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| committer | nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org> | 2025-02-07 00:50:22 -0800 |
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diff --git a/old/54500-h/54500-h.htm b/old/54500-h/54500-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index 2021b0f..0000000 --- a/old/54500-h/54500-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,14378 +0,0 @@ -<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> - -<!DOCTYPE html - PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" - "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > - -<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> - <head> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8" /> - <title>Journal of a West India Proprietor, by -Matthew Gregory Lewis</title> - <meta content="pg2html (binary v0.17)" /> - <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> - <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> - - body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} - P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .50em; margin-bottom: .50em; } - H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } - hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} - .foot { margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%; text-align: justify; font-size: 80%; font-style: italic;} - blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} - .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} - .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} - .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} - .xx-small {font-size: 60%;} - .x-small {font-size: 75%;} - .small {font-size: 85%;} - .large {font-size: 115%;} - .x-large {font-size: 130%;} - .indent5 { margin-left: 5%;} - .indent10 { margin-left: 10%;} - .indent15 { margin-left: 15%;} - .indent20 { margin-left: 20%;} - .indent30 { margin-left: 30%;} - .indent40 { margin-left: 40%;} - div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } - div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } - .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} - .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} - .pagenum {position: absolute; right: 1%; font-size: 0.6em; - font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; - text-align: right; background-color: #FFFACD; - border: 1px solid; padding: 0.3em;text-indent: 0em;} - .side { float: left; font-size: 75%; width: 15%; padding-left: 0.8em; - border-left: dashed thin; text-align: left; - text-indent: 0; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; - font-weight: bold; color: black; background: #eeeeee; border: solid 1px;} - .head { float: left; font-size: 90%; width: 98%; padding-left: 0.8em; - border-left: dashed thin; text-align: center; - text-indent: 0; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; - font-weight: bold; color: black; background: #eeeeee; border: solid 1px;} - p.pfirst, p.noindent {text-indent: 0} - span.dropcap { float: left; margin: 0 0.1em 0 0; line-height: 0.8 } - pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} - -</style> - </head> - <body> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Journal of a West India Proprietor, by -Matthew Gregory Lewis - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - -Title: Journal of a West India Proprietor - Kept During a Residence in the Island of Jamaica - -Author: Matthew Gregory Lewis - -Release Date: April 7, 2017 [EBook #54500] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JOURNAL OF A WEST INDIA PROPRIETOR *** - - - - -Produced by David Widger from page images generously -provided by the Internet Archive - - - - - - -</pre> - - <div style="height: 8em;"> - <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> - </div> - <h1> - JOURNAL OF A WEST INDIA PROPRIETOR, - </h1> - <h3> - Kept During a Residence in The Island of Jamaica - </h3> - <h2> - By Matthew Gregory Lewis - </h2> - <h3> - Author of “The Monk,” “The Castle Spectre,” “Tales Of Wonder,” &c. - </h3> - <h4> - London: John Murray, Albemarle Street. - </h4> - <h3> - MDCCCXXXIV - </h3> - <p> - <br /> <br /> - </p> - <h4> - “I WOULD GIVE MANY A SUGAR CANE, - </h4> - <h4> - MAT. LEWIS WERE ALIVE AGAIN!” - </h4> - <h4> - BYRON. - </h4> - <p> - <br /><br /><a name="linkimage-0001" id="linkimage-0001"> </a> - </p> - <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> - <img src="images/0001.jpg" alt="0001 " width="100%" /><br /> - </div> - <h5> - <a href="images/0001.jpg"><img src="images/enlarge.jpg" alt="" /> </a> - </h5> - <p> - <br /><br /><a name="linkimage-0002" id="linkimage-0002"> </a> - </p> - <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> - <img src="images/0007.jpg" alt="0007 " width="100%" /><br /> - </div> - <h5> - <a href="images/0007.jpg"><img src="images/enlarge.jpg" alt="" /> </a> - </h5> - <p> - <br /><br /> - </p> - <hr /> - <p> - <br /><br /> - </p> - <p> - <b>CONTENTS</b> - </p> - <p class="toc"> - <a href="#link2H_4_0001"> ADVERTISEMENT. </a> - </p> - <p class="toc"> - <a href="#link2H_4_0002"> JOURNAL OF A WEST INDIA PROPRIETOR </a> - </p> - <p class="toc"> - <a href="#link2H_4_0003"> 1815. NOVEMBER 8. </a> - </p> - <p class="toc"> - <a href="#link2H_4_0004"> 1816.—JANUARY 1. </a> - </p> - <p class="toc"> - <a href="#link2H_4_0005"> 1817. </a> - </p> - <p class="toc"> - <a href="#link2H_4_0006"> 1818.—JANUARY 1. </a> - </p> - <p> - <br /><br /> - </p> - <hr /> - <p> - <a name="link2H_4_0001" id="link2H_4_0001"> </a> - </p> - <div style="height: 4em;"> - <br /><br /><br /><br /> - </div> - <h2> - ADVERTISEMENT. - </h2> - <p> - The following Journals of two residences in Jamaica, in 1815-16, and in - 1817, are now printed from the MS. of Mr. Lewis; who died at sea, on the - voyage homewards from the West Indies, in the year 1818. - </p> - <p> - <br /><br /> - </p> - <hr /> - <p> - <a name="link2H_4_0002" id="link2H_4_0002"> </a> - </p> - <div style="height: 4em;"> - <br /><br /><br /><br /> - </div> - <h2> - JOURNAL OF A WEST INDIA PROPRIETOR - </h2> - <p> - Expect our sailing in a few hours. But although the vessel left the Docks - on Saturday, she did not reach this place till three o’clock on Thursday, - the 9th. The captain now tells me, that we may expect to sail certainly in - the afternoon of to-morrow, the 10th. I expect the ship’s cabin to gain - greatly by my two days’ residence at the “———————,” - which nothing can exceed for noise, dirt, and dulness. Eloisa would never - have established “black melancholy” at the Paraclete as its favourite - residence, if she had happened to pass three days at an inn at Gravesend: - nowhere else did I ever see the sky look so dingy, and the river “<i>Nunc - alio patriam quaero sub sole jacentem</i>.”—Virgil. - </p> - <p> - <br /><br /> - </p> - <hr /> - <p> - <a name="link2H_4_0003" id="link2H_4_0003"> </a> - </p> - <div style="height: 4em;"> - <br /><br /><br /><br /> - </div> - <h2> - 1815. NOVEMBER 8. - </h2> - <h3> - (WEDNESDAY) - </h3> - <p> - I left London, and reached Gravesend at nine in the morning, having been - taught to exso dirty; to be sure, the place has all the advantages of an - English November to assist it in those particulars. Just now, too, a - carriage passed my windows, conveying on board a cargo of passengers, who - seemed sincerely afflicted at the thoughts of leaving their dear native - land! The pigs squeaked, the ducks quacked, and the fowls screamed; and - all so dolefully, as clearly to prove, that <i>theirs</i> was no - dissembled sorrow? And after them (more affecting than all) came a - wheelbarrow, with a solitary porker tied in a basket, with his head - hanging over on one side, and his legs sticking out on the other, who - neither grunted nor moved, nor gave any signs of life, but seemed to be of - quite the same opinion with Hannah More’s heroine, “Grief is for <i>little</i> - wrongs; despair for mine!” - </p> - <p> - As Miss O’Neil is to play “Elwina” for the first time to-morrow, it is a - thousand pities that she had not the previous advantage of seeing the - speechless despondency of this poor pig; it might have furnished her with - some valuable hints, and enabled her to convey more perfectly to the - audience the “expressive silence” of irremediable distress. - </p> - <h3> - NOVEMBER 10. - </h3> - <p> - At four o’clock in the afternoon, I embarked on board the “Sir Godfrey - Webster,” Captain Boyes. On approaching the vessel, we heard the loudest - of all possible shrieks proceeding from a boat lying near her: and who - should prove to be the complainant, but my former acquaintance, the - despairing pig, He had recovered his voice to protest against entering the - ship: I had already declared against climbing up the accommodation ladder; - the pig had precisely the very same objection. So a <i>soi-disant</i> - chair, being a broken bucket, was let down for us, and the pig and myself - entered the vessel by the same conveyance; only pig had the precedence, - and was hoisted up first. The ship proceeded three miles, and then the - darkness obliged us to come to an anchor. There are only two other cabin - passengers, a Mr. J——— and a Mr. S———; - the latter is a planter in the “May-Day Mountains,” Jamaica: he wonders, - considering how much benefit Great Britain derives from the West Indies, - that government is not careful to build more churches in them, and is of - opinion, that “hedicating the negroes is the only way to make them appy; - indeed, in his umble hopinion, hedication his hall in hall!” - </p> - <h3> - NOVEMBER 11. - </h3> - <p> - We sailed at six o’clock, passed through “Nob’s Hole,” the “Girdler’s - Hole,” and “the Pan” (all very dangerous sands, and particularly the last, - where at times we had only one foot water below us), by half past four, - and at five came to an anchor in the Queen’s Channel. Never having seen - any thing of the kind before, I was wonderfully pleased with the - manoeuvring of several large ships, which passed through the sands at the - same time with us: their motions seemed to be effected with as much ease - and dexterity as if they had been crane-necked carriages; and the effect - as they pursued each other’s track and windings was perfectly beautiful. - </p> - <h3> - NOVEMBER 12. (SUNDAY.) - </h3> - <p> - The wind was contrary, and we had to beat up the whole way; we did not - reach the Downs till past four o’clock, and, as there were above sixty - vessels arrived before us, we had some difficulty in finding a safe berth. - At length we anchored in the Lower Roads, about four miles off Deal. We - can see very clearly the double lights in the vessel moored off the - Goodwin sands: it is constantly inhabited by two families, who reside - there alternately every fortnight, except when the weather delays the - exchange. The “Sir Godfrey Webster” is a vessel of 600 tons, and was - formerly in the East India service. I have a very clean cabin, a place for - my books, and every thing is much more comfortable than I expected; the - wind, however, is completely west, the worst that we could have, and we - must not even expect a change till the full moon. The captain pointed out - a man to me to-day, who had been with him in a violent storm off the - Bermudas. For six hours together, the flashes of lightning were so - unintermitting, that the eye could not sustain them: at one time, the ship - seemed to be completely in a blaze; and the man in question (who was then - standing at the wheel, near the captain) suddenly cried out, “I don’t know - what has happened to me, but I can neither see nor stand;” and he fell - down upon the deck. He was taken up and carried below; and it appeared - that the lightning had affected his eyes and legs, in a degree to make him - both blind and lame, though the captain, who was standing by his side, had - received no injury: in three or four days, the man was quite well again. - In this storm, no less than thirteen vessels were dismasted, or otherwise - shattered by the lightning. - </p> - <p> - Sea Terms.—<i>Windward, from</i> whence the wind blows; <i>leeward, - to</i> which it blows; <i>starboard</i>, the <i>right</i> of the stern; <i>larboard</i>, - the <i>left</i>; <i>starboard helm</i>, when you go to the left; but when - to the right, instead of larboard helm, <i>helm a-port</i>; <i>luff you - may</i>, go nearer to the wind; <i>theis (thus)</i> you are near enough; - <i>luff no near</i>, you are too near the wind; the <i>tiller</i>, the - handle of the rudder; the <i>capstan</i>, the weigher of the anchor; the - <i>buntlines</i>, the ropes which move the body of the sail, the <i>bunt</i> - being the body; the <i>bowlines</i>, those which spread out the sails, and - make them swell. - </p> - <h3> - NOVEMBER 13. - </h3> - <p> - At six this morning, came on a tremendous gale of wind; the captain says, - that he never experienced a heavier. However, we rode it out with great - success, although, at one time, it was bawled out that we were driving; - and, at another, a brig which lay near us broke from her moorings, and - came bearing down close upon us. The danger, indeed, from the difference - of size, was all upon the side of the brig; but, luckily, the vessels - cleared each other. This evening she has thought it as well to remove - further from so dangerous a neighbourhood. There is a little cabin boy on - board, and Mr. J——— has brought with him a black - terrier; and these two at first sight swore to each other an eternal - friendship, in the true German style. It is the boy’s first voyage, and he - is excessively sea-sick; so he has been obliged to creep into his hammock, - and his friend, the little black terrier, has crept into the hammock with - him. A boat came from the shore this evening, and reported that several - vessels have been dismasted, lost their anchors, and injured in various - ways. A brig, which was obliged to make for Ramsgate, missed the pier, and - was dashed to pieces completely; the crew, however, were saved, all except - the pilot; who, although he was brought on shore alive, what between - bruises, drowning, and fright, had suffered so much, that he died two - hours afterwards. The weather has now again become calm; but it is still - full west. - </p> - <h3> - NOVEMBER 14. (TUESDAY.) - </h3> - <h3> - THE HOURS. - </h3> - <p class="indent15"> - Ne’er were the zephyrs known disclosing - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - More sweets, than when in Tempe’s shades - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - They waved the lilies, where, reposing, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Sat four and twenty lovely maids. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Those lovely maids were called “the Hours,” - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - The charge of Virtue’s flock they kept; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And each in turn employ’d her powers - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - To guard it, while her sisters slept. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - False Love, how simple souls thou cheatest! - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - In myrtle bower, that traitor near - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Long watch’d an Hour, the softest, sweetest! - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - The evening Hour, to shepherds dear. * - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - In tones so bland he praised her beauty, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Such melting airs his pipe could play, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - The thoughtless Hour forgot her duty, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - And fled in Love’s embrace away. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Meanwhile the fold was left unguarded— - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - The wolf broke in—the lambs were slain: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And now from Virtue’s train discarded, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - With tears her sisters speak their pain. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Time flies, and still they weep; for never - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - The fugitive can time restore: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - An Hour once fled, has fled for ever, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - And all the rest shall smile no more! - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p> - * L’heure du berger. - </p> - <h3> - NOVEMBER 15. - </h3> - <p> - The wind altered sufficiently to allow us to escape from the Downs; and at - dusk we were off Beachy Head. This morning, the steward left the trap-door - of the store-hole open; of course, I immediately contrived to step into - it, and was on the point of being precipitated to the bottom, among - innumerable boxes of grocery, bags of biscuit, and porter barrels;—where - a broken limb was the <i>least</i> that I could expect. Luckily, I fell - across the corner of the trap, and managed to support myself, till I could - effect my escape with a bruised knee, and the loss of a few inches of skin - from my left arm. - </p> - <h3> - NOVEMBER 16. - </h3> - <p> - Off the Isle of Wight. - </p> - <h3> - NOVEMBER 17. - </h3> - <p> - Off the St. Alban’s Head. Sick to death! My temples throbbing, my head - burning, my limbs freezing, my mouth all fever, my stomach all nausea, my - mind all disgust. - </p> - <h3> - NOVEMBER 18. - </h3> - <p> - Off the Lizard, the last point of England. - </p> - <h3> - NOVEMBER 19. (SUNDAY.) - </h3> - <p> - At one this morning, a violent gust of wind came on; and, at the rate of - ten miles an hour, carried us through the Chops of the Channel, formed by - the Scilly Rocks and the Isle of Ushant. But I thought, that the advance - was dearly purchased by the terrible night which the storm made us pass. - The wind roaring, the waves dashing against the stern, till at last they - beat in the quarter gallery; the ship, too, rolling from side to side, as - if every moment she were going to roll over and over! Mr. J——— - was heaved off one of the sofas, and rolled along, till he was stopped by - the table. He then took his seat upon the floor, as the more secure - position; and, half an hour afterwards, another heave chucked him back - again upon the sofa. The captain snuffed out one of the candles, and both - being tied to the table, could not relight it with the other: so the - steward came to do it; when a sudden heel of the ship made him extinguish - the second candle, tumbled him upon the sofa on which I was lying, and - made the candle which he had brought with him fly out of the candlestick, - through a cabin window at his elbow; and thus we were all left in the - dark. Then the intolerable noise! the cracking of bulkheads! the sawing of - ropes! the screeching of the tiller! the trampling of the sailors! the - clattering of the crockery! Every thing above deck and below deck, all in - motion at once! Chairs, writing-desks, books, boxes, bundles, fire-irons - and fenders, flying to one end of the room; and the next moment (as if - they had made a mistake) flying back again to the other with the same - hurry and confusion! “Confusion worse confounded!” Of all the - inconveniences attached to a vessel, the incessant noise appears to me the - most insupportable! As to our live stock, they seem to have made up their - minds on the subject, and say with one of Ariosto’s knights (when he was - cloven from the head to the chine), “<i>or corvien morire</i>” Our fowls - and ducks are screaming and quacking their last by dozens; and by Tuesday - morning, it is supposed that we shall not have an animal alive in the - ship, except the black terrier—and my friend the squeaking pig, - whose vocal powers are still audible, maugre the storm and the sailors, - and who (I verily believe) only continues to survive out of spite, because - he can join in the general chorus, and help to increase the number of - abominable sounds. - </p> - <p> - We are now tossing about in the Bay of Biscay: I shall remember it as long - as I live. The “beef-eater’s front” could never have “beamed more - terrible” upon Don Ferolo Whiskerandos, “in Biscay’s Bay, when he took him - prisoner,” than Biscay’s Bay itself will appear to <i>me</i> the next time - that I approach it. - </p> - <h3> - NOVEMBER 20. - </h3> - <p> - Our live stock has received an increase; our fowls and ducks are dead to - be sure, but a lark flew on board this morning, blown (as is supposed) - from the coast of France. In five minutes it appeared to be quite at home, - eat very readily whatever was given it, and hopped about the deck without - fear of the sailors, or the more formidable black terrier, with all the - ease and assurance imaginable. - </p> - <p> - I dare say, it <i>was</i> blown from the coast of France! - </p> - <h3> - NOVEMBER 21. - </h3> - <p> - The weather continues intolerable. Boisterous waves running mountains - high, with no wind, or a foul one. Dead calms by day, which prevent our - making any progress; and violent storms by night, which prevent our - getting any sleep. - </p> - <p> - Every thing is in a state of perpetual motion. “<i>Nulla quies intus</i> - (nor <i>outus</i> indeed for the matter of that), <i>nullâque silentia - parte</i>” We drink our tea exactly as Tantalus did in the infernal - regions; we keep bobbing at the basin for half an hour together without - being able to get a drop; and certainly nobody on ship-board can doubt the - truth of the proverb, “Many things fall out between the cup and the lip.” - </p> - <h3> - NOVEMBER 23. - </h3> - <p> - PANDORA’S BOX. (Iliad A.) - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Prometheus once (in Tooke the tale you’ll see) - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - In one vast box enclosed all human evils; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - But curious Woman needs the inside would see, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And out came twenty thousand million devils. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - The story’s spoil’d, and Tooke should well be chid; - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - The fact, sir, happen’d thus, and I’ve no doubt of it: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - <i>’</i>Twas not that Woman raised the coffer’s lid, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - But when the lid <i>was</i> raised, Woman popp’d out of it. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - “But Hope remain’d”—true, sir, she did; but still - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - All saw of what Miss Hope gave intimation; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Her right hand grasp’d an undertaker’s bill, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Her left conceal’d a deed of separation. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p> - N. B. I was most horribly sea-sick when I took this view of the subject. - Besides, grapes on shipboard, in general, are remarkably sour. - </p> - <h3> - NOVEMBER 24. - </h3> - <p class="indent20"> - “Manibus date lilia plenis; - </p> - <p class="indent30"> - Purpureos spargam flores!” - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p> - The squeaking pig was killed this morning. - </p> - <h3> - NOVEMBER 25. - </h3> - <p> - Letters were sent to England by a small vessel bound for Plymouth, and - laden with oranges from St. Michael’s, one of the Azores. - </p> - <h3> - NOVEMBER 26. - </h3> - <p> - A complete and most violent storm, from twelve at night till seven the - next morning. The fore-top-sail, though only put up for the first time - yesterday, was rent from top to bottom; and several of the other sails are - torn to pieces. The perpetual tempestuous weather which we have - experienced has so shaken the planks of the vessel, that the sea enters at - all quarters. About one o’clock in the morning I was saluted by a stream - of water, which poured down exactly upon my face, and obliged me to shift - my lodgings. The carpenter had been made aware that there was a leak in my - cabin, and ordered to caulk the seams; but, I suppose, he thought that - during only a two months’ voyage, the rain might very possibly never find - out the hole, and that it would be quite time enough to apply the remedy - when I should have felt the inconvenience. The best is, that the carpenter - happening to be at work in the next cabin when the water came down upon - me, I desired him to call my servant, in order that I might get up, on - account of the leak; on which he told me “that the leak could not be - helped;” grumbled a good deal at calling up the servant; and seemed to - think me not a little unreasonable for not lying quietly, and suffering - myself to be pumped upon by this shower-bath of his own providing. - </p> - <p> - But if the water gets <i>into</i> the ship, on the other hand, last night - the poor old steward was very near getting out of it. In the thick of the - storm he was carrying some grog to the mate, when a gun, which drove - against him, threw him off his balance, and he was just passing through - one of the port-holes, when, luckily, he caught hold of a rope, and saved - himself. A screech-owl flew on board this morning: I am sure we have no - need of birds of ill omen; I could supply the place of a whole aviary of - them myself. - </p> - <h3> - NOVEMBER 28. - </h3> - <p> - Reading Don Quixote this morning, I was greatly pleased with an instance - of the hero’s politeness, which had never struck me before. The Princess - Micomicona having fallen into a most egregious blunder, he never so much - as hints a suspicion of her not having acted precisely as she has stated, - but only begs to know her reasons for taking a step so extraordinary. “But - pray, madam,” says he, “why <i>did</i> your ladyship land at Ossuna, - seeing that it is not a seaport town?” - </p> - <p> - I was also much charmed with an instance of conjugal affection, in the - same work. Sancho being just returned home, after a long absence, the - first thing which his wife, Teresa, asks about, is the welfare of the ass. - “I have brought him back,” answers Sancho, “and in much better health and - condition than I am in myself.” “The Lord be praised,” said Teresa, “for - this his great mercy to me!” - </p> - <h3> - NOVEMBER 29. - </h3> - <p> - The wind continues contrary, and the weather is as disagreeable and - perverse as it can well be; indeed, I understand that in these latitudes - nothing can be expected but heavy gales or dead calms, which makes them - particularly pleasant for sailing, especially as the calms are by far the - most disagreeable of the two: the wind steadies the ship; but when she - creeps as slowly as she does at present (scarcely going a mile in four - hours), she feels the whole effect of the sea breaking against her, and - rolls backwards and forwards with every billow as it rises and falls. In - the mean while, every thing seems to be in a state of the most active - motion, except the ship; while we are carrying a spoonful of soup to our - mouths, the remainder takes the “glorious golden opportunity” to empty - itself into our laps, and the glasses and salt-cellars carry on a - perpetual domestic warfare during the whole time of dinner, like the - Guelphs and the Ghibellines. Nothing is so common as to see a roast goose - suddenly jump out of its dish in the middle of dinner, and make a frisk - from one end of the table to the other; and we are quite in the habit of - laying wagers which of the two boiled fowls will arrive at the bottom - first. - </p> - <p> - N.B. To-day the fowl without the liver wing was the favourite, but the - knowing ones were taken in; the uncarved one carried it hollow. - </p> - <h3> - NOVEMBER 30 - </h3> - <p class="indent15"> - “Do those I love e’er think on me?” - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - How oft that painful doubt will start, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - To blight the roseate smile of glee, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - And cloud the brow, and sink the heart! - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - No more can I, estranged from home, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Their pleasures share, nor soothe their moans - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - To them I’m dead as were the foam - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Now breaking o’er my whitening bones. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And doubtless now with newer friends, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - The tide of life content they stem; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Nor on the sailor think, who bends - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Full many an anxious thought on them. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Should that reflection cause me pain? - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - No ease for mine their grief could bring; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Enough if, when we meet again, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Their answering hearts to greet me spring. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Enough, if no dull joyless eye - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Give signs of kindness quite forgot; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Nor heartless question, cold reply, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Speak—“all is past; I love you not.” - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Too much has heav’n ordain’d of woe, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Too much of groans on earth abounds, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - For me to wish one tear to flow - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Which brings no balm for sorrow’s wounds. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Love’s moisten’d lid and Friendship’s sigh, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - I could not see, I could not hear! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - To think “they weep!” more fills mine eye, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - And smarts the more each tender tear. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Then, if there be one heart so kind, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - It mourns each hour the loss of me; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Shrinks, when it hears some gust of wind, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - And sighs—“Perhaps a storm at sea!” - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Oh! if there be an heart <i>indeed</i>, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Which beats for me, so sad, so true, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Swift to its aid, Oblivion, speed, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - And bathe it with thy poppy’s dew; - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - My form in vapours to conceal, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - From Pleasure’s wreath rich odours shake; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Nor let that heart one moment feel - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Such pangs as force my own to ache. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Demon of Memory, cherish’d grief! - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Oh, could I break thy wand in twain! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Oh, could I close thy magic leaf, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Till those I love are mine again! - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <h3> - DECEMBER 1. (FRIDAY.) - </h3> - <p> - The captain to-day pointed oat to me a sailor-boy, who, about three years - ago, was shaken from the mast-head, and fell through the scuttle into the - hold; the distance was above eighty feet, yet the boy was taken up with - only a few bruises. - </p> - <h3> - DECEMBER 3. (SUNDAY.) - </h3> - <p> - The wind during the last two days has been more favourable; and at nine - this morning we were in the latitude of Madeira. - </p> - <h3> - DECEMBER 5. - </h3> - <p> - Sea Terms.—<i>Ratlines</i>, the rope ladders by which the sailors - climb the shrouds; the <i>companion</i>, the cabin-head; <i>reefs</i>, the - divisions by which the sails are contracted; <i>stunsails</i>, additional - sails, spread for the purpose of catching all the wind possible; the - fore-mast, main-mast, mizen-mast; <i>fore</i>, the head; <i>aft</i>, the - stern; <i>being pooped</i> (the very sound of which tells one, that it - must be something very terrible), having the stern beat in by the sea; <i>to - belay a rope</i>, to fasten it. - </p> - <h3> - DECEMBER 6. - </h3> - <p> - I had no idea of the expense of building and preserving a ship: that in - which I am at present cost £30,000 at its outset. Last year the repairs - amounted to £14,000; and in a voyage to the East Indies they were more - than £20,000. In its return last year from Jamaica it was on the very - brink of shipwreck. A storm had driven it into Bantry Bay, and there was - no other refuge from the winds than Bear Haven, whose entrance was narrow - and difficult; however, a gentleman from Castletown came on board, and - very obligingly offered to pilot the ship. He was one of the first people - in the place, had been the owner of a vessel himself, was most thoroughly - acquainted with every inch of the haven, &c. &c., and so on they - went. There was but one sunken rock, and that about ten feet in diameter; - the captain knew it, and warned his gentleman-pilot to keep a little more - to the eastward. “My dear friend,” answered the Irishman, “now do just - make yourself <i>asy</i>; I know well enough what we are about; we are as - clear of the rock as if we were in the Red Sea, by Jasus;”—upon - which the vessel struck upon the rock, and there she stuck. The captain - fell to swearing and tearing his hair. “God damn you, sir! didn’t I tell - you to keep to eastward? Dam’me, she’s on the rock!” “Oh! well, my dear, - she’s now <i>on</i> the rock, and, in a few minutes, you know, why she’ll - be <i>off</i> the rock: to be sure, I’d have taken my oath that the rock - was two hundred and fifty feet on the other side of her, but——“—“Two - hundred and fifty feet! why, the channel is not two hundred and fifty feet - wide itself! and as to getting her off, bumping against this rock, it can - only be with a great hole in her side.”—“Poh! now, bother, my dear! - why sure——“—“Leave the ship, sir; dam’me, sir, get out - of my ship this moment!” Instead of which, with the most smiling and - obliging air in the world, the Irishman turned to console the female - passengers. “Make yourselves <i>asy</i>, ladies, pray make yourselves - perfectly <i>asy</i>; but, upon my soul, I believe your captain’s mad; no - danger in life! only make yourselves <i>asy</i>, I say; for the ship lies - on the rock as safe and as quiet, by Jasus, as if she were lying on a mud - bank!” Luckily the weather was so perfectly calm, that the ship having - once touched the rock with her keel bumped no more. It was low water; she - wanted but five inches to float her, and when the tide rose she drifted - off, and with but little harm done. The gentleman-pilot then thought - proper to return on shore, took a very polite leave of the - lady-passengers, and departed with all the urbanity possible; only - +thinking the captain the strangest person that he had ever met with; and - wondering that any man of common sense could be put out of temper by such - a trifle. - </p> - <h3> - DECEMBER 7. - </h3> - <p> - Yesterday we had the satisfaction of falling in with the trade wind, and - now we are proceeding both rapidly and steadily. The change of climate is - very perceptible; and the deep and beautiful blue which colours the sea is - a certain intimation of our approach to the tropic. A few flying fish have - made their appearance; and the spears are getting in order for the - reception of their constant attendant, the dolphin. These spears have - ropes affixed to them, and at one end of the pole are five barbs, at the - other a heavy ball of lead: then, when the fish is speared, the striker - lets the staff fall, on which down goes the lead into the sea, and up goes - the dolphin into the air, who is in the utmost astonishment to find itself - all of a sudden turned into a flying fish; so determines to cultivate the - art of flying for the future, and promises itself a great many pleasant - airings. The dolphin and the flying fish are beautifully coloured, and - both are very good food, particularly the latter, which move in shoals - like the herring, and are about the size of that fish. They are supposed - to feed on spawn and sea animalculæ, and will not take the bait; but on - the shores of Barbadoes, which they frequent in great multitudes, they are - caught in wide nets, spread upon the surface of the sea; then, upon - beating the waters around, the fish rise in clouds, and fly till, their - fins getting dry, they fall down into the nets which have been spread to - receive them. The dolphin is seldom above three feet long; the immense - strength which he exerts in his struggles for liberty occasions the - necessity of catching him in the way before described. - </p> - <h3> - DECEMBER 8. - </h3> - <p> - At three o’clock this afternoon we entered the tropic of Cancer; and if - our wind continues tolerably favourable, we may expect to see Antigua on - Sunday. On crossing the line, it was formerly usual for ships to receive a - visit from an old gentleman and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Cancer: the husband - was, by profession, a barber; and, probably, the scullion, who insisted so - peremptorily on shaving Sancho, at the duke’s castle, had served an - apprenticeship to Mr. Cancer, for their mode of proceeding was much alike, - and, indeed, very peculiar: the old gentleman always made a point of using - a rusty iron hoop instead of a razor, tar for soap, and an empty - beef-barrel was, in his opinion, the very best possible substitute for a - basin; in consequence of which, instead of paying him for shaving them, - people of taste were disposed to pay for not being shaved; and as Mrs. - Cancer happened to be particularly partial to gin (when good), the gift of - a few bottles was generally successful in rescuing the donor’s chin from - the hands of her husband; however, to-day this venerable pair - “peradventure were sleeping, or on a journey,” for we neither saw nor - heard any thing about them. - </p> - <h3> - DECEMBER 9. - </h3> - <p> - When, after his victory of the 1st of June, Lord Howe again put to sea - from Portsmouth, the number of women who were turned on shore out of the - ships (wives, sisters, &c.) amounted to above thirty thousand! - </p> - <h3> - DECEMBER 10. (Sunday.) - </h3> - <p class="indent15"> - What triumph moves on the billows so blue? - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - In his car of pellucid pearl I view, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - With glorious pomp, on the dancing tide, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - The tropic Genius proudly ride. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - The flying fish, who trail his car, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Dazzle the eye, as they shine from afar; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Twinkling their fins in the sun, and show - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - All the hues which adorn the showery bow. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Of dark sea-blue is the mantle he wears; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - For a sceptre a plantain branch he bears; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Pearls his sable arms surround, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And his locks of wool with coral are crown’d. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Perpetual sunbeams round him stream; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - His bronzed limbs shine with golden gleam; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - The spicy spray from his wheels that showers, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Makes the sense ache with its odorous powers. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Myriads of monsters, who people the caves - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Of ocean, attendant plough the waves; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Sharks and crocodiles bask in his blaze, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And whales spout the waters which dance in his rays. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And as onward floats that triumph gay, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - The light sea-breezes around it play; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - While at his royal feet lie bound - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - The Ouragans, hush’d in sleep profound. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Dark Genius, hear a stranger’s prayer, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Nor suffer those winds to ravage and tear - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Jamaica’s savannas, and loose to fly, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Mingling the earth, and the sea, and the sky. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - From thy locks on my harvest of sweets diffuse, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - To swell my canes, refreshing dews; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And kindly breathe, with cooling powers, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Through my coffee walks and shaddock bowers. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Let not thy strange diseases prey - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - On my life; but scare from my couch away - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - The yellow Plague’s imps; and safe let me rest - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - From that dread black demon, who racks the breast: - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Nor force my throbbing temples to know - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Thy sunbeam’s sudden and maddening blow; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Nor bid thy day-flood blaze too bright - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - On nerves so fragile, and brain so light: - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And let me, returning in safety, view - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Thy triumph again on the ocean blue; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And in Britain I’ll oft with flowers entwine - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - The Tropic Sovereign’s ebony shrine! - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Was it but fancy? did He not frown, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And in anger shake his coral crown? - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Gorgeous and slow the pomp moves on! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Low sinks the sun—and all is gone! - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p> - “And pray now do you mean to say that you really saw all this fine show?” - Oh, yes, really, “in my mind’s eye, Horatio,” as Shakspeare says; or, if - you like it better in Greek— - </p> - <p> - [Greek line] Odyssey, A. - </p> - <h3> - DECEMBER 11. - </h3> - <p> - A dead centipes was found on the deck, supposed to have made its way on - board, during the last voyage, among the logwood. This is not the only - species of disagreeable passengers, who are in the habit of introducing - themselves into homeward bound vessels without leave. While sleeping on - deck last year, the Captain felt something run across his face; and, - supposing it to be a cock-roach, he brushed off a scorpion; but not - without its first biting him upon the cheek: the pain for about four hours - was excessive; but although he did no more than wash the wound with - spirits, he was perfectly well again in a couple of days. - </p> - <h3> - DECEMBER 12. - </h3> - <p> - Since we entered the tropic, the rains have been incessant, and most - violent; but the wind was brisk and favourable, and we proceeded rapidly. - Now we have lost the trade-wind, and move so slowly, that it might almost - be called standing still. On the other hand, the weather is now perfectly - delicious; the ship makes but little way, but she moves steadily: the sun - is brilliant; the sky cloudless; the sea calm, and so smooth that it looks - like one extended sheet of blue glass; an awning is stretched over the - deck; although there is not wind enough to fill the canvass, there is - sufficient to keep the air cool, and thus, even during the day, the - weather is very pleasant; but the nights are quite heavenly, and so - bright, that at ten o’clock yesterday evening little Jem Parsons (the - cabin boy), and his friend the black terrier, came on deck, and sat - themselves down on a gun-carriage, to read by the light of the moon. I - looked at the boy’s book, (the terrier, I suppose, read over the other’s - shoulder,) and found that it was “The Sorrows of Werter.” I asked who had - lent him such a book, and whether it amused him? He said that it had been - made a present to him, and so he had read it almost through, for he had - got to Werter’s dying; though, to be sure, he did not understand it all, - nor like very much what he understood; for he thought the man a great fool - for killing himself <i>for love</i>. I told him I thought every man a - great fool who killed himself for love or for any thing else: but had he - no books but “The Sorrows of Werter?”—Oh dear, yes, he said, he had - a great many more; he had got “The Adventures of a Louse,” which was a - very curious book, indeed; and he had got besides “The Recess,” and - “Valentine and Orson,” and “Ros-lin Castle,” and a book of Prayers, just - like the Bible; but he could not but say that he liked “The Adventures of - a Louse” the best of any of them. - </p> - <h3> - DECEMBER 13. - </h3> - <p> - We caught a dolphin, but not with the spear: he gorged a line which was - fastened to the stern, and baited with salt pork; but being a very large - and strong fish, his efforts to escape were so powerful, that it was - feared that he would break the line, and a <i>grainse</i> (as the - dolphin-spear is technically termed) was thrown at him: he was struck, and - three of the prongs were buried in his side; yet, with a violent effort, - he forced them out again, and threw the lance up into the air. I am not - much used to take pleasure in the sight of animal suffering; but if - Pythagoras himself had been present, and “of opinion that the soul of his - grandam might haply inhabit” this dolphin, I think he must still have - admired the force and agility displayed in his endeavours to escape. - Imagination can picture nothing more beautiful than the colours of this - fish: while covered by the waves he was entirely green; and as the water - gave him a case of transparent crystal, he really looked like one solid - piece of living emerald; when he sprang into the air, or swam fatigued - upon the surface, his fins alone preserved their green, and the rest of - his body appeared to be of the brightest yellow, his scales shining like - gold wherever they caught the sun; while the blood which, as long as he - remained in the sea, continued to spout in great quantities, forced its - way upwards through the water, like a wreath of crimson smoke, and then - dispersed itself in separate globules among the spray. From the great loss - of blood, his colours soon became paler; but when he was at length safely - landed on deck, and beating himself to death against the flooring, agony - renewed all the lustre of his tints: his fins were still green and his - body golden, except his back, which was olive, shot with bright deep blue; - his head and belly became silvery, and the spots with which the latter was - mottled changed, with incessant rapidity, from deep olive to the most - beautiful azure. Gradually his brilliant tints disappeared: they were - succeeded by one uniform shade of slate-colour; and when he was quite - dead, he exhibited nothing but dirty brown and dull dead white. As soon as - all was over with him, the first thing done was to convert one of his fins - into the resemblance of a flying fish, for the purpose of decoying other - dolphins; and the second, to order some of the present gentleman to be got - ready for dinner. He measured above four feet and a half. - </p> - <h3> - DECEMBER 14. - </h3> - <p> - At noon to-day, we found ourselves in the latitude of Jamaica. We were - promised the sight of Antigua on Sunday next, but that is now quite out of - the question. We made but eight miles in the whole of yesterday; and as - Jamaica is still at the distance of eighteen hundred miles, at this rate - of proceeding we may expect to reach it about eight months hence. The sky - this evening presented us with quite a new phenomenon, a rose-coloured - moon: she is to be at her full to-morrow; and this afternoon, about - half-past four, she rose like a disk of silver, perfectly white and - colourless; but, as she was exactly opposite to the sun at the time of his - setting, the reflection of his rays spread a kind of pale blush over her - orb, which produced an effect as beautiful as singular. Indeed, the size - and inconceivable brilliance of the sun, the clearness of the atmosphere, - which had assumed a faint greenish hue, and was entirely without a cloud, - the smoothness of the ocean, and the aforesaid rose-coloured moon, - altogether rendered this sunset the most magical in effect that I ever - beheld; and it was with great reluctance that I was called away from - admiring it, to ascertain whether the merits of our new acquaintance, the - dolphin, extended any further than his skin. Part of him, which was boiled - for yesterday’s dinner, was rather coarse and dry, and might have been - mistaken for indifferent haddock. But his having been steeped in brine, - and then broiled with a good deal of pepper and salt, had improved him - wonderfully; and to-day I thought him as good as any other fish. - </p> - <p> - Our wind is like Lady Townley’s separate allowance: “that little has been - made less;” or, rather, it has dwindled away to nothing. We are now so - absolutely becalmed, that I begin seriously to suspect all the crew of - being Phæacians; and that at this identical moment Neptune is amusing - himself by making the ship take root in the ocean; a trick which he played - once before to a vessel (they say) in the days of Ulysses. I have got some - locust plants on board in pots: if we continue to sail as slowly as we - have done for the last week, before we reach Jamaica my plants will be - forest trees, little Jem, the cabin-boy, will have been obliged to shave, - and the black terrier will have died of old age long ago. Great numbers of - porpoises were playing about to-day, and tumbling under the ship’s very - nose. When in their gambols they allow themselves to be seen above the - surface, they are of a dirty blackish brown, and as ugly as heart can - wish; but in the waves they acquire a fine sea-green cast, and their - spouting up water in the sunbeams is extremely ornamental. - </p> - <h3> - THE HELMSMAN. - </h3> - <p class="indent15"> - Hark! the bell 1 it sounds midnight!—all hail, thou new - </p> - <p class="indent30"> - heav’n! - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - How soft sleep the stars on their bosom of night! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - While o’er the full moon, as they gently are driven, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Slowly floating the clouds bathe their fleeces in light. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - The warm feeble breeze scarcely ripples the ocean, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - And all seems so hush’d, all so happy to feel! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - So smooth glides the bark, I perceive not her motion, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - While low sings the sailor who watches the wheel. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - That sailor I’ve noted—his cheek, fresh and blooming - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - With health, scarcely yet twenty springs can have - </p> - <p class="indent30"> - seen; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - His looks they are lofty, but never presuming, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - His limbs strong, but light, and undaunted his mien. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Frank and clear is his brow, yet a thoughtful expression, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Half tender, half mournful, oft shadows his eye; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And murmurs escape him, which make the confession, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - If not check’d by a hem, they had swell’d to a sigh. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - His song is not pour’d to beguile the lone hour, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - When in-watch on deck <i>’</i>tis his duty to keep; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Nor of painful reflection to weaken the power, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Nor chase from his eyelids the pinions of sleep. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Tis so sad...‘tis so sweet... and some tones come so - </p> - <p class="indent30"> - swelling, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - So right from the heart, and so pure to the ear;— - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - That sure at this moment his thoughts must be dwelling - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - On one who is absent, most kind and most dear. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Perhaps on a mother his mind loves to linger, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Whose wants to relieve, the rough seas hath he - </p> - <p class="indent30"> - cross’d; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Who kiss’d him at parting, and vow’d he could bring her - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - No jewel so dear as the one she then lost! - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - No, no! ’tis a sweetheart, his soul’s cherish’d treasure, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Those full melting notes... hark! he breathes them - </p> - <p class="indent30"> - again! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - So mournful, and yet they’re prolong’d with such plea - </p> - <p class="indent30"> - sure........ - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Oh, nothing but love could have prompted the strain. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Yet, whate’er be the cause of thy sadness, young seaman, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - That the weight be soon lighten’d, I send up my vow; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - From the stings of remorse, I’ll be sworn, thou’rt a - </p> - <p class="indent30"> - freeman, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - No guilt ever ruffled the smooth of that brow! - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - That sigh which you breath’d sprang from pensive - </p> - <p class="indent30"> - affection; - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - That song, though so plaintive, sheds balm on the - </p> - <p class="indent30"> - heart; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And the pain which you feel at each fond recollection, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Is worth all the pleasures that vice could impart. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Oh, still may the scenes of your life, like the present, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Shine bright to the eye, and speak calm to the breast; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - May each wave flow as gentle, each breeze play as - </p> - <p class="indent30"> - pleasant, - </p> - <p class="indent30"> - And warm as the clime prove the friends you love best! - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And may she, who now dictates that ballad so tender, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Diffuse o’er your days the heart’s solace and ease, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - As yon lovely moon, with a gleam of mild splendour, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Pure, tranquil, and bright, over-silvers the seas! - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <h3> - DECEMBER 16. - </h3> - <p> - What little wind there is blows so perversely, that we have been obliged - to alter our course; and instead of Antigua, we are now told that the - Summer Islands (Shakspeare’s “still vexed Bermoothes”) are the first land - that we must expect to see. - </p> - <p> - I am greatly disappointed at finding such a scarcity of monsters; I had - flattered myself, that as soon as we should enter the Atlantic Ocean, or - at least the tropic, we should have seen whole shoals of sharks, whales, - and dolphins wandering about as plenty as sheep upon the South Downs: - instead of which, a brace of dolphins, and a few flying fish and - porpoises, are the only inhabitants of the ocean who have as yet taken the - trouble of paying us the common civility of a visit. However, I am - promised, that as soon as we approach the islands, I shall have as many - sharks as heart can wish. - </p> - <p> - As I am particularly fond of proofs of conjugal attachment between animals - (in the human species they are so universal that I set no store by them), - an instance of that kind which the captain related to me this morning gave - me great pleasure. While lying in Black River harbour, Jamaica, two sharks - were frequently seen playing about the ship; at length the female was - killed, and the desolation of the male was excessive:— - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - “Che faro senz’ Eurydice?” - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p> - What he did <i>without</i> her remains a secret, but what he did <i>with</i> - her was clear enough; for scarce was the breath out of his Eurydice’s - body, when he stuck his teeth in her, and began to eat her up with all - possible expedition. Even the sailors felt their sensibility excited by so - peculiar a mark of posthumous attachment; and to enable him to perform - this melancholy duty the more easily, they offered to be his carvers, - lowered their boat, and proceeded to chop his better half in pieces with - their hatchets; while the widower opened his jaws as wide as possible, and - gulped down pounds upon pounds of the dear departed as fast as they were - thrown to him, with the greatest delight and all the avidity imaginable. I - make no doubt that all the while he was eating, he was thoroughly - persuaded that every morsel which went into his stomach would make its way - to his heart directly! “She was perfectly consistent,” he said to himself; - “she was excellent through life, and really she’s extremely good now she’s - dead!” and then, “unable to conceal his pain,” - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - “He sigh’d and swallow’d, and sigh’d and swallow’d, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - And sigh’d and swallow’d again.” - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p> - I doubt, whether the annals of Hymen can produce a similar instance of - post-obitual affection. Certainly Calderon’s “<i>Amor despues de la Muerte</i>” - has nothing that is worthy to be compared to it; nor do I recollect in - history any fact at all resembling it, except perhaps a circumstance which - is recorded respecting Cambletes, King of Lydia, a monarch equally - remarkable for his voracity and uxoriousness; and who, being one night - completely overpowered by sleep, and at the same time violently tormented - by hunger, eat up his queen without being conscious of it, and was - mightily astonished, the next morning, to wake with her hand in his mouth, - the only bit that was left of her. But then, Cambletes was quite - unconscious what he was doing; whereas, the shark’s mark of attachment was - evidently intentional. It may, however, be doubted, from the voracity with - which he eat, whether his conduct on this occasion was not as much - influenced by the sentiment of hunger as of love; and if he were - absolutely on the point of starving, Tasso might have applied to this - couple, with equal truth, although with somewhat a different meaning, what - he says of his “Amanti e Sposi;”— - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent30"> - ——“Pende - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - D’ un fato sol e l’ una e l’ altra vita - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p> - for if Madam Shark had not died first, Monsieur must have died himself for - want of a dinner. - </p> - <h3> - DECEMBER 17. (Sunday.) - </h3> - <p> - On this day, from a sense of propriety no doubt, as well as from having - nothing else to do, all the crew in the morning betook themselves to their - studies. The carpenter was very seriously spelling a comedy; Edward was - engaged with “The Six Princesses of Babylon;” a third was amusing himself - with a tract “On the Management of Bees;” another had borrowed the - cabin-boy’s “Sorrows of Werter,” and was reading it aloud to a large - circle—some whistling—and others yawning; and Werter’s abrupt - transitions, and exclamations, and raptures, and refinements, read in the - same loud monotonous tone, and without the slightest respect paid to - stops, had the oddest effect possible. “She did not look at me; I thought - my heart would burst; the coach drove off; she looked out of the window; - was that look meant for me? yes it was; perhaps it might be; do not tell - me that it was not meant for me. Oh, my friend, my friend, am I not a - fool, a madman?” (This part is rather stupid, or so, you see, but no - matter for that; where was I? oh!) “I am now sure, Charlotte loves me: I - prest my hand on my heart; I said ‘Klopstock;’ yes, Charlotte loves me; - what! does Charlotte love me? oh, rapturous thought! my brain turns round:—Immortal - powers!—how!—what!—oh, my friend, my friend,” &c. - &c. &c. I was surprised to find that (except Edward’s Fairy Tale) - none of them were reading works that were at all likely to amuse them - (Smollett or Fielding, for instance), or any which might interest them as - relating to their profession, such as voyages and travels; much less any - which had the slightest reference to the particular day. However, as most - of them were reading what they could not possibly understand, they might - mistake them for books of devotion, for any thing they knew to the - contrary; or, perhaps, they might have so much reverence for all books in - print, as to think that, provided they did but read something, it was - doing a good work, and it did not much matter what. So one of Congreve’s - fine ladies swears Mrs. Mincing, the waiting maid, to secrecy, “upon an - odd volume of Messalina’s Poems.” Sir Dudley North, too, informs us, (or - is it his brother Roger? but I mean the Turkey merchant: ):—that at - Constantinople the respect for printed books is so great, that when people - are sick, they fancy that they can be <i>read</i> into health again; and - if the Koran should not be in the way, they will make a shift with a few - verses of the Bible, or a chapter or two of the Talmud, or of any other - book that comes first to hand, rather than not read something. I think Sir - Dudley says, that he himself cured an old Turk of the toothache, by - administering a few pages of “Ovid’s Metamorphoses;” and in an old - receipt-book, we are directed for the cure of a double tertian fever, “to - drink plentifully of cock-broth, and sleep with the Second Book of the - Iliad under the pillow.” If, instead of sleeping with it under the pillow, - the doctor had desired us to read the Second Book of the Iliad in order - that we <i>might</i> sleep, I should have had some faith in his - prescription myself. - </p> - <h3> - DECEMBER 19. - </h3> - <p> - During these last two days nothing very extraordinary, or of sufficient - importance to deserve its being handed down to the latest posterity, has - occurred; except that this morning a swinging rope knocked my hat into the - sea, and away it sailed upon a voyage of discovery, like poor La Perouse, - to return no more, I suppose; unless, indeed,—like Polycrates, the - fortunate tyrant of Samos, who threw his favourite ring into the ocean, - and found it again in the stomach of the first fish that was served up at - his table,—I should have the good luck (but I by no means reckon - upon it) to catch a dolphin with my hat upon his head: as to a porpoise, - he never could squeeze his great numskull into it; but our dolphin of last - week was much about my own size, and I dare say such another would find my - hat fit him to a miracle, and look very well in it. - </p> - <h3> - DECEMBER 20. - </h3> - <p> - The weather is so excessively close and sultry, that it would be allowed - to be too hot to be pleasant, even by that perfect model for all future - lords of the bedchamber, who was never known to speak a word, except in - praise, of any thing living or dead, through the whole course of his life: - but, at last, one day he met with an accident—he happened to die; - and the next day he met with another accident—he happened to be - damned: and immediately upon his arrival in the infernal regions, the - Devil (who was determined to be as well bred as the other could be for his - ears,) came to pay his compliments to the new-comer, and very obligingly - expressed his concern that his lordship was not likely to feel satisfied - with his new abode; for that he must certainly find hell very hot and - disagreeable. “Oh, dear, no!” exclaimed the Lord of the Bedchamber, “not - at all disagreeable, by any manner of means, Mr. Devil, upon my word and - honour! Rather <i>warm</i>, to be sure.” In point of heat there is no - difference between the days and the nights; or if there is any, it is that - the nights are rather the hottest of the two. The lightning is incessant, - and it does not show itself forked or in flashes, but in wide sheets of - mild blue light, which spread themselves at once over the sky and sea; - and, for the moment which they last, make all the objects around as - distinct as in daylight. The moon now does not rise till near ten o’clock, - and during her absence the size and brilliancy of the stars are admirable. - In England they always seemed to me (to borrow a phrase of Shakspeare’s, - which, in truth, is not worth borrowing,) to “peep through the blanket of - the dark;” but here the heavens appear to be studded with them on the - outside, as if they were chased with so many jewels: it is really Milton’s - “firmament of living sapphires;” and what with the lightning, the stars, - and the quantity of floating lights which just gleamed round the ship - every moment, and then were gone again, to-night the sky had an effect so - beautiful, that when at length the moon thought proper to show her great - red drunken face, I thought that we did much better without her. - </p> - <p> - The above-mentioned floating lights are a kind of sea-meteors, which, as I - am told, are produced by the concussion of the waves, while eddying in - whirlpools round the rudder; but still I saw them rise sometimes at so - great a distance from the ship, and there appeared to be something so like - <i>Will</i> in the direction of their course,—sometimes hurrying on, - sometimes gliding along quite slowly; now stopping and remaining - motionless for a minute or two, and then hurrying on again,—that I - could not be convinced of their not being Medusæ, or some species or other - of phosphoric animal: but whatever be the cause of this appearance, the - effect is singularly beautiful. As to air, we have not enough to bless - ourselves with. I had been led to believe, that when once we should have - fallen in with the trade winds, from that moment we should sail into our - destined port as rapidly and as directly as Truffaldino travels in Gozzi’s - farce; when, having occasion to go from Asia to Europe, and being very - much pressed for time, he persuades a conjuror of his acquaintance to lend - him a devil, with a great pair of bellows, the nozzle of which being - directed right against his stern, away goes the traveller before the - stream of wind, with the devil after him, and the infernal bellows never - cease from working till they have blown him out of one quarter of the - globe into another: but our trade winds must “hide their diminished heads” - before Truffaldino’s bellows. It seems that like the Moors, “in Africa the - torrid,” they are “of temper somewhat mulish;” for, although, to be sure, - when they <i>do</i> blow, they will only blow in one certain direction, - yet very often they will not blow at all; which has been our case for the - last week: indeed, they seem to be but a queerish kind of a concern at - best. About three years ago a fleet of merchantmen was becalmed near St. - Vincent’s: in a few days after their arrival, there happened a violent - eruption of a volcano in that island, nor was it long before a favourable - breeze sprang up. Unluckily, one of the ships had anchored rather nearer - to the shore than the others, and was at the distance of about one hundred - and fifty yards from the stream of the trade wind; nor could any possible - efforts of the crew, by tacking, by towing, or otherwise, ever enable the - vessel to conquer that one hundred and fifty yards: there she remained, as - completely becalmed as if there were not such a thing as a breath of wind - in the universe; and on the one hand she had the mortification to see the - rest of the merchantmen, with their convoy (for it was in the very heat of - the war), sail away with all their canvass spread and swelling; while, on - the other hand, the sailors had the comfortable possibility of being - suffocated every moment by the clouds of ashes which continued to fall on - their deck every moment, from the burning volcano, although they were not - nearer to St. Vincent’s than eight or nine miles; indeed that distance - went for nothing, as ashes fell upon vessels that were out at sea at least - five hundred miles; and Barbadoes being to windward of the volcano, such - immense quantities of its contents were carried to that island as almost - covered the fields; and destroying vegetation completely wherever they - fell, did inconceivable damage, while that which St. Vincent’s itself - experienced was but trifling in proportion. - </p> - <p> - Our captain is quite out of patience with the tortoise pace of our - progress; for my part I care very little about it. Whether we have sailed - slowly or rapidly, when a day is once over, I am just as much nearer - advanced towards April, the time fixed for my return to England; and, what - is of much more consequence, whether we have sailed slowly or rapidly, - when a day is once over, I am just as much nearer advanced towards “that - bourne,” to reach which, peaceably and harmlessly, is the only business of - life, and towards which the whole of our existence forms but one continued - journey. - </p> - <h3> - DECEMBER 21. - </h3> - <p> - We succeeded in catching another dolphin today; but he had not a hat on; - however, I just asked him whether he happened to have seen mine, but to - little purpose; for I found that he could tell me nothing at all about it; - so, instead of bothering the poor animal with any more questions, we eat - him. - </p> - <h3> - DECEMBER 22. - </h3> - <p> - About three years ago the Captain had the ill luck to be captured by a - French frigate. As she had already made prizes of two other merchantmen, - it was determined to sink his ship; which, after removing the crew and - every thing in her that was valuable, was effected by firing her own guns - down the hatchways. It was near three hours before she filled, then down - she went with a single plunge, head foremost, with all her sails set and - colours flying. This display of the ship’s magnificence in her last - moments reminded me of Mary Queen of Scots, arraying herself in her - richest robes that she might go to the scaffold. If Yorick had fallen in - with this anecdote in the course of his journey, the situation of the - Captain, standing on the enemy’s deck, and seeing his “brave vessel” in - full and gallant trim, possessing all the abilities for a long existence, - yet abandoned by every one, and sinking from the effect of her own shot, - might have furnished him with a companion for his old commercial Marquis, - lamenting over the rust of his newly recovered sword. - </p> - <h3> - DECEMBER 23. - </h3> - <h3> - THE DOLPHIN. - </h3> - <p class="indent15"> - Does then the insatiate sea relent? - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And hath he back those treasures sent, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - His stormy rage devoured? - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - All starred with gems the billows bound, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And emeralds, jacinths, sapphires round - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - The bark in spray are showered. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - No, no! ’t is there the Dolphin plays; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - His scales, enriched with sunny rays, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Celestial tints unfold; - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - And as he darts, the waters blue - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Are streaked with gleams of many a hue, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Green, orange, purple, gold! - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And brighter still will shine your skin, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Poor fish, more dazzling play each fin, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - On deck when dying cast; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Like good men, who, expiring, bless - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - The Power that calls them, all confess - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Your brightest hour your last. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And now the Spearman watchful stands! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - The five-pronged grainse, which arms his hands, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Your scales is doomed to gore; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - The lead will sink, and soon on high, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Borne from the deep, perforce you’ll fly, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Nor e’er regain it more. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Weep, Beauty, weep! those vivid dyes, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Those splendours, but the harpooner’s eyes - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - To strike his victim call! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Ambition, mark the Dolphin’s close— - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - To dangerous heights he only rose - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - To find the heavier fall! - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Mark, too, ye witty, rich, and gay, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - How quick those sportive fins could play, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - How gay, how rich was he! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - He moves no more—he’s cold to touch— - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - He’s dull—dark—dead! The Dolphin’s such, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - And such we all must be! - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p> - There is a technical fault in the above lines: the grainse, or - dolphin-spear, has five barbs; but the <i>harpooner</i> never uses a lance - with more than a single point. However, the word was so agreeable to my - ear, that I could not find in my heart to leave it out. - </p> - <h3> - DECEMBER 24. (Sunday.) - </h3> - <p> - At length we have crawled into the Caribbean Sea. I was told that we were - not to expect to see land to-day; but on shipboard our not seeing a thing - <i>to-day</i> by no means implies that we shall not see it before <i>to-morrow</i>; - for the nautical day is supposed to conclude at noon, when the solar - observation is taken; and, therefore, the making land <i>to-day</i>, or - not, very often depends upon our making it before twelve o’clock, or after - it. This was the case in the present instance; for noon was scarcely - passed when we saw Descada (a small island totally unprovided with water, - and whose only produce consists in a little cotton), Guadaloupe, and Marie - Galante, though the latter was at so great a distance as to be scarcely - visible. At sunset Antigua was in sight. - </p> - <h3> - DECEMBER 25. - </h3> - <p> - The sun rose upon Montserrat and Nevis, with the <i>Rodondo</i> rock - between them, “apricis natio gratissima mergis,—” for it is - perpetually covered with innumerable flocks of gulls, boobies, pelicans, - and other sea birds. Then came St. Christopher’s and St. Eustatia; and in - the course of the afternoon we passed over the <i>Aves</i> bank, a - collection of sand, rock, and mud, extending about two hundred miles, and - terminated at each end by a small island: one of them inhabited by a few - fishermen, the other only by sea birds. Of all the Atlantic isles the soil - of St. Christopher’s is by some supposed to be the richest, the land - frequently producing three hogsheads an acre. I rather think that this was - the first island discovered by Columbus, and that it took its name from - his patron-saint. Montserrat is so rocky, and the roads so steep and - difficult, that the sugar is obliged to be brought down in bags upon the - backs of mules, and not put into casks, till its arrival on the sea shore. - </p> - <p> - The weather is now quite delicious; there is just wind enough to send us - forward and keep the air cool: the sun is brilliant without being - overpowering; the swell of the waves is scarcely perceptible; and the ship - moves along so steadily, that the deck affords almost as firm footing as - if we were walking on land. One would think that Belinda had been smiling - on the Caribbean Sea, as she once before did on the Thames, and had “made - all the world look gay.” During the night we passed Santa Cruz, an island - which, from the perfection to which its cultivation has been carried, is - called “the Garden of the West Indies.” - </p> - <h3> - DECEMBER 28. - </h3> - <p> - Having left Porto Rico behind us, at noon today we passed the insulated - rock of Alcavella, lying about six miles from St. Domingo, which is now in - sight. As this part of the Caribbean Sea is much infested by pirates from - the Caraccas, all our muskets have been put in repair, and to-day the guns - were loaded, of which we mount eight; but as one of them, during the last - voyage, went overboard in a gale of wind, its place has been supplied by a - <i>Quaker</i>, i. e. a sham gun of wood, so called, I suppose, because it - would not fight if it were called upon. These pirate-vessels are small - schooners, armed with a single twenty-four pounder, which moves upon a - swivel, and their crew is composed of negroes and outlaws of all nations, - their numbers generally running from one hundred to one hundred and fifty - men. To-day, for the first time, I saw some flying fish: we have also been - visited by several men-of-war birds and tropic birds; the latter is a - species of gull, perfectly white, and distinguished by a single very long - feather in its tail: its nautical name is “the boatswain.” - </p> - <p> - As we sail along, the air is absolutely loaded with “Sabean odours from - the spicy shores” of St. Domingo, which we were still coasting at sunset. - </p> - <h3> - DECEMBER 30. - </h3> - <p> - At day-break Jamaica was in sight, or rather it would have been in sight, - only that we could not see it. The weather was so gloomy, and the wind and - rain were so violent, that we might have said to the Captain, as one of - the two Punches who went into the ark is reported to have said to the - patriarch, during the deluge, “Hazy weather, Master Noah.”—I - remember my good friend, Walter Scott, asserts, that at the death of a - poet the groans and tears of his heroes and heroines swell the blast and - increase the river; perhaps something of the same kind takes place at the - arrival of a West India proprietor from Europe, and all this rain and wind - proceed from the eyes and lungs of my agents and overseers, who, for the - last twenty years, have been reigning in my dominions with despotic - authority; but now - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - “Whose groans in roaring winds complain, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Whose tears of rage impel the rain;” - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p> - because, on the approach of the sovereign himself, they must evacuate the - palace, and resign the deputed sceptre. “Hinc illæ lachrymæ!” this is the - cause of our being soaked to the skin this morning. However, about noon - the weather cleared up, and allowed us to verify, with our own eyes, that - we had reached “the Land of Springs,” without having been invited by any - Piccaroon vessel to “walk the plank” instead of the deck; which is a - compliment very generally paid by those gentry, after they have taken the - trouble of laying a plank over the side of a captured ship, in order that - the passengers and the crew may walk overboard without any inconvenience. - </p> - <p> - We arrived at the east end of the island, passed Pedro Point and Starvegut - Bay, and arrived before Black River Bay (our destined harbour) soon after - two o’clock; but here we were obliged to come to a stand still: the - channel is very dangerous, extremely narrow, and full of sunken rocks; so - that it can only be entered by a vessel drawing so much water as ours with - a particular wind, and when there is not any apprehension of a sudden - squall. We were, therefore, obliged to drop anchor, and are now riding - within a couple of miles of the shore, but with as utter an incapability - of reaching it as if we were still at Gravesend. The north side of the - island is said to be extremely beautiful and romantic; but the south, - which we coasted to-day, is low, barren, and without any recommendation - whatever. As yet I can only look at Jamaica as one does on a man who comes - to pay money, and whom we are extremely well pleased to see, however - little the fellow’s appearance may be in his favour. - </p> - <p> - We passed the whole of the day in vain endeavours to work ourselves into - the bay. At one time, indeed, we got very near the shore, but the - consequence was, that we were within an ace of striking upon a rock, and - very much obliged to a sudden gust of wind, which, blowing right off - shore, blew us out of the channel, and left us at night in a much more - perilous situation than we had occupied the evening before, though even - that had been by no means secure. At three o’clock, the other passengers - went on shore in the jolly-boat, and proceeded to their destination; but - as I was still more than thirty miles distant from my estate, I preferred - waiting on board till the Captain should have moored his vessel in safety, - and be at liberty to take me in his pinnace to Savannah la Mar, when I - should find myself within a few miles of my own house. - </p> - <p> - In the course of the afternoon, one of the sailors took up a fish of a - very singular shape and most brilliant colours, as it floated along upon - the water. It seemed to be gasping, and lay with its belly upwards; it was - supposed to have eaten something poisonous, as whenever it was touched it - appeared to be full of life, and squirted the water in our faces with - great spirit and dexterity. But no sooner was he suffered to remain quiet - in the tub, than he turned upon his back and again was gasping. He had a - large round transparent globule, intersected with red veins, under the - belly, which some imagined to proceed from a rupture, and to be the - occasion of his disease. But I could not discover any vestige of a wound; - and the globule was quite solid to the touch; neither did the fish appear - to be sensible when it was pressed upon. No one on board had ever seen - this kind of fish till then; its name is the “Doctor Fish.” - </p> - <p> - A black pilot came on board yesterday, in a canoe hollowed out of the - cotton-tree; and when it returned for him this morning, it brought us a - water-melon. I never met with a worse article in my life; the pulp is of a - faint greenish yellow, stained here and there with spots of moist red, so - that it looks exactly as if the servant in slicing it had cut his finger, - and suffered it to bleed over the fruit. Then the seeds, being of a dark - purple, present the happiest imitation of drops of clotted gore; and - altogether (prejudiced as I was by its appearance), when I had put a - single bit into my mouth, it had such a kind of Shylocky taste of raw - flesh about it (not that I recollect having ever eaten a bit of raw flesh - itself), that I sent away my plate, and was perfectly satisfied as to the - merits of the fruit. - </p> - <p> - <br /><br /> - </p> - <hr /> - <p> - <a name="link2H_4_0004" id="link2H_4_0004"> </a> - </p> - <div style="height: 4em;"> - <br /><br /><br /><br /> - </div> - <h2> - 1816.