they would with some others; saying,
with a smile, that they did not look upon me as a man,
since I discovered no warm or amorous inclinations.
My reader, perhaps, will scarcely believe me when I
assure him, there were amongst them such beauties, as
were not much inferior to our European ladies, except
their colour; but my behaviour and resolution were
actually such at that time, and long after, that I told
them, I resolved never to entertain any thoughts of
women, till I returned to England my native country.
They replied, they were sure I should be mistaken.
However, I lived very idly, indeed, but merrily enough,
during the few days I continued here; there being
about a dozen women besides my mistress. And for
my part, I did not care how long the war lasted, for
my provision was given me all the time, and I had no
work to do. As to the dangers that attended war, I
did not concern myself about them; I had nothing to
lose but my life, which, considering the circumstances
I was in, and the small hopes I had of ever getting
home, was but a burthen to me; but we had not yet
seen all the miseries of a civil war. Every morning
we used to listen to hear if possible the noise of guns;
when, at length, one of the slaves came to us alone
without any meat; and having seated himself (as slaves
in particular always do before they speak) he told us,
that deaan Crindo was gone away, and that my mas-
ter had sent for us home. This was very agreeable
news; so we sat down to breakfast together, sang,
and were as jovial as so many beggars. My mistress
was in a hurry to be gone; for she was uneasy
till she paid her respects to her husband. As soon as
ever she saw him she fell upon her knees, and licked
his feet; and he returned her compliment, after the
manner of the country, by touching her nose.
Now the reason of deaan Crindo's sudden departure
was, an information that deaan Murnanzack had seized
six hundred of his cattle; he might have taken them
105
THE ADVENTURES OF
all indeed, if he would, but he did this only to begin
the dispute. We stayed, however, a week longer at
deaan Mephontey's town, till we were better informed
how the matter stood between them; and that there
was nothing to fear on that side. Deaan Crindo, it
seems, had sent to deaan Murnanzack, to know the
reason why he seized those cattle, and whether he
was determined to take deaan Mevarrow's part? The
answer he received was, that he did it to show him
his right of dominion; notwithstanding he doubted
not, but that he would dispute his title with him, as
unjustly as he had usurped it.
This was a mortifying stroke, and happened at
a very unlucky juncture: deaan Murnanzack was
always a formidable competitor, and was looked on as
such, whenever he thought proper to maintain his
right; and he, doubtless, embraced this opportunity on
purpose, when deaan Crindo had weakened his inte-
rest, by affronting deaan Mevarrow, deaan Sambo, and
their friend deaan Mephontey. Crindo was soon con-
vinced of his error, and endeavoured to soften matters,
by sending messengers to all of them, to tell them that
what he did, was with no other view than to chastise.
his grandsons; and what was highly requisite to restore
that peace and tranquillity, which they and his son
Frukey had disturbed; though he began with the
former, yet Frukey, had he proved refractory, should
have felt the weight of his resentment as well as others:
he hoped, therefore, that they would consider his good
intention, and not break friendship with him.
Three or four days after this, we departed from deaan
Mephontey's; but first returned him many thanks for
these generous testimonies of his friendship and hos-
pitality. We went home, (or rather homeward only,)
for though we found our way and the place of our late
abode, yet not a house was left to put our heads in.
Our plantations too were totally demolished, and the
very barns and storehouses reduced to ashes; so that
we had nothing to live on but what the woods afforded,
ROBERT DRURY.
109
and a few cattle among the richest and chiefest men;
who were in fact very good, and communicated to
their poor neighbours.
The town being so absolutely demolished, as not to
be repaired, deaan Mevarrow determined to build a
new one; and searching for a commodious place, at
length he found a wood so thick, that a dog could not
creep into it. This, therefore, was more than half for-
tified to his hand, and pitched upon accordingly. A
vacancy was soon made in it, the men cut down the
trees, bushes, and briars, and the women and children
conveyed them away; so that in about three days, we
cleared a large space to erect our houses on: however,
as it was summer time, we were not in so much haste
for houses, as for fences against an enemy. We for-
tified it, therefore, with bodies of trees, which we cut
about sixteen or eighteen feet in length; these we
drove into the ground so close together, that no crea-
ture whatever could possibly get between them. But
as one row only of these poles of trees was not thought
a sufficient security, we made three or four, one within
another, round the whole circumference of the town ;
leaving no other vacancy than a small and private
passage for the conveyance of our women, children,
and slaves away with safety, in case of an enemy's
approach; and this was so contrived, as not to be
discerned with ease or known by strangers. We made
but one gateway or entrance, and that not only
narrow too, but defended with four prodigiously thick
and substantial doors, one within another.
The walls being completed, nothing more remained
to do, but each man to erect a house of what extent he
thought proper for himself and his family. We, who
were slaves to deaan Mevarrow, took care to build his
first; some of us cut wood, others fetched grass in
order to fill up the sides; whilst I and about thirty
more, went a tedious way, at least ten miles, for
annevoes, which are the leaves of a tree like those of
a cocoa-nut. These we split and covered the house.
with, for they make a thatch much neater and stronger
L
110
THE ADVENTURES OF
than any in England, but these trees were so scarce,
and at such a distance, that a single man could not go
often enough, in any reasonable time, to collect the
leaves; and notwithstanding we went in such a body,
we were obliged to go twice for a sufficient quantity to
cover my master's house.
When we had finished my master's seat, we went
about our lesser apartments, and as at deaan Mephon-
tey's a small one served my turn, so it did here in like
manner; for, notwithstanding all our strong walls and
fortifications, I much questioned whether we should be
able to keep them long; neither did we, as it proved
soon after so I made my hut no bigger than just to
have room sufficient to stretch myself at full length, and
make a fire in, should I, by good fortune, find any vic-
tuals to dress.
<la
About a week after we were settled in our new town,
a messenger, (or rather, an ambassador,) arrived from
deaan Murnanzack, with about twenty in his retinue.
His business was to sound deaan Mevarrow's inclina-
tions, and (if they found a favourable opportunity) to
desire his friendship and assistance. He soon found
there were good grounds to hope for success, and for
that reason delivered his message the first night he
came. To which deaan Mevarrow returned in answer,
he would take it into consideration, consult with his
people, and give him his determinate answer the next
morning. In the mean time, he gave him a slave's
house for his immediate accommodation, as is custo-
mary on such occasions; and sent a bullock for the en-
tertainment of him and his attendants. In the next
place, he sent out messengers to all the chiefs and free-
men to come and consult with him on an affair of the
last importance. I was present, and saw this assembly.
As soon as deaan Mevarrow and his brother deaan
Sambo were seated, the principals placed themselves
on either hand, and the other freemen on each side of
them.
Dean Mevarrow opened the consultation, by telling
them, that deaan Murnanzack had sent a very honour-
ROBERT DRURY.
111
ance.
able messenger to him to ask his friendship and assist-
We must not forget, says he, that deaan Mur-
nanzack proved of singular service to us in the quarrel
we once had with deaan Termerre; therefore, consider
we are much indebted to him upon that score. Consi-
der, moreover, that Chahary and Frukey will ever be
irreconcilable enemies, so long as we detain their
wives and families; and you concur with me not to de-
liver them without a due return of all our cattle, which
they obstinately refuse: then, as deaau Crindo is their
father, he, doubtless, will be partial, notwithstanding
his seeming pretensions to peace, and affected regard
for justice; but in what manner he has lately used us,
is too fresh in all your memories to need repetition.
The justice of deaan Murnanzack's claim to the domi-
nion, is, I presume, indisputable; whether deaan
Crindo may not justify himself, as affairs now stand, in
assuming the authority, is what we shall not, at this
juncture, take into consideration; but it is highly re-
quisite for us to consider, whether deaan Murnanzack
has strength enough to maintain the dispute, and pro-
tect us, and such other friends as may be inclined to
join him. This requires the most mature deliberation :
the chance of war is very precarious, and you have
families, slaves, and cattle to lose as well as I; weigh
well, therefore, the matter in hand, and let me have
your resolution, with which I shall readily concur.
They argued the point for some considerable time,
and consulted not only what would be most conducive
to their interest, but reflected on the dangerous situa-
tion they were in; and that it was most probable they
should be safest in joining with deaan Murnanzack.
Thereupon they agreed, that one of them should de-
clare the result of their consultation to the deaan. In
the name of the rest, therefore, he desired him, if he ap-
proved of their opinion, to contract and enter into a so-
lemn friendship with deaan Murnanzack; and if so,
they would faithfully observe and support him to the
utmost of their power.
After I had seen the manner and formality of this
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112
THE ADVENTURES OF
grand assembly, our parliament in Great Britain ran
strangely in my head: I imagined this the very image
of it and though I was but a lad when I went from
home, yet as my father kept a public house, to which
the best of gentlemen resorted, I remember, I have
heard them often disputing with one another about the
power of the prince, to oblige the people to do what
he pleased without consulting them; whilst others in-
sisted that a king had no power without a parliament.
Then they would dispute about the origin of parlia-
ments and their power, and by whose means the use
of them was brought first into England; in this too they
seldom agreed. Some said the Saxons introduced it;
others maintained that it was of a more modern date;
whilst many were of different opinions from both. Now
methinks this article might be adjusted without any re-
ference to authors and historians; that parliaments
were established long before the Saxons or Romans ei-
ther: for I imagine, that not only England, but several
other countries besides, were once like Madagascar,
without the knowledge of letters and coined money;
and if that be the case, it was then impossible for
princes to exert that authority over the people, or to
dispose of them contrary to their interest, or inclina-
tions: for I look upon those princes to be like my
master, who neither had, nor could have any separate
army or interest; but when any neighbour desired their
assistance, or any enemy had injured them, they as-
sembled before the house of their chief; and there de-
bated what measures were most proper to be taken for
the good of their country. If war were agreed on, the
same men took their arms, and the sovereign or chief
headed them, as my master did here; and when they
returned, each man went home to his own family. Thus
the people are their own army and defence; and the
lord could never oblige them to do what the majority
did not think convenient to be done, because he had
no army to compel them. This was, doubtless, the
condition of all other countries once, and must have
continued so, had not people subjected themselves
G
ROBERT DRURY.
113
unwarily to the power of one man, by giving him wealth
and authority, not only sufficient to raise an army, but
to keep it in pay himself, and use it at discretion for
their defence; with which he most shamefully insulted
and abused them. However, in the state of nature,
and the first establishment of societies, this was the
form of government; and with due submission to the
learned, I am of opinion we need not turn over many
volumes to find the original of British parliaments, for
they are of much earlier date than all their histories, or
than letters themselves-and as to their power, it is
grounded on the strongest basis, reason and nature.
But to return to our story.
The alliance being unanimously resolved upon, deaan
Mevarrow sent for the messenger the next morning;
and told him that he and his people, after mature de-
liberation, were agreed to assist deaan Murnanzack;
and desired that their friendship might be ratified, and
confirmed with the usual solemnity. Hereupon an ox
was immediately brought and killed, the liver roasted,
and stuck on lances, and deaan Murnanzack's ambas-
sador, and a deputy of deaan Mevarrow's, eat the liver
between them, repeating the imprecation we have men-
tioned before; that they wished it might prove poison,
and a farther curse might be sent by God upon that
party who first broke the alliance.
After this solemn ratification, the ox was divided
between the ambassador's people and ours, who were
present, and both eat it together; after which, he and
his attendants departed. And now deaan Mevarrow
repented that he had built this new town, for he would
have gone and lived near deaan Murnanzack, whose
country bordered on Merfaughla on one side, and was
within ten or a dozen miles on the other side of Fenno-
arevo. He had three brethren; deaan Mussecorrow,
who lived near him; deaan Afferrer, who lived on the
mountains of Yong-gorvo, of whom we shall have oc-
casion to give a large account hereafter; and Rer Mi-
mebolambo, the youngest, who lived but about five
miles from us to the eastward; and this last being so
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114
THE ADVENTURES OF
very near us, we were ready at hand to join in any en-
terprise, or to aid and assist one another. However,
we did not think ourselves safe, and, therefore, we took
care not to let deaan Crindo know our resolution, till
we had made one expedition; and after that, we made
ourselves more secure.
But the course of my narrative naturally leads me to
a detail of deaan Murnanzack's attack on deaan Mun-
dumber's town, where he took three hundred cattle,
and a great number of women and children; for it is
not customary to take men prisoners, if they cannot get
away from their enemies, they are immediately cut off.
Among the captives were deaan Mundumber's wife
and daughter, the only child he ever had. Having
plundered the town, they were going to reduce it to
ashes, but deaan Murnanzack prevented them; and
marching into the plain, waited to see if deaan Mun-
dumber would rally, and give him battle. His people
appeared, indeed, but at a great distance, not daring to
come nearer; which, as soon as he perceived, he
marched homewards, but first did a very generous ac-
tion, and sent back deaan Mundumber's wife and
daughter to him; telling her, he did not intend it as a
compliment to her husband, but as a token of his re-
spect to herself and family: she being niece to the king
of Yong-Owl, one of the most powerful princes on the
island. Nor did he do it with any view that he should
return the like favour, for he had no wife, and was
well assured by God's assistance, who would favour his
just cause, that it would never be in his power to prove
prejudicial to any of his relations.
As soon as deaan Crindo heard that his son's town
was taken, he thought it high time to seek revenge;
and accordingly mustered up a great army, threatening
to lay the country waste, to destroy all the men, and
make slaves of their wives and children. He sent, like-
wise, to our master to join him, but he peremptorily
refused; saying, he would never join with his professed
enemies against his experienced friends. However,
he did not declare his intentions of opposing him.
ROBERT DRURY.
115
They both sent to deaan Mephontey, but he refused to
be concerned on either side, and kept his word ; for his
dominions extending to the river Manderra, the boun-
daries of Antenosa, he was apprehensive that the inha-
bitants of those parts might take the advantage of his
absence, plunder his towns, and lay waste his country.
When 'deaan Crindo marched from Fennoarevo, he
did not wholly abandon his towns, but left a consider-
able number of men in them, for fear of Rer Mimebo-
lambo and Afferrer. He had no jealousy of
us, how-
ever; whilst he was gone Rer Mimebolambo and my
master deaan Mevarrow joined forces, and went out
to see what they could find; they soon surprised three
towns, for the men made a very weak resistance; so
they brought off about two hundred cattle, and fifty
slaves. My master was discovered by having a white
man (meaning myself) along with him. This was al-
together unexpected to them, and deaan Crindo's wife
immediately sent him notice thereof, and that she was
in no small concern on that account. To which infor-
mation he returned for answer, that he would soon de-
spatch the business he was about, and then he would be
amply revenged of deaan Mevarrow. But we took
care to be provided for him.
In our way homewards, the cattle and slaves were
equally divided between deaan Mevarrow and Rer Mi-
mebolambo; and they then came to this resolution,
that it was absolutely necessary for them to live toge-
ther in one town. Ours was the strongest, but not so
big as we could wish; theirs was of a larger extent,
and they had, moreover, abundance of empty houses,
which were deserted by those who went away upon the
war's breaking out; so it was agreed we should settle
there. We lost no time, for the very day we went
home we packed up all our goods, and marched away
directly to Merhaundroverta, which was the name of
Rer Mimebolambo's town, and abandoned our own in
less than a fortnight after we had built it. Thus were
we driven about like our wild boars that change their
holes every day, and fly from one wood to another, lect
:
116
THE ADVENTURES OF
the wild dogs should find them out. And we were not
only forced to secure ourselves against the surprises of
a body of our enemies, but as we lived so near one an-
other, three or four, or half a dozen of their men would
often lie lurking in the woods near towns, and catch a
wornan, child, or slave of ours, that happened to stroll
out on any occasion whatever, as digging of wild
yams, &c., so that we had little else to eat but beef;
and such as had it of their own gave it to those who
had none.
However, I had an employment here which main-
tained me handsomely enough, and it seemed as if
Providence had thought fit to appoint it, on purpose
for my support in this seasonable conjuncture. Few of
this part of the island will eat any beef unless it is
killed by one descended from a race of kings; now my
master, just before the war broke out, growing haughty
to excess, and having none but himself and his brother
to execute these high offices, they were sometimes ob-
liged to go five or six miles to kill an ox. He at last re-
flected that these people have an exalted opinion of all
white men, and taking me for the captain's son, whom
they looked upon to be no ways inferior to a king, I
was thought of honourable descent enough to be pre-
ferred to the dignity of a butcher; though in fact I did
nothing more than cut the throat of the beast, and they
carved him up themselves: however, for this, I always
had my fee, which was a large piece of meat. Though
my master and some others, as discerning as myself,
plainly perceived that this was a very idle custom; yet
he knew that the vulgar are not to be opposed in their
old ways, be they ever so ridiculous and absurd; and
had deaan Mevarrow obstinately declined this office,
and called it a mere caprice of theirs, so abrupt an
innovation would, in all probability, have been attended
with an almost general desertion, for they would in-
stantly have gone and lived under other lords. He con-
trived, therefore, to substitute me in his room, and by
that means did, (as all wise governors will,) seemingly
conform to custom to humour the people; yet by an
ROBERT DRURY.
117
ingenious expedient shifted off from himself a mean and
troublesome employment.
The next morning the cattle were divided; my mas-
ter had ten, his brother six, and the principal men one
a piece some others had one between two, and we
slaves one between four of us. For my part I wanted
no beef; for I was often employed, during my resi-
dence in this town, to kill the beasts. I was obliged,
however, to agree with my partners to kill ours, for
they had little enough, though I had plenty. I lived
tolerably well here, often exchanging beef for potatoes,
&c., with the towns-people; and here we heard of the
havoc deaan Crindo had made in the country. The
people who were allied to deaan Murnanzack, and
dwelt in small towns, left their habitations and removed
with their families and cattle beyond deaan Murnan-
zack's toward the sea, where they were sheltered under
his protection. When deaan Crindo came to such
towns as were abandoned, he burnt them down, and
utterly destroyed the plantations, pulling up every thing
by the roots, as if his intention were to create a famine
in the country.
Deaan Murnanzack was all this time with his bro-
ther Mussecorrow, on his march towards them, and had
such good intelligence, that, under the cover of a wood,
he came undiscovered almost upon them. They were
then ravaging a very large plantation of potatoes, and
some others not far distant from it. He divided his
army into four parts, resolving to attack them on all
sides, whilst they were thus mischievously bent; and
boldly showed his face in front, whom they hurried to
oppose; the other parties fired each from their post,
killed several, and put the rest into confusion. How-
ever, they made a vigorous resistance, retreating and
forcing their way into a wood, where it was almost
impossible to follow them. Here deaan Crindo rallied
them, and disposed them in good order, each either
under his own, or one of his son's command; for Mun-
dumber, Chahary, and Frukey, his three sons, were
with him. They were much superior in number to the
118
THE ADVENTURES OF
other; some said, nearly twice as many; which deaan
Murnanzack was no stranger to, nor to the courage of
his uncle; but he was resolute notwithstanding to en-
gage him and though he had time sufficient to have
retreated, yet he only marched back into the plain, to
secure an advantageous ground, and have time to form
his army; which he did accordingly, and waited for his
enemy's approach to attack him. It was not long be-
fore the engagement began, which was carried on with
great vigour and warmth on both sides; till deaan
Murnanzack perceiving his brother Mussecorrow's di-
vision began to give ground, he was determined to
make a bold push himself; and throwing away his gun,
with six small lances in his hand, he challenged several
of his principal men to follow him, if they durst, into
the thickest of the enemy's body, which they very gal-
lantly did. But he, being foremost, ran like an enraged
lion, and in spite of all their fire and flying lances,
came to close quarters, hand to hand with his lances;
and those gallant men with him, following his example,
drove all that division of their enemy's army back, and
put it into utter confusion, who not being able to abide
their fury, ran away. They broke into the very part where
deaan Crindo himself was posted, who would have been
struck through with a lance by one of Murnanzack's
companions, had not the deaan himself very generously
prevented it, desiring them not to kill his uncle. He
left his people to pursue them, whilst he ran to the aid
and assistance of Mussecorrow, who, at the same time
made a vigorous push, being ashamed to be outdone; how-
ever, they would have been utterly ruined, had not deaan
Murnanzack himself stept in to their assistance in that
critical conjuncture. But they were soon in one general
disorder, flying towards the woods with the utmost pre-
cipitation, where deaan Murnanzack followed them to
prevent them from rallying, and carried on the pursuit.
till he saw they were quite dispirited, and making
homewards to recruit themselves.
Deaan Crindo perceiving he could do no good with
Murnanzack, was determined not to be idle, and per-
ROBERT DRURY.
119
mit deaan Mevarrow and Rer Mimebolambo to join
forces; so out of policy as well as revenge he resolved
to attack us first. But no sooner had he declared his in-
tentions, and made preparations for that purpose, than
a friend of Mevarrow came out by night, and ac-
quainted him therewith. On this information he held a
consultation with Rer Mimebolambo about their de-
fence; and in order thereto, considering there were so
many cattle in town, as would disturb them in an en-
gagement, he proposed to send part of them to deaan
Murnanzack's; where the other people had secured
theirs. Rer Mimebolambo would send none of his ;
my master, however, willing to have something to sub-
sist on, in case they should lose what they had here,
picked out forty beasts; some of our richest men also
sent six, and others more or less; in short, there were
in all about fourscore and ten beasts separated from the
rest, to be sent away. I perceived what was going for-
ward, and would fain have concealed myself; for I did
not know whether I should live so well there as here:
besides, it was a large number for one person to take
care of. But there was no remedy; nobody else would
send a slave with me, and my master himself would
spare no more than one, and he looked upon me as the
best qualified of any one man to do it; whereupon he
gave orders to six or seven men well armed to guard,
and conduct me, and I took my leave of my friends.
and acquaintance, and proceeded accordingly.
We were forced to go round about by several te-
dious, unpractised ways, and to look out as narrowly
as possible, lest our enemies should intercept us; but
we embraced a very favourable opportunity when they
were all dispirited by their defeat, and suspected no-
thing of any such prize being near them. So in two
days we arrived at deaan Afferrer's town, situate on the
hills of Yong-gorva, where we stayed two days to rest
our cattle, and were going upon the third in the morn-
ing, at which time we heard a shell blow. This alarmed
not only the town, but the whole country; they ran in-
mediately to defend the passage up the hill (for there is
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THE ADVENTURES OF
but one) when instantly came two messengers from
deaan Murnanzack to deaan Afferrer, to acquaint him
that he was at the bottom of the hill, in order to pay
him a visit. When my guardians saw them join, and
found it was deaan Murnanzack, they went (as soon as
the usual compliments were past between the two bro-
thers) to deaan Murnanzack, and informed him, that
deaan Mevarrow had sent some cattle and a proper
person to look after them, in order to be conveyed
somewhere under his protection. He desired them to
thank deaan Mevarrow for his friendship and assist-
ance, and assure him that his cattle should have all
the care taken of them imaginable, and be put amongst
his own.
As soon as they had delivered up their
charge they took their leaves of me, and returned.
When deaan Murnanzack saw the cattle, and found
that I was left with them, he seemed surprised; and
asked me if I was cow-keeper, saying, he never heard
of a white man being put upon that employment. I
made answer, since it was my master's pleasure, I did
not think proper to dispute it with him, and would
execute my office as well as I could.
Three days after, deaan Murnanzack went homewards,
giving orders to three servants to assist me, and we fol-
lowed in the rear; we had also above a dozen other
people with us, who carried provision, bedding, &c.
for their masters. As soon as we were down the hill,
I discovered a new scene; the soil was of a quite differ-
ent nature as well as colour; yellow clay with stones;
which made my feet very uneasy, having been used to
a sandy ground before: however, I was soon inured to
it. The trees, likewise, were different; much loftier,
and more straight and regular. This was the place I
had often wished to see, on account of the wild cattle,
of which I had heard so much. I soon found the large.
tracks they made through the woods, which rendered the
driving of mine much easier here, than in other woods.
About noon we lay down to refresh ourselves in a
grove. The whole country is very beautiful, and well
watered with springs and rivulets. They soon showed
+
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121
me some wild cattle which were standing under the
covert of the trees: I was very desirous of viewing them
closer, and taking a gun in my hand, I went toward
them; but when I was got within thirty yards, I was
obliged to creep on the ground, and conceal myself as
well as I could with the grass, which is very high. Be-
fore I came up to them, I saw three bulls running di-
rectly towards me; their eyes sparkled with fire, their
ears pricked upright, and they foamed at the mouth; in
all probability they fled from some that gave them
chase. They put me into such a terrible fright that I
thought of nothing but firing at them, to save myself
from being torn to pieces; but as Providence would
have it, I fired and wounded one so deeply, that he
fell. Though I was safe with respect to him, I expected
the others would have attacked me; and to avoid their
fury, I lay flat on my face, not daring to stir, till hear-
ing no noise, but the halloos of my companions at a
distance, I looked up, and found that all of them had
run away, except the wounded one, which lay kicking
on the ground: however, I durst not go near him, till
my friends came up, and put us both out of our pain,
by cutting his throat, and applauding me for my cou-
rage, and being so expert a marksman. How contrary
to one's expectation things often happen! I imagined
they would have laughed at me for my cowardice; and
by mistake, and mere chance, I was looked upon as
one of more than common courage as well as conduct.:
Whilst they were cutting up the bull, I could not
forbear gazing with admiration on those which they
called wild cattle, and in fact they are so; but they are
so like those in England, that I could then perceive no
manner of difference: nor have I been able since to
discover any, except in two trivial particulars; the horns,
I take it, of our English bulls are somewhat shorter,
and their bellowings deeper. When we had cut up
our beef, we roasted some part of it, and pleased our-
selves with the thoughts of our masters having left us
behind, because we should not spoil their sport; we
happened, however, on better luck than they, and had
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not only beef to eat sooner than they, but got some
ready to dress for them at the place of rendezvous at
night. This bull-beef, you may be sure, could not be
any thing extraordinary, nor any ways equal to the
flesh of such as are tame; especially after it had run so
far, and so hard, before it was killed. These wild
cattle will give the hunters a chase sometimes of seve-
ral miles together after they are wounded; which makes
the flesh but indifferent meat, especially if it be a bull;
but people in want are glad of what comes first to
hand; for these wild cattle are a great help to such as
live in the remote parts, who, in necessitous times,
come here a hunting. However, they are frequently
found in another vast tract of forest land of some hun-
dred miles extent; of which, and of their supposed ori-
ginal, I shall have an occasion hereafter to give a par-
ticular account. The place where we baited at noon,
and lay this night, were very agreeable and delightful
groves; and indeed, all this country is so, for several
days' journey together. It abounds with wild honey,
wild boars, and such a variety of pleasant fruits, that
men may not only find enough to satisfy their hunger
and thirst, but to indulge their luxurious appetites,
without the fatigue of any cultivation; and there are
many that live in a state of indolence and ease.
Amongst the most wholesome as well as delicious
fruits of the earth, and that which I first tasted of here,
is their faungidge; it grows (as my companion showed
me) in the thickest woods. They search first for the
plant, which is a tender creeper, or wild vine that takes
hold of a tree or any thing near it, twining round the
trunk and shooting into several branches like a vine.
I never perceived that it bore any fruit, and was sur-
prised when they told me it was the root of this which
produced the faungidge; however, instead of digging
at the root, they went at least half a dozen yards from
it, and struck the ground with the points of their lances
to observe where it sounded hollow; and digging there
they found the faungidge. The root spreads a great
way under ground, and but few of the branches bear
hOBERT DRURY.
123
the faungidge; so that it would be to little purpose to
trace it from the spot, where it appears above ground.
The first I saw was not much less in bulk than one of
our gallon runlets; it is red and very smooth without,
and the coat is as thin as parchment; the inside is
white and has a milky juice; it eats as soft as a water
melon, but has no seeds in it; it is both meat and
drink, very wholesome, and always eaten raw.
The verlaway is of the same species, and in all re-
spects much like it; with this difference only, that the
skin of the latter is thinner, but so tough that it must
be pared with a knife. There is another kind, called
the verlaway-voler, which is reckoned unwholesome: I
once saw a man, who had tasted some of it swell im-
mediately, and was ready to die; but by giving him
some melted fat to drink, he brought it up and soon
recovered. This verlaway-voler is easily known, for it
is much more beautiful to the eye than the other; and
the leaf which springs from it is very different.
The next day I was extremely diverted: for deaan
Murnanzack did not leave us as he did the day before.
In the morning, we saw a bull alone in the midst of a
large plain; the deaan, by way of amusement, ordered
us to stop, whilst he and two more drove my cattle.
toward the bull; who no sooner saw them, than he
roared and tore up the ground with his horns, as if he
expected some enemy to oppose him; but finding they
were cows, he showed an inclination to be better ac-
quainted with them. The deaan and his companions
hid themselves under cover of the cows; they let them
graze a little, and then drove them forwards, till the
wild bull was amongst them; as soon as he put his
nose to a cow's tail, deaan Murnanzack, concealed
under another cow's belly, stuck a lance in his flank;
away he ran with it, but not far before he had another
in his side; and now they had room for the sport they
aimed at, which was not unlike (as I have been in-
formed) the diversion of a Spanish bull feast. Several,
by this time, joined in the chase; he ran nearly a mile
outright before he stopped, and turned to his pursuers ;
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which they always do, when they are closely beset;
and then every one must take care of himself: for it is
a very dangerous encounter, and so it was here, the
beast grew outrageous, and turning upon them, ran
directly at the man who first wounded him, whilst
another from behind, threw a lance into his flank; then
the bull turned again, as he always does, to the person
who last wounded him; and the hunters being divided
to take him all ways, and keeping at a good distance
likewise, as well to prevent hurting one another, as to
give him room to play in, they at length killed him;
but this sometimes proves a very tragical pastime.
This night we lay in a wood, where we found
faungidge in abundance; thus we lived deliciously
with only the natural produce of the country. I tied
up my calves every night that my cows might not stray,
and was forced to rise two or three times, to see that
none of my cattle got amongst the wild ones; for when
they do, it is no small trouble to catch them again; for
whenever they see the others run, they follow likewise,
as fast as they can.
The next day at noon we halted at a spring, which
rises from the highest hill in this island, called Vohitch-
maner, or red-hill; vohitch signifying a hill, or moun-
tain. I drove my cattle into a fine valley, where there
was fine grass, but a wild bull came amongst them,
and covered one of my cows. I had a great inclination
to kill him, though I almost shook for fear; they are
terrible creatures to any body's apprehension, who is
not used to them, and my fear was the cause of my ill
success; for concealing myself under another cow, I
took such an awkward aim at him, that I struck one of
my own herd instead of him. However, as the wound
did not prove mortal, I concealed it; not so much out
of any apprehension I had of my master's anger, as
out of fear of being laughed at, for wounding a tame
cow, instead of a wild bull.
We set up early this afternoon, in a place commo-
diously situated near some good water; and then we
went out to search for wild honey and faungidge. I
ROBERT DRURY.
125
had the good fortune to discover a large hole in a hol-
low tree, that was full of the former; I made a fire
presently, and with a brand smoked the bees out. In
the next place I cut down a vounturk, to make a vessel
like a tub, to put my honey in. This vounturk is a
tree or plant, (for I don't well know what to call it,) of
a very particular shape and nature. It grows upright
as an arrow, about sixteen or eighteen feet in length, is
thin below, thick in the middle, and taper again above,
like a nine pin. At the top there are two or three
branches, that bear leaves of a great length; in the
spring they have blossoms, but I never saw any fruit
that came to perfection; the outer bark is whitish, like
old lead, and full of long thorns, which are easily
struck off with a lance. We likewise cut the bark all
round, and the tree immediately falls down, not being
able to support itself: after this we take away what
length we want, and pull out the spungy substance on
the inside, till we come within three or four inches of
the bottom. By this means we make a vessel light
and easy of carriage, and in one of these I secured my
honey. The juice of this vounturk is good liquor, and
even fit to boil any thing in, when water is scarce. I
found also some faungidge. At my return I paid my
respects to deaan Murnanzack, and made him a present
of some of my honey, which is a compliment our lords
always expect.
It was now night, and they were going a beef hunt-
ing when they set out on purpose to kill the best
beasts, they always make choice of the darkest nights.
They permitted me, on my request, to accompany them;
but first ordered me to wash myself, as they themselves
did, that we might not smell either of smoke or sweat.
I would have taken two lances according to custom,
but they obliged me to leave one behind me, lest two
together might rattle in my hand. These cattle feed
only in the night, and if all these precautions were not
taken, they could never be surprised; for they are
always on their guard, snorting with their noses, and
listening after their pursuers. We can hear them roar,
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and bellow a great way off; by which we know where
they are, and we are forced always to go round till
they are directly to the windward of us; for otherwise
they would soon scent us. As soon as we had got the
wind and cattle right ahead, and were within hearing,
we walked with all the circumspection imaginable,
cropping the top of the grass with our hands, as close
as possible, to mimic, as well as we could, the noise a
cow makes when she bites it. The moment they heard
us they were all hush; not one of them bellowed or
grazed, but seemed to listen with the utmost attention:
which when we perceived, we all stood still likewise
without a whisper, whilst three or four, who under-
stood the nature of it best, continued cropping the
grass. When the cattle had listened, till (as we ima-
gined) they took us for some of their own species, they
returned to their grazing, and we walked with caution
nearer, still mimicking them as we moved softly along.
Deaan Murnanzack ordered me to keep behind, lest
they should discern my white skin, and be startled;
he also gave me his lamber to cover myself with, which
was a large piece of black silk, so that if I had been
near them, they could have seen nothing but my face,
the grass being above knee deep.
At length we got amongst them, so that one of our
men (as he told me) with some grass in his hand, and
under the cover of a bush, took hold of the dug of a
cow, and finding she gave no milk, he concluded she
was not lean; for which reason he stuck his lance
instantly into her belly, and drew it out again, making
no other motion. The cow thus wounded will give a
spring perhaps, and make a noise, as if another had
run her horns against her; but this is so common
amongst them, that the herd is not any ways disturbed
by it so that our people stuck three or four after this
manner, and left them, with an intention to come the
next morning, and track them by their blood; for it is
very dangerous to come near them in the night. As
soon as they find themselves sorely wounded, they run
from their companions, and will attack the first mar
ROBERT DRURY.
127
they see. They are generally found actually dead, or
fallen down in some wood, or shelter of bushes, as if
they industriously endeavoured to conceal themselves.
No sooner had we determined to depart, and I had
returned deaan Murnanzack his lamber, than a calf, that
had been mortally wounded, began to make a hideous
uproar, and running about, made the herd jealous;
so that they ran away, and the calf made directly at
me, and knocked me backwards; I caught hold of
his leg, but cried out lustily for help. This accident
afforded much mirth, and fixed a joke upon me after-
wards; as a stout fellow to cry out for assistance to
cope with a calf.
However, they took him, cut him to
picces, and carried him away; of whom we made a
very good supper. I have been informed, that notwith-
standing these cattle are so wild, the cows will some-
times stand still to have their dugs handled, and several
of them have been milked in the dark into a horn;
however, as I never attempted this myself, I cannot
absolutely vouch it for truth; yet as I have heard so
many affirm it, I think there are no just grounds to
contradict it.
We were in no hurry to get home, for not only our
cattle, but we too, lived as well as we could desire
there; so that though we kept going forwards, yet we
made several days more of our journey than we should
have done. A day or two after this beef hunting, we
had an accidental diversion of another kind: our dogs
had got the scent of some wild hogs that were got into
a thicket, and were very busy in running round it; but
could find no entrance for a considerable time. At
length, however, they found the path which the swine
had made, and attempted to enter the wood by it: the
passage was defended by a large boar, who fought the
dogs with great fury, and wounded one of them in a
very dangerous manner. Now, what with the dogs oa
the one hand, and the swine on the other, there was
such a yelping, grunting, and howling, that the woods
rang with their noise; and one would have imagined,
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THE ADVENTURES OF
all the hogs in the island had met there by consent, in
order to revenge their quarrel upon us.
We laid down our burdens, and some of us went up
to them, armed with guns and lances. Deaan Murnan-
zack shot the boar that wounded his dog; whereupon
another in an instant defended the entrance, and fought
so resolutely, that neither the dogs, nor we ourselves,
could come near the cattle that were within; till we
had made a passage behind them with our hatchets and
lances, and then fired upon some of the most resolute,
who turned upon us. The rest perceiving themselves
attacked behind, fought their way through the dogs,
and ran away, with the dogs after them. Words can-
not describe the noise there was, especially after a
number of them were wounded. We found seven dead,
besides several others so wounded that they could not
make off. We picked out only one or two of the fattest,
for there are very few that will eat them. I did not
dare to take any, on account of my office of killing
beeves, and the eating of swine's flesh is accounted so
contemptible a thing, that I should have lessened my
dignity, and perhaps been degraded; which, whatever
mean thoughts I might possibly have, as to the honour
of it, I had too good an opinion of its value to part
with it for the gratification of my appetite in one meal:
for in this case they are curious to a punctilio, that if
the daughter of a king be married to any one that is
not of a royal family, their children are not admitted
to the honour of killing beeves, notwithstanding the
father be a freeman, and a chief amongst his neigh-
bours.
We used every evening to sit down near the prince,
and discourse of one thing or another to divert the
time; now, though it is a common custom amongst the
princes here, to converse with every body in the most
familiar manner, yet they preserve a decent state and
distinction. The people throughout the whole island
pay a religious regard to dreams, and imagine that
their good demons (for I cannot tell what other name
ROBERT DRURY.
129
to give their inferior deities, which, as they say, attend
on their owleys) tell them in their dreams what ought
to be done, or warn them of what ought to be avoided;
more especially after a sacrifice, or a prayer to God, and
an invocation of this demon. I well remember our
discourse this evening turned principally upon this
topic. The next morning deaan Murnanzack came to
me as I was alone, and discoursed very freely with me
about several things; and in particular he advised me
to take what beef I wanted, and could carry with me;
for we should have no more opportunities of killing any
wild cattle. Observing him fond of conversation, I
told him, if there were any dependance on dreams, as
some had asserted the night before, I should incur his
anger that day; having dreamt that I was at home
with my parents, and all my relations round about me;
that my pockets were full of gold, and they added still
to my store. This, I said, did not only throw me into a
melancholy when I awaked, to find myself naked in a
wood and in a strange country, but it likewise gave
me some concern, for that I had always observed, not
only when I was a lad in England, but since under my
master Mevarrow, that to dream of plenty of gold
money was a certain indication of anger. At this
deaan Murnanzack smiled, and made answer, "I wonder
that you, who laughed but last night at the talk of
God's sending dreams by the good demons, should to-
day be afraid of one." 'However," says he, "I dare
say you will be once mistaken; for I don't know any thing
you can do to make me angry." I would not have my
reader imagine, that I have introduced this story,
merely for the sake of telling an idle dream; but it
proved the introduction to something very remarkable,
and furnished us with a discourse the next evening,
that may possibly be thought an agreeable amusement.
The next day we roasted our beef and laid it to cool,
in order to bind up in a burden, which we called an
enter, to carry at our backs. All I had to do, was to
provide for myself, and what with my beef and honey
I was pretty well loaded, and as well contented, for I
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lived in plenty; my honey, likewise, mingled with
water, made a pleasant drink. This was the last day
of our passage through these groves and habitations of
the wild cattle; some of which they attempted once
more to surround, more for the sake of their diversion
than want of beef: and in this, not wilfully, but for
want of knowledge, I spoiled all their sport, by travers-
ing the way they were running, which was directly to-
wards the place where deaan Murnanzack lay in am-
bush for them. This made them run quite another way,
and put him into such a violent passion at first, that he
lifted up his lance, and frowning, threatened to kill me,
and, indeed, I expected no less, which made me get
out of his sight as soon as possible, being apprehensive
of some such barbarous treatment as I had before met
with from deaan Mevarrow. This prince, however, was
of a more generous disposition; for when his passion
was over, he sent for me in a very courteous manner,
and desired I would spend the evening with him as
usual, and sit down by him, which, accordingly, I did.
After we had discoursed on a variety of subjects, he, at
last, pressed me to give him some account of the cus-
toms of my country, and in a more particular manner
to inform him, what god or gods we worship, since I
seemed to have so little veneration for theirs; and that
I would be ingenuous, and tell him, as I had been a
great traveller, what things I had seen, in order to im-
"And pray,
prove the evening to the best advantage.
says he, "what God is that you adore?" Upon this the
company drew round me, and I began by asking them
in the first place, if they were not satisfied that there
was a God above the skies? I could not say above the
heavens, because there was no term in their language
expressive of them; nor had they, as I could perceive,
any idea of what we christians mean by heaven, as the
peculiar residence of the Almighty, and the glorious
mansions of the saints after their decease. They told
me. that they firmly believed there was a God above,
who was the supreme Lord of all other gods, demons,
or spirits, of what nature or kind soever.
"That very
ROBERT DRURY.
131
God," said I, "is the deity we adore, for we know of no
other God, nor do we pay the tribute of divine worship to
any other object than this one-this supreme and only
God." "Do not you then," said they, "make prayers
and sacrifices, and invoke some guardian demons to
assist you in the knowledge of the will of that God;
and to warn you of any approaching dangers? If your
countrymen had such owleys as ours, your good demons
would have assisted you that night you lay upon the
sands, and have told you in dreams of the danger, and
directed you to escape before the morning.'
To this I replied, "that all good men in England ac-
knowledged an overruling Providence; and I am fully
persuaded, that it was by the providence of that divine
power that I was preserved at that time; and why God
did not see fit that the rest should save their lives, is a
secret I do not pretend to pry into; but I cannot con-
ceive that your owleys, to which you seem to pay a
divine homage, and pray to for their aid and assistance,
should have a spirit or a god within them; or visit you
in the night when you are asleep, and forewarn you of
such misfortunes as you would willingly avoid. I plainly
perceive, that they are nothing more than pieces of
wood, and alligators' teeth dressed up; I plainly dis-
cern, likewise, how they are made; and I am certain.
that other wood, and other alligators' teeth are not liv-
ing spirits, have no power of speech, and are incapable
of knowing things present, much less things to come;
for which reason, we look upon it as an act of idola-
try to pay that adoration, which belongs to the great
God alone, to any created thing, or the likeness of any
created thing above, or here below, since he has strictly
forbid the worship of any thing but himself."
Deaan Murnanzack listened to this serious discourse
of mine with abundance of attention, and then turned
to some of his people and argued with them for some
time; partly in vindication of what I had asserted, and
partly in endeavouring to explain to them the nature
of their owleys, which I am sensible I had not a just
notion of at that time. But I was too young when first
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I was reduced to this slavery, and had neither friends
nor books to assist me; besides, I was not capable of
making such just remarks then, as I could do now.
But, to proceed; as soon as the deaan had done dis-
coursing with them, he turned again to me and said,
"To me it seems very strange, that you, who, but this
very morning, told me a dream of your own, and found
it happened true, should argue against these owleys of
ours; for you mistake us; it is not the wood, nor the
alligators' teeth that we worship; but there are certain
guardian demons, who take care of all nations, fami-
lies, and private persons; and should you be possessed
of one of these owleys, and give it the name of some
guardian spirit, it will undoubtedly attend you; for
how could you know this morning that I should be
angry with you, had not one of these good demons
visited you and discovered it; and if you had not had
such friendly notice, you might, probably, have been
killed, though I did not design it; but men's passions
are unruly, and I was highly provoked, I own, though
I say not this to reproach you, as if I imagined you
wilfully spoiled our sport, for I am fully satisfied you
meant no harm. I only mention this to put you in
mind that you argue against yourself; besides, if the
spirits of our forefathers, or these guardian demons
did not declare these to mankind, how should they
know them? No one could tell that I should be angry
with you, when you had given me no offence; neither
did you intend to provoke me, and nothing was done
that any such accident should have happened. You
do not imagine, I hope, that the great God himself came
down to tell you, since these inferior spirits, of whom
there are such numbers, could more conveniently attend
you. But you observed just now, as I remember, that
the great supreme God had forbid you the worship of
any thing but himself. Pray did any white man ever
see this great God above? or does he often condescend
to talk with your people, and not with ours?"
To which I made answer, that no man ever saw God,
but some of our forefathers, many ages ago, heard his
►
ROBERT DRURY.
133
voice when he descended in a cloud. "But," says he, " if
this was so many years ago, and there is no man now
living, black or white, that ever heard the voice of this
God, how are you sure it is true? And since, as you
allow it was many ages ago, things may be so altered
or misrepresented from what they were when your first
forefathers told them, that you cannot rely upon their
certainty." I was here at some loss, as they had no
knowledge of letters, and consequently, I could not
make them comprehend any thing of the sacred scrip-
tures; I only told them, therefore, that we had a way
of preserving the memory of things, which they were
wholly unacquainted with; and by that means, I
said, we had an account of the beginning of the
world, and of its creation by God, and that I could
tell them a great many strange things in relation
thereto, which they then seemed very desirous of
hearing.
And, accordingly, I told them that the world was
originally dark, and a confused chaos or mass; and that
God, by the word of his power, made the sun and inoon,
the beasts, fish, fowl, trees, herbs, and every thing else.
They still persisted in their first objection, and as they ima-
gined with much more reason than before; "for," said
one of them," though it is possible you may have a bet-
ter method of preserving the memory of things than we
have, yet you could never have the knowledge of what
was done before there was any man created." To this I
replied, that God hath revealed the knowledge of this,
and much more to particular persons; which, they
listening attentively to, I went on to the creation of
man, and then of woman's being made out of a rib,
which God took from him while he was asleep. At
this they all broke out into astonishment and laughter;
and deaan Murnanzack said it was a manifest untruth,
and that, therefore, it was a shame to tell such a story
with a serious countenance; by this, he said, he was
convinced that all the rest was false; for, were this true,
a woman would have a rib more than a man, and a
man be defective on one side.
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Here I was guilty of a gross error through ignorance,
however, I think myself obliged ingenuously to confess
it. I hope our divines and all good christians will
consider the circumstances I was in, and readily forgive
me; for I had so little wit, as peremptorily to insist on
the truth of it, and affirmed what I had heard, when a
child, from illiterate persons, that a man had one rib
less on one side than the other; nay, I had so much
assurance as to put the whole argument upon this issue,
and offered to lay any wager on the fact. The prince
Jaughed at me, though he was willing to be convinced;
we had two women with us, one was very lean, whom
he ordered to be called, her ribs were told and found to
be equal; and after that, a man was examined, and his
ribs were the same. They were not all of them, indeed,
convinced of the exact number, nor could I myself, in
attempting to count them after them. From this time,
I perceived deaan Murnanzack treated all I had said
on religion with contempt, and immediately resumed
his former objection with more vigour, and said, that
to talk of what was done before man was created, was
perfect nonsense; that what I had asserted in relation
to God's conversing with men, and telling them such
and such things, had no manner of evidence; and that the
things I pretended to know and talk of, were, in short,
nothing more than old women's tales. However,'
says he, "pray go on, and give us some farther account
of this God of yours, who, in former ages, was thus fa-
miliar with mankind." Then I went on with the scrip-
ture story of God's displeasure with the whole world,
and the flood which destroyed all men and beasts on
the earth, except those in the ark; and of Noah's taking
male and female of every species into it to preserve
them. Upon this, one of them shortly replied, "if they
had been all destroyed, could not that God who made
them at first, make more of them at his pleasure?" But
I went on and told them of the rainbow, that it was ap-
pointed for a sign of God's promise not to drown the
world again. To this deaan Murnanzack replied, that
they had no such tradition handed down to them; "but
"
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135
""
besides," says he, "if none but Noah, with his sons and
daughters, were saved, pray was Noah a white or a
black man?" To which I answered, “Sir, I perceive you
give no credit to what I say of this nature.
He said,
"There are many things which I do not rightly under-
stand, and shall be glad to be informed of; nay, I would
give credit to any thing that a reasonable man can desire,
but most of these things are no better than old women's
fictions, and I am fully persuaded that all white men
will not talk thus idly as you do." These were his very
words, which he repeated several times, and with which
this evening's conference concluded. It was no small
concern to me to find how the truth suffered by my
weakness; but I was in hopes that deaan Murnanzack,
who was a man of penetration, might consider that I
was but a child when I left England, and for that reason,
not well acquainted with the topics I undertook to
explain.
The next day we went directly forwards, for we were
then past all the wild cattle, and deaan Murnanzack
therefore hastened homewards. About three in the
afternoon, we came to a place where the road divided;
here the prince halted, as I perceived, with no other
view then to take his leave of me, ordering two men to
conduct me and my cattle to his cow-keeper. Here we
parted, and we lay that night near the banks of a river,
which are the boundaries of deaan Murnanzack's coun-
try, and leads into Madamvovo, the great river which
runs through Anterndroea. To this place where I was
going, all the cattle come to water. As we were passing
through the woods, we met a company of men and wo-
men going to fetch water; they stopped and gazed at
me with admiration, having never seen a white man
before, asking those who accompanied me, who I was?
and from whence I came? who waggishly told them
they found me in the forest among the wild cattle, and
intended to make a present of me to the prince. In
order to carry on the jest, I ran towards the women,
and talking gibberish, frightened one of them to that
degree that she fell into such violent fits, that the rest
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THE ADVENTURES OF
had much to do to recover her, for which I was after-
wards extremely sorry.
This wood extended from the river about seven miles,
without any break or plain, till within a mile of the
town. It was no small concern to me to think what a
great way I had to drive my cattle to water every other
day, but it did not prove so great a fatigue as I ex-
pected; for there being eight or ten of us, we took
our turns, so that it came to each man's turn but once
in about sixteen or twenty days; besides, as there was
no grass by the way, there was no impediment or inter-
ruption; and when they returned hungry, they would
go home fast enough of themselves.
As the people here had never seen a white man
before, I was a very surprising sight to them at first;
but they were soon acquainted with me, and I became
of singular service to them: for whenever they had an
ox to kill they were obliged, till now, to go a great way
for one of the royal family; this trouble I saved them, and
lived very plentifully myself by that means. I was fre-
quently sent for upon these occasions, and had always
my fee, which was four or five ribs to carry home with
me, besides the leg roasted for my entertainment whilst
I was with them. I seldom went without a boy to
wait on me, as there were always several at hand, and
willing enough, because I was able to oblige them with
part of my beef. I had also sufficient to live like those
who are free and generous, in communicating some
portion of whatever they have to their neighbours. As
soon as I came home, I used to put on the pot, and
send messes out to all my acquaintance, which they
did not fail to return when in their power: and it may
be observed in the whole course of this history, that all
the people of this island delight in this free, good-
natured, and sociable way of living.
Whenever I was sent for, the house was always set
in order, the owley dressed, and placed in view. I was
frequently employed to kill a sacrifice, in case of a
circumcision, or when any one was sick; and since I
had the conference above related with deaan Murnan-
ROBERT DRURY.
137
ack, I had the curiosity to listen to their prayers; and
more than once I attempted to speak in favour of the
christian religion. When I mentioned the resurrection
of the body, they told me it must be a mere romance;
and to talk as I did of burning in fire after death, was
to them inconceivable; for (said they) no man can
feel after he is dead, and unless they could see some
person raised from the grave, they would give no credit
to my assertion. I told them farther of God's appear-
ing, and giving the ten commandments, but it had no in-
fluence over them; "for" (said they) "all mankind have
the purport and meaning of them by the dictates of
nature."
Here are laws against adultery, theft, and murder;
and they have such a veneration for their parents, that
they revere them even after death; there is also a fine
inflicted on any one who shall presume to curse another
man's parents. They never swear profanely, but allow
oaths sometimes requisite, because, as they said, they
were necessary and convenient; and men could not
live one by another if there were not such laws; and
for that reason there was no occasion for the great God
himself to prescribe those rules. The fourth command-
ment, indeed, they seem to have no idea of; unless it
be that they allow even their slaves to spend one day
in seven, as they think proper, without controul; but
they have no religious duties to perform. And when
informed that we kept it holy, because God rested on
the seventh day, they said this was as improbable as
any thing I had before asserted; and asked, how I
could tell what God did before there was a man living?
And indeed, I could plainly perceive that they despised
me for talking of these things, and looked on me as a
common notorious liar, insomuch that I was obliged to
desist.
In short, I had no way to prove what I asserted: and
that mistake in regard to the rib, in my conversation
with deaan Murnanzack, was a mortifying stroke to
me; and though at first I imagined my ill success in
the argument was wholly to be imputed to my own
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THE ADVENTURES OF
ignorance, I have since had a thousand scrupulous
thoughts arise in my mind upon that head. And sure
I am, that all was not owing to my weakness, for our
divines have not furnished us with sufficient arguments
to defend it. And I do not know, since miracles are
ceased, but they would find it a difficult task to demon-
strate those truths themselves to these people's satisfac-
tion. Nor do I know what miracle could possibly now
be wrought to prove what was done before any mortal
man was in being. Though they are fools enough here
to be imposed on by the umossees, or conjurors, yet
they will entertain no notion of conversing with the
great God. They allow, indeed, that there are demons
or spirits, which may be good or bad, who appear to
them in dreams, and discover to these umossees many
surprising things; yet they do not look upon them to
be more pious or better men than others, though, in-
deed, they imagine they are more knowing. The awe,
however, that my education has impressed on my mind
prevented me from joining in their worship, lest it
should be idolatrous; and there never was such a thing
as persecution for religion ever thought of amongst
them; so that I was free to think and do as I thought
proper, so long as I took care not to affront them: and
I think it is both a shame and a sin that it should be
countenanced or practised by any sect of christians.
whatsoever. I have not here forgot deaan Mevarrow's
threatening to kill me at first; but it must be observed
there was nothing more in that transaction than a
secret pride and ill-nature peculiar to the man; as
appeared by deaan Sambo's preventing him, and recon-
ciling us, without laying me under any obligation to
join in the ceremony.
I had not lived here above six weeks, before I heard
that deaan Crindo had attacked Rer Mimebolambo's
town, and reduced it to ashes, killing two men, and
taking some of their wives and children captive, with
almost their whole stock of cattle. This ill news affected
me very much, notwithstanding deaan Mevarrow had
several times in his passion attempted to kill me, yet
ROBERT DRURY.
139
living so long in his family I could not but be concerned
at their misfortunes. We used to have here a great deal
of flying news with respect to their wars; one day an
account of a battle fought, and the next day a contradic-
tion of it; their reports being as little to be relied on as
some of our common newspapers at London, so that I
paid but little regard to them. Besides, we lived here at a
distance in peace and plenty, and heard now and then,
perhaps, of the losses sustained by our friends: how-
ever, as we felt none of the miseries ourselves, they
served us for conversation; in which we, like coffee-
house politicians, sleep in security remote from danger,
censured the conduct of our superiors according to our
several factious inclinations, for facts we knew little or
nothing of, or at most, but by external appearances,
and those too from very precarious reports. Our busi-
ness was to make our lives as easy and happy as our
circumstances would permit us; and among the many
things which we met with to divert us, one, I think,
will bear the relation; which was a project of my
governor's, and proved as profitable as it was enter-
taining.
There are some people in the remote parts of this
country, whose habitations are in secret recesses in the
woods; they live easy, indolent lives, never come near
a town, nor concern themselves with any affairs of
peace or war, either foreign or domestic. They keep
no cattle, lest the vociferations of their herds or flocks
might possibly betray them, and induce some evil-
minded men to disturb their peace by plundering them
of so valuable a treasure; but content themselves with
small plantations and the product of nature, which is.
indeed, sufficient to support them. They never con-
cern themselves who is the lord of any particular place,
or sovereign of the whole dominions. Deaan Murnan-
zack's cow-keeper, my governor, formerly lived after
this manner, and by that means was acquainted with
some of their private settlements. As they are very
illiterate, he imagined that I, being a man of a singular
colour, might easily be imposed on them for a prince
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THE ADVENTURES OF
of Murnanzack's family; as, indeed, many of our
vulgar people in Europe are, who think the royal
family are something more than mortal, and the nobility
superior in beauty to the rest of the human species. In
short, the farce was agreed to be played, and I was to
have one third of what presents should be made us; he
another, and the persons who composed my retinue the
remainder. Accordingly they procured me a gay silk
lamber, two or three strings of the most glittering beads
for a necklace, and a gun of the best sort to carry on
my shoulder; my assumed character was Rer Mimebo-
lambo, who living in the most remote parts and far
from them, there was little or no danger of a discovery,
since none of them had ever seen any of the family in
their lives. Twenty of our neighbours made up my
retinue, and we practised or rehearsed our parts three
or four days before we went, they waiting on me, and
calling me by that name and title, that every one might
be perfect, and know his cue. The plot in short was
this:-
We set out in a very formal and pompous march,
with shells blowing in the rear, as is the custom of the
country. The place we proposed to visit was about
ten or twelve miles off; when we came within half a
mile, my governor, and one appointed to attend him,
went as heralds to acquaint them that deaan Murnan-
zack's youngest brother, Rer Mimebolambo,was travelling
that way, and understanding there were some inhabit-
ants in those parts, desired they would spare him such
provisions as they thought proper for himself and his
retinue. We halted till we thought our envoys had
delivered their message and prepared them for our
reception, then we marched on in form and order.
soon as we came into their little village I perceived a
mat was spread for me to sit down upon, and the whole
clan, men, women, and children, came crawling upon
their hands and knees to lick my feet. My people
played their parts artfully enough, observing every
punctilio of respect that was due to the person I repre-
sented; for the moment I was seated, one ran to fetch
As
ROBERT DRURY.
141
me water, another brought a calabash to receive it, and
a third very obsequiously washed my feet. I ordered my
principal attendant (who was in reality my governor)
to procure a house for me; there were but five in the
whole place, except a few huts or separate apartments
for their children. He soon pitched upon one of the
best, and left the owner to shift for himself.
They stood with awe and attention before me, having
never seen any one command with such authority
before. The chief called a kind of council, and con-
sulted with them what present was most proper to
make me, in some measure suitable to my dignity.
Several of them returned in a short time with some
gallons of Guinea corn, and more of carravances; but
the old man did not make his appearance till near the
evening, when he brought with him four men loaded,
two with as much honey as they could well carry, and
two with as much carravances; all which were placed
in a very formal manner before me. The old man sat
down at a humble distance, and struck with awe, in a
hesitating tone, made a modest apology, and said, he
hoped I would excuse the meanness of his present; but
as he had no more to command on so short notice, he
should be proud if it met with my acceptance. I
showed a tender concern for the poor man, and cheered
him up, telling him I was well pleased; that what he
had done was a sufficient testimony of his respect, and
more than I expected from him. Upon this, I desired
him to sit down and keep me company, whilst my
people went to visit some of their neighbours; for I
had sent some of them one way and some another, to
collect all they could by fair means, and whatever the
people could spare. I particularly ordered they should
attend me themselves, and taste the provisions they
furnished us with, lest they should be damaged by the
incantation of the umossees. The old man recovered
his spirits in a short time, and began to talk with me.
in a more familiar manner, saying, it was no wonder
that my father and his royal family ruled over them,
for God and the demons had peculiarly distinguished
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THE ADVENTURES OF
us from other men; and, "had I met you," said he, " in
a wood alone, I should instantly have fallen down, and
paid my duty to you; for the varzachars, or white
men, can never surely be whiter than this young prince
is." Thus his tongue ran on, expatiating on each fea-
ture of my face, and extolling every part about me in
so lavish a manner, that I could scarce tell what to say
to him; nor did I know when he would have ceased,
but as good fortune would have it, an arch fellow in
my retinue came in, and in a drolling, though very
serious manner, answered him, saying, it is no wonder,
old father, that you stand astonished at the different
colour, the regular features, the graceful symmetry, and
proportion of the prince; but you must consider,
venerable sir, that God has not created all mankind
alike, but is pleased to distinguish those whom he con-
stitutes for the government of mankind, by making
them in such a particular form, and of such a particular
colour, that no one can be ignorant of their superiority.
For (says he farther) were all of one shape and colour,
people would choose out of their own clan whom they
thought most wise and valiant to be their sovereign
lord and chief commander; and should they happen
not to approve of his conduct, they would abandon him,
perhaps, and live under subjection to some other prince;
but when God appoints any particular men to be
princes and rulers over the rest of mankind, you may
depend upon it, he bestows upon them such excellent
forms, and distinguishes them by such marks that every
one who sees them must know them at first view, must
immediately fall down before them, and acknowledge
their divine right and authority over them.
"Ay, ay,"
says the old man, "what you observe is very true; for
I remember my father went once in two or three years
to carry honey to deaan Mernindgarevo, who was deaan
Crindo's father; and, as I have been informed, his skin
was of copper colour, though his hair was black, indeed,
like ours." "Yes," says the other, "he was somewhat
different, but not very much; deaan Mungazeungarevo,
however, who was this prince's father, married a lady
ROBERT DRURY.
143
from Port-Dauphine, who was a white man's daughter."
Yes, yes," says the old man, "no doubt there is some-
thing in that, but I have not a right notion of those
marks which you mention by which God distinguishes
princes. Are all princes, pray, of his fine colour and
make? And has God set such glorious marks on all
kings?" "I cannot say," says the other," but that this is
the whitest that was ever heard of." In the interim came
some of the people who were sent for, bringing their
presents and offering to lick my feet, which, to my no
small satisfaction, put a stop to their insipid confer-
ences.
I found that my people had formed this artful scheme
among themselves to delude these poor peasants, and
carried it on with good success; for one of these last, as
I was informed, asked how he should know the person
to whom he was to pay his respects? And was roundly
answered, do you think God has not distinguished
princes from other men? You will know him at first
sight by his fine colour and majestic mien.
But I fear I have tired my reader with the too
tedious narration of this petty farce. However, it
plainly appears, that it turned out to all our advantages;
we proposed at first to have proceeded further into the
country, but were so well provided with whatever we
wanted, that we had no occasion for more, every man
having as much as he could well carry. So the next
day all made up their enters, except myself, who still
kept up my grandeur. When we came home, we
divided the spoil according to contract, and though I
sent several presents to my neighbours, I had sufficient
for two or three months.
This was too happy a life to last long. Before a
year came about, I was ordered home again with my
cattle, three men being sent by deaan Mevarrow to
conduct me. The civil war had now subsisted about a
year and a half, which reduced every one to the greatest
difficulties, so that they wanted these cattle to live
upon, the rest being consumed by themselves, or taken
by their adversaries; the enemy, however, was in as
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THE ADVENTURES OF
bad circumstances, if not worse. We returned the
same way we came, through the forest of wild cattle,
and hunted as we went along till we came to deaan
Afferrer's town on Yong-gorvo. I was much dejected
all the way, and here I began first to think of making my
escape to some seaport town at the peril of my life;
though it was a long time before I had opportunity to
accomplish it. As soon as I arrived at Rer Mime-
bolambo's town, where my master and his people still
resided, I found none but melancholy countenances;
however, they were glad to see me safely arrived, being
richer by that means than the rest of their neighbours,
whether friends or enemies; for my cattle were con-
siderably increased. They thanked me, indeed, for my
care, which was all the reward I had; but my master
was too proud and surly to do that; my butchering
office, however, brought me the usual fee, by which
means I lived as well as any of the others.
My employment was still to follow the cow-tail for
the town in general, for nobody was willing to trust
either their children or servants; and deaan Mevarrow
durst not peremptorily command, even his own young
slaves, to do any thing which might hazard their being
taken by the enemy, lest their parents and friends
should resent it, and leave him to live under other
lords. As for his white slave, he had neither parents
nor relations to mourn his loss if killed or taken; and
for that reason was the only proper person to be ex-
posed to danger.
The war was not carried on with so much vigour as
at first, for their courage on all sides was pretty well
abated; nor was there so much advantage arising from
the plunder of one another, as at the beginning; but it
was not long before Chahary and Frukey, who were
our original enemies, heard that we had cattle; and
one day, as I was tending them at some considerable
distance from the town, they, with two hundred men in
a body, surprised and took them, and pursued me in a
most violent manner; firing and darting their lances,
yelling out, kill him, cut him to pieces, &c.: however, I
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145
got the start of them, and fled into a thicket, which was
so full of prickles and strong large thorns, that I was
most miserably scarified from head to foot; nevertheless
I concealed myself in the midst of it. They still fol-
lowed me with their hideous cries, beginning to cut
down a passage in order to come at me; but just as I
was on the very brink of despair, I observed them all
on a sudden run as fast back again. It was some time
before I could comprehend the meaning of it: till at
length, I perceived some people had been alarmed, and
came upon them; so that now they found it difficult
to save their own lives. They could not drive off the
cattle, but resolving to do as much mischief as they
could, they killed some, and others they wounded, and
then fled. I was obliged to keep my station, and was
still apprehensive, that some of them would be driven
upon me; till by the noise of the guns, I found, that
they went farther from me; I then ventured to creep
out, and perceived one of their chief men was fallen,
and wounded with two lances in his hand. He looked
me full in the face with his eyes swimming, and was
going to speak, when I snatched one of the lances out
of his hand, and told him, it was my time now; and as
he was my enemy in a double capacity, I immediately
struck him dead. When our people first saw me they
imagined that I was cut with lances, for I was all over
bloody. My flesh was torn in several places, my feet
were almost cut to pieces, and many large thorns were
still visible in them. So that when I recovered from
the fright I was in, and came to be cool, I was in
excessive torinent. The women and children soon
helped to carry the slain cattle into the town, there not
being above fifteen alive, and those most barbarously
used. Whilst these were busy with the beasts, I told
deaan Mevarrow that I had taken two lances from one
that seemed to be mortally wounded; though alive
when I left him at the side of the thicket. I durst not
own that I had laid violent hands on him, for some of
our people were his near relations, and I did not know
but they might privately seek revenge, for they lamented
O
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THE ADVENTURES OF
his loss, and begged his body, in order to bury it;
which was readily granted.
When I came home, my mistress was very kind to
me, and ordered one of her slaves to wash and dress
my wounds, and pick out the thorns. It was some time
before I was perfectly well, and it was no small com-
fort to me, that I had no more cattle to take care of:
though I was conscious, at the same time, of the ill con-
sequence that would soon attend the want of them.
However, we had beef enough for some few days; and
more than we could well dispense with, whilst it was
sweet.
I was no sooner recovered, than my master found out
another employment for me, which was to dig in the
woods for wild yams; all our beef was now spent, and
scarcely any thing else was to be found hereabouts to live
upon: we now severely felt the miseries of a civil war;
and so must all countries wherever they are, feel in pro-
portion to their circumstances, whether christian or
heathen. I went a long way sometimes before I could
find sufficient for my master and mistress, and myself,
being seldom able to bring home more than would serve
one of us for a meal the next day: I, indeed, always
made sure of one private meal; for I took care to kindle
a fire, and roast some of them in the woods.
One morning just about sun-rising, as my master
and some of the chiefs were sitting at the town-gate,
condoling with each other on account of the sad state
of their affairs, deaan Mevarrow said, he had tasted no
beef for some considerable time; and asked, if there
were any cattle near them? They told him, none that
either belonged to him, or any of Rer Mimebolambo's
people; but there was one in deaan Mephontey's juris-
diction, about four or five miles off, who had several
good fat beeves. He immediately ordered me and an-
other man to bring away one of the best of those beasts.
with as much privacy and expedition as we could. I
began to make several excuses, and said I was afraid to
go upon so dangerous an adventure: besides (said I)
as I am the only white man you have amongst all your
ROBERT DRURY.
147
people should I be seen at a distance, they will know
me immediately to be your slave, and by that means
you yourself will be discovered. All I could urge had
no influence over him; he was resolutely bent that I
should go, and ordered the man to provide a rope that
instant. I begged on my knees that he would send
another in my stead, but to no purpose; however,
whilst he turned away, and was speaking to some other
people, I withdrew, in hopes that when he did not see
me, he would substitute another in my post; but the
old villain turning short and perceiving what I aimed at,
took up his gun and fired at me; the shot went through
the straw cap I had on, and I was so near him, that
the wadding struck my back. Finding he had not
killed me, he took up a lance, and before any one could
stop his hand, he threw it at me.
He raved, and gave
ine all the opprobrious language he could think of. As
to swearing, they are not any ways addicted to it; a
custom too prevalent amongst us christians, to the
shame and reproach both of high and low. However,
at last he was pacified, and on my submission, and the
solicitations of his friends, he forgave me; but peremp-
torily insisted on my obedience to his commands. As
there was no remedy, I proceeded with the man, though
with many bitter reflections on my wayward fortune,
and state of bondage.
We soon came near the place to which we were di-
rected, and after we had wandered about some short
time, we espied about half a score of cows grazing; our
next concern was to see if any cowkeeper was tending
them. To confess ingenuously, I was scarcely ever in
more fear in my whole life; the noise of the pretty little
lizards, who hop about the trees, and create a rustling
amongst the leaves, appeared at that time in my ears
like the rushing out of so many men from an ambus-
cade; but after we had listened very attentively, and
taken a short tour with the utmost precaution, we at
length ventured to sally out from behind the covert of
the trees, and pitch upon one that was for our purpose;
my comrade took the rope, which till then he had
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twisted about his middle, and secured her; we had
much ado to get her from the rest of the herd; but at
last we mastered her, and drove her through the woods,
for we thought it safest to avoid all open places, and by
noon we reached home. In a few minutes she was cut
up by a dozen hands at once, for fear the right owner
should have missed her, and should follow our track.
The meat was divided into two hundred pieces, and
distributed to the same number of men. My partner
and I had the udder, and a slice of the buttock, which
is the customary fee to such as bring in either a stolen
beast, or one taken from an enemy; as almost every
one in the town had a small portion, all of it was de-
spatched immediately; and the next day we were in the
same plight as we were in before.
It was now winter, and as the stalks of the yams are
then withered, they are very difficult to be found; in-
somuch that we were reduced to the utmost distress,
and almost famished. If we could get a meal once a
day it was luxurious living; when the children, there-
fore, cried for food, though they had none all day, their
mothers could with authority take them up short, and
say, would you be gluttons? Did you not eat yester-
day? These shocking taunts from their poor and dis-
tressed parents, I heard for some months together; and
our calamitous circumstances were visible in our ghastly
countenances. Here were no wars, no acts of hostility
now; our enemies never concerned themselves about
us, nor we with them. Thus we lived for eight or nine
months after we had lost our cattle. Our enemies,
however, were in a worse condition, if possible, than
we were; because deaan Murnanzack and his brother,
who lived on the other side, frequently interrupted their
repose, and deprived them of the only happiness that
attends a state of poverty; and that is, to sleep away
one half of their tedious hours, and so lull the acute
sense of their misfortunes.
Deaan Crindo, and, indeed, every body else, sin-
cerely wished for a peace, without finding any expe-
dient to accomplish it; and though deaan Murnan-
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149
zack's success had made them despair of one upon any
honourable terms, yet Providence threw an accident in
the way, by which it was effected. Rer Vovvern, king
of Feraigner, which is St. Augustin-bay country, had
declared war against Woozington, our common enemy;
and had sent an ambassador, one Ry-Nanno. by name,
a very able and experienced person, whose commission
was to reconcile the contending lords of Anterndroea;
and procure their friendship and assistance in the com-
mon cause. No sooner was he arrived at Fennoarevo,
than the joyful news spread round the country, and
reached our ears. Deaan Crindo, without any hesitation,
permitted Ry-Nanno to make the first overtures from
him to his nephew Murnanzack; to whose residence
the ambassador was then gone when he heard it.
It was with no small reluctance, that this prince list-
ened to a peace; for not only his uncle's deportment,
but that of his sons too, was so inhuman and savage,
in destroying the cattle belonging to their nearest rela-
tions, rooting up their plantations, and committing
other flagrant enormities, that he almost forgot his own
private wrongs, and looked upon deaan Crindo as the
general enemy of mankind, who, to gratify his unruly
passions, endeavoured to lay his country waste; not-
withstanding he himself, at the first breaking out of the
quarrel, had shown him so glorious an example. With
what generosity did he treat both Crindo and Mundum-
ber, and all who belonged to them? How careful was
he of their towns and effects? Evidently demonstrating
that he aimed at nothing more than doing himself jus-
tice, and deciding a controversy that was too warmly
pursued, and that the murder of men in cool blood,
and the destruction of countries, were actions of horrid
impiety. And as Ry-Nanno told me afterwards, it was
his innate virtue that at last determined him to a recon-
ciliation; for he thought the Supreme Being could never
look down with a favourable eye on a man who would
refuse to relieve his fellow-creatures from such calami-
ties as his countrymen then laboured under. And this
was the principal motive, in the height of his success,
0 3
150
THE ADVENTURES OF
to wave the prosecution of his own interest, when it
stood in competition with the public good. These were
the truly noble sentiments and generous resolutions of
this great man, notwithstanding his contempt of revela-
tion; or, at least, of the christian religion, as I had re-
presented it to him in a disadvantageous light. I wish
our priests who build so much on their superior know-
ledge of God's will, would be as exemplary in their
lives and conversations, and would teach princes as
well as others, to be in reality so truly just, honourable,
and good as this gallant black prince was in all his ac-
tions; and yet I doubt not, but he will be stigmatized
with the odious character of an illiterate heathen.
As soon as Ry-Nanno had concluded his negotiation
with deaan Murnanzack, he passed by deaan Afferrer,
well knowing he would acquiesce with what his brother
had done, and came to us, in order to compromise the
quarrel we were engaged in with Chahary and Frukey.
He condemned them for their rashness in the prosecu-
tion of their private resentments to the ruin of them-
selves and their country, and told them it was repre-
sented in a very bad light to all the kings on the island.
He met with no great difficulty in the accomplishment
of the reconciliation he aimed at; which being effected,
he told them that Rer Vovvern had a pique against
Woozington, for several very gross affronts. Amongst
others, he had called a dog by the name of Rer Vov-
vern; and Ry-Nanno expected he should wait on them
next summer to beg their assistance against Woozing-
ton; but his errand was at that time principally out of
friendship, to put an end to their destructive divisions.
In a few days a peace was concluded and publicly
proclaimed all over the country.
3
While Ry-Nanno was delivering his first speech to
Rer Mimebolambo and deaan Mevarrow, I observed
that he fixed his eye attentively upon me, and seemed
to view me with some concern; and calling to me in
broken English-you,,white man, come hither. When
he asked me my name, he turned to my master and
asked, here is a white bird among a parcel of crows;
ROBERT DRURY.
151
in our country, indeed, they are common enough, ships
come there frequently, but then they wear clothes, and
eat and drink with our lords. This poor young lad looks
piteously why do you suffer him to go naked? Pray
show some charity to a distressed stranger, and do not
use him with inhumanity. Deaan Mevarrow answered,
I have used him more tenderly than he deserves; you
do not know how his friends served deaan Crindo. Yes,
says Ry-Nanno, I know the whole story perfectly well;
and that deaan Crindo treated them in a barbarous
manner in refusing to let them go at their request to a
seaport, where ships come, in order to return to their
native home. Had Rer Vovvern this white man, he
would give him some of the clothes which his country-
men have left behind them, and take as much care of
him as he would of his own son, till some ship should
come to carry him home to his friends.
I listened to this discourse with the utmost attention,
and waited with impatience for a favourable opportu-
nity of talking with him in private, which I did that
night; for he brought part of the cattle which deaan
Murnanzack gave him, as he very well knew that we
had none, and I was sent for to kill a bullock. I ein-
braced this lucky opportunity, and told him in broken
English, that I would wait on him at night. Accord-
ingly I went, and he received me with abundance of
humanity and respect. After we were seated, he in-
quired into the whole history of our shipwreck and
misfortunes. I gave him a long and faithful detail
thereof, not forgetting to acquaint him with the cruel
treatment I met with from my master, and to set my
wretched state of slavery in the strongest light. The
relation of this melancholy tale, not only made me
weep, but drew tears likewise from his eyes. He told
me he would endeavour to purchase me of deaan Me-
varrow, and desired me not to be too much dejected.
I stayed late with him, and when we parted, the hopes
I had entertained of his kind intentions to release me,
kept me awake all night. The next day, after he had
discoursed with my master about their own private
152
THE ADVENTURES OF
affairs, he asked him if he was inclined to sell his white
man; and in case he was, he would give him in ex-
change a handsome young fellow, capable of doing him
more service, or a buccaneer gun, if that would be a
more agreeable compensation.
I was sitting among my fellow slaves, and waiting
with the utmost eagerness and attention to hear the re-
sult of this conference. When my master ordered me
to stand up, I was in hopes it was to strike the bargain;
but, instead of that, says he, look on that white slave
there; for looking after cattle, digging of wild yams,
and improving of honey, there is not his fellow; and
though a buccaneer gun is the common price of a slave,
I will not take two for him. Ry-Nanno thereupon
showed him three or four slaves, but Mevarrow told
him in direct terms that he would not part with me on
any conditions whatever. Then turning to me, he asked
if I was not willing to dig some wild yams for him, as
well as his other slaves who were just gone on the same
errand before. Not daring to refuse, I was forced to
take up my hatchet, shovel, and lance, and go into the
woods; but instead of searching for yams, I sat down
and wept till I was almost blind. However, I was
under an indispensable obligation to find some to carry
home, which was no easy task, for the stalks were now
withered; yet I made up a bundle, after roasting them,
but had none myself. When I came home, my master
thought I had been idle, and said, you are mightily
concerned I suppose, that Ry-Nanno is not your master.
I went home and laid me down on my mat, and had
nothing but a log of wood under my head for a pillow
till some considerable time after it was dark, and then
I stole privately to Ry-Nanno.
I was no sooner seated, than he told me he was glad
to see me again, and asked me what success 1 had met
with, which I told him; and, moreover, that my master
had abused me to the last degree for bringing no mois
yams. He said I was the first man he ever saw who
had a black for his master; and though he could no
purchase me, yet he did not question, but Rer Vovver
ROBERT DRURY.
153
would find some ways or means to get me into Feraign-
her, when he came next summer into this country. To
that I replied, that I was afraid my master would not
take me to the wars for that very reason, and that I
despaired of ever regaining my liberty; but I was de-
termined to make the experiment as soon as ever my
master went out on another expedition, and left me be-
hind him. Ry-Nanno endeavoured all he could to
comfort me, and said, the same Providence which has
hitherto preserved you, will deliver you at last; and I
have great hopes of seeing you at St. Augustine-bay;
for, said he, since Tuley Noro's death, there are but few
ships come now to Port-Dauphine, though that, indeed,
is the nearest seaport, for ours is a great way off. I de-
sired to be informed how many days' journey it was,
and which way he came; for I am determined, said I
to attempt my escape; if they overtake me, I am sen-
sible I shall be killed, but then I shall be freed from
my present bondage, which is worse than death; and
should I fall into any other master's hands, it is morally
impossible he should treat me worse than this has done.
The whole country of Merfaughla, said Ry-Nanno, lies
between us, extending itself from the utmost part of
Anterndroea, where deaan Murnanzack's cattle are all
kept, to the river Oneghayloghe, which runs into St.
Augustine-bay; and I think I was about forty and two
days on my journey, but could have performed it in
less than half the time, had we not hunted by the way;
for the whole country, said he, is so well stocked with
proper subsistence, that no one need carry any provi-
sions, unless he be in a more than ordinary hurry. There
are abundance of wild cattle in great part of it; besides,
there is a large quantity of faungidge, verlaway, wild
honey, and wild yams to be had, wherever you go. I
inquired what kings lived in the way? He said three.
Rer Trortrock is the first to the northward; the next
Rer Chulu-Mossu-Andro, and Zaffentampoey; this last
resides at the head of the river Oneghayloghe, to the
eastward; all their people, however, live near two long
days' journies from the road. The nearest way, said
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THE ADVENTURES OF
he, is by the foot of Yong-gorvo hills, till you come to
the west side of it, then strike over to the northward
half a day's journey, and take your course betwixt the
north and west, and you cannot lose your way. I asked
him a great many more questions till it was late and
time to depart, but he would not permit me till I had
supped with him. The next day he took his farewell
of my master, and I stole away privately to thank him
for all his favours. As they were packing up his pro-
vision, &c., he advised me to oblige deaan Mevarrow
as much as possible, lest he should kill me or do me
some secret injury, and bid me likewise not despair of
getting home to England. He then made me a present
of a large piece of beef, and after repeated expressions
of
my gratitude for his tender concern for me, I parted
from him, though with abundance of reluctance. When
I reflected on what had passed, I began to entertain
quite different thoughts of being in another country
from what I had done; for I found here were great
numbers of people, nay, whole nations too, who were
civilized, and understood the laws of decency and good
manners; but it was my inisfortune to fall among the
most savage people of the whole island.
The next day the crier went round the town with
orders to all deaan Mevarrow's slaves to muster before
his door. Among the rest I went to know his pleasure,
which was to get ready and march, with all our baggage
the next morning to our own town; which was cheer-
fully complied with by every body but myself, who was
very indifferent where I lived. So when we had taken
our leave of Rer Mimebolambo and his people, we
marched home and found our habitations very little
worse than when we abandoned them, for they were at
that time newly built. The orders were to attend and
receive axes and hoes for the cultivation of the ground.
Whilst some cleared it of the wood and briars, others
hoed it up instead of ploughing it. Our master sent to
his uncle Mephontey for a considerable quantity of
guinea corn and carravances, which were soon sowed;
and then indulged his slaves for a fortnight, in order to
ROBERT DRURY.
155
improve their own plantations. I desired deaan Sambo
to use his interest with my master, that I might have
two days more to take care of my honey, which I had
secured from thieves, by setting up white sticks as a
testimony that it was poisoned by the charms of the
umossee. He gave consent; and thereupon, I took
three large tubs, each of which would contain five or
six gallons, and as many calabashes. I had farther to
go than from our old town, which had been burnt; but
when I came there, I found my hives all safe and un-
touched, and my stock of honey prodigiously increased.
I smoked the bees out, and took the greatest part of
their treasure away, but not all, leaving them some to
subsist on, for they will return of themselves to the
hives, and when they swarm, go directly to new ones
without any of that fatigue we have with them in Eng-
land. I found some fine Virginia honey with white
wax, which I put into my calabashes. As it was near
two years since I had seen them, I had almost forgotten
where to look for a good part of them, they being planted
at a great distance from each other in different corners
of the wood. I filled, however, all my vessels, and left
as large a quantity behind me for the next day's jour-
ney. As soon as I got home, I waited on my master
and made him a present of one of the tubs: now these
lords always expect an acknowledgment on such occa-
sions. When my master saw how large a quantity I
brought him, he was surprised, and asked me why I
brought him so much? For to do him justice, I cannot
say he ever discovered a covetous disposition.
Besides, we have no officers to exact any certain
quantity, but the people must go voluntarily, and carry
a present of such commodities as their plantations and
industry have produced; as carravances, guinea corn,
potatoes, &c.; but this is only by way of acknowledg-
ment of homage, and a calabash only would have been
looked upon as a sufficient compliment. But as I was
sensible that he had a circumcision-feast to make, and
I had a large stock, I desired him to accept it. He
told me it was true, and for that purpose he would
156
THE ADVENTURES OF
purchase all the honey I had to spare, and give me a
cow and a calf for it the first cattle he had.
The civil war being now over, we lived at ease, and
could dig our wild yams without the least apprehen-
sions of danger. People now went backwards and
forwards to visit each other as usual, and every one
attended his plantations; it was six months, however,
after this, before we had plenty. My conversation with
Ny-Nanno was ever in my mind, and I only waited for
a favourable opportunity of my master's going abroad
upon some exploit, to make my escape, if possible, at
all adventures. After some time, it happened that one
Rer Ambarroch, a petty prince to the northward, hav-
ing received and detained eight slaves of deaan Me-
varrow's, and thirty head of his cattle, a little before the
civil war began; and the deaan sending a special mes-
senger to demand them, he sent word back that he
might come himself and fetch them, if he thought fit.
He being now at leisure, Rer Mimebolambo and he
agreed to join their forces, and having obtained leave
of deaan Crindo, they prepared for their expedition,
I expected to be left behind, as usual, to take care
of his wife, and pleased myself with the hope that the
time was near at hand for putting my design in execu-
tion; but standing before him with two lances in my
hand, you shall not, says he, always live at home like a
woman, but shall go to the wars with me; the sight of
a white man in arms will strike terror into the people
upon the mountains where we are going. Hereupon
he took my lances, and said, here is one of your grand-
father's arms; you can manage this, I presume, some-
what better than ours; prepare yourself for the march.
I desired, however, that I might have one of my
lances, which he gave me, and twenty musket balls, a
sufficient quantity of powder, and two flints. I took up
my mat as usual, but my master gave it to one of his
slaves to carry for me, so I walked, gentleman-like,
without any luggage.
Our little army consisted of about three hundred
men, exclusive of the slaves; we went to the northward
ROBERT DRURY.
157
all the first day, on the second we got into the forest to
the east of Yong-gorvo, where the wild cattle are;
there we hunted, and killed some beef, while four men
were sent out as spies toward Rer Ambarroch's town,
to survey the fortifications of it. We were almost a
day's journey from it; and, indeed, it was not advisable
to go nearer, lest some of their people should have dis-
covered us, and alarmed the town; for those wild cattle
were their principal maintenance and support. Our
spies returned, and brought intelligence, that it was an
open place without any fortification at all. Thereupon
we marched all night, and arriving at the town by
break of day, we divided ourselves to surround it, and
fired into their houses to alarm them; the barking of
the dogs and the noise of the guns soon roused them,
and away they scowered, for we gave them no time to
collect themselves into a body: so we plundered them
at once, and took what prisoners we could find. I saw
the prince's house, and ran directly up to it, in hopes of
taking him prisoner; but he jumped out and fired at
me as I was going to return it, a man threw a lance
at me, which I put off and fired at him, and put a stop
to his running; but by that means the prince escaped.
I entered the house, and found his wife and daughter,
with two or three slaves attending them. I took hold
of the ladies' hands, and led them both out, and left
others to plunder the house as they pleased, since I had
a good prize enough; but one of Rer Mimebolambo's
men, who had got no booty, would fain have taken one
of my captives from me; whereupon I told him, I sup-
posed he was a coward, and had sneaked behind a tree
in the action, or else he might have found something
worth his acceptance. He insisted on his demands,
and reproached me with being a slave, till some of our
people came up, at which time he was obliged to
depart with shame; for a complaint being made to
deaan Mevarrow, he justified me, and severely repri-
manded the poltroon. For there was an agreement
made before we set out, that what cattle should be
taken be divided; but all captives should remain in
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158
THE ADVENTURES OF
the custody of those who took them. When we had
driven all the men away, we got what cattle we could
find together, and made the best of our way through
the wood with them, lest the enemy should rally and
attack us. As soon as we got into the plain we halted,
and made preparations to receive them; and about
two hundred of them soon came as we expected.
I delivered my two captives, as every one else did
theirs, to the slaves that were in the rear, whilst we
marched; and as we came near them, they also met us;
so that we made a discharge almost all at once, and
killed three or four of their men. We halted a while
to load again, and perceived that they stood confounded,
and looked in a very wishful manner on one of their
party who was fallen. Having loaded again, I and
some few more ran directly up to them; seeing us
approach, which is not usual, they fired at us and ran
away. We followed them till they got shelter in the
wood, and then returned to the main army. On our
retreat, they sallied out of their coverts, and followed
us at a distance, being desirous to take one view more
of their wives, children, and cattle; and to observe our
motions, in hope some accident might happen, that
might give them a favourable opportunity to avenge
their cause, and retrieve the losses they had sustained.
At noon we came to a shady grove, and there halted
near a spring, in order to refresh ourselves; for we
were all fasting. As soon as my master was seated, he
ordered me to bring my two captives before him; and
applauding me for my courage and conduct in the
action, he told me I should keep one of them myself,
and have my choice too, and that he would be con-
tented with the other. I soon determined in favour of
the young one, who, in truth, was extremely agreeable ;
and I was pleased with her from the first moment I
took her. She was not above sixteen years of age;
her mother, whom I presented to my master, was about
four or five and thirty. Deaan Mevarrow was pleased
with my choice, for he was inclined to do a generous
action; and thereupon calling her to him, he told her,
ROBERT DRURY.
159
her husband had brought all this misfortune upon himself
by his unjust and obstinate proceedings; and (said he) I
have only followed his directions; I am come myself
as he bid me, and have fetched away all my women;
and I perceive, some of my own cattle, with a suffi-
cient quantity of his, to pay me and my friends for our
trouble. As for yourself, I will restore you to your
liberty; go back to Rer Ambarroch and acquaint him,
that if he be inclined to have his daughter and cattle
again, he must come and fetch them. You see she is
fallen into my white man's hands, and for my part, I
will never take her from him. And, said I, I will lose
all the blood in this white man's body, before he shall
have her again.
After she had refreshed herself with some meat, which
deaan Mevarrow presented her with, she came to me in
order to take her last farewell of her daughter. They
both wept heartily, not expecting ever to see each other
more; I pitied them, I confess, and would have dis-
missed the young one, had I not really been in love
with her. To confess ingenuously, I never saw any
woman before that time I liked so well; though I had
been so many years in the island. I comforted the
mother, however, as well as I could; and desired her,
not to be too much concerned for the loss of her daugh-
ter, since she should live as well as I did; nay, I
assured her, that I would take more care of her than
of myself; and though I was not of a sable hue, I had
a heart as fond and indulgent as any black whatever;
and therefore, though she fell to my lot by the chance
of war, yet it was my design to make her my wife, if
she approved of it; if not, it was possible, I said, she
might lead a less comfortable life. Her mother asked
her, what she thought of the motion? She answered,
she was at my disposal, and not at her own; and de-
sired her duty might be presented to her father. And
present mine too, said I, if you please, mother. So
after some farther discourse for a short time, they
parted. She took her leave of deaan Mevarrow,
returning him many thanks for his courteous treatment,
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160
THE ADVENTURES OF
and went away by herself; though she had not, I pre-
sume, far to go alone; for her friends were, doubtless,
as near as they durst come in the woods, to observe our
motions. And though we never saw them more, yet
we kept a strict guard all that day, and the following
night. I was very fond and careful of my pretty pri-
soner, tying a rope about her middle, with the ends
about myself, and laid her close to me, folding her fast
within my arms; she only smiled and rallied me for it,
but I was so fearful lest she should get away, that I
could not sleep. We marched apace the next day, and
when we halted, Rer Mimebolambo and deaan Mevar-
row divided the cattle, each had two hundred and
eleven; and then they parted, each taking the nearest
way home.
Before we entered the town, we made another halt,
in order to divide the cattle among ourselves; the
deaan had thirty, his brother ten, and each of the other
principals one. He that had two slaves retained one
of them, and delivered the other to his lord, and had a
cow and calf in lieu of it. If two men got a slave
between them, they had each of them a cow for it;
even he who had taken no slave was to have a cow,
provided the number would admit of it; if not, one
was divided between two; and this is a general and an
established law, with respect to the division of an
enemy's spoils.
Deaan Mevarrow told me I had but one slave,
whereupon I alleged he had taken one away, and
might have kept her, if he thought proper; but I per-
ceived he was only in jest, for he gave me a cow and a
calf as an equivalent for her; and generously enough
offered me another cow and calf for my honey, but I
modestly declined that favour; so he chose them for
me himself out of the fattest of the herd. By this
means I became rich at once, having two cows and
two calves, and a handsome jorzerampeller; that is to
say, a handsome girl.
No sooner were we come to the town, than the shells
were blown, and all the women ran out to see what
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161
was the cause of it, not expecting our return in so
short a time; but when they knew who we were, they
ran back to their houses till we had made our triumphal
entry, and deaan Mevarrow was seated; then his wife
came out, and as it is the custom there, licked his feet,
and after her, the rest of the women paid him the same
homage; and after that, each of them testified her duty
to her own husband in the same submissive manner.
I thought, indeed, I had now a wife, and as fine a one
as the best of them all; and that the next time we
returned from such an expedition with the like success,
I should have homage done me too. My mistress
sent and desired to see my young spouse; I went along
with her accordingly, and she would make her sit down
on the same mat with herself, and could not refrain
from tears, it having been her own case; whereupon
she charged me to use her tenderly. I did not intend,
I told her, to make a slave of her, but a walley, that is,
a wife.
As I had a stock of honey in a neighbour's hands,
as also some carravances, and a sufficient quantity of
milk, I made a very tolerable repast for my bride and
myself; and mimicked matrimony so far as to take her
by the hand, and assure her that I was willing to make
her a constant and tender husband; and asked her, if
she was equally willing to be a faithful and loving
wife? to which she cheerfully consented. So we lay
down together, and though we had no bride-men or
bride-maids, or throwing of stockings, yet we were as
happy as our circumstances would well admit of.
Some of my readers, perhaps, may wonder how I
could be so passionately in love with a black woman;
but as I had been several years in the country, and
they were become natural to me, I think the wonder
ceases. Besides, she was extremely handsome, of a
middle stature, very straight, and exactly shaped; her
features were regular, and her skin as soft, fine, and
delicate as any lady's in Great Britain. And to do
the women there justice, all who are of any rank and
well brought up, have the last good quality to boast of.
P3
132
THE ADVENTURES OF
There are uncleanly, coarse-skinned creatures, indeed,
amongst the vulgar, as well as in Europe; but the
women do not go naked as some of the Guinea negroes.
Their dress is a lamber, much longer than that of the
men's, and reaches to their feet from their middle;
above and under the lamber, they wear a kind of shift,
which covers all the body to the neck, and short sleeves.
This, for the generality, is made of cotton, and is of a
dark colour; those of the better sort embellish it with
beads, in a very neat manner, more especially on the
back, where they are ranged in rows and cross one
another; and as they are of different colours, they form
a large double cross so like a union-flag, that one
would imagine they copied after it.