—JANUARY 1. - </h2> - <p> - At length the ship has squeezed herself into this champagne bottle of a - bay! Perhaps, the satisfaction attendant upon our having overcome the - difficulty, added something to the illusion of its effect; but the beauty - of the atmosphere, the dark purple mountains, the shores covered with - mangroves of the liveliest green down to the very edge of the water, and - the light-coloured houses with their lattices and piazzas completely - embowered in trees, altogether made the scenery of the Bay wear a very - picturesque appearance. And, to complete the charm, the sudden sounds of - the drum and banjee, called our attention to a procession of the - John-Canoe, which was proceeding to celebrate the opening of the new year - at the town of Black River. The John-Canoe is a Merry-Andrew dressed in a - striped doublet, and bearing upon his head a kind of pasteboard - house-boat, filled with puppets, representing, some sailors, others - soldiers, others again slaves at work on a plantation, &c. The negroes - are allowed three days for holidays at Christmas, and also New-year’s day, - which being the last is always reckoned by them as the festival of the - greatest importance. It is for this day that they reserve their finest - dresses, and lay their schemes for displaying their show and expense to - the greatest advantage; and it is then that the John-Canoe is considered - not merely as a person of material consequence, but one whose presence is - absolutely indispensable. Nothing could look more gay than the procession - which we now saw with its train of attendants, all dressed in white, and - marching two by two (except when the file was broken here and there by a - single horseman), and its band of negro music, and its scarlet flags - fluttering about in the breeze, now disappearing behind a projecting clump - of mangrove trees, and then again emerging into an open part of the road, - as it wound along the shore towards the town of Black River. - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - ——“Magno telluris amore - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Egressi optatâ Troes potiuntur arena.” - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p> - I had determined not to go on shore, till I should land for good and all - at Savannah la Mar. But although I could resist the “telluris amor,” there - was no resisting John-Canoe; so, in defiance of a broiling afternoon’s - sun, about four o’clock we left the vessel for the town. - </p> - <p> - It was, as I understand, formerly one of some magnitude; but it now - consists only of a few houses, owing to a spark from a tobacco-pipe or a - candle having lodged upon a mosquito-net during dry weather; and although - the conflagration took place at mid-day, the whole town was reduced to - ashes. The few streets—(I believe there were not above two, but - those were wide and regular, and the houses looked very neat)—were - now crowded with people, and it seemed to be allowed, upon all hands, that - New-year’s day had never been celebrated there with more expense and - festivity. - </p> - <p> - It seems that, many years ago, an Admiral of the Red was superseded on the - Jamaica station by an Admiral of the Blue; and both of them gave balls at - Kingston to the “<i>Brown Girls;”</i> for the fair sex elsewhere are - called the “Brown Girls” in Jamaica. In consequence of these balls, all - Kingston was divided into parties: from thence the division spread into - other districts: and ever since, the whole island, at Christmas, is - separated into the rival factions of the Blues and the Reds (the Red - representing also the English, the Blue the Scotch), who contend for - setting forth their processions with the greatest taste and magnificence. - This year, several gentlemen in the neighbourhood of Black River had - subscribed very largely towards the expenses of the show; and certainly it - produced the gayest and most amusing scene that I ever witnessed, to which - the mutual jealousy and pique of the two parties against each other - contributed in no slight degree. The champions of the rival Roses,—the - Guelphs and the Ghibellines,—none of them could exceed the scornful - animosity and spirit of depreciation with which the Blues and the Reds of - Black River examined the efforts at display of each other. The Blues had - the advantage beyond a doubt; this a Red girl told us that she could not - deny; but still, “though the Reds were beaten, she would not be a Blue - girl for the whole universe!” On the other hand, Miss Edwards (the - mistress of the hotel from whose window we saw the show), was rank Blue to - the very tips of her fingers, and had, indeed, contributed one of her - female slaves to sustain a very important character in the show; for when - the Blue procession was ready to set forward, there was evidently a hitch, - something was wanting; and there seemed to be no possibility of getting on - without it—when suddenly we saw a tall woman dressed in mourning - (being Miss Edwards herself) rush out of our hotel, dragging along by the - hand a strange uncouth kind of a glittering tawdry figure, all feathers, - and pitchfork, and painted pasteboard, who moved most reluctantly, and - turned out to be no less a personage than Britannia herself, with a - pasteboard shield covered with the arms of Great Britain, a trident in her - hand, and a helmet made of pale blue silk and silver. The poor girl, it - seems, was bashful at appearing in this conspicuous manner before so many - spectators, and hung back when it came to the point. But her mistress had - seized hold of her, and placed her by main force in her destined position. - The music struck up; Miss Edwards gave the Goddess a great push forwards; - the drumsticks and the elbows of the fiddlers attacked her in the rear; - and on went Britannia willy-nilly! - </p> - <p> - The Blue girls called themselves “the Blue girls of Waterloo.” Their motto - was the more patriotic; that of the Red was the more gallant:—“Britannia - rules the day!” streamed upon the Blue flag; “Red girls for ever!” floated - upon the Red. But, in point of taste and invention, the former carried it - hollow. First marched Britannia; then came a band of music; then the flag; - then the Blue King and Queen—the Queen splendidly dressed in white - and silver (in scorn of the opposite party, her train was borne by a - little girl in red); his Majesty wore a full British Admiral’s uniform, - with a white satin sash, and a huge cocked hat with a gilt paper crown - upon the top of it. These were immediately followed by “Nelson’s car,” - being a kind of canoe decorated with blue and silver drapery, and with - “Trafalgar” written on the front of it; and the procession was closed by a - long train of Blue grandees (the women dressed in uniforms of white, with - robes of blue muslin), all Princes and Princesses, Dukes and Duchesses, - every mother’s child of them. - </p> - <p> - The Red girls were also dressed very gaily and prettily, but they had - nothing in point of invention that could vie with Nelson’s Car and - Britannia; and when the Red throne made its appearance, language cannot - express the contempt with which our landlady eyed it. “It was neither one - thing nor t’other,” Miss Edwards was of opinion. “Merely a few yards of - calico stretched over some planks—and look, look, only look at it - behind! you may see the bare boards! By way of a throne, indeed! Well, to - be sure, Miss Edwards never saw a poorer thing in her life, that she must - say!” And then she told me, that somebody had just snatched at a medal - which Britannia wore round her neck, and had endeavoured to force it away. - I asked her who had done so? “Oh, one of the Red party, <i>of course!</i>” - The Red party was evidently Miss Edwards’s Mrs. Grundy. John-Canoe made no - part of the procession; but he and his rival, John-Crayfish (a personage - of whom I heard, but could not obtain a sight), seemed to act upon quite - an independent interest, and go about from house to house, tumbling and - playing antics to pick up money for themselves. - </p> - <p> - A play was now proposed to us, and, of course, accepted. Three men and a - girl accordingly made their appearance; the men dressed like the tumblers - at Astley’s, the lady very tastefully in white and silver, and all with - their faces concealed by masks of thin blue silk; and they proceeded to - perform the quarrel between Douglas and Glenalvon, and the fourth act of - “The Fair Penitent.” They were all quite perfect, and had no need of a - prompter. As to Lothario, he was by far the most comical dog that I ever - saw in my life, and his dying scene exceeded all description; Mr. Coates - himself might have taken hints from him! As soon as Lothario was fairly - dead, and Calista had made her exit in distraction, they all began dancing - reels like so many mad people, till they were obliged to make way for the - Waterloo procession, who came to collect money for the next year’s - festival; one of them singing, another dancing to the tune, while she - presented her money-box to the spectators, and the rest of the Blue girls - filling up the chorus. I cannot say much in praise of the black Catalani; - but nothing could be more light, and playful, and graceful, than the - extempore movements of the dancing girl. Indeed, through the whole day, I - had been struck with the precision of their march, the ease and grace of - their action, the elasticity of their step, and the lofty air with which - they carried their heads—all, indeed, except poor Britannia, who - hung down hers in the most ungoddess-like manner imaginable. The first - song was the old Scotch air of “Logie of Buchan,” of which the girl sang - one single stanza forty times over. But the second was in praise of the - Hero of Heroes; so I gave the songstress a dollar to teach it to me, and - drink the Duke’s health. It was not easy to make out what she said, but as - well as I could understand them, the words ran as follows:— - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - “Come, rise up, our gentry, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - And hear about Waterloo; - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Ladies, take your spy-glass, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - And attend to what we do; - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - For one and one makes two, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - But one alone must be. - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Then singee, singee Waterloo, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - None so brave as he!” - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p> - —and then there came something about green and white flowers, and a - Duchess, and a lily-white Pig, and going on board of a dashing man of war; - but what they all had to do with the Duke, or with each other, I could not - make even a guess. I was going to ask for an explanation, but suddenly - half of them gave a shout loud enough “to fright the realms of Chaos and - old Night,” and away they flew, singers, dancers, and all. The cause of - this was the sudden illumination of the town with quantities of large - chandeliers and bushes, the branches of which were stuck all over with - great blazing torches: the effect was really beautiful, and the excessive - rapture of the black multitude at the spectacle was as well worth the - witnessing as the sight itself. - </p> - <p> - I never saw so many people who appeared to be so unaffectedly happy. In - England, at fairs and races, half the visiters at least seem to have been - only brought there for the sake of traffic, and to be too busy to be - amused; but here nothing was thought of but real pleasure; and that - pleasure seemed to consist in singing, dancing, and laughing, in seeing - and being seen, in showing their own fine clothes, or in admiring those of - others. There were no people selling or buying; no servants and landladies - bustling and passing about; and at eight o’clock, as we passed through the - market-place, where was the greatest illumination, and which, of course, - was most thronged, I did not see a single person drunk, nor had I observed - a single quarrel through the course of the day; except, indeed, when some - thoughtless fellow crossed the line of the procession, and received by the - way a good box of the ear from the Queen or one of her attendant - Duchesses. Every body made the same remark to me; “Well, sir, what do you - think Mr. Wilberforce would think of the state of the negroes, if he could - see this scene?” and certainly, to judge by this one specimen, of all - beings that I have yet seen, these were the happiest. As we were passing - to our boat, through the market-place, suddenly we saw Miss Edwards dart - out of the crowd, and seize the Captain’s arm—“Captain! Captain!” - cried she, “for the love of Heaven, only look at the <i>Red</i> lights! - Old iron hoops, nothing but old iron hoops, I declare! Well! for my part!” - and then, with a contemptuous toss of her head, away frisked Miss Edwards - triumphantly. - </p> - <h3> - JANUARY 2. - </h3> - <p> - The St. Elizabeth, which sailed from England at the same time with our - vessel, was attacked by a pirate from Carthagena, near the rocks of - Alcavella, who attempted three times to board her, though he was at length - beaten off so that our Piccaroon preparations were by no means taken - without foundation. - </p> - <p> - At four o’clock this morning I embarked in the cutter for Savannah la Mar, - lighted by the most beautiful of all possible morning stars: certainly, if - this star be really Lucifer, that “Son of the Morning,” the Devil must be - “an extremely pretty fellow.” But in spite of the fineness of the morning, - our passage was a most disagreeable concern: there was a violent swell in - the sea; and a strong north wind, though it carried us forward with great - rapidity, overwhelmed us with whole sheets of foam so incessantly, that I - expected, as soon as the sun should have evaporated the moisture, to see - the boat’s crew covered with salt, and looking like so many Lot’s wives - after her metamorphosis. - </p> - <p> - The distance was about thirty miles, and soon after nine o’clock we - reached Savannah la Mar, where I found my trustee, and a whole cavalcade, - waiting to conduct me to my own estate; for he had brought with him a - curricle and pair for myself a gig for my servant, two black boys upon - mules, and a cart with eight oxen to convey my baggage. The road was - excellent, and we had not above five miles to travel; and as soon as the - carriage entered my gates, the uproar and confusion which ensued sets all - description at defiance. The works were instantly all abandoned; every - thing that had life came flocking to the house from all quarters; and not - only the men, and the women, and the children, but, “by a bland - assimilation,” the hogs, and the dogs, and the geese, and the fowls, and - the turkeys, all came hurrying along by instinct, to see what could - possibly be the matter, and seemed to be afraid of arriving too late. - Whether the pleasure of the negroes was sincere may be doubted; but - certainly it was the loudest that I ever witnessed: they all talked - together, sang, danced, shouted, and, in the violence of their - gesticulations, tumbled over each other, and rolled about upon the ground. - Twenty voices at once enquired after uncles, and aunts, and grandfathers, - and great-grandmothers of mine, who had been buried long before I was in - existence, and whom, I verily believe, most of them only knew by - tradition. One woman held up her little naked black child to me, grinning - from ear to ear;—“Look, Massa, look here! him nice lilly neger for - Massa!” Another complained,—“So long since none come see we, Massa; - good Massa, come at last.” As for the old people, they were all in one and - the same story: now they had lived once to see Massa, they were ready for - dying to-morrow, “them no care.” - </p> - <p> - The shouts, the gaiety, the wild laughter, their strange and sudden bursts - of singing and dancing, and several old women, wrapped up in large cloaks, - their heads bound round with different-coloured handkerchiefs, leaning on - a staff, and standing motionless in the middle of the hubbub, with their - eyes fixed upon the portico which I occupied, formed an exact counterpart - of the festivity of the witches in Macbeth. Nothing could be more odd or - more novel than the whole scene; and yet there was something in it by - which I could not help being affected; perhaps it was the consciousness - that all these human beings were my <i>slaves</i>;—to be sure, I - never saw people look more happy in my life; and I believe their condition - to be much more comfortable than that of the labourers of Great Britain; - and, after all, slavery, in <i>their</i> case, is but another name for - servitude, now that no more negroes can be forcibly carried away from - Africa, and subjected to the horrors of the voyage, and of the seasoning - after their arrival: but still I had already experienced, in the morning, - that Juliet was wrong in saying “What’s in a name?” For soon after my - reaching the lodging-house at Savannah la Mar, a remarkably cleanlooking - negro lad presented himself with some water and a towel: I concluded him - to belong to the inn; and, on my returning the towel, as he found that I - took no notice of him, he at length ventured to introduce himself, by - saying,—“Massa not know me; <i>me your slave!</i>”—and really - the sound made me feel a pang at the heart. The lad appeared all gaiety - and good humour, and his whole countenance expressed anxiety to recommend - himself to my notice; but the word “slave” seemed to imply, that, although - he did feel pleasure then in serving me, if he had detested me he must - have served me still. I really felt quite humiliated at the moment, and - was tempted to tell him,—“Do not say that again; say that you are my - negro, but do not call yourself my slave.” - </p> - <p> - Altogether, they shouted and sang me into a violent headach. It is now one - in the morning, and I hear them still shouting and singing. I gave them a - holiday for Saturday next, and told them that I had brought them all - presents from England; and so, I believe, we parted very good friends. - </p> - <h3> - JANUARY 3. - </h3> - <p> - I have reached Jamaica in the best season for seeing my property in a - favourable point of view; it is crop time, when all the laborious work is - over, and the negroes are the most healthy and merry. This morning I went - to visit the hospital, and found there only eight patients out of three - hundred negroes, and not one of them a serious case. Yesterday I had - observed a remarkably handsome Creole girl, called Psyche, and she really - deserved the name. This morning a little brown girl made her appearance at - breakfast, with an orange bough, to flap away the flies, and, on enquiry, - she proved to be an emanation of the aforesaid Psyche. It is evident, - therefore, that Psyche has already visited the palace of Cupid; I heartily - hope that she is not now upon her road to the infernal regions: but, as - the ancients had two Cupids, one divine and the other sensual, so am I in - possession of two Psyches; and on visiting the hospital, <i>there</i> was - poor Psyche the second. Probably this was the Psyche of the sensual Cupid. - </p> - <p> - I passed the morning in driving about the estate: my house is frightful to - look at, but very clean and comfortable on the inside; some of the scenery - is very picturesque, from the lively green of the trees and shrubs, and - the hermitage-like appearance of the negro buildings, all situated in - little gardens, and embosomed in sweet-smelling shrubberies. Indeed, every - thing appears much better than I expected; the negroes seem healthy and - contented, and so perfectly at their ease, that our English squires would - be mightily astonished at being accosted so familiarly by their farmers. - This delightful north wind keeps the air temperate and agreeable. I live - upon shaddocks and pine-apples. The dreaded mosquitoes are not worse than - gnats, nor as bad as the Sussex harvest-bugs; and, as yet, I never felt - myself in more perfect health. There was a man once, who fell from the top - of a steeple; and, perceiving no inconvenience in his passage through the - air,—“Come,” said he to himself, while in the act of falling, - “really this is well enough yet if it would but last.” Cubina, my young - Savannah la Mar acquaintance, is appointed my black attendant; and as I - had desired him to bring me any native flowers of Jamaica, this evening he - brought me a very pretty one; the negroes, he said, called it - “John-to-Heal,” but in white language it was <i>hoccoco-pickang</i>; it - proved to be the wild Ipecacuanha. - </p> - <h3> - JANUARY 4. - </h3> - <p> - There were three things against which I was particularly cautioned, and - which three things I was determined <i>not</i> to do: to take exercise - after ten in the day; to be exposed to the dews after sun-down; and to - sleep at a Jamaica lodging-house. So, yesterday, I set off for Montego Bay - at eight o’clock in the morning, and travelled till three; walked home - from a ball after midnight; and that home was a lodging-house at Montego - Bay; but the lodging-house was such a cool clean lodging-house, and the - landlady was such an obliging smiling landlady, with the whitest of all - possible teeth, and the blackest of all possible eyes, that no harm could - happen to me from occupying an apartment which had been prepared by <i>her</i>. - She was called out of her bed to make my room ready for me; yet she did - every thing with so much good-will and cordiality; no quick answers, no - mutterings: inns would be bowers of Paradise, if they were all rented by - mulatto landladies, like Judy James. - </p> - <p> - I was much pleased with the scenery of Montego Bay, and with the neatness - and cleanliness of the town; indeed, what with the sea washing it, and the - picturesque aspect of the piazzas and verandas, it is impossible for a - West Indian town so situated, and in such a climate, not to present an - agreeable appearance. But the first part of the road exceeds in beauty all - that I have ever seen: it wound through mountain lands of my own, their - summits of the boldest, and at the same time of the most beautiful shapes; - their sides ornamented with bright green woods of bamboo, logwood, - prickly-yellow, broad-leaf, and trumpet trees; and so completely covered - with the most lively verdure, that once, when we found a piece of barren - rock, Cubina pointed it out to me as a curiosity;—“Look, massa, rock - quite naked!” The cotton-tree presented itself on all sides; but as this - is the season for its shedding its leaves, its wide-spreading bare white - arms contributed nothing to the beauty of the scene, except where the wild - fig and various creeping plants had completely mantled the stems and - branches; and then its gigantic height, and the fantastic wreathings of - its limbs, from which numberless green withes and strings of wild flowers - were streaming, rendered it exactly the very tree for which a - landscape-painter would have wished. The air, too, was delicious; the - fragrance of the Sweet-wood, and of several other scented trees, but above - all, of the delicious Logwood (of which most of the fences in Westmoreland - are made) composed an atmosphere, such, that if Satan, after promising - them “a buxom air, embalmed with odours,” had transported Sin and Death - thither, the charming couple must have acknowledged their papa’s promises - fulfilled. - </p> - <p> - We travelled these first ten miles (Montego Bay being about thirty from my - estate of Cornwall) without seeing a human creature, nor, indeed, any - thing that had life in it, except a black snake basking in the sunshine, - and a few John Crows——a species of vulture, whose utility is - so great that its destruction is prohibited by law under a heavy penalty. - In a country where putrefaction is so rapid, it is of infinite consequence - to preserve an animal which, if a bullock or horse falls dead in the - field, immediately flies to the carcass before it has time to corrupt, and - gobbles it up before you can say “John Crow,” much less Jack Robinson. The - bite of the black snake is slightly venomous, but that is all; as to the - great yellow one, it is perfectly innoxious, and so timid that it always - runs away from you. The only dangerous species of serpent is the - Whip-snake, so called from its exactly resembling the lash of a whip, in - length, thinness, pliability, and whiteness; but even the bite of this is - not mortal, except from very great neglect. The most beautiful tree, or, - rather, group of trees, all to nothing, is the Bamboo, both from its - verdure and from its elegance of form: as to the Cotton tree, it answers - no purpose, either of ornament or utility; or, rather, it is not suffered - to answer any, since it is forbidden by law to export its down, lest it - should hurt the fur trade in the manufacture of hats: its only present use - is to furnish the negroes with canoes, which are hollowed out of its - immense trunks. I am as yet so much enchanted with the country, that it - would require no very strong additional inducements to make me establish - myself here altogether; and in that case my first care would be to build - for myself a cottage among these mountains, in which I might pass the - sultry months, - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - “E bruna-si; ma il bruno il bel non toglie.” - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <h3> - JANUARY 5. - </h3> - <p> - As I was returning; this morning; from Montego Bay, about a mile from my - own estate, a figure presented itself before me, I really think the most - picturesque that I ever beheld: it was a mulatto girl, born upon Cornwall, - but whom the overseer of a neighbouring estate had obtained my permission - to exchange for another slave, as well as two little children, whom she - had borne to him; but, as yet, he has been unable to procure a substitute, - owing to the difficulty of purchasing single negroes, and Mary Wiggins is - still my slave. However, as she is considered as being manumitted, she had - not dared to present herself at Cornwall on my arrival, lest she should - have been considered as an intruder; but she now threw herself in my way - to tell me how glad she was to see me, for that she had always thought - till now (which is the general complaint) that “<i>she had no massa</i>” - and also to obtain a regular invitation to my negro festival tomorrow. By - this universal complaint, it appears that, while Mr. Wilberforce is - lamenting their hard fate in being subject to a master, <i>their</i> - greatest fear is the not having a master whom they know; and that to be - told by the negroes of another estate that “they belong to no massa,” is - one of the most contemptuous reproaches that can be cast upon them. Poor - creatures, when they happened to hear on Wednesday evening that my - carriage was ordered for Montego Bay the next morning, they fancied that I - was going away for good and all, and came up to the house in such a - hubbub, that my agent was obliged to speak to them, and pacify them with - the assurance that I should come back on Friday without fail. - </p> - <p> - But to return to Mary Wiggins: she was much too pretty not to obtain her - invitation to Cornwall; on the contrary, I <i>insisted</i> upon her - coming, and bade her tell her <i>husband</i> that I admired his taste very - much for having chosen her. I really think that her form and features were - the most <i>statue-like</i> that I ever met with: her complexion had no - yellow in it, and yet was not brown enough to be dark—it was more of - an ash-dove colour than any thing else; her teeth were admirable, both for - colour and shape; her eyes equally mild and bright; and her face merely - broad enough to give it all possible softness and grandness of contour: - her air and countenance would have suited Yarico; but she reminded me most - of Grassini in “La Vergine del Sole,” only that Mary Wiggins was a - thousand times more beautiful, and that, instead of a white robe, she wore - a mixed dress of brown, white, and dead yellow, which harmonised - excellently well with her complexion while one of her beautiful arms was - thrown across her brow to shade her eyes, and a profusion of rings on her - fingers glittered in the sunbeams. Mary Wiggins and an old Cotton-tree are - the most picturesque objects that I have seen for these twenty years. - </p> - <p> - On my arrival at home, my agent made me a very elegant little present of a - scorpion and a couple of centipedes: the first was given to him, but the - large centipede he had shaken out of a book last night, and having - immediately covered her up in a phial of rum, he found this morning that - she had produced a young one, which was lying drowned by her side. - </p> - <p> - I find that my negroes were called away from their attention to the works - yesterday evening (for the crop is now making with the greatest activity), - and kept up all night by a fire at a neighbouring estate. On these - occasions a fire-shell is blown, and all the negroes of the adjoining - plantations hasten to give their assistance. On this occasion the fire was - extinguished with the loss of only five negro houses; but this is a heavy - concern to the poor negro proprietors, who have lost in it their whole - stock of clothes, and furniture, and finery, which they had been - accumulating for years, and to which their attachment is excessive. - </p> - <h3> - LANDING. - </h3> - <p class="indent15"> - When first I gain’d the Atlantic shore, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And bade farewell to ocean’s roar, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - What gracious power my bosom eased, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - My senses soothed, my fancy pleased, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And bade me feel, in whispers bland, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - No Stranger in a Stranger-land? - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - <i>’</i>T was not at length my goal to reach, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And tread Jamaica’s burning beach: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - <i>’</i>T was not from Neptune’s chains discharged, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - To move, think, feel with powers enlarged: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Nor that no more my bed the wave, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Ere morning dawn’d, might prove my grave:— - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - A livelier chord was struck: a spell, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - While heav’d my heart with gentle swell, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Crept o’er my soul with magic sweet, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And made each pulse responsive beat. - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - No Sheep-bell e’er to Pilgrim’s ear, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Wandering in woods unknown and drear; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - No midnight lay to Spanish maid, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Conscious by whom the lute was played; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Not on the breeze the sounding wings - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Of him who nurture homeward brings - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - To mother-bird, whose callow brood - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Pain her fond heart with chirps for food,— - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - E’er seem’d more charming than to me, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - (When two long months had past at sea, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - During whose course my thirsty ear - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - No softer voice, no strain could hear - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Nearer allied to love and pity, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Than the strong bass of seaman’s ditty,) - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Seem’d by the sea-gale round me flung, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Approaching sounds of female tongue! - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - No, Venus, no! Small right hast thou - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - To claim for this my grateful vow; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Nor on thine altar now bestows - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - My hand the gift of one poor rose! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - No eager glance, no heighten’d dye - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Blush’d on my cheek, nor fired mine eye; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - I heard, nor felt, at each soft note, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Flutter my heart, and swell my throat. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Those sounds but spoke of bosom-balm, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Of pity prompt and kindness calm; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Of tender care, of anxious zeal; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - For here were breasts whose hearts could feel! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - <i>’</i>T was as to guest in stranger halls - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - If voice of friend a welcome calls: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Such pleasure soothes the starting maid, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Who finds some jewel long mislaid; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Pleasure, which blessed dew supplies, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - To ease the heart, and float the eyes; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - As when in pain attentions prove - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - A mother’s care, a sister’s love. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - To Woman, Life its value owes! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Robb’d of her love, its dawn and close - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Would find nor aid, nor soothing care; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Its middle course no joys would share. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Childhood in vain would thirst and cry, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And Age, unheeded, moan and die; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And Manhood frown to see the hours - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Weave scentless wreaths unblest with flowers. - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - It beam’d on cheek of sable dye; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - No matter, since <i>’</i>t was <i>woman’s</i> eye! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Each phrase the tortured language broke; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Enough for me—<i>’</i>t was <i>woman</i> spoke! - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Once raven locks my temples wore; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Time has pluck’d many, sorrow more: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Through forty springs (thank God they’re run) - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - These weary eyes have seen the sun; - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - And in that space full room is found - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - For flowers to fade, and thorns to wound. - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - But now, (all fancy’s freaks supprest, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Each thread-bare sneer and wanton jest,) - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - With hand on heart in serious tone, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - With thanks, with truth, I needs must own, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Wide as I’ye roam’d the world around, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Roam where I would, I ever found, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - The worst of Women still possest - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - More virtues than of Men the best. - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - And, oh! if shipwreck proves my lot, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Guide me, kind Heav’n, to some lone cot - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Where <i>woman</i> dwells! Her hand she’ll stretch - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - In pity to the stranger-wretch; - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - If virtuous want mine eye surveys, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Nor mine the power his head to raise, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - I’ll pour the tale in <i>woman’s</i> ear, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - She’ll aid, and, aiding, drop a tear. - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - And when my life-blood sickness drains, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - And racks my nerves, and fires my brains, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - What kinder juice, what livelier power, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Than mineral yields, or opiate flower, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Can make me e’en in pain rejoice?— - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - A few sweet words in that sweet voice! - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <h3> - JANUARY 6. - </h3> - <p> - This was the day given to my negroes as a festival on my arrival. A couple - of heifers were slaughtered for them: they were allowed as much rum, and - sugar, and noise, and dancing as they chose; and as to the two latter, - certainly they profited by the permission. About two o’clock they began to - assemble round the house, all drest in their holiday clothes, which, both - for men and women, were chiefly white; only that the women were decked out - with a profusion of beads and corals, and gold ornaments of all - descriptions; and that while the blacks wore jackets, the mulattoes - generally wore cloth coats; and inasmuch as they were all plainly clean - instead of being shabbily fashionable, and affected to be nothing except - that which they really were, they looked twenty times more like gentlemen - than nine tenths of the bankers’ clerks who swagger up and down Bond - Street. It is a custom as to the mulatto children, that the males born on - an estate should never be employed as field negroes, but as tradesmen; the - females are brought up as domestics about the house. I had particularly - invited “Mr. John-Canoe” (which I found to be the polite manner in which - the negroes spoke of him), and there arrived a couple of very gay and - gaudy ones. I enquired whether one of them was “John-Crayfish;” but I was - told that John-Crayfish was John-Ca-noe’s rival and enemy, and might - belong to the factions of “the Blues and the Reds;” but on Cornwall they - were all friends, and therefore there were only the father and the son—-Mr. - John-Canoe, senior, and Mr. John-Canoe, junior. - </p> - <p> - The person who gave me this information was a young mulatto carpenter, - called Nicholas, whom I had noticed in the crowd, on my first arrival, for - his clean appearance and intelligent countenance; and he now begged me to - notice the smaller of the two John-Canoe machines. “To be sure,” he said, - “it was not so large nor so showy as the other, but then it was much - better <i>proportioned</i> (his own word), and altogether much prettier;” - and he said so much in praise of it, that I asked him whether he knew the - maker? and then out came the motive: “Oh, yes! it was made by John Fuller, - who lived in the next house to him, and worked in the same shop, and - indeed they were just like brothers.” So I desired to see his <i>fidas - Achates</i>, and he brought me as smart and intelligent a little fellow as - eye ever beheld, who came grinning from ear to ear to tell me that he had - made every bit of the canoe with his own hands, and had set to work upon - it the moment that he knew of massa’s coming to Jamaica. And indeed it was - as fine as paint, pasteboard, gilt paper, and looking-glass could make it! - Unluckily, the breeze being very strong blew off a fine glittering - umbrella, surmounted with a plume of John Crow feathers, which crowned the - top; and a little wag of a negro boy whipped it up, clapped it upon his - head, and performed the part of an impromptu Mr. John-Canoe with so much - fun and grotesqueness, that he fairly beat the original performers out of - the pit, and carried off all the applause of the spectators, and a couple - of my dollars. The John-Canoes are fitted out at the expense of the rich - negroes, who afterwards share the money collected from the spectators - during their performance, allotting one share to the representator - himself; and it is usual for the master of the estate to give them a - couple of guineas apiece. - </p> - <p> - This Nicholas, whom I mentioned, is a very interesting person, both from - his good looks and gentle manners, and from his story. He is the son of a - white man, who on his death-bed charged his nephew and heir to purchase - the freedom of this natural child. The nephew had promised to do so; I had - consented; nothing was necessary but to find the substitute (which now is - no easy matter); when about six months ago the nephew broke his neck, and - the property went to a distant relation. Application in behalf of poor - Nicholas has been made to the heir, and I heartily hope that he will - enable me to release him. I felt strongly tempted to set him at liberty at - once; but if I were to begin in that way, there would be no stopping; and - it would be doing a kindness to an individual at the expense of all my - other negroes—others would expect the same; and then I must either - contrive to cultivate my estate with fewer hands—or must cease to - cultivate it altogether—and, from inability to maintain them, send - my negroes to seek bread for themselves—which, as two thirds of them - have been born upon the estate, and many of them are lame, dropsical, and - of a great age, would, of all misfortunes that could happen to them, be - the most cruel. Even when Nicholas was speaking to me about his liberty, - he said, “It is not that I wish to go away, sir; it is only for the name - and honour of being free: but I would always stay here and be your - servant; and I had rather be an under-workman on Cornwall, than a head - carpenter any where else.” Possibly, this was all palaver (in which the - negroes are great dealers), but at least he <i>seemed</i> to be sincere; - and I was heartily grieved that I could not allow myself to say more to - him than that I sincerely wished him to get his liberty, and would receive - the very lowest exchange for him that common prudence would authorize. And - even for those few kind words, the poor fellow seemed to think it - impossible to find means strong enough to express his gratitude. - </p> - <p> - Nor is this the only instance in which Nicholas has been unlucky. It seems - that he was the first lover of the beautiful Psyche, whom I had noticed on - my arrival. This evening, after the performance of the John-Canoes, I - desired to see some of the girls dance; and by general acclamation Psyche - was brought forward to exhibit, she being avowedly the best dancer on the - estate; and certainly nothing could be more light, graceful, easy, and - spirited, than her performance. She perfectly answered the description of - Sallust’s Sempronia, who was said—“Sal tare elegantius, quam necesse - est probæ, et cui cariora semper omnia, quam decus et pudicitia fuit.” - When her dance was over, I called her to me, and gave her a handful of - silver. “Ah, Psyche,” said Nicholas, who was standing at my elbow, “Massa - no give you all that if massa know you so bad girl! she run away from me, - massa!” Psyche gave him a kind of pouting look, half kind, and half - reproachful, and turned away. And then he told me that Psyche had been his - wife (<i>one</i> of his wives he should have said); that he had had a - child by her, and then she had left him for one of my “white people” (as - they call the book-keepers), because he had a good salary, and could - afford to give her more presents than a slave could. “Was there not - another reason for your quarrelling?” said my agent. “Was there not a - shade of colour too much?”—“Oh, massa!” answered Nicholas, “the - child is not my own, that is certain; it is a black man’s child. But still - I will always take care of the child because it have no friends, and me - wish make it good neger for massa—and <i>she</i> take good care of - it too,” he added, throwing his arm round the waist of a sickly-looking - woman rather in years; “she my wife, too, massa, long ago; old now and - sick, but always good to me, so I still live with her, and will never - leave her, never, massa; she Polly’s mother, sir.” Polly is a pretty, - delicate-looking girl, nursing a young child; she belongs to the - mansion-house, and seems to think it as necessary a part of her duty to - nurse <i>me</i> as the child. To be sure she has not as yet insisted upon - suckling me; but if I open a <i>jalousie</i> in the evening, Polly walks - in and shuts it without saying a word. “Oh, don’t shut the window, Polly.”—“Night-air - not good for massa;” and she shuts the casement without mercy. I am - drinking orangeade, or some such liquid; Polly walks up to the table, and - seizes it; “Leave that jug, Polly, I am dying with thirst.”—“More - hurt, massa;” and away go Polly and the orangeade. So that I begin to - fancy myself Sancho in Barataria, and that Polly is the Señor Doctor Pedro - in petticoats. - </p> - <p> - The difference of colour, which had offended Nicholas so much in Psyche’s - child, is a fault which no mulatto will pardon; nor can the separation of - castes in India be more rigidly observed, than that of complexional shades - among the Creoles. My black page, Cubina, is married: I told him that I - hoped he had married a pretty woman; why had he not married Mary Wiggins? - He seemed quite shocked at the very idea. “Oh, massa, me black, Mary - Wiggins sambo; that not allowed.” - </p> - <p> - The dances performed to-night seldom admitted more than three persons at a - time: to me they appeared to be movements entirely dictated by the caprice - of the moment; but I am told that there is a regular figure, and that the - least mistake, or a single false step, is immediately noticed by the rest. - I could indeed sometimes fancy, that one story represented an old duenna - guarding a girl from a lover; and another, the pursuit of a young woman by - two suitors, the one young and the other old; but this might be only - fancy. However, I am told, that they have dances which not only represent - courtship and marriage, but being brought to bed. Their music consisted of - nothing but Gambys (Eboe drums), Shaky-shekies, and Kitty-katties: the - latter is nothing but any flat piece of board beat upon with two sticks, - and the former is a bladder with a parcel of pebbles in it. But the - principal part of the music to which they dance is vocal; one girl - generally singing two lines by herself, and being answered by a chorus. To - make out either the rhyme of the air, or meaning of the words, was out of - the question. But one very long song was about the Duke of Wellington, - every stanza being chorussed with, - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - “Ay! hey-day! Waterloo! - </p> - <p class="indent30"> - Waterloo! ho! ho! ho!” - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p> - <i>I</i> too had a great deal to do in the business, for every third word - was “massa;” though how I came there, I have no more idea than the Duke. - </p> - <p> - The singing began about six o’clock, and lasted without a moment’s pause - till two in the morning; and such a noise never did I hear till then. The - whole of the floor which was not taken up by the dancers was, through - every part of the house except the bed-rooms, occupied by men, women, and - children, fast asleep. But although they were allowed rum and sugar by - whole pailfuls, and were most of them <i>merry</i> in consequence, there - was not one of them drunk; except indeed, one person, and that was an old - woman, who sang, and shouted, and tossed herself about in an elbow chair, - till she tumbled it over, and rolled about the room in a manner which - shocked the delicacy of even the least prudish part of the company. At - twelve, my agent wanted to dismiss them; but I would not suffer them to be - interrupted on the first holiday that I had given them; so they continued - to dance and shout till two; when human nature could bear no more, and - they left me to my bed, and a violent headache. - </p> - <h3> - JANUARY 7. (Sunday.) - </h3> - <p> - In spite of their exertions of last night, the negroes were again with me - by two o’clock in the day, with their drums and their chorusses. However, - they found themselves unable to keep it up as they had done on the former - night, and were content to withdraw to their own houses by ten in the - evening. But first they requested to have tomorrow to themselves, in order - that they might go to the mountains for provisions. For although their - cottages are always surrounded with trees and shrubs, their provision - grounds are kept quite distinct, and are at a distance among the - mountains. Of course, I made no difficulty of acceding to their request, - but upon condition, that they should ask for no more holidays till the - crop should be completed. For the purpose of cultivating their - provision-grounds, they are allowed every Saturday; but on the occasion of - my arrival, they obtained permission to have the Saturday to themselves, - and to fetch their week’s provisions from the mountains on the following - Monday. All the slaves maintain themselves in this manner by their own - labour; even the domestic attendants are not exempted, but are expected to - feed themselves, except stated allowances of salt fish, salt pork, &c. - </p> - <h3> - JANUARY 8. - </h3> - <p> - I really believe that the negresses can produce children at pleasure; and - where they are barren, it is just as hens will frequently not lay eggs on - shipboard, because they do not like their situation. Cubina’s wife is in a - family way, and I told him that if the child should live, I would christen - it for him, if he wished it. “Tank you, kind massa, me like it very much: - much oblige if massa do that for <i>me</i>, too.” So I promised to baptize - the father and the baby on the same day, and said that I would be - godfather to any children that might be born on the estate during my - residence in Jamaica. This was soon spread about, and although I have not - yet been here a week, two women are in the straw already, Jug Betty and - Minerva: the first is wife to my head driver, the Duke of Sully; but my - sense of propriety was much gratified at finding that Minerva’s husband - was called Captain. - </p> - <p> - I think nobody will be able to accuse me of neglecting the religious - education of my negroes: for I have not only promised to baptize all the - infants, but, meeting a little black boy this morning, who said that his - name was Moses, I gave him a piece of silver, and told him that it was for - the sake of Aaron; which, I flatter myself, was planting in his young mind - the rudiments of Christianity. - </p> - <p> - In my evening’s drive I met the negroes, returning from the mountains, - with baskets of provisions sufficient to last them for the week. By law - they are only allowed every other Saturday for the purpose of cultivating - their own grounds, which, indeed, is sufficient; but by giving them every - alternate Saturday into the bargain, it enables them to perform their task - with so much ease as almost converts it into an amusement; and the - frequent visiting their grounds makes them grow habitually as much - attached to them as they are to their houses and gardens. It is also - adviseable for them to bring home only a week’s provisions at a time, - rather than a fortnight’s; for they are so thoughtless and improvident, - that, when they find themselves in possession of a larger supply than is - requisite for their immediate occasions, they will sell half to the - wandering higglers, or at Savanna la Mar, in exchange for spirits; and - then, at the end of the week, they find themselves entirely unprovided - with food, and come to beg a supply from the master’s storehouse. - </p> - <h3> - JANUARY 9. - </h3> - <p> - The sensitive plant is a great nuisance in Jamaica: it over-runs the - pastures, and, being armed with very strong sharp prickles, it wounds the - mouths of the cattle, and, in some places, makes it quite impossible for - them to feed. Various endeavours have been made to eradicate this - inconvenient weed, but none as yet have proved effectual. - </p> - <h3> - JANUARY 10. - </h3> - <p> - The houses here are generally built and arranged according to one and the - same model. My own is of wood, partly raised upon pillars; it consists of - a single floor: a long gallery, called a piazza, terminated at each end by - a square room, runs the whole length of the house. On each side of the - piazza is a range of bed-rooms, and the porticoes of the two fronts form - two more rooms, with balustrades, and flights of steps descending to the - lawn. The whole house is virandoed with shifting Venetian blinds to admit - air; except that one of the end rooms has sash-windows on account of the - rains, which, when they arrive, are so heavy, and shift with the wind so - suddenly from the one side to the other, that all the blinds are obliged - to be kept closed; consequently the whole house is in total darkness - during their continuance, except the single sash-windowed room. There is - nothing underneath except a few store-rooms and a kind of waiting-hall; - but none of the domestic negroes sleep in the house, all going home at - night to their respective cottages and families. - </p> - <p> - Cornwall House itself stands on a dead flat, and the works are built in - its immediate neighbourhood, for the convenience of their being the more - under the agent’s personal inspection (a point of material consequence - with them all, but more particularly for the hospital). This dead flat is - only ornamented with a few scattered bread-fruit and cotton trees, a grove - of mangoes, and the branch of a small river, which turns the mill. Several - of these buildings are ugly enough; but the shops of the cooper, - carpenter, and blacksmith, some of the trees in their vicinity, and the - negro-huts, embowered in shrubberies, and groves of oranges, plantains, - cocoas, and pepper-trees, would be reckoned picturesque in the most - ornamented grounds. A large spreading tamarind fronts me at this moment, - and overshadows the stables, which are formed of open wickerwork; and an - orange-tree, loaded with fruit, grows against the window at which I am - writing. - </p> - <p> - On three sides of the landscape the prospect is bounded by lofty purple - mountains; and the variety of occupations going on all around me, and at - the same time, give an inconceivable air of life and animation to the - whole scene, especially as all those occupations look clean,—even - those which in England look dirty. All the tradespeople are dressed either - in white jackets and trousers, or with stripes of red and sky-blue. One - band of negroes are carrying the ripe canes on their heads to the mill; - another set are conveying away the <i>trash</i>, after the juice has been - extracted; flocks of turkeys are sheltering from the heat under the trees; - the river is filled with ducks and geese; the coopers and carpenters are - employed about the puncheons; carts drawn some by six, others by eight, - oxen, are bringing loads of Indian corn from the fields; the black - children are employed in gathering it into the granary, and in quarrelling - with pigs as black as themselves, who are equally busy in stealing the - corn whenever the children are looking another way: in short, a plantation - possesses all the movement and interest of a farm, without its dung, and - its stench, and its dirty accompaniments. - </p> - <h3> - JANUARY 11. - </h3> - <p> - I saw the whole process of sugar-making this morning. The ripe canes are - brought in bundles to the mill, where the cleanest of the women are - appointed, one to put them into the machine for grinding them, and another - to draw them out after the juice has been extracted, when she throws them - into an opening in the floor close to her; another band of negroes - collects them below, when, under the name of <i>trash</i>, they are - carried away to serve for fuel. The juice, which is itself at first of a - pale ash-colour, gushes out in great streams, quite white with foam, and - passes through a wooden gutter into the boiling-house, where it is - received into the siphon or “cock copper.” where fire is applied to it, - and it is slaked with lime, in order to make it granulate. The feculent - parts of it rise to the top, while the purer and more fluid flow through - another gutter into the second copper. When little but the impure scum on - the surface remains to be drawn off, the first gutter communicating with - the copper is stopped, and the grosser parts are obliged to find a new - course through another gutter, which conveys them to the distillery, - where, being mixed with the molasses, or treacle, they are manufactured - into rum. From the second copper they are transmitted into the first, and - thence into two others, and in these four latter basins the scum is - removed with skimmers pierced with holes, till it becomes sufficiently - free from impurities to be <i>skipped off</i>, that is, to be again ladled - out of the coppers and spread into the coolers, where it is left to - granulate. The sugar is then formed, and is removed into the <i>curing-house</i>, - where it is put into hogsheads, and left to settle for a certain time, - during which those parts which are too poor and too liquid to granulate, - drip from the casks into vessels placed beneath them: these drippings are - the molasses, which, being carried into the distillery, and mixed with the - coarser scum formerly mentioned, form that mixture from which the - spirituous liquor of sugar is afterwards produced by fermentation: when - but once distilled, it is called “low wine;” and it is not till after it - has gone through a second distillation, that it acquires the name of rum. - The “trash” used for fuel consists of the empty canes, that which is - employed for fodder and for thatching is furnished by the superabundant - cane-tops; after so many have been set apart as are required for planting. - After these original plants have been cut, their roots throw up suckers, - which, in time, become canes, and are called <i>ratoons</i>: they are far - inferior in juice to the planted canes; but then, on the other hand, they - require much less weeding, and spare the negroes the only laborious part - of the business of sugar-making, the digging holes for the plants; - therefore, although an acre of ratoons will produce but one hogshead of - sugar, while an acre of plants will produce two, the superiority of the - ratooned piece is very great, inasmuch as the saving of time and labour - will enable the proprietor to cultivate five acres of ratoons in the same - time with one of plants. Unluckily, after three crops, or five at the - utmost, in general the ratoons are totally exhausted, and you are obliged - to have recourse to fresh plants. - </p> - <p> - Last night a poor man, named Charles, who had been coachman to my uncle - ages ago, was brought into the hospital, having missed a step in the - boiling-house, and plunged his foot into the siphon: fortunately, the fire - had not long been kindled, and though the liquor was hot enough to scald - him, it was not sufficiently so to do him any material injury. The old man - had presented himself to me on Saturday’s holiday (or <i>play-day</i>, in - the negro dialect), and had shown me, with great exultation, the coat and - waistcoat which had been the last present of his old massa. Charles is now - my chief mason, and, as one of the principal persons on the estate, was - entitled, by old custom, to the compliment of a <i>distinguishing</i> - dollar on my arrival; but at the same time that I gave him the dollar, to - which his situation entitled him, I gave him another for himself, as a - keepsake: he put it into the pocket of “his old massa’s” waistcoat, and - assured me that they should never again be separated. On hearing of his - accident, I went over to the hospital to see that he was well taken care - of; and immediately the poor fellow began talking to me about my - grandfather, and his young massa, and the young missies, his sisters, and - while I suffered him to chatter away for an hour, he totally forgot the - pain of his burnt leg. - </p> - <p> - It was particularly agreeable to me to observe, on Saturday, as a proof of - the good treatment which they had experienced, so many old servants of the - family, many of whom had been born on the estate, and who, though turned - of sixty and seventy, were still strong, healthy, and cheerful. Many - manumitted negroes, also, came from other parts of the country to this - festival, on hearing of my arrival, because, as they said,—“if they - did not come to see massa, they were afraid that it would look ungrateful, - and as if they cared no longer about him and Cornwall, now that they were - free.” So they stayed two or three days on the estate, coming up to the - house for their dinners, and going to sleep at night among their friends - in their own former habitations, the negro huts; and when they went away, - they assured me, that nothing should prevent their coming back to bid me - farewell, before I left the island. All this may be palaver; but certainly - they at least play their parts with such an air of truth, and warmth, and - enthusiasm, that, after the cold hearts and repulsive manners of England, - the contrast is infinitely agreeable. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - “Je ne vois que des yeux toujours prêts à sourire.” - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p> - I find it quite impossible to resist the fascination of the conscious - pleasure of pleasing; and my own heart, which I have so long been obliged - to keep closed, seems to expand itself again in the sunshine of the kind - looks and words which meet me at every turn, and seem to wait for mine as - anxiously as if they were so many diamonds. - </p> - <h3> - JANUARY 12. - </h3> - <p> - In the year ‘80, this parish of Westmoreland was kept in a perpetual state - of alarm by a runaway negro called <i>Plato</i>, who had established - himself among the Moreland Mountains, and collected a troop of banditti, - of which he was himself the chief. He robbed very often, and murdered - occasionally; but gallantry was his every day occupation. Indeed, being a - remarkably tall athletic young fellow, among the beauties of his own - complexion he found but few Lucretias; and his retreat in the mountains - was as well furnished as the haram of Constantinople. Every handsome - negress who had the slightest cause of complaint against her master, took - the first opportunity of eloping to join <i>Plato</i>, where she found - freedom, protection, and unbounded generosity; for he spared no pains to - secure their affections by gratifying their vanity. Indeed, no Creole lady - could venture out on a visit, without running the risk of having her - bandbox run away with by Plato for the decoration of his sultanas; and if - the maid who carried the bandbox happened to be well-looking, he ran away - with the maid as well as the bandbox. Every endeavour to seize this - desperado was long in vain: a large reward was put upon his head, but no - negro dared to approach him; for, besides his acknowledged courage, he was - a professor of Obi, and had threatened that whoever dared to lay a finger - upon him should suffer spiritual torments, as well as be physically shot - through the head. - </p> - <p> - Unluckily for Plato, rum was an article with him of the first necessity; - the look-out, which was kept for him, was too vigilant to admit of his - purchasing spirituous liquors for himself; and once, when for that purpose - he had ventured into the neighbourhood of Montego Bay, he was recognised - by a slave, who immediately gave the alarm. Unfortunately for this poor - fellow, whose name was Taffy, at that moment all his companions happened - to be out of hearing; and, after the first moment’s alarm, finding that no - one approached, the exasperated robber rushed upon him, and lifted the - bill-hook, with which he was armed, for the purpose of cleaving his skull. - Taffy fled for it; but Plato was the younger, the stronger, and the - swifter of the two, and gained upon him every moment. Taffy, however, on - the other hand, possessed that one quality by which, according to the - fable, the cat was enabled to save herself from the hounds, when the fox, - with his thousand tricks, was caught by them. He was an admirable climber, - an art in which Plato possessed no skill; and a bread-nut tree, which is - remarkably difficult of ascent, presenting itself before him, in a few - moments Taffy was bawling for help from the very top of it. To reach him - was impossible for his enemy; but still his destruction was hard at hand; - for Plato began to hack the tree with his bill, and it was evident that a - very short space of time would be sufficient to level it with the ground. - In this dilemma, Taffy had nothing for it but to break off the branches - near him; and he contrived to pelt these so dexterously at the head of his - assailant, that he fairly kept him at bay till his cries at length reached - the ears of his companions, and their approach compelled the - banditti-captain once more to seek safety among the mountains. - </p> - <p> - After this Plato no longer dared to approach Montego town; but still - spirits must be had:—how was he to obtain them? There was an old - watchman on the outskirts of the estate of Canaan, with whom he had - contracted an acquaintance, and frequently had passed the night in his - hut; the old man having been equally induced by his presents and by dread - of his corporeal strength and supposed supernatural power, to profess the - warmest attachment to the interests of his terrible friend. To this man - Plato at length resolved to entrust himself: he gave him money to purchase - spirits, and appointed a particular day when he would come to receive - them. The reward placed upon the robber’s head was more than either - gratitude or terror could counterbalance; and on the same day when the - watchman set out to purchase the rum, he apprised two of his friends at - Canaan, for whose use it was intended, and advised <i>them</i> to take the - opportunity of obtaining the reward. - </p> - <p> - The two negroes posted themselves in proper time near the watchman’s hut. - Most unwisely, instead of sending down some of his gang, they saw Plato, - in his full confidence in the friendship of his confidant, arrive himself - and enter the cabin; but so great was their alarm at seeing this dreadful - personage, that they remained in their concealment, nor dared to make an - attempt at seizing him. The spirits were delivered to the robber: he might - have retired with them unmolested; but, in his rashness and his eagerness - to taste the liquor, of which he had so long been deprived, he opened the - flagon, and swallowed draught after draught, till he sunk upon the ground - in a state of complete insensibility. The watchman then summoned the two - negroes from their concealment, who bound his arms, and conveyed him to - Montego Bay, where he was immediately sentenced to execution. He died most - heroically; kept up the terrors of his imposture to his last moment; told - the magistrates, who condemned him, that his death should be revenged by a - storm, which would lay waste the whole island, that year; and, when his - negro gaoler was binding him to the stake at which he was destined to - suffer, he assured him that he should not live long to triumph in his - death, for that he had taken good care to Obeah him before his quitting - the prison. It certainly did happen, strangely enough, that, before the - year was over, the most violent storm took place ever known in Jamaica; - and as to the gaoler, his imagination was so forcibly struck by the - threats of the dying man, that, although every care was taken of him, the - power of medicine exhausted, and even a voyage to America undertaken, in - hopes that a change of scene might change the course of his ideas, still, - from the moment of Plato’s death, he gradually pined and withered away, - and finally expired before the completion of the twelvemonth. - </p> - <p> - The belief in Obeah is now greatly weakened, but still exists in some - degree. Not above ten months ago, my agent was informed that a negro of - very suspicious manners and appearance was harboured by some of my people - on the mountain lands. He found means to have him surprised, and on - examination there was found upon him a bag containing a great variety of - strange materials for incantations; such as thunder-stones, cat’s ears, - the feet of various animals, human hair, fish bones, the teeth of - alligators, &c.: he was conveyed to Montego Bay; and no sooner was it - understood that this old African was in prison, than depositions were - poured in from all quarters from negroes who deposed to having seen him - exercise his magical arts, and, in particular, to his having sold such and - such slaves medicines and charms to deliver them from their enemies; - being, in plain English, nothing else than rank poisons. He was convicted - of Obeah upon the most indubitable evidence. The good old practice of - burning has fallen into disrepute; so he was sentenced to be transported, - and was shipped off the island, to the great satisfaction of persons of - all colours—white, black, and yellow. - </p> - <h3> - JANUARY 13. - </h3> - <p> - Throughout the island many estates, formerly very flourishing and - productive, have been thrown up for want of hands to cultivate them, and - are now suffered to lie waste: four are in this situation in my own - immediate neighbourhood. Finding their complement of negroes decrease, and - having no means of recruiting them, proprietors of two estates have in - numerous instances found themselves obliged to give up one of them, and - draw off the negroes for the purpose of properly cultivating the other. - </p> - <p> - I have just had an instance strikingly convincing of the extreme nicety - required in rearing negro children. Two have been born since my arrival. - My housekeeper was hardly ever out of the lying-in apartment; I always - visited it myself once a day, and sometimes twice, in order that I might - be certain of the women being well taken care of; not a day passed without - the inspection of a physician; nothing of indulgence, that was proper for - them, was denied; and, besides their ordinary food, the mothers received - every day the most nourishing and palatable dish that was brought to my - own table. Add to this, that the women themselves were kind-hearted - creatures, and particularly anxious to rear these children, because I had - promised to be their godfather myself. Yet, in spite of all this attention - and indulgence, one of the mothers, during the nurse’s absence for ten - minutes, grew alarmed at her infant’s apparent sleepiness. To rouse it, - she began dancing and shaking it till it was in a strong perspiration, and - then she stood with it for some minutes at an open window, while a strong - north wind was blowing. In consequence, it caught cold, and the next - morning symptoms of a locked jaw showed itself. The poor woman was the - image of grief itself: she sat on her bed, looking at the child which lay - by her side with its little hands clasped, its teeth clenched, and its - eyes fixed, writhing in the agony of the spasm, while she was herself - quite motionless and speechless, although the tears trickled down her - cheeks incessantly. All assistance was fruitless: her thoughtlessness for - five minutes had killed the infant, and, at noon to-day it expired. - </p> - <p> - This woman was a tender mother, had borne ten children, and yet has now - but one alive: another, at present in the hospital, has borne seven, and - but one has lived to puberty; and the instances of those who have had - four, five, six children, without succeeding in bringing up one, in spite - of the utmost attention and indulgence, are very numerous; so heedless and - inattentive are the best-intentioned mothers, and so subject in this - climate are infants to dangerous complaints. The locked jaw is the common - and most fatal one; so fatal, indeed, that the midwife (the <i>graundee</i> - is her negro appellation) told me, the other day, “Oh, massa, till nine - days over, we <i>no hope</i> of them.” Certainly care and kindness are not - adequate to save the children, for the son of a sovereign could not have - been more anxiously well treated than was the poor little negro who died - this morning. - </p> - <p> - The negroes are always buried in their own gardens, and many strange and - fantastical ceremonies are observed on the occasion. If the corpse be that - of a grown person, they consult it as to which way it pleases to be - carried; and they make attempts upon various roads without success, before - they can hit upon the right one. Till that is accomplished, they stagger - under the weight of the coffin, struggle against its force, which draws - them in a different direction from that in which they had settled to go; - and sometimes in the contest the corpse and the coffin jump off the - shoulders of the bearers. But if, as is frequently the case, any person is - suspected of having hastened the catastrophe, the corpse will then refuse - to go any road but the one which passes by the habitation of the suspected - person, and as soon as it approaches his house, no human power is equal to - persuading it to pass. As the negroes are extremely superstitious, and - very much afraid of ghosts (whom they call the <i>duppy</i>), I rather - wonder at their choosing to have their dead buried in their gardens; but I - understand their argument to be, that they need only fear the duppies of - their enemies, but have nothing to apprehend from those after death, who - loved them in their lifetime; but the duppies of their adversaries are - very alarming beings, equally powerful by day as by night, and who not - only are spiritually terrific, but who can give very hard substantial - knocks on the pate, whenever they see fit occasion, and can find a good - opportunity. - </p> - <p> - Last Saturday a negro was brought into the hospital, having fallen into - epileptic fits, with which till then he had never been troubled. As the - faintings had seized him at the slaughter-house, and the fellow was an - African, it was at first supposed by his companions, that the sight and - smell of the meat had affected him; for many of the Africans cannot endure - animal food of any kind, and most of the Ebres in particular are made ill - by eating turtle, even although they can use any other food without - injury. However, upon enquiry among his shipmates, it appeared that he had - frequently eaten beef without the slightest inconvenience. For my own - part, the symptoms of his complaint were such as to make me suspect him of - having tasted something poisonous, specially as, just before his first - fit, he had been observed in the small grove of mangoes near the house; - but I was assured by the negroes, one and all, that nothing could possibly - have induced him to eat an herb or fruit from that grove, as it had been - used as a burying-ground for “the white people.” But although my idea of - the poison was scouted, still the mention of the burying-ground suggested - another cause for his illness to the negroes, and they had no sort of - doubt, that in passing through the burying-ground he had been struck down - by the duppy of a white person not long deceased, whom he had formerly - offended, and that these repeated fainting fits were the consequence of - that ghostly blow. The negroes have in various publications been accused - of a total want of religion, but this appears to me quite incompatible - with the ideas of spirits existing after dissolution of the body, which - necessarily implies a belief in a future state; and although (as far as I - can make out) they have no outward forms of religion, the most devout - Christian cannot have “God bless you” oftener on his lips than the negro; - nor, on the other hand, appear to feel the wish for their enemy’s - damnation more sincerely when he utters it. - </p> - <p> - The Africans (as is well known) generally believe, that there is a life - beyond this world, and that they shall enjoy it by returning to their own - country; and this idea used frequently to induce them, soon after their - landing in the colonies, to commit suicide; but this was never known to - take place except among fresh negroes, and since the execrable slave-trade - has been abolished, such an illusion is unheard of. As to those who had - once got over the dreadful period of “seasoning,” they were generally soon - sensible enough of the amelioration of their condition, to make the idea - of returning to Africa the most painful that could be presented to them. - But, to be sure, poor creatures! what with the terrors and sufferings of - the voyage, and the unavoidable hardships of the seasoning, those - advantages were purchased more dearly than any in this life can possibly - be worth. God be thanked, all that is now at an end; and certainly, as far - as I can as yet judge, if I were now standing on the banks of Virgil’s - Lethe, with a goblet of the waters of oblivion in my hand, and asked - whether I chose to enter life anew as an English labourer or a Jamaica - negro, I should have no hesitation in preferring the latter. For myself, - it appears to me almost worth surrendering the luxuries and pleasures of - Great Britain, for the single pleasure of being surrounded with beings who - are always laughing and singing, and who seem to perform their work with - so much <i>nonchalance</i>, taking up their baskets as if it were - perfectly optional whether they took them up or left them there; - sauntering along with their hands dangling; stopping to chat with every - one they meet; or if they meet no one, standing still to look round, and - examine whether there is nothing to be seen that can amuse them, so that I - can hardly persuade myself that it is really <i>work</i> that they are - about. The negro might well say, on his arrival in England—“Massa, - in England every thing work!” for here nobody appears to work at all. - </p> - <p> - I am told that there is one part of their business very laborious, the - digging holes for receiving the cane-plants, and which I have not as yet - seen; but this does not occupy above a month (I believe) at the utmost, at - two periods of the year; and on my estate this service is chiefly - performed by extra negroes, hired for the purpose; which, although equally - hard on the hired negroes (called a jobbing gang), at least relieves my - own, and after all, puts even the former on much the same footing with - English day-labourers. - </p> - <p> - But if I could be contented to <i>live</i> in Jamaica, I am still more - certain, that it is the only agreeable place for me to die in; for I have - got a family mausoleum, which looks for all the world like the theatrical - representation of the “tomb of all the Capulets.” Its outside is most - plentifully decorated “with sculptured stones,”— - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p> - “Arms, angels, epitaphs, and bones.” - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p> - Within is a tomb of the purest white marble, raised on a platform of - ebony; the building, which is surmounted by a statue of Time, with his - scythe and hour-glass, stands in the very heart of an orange grove, now in - full bearing; and the whole scene this morning looked so cool, so - tranquil, and so gay, and is so perfectly divested of all vestiges of - dissolution, that the sight of it quite gave me an appetite for being - buried. It is a matter of perfect indifference to me what becomes of this - little ugly husk of mine, when once I shall have “shuffled off this mortal - coil;” or else I should certainly follow my grandfather’s example, and, - die where I might, order my body to be sent over for burial to Cornwall; - for I never yet saw a place where one could lie down more comfortably to - listen for the last trumpet. - </p> - <h3> - JANUARY 14. (Sunday.) - </h3> - <p> - I gave a dinner to my “white people,” as the book-keepers, &c. are - called here, and who have a separate house and establishment for - themselves; and certainly a man must be destitute of every spark of - hospitality, and have had “Caucasus horrens” for his great-grandmother, if - he can resist giving dinners in a country where Nature seems to have set - up a superior kind of “London Tavern” of her own. They who are possessed - by the “Ci-borum ambitiosa fames, et lautæ gloria mensæ,” ought to ship - themselves off for Jamaica out of hand; and even the lord mayor himself - need not blush to give his aldermen such a dinner as is placed on my - table, even when I dine alone. Land