Thus much as to a general detail of the person and
habits of these women, though I shall not, indeed,
give them the preference to our Europeans; yet I must
ingenuously confess, that it is with pleasure I reflect on
mine, and remember our parting with the utmost
reluctance and concern. For as to their fidelity, duty,
and submissive deportment to their husbands, good-
nature, and agreeable conversation, so far as their little
knowledge extends, I think the Europeans come far
short of them. We white people entertain a very con-
temptible and mean idea of these blacks, and a high
and partial one of ourselves: they, on the other hand,
have an exalted opinion of our merit; and modestly
imagine, that we are far superior to them in point of
knowledge, arts, and sciences: and therein, doubtless,
they are right; but if an impartial comparison were to
be made of their good qualities, the black heathens
would, in my opinion, excel the white christians. I
presume the reader will readily allow, that the best
character I could give myself, in order to recommend
me to my wife's mother, was, to assure her, as I did,
that I had as tender a heart as any black whatever;
for it must be acknowledged, though to our shame,
that they treat one another with more humanity than
we do. There are none miserable amongst them, if
it be in the power of their neighbours to assist them.
ROBERT DRURY.
163
There love, tenderness, generosity, and moral honesty,
too, are very conspicuous; and that not only just in
this one country of Anterndroea, but throughout the
whole island, and even in other places more than here.
My master, deaan Mevarrow, indeed, may be produced
as an exception to this general rule, on account of his
stealing his neighbour's cattle, I grant it; but it must
be considered, that there are some men of bad prin-
ciples in every country; he did it, it is true, against
conscience, and stood self-convicted: for he knew what
justice was, as well as any one, as appeared by his
paying me my cow and calf in return for my honey;
and in many other particulars. There is a wide dis-
tance between the capacities and virtues of some men;
though it is with regret that I mention deaan Murnan-
zack's name in the same page with Mevarrow's; yet
the peculiar vices of the latter are no objection to the
national virtues of his country.
My reader will excuse this digression, I hope, when
he recollects the only pleasure that alleviated the weight
of my slavery while in Anterndroea. I looked after my
master's cattle indeed, as I did before; but then I had a
few of my own, and an agreeable companion to spend
my leisure hours with, who took care of my house;
and as I had plenty of honey, I never was without
toake, for my wife and I to enjoy ourselves with, and
entertain a friend upon occasion. So that I lived as
well as the best of my neighbours, and being now much
less fatigued than formerly, I was capable of taking
more notice of the religion and laws of the country:
and as I propose to amuse the reader with a particular
detail of one of their circumcision-feasts, it will not be
improper to give first an account of that little religion
which they professed.
They acknowledge, indeed, and adore the only one
supreme God, whom they call deaan Unghorray, which
signifies the Lord above. There are, according to their
notion, four other sovereign lords, and that each super-
intends one quarter of the world. The northern lord
is styled deaan Antemoor; the southern, deaan Megud-
16+
THE ADVENTURES OF
!
dumdummateme; the western, deaan Androwfertraer;
and the eastern, deaan Anabeleshey.
This last, say
they, dispenses plagues and calamities amongst man-
kind, by the command or permission at least, of the
great God; the others also are subservient to his com-
mands, but are chiefly dispensers of his favours and
blessings. They look upon these four as mediators
between men and the Supreme Being; on which ac-
count they have a peculiar regard for them, and in
their prayers and sacrifices, recommend themselves to
their indulgence and protection.
I have already given the reader some account of the
owleys, by which they seem to entertain the same idea
as some superstitious people in Europe formerly did of
familiar spirits; because they employ them as their
favourite messengers with their petitions and prayers
to their great God; and, after a sacrifice, expect that
they should come and tell in dreams what they have
to do, and also to warn them of any approaching dan-
ger. This bears a great conformity to the idea, which
some christians have entertained of guardian angels,
or some old philosophers of a good or evil genius; or
rather, is more exactly conformable to a very ancient,
and long received notion of demons; and for that rea-
son, as we have no other term so fit in our language, I
choose to distinguish them by that,; for the owley is no
more than the general name of the utensil, or altar;
which is rather like a talisman, or sigil, to which the
demon is thought to be attached, and by which, as a
proper medium, they expect to be invoked. For there
are almost as many different demons with proper names,
as there are persons who have owleys; some of which
are, Ry-Leffu, Tompack-Offnarevo, Laka-petu, Deer-
mefacher, Deer-hurzolavor, Ry-mungary, Ry-ove. Then
they invoke likewise the spirits of their forefathers,
and have a great veneration for them; calling upon
them by names that are given them after their decease;
insomuch that they look upon it as a crime to address
them, or speak of them by the names they had when
living; and this name is principally known by the
ROBERT DRURY.
165
word garevo at the end of it; as may be observed in
the repetition of deaan Crindo's and deaan Murnan-
zack's fathers' names by my mock retinue among the
peasants.
:
The veneration they have for the memory of their
ancestors, and the assurance they have of their spirits
always existing, is apparent in almost every circum-
stance of the few religious ceremonies which they per-
form the burial of their dead is very particular and
solemn. I have frequently hinted at the great hn-
manity with which they treat each other on all occa-
sions, and under ail difficulties of what nature or kind
soever. In sickness they daily visit and contribute
all that in them lies to the relief of the afflicted family,
and the restoration of the patient. When any one is
dead, all the relations and neighbours come to the
house; the women make doleful lamentations, and the
men assist in the necessary preparations for the funeral.
In the first place, they pitch upon a tree for the coffin,
after that, a cow or an ox is killed, and some of the
blood sprinkled upon it: imploring at the same time
their forefathers, and the demons, and demigods to aid
and assist them, and take care that the tree does not
split in the falling, or that any one be not hurt either
by cutting or felling it. When the tree is down, they
cut it about a foot longer than the corpse, and split it
directly lengthways, (for they always make choice of a
tree which they know will split after this manner,) and
dig both parts hollow, like two troughs. It is then
carried to the house, the corpse being in the mean
time washed, and wrapped up in a lamber, or frequently
in two and sewed together. There is frankincense, or
a gum very much like it, burning all the time in the
house. They seldom keep the corpse above one day,
especially in hot weather. They put the corpse in the
troughs closing them together, and carry it upon six
men's shoulders. Every family has a burying-place of
their own, which no one dare infringe upon or break
into; nor indeed does any one attempt it. This is
enclosed, and fenced round with sticks, like palisadoes.
166
THE ADVENTURES OF
When they come near the place, the corpse is set down,
and then they proceed to the rest of the ceremony;
that is, to make four fires, one at each corner on the
outside of the burying-place; on these fires they burn
the ox or cow, which was killed before for that purpose;
then they divide it into quarters, which are all con-
sumed in the flames: after this, they sprinkle frankin-
cense upon the coals, and spread them all about. This
being done, the chief or eldest of the family goes close.
to the entrance of the burying-place, and hollas aloud
several times; after a short pause, he calls upon all the
dead that are there deposited, commencing at the
earliest, and proceeding to the last, and each one dis-
tinctly by his name; and in the conclusion tells them,
that there is a grandchild, or near relation come to lie
amongst them; and that he hopes they will receive
him as a friend. Then the gate is opened, and two or
three persons are sent in to dig the grave, which is
made for the generality seven or eight feet deep; and
the corpse is placed in it, and covered over with the
earth without any further ceremony. None are per-
mitted to enter here, but some of the nearest relations,
and the bearers, and the door is immediately shut fast
again. There is commonly a crowd of people without,
who are busy in carving up, and dividing among them-
selves the cattle, that are distributed amongst them for
that purpose, if it be a great and rich family that can
afford it; but the poorer sort cannot gratify their friends
in so bountiful a manner. They generally visit this
burying-place once a year, to clear it from weeds and
make it clean; but never enter it till they have first
burnt a cow, or bullock before it.
I knew some who, during a friend's sickness, would
make a sacrifice and prayer here, to invoke the aid
and assistance of the spirits of their forefathers;
but this is not a very common custom.
And if any
man have any peculiar ceremonies of his own, which
others do not think proper to put into practice, no person
is offended, nor do they concern themselves about it:
and the reason is, because there are no people here,
ROBERT DRURY.
167
who pretend to be greater favourites of the Supreme
Being than other men, and to have a particular com-
mission to interpret and declare his will. No one
here has yet been so presumptuous as to attempt this;
and if any one should be so hardy, he would meet
with but few to credit him.
Every man here, the poor man as well as the rich
lord, is a priest for himself and his family; and expects
the demons should answer his requests in his dreams.
If he differ from his neighbour in point of ceremony,
as there is no damage given or received, so there is
no hatred arises. But were they to set apart particular
persons, and to give them a certain number of cattle
and slaves every year, for the performance of some cer-
tain ceremonies, and instead of making their prayers to
God for themselves, leave it to these to officiate for
them, and prescribe rules and seasons to them, these
very people would soon lord it over them. For they
would terrify them with the anger of the great God, and
demigods, and foment divisions among the people for
the support of their interest, lest they should lose their
substance and honours; and at last punish any innocent
person for their insolent inventions, under a sanctified
pretence of demons coming in the night from the Su-
preme Being, and enjoining them so to do. We had
an instance how easily mankind might be imposed on
by these pretenders to prophesy, in my master Mevar-
row; and how artfully the imposition was carried on in
one of our neighbours.
There was a person of distinction lived about two
hours' walk from us, called deaan Olaavor, whose
father died whilst I was here; he was making prepara-
tions for his interment in the burying-place of his fa-
mily; and the night before, he dreamed his father ap-
peared to him. Or, according to his own expression,
his father appeared to him in a dream, and earnestly
desired him not to bury his corpse; but keep it in a
sundock, or chest, and erect a little house for the re-
ception of it.
This request he very dutifully complied with, build-
168.
THE ADVENTURES OF
ing a house about three hundred yards from the town
to the eastward, to which place he used frequently to
resort, and make his prayers and oblations, and then
pretended that the spirit of his father, which he called
lulu-bay, or the great spirit, used to come and tell him
strange things, which should occur to his neighbours.
He frequently visited deaan Mevarrow, who gave the
utmost attention to every thing he said; Olaavor per-
ceiving his weakness, soon found out ways and means
to turn the credulity of his friend to his own advan-
tage: and when any troublesome time came on, he
would industriously wait on Mevarrow, and inform him
how angry his lulu-bay was, and what misfortunes he
had just grounds to fear would attend him. Now
whether, as he was an artful man, he conjectured rightly
from the reason of things; or, whether he dreamed rightly
(for sometimes, indeed, it happened as he said, and
often otherwise) I shall not presume to determine;
but his principal aim was (as it appeared to me) to get
a heifer now and then for a pretended sacrifice, and
frequently a present of some beads, and such other
trinkets, for the pains he was at, using his best endea-
vours to appease the wrath of his lulu-bay, and procure
his favour and assistance. The advantage he made of
this was so conspicuous, that many people grew jealous
of his conduct; but at length a brother of deaan Olaa-
vor's was killed in the wars, and his lulu-bay never
came in a dream to warn either one or the other of the
impending danger. This not only opened their eyes,
but convinced a great many more; however an excuse
was at hand. That his brother had been remiss and
negligent in regard to his prayers and oblations to lulu-
bay; and for that reason he suffered him to fall. Deaan
Mevarrow, and some of the weakest of the people,
swallowed the cheat, and still continued their supersti-
tious opinion of this great spirit, and were afraid to
speak, or entertain the least contemptible thought of it;
having always the plea of mean-spirited bigots, that
they were safer who paid an awful regard to lulu-bay,
than those who despised him. But be the case how it
ROBERT DRURY.
169
may, if he were not a great and powerful spirit, either
capable of injuring them, or doing them any good of-
fices; if the whole were a mere fiction of deaan Olaa-
vor's, yet there was no harm in thinking he was so, or
in paying him honours; but upon the supposition that
he was really such a potent spirit, and they should neg-
lect him, then they were sure to suffer severely for
their contempt.
This was all the idle answer those poor timorous
creatures would give, on their being asked a reason for
their tame compliance with deaan Olaavor; which,
doubtless, would have been as good a plea for their
paying divine honours to a potato, had any one told
him he had a revelation in his dream, that it was a
demigod. The reader, I presume, may entertain a
more adequate idea of the natural disposition of the
people, with respect to their morals and religion, from
such instances and occurrences, than from any formal
description which I can pretend to make; I shall there-
fore pursue my history, and give a particular detail
here of the feast and ceremony of the circumcision of
deaan Mevarrow's son.
The toake was made some weeks beforehand, by boil-
ing the honey and combs together, as we in England
make mead. They filled a great number of tubs; some
as large as a butt, but some indeed smaller; a shed
being built for that purpose, which was thatched over,
to place them in. On the day appointed, messengers
were despatched all round the country to invite the re-
lations and friends. About three or four days before
the ceremony of the circumcision was actually per-
formed, you might see the beginning of a festival;
people went about blowing horns, and beating drums
both night and day; to whom some toake was given
out of the lesser vessels as a small compensation for
their trouble: deaan Mevarrow had procured two
large oxen from deaan Murnanzack. They, who lived
in the most remote parts, came a day or two before;
and they were entertained with toake. In the evening,
I found the town full of people, some wallowing on the
170
THE ADVENTURES OF
ground, and some staggering; scarcely one individual
person sober, either men, women, or children. And
here one might sensibly discern the effects of peace and
security, the people abandoning themselves without
fear or reserve to drinking, and all manner of diver-
sions. My wife I found had been among them indeed;
but had the prudence to withdraw in time, for she was
fast asleep when I came home.
And now the day being come, I returned from feed-
ing my cattle before noon, in order to bring up the two
oxen and a bull, whose legs being at once tied fast,
they were thrown all along upon the ground. The child
was about a year old; for they have no stated time for
the observance of this custom. He was decked with
beads, and a skein of white cotton thread was wound
about his head. A great crowd attended the festival.
Some brought such presents as their abilities would
admit, such as a cow, or a calf, beads, iron shovels,
hatchets, and the like. Every one was served once
only with a small quantity of toake in a calabash before
the ceremony began. All things being now duly pre-
pared, they waited for the signal from the umossee,
who was all this time very busy, to all outward appear-
ance, in measuring his shadow with his feet. When it
came to the length of three and a half, he gave the
word. Upon which, one of the nearest relations, who
had the child in his arms, ran with him up to the bull,
and putting the child's right hand on the bull's right
horn, repeating the following form of words.
Tyhew deaan Unghorray, deaan Antemoor, deaan
Anebeleshey, deaan Androfertraer, deaan Megud-
dumdummateme, an Ruey Owley, Heer-razehu, it-
toey acquo toey Anomebay loyhe ittoey handrabeck
enney raffa loyhe.
Which in English runs thus :-
Let the Great God above, the Lords of the four quarters
of the world, and the demons prosper this child, and
make a great man of him. May he prove as strong
as this bull, and overcome all his enemies.
If the bull roar whilst the boy's hand is on his horn,
ROBERT DRURY.
171
they look on it as an ill omen, portending either sick-
ness, or some other misfortunes in life; and all the bu-
siness of the umossee is nothing more than this :-to
tell them what is the most unlucky hour or minute
(like our strolling fortune-tellers) to do it in; for, as to
the religious part of the ceremony, he is no ways con-
cerned in it; if there be any religion intended by it,
which is somewhat to be questioned; for any experi-
enced man of the neighbourhood, whom they imagine
understands it best, performs the operation by feeling
for the head of the yard, and cutting off the fore-skin
as closely as possible, two men holding the child's legs
and arms at the same time. As to the name, it is given
long before, and frequently is changed afterwards; this
child was named Ry-Mocker. After the fore-skin is
cut off, an attendant having a stick in his hand like a
gun rammer, the biggest end whereof is pointed, puts
the fore-skin upon it, and going to the wood, throws
it towards the east. The ceremony being over, the child
is delivered to the mother, who is all this time sitting
upon a mat with the women round her. And now their
merriment began; the thatch was all pulled off the
toake-house, and I was ordered to kill the bull and the
oxen; but these not being sufficient, my master sent
for three more which had been brought him by his
friends, for there were abundance of mouths to be fed.
Before they began to drink, he took particular care to
secure all their weapons, and no man was permitted to
have so much as a gun or a lance; and then they in-
dulged themselves in boiling, broiling, and roasting of
meat, drinking of toake, singing, hallooing, blowing of
shells, and drumming, with all their might and main.
I do not believe there were twenty sober persons
among the whole company. These revels continued all
night; some went away the next morning, but most
stayed till evening, so that the feast lasted three days
successively.
These people are great admirers of toake, and some
of the vulgar sort, as arrant sots, and as lazy as any in
Q 2
172
THE ADVENTURES OF
England, for they will sell their guinea corn, carra-
vances, nay, their very spades and shovels, and live
upon what the woods afford them. Their very lambers
too, if worth any thing, must go for toake; and they
make an ordinary one serve turn, so it will but just
cover their nakedness. It is made of the tree called
the whooring, which they cut down with their lances.
The outer bark is taken away, and the inner, which is
white, is peeled off whole, and beat with a stick till it.
is made soft and pliant; and then they wear it as a
lamber, but it can never be washed. Their lambers,
however, for the generality, are made of cotton dyed in
the yarn. The richer sort, indeed, and people of dis-
tinction, buy silk and calicoes at seaport towns, and
often give a cow and a calf for no more than will make
them one lamber. The men wear no other clothes, but
they adorn themselves with mananelers, which are rings
round their wrists; and these, both men and women of
distinction, are very fond of. They are sometimes made
of gold (but where they get them I cannot say) oftener
of silver, but more frequently of copper; which, at last,
I found was produced and made in the country, as well
as iron. They dress their heads in a very agreeable
manner, curling up their hair to make it lie close, for
they have hair, and not wool on their heads, as the
Guinea negroes; neither are their noses flat, though
small, nor their lips so big as theirs, but their hair is
always black, and for the generality, has a natural curl.
Deaan Crindo's family are particularly distinguished,
on account of their long hair, and their copper-coloured
skins. Notwithstanding they have no idea of letters,
yet they have here very wholesome laws, which are
fixed in their minds and handed down from generation
to generation. I well remember many of them, the re-
capitulation whereof, I flatter myself, will be no dis-
agreeable amusement to the reader.
If one maliciously assault his neighbour, and break
a leg or an arm, the offender is fined fifteen head of
cattle, which are delivered to the party injured.
ROBERT DRURY.
173
If one break another's head, and he that is wounded.
have not returned the blow, he has three beeves by way
of damage.
If two men quarrel, and one happen to curse the
other's father or mother, whether they be living or dead,
and his antagonist have so much command of himself as
to refrain from cursing the other's father or mother, he
recovers two beeves as a compensation.
If a man be caught robbing his neighbour of an ox,
or a cow, he is obliged to restore it tenfold; and this
is executed too with the utmost rigour, notwithstanding
my master frequently broke this good law; but, like
other great men, in more polite parts, he was not to be
curbed by the ordinary laws of his country; and yet
he, as well as most others, found, to his cost, that there
were those who could cope with him; and was at last
convinced, that if a man will live amongst his fellow-
creatures, he must be observant of the fundamental
laws, which the community wherein he lives has framed
for their mutual peace and tranquillity; without which,
men are not sociable animals, but each one is a mere
savage, and the world an uncultivated desert.
If any one be found guilty of stealing guinea corn,
carravances, potatoes, or the like, out of any of the
plantations, he forfeits a cow and a calf to the owner,
or more, in some measure proportionate to the offence.
In case one man's cattle break into another's planta-
tion, the owner, for every beast found there, must give
an iron shovel.
If any one steal another man's hive of honey, and
be caught, the fine is three iron shovels. These iron
shovels, hoes, &c., are a kind of small money with these
people, for here is no trade but by barter, or the ex-
change of one commodity for another; and, therefore,
they are as exact as they possibly can be, in proportion-
ing the value of one thing to another.
If a man borrow an ox, or a cow, of his neighbour,
and does not return it in a year's time, six calves are
looked upon as an equivalent for the ex; and if he
neglect payment at that time, those calves are supposed
૨ 3
174
THE ADVENTURES OF
to be three steers, and three heifers; and the increase,
which by a fair computation arises by their growth
and production, is the man's right of whom the ox was
borrowed; and if it go on for ten years, or any longer
term, it is computed what three bulls and three cows
might have produced in that space of time, and all that
produce is due to the creditor.
If a man lie with the wife of another man who is
his superior, he forfeits thirty head of cattle, besides
beads and shovels in abundance; but if the men are of
equal degree, then the fine is twenty beasts only. In
this country of Anterndroea, they are not addicted to
such a plurality of wives as in some other parts of the
island. If a man have but two wives here, and his bro-
ther or an intimate friend come to visit him, he never
scruples to let him lie with one of them.
The nearest of kin, even brother and sister, marry, if
they have not the same mother.
One brother, after the decease of another, often takes
his wife; nay, his father's too, and lies with them, if
they be not their own mothers.
To lie with one of the king's or prince's wives, is
death by the established laws.
My master Mevarrow was jealous of a young man's
being great with his wife, or, as he said, was well as-
sured he used to lie with her. Whether he had any
just grounds for such a suspicion, I cannot say; yet
every body expected the young man would be killed
for it; but his brother being a chief man, and a fa-
vourite of the deaan's, and the civil wars coming on,
he seemed at that juncture to take little notice of it;
but two years after the offence, when those dissentions
were appeased, the man being constantly in his view,
he determined to punish him; and, accordingly, when
the young man, his brother, and some few slaves of us
that attended them, were in the woods, it being so con-
trived, under pretence of stealing and killing a cow,
he and deaan Sambo drew the young man into a re-
* A man can put away his wife at pleasure.
ROBERT DRURY.
175
mote part of the woods, at a considerable distance from
us, and in a short time we heard him halloo three times,
at which instant deaan Mevarrow arose, and pretend-
ing to stretch himself with his lance in his hand, he
struck the young man's brother through the body. This
so surprised us all, that some of us ran one way, and
some flew another, imagining our master mad; and
some went home and positively asserted it as fact, this
person whom he killed not being the adulterer. He
had been our master's counsel-keeper, it is true, and
knew all the secret recesses of the women and cattle;
and taking it for granted that he would turn his enemy
and revenge his brother's death, thought it most ad-
visable to despatch him likewise. Deaan Sambo killed
the_supposed adulterer that moment the halloo was
made, which was the signal agreed on between them;
but whether he was apprized of deaan Mevarrow's
wicked design upon the other, I cannot determine, for
there were several others whom he brought there, as if
he intended they should be witnesses of it. As deaan
Sambo was the executioner, I was inclined to think
there was more than suspicion, for that he was no cruel
man, I was very sensible, by experience. I must own
I had entertained a very favourable opinion before of
my mistress, as I had never observed any thing like it
in her conduct; but I had now almost done, not only
with this family, but the country likewise; for every
circumstance in my affairs had some tendency to pro-
mote my departure and escape, which, at length, I
effected.
Not long after this, it happened, whilst I stole out to
visit my own plantation (my corn, &c., being near ripe)
that some of my cattle broke into the plantation of a
principal man, and did him some considerable damage.
My fellow slaves soon informed me of the misfortune,
and went to seek the beasts; but they were driven home
by the planter's servants with very heavy complaints : I
knew the danger of going within reach, or, indeed, with-
in sight of my master; and therefore turned aside into
the wood, to consider what measures were best to be
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taken. At length, I recollected the friendship between
deaan Olaavor and deaan Mevarrow and for that
reason went directly to him, and laid my unhappy case
before him, and begged he would use his best endea-
vours to reconcile me to my master. He readily com-
plied with my request, made me very welcome, and
desired me to stay, not only that night, but the next
day and night too; and then assured me, that he would
go with me himself; but business would not permit
him to go before. By this means I was absent long
enough to alarm them, and give them just grounds to
suspect that I had deserted. Deaan Olaavor, however,
went with me according to his promise, and after he
had expostulated the case with my master, and obtained
pardon, I was sent for in, and restored to favour, with
only some friendly admonitions for my better conduct
for the future. As soon as their conversation relating
to my fault and pardon was over, they fell into dis-
course on other matters; and deaan Mevarrow put his
hand to his mouth, which is an action they frequently
use to express their surprise at any thing more than
common.
Deaan Olaavor, says he, I sent yesterday for an
umossee, to consult with him about Robin, and to
know what was become of him. After he had conjured
a long time, he assured me, that I should see Robin
once more; but the next time he went away, I should
never see him again in the capacity of his servant or
slave; for he will have a new master to the northward,
with whom he will tarry but a short time; and then he
will still go farther northward and have more masters;
till, at length, he will return to his native country. I
listened, I own, not only with attention, but pleasure,
to what he said, though I put no great confidence in
these fortune-tellers. Just as I was getting up to go
home to my wife, my master called me; stay, says he,
I have something to say to you before you go. Per-
ceiving that I looked a little startled and surprised; I
shall do you no harm, says he, only secure you. The
umossee was sent for immediately, and then I found
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they were going to enchant me (as they imagined) that
I should not run away. I had seen this magical farce
acted before upon such slaves as they are jealous of,
frequently forcing an oath upon them by the demon
Fermonner. And when these poor wretches have after-
wards attempted to fly, and bewildered themselves in
woods and unfrequented paths, or hurt themselves by
any fall, or any common accident, they are weak enough
to imagine that the demon Fermonner was the cause;
that he confounded them, and dazzled their eyes in such
a manner that they should not find their way. Two or
three instances of this kind in an age, are enough to
make fools give credit to the whole.
At length the wrinkled old wizard enters with solemn
pace, and with a leering sneer in his haggard counte-
nance, shakes his projecting noddle: Ha! Well I see
you have him fast. I told you so. Who is he that
shall presume to despise my prophetic spirit? You see
as much is proved true, as the time will permit. Neg-
lect my advice for the future; and look to the north-
ward for your slave. But you may look, and send too
in vain; it will be then too late. The spirits who are
at my command may do somewhat now.
What (says
deaan Olaavor, who was not so great a bigot as deaan
Mevarrow, notwithstanding his lulu-bay) has proved
true? Robin never ran away at all, he would have
been here yesterday, if I could have spared time; so
that there is nothing at all in what you talk of. Pray,
venerable sage, says deaan Mevarrow, (interrupting
Olaavor,) pray proceed; I sent for you on purpose to
take your advice. Prepare your charms. Away goes
the fumbling old fool to work, scraping a root, and
mixing several ingredients together, which, I was well
satisfied, had neither good nor harm in them; (for I was
afraid of nothing but his nose dropping into it ;) mut-
tering all the time, between his few broken teeth, words
that neither he, nor any one else knew the meaning of.
When the dose was prepared, he called it the fermon-
ner, and put it into some carravances, which were boiled
on purpose, and it was given me in a calabash. But
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THE ADVENTURES OF
before I took it, he hung several roots about me; one
over my eyes, another at my back, one upon my breast,
and one upon each leg, giving each of them a distinct
name: then scraping a small quantity from each of
them, and putting it into the mess of carravances, I
was ordered to eat it, which I did without the least
fear or reluctance; in the mean time he pronounced his
curses, as well as prayers over me. Whenever (says
he) he thinks of running away, remember, O thou,
deaan Fermonner, how he has eaten what belongs to
thee; and also, O ye, &c. [Here he named all the
spirits belonging to other charmed roots.] how he has
eaten what belongs to you; and if he offer to run
away, arise in his stomach, O deaan Fermonner, and
make him so sick that he shall be incapable of stirring.
And ye, which have hung at his back break it asunder;
let his breast be tormented with pain, and his legs fet-
tered as with parra-pingos; and if he attempt to fly,
join all your united forces, and break his legs whenever
he jumps and steps over any thing that lies in his way.
Thus the old dotard went on for a long time, but in a
more abrupt manner, and without any method. He
tossed his hands about, and changed his voice almost
every minute. He made, in short, a hundred imper-
tinent repetitions and cant words of his own invention,
and foamed like a fanatical enthusiast. When he had
quite tired himself with preaching, he took off the charm
and made me lick every individual root. Now let him
go, says he, where he will; the demons which regard
these charms will soon inform me where he is, and I
shall acquaint his master.
I had a holiday that day; for my master was in a
good humour, being highly delighted with what he had
done; and sent a proper servant to do my business.
When I came home, I found my wife in a very melan-
choly posture, being under great concern for fear I
should be killed. She would have provided something
for me to eat, but I had dined, I told her; and then re-
lated to her the whole affair. She was overjoyed to
find I got off so well, and was surprised that I should
ROBERT DRURY.
179
be so dull at it; since she knew well enough I did not
regard any of these ceremonies, and made a jest of them;
but my thoughts were quite otherwise engaged than
she was aware of, and I did not think proper to let her
know the truth; which broke my rest to that degree, that
I scarcely ever slept soundly there any more. I found
myself now under the necessity of running away at all
adventures. For should sickness, or any common ac-
cident attend me, so great was deaan Mevarrow's super-
stition, that he would, doubtless, have thought it had been
effected by these demons or spirits, which were invoked
in this incantation; and have taken it for an infallible
testimony of my resolution to go from him; and then,
very probably, in his passion he might have killed me.
So that these conjurations, which Mevarrow depended
on to prevent my departure, had the direct contrary
effect, and was the strongest motive that could have
induced me to it, and made it absolutely necessary that
it should be so; yet I have often smiled to think how
unexpectedly true his prediction or guess proved, even
in all its circumstances.
Whilst my head was full of projects in order to ac-
complish my flight, I could not forbear saying some-
thing in relation to it to a very civil, honest young fel-
low, who kept cattle always near me; and was a cap-
tive from another country. One day I asked him, from
whence he came? and he said from the northward.
Was I so near my own country, said I, as you are, I
would not stay much longer in slavery. Nor would I,
said he, if it were not for the demons; who I am afraid
will break my bones, ever since the umossee cursed
me in the same solemn manner as he did you. At
which I laughed. Why, if you have no apprehensions
on that account, said he, you may get away with as
much ease as I. At this I started, and told him, I sup-
pose he only said so to try me. But he offered to enter
into a solemn oath before the owley, that he meant as
he said, and would assist me in my flight.
However, I dropt the argument for that day, but I
tried him next; for after I had sworn him in a religious
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THE ADVENTURES OF
manner (knowing him to be like most people, more re-
ligiously inclined under misfortunes than in prosperity)
I confessed ingenuously my secret intention, and asked
nis friendly advice. You have nothing to do, said he,
but to fly directly to deaan Afferrer, who will protect
you, and treat you in a courteous manner. When Rer
Vovvern's army comes next summer, continued he, you
may easily get to them; who would be proud to oblige
the white men, by sending you home in the first ship
which arrives at Feraignher. For nobody, says he, in
the whole island will make a white man a slave, or keep
him against his inclination, but these people. So that
if you can but fly from hence, you will soon get to some
town where ships come. I returned him many thanks
for his kind advice, and told him I would show him my
beehives, and the roots of which the charm was made.
This I did with a view to make him keep the secret.
And now,
#
I had but one hard task more to go through, and that
was to prevail on my wife to accompany me, or let me
conduct her to her father. It was a difficult point to
break my mind to her; but at length observing her in a
humour to talk of her friends, and wish she could see
them, I told her, if she had courage enough, and
would keep the secret, and always love me, I would
venture to carry her to them, and stay with her; but
she was superstitious too, and afraid I should be hurt
by the incantations of the umossee. So that I pressed
t no farther. But to part with her, and leave her not
only in bondage, but to be ill-treated, perhaps on my
account, was a mortifying consideration; for I sincerely
loved her.
However, there was an absolute necessity; my reso-
lution was fixed, and no time was to be lost. It was
then wet and rainy, and I stayed only till the weather
was more favourable; which was about a fortnight.
Near which time I took my comrade into the woods,
and showed him my hives, and the manner how I dug
the roots for the charms; for to attempt to undeceive
him would have been to no purpose. The night before
ROBERT DRURY.
181
I took my flight, I wilfully left a heifer in the field;
having told my friend when I called, and desired him
to look after my cattle whilst I went after the heifer,
that should be the private signal of my departure. He
told me it was two days' long walk to Yong-gorvo; but
I said I would run it in one, and did not question but
that I should get safely thither, (though my master should
send after me,) if I were but two hours before them.
When I came home with my cattle, my master took a
survey of them, and missed the heifer; but after repri-
manding me a little, he ordered me to get up betimes
in the morning, and look for it, before it broke into
any neighbour's plantation.
This was what 1 aimed at, in order to have the whole
day before me; but now came the hardest struggle,
which was to take a last farewell of my wife. It was
some secret satisfaction, however, that I had no child
by her. I was almost afraid to reveal the secret to her:
but at length, after making her swear in the most so-
lemn manner by the owley, that she would never dis-
close it, I told her in direct terms that I was going;
and the only thing that disturbed me, was parting with
her. She begged, and cried most bitterly; but there
was no staying for me any longer, my life being every
day in danger. Had I been in any other part of the
country, where I could have lived with freedom, ease,
and safety, I don't know what effects the unaffected
love I had for her might have produced. At length,
however, she was somewhat appeased, and I broke
from her arms by break of day; but with what sorrow
and reluctance, such of my readers as are tender lovers,
can better imagine than I describe. I drove my cattle.
into the field, where my comrade was ready; I did not
go near him for fear of being observed; but called, and
bid him take care of my cattle: he said yes, yes, and
away I walked, or rather ran; for by the time the sun
was two hours high, I had got beyond the first woods,
which is not less than ten English miles, if it could be
measured.
I had now a large plain of five or six miles to go
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over, here I looked back every now and then, for fear
of being pursued; but saw the coast was clear. My
wife and friend, as I was informed afterwards, were
true to the trust reposed in them. About noon, I came
to a pond, where I just washed and refreshed myself,
and kept jogging on till at last I espied the white cliff
of Yong-gorvo. It is very high, and appeared like
land that is seen about seven or eight leagues at sea;
that however did not discourage me, and two hours
before night I was at the foot of it. It is half an hour's
brisk walk to go up the hill to deaan Afferrer's town,
where I arrived safely, and went directly to him. He
thought as soon as he saw me, that I came with some
message from deaan Mevarrow, but I threw myself
immediately at bis feet, and begged his indulgence and
protection; then I informed him of all the miseries I
had undergone through my master's cruel treatment of
me, and the apparent danger my life was in every day,
and at that time more then ever.
No sooner was he convinced of the true reason of
my making thus my earnest application to him, than I
perceived a pleasure glowing in his countenance; and
he at once assured me, that he would protect me at all
adventures, and that I should be a slave no longer;
that I should do nothing but go with him wherever he
went and as a testimony of his sincerity, he would
present me with a gun. Now carrying a gun here,
like wearing a sword in England, is the mark of a
gentleman; with this lance in your hand, said he
smiling, you look like a mall-a-cross, which is a nick-
name they give to one of the meanest of their natives;
you shall now appear like what you are, a free-born
I licked his feet with all the satisfaction imagin-
able, in conformity to the custom there, and returned
him a thousand thanks; nor did I forget my grateful
acknowledgments to the Divine Goodness, who had thus
far given success to my honest endeavours, to recover
my former state of freedom; and to implore his assist-
ance in the completion of so happy a project, which I
had no hopes of ever putting into execution.
man.
ROBERT DRURY.
183
When I assured them that I came from my own
house in one day, there was scarcely any one would give
credit to the assertion. About a week or two after,
two messengers from deaan Mevarrow came to demand
his white slave; and to reproach deaan Afferrer, for
not sending me back by some of his own people on my
first arrival. This imperious message made him smile:
send him back, says he, and by my own people! and
his white slave too! why, no one ever saw a white slave
before; nor has he the least authority to make him
one. I look upon him as a distressed man, fled to me
for succour, and he shall never be exposed to misery
any more. I shall make no slave of him; he shall be
at his free liberty to stay with me, or go where, or
whenever he sees convenient. He here expatiated on
the conduct of our people, with regard to deaan Crindo;
which being much to the same purpose as has been
hinted before, I shall not recapitulate.
In short, he convinced the two men of the unreason-
ableness of their master's demand so far, that they ex-
cused themselves, and said, that they only came with a
message. And I only tell you, says he, what answer
to return to deaan Mevarrow. After this, he entered
into familiar discourse with them, and asked them,
what day I came away? When they told him he was
perfectly surprised, and so were they to find I had
actually walked it in one day; for it could not be much
less than sixty English miles. I could not forbear
rallying them, on account of their superstitious confi-
dence in their umossees. See, says I, how my legs
are swelled! how the spirits have made my bones
rattle within my skin! I was a white man they said,
and they had no power over me. As soon as deaan
Afferrer had ordered them a house and provisions, and
I had made some inquiry after my wife, which proving
more to my satisfaction than I expected, I took my
leave of them with pleasure; for I had some doubt
before, what might be the effect of such a peremptory
demand from deaan Mevarrow.
And now I lived, I must confess, with more freedom
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THE ADVENTURES OF
than ever I had done as yet; for I walked about with
my gun upon my shoulder. When the deaan was dis-
posed to eat, I ate with him; though not in the same
dish, indeed, for no one here has that privilege. I had
little else to do, than to go with him a hunting; by
which means I made myself expert in all the arts of
taking wild cattle. My principal business was to
observe the situation of the country, and to inquire the
route which Ry-Nanno was expected to take.
I was fond of going often a hunting, in order to
take particular notice of the most remarkable moun-
tains, which might hereafter be as so many landmarks
to me. Besides vohitch futey, or white hill, here is
another high mountain more to the northward, called
vohitch manner, or red hill. It is in form of a cone,
or sugar-loaf, and runs spiring up a great height; the
inhabitants are of opinion, that it is the highest in the
whole world. After I had lived in this manner six
months, Ry-Nanno met me by accident in the forest,
as he was coming to give deaan Crindo, and the other
lords, intelligence of the Feraignher army being upon
their march. This was such agreeable news to me,
that I was at a loss how to conceal my joy; and for
that reason I walked into the woods, for fear they
should discover my inclinations by my deportment. I
attempted to return my humble and hearty thanks to
the Almighty in my native tongue, for the fair prospect
I had of getting to a seaport town; but found I had
forgotten my English, and could scarcely with propriety
put three words together. However, the Madagascar
language served me well enough to express the senti-
ments of my heart.
Deaan Afferrer told me as soon as I came home,
that he had seen Ry-Nanno; that Rer Vovvern was
dead, and that his son deaan Mernaugha now suc-
ceeded him; and that his nephew deaan Trongha,
assisted by his brother Rer Befaugher, and deaan Mer-
naugha's brother Rer Mundrosser, commanded the
army. As I was conversing with the deaan, I could
not help expressing my sorrow for Rer Vovvern's
ROBERT DRURY.
185
death;
because he was so faithful a friend to all white
men. I found he suspected my design immediately,
for he told me, though in a very courteous manner, that
he hoped I had no temptation to change my place of
abode through his treatment of me. To which I re-
plied, after thanking him for all his favours, that I had
no thought of removing from my habitation; that I
was conscious to myself that I lived as well, or better
than I could do in any other place. And, indeed,
this was really fact, for he treated me with the utmost
humanity and complaisance. I eat and drank as he
did, and did no manner of work; but I perceived by
this, he was not inclined to part with me. For which
reason, I was under a necessity to be more close and
artful, than I should have been had I made such a
discovery.
Orders were sent to the three towns under deaan
Afferrer's command, that instead of hunting the wild
cattle, they should make proper preparations for hunt-
ing the wild boar; by which they meant the king of
Merfaughla. Whereupon, all hands were instantly
at work, cleaning and fitting up their arms; for there
are artificers here, who can make or mend a spring,
and do twenty other things to guns as well as lances.
The women employed themselves in making caps, to
distinguish us in the wars; these were made of the
same materials as our mats. The children beat Guinea
corn in order to carry with us. I made it my business
to put deaan Afferrer's and my own gun in order; and
to cast a considerable quantity of shot or rather slugs,
by making a hole with a round stick in a lump of clay,
to cast the lead in; and cutting it afterwards into little
pieces about half an inch long. Though they frequently
buy shot at the seaports, yet this was made, as I imagine,
of the lead which they had procured from the wreck
of our ship.
Ry-Nanno went back, after he had given notice of
the Feraignher army's march to deaan Trongha, in
order to meet him at vohitch-manner, according to
appointment. Deaan Crindo sent orders that we
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THE ADVENTURES OF
should march, and meet him at the river, where we
watered our cattle, in deaan Murnanzack's country.
I might have stayed at home, if I had thought proper;
but I was resolved at all adventures to go with them,
though I told deaan Afferrer, I was under some appre-
hensions of my old master Mevarrow, whom, I con-
cluded, I should see there. But he bid me be under no
concern on that account, for he would protect me;
and deaan Mevarrow, he was well assured, would make
no disturbance in the army. However, it happened
better than I expected, for Mevarrow was left behind
sick of the colah; which, in Guinea, or the West In-
dies, is called the yaws. It is a cruel distemper, and
bears a near resemblance to the venereal disease, affects
the bones and joints with great pain and soreness, breaks
out all over in blotches and dry scabs, and is mostly in
the privy parts, and under the arm-pits. However, it
is not actually that complaint; for I have known chil-
dren of three or four years old have it, whose parents
never knew by experience what it was.
There are but
few who escape it once in their lifetime, but then they
never have it more. In that respect, it is like the
small pox, or the itch; and caught also as they are.
If a person, who never had it, follow one infected in
the long grass or bushes, if he lie or sit on the same
mat, or even eat and drink after the diseased person,
he most assuredly catches it. For which reason they
send their children, when afflicted with it, out to nurse,
to such persons as live alone in remote places; and
when a man, woman, or a whole family is taken with
it, they oblige them to go into the woods, and tarry
there till they are perfectly recovered; which is fre-
quently a whole year, and sometimes two.
It was good news to me to hear that deaan Mevarrow
was left at home infected with this distemper, and that
deaan Sambo had the command of the people in his
stead; for I knew, by experience, that he was none of
my enemy, though he demanded me in his brother's
name upon his first arrival; but when deaan Afferrer
had expostulated the case with him, and told him what
ROBERT DRURY.
187
answer he had returned him by the messengers; when
he urged, that it was natural for a man to fly for his
life, who was every day in danger, and treated like a
brute, had he been a lawful slave, which was not the
case here, deaan Sambo gave up the argument, and
turning to me, asked if he had not several times saved
me? I readily owned the obligation. Do not be afraid,
said he, for I shall not insist on my demand any more;
but pray come often and see me as a friend. I grate-
fully acknowledged all his favours, and particularly
thanked him for this last signal one, for he confirmed
the account I had given of myself before.
As deaan Crindo had intelligence of the day the
Feraingher army was to join them, he put himself in a
posture to receive them with abundance of form and
ceremony. He was seated under a great tamarind tree,
with his sons according to their seniority on his right
hand, and all their people; on his left were deaan
Murnanzack and his brethren, with all their people.
The whole assembly formed a line of above a quarter
of a mile in length. After a short time, the Feraingher
army appeared, and as they advanced, they came
dancing, each with a gun in his left hand, and a lance
in his right, their shells sounding, and their drums
beating. At a small distance they fired some pieces by
way of salutation, which we immediately returned;
and now the three generals, deaan Trongha, Rer Be-
faugher, and Rer Mondrosser, went up to deaan Crindo
and the rest. After the usual salutations, they were all
seated under the tamarind tree, and ten calabashes of
toake were sent for by deaan Crindo to entertain them.
I sat all this time behind deaan Afferrer, with his gun
in my hand. After mutual assurances of an inviolable
friendship, the division of the prices of cattle was set-
tled and adjusted. Deaan Crindo and his sons were
to have one third; deaan Murnanzack and his brethren
another; and deaan Trongha and his brother and cou-
sin the remainder.
After they had amicably concluded their own affairs,
and begun to be gay over their toake, says deaan Trongha,
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you have got a white man amongst you, I perceive.
Yes, says deaan Crindo, this is one of those who took
me and my nephew prisoners, and would have delivered
us into deaan Tuley-Noro's hands, who was our adver-
sary. I don't think, says deaan Trongha, they would
have done you any harm; you must doubtless have
given them some provocation first. I did them no in-
jury, replied the other, as I know of, unless maintain-
ing them well was doing them injustice. They were
inclined, indeed, to go to Antenosa, and I would rather
have detained them to assist me in the wars; and was
not this, says deaan Trongha, a manifest injury, and a
just provocation, to keep free men against their wills in
a country far from their native homes. I'll tell you,
however, a very remarkable transaction of my grand-
father's with these white men, before he was rightly ac-
quainted with them.
An English ship came to our seaport town, which
they call St. Augustine-bay, in order to buy provisions
and furnish themselves with water. They did not go
up to my grandfather's town, but he thought proper to
visit them, and made the captain a voluntary present
of two oxen; and the captain as voluntarily gave him
a gun, and some powder and shot, as a compensation.
The whites built themselves a house upon the shore,
for the reception of their sick men. Some few days
after we had been here, the white men and some of
ours got in liquor together, and a quarrel arose amongst
them. At first, indeed, they only beat one another
with their fists; but at length, they made use of wea-
pons, and a white man was killed upon the spot by
one of ours. The news being carried immediately to
the ship, the captain came on shore, and after a strict
inquiry into the matter, he laid hold of the king whilst
his people ran to the boat and fetched their arms. My
father and Rer Vovvern instantly placed themselves at
the head of our people, and would have attacked them,
but my grandfather prevented them, for he was morally
assured of being killed by one side or the other, so he
went contentedly on board their ship. The fishermen
ROBERT DRURY.
189
were under no apprehensions of danger from the whites
notwithstanding this disturbance, for they knew them;
and, besides, were well acquainted with their manners;
so they went on board, and asked what the captain's
demands were of the king? He said satisfaction for
the loss of his white man. They returned, and in the
name of the king's two sons, asked what satisfaction he
required? The captain insisted on their sending him
the man who killed the Englishman and ten oxen as
an equivalent. The fishermen had no more wit than
to deliver their message in the hearing of the murderer;
whereupon, he fled directly into the woods, so that
when they sent to secure him, he was not to be found.
The fishermen returned to the captain, and assured him
that they had made strict search for the criminal, but
could not find him; however, if he would be contented
with a slave or two in his stead, or with twenty oxen,
they were willing to give him them. At this the cap-
tain was very angry, and peremptorily insisted on their
producing the same man; for he had murdered his
man in a most barbarous manner, and unless they found
him, he would keep their father; but, notwithstanding,
he would allow them ten days' time to make their far-
ther search for him.
During all that interval, my grandfather's legs were
loaded with irons, in order to prevent his making his
escape; however, he eat and drank with the captain all
the ten days' time, and was treated in a very courteous
manner. When the term granted was expired, and the
captain was fully satisfied they had done all they could
to find out the murderer, though to no purpose, he took
the irons off the king's legs, and asked him if he would
enter into a solemn oath, never from that hour to do
any act of injustice to an Englishman, or suffer any of
his people to do it, if he could possibly prevent it. To
which my father readily consented. When he had
dined with the captain, they came on shore together.
What! says deaan Crindo, do you and your family eat
with white men? Yes, says deaan Trongha, we Andry
Voler, for that is the surname of the family, not only
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THE ADVENTURES OF
eat out of the same dish, but drink out of the same cup
too, and look upon them as a part of our own family.
We never attempted to assume any authority over
them; they come when they please, and go where they
please with us; and if any idle fellows do what they
ought not to do, their captain never hinders their being
punished. These white men are very advantageous to
us, and they would not come amongst us, if we did
not treat them with civility; besides, our grandfather
has laid us all under a solemn oath, with a curse an-
nexed to all our posterity, who shall treat an English-
man with severity; for, as soon as he and the captain
came on shore, the owley was brought out, and they
entered into a solemn and perpetual friendship, which
all of us strictly observe, and imagine that God will
not prosper us should we break it.
My grandfather hereupon gave the captain twenty
oxen, which, though he received, he would return an
equivalent in guns and other things; and had we this
white man amongst us, we should give him such clothes
as his countrymen have left who died there. He will
never wear any of his own country clothes again, says
deaan Crindo, I believe. Better you were hanged,
thought I, though I durst not say so.
The next day we marched to the borders of Mer-
faughla, and there encamped. I lay always in deaan.
Afferrer's tent. The next morning, however, we shifted
our quarters and marched a great way into the country
towards Manner-ronder, a small river passing through
several small towns, but found the inhabitants had
abandoned them, and from the dung of the cattle,
which was very dry, we judged they had been gone
about a fortnight; for Woozington was a politic man,
and would leave nothing for us to subsist on; neither
would he weaken his army by fruitless skirmishes and
unnecessary attempts, but wait till he was fully apprized
of our strength by his spies, and had collected all the
force he could to oppose us. A man came to me from
deaan Trongha, and told me privately that his master
desired to speak with me, to which I answered, I would
ROBERT DRURY.
191
wait on him, as soon as I could possibly contrive to
come without being observed. Accordingly, in about
two or three days, I found a proper opportunity, and
told deaan Afferrer I was going to see deaan Sambo.
You need not ask me leave, said he, but don't go any
where else; by which I knew his meaning, and found
he was jealous of me. However, I returned, and by
private ways, and in the dark got to deaan Trongha's
tent, where was a numerous assembly. He spoke to
me in English, and asked me how I did? I was obliged
to answer him in the Madagascar language, for I had
forgotten I told him my mother tongue. This, and my
being naked withal, moved his compassion to that de-
gree, that he spoke as indulgent things to me as my
own father could; and assured me, that if he could find
any means to take me with him, he would send me
home in the first ship. Whilst we were talking, Rer
Befaugher came in, who shaking me by the hand, said,
Brother, how do you do? I answered very well, but
could speak no more English, without a mixture of this
country language. They informed me that there had
lately been some English men of war in quest of pi-
rates; and that they had directed them to St. Mary's,
and Mattatanna, which are situate on the other side
the island; and that there was but one white amongst
them, and be a Dutchman; and moreover, that an Eng-
lishman had been killed not long since in the wars.
I told him I was determined, at all adventures, to es-
cape and follow them, but they said they would pur-
chase me, though they gave six slaves for me. After
thanks for so courteous a promise, and a mutual agree-
ment not to take any public notice of each other, I took
my leave of them and went to deaan Sambo's tent, who
also treated me in a very handsome manner. He told
me he was going to live by himself, and asked me if I
would come to him? and I promised him I would. I
took my leave and returned to our tent. The next
morning we held a consultation, in which it was de-
termined to throw the army into three divisions and
march abreast, but at a quarter of a mile distance from
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one another. We saw nobody all this time, till we
were near the capital town, and then we perceived their
spies that observed us, but the inhabitants were all fled.
We passed the river Manner-ronder, and encamped
upon the plain; we had not been long there before
three men called to our people, and desired them to
acquaint deaan Crindo that deaan Woozington pro-
posed to pay him a visit next morning. Now he was
an artful man, and full of stratagems, so they knew he
would endeavour to surprise or overreach them. Upon
which, we went hard to work to fortify the camp, which
was thrown in a circular form. We cut down several
trees and set up forked limbs; the spaces were filled
with great pieces of wood, piled one upon another
lengthways, at least four feet high, and as they joined
close, they made a wall of it. In the next place, we
dug the ground about a foot deep, and about seven feet
wide, and threw up the earth against the wooden pile
to make the wall still stronger; we left only two nar-
row entrances. The loose small boughs, with the leaves,
were thrown carelessly, as it were, without side to hide
the fortifications, so that it looked like nothing but a
common method they observed, in order to conceal
their numbers. When our camp was made secure,
some few cattle were killed and we all went to supper,
and then laid us down under our tent clothes, for we
did not set our tents up, neither did we pull off our
lambers, but lay close under the fortifications, prepared
for an attack; the slaves that carried the provision were
planted in the center.
We arose by break of day, putting our guns through
little holes which we had left in our wall on purpose,
and kneeled to fight with the more ease, and to take
the better aim. We had not been in readiness above
ten minutes before we saw them coming down with
fury upon us. Whilst we were preparing to receive
them, another party appeared on the contrary side, and
proposed to have come upon our backs, but as we were
in a circle we were all front. Our shells were imme-
diately sounded, and our drums beaten, but we soon
ROBERT DRURY.
193
altered this for another kind of noise. When they came
within thirty yards of us, they fired briskly, still ap-
proaching, and having no notion of our wall, expected
we should soon retreat from behind the boughs. I ob-
served their eyes red with smoking jermaughla, which
made them more resolute than usual. Of this I shall
give a particular description after the account of the
engagement. Ry-Opheck, with a body of men, attacked
one of our entrances; he came skipping along, his eyes
glowed like fire; he had a lance in one hand, and a
gun in the other; his people ran after him in so furious
a manner, that Trodaughe and his people, who should
have defended the passage, gave way. We were em-
ployed on our side, and knew nothing of it till he had
got within our camp; at which time one of our chief
men turning about and seeing Ry-Opheck stabbing our
men, fired at him, and shot him in the belly. When
he found himself wounded, he retreated, and fell about
thirty or forty yards from the place: his people, instead
of revenging his cause, turned backward when he did.
How common men will sometimes mimic a general's
behaviour! But when they saw him fall, they returned
to bring off his body, and this brought on a warm en-
gagement in the open field; for deaan Afferrer jumped
over the works, and most of us, who were his people,
after him, and forced them to retreat. Here one, who
was distinguished from the rest by his yellow com-
plexion, and who seemed of superior rank, took aim at
me, but luckily missing me, I wounded him in the
thigh and ran up to him. I found his hand was full of
powder, in order to charge again, and he threatened
me hard, but I snatched his lance from him, and pre-
vented him from either doing me any farther mischief,
or hurting any body else. Another such push on the
contrary side so totally defeated the enemy, that they
flew for it; and we pursued them, but not indeed very
far; because we were unwilling to divide ourselves,
lest Woozington should have turned and taken the ad-
vantage of our confusion, which he certainly would
have done, had an opportunity offered.
·
S
194
THE ADVENTURES OF
When we returned to our camp, the deaans all
assembled at deaan Crindo's tent, who took notice of
each individual man according to his merit, returning
them thanks for their courage and conduct. He next
made inquiry what men were lost on our side, and
found no more than sixteen killed, and thirteen
wounded. After that he sent out to number the dead
bodies of the enemy, and found the total amounted to
one hundred and seventy-five; among whom were
sixteen persons of distinction; two of Woozington's
younger sons, Metorolahatch and Rer Fungenzer; his
nephews, Ry-Opheck and Rer Chula; the names of
the rest I never heard. Deaan Crindo gave orders
that the bodies of these sixteen great men should be cut
to pieces and scattered about the field, that their friends
might not bury them. Two or three days afterwards
we marched farther into Merfaughla, plundering and
spoiling all their plantations.
As these people are more addicted to smoke jer-
maughla than any others, it will be proper to give a
description of it here. It is a plant that grows about
five feet high, and bears a small long leaf with a cod,
which contains about a dozen seeds like hempseed.
These leaves and seeds are mingled together, and laid
in the sun for three our four days successively, till they
are very dry, and so prepared, are fit to be smokeď.
Their pipes are made of reeds, or rather small canes.
Sometimes they make use of a very long shell, which
answers the end proposed. The quality of it is such
that it makes them drunk; their eyes look red and fiery,
and their looks fierce and savage. It is easy to know
a man who smokes jermaughla; whilst the effects last,
they are more vigorous and resolute, acting as it were
like madmen. Those who are too much addicted to it
are good for nothing but during the time they are
intoxicated with it. My curiosity led me once to smoke
a little myself; but it made my head so giddy, that I
was drunk, as it were, for three days together, and so
sick that I never meddled more with it.
Our spies were two days before they could discover
ROBERT DRURY.
195
any cattle. At length, however, they informed us they
had heard some bellow, whereupon a thousand men
were detached to fetch them. They were gone a whole
week; they returned, however, with above two thou-
sand beeves, and two hundred and fifty captives,
women and children. This great prize made them fond
of a second expedition; so, upon a consultation, a new
camp was formed, and fortified in the same manner as
before; in which deaan Crindo remained with four
thousand men, whilst two thousand went out to plun-
der; and on their return two thousand more were to
go.
Deaan Afferrer, deaan Sambo, Rer Mimebolambo,
and Rer Befaugher, went out with two thousand men.
We had three or four for our guides who were perfectly
well acquainted with the country, and knew where the
cattle were usually fed. We were two days before we
came to any of their tracks, and then they were driven
off, and, as appeared by their marks, quite different
ways. So our army divided, deaan Sambo and Rer
Befaugher went northward, and we south-west. We
marched in the tracks all day and all the next night, as
it was moonshine. We found ourselves in the morning
near the sea, where they had driven the beasts to the
margin of the water, that the ebbing and flowing and
the wash of the sea might efface their footsteps on the
sands; as indeed it did in a great measure: but we
continued our march all day, till we found out where
they turned off towards the woods. The next morning
our spies came in, and informed us, that they heard a
cow bellow. We soon came to the plain, where we
found a hundred at least, but these were not sufficient;
and therefore, narrowly observing their footsteps, we
traced them farther, and found eight or nine hundred
more. Here were besides two or three hundred sheep,
which we killed, the best of them we dressed, and left
the others behind us. However, we were in great want
of water, for we had none for nearly two days. At length
one of our scouts discovered a pond, where the cattle
used to drink, and this, though hot and foul, we eagerly
$ 2
196
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drank, as we could get no better. Till this time we
saw no enemies, though we expected them, for we
could see the cow-herds fly from their cattle, in order,
no doubt, to alarm their masters. And as some of us
were taking up this water, as clean as we could, in our
calabashes, and whilst one in particular was stooping
down to wash his lamber, a volley of shot was fired
amongst us before we perceived any body. We looked
up and saw about eight or ten men, who ran back into
the wood, which extended along on the other side of the
water, within three or fourscore yards. We fired at
them, but they vanished out of sight. None of us were
hurt, but the man who was washing his lamber; he
received a shot in his fundament, of which he instantly
expired.
،،
CC
Though I had been superstitiously addicted to
observe certain fixed characters, or hieroglyphics, when
they occurred to me in dreams, which was indeed but
seldom, and used to find they foretold some things to
me; yet I could not but observe a remarkable instance
which we had here of relying on dreams, and I did not
fail taking notice of it to deaan Afferrer, and thereupon
to turn their superstitious devotions to their owleys
into ridicule. For seeing me come in a hurry, and
hearing guns go off, he asked, "What news?"
Nothing," said I, "but a man was killed by the order
of his gods." "How!" says the deaan, " by the order
of his gods? I do not understand you."
Why," says
I, a man prayed to his owley last night, and when
he lay down, bid it not fail to come when he was
asleep. The demon which attends his owley, accord-
ing to his desire, came, and told him in a dream, or,
which is the same thing, he dreamed he told him, that
he must wash his lamber the next morning. Ile went
along with us in obedience to this divine vision, to the
watering place, though he had no other business there;
and as he stooped to wash his lamber, was killed by a
random shot, which he received in his posteriors from
some of our fugitive enemies, who fired, ran away, and
hurt nobody else." I was under no apprehensions of
<<
ROBERT DRURY.
197
deaan Afferrer's anger on this piece of raillery, for per-
secution on account of difference in religion is not
thought of there.
CC
I remember one instance, whilst I lived with deaan.
Mevarrow, of a piece of bigotry more blind and sense-
less, if possible, than this. A young man had an
owley, the demon of which was called Ry-Leffu. He
made his addresses one night to him, and Ry-Leffu in
a dream told him, that his brother must shoot at him.
Early in the morning he took above an hour's walk to
his brother, told his dream, and desired him to perform
the order of Ry-Leffu. His brother endeavoured to
dissuade him from it, but the other insisted it must be
done, or worse would ensue. "Well then," said he,
"I will shoot near you, but take care to miss you."
No," said the bigoted idiot, "it must be executed ac-
cording to order, without the least prevarication; for
I am fully persuaded that the demon will defend me
from all harm." At length he prevails on his brother,
who loads his piece, and stands about thirty yards
distant, and fires at his lower parts; but notwithstanding
all his precaution he broke a leg; and then, blaming
himself for his credulity, and being so easily overruled
in an action he no ways approved of, ran with tears in
his eyes to the assistance of the wounded bigot. In short,
with the usual means, together with some of the fat of
a sacrifice, laid on the owley of Ry-Leffu, the wound was
healed, but he never recovered the free use of that leg.
We drove our cattle to the sea-side, the same way
we came, by the verge of the water, and went round
the bay called St. John's. I took particular notice of
it; there is a ridge of rocks which seemed to extend
quite across it, so as to leave no entrance; but were
there a channel wide enough for ships to sail in, it
would be a very commodious harbour, the waters being
smooth within. Not far from hence, as I have heard,
on the coast of Merfaughla, a French ship was cast
away about two or three years before ours, and the
whole crew destroyed; but the reason of their inhuman
9 3
198
THE ADVENTURES OF
murder, or the particular circumstances of it, I could
never learn. They have no canoes, either here or in
Anterndroea, for which reason the natives can have no
commerce with ships. For they are very treacherous
to white men of any in the island. Whether their little
acquaintance with Europeans gives them a dread of
them, I cannot say; but I am sensible they imagine
that white men are extremely addicted to fighting, and
not so tender-hearted as themselves. This received no-
tion may be a great motive to their destroying them on
very trivial provocations; for they are always jealous
that the white men have some cruel designs upon them.
So that they are ever on their guard, dreading the au-
dacity and superior skill which the Europeans have over
them in point of war.
As to their mercy. In such places where they have
subdued them, as the French did in Antenosa, they
made them all slaves, inverted the whole order of their
government; and most of them being illiterate seamen,
who took upon them to rule, they showed no regard,
either to morality, civility, or indeed common decency;
made no distinction of persons, confounded all order,
and treated every black as if he were a brute; and so
much inferior to themselves, as not to have the least
right or title, in their opinions, to the common privileges
of human creatures. So that to kill one of them was
no more than killing a dog, or any other noxious ani-
mal whatsoever. I do not make this as a general re-
flection on the French only, though if credit were to be
given to half that the natives say, they were guilty of
the most scandalous and execrable actions. Our own
countrymen (too much addicted to their follies and
vices) are not exempt from the just cause of this scan-
dal upon white men; for the conduct of our British pi-
rates, and others too, who are not willing to be thought
inhuman, has been barbarous to the last degree. And
in the countries of Anterndroea and Merfaughla, where
no stories are told but what are very strange; and as
they cannot distinguish by experience, that wicked men
ROBERT DRURY.
199
are the product of every land; and having seen no good
ones here, every white man is looked upon by them as
much a monster as a cannibal is by us.
We returned to our camp with cur booty four days
before Rer Befaugher, who not only got a good prize
of cattle, but of captives likewise: which they disco-
vered by the observance of a smoke. Deaan Crindo was
in pain to be at home, lest deaan Woozington should
go into his country and plunder it; but Rer Mundrosser
and deaan Mussecorro would take their turn to see
what they could find, and return with slaves as well
as cattle. We had no enemy all this time come near
us; for deaan Trongha stayed in the camp till we re-
turned. I told deaan Afferrer I would go and pay
deaan Sambo a visit as before, on purpose to conceal
my visit to the other. He treated me with the same.
good manners as at first; but whilst we were in dis-
course, one of deaan Afferrer's slaves came in and told
me his master desired to speak with me. I durst not
speak privately to deaan Trongha before him, nor would
I stay, as he would have had me; but went directly
with the man, being apprehensive of some ill treatment.
When I came, he was in a terrible passion, charging
me with being deceitful; and asking me, if I intended
to go away with them? He would take care, however,
that I should not go out of Anterndroea. I might go
any where among his own countrymen; but he would
not part with me. I perceived he was determined to
be my master, though he was a much better than deaan
Mevarrow; for he never offered to strike, much less to
kill me.
It was fourteen days before Rer Mundrosser
returned; he brought, likewise, several slaves as well
as cattle. As soon as the cattle were divided, which
was the next day, the army marched back into Antern-
droea; for deaan Crindo would not consent that the
Feraignharians should go home, till they had accom-
panied him into his own country, and till he was out
of danger. Our habitation on Yong-gorvo hills lay in
the way. Dean Trongha, with his brother and cousin,
came the night before we parted, to take their leave of
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THE ADVENTURES OF
deaan Afferrer; and after some general discourse, he
said if you will part with your white man, I will give
you three slaves for him. Though this was a handsome
price, yet my master, for so I must call him, made an-
swer, I will not take three times three for him.
So no
more was said, and deaan Trongha went his way. The
next morning before they marched, I had the oppor-
tunity of seeing one of the Feraignher men ; whereupon
I desired him to assure his general that I would be
with them in three or four days at farthest; for I was
determined to run away, and follow their tracks at all
adventures. At present, indeed, I was prevented; be-
cause as they were jealous of me, two men were ordered
never to let me go out of their sight, either by night or
day, till we got home. And for two months afterwards,
I was never suffered to go any where without some-
body with me.
Before I take my farewell of Anterndroea, my readers
may justly expect an account of such things as I
thought most worthy of observance, and which have
not hitherto been described; and which, indeed, are
but few, considering the great variety of things, which
a more curious person than myself would have em-
ployed himself in inquiring into. But when they con-
sider how young I was when I first came here, how I
passed the prime of my years in slavery among these
savages, and the little or no hopes I had of ever
making my escape; it will not, I presume, be expected,
that, at this time, I should have known what was worth
a virtuoso's regard. I shall not, however, supply these
deficiencies of mine, as many travellers frequently do,
with inventions of my own. I could not help knowing
such things as were of daily service, and in common
with other places; such as bonanas, plantanes, monkies,
turtle, and a hundred other things of the like nature;
of which it would be impertinent to give a particular
detail.
There is no good thing to be met with, either on the
trees, or in the earth, that lie within three or four miles
of the sea; nothing but short prickly wood, that bears
ROBERT DRURY.
201
no eatable fruit. In the country there is great variety;
among which is a currant that grows on a tree, not a
bush, as in Europe, and is very pleasant. Here is a
very large tree likewise that bears a plumb; which is
black when ripe, and as big as a cherry, with little
stones like those of grapes. There are thorns too on
the tree about two inches long. Here is a fruit like a
sloe, which grows also on a prickly bush, but is very
sweet. Another fruit grows on the most stately trees,
that are speckled like a sparrow's egg, and in the same
shape, which is full of seeds, and very juicy. It is
looked upon as an infallible cure for fluxes; the leaf of
it is like that of a pear-tree. Here is a tree, the leaves
and tender sprigs whereof will sting like nettles. The
root of this is of great service when water is scarce,
which it often is in many parts of this country; and as
this root is spongy, it retains abundance of juice. We
beat it in a wooden mortar (as we beat our Guinea
corn) and express the liquor. They make ropes of the
bark of this tree. Here is wood in plenty fit for build-
ing; as also some cedar and ebony, but none proper to
make ship masts of. The plains are well covered with
divers kinds of grass, and of various colours; which
grow much taller than any in England. They never
cut any down for hay, for before the old is dead, there
is new springing up under it; but the old grass is com-
monly set on fire. Here is also some tobacco, which
they smoke in reeds, or shells, as they do the jer-
maughla.
When I was in deaan Murnanzack's country, I fre-
quently went fishing; but they have no canoes, as I
hinted before, so we only go upon the rocks and fish
with hooks and lines, and not with nets. Night is the
best time, when it is low water. Then we carry lights
with us, and take the fish out of deep little holes (as
the negroes say) fast asleep. Here are abundance of
lobsters and crawfish, which never run away at sight
of the lights. We have also a sharp pike made for no
other purpose than to strike fish. Here are eels and
the sword-fish, and some such other fish as are common
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to countries in the same climate: but many of a species
I never saw elsewhere. Here is one fish as round as
a turnip, and full of prickles; which, I suppose, may be
called the sea hedgehog, but in their language it is
called sorer-reake. Here is likewise great plenty of
fine turtle.
I never knew the country infested by any beasts of
prey, such as tigers, lions, &c., the wild foxes, wild
boars, and wild dogs are the worst we have in Antern-
droea. Here is a creature of the species and form of
the serpent; which is very large. One of which I
killed, by tearing its huge jaws asunder with my hands;
it was no way venomous, nor did I ever know of a
serpent which killed or hurt any man by its venom.
Several of them have been bitten by them, and no worse
hurt has accrued, than is customary from the bite of
any beast.
While I was in Yong-gorvo, our employment as well
as diversion was principally hunting wild cattle; and
here I observed the people call these cattle, Hattoy's
cattle, or Anomebay Rer Hattoy. The tradition they
have of their original, is, that they belonged to a great
man named Hattoy; and he being very avaricious
would kill none of them, but let them multiply and run
about wherever they would. He lived in the desert,
but his family and people, after his decease, lived with
a king of an inland dominion, called Untomaroche,
and left most of their cattle behind them. Others say,
that Rer Hattoy and most of his people were killed
and that the other cattle being better approved of, his
were neglected, and strolling about in the forests, they
multiplied without interruption. But this no way ac
counts for the manner in which they came into the
island. This Hattoy, as all allow, was a native; so that
I am apt to believe these were the original cattle of the
country, and the tame beeves were imported; for there
are the same cattle with humps on their backs, on the
coast of Natal, and Dilligoe in Africa. These were
preferred to the others, and bred up whilst the Hattoy's
were neglected. And what confirms me in this notion
ROBERT DRURY.
203
Is, here are two sorts of people, as if they were two dis-
tinct species of mankind; of which I shall have occa-
sion to give a full account in a more proper place.
When deaan Afferrer had kept strict watch over me
for about two months, and thought the track of the Fe-
raingher army was impossible to be found, as the grass
was grown up again, he took me with him hunting
these Hattoy's cattle again. We had very good diver-
sion, had not the conclusion proved tragical; for we
killed five cows, and had thoughts of departing: but a
bull ran off with a lance in his side, and we, being loth
to lose it, pursued him, and stuck two or three more in
his belly. When his wounds smarted, he grew enraged
and turned upon us. One man more bold than the
rest threw another lance, and hit him on the back.
Upon which he ran directly at the man; we hallooed to
frighten him off, but he pursued his adversary; and
when he had overtaken him, he tossed him several
yards above his head. The ground where he fell was
stony, and we were afraid of throwing lances lest we
should hit the man, who was all this time endeavouring
to rise; but the bull pushed him down, as often as he
made the attempt, and gored him to that degree with
his horns, that he soon died. When we perceived the
man was past all recovery, we threw more lances at the
bull, till he fell down like a log. I have known them
fight so long, that they have been absolutely dead be-
fore they fell; for they will fix their feet so wide, and
die standing so firmly, that we have been obliged to pull
them down by the tail. They were forced to dress the
meat this evening, because of going home next day
with the corpse of their neighbour. When we had roast-
ed the beef, and made an end of our supper, we made
up our enters for the next morning. For my part, I
packed up as much as I could conveniently carry; for
was determined to go away this very night. I laid
down, indeed, when the rest did, but could not sleep
much, it may be supposed, for thinking of the hazard-
ous journey I was about to undertake. Every one
else slept soundly enough, as they were tired, and their
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THE ADVENTURES OF
bellies were full; so about midnight I took up my bur
den, and away I marched, directing my course to the
northward, not without recommending myself to the
good providence of God to be my conductor.
The instructions I received from Ry-Nanno, and
which on inquiry I found from others, was to go to
the southward, till I came to Vohitch Futey; and to
leave it on my right hand, directing my course between
the north and west, till I got to the great river Oneg-
haloyhe, which goes to St. Augustine's bay; then to
keep along the river till I saw highland running along
the westernmost parts of the forest: and then when I
had passed over the river, to go away to the westward.
I walked very briskly all night, and at break of day
I saw the white mountains very near. By this I per-
ceived I had made a great progress, and therefore would
not conceal myself as at first I proposed; but proceeded
on my journey, looking sharply about me, thinking it
morally impossible for them to overtake and find me,
should they have attempted it. I went, therefore, mer-
rily on, singing Madagascar songs; for I had forgotten.
all my English ones. The bellowing of the wild cattle
would now and then make me start; imagining they
were my pursuers. When I came to a pleasant brook,
I baited there; and at sunset I looked out for a covert
in a thicket to lie in; but I could not find one near at
hand. So I was contented to repose myself in the open
plain, pulling up a sufficient quantity of grass for a bed
and a pillow, and making a small fire to warm my beef.
I did not think proper to make a great one, for fear of
its being discerned at a distance; for in the afternoon
I observed some fires to the eastward of the mountain.
I was disturbed in my sleep by night-walkers, whom I
imagined were my pursuers; and accordingly I took
up my lances in order to defend myself; but when I
was thoroughly awake, I found they were only some of
lattry's cattle, that snorted at the smell of my fire,
and ran away, much more afraid of me than I was of
them.
The second day in the morning, I stayed till the sun
-
:
ROBERT DRURY.
205
appeared before I moved forward, that I might not be
deceived in my course; for being abreast of Vohitch
Futey, I walked more easily; and though I was under
no apprehensions of being overtaken by deaan Affer-
rer's people, yet as there might be others in the forest a
hunting of beeves, I was very circumspect. Nothing
remarkable happened this day. I looked out early this
evening for a lodging, the clouds gathering very black,
and soon found a large thick tree, where I made me a
fire, warmed me some meat, and hung up the remainder,
to keep it as dry as I could; for I had nothing else that
could be prejudiced by the rain. At length, it poured
down as I expected, in a violent manner, attended with
thunder and lightning; it soon penetrated my roof:
however, I crowded myself up together, with my head
on my knees, my hands betwixt my legs, and my little
lamber over my ears. The rain ran down like a flood,
but as it was warm I did not so much regard it; in
three or four hours it was fair weather again, and I laid
me down and took a comfortable nap.
The next morning I dried my beef at a fire, which I
made for that purpose, for it was the third day after it
was killed; but I was very careful of it, not knowing
how to kill more at that time: so I put it up in clean
grass and marched forward. The mountains over
which I was to pass seemed very high, craggy, and
thick with wood, and no path or opening could I find.
It looked dismal enough, but I was determined to run
all hazards. Those mountains seemed to me to traverse
the island, and appeared, as we call it at sea, like
double land; one hill behind another. I saw nothing
all this day but a few wild cattle, and now and then a
wild dog; the weather was fair, and I slept soundly all
this night.
The fourth day I walked till noon, at which time I
baited; my beef was now but very indifferent. In the
afternoon as I was walking I saw about a dozen men
before me; upon this I sculked in a bush, peeping to
observe whether they had discovered me; but I was
soon out of my pain, for they were surrounding some
T
206
THE ADVENTURES OF
cattle a good way to the westward on a hill. I was
likewise on another hill, so that I could see them throw
their lances and kill three beeves, which I was well
assured were more than they could carry away with
them at once. I stayed where I was, proposing when
they were gone to have some beef. To work they fell
immediately, cutting up the beasts, and each man mak-
ing up his burden, hanging the remainder up in a tree
that the wild dogs might not get it, and went home to
the eastward. As soon as they were gone, and I had
looked well about me, I threw away my bad meat,
made up to the tree, and took as much as I could well
carry. Away I marched with my booty towards the
mountains, not daring to rest lest they should return
and discover me. In less than an hour I reached the
foot of the hills in the thick woods, and finding no
path or track of men, or any hopes of any, not know-
ing what to do, I determined to go through all; but as
I happened on a run of water, I took up my quarters
near it, made me a fire, cut me some wooden spits, and
roasted my beef; I kept my fire burning all night lest
the foxes should come and attack me.
The next morning I made up my enter with grass,
binding it with the bark of trees, and moved forward
up the hill. My burden was now much lighter. In an
hour, though I could find no path but what some swine
had made, I got to the top of it. I perceived here were
faungidge and verlaway enough, with which I was
very well pleased, though I did not at present much
want them. I climbed a high tree to take a survey, but
could discover no entrance: nothing but hills and vales
one beyond another; a cragged dismal desert was all
that presented itself to my view. I would have de-
scended had I not been in danger of being seen by the
hunters; besides I I could not tell which way to look,
whether east or west, for the passage; so setting a lance
up on end, I turned the way it fell, though I imagined
it was due north, or rather somewhat to the eastward.
However, superstition prevailed where reason was no
way concerned, for I was as likely to be right one way
ROBERT DRURY.
207
as another; and in case I went to the northward, so
long as I knew it, I must go as often as I could to the
westward; as sailors are forced to do, run their lati-
tude first and their longitude afterwards. I went down
this hill and up another, which was about an hour's
walk; but when I came to descend this, it was right up
and down. Without due thought I threw down my
lances, hatchet, and burden, thinking to descend by a
very tall tree, whose top branches reached close to the
brow, but I could not do it. However, I made ropes of
the bark of a tree, and fixing them to the strongest
branches, I slid down, I dare say, no less than thirty
feet rather than I would lose my lances and other ma-
terials. I passed over a fine spring and run of water
in the vale. Though the hill on the other side was a
craggy steep rock, I found a way to ascend it; and on
the top climbed another tree to take my view, but had
the same dismal prospect. Here I dug faungidge, it
being sunset, and seeing a hole in a large rock I had
thought to take up my lodging there; but peeping in,
on a sudden I heard such an outcry, which, with the
echo in the rock, made so confused a noise, that I knew
not what it could be. My fears prevailed, and I ima-
gined it might be pursuers, for it drew nearer and nearer;
so setting my back to a tree, with a lance in each hand, I
waited for the murderers; when instantly came squeak-
ing toward me a herd of wild swine, who ran away
more terrified than myself. After I was well recovered
from my fright, I made two fires for fear of the foxes,
and then laid me down on my stony bed, for here was
no grass.
The next morning, which was the sixth day, I made
a hearty meal on faungidge and beef, and the hill ex-
tending north and south, I went straight on till it
declined gradually into a valley, in which was a small
river that ran westward; I am apt to think it was the
head of Manner-ronder, where we fought deaan Wooz-
ington. By the time I arrived at the top of the
next hill, it drew towards evening, for I was not much
less than two hours ascending it; and yet, considering
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208
THE ADVENTURES OF
my burden, though it was not very heavy now, I went
a very good pace. As I was looking out for a com-
modious lodging, that is to say, a place with the fairest
stones in it, I uncovered a swarm of bees; this was a
joyful sight, for it was food that would not spoil with
keeping. I soon cut down a vounturk to secure the
honey in, and smoked them out.
I made such a hearty meal this night of honey,
faungidge, and beef, that I slept too soundly; insomuch
that I was waked with a severe mortification for my
thoughtless security. A fox caught hold of my heel,
and would have dragged me along; whereupon I
startled, and catching up a firebrand gave him such a
blow as staggered him; but as soon as he recovered he
flew at my face. By this time I was upon my feet and
recovered one of my lances, with which I prevented
him from ever assaulting me more, but his hideous
howling brought more about him. I saw three whose
eyes sparkled like diamonds, however they kept at a
distance; for with some dry light wood that lay near
nie I made a blaze directly, in order to keep a flame all
night, but did not wake to renew it as I ought to have
done so that both my fires being almost reduced to
ashes, one of them boldly ventured between them, and
it was very happy for me that he did not seize upon my
throat; for when men have negligently slept where
they haunt, I have known them meet with such a mis-
chance. After I had made up my fires, and put my
enemies to flight, I examined my heel and found two
great holes on each side, where his teeth had entered;
I bound it up with a piece of my lamber in the best
manner I could; and making a great fire, threw the
fox upon it by way of resentment. I had not that plea-
sure in eating my breakfast this morning as I had in my
last night's supper; besides, my beef was now a little
too tender; however, as I had honey enough for a week
and here was faungidge in plenty, I did not concern
myself much about it.
I walked on this seventh day; and though I favoured
my lame foot as much as I could, yet I rested but once
ROBERT DRURY.
209
all day. This way happened to be plain and easy. At
evening I came to a place where lay several bodies of
trees which were dead and dry. Thinking this, there-
fore, a proper lodging, I made four very large fires, sat
me down to supper, and afterwards ventured to go to
sleep with all those fires around me. But my heel now
grew so very painful, and was swelled to that degree,
that I could not go forward the next day; but as there
was faungidge enough within twenty or thirty yards of
me, I dug up several, and determined to continue here
till my foot grew better. My beef was soon gone, but
faungidge was both meat and drink to me. I saved
part of my beef-fat to dress my heel with; which, as I
gave it six days' rest, took down all the swelling. Du-
ring this time I made such large fires every night, that
could they have been seen, were like those of an army.
I had not far to go for wood or any thing else that I
wanted, or at least that I could any way expect in such
a place.
After these six days' rest, it being the fourteenth since
I left deaan Afferrer, I went forward, and that day
passed over three very high mountains. By this time my
honey was all gone, and I could find no more; so that
I lived altogether upon faungidge.
The fifteenth day I walked very smartly again, and
passed over several hills that were very rough, craggy,
and tiresome. I took particular care however to get
dry wood enough, for I never ventured to sleep with-
out four fires.
The sixteenth day I had not travelled above three
hours, before I perceived the earth to be of another
colour; it was chalk then, and now clay. This excited
my curiosity, to climb the first high tree I could meet
with, from whence I discovered an opening to the
northward, with which I was highly delighted, but it
was too far for me to reach that night, so I took up
my lodging as before. This night I was disturbed by
a herd of wild swine.
The seventeenth day I walked very hard, being very
desirous to get through this wilderness, which still
T 3
210
THE ADVENTURES OF
abounded with hills. About noon I reached the open
country, where I could look about me with some plea-
sure and walk upon level ground. I was now like
one just delivered from a prison, having been twelve
days in this mountainous desert. I was actually
travelling near six days, and I imagine I did not walk
less than twenty miles a day; it might have been passed
indeed in three days, had I been so fortunate as to
have found out the path.
I had not been long in the plain before I came to a
little wood, where I took up my lodging, because here
was firing and faungidge in plenty, which I was very
glad to see, having been under some melancholy
apprehensions of wanting provision in the plains; but
I had soon a still greater hope of being better supplied,
for in the night I was waked by the roaring of a bull,
by which I was very well assured it was the great
northern forest of wild cattle, which Ry-Nanno had
informed me of.
The next day, which was the eighteenth, I saw
several herds of Hattoy's cattle; and perceived there
were more here than in the southern forest. I looked
wishfully about to discover some hunters if I could,
or to observe if any crows hovered about any particular
place, for then I might reasonably expect some beast
that had been wounded was fallen there. In the
afternoon I came to a river, which was both deep and
large. As I was searching for a proper place to wade
through or swim over, I spied a large alligator; I
still walked upon the banks, and in a short time saw
three more. This was a mortifying stroke and almost
dispirited me. I went on till I came to a shallower
place, where I entered the river about ten yards, with
a view to swim over the rest in four or five minutes,
but seeing an alligator make towards me, I ran back
directly; he pursued me till I got into very shallow
water, and then he turned back into the deep, for they
will never attack a man near the shore. It nettled me
to be stopped by a river that was scarcely a hundred
yards over. A length I recollected that at Bengal
ROBERT DRURY.
211
there are the largest alligators in the world, and so
bold that they will take a man out of a shallow boat,
insomuch that whenever we came off from the shore
in the night we made one small fire at the head, and
another at the stern of the boat, which no alligator
would ever come near. Distress puts a man's inven-
tion upon the rack; something, thought I, like this
must be done, for it was to no purpose to stay here,
neither could I go back; so making choice of a stick
for a firebrand, I cut it into long splinters, and waited
till it grew dark, then, after I had bound my two fire-
sticks to the top of one of my lances, I went into the
water, and recommending myself to the care of Pro-
vidence, I turned upon my back, and swam over with
my two lances and hatchet in one hand, and my fire-
brand burning in the other; my lamber being twisted
and tied fast about my lances.
The place where I pitched upon to swim over had
a gap through the thicket on each side one against
another, which made it look like a common passage
either for men or cattle. No sooner was I landed,
than I heard some wild cattle grazing; whereupon I
extinguished my fire immediately, and washed myself
as silently as possible, that they should not smell me.
I stood some time close under the cover of a thick
bush in the passage expecting that they would come
to drink. The wind, as it luckily fell out, was with
them, so that they could not scent me, though they
often snorted for that purpose. I stood prepared with
my lance, and did not wait long before a numerous
herd came running through the passage to the river,
and as they passed by, I pushed my lance with all the
force I was able into above forty of them, and used my
utmost endeavours to wound them in the belly. They
ran roaring away, fighting, and goring one another,
to revenge as it were the blows they felt, for they ex-
pected no other enemies than what were amongst
themselves. I thought I had struck a sufficient number,
and hoped some of their wounds would prove mortal;
however, I would not run any hazard by night, and
-
212
THE ADVENTURES OF
therefore sat down contented without roast meat, and
secured myself from their attacks in a thick wood.
The next morning I went to see what success I had
met with, and I found one bull and three cows dead
upon the sand; I soon cut up the youngest and fattest
and carried it to my quarters, near which I made an
oven to bake it. This is a common practice, though I
never described it before; however it is made after
the following manner: a hole is dug about five feet
in length, two over, and about three in depth; this is
filled with wood, which is then kindled; on the top
of the fire I put about a dozen large stones, each
weighing about a pound. Whilst the fire was burning
I cut off the bark from a tree, called the succore, and
took the outer part away, and the inner being pliant
and lying flat it served for the cover of my oven.
When the fire was burnt to ashes, I laid three or four
green sticks across, that my beef might rest upon them;
the stones being red-hot, I placed them about the
bottom and sides; I laid likewise more sticks over the
top, and then the bark covered all close with the earth.
This is our method of baking meat in the forests. I
broiled some for my breakfast, and then went out to
see what farther execution I had done, and found six
more beeves lying dead upon the plain: however I had
enough here. When I returned, my beef was as well
baked as it would have been at any baker's in London.
When it was cold, I made it up into an enter, but
went no farther this day.
The next morning I went forward well pleased with
my load though I discovered some smoke to the
eastward, yet I saw no people, but many herds of
wild cattle; as there were several little woods in this
plain, I never wanted either a covert for a lodging, or
The
grass to make me a tolerably soft bed to lie on.
country was pleasant enough, and travelling was so
easy, that I determined if it should be my misfortune
to meet with as bad a master as Mevarrow, and there
were no hopes of getting to England, that I would run
away and live by myself in this forest.
ROBERT DRURY
213
The twenty-first day in the morning I saw several
wild dogs engaged with, and pulling down a bull
that had been wounded as I imagined some time
before, for I never knew the dogs attack them unless
they were. It was no business of mine to interrupt
them, and if it were, it would have been a very dan-
gerous thing to make the attempt, for though they do
not seek to assault a man, yet upon provocation they
have been known to destroy several. This night was
the first time I ever felt mosquitoes in the island;
for, lying in the evening in a covert near a run of water,
they stung me to that degree, that I was forced to
shift my quarters, and as it was moonlight I got up
and walked three or four miles farther to the top of a
hill, where I slept without molestation.
I had no
occasion to light more than one fire, for there was no
great danger of wild beasts here.
A
On the twenty-second day I discovered a fog in one
long canal that ran from east to west, which as it
continued all the day long, and at a vast distance, I
conceived it to hang over the great river Onehagloyhe,
that runs into Augustine-bay. This put new life into
me, to think I drew near to a seaport; I saw two
men that day laden with beef, and would have spoken
to them, but they dropped their enters and ran from
me, though I called and laid down mine, and went
towards them. As soon as they imagined I was gone,
I saw them return and take their beef up again.
On the twenty-third day in the morning the fog ap-
peared again, but much nearer.
I walked as hard as
I well could, being desirous to get to the river: it was
afternoon, however, before I reached within a mile of
it, and then the bushes and thorny small wood were
so thick that it was with great difficulty, and many
severe scratches, that I got to the river side. When I
saw the river so very broad I was surprised, for at least
it was twice as broad as the Thames at London. I had
been informed that a man might wade over it near the
head, but that they always made use of canoes to
transport themselves over other parts, which way they
214
THE ADVENTURES OF
got them I cannot say, for my own part I had no such
help. I made my fire, went to supper, and then re-
posed myself to rest, or rather to study which way
should get over. In the morning I determined to look
out for some old trees or branches that were fallen,
and in a short time I met with several that were fit for
my purpose, not only great arms but trunks of trees
broken off by tempests, these I dragged down to the
river-side. In the next place I made it my business
to find out a creeper, which is as large as a withy, but
twining round trees is very pliant. I lopped the
superfluous branches off of six long and thick arms of
the trees, and placing three at bottom and three at
top, I bound them together, making what we call in
the East Indies, a catamaran. I built it afloat in
the water, for otherwise I could not have launched
it; and moored it to a lance which I stuck in the shore
for that purpose; I then fixed my enter in order to
preserve it as dry as I possibly could, as also my
hatchet and my other lance, after that I made a paddle
to row with; then I pulled up my lance and kept it in
my hand to defend myself against the alligators, in
case any of them should assault me, for I was informed
they were very numerous and very fierce here. It
blowed a fresh gale at west against the stream, which
in the middle made a sea, and gave me no small
concern; for I was in great danger of being overset
and becoming a prey to the alligators. It pleased
God, however, to protect me, and I landed safely on
the other shore. This being a pretty good day's work,
I determined not to go much farther that evening
before I took up my lodging.
On the twenty-fourth day, though I travelled a great
way, yet nothing material offered; I saw indeed a few
wild cattle, but not near the number that was on the
other side of the river, and those too were somewhat
shyer, by which I concluded it to be an inhabited
country.
On the twenty-fifth day my burden grew lighter and
began to smell, but I did not concern myself much
ROBERT DRURY,
215
about that, since I resolved to speak to the first people
I could see; for I remembered, that deaan Trongha
had told me that his town lay by the north side of this
river. I forded over a brook which runs into the great
river. The country is very pleasant, and here are
abundance of palmettoe trees, which they call satter-
futey. They bear a long leaf like a cocoa-nut tree,
but the fruit is quite of another nature of these leaves
the people make baskets, caps, &c. I saw no wild
cattle all this day.
On the twenty-sixth day, though I walked very
hard again, yet I baited in the heat of the day,
and in the afternoon, making the best of my way, I
espied a smoke; and being determined to speak to
those who made it I mended my pace, lest they should
be passengers only that baited as I did, and would be
gone; but I soon heard the tongues of several children,
who ran into the woods as soon as they saw me.
Upon which, immediately three men, armed with guns
and lances, started out. I looked behind me for a
commodious shelter, not knowing what to think of
them, and retreated a little; which they perceiving,
left their guns behind them, and came towards me.
Upon that I went to meet them, and, at a distance,
desired to know what king they belonged to. They
answered deaan Mernaugha, and as a farther testimony,
perceiving that I was a white man, they spoke two or
three words in broken English; and after that we
shook hands, and saluted each other with the usual
compliment, salamonger. They invited me to go with
them to their habitations, where we sat down, and I
gave them a short detail of my travels. They said they
had heard of me, and having some susers in the pot
just boiled, they desired me to eat with them. After
which, I asked them several questions relating to their
trade, their war, and peace; and one of the most
experienced of them gave me the following melancholy
account of it.
Our late king, Rer Vovvern, said he, killed himself
with grief at an irruption which Rer Trimmenongarevo
216
THE ADVENTURES OF
made with nine thousand men, and took his two daugh-
ters captives. Our prince pursued him with seven
thousand, but the eneiny, by a stratagem, got privately
into Ferangher, and plundered it; deaan Woozington
at the same time attacked the southern parts, having
made canoes and passed the great river; the other
passages being first stopped. He took also a great
many people, but deaan Trongha, and his brother Rer
Befaugher, who stayed at home with two thousand
men, disconcerted his measures and prevented his car-
rying off the captives; which so enraged Woozington,
who was a man of a barbarous disposition, that he
slew a great many women and children. Rer Trimme-
nongarevo took a contrary method, for he sent messen-
gers with friendly invitations to the people to come
and live in his country and be his subjects, and with
repeated assurances, that he would restore to them
their wives and children; which promise he punctually
performed, and still continues so to do; so that some
hundreds are gone away: and he still so embarrasses
us, who are unwilling to leave our native country,
that many of us are obliged to fly into these forests
and secret recesses in order to be safe, contenting our-
selves, as you see, with what the country naturally
affords us; for we dare neither plant nor keep cattle,
lest we should be surprised. We have another petty
prince in the mountains, who takes this opportunity to
make incursions, and helps to impoverish us, so that
we have enemies all around us; and those who remain
in towns are almost famished. For we have no friends
but white men, and there has not been a ship come
this way a long time; and should they be apprized of
our poverty they would come no more. Thus this
kingdom, which was lately the glory of the island, is
now almost reduced to nothing.
This melancholy tale so shocked me, that I sat mute
and as fixed as a statue, till the man perceiving my
concern, roused me by asking me my name; and if I
had not thoughts of going to the king before I went to
deaan Tiongha, as, they said, was my duty; but I told
ROBERT DRURY.
217
them I was a freeman, and would act as I had already
told them; so they gave me a mat, and I lay down
ruminating on the hard fortune that attended me; but
as Providence had taken care of me hitherto, I did not
question but in due time my deliverance would be
accomplished; and with this resignation I laid me
down to rest.
These men were very courteous to me, and pressed
me to stay two or three days with them; but I only
breakfasted there, giving them some of my beef, which
they accepted, though it was far from being good.
When they found I was determined to go, they made
me a present of a parcel of roasted susers to carry with
me, and accompanied me as far as the path, and showed
me how to find these susers, which till then I had
never seen; they grow like wiid yams, which were
their principal diet. This was the twenty-seventh
day of my travels, and turning out of the path into the
wood, I hunted about for such an inn as had served
me many a night before; which I soon found, made
a fire, and after supper slept very contentedly.
The next morning I met with four men, who in-
formed me, that though I could not reach deaan
Trongha's town, yet I might Rer Befaugher's, and he
would send a man to direct me. My way lay over a
high hill, from whence I saw the sea, and the road
where the ships used to lie in Augustine-bay; on the
other hand was the great river, and the country very
pleasant along its banks. When I came to the bottom,
some boys who were tending their cattle ran up to me,
for they are not afraid of white men, and one of them
very courteously offered to show me the way to the
town.