and sea turtle, quails, snipes, - plovers, and pigeons and doves of all descriptions—of which the - ring-tail has been allowed to rank with the most exquisite of the winged - species, by epicures of such distinction, that their opinion, in matters - of this nature, almost carries with it the weight of a law,—excellent - pork, barbicued pigs, pepperpots, with numberless other excellent dishes, - form the ordinary fare; while the poultry is so large and fine, that if - the Dragon of Wantley found “houses and churches to be geese and turkies” - in England, he would mistake the geese and turkies for houses and churches - here. Then our tarts are made of pineapples, and pine-apples make the best - tarts that I ever tasted; there is no end of the variety of fruits, of - which the shaddock is “in itself an host;” but the most singular and - exquisite flavour, perhaps, is to be found in the granadillo, a fruit - which grows upon a species of vine, and, in fact, appears to be a kind of - cucumber. It must be suffered to hang till it is dead ripe, when it is - scarcely any thing except juice and seeds, which can only be eaten with a - spoon. It requires sugar, but the acid is truly delicious, and like no - other separate flavour that I ever met with; what it most resembles is a - <i>macedoine</i>, as it unites the different tastes of almost all other - fruits, and has, at the same time, a very strong flavour of wine. - </p> - <p> - As to fish, Savannah la Mar is reckoned the best place in the island, both - for variety and <i>safety</i>; for, in many parts, the fish feed upon - copperas banks, and cannot be used without much precaution: here, none is - necessary, and it is only to be wished that their names equalled their - flesh in taste; for it must be owned, that nothing can be less tempting - than the sounds of Jew-fish, hog-fish, mud-fish, snappers, god-dammies, - groupas, and grunts! Of the Sea Fish which I have hitherto met with, the - Deep-water Silk appears to me the best; and of rivers, the - Mountain-Mullet: but, indeed, the fish is generally so excellent, and in - such profusion, that I never sit down to table without wishing for the - company of Queen Atygatis of Scythia, who was so particularly fond of - fish, that she prohibited all her subjects from eating it on pain of - death, through fear that there might not be enough left for her majesty. - </p> - <p> - This fondness for fish seems to be a sort of royal passion: more than one - of our English sovereigns died of eating too many lampreys; though, to own - the truth, it was suspected that the monks, in an instance or two, - improved the same by the addition of a little ratsbane; and Mirabeau - assures us, that Frederick the Second of Prussia might have prolonged his - existence, if he could but have resisted the fascination of an eel-pye; - but the charm was too strong for him, and, like his great-grandmother of - all, he ate and died—“All for eel-pye, or this world well lost!” And - now, which had to resist the most difficult temptation, Frederic or Eve? - <i>She</i> longed to experience pleasures yet untasted, and which she - fancied to be exquisite: <i>he</i>, like Sigismunda, pined after known - pleasures, and which he knew to be good; <i>she</i> was the dupe of - imagination; <i>he</i> fell a victim to established habit. Which was the - most deserving pardon? There is a question for the bishops: those - clergymen who reside constantly on their livings (as all clergymen ought - to do, or they ought not to be clergymen), I shall, in charity, believe to - have something better to do with their time than to solve it. - </p> - <p> - The provision-grounds of the negroes furnish them with plantains, bananas, - cocoa-nuts, and yams: of the latter there is a regular harvest once a - year, and they remain in great perfection for many months, provided they - are dug up carefully, but the slightest wound with the spade is sufficient - to rot them. Catalue (a species of spinach) is a principal article in - their pepper-pots; but in this parish their most valuable and regular - supply of food arises from the cocoa-finger, or coccos, a species of the - yam, but which lasts all the year round. These vegetables form the basis - of negro sustenance; but the slaves also receive from their owners a - regular weekly allowance of red herrings and salt meat, which serves to - relish their vegetable diet; and, indeed, they are so passionately fond of - salted provisions, that, instead of giving them fresh beef (as at their - festival of Saturday last), I have been advised to provide some hogsheads - of salt fish, as likely to afford them more gratification, at such future - additional holidays as I may find it possible to allow them in this busy - season of crop. - </p> - <h3> - JANUARY 15. - </h3> - <p> - The offspring of a white man and black woman is a <i>mulatto</i>; the - mulatto and black produce a <i>sambo</i>; from the mulatto and white comes - the <i>quadroon</i>; from the quadroon and white the <i>mustee</i>; the - child of a mustee by a white man is called a <i>musteefino</i>; while the - children of a musteefino are free by law, and rank as white persons to all - intents and purposes. I think it is Long who asserts, that two mulattoes - will never have children; but, as far as the most positive assurances can - go, since my arrival in Jamaica, I have reason to believe the contrary, - and that mulattoes breed together just as well as blacks and whites; but - they are almost universally weak and effeminate persons, and thus their - children are very difficult to rear. On a sugar estate one black is - considered as more than equal to two mulattoes. Beautiful as are their - forms in general, and easy and graceful as are their movements (which, - indeed, appear to me so striking, that they cannot fail to excite the - admiration of any one who has ever looked with delight on statues), still - the women of colour are deficient in one of the most requisite points of - female beauty. When Oromases was employed in the formation of woman, and - said,—“Let her enchanting bosom resemble the celestial spheres,” he - must certainly have suffered the negress to slip out of his mind. Young or - old, I have not yet seen such a thing as a <i>bosom</i>. - </p> - <h3> - JANUARY 16. - </h3> - <p> - I never witnessed on the stage a scene so picturesque as a negro village. - I walked through my own to-day, and visited the houses of the drivers, and - other principal persons; and if I were to decide according to my own - taste, I should infinitely have preferred their habitations to my own. - Each house is surrounded by a separate garden, and the whole village is - intersected by lanes, bordered with all kinds of sweet-smelling and - flowering plants; but not such gardens as those belonging to our English - cottages, where a few cabbages and carrots just peep up and grovel upon - the earth between hedges, in square narrow beds, and where the tallest - tree is a gooseberry bush: the vegetables of the negroes are all - cultivated in their provision-grounds; these form their <i>kitchen-gardens</i>, - and these are all for ornament or luxury, and are filled with a profusion - of oranges, shaddocks, cocoa-nuts, and peppers of all descriptions: in - particular I was shown the abba, or palm-tree, resembling the cocoa-tree, - but much more beautiful, as its leaves are larger and more numerous, and, - feathering to the ground as they grow old, they form a kind of natural - arbour. It bears a large fruit, or rather vegetable, towards the top of - the tree, in shape like the cone of the pine, but formed of seeds, some - scarlet and bright as coral, others of a brownish-red or purple. The abba - requires a length of years to arrive at maturity: a very fine one, which - was shown me this morning, was supposed to be upwards of an hundred years - old; and one of a very moderate size had been planted at the least twenty - years, and had only borne fruit once. - </p> - <p> - It appears to me a strong proof of the good treatment which the negroes on - Cornwall have been accustomed to receive, that there are many very old - people upon it; I saw to-day a woman near a hundred years of age; and I am - told that there are several of sixty, seventy, and eighty. I was glad, - also, to find, that several negroes who have obtained their freedom, and - possess little properties of their own in the mountains, and at Savannah - la Mar, look upon my estate so little as the scene of their former - sufferings while slaves, that they frequently come down to pass a few days - in their ancient habitations with their former companions, by way of - relaxation. One woman in particular expressed her hopes, that I should not - be offended at her still coming to Cornwall now and then, although she - belonged to it no longer; and begged me to give directions before my - return to England, that her visits should not be hindered on the grounds - of her having no business there. - </p> - <p> - My visit to Jamaica has at least produced one advantage to myself. Several - runaways, who had disappeared for some time (some even for several - months), have again made their appearance in the field, and I have desired - that no questions should be asked. On the other hand, after enjoying - herself during the Saturday and Sunday, which were allowed for holidays on - my arrival, one of my ladies chose to <i>pull foot</i>, and did not return - from her hiding-place in the mountains till this morning. Her name is - Marcia; but so unlike is she to Addison’s Marcia, that she is not only as - black as Juba, (instead of being “fair, oh! how divinely fair!”) but,—whereas - Sempronius complains, that “Marcia, the lovely Marcia, is left behind,” - the complaint against my heroine is, that “Marcia, the lovely Marcia,” is - always running away. In excuse for her disappearance she alleged, that so - far was her husband from thinking that “she towered above her sex,” that - he had called her “a very bad woman,” which had provoked her so much, that - she could not bear to stay with him; and she assured me, that he was - himself “a very bad man;” which, if true, was certainly enough to justify - any lady, black or white, in making a little incognito excursion for a - week or so; therefore, as it appeared to be nothing more than a conjugal - quarrel, and as Marcia engaged never to run away any more (at the same - time allowing that she had suffered her resentment to carry her too far, - when it had carried her all the way to the mountains), I desired that an - act of oblivion might be passed in favour of Cato’s daughter, and away she - went, quite happy, to pick hog’s meat. - </p> - <p> - The negro houses are composed of wattles on the outside, with rafters of - sweet-wood, and are well plastered within and whitewashed; they consist of - two chambers, one for cooking and the other for sleeping, and are, in - general, well furnished with chairs, tables, &c., and I saw none - without a four-post bedstead and plenty of bed-clothes; for, in spite of - the warmth of the climate, when the sun is not above the horizon the negro - always feels very chilly. I am assured that many of my slaves are very - rich (and their property is inviolable), and that they are I’ll never - without salt provisions, porter, and even wine, to entertain their friends - and their visiters from the bay or the mountains. As I passed through - their grounds, many little requests were preferred to me: one wanted an - additional supply of lime for the whitewashing his house; another was - building a new house for a superannuated wife (for they have all so much - decency as to call their sexual attachments by a conjugal name), and - wanted a little assistance towards the finishing it; a third requested a - new axe to work with; and several entreated me to negotiate the purchase - of some relation or friend belonging to another estate, and with whom they - were anxious to be reunited: but all their requests were for additional - indulgences; not one complained of ill-treatment, hunger, or over-work. - </p> - <p> - Poor Nicholas gave me a fresh instance of his being one of those whom - Fortune pitches upon to show her spite: he has had four children, none of - whom are alive; and the eldest of them, a fine little girl of four years - old, fell into the mill-stream, and was drowned before any one was aware - of her danger. His wife told me that she had had fifteen children, had - taken the utmost care of them, and yet had now but two alive: she said, - indeed, fifteen at the first, but she afterwards corrected herself, and - explained that she had had twelve whole children and three half ones by - which she meant miscarriages. - </p> - <p> - Besides the profits arising from their superabundance of provisions, which - the better sort of negroes are enabled to sell regularly once a week at - Savannah la Mar to a considerable amount, they keep a large stock of - poultry, and pigs without number; which latter cost their owners but - little, though they cost me a great deal; for they generally make their - way into the cane-pieces, and sometimes eat me up an hogshead of sugar in - the course of the morning: but the most expensive of the planter’s enemies - are the rats, whose numbers are incredible, and are so destructive that a - reward is given for killing them. During the last six months my agent has - paid for three thousand rats killed upon Cornwall. Nor is the sugar which - they consume the worst damage which they commit; the worst mischief is, - that if through the carelessness of those whose business it is to supply - the mill, one cane which has been gnawed by the rats is allowed - admittance, that single damaged piece is sufficient to produce acidity - enough to spoil the whole sugar. - </p> - <h3> - JANUARY 17. - </h3> - <p> - In this country there is scarcely any twilight, and all nature seems to - wake at the same moment. About six o’clock the darkness disperses, the sun - rises, and instantly every thing is in motion: the negroes are going to - the field, the cattle are driving to pasture, the pigs and the poultry are - pouring out from their hutches, the old women are preparing food on the - lawn for the <i>pickaninnies</i> (the very small children), whom they keep - feeding at all hours of the day; and all seem to be going to their - employments, none to their work, the men and the women just as quietly and - leisurely as the pigs and the poultry. The sight is really quite gay and - amusing, and I am generally out of bed in time to enjoy it, especially as - the continuance of the cool north breezes renders the weather still - delicious, though the pleasure is rather an expensive one. Not a drop of - rain has fallen since the 16th of November; the young canes are burning; - and the drying quality of these norths is still more detrimental than the - want of rain, so that these winds may be said to blow my pockets inside - out; and as every draught of air, which I inhale with so much pleasure, is - estimated to cost me a guinea, I feel, while breathing it, like Miss - Burney’s Citizen at Vauxhall, who kept muttering to himself with every bit - of ham that he put into his mouth, “There goes sixpence, and there goes a - shilling!” - </p> - <h3> - JANUARY 18. - </h3> - <p> - A Galli-wasp, which was killed in the neighbouring morass, has just been - brought to me. This is the Alligator in miniature, and is even more - dreaded by the negroes than its great relation: it is only to be found in - swamps and morasses: that which was brought to me was about eighteen - inches in length, and I understand that it is seldom longer, although, as - it grows in years, its thickness and the size of its jaws and head become - greatly increased. It runs away on being encountered, and conceals itself; - and it is only dangerous if trampled upon by accident, or if attacked; but - then its bite is a dreadful one, not only from its tongue being armed with - a sting (the venom of which is very powerful, although not mortal), but - from its teeth being so brittle that they generally break in the wound, - and as it is hardly possible to extract the pieces entirely, the wound - corrupts, and becomes an incurable sore of the most offensive nature. - Luckily, these reptiles are very scarce, but nothing can exceed the terror - and aversion in which they are held by the negroes. This dead one had been - lying in the room for several hours, yet, on my servant’s accidentally - stirring the board on which the galli-wasp was stretched for my - inspection, my little negro servant George darted out of the room in - terror, and was at the bottom of the staircase in a moment. The skin of - this animal appeared to be like shagreen in looks and strength, and was - almost entirely composed of layers of very small scales; the colours were - brownish-yellow and olive-green, the teeth numerous and piercing, and the - claws of the feet very long and sharp: altogether it is a hideous and - disgusting creature. As to the alligator of Jamaica, it is a timid animal, - which never was known to attack the human species, though it frequently - takes the liberty of running away with a dog or two, which appears to be - their venison and turtle. There is no river on my estate large enough for - their inhabiting; but, in Paradise River, which is not above four miles - off, I understand that they are common. - </p> - <h3> - JANUARY 19. - </h3> - <p> - A young mulatto carpenter, belonging to Horace Beckford’s estate of - Shrewsbury, came to beg my intercession with his overseer. He had been - absent two days without leave, and on these occasions it is customary for - the slaves to apply to some neighbouring gentleman for a note in their - behalf’ which, as I am told, never fails to obtain the pardon required, as - the managers of estates are in general but too happy to find an excuse for - passing over without punishment any offences which are not very heinous; - indeed, what with the excellent laws already enacted for the protection of - the slaves, and which every year are still further ameliorated, and what - with the difficulty of procuring more negroes—(which can now only be - done by purchasing them from other estates),—which makes it - absolutely necessary for the managers to preserve the slaves, if they mean - to preserve their own situations,—I am fully persuaded that - instances of tyranny to negroes are now very rare, at least in this - island. But I must still acknowledge, from my own sad experience, since my - arrival, that unless a West-Indian proprietor occasionally visit his - estates himself, it is utterly impossible for him to be <i>certain</i> - that his deputed authority is not abused, however good may be his - intentions, and however vigilant his anxiety. - </p> - <p> - My father was one of the most humane and generous persons that ever - existed; there was no indulgence which he ever denied his negroes, and his - letters were filled with the most absolute injunctions for their good - treatment. When his estates became mine, the one upon which I am now - residing was managed by an attorney, considerably advanced in years, who - had been long in our employment, and who bore the highest character for - probity and humanity. He was both attorney and overseer; and it was a - particular recommendation to me that he lived in my own house, and - therefore had my slaves so immediately under his eye, that it was - impossible for any subaltern to misuse them without his knowledge. His - letters to me expressed the greatest anxiety and attention respecting the - welfare and comfort of the slaves;—so much so, indeed, that when I - detailed his mode of management to Lord Holland, he observed, “that if he - did all that was mentioned in his letters, he did as much as could - possibly be expected or wished from an attorney;” and on parting with his - own, Lord Holland was induced to take mine to manage his estates, which - are in the immediate neighbourhood of Cornwall. This man died about two - years ago, and since my arrival, I happened to hear, that during his - management a remarkably fine young penn-keeper, named Richard (the brother - of my intelligent carpenter, John Fuller), had run away several times to - the mountains. I had taken occasion to let the brothers know, between jest - and earnest, that I was aware of Richard’s misconduct; and at length, one - morning, John, while he blamed his brother’s running away, let fall, that - he had some excuse in the extreme ill-usage which he had received from one - of the bookkeepers, who “had had a spite against him.” The hint alarmed - me; I followed it, and nothing could equal my anger and surprise at - learning the whole truth. - </p> - <p> - It seems, that while I fancied my attorney to be resident on Cornwall, he - was, in fact, generally attending to a property of his own, or looking - after estates of which also he had the management in distant parts of the - island. During his absence, an overseer of his own appointing, without my - knowledge, was left in absolute possession of his power, which he abused - to such a degree, that almost every slave of respectability on the estate - was compelled to become a runaway. The property was nearly ruined, and - absolutely in a state of rebellion; and at length he committed an act of - such severity, that the negroes, one and all, fled to Savannah la Mar, and - threw themselves upon the protection of the magistrates, who immediately - came over to Cornwall, investigated the complaint, and <i>now</i>, at - length, the attorney, who had known frequent instances of the overseer’s - tyranny, had frequently rebuked him for them, and had redressed the - sufferers, but who still had dared to abuse my confidence so grossly as to - continue him in his situation, upon this public exposure thought proper to - dismiss him. Yet, while all this was going on—while my negroes were - groaning under the iron rod of this petty tyrant—and while the - public magistrature was obliged to interfere to protect them from his - cruelty—my attorney had the insolence and falsehood to write me - letters, filled with assurances of his perpetual vigilance for their - welfare—of their perfect good treatment and satisfaction; nor, if I - had not come myself to Jamaica, in all probability should I ever have had - the most distant idea how abominably the poor creatures had been misused. - </p> - <p> - I have made it my business to mix as much as possible among the negroes, - and have given them every encouragement to repose confidence in me; and I - have uniformly found all those, upon whom any reliance can be placed, - unite in praising the humanity of their present superintendant. Instantly - on his arrival, he took the whole power of punishment into his own hands: - he forbade the slightest interference in this respect of any person - whatever on the estate, white or black; nor have I been able to find as - yet any one negro who has any charge of harsh treatment to bring against - him. - </p> - <p> - However, having been already so grossly deceived, I will never again place - implicit confidence in any person whatever in a matter of such importance. - Before my departure, I shall take every possible measure that may prevent - any misconduct taking place without my being apprised of it as soon as - possible; and I have already exhorted my negroes to apply to the - magistrates on the very first instance of ill-usage, should any occur - during my absence. - </p> - <p> - I am indeed assured by every one about me, that to manage a West-Indian - estate without the occasional use of the cart-whip, however rarely, is - impossible; and they insist upon it, that it is absurd in me to call my - slaves ill-treated, because, when they act grossly wrong, they are treated - like English soldiers and sailors. All this may be very true; but there is - something to me so shocking in the idea of this execrable cart-whip, that - I have positively forbidden the use of it on Cornwall; and if the estate - must go to rack and ruin without its use, to rack and ruin the estate must - go. Probably, I should care less about this punishment, if I had not been - living among those on whom it may be inflicted; but now, when I am - accustomed to see every face that looks upon me, grinning from ear to ear - with pleasure at my notice, and hear every voice cry “God bless you, - massa,” as I pass, one must be an absolute brute not to feel unwilling to - leave them subject to the lash; besides, they are excellent cajolers, and - lay it on with a trowel. Nicholas and John Fuller came to me this morning - to beg a favour, “and beg massa hard, quite hard!” It was, that when massa - went away, “he would leave his picture for the negroes;” that they might - talk to it, “all just as they did to massa.” Shakspeare says— - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - “A little flattery does well sometimes!” - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p> - But, although the mode of expressing it may be artifice, the sentiment of - good-will may be shown. A dog grows attached to the person who feeds and - makes much of him; and as they have never experienced as yet any but kind - treatment from me personally, it would be against common sense and nature - to suppose that my negroes do not feel kindly towards me. - </p> - <h3> - JANUARY 20. - </h3> - <h3> - THE RUNAWAY. - </h3> - <p class="indent15"> - Peter, Peter was a black boy; - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Peter, him pull foot one day: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Buckra girl, him * Peter’s joy; - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Lilly white girl entice him away. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Fye, Missy Sally, fye on you! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Poor Blacky Peter why undo? - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Oh! Peter, Peter was a bad boy; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Peter was a runaway. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p> - * <i>The negroes never distinguish between “him” and “her” in their - conversation</i>. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Peter, him Massa thief—Oh! fye! - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Missy Sally, him say him do so. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Him money spent, Sally bid him bye. - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - And from Peter away him go; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Fye, Missy Sally, fye on you! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Poor Blacky Peter what him do? - </p> - <p class="indent10"> - Oh! Peter, Peter was a sad boy; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Peter was a runaway! - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Peter, him go to him Massa back; - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - There him humbly own him crime: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - “Massa, forgib one poor young Black! - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Oh! Massa, good Massa, forgib dis time!”— - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Then in come him Missy so fine, so gay, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - And to him Peter thus him say: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - “Oh! Missy, good Missy, you for me pray! - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Beg Massa forgib poor runaway!” - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - “Missy, you cheeks so red, so white; - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Missy, you eyes like diamond shine I - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Missy, you Massa’s sole delight, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - And Lilly Sally, him was mine! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Him say—6 Come, Peter, mid me go!’— - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Could me refuse him? Could me say 6 no?’—» - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Poor Peter—‘no’ him could no say! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - So Peter, Peter ran away!”— - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Him Missy him pray; him Massa so kind - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Was moved by him prayer, and to Peter him says - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - “Well, boy, for this once I forgive you!—but mind! - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - With the buckra girls you no more go away! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Though fair without, they’re foul within; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Their heart is black, though white their skin. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Then Peter, Peter with me stay; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Peter no more run away!”— - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <h3> - JANUARY 21. (Sunday.) - </h3> - <p> - The hospital has been crowded, since my arrival, with patients who have - nothing the matter with them. On Wednesday there were about thirty - invalids, of whom only four were cases at all serious; the rest had “a - lilly pain here, Massa,” or “a bad pain me know nowhere, Massa,” and - evidently only came to the hospital in order to sit idle, and chat away - the time with their friends. Four of them the doctor ordered into the - field peremptorily; the next day there came into the sick-house six - others; upon this I resolved to try my own hand at curing them; and I - directed the head-driver to announce, that the presents which I had - brought from England should be distributed to-day, that the new-born - children should be christened, and that the negroes might take possession - of my house, and amuse themselves till twelve at night. The effect of my - prescription was magical; two thirds of the sick were hale and hearty, at - work in the field on Saturday morning, and to-day not a soul remained in - the hospital except the four serious cases. - </p> - <p> - The christening took place about four o’clock. Sully’s infant, which had - been destined to perform a part on this occasion, had died in the - hospital; but this morning the father came to complain of his - disappointment, and to beg leave to substitute a child <i>by another</i> - wife, which had been born about two months before my arrival; and as the - father is a very serviceable fellow, and the mother, besides having - brought up three children of her own, had the additional merit of having - reared an infant whose own mother had died in child-bed, I broke through - the rule of only christening those myself who should be born since my - coming to Jamaica, and granted his request. By good luck, the first child - to be named was the offspring of Minerva and Captain; so I told the - parents that as it would be highly proper to call the boy after the - greatest Captain that the world could produce, he should be named - Wellington; and that I hoped that he would grow up to serve <i>me</i> in - Jamaica as well as the Duke of Wellington had served his massa, the King - of England, in Europe. The Duke of Sully’s child I wanted to call Navarre; - but the father had brought over a free negro from Savannah la Mar to stand - godfather, who was his <i>fidus Achates</i>, by the name of John Davies, - and I found that he had set his heart upon calling the boy John Lewis, - after his friend and myself; so John Lewis he was. - </p> - <p> - There ought to have been a third child, born at seven months, whom the <i>graundee</i> - had reared with great difficulty, and dismissed, quite strong, from the - hospital; the mother had taken great care of it till the tenth day, when - she was entitled to an allowance of clothes, provisions, &c.; but no - sooner had she received her reward, than on that very night she suffered - the child to remain so long without food, while she went herself to dance - on a neighbouring estate, that it was brought, in an exhausted state, back - to the hospital; and, in spite of every care, it expired within four and - twenty hours after its return. - </p> - <p> - The ceremony was performed with perfect gravity and propriety by all - parties; I thought it as well to cut the reading part of it very short; - but I read a couple of prayers, marked the foreheads of the children with - the sign of the cross, and, instead of the concluding prayer, I - substituted a wish, “that God would bless the children, and make them live - to be as good servants to me, as I prayed him to make me a kind massa to - them;” upon which all present very gravely made me their lowest bows and - courtesies, and then gave me a loud huzza; so unusual a mode of - approbation at a christening that it had nearly overturned my seriousness; - and I made haste to serve out Madeira to the parents and assistants, that - they might drink the healths of the new Christians and of each other. The - mothers and the <i>graindee</i> were then called up to the table, and the - ladies in a family way were arranged behind them. - </p> - <p> - <i>Their</i> title in Jamaica is rather coarse, but very expressive. I - asked Cubina one day “who was that woman with a basket on her head?” - </p> - <p> - “Massa,” he answered, “that one belly-woman going to sell provisions at - the Bay.” As she was going to sell <i>provisions</i>, I supposed that <i>belly</i>-woman - was the name of her trade; but it afterwards appeared that she was one of - those females who had given in their names as being then labouring under - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - “The pleasing punishment which women bear;” - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p> - and who, in consequence, were discharged from all severe labour. I then - gave the <i>graundee</i> and the mothers a dollar each, and told them, - that for the future they might claim the same sum, in addition to their - usual allowance of clothes and provisions, for every infant which should - be brought to the overseer alive and well on the fourteenth day; and I - also gave each mother a present of a scarlet girdle with a silver medal in - the centre, telling her always to wear it on feasts and holidays, when it - should entitle her to marks of peculiar respect and attention, such as - being one of the first served, and receiving a larger portion than the - rest; that the <i>first</i> fault which she might commit, should be - forgiven on the production of this girdle; and that when she should have - any favour to ask, she should always put it round her waist, and be - assured, that on seeing it, the overseer would allow the wearer to be - entitled to particular indulgence. On every additional child an additional - medal is to be affixed to the belt, and precedence is to follow the - greater number of medals. I expected that this notion of an order of - honour would have been treated as completely fanciful and romantic; but to - my great surprise, my manager told me, that “he never knew a dollar better - bestowed than the one which formed the medal of the girdle, and that he - thought the institution likely to have a very good effect.” - </p> - <p> - Immediately after the christening the Eboe drums were produced, and in - defiance of Sunday the negroes had the irreverence to be gay and happy, - while the presents were getting in order for distribution. All the men got - jackets, the women seven yards of stuff each for petticoats, &c., and - the children as much printed cotton as would make a couple of frocks. The - Creoles were delighted beyond measure when some of the African male - negroes exclaimed, “Tank, massa,” and made a low courtesy in the confusion - of their gratitude. As they were all called to receive their presents - alphabetically in pairs, some of the combinations were very amusing. We - had Punch and Plato, Priam and Pam, Hemp and Hercules, and Minerva and - Moll come together. By twelve they dispersed, and I went to bed, as usual - on these occasions, with a violent headach. - </p> - <h3> - JANUARY 22. - </h3> - <p> - While I was at dinner, a violent uproar was heard below stairs. On - enquiry, it proved to be Cubina, quarrelling with his niece Phillis (a - goodlooking black girl employed about the house), about a broken pitcher; - and as her explanation did not appear satisfactory to him, he had thought - proper to give her a few boxes on the ear. Upon hearing this, I read him - such a lecture upon the baseness of a man’s striking a woman, and told him - with so much severity that his heart must be a bad one to commit such an - offence, that poor Cubina, having never heard a harsh word from me before, - scarcely knew whether he stood upon his head or his heels. When he - afterwards brought my coffee, he expressed his sorrow for having offended - me, and begged my pardon in the most humble manner. I told him, that to - obtain mine, he must first obtain that of Phillis, and he immediately - declared himself ready to make her any apology that I might dictate. So - the girl was called in; and her uncle going up to her, “I am very sorry, - Phillis,” said he, “that I gave way to high passion, and called you hard - names, and struck you: which I ought not to have done while massa was in - the house;” (here I was going to interrupt him, but he was too clever not - to perceive his blunder, and made haste to add) “nor if he had <i>not</i> - been here, nor at all; so I hope you will have the kindness to forgive me - this once, and I never will strike you again, and so I beg your pardon.” - And he then put out his hand to her in the most frank and hearty manner - imaginable; and on her accepting it, made her three or four of his very - lowest and most graceful bows. I furnished him with a piece of money to - give her as a peace-offering; they left the room thoroughly reconciled, - and in five minutes after they and the rest of the servants were all - chattering, laughing, and singing together, in the most perfect harmony - and good-humour. I suppose, if I had desired an upper servant in England - to make the same submission, he would have preferred quitting my service - to doing what he would have called “humbling himself to an inferior;” or, - if he had found himself compelled to give way, he would have been sulky - with the girl, and found fault with every thing that she did in the house - for a twelvemonth after. - </p> - <p> - On the other hand, there are some choice ungrateful scoundrels among the - negroes: on the night of their first dance, a couple of sheep disappeared - from the pen, although they could not have been taken from want of food, - as on that very morning there had been an ample distribution of fresh - beef; and last night another sheep and a quantity of poultry followed - them. Yesterday, too, a young rascal of a boy called “massa Jackey,” who - is in the frequent habit of running away for months at a time, and whom I - had distinguished from the cleverness of his countenance and buffoonery of - his manners, came to beg my permission to go and purchase food with some - money which I had just given him, “because he was almost starving; his - parents were dead, he had no provision-grounds, no allowance, and nobody - ever gave him anything.” Upon this I sent Cubina with the boy to the - storekeeper, when it appeared that he had always received a regular - allowance of provisions twice a week, which he generally sold, as well as - his clothes, at the Bay, for spirits; had received an additional portion - only last Friday; and, into the bargain, during the whole of that week had - been fed from the house. What he could propose to himself by telling a lie - which must be so soon detected, I cannot conceive; but I am assured, that - unless a negro has an interest in telling the truth, he always lies—in - order to keep his tongue in practice. - </p> - <p> - One species of flattery (or of <i>Congo-saw</i>, as we call it here) - amused me much this morning: an old woman who is in the hospital wanted to - express her gratitude for some stewed fish which I had sent her for - supper, and, instead of calling me “massa,” she always said—“Tank - him, <i>my husband</i>.” - </p> - <h3> - JANUARY 24. - </h3> - <p> - This was a day of perpetual occupation. I rose at six o’clock, and went - down to the Bay to settle some business; on my return I visited the - hospital while breakfast was getting ready; and as soon as it was over, I - went down to the negro-houses to hear the whole body of Eboes lodge a - complaint against one of the book-keepers, and appoint a day for their - being heard in his presence. On my return to the house, I found two women - belonging to a neighbouring estate, who came to complain of cruel - treatment from their overseer, and to request me to inform their trustee - how ill they had been used, and see their injuries redressed. They said, - that having been ill in the hospital, and ordered to the field while they - were still too weak to work, they had been flogged with much severity - (though not beyond the limits of the law); and my head driver, who was - less scrupulously delicate than myself as to ocular inspection of Juliet’s - person (which Juliet, to do her justice, was perfectly ready to submit to - in proof of her assertions), told me, that the woman had certainly - suffered greatly; the other, whose name was Delia, was but just recovering - from a miscarriage, and declared openly that the overseer’s conduct had - been such, that nothing should have prevented her running away long ago if - she could but have had the heart to abandon a child which she had on the - estate. Both were poor feeble-looking creatures, and seemed very unfit - subjects for any severe correction. I promised to write to their trustee; - and, as they were afraid of being punished on their return home for having - thrown themselves on my protection, I wrote a note to the overseer, - requesting that the women might remain quite unmolested till the trustee’s - arrival, which was daily expected; and, with this note and a present of - cocoa-fingers and salt fish, Delia and Juliet departed, apparently much - comforted. - </p> - <p> - They were succeeded by no less a personage than <i>Venus</i> herself—a - poor, little, sickly, timid soul, who had purchased her freedom from my - father by substituting in her place a fine stout black wench, who, being - Venus’s <i>locum tenens</i>, was, by courtesy, called Venus, too, though - her right name was “Big Joan;” but, by some neglect of the then attorney, - Venus had never received any title, and she now came to beg “massa so good - as give paper;” otherwise she was still, to all intents and purposes, my - slave, and I might still have compelled her to work, although, at the same - time, her substitute was on the estate. Of course, I promised the paper - required, and engaged to act the part of a second Vulcan by releasing - Venus from my chains: but the paper was not the only thing that Venus - wanted; she also wanted a petticoat! She told me, that when the presents - were distributed on Sunday, the petticoat, which she would otherwise have - had, was, of course, “given to the <i>other</i> Venus;” and though, to be - sure, she was free now, yet, “when she belonged to massa, she had always - worked for him well,” and “she was quite as glad to see massa as the other - Venus,” and, therefore, “ought to have quite as much petticoat.” I tried - to convince her, that for Venus to wear a petticoat of blue durant, or, - indeed, any petticoat at all, would be quite unclassical: the goddess of - beauty stuck to her point, and finally carried off the petticoat. - </p> - <p> - Venus had scarcely evacuated the premises, when her place was occupied by - the minister of Savannah la Mar, with proposals for instructing the - negroes in religion; and the minister, in his turn, was replaced by one of - the Sunday-night thieves, who had been caught while in the actual - possession of one of my sheep and a great turkey-cock; and, to make the - matter worse, the depredator’s name was Hercules! Hercules, whom Virgil - states to have exercised so much severity on Cacus, when his own oxen were - stolen, was taken up himself for stealing my sheep in Jamaica! The - demi-god had nothing to say in his excuse: he had just received a large - allowance of beef:—therefore, hunger had no share in his - transgression; and the committing the offence during the very time that I - was giving the negroes a festival, rendered his ingratitude the more - flagrant. - </p> - <p> - I perfectly well understood that the man was sent to me by my agent, in - order to show the absolute necessity of sometimes employing the cart-whip, - and to see whether I would suffer the fellow to escape unpunished. But, as - this was the first offender who had been brought before me, I took that - for a pretext to absolve him: so I lectured him for half an hour with - great severity, swore that on the very next offence I would order him to - be sold; and that if he would not do his fair proportion of work without - being lashed, he should be sent to work somewhere else; for I would suffer - no such worthless fellows on my estate, and would not be at the expense of - a cart-whip to correct him. He promised most earnestly to behave better in - future, and Hercules was suffered to depart: but I am told that no good - can be expected of him; that he is perpetually running away; and that he - had been absent for five weeks together before my arrival, and only - returned home upon hearing that there was a distribution of beef, rum, and - jackets going forward; in return for all which, he stole my sheep and my - poor great turkey-cock. - </p> - <p> - But now came the most puzzling business of the day. About four years ago, - two Eboes, called Pickle and Edward, were rivals, after being intimate - friends: Pickle (who is an excellent faithful negro, but not very wise) - was the successful candidate; and, of course, the friendship was - interrupted, till Edward married the sister of the disputed fair one. From - this time the brothers-in-law lived in perfect harmony together; but, - during the first festival given on my arrival, Pickle’s house was broken - open, and robbed of all his clothes, &c. The thief was sought for, but - in vain. On Monday last I found Pickle in the hospital, complaining of a - pain in his side; and the blood, which had been taken from him, gave - reason to apprehend a pleurisy arising from cold; but, as the disorder had - been taken in its earliest stage, nothing dangerous was expected. The - fever abated; the medicines performed their offices properly; still the - man’s spirits and strength appeared to decline, and he persisted in saying - that he was not better, and should never do well. At length, to-day, he - got out of his sick bed, came to the house, attended by the whole body of - drivers, and accused his brother-in-law of having been the stealer of his - goods. I asked, “Had Edward been seen near his house? Had any of his - effects been seen in Edward’s possession? Did Edward refuse to suffer his - hut to be searched?” No. Edward, who was present, pressed for the most - strict scrutiny, and asserted his perfect ignorance; nor could the accuser - advance any grounds for the charge, except his belief of Edward’s guilt. - “Why did he think so?” After much beating about the bush, at length out - came the real <i>causa doloris</i>—“Edward had <i>Obeahed</i> him!” - He had accused Edward of breaking open his house, and had begged him to - help him to his goods again; and “Edward had gone at midnight into the - bush” (i. e. the wood), and “had gathered the plant whangra, which he had - boiled in an iron pot, by a fire of leaves, over which he went pufij - puffie!” and said the sautee-sautee; and then had cut the whangra root - into four pieces, three to bury at the plantation gates, and one to burn; - and to each of these three pieces he gave the name of a Christian, one of - which was Daniel, and Edward had said, that this would help him to find - his goods; but instead of that, he had immediately felt this pain in his - side, and therefore he was sure that, instead of using Obeah to find his - goods, Edward had used it to kill himself. “And were these all his - reasons?” I enquired. “No; when he married, Edward was very angry at the - loss of his mistress, and had said that they never would live well and - happily together; and they never <i>had</i> lived happily and well - together.” - </p> - <p> - This last argument quite got the better of my gravity. By parity of - reasoning, I thought that almost every married couple in Great Britain - must be under the influence of Obeah! I endeavoured to convince the fellow - of his folly and injustice, especially as the person accused was the - identical man who had detected the Obeah priest harboured in one of my - negro huts last year, had seized him with his own hands, and delivered him - up to my agent, who had prosecuted and transported him. It was, therefore, - improbable in the highest degree, that he should be an Obeah man himself; - and all the bystanders, black and white, joined me in ridiculing Pickle - for complaints so improbable and childish. But anger, argument, and irony - were all ineffectual. I offered to christen him, and expel black Obeah by - white, but in vain; the fellow persisted in saying, that “he had a pain in - his side, and, <i>therefore</i>, Edward must have given it to him;” and he - went back to his hospital, shaking his head all the way, sullen and - unconvinced. He is a young strong negro, perfectly well disposed, and - doing his due portion of work willingly; and it will be truly provoking to - lose him by the influence of this foolish prejudice. - </p> - <h3> - JANUARY 25. - </h3> - <p> - I sent for Edward, had him alone with me for above two hours, and pressed - him most earnestly to confide in me. I gave him a dollar to convince him - of my good-will towards him; assured him that whatever he might tell me - should remain a secret between us; said, that I was certain of his not - having used any poison, or done any thing really mischievous; but as I - suspected him of having played some monkey-tricks or other, which, however - harmless in themselves, had evidently operated dangerously upon Pickle’s - imagination, I begged him to tell me precisely what had passed, in order - that I might counteract its baleful effects. In reply, Edward swore to me - most solemnly, “by the great God Almighty, who lives above the clouds,” - that he never had used any such practices: that he had never gone into the - wood to gather whangra; and that he had considered Pickle, from the moment - of his own marriage, as his brother, and had always, till then, loved him - as such. His eyes filled with tears while he protested that he should be - as sorry for Pickle’s death as if it were himself; and he complained - bitterly of having the ill name of an Obeah man given to him, which made - him feared and shunned by his companions, and entirely without cause. But - he said that he was certain that Pickle would never have suspected him of - such a crime, if a third person had not put it into his head. There is a - negro on my estate called Adam, who has been long and strongly suspected - of having connections with Obeah men. When Edward was quite young, he was - under this fellow’s superintendence, and he now assured me, that Adam had - not only endeavoured to draw him into similar practices, but had even - pressed him very earnestly to lay a magical egg under the door of a - book-keeper whose conduct had been obnoxious. Edward had positively - refused: from that moment his superintendent, from being his protector, - had become his enemy, had shown him spite upon every occasion; and he it - was, he had no doubt, who, for the purpose of injuring him, had put this - foolish notion into Pickle’s head. - </p> - <p> - Upon enquiry it appeared, that on the very morning succeeding Pickle’s - entering the hospital, this suspected man had gone there also, on pretence - of sickness, and had remained there to watch the invalid; although it was - so evident that nothing was the matter with him, that the doctor had - frequently ordered him to the field, but the man had always found means - for evading the order. The first thing that we now did was to turn him out - of the sick-house, neck and heels; I then took Edward with me to Pickle’s - bedside, where the former told his brother-in-law, that if he had ever - done any thing to offend him, he heartily begged his pardon; that he swore - by the Almighty God that he had never been in the bush to hurt him, nor - any where else; on the contrary, that he had always loved him, and wished - him well; and that he now begged him to be friends with him again, to - forget and forgive all former quarrels, and to accept the hand which he - offered him in all sincerity. The sick man also confessed, that he had - always loved Edward as his brother, had “eaten and drunk with him for many - years with perfect good-will,” and that it was his ingratitude for such - affection which vexed him more than any thing. On this I told him, that I - insisted upon their being good friends for the future, and that I should - never hear the word Obeah, or any such nonsense, mentioned on my estate, - on pain of my extreme displeasure. I promised that, as soon as Pickle - should be quite recovered, I would buy for him exactly a set of such - things as had been stolen from him; that Edward should bring them to his - house, to show that he had rather give him things than take them away; and - I then desired to see them shake hands. They did so, with much apparent - cordiality; Edward then went back to his work; and this evening, when I - sent him a dish from my table, Pickle desired the servant to tell me, that - he had hardly any fever, and felt “<i>quite so so</i>,” which, in the - negro dialect, means “a great deal better.” I begin, therefore, to hope - that we shall save the foolish fellow’s life at last, which, at one time, - appeared to be in great jeopardy. - </p> - <p> - There was a great dinner and ball for the whole county given to-day at - Montego Bay, to which I was invited; but I begged leave to decline this - and all other invitations, being determined to give up my whole time to my - negroes during my stay in Jamaica. - </p> - <h3> - JANUARY 26. - </h3> - <p> - Every morning my agent regales me with some fresh instance of - insubordination: he says nothing plainly, but shakes his head, and - evidently gives me to understand, that the estate cannot be governed - properly without the cart-whip. It seems that this morning, the women, one - and all, refused to carry away the <i>trash</i> (which is one of the - easiest tasks that can be set), and that without the slightest pretence: - in consequence, the mill was obliged to be stopped; and when the driver on - that station insisted on their doing their duty, a little fierce young - devil of a Miss Whaunica flew at his throat, and endeavoured to strangle - him: the agent was obliged to be called in, and, at length, this petticoat - rebellion was subdued, and every thing went on as usual. I have, in - consequence, assured the women, that since they will not be managed by - fair treatment, I must have recourse to other measures; and that, if any - similar instance of misconduct should take place, I was determined, on my - return from Kingston, to sell the most refractory, ship myself immediately - for England, and never return to them and Jamaica more. This threat, at - the time, seemed to produce a great effect; all hands were clasped, and - all voices were raised, imploring me not to leave them, and assuring me, - that in future they would do their work quietly and willingly. But whether - the impression will last beyond the immediate moment is a point greatly to - be doubted. - </p> - <h3> - JANUARY 27. - </h3> - <p> - Another morning, with the mill stopped, no liquor in the boiling-house, - and no work done. The driver brought the most obstinate and insolent of - the women to be lectured by me; and I bounced and stormed for half an hour - with all my might and main, especially at Whaunica, whose ingratitude was - peculiar; as she is the wife of Edward, the Eboe, whom I had been - protecting against the charge of theft and Obeahism, and had shown him - more than usual kindness. They, at last, appeared to be very penitent and - ashamed of themselves, and engaged never to behave ill again, if I would - but forgive them this present fault; Whaunica, in particular, assuring me - very earnestly, that I never should have cause to accuse her of “bad - manners” again; for, in negro dialect, ingratitude is always called “bad - manners.” My agent declares, that they never conducted themselves so ill - before; that they worked cheerfully and properly till my arrival; but now - they think that I shall protect them against all punishment, and have made - regularly ten hogsheads of sugar a week less than they did before my - coming upon the estate. This is the more provoking, as, by delaying the - conclusion of the crop, the latter part of it may be driven into the rainy - season, and then the labour is infinitely more severe both for the slaves - and the cattle, and more detrimental to their health. - </p> - <p> - The minister of Savannah la Mar has shown me a plan for the religious - instruction of the negroes, which was sent to him by the ecclesiastical - commissaries at Kingston. It consisted but of two points: against the - first (which recommended the slaves being <i>ordered</i> to go to church - on a Sunday) I positively declared myself. Sunday is now the absolute - property of the negroes for their relaxation, as Saturday is for the - cultivation of their grounds; and I will not suffer a single hour of it to - be taken from them for any purpose whatever. If my slaves choose to go to - church on Sundays, so much the better; but not one of them shall be <i>ordered</i> - to do one earthly thing on Sundays, but that which he chooses himself. The - second article recommended occasional pastoral visits of the minister to - the different estates; and in this respect I promised to give him every - facility—although I greatly doubt any good effect being produced by - a few short visits, at considerable intervals, on the minds of ignorant - creatures, to whom no palpable and immediate benefit is offered. It - appears, indeed, to me, that the only means of giving the negroes morality - and religion must be through the medium of education, and their being - induced to read such books in the minister’s absence as may recall to - their thoughts what they have heard from him; otherwise, he may talk for - an hour, and they will have understood but little—and remember - nothing. There is not a single negro among my whole three hundred who can - read a line; and what I suppose to be wanted on West-Indian estates is not - an importation of missionaries, but of schoolmasters on Dr. Bell’s plan, - if it could by any means be introduced here with effect. However, in the - mean while I told the minister, that I was perfectly well inclined to have - every measure tried that might enlighten the minds of the negroes, - provided it did not interfere with their own hours of leisure, and were - not compulsory. I mentioned to him a plan for commencing his instructions - under the most favourable auspices, of which he seemed to approve; and he - has promised to make occasional visits on my estate during my absence, - which may do good and can do no harm; and, even should it fail to make the - negroes religious, will, at least, add another humane inspector to my - list. Soon after the minister’s departure, John Fuller came to repair one - of the windows. Now John is in great disgrace with me in one respect. - Instead of having a wife on the estate, he keeps one at the Bay, so that - his children will not belong to me. Phillis, too, who formerly lived with - John, says, that she parted with him, because he threw away all his money - upon the Bay girls; though John asserts that the cause of separation was - his catching the false Phillis coming out of one of the book-keepers’ - bedrooms. - </p> - <p> - However, it is certain, that now his connections are all at the Bay; and I - have assured him, that if he does not provide himself with a wife at - Cornwall, before my return from Kingston, I will put him up to auction, - and call the girls together to bid for him, one offering half a dozen - yams, and another a bit of salt fish; and the highest bidder shall carry - him off as her property. But to-day, as he came into the room just as the - minister left it, I told him that Dr. Pope was coming to give the negroes - some instruction; and that he had left part of a catechism for him, which - he was to get by heart against his next visit. John promised to study it - diligently, and went off to get it read to him by one of the book-keepers. - Several of his companions came to hear it from curiosity, and the - book-keeper read aloud:— - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - “John Fuller is gone to the Bay, boys, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - On the girls to spend his cash; - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - And when John Fuller comes home, boys, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - John Fuller deserves the lash.” - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p> - So John went away shaking his head, and saying, “Massa had told him, that - the minister had left that paper to make him a better Christian. But he - was certain that the minister had nothing to do with that, and that massa - had made it all himself about the Bay girls.” - </p> - <h3> - JANUARY 28. (Sunday.) - </h3> - <p> - I shall have enough to do in Jamaica if I accept all the offices that are - pressed upon me. A large body of negroes, from a neighbouring estate, came - over to Cornwall this morning, to complain of hard treatment, in various - ways, from their overseer and drivers, and requesting me to represent - their injuries to their trustee here, and their proprietor in England. The - charges were so strong, that I am certain that they must be fictitious; - however, I listened to their story with patience; promised that the - trustee (whom I was to see in a few days) should know their complaint;—and - they went away apparently satisfied. Then came a runaway negro, who wanted - to return home, and requested me to write a few lines to his master, to - save him from the lash. He was succeeded by a poor creature named Bessie, - who, although still a young woman, is dispensed with from labour, on - account of her being afflicted with the <i>cocoa-bay</i>, one of the most - horrible of negro diseases. It shows itself in large blotches and - swellings, and which generally, by degrees, moulder away the joints of the - toes and fingers, till they rot and drop off; sometimes as much as half a - foot will go at once. As the disease is communicable by contact, the - person so afflicted is necessarily shunned by society; and this poor - woman, who is married to John Fuller, one of the best young men on the - estate, and by whom she has had four children (although they are all - dead), has for some time been obliged to live separated from him, lest he - should be destroyed by contracting the same complaint. She now came to - tell me, that she wanted a blanket, “for that the cold killed her of - nights;” cold being that which negroes dislike most, and from which most - of their illnesses arise. Of course she got her blanket; then she said, - that she wanted medicine for her complaint. “Had not the doctor seen her?” - </p> - <p> - “Oh, yes! Dr. Goodwin; but the white doctor could do her no good. She - wanted to go to a black doctor, named Ormond, who belonged to a - neighbouring gentleman.” I told her, that if this black doctor understood - her particular disease better than others, certainly she should go to him; - but that if he pretended to cure her by charms or spells, or any thing but - medicine, I should desire his master to cure the black doctor by giving - him the punishment proper for such an impostor. Upon this Bessie burst - into tears, and said “that Ormond was not an Obeah man, and that she had - suffered too much by Obeah men to wish to have any more to do with them. - She had made Adam her enemy by betraying him, when he had attempted to - poison the former attorney; he had then cursed her, and wished that she - might never be hearty again: and from that very time her complaint had - declared itself; and her poor pickaninies had all died away, one after - another; and she was sure that it was Adam who had done all this mischief - by Obeah.” Upon this, I put myself in a great rage, and asked her “how she - could believe that God would suffer a low wicked fellow like Adam to make - good people die, merely because he wished them dead?” - </p> - <p> - “She did not know; she knew nothing about God; had never heard of any such - Being, nor of any other world.” I told her, that God was a great - personage, “who lived up yonder above the blue, in a place full of - pleasures and free from pains, where Adam and wicked people could not - come; that her pickaninies were not dead for ever, but were only gone up - to live with God, who was good, and would take care of them for her; and - that if she were good, when she died, she too would go up to God above the - blue, and see all her four pickaninies again.” The idea seemed so new and - so agreeable, to the poor creature, that she clapped her hands together, - and began laughing for joy; so I said to her every thing that I could - imagine likely to remove her prejudice; told her that I should make it a - crime even so much as to mention the word Obeah on the estate; and that, - if any negro from that time forward should be proved to have accused - another of Obeahing him, or of telling another that he had been Obeahed, - he should forfeit his share of the next present of salt-fish, which I - meant soon to distribute among the slaves, and should never receive any - favour from me in future; so I gave Bessie a piece of money, and she - seemed to go away in better spirits than she came. - </p> - <p> - This Adam, of whom she complained, is a most dangerous fellow, and the - terror of all his companions, with whom he lives in a constant state of - warfare. He is a creole, born on my own property, and has several sisters, - who have obtained their freedom, and are in every respect creditable and - praiseworthy; and to one of whom I consider myself as particularly - indebted, as she was the means of saving poor Richard’s life, when the - tyranny of the overseer had brought him almost to the brink of the grave. - But this brother is in every thing the very reverse of his sisters: there - is no doubt of his having (as Bessie stated) infused poison into the - water-jars through spite against the late superintendent. It was this same - fellow whom Edward suspected of having put into his brother-in-law’s head - the idea of his having been bewitched; and it was also in his hut that the - old Obeah man was found concealed, whom my attorney seized and transported - last year. He is, unfortunately, clever and plausible; and I am told that - the mischief which he has already done, by working upon the folly and - superstition of his fellows, is incalculable; yet I cannot get rid of him: - the law will not suffer any negro to be shipped off the island, until he - shall have been convicted of felony at the sessions; I cannot sell him, - for nobody would buy him, nor even accept him, if I would offer them so - dangerous a present; if he were to go away, the law would seize him, and - bring him back to me, and I should be obliged to pay heavily for his - re-taking and his maintenance in the workhouse. In short, I know not what - I can do with him, except indeed make a Christian of him! This might - induce the negroes to believe, that he had lost his infernal power by the - superior virtue of the holy water; but, perhaps he may refuse to be - christened. However, I will at least ask him the question; and if he - consents, I will send him—and a couple of dollars—to the - clergyman—for he shall not have so great a distinction as baptism - from massa’s own hand—and see what effect “white Obeah” will have in - removing the terrors of this professor of the black. - </p> - <p> - As to my sick Obeah patient, Pickle, from the moment of his reconciliation - with his brother-inlaw he began to mend, and has recovered with wonderful - rapidity: the fellow seems <i>really</i> grateful for the pains which I - have taken about him; and our difficulty now is to prevent his fancying - himself too soon able to quit the hospital, so eager is he to return “to - work for massa.” - </p> - <p> - There are certainly many excellent qualities in the negro character; their - worst faults appear to be, this prejudice respecting Obeah, and the - facility with which they are frequently induced to poison to the right - hand and to the left. A neighbouring gentleman, as I hear, has now three - negroes in prison, all domestics, and one of them grown grey in his - service, for poisoning him with corrosive sublimate; his brother was - actually killed by similar means; yet I am assured that both of them were - reckoned men of great humanity. Another agent, who appears to be in high - favour with the negroes whom he now governs, was obliged to quit an - estate, from the frequent attempts to poison him; and a person against - whom there is no sort of charge alleged for tyranny, after being brought - to the doors of death by a cup of coffee, only escaped a second time by - his civility, in giving the beverage, prepared for himself to two young - book-keepers, to both of whom it proved fatal. It, indeed, came out, - afterwards, that this crime was also effected by the abominable belief in - Obeah: the woman, who mixed the draught, had no idea of its being poison; - but she had received the deleterious ingredients from an Obeah man, as “a - charm to make her massa good to her;” by which the negroes mean, the - compelling a person to give another every thing for which that other may - ask him. - </p> - <p> - Next to this vile trick of poisoning people (arising, doubtless, in a - great measure, from their total want of religion, and their ignorance of a - future state, which makes them dread no punishment hereafter for - themselves, and look with but little respect on human life in others), the - greatest drawback upon one’s comfort in a Jamaica existence seems to me to - be the being obliged to live perpetually in public. Certainly, if a man - was desirous of leading a life of vice <i>here</i>, he must have set - himself totally above shame, for he may depend upon every thing done by - him being seen and known. The houses are absolutely transparent; the walls - are nothing but windows—and all the doors stand wide open. No - servants are in waiting to announce arrivals: visiters, negroes, dogs, - cats, poultry, all walk in and out, and up and down your living-rooms, - without the slightest ceremony. - </p> - <p> - Even the Temple of Cloacina (which, by the bye, is here very elegantly - spoken of generally as “<i>The</i> Temple,”) is as much latticed and as - pervious to the eye as any other part of my premises; and many a time has - my delicacy been put to the blush by the ill-timed civility of some old - woman or other, who, wandering that way, and happening to cast her eye to - the left, has stopped her course to curtsy very gravely, and pay me the - passing compliment of an “Ah, massa! bless you, massa! how day?” - </p> - <h3> - JANUARY 29. - </h3> - <p> - I find that Bessie’s black doctor is really nothing more than a professor - of medicine as to this particular disease; and I have ordered her to be - sent to him in the mountains immediately. Several gentlemen of the county - dined with me to-day, and when they left me, one of the carriages - contrived to get overturned, and the right shoulder of one of the - gentlemen was dislocated. Luckily, it happened close to the house; and as - the physician who attends my estate had dined with me also, a boy, on a - mule, was despatched after him with all haste. He was soon with us, the - bone was replaced with perfect ease, and this morning the patient left me - with every prospect of finding no bad effects whatever from his accident. - </p> - <p> - We had at dinner a land tortoise and a barbecued pig, two of the best and - richest dishes that I ever tasted;—the latter, in particular—which - was dressed in the true maroon fashion, being placed on a barbecue (a - frame of wicker-work, through whose interstices the steam can ascend), - filled with peppers and spices of the highest flavour, wrapt in plantain - leaves, and then buried in a hole filled with hot stones, by whose vapour - it is baked, no particle of the juice being thus suffered to evaporate. I - have eaten several other good Jamaica dishes, but none so excellent as - this, a large portion of which was transferred to the most infirm patients - in the hospital. Perhaps an English physician would have felt every hair - of his wig bristle upon his head with astonishment, at hearing me ask, - this morning, a woman in a fever, how her bark and her barbe cued pig had - agreed with her. But, with negroes, I find that feeding the sick upon - stewed fish and pork, highly seasoned, produces the very best effects - possible. - </p> - <p> - Some of the fruits here are excellent, such as shaddocks, oranges, - granadelloes, forbidden fruit; and one between an orange and a lemon, - called “the grape or cluster fruit,” appears to me quite delicious. For - the vegetables, I cannot say so much, yams, plantains, cocoa poyers, - yam-poys, bananas, &c. look and taste all so much alike, that I - scarcely know one from the other: they are all something between bread and - potatoes, not so good as either, and I am quite tired of them all. The - Lima Bean is said to be more like a pea than a bean, but whatever it be - like, it appeared to me very indifferent. As to peas themselves, nothing - can be worse. The achie fruit is a kind of vegetable, which generally is - fried in butter; many people, I am told, are fond of it, but I could find - no merit in it. The palm-tree (or abba, as it is called here) produces a - long scarlet or reddish brown cone, which separates into beads, each of - which contains a roasting nut surrounded by a kind of stringy husk—which, - being boiled in salt and water, upon being chewn has a taste of artichoke, - but the consistence is very disagreeable. The only native vegetable, which - I like much, is the ochra, which tastes like asparagus, though not with - quite so delicate a flavour. - </p> - <p> - As to fish, the variety is endless; but I think it rather consists in - variety of names than of flavour. From this, however, I must except the - Silk-Fish and Mud-Fish, and above all, the Mountain-Mullet, which is - almost the best fish that I ever tasted. All the shell-fish, that I have - met with as yet, have been excellent; the oysters have not come, in my - way, but I am told that they are not only poor and insipid, but frequently - are so poisonous that I had better not venture upon them; and so ends this - chapter of the “Almanach des Gourmands” for Jamaica. - </p> - <h3> - JANUARY 30. - </h3> - <p> - There were above twenty ladies literally at my feet this morning. I went - down to the negro-village to speak to Bessie about going to her black - doctor; and all the refractory females of last week heard of my being - there, and came in a body to promise better conduct for the future, and - implore me not to go away. The sight of my carriage getting ready to take - me to Kingston, and the arrival of post-horses, had alarmed them with the - idea that I was really going to put my threats into execution of leaving - them for ever. They had artfully enough prevailed on the wife of Clifford - (the driver whom Whannica had collared) to be their spokes-woman; and they - begged, and lifted up their folded hands, and cried, and fell on the - ground, and kissed my feet—and, in short, acted their part so well, - that they almost made me act mine to perfection, and fall to blubbering. I - told them, that I certainly should go to Kingston on Thursday; but if I - had good accounts of them during my absence, I should return in a few - days;—if, on the contrary, the idle negroes continued to refuse to - work without compulsion, then, in justice to the good ones (who last week - were obliged to do more than their share), those punishments, which I had - stopped, must be resumed;—but that, as Cornwall would be - unsupportable to me, if I could not live there without hearing the crack - of the abominable cart-whip all day long, I would not return to it, but - ship myself off for England, and never visit them or Jamaica any more. And - then I talked very sternly and positively about “punishments” and “making - bad negroes do their work properly,” and every third word was the - cart-whip, till I almost fancied myself the princess in the “Fairy Tale,” - who never opened her mouth, but out came two toads and three couple of - serpents. However, to sweeten my oration a little at the end, I told them, - that, “having enquired closely into the characters of the present - book-keepers, I had found no charge against any of them except one, who - was accused of having occasionally struck a negro, of using bad language - to them, and of being a hasty passionate man, though in other respects - very serviceable to the estate. But although these faults were but - trifling, and some of them not proved, so determined was I to show that I - would suffer no white person on the estate who maltreated the negroes, - either by word or deed, that I had determined to make an example of him - for the warning of the rest; and accordingly had dismissed him this - morning.” - </p> - <p> - The man in question (by his own account) had made himself obnoxious to - them; and on hearing of his discharge, they, one and all, sprawled upon - the ground in such a rapture of joy and gratitude, that now I may safely - say with Sir Andrew Aguecheek, “I was adored once!” - </p> - <p> - The book-keeper had denied positively the charge of striking the negroes, - and ascribed it to the revenge of the Eboe Edward, whom he had detected in - cutting out part of a boiling-house window, in order that he might pass - out stolen sugar unperceived; for, to do the negroes justice, it is a - doubt whether they are the greatest thieves or liars, and the quantity of - sugar which they purloin during the crop, and dispose of at the Bay for a - mere trifle, is enormous. However, whether the charge of striking were - true or not, it was sufficiently proved that this book-keeper was a - passionate man, and he said himself, “that the negroes had conceived a - spite against him,” which alone were reasons enough for removing him. - Indeed, I had the less scruple from the slight nature of his offence - making it easy for him to find another situation; and I have besides - desired him to stay out his quarter on the estate, and then receive a - double salary on going away, which will free him from any charge of having - been dismissed disgracefully. - </p> - <h3> - JANUARY 31. - </h3> - <p> - I went to enquire after my petitioners Juliet and Delia, and had the - satisfaction to find that the trustee had enquired into their complaint; - and, as it appeared not to be entirely unfounded, he had done every thing - that was right and necessary. Aberdeen, too, the runaway cooper, who had - applied to me to obtain his pardon, had been suffered to return to his - work unpunished; and as it had been found that his flight had in a great - measure been occasioned by his being in a bad state of health, which - rendered him apprehensive of being put to labour beyond his strength, he - had been permitted to select his own occupation, which, of course, was the - easiest one in his trade. But I found it a more difficult matter to - ascertain the truth or falsehood of the charges brought to me on Sunday - last: the books positively contradicted them, but the register might have - been falsely kept; and as the negroes persisted most positively in their - complaint against the overseer (particularly as to his having curtailed - them of the legal allowance of time for their meals, and the cultivation - of their own grounds) with the concurrence of the trustee, I wrote to the - magistrates of the county, desiring that they would summon the negroes in - question before a council of protection, and examine into the injuries of - which they had complained to me. - </p> - <p> - FEBRUARY 1. (Thursday.) - </p> - <p> - I left Cornwall for Spanish Town at six in the morning, accompanied by a - young naval officer, the son of my next neighbour, Mr. Hill of Amity, who - not only was good enough to lend me a kittereen, with a canopy, to perform - my journey, but his son to be my <i>cicerone</i> on my tour. The road - wound through mountain passes, or else on a shelf of rock so narrow—though - without the slightest danger—that one of the wheels was frequently - in the sea, while my other side was fenced by a line of bold broken - cliffs, clothed with trees completely from their brows down to the very - edge of the water. Between eight and nine we reached a solitary tavern, - called Blue-fields, where the horses rested for a couple of hours. It had - a very pretty garden on the sea-shore, which contained a picturesque - cottage, exactly resembling an ornamental Hermitage; and leaning against - one of the pillars of its porch we found a young girl, who exactly - answered George Colman’s description of Yarico, “quite brown, but - extremely genteel, like a Wedgewood teapot.” She told us that she was a - Spanish creole, who had fled with her mother from the disputes between the - royalists and independents in the island of Old Providence; and the owner - of the tavern being a relation of her mother, he had permitted the - fugitives to establish themselves in his garden-cottage, till the troubles - of their own country should be over. She talked perfectly good English, - for she said that there were many of that nation established in - Providence. Her name was Antonietta. Her figure was light and elegant; her - black eyes mild and bright; her countenance intelligent and good-humoured; - and her teeth beautiful to perfection: altogether, Antonietta was by far - the handsomest creole that I have ever seen. - </p> - <p> - From Blue-fields we proceeded at once to Lakovia (a small village), a - stage of thirty miles. Here we found a relay of horses, which conveyed us - by seven o’clock to “the Gutturs;” a house belonging to the proprietor of - the post-horses, and which is situated at the very foot of the tremendous - May-day Mountains. The house is an excellent one, and we found good beds, - eatables, and, in short, every thing that travellers could wish. The - distance from Lakovia to “the Gutturs” is sixteen miles. - </p> - <h3> - FEBRUARY 2. - </h3> - <p> - Yesterday the only very striking point of view (although the whole of the - road was picturesque) was “the Cove,” situated between Blue-fields and - Lakovia, and which resembled the most beautiful of the views of coves to - be found in “Cook’s Voyages,” but our journey to-day was a succession of - beautiful scenes, from beginning to end. Instantly on leaving “the - Gutturs,” we began to ascend the May-day Mountains, and it was not till - after travelling for five and twenty miles, that we found ourselves at the - foot of them on the other side, at a place called Williamsfield, about - twelve miles from the toll-house, where we rested for the night. To be - sure, the road was so rough, that it was enough to make one envy the - Mahometan women, who, having no souls at all, could not possibly have them - jolted out of their bodies; but the beauty of the scenery amply rewarded - us for our bruised sides and battered backs. The road was, for the most - part, bounded by lofty rocks on one side, and a deep precipice on the - other, and bordered with a profusion of noble trees and flowering shrubs - in great variety. In particular, I was struck with the picturesque - appearance of some wild fig-trees of singular size and beauty. Although - there were only two of us, besides servants, we found it necessary to - employ seven horses and a couple of mules; and, as our cavalcade wound - along through the mountains, the Spanish look of our sumpter-mules, and of - our kittereens (which are precisely the vehicle in which Gil Bias is - always represented when travelling with Scipio towards Lirias) gave us - quite the appearance of a caravan; nor should I have been greatly - surprised to see a trap-door open in the middle of the road, and Captain - Rolando’s whiskers make their appearance. Every one spoke to me with - contempt of this south road, in respect of beauty, when compared with the - north; however, it certainly seemed to me more beautiful than any road - which I have ever travelled as yet. - </p> - <h3> - FEBRUARY 3. - </h3> - <p> - A stage of twenty miles brought us to Old Harbour, and, passing through - the Dry River, twelve more landed us at Spanish Town, otherwise called St. - Jago de la Vega, and the seat of government in Jamaica, although Kingston - is much larger and more populous, and must be considered as the principal - town. We found very clean and comfortable lodgings at Miss Cole’s. Spanish - Town has no recommendations whatever; the houses are mostly built of wood: - the streets are very irregular and narrow; every alternate building is in - a ruinous state, and the whole place wears an air of gloom and melancholy. - The government house is a large clumsy-looking brick building, with a - portico the stucco of which has suffered by the weather, and it can - advance no pretensions to architectural beauty. On one side of the square - in which it stands there is a small temple protecting a statue of Lord - Rodney, executed by Bacon: some of the bas-reliefs on the pedestal - appeared to me very good; but the old admiral is most absurdly dressed in - the habit of a Roman General, and furnished out with buskins and a - truncheon. The temple itself is quite in opposition to good taste, with - very low arches, surmounted by heavy bas reliefs out of all proportion. - </p> - <h3> - FEBRUARY 4. (Sunday.) - </h3> - <p> - We breakfasted with the Chief Justice, who is my relation, and of my own - name, and then went to the church, which is a very handsome one; the walls - lined with fine mahogany, and ornamented with many monuments of white - marble, in memory of the former governors and other principal inhabitants. - It seems that my ancestors, on both sides, have always had a taste for - being well lodged after their decease; for, on admiring one of these - tombs, it proved to be that of my maternal grandfather; but still this was - not to be compared for a moment with my mausoleum at Cornwall. After - church I went home with the Rector, who is one of the ecclesiastical - commissaries, and had a long conversation with him respecting a plan which - is in agitation for giving the negroes something of a religious education. - We afterwards dined with the member for Westmoreland; and as every body in - Jamaica is on foot by six in the morning, at ten in the evening we were - quite ready to go to bed. - </p> - <h3> - FEBRUARY 5. - </h3> - <p> - The Chief Justice went with me to Kingston, where I had appointed the - agent for my other estate in St. Thomas-in-the-East to meet me. The short - time allotted for my stay in the island makes it impossible to attend - properly both to this estate and to Cornwall at this first visit, and - therefore I determined to confine my attention to the negroes on the - latter estate till my return to Jamaica. I now contented myself by - impressing on the mind of my agent (whom I am certain of being a most - humane and intelligent man) my extreme anxiety for the abolition of the - cart-whip; and I had the satisfaction of hearing from him, that for a long - time it had never been used more than perhaps twice in the year, and then - only very slightly, and for some offence so flagrant that it was - impossible to pass it over; and he assured me, that whenever I visit - Hordley, I may depend upon its not being employed at all. On the other - hand, I am told that a gentleman of the parish of Vere, who came over to - Jamaica for the sole purpose of ameliorating the condition of his negroes, - after abolishing the cart-whip, has at length been constrained to resume - the occasional use of it, because he found it utterly impossible to keep - them in any sort of subordination without it. - </p> - <p> - There is not that air of melancholy about Kingston which pervades Spanish - Town; but it has no pretensions to beauty; and if any person will imagine - a large town entirely composed of booths at a race-course, and the streets - merely roads, without any sort of paving, he will have, a perfect idea of - Kingston. - </p> - <h3> - FEBRUARY 6. - </h3> - <p> - The Jamaica canoes are hollowed cotton-trees. We embarked in one of them - at six in the morning, and visited the ruins of Port Royal, which, last - year, was destroyed by fire: some of the houses were rebuilding; but it - was a melancholy sight, not only from the look of the half-burnt - buildings, but the dejected countenances of the ruined inhabitants. I - returned to breakfast at the rectory, with two other ecclesiastical - commissaries; had more conversation about their proposed plan; and became - still more convinced of the difficulty of doing any thing effectual - without danger to the island and to the negroes themselves, and of the - extreme delicacy requisite in whatever may be attempted. We afterwards - visited the school of the children of the poor, who are educating upon Dr. - Bell’s system; and then saw the church, a very large and handsome one on - the inside, but mean enough as to its exterior. I was shown the tombstone - of Admiral Benbow, who was killed in a naval engagement, and whose ship - afterwards - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - “Bore down to Port Royal, where the people flocked very - </p> - <p class="indent30"> - much - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - To see brave Admiral Benbow laid in Kingston Town - </p> - <p class="indent30"> - Church,” - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p> - as the admiral’s Homer informs us. - </p> - <p> - The church is a large one, but it is going to be still further extended; - the negroes in Kingston and its neighbourhood being (as the rector assured - me) so anxious to obtain religious instruction, that on Sundays not only - the church but the churchyard is so completely thronged with them, as to - make it difficult to traverse the crowd; and those who are fortunate - enough to obtain seats for the morning service, through fear of being - excluded from that of the evening, never stir out of the church during the - whole day. They also flock to be baptized in great numbers, and many have - lately come to be married; and their burials and christenings are - performed with great pomp and solemnity. - </p> - <p> - One of the most intelligent of the negroes with whom I have yet conversed, - was the coxswain of my Port Royal canoe. I asked him whether he had been - christened? He answered, no; he did not yet think himself good enough, but - he hoped to be so in time. Nor was he married; for he was still young, and - afraid that he could not break off his bad habits, and be contented to - live with no other woman than his wife; and so he thought it better not to - become a Christian till he could feel certain of performing the duties of - it. However, he said, he had at least cured himself of one bad custom, and - never worked upon Sundays, except on some very urgent necessity. I asked - what he did on Sundays instead: did he go to church?—No. Or employ - himself in learning to read?—Oh, no; though he thought being able to - read <i>was a great virtue</i>; (which was his constant expression for any - thing right, pleasant, or profitable;) but he had no leisure to learn, no - week days, and as he had heard the parson say that Sunday ought to be a - day of rest, he made a point of doing nothing at all on that day. He - praised his former master, of whose son he was now the property, and said - that neither of them had ever occasion to lay a finger on him. He worked - as a waterman, and paid his master ten shillings a week, the rest of his - earnings being his own profit; and when he owed wages for three months, if - he brought two his master would always give him time for the remainder, - and that in so kind a manner, that he always fretted himself to think that - so kind a master should wait for his rights, and worked twice as hard till - the debt was discharged. He said that kindness was the only way to make - good negroes, and that, if <i>that</i> failed, flogging would never - succeed; and he advised me, when I found my negro worthless, “to sell him - at once, and not stay to flog him, and so, by spoiling his appearance, - make him sell for less; for blacks must not be treated now, massa, as they - used to be; they can think, and hear, and see, as well as white people: - blacks are wiser, massa, than they were, and will soon be still wiser.” I - thought the fellow himself was a good proof of his assertion. - </p> - <p> - I left Kingston at two o’clock, in defiance of a broiling sun; reached - Spanish Town in time to dine with the Attorney-General; and went - afterwards to the play, where I found my acquaintance Mr. Hill of Covent - Garden theatre performing Lord William in “The Haunted Tower,” and Don - Juan in the pantomime which followed. The theatre is neat enough, but, I - am told, very inferior in splendour to that in Kingston. As to the - performance, it was about equal to any provincial theatricals that I ever - saw in England; although the pieces represented were by no means well - selected, being entirely musical, and the orchestra consisting of nothing - more than a couple of fiddles. My stay in Spanish Town has been too short - to admit of my inspecting the antiquities of it, which must be reserved - for a future visit, although I never intend to make a longer than the - present. The difference of climate was very sensible, both at Spanish Town - and Kingston; and the suffocating closeness made me long to breathe again - in the country. - </p> - <p> - The governor happened to be absent on a tour in the north; but I had an - opportunity of seeing many of the principal persons of the island during - my residence here; and the civilities which I received from all of them - were not only more than I expected, but such as I should be unreasonable - if I had desired more, and very ungrateful if I could ever forget them. - </p> - <h3> - FEBRUARY 7. - </h3> - <p> - We were to return by the North Road, and set out at six in the morning. - The first stage was to the West Tavern, nineteen miles; and nothing can be - imagined at once more sublime and more beautiful than the scenery. Our - road lay along the banks of the Rio Cobre, which runs up to Spanish Town, - where its floods frequently commit dreadful ravages. Large masses of rock - intercept its current at small intervals, which, as well as its - shallowness, render it unnavigable. The cliffs and trees are of the most - gigantic size, and the road goes so near the brink of a tremendous - precipice, that we were obliged always to send a servant forwards to warn - any other carriage of our approach, in order that it might stay in some - broader part while we passed it. A bridge had been attempted to be built - over the river, but a storm had demolished it before its completion, and - nothing was now left standing but a single enormous arch. In like manner, - “the Dry River” sets all bridges at defiance: when we crossed it between - Old Harbour and Spanish Town, it was nothing but a waste of sand; but its - floods frequently pour down with irresistible strength and rapidity, and - sometimes render it impassable for weeks together. I was extremely - delighted with the first ten miles of this stage: unluckily, a mist then - arose, so thick, that it was utterly impossible even to guess at the - surrounding scenery; and the morning was so cold, that I was very glad to - wrap myself up in my cloak as closely as if I had been travelling in an - English December. - </p> - <p> - By the time of our leaving the West Tavern the mist had dispersed, and I - was able to ad mire the extraordinary beauty of Mount Diavolo, which we - were then crossing. Though we had left the river, the road was still a - narrow shelf of rock running along the edge of ravines of great depth, and - filled with broken masses of stone and trees of wonderful magnitude; only - that at intervals we emerged for a time into places resembling ornamental - parks in England, the lawns being of the liveliest verdure, the ground - rising and falling with an endless variety of surface, and enriched with a - profusion of trees majestic in stature and picturesque in their shapes, - many of them entirely covered with the beautiful flowers of “hogsmeat,” - and other creeping plants. The logwood, too, is now perfectly golden with - its full bloom, and perfumes all the air; and nothing can be more gay than - the quantity of wild flowers which catch the eye on all sides, - particularly the wild pine, and the wild ipecacuanha. We travelled for - sixteen miles, which brought us to our harbour for the night,—-a - solitary tavern called Blackheath, situated in the heart of the mountains - of St. Anne. - </p> - <h3> - FEBRUARY 8. - </h3> - <p> - The road soon brought us down to the very brink of the sea, which we - continued to skirt during the whole of the stage. It then brought us to - St. Anne’s Bay, where we found an excellent breakfast, at an inn quite in - the English fashion,—for the landlady had been long resident in - Great Britain. Every thing was clean and comfortable, and the windows - looked full upon the sea. This stage was sixteen miles: the next was said - to be twenty-five; but from the time which we took to travel it, I can - scarcely believe it to be so much. Our road still lay by the sea-side, - till we began to ascend the mountain of Rio Bueno; from which we at length - perceived the river itself running into the sea. It was at Porto Bueno - that Columbus is said to have made his first landing on the island. Rio - Bueno is a small town with a fort, situated close to the sea. Here also we - found a very good inn, kept by a Scotchman. - </p> - <p> - The present landlady (her father being from home) was a very pretty brown - girl, by name Eliza Thompson. She told me that she was only residing with - her parents during her <i>husband’s</i> absence; for she was (it seems) - the <i>soi-disant</i> wife of an English merchant in Kingston, and had a - house on Tachy’s Bridge. This kind of establishment is the highest object - of the <i>brown</i> females of Jamaica; they seldom marry men of their own - colour, but lay themselves out to captivate some white person, who takes - them for mistresses, under the appellation of housekeepers. - </p> - <p> - Soon after my arrival at Cornwall, I asked my attorney whether a - clever-looking brown woman, who seemed to have great authority in the - house, belonged to me?—No; she was a free woman.—Was she in my - service, then?—No; she was not in my service. I began to grow - impatient.—“But what <i>does</i> she do at Cornwall? Of what use is - she in the house?”—“Why sir, as to use.... of no great use, sir;” - and then, after a pause, he added in a lower voice, “It is the custom, - sir, in this country, for unmarried men to have housekeepers, and Nancy is - mine.” But he was unjust in saying that Nancy is of no use on the estate; - for she is perpetually in the hospital, nurses the children, can bleed, - and mix up medicines, and (as I am assured) she is of more service to the - sick than all the doctors. These brown housekeepers generally attach - themselves so sincerely to the interests of their protectors, and make - themselves so useful, that they in common retain their situation; and - their children (if slaves) are always honoured by their fellows with the - title of Miss. My mulatto housemaid is always called “Miss Polly,” by her - fellow-servant Phillis. This kind of connection is considered by a brown - girl in the same light as marriage. They will tell you, with an air of - vanity, “I am Mr. Such-a-one’s <i>Love!</i>” and always speak of him as - being her <i>husband</i>; and I am told, that, except on these terms, it - is extremely difficult to obtain the favours of a woman of colour. To gain - the situation of housekeeper to a white man, the mulatto girl - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent30"> - “directs her aim; - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - This makes her happiness, and this her fame.” - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <h3> - FEBRUARY 9. - </h3> - <p> - The sea-view from a bridge near Falmouth was remarkably pleasing; a stage - of eighteen miles brought us to the town itself, which I understand to be - in size the second in the island. - </p> - <p> - However various are the characters which actors sustain, I find their own - to be the same every where. Although the Jamaica company did not consist - of more than twenty persons, their green-room squabbles had divided it, - and we found one half performing at Falmouth. We did not wait for the - play, but proceeded for twenty-two miles to Montego Bay, where I once more - found myself under the protecting roof of Miss Judy James. - </p> - <p> - On our return from dinner at Mr. Dewer’s, we discovered a ball of brown - ladies and gentlemen opposite to the inn. No whites nor blacks were - permitted to attend this assembly; but as our landlady had two nieces - there, under her auspices we were allowed to be spectators. The females - chiefly consisted of the natural daughters of attorneys and overseers, and - the young men were mostly clerks and book-keepers. I saw nothing at all to - be compared, either for form or feature, to many of the humbler people of - colour, much less to the beautiful Spaniard at Blue-fields. Long, or Bryan - Edwards, asserts that mulattos never breed except with a separate black or - white; but at this ball two girls were pointed out to me, the daughters of - mulatto parents; and I have been assured that the assertion was a mistake, - arising from such a connection being very rarely formed; the females - generally preferring to live with white men, and the brown men having thus - no other resource than black women. As to the above girls, the fact is - certain; and the different shades of colour are distinguished by too plain - a line to allow any suspicion of infidelity on the part of their parents. - </p> - <h3> - FEBRUARY 10. - </h3> - <p> - We passed the day at Mr. Plummer’s estate, Anchovy Bottom. - </p> - <p> - When Lord Bolingbroke was resident in America, large flocks of turkeys - used to ravage his corn-fields; but, from their extreme wildness, he never - could make any of them prisoners. He had a barn lighted by a large sash - window, and into this he laid a train of corn, hiding some servants with - guns behind the large doors, which were folded back. The turkeys picked up - the corn, and gradually were enticed to enter the barn. But as soon as a - dozen had passed in, the servants clapped the doors to with all possible - expedition. Now they reckoned themselves secure of their game; but to - their utter consternation, the turkeys in a body darted towards the light, - dashed against the glass, forced out the wood-work, and away went turkeys, - glass, wood-work, and all. - </p> - <h3> - FEBRUARY 11. (Sunday.) - </h3> - <p> - I reached Cornwall about three o’clock, after an excursion the most - amusing and agreeable that I ever made in my life. Almost every step of - the road presented some new and striking scene; and although we travelled - at all hours, and with as little circumspection as if we had been in - England, I never felt a headach except for one half hour. On my arrival, I - found the satisfactory intelligence usually communicated to West Indian - proprietors. My estate in the west is burnt up for want of moisture; and - my estate in the east has been so completely flooded, that I have lost a - whole third of my crop. At Cornwall, not a drop of rain has fallen since - the 16th of November. Not a vestige of verdure is to be seen; and we begin - to apprehend a famine among the negroes in consequence of the drought - destroying their provision grounds. This alone is wanting to complete the - dangerous state of the island; where the higher classes are all in the - utmost alarm at rumours of Wilberforce’s intentions to set the negroes - entirely at freedom; the next step to which would be, in all probability, - a general massacre of the whites, and a second part of the horrors of St. - Domingo: while, on the other hand, the negroes are impatient at the delay; - and such disturbances arose in St. Thomas’s in the East, last Christmas, - as required the interposition of the magistrates. They say that the - negroes of that parish had taken it into their heads that <i>The Regent - and Wilherforce</i> had actually determined upon setting them all at - liberty at once on the first day of the present year, but that the - interference of the island had defeated the plan. Their discontent was - most carefully and artfully fomented by some brown Methodists, who held - secret and nightly meetings on the different estates, and did their best - to mislead and bewilder these poor creatures with their fantastic and - absurd preaching. These fellows harp upon sin, and the devil, and - hell-fire incessantly, and describe the Almighty and the Saviour as beings - so terrible, that many of their proselytes cannot hear the name of Christ - without shuddering. One poor negro, on one of my own estates, told the - overseer that he knew himself to be so great a sinner that nothing could - save him from the devil’s clutches, even for a few hours, except singing - hymns; and he kept singing so incessantly day and night, that at length - terror and want of sleep turned his brain, and the wretch died raving mad. - </p> - <h3> - FEBRUARY 12. - </h3> - <p> - A Sir Charles Price, who had an estate in this island infested by rats, - imported, with much trouble, a very large and strong species for the - purpose of extirpating the others. The new-comers answered his purpose to - a miracle; they attacked the native rats with such spirit, that in a short - time they had the whole property to themselves; but no sooner had they - done their duty upon the rats, than they extended their exertions to the - cats, of whom their strength and size at length enabled them completely to - get the better; and since that last victory, Sir Charles Price’s rats, as - they are called, have increased so prodigiously, that (like the man in - Scripture, who got rid of one devil, and was taken possession of by seven - others) this single species is now a greater nuisance to the island than - all the others before them were together. The best, mode of destroying - rats here is with terriers; but those imported from England soon grow - useless, being blinded by the sun, while their puppies, born in Jamaica, - are provided by nature with a protecting film over their eyes, which - effectually secures them against incurring that calamity. - </p> - <h3> - FEBRUARY 12. - </h3> - <p> - Poor Philippa, the woman who used always to call me her “husband,” and - whom I left sick in the hospital, during my absence has gone out of her - senses; and there cannot well happen any thing more distressing, as there - is no separate place for her confinement, and her ravings disturb the - other invalids. There is, indeed, no kind of bedlam in the whole island of - Jamaica: whether this proceeds from people being so very sedate and - sensible, that they never go mad, or from their all being so mad, that no - one person has a right to shut up another for being out of his senses, is - a point which I will not pretend to decide. One of my domestic negroes, a - boy of sixteen, named Prince, was abandoned by his worthless mother in - infancy, and reared by this Philippa; and since her illness he passes - every moment of his leisure in her sick-room. On the other hand, there is - a woman named Christian, attending two fevered children in the hospital; - one her own, and the other an adopted infant, whom she reared upon the - death of its mother in child-birth; and there she sits, throwing her eyes - from one to the other with such unceasing solicitude, that no one could - discover which was her own child and which the orphan. - </p> - <h3> - FEBRUARY 13. - </h3> - <p> - Two Jamaica nightingales have established themselves on the orange tree - which grows against my window, and their song is most beautiful. This bird - is also called “the mocking-bird,” from its facility of imitating, not - only the notes of every other animal, but—I am told—of - catching every tune that may be played or sung two or three times in the - house near which it resides, after which it will go through the air with - the greatest taste and precision, throwing in cadences and ornaments that - Catalani herself might envy. - </p> - <p> - But by far the most curious animal that I have yet seen in Jamaica is “the - soldier,” a species of crab, which inhabits a shell like a snail’s, so - small in proportion to its limbs, that nothing can be more curious or - admirable than the machinery by which it is enabled to fold them up - instantly on the slightest alarm. They inhabit the mountains, but - regularly once a year travel in large troops down to the seaside to spawn - and change their shells. If I recollect right, Goldsmith gives a very full - and entertaining account of this animal, by the name of “the soldier - crab.” They are seldom used in Jamaica except for soups, which are - reckoned delicious: that which was brought to me was a very small one, the - shell being no bigger than a large snail’s, although the animal itself, - when marching with his house on his back, appears to be above thrice the - size; but I am told that they are frequently as large as a man’s fist. - Mine was found alone in the public road: how it came to be in so solitary - a state, I know not, for in general they move in armies, and march towards - the sea in a straight line; I am afraid, by his being found alone, that my - soldier must have been a deserter. - </p> - <h3> - FEBRUARY 14. - </h3> - <p> - To-day there was a shower of rain for the first time since my arrival; - indeed, not a drop has fallen since the 16th of November; and in - consequence my present crop has suffered terribly, and our expectations - for next season are still worse. - </p> - <h3> - FEBRUARY 18. (Sunday.) - </h3> - <p> - The rain has brought forth the fire-flies, and in the evening the hedges - are all brilliant with their numbers. In the day they seem to be torpid - beetles of a dull reddish colour, but at night they become of a shining - purple. The fire proceeds from two small spots in the back part of the - head. It is yellow in the light, and requires motion to throw out its - radiance in perfection; but as soon as it is touched, the fly struggles - violently, and bends itself together with a clicking noise like the snap - of a spring; and I understand that this effort is necessary to set it in - motion. It is sufficiently strong to turn itself upwards with a single - movement, if lying on its back: some people say that it is always obliged - to throw itself upon its back in order to take wing; but this I have, - again, heard others contradict. When confined in a glass, the light seems - almost extinguished; nothing can be discerned but two pale yellow spots; - but on being pressed by the hand it becomes more brilliant than any - emerald, and when on the wing it seems entirely composed of the most - beautifully coloured fire. - </p> - <h3> - FEBRUARY 20. - </h3> - <p> - I attended the Slave Court, where a negro was tried for sheep-stealing, - and a black servant girl for attempting to poison her master. The former - was sentenced to be transported. The latter was a girl of fifteen, called - Minetta: she acknowledged the having infused corrosive sublimate in some - brandy and water; but asserted that she had taken it from the medicine - chest without knowing it to be poison, and had given it to her master at - her grandmother’s desire. This account was evidently a fabrication: there - was no doubt of the grandmother’s innocence, although some suspicion - attached to the mother’s influence; but as to the girl herself, nothing - could be more hardened than her conduct through the whole transaction. She - stood by the bed to see her master drink the poison; witnessed his agonies - without one expression of surprise or pity; and when she was ordered to - leave the room, she pretended to be fast asleep, and not to hear what was - said to her. Even since her imprisonment, she could never be prevailed - upon to say that she was sorry for her master’s having been poisoned; and - she told the people in the gaol, that “they could do nothing to her, for - she had turned king’s evidence against her grandmother.” She was condemned - to die on Thursday next, the day after to-morrow: she heard the sentence - pronounced without the least emotion; and I am told, that when she went - down the steps of the courthouse, she was seen to laugh. - </p> - <p> - The trial appeared to be conducted with all possible justice and - propriety; the jury consisted of nine respectable persons; the bench of - three magistrates, and a senior one to preside. There were no lawyers - employed on either side; consequently no appeals to the passions, no false - lights thrown out, no traps, no flaws, no quibbles, no artful - cross-examinings, and no brow-beating of witnesses; and I cannot say that - the trial appeared to me to go on at all the worse. Nobody appeared to be - either for or against the prisoner; the only object of all present was - evidently to come at the truth, and I sincerely believe that they obtained - their object. The only part of the trial of which I disapproved was the - ordering the culprit to such immediate execution, that sufficient time was - not allowed for the exercise of the royal prerogative, should the governor - have been disposed to commute the punishment for that of transportation. - </p> - <h3> - FEBRUARY 21. - </h3> - <p> - During my excursion to Spanish Town, the complaining negroes of - Friendship, who had applied to me for relief, were summoned to Savannah la - Mar, before the Council of Protection, and the business thoroughly - investigated. Their examination has been sent to me, and they appear to - have had a very fair hearing. The journals of the estate were produced;—the - book-keepers examined upon oath; and in order to make out a case at all, - the chief complainant contradicted himself so grossly, as left no doubt - that the whole was a fabrication. They were, therefore, dismissed without - relief, but also without punishment, in spite of their gross falsehoods - and calumnies; and although they did not gain their object, I make no - doubt that they will go on more contentedly for having had attention paid - to their complaints. It was indeed evident, that Nelly (the chief - complainant) was actuated more by wounded pride than any real feeling of - hardship; for what she laid the most stress upon was, the overseer’s - turning his back upon her, when she stated herself to be injured, and - walking away without giving her any answer. - </p> - <p> - There are so many pleasing and amusing parts of the character of negroes, - that it seems to me scarcely possible not to like them. But when they are - once disposed to evil, they seem to set no bounds to the indulgence of - their bad passions. A poor girl came into the hospital to-day, who had had - some trifling dispute with two of her companions; on which the two friends - seized her together, and each fixing her teeth on one of the girl’s hands, - bit her so severely, that we greatly fear her losing the use of both of - them. I happened also to ask, this morning, to whom a skull had belonged, - which I had observed fixed on a pole by the roadside, when returning last - from Montego Bay. I was told, that about five years ago a Mr. Dunbar had - given some discontent to his negroes in the article of clothing them, - although, in other respects, he was by no means a severe master. However, - this was sufficient to induce his head driver, who had been brought up in - his own house from infancy, to form a plot among his slaves to assassinate - him; and he was assisted in this laudable design by two young men from a - neighbouring property, who barely knew Mr. Dunbar by sight, had no enmity - against him whatever, and only joined in the conspiracy in compliment to - their worthy friend the driver. During several months a variety of - attempts were made for effecting their purpose; but accident defeated - them; till at length they were made certain of his intention to dine out - at some distance, and of his being absolutely obliged to return in the - evening. An ambuscade was therefore laid to intercept him; and on his - passing a clump of trees, the assassins sprang upon him, the driver - knocked him from his horse, and in a few moments their clubs despatched - him. No one suspected the driver; but in the course of enquiry, his house - as well as the other was searched, and not only Mr. Dunbar’s watch was - found concealed there, but with it one of his ears, which the villain had - carried away, from a negro belief that, as long as the murderer possesses - one of the ears of his victim, he will never be haunted by his spectre. - The stranger-youths, two of Dunbar’s negroes, and the driver, were tried, - confessed the crime, and were all executed; the head of the latter being - fixed upon a pole <i>in terrorem</i>. But while the offenders were still - in prison, the overseer upon a neighbouring property had occasion to find - fault in the field with a woman belonging to a gang hired to perform some - particular work; upon which she flew upon him with the greatest fury, - grasped him by the throat, cried to her fellows—“Come here! come - here! Let us Dunbar him!” and through her strength and the suddenness of - her attack had nearly accomplished her purpose, before his own slaves - could come to his assistance. This woman was also executed. - </p> - <p> - This happened about five years ago, when the mountains were in a very - rebellious state. Every thing there is at present quiet. But only last - year a book-keeper belonging to the next estate to me was found with his - skull fractured in one of my own cane-pieces; nor have any enquiries been - able to discover the murderer. - </p> - <h3> - FEBRUARY 22. - </h3> - <p> - During many years the Moravians have been established upon the - neighbouring estate of Mesopotamia. As the ecclesiastical commissaries had - said so much to me respecting the great appetite of the negroes for - religious instruction, I was desirous of learning what progress had been - made in this quarter, and this morning I went over to see one of the - teachers. He told me, that he and his wife had jointly used their best - efforts to produce a sense of religion in the minds of the slaves; that - they were all permitted to attend his morning and evening lectures, if - they chose it; but that he could not say that they showed any great - avidity on the subject. It seems that there are at least three hundred - negroes on the estate; the number of believers has rather increased than - diminished, to be sure, but still in a very small proportion. When this - gentleman arrived, there were not more than forty baptised persons: he has - been here upwards of five years, and still the number of persons - “belonging to his church” (as he expressed it) does not exceed fifty. Of - these, seldom more than ten or a dozen attend his lectures at a time. As - to the remaining two hundred and fifty, they take no more notice of his - lectures or his exhortations, than if there were no such person on the - property, are only very civil to him when they see him, and go on in their - own old way, without suffering him to interfere in any shape. By the - overseer of Greenwich’s express desire, the Moravian has, however, agreed - to give up an hour every day for the religious instruction of the negro - children on that property: and I should certainly request him to extend - his labours to Cornwall, if I did not think it right to give the Church of - England clergymen full room for a trial of their intended periodical - visitations; which would not be the case, if the negroes were to be - interfered with by the professors of any other communion: otherwise I am - myself ready to give free ingress and egress upon my several estates to - the teachers of any Christian sect whatever, the Methodists always - excepted, and “Miss Peg, who faints at the sound of an organ.” - </p> - <p> - For my own part, I have no hope of any material benefit arising from these - religious visitations made at quarterly intervals. It seems to me as - nugatory as if a man were to sow a field with horse-hair, and expect a - crop of colts. - </p> - <h3> - FEBRUARY 23. - </h3> - <p> - This morning my picture was drawn by a self-taught genius, a negro - Apelles, belonging to Dr. Pope, the minister; and the picture was exactly - such as a self-taught genius might be expected to produce. It was a - straight hard outline, without shade or perspective; the hair was a large - black patch, and the face covered with an uniform layer of flesh-colour, - with a red spot in the centre of each cheek. As to likeness, there was not - even an attempt to take any. But still, such as they were, there were - eyes, nose, and mouth, to be sure. A long red nose supplied the place of - my own snub; an enormous pair of whiskers stretched themselves to the very - corner of my mouth; and in place of three hairs and a half, the painter, - in the superabundance of his generosity, bestowed upon me a pair of - eye-brows more bushy than Dr. Johnson’s, and which, being formed in an - exact semicircle, made the eyes beneath them stare with an expression of - the utmost astonishment. The negroes, however, are in the highest - admiration of the painter’s skill, and consider the portrait as a striking - resemblance; for there is a very blue coat with very yellow buttons, and - white gaiters and trow-sers, and an eye-glass so big and so blue, that it - looks as if I had hung a pewter plate about my neck; and a bunch of - watch-seals larger than those with which Pope has decorated Belinda’s - great great grandsire. John Fuller (to whom, jointly with Nicholas, the - charge of this inestimable treasure is to be entrusted) could not find - words to express his satisfaction at the performance. “Dere massa coat! - and dere him chair him sit in! and dere massa seals, all just de very same - ting! just all as one! And oh! ki! dere massa pye-glass!” In the midst of - his raptures he dropped the picture, and fractured the frame-glass. His - despair now equalled his former joy;—“Oh, now what for him do? Such - a pity! Just to break it after it was all done so well! All so pretty!” - However, we stuck the broken glass together with wafers, and he carried it - off, assuring me, “that when massa gone, he should talk to it every - morning, all one as if massa still here.” Indeed, this “talking to massa” - is a favourite amusement among the negroes, and extremely inconvenient: - they come to me perpetually with complaints so frivolous, and requests so - unreasonable, that I am persuaded they invent them only to have an excuse - for “talk to massa;” and when I have given them a plump refusal, they go - away perfectly satisfied, and “tank massa for dis here great indulgence of - talk.” - </p> - <p> - There is an Eboe carpenter named Strap, who was lately sick and in great - danger, and whom I nursed with particular care. The poor fellow thinks - that he never can express his gratitude sufficiently; and whenever he - meets me in the public road, or in the streets of Savannah la Mar, he - rushes towards the carriage, roars out to the postilion to stop, and if - the boy does not obey instantly, he abuses him with all his power; “for - why him no stop when him want talk to massa?”—“But look, Strap, your - beast is getting away!”—“Oh! damn beast, massa.”—“But you - should go to your mountain, or you will get no vittle.”