•
On my arrival, the people stared to see a white man
without clothes; some said, a ship was arrived; but
most said, I could not come from a ship naked, and
without a hat. When I came near Rer Befaugher's
house, I perceived he looked earnestly at me, not
knowing me at first; but, when I came nearer, he
arose from his seat, clapped his hand to his mouth and
U
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cried, "Ah! Ry-Robin, how came you here?" Had I
been his brother, he could not have embraced me with
more affection. As soon as I was seated, several came
about me; some who knew me in the army asked me,
who were with me? And when I answered, nobody,
they wondered how I could find the way by myself;
but when I informed them how I lost my way, and
came through the mountainous wilderness, and what
stratagems I made use of to pass the rivers, they were
perfectly astonished.
Rer Befaugher took me into his house, and made me
sup with him; he had roast beef, and his wife brought
milk on purpose for me. I asked about the state of
the country, and he gave much the same account I had
heard before; with this addition, that he expected
every day that Rer Trimmenongarevo would come,
and ravage the whole country, for they were altogether
incapable of making any resistance; those, however,
who were the pillars of the land, were determined to
stand till they were cut down by death, and not to fly.
For indeed, said he, we have nowhere to go but into
the sea, and we have no notion of living there as you
white men have.
When we had supped, and talked till I was sleepy,
he sent a man with me to a house prepared for my
reception. The next morning I begged the favour of
him to send a man to direct me in the right road to
deaan Trongha's; but he would go himself. I told
him that it was too great a condescension, and too
much beneath his dignity, to attend a slave as I was.
He answered, that he never looked on white men as
slaves, and that he had waited on several. And Rer
Vovvern, as well as he, had clothed and maintained
some who did not deserve it, but they did it for the
sake of others; for, says he, here have been some very
quarrelsome people who come ashore, and never go
aboard again, and behave themselves shamefully ill.
I asked him what they trafficked for here. He said,
for nothing but provision, for which they gave them
gold and silver in exchange, and sometimes pieces of
ROBERT DRURY.
219
:
silk; and when they sail away, no one, nay, they them-
selves don't know to what country they are going for
they are wicked, careless wretches, and their whole
business is to plunder other ships. I told him, they
were to blame either to assist them, or sell them any
provisions; and that the government of England was
at a prodigious expense to fit out ships on purpose to
destroy them, for they spoil the merchants' trade, and
were a disgrace to their country. The English, for the
generality, said he, were very good people, and by the
trade which they drove with them, were of singular
service to their country. That he had been on board
divers ships, and had met with several captains, who
were very honest men, for they used to receive him in
the most courteous manner, and entertain him with
wine, punch, and brandy; and sometimes another sort
of liquor that was very bitter, what the name of it was
he could not tell, but they loved it themselves. I told
him it was beer. He said, yes; but he could never
drink it with any pleasure. Thus we went chatting
along to deaan Trongha's, which was about two hours'
walk. When we arrived the people flocked round me,
some saying a samb-tuley; that is to say, a ship was
arrived, but others said no, for men seldom come naked
from a ship.
When I came before deaan Trongha, I perceived he
did not recollect me, I offered to kneel and lick his
feet, but he would not permit; saying, be he who he
may, he is a white man, and they shall never lick black
men's feet. At length, his brother informed him who
I was: no sooner had he heard it than he rose up, and
embraced me with abundance of joy and friendship.
When we had been seated some time, and I had given
them an account of my travels, he told me, I was still
a very unfortunate man; for they were in a very poor
state and condition, and I should be miserably mis-
taken, if I expected to live happy there. I told him,
it could not well be worse than it had been with me
all along, and I was determined to live with him all
my life long, if he pleased to admit me into his service.
# 2
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unless he would be so indulgent to me as to send me
home when a ship came. He told me, I should fare
as he did himself; for he looked on it as his duty to
relieve a white man in distress, for the favours he and
his family had received from my countrymen. In
short, he received me with such tokens of friendship,
and treated me with so much tenderness, that my own
father could not have shown me more compassion.
He lamented very much the deplorable circumstances
to which his country was reduced, and was extremely
afraid lest the white men should know it; for then,
said he, they would never come to trade with us any
more, nor give me an oppportunity of sending you to
your native home.
When I had eaten and drunk with him, he took his
leave of his brother, being obliged to guard the slaves
who were at work in the plantations, lest they should
be surprised and taken by small parties of their northern
enemy, who lay in ambuscade, in order to sally out,
and carry off what they could steal on a sudden, and
so run away again. When we were a little way out
of town, we came to a spacious thicket of wild canes,
reeds, and rushes; in the midst of which were the
plantations, bounded on the other side with the great
river Oneghaloyhe. Here were plantains, bonanoes,
sugar-canes, and rice, with all these the southern coun-
try from whence I came were wholly unacquainted;
but here were likewise several things which I had seen
before, as anbotty, anchoroko, &c. These were but
lately planted and sowed; the enemy having destroyed
all the plantations in the incursions they made, whilst
deaan Trongha, &c. were in the late war in Merfaughla.
I began to suspect that he intended to set me to work,
but I soon perceived he had no such design; for he
gave me his gun, and told me since I was willing to
be his servant, all he should require of me should be to
carry his gun, and never to be the length of it from
him, that in case of a surprise he might have it at hand.
As we went homewards, some of our people climbed
up tamarind trees, and gathered abundance of the
ROBERT DRURY.
221
fruit. I asked them what they did with it. Eat it
said they. I told them, it was impossible to eat much
of it, without setting their teeth on edge. It is sour
enough, indeed, said they, if we do not put ashes to it
to make it sweet. I laughed at them for their igno-
rance, but when I came home there were platters full
mixed with them for our supper. The strings of the
tamarinds, which are white, appearing in it when thus
mixed, I could not forbear comparing it to mortar
with hair in it; but when I tasted it, I found it was
sweet beyond my expectations. I could not, however,
be rightly reconciled to it at first, being prejudiced as
men too frequently are, even against the testimony of
their senses. Deaan Trongha perceiving that I did
not much like my mess, assured me that this was al-
ways esteemed amongst them a pleasant dish, when
they had the greatest profusion of other things. Some-
times, indeed, said he, we have nothing else to eat. 1
have seen many odd things eaten, but nothing ever
surprised me more than sour tamarinds mixed with
wood ashes, becoming sweet and palatable. Let the
chemists reason and philosophize upon it at their
leisure, I can assure them it is matter of fact; and
can produce several gentlemen now living in London,
to testify the same who have seen me mix it. It did
not rightly agree with me, indeed, the first time I eat
it; but after I was used to it a little, I never found any
inconvenience attend it afterwards.
:
Deaan Trongha had two wives, who lived in sepa-
rate apartments. He divided himself pretty equally
between them, living nearly as much at one house as at
the other, in order to prevent any jealousies on either
side, and to keep up a harmony between them. Now
it is customary for them to appoint every slave his pro-
per mistress, to whose commands he is peculiarly to at-
tend; and it is her business to see what they want, and
give it them. He did not, however, appoint me any
such service; but said, that as I was a person in dis-
tress, and my lot by Providence was cast amongst them,
it was their duty to provide for all such; but as for me,
v 3
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he had a more particular regard for my misfortunes,
for the sake of my fathers and brothers, (meaning Eng-
lishmen;) and for that reason, he had ordered that I
should be taken care of at both their houses, and had
free liberty to go to either of them at my pleasure,
where I found the best entertainment; and, indeed,
as long as there was meat, I had my proportionable
share with them. Though he behaved himself with
decency enough to both of them, yet I observed the
first wife was a greater favourite than the other, upon
which account, she was distinguished by the title of
his head wife. He was at her apartment when I came
first, and when these directions were given; so she im-
mediately furnished me with a pot or two, and calabash,
&c. for my use; but as she had not every thing I want-
ed, he sent a servant with me to the other, and she as
cheerfully supplied me with what my occasion required,
chiding me in a friendly manner for not coming sooner
to pay her a visit: so I sat down and had half an hour's
conversation with her; and to do them both justice,
their behaviour towards me was perfectly courteous.
and engaging.
The next morning two messengers came from deaan
Mernaugha; deaan Trongha being desired to go and
consult with the king on some affairs of importance.
When they were taking their leave, he would not let
them depart till he had killed a heifer to entertain them
with, notwithstanding provision was so very scarce;
and here I found the same generous manner of treating
one another as was practised in Anterndroea, for most
of the people in town came about the house, and no
one went away without some portion of beef. As to
their cookery, they have but a slovenly manner of dress-
ing their meat here, for the liver, as soon as it was ex-
tracted, was thrown directly into the fire and broiled in
smoke and ashes, and the entrails were broiled like-
wise with but very little cleaning. I had a piece of
beef given me to dress at home, and we all lived well
as long as this lasted. When I went the next morning,
the deaan was dressing himself in order to go; for
ROBERT DRURY.
223
sea;
though he had no clothes to put on, yet some time
was spent in curling his hair and platting it into knots.
After he was shaved, the owley was brought out and
dressed to be carried before him, for he went in state.
The friendship between deaan Mernaugha and him not
being over hearty or sincere, made him go in more
form than otherwise he would have done. I carried
his gun after him. We marched up an easy ascent of
nearly two miles, when I perceived we were near the
the descent on the other side extended to the
shore of St. Augustine-bay, where there were ships ge-
nerally at anchor. Here deaan Trongha showed me
the spot of ground on which the English built their
houses during their residence in these parts. It was an
agreeable prospect to me, though at that time there
were no ships. I saw some canoes a considerable way
out at sea; some men I could perceive were striking
and darting fish, and others in the water, as high as
their knees, at the same diversion; for the sand is almost
flat, so that one may walk at low water above a mile
into the sea. The seacoast lay almost north and south,
but from whence I came, it lay east and west. After
we had passed through a wood, on a point of land, we
came among the towns which belonged to deaan Mer-
naugha. Every body stared to see a white man naked,
and at first took me for the Dutchman who had lived
amongst them, and who would have sometimes very
odd freaks; but my fame flew before me, and when I
came to deaan Mernaugha's, I was very well known;
for after the usual compliments were over, he asked
"where was the white man who came from Antern-
droea;" I not being in sight, having delivered my gun
to my master. Whereupon I was called, and seated
amongst them. The king asked me about my travels,
and the adventures I had met with; and I very
readily gratified him with my whole story at large. A
bullock was given to deaan Trongha, for the entertain-
ment of himself and his retinue.
At night there was a long consultation about the
posture of affairs: none were admitted to this august
224
THE ADVENTURES OF
assembly, but a few principal men, among whom I had
the honour to be one; but to my no small mortification,
I heard deaan Mernaugha propose to send nine hun-
dred, or a thousand people, under the command of
deaan Trongha into Merfaughla, to join with deaan
Crindo against deaan Woozington. This scheme was
approved of, and unanimously agreed to; the manner
and time were both appointed, which was not to be till
some months after. When we broke up, deaan Trongha
told me the whole assembly had confidence in me; as
knowing it to be my interest to keep their secrets. But,
says he, a more than ordinary care is absolutely neces-
sary at this juncture; for the common people abandon
us to live under other lords, if our proceedings do not
please them; though we aim at nothing but their own
security and welfare. They have not, however, the
sense to know it, and will be for ever throwing re-
flections on our conduct, and finding fault, though we
lose our wives, families, and cattle, and run all hazards
to protect them. It is natural for the refuse of the
people to abuse their superiors; but yet governors
ought nevertheless to study the good of their country,
and defend those under their care from injuries and in-
sults, without regarding such reflections; but then those
things which we very well know beforehand, and they
have not the sense to understand or judge of, ought
never to be divulged.
:
I assured him of my fidelity, but told him that what
I heard gave me no small uneasiness, since I was ap-
prehensive that he would press me to go with him;
where my former master, Mevarrow, would very pro-
bably be, whose barbarous treatment I had too much
experience of, not to dread the consequence of being
again in his power He replied, that could never be:
for they know (said he) that I am resolute, and that it
would be dangerous for any man to provoke me so far,
since it might prove the ruin of the whole army; for I
am determined to protect you at the hazard of my own
life, and revenge with the utmost severity any affront
that shall be offered to you. I was not perfectly satis-
ROBERT DRURY
225
fied, but as I knew him to be a man of strict honour,
I had all the reason imaginable to depend upon it.
When I returned to my companions, they used their
utmost endeavours to sift out of me the purport of their
council; but I told them with a very careless air, that
I stood at a distance, and did not observe one word
that passed.
Deaan Trongha took his leave the next morning, ac-
quainting the king, his nephew, that his owley had
warned him in the night of some danger that attended
his town from the enemy, in case he stayed much lon-
ger. As I was on this side the country, I desired to
go and see Eglasse the Dutchman. The deaan assured
me he would make it in his way home. Eglasse was
very much surprised when the children came running
to him, and cried, "Arve verzahar!" that is, a white man
is coming; for he knew of no one in the country. One
Efflep a negro of the West Indies, who was left ashore
by pirates many years before, lived not far from him,
and spoke nothing but English; for being very deaf,
he never learned the Madagascar language. He had two
sons, however, born on the island of a native mother,
who spoke both languages tolerably well. When I ap-
proached Eglasse, he pulled off his hat to me; but poor
Robin was not in a condition to return the compli-
ment. At first he spoke Dutch to me, but perceiving
I did not understand him, he spoke a little broken
English; and I had as little to say for myself in that,
as the other. Thereupon I asked for an interpreter to
speak English for me; which set deaan Trongha and
the rest a laughing at first; but they pitied my hard lot
afterwards, to have lived in a foreign country all the
flower of my age. But James, Efflep's eldest son, car-
ried on a conversation amongst us to the entire satis-
faction of every one then present. Eglasse pressed me
to live constantly with him; but I told him I would
not leave deaan Trongha on any account whatever. For
he was a man of great generosity and humanity; one,
moreover, of great authority, and consequently able to
protect me. I desired, however, that they would pro-
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THE ADVENTURES OF
cure leave of him, to let me stay two or three days with
them, which they did; and he as readily agreed to in-
dulge me a whole week. I had heard but an indiffer-
ent character of Eglasse, with respect to his temper;
he was rash and passionate, and would threaten the
great men, not excepting the king himself, upon the
slightest provocation, with what he would do as soon
as the first ship arrived. This ill conduct of his ren-
dered him distasteful to them; and for that reason I was
cautious how I entered into too strict an amity with
him. And it will soon appear, that my fears were
justly grounded; for his continued indecent behaviour
cost him his life at last.
Having now taken our farewell of deaan Trongha
and his retinue, the pot was set on the fire by a slave
named Toby, with a piece of salt beef, and potatoes
dressed after the English manner.
In the mean time,
Eglasse ordered James to relate to me the history of his
arrival and adventures here; and this conducing to my
purpose, which is to give such an account of the vari-
ous customs and manners of this island as may be
useful to traders and navigators, and pleasing to the
curious, I shall only transcribe here what he then
told us.
«،
"At a place called Masseelege,” said he, on this
island to the northward, there comes once a year a
Moorish ship that brings silk-lambers, and many other
things to trade with for slaves. At this place one Bur-
gess, called captain Burgess, and Robert Arnold had a
sloop; Burgess, indeed, commanded, for Arnold knew
nothing of navigation; one was as rich as the other,
and both were equally concerned in the vessel. With
this sloop they used to come to Augustine-bay and
other places on the island, in order to buy slaves and
carry them to Masseelege against the moor's ship ar-
rived. Eglasse sailed with them in this sloop. In one
of their voyages to this place, Burgess and Arnold fell
out to that degree, that the latter would stay no longer
with Burgess; but prevailing on Eglasse to come on
shore for his companion, he brought all his effects with
ROBERT DRURY.
227
him, consisting of several bags of dollars, a great many
guns, powder, shot, chests of clothes, beads, &c.
amounting in the whole to a considerable value. In a
word, every thing that is proper to trade with in these
parts. He told Eglasse that in case he survived him
he should have all his effects; but their design was
only to stay till a ship arrived in which they could pro-
cure a passage to Europe. Whether they durst go to Eng-
land or not I cannot absolutely say; though I had good
reason to suspect that a great part of these riches were
obtained by piracy. There were two black slaves, this
Toby and another, who in the sequel of this story will
be called Robin, who could speak good English. These
swam ashore the same night that captain Burgess sailed
away, and surrendered themselves to Arnold.
"It happened a little before Rer Vovvern's death,
(and which was, indeed, the occasion of it,) that this
country was invaded by two enemies at the same time;
and whilst the greater part of the lords and people were
marched off in order to oppose the northern enemy,
Woozington, who was a southern foe, came unawares
upon us, having passed the great river without being in
the least suspected, and a bold general of his, named
Ry-Opheck, attacked the town and the king's house
about midnight; Rer Vovvern himself was wounded in
the thigh. Another party was likewise coming against
us, whereupon every one was for flying to some shelter
or other; as is not only customary, but indeed neces-
sary in such cases. Arnold and Eglasse, however,
having great riches, were resolved to defend them, and
therefore armed themselves with guns, pistols, and cut-
lasses; but they no sooner appeared at their door than
Arnold was shot dead on the spot. Eglasse was then
glad to fly with his two slaves, Robin and Toby, for
they never left him. The enemy plundered the house
of what they saw convenient; which was all his wear-
ing apparel, or any thing like it, even his beds for the
ticking sake; the silver being black they knew not what
it was, and therefore contented themselves with throw-
ing it about. As to the cattle which they found in the
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THE ADVENTURES OF
pens they killed them all, for they had neither time nor
strength enough to carry them off; nor were they able
to defend themselves when once the country should
make head against them. However, they took some
captives and marched off in as great a hurry as they
came, lest deaan Mundrosser, our present king's bro
ther, who is very well beloved by his countrymen, and
feared by his enemies, should fall upon them; for we
have not a greater man in war than he, deaan Trongha
only excepted. Ry-Opheck's fears and haste were just
and proper; for deaan Mundrosser mustered an army
in a few hours after, and overtook them before they could
pass the river. The sound of his shells added wings to
their flight, insomuch that they left their captives be-
hind them; and he brought most of our women and
children again, so that our loss was inconsiderable: for
as to our valuable goods, we (who were apprehensive of
surprise, and well knew the manner of the country) had
dug holes in the ground and buried them there, and
they had no time to search after them.
When my
father Effiep, my brother, and I returned, we missed
none of our effects, but very much concerned and sur-
prised to find Arnold not only dead, but naked; but as
to his dollars they lay neglected and scattered up and
down; till some of our people, who were no strangers
to their use and value, took up a great many and con-
cealed them from Eglasse. We threatened some of
them, however, and made them refund, complaining to
deaan Mernaugha; but they were above half lost.
Eglasse was so confounded, that he never returned till
some messengers, who were sent out after him, met
with him at last, and conducted him and his two slaves
home. He lives handsomely enough still, though he
lost so much, having a plantation of his own and three
or four good milch cows; and he is able to join with
my father to buy an ox notwithstanding it is a very
dear time, a good one being worth now ten dollars. Our
king, Rer Vovvern, died in six weeks after, more with
grief than of his wounds. He was very well-beloved,
being a good man and a gallant warrior; he was also
ROBERT DRURY.
229
a great friend to white men, but more especially to the
English. I must not forget, however, to tell you here
is another family you must be acquainted with too,
and that is one Hempshire, a Guinea negro, who was
formerly among the pirates, but has been settled here
some considerable time. He has a very pretty woman
to his wife, and also a daughter by her. Though the
man is both blind and poor, yet Eglasse makes him
many presents out of respect to his wife, as we imagine,
for they are very intimate."
Here Eglasse interrupted James, on hearing his own
name and Mrs Hempshire's too often, as he thought,
mentioned together, and suspected that James was tell-
ing me of their supposed amour; so he broke off the
discourse; though James said he was only expatiating
on the christian-like manner in which he behaved to
Hempshire and his family; but by this time dinner was
ready. I found myself here a perfect negro in my way
of eating, for I devoured my meat alone which made
them laugh heartily; but what was a still greater mor-
tification to me was, Hempshire, his wife and child
came to pay me a visit; and Eglasse and he talked my
adventures over in English, and it seemed like unin-
telligible jargon which I could not form my tongue to
imitate; insomuch that I was apprehensive that I
should never be able to speak my mother-tongue again.
A few days' conversation however among these people,
gave me hopes of recollecting it in time. Efflep and
his sons were near neighbours to Eglasse, where I was
invited the next day, and entertained in a very hand-
some manner after the English fashion, and much bet-
ter than at Eglasse's. We had not only a couple of
capons boiled with rice, like a pilaw, but another dish
of fried meat and boiled potatoes, served up on pewter
plates, so that I began to fancy myself in a christian
country. They also procured some toake for me, as
Eglasse had done before; but it was scarce, there being
no honey to be got. This was made of sugar-canes,
which were likewise scarce at this time, and the toake
was much inferior to what we had to the southward; it
X
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was strong enough however to make us a little gay and
lively.
As soon as the week was expired I was determined
to stay no longer, notwithstanding they importuned me
very much, assuring them I would procure leave to
come again in a short time: nor would I accept of a
guide, since I knew the way. When I came to the sea-
side I espied a sail as I thought, though it proved
nothing but a large canoe returning from sea, where the
men had been fishing. I waited till they reached the
shore, who seeing me white, though naked, came up to
me, and a great deal of conversation passed between
us, they being very inquisitive after my uncommon ad-
ventures. I gave them all the satisfaction I could, and
inquired if there were any likelihood of a ship's arrival.
Before I took my leave they made me a present of as
many fish as I could well carry with me. When I came
home to my own house, I picked out four of the best,
and went to wait on my mistresses, presenting them
with two a piece. Deaan Trongha coming home soon
after, was surprised to find fish there, and highly pleased
that I was returned; but was so complaisant as not to
suffer me to lick his feet. He had been all day in the
plantations, pushing the work as forward as he could,
that they might not want for provisions when they came
back from the wars; for every body was busy and mak-
ing preparations for it. He told me he had ordered one
of his wives to make me a cap; such as we usually
wore by way of distinction. I did not like the propo-
sal, but there was no opposing it. He gave out to his
wives and people that their intention was to invade
deaan Morrochemek, a petty king in the adjacent
mountains; this he did, for fear some of his people
should desert and alarm the country of Merfaughla.
Upon my return home I found visiters in abundance,
who flocked about me for the sake of my fish; but as it
was a customary thing, and what I used to do myself,
I could not take it amiss; so I shared them out as fai
as they would go.
I slept but this one night in peace and quietness; for
T
ROBERT DRURY.
231
next morning I was called up to attend the deaan, and
carry his gun with me to the plantation. At that time
he had no project of great importance in his head, but
before noon a messenger came running in haste with
the news, that an army of ten thousand Saccalauvors
(our northern enemies) were at a town called Murnum-
bo, within ten or twelve hours' march of us. Deaan
Trongha was too impatient to hear the whole story, be-
fore he ordered his slaves to leave their work and go
home; the hoes and spades were thrown aside, and the
lances taken in hand, every man running home and
making_preparation for a march. Messengers were
sent to Rer Befaugher, and all the other neighbouring
lords to give their friendly assistance. Some of the
principal men of each town were directed to stay at
bome, with a sufficient force to defend their families
and cattle, in case Woozington should be at hand as he
was before, in order to take the towns by surprise,
while the fighting men were all engaged another way.
I went home under the plausible view of whetting my
lances, but with a resolution of being out of sight, and,
if possible, forgotten; which succeeded to my wish, for
they were soon on their march. When I was well as-
sured that they were gone, I went in a violent hurry to
the head lady's house, asking for my master; and being
informed he was gone, I pretended to be in a confu-
sion, and in all the haste imaginable to follow him;
but the women would not let me go; for they ordered
the men, who were left as a guard, to stop me.
length, with much ado it may be supposed, I was pre-
vailed on to stay, and sat down very contentedly
amongst the women. Most of the town, nay, the very
children were there; or round about the house. Their
clamour, prayers, and cries for their husbands, and idie
tattle about the war, were troublesome enough; but not
so bad as running the risk of either life or limb, in
fighting the quarrel of a people, for whom I had no
manner of concern.
At
At night I had several young female visiters, who
supped with me on carravances, of which my mistress
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THE ADVENTURES OF
had made me a present. Our conversation was inno-
cent and pleasant, though some of my gay readers may
perhaps imagine otherwise. But be that as it may
I can assure them (to the shame of christianity) there
are more modest women in proportion to the number
of people here than in England; even such as would
sooner part with their lives than yield to a man's
embraces, unless they were taken to wife according to
the custom of the country; but such women as sailors
find for their turn, are only slaves brought down to
the sea-side and dressed with beads and silk lambers,
with no other view than to allure their gallants and
get from them what they can, and though the gain
they make of their prostitution is their master's, yet
most of them are generous enough to present them
with part of the fine things they get from their cullies;
but were these sailors to go up into the country, they
would not find it an easy matter to procure a mistress.
The conversation, however, I had with my young
visiters, gave me some melancholy reflections in bring-
ing to my remembrance the pleasure I formerly enjoyed
in the company of my dear wife, whose beauty and
conversation were in my opinion far superior to any of
these.
During the men's absence, we had little else to live
on than tamarinds and ashes, a little milk only ex-
cepted; but in twelve days they returned, and were
received with all the demonstrations of joy imaginable
by the women. I went myself likewise with a good
assurance to welcome them home. Deaan Trongha,
indeed, rallied me a little about it; but his wife in-
genuously confessing, that she hindered me from follow-
ing him, I heard no more of it.
The account they gave of their expedition was, that
a general belonging to Rer Trimmonongarevo's army
was at the place, but the messenger's fear augmented it
to nearly double the number of men that in reality was
in it, for there were not five thousand in all. Our
people were so expeditious, that they secured a narrow
pass, which the enemy designed to have taken; and
ROBERT DRURY.
233
after a small skirmish or two, Rer Mimebolambo
withdrew to a plain and encamped, to whom Rer
Mundrosser sent a messenger to demand the reason
why he (more especially) marched an army into a
country to destroy it, since his late king Rer Vovvern,
had relieved and protected him, when he fled from his
uncle Rer Trimmonongarevo, at his father's decease;
for Rer Mimebolambo's father was king of Morandavo,
and this son of his was to have been his successor; but
there was a dispute between his uncle and him, several
years, till Rer Vovvern, at last, brought about a recon-
ciliation between them. Rer Mimebolambo replied
in a few words, that those matters were made up, that
his uncle was king and he was under his command,
and therefore could not help it. We understood after-
wards that deaan Woozington had appointed to meet
him and failed, however he was unwilling to return
home without doing somewhat, and attempted, for that
reason, to make an incursion and carry off a booty of
slaves and cattle, but was prevented.
Our army
followed them at a distance, to conduct them safely into
their own country, and then returned home.
But that part of the news, which was most agreeable
to me, was that deaan Mernaugha and they had agreed
to defer for this season their intended expedition with
deaan Crindo against Merfaughla, for I always dreaded
the thoughts of going into Anterndroea, not only lest
a ship should arrive whilst I should be absent, which
would be six or seven months, but for fear of seeing
my old master deaan Mevarrow; but these fears,
however, being dissipated for the present, I lent a
helping hand with a good will enough, in the fortifica-
tion of the town, with such stones as were here in
great plenty. No one was exempted from work, the
women and children assisted according to their strength,
and we made a wall round the town, at least a yard thick
and three yards high, with loop-holes to look through,
or fire out at. as occasion offered. As we had no
mortar the stones were only laid one upon another, and
yet we were about two months before we finished it.
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Some of our principal men soon after procured leave
to go into the country to get honey, and hunt such wild
cattle as they could find, of which there were many on
this side the river Oneghaloyhe. We looked on our-
selves to be perfectly safe at this time, it being between
November and April, when the river was swelled very
large and there were no canoes except here and there
one, but it was impassable for an army. With my
master's consent I accompanied them; we walked half
a day very briskly before we came to a proper place
to bait at, and where we could find ove (that is wild
yams) or susers, which we found here in plenty; but
we had still a hard day's journey to go to the place
proposed for our country habitation, and when we
came there we had our house to build. After our first
arrival, which was in the evening, we took care to get
a good supper; two of us, who well knew the place,
went to look out for honey among the rocks, in the
fissures or openings whereof bees make their combs;
the other two (for we were four in all) dug ove and
susers. Our companions succeeded and brought some
honey, and we regaled ourselves in an elegant manner.
The next day by noon we finished our house, which
we thatched with palmetto leaves. The day following
we employed ourselves in getting some araffer, which
is a pleasant liquor that I had not tasted before; the
tree from whence it flows is something like a cocoa-nut
tree but not quite so large, and rather a kind of palmetto,
called in their language satter. The long leaves or
branches are burnt off, and the trunk is left bare; then
we cut off part of the top of the tree, and with our
lances or hatchets make a hole in the middle, which in
a short time fills with a liquid which issues as from a
spring. This may be sucked out with a reed till it is
dry, yet it will fill again the same day, and so continue
for six or seven days before the juice is totally ex-
hausted. It is not like a sirup, but very sweet and
pleasant, and I never knew it give any one the flux,
as some may imagine, nor did any one of us meet
with the least inconvenience from drinking it. We
ROBERT DRURY.
235
wanted, however, some roast meat; so roving about the
next day, we espied a herd of about twenty of Hattoy's
cattle, and with a little difficulty made ourselves masters
of a bull. Now we lived luxuriously; we made drink-
ing cups of the bull's horns; for by thrusting them
into the fire, and giving them a knock or two, the pith
came all out, and we were as well contented as some
folks with fine glasses. It is indeed surprising, though
delightful, to see how plentifully Providence has fur-
nished this country with every thing, not only with all
the necessaries of life, but even with a delicious variety.
If ever any country flowed with milk and honey it is
this; and with so much ease are they to be had, that
as the natives have no knowledge of the curse of Adam
and his posterity, so one would be tempted to think,
as well for this reason as from their colour, that they
are not of his race, or that the curse ever reached them,
for they can get their living without the sweat of
their brows, or the least hard labour. Notwithstanding
all this, the follies and passions of men will too often
lead them into misery, though they have happiness in
their power; in this fine country their frequent quar-
rels with one another and open wars reduce them to
the greatest necessity in the midst of the greatest
plenty. But they are confined sometimes by so
powerful an enemy, that they are afraid to stir out of
their houses to fetch what the land naturally produces;
and this was the then hard fortune of Feraingher, and
the substance of our conversation after supper; my
companions having entertained me with an account
of the great power and strength of their country but a
little before, in the days of Rer Vovvern; and how
deplorable its case was at present, how they were
obliged to confine themselves and get close together,
that they might be ready at a call to repulse an enemy,
and by that means abandon the finest and most plentiful
part of the country.
We lived now, however, very happily, and in afflu-
ence, during our continuance at our country-house; we
made just such an oven as I have before described, and
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baked our beef in it; then we went in quest of some
honey to carry home with us. In which, as I was
better acquainted with the nature of bees than they, I
had better fortune, and got as much as I could carry
off. When our beef grew so far touched that we could
not eat it, we looked out for more; it was my good
fortune in particular to meet with a young heifer,
which I drove into a thicket, and having killed her,
I hallooed to my companions. This we agreed to dress,
and carry as much of it home as conveniently we could
in the first place, however, we baked the marrow bones,
boiled the liver, and spread the marrow on it, as a
dainty morsel; and then we made up our enters, and
marched homewards as well satisfied as we were heavily
laden, but not being in haste, we travelled very softly.
We would not enter the town till midnight, lest we
might be observed; and now once more I wished for
my wife to have been at home to receive me. The
next morning I waited on the chief lady with a horn
of honey and a piece of beef, who was highly delighted,
but thought I had brought too much; from her I went
to the other where deaan Trongha was, and paid my
compliments to her. The deaan was very glad to see
me eat a plentiful breakfast, and was extremely pleased
to hear me tell the various circumstances of our sport;
the others by this time, according to custom, were
come to present their lord with some part of what they
had got, by way of acknowledgment. As I was going
home one met me who wanted to buy some honey, it
being rumoured about, that I had brought home a
large cargo; he gave me a fine silk lamber for a cala-
bash of honey that contained about two gallons. I
thought myself very fine in it, and sure I am, I was the
first of the family who was ever dressed so much like a
Madagascar lord. Deaan Trongha told me, I had
bought it cheaply enough in conscience; for if honey
had not been scarce it was worth four times as much;
silk is very plentiful in this country, if they would take
the pains to gather it.
Here, through ignorance, I committed an egregious
ROBERT DRURY.
237
“
error, for as deaan Trongha was saying, the man bought
the honey dear. I answered a little too smartly. "If
this war continue but three or four years longer, a
man will be glad to sell a child for such a calabash of
honey." The prince took me up with some warmth,
and said, “Then I presume you will leave us, and go
to some inland prince for a belly full of victuals." I
assured him, however, that I would stay with him
till he could send me home in some ship or another;
and that no other motive should ever part us. Though
he said no more, I found he was uneasy, and could
not find out the reason till after we returned from the
plantation, at which time, as we were walking home-
wards alone, "Robin," says he, you are not aware,
perhaps, that our people imagine you can conjure; and
as you know the torratos, that is, writing and reading,
you can foretell things to come. Now by your talking
of worse times in our country than the present before
these illiterate people, they will take it for granted that
it will certainly be so, and you will so discourage
them, that they will all run away; for they would pay
as superstitious a regard to you as to an umossee, if you
thought it proper to act such a part; since necessity
(for the reason I have told you) seems to require it at
this juncture." I replied that, though I was conscious
of my error, yet I could never think they would take
me for a conjuror, or one who knew things before they
happened; for if I had been possessed of that talent, I
would never have taken this last unfortunate voyage,
in which I was cast ashore on this island.
"What you
say is true," says he; "but these people are too ignorant
to be instructed, and it is not in your power or mine
to convince them and to make the attempt is but to
give them an ill opinion of us; they must be indulged
in their superstitious notions, be humoured, and talked
to like peevish sickly children. As this is the case"
said I, "I beg pardon, and faithfully promise you to be
very careful of my words, lest they should prove any
means of discouragement to them for the future."
In three or four days at most, our fine provision was
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THE ADVENTURES OF
gone; for I distributed what I had, as is customary,
among our neighbours; and then we had little else but
tamarinds and ashes. About three weeks after, Eglasse
and his man Toby came to pay me a visit, and brought
some beef and potatoes with them; for they knew our
poverty. We had an odd sort of conversation between
Eglasse's broken Madagascar, and my broken English;
but Toby, who spoke both languages, helped us out.
He stayed with me all night, and went the next day to
deaan Trongha, and begged for me to live with him
five or six weeks, which was readily granted; so I shut
up my house, and in five or six hours arrived at Eglas-
se's, where Efflep and his two sons, James and John,
gave me a hearty welcome.
I used to walk about to the adjacent towns with
Eglasse, and met with several of the natives, who could
speak English tolerably; but here was one of them,
who, when a boy, used to go of errands, and transact
business for the English pirates, who frequented this
place; so that he spoke English as well as his native
tongue. He was very rich, had three wives, many
slaves and cattle; he had also wearing clothes which
belonged to such persons as died there; for when any
one was sent sick ashore, he used to take care of them,
and if they died, he had what they left. His true name
was William Purser, though the natives called him
William Poser. He always treated me in a very hand-
some manner, when I went to see him; but he never
offered me any clothes, nor did I desire any. For there
I should have behaved but awkwardly in an English
dress;
and as I had now a fine lamber to wear after
their manner, I was very well contented.
I had been here above a month, before old Efflep
died, and his son James made a grand burial for him,
after the manner of the country; which is the same as
in Anterndroea. He killed four or five beeves, to en-
tertain his friends who attended the funeral. The
princes and lords do not kill the beasts here; but a prince
will eat any thing, even swine's flesh, though a slave
should kill it.
ROBERT DRURY.
239
I lived very well between Eglasse and James, till
about three or four days before I was to go home; at
which time I was seized with a violent fever which
turned to an ague, and brought me down so low that
I was unable to stir out of the house. They sent a mes-
senger to acquaint deaan Trongha with my misfortune,
and took as much care of me as they possibly could;
and James would now and then boil a fowl to make
a little broth for me. I lay once for dead, and Eglasse
being abroad, Toby, who was left with me, called in
the neighbours, and all of them thought that I had
taken my last gasp; insomuch that they went home,
and James was consulting which way to bury me. But
when Eglasse returned about two or three hours after,
he perceived me breathe, and James burning something
under my nose, I revived, indeed, but was not sensible
for two days, nor able to sit up for many more. Deaan
Trongha being informed that I was dead, sent a mes-
senger to know the truth, who found me alive, but not
able to speak to him. After this I gradually recovered;
the ague hung upon me three months, and I was two
more before I had strength sufficient to go home; inso-
much that I had a strong inclination to see deaan
Trongha Eglasse, however, was willing to detain me
as long as he could: for now I began to talk English
tolerably well, and was good company for him as long
as he lived; which was but a little while after my re-
covery.
Five men having a cow to sell to Eglasse, asked me
for him; and he being in the plantation, I went and
told him. He came away directly with me to the men,
and begged the favour of me to treat with them about
the purchase. They asked six pieces of eight, but in-
sisted on four: I would give them, however, no more
than three At last they said, if Eglasse would give
them the old lance which he had in his hand, they
would take the money. This alarmed me, they whis-
pered, I perceived, two or three times to one another;
and having heard that Eglasse threatened the king,
deaan Mernaugha, I began to be terribly frighted, and
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THE ADVENTURES OF
told him in English that they wanted the lance; and
that I had good reasons to suspect their behaviour; for
the lance was not worth a meal of potatoes. He, how-
ever, in a bravado, gave the man the lance: "Here," said
he, "we won't disagree; take the lance." No sooner had
he delivered it, than a man came behind him, and with
both hands pushed the lance in at his back with that
force, that it came out of his breast. I turned about at
the shriek which Eglasse made, and seeing the man
pulling the lance out of his body, I ran amongst the
wild canes, which grew by a river side; and the rust-
ling I made appeared to me like the noise of pursuers.
So that it was some time before I could recover my
senses; and when I did, I still continued to listen with
attention. In a short time I heard some persons call
after me, which proved to be James, and his brother
John. I was almost afraid to trust them, but seeing
no other company, I came out in tears to them. They
told me that deaan Mernaugha had contrived Eglasse's
death for threatening him so often; but that as I was
an Englishman, and belonged to deaan Trongha, I
need not fear any thing, for they could have killed you
(said they) before you fled, if they had been ordered so to
do. This I thought was true.
"Then" said I, "he may
imagine, perhaps, that I shall tell the captains of ships
at their arrival, that he kills white men; and under pre-
tence of danger, may think it expedient to kill me too."
But they assured me as I was an Englishman he durst
not do it; and that the executioners had told him so.
I went home with them, where lay the wounded
corpse all naked. They seized likewise on his goods,
catile, and on his two slaves, Robin and Toby; and
stayed in the town all night. The next morning they
came to me, and requested that I would go to the king
along with them. "If I were not afraid" said I "I would,
were it on no other account than to beg the body to
bury it." They answered, the king was so far from doing
me any harm, that he would be glad to see me, and
they were well assured he would grant my request;
and, perhaps, give me some share too of Eglasse's goods.
ROBERT DRURY.
241
Upon this, James and I went; and calling on William
Purser, took him along with us. When I entered the
town my heart misgave me, but I considered there was
no receding. Deaan Mernaugha was sitting at his own
door, with a great many people round about him. I
approached, and falling prostrate on the ground before
him, licked his feet according to the custom of the
country; which the people were surprised at, having
never observed a white man ever to do so before. He
permitted me, indeed, at first; but soon after bid me
rise, and not be afraid; for he would not hurt a hair of
my head.
He then ordered Eglasse's cattle to be brought be-
fore him, and commanded them to take a white cow
(not a bullock) and tie her to a tree. After that the
owley was brought out, and an altar was erected, as
before described, by placing the owley across two forked
sticks, about six feet high, upon a beam; when this
was done, the cow was killed; then the king rising
from his seat, took a green bough, dipped it in the
blood, and sprinkled the owley. In the next place he
took a small quantity of the fat, and some of the sweet
scented gum, and burnt them under it, making the
smoke ascend to the owley. After that he took two
cutlasses, and whetting them one against another (as a
butcher does a knife and steel, but not so quickly) he
began his prayer to God, and the Lords of the four
quarters of the world, and to his forefathers by their
respective names, ending with his grandfather who
made the oath with the English captain; an account of
which deaan Trongha had before given me. His name
after his death was Munguzungarevo. The form and
manner of his prayer was this, or to this effect.
Bless me, O deaan Unghorray, thou Supreme God.
Bless me, O you deaan Meguddummateem. Bless
me, O you deaan Antyfertraer. Bless me, O you
deaan Aneebeleesby. Bless me, O you deaan Anty-
moor. Bless me, O ye [here he repeated several
other names of his forefathers] but more especially,
O you deaan Munguzungarevo; bless my family, and
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242
THE ADVENTURES OF
this kingdom; for I have had regard to your oath
and the man whom I have now slain is not an Eng-
lishman, but of another country; neither would I
have put him to death were it not for my own pre-
servation; since he often threatened to take away
my life, whenever any ships should happen to arrive.
Whilst he was praying, his slaves were cutting up the
beef; when he had done, he ordered me to take the
whole breast; and then he divided the rest among the
people. He was pleased to say, that I had none of
that barbarous disposition which some white people
have; for he looked upon me as a native; since I had
long accustomed myself to the manners of their country.
I had no great inclination to take his beef, but recol-
lecting that Eglasse's destruction was too much owing
to his own ill conduct, I thought it was safest to ap-
pear pleased with his offer. Robin, the slave, was given
to the executioner; but James bought Toby of the king.
I begged leave to bury the body, which favour was rea-
dily granted me: and we returned back to James's
house. The next morning two messengers came from
deaan Trongha to inquire into the truth of this story;
for it had been reported that I was killed; and in case
it had proved so, they were ordered to go directly to
deaan Mernaugha, and demand satisfaction of him, he
being fully determined to revenge my death; but as it
was otherwise, and they had no instructions relating to
Eglasse's case, I went home with them.
At my arrival I was received with as much joy as if
I had been a friend of the last importance to them:
I went soon after to the chief lady's house, where the
other was then present, though she had not been there
in half a year before. Deaan Trongha seemed very
well pleased likewise, and made me give a particular
detail of my own severe sickness, and the tragical end
of poor Eglasse; saying, at the same time, that I had so
many fortunate escapes, that he did not think I should
die in their country; but that it would be my lot once.
more to see old England. Here he repeated his pro-
mise to send me thither. In the interiin, however, he
ROBERT DRURY.
243
ordered my house to be repaired, the cattle having eaten
up most of the thatch; and provisions to be given me
not only for the present, but for the time to come; for
he had lately a good harvest, so that we lived in more
affluence than before.
One day I asked leave to pay a visit to Rer Be-
faugher; for in times of danger from enemies, none
went out of town without permission. As I was pass-
ing by a river, and walking down to it, I perceived the
track of an alligator, which gave a great check to that
inclination, and there being two or three houses at but
a small distance from it, I was going towards them to
beg a little water; but a young woman who was going
with her calabash to dip for some, desired me to stay,
and she would supply me with as much as I would
drink; I told her I would accept the favour, but as she
went into the water up to her knees to fill her vessel,
an alligator with a spring caught fast hold of both her
thighs, and dragged her into the stream; but as she
kept her head and hands above water, I threw one lance
away, and ran to her assistance with the other; which
she took hold of, and pulled her to me with all my might,
but the alligator still keeping his hold, we called aloud
for help. At length I got hold of her hand, and she
directing me where the creature lay, I struck him with
my lance, and wounded him; but not so deeply as to
oblige him to let go, till a second stroke. By this time
proper assistance came, and we brought her off safely
with two large wounds only, made with his long jaws,
and sharp teeth. She was now perfectly naked, for she
had lost her lamber in the struggle; but that was not
worth regarding. We saved her life, and every body
was highly pleased with that. Rer Befaugher enter-
tained me in a very courteous manner, and having gra-
tified his curiosity, in hearing a short narrative of my
late dangerous adventures, I returned home.
The people were ordered to get ready to march in
three days at farthest; and the umossee was employed
to prophesy of the success of the war. Upon this he
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244
THE ADVENTURES OF
took some sand, tossed it about, and made several
scrawls with it upon a board. At length he bid them
look for a tree that was perfectly upright, and after
that for a black and baldfaced cow, which being found,
and brought to the tree, was killed; then the umossee
took some of the blood with his hand, smeared the tree,
and invoked not only the demons, but the spirits of
deaan Trongha's forefathers; calling on them all to arise
and hear what he had to say; which was to this effect.
That their grandson, deaan Trongha, was going to war
against their most implacable enemy, the king of Mer-
faughla. In the next place, he ordered two men of
equal strength to cut the tree down with hatchets, one
to the northward, and the other to the southward, and
to give stroke for stroke with each other; saying if the
tree fell toward the former, bad success would attend
their enterprise. Those of the vulgar sort who were
then present, stood gaping to swallow, as it were, every
divine word, that came out of the mouth of this wonder-
working prophet. How the mistake happened, I can
not say, but the tree fell to the northward, though it was
beyond all doubt intended to fall the other way; for
when deaan Trongha perceived it, let us cut up the
beef (said he) with a smile, and be merry; that is the
best part of the ceremony. We forgot to observe, that
what little wind there was, was to the southward. We
should have chosen a more proper time. He strictly en-
joined, however, all present to say nothing at home to
the women of what had passed: so we told them at our
return that the tree fell to the southward; in order that
they should tell their husbands the same story.
This conduct of deaan Trongha's confirmed me in a
suspicion, which I had entertained for some time, which
was this: that some of these lords, who are men of sense,
keep one of these umossees with a political view, and
only to amuse the ignorant populace; who here, as well
as in other parts, must be cajoled in their superstitious
notions, and allured by such artifices as political go-
vernors know how to practise to advantage; though
ROBERT DRURY.
245
they themselves regard but little what their conjurors
say, of their talking with, and having familiar converse
with the demigods and spirits.
Here now was a seeming ill omen, and too many of
the vulgar sort had seen it, to be trusted with the se-
cret; for which reason an expedient must be found out
to avert and disannul it. The demons must be con-
sulted and addressed a second time, to procure their
favour and protection; so away goes the umossee, in-
voking again and again, and conjuring till he conjured
me into the wars. A bird, called tuluho, which is some-
thing like our pheasant, but smaller, and very scarce to
be found, must be caught dead or alive; then a sea-
crab, and a variety of other things, which he particu-
larly named. These he blended all together, muttering
incantations all the time. Then he bound them up in
a clout, which was afterwards fixed on the top of a stick
about the length and bigness of a walking-cane. This
was a charm which was to prove destructive to the
enemy. This he called the elodge; and this was to be
carried in solemnity before the army. But who should
be a proper person to be the bearer was the next
question; and the demons were to be again consulted
on this important part of the affair; who were pleased
to reveal to him, or (which is all the same thing to
stupid bigots, who implicitly rely on whatever he shall
say) that no one was qualified to carry this charm, but
he who had no relations living on this island. Now
from my former observations, I used frequently to con-
temn these umossees, and smile at their conjurations ;
and after this hint, I need not, I presume, urge many
words to demonstrate from whence his pretended reve-
lation came, though he was pleased to father it on the
demons, or demigods; or whatever other name we
English may call them. For, to do the man justice, he
had not the impiety or assurance to introduce deaan
Unghorray, or the Supreme God, into any part of this
religious farce.
"Upon this declaration of his," said deaan Trongha,
in my absence, "where shall we find a man without
13
246
THE ADVENTURES OF
CC
you can."
some relations !" "That," says he, "I cannot tell,
but this is the mind of the demons, and they would
never direct it, were there no such man to be found;
you must therefore recollect yourself. Now I think of
it," says he," there is your white man Robin is the only
man, I dare say, who is qualified for that important
office;" "but then," said deaan Trongha, "notwithstand-
ing he may be such a man, yet it is not proper for him to
go, besides I have given him my word he shall not go
against his inclination." "Why then," said the umossee,
you must find out some other person more proper if
Having done his business away he went,
leaving the deaan in no small perplexity, who was a
man of strict honour and a punctual observer of his
word. Whereupon he sent for me, and told me, it
was in my power to be very serviceable to the whole
country, but more especially to himself, and that I
should be gratefully rewarded for my compliance with
his request; but he insisted first on my promise. "If it
be not to kill a man," said I, " I should be proud of an
opportunity to oblige you." He then told me inge-
nuously the whole story, and that it could not possibly
be helped, or else he would not have asked it of me.
I paused a while, but upon a short recollection, said,
all I feared was what I told him before; but since
there was an absolute necessity for it, I should readily
acquiesce. "Hereupon," said he, "I will protect you, and
take as much care of your life and health as of my own."
And immediately ordered a slave to attend me, and all
things necessary to be got ready for me.
I was to carry
this charm, called the elodge, in my left hand, at about
three or four stones cast distant from the army, during
their march, and at night pitch it at the same distance
from the camp, pointing it toward the enemy's country,
then wash myself and mix among the crowd wherever
I pleased. This was to be done till we should have
an engagement with Woozington's army; I was to
have ten beeves and two slaves for my trouble. The
vulgar imagine that this charm has a poisonous quality,
and that was the reason I was to wash before I came
ROBERT DRURY.
247
near any of them; but deaan Trongha told me privately,
that he knew well enough I did not think it any way per-
nicious. "No sir,” said I," I am very well assured there
is neither harm nor good in it, and they shall see me
lick it before their faces if they please, which none of
them would venture to do for a hundred oxen.
I can
never think," said I, "that you yourself have that confi-
dence in it, as you tell them, but you see the ill conse-
quence of making use of these conjurors; for the
common people are so strongly persuaded of their
power over them by these charms, that were your own
life to be in danger, you must do what this imaginary
prophet says his demigods direct, though you were to
carry this yourself." "What you say," said he, " is very
true, and were I to refuse to let you carry it, they would
refuse to march; or if they did, would charge me with
every miscarriage consequent upon it." "Yes sir," said I,
"but there is still a farther danger, for had the umossee
but courage and cunning enough, you have put it in
his power to make even yourself subservient to his
directions; under the pretence of their being the orders.
of the demons. And it is but his saying his demons
or spirits have ordered such or such a thing to be
done, though it be even against yourself, they durst
not disobey his orders; for he has them all at his beck,
if he did but know it." And here I cannot but reflect,
that not only Madagascar, and other heathenish coun-
tries are possessed with this vice of superstition; but
even christian nations have been, and are yet too much
tainted with it: of this and its mischievous conse-
quences, there have been many flagrant instances.
Soon after we marched out of town, I had a slave,
like other great men, to carry my mat and provision
for me, and was furnished with every thing I could
reasonably desire. Now came the umossee, and put
the elodge into my left hand, and I marched in state
before them. The next day we joined Rer Befaugher,
and two days after that, Rer Mundrosser; James, the
son of Efflep, and his man Toby, were both in the
army, so that we had good company every evening, as
248
THE ADVENTURES OF
soon as I had fixed my elodge and washed myself.
We passed the great river Oneghaloyhe, wading through
a ford, which lay a great way higher than where I passed
it before. Here our people stocked themselves with
beef; for we frequently halted at noon, on purpose to
give them time to hunt Hattoy's cattle.
When I came to the river where several alligators
lay, though I had my firebrand in my hand, yet I
would not venture to pass over by myself. Then the
umossee came up to me and said, I need not be afraid,
for whilst I carried the elodge, the demons would pro-
tect me from all harm. I laughed at him and told
him, "I was well assured he did not imagine that I gave
any credit to his assertion, neither have you any such
notion of its power; but if you have, do you carry it
over here, and either go with me or before me." How-
ever, though he had more wit, I forced him to fetch
two guns, that I might discharge them into the water
to make the alligators retreat; and then I went over.
We saw several people who belonged to two petty
princes not far off, and were hunting here for their
diversion; as they were not enemies, our people had
abundance of discourse with them. Though we passed
through a very mountainous wilderness, yet we lay but
two nights in it, for they knew a much nearer way
than I did when I came alone. When I saw Vohitch-
futey, I returned in a very melancholy mood into the
camp; insomuch that deaan Trongha took notice of it,
and asked me, what I ailed? I told him, we were now
drawing near to Anterndroea, which had been a scene
of misery to me, and I had terrible apprehensions of
deaan Mevarrow. But he cheered me up, and said,
they durst not venture to injure me, and he was very
well assured that they would not attempt it, as well
out of fear, as out of respect to him.
The next day we arrived at Madamvovo, the river
at which I used to water my cattle, when in deaan
Murnanzack's country. This was ordered to be the
place of rendezvous, and deaan Murnanzack with his
brethren, and their forces all met here. Deaan Afferrer
ROBERT DRURY.
249
soon took notice of me, and when I went to lick his
feet he lifted me up and seated me by himself, asking
deaan Trongha at the same time how I came to him?
I was desired to tell my own tale, which accordingly I
did to his satisfaction. He said, I had taken a great
deal of pains for liberty, but it was no more than he
would have done himself under the same circumstances;
and wished me all the good success imaginable.
Deaan Crindo and his sons came the next day, and
deaan Mevarrow and his brother along with them.
Though I was sorry to find he was recovered of the
yaws, yet I ventured to go to him, when I found his
brother was with him. After the usual ceremony of
licking their feet, they said they were glad to see me,
and asked me why I left them? I pretended, in case
he would give me my wife, to return as soon as the
army parted. Whereupon both told me, she would
not marry any other man, but continued constantly to
lament my absence. This drew unfeigned tears from
me, and here I must confess, that if a sincere conjugal
affection be a weakness in man, I must own, let the
world think as it pleases, myself guilty of that weak-
ness. These tears, however, as it proved afterwards,
were the happy means of deceiving them, and of my
escape from danger. And had my shedding them been
a piece of artifice only, it might carry its own justifica-
tion with it; since I had good reason to fear he would
have murdered me privately, when he perceived I either
contemned or hated him. At night I let deaan Trongha
into the secret, lest he should suspect I was carrying
on some sinister design in visiting Mevarrow. Here
I met with my old trusty friend, who had all this time
kept my secrets. He told me likewise, that my wife
continued inconsolable, and repented every day of her
life that she did not go with me.
In about three days, the army, which now consisted
of about four thousand men, marched, and I went before
them with the elodge. On the day following we en-
tered the country of Merfaughla, and here the army
divided into three parts as in their former expedition,
250
THE ADVENTURES OF
▸
and marched with much more circumspection than
before, for we were in an enemy's country; I still
marched in the front. As we were passing between
the two woods, a volley of shot was all on a sudden
discharged at me; but the enemy ran away as soon as
they had fired. They were a small party in ambuscade,
on purpose to lay hold on such opportunities. The
shot whistled about my ears, and some small boughs
that flew off from the trees striking me, I could not
immediately tell whether I was wounded or not. How-
ever I stopped, and was determined to proceed no
farther. Deaan Tradaughe, who was the nearest com-
mander, ordered me to go on; but I peremptorily
refused, unless they would send a party to march before.
The umossee too came, and talked to me in his old
conjuring dialect; and with the same success as he did
at the river. At length deaan Crindo came, and com-
manded me to go on, declaring he would otherwise
compel me. I was terribly nettled at the haughtiness
of one, whom I had so much reason to hate, and boldly
told him he was a proud prince, and that I thanked
God I was not under his jurisdiction. "It is true," said
he, "or else I would take care you should go no farther."
Deaan Trongha was now come forward, and asked
what was the matter? To whom deaan Crindo com-
plained of my being both obstinate and saucy. He
answered, it was unreasonable as well as cruel to
desire 1 should be exposed to danger at that silly rate;
and as to the man's pertness, said deaan Trongha, you
forget he is a white, and as good as any of us all. In
short, deaan Crindo was obliged to let a hundred
young men go before me, aud in good time truly it
was; for there were several such firings at us that
afternoon from small ambuscades.
Two days after this we came to the river, not only
where we had encamped before, but fought and de-
feated deaan Woozington, and killed his brave general
Ry-Op heck.
Here we encamped again, and as no
enemy appea red, most of us were for plundering the
ountry; but deaan Trongha persuaded us against it,
ROBERT DRURY.
251
and advised us to march still on, in order to find the
eneiny out, if possible, before they divided their forces
into small parties. As for my part, I did not care how
soon we came to a battle, for then I should get rid of
the elodge.
At length when we had marched four days, a body
of the enemy of about a thousand appeared on a plain
before us, and deaan Trongha drew out his countrymen
to fight them. The umossee came up to me, charging
me to march before my master with the elodge, and to
throw it towards the enemy as soon as the engagement
began. We marched forwards, and they advanced,
though but slowly to meet us, for they had a secret
design. Deaan Trongha, as they wanted, drew near,
and they still kept firing, though at a distance; however,
it was fight enough for my purpose, as being a fair
excuse for throwing away the elodge. I did it with
alacrity, and returned forthwith to the camp; for I had
neither gun nor lance to fight, and was glad at my
heart to be eased of so troublesome a post. The enemy
withdrew into a wood, and our people eagerly followed
and fired at them, till the general, who, with eagle's eyes,
looked round about him, notwithstanding the heat of
the action, and discovered a long train of fire-arms on a
rising bank of earth, among the trees and bushes.
Upon that he immediately called out to his people to
stop, discovering, moreover, a great number of men
concealed in a ditch, that was cast up for that purpose,
so he marched back without the loss of one man; for
there was no fighting in an unknown wood, and with
an unknown force.
Deaan Woozington was, doubtless, one of the most
subtile artful men on the island, for though he had not
force enough to face an army of four thousand men,
and his country was ruined, yet he found out ways
and means to be revenged in the severest manner; nor
did my valiant master deaan Trongha, notwithstanding
his great conduct and bravery, escape his resentment.
Our beef being all spent and no enemy to be found
that would fight, parties were sent out in quest of
252
THE ADVENTURES OF
cattle and slaves, and returned with good success;
though the principal generals, that is to say, deaan
Crindo, deaan Murnanzack, and deaan Trongha con-
tinued in the camp. Some scouts, however, who had
discovered where a large herd of cattle were, coming
in, Trongha would go out himself to fetch them; deaan
Crindo, indeed, advised him against it, but he would
not hearken to his counsel. So about a hundred of
the Anterndroeans, with a like number of his own
people went with us, for I determined to go, but, Pro-
vidence designed otherwise, I was taken with a violent
pain in my thigh. I went out with them, however, for
I was very loth to stay behind him; but my pain in-
creasing, the deaan would not permit me to proceed,
and I was forced to hop as it were back, for I could
scarcely walk, and never saw this great good prince
more; for in three days' after, three men brought the
melancholy news of deaan Trongha's death, as follows.
About sunrising, a man informed the general, that
a party of about fifty of the enemy appeared upon the
plain; whereupon he marched his little army out of
the wood towards them, and soon saw their number
increase; he was resolved, however, to attack them,
Here he was guilty of a piece of ill conduct, forget-
ting that the Anterndroeans were good for little else
but bush-fighting. When they came nearer, they saw
another party, and though soon after a third appeared,
yet there was no retreating. Some of the Antern-
droeans, it is true, ran away, and others concealed
themselves in the high grass; so that there were but
threescore of his own Feraignher people, stood with
him to oppose some hundreds. They maintained the
fight, however, half the morning; the general received
two wounds without falling, but at length, a third
killed him. By this time there were not above twenty
of his party left, and they resolutely forced their way
through the enemy, of which number were those, who
gave us this account. The Anterndroea men who skulked
in the grass, were most of them killed; for the grass
there being very long, and very dry at this time of the
ROBERT DRURY.
253
year, the enemy set fire to it, and it ran like wildfire,
scorching the men who lay concealed under it; so that
they were obliged to rise, and most of them were over-
taken and cut to pieces.
The death of this great man was an inexpressible
loss to the whole army, and by all was sincerely la-
mented. It was, indeed, a mortifying stroke to me;
and I was inconsolable, not knowing what calamities
might befall me in this country. Rer Befaugher did
not return till ten days after, at which time, though he
brought a good prize of cattle and slaves, yet his joy was
all damped at once with the news of his brother's
decease; which was so shocking to him, that he was
not composed enough to talk of any affairs of the army
till the next day. This unfortunate accident obliged
me to carry on the deceit with Mevarrow, by assuring
him that I would come privately to him, as soon as the
army broke up; but I was very uneasy till I had a
favourable_opportunity of communicating my whole
project to Rer Befaugher, and of begging his protection,
which he readily granted. Whereupon it was agreed
that I should absent myself two or three days before
their separation, in order to blind deaan Mevarrow, and
make him think that I ran away from the Feraignher peo-
ple and fled to his town before him; when, in reality, I
and my man only went by night to a place appointed,
and stayed till Rer Befaugher and the rest came to us.
The several parties who went out for plunder re-
turned; and after the cattle were divided, which were
some thousands, besides slaves, the army decamped.
The Feraignher people did not see the Anterndroeans
home, as they did before; but took their leave here,
and went directly to their own country a much nearer
way. I and my servant, as was privately agreed on
with Rer Befaugher, went away, and met them accord-
ing to appointment, to the great surprise of all the peo-
ple; for there had been a diligent inquiry made after
me, every one imagining that I was lost. Rer Be.
faugher made such a clamour with deaan Mevarrow,
and some others, that deaan Crindo gave him two
2
254
THE ADVENTURES OF
slaves to pacify him, lest a quarrel of dangerous con-
sequence should have ensued. One of the slaves, who
was a young man, Rer Befaugher made me a present
of. I was somewhat surprised, not knowing imme-
diately what he meant by it; but telling the whole
story, and saying, that both were by right mine, I was
satisfied; he called my slave's name Sambo.
It was
near a month before we passed over the river Onegha-
loyhe, spending our time gaily in hunting, eating, and
drinking, making but very short marches. We did this
out of a charitable design to feed our captives; for we
had ruined their country to that degree that for many
months they had very little to subsist on; so that the
poor wretches looked dismally thin.
When we came within one or two days' journey of
Rer Befaugher's, the cattle were divided; and such as
had two or more slaves presented one of them to their
lord, in conformity to the same law and custom which
is used in Anterndroea, as I have before related. This
thought a proper time to mention to Rer Befaugher
what I was promised as a gratuity for carrying the
elodge; and told him the fatigue and hazard I under-
went did very well deserve it. He said, there would
have been no objection against it in case deaan Trongha
had lived however, he would go to deaan Mondrosser
and see what he said to it. He returned soon with five
cows, and some short time after that a girl slave was
sent me; but as I had already a man, who was as much.
as I wanted, I desired to have two cows instead of the
girl, which request was readily complied with.
cattle I intrusted to the care of my man Sambo.
My
When we arrived at Rer Befaugher's town, I left my
cattle with my slave, and went to deaan Trongha's town
to visit his widows. There I found a melancholy scene.
The eldest lady would fain have persuaded me to live
with her; but I told her I was not safe unless I was
under the protection of some such great man as Rer
Befaugher was; but I would embrace every opportunity
of coming to see her, and would for ever testify the
veneration I had for the memory of her dearly beloved
ROBERT DRURY.
255
lord, as well as my gratitude to her for all former
favours.
Upon my return I met my man Sambo, who in-
formed me that he was going to build me a house;
Rer Befaugher had provided one for me, and gave him
likewise the necessary furniture for it. When I paid
my respects to Rer Befaugher on that account, I was
informed of deaan Crindo's death, which (according to
the relation of some who came from his country after
us) was very sudden and unexpected.
Deaan Woozington, with what forces he could get
together, kept always within a day's march of us, having
spies for ever out to observe all our motions every way,
and who were going and returning alternately to and
from his little army with intelligence of what they ob-
served; so that he knew very well when we parted
from the Anterndroean people. They were still too
strong for him, so that he was obliged to wait some
time longer for an opportunity of executing his revenge,
and accordingly followed them at a considerable dis-
tance till they arrived at Madamvovo; where deaan
Murnanzack, and brethren, Afferrer and Mussecoro,
parted from them in order to go home; and this was
the crisis that he then wanted. So waiting but one day
more, till they were at too great a distance to assist
each other, he attacked deaan Crindo in the night, and
killed him with a great number of his people, and put
the rest to flight, deaan Mevarrow narrowly escaping;
and this he did so expeditiously and so successfully, that
he had time to withdraw into Merfaughla with most of
the cattle which they had taken from him.
Deaan Mundumbo, indeed, upon his father's de-
cease, endeavoured to act as king; but he had neither
courage enough to maintain his claim, nor was he somuch
beloved by the people to stand in competition with
deaan Murnanzack. He wanted some of those valuable
qualities which his father was possessed of; for it must
be acknowledged that Crindo was undaunted in war,
and had the spirit of authority at home, which alone
supported his dignity, and made him useful to his
z 2
256
THE ADVENTURES OF
country. Murnanzack had his uncle's magnanimity in
war, and his majesty at home, besides all the human
and social virtues; and was, in reality, a truly great
man so that Mundumbo was obliged to fly into Ante-
nosa, till matters were accommodated; and what be-
came of either of them I never heard, for not long
afterwards I was moved into another country at a
farther distance from Anterndroea.
Rer Befaugher entertained me as handsomely as his
brother had done. He had but one wife, with whom
he had cohabited nine years, without any issue. This
was a great misfortune, especially as she was a very
agreeable, good-natured woman, and behaved herself
after so endearing a manner, that he preferred her to
all the women in the world. In short, she was uni-
versally respected, and extremely kind to me. As
three of my cows gave a considerable quantity of milk,
and as they furnished me with carravances and Guinea-
corn, I and my man Sambo lived well enough. This
continued all the rain-time, and though we planted and
sowed, yet we never stayed to reap. For,
News was brought by some people who lived at a
great distance, that deaan Worzington was marching
toward us with a numerous army. Spies were sent out
to observe them, who at their return told us, that ac-
cording to the best computation they could make,
there were about three thousand under arms, and within
three days' march. Deaan Mernaugha hearing this,
gave us orders to send all our cattle, wives, and slaves
to the river Feraingher, which runs on one side deaan
Mernaugha's town. I was so careful of the little stock
I had, that I attended them to the river; and went im-
mediately to James's house, (the son of Efflep,) where
I met with Hempshire, his wife, and daughter. Two
days after, upon information that Woozington had
passed Oneghaloyhe, we were ordered farther north-
ward to Murnumbo; where in less than three days we
were alarmed with fresh news of an army of Saccalau-
vors being just ready to attack us; whereupon we were
obliged to retreat immediately, and Woozington, as we
ROBERT DRURY.
257
were informed, not having penetrated so far as the
river Feraingher, we made an attempt to go there again;
but the Saccalauvor army was so near us, that we
were forced to fly for our lives, and leave all our cattle
behind us, and make the best of our way to the river.
Those of our people who had any arms made a running
fight of it, in order to save the women and children;
though we reached the river, yet they were in sight of
us by this time. As for Hempshire's wife she ran away
from him; so out of compassion I took him by the
hand, and hurried him into the very same cane-thicket
where I fled at the death of Eglasse. We had not long
seated ourselves there, before we heard some women
and children shriek out, who were taken prisoners at a
very small distance from us in the same thicket; which
put us into the utmost consternation, for we could ex-
pect nothing but instant death. We had not been long
under these frightful apprehensions before I espied the
enemy. Upon which we got up to run, but knew not
whither; one of them, however, fired, and shot poor
Hempshire in the back; of which wound he died upon
the spot.
I was more nimble, and got out of his reach;
but just at the entrance of the thicket I met another,
who ran directly at me. He took a lance in order to
throw at me, but I called out to him to save my life,
and told him I would go with him. As he saw I had
no weapons (for I had neither lance nor gun) he bid
me come forward; so I went and licked his feet accord-
ing to custom, and owned myself his slave. Where-
upon he told me, that he would spare my life, since I
was a white man, and was unarmed.
He carried me with him into the body of the army,
and the news was soon spread abroad, that a white man
was taken prisoner;'insomuch that the general heard of
it, and thereupon my conqueror and I were both sent
for. Upon my kneeling and licking his feet, he asked
if there were any body about him who could speak either
English or Dutch? but he was surprised to hear me ad-
dress him in his own language. He asked me abun-
dance of questions with regard to the strength of deaan
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258
THE ADVENTURES OF
Mernaugha; the number of his people, and a thousand
other things of the like nature; all which I avoided
answering as artfully as I could for Rer Befaugher's
sake. However, after the examination was over, he
gave the person who took me another slave in ex-
change, at which I was somewhat better pleased than
before; for it was a miserable thing indeed to be the
slave of a slave. My new master ordered me to follow
him, which I did whilst they marched, though that was
not long; for soon after they encamped on the banks of
the river. This was the best and finest camp I had
ever seen in this country, for all the tents were very
good. As soon as the general's tent was erected, he
desired me to sit down, and inform him by what acci-
dent I came upon the island; and how it came to pass,
that, as I was a white man, I spoke their language with
so much freedom. I gratified him with a long detail
of my whole history, to which he listened with great
attention; and we had abundance of discourse con-
cerning my surprising adventures. After he saw that
I had supped, (for I did not eat with him,) he gave one
of his head officers strict charge to see that I wanted
for nothing; and when one of his people advised him to
set a guard over me, he said, there was no danger of
my running away; for as white men have no home on
this island, all places are alike to them; and they will
stay with those longest who entertain and feed them
best; and he was well assured that the people of
Feraignher, at that time, were in no capacity to oblige
me. And his notion was very just, for so heartily did
I feed this evening, having eaten no beef for a long time
before, that I was very sick. And when I came to re-
flect that ships came to this country, and the poor state
and condition of St. Augustine bay rendered it very
improbable that they should come to trade there, I
found, that by this Providence, I had more hopes of
getting sooner to England here, than at any other place
I had ever yet been at: and the general was right in
his notion, for I had no business to fly or desert since I
could not mend myself. Having free liberty to go
ROBERT DRURY.
259
where I pleased, my curiosity led me to see if I knew
any of the captives; and upon examination I met with
Hempshire's widow and daughter, Toby, and Robin,
and Sambo, my own man; I shook him by the hand,
and told him I was a slave now as well as he. He said,
I am sorry for it; for I had much rather have served
you than any one else; and sure I am I shall never live
so well again.
When the general had fully gratified his curiosity in
inquiring after my affairs, I had likewise as strong an in-
clination to know who was my master, and was informed
that he was dignified by the names of Rer Towlerphe-
rangha and Rer Vove. It is a custom here for persons
of distinction to have two names; and as the last is
the most in use, I shall hereafter distinguish him by
that only. He was grandson to Rer Trimmonongarevo,
king of Saccalauvor; though called Yong-owl by the
Europeans, and Morandavo from a river of that name.
Rer Vove intrusted me to the care of one Guy, who
was a considerable man, and a relation (though at
some distance) of the king's. All the great families in
this country have a general name of distinction, which
they value themselves upon; as most of our European
gentlemen do on their coat of arms.
We continued here two days, in hopes that deaan
Woozington would in that time have penetrated through
the country on that side, and have joined us; but we
were informed that Rer Befaugher, by his good conduct,
had blocked up some passages, and so well defended
others, that he was glad to withdraw without effecting
any thing to the purpose. On this news, our general
retired to Murnumbo, pleasing himself with hopes that
deaan Mernaugha would be foolish and hot enough to
follow and fight him. Mernaugha, however, wisely
chose to sit down for once contented with his present
loss, rather than hazard all for the gratification of his
revenge, which might be more justly deemed foolish
pride and passion, than real valour. Rer Vove per-
ceiving no more could be done when he had continued
nere about seven or eight days, till the parties ordered
260
THE ADVENTURES OF
out were returned, marched homeward, and instead of
putting a guard over me, as he did over others, gave
me a blunderbuss, and made me guardian general over
several of my late country folks, giving me full com-
mission to shoot the first who should attempt to run
away.
I had several under my care, but more particularly
Hempshire's widow, and three other women, who, as I
attended them one evening into a private recess in a
wood, told me, "it was a great mortification to them
to be guarded by one who so lately fought for, and de-
fended them; telling me, moreover, that it was no great
difficulty for them to find means of making their escape,
in case I was but willing." "You are right," said I,
"and it is your interest, as you have families; besides,
you may possibly be sold to some ships:" which was
what I heartily wished for, as my interest was contrary
to theirs. I told them, moreover, that "I would never
have gone from Feraignher, if I had not been forced
away; but since the good providence of God had
thought fit thus to dispose of me, I would not oppose
the divine will, nor act inconsistently with my own
reason, for I was well assured of better provision here
than in Feraignher, in its present unhappy state, espe-
cially as I had lost all the cattle I had, though my stock,
indeed, was but small." I assured them, however, that
I would never mention what they had proposed, which
they, being under fearful apprehensions, begged that I
would never disclose the secret; neither did I, but
looked a little more circumspectly after them than I
did before.
Though our marches were but short, yet we soon ar-
rived to the confines of Saccalauvor, where there were
no inhabitants. It is a delightful country, and I saw a
great variety of monkies, baboons, virjees, and wild
swine, &c., in abundance, but very few, or none of
Hattoy's cattle.
About three days afterwards we passed by divers
towns, which belonged to Rer Mimebolambo, alias
Moiang Andro; it being the selfsame country which
{
ROBERT DRURY.
261
Rer Vovveru, late king of Feraignher, procured for him
by treaty, of his uncle Rer Trimmonongarevo. In the
towns and meadows there were abundance of humped
cattle, and such as were much larger than any I had
ever seen in the island before, but was informed these
were kept near home for private use; that the prince
and lords took care to have their principal stock of
cattle a great way farther to the northward, and in such
numbers, that they could not tell how many they had.
Of the truth of which I was soon afterwards very fully
convinced. Our forces now dwindled away apace, since
numbers went daily home as they came near to the se-
veral towns to which they belonged, without taking
any formal leave of the general, since they had no pay
to take, or any to demand; for every one being con-
scious to himself that it is his interest to join with his
neighbours in preventing an enemy from committing
plunder, no one ever murmured at their generals for
leading them forth to war, it being their own cause,
and not the general's, in which they engage; for if they
found their lords proved imperious and tyrannical, they
would refuse to go with them, since they could easily
remove and live under others. They fight for their own
security and ease, and when they get any plunder from
their enemies, they think themselves sufficiently re-
warded.
Moherbo is the principal town, or rather city, and
royal residence of the king, who is our general's grand-
father, to whom, as in duty bound, we paid a visit be-
fore he went home. When we arrived within a mile or
two, three messengers were despatched for form-sake,
to give him notice of our approach, and to learn his
royal pleasure, who made answer, "that if Rer Vove
should come, he was very ready to receive him." Here-
upon he put his people in order, and appointed fifty
men to stand in the front and discharge their guns;
and then fifty more to relieve them; the shells all the
time sounding. When we came within sight of the
king, who was sitting with his courtiers and people
round about him, we heard their shells sound and
262
THE ADVENTURES OF
drums beat; this, their congratulatory music, was but a
dull empty sound; in some measure, indeed, like their
country tubs, which are made of a light tree hollowed
very thin, and covered with a calf's skin that is dressed
much like our parchment. Both ends are beaten at
once, one with a stick, and the other with the hand
This king lives in a more splendid manner, and has
a gayer retinue than I had ever seen before. He has
twenty or thirty several houses, or rather a large court
enclosed with palisades in the town; but as it was not
large enough for the reception of so many people, he sat
on this occasion without the town. Our first fifty men
advanced like morris-dancers, and fired their guns very
regularly one after another; and upon their retreat, the
other fifty advanced. After this, the general stept for-
wards, and bending one knee, licked the king's. Se-
veral principal men bowed likewise their knees, but
licked his feet. This ceremony over, a mat was spread
at about four yards' distance, and the general with three
or four of the chieftains sat down, and Guy was amongst
them. As for my part, I stood behind my master with
my blunderbuss.
This prince, Rer Trimmonongarevo, made, a I
thought, a very odd and formidable figure, whether it
was because I had heard many stories of some of his
rash and barbarous proceedings, which had prejudiced
me against him. His dress was very singular, and such
as I had never seen before; his hair was plaited in
ringlets, beginning at the crown of the head; then
another range of knots was bigger than the former, and
so downwards, every lower circle was larger than the
upper; on several of these knots of hair hung a large
quantity of fine beads. Some part of his fore-head-
piece of beads hung almost over his nose, among these
were several gold ones. He had a very fine gold neck-
lace about his neck; over his shoulders hung two
strings of beads, and several of them gold, in much the
same manner as our aldermen of London's chains; on
each wrist about six manelers of silver, seeming large
enough to weigh nearly three dollars apiece, and four
1
ROBERT DRURY,
253
rings of gold on his fingers. Nearly twenty strings of
beads, closely set, were twisted round his legs; a silk
lamber hung over his shoulders, loose like a mantle,
and another, as usual, twisted round his waste. He was
an old prince, not less, by what I could understand,
than fourscore years of age at least, yet of a robust and
healthy constitution. His colour was rather tawny,
like an Indian, than perfectly black; his eyes fierce,
and his whole appearance formidable; or the singu-
larity of his dress and character made me imagine so;
he soon took notice of me, and asked Rer Vove if I
was the white man he had taken prisoner? and what
was my name? He called to me," Robin, mehove a
toee," which is come hither. I then laid my blunder-
buss down, and approached him with my hands lifted
up and closed before me. As soon as I got to him I
fell on my knees, and licked first one of his feet and
then the other, as the common people did before me.
He ordered me to sit by him, but not on his own mat
neither. He asked several questions in relation to my
first coming on this island, and informed me that he
had a white man of his own; "but he is an English-
man," said he, "and whether you can speak that lan-
guage, or not, I cannot say." I told him I was an Eng-
lishman myself. I began to cheer up, and have a little
more courage upon this agreeable news; and was sur-
prised that my master had not mentioned this circum-
stance before. I asked the king how long his white.
man had been with him? and what his name was?
"Six or seven years," said he: "his name is Will."
Upon this, he ordered a man to call him immediately,
who brought word that Will was gone out of town, and
would not be back in less than three or four days; so
finding the king enter upon some new discourse with
the general, I withdrew to my former post.
Soon after we went to a house which was ordered
for our reception, where I was discharged from guard-
ing his slaves; for he did that, as he told me afterwards,
only to try my fidelity, since he knew very well, if I
had not been honest, they would have all got away ;
264
THE ADVENTURES OF
but as he was convinced I did him justice, he had a
post of much greater importance to intrust me with.
By this time, came in Ry Chemotoea, the king's prin
cipal wife, and the grandmother of Rer Vove, my mas-
ter. She was the largest woman I had ever seen in all
my life. When she sat, her breasts hung down to her
lap; she walked but little, being generally carried on
a kind of bier on men's shoulders. She had a numerous
retinue, besides slaves, who brought four calabashes of
toake; two of honey, and two of sugar canes, together
with six baskets of rice. The king sent ten beeves,
four of which were very large fat oxen. As soon as
Ry Chemotoea was gone, we sat down to drinking the
honey-toake, till Rer Vove was perfectly intoxicated,
and fell asleep, at which time three slaves came from
his grandmother loaden with presents; one with a fat
capon boiled, for they made capons here; another with
a pot of dried rice; and the third with a basket, a
wooden dish, and a spoon. This was the best supper
I had seen of the natives dressing, and I had my share
of it; but for all this good cheer, I could not forbear
thinking of this Will, the Englishman, and was very
much concerned that we could not stay till he came
home.
The next day we marched homewards, and though it
was two days' journey, yet we hastened to come in as
early as we could the second day, because of the great
triumph we were then to make. The solemnity of which
was much the same as I have described in other places,
and consisted in their wives licking their feet, &c.
Rer Vove's house was nearly eight yards long, and
about six broad, built of boards, as all the great men's
houses are in Saccalauvor. Notwithstanding they have
no saws, with a great deal of labour, however, they hew
out boards very even with their hatchets. The language
is much the same with that in other countries, except
as English in Yorkshire, or the west of England, where
each place has a particular dialect, and some small dif-
ference in its pronunciation.
My post here was a grand one, for I was constituted
ROBERT DRURY.
265
captain of my master's guard. There were palisades
all round his house, and at the portal, or gateway, was
a little house for several young men of a higher de-
gree to lie in, who were his guard, and over whom, as
I said before, I was appointed chief, but this did not
last above a month; at which time he thought proper
to go a shooting wild fowl, and took no one but me
with him. In our private conversation, he told me how
vicious the people of Saccalauvor were grown within a
few years, as their country grew rich; and that young
men living so high, and drinking such large quantities
of toake, induced them frequently to lie with other
men's wives, by which means murders, and several
other misfortunes, have ensued. "As for my part," said
he, "I have no reason, indeed, to suspect my wife Ry
Kaley; however, to prevent all jealous thoughts for the
future, I will intrust her to your care, and desire that
she may never be absent from your charge by night or
day, on any pretence, how plausible soever, unless she
be with me. I am very well satisfied she will not take
this amiss, and you have no occasion to regard any one
else." I returned him thanks for the favourable opinion
he had of my integrity; and assured him I would take
the same care I had done hitherto, in the due discharge
of my duty to him in all things, wherein he thought
proper to command me; but I was afraid, lest some of
his trusty old servants should envy me my post, and
insinuate to him things prejudicial to his honour and
my care. Upon that account," said he, "you have
no cause for fear, since it is always expected here, that
marks of favour and distinction be shown to white
men." When we came home, he broke his mind to
her, with much such another apology as he did to me.
She prevented him, however, from asking her consent,
apprehending in a moment what he aimed at; so say-
ing, "I desire nothing more than that you will take all
the measures you think proper, in order to retain the
same opinion of me you always had; and in case
Robin is to be my guardian, I will submit with pleasure
to his directions; and from henceforth, Robin," said
(C
2 A
266
THE ADVENTURES OF
she, "I will never be out of your sight, but when I am
with Rer Vove himself; and as I am now under your
jurisdiction, be sure you discharge your trust as you
ought, and don't imagine that you can displease me by
the strictest observance of your orders. On the other
hand, I propose abundance of pleasure in your conver-
sation, by telling me stories of your uncommon adven-
tures."
Indeed, she gave me good grounds to think
she was not displeased with me. It was my business
to attend her on all occasions. Sometimes, indeed, her
women-slaves were with her, but we were oftener by
ourselves, and that too through her own contrivance;
and whether my master had, in reality, so great an
opinion of her chastity as he pretended, I cannot deter-
mine; but I found her to be a very gay, wanton lady,
and was forced to exert all the art I was master of, in
order to keep her out of other company, as well as to
preserve my own innocence. However, as my life lay
at stake, I was resolved to be true to my trust. It was
full three quarters of a year before I got rid of this
troublesome office; during which time, my master took
a fancy to another woman who had lately been divorced
from a cousin of his, and made her, if we may call her
so, his supernumerary wife. He was extremely fond of
her at first, but soon quarrelled with her, used her ill,
turned her in short quite off, and returned with as
much indulgence as ever to my charge, Ry Kaley,
again.
Not long after this, Rer Vove proposed to take a
tour to the northward, for his pleasure, and to take a
survey of his cattle; so ordering his furniture to be re-
moved to his head slave's till his return, our house
was locked up, and away we marched. We were a
large company of us, Ry Kaley, his wife, his friend
Guy, with several other attendants, besides slaves. It
had rained very hard for some time before we set out;
so coming to a small river, which was considerably
swelled with the floods, the people made a halt, not
caring to push forwards with too much precipitation,
lest some alligators might have come up into the
ROBERT DRURY.
267
marshes, as is customary, and return again to their old
As the river was
haunts upon the fall of the waters.
shallow enough to wade through, I was so fool-hardy
as out of a bravado to lead the way. Two fine dogs,
that were my master's favourites, went into the water
along with me, but kept close to my heels, one on each
side of me, for the dogs are very apprehensive of alliga-
tors. I was up to my belly in the water, or thereabouts,
when an alligator, all on a sudden, gave such a spring
at the dog on my left side, that the monster's nose
struck me down. The alligator, dog, and I vanishing,
as it were, at once, our people took it for granted I had
been carried off; but rising at a small distance and
finding myself not hurt, I went directly over; upon
which they all followed me. For if a noise be made by
a great number of people, an alligator will sink, like a
stone, to the bottom, and lie without the least motion,
and though you tread on him, he will not stir an inch.
As we took our journey for pleasure only, we had no
occasion to fatigue ourselves, so we marched but slowly.
In a few hours we arrived on the banks of a very large
river, called Mernee. Here we came to a town inha-
bited by a people of a different species, as it were, from
the rest of mankind, and of a language peculiar to
themselves, though they can speak the general language
if they please. Their customs too, and manners, being
as different as their persons, of which I shall give a
particular detail, according as I was farther informed
soon after.
Rer Vove gave orders that one of the houses of these
Virzimbers, which is the name they are generally known
by, should be made clean for him, and all the old fur-
niture be removed; and as for us, who were of his
retinue, we might shift as well as we could. There are
very few Saccalauvors care to lie in any of their houses,
for fear of an insect like a cow-tick, called poropongee,
which is frequently found upon cattle, and this insect
is found nowhere else; but these people breed them,
on purpose to make their houses shunned by the Sacca-
lauvors; for the Virzimbers, till very lately, were under
2 A 2
268
THE ADVENTURES OF
no government, and often changing their habitations;
so that upon their first settlement here, the natives used
to come into their houses, and take away whatever they
saw convenient; imposing most shamefully upon them,
till the king, under whose protection they are at present,
redressed their grievances upon hearing their com-
plaints. These poropongees will make those who are
bitten by them sick, sometimes for six weeks, or two
months together; sticking close to the skin, or pene-
trating into it for a long time; but when a man has
been once tormented by them, and has overcome the
sickness, he never has it again, though he lies among
ever so many of them; or, at least, like persons who
have had the small pox, they never fear a return of
their distemper. These Virzimbers are very subject
likewise to what they call colah, which is a kind of the
yaws, a disease which has been described before. It is
so frequent, however, here, that a third part of the peo-
ple of a town are sometimes spotted like lepers, with
dry scabs. We continued here but one night, and
passed over this large river in canoes the next morning.
About half a day's march from hence lives Rer Moume,
king Trimmonongarevo's eldest son, and uncle to Rer
Vove, to whom we went to pay a visit. Messengers, for
form sake, were sent before; an agreeable answer
being received, we approached the town, and found him
sitting for the shade sake, in great state under a tamarind-
tree, as it was excessively hot. He is a very great prince,
and extremely well beloved: there were twelve wives,
and a great many other people then with him. When
Rer Vove, accompanied by his wife Ry Kaley, came to
him, they kneeled and licked his knee. After which
she soon withdrew among the women, but he sat down
on a mat near his uncle. All his aunts in general,
except one who was blind, came to him and licked his
shoulder, for they had not seen him since his return
from his expedition at Feraignher. The toake went
about plentifully, and some was given to our principal
people, among whom I was constantly with Guy, who
had a particular regard for me. My master, however,
C
ROBERT DRURY.
269
being not a little proud of his white man, called to me in
broken English, for he had just enough to say, "Come
hither;" or,
How do you do?" When Rer Moume
saw me; "Were it not for his hair and eyes," said he,
"I should scarcely have known him to be white, his skin
is so scorched with the sun that it is as swarthy almost
as my own: Ry Anzacker there, is as white as he."
And, to confess the truth, there was no great difference
in our complexion. This was his second wife, and
sister to deaan Tokeoffu, king of Munnongaro, alias
Masseleege. Rer Moume was of a copper colour,
rather than a black. Though he had no visible distem-
per upon him, yet he had lost the use of his limbs, and
though he had no swelling in his legs or sores about
him, and looked well to all outward appearance, yet he
could not stand upright. This misfortune was supposed
to be brought upon him by poison, which was given
him by one of his wives with a treacherous intent to
kill him, she having been a captive, and the consort of
a neighbouring prince who opposed him, and was
killed in battle. He sat on a square seat, or throne,
made on purpose for him, but so low that he could rest
his legs on the ground if he thought fit.
Perceiving I could speak their language, he was
extremely delighted with me, for he was a good-natured,
courteous man, which I have just reason to acknow-
ledge for by his compassion I was redeemed from the
hardships of slavery during my continuance here; and,
at last, dismissed in a friendly and genteel manner,
and by his means sent home to England. The whole
discourse now turned on me and my surprising adven-
tures; the women, too, bore a part in the conversation,
and expressed their pity, saying, they should be glad
to have me among them, and should think they could
never do enough for me, if I would oblige them with
the agreeable stories of my travels. But this happy
time was not yet come, I was to undergo a few more
fatigues first, though my state of slavery did not con-
tinue long.
My master, Rer Vove, was a gay young man, who
2A 3
270
THE ADVENTURES OF
As
pursued his pleasures and was guilty of some vices,
like many of our young noblemen in Europe, was
always in action, full of fire, and as his constitution.
was very warm and sanguine, he would be guilty of
too many of the follies which youth are prone to.
to his stature he was very tall, for in an army or crowd
he might be distinguished at a distance, being a head
taller at least than most of the people; however, he
was exactly proportioned and well-shaped, his legs and
arms were finely tapered. I was obliged sometimes to
assist him in his love adventures, of which a pretty
remarkable, as well as dangerous one, was on this jour-
ney; as follows:-
A
No sooner had he parted from his uncle, than he
determined to visit his cousin, Rer Chemunghoher;
but coming near his town, and being informed that he
was gone from home as far as Moherbo, a thought came
into his head to send his wife one way, whilst he took
another under a pretence of business, and to meet
about four days after, advising her at the same time to
go through some towns of the Virzimbers, who always
make one present or another to those of the family,
according as their abilities will permit. His attendants,
or the greatest part of them, were ordered to accompany
his wife; and as for me, whom she expected to have
been left her guardian, he bid follow him. When
we were at a sufficient distance from the people, he told
me he had a secret to communicate to me of no small
importance, and desired, likewise, my assistance in a
particular affair, which he proposed to put in execution.
"You know my fidelity," said I, "and are sensible
that I would scruple nothing but the commission of
murder to serve you." "It is nothing of that nature,
I assure you," said he, "but the consequence may
prove fatal if you do not act with discretion: Rer
Chemunghoher, in short, has married one who was
my consort before Ry Kaley; and, on a quarrel, I put
her away a little too rashly, and my kinsman also
married her in too much hurry, or we should probably
have agreed again. The woman I still have an affection
1
:
ROBERT DRURY.
271
for, and as her husband happens to be abroad, I have
some thoughts of your procuring me an interview with
her. There is a Maurominter, that is to say, a black
man of any other country, who can speak English; you
shall pay him a visit, by which means you may come
to the speech of her." I was fond of this opportunity
to see this English Maurominter; and for that reason
I readily agreed to his proposal; and having my full
instruction, and a man for my guide, I left my master
at a small village, about two hours' walk from Rer
Chemunghoher's town, and proceeded immediately on
my errand.
Lewis (for that was his name) received and enter-
tained me in a handsome manner. He was born, he
said, in Jamaica, followed the sea, and being taken by
pirates was set on shore at St. Augustine-bay, where
he lived some time, but the troubles of that country
coming on, he, as well as many of the natives, came
away, not only for their security, but for more plentiful
living so that between the affairs of Feraignher and
England, we had subject matter of discourse enough
for a long time. His wife going out, I took the oppor-
tunity of asking him, if he could possibly introduce me
to their lord's wife? He, knowing the story, guessed at
my intention, though I told him no more than what
was requisite for my purpose. He went accordingly
to her, and she sent word she would come, which she
did soon, with one maid only to attend her. I was a
good excuse enough for her to say her curiosity led her
to see a white man. Lewis and his wife withdrawing,
and she saying I might freely speak before her inaid,
whom she could trust with her life, I soon delivered
my message, and told her how disconsolate Rer Vove
was ever since he came near the town: I found her, in
short, as eager for the interview as himself, and she
appointed that very night in a wood at a convenient
distance. As soon as she returned home she sent her
maid with some toake to me; which, when Lewis and
I had drank up, I went with the good news to my
master. And as it proved a fine moonlight night, we
272
THE ADVENTURES OF
soon came to the place assigned; though by going over
a river, and through a plantation where there were
dogs, and they barking, the owner had like to have
discovered us; for the wild hogs often making great
havoc in the night, they are very attentive if their dogs
do but stir.
I left them in the wood, and went to Lewis, for
whom she waited. He conducted her through a breach
made in the palisade, for the gate was always guarded,
and I conducted her to her gallant. Her maid accom-
panied her with a capon, some rice, and a calabash of
toake. They embraced each other with all the passion
imaginable; the maid, indeed, was for serving up the
supper, but they had affairs of greater moment to talk
of first, which we plainly perceiving withdrew, and
diverted ourselves for some time as well as we could.
In about two hours we heard him whistle, which was
the signal for our coming, when we supped all together.
Our bellies being full, Lewis and I roved about at a
distance, and left them again till it was daybreak.
"Now, Robin," says he,
(C we must do as the wild
boars do, get a great distance from the place where
they have been doing their mischief." So crossing the
river again, we walked about till noon; when a man
was to come and bring us some provisions. As I was
looking out sharply, and listening for the token, which
was a whistle, I approached him, but the fellow being
silly, and knowing nothing of a white man, threw down
the meat, and a whole calabash of toake, and took to
his heels. As soon as he got home he told his mistress,
that he saw a white spirit, and it ran after him for the
meat, which he was forced to leave behind him. This
gave us some diversion the next night, when she came
again a capon, rice, and toake were brought this
evening likewise; and I could not forbear rallying my
master on having patience enough now to sup, and
regale himself with toake as soon as it came. When
we had drank plentifully they bid us go and watch at a
distance, and find out some amusement or other to
pass away the night. And, indeed, had we not made
ROBERT DRURY.
273
ourselves merry, and been as agreeable to one another
as such an occasion required, the night would have
seemed very long and tedious. We slept a little
towards daybreak, and when I went to them they were
not up; however, they soon arose, and took their leave
too, by rubbing their noses together, and drawing their
breath like persons who take snuff.
take snuff. After this they
parted well satisfied for the present.
we
It was now broad daylight, so that when
attempted to go over the plantation the same way as
we came, the people were up; and as we were both
remarkable persons, he by his height, and I by my
colour, the very seeing us at a distance would have
been enough to betray the whole secret.
We had no
way, therefore, to take but through a thicket of thorny
wood. I went first upon my knees, and beat them
down with a stick, and my master followed. Though
our shoulders bled in many places, which we did not
regard at first through eagerness, and when we did it
was to little purpose, for it would have been as bad to
have retreated. So, in short, we went through; but
on our arrival on the other side of the river, we stood
still to look on one another, and perceiving how mise-
rably our hides were scratched and torn, we could not
refrain from laughter, though we were severely morti-
fied. We still endeavoured to find out private ways,
being as much ashamed now as we were afraid before
of being seen. As soon as Guy saw us, he could not
forbear smiling. Rer Vove told him, we had been
hunting a wild boar, and by pursuing him too eagerly
into the thickets, we got scratched in this piteous man-
ner. "It is much more probable," said Gŵy,
a wild
woman, and the right owner pursuing you too closely,
you were glad to escape to the first wood you came at."
Ry Kaley grew a little jealous too upon the occasion,
but we laughed it off.
(C
We being all met again, we proceeded to the northward,
where the cattle are all kept. This is as fine a country
as ever I saw, and the best stocked with all the neces-
saries of life. These people never go forth to war, but
274
THE ADVENTURES OF
constantly employ the whole of their time in taking
care of the king's and their lord's cattle: they have
plenty likewise of their own. The king's cattle are
marked with the stamp called chemerango. Here are
such numbers of them, that it is not known within two
or three thousand how many belong to him. Some of
these oxen are scarcely able to walk for age, and others
are so fat they cannot stir. They never milk above the
fourth part of the cows, though the place is populous,
and as large as some king's dominions. They have a
great many towns, and many Virzimbers dwell among
them. The chief town is of large extent, where the
principal herdsman keeps a great court, and has full
power and authority to decide all controversies, and
punish any offender without appeal. When we saw
him, he made as grand a figure as a king, and was
sitting with his attendants about him in the same
manner. However, he arose to kiss Rer Vove's knee,
(not his feet,) as a testimony of his more than common
respect for him. He had eight thousand head of cattle
of his own, and near three hundred slaves. He made
my master a present of five of his own, and fifteen of
the chemango's. He seldom, if ever, goes out on foot,
but is carried on a bier on men's shoulders. He is
very old, indeed, having been cow-keeper to Rer Trim-
monongarevo's father, deaan Lohefute.
Butter and cheese might be made here in plenty,
were there but people who understood the art of it, for
the cows give abundance of milk, though not altogether
so much as ours do in England, but then they continue.
it longer; summer time in this hot country being the
worst for the cattle. In this place, however, there are
so many rivers, brooks, and springs, that they are never
incommoded with such droughts as they sometimes are
in Anterndroea. Here are tallow and hides too in
abundance, but few think it worth their while to regard
them. Several other commodities are to be found here
which are worthy of notice :. wax is so plentiful that it
is thrown away; there is iron too in many parts of
the country, as well as here, and the natives are no
ROBERT DRURY.
275
mannelers.
strangers to the making of steel. Here is copper, like-
wise, of their own production, of which they make
In some of the most mountainous and
inland parts of the country they have silver, and know
how to make ear-plates of it, and mannelers: so that I
have the highest reason to think the country produces
it, as well as it does a white metal, much like our Bri-
tish tin, or tutanag; nor is there any reason to doubt
that gold is to be found here. Here are many other
things, but as I cannot give a satisfactory account of
them, I pass them over in silence. But,
I must not here omit to mention the several sorts of
silk, of which there is plenty in every part of the
island where I have been. Some is of a brownish
colour, others of a white; the outside is full of small
pointed prickles; the cod or bag is nearly three inches
long, and shaped like a nine pin; at the top, when we
take it, there is a hole, out of which I have extracted a
blackish worm; but I am not able to describe it, or
the manner of its transformation, as the common silk-
worm this I know, that there are no mulberry trees.
The silk of these worms is found upon three or four
several sorts of trees; for when they spin they cleave
to the thick branches or body of the tree. I have seen
the people on their knees, pull the cod out to a great
length, which they tease to pieces, and then spin it
with a spindle, made of bone, and a rock-staff; after
that they weave it as they do cotton, and it makes not
only pretty, but very fine lambers.
There is some
trouble in the management of it, which is all the reason
I can offer for their making so little use of it. In this
part of Saccalauvor, where the cattle are kept, is a tree
calied rofeer; which is of singular service to the
middle sort of people to make lambers of. The leaf is
like that of a cocoa-nut tree, but longer by two feet;
they take off the outer part, and put the other to dry
for two or three days together, which is then thin and
white like a long shaving. After that they moisten it
again, and split it into threads, which they knot in a
very neat manner, and weave into cloth some of it
276
THE ADVENTURES OF
is frequently dyed, and made into lambers striped,
This tree bears a fruit that much resembles a damson.
After Rer Vove had taken a review of his cattle, and
left behind him about two hundred of them, which he
got by this journey, we returned home to plant rice;
for men of the highest distinction here look after their
plantations themselves, and take care to furnish their
families with proper provisions. He had not been long
at home, before some business called him to Moherbo,
and through Guy's artifice and intercession I got leave
to accompany him, for I had a strong inclination to see
the Englishman. He soon perceived I was his country-
man, and we were more overjoyed to see each other,
than relations are who live ever so distant.
His name
was William Thornbury, he had been nine years in the
country. It was his first voyage; for he was then a
boy, who like me, was resolutely bent on going to sea;
but a hard gale of wind arising suddenly, drove their
ship from her anchors, and whether some pirate was in
sight, or what was the real cause he could not tell, but
they never returned, leaving him with the surgeon and
another man ashore; the two last in a few months died
with grief, and he was left alone. The king took what
small quantity of goods their captain had left on shore,
and sent immediately for Thornbury. He went, and
his majesty very kindly told him he had no occasion to
fear any thing; for he would take care he should not only
be supplied with whatever he wanted, but that he
would, moreover, send him home by the first vessel. In
all which he was as good as his word, nor ever attempted
to make a slave of him, as Mevarrow did of me; so
that when we compared our hard destinies, mine was
much the severer of the two. He went to the king's
eldest wife for some toake, in order to treat me with it,
which she readily granted.
I have already given the reader an idea of this king's
person: as to his hasty temper and cruel actions I had
heard much talk of them before now; William Thorn-
bury, however, let me more fully into his character. I
found, upon taking in the whole detail of him, that
ROBERT DRURY.
277
glory and ambition were his principal aim; which he
looked upon to consist in the wealth. and prosperity of
his country. For Saccalauvor was neither richer nor
more powerful than other countries till his accession to
the regal state. But he having expelled both his
brothers upon his assumption of the supreme dignity,
one of them, as I have mentioned before, fled to
Feraignher, and got possession of part of the country
to the southward; the other, accompanied by about
eight hundred men, passed through the fine country
where the cattle are kept, and where the Virzimbers at
that time resided, moving still farther to the northward,
and settled on that river which the Europeans at this
time call Masseleege. The Virzimbers fled from him
on his first approach, but finding that his intentions
were peaceable, and that he was only seeking a place of
refuge for himself, they returned to their habitations,
and lived under his jurisdiction. Here he established
a kingdom almost as extensive and powerful as his
brother's; which his son, deaan Tokeoffu is now in the
possession of. Rer Trimmenongarevo understanding
his brother had thus happily settled himself, sent am-
bassadors to propose an amicable alliance between
them; which he, being a good-natured man, readily
came into; hoping God, and his deceased father deaan
Lohefute, would forgive his brother, and for the future
bless them both.
Rer Trimmonongarevo now caressed some of the Vir-
zimbers, and gave them towns on the banks of Mernee.
He was very generous likewise to his own subjects, and
made considerable presents, not only of cattle, but
slaves to those who had suffered losses in his service:
but more especially he took all the engaging and poli-
tical ways he could devise to tempt people from other
countries to come and live in Saccalauvor. I have
already mentioned his courteous treatment of the
Feraignher people whose families had been taken in
war; restoring all the captives and cattle to such mas-
ters and relations as would come and settle in his
dominions. By this means they are grown not only
23
278
THE ADVENTURES OF
•
vastly populous, but rich, and the people live in plenty
as well as peace; they reverence and adore him, in
short, as a tender and indulgent father of his country.
But see now the danger of submitting implicitly to the
arbitary will and pleasure of any man; even though
he has many useful and great virtues to recommend
him. People by such means become slaves to the man
who is not in every respect a hero, but attended with
human frailties, and subject to passions less governable
than in men of lower station. Superior greatness
his view, which explained, is advancing his prerogative
beyond that of his predecessors, and showing that he
can determine according to his own will more absolutely
than any of his contemporaries. Absolute power is
what all ambitious princes aim at, and thirst to enjoy
it. This the world may see is the darling passion of
the vicious great; and this was the misfortune that at-
tended Saccalauvor; at least that part of it which was
under the immediate jurisdiction of Rer Trimmonon-
garevo for the other lords, his sons and nephews, were
as humane as those in any other part of the island; but
the authority he had usurped had made him so haughty
and imperious, that to show he could act as he pleased,
and was not to be governed by the traditional laws,
when an ambassador or any strangers were at his town,
he would order some one or other of any two contend-
ing parties to immediate execution for very trivial
faults, and sometimes for none at all. This barbarous
disposition, however, did not appear till he was suffi-
ciently established in his government; and then several
instances of his cruelty were too conspicuous. By these
vile actions he lost the love of many of his subjects,
who withdrew to live under more humane sovereigns.
Some quite abandoned the country, and went to his
brother's son Toakoffu; though they might have been
tolerably safe with his sons and nephews. And this is
the only remedy which these people have against
arbitrary power; for they have no notion of a jus di-
vinum, as we call it, nor think themselves obliged by
the laws of religion to suffer any impositions. The
ROBERT DRURY.
279
lords likewise have contracted a very laudable and
humane custom of being extremely fond of relieving
such as are distressed, even though there has been
enmity before. This was deaan Crindo's son's case when
he fled to Antenosa, and this very king's brother, Rer
Mimebolambo's, when he fled to Feraignher; and to
this generous virtue my own deliverance was principally
owing.
I was one day in this king's presence when there was
a crowd about him, and upon his coughing and fetch-
ing his breath a little uneasily, the people fell immedi-
ately prostrate on the ground. The reason, as I under-
stood afterwards was, because not long before, in such
a fit of short breathing, he took up a blunderbuss and
discharged it among them without speaking a word, or
making any other excuse, when he had thus killed two
or three of his attendants, than "why did they stiffe
him ?" I never saw such abject slavery on the island
before; and yet to do him justice I must say he was
far from being in all his actions and resolutions a bloody
tyrant; for, two or three instances of severe executions
only excepted, which he ordered out of ostentation,
his other barbarities were only now and then the
effects of his inordinate passion; which, indeed, grew
worse as he advanced in years. It must be acknow-
ledged that he directed corporal punishments oftener
than were practised in any other country. Here was
during my residence amongst them, a woman who com-
plained to him against another for robbing one of his
wives, who was her mistress; but upon examination
the accuser was found a very sorry creature, and one
whose ears had been cut off for a former misdemeanour.
Some ambassadors being then present, the wicked
wretch made choice of that time to accomplish the end
of her malice the more effectually; for as the people
expected a bloody decision, so it happened; yet one
can hardly pronounce it was unjust though very severe;
for after hearing, with a great deal of patience, all that
she alleged, and inquiring into every minute circum-
stance of the case, he ordered the base accuser to be
2 B 2
280
THE ADVENTURES OF
carried off and killed directly. The person so unjustly
accused desired to have the liberty of being the execu-
tioner herself, with which he complied, and gave her a
sword for that purpose. She soon overtook the proper
officer, who, seeing the king's sword, held the criminal
while the other cut her throat. These are instances
sufficient to show the virtues and vices, as well as the
singular disposition of this extraordinary king.
During my stay here I saw William Purser, the in-
terpreter, and several others of Feraignher; and among
the rest my old friend Ry-Nanno, (Rer Vovvern's am-
bassador to deaan Crindo, who was the first that
directed me to Feraignher,) came to pay me a visit.
He lived as great as in his own country, having volun-
tarily followed some of his family who were taken
prisoners.
Rer Vove was now on his return home, and my
countryman and I were to part, which we did with no
small reluctance; yet not before we had given each
other full instructions where to find our respective
friends, whoever should be so happy as to reach England
first, which proved to be his good fortune.
Some few days after we were got home the two
Amboer. lambo ambassadors, who were at Moherbo.
being on their return into their own country, and pass-
ing through our town, Rer Vove prevailed on them to
stay a night with him, and allotted them a commodious
apartment, to which they invited me, and seated me on
their own mat between them. Their curiosity, they
said, led them to inquire after the manners and customs
of my country in general, and of my own adventures
in particular. I gratified them in the best manner I
could, or rather so as they were best capable of under-
standing me. For as to the largeness and grandeur of
our court, city, fleets, armies, &c., on all which I expa-
tiated, they would give no credit to it, and looked upon
it only as a mere romance. In my turn I asked them
where their country lay. They told me it was a moun-
tainous inland place, divided into two kingdoms,
called Amboer-lambo which were governed by two
ROBERT DRURY.
281
brothers. They had vast large ears, with silver plates
in them that glittered like comets. I was very desirous
to know how they came so. They informed me that
when they are young a small hole only is made at first
and a piece of lead put into it; when the wound is
healed they have a small spring-ring put into it, which
extends it by degrees, and after this another, till the
hole is as large as they think convenient; then they
place these silver plates in it, which are neatly made,
and exactly fitted to the hole, with great precaution for
fear of breaking it. Some of these holes in their ears
are so large, that a woman may put her hand through
it. They have several artificers among themselves who
make these ornaments. The poorer sort, they said,
who could not afford silver, had them of tutanag;
which they call ferochfutey. They came into this
country to trade chiefly in iron, of which they make
abundance; however, they bring great quantities of
silk likewise. Their vallies are very foggy and marshy,
unwholesome for cattle, and not fit to be inhabited, so
that they buy cattle. The mountains are so stony, that
they have scarcely earth sufficient for the foundations
of their houses. They told me moreover, that Rer
Trimmonongarevo will not sell them any guns, nor suf-
fer his people to supply them with fire-arms. Before
the Europeans had stocked the island with guns, they
were too strong for the Saccalauvors in deaan Lohe-
fute's time; but this king is at present too powerful.
They have (they said) a trade sometimes to Mattatanna
and Antenosa; but not sufficient to furnish them with
arms and ammunition. I observed, that metals of all
kinds were commodities they dealt in.
Hitherto I lived pretty well; and indeed for about
three months afterwards; at which time a ship came to
Yong-Owl to trade. Her name (as I have since been
informed) was the Clapham-galley, captain Wilks com-
mander. Those who had slaves to sell carried them
down to the sea-side. My master was likewise pre-
paring some for that purpose; the thought of it almost
transported me, yet I could not tell how to make my
2 B3
282
THE ADVENTURES OF
request known. At length I made my application to
my friend Guy, and having expostulated the case with
him and his wife, I prevailed on him to solicit my
master that I might be sent down and sold to the cap-
tain; he made the motion accordingly one evening in
my absence. And it was happy for me that I was
abroad, for had it not been for the mediation of some
friends he would have found me out and shot me di-
rectly. As soon as I came to him he ordered me to
deliver him my gun, saying, I was a prisoner of war,
and a slave too; and he would make me know as much.
As for Will. he was an unfortunate youth indeed, and
was left by mere accident upon the shore; there is a
wide difference between his case and yours. Upon
which he called his cook; "Here, Mechorow," said he,
"take care of this white captive; and see that he, like
other slaves, obeys your orders." Mechorow did not
fail to observe his instructions, and was the severer
upon me, because there was a time when I had autho-
rity over him. He frequently made me carry an iron
pot on my head, when Rer Vove and his wife took their
pleasure on the islands in the middle of the river Mer-
nee; where one while he would go to kill wild-fowl,
and at another to destroy alligators. But before the
ship set sail I endeavoured to inform the captain by
this stratagem. I took a satter-leaf, which was about
two inches broad, and a foot and a half long, and marked
upon it these words following. Robert Drury, son of
Mr. Drury, living at the King's Head in the Old Jewry;
now a slave on the island of Madagascar in the country
of Morandavo, or Yong-owl. I desired the favour of
one who was going to the sea-side to deliver this leaf
to the first white man he saw; but when he returned I
asked him what answer he had? "None at all," said he,
"for I suppose the white man did not like it, since he
threw the leaf away; though I am sure it was as good,
if not better, than that which you gave me.
I dropped yours, but then I pulled one of the best Í
could find from off a tree." My heart was ready to break
at this disappointment; whereupon I turned from him,
'Tis true,
ROBERT DRURY.
283
and went directly into the woods to vent my grief in
tears. I heard soon after, that Will. Thornbury was
discharged; I was then in some hopes that by his
means my redemption might be accomplished. But to
my no small mortification I soon heard the ship had
sailed, and not one word of me mentioned. This drove
me almost to madness, and what could be the reason
why the captain should take no notice of me, I cannot
conceive; for Will. Thornbury, doubtless, would have
mentioned me to him.
145
Not long after this I was taken with a violent pain in
my bones; which at first I took for a cold. But it in-
creased to that degree that I could not walk without
crutches. This disease continued three months succes-
sively, and then I began to have large boils or blotches
break out all over my body; my neighbours soon per-
ceived it was the colah or yaws; and Rer Vove sent me
to a Virzimber's house on the banks of Mernee, in order
for a cure. They took the bark of a tree, of which I
do not recollect the name, steeping it in water. With
this they washed and bathed me every day, which in a
few weeks made my bones much easier; and in a few
weeks more the blotches died, and wore away; after
which I recovered my strength apace. I lived with
these Virzimbers in all about six months.
These people are almost of a different species from
the others. Their heads are of a peculiar shape, the
hinder part and the forehead are almost as flat as a
trencher: but this I imagine to be unnatural, for it is
framed thus by a daily pressure of their children from
the cradle. Their hair is neither so long nor so woolly
as that of the other nations. Their religion, likewise, is
widely distant from other people's. They have no owleys
in their houses, but pay an awful regard to the new
moon, and to several animals ; namely, a cock, a lizard,
and the like. Whether they think these creatures have
spirits or not, or demons that attend them, I cannot
determine; for whenever they discoursed among them-
selves, it was in a peculiar language, to which I was so
much a stranger, that I was not able to give a sufficient
284
THE ADVENTURES OF
reason for these particulars. When they seat them-
selves to their meals, they take a bit of meat, and throw
it over their heads, saying, "There's a bit for the spirit."
In the next place, they cut four little bits more and
throw to the sovereigns or rulers of the four quarters of
the earth. This is the constant practice of such as have
any regard to religious ceremonies, but there are too
many who neglect it, as some in Europe, and look on
saying grace at their meals, as an idle fashion. They
dress their victuals much more agreeably than the other
people; for they always boil plantains or potatoes with
their meat, and make good soup, and well thickened as
they do in Europe.
They make curious earthenware, such as pots, dishes,
and jugs, glazing them both within and without; and
are very ingenious artificers in many other particulars.
Though their ingenuity was superior, yet I could not
perceive they ever formed themselves into regular king-
doms, or into large commonwealths, but herded toge-
ther in towns; each town being a distinct and independ
ent republic, which too often produced quarrels and
bloodshed, one little town standing in opposition to
another. There being no general law or government
which could settle their just claims, or determine any
unhappy dissensions between one town and another;
till they in this part made Rer Trimmonongarevo their
patron and protector, whilst others put their whole
confidence in deaan Tokeoffu. There are more of them
as I have heard, in other parts of the island, scattered
up and down, who shift their habitations; which these
were wont to do formerly. 'Tis no easy matter to de-
termine whether these are not the original natives, or
first inhabitants of the land. I observed here, that dif-
ference in religion was looked upon as no crime, nor
any offence to one another. Moreover, that they, like
the others, have no priests.
Having now in great measure recovered my strength,
I began to reflect on the misery of returning to my for-
mer slavery; and for that reason, after some conflict
with myself, I determined to run the risk of throwing
ROBERT DRURY.
285
myself at Rer Moume's feet, to beg his protection, be
the consequence what it would; death being preferable
to perpetual slavery. Having imbibed this notion, I
desired my landlord one morning to put me over the
water in his canoe; for I would willingly pay a visit to
a friend on that side, it not being above two hours' walk
to Rer Moume's town.
At my arrival I found him sitting under a kind of
pent-house, with his wives round about him. I laid
down, and licked his feet, then rising upon my knees,
I lifted up my hands, and sued to him for mercy and
protection from the ill treatment of my master Rer
Vove; he having made the most abject slave of me, for
only desiring a friend to beg of him to sell me (not to
make a present of me) to my own countrymen; that I
might see my dear parents once more, from whom I had
been absent so many years. My master insisted that
I was his slave, his prisoner of war, though I was there
no otherwise than Will. was here, a poor unhappy
creature wandering about till I could find an opportu-
nity to get to my native country, and was no enemy of
his, neither was I taken in arms. Should you deliver
me up to him, he would doubtless kill me, and there will
be an end of all my sorrows; but I live in hopes of
finding mercy from you. I soon perceived that my
mournful tale affected him; for the tears stood in his
eyes, and some of the women actually wept. He bid
me rise, and be assured that he would not deliver me
up to Rer Vove. "Should my kinsman (says he) want
slaves to do his work (though I know the contrary) I
will send him two or three in your stead. Be not
afraid, I wil! both protect and provide for you." Then
turning to one of his consorts, "Here Ry Anzacker," says
he, "do you from henceforth be Robin's mother; and
take care he wants for nothing. All I shall desire of
you (said he to me) will be to look after my chest of
arms, which are a hundred or more in number; and
see that my flints and shot are all kept in order, and
you shall have servants too to do the work." Then call-
ing a slave, he gave him directions to build me a house
286
THE ADVENTURES OF
next to my mother's within the palisade. In two days
I was a housekeeper. Ry Anzacker proved very kind
to me, and I never walked out without my gun in my
hand like a freeman.
In a few days after several messengers came from
Rer Vove to Rer Moume. I was by when, in their
lord's name, they demanded his white slave. Rer
Moume examined them first, to know if what I had told
was matter of fact; and when he found it was, "I am
sorry (said he) my kinsman is so rash and thoughtless
a young man to act after this manner. Did any one
ever see before a white man a slave to a black man's
cook-slave; unless it was among the worst of brutes in
that unpolished country Anterndroea? It was a very
unjust thing to force him from Feraignher; and when
he was here, it would have been the part of a wise and
honest man to have presented Robin to the English
captain, and made a merit of taking care of him. In
so doing he had done a generous action, and it would
have reflected an honour on himself, and on us all. He
should recollect the many benefits we have received
from the English, and that we were insulted by all our
neighbours, till they furnished us with arms. Here,
take this woman-slave, and give her to him; she is able
to do more service than Robin, in case he wants work
from him. As for my part, I shall make no slave of
him, I'll assure you; he may go when he will, and live
where he will; even with Rer Vove, if he thinks proper;
and does not care to live with me. However, I shall
not consent to that, unless I am well satisfied of his
being more courteously treated. Here, take the woman
in his stead." They came again the next day with the
woman, and renewed their yesterday's demand; to
which he gave an answer in direct terms, that they
should not have me.
I was treated here in a most courteous manner by all
the king's wives; but particularly by my mother, Ry
Anzacker; they taking great delight in the many stories
I told them of my misfortunes and adventures. I used
requently to go with Rer Moume to a spacious lake
ROBERT DRURY.
287
which had islands in it, several miles round, called the
Kereendea. This place was formerly drowned by the
Mernee's breaking its banks. Rer Moume was always
carried in a vehicle, not much unlike a sedan; and had
a canoe large enough to hold twenty men, in which
was a seat made on purpose for him, he not being able
to sit, as other people did, upon the floor. Several
other canoes of ten and five hands, and some small
ones of two, used to accompany him. Our principal
employments were fishing and fowling; in which the
Virzimbers are very dexterous, making nets of various
kinds, and also fishhooks for angling, which was Rer
Moume's favourite diversion. His son, Rer Chulu,
would often divert himself with killing alligators; and
the weapon he generally used was a harpoon, with a
head fixed on it, and a rope fastened to the steel and
staff both. Being thus furnished with tackle, they pad-
dle along the water towards the alligator, whom they
generally espy at a distance; for they keep their noses
above water, and appear like a floating cake of cow-
dung. When they come within ten or a dozen yards
of him, he sinks to the bottom, and crawls a good way
before he stops; but his path is discovered by a bubble
that rises up, and where it stands they strike; for they
will lie flat on their bellies with their sides pressed out,
where they hear a noise; so that they are often stabbed
with the harpoon. Though should it light on their
backs, or heads, it will make no more impression than
it would on a rock. The Virzimbers make a net of
ropes, with large meshes, and with these they some-
times take them; they also take them with snares made
of spring-sticks, which draw up a noose in a rope;
these they place at the mouth of a rivulet, or small
canal. And by these methods I have known Rer Chulu
and his company kill twenty or thirty alligators in a day.
Rer Moume made me a present of three cows, which
calved in four months. He asked me why I did not
marry? I told him I could not well maintain a wife,
and that at present I lived very well, and much better
than I could with a woman to provide for. He said,
·
289
THE ADVENTURES OF
it was not looked upon as decent for a man to live
single; and as for her maintenance, I'll not only put
in your power to do that, but recommend one to you
likewise. So as I perceived he was serious, I was soon
persuaded; but with this proviso, that he should not
compel the woman, but ask her consent, and leave it to
her own choice; to which he readily agreed. So send-
ing for one who was an attendant on my mother, he
opened the case to her and told her she should be my
wife if she thought fit; and bid her speak her mind
freely; for he did not intend she should submit to it
through any compulsion. But with an air of cheerful-
ness she said she approved of the motion. Upon this
Ry Anzacker took her back again, to dress her up very
fine with beads, and a new silk lamber, &c., and pre-
sented her to me. I desired that the prince would
make a formal marriage of it, by taking hold of her
hand first; and then asking us both, if we gave our
mutual consent? And then by giving her hand into
mine: all which he readily gratified me in, with abun-
dance of affability and good nature, and was very
merry; as the women were, likewise, according to cus-
tom on such occasions. The ladies attended us home,
but not empty handed; for they gave us a large quan-
tity of such kind of furniture as we principally wanted.
The prince too gave me the day following a plantation
with rice and potatoes, &c. growing upon it, and fit to
dig. He gave me, moreover, a slave, a boy about six-
teen years of age; and in a short time, he sent me with
others to fetch away some cattle from a man, who, upon
examination before him, had been found guilty of steal-
ing several from his neighbours; for which facts he was
fined twenty beeves. This was the first time I was ever
sent on such an errand, though not the last; and people
of the best rank are fond of this employment; for they
never fail of a good present for their trouble. He gave
me, likewise, a cow with her calf, and a young bull of
three years old. Whenever I went on any such occa-
sions afterwards, I never had less than one beast for
my labour, and sometimes two; so that I grew rich and
ROBERT DRURY.
289
sent most of my cattle four miles off, agreeing with a
man to give him the tithe calf of such as he should rear
for me, keeping three cows only at home for milk. So
that now I lived as happily as the country could afford
me; nay, so much to my satisfaction, that had I not a
desire to see my parents once again, I question whether
I should ever have taken any pains to get to England;
and even when I wished for it, I was perfectly easy;
since I was assured that Will. Thornbury would inform
my friends where I was, and how the world went with
me.
Some months after this, Rer Vove sent word that he
purposed to pay his uncle a visit; upon which I went
directly to Rer Moume, and told him, I was going for
three or four days to pay my respects to his son Rer
Chemunghoher. "I know (said Rer Moume) what you
mean, but you have no occasion to fear Rer Vove; for
he shall never have you against your will." And at the
same time he persuaded me to stay and see him, which
I did. After some previous discourse about business,
and they had drunk a cup or two of toake together, he
cast his eyes on me, and told his uncle he was surprised
that he should use him in so uncivil a manner, as to
detain his slave. Rer Moume replied, he was not con-
scious of keeping any slave of his from him, and if he
would nominate the person, he should be instantly re-
stored. "Why there he stands," says Rer Vove. "
I hope
(says the uncle) you don't mean Robin, the white man.
Is he a slave of yours? I am ashamed of your impru-
dence to say so.
Is it not to the white men, but more
especially to his countrymen, the English, that we are
indebted for the riches we enjoy? We, who formerly
were insulted by the Amboerlambo people, and other
nations around us, are by these Englishmen's guns made
too powerful for them; and by the beads, looking-
glasses, &c., which they bring in plenty, our late ene-
mies are fond of our friendship and traffic. And don't
you think it a fine story for Will. to tell, that one of his
countrymen, who happened to be shipwrecked in this
country, was made a slave of by a black lord of Moran-
2 c
290
THE ADVENTURES OF
·
davo? But to satisfy you that I don't treat him like a
slave, he is at his liberty to go this moment where he
pleases; and take his wife, his slave, and his cattle with
him; nay, back with you, if you can prevail on him so
to do; and give me your word and honour that you
will make him a freeman." After this manner he argued
with his nephew, and reproached him with indiscretion
as well as inhumanity, by treating a man in distress
with too much severity, till he convinced him of his
mistake; insomuch that he desired I would come and
see him in the evening, which I did. At my entrance
into the house I licked his knee as a testimony of my
respect; but not his feet, to let him see that I knew I
was a freeman. He used many arguments to induce
me to live with him, and made me very large promises;
which, probably, he might have performed: for he was
no vile person, but only too rash and inconsiderate.
He also set Guy to influence me, if possible, who made
use of one engaging argument; namely, that Rer Vove
intended to travel into the dominions of other princes,
out of curiosity to see their various manners and cus-
toms. I told Guy the true reason why I would not
consent to it; which was that I was much nearer the
sea now than when with them; and that I did not ques-
tion but Rer Moume would send me home by the first
ship that came. After this I sat and drank toake with
them, then took my leave, and was returning homeward,
but Rer Vove followed me and desired I would never
mention his amour with his kinsman's wife; which I
assured him I never would whilst I lived in the country;
and so we parted good friends. It will not be impro-
per, I presume, to make one cursory remark here,
which is, that this gay young gentleman was highly to
be commended for so readily conceding to his uncle's
arguments, attending to what he said with reverence,
and being convinced by reason.
Thus I lived with Rer Moume as easy and happy as
he could possibly make me; and the only misfortune
that now attended me, was my residence in a foreign
country. But my hard destiny had still one melan-
ROBERT DRURY.
29 I
choly scene or danger more to affright me with before
I left this island; and it was as horrible and shocking
to human nature, as any I had hitherto undergone; and
the more so, because altogether unexpected, not only
by myself, but by every one else; which was thus intro-
duced. There lived at Moherbo, one Francisco, an in-
offensive man, born in the East Indies, of Portuguese
parents; but as black as most of them. He had lived
here many years to his satisfaction, never proposing to
remove from off the island; he had been taken by pi-
rates, who, at his request, set him ashore. This man,
though a surgeon (as he said) by profession, had a
mechanical head, especially to carpenters' and joiners'
business, and had furnished himself with tools for his
purpose; and used frequently to oblige the princes and
lords with making them chests, &c. Rer Moume sent
and desired him to get leave of Rer Trimmonongarevo
to come and make him one; which he did. As this ar-
tificer spoke the Madagascar language freely, we were
agreeable companions. He told me, as part of his se-
cret history, that he was violently in love with a young
woman, whose parents, though they were not inclined
to the match, did not positively give him a denial.
After he had stayed here nearly two months, and finished
what Rer Moume had to do, he was dismissed with a
generous reward.
When he had been some months at home, with Rer
Moume's leave I went to visit him at Moherbo, and
found him very ill and melancholy, his mistress in his
absence having married another person, which he took
to heart. He had made her several presents during
his courtship, and received her promise of marriage,
which, on his ill treatment, he demanded of her parents
again, and on their refusal complained to the king; he
being in esteem and always near his person. His
request was rejected, the king saying, he would never
compel parents to dispose of their children against
their inclinations. Upon which, Francisco said indis-
creetly in the king's hearing, that as soon as he was
recovered of his illness, he would leave Moherbo, and
2 c 2
292
THE ADVENTURES OF
live under Rer Moume. I had been here but a few
days before he began to gather strength, and then he
and I went to the king's court. As I was standing by
him the king cast an angry eye upon me, and asked,
who that white man was with his gun upon his shoul-
der? Francisco answered, "It is Rer Moume's white
man, who came to give me a visit." "Is it so," said he,
"then I know what he wants. Come hither. What is
your business here, pray?" I, being conscious of his
barbarous disposition, answered in a faint and trem-
bling voice, "Only to visit my sick friend." "Yes," replied
the king, "your friend there, in my hearing, said he
would go to your master Rer Moume, as soon as he
was recovered, and I suppose you are come to con-
duct him thither; but I will spoil your project. Here,
Mesoro," calling to the officer, "take this white slave to
the place of execution, despatch him presently and
bring his gun to me." The people were struck with
surprise as well as myself; however, I was led out for
execution, and multitudes followed me, some of whom
desired to shake hands with me, and take their leave
of me, which the executioner permitted. I was so
shocked with the tiger-like leap which this savage
brute made at my life, that I became stupid, not know-
ing whether I was in a dream, till I came to the place
of execution, where I saw the bones of several wretches
lie unburied. Rousing from my lethargy, I began to
weep piteously, and to pray to God to receive my soul.
What a shocking turn of fortune was this! that one
who but some few minutes before was surrounded by
his friends, one whose mind was innocent and free
from evil, whose actions were inoffensive, and of
whom no man could justly complain, should, in a mo-
ment, be doomed to die an ignominious death by the
hands of a common executioner, like a vile malefactor,
on no other account, than to gratify the resentment of
an old, doating, choleric savage. While I was thus
bemoaning my hard fate, and the people pitying my
deplorable case, instead of falling on the monster, and
freeing themselves and me from his tyranny, a voice
ROBERT DRURY.
293
was heard at a distance, "Stay, stay, don't kill Robin."
The words were soon repeated, and the messenger came
forward with orders to bring me back; at which the
people gave a general shout for joy. When I came
before the king, not only his principal wife, but the
rest of them were on their knees, with tears in their
eyes; nay, some men too were expostulating with him,
telling him he would bring irretrievable ruin and deso-
lation on his country; the fatal effects of which his
great grandchildren would certainly feel, when the
white men should hear of his barbarity to one of their
countrymen, who had done nothing to deserve it. This,
at length, assuaged the heat of his fury; telling me I
might thank my friends, or I had been dog's meat by
this time. However," says he, "I will mortify your
pride still."
"Here," says he to three men, "take him
fettered as he is, and carry him and his gun to Rer
Moume, and pray tell my son I expect he should treat
him like a a slave as he is, and not let him strut about
like a lord, with his gun upon his shoulder." Here-
upon, I fell prostrate on the ground and licked his
feet, the people making signs to me so to do. Upon
this he bid me thank his women; I then paid my respects
to Ry Chemotoea and two or three more, and did so
with all sincerity, for it was to their entreaties I owed
my life.
We went directly on our journey, and every town
we passed through, the people asked with astonishment,
what crime the white man had been guilty of, that he
should be thus bound? To whom my guard without
palliating the case in the king's favour told the truth,
for which every one seemed to pity me, and resent the
king's ill usage of me. At night when we came to lie
down to rest, they asked me whether I would have my
hands untied or not? I asked them what were their
orders; they said, "their orders were to keep me bound."
"Then," said I," though it is somewhat painful to me, yet
you shall not hazard your lives for my ease."
So I lay
as well as I could all night, and the next day travelled
in the same manner; every now and then looking be-
J
2 c 3
294
THE ADVENTURES OF
hind me with fear, lest he should change his mind, and
send some one after us to despatch me, for I could not
think myself safe till I saw Rer Moume again.
As we walked along, my guards told me I was the
first who ever returned alive from the place of execu-
tion; which I could not but impute to an all-wise and
overruling Providence. They told me likewise, that he
stabbed one of his chief wives, though when his passion
was over he repented it, for yielding to an effort of
nature, whilst his head was in her lap with intention to
sleep. Another instance of his inhumanity, though at-
tended with some justice, was, in ordering one of his own
sons to be extended on a mat, and his throat to be cut
before his face, for being too free with one of his wives.
We could not reach to our journey's end this evening
by two hours' walk, so we rested, and the next morning
we set out early and arrived safely at our town; where
the people were all surprised to see me thus bound and
guarded. Some ran before to inform the prince, who,
before we came within his palisade, was sitting with
his wives and several others round about him in great
expectation. As soon as the men were seated, they
told their message; I stood all the while with my hands
bound behind me. After he had examined into the
affair, and found how the case was, his countenance
fell, the tears one while stood in his eyes as he viewed
me with pity; anon he frowned with indignation, the
women too shared in my distress. "And is this all,"
says he, "the poor man has been so severely used for?
Robin, come hither, I will show you how much I
regard my father's advice in this case." Upon which
he unloosed my hands, and ordered one of his attend-
ants to fetch him a fine silk lamber, which he would
make me put on directly; then taking my gun from
the men, he gave it me again; and made me a present
besides of six cows. I told him the messengers had
been very civil to me, for which he not only thanked
them, but made them a present of an ox.
father, I own," says he, "who has done this: for that rea-
son I shall restrain my resentment and say little of it;
"It is my
ROBERT DRURY.
295
but had any other man, though a near relation, nay,
my own son, acted in this manner, he should have felt
the weight of my anger." My wife came and licked my
feet, expressing both her concern for my ill treatment,
and her joy for my return. This was about fifteen
months from the first time I came to Rer Moume.
I was now possessed of nearly thirty head of cattle,
and lived in affluence and ease.
I killed a young
bullock, and the part I kept to myself I flead, and
salted after the English mode; of the tallow I made as
good candles as I could. That part which I gave to
my neighbours had the skin on, for we have the same
friendly customs here as in other parts of the island,
neither do their manners differ, except in the idle cus
tom of the royal families killing cattle. Here they eat
swine's flesh, and think it as good as other provision.
Rer Chulu kept a pack of dogs on purpose to hunt
wild boars, but they are not of the hound kind. Their
religion is the same exactly, and their superstitious
regard to unlucky days and hours, implicitly believing
all the umossee tells them; insomuch, that numbers of
poor children are privately murdered, who are born on
an Alhaida or a Jumor, which are Sunday and Friday;
for when I came on board the ship, I carefully remarked
how the days answered with ours; and found that
Alhaida was Sunday; Alletenine, Monday; Talewter,
Tuesday; Alarrerbere, Wednesday; Comemeeshey,
Thursday; Jumor, Friday; and Sarbuchee, Saturday.
Though these denominations are used throughout the
island, yet they regard no one day more than another,
only as they imagine some to be lucky and others un-
lucky, for they have no notion of a sabbath amongst
them. Rer Moume, having lost the use of his limbs,
sent all over the island for the most famous umossees
he could hear of, to consult with them for relief; they
being physicians as well as prophets. One of them,
during my stay here, confined him for two months,
bathing, sweating, and cupping him to little or no
purpose; however, he made him ample satisfaction
296
THE ADVENTURES OF
for his trouble, as he did all others who did him any
service.
I lived with Rer Moume about two years and a half
in all, at the end of which term, news was brought that
two ships were arrived at Yong-Owl to trade. I was
overjoyed to hear it, and flattered myself that W.
Thornbury had not forgotten me. They stayed there
several days, and slaves were sent to be sold, and guns
and other goods were returned for them. I was at a
loss how to break my mind to Rer Moume, hoping he
would say something to me of his own accord; but as
I was sitting with him one evening, two men came in
with a basket of palmetto leaves sewed up, and deli-
vered it to the prince; who opened it and finding a
letter, asked the men, what they meant by giving him
that? "The captain," they said, "gave it us for your
white man; but we thought proper to let you see it
first."
“Here,
"Pray," says he, "give it him all."
Robin, your countrymen have sent you a present,
what it is I don't know, but to me it seems of very
little value." Accordingly I took the basket, and with
the letter there were pens, ink, and paper, in order for
my returning an answer. The superscription was this:
"To Robert Drury, on the island of Madagascar.”
I was so astonished, that at first I had not power to
open it, concluding I was in a dream; but at length,
recovering my surprise, and after a little recollection I
opened it, and found it came from captain William
Macket. The contents whereof were to the effect fol-
lowing:-
"That he had a letter on board from my father, with
full instructions as well from him as his owners, to
purchase my liberty let it cost what it would. And in
case I could not possibly come down myself, to send
him word the reason of it, and what measures he should
take to serve me."
Rer Moume perceived that my countenance changed
ROBERT DRURY.
297
whilst I was reading the letter, and asked me what was
the matter? I told him, that the captain desired to
speak with me, and that my father had sent for me
home, and hoped that he would please to give his con-
sent. "How do you know all this?" says the prince,
CC
can you conjure?" Then turning to the messengers,
"Have you, pray, heard any thing like this?" "Yes," said
they, "it is all the discourse at the seaside, that Robin's
father sent both these ships for him, and more than all
this, the king your father expects him there with your
leave, and desires to see him before he goes to the ship."
Rer Moume took the letter, and turning it over and
over said, he had heard of such methods of conveying
intelligence to one another, but never actually saw it
before, and could not conceive which way it could be
done without conjuration. I endeavoured to demon-
strate to him, as well as I could, how we learned in
our infancy the characters first, and then we put them
together. "But," says he, "I presume you have no incli-
nation to leave us now, since you live here so much at
your ease; you have several cattle and a slave, and if
you shall want more you shall have them, you shall
have too as many wives as you please, and be a great
man." I begged him to make my case his own, and
that he would please to consider whether he should not
be desirous of seeing his parents and native country,
had he been absent so long as I had? "I think I should,"
he said, "and therefore I will take it into consideration,
and ask my wives' advice about it, and give an answer
in the morning."
My readers may easily imagine what a night of
disorder this was to my mind, agitated with hopes on
one hand and with fears on the other; however, I took
care to attend him as soon as ever he was stirring, and
seated with his wives about him. After he had looked
steadfastly on me for some time, "Robin," says he, "I
have opened your affair to my wives here, and your
mother Ry Anzackar, and one or two more, consent to
your going, but the rest are all against it; however,
let them speak for themselves, it is out of respect to
298
THE ADVENTURES OF
you that they are desirous you should continue amongst
them." Upon this, I turned towards them, and without
waiting to hear what they had to offer, begged them to
consider, as they were mothers, whether or no, if a
child of theirs was in a strange country, they should
not have an earnest inclination to see him, and he
them? Hereupon the prince told me, if I was willing
to stay, he would all along, as he had hitherto done,
treat me like his own son, but he would not make use
of compulsion, so that if I was resolutely bent on going
he would dismiss me. Moreover, he told me, that my
slave should go with me; that as to my cattle, they
were mine to dispose of as I pleased. I replied, if
he was so good as not to take my cattle from me,
though they were in fact his own, they might still re-
main there as they were marked for mine; for I was
fully determined to make one voyage more here, in
hopes of having it in my power to make him some
amends for the great care he had taken of me, by
bringing a ship to traffic with him; (and in this I was
very sincere, and afterwards as good as my word.) I
asked him if he thought proper to demand any con-
sideration of the captain for my freedom. He answered,
nothing; but if my friends would make him a present
of a good gun, he should accept of the favour, and call
it Robin in remembrance of me. This noble, generous
answer, and so prince-like, gave me such transports of
joy, that I immediately kneeled down, and licked his
feet with the utmost sincerity, as justly thinking I
could never express my gratitude enough to this good,
this indulgent prince. Ile would not dismiss me
instantly, but did in a day or two after; and ordered
the messengers to be taken care of in the mean time.
When the day of my departure came, I had one re-
maining difficulty to get over, and that was the parting
with my wife, the women of the prince's family, and
himself, which I did with as much reluctance, as when
I left my natural parents at my departure from them;
and they discovered an equally tender affection for me
he would not, however, let us go empty-handed, but
ROBERT DRURY.
290
ordered an ox for our subsistence on our journey, and
appointed likewise two of his own people to accompany
the other two; and then we set forward.
I had yet one suspicious circumstance still to pass
over, and that was to call on Rer Trimmonongarevo :
this gave me no small uneasiness; but when we came
near Moherbo, we were informed that he was gone to
a place within an hour's walk of the seaside. As soon
as I approached him, he instantly made an apology
for his too warm constitution, and confessed that he
had sometimes done mischief in his passion, but hoped
I would excuse him for what had passed; and said he
was loth to let me go till the ship was near upon sailing,
lest I should prove detrimental to the trade. I told
him, I had no complaint to make, since his son had
been so indulgent to me; and that if he pleased to
dismiss me at my friend's request, they would take it
as a favour; but should he detain me, when they knew
I was so near, I did not know what ill consequences
might ensue thereupon. He kept me, however, this
night, but dismissed me with his blessing the next
morning; praying that God and the demons would
be my guardians, and send me safely to my native
country. So I licked his feet and took my last farewell
of him, and of this odd and filthy custom likewise.
When I came down to the seaside, the first man
who spoke to me was William Purser, my old ac-
quaintance in Feraignher; he came away to live in
more security and plenty, as well as several others;
and was at this time interpreter for the trade. Here
were several houses, but such as the English call huts,
erected by the inhabitants at a small distance from the
factory, for the more commodious selling of milk and
other provisions. There I met Mr. Hill, the steward
of the Drake, captain Macket's ship, and two or three
more of their crew, who took me for a wild man; and
in a letter he sent off by a canoe to the captain, he told
him the wild Englishman was come. I desired Wil-
liam Purser to inform them that I could speak but
little English; and though by the conversation I had
300
THE ADVENTURES OF
with William Thornbury I had regained some, yet I
was frequently puzzled for words to speak freely for
several days. Captain Macket soon came on shore,
and captain Bloom with him, for here were two ships,
the Drake and the Sarah. I gazed at them as intently
as if I had never seen a white man dressed before;
and what added to the wildness of my appearance,
was, that I had nothing on but my lamber; my skin
being swarthy and full of freckles, and my hair long
and matted together, I really made a frightful figure;
but they soon restored me to my original form, Mr.
Hill cut my hair off, and ordered me to be shaved, and
dressed in a neat seaman's habit, light and fit for the
country. The captain asked me what ransom was
expected for my freedom? I told him nothing but a
gun for a present, to be kept in remembrance of me.
He thereupon picked out a handsome and very good
Buccaneer gun, as also some powder, flints, and case
of spirits, as a present to Rer Moume. He gave like-
wise knives and beads to his two men, and a small
gun to the messengers who went for me. For my own
part, I presented the captain with my slave Anthony.
After this he gave me the following letter from my
father.
"To Robert Drury, on the island of Madagascar.
“Loughborough, February 27th, 1715.
"Son Robert Drury,
"I am informed by one Mr. Thornbury, that he left
you in health on the island of Madagascar, which I
was glad to hear; my very good friend, Mr. Terry,
hath a friend, commander of a ship, the bearer hereof,
that hath promised to do all he can to get you your
liberty; I therefore desire you to do the captain all the
service you can in the country; and so doing you will
oblige our good friend Mr. Terry, and your ever-loving
father till death,
"JOHN DRURY."
About three days after I went on board; but the sea
and change of diet made me very sick for some time;
after which the two captains went to Rer Trimmonon-
ROBERT DRURY.
301
garevo, and I with them, in order to settle some matters
in relation to the trade. It is a general custom all over
the island for the king of each place to make terms,
and settle one universal price, to which all the people
are obliged to conform; and this method is, doubtless,
not only very commodious, but prevents all quarrels
and disorders. They presented the king with a fine
gun, gilt and japanned. I was the interpreter, and
though I carried on the correspondence, my dress had
so altered me in these few days' time, that he had no
notion who I was, till upon inquiry who that English-
man was who spake so well their language, he was
told it was Robin.
A few days after, there came messengers from Rer
Moume, desiring the captains to come up the river
Mernee, for he had a great many slaves to sell, but
being lame he could not take a long journey; however,
he would come down to the banks of that river, to a
town near enough for trade. It was agreed that the
Sarah should go, so they ordered a long boat out to
sound before them; I went on board, and we sailed
with a gentle gale, but could find no convenient har-
bour or road in the mouth of the Mernee; however,
there was a convenient place for anchoring, in a salt-
water river, about three leagues on this side; from
whence the two captains and myself went up in the
boat a considerable way, till a canoe took us in and
carried us to the town, where Rer Moume with his
wives and people were waiting for us. Until I kneeled
and kissed his knee, he did not know me, for my
behaviour and grateful acknowledgments for his past
favours, he and they soon recollected me, and were
extremely glad to see me. Here we continued five days
successively, bought all the slaves they had, and agreed
to send our long boat once a week as long as we stayed;
and then they went on board, weighed anchor, and re-
turned to their former road at Yong-Owl, where there
arrived that very day a third ship, that belonged to the
same owners, called the Mercury, captain White com-
mander; he had eight or nine natives of Dillagoe in
2 D
302
THE ADVENTURES OF
Africa on board him, who lived very merrily; they were
all freemen, and went with him the whole voyage, six of
whom lived to see their native country the next voyage he
took, in which I was with him. Soon after this a ketch
came in, which was fitted out in order to cruise off the
coast, and be serviceable in several affairs; captain Henry
Macket, the captain's brother, was the commander of
her; another ship was still expected, but she did not
arrive till we were at Masseleege, otherwise called
Munnongaro; they now agreed to separate for the
more speedy despatch of business. Captain Bloom
accordingly had his choice, which was to go to Port
Dauphine, and captain Macket to Masseleege, where
we arrived in a week's time, and went several leagues
up a great river, called Munnonbaugher; we had a
fisherman for our pilot, who informed us that the
king's town was but about three hours' journey up the
country. The captain asked me, if I would venture
to go there; I readily answered, that I would, and that
I was not apprehensive of any danger; so the fisher-
man setting us ashore we went forward. Before we
had gone far from the shore, the fisherman told me the
king was gone out to war. Whereupon I flew into a
great passion, asking him why he imposed upon us;
he said the king's wives would trade with us. I told
him, we did not want provisions; and as for slaves
they had no authority to dispose of them. The man,
however, prevailed on me to go to their town, assuring
me that four white men lived there, who came from the
island of St. Mary's. "Then, I presume, they are
robbers of ships," said I. "No," he replied,
now, for they have lived there several years; their
names are captain Burgess, Zachary, John Pro, and
Nick." So I walked forwards with my gun on my
shoulder, and the man carried another. I had also
several knives and beads, which the captain gave me
to buy provisions with, though I knew how to live
without buying any victuals, yet I took them, as thinking
they would be agreeable presents.
·
When I arrived at the town, a man ran before and
•
"not
ROBERT DRURY.
303
informed the king's head consort, whom I shall call
queen, that a ship was arrived, and that one of the
white men was coming to see her. At my arrival, a
mat was ready placed for me to sit down on; no sooner
was I seated, than I heard the queen ask for some of
the white men to be interpreters between us, and one
ran that moment to fetch them. I soon convinced her,
however, that I wanted no assistants, and delivered my
message, as ambassador from the captain, saying, “I
was afraid no trade could be carried on, as the king was
absent." She said, "she expected him in a fortnight,
and as there was a great number of slaves to be sold, she
desired me to prevail on the captain to stay till his
return." By this time, came in two white men abreast,
making a formidable and hostile figure; upon which I
cocked my gun, laid the other by me, and planted my-
self directly before them. One was John Pro, a Dutch-
man, who spoke good English; he was dressed in a
short coat with broad plate-buttons, and other things
answerable, but without either shoes or stockings. In
his sash, he had stuck a brace of pistols, and held one
in his hand. The other was in an English dress, and
had two pistols in his sash, and one in his hand, like
his companion; they spoke to me in English, with the
usual compliment, which I returned; but Nick looked
me wishfully in the face, and after a short pause, took
hold of my hand, saying, "Robert Drury, how have
you done these many years? My name is Nicholas
Dove," said he, "I am one of the four boys who were
saved with you when our ship's company were massa-
cred in Anterndroea; and the very same of whom no
tidings could be given in the conference between deaan
Crindo and king Samuel." Upon this, I went home
with them after I had finished with the queen, in order
to know whether captain Macket would think proper
to stay so long or not. John Pro assured me it would
certainly be well worth his while; that there were a
great number of slaves whom they wanted to dispose
of; that the king, deaan Toke-offu, was a very honest
fair-dealing man, as well as a great prince, and would
2 D 2
301
THE ADVENTURES OF
return in a short time, though not so soon, he feared,
as the queen said. They were gone to encounter with
a king to the northward, and about five or six thousand
of them went all the way up the river in canoes, that
were large enough to contain about thirty men a piece,
with their proper accommodations in them, to make
fires and dress victuals, and such as I had never seen
any where else. I wrote a letter to the captain the next
morning, and sent it by the fisherman, in which I gave
him a full and particular account of what had passed.
In his answer, he desired me to send some men to carry
him up to the town on their shoulders, in a hammock
affixed to two poles.
John Pro lived in a very decent manner, and his
house was furnished with pewter dishes, a standing-bed
with curtains, and all other things of the like nature,
except chairs; a chest or two, however, served for that
use well enough. He had an outhouse on purpose for
his cook-room, and cook-slave's lodging, storehouse,
and summer house; all these were enclosed in a pali-
sade, as most of the great men's houses are in this
country; for he was rich, had many cattle, and several
slaves. Nicholas Dove, indeed, was not near so rich.
In the evening came captain Burgess and Zachary: I
soon understood that these were the sloop's crew, to
which Arnold and Eglasse the Dutchman belonged;
and, therefore, gave them the best account I could of
their fortune in Feraignher.
Nicholas Dove, however, told me more than I knew
before, viz.-That he ran away and got to Port Dau-
phine; that after the expiration of two years, he got to
Mattatanna Road, in a large canoe, and there entered
himself on board a pirate, that cruised principally
among the Moors, from whom they frequently took
great riches, and carried them to St. Mary's. This
place having a good harbour, they made it their settle-
ment and general rendezvous. It is a small island,
but three leagues from Madagascar, in the latitude
of 16 deg. 33 min. south; but as their ship grew
old and crazy, and none of the Moorish ships, which
ROBERT DRURY.
305
they had taken, were fit for their business, they being
also vastly rich, they removed to Madagascar, made
one Thomas Collins, a carpenter, their governor, and
built a small fort, which they defended with their
ship's guns; but here they led most licentious and pro-
fligate lives, stealing whatever they could come at, and
ravishing the wives and daughters of the natives: living
by this means for some time in a state of perpetual war.
Upon this, I could not forbear reflecting that deaan
Mernaugha was not so much to be blamed in ordering
Eglasse to be killed for threatening him; since he had,
doubtless, a competent knowledge by some means or
another, to what a crew of vile abandoned wretches he
once belonged. Nicholas Dove said, they had not gone
out a pirating for nine years successively, contenting
themselves with building a sloop by this governor's
assistance, and soon after left him and others, and set-
tled here, where they had continued ever since. By
him I understood that Mr. Bembo got safe to England;
but captain Drummond was killed before he could get
off the island, though the particular manner and occa-
sion, he could not inform me; but they told me one
remarkable piece of news, namely,-that this captain
Drummond was the very man, for whose murder, and
his crews, one captain Green, commander of an East-
India ship, was hanged in Scotland; whether it be
truth or not, I cannot determine. All I know of the
case I have already related, and can only observe, that
the time, the name, and the circumstances of his being
here, where no news of him could be had for several
years, give just grounds for the supposition. But to
return to my history.

The queen sent me a calf for a present, and I in re-
turn, gave her a few knives and beads; I went to the
shore with John Pro, to welcome the captain to the
town. His surgeon, one Mr. Strahan, was with him.
The queen entertained them as elegantly as she could,
and mutual presents passed in form.
We returned that evening to the ship, and built a
house the next day for the more commodious carrying
2 D 3
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THE ADVENTURES OF
on of trade. The natives perceiving we were deter-
mined to stay, they built several others near it, to ac-
commodate us with rice, milk, fruits, and other neces-
saries. I went frequently up to the town to hear what
news I could, but it was a month or more before the
people came back from the wars; they came down the
river in canoes, as they went up, and met with great
success. At length the king arrived with the corpse of
his brother, who was killed in the fight. He deferred
his burial for nearly a fortnight, till he had settled all
his affairs with us, and had given audience likewise to
his brother's ambassadors, who were waiting for him.
As soon as captain Macket heard of his return, he
came up to town again with a large retinue, and his
trumpeter sounding before him. They went to J. Pro's
house whilst I attended on the king, with whom I had
some very familiar conversation, as he had often heard
of me; in the conclusion whereof, he told me that he
desired the captain's patience till he had sent for his
people about him, and put himself in due order to re-
ceive him, which, in about two hours' time, he did; and
then all we white men, as well captain Burgess, and
the rest, as those who came with us, marched two
abreast, the trumpeter sounding before the captain,
having a crowd of black mob after us; the shells blow-
ing, and the drums beating at the same time in the
king's palisade by way of compliment. As deaan Toke-
offu well knew how to treat white men, he had ordered
two stools for the captain and surgeon to sit upon.
After the mutual compliments were reciprocally passed,
I being their interpreter, the manner of trade was soon
settled and adjusted; and then the captain made a
present to the king of a gun or two, &c., and the king
presented him with a slave, &c. He gave me likewise a
girl of twelve years old, whom I sold immediately to
John Pro. The captain had thoughts of taking his leave
this afternoon, but the king prevailed on him to stay
till the next day, in order to make his court look the
more grand when he received the ambassadors.
Accordingly, the next day, we were seated in order,
ROBERT DRURY.
307
when the ambassadors came with a numerous retinue,
making just such an entry as Rer Vove did before his
grandfather, when he returned from the wars. Some
capering as they advanced, and firing their guns, and
then retreating; others advancing in their places and
doing the same. When the principal ambassador ap-
proached, he kneeled upon one knee, and licked the
king's knee, saying-
66
Tyhew an deaan Unghorra en Zaftana Lohefute."
That is,-
"The Supreme God bless the progeny of deaan
Lohefute."
Others came after him, repeating the same words.
This done, business was now no more talked of, but
the remainder of the day was spent in compliments and
drinking of toake; but our captain took his leave, and
made all the haste he could to despatch the affairs of
trade. The next day they sent down several slaves to
sell, and captain Macket fitted up Burgess's sloop, and
sent her to fetch the ketch from Yong-Owl; during
which time, the Henry, captain Harvey, commander,
arrived; a ship of five hundred tons' burthen. While
we continued here, deaan Toke-offu's brother was bu-
ried, and all the natives shaved off their hair, which is
the usual manner of their public mourning all over the
island; and he who does not comply with this, is
looked upon as disaffected to the government. When
a private person dies, the friends and relations only
do it.
It was about the middle of October when we arrived
here, and the 24th of November before the king re-
turned; but by the beginning of January, we had pur-
chased more than our cargo of slaves, so we left part
of them with the Henry, which remained after us. We
sailed from the river Munnonbaugher in Munnongaro,
or Masseleege, and arrived at Yong-Owl, where captain
White was trading, not having then got his comple-
ment of slaves. On the 20th of January we departed
from thence, and bid adieu to the island of Mada-
gascar.
30S
THE ADVENTURES OF
We did not touch at the Cape of Good Hope, but at
St Helena, where I went ashore, and took all the care
I could of the slaves who were sick. From thence we
went to Barbadoes, where we stayed a week, then
weighed, and sailed to Jamaica, where we delivered
our cargo. The captain was not only tender of me
whilst on board, but supplied me with money likewise
at every port we came to, though by the little know-
ledge I had of its use, I committed several mistakes,
which were subjects of laughter and merriment. As to
liquors, I could scarce relish any, since I had lost toake,
to which I had been so long accustomed. I was taken
sick here, which proved very chargeable; but the cap-
tain sent me ashore, where, by his kind orders, I want-
ed for nothing. Whilst we were here, the Mercury,
captain White from Madagascar arrived, but we were
ready to sail with the fleet, under convoy of the Win-
chelsea, which was a forty-gun ship. On the 5th of
July, we departed from Jamaica, beating through the
windward passage. Under the Crooked Islands we
saw two sloops, which the Winchelsea endeavoured to
speak with, and imagining them to be pirates, struck
his pendant, in order to look like a merchant ship,
which deceived them so far, that the largest sloop gave
chase, and hoisted a black ensign and jack; but find-
ing her mistake, thought proper to alter her course, and
stand in for the land again. Though the man-of-war
could not follow her, yet our captain, whose ship was
a good sailer, and mounted sixteen guns, did, and ex-
changed several broadsides with her. He stood close
under the land, and as night came on, got away from
us, but had the assurance to rob two of the stern-most
ships in the fleet. Moreover, they threatened to tie
captain Macket to the main-mast of his ship, and burn
him, if ever they met with him again.
Not long after this we had the misfortune to run
foul of the Winchelsea, which, tacking about unexpect-
edly, staved our bow to the water's edge, and carried
our foremast quite away; the man-of-war lost his head
and sprit-sail-yard. We must all have been inevitably
ROBERT DRURY.
309
lost had the sea run high, but by good providence it
was fair weather; so by the assistance of the Winchel-
sea's crew and some others, we kept the water out, but
were forced to go back to the Crooked Islands, and
they accompanied us, where by the help of them, and
some other ships, our breach being made up, we pro-
ceeded on our voyage; and on Saturday, September 9,
1717, arrived in the Downs, after I had been absent
from my native country sixteen years and about nine
months. Here, by the captain's direction, I went
ashore, he having first supplied me with what was
necessary for my journey to London; yet did I not set
forward till I had returned God thanks in the most
solemn manner for my safe arrival, and for my deliver-
ance from the many dangers I had escaped, and from
the miseries I had so long undergone.
It may not be improper in this place to inform my
readers by what a wonderful providence my father
came to hear of my being alive in Madagascar. My
brother was one day at the Crown alehouse, at Cherry-
garden-stairs, in Rotherhithe, where. William Thorn-
bury was in the next box; and hearing him talk of that
island to his friend, he said, he had a brother cast away
there several years before, and should be glad to hear
some tidings of him. Thornbury replied, he had never
seen but one white man upon the island, and his name
he had forgotten. My brother thereupon mentioned
several names, and at last Robert Drury, which Thorn-
bury no sooner heard, but said, that was it, and that
his father lived at the King's-head, in the Old Jewry.
When I came to London, (it being Sunday about
three o'clock in the afternoon,) I thought it improper
to go in sermon-time to the King's-head, in the Old
Jewry, the house in which my father lived before he
retired into the country, but went to the Bell alehouse,
(then the British coffee-house,) at the lower end, and
desired to be admitted; assuring the master I was but
just come on shore. He seeing me in a sea jacket, and
hearing me speak in broken English, took me for a
foreigner, and let me in; asking me what countryman
310
THE ADVentures OF
I was, and from whence I came? I told him an Eng-
lisman, which at first he would scarcely believe, till he
recollected me by the questions I asked; namely, who
kept the King's-head? Whether John Drury did not
keep it some years ago? He told me, that John Drury
went to live in the country, and left it to his brother
William, who died some time since; and that his
widow kept the house. "How!" said I, "is William
Drury dead?"
"Yes," answered he, "and John
Drury his brother too died about a year ago." This
news so dejected me, that I burst out into tears, and
afterwards bemoaned my hard fate before him; by this
he perceived who I was, having heard of my being
abroad, and of my friends expecting me soon in Eng-
land. Hereupon he asked me, if my name was not
Drury? I answered, it was, and that I had been
unfortunate for many years; I was like to continue so,
since my father was dead. As an addition to my sor-
row, he told me, moreover, that my mother died with
grief not long after she heard of our shipwreck, and
that my father had married again After sermon I
went to the King's-head, where they soon discovered
who I was, and were overjoyed to see me; and there I
had a full account of our whole family affairs. I found
my father had left me two hundred pounds, and also
the reversion of a house at Stoke Newington, then in
the occupation of Mr Richard Beardsley. I stayed in
town till I had visited all the friends I could remember,
and then went to Loughborough to see my sister, and
other relations, where I met with a very friendly recep-
tion, after they imagined I had been lost so many years
before.
As soon as I had settled my affairs there, I returned
to London. Captain Macket continued still as kind to
me as ever, and said he would take care of me if things
did not answer my expectations. He asked me to go
with him again to Madagascar, but I had then agreed
to live with a relation in the capacity of clerk, or book-
keeper. After captain Macket was gone, and things
did not answer as I expected, I agreed with captain
KOBERT DRURY.
311
White, captain Macket's friend, who was bound for
Madagascar likewise, to go the voyage with him, and
assist him in the trade, which my knowledge of the
language and customs of the country had sufficiently
qualified me for. So having left all my effects in a
friend's hands (except what I thought proper to take
with ne) I went on board the Mercury, and we sailed
from the Downs, September 13, 1718.
AFTER-VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR.
WHEN I was but a boy, I had learned the art of
navigation in some measure by going to India, though
I had lost it again for want of practice; yet, applying
myself to a proper mathematician for farther instruc-
tion, I soon recovered enough to enable me to keep a
journal, and give such an account of this voyage as
may be useful to those who have no knowledge of the
island.
On the first of April, 1719, we arrived at the Cape
of Good Hope, where we bought such provisions as we
wanted, and on the tenth set sail for Natal; on the
twenty-ninth we saw the land, in the latitude of 29 deg.
20 min. south, to the northward of Natal, about eleven
leagues off. We sailed a west-south-west course along
the shore, with a gentle breeze; at noon the point of
Natal bore south-west by west, about two leagues dis-
tant; at two in the afternoon we came to an anchor in
fourteen fathoms' water, within two miles of the point of
Natal, it bearing west-south-west. The current sets
south-south-west and north-north-east. Here we traded
for slaves, with large brass rings, or rather collars, and
several other commodities. In a fortnight's time we
purchased seventy-four boys and girls. These are
better slaves for working than those of Madagascar,
being not only blacker, but stronger.
312
THE ADVENTURES OF
Captain White put six natives of Dillagoe on shore
here, whom he took with him the former voyage. They
had two or three king's dominions to pass through
before they came to their own country, and were under
some apprehensions of being intercepted. The captain,
therefore, furnished them with guns, ammunition, hat-
chets, and brass collars. Here I saw several humped
cattle, like those in Madagascar; but the natives have
short woolly hair, like Guinea negroes, and not like the
people of Madagascar.
On the seventh day of June, we made the land on
the east-side of Madagascar. I went up to the mast-
head, where, discerning high land to the southward, I
took it for granted that we were to the northward of
Port Dauphine; the captain, however, not relying on
what I asserted, hoisted out the boat, and sent me and
the second mate in her towards the shore to speak
with any of the natives we could see. We rowed along
the shore a considerable time, till I discovered a small
town, and some of the inhabitants looking at us; but
the sea broke so much three or four hundred yards off
the shore, that we dare not venture to put the boat in;
hereupon I pulled off my clothes and swam. Two of
the natives observing me, swam to my assistance, and
walked with me afterwards to a point about a mile
farther, where they go off with their canoes. Here the
boat got in, and I persuaded one of the fishermen to
accompany us. This place is called Murnumbo, about
ten leagues to the northward of Port Dauphine. Here
was a strong current and large swell against us. The
next day about sunset, we anchored in fourteen fathoms'
water, being unable to get into the bay. The ruins of
the fort bore west-south-west of us, Cape Ramus souch-
west by south, and the point of the Seven Virgins, or
Seven Hammocks, east. The next morning we weighed,
stood into the bay, and anchored in three fathoms'
water; the French fort bore south-east by east, the
ruins of the church south-south-east; we were within a
cable's length of the shore, on either side almost land-
locked. However, as there is sometimes a strong
ROBERT DRURY.
313
north-east wind, it is always best to keep a good an-
chor and cable without.
Port Dauphine is in the latitude of 24 deg. 50 min.
south. The bay into which you must sail, is on the
east side of the point. You must take care of a rock
on your starboard side. Your course to steer is west-
north-west. When you are
When you are in you will see the ruins
of a fort on a hill, called "the nose of the port;" you
must keep close to this point till you open the bay,
and when the fort bears south-east by east, or east-
south-east, you may come to an anchor; and, if you
will, may moor your ship to the rocks. About two
miles to the southward there is a false bay, which may
deceive strangers; therefore, as it is a rocky place,
great care must be taken.
I went directly on shore to the king's brother's town,
and acquainted him, that we were come to trade, but
were in haste to be gone; and, therefore, if they had
any slaves to sell, he must despatch them down forth-
with. And this pretence must always be made, for
they have no notion of the expense that attends a long
delay. Messengers were immediately sent to the king,
who sent word by an Irishman, (who had deserted from
one captain Ware,) that he would be with us the next
day, and came accordingly. This prince's name was
deaan Morroughsevea, he was dressed in a coat and
breeches, and had a hat on his head. The first day
was spent in the usual compliments, and making mu-
tual presents. The price was adjusted the next day;
whereupon we built a factory, and palisaded it round.
The king soon returned, though we stayed here till the
nineteenth of July. At which time the captain sending
me with some presents to the king, I stripped off my
clothes, and dressed myself like a native, with a lance
in my hand. I think it was not less than twenty miles.
The king was just going to dinner with salt fish, rice,
and roast beef, when I got there. He very courteously
desired me to sit down and partake of what he had
before him; saying, all white men, except the French,
were very welcome; for they had killed his grandfather,
2 T
314
THE ADVENTURES OF
and carried an uncle of his away captive. After dinner
he entertained me with some toake, and a dram of
brandy, and then dismissed me with some presents to
the captain, desiring we would return as soon as con-
veniently we could, for he was going to war with Unter
Morrow Cherock to the northward, and hoped soon to
have more slaves for us.
On the twentieth I came on board, and then we
weighed, leaving four men and the natal slaves behind
us. Here we purchased one hundred and thirty, and
sailed with them to the Mattatanna-road; and on the
twenty-sixth we made the Thumb-cap off Mattatanna,
and came to an anchor within a league distance. Here
is no going on shore in our boats, by reason of the
great bar that is there, and the sea always breaking
upon it; the canoes, however, came off to us, and I
went on shore with them; and after that to the king's
town, which was a great way up the river. One ran
before to inform him that the captain's ambassador was
coming: whereupon he put himself in great order, and
appeared in state. He speaks English and French
very well, and so do several of his family. He told
me I was welcome. But as captain Macket had been
before us, and bought three hundred and thirty slaves
in less than twenty days, he endeavoured to raise the
price upon us. I soon informed him, however, that I
knew the country; and that if he had none to dispose
of, I could tell where to go to market. At last we
agreed, and I sent the captain word of what I had
done. It was so dangerous going over the breakers,
that I did not care how seldom I went. I did not like
the place, for they were so harassed with a neighbour-
ing enemy, that they were always on their guard, and
could not sleep in safety, nor get even common neces-
saries; the country being in much the same state and
condition as was Feraignher when I lived there. The
captain, notwithstanding this, was obstinate; and after
he had sent me a cargo on shore, as also a man to
assist me, sailed away to Don Mascareen, an island
then belonging to the French, and about one hundred
leagues to the eastward.
ROBERT DRURY.
315
As soon as he was gone, I removed my factory to the
king's town, as thinking it more safe. I often lent the
natives guns and ammunition to repel their enemies,
and once I went with them. I bought fourteen slaves
in three days, but finding provision dear, I went more
artfully to work; I agreed for the slaves they offered
to sale, and left something as earnest in their hands,
but would not complete the bargain. Here I had a
scurvy trick put upon me, which I relate, that others
may beware of the like impositions. One night, not-
withstanding all my care, I missed two women slaves,
who were fastened by the arms together. I complained
thereof to the king, who, pretending to know nothing
of it, ordered inquiry to be made after them, but to no
purpose, till I published a reward of six pounds of gun-
powder to him who would restore them. The man who
sold them to me brought them again, pretending he
had found the place where they had concealed them-
selves, and demanded the reward. I charged him with
imposing on me, but not being then able to make good
my assertion, he complained to the king, who threaten-
ed me hard in case I did not give the man the reward.
I returned his menaces in warm terms, offering to de-
fend myself with my fire-arms, as I had six ready load-
ed by me. What with tears and flatteries, the women
confessed before the next morning, that their first mas-
ter had injured me, and misused them after he had
them again. I went to the king's brother directly, and
assured him I would take care that no white men
should ever trade there for the future; but in the end,
he desired I would speak with the king first, which I
did. He reconciled us before our ship returned, which
was in the middle of September, and then without cap-
tain White, who had been dead and buried some time
before at Don Mascareen. He went there to sell slaves
to the French, and buy up others for the West India
cargo, but there happened to be no call for any.
Captain Christal, who was then commander, sent
one of his officers to assure me I might depend on the
same civility and friendship as I had received from his
predecessor, for he approved my conduct, and com-
2 E 2
316
THE ADVENTURES OF
pleted the bargains I had begun, and brought my slaves
on board.
Mattatanna in the latitude of 22 deg. 15 min. south,
is a wild coast, where our boats can at no time come
ashore; these slaves, and those of Port Dauphine are
esteemed the best in the island. Before we went from
hence, I heard that deaan Morroughsevea of Port Dau-
phine, was killed in the expedition he went on, after I
left him. Before I proceed farther in my account of
this voyage, as I am now on the east side of the island,
I shall take notice of the principal places on it.
About seven leagues to the northward of Matta-
tanna, is Melancaro. Here is a river with eight feet of
water on the bar, which divides the two kingdoms of
Mattatanna and Tronghe. The inhabitants of the latter
are numerous and obliging, but cannot trade for want
of canoes. About ten leagues from Tronghe is Manin-
zarce; they would willingly trade with the English, but
as they have no canoes, and it is a wild shore, where
our boats cannot land, it is impracticable. About twenty
leagues farther to the northward is Mungaro; the na-
tives whereof are always at war with the inhabitants of
Port St. Mary's and the pirates. The king's name is
Maulaunza. They have no canoes here, but if a cap-
tain would take some with him from Mattatanna, they
would gladly trade with him. St. Mary's is an island
three leagues off the main, in latitude 16 deg. 30 min.
and has a good harbour. Here are about twenty white
men, formerly pirates, who now live on their ill-gotten
treasures.
Antogeal is in the latitude of 16 deg. 15 min. Here
is a clear deep bay, keep the north shore on board. At
the bottom of it, is a small island of two or three miles.
in circumference, in which is a good harbour. The
Dutch had formerly a fort on it. Here are grampuses
and whales, which the natives have the art of taking.
Barimbass is in latitude 15 deg.: the inhabitants have
canoes, and will come off at first sight of a ship. The
king is very courteous to white men, and takes pleasure
in trading with them.
ROBERT DRURY.
317
Our next business was to go to Port Dauphine, where
the death of their king was confirmed; we found the
country in sad confusion, and in no condition for trad-
ing; so we took our men, slaves, and goods on board,
and proceeded round the southernmost end of the
island.
The country next adjoining to Port Dauphine, or
Antenosa, is Anterndroea, where the Degrave was
wrecked, and which was the melancholy scene of my
captivity. Joining to this is Merfaughla, which lies
a little to the southward, in latitude 26 deg. south.
The want of canoes in both these countries renders them
incapable of trading. The next port is St. Augustine-
bay, in which is a fresh water river, with twelve feet of
water at spring tides; it flows south-south-east, and
north-north-west. Tulea lies seven leagues to the north-
ward, and is a very good harbour.
As you sail from St. Augustine-bay to Yong-Owl,
there are several little islands. The two first are in the
latitude of 21 deg. about five leagues distant from the
main island. A little farther is a single island with
lofty trees on it; and still farther to the northward,
there are three sandy islands, with breakers between
them. A north-east course carries you clear and along
shore, but keep in fifteen, sixteen, or seventeen fathoms'
water. On the banks are nine, ten, or twelve fathoms'
water. When you are past the sandy islands, the coast
is clear to Yong-Owl. This is an open road in the lati-
tude of 20 deg. 20 min. There is good anchoring in
sixteen fathoms' water, not above a mile from the shore.
There is no high land near the shore on all this coast,
but there are high mountains up the country. Mun-
nonhaugher is a river which they call Manzerroy, in
which is fourteen or fifteen fathoms' water. It flows east
and west twelve feet right up and down on spring
tides: you go up the river six or seven leagues to the
usual place where they traffic. A little to the south-
ward of this is another river, called Luna, to which a
ship comes from Arabia once a year. This place is
called Masseleege, or the country of Munnongaro,
2E 3
318
THE ADVENTURES OF
whereof deaan Toke-offu is the sovereign, and of which
I have already given a sufficient account.
Our business now was at Yong-Owl, where we ar-
rived on the 16th of October; the captain went with
me up the country to Moherbo, and took his musicians
with us.
As soon as I came on shore, I was informed
that Rer Trimmonongarevo was dead, and Rer Moume
succeeded him, and lived at Moherbo. I sent a mes-
senger before me to acquaint him that I was coming
to pay my duty to him, and had brought a ship to trade
here pursuant to my promise; but as soon as we came
to a town on this side Moherbo, we saw abundance of
people pulling down a wooden house, in which the
corpse of Rer Trimmonongarevo was interred; the rea-
son whereof, as the natives told me, was as follows:-
"That Rer Trimmonongarevo had appeared to Rer
Moume in the night time, and asked him why he put
him above his father Lohefutee? and he seemed to re-
sent his son's ill conduct, and ordered his body to be
taken up, and put lower than his father's, and his house
likewise, which was erected for a monument to be le-
velled with his father's." When I came to Rer Moume,
he did not know me in my new dress; I soon let him
understand who I was, for I could not forbear to lick
his knees. His generous and humane deportment to-
wards me, made me esteem him as my father, and he
was equally overjoyed to see me. His wives, likewise,
expressed their pleasure. I went to review my cattle,
for, according to his promise, he had kept them all for
me; and as they were now considerably increased, I
marked the young ones with a particular signet, for he
insisted that they still are mine.
We got our whole complement of slaves here in ten
weeks' time, and sailed from hence January 7. We
touched at St. Helena and at Barbadoes, from thence
we proceeded to Rapphanick river in Virginia, where
we sold our slaves, took in tobacco, and then set sail
for England. On the 11th day of September, 1720, we
arrived in the Downs.
Thus have I endeavoured to give a true and faithful
ROBERT DRURY.
319
""
narrative of what I thought most remarkable in this
island. I have seen the "Atlas Geographicus," which
is, I presume, a collection of what has been written con-
cerning this island. And though there are some things
mentioned there, of which I give no account, I see no
reason to depart from any particular herein contained,
or to make any additions. I have related only what I
saw, and know to be fact. There is an insect amongst
them I have not mentioned, called the scorpion, a
troublesome animal, and the only venomous creature I
ever saw there. As to what is asserted in the "Atlas
before-mentioned, that the natives are Mahometans,
I have read, since I came to England, some account of
the Mahometan religion, but can find no conformity or
similitude in it to this of Madagascar; on the contrary,
Mahomet pretended to have familiar converse with
God, but these people would be shocked to hear that
deaan Unghorray, their Supreme God, ever conversed
with the greatest monarch. There is one custom I have
omitted, and that is, their abstaining from their women.
at certain times, as the Jews do. The Virzimbers, whom
some imagine to be the first inhabitants of this island,
I have said before, differ in some points of religion;
but then it is to be understood in the forms and manner
of their worship and ceremonies, for they have owleys
as others have, and entertain the same notions of a
Supreme God, the lords of the four quarters of the
world, spirits, &c.
ROBERT DRURY.
N. B. The author, for some years before his death,
was to be spoken with every day at Old Tom's coffee-
house in Birchin-lane; at which place several inquisi-
tive gentlemen have received from his own mouth the
confirmation of those particulars which seemed dubious,
or carried with them the least air of a romance.
320
SEQUEL.
VERY little is known of the subsequent life of Robert
Drury, but that little is satisfactory bcth in regard to
his veracity and respectability in his humble situation.
On his return to England, he went in the first place to
Loughborough, in his native county, in which town he
had a sister and other relatives. He afterwards came
to London, where he obtained the situation of porter at
the East India House; and it is said that his father
left him two hundred pounds, and the reversion of a
house at Stoke Newington. His extraordinary adven-
tures procured him much attention, and many curious.
persons were in the habit of calling upon him at his
house in Lincoln's-inn-fields, then unenclosed; when he
used to amuse them by throwing a javelin in the man-
ner of the natives of Madagascar, who had taught him
to hit a small mark at a very surprising distance. Mr
Duncombe, who died in 1769, the translator of Horace,
and editor of the works of his brother-in-law, Hughes
the poet, had a friend who had frequently witnessed
this feat, and conversed with Drury, a fact which is
mentioned in the second volume of Hughes's "Letters"
by Duncombe, page 258. Nothing farther is known of
the life of Robert Drury, nor has the time of his
death been recorded.
A
A VOCABULARY
MADAGASCAR LANGUAGE.
ALL earbe
alive valu
ants vetick
arm vorecka
ask munganton
aunt l'rorvovvaranuke
above ambunna
adding tovoungay
adorn merervaugher
advise mearnorro
afar off larvitch
afraid mertorhocks
after afarrong
aged antichs
agree melongore
aiming munondroer
age antitch
alone earare
321
altar fesoronegher
alter youvoyea
amaze chareck
anchor tumborto
anger maluke
angle merminter
ankle pucopuke
anoint whosora
answer mungonore
OF THE
any body lerhulu
appoint mermutore
arin-pit kelleck
archer permawlay
arise fuher
army taffick
arrow anucfalla
ascend munonego
ashes lavanuck
asleep lentey
awoke mertearro
argument meancoune
alligator voarha
B
Body jorzarmaner
boy jorzarloyhe
brother royloyle
basin lerveerferuchs
brass sarber
black minetay
bull omebayloyhe
brains bettu
breast trotter
belly troke
back lambosick
beef haner
322
A VOCABULARY OF THE
bird voro
belly-full vinchy
beads arraer
blood raw
bandy sekearf
boil mundavy.
broil metonu
boil over mundroer
butterfly tondrotto
blunderbuss bosse
bite munghabecks
broke foluck
buy mevele
broth ro
blow chuffu
beat fufuho
bullock vosists
bitter merfaughts
backbone towler lambosick
bad rawcthe
big bay
bald-head soroluher
barrel breeker
bee ranatentala
before ungulore
beg mungortock
behind affarro
bottle folokuke
bosom arrongher
beheaded tompucluher
basket harro
ball hechurch
borrow mungaborrow
book or paper terra toss
buffuler howlu
bee-hive tohoke
bundle mevorovore
blind chemerheter.
burning mundavengher
bell potchew
belly-ache merrawrafu.
bread moffu
bladder tervenneer
beauty sengger
baked tongoffu
bow ranafalla
bark hulitcharzo
barrel of a gun cornu
burden enter
€
Child annack
carravances vungèmber
cocoa-nut wooernew
cloud rawho
cold merninchy
calabash vartarvo
copper sarbermaner
cat chacker
cow omebayvovvä
cattle omebay
cheek fawho
bullet baller
bastard sarray
by and by andreck anna crow quark
arny
broom mermoffer
beard somuchs
breath onygha
bones towler
beans antuck
bed keban
call kyhu
clear merlu
crooked maluke
cock kuholoyhe
capon kuhɔ vosist
candle charreck
choose mechutors
MADAGASCAR LANGUAGE.
323*
covetous mertete
cotton hawsey
conjuror umossee
climb munganeeher
chest sundoke
coffin harzowonger
come haveer
cock crow kuhumunganu
chin somo
calf anuack an omebay
clout secke
clean merrere
comb morrotondro
common or plain munto
coward merwoozo
calf of a leg veete
canoe lacker
change mernercollu
carry entu
creep lomorly
circumcised meĵorer
cane tangerer
caul sassuchhaner
choke bohair
cream hendro
cannon futore
cotton-tree zare
chamelion taw
cloudy merauho
cloud rauho
cry tomonghe
cutlass vearawrer
come here mehoveatowe
civil woocust
come down mejuchore
come along aloyho
cartouch box fitter pinner
D
Daughter unnackampeller
dark myeak
dish ampondrer
dog amboer
dry mungetterhetter
day hawndro
dirty merlauchs
drum azzoloyhe
drunk wocersekarfe
dead morte
dripping solick
done effer
duck cherere
deaf merrengha
dust lumbook
dew aunder
door varavongher
divide vackue
drone ferzimber
dream munganofee
dropped larchuck
dropped it larchorho
E
zawto
Earth tonna
ear sofee
eye moffu
eyelids voloheak
eyebrows volohondring
elbow hehu
enemy raffaloyhe
eat humonner
even merer
enough tondra
ell hanarlavver
egg tule
evening arever
eight varlo
eighty varlofolo
eight hundred varlo.
324
A VOCABULARY OF THE
eight thousand varlo arevo fly away tumeelingher
east teenongher
file choffer
full fennu
full moon volormer autchs
fright mertawhoutchs
fight mealleer
fighting mealle
fire ossu
F
Father royya or arber
fence faretchs
forehead hondring
foot feendeer
fruit woperarzo
finger tonedro
fish feer
fishing lines tollevinter
friend lonego
four effutchs
five deeme
fifteen folodeemeamby
five and twenty rowafolo
deeme amby
five and thirty talufolo
deeme amby
five and forty effuchfolo
deemu amby
five and fifty deemefolo
deeme amby
five and sixty enuingfolo
deeme amby
five and seventy fetofolo
deeme amby
five and eighty varlofolo
deeme amby
five and ninety seveefolo
deeme amby
five hundred deeme zawto
five thousand deeme arevo
fat vonedruck
flower turvolo
Alea peer
fly lawletchs
fickle harraravvo
fool addoller
fishing merminter
flint offovarto
flesh nofuch
fox foser
forty effuch folo
fan fernimper
fly tumeeling
feathers, or hair, volo
fetters parrapingo
flame lellar
flower, or blossom, vonegha
fleshfork fundrambahaner
freemen lovohitchs
fill it up fennuyea
forget hawlingho
flux tonchoruck
fry mungendy
flag floy
flood fororawno
fetch mungolor
fist fettock
fortunate moss
fast fortuchs
G
God deaan Unghorray
grandfather rozackloyhe
grandmother rozackampel-
ler
grandchild zaffu
guinea-corn ampember.
ground ton
MADAGASCAR LANGUAGE.
325
hog lambo
hook vinter
gold volarmaner
green michne
goat osa
get up fahavvo
go mundaher
go along mundahanner
garinent sekey or lamber
gun ampegaurrutchs
girl jorzorampeller
great bay
goose onego-onego
guinea-hen congar
guts tenaugh
get farther mesorang ha
grass habbetchs
give me some mungay may
give you none chemung a
may
give youmayow
good suer
guard ambenner
grow metombo
great way larvitchs
gunpowder pounday
not good chesuer
get you gone meangor
garlic tonegulick
grindstone sungherer
grind sungheru
good while ailer
H
House trangho
honey tentala
heat merfanner
hail avandrar
head luher
hair volo
hand tongher
heart fu
horn tondrook
hide mevonoor
hyde hulutchs
hungry homerserray
hundred zawto
hat satook
hoof hooto
here inteer
hear merray
hen coohovovva
hearken metinoor
hot moy
hill, or mountain, vohitcht
head-ache luhermungalelu
husband valley
hatchet fermackey
halt tarehu
how do you whosuer
hunt mungoro
hole lavvack
how many fera
hoe soro
horse suwaller
heel hehu
hedgehog sorer
hiccough suecendrotch
hire metombozzar
hark metinore
hammer furnurore
I J
Jar senevolo
idle merwoozzo
jealous mermerrothhe
jest somoneger
joint sandre
I won't zawho merloy
I will atawuck
?r
326
A. VOCABULARY OF THE
I'll do no more chemer- long lavvar
nowquere
itch hauta
I zawho
iron ve
island nosa
K
King panzaccar
kick timpaughho
kill vonu
kidneys wooerhaner
ketch sumboro
knife messu
kite perponge
knee luhalleck
L
Ladle suddro
land tata or tonna
lance luffu
lie down mundraer
light merzavvo
lightning munghaluchs
lights rabuchhaner
look, or see, merchinsover
looking-glass hachoro
low eever
let go ellyfoy
lie mervanda
love taark
little kala
live valu
lemon voersarra
loss lavo
leaf ravven
lead ferock
lips soneghe
leg tomebook
liver attinhaner
louse hough
lend mungaborro
lock, or key, fungheily
lock of a gun sophe am-
pegar satch
long while alelur
locust verloller
lizard roso
left hand tongher avveer
lean merheer
looseness ohorawha
lobster orur
lick lalouw
don't love it hallucht.
M
Man loyhe
mad tounzaccar
many mawrow
maggot oletchs
mother ranna
moon voler
men hulu
milk ronoonu
monkey vergee
midnight mutungalla
mouth vovvor
muskmelon wantange
mud futuck
million arrla
muskittoes moco
morning emerrawha
to-morrow hummerrawha
mead toak
marrow manuccover
melt tennoo
milt arrachaner
mouse varlarvo
N
Nail of finger oho
MADAGASCAR LANGUAGE.
327
navel feutch
nine seve
neck woozzo
ninety sevc folo
nine hundred seve zawto
nothing shemishe
night aulla
north avarruchs
needle fingihts
no charra
nose oroong
nigh merreena
net arratto
nettles fundrozo
0
Oath mefontorr
one eser
old antichs
ox vositchs
oil tongon tongher
open sucorffu
t'other day orertroung
P
Potatoes ovemarme
plantain ounche
plantation tateck
plant fumbulayher
pap nunu
partridge hattacottoe
pine-apple mernasse
pillar ounder
plumb lomoty
powder poundey
point metrondroer
pistol plato
poison vorick
prisoner sambuch
pot velongha
pipe keloyhe
poor rarroc
people hulu
pepper saccavero
plunder mundravor
pitch leta
pleasant mertarva
pirate kindoc
purslain toyanomebaloyhe
periwinkle dedder
pigeon dahew
Q
Quick merlucky
R
Rain orer
rainbow avvar
rammer funhochuck
razor feharratchs
red maner
rice varray
rich manzarry
rise fuher
rough meraffu
run lomoy
rope tolle
runaway leffer
ripe mossock
ribs towlertahazuc
right hand tongher avan-
ner
S
Sand fasse
salt serer
sail loy
son annacloyhe
sun andro
2 F 2
328
A VOCABULARY OF THE
slave andavo
steer rorvovva
sky longitchs
smooth merlammer
sound, noise, or barking of
a dog, mungano
shoot teferu
shave haharu
soft merlemma
smothered settuck
smoke lembook
smoke a pipe metroher to-
bacco
sugarcane farray
sugar serermarme
sweet marme
star verseer
spoon suto
silver volerfutey
scull harrandluher
shoulder soroke
sleep meroro
shot berseer
six eanning
seven feeto
seventeen folofeetoambe
seventy feeto folo
six hundred eanning zawto
seven hundred feeto zawto
six thousand canning are-
00
sunrise terrack
sunset soffutch andro
small oruff
small shot pottchuck
spittle eva
spit mundorer
south ateemo
seven thousand feeto arevo seat fetuaruc
small merlinick
sore boy
sour mervoyha
ship sambo
stink manche
strong merharee
short fuher
spirit lulu
seize samboro
shut the door arradingho
sell vele
sour milk ronoonumandra
sea reac
shoe hunghermaro
stool feketrar
sick merrawra
servant, sir salamonger
snares faundric
see merheter
I see it he tucko
shirt commeser
speak mevolengher
sweet-scented maungetchs
some mishe
speckle wander
shake mungozooner
stay munding
spring of water vovo
spring of the year sarrar
spring of a gun lock alle
soro
swim lomong
shame manghetchs
split vaccu
small-pox creer
staff zahharr
skin huletchs
side tohazuc
slender merlenec
spinage orngha
MADAGASCAR LANGUAGE.
329
serpent manerrander
snake mary
spin mundoroutchs
tch
stand mechangonner
steel veoffo
steal mungaulutchs
scissors hette
snore mearoutchs
sweat lingetch
sing meansaw
shore tomeboho
spit fermerlarzor
silly mernay
sheep oundy
spider morrotongher
stone varto
sink tumborto
T
Tamarind keley
tankard furnumerrauno
take rumbessu
think mevetchevetch
trumpet anchever
thirteen folotaluambe
three talu
thunderbolt apmy
thigh fay
thunder hotook
town tannarr
thread fola
thorn forte
told mungaborrow
tears rawnomossu
tobacco tobacco
toe annackinc
two roaa
ten folo
twenty roaaĵolo
thousand arevo
thief ampegalutchs
teeth neefa
tongue leller
tie fahaugh
trigger funghatchu
tail ohe
land turtle hachaffu
sea turtle faunu
tall lavvor
turn metuleher
tell one, two, &c. mungesau
tread hechawho
through torawho
thrive munzurre
take rumbessu
tutanag ferockfutey
timber harzo
U V
Uncle ranaloyhe
under umbonna
udder vorotchs
ugly rawtche
vomit mundoer
uncivil chewoocust
W
Water rawno
water-melon woerzarvo
wax luco
warm moy
wave onEZUT
wind ornghin
wood auler
white fute
wild meiampo
what eno
what's this eno toey
2 F 3
330
MADAGASCAR LANGUAGE.
what's the matter eno zow
what are you doing eno
tough now
wadding hueto
west audreffer
wood for firing hatoy
wonder cherrec
work mearsar
wife walley
weary mocoutchs
white man verzarhar
wide mertarcheths
whisper bisabise
wasp fundroso
wrist soro
wise merhehitchs
winter fouser
whistle fuke
weave mernendru
wet lay
Y
Yam ove
years color
year taough
yes toquore
yonder aruca
yesterday umorla
DAYS OF THE WEER.
Sunday Alhaidu
Monday Alletenine
Tuesday Talerter
Wednesday Alarrerbeer
Thursday Commeeshe
Friday Jumor
Saturday Sarbueche.
THE END.
LONDON:
Printed by W. CLOWES,
Stamford-street.

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T