—“Oh, damn - vittle, and damn mountain! me no want vittle, me want talk wid massa;” and - then, all that he has got to say is, “Oh massa, massa! God bless you, - massa! me quite, <i>quite</i> glad to see you come back, my own massa!” - And then he bursts into a roar of laughter so wild and so loud, that the - passers-by cannot help stopping to stare and laugh too. - </p> - <h3> - FEBRUARY 24. - </h3> - <p> - On the Sunday after my first arrival, the whole body of Eboe negroes came - to me to complain of the attorney, and more particularly of one of the - book-keepers. I listened to them, if not with unwearied patience, at least - with unsubdued fortitude, for above an hour and a half; and finding some - grounds for their complaint against the latter, in a few days I went down - to their quarter of the village, told them that to please them I had - discharged the book-keeper, named a day for examining their other - grievances, and listened to them for an hour more. When the day of trial - came, they sent me word that they were perfectly satisfied, and had no - complaint to make. I was, therefore, much surprised to receive a visit - from Edward, the Eboe, yesterday evening, who informed me, that during my - absence his fellows had formed a plan of making a complaint <i>en masse</i> - to a neighbouring magistrate; and that, not only against the attorney, but - against myself “for not listening to them when they were injured;” and - Edward claimed great merit with me for having prevented their taking this - step, and convinced them, that while I was on the estate myself, there - could be no occasion for applying to a third person. Now, having made me - aware of my great obligations to him, here Edward meant the matter to - rest; but being a good deal incensed at their ingratitude, I instantly - sent for the Eboes, and enquired into the matter; when it appeared, that - Edward (who is a clever fellow, and has great influence over the rest) had - first goaded them into a resolution of complaining to a magistrate, had - then stopped them from putting their plan into execution, and that the - whole was a plot of Edward’s, in order to make a merit with me for himself - at the expense of his countrymen. However, as they confessed their having - had the intention of applying to Mr. Hill as a magistrate, I insisted upon - their executing their intention. I told them, that as Mr. Hill was the - person whom they had selected for their protector, to Mr. Hill they should - go; that they should either make their complaint to him against me, or - confess that they had been telling lies, and had no complaint to make; and - that, as the next day was to be a play-day given them by me, instead of - passing it at home in singing and dancing, they should pass it at the Bay - in stating their grievances. - </p> - <p> - This threw them into terrible confusion; they cried out that they wanted - to make no complaint whatever, and that it was all Edward’s fault, who had - misled them. Three of them, one after the other, gave him the lie to his - face; and each and all (Edward as well as the rest) declared that go to - the Bay they absolutely would <i>not</i>. The next morning they were all - at the door waiting for my coming out: they positively refused to go to - Mr. Hill, and begged and prayed, and humbled themselves; now scraping and - bowing to me, and then blackguarding Edward with all their might and main; - and when I ordered the driver to take charge of them, and carry them to - Mr. Hill, some of them fairly took to their heels, and ran away. However, - the rest soon brought them back again, for they swore that if one went, - all should go; and away they were marched, in a string of about twenty, - with the driver at their head. When they got to the Bay, they told Mr. - Hill that, as to their massa, they had no complaint to make against him, - except that he had compelled them to make one; and what they said against - the attorney was so trifling, that the magistrate bade the driver take - them all back again. Upon which they slunk away to their houses, while the - Creoles cried out “Shame! shame!” as they passed along. - </p> - <p> - Indeed, the Creoles could not have received a greater pleasure than the - mortification of the Eboes; for the two bodies hate each other as - cordially as the Guelphs and Ghibellines; and after their departure for - the Bay, I heard the head cook haranguing a large audience, and declaring - it to be her fixed opinion, “that massa ought to sell all the Eboes, and - buy Creoles instead.” Probably, Mrs. Cook was not the less loud in her - exclamations against the ingratitude of the Eboes, from her own loyalty - having lately been questioned. She had found fault one day in the hospital - with some women who feigned sickness in order to remain idle. “You no work - willing for massa,” said Mrs. Cook, “and him so vex, him say him go to - Kingston to-morrow, and him wish him neber come back again!”—“What!” - cried Philippa, the mad woman, “you wish massa neber come back from - Kingston?” So she gave Mrs. Cook a box on the ear with all her might; upon - which Mrs. Cook snatched up a stick and broke the mad woman’s pate with - it. But though she could beat a hole in her head, she never could beat out - of it her having said that she wished massa might never come back. And - although Philippa has recovered her senses, in her belief of Mrs. Cook’s - disloyalty she continues firm; and they never meet without renewing the - dispute. - </p> - <p> - To-day being a play-day, the gaiety of the negroes was promoted by a - distribution of an additional quantity of salt-fish (which forms a most - acceptable ingredient in their pepper-pots), and as much rum and sugar as - they chose to drink. But there was also a dinner prepared at the house - where the “white people” reside, expressly for none but the <i>piccaninny-mothers</i>; - that is, for the women who had children living. I had taken care, when - this play-day was announced by the head driver, to make him inform the - negroes that they were indebted for it entirely to these mothers; and to - show them the more respect, I went to them after dinner myself, and drank - their healths. The most respectable blacks on the estate were also - assembled in the room; and I then told them that clothes would wear out, - and money would be spent, and that I wished to give them something more - lasting than clothes or money. The law only allows them, as a matter of - right, every alternate Saturday for themselves, and holidays for three - days at Christmas, which, with all Sundays, forms their whole legal time - of relaxation. I therefore granted them as a matter of right, and of which - no person should deprive them on any account whatever, <i>every</i> - Saturday to cultivate their grounds; and in addition to their holidays at - Christmas, I gave them for play-days Good-Friday, the second Friday in - October, and the second Friday in July. By which means, they will in - future have the same number of holidays four times a year, which hitherto - they have been allowed only once, i.e. at Christmas. The first is to be - called “the royal play-day,” in honour of that excellent Princess, the - Duchess of York; and the negroes are directed to give three cheers upon - the head driver’s announcing “The health of our good lady, H. R. H. the - Duchess of York.” And I told them, that before my leaving the island, I - should hear them drink this health, and should not fail to let Her Royal - Highness know, that the negroes of Cornwall drank her health every year. - This evidently touched the right chord of their vanity, and they all bowed - and courtesied down to the very ground, and said, that would do them much - high honour. The ninth being my own birthday, the July play-day is to be - called “the massa’s” and that in October is to be in honour of the - piccaninny-mothers, from whom it is to take its name. - </p> - <p> - The poor creatures overflowed with gratitude; and the prospective - indulgences which had just been announced, gave them such an increase of - spirits, that on returning to my own residence, they fell to singing and - dancing again with as much violence as if they had been a pack of French - furies at the Opera. The favourite song of the night was, - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - “Since massa come, we very well off;” - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p> - which words they repeated in chorus, without intermission (dancing all the - time), for hours together; till, at half-past three, neither my eyes nor - my brain could endure it any longer, and I was obliged to send them word - that I wanted to go to bed, and could not sleep till the noise should - cease. The idea of my going to bed seemed never to have occurred to them - till that moment. Fortunately, like Johnson’s definition of wit, “the - idea, although novel, was immediately acknowledged to be just.” So - instantly the drums and gumbies left off beating; the children left off - singing; the women and men left off dancing; and they all with one accord - fell to kicking, and pulling, and thumping about two dozen of their - companions, who were lying fast asleep upon the floor. Some were roused, - some resisted, some began fighting, some got up and lay down again; but at - length, by dint of their leading some, carrying others, and rolling the - remainder down the steps, I got my house clear of my black guests about - four in the morning. - </p> - <p> - Another of their popular songs this evening was— - </p> - <p> - “All the stories them telling you are lies, oh!” - </p> - <p> - which was meant as a satire upon the Eboes. My friend Strap being an Eboe, - and one who had hitherto generally taken a leading part in all the - discontents and squabbles of his countrymen, I was not without - apprehensions of his having been concerned in the late complaint. I was, - therefore, much pleased to find that he had positively refused to take any - share in the business, and had been to the full as violent as any of the - Creoles in reprobating the ingratitude of the Eboes. Today he came up to - the house dressed in his best clothes, to show me his seven children; and - he marched at their head in all the dignity of paternal pride. He begged - me particularly to notice two fine little girls, who were twins. I told - him that I had seen them already. “Iss! iss!” he said; “massa see um; but - massa no <i>admire</i> um enough yet.” Upon which I fell to admiring them, - tooth and nail, and the father went away quite proud and satisfied. - </p> - <h3> - FEBRUARY 25. - </h3> - <p> - Yesterday it was observed at George’s Plain, an estate about four miles - off, that the water-mill did not work properly, and it was concluded that - the grating was clogged up with rubbish. To clear it away, a negro - immediately jumped down into the trench upon a log of wood; when he felt - the log move under him, and of course jumped out again with all possible - expedition. It was then discovered that the impediment in question - proceeded from a large alligator which had wandered from the morass, and, - in the hope of finding his way to the river, had swam up the mill-trench - till he found himself stopped by the grating; and the banks being too high - for him to gain them by leaping upwards, and the place of his confinement - too narrow to admit of his turning round to go back again, his escape was - impossible, and a ball, lodged near his eye, soon put an end to him. I - went over to see him this morning; but I was not contented with merely - seeing him, so I begged to have a steak cut off for me, brought it home, - and ordered it to be broiled for dinner. One of the negroes happened to - see it in the kitchen; the news spread through the estate like wildfire; - and I had immediately half a dozen different deputations, all hoping that - massa would not think of eating the alligator, for it was poisonous. - However, I was obstinate, and found the taste of the flesh, when broiled - with pepper and salt, and assisted by an onion sauce, by no means to be - despised; but the consistence of the meat was disagreeable, being as tough - as a piece of eel-skin. Perhaps any body who wishes to eat alligator - steaks in perfection, ought to keep them for two or three days before - dressing them; or the animal’s age might be in fault, for the fellow was - so old that he had scarcely a tooth in his head; I therefore contented - myself with two or three morsels; but a person who was dining with me ate - a whole steak, and pronounced the dish to be a very good one. The eggs are - said to be very palatable; nor have the negroes who live near morasses, - the same objection with those of Cornwall to eating the flesh; it is, - however, true that the gall of the alligator, if not extracted carefully, - will render the whole animal unfit for food; and when this gall is reduced - to powder, it forms a poison of the most dangerous nature, as the negroes - know but too well. - </p> - <h3> - FEBRUARY 26. - </h3> - <p> - I had given the most positive orders that no person whatever should - presume to strike a negro, or give him abusive language, or, however great - the offence might be, should inflict any punishment, except by the sole - direction of the trustee himself. Yet, although I had already discharged - one bookkeeper on this account, this evening another of them had a dispute - in the boiling-house with an African named Frank, because a pool of water - was not removed fast enough; upon which he called him a rascal, sluiced - him with the dirty water, and finally knocked him down with the broom. The - African came to me instantly; four eye-witnesses, who were examined - separately, proved the truth of his ill-usage; and I immediately - discharged the book-keeper, who had contented himself with simply denying - the blow having been given by him: but I told him that I could not - possibly allow his single unsupported denial to outweigh five concordant - witnesses to the assertion; and that, if he grounded his claim to being - believed merely upon his having a white skin, he would find that, on - Cornwall estate at least, that claim would not be admitted. The fact was - established as evident as the sun; and nothing should induce me to retain - him on my property, except his finding some means of appeasing the injured - negro, and prevailing on him to intercede in his behalf. This was an - humiliation to which he could not bring himself to stoop; and, - accordingly, the man has left the estate. Probably, indeed, the attempt at - reconciliation would have been unsuccessful; for when one of his - companions asked Frank whether, if Mr. Barker would make him a present, he - had not better take it, and beg massa to let him stay, he exclaimed, in - the true spirit of a Zanga,—“No, no, no! me no want present! me no - want noting! Me no beg for Mr. Barker! him go away!”—I was kept - awake the greatest part of the night by the songs and rejoicings of the - negroes, at their triumph over the offending book-keeper. - </p> - <h3> - FEBRUARY 27. - </h3> - <p> - The only horned cattle said to be fit for Jamaica work, are those which - have a great deal of black in them. The white are terribly tormented by - the insects, and they are weak and sluggish in proportion to their - quantity of white. On the contrary I am told that such a thing as a black - horse is not to be found in the island; those which may be imported black - soon change their colour into a bay; and colts are said to have been - dropped perfectly black, which afterwards grew lighter and lighter till - they arrived at being perfectly white. - </p> - <h3> - FEBRUARY 28. - </h3> - <p> - Hearing that a manati (the sea-cow) had been taken at the mouth of the - Cabrita River, and was kept alive at the Hope Wharf I got a sailing-boat, - and went about eight miles to see the animal. It was suffered to live in - the sea, a rope being fastened round it, by which it could be landed at - pleasure. It was a male, and a very young one, not exceeding nine feet in - length, whereas they have frequently been found on the outside of - eighteen. The females yield a quart of milk at a time: a gentleman told me - that he had tasted it, and could not have distinguished it from the - sweetest cow’s milk. Unlike the seal, it never comes on shore, although it - ventures up rivers in the night, to feed on the grass of their banks; but - during the day it constantly inhabits the ocean, where its chief enemy is - the shark, whose attacks it beats off with its tail, the strength of which - is prodigious. It was killed this morning, and the gentleman to whom it - belonged was obliging enough to send me part of it; we roasted it for - dinner, and, except that its consistence was rather firmer, I should not - have known it from veal. - </p> - <h3> - FEBRUARY 29. - </h3> - <p> - The wife of an old negro on the neighbouring estate of Anchovy had lately - forsaken him for a younger lover. One night, when she happened to be - alone, the incensed husband entered her hut unexpectedly, abused her with - all the rage of jealousy, and demanded the clothes to be restored, which - he had formerly given her. On her refusal he drew a knife, and threatened - to cut them off her back; nor could she persuade him to depart, till she - had received a severe beating. He had but just left the hut, when he - encountered his successful rival, who was returning home: a quarrel - instantly ensued; and the husband, having the knife still unsheathed in - his hand, plunged it into the neck of his antagonist. It pierced the - jugular vein; of course the man fell dead on the spot; and the murderer - has been sent to Montego Bay, to take his trial. - </p> - <p> - MARCH 1. (Friday.) - </p> - <p> - One of my house-boys, named Prince, is son to the Duke of Sully; and - to-day his Grace came to beg that, when I should leave Jamaica, I would - direct the boy to be made a tradesman, instead of being sent back to be a - common field-negro: but my own shops are not only full at present, but - loaded with future engagements. Sully then requested that I would send his - son to learn some other trade (a tailor’s, for instance) at Savannah la - Mar, as had been frequently done in former times; but this, also, I was - obliged to refuse. I told him, that formerly a master could pay for the - apprenticeship of a clever negro boy, and, instead of employing him - afterwards on the estate, could content himself with being repaid by a - share of the profits; but that, since The Abolition had made it impossible - for the proprietor of an estate to supply the place of one negro by the - purchase of another, it would be unjust to his companions to suffer any - one in particular to be withdrawn from service; as in that case two - hundred and ninety-nine would have to do the work, which was now performed - by three hundred; and, therefore, I could allow my negroes to apply - themselves to no trades but such as related to the business of the - property, such as carpenters, coopers, smiths, &c. “All true, massa,” - said Sully; “all fair and just; and, to be sure, a tailor or a saddler - would be of no great use towards your planting and getting in your crop; - nor——” - </p> - <p> - He hesitated for a moment, and then added, with a look of doubt, and in a - lower voice,—“Nor—nor a fiddler either, I suppose, massa?” I - began to laugh. “No, indeed, Sully; nor a fiddler either!” It seems the - lad, who is about sixteen, very thoughtless, and <i>un tantino</i> stupid, - has a passion for playing the fiddle, and, among other trades, had - suggested this to his father, as one which would be extremely to his - taste. We finally settled, that when the plough should be introduced on my - estate (which I am very anxious to accomplish, and substitute the labour - of oxen for that of negroes, wherever it can possibly be done), Prince - should be instructed in farming business, and in the mean while should - officiate as a pen-keeper to look after the cattle. - </p> - <p> - Just now Prince came to me with a request of his own. “Massa, please, me - want one little coat.”—“A little coat! For what?”—“Massa, - please, for wear when me go down to the Bay.”—“And why should you - wear a little coat when you go to the Bay?”—“Massa, please, make me - look eerie (buckish) when me go abroad.” So I assured him that he looked - quite eerie enough already; and that, as I was going away too soon to - admit of my seeing him in his little coat, there could not be the - slightest occasion for his being a bit <i>eerier</i> than he was. A master - in England would probably have been not a little astonished at receiving - such a request from one of his groom-boys; but here one gets quite - accustomed to them; and when they are refused, the petitioners frequently - laugh themselves at their own unreasonableness. - </p> - <h3> - MARCH 2. - </h3> - <p> - Most of those negroes who are tolerably industrious, breed cattle on my - estate, which are their own peculiar property, and by the sale of which - they obtain considerable sums. The pasturage of a steer would amount, in - this country, to £12 a year; but the negro cattle get their grass from me - without its costing them a farthing; and as they were very desirous that I - should be their general purchaser, I ordered them to agree among - themselves as to what the price should be. It was, therefore, settled that - I should take their whole stock, good and bad indifferently, at the rate - of £15 a head for every three-year-old beast; and they expressed - themselves not only satisfied, but very grateful for my acceptance of - their proposal. John Fuller and the beautiful Psyche had each a steer to - sell (how Psyche came to be so rich, I had too much discretion to - enquire), and they were paid down their £15 a piece instantly, which they - carried off with much glee. - </p> - <h3> - MARCH 3. (Sunday.) - </h3> - <p> - In this country it may be truly said that “it never rains but it pours.” - After a drought of three months, it began to rain on Thursday morning, and - has never stopped raining since, with thunder all the day, and lightning - all the night; one consequence of which incessant showers is, that it has - brought out all sorts of insects and reptiles in crowds: the ground is - covered with lizards; the air is filled with mosquitoes, and their bite is - infinitely more envenomed than on my first arrival. A centipede was found - squeezed to death under the door of my bed-room this morning. As to the - cock-roaches, they are absolutely in legions; every evening my negro boys - are set to hunt them, and they kill them by dozens on the chairs and - sofas, in the covers of my books, and among the leaves in my - fruit-baskets. Yesterday I wanted to send away a note in a great hurry, - snatched up a wafer, and was on the point of putting it into my mouth, - when I felt it move, and found it to be a cockroach, which had worked its - way into the wafer-box. - </p> - <p> - MARCH 4. (Monday.) - </p> - <p> - Since my arrival in Jamaica, I am not conscious of having omitted any - means of satisfying my negroes, and rendering them happy and secure from - oppression. I have suffered no person to be punished, except the two - female demons who almost bit a girl’s hands off (for which they received a - slight switching), and the most worthless rascal on the estate, whom for - manifold offences I was compelled, for the sake of discipline, to allow to - pass two days in the bilboes. I have never refused a favour that I could - possibly grant. I have listened patiently to all complaints. I have - increased the number of negro holidays, and have given away money and - presents of all kinds incessantly. Now for my reward. On Saturday morning - there were no fewer than forty-five persons (not including children) in - the hospital; which makes nearly a fifth of my whole gang. Of these, the - medical people assured me that not above seven had any thing whatever the - matter with them; the rest were only feigning sickness out of mere - idleness, and in order to sit doing nothing, while their companions were - forced to perform their part of the estate-duty. And sure enough, on - Sunday morning they all walked away from the hospital to amuse themselves, - except about seven or eight: they will, perhaps, go to the field for a - couple of days; and on Wednesday we may expect to have them all back - again, complaining of pains, which (not existing) it is not possible to - remove. Jenny (the girl whose hands were bitten) was told by the - doctoress, that having been in the hospital all the week, she ought not, - for very shame, to go out on Sunday. She answered, “She wanted to go to - the mountains, and go she would.” “Then,” said the doctoress, “you must - not come back again on Monday at least.” - </p> - <p> - “Yes,” Jenny said, “she <i>should</i> come back;” and back this morning - Jenny came. But as her wounds were almost completely well, she had tied - packthread round them so as to cut deep into the flesh, had rubbed dirt - into them, and, in short, had played such tricks as nearly to produce a - mortification in one of her fingers. - </p> - <p> - The most worthless fellow on the whole property is one Nato,—a - thief, a liar, a runaway, and one who has never been two days together out - of the hospital since my arrival, although he has nothing the matter with - him; indeed, when the other negroes abused him for his laziness, and - leaving them to do his work for him, he told them plainly that he did not - mean to work, and that nobody should make him. The only real illness which - brought him to the hospital, within my knowledge, was the consequence of a - beating received from his own father, who had caught him in the act of - robbing his house by the help of a false key. In the hospital he found his - wife, Philippa, the mad woman, with whom he instantly quarrelled, and she - cut his head open with a plate; and as she might have served one of the - children in the same way, we were obliged to confine her. Her husband was - thought to be the fittest person to guard her; and accordingly they were - locked up together in a separate room from the other invalids, till a - straight waistcoat could be made. The husband was then restored to - freedom, and desired to go to work, which he declared to be impossible - from illness; yet he disappeared the whole of the next day; and on his - return on the following morning, he had the impudence to assert that he - had never been out of the hospital for an hour. For this runaway offence, - and for endeavouring to exasperate his wife’s phrensy, he was put into the - bilboes for two days: on the third he was released; when he came to me - with tears in his eyes, implored me most earnestly to forgive what had - past, and promised to behave better for the future, “to so good a massa.” - It appeared afterwards, that he had employed his absence in complaining to - Mr. Williams, a neighbouring magistrate, that, “having a spite against - them, although neither he nor his wife had committed any fault, I had - punished them both by locking them up for several days in a solitary - prison, under pretence of his wife’s insanity, when, in fact, she was - perfectly in her senses.” Unluckily, one of my physicians had told Mr. - Williams, that very morning, how much he had been alarmed at Cornwall, - when, upon going into a mad woman’s room, her husband had fastened the - door, and he had found himself shut up between them; the woman really mad, - and the man pretending to be so too. The moment that Nato mentioned the - mad woman as his wife, “What then,” said Mr. Williams, “you are the fellow - who alarmed the doctor so much two days ago?” Upon which Nato had the - impudence to burst into a fit of laughter,—“Oh, ki, massa, doctor no - need be fright; we no want to hurt him; only make lilly bit fun wid him, - massa, that all.” On which he was ordered to get out of Mr. Williams’s - house, slunk back into the Cornwall hospital, and in a few days came to me - with such a long story of penitence, and “so good massa,” that he induced - me to forgive him. - </p> - <p> - To sum up the whole, about three this morning an alarm was given that the - pen-keeper had suffered the cattle to get among the canes, where they - might do infinite mischief; the trustee was roused out of his bed; the - drivers blew their shells to summon the negroes to their assistance; when - it appeared, that there was not a single watchman at his post; the - watch-fires had all been suffered to expire; not a single domestic was to - be found, nor a horse to be procured; even the little servant boys, whom - the trustee had locked up in his own house, and had left fast asleep when - he went to bed, had got up again, and made their escape to pass the night - in play and rioting; and although they were perfectly aware of the - detriment which the cattle were doing to my interests, not a negro could - be prevailed upon to rouse himself and help to drive them out, till at - length Cubina (who had run down from his own house to mine on the first - alarm) with difficulty collected about half a dozen to assist him: but - long before this, one of my best cane-pieces was trampled to pieces, and - the produce of this year’s crop considerably diminished.—And so much - for negro gratitude! However, they still continue their eternal song of - “Now massa come, we very well off;” but their satisfaction evidently - begins and ends with themselves. They rejoice sincerely at being very well - off, but think it unnecessary to make the slightest return to massa for - making them so. - </p> - <h3> - MARCH 5. - </h3> - <p> - The worst of negro diseases is “the cocoa-bag” it is both hereditary and - contagious, and will lurk in the blood of persons apparently the most - healthy and of regular habits, till a certain age; when it declares itself - in the form of offensive sores, attended with extreme debility. No cure - for it has yet been discovered: there are negro doctors, who understand - how to prepare diet drinks from simples of the island, which moderate its - virulence for a time; but the disease itself is never entirely subdued. On - the contrary, “the yaws,” although it defies the power of medicine, - ultimately cures itself. This, also, is communicated by contact, and that - of so slight a nature, that a fly, which had touched an ulcer produced by - the yaws, has been known to convey the infection by merely alighting on - the wound of a cut finger. It generally shows itself by a slight pimple, - which is soon converted into a sore; and this spreads itself gradually - over the invalid’s whole body, till having made its progress through the - system completely, its virulence gradually abates, and at length the - disease disappears all together. As “the yaws” can only be taken once, - inoculation has been tried upon the most hopeful subjects; but the disease - showed itself with as much violence as when contracted in the natural way. - </p> - <h3> - MARCH 6. - </h3> - <p> - Nato has kept his promise as yet, and has actually past a whole week in - the field; a thing which he was never known to do before within the memory - of man. So I sent him a piece of money to encourage him; and told him, - that I sent him a <i>maccarony</i> for behaving well, and wished to know - whether any one had ever given him a maccarony for behaving ill. I hear - that he was highly delighted at my thinking him worthy to receive a - present from me, and sent me in return the most positive assurances of - perseverance in good conduct. On the other hand, Mackaroo has not only run - away himself, but has carried his wife away with him. This is improving - upon the profligacy of British manners with a vengeance. In England, a man - only runs away with another person’s wife: but to run away with his own—what - depravity!—As to my ungrateful demigod of a sheep-stealer, Hercules, - the poor wretch has brought down upon himself a full punishment for all - his misdeeds. By running away, and sleeping in the woods, exposed to all - the fury of the late heavy rains, he has been struck by the palsy. - Yesterday some of my negroes found him in the mountains, unable to raise - himself from the ground, and brought him in a cart to the hospital; where - he now lies, having quite lost the use of one side, and without any hopes - of recovery. He is still a young man, and in every other respect strong - and healthy; so that he may look forward to a long and miserable - existence. - </p> - <h3> - MARCH 8. - </h3> - <h3> - THE HUMMING BIRD. - </h3> - <p class="indent15"> - Deck’d with all that youth and beauty - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - E’er bestow’d on sable maid, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Gathering bloom her fragrant duty, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Down the lime-walk Zoè stray’d. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Many a logwood brake was ringing - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - With the chicka-chinky’s cry; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Many a mock-bird loudly singing - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Bless’d the groves with melody. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Fly-birds, on whose plumage showers - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Nature’s hand her wealth profuse, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Humming round, from banks of flowers - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Suck’d the rich ambrosial juice. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - There an orange-plant, perfuming - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - All the air with blossoms white, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Near a bush of roses blooming, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Charm’d at once the scent and sight. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Of that plant the loveliest daughter, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - One sweet bloom-bough all preferr’d; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - When his glittering eye had caught her, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Oh, how joy’d the Humming Bird! - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Here the fairest blossoms thinking, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Swift he flies, nor loads the stem; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Poised in air, and odour drinking, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Fluttering hangs the feather’d Gem. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Sure, he deems, these cups untasted, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Many a honied drop allow! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Soon he finds his labour wasted; - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Bees have robb’d that orange bough. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Wandering bees, at blush of morning, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Drain’d of all their sweets the bells; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Then the rifled beauty scorning, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - How his angry throat he swells! - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - See his bill the blossoms rending; - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Round their leaves in wrath he throws; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Then, once more his wings extending, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Flies to woo the opening rose. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - (e Mark, my Zoe,” said her mother, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - (t Mark that bough, so lovely late! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Thou in bloom art such another— - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Such, perhaps, may be thy fate. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - (e Some wild youth may charm and cheat thee, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Sip thy sweets, and break his vow; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Then the world will scorn and treat thee - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - As the Fly-Bird did just now.” - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - British mothers thus impress on - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Virgin minds some maxim true; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Zoè heard and used the lesson - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Just as British daughters do. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <h3> - MARCH 9. - </h3> - <p> - The shaddock contains generally thirty-two seeds, two of which only will - reproduce shaddocks; and these two it is impossible to distinguish: the - rest will yield, some sweet oranges, others bitter ones, others again - forbidden fruit, and, in short, all the varieties of the orange; but until - the trees actually are in bearing, no one can guess what the fruit is - likely to prove; and even then, the seeds which produce shaddocks, - although taken from a tree remarkable for the excellence of its fruit, - will frequently yield only such as are scarcely eatable. So also the - varieties of the mango are infinite: the fruit of no two trees resembling - each other; and the seeds of the very finest mango (although sown and - cultivated with the utmost care) seldom affording any thing at all like - the parent stock. The two first mangoes which I tasted were nothing but - turpentine and sugar; the third was very delicious; and yet I was told - that it was by no means of a superior quality. The <i>sweet</i> cassava - requires no preparation; the <i>bitter</i> cassava, unless the juice is - carefully pressed out of it, is a deadly poison; there is a third kind, - called the <i>sweet-and-bitter</i> cassava, which is perfectly wholesome - till a certain age, when it acquires its deleterious qualities. Many - persons have been poisoned by mistaking these various kinds of cassava for - each other. As soon as the plantain has done bearing, it is cut down; when - four or five suckers spring from each root, which become plants themselves - in their turn. Ratoons are suckers of the sugar-cane: they are far - preferable to the original plants, where the soil is rich enough to - support them; but they are much better adapted to some estates than to - others. Thus, on my estate in St. Thomas’s in the East, they can allow of - ten ratoons from the same plant, and only dig cane-holes every eleventh - year; while, at Cornwall, the strength of the cane is exhausted in the - fourth ratoon, or the fifth at furthest. The fresh plants are cane-tops; - but those canes which bear <i>flags</i> or feathers at their extremities - will not answer the purpose, as dry weather easily burns up the slight - arrows to which the flags adhere, and destroys them before they can - acquire sufficient vigour to resist the climate. - </p> - <h3> - MARCH 10. (Sunday.) - </h3> - <p> - I find that I have not done justice to the cotton tree, and, on the other - hand, have given too much praise to the Jamaica kitchen. The first cotton - trees which I saw, were either withered by age, or struck by lightning, or - happened to be ill-shaped of their kind; but I have since met with others, - than which nothing could be more noble or picturesque, from their gigantic - height, the immense spread of their arms, the colour of their stems and - leaves, and the wild fantastic wreathings of their roots and branches. As - to the kitchen, nothing can be larger and finer in appearance than the - poultry of all kinds, but nothing can be uniformly more tough and - tasteless; and the same is the case with all butcher’s meat, pork - excepted, which is much better here than in Europe. The fault is in the - climate, which prevents any animal food from being kept sufficiently long - to become tender; so that when a man sits down to a Jamaica dinner, he - might almost fancy himself a guest at Macbeth’s Covent-Garden banquet, - where the fowls, hams, and legs of mutton are all made of deal boards. I - ordered a duck to be kept for two days; but it was so completely spoiled, - that there was no bearing it upon the table. Then I tried the expedient of - boiling a fowl till it absolutely fell to pieces; but even this violent - process had not the power of rendering it tender. The only effect produced - by it was, that instead of being helped to a wing of solid wood, I got a - plateful of splinters. Perhaps, my having totally lost my appetite - (probably from my not being able to take, in this climate, sufficient of - my usual exercise) makes the meat appear to me less palatable than it may - to others; but I have observed, that most people here prefer living upon - soups, stews, and salted provisions. For my own part, I have for the last - few weeks eaten nothing except black crabs, than which I never met with a - more delicious article for the table. I have also tried the <i>soldier</i> - soup, which is in great estimation in this island; but although it greatly - resembled the very richest cray-fish soup, it seemed to be composed of - cray-fish which had been kept too long. The <i>soldiers</i> themselves - were perfectly fresh, for they were brought to the kitchen quite alive and - merry; but I was told that this taste of staleness is their peculiar - flavour, as well as their peculiar scent even when alive, and is precisely - the quality which forms their recommendation. It was quite enough to fix - my opinion of the soup: I ate two spoonfuls, and never mean to venture on - a third. - </p> - <h3> - MARCH 12. - </h3> - <p> - The most general of negro infirmities appears to be that of lameness. It - is chiefly occasioned by the <i>chiga</i>, a diminutive fly which works - itself into the feet to lay its eggs, and, if it be not carefully - extracted in time, the flesh around it corrupts, and a sore ensues not - easily to be cured. No vigilance can prevent the attacks of the chiga; and - not only soldiers, but the very cleanest persons of the highest rank in - society, are obliged to have their feet examined regularly. The negroes - are all provided with small knives for the purpose of extracting them: but - as no pain is felt till the sore is produced, their extreme laziness - frequently makes them neglect that precaution, till all kinds of dirt - getting into the wound, increases the difficulty of a cure; and sometimes - the consequence is lameness for life. - </p> - <p> - There is another disease which commits great ravages among them; for - although in this climate its quality is far from virulent, and it is easy - to be cured in its beginning, the negro will most carefully conceal his - having such a complaint, till it has made so great a progress that its - effects are perceived by others. Even then, they will never acknowledge - the way in which they have contracted it; but men and women, whose noses - almost shake while speaking to you, will still insist upon it that their - illness arises from catching cold, or from a strain in lifting a weight, - or, in short, from any cause except the true one. Yet why they act thus it - is difficult to imagine; for certainly it does not arise from shame. - </p> - <p> - Indeed, it is one of their singular obstinacies, that, however ill they - may be, they scarcely ever will confess to the physician what is really - the matter with them on their first coming into the hospital, but will - rather assign some other cause for their being unwell than the true one; - and it is only by cross-questioning, that their superintendents are able - to understand the true nature of their case. Perhaps this duplicity is - occasioned by fear; for in any bodily pain it is not possible to be more - cowardly than the negro; and I have heard strong young men, while the - tears were running down their cheeks, scream and roar as if a limb was - amputating, although the doctoress was only applying a poultice to a - whitlow on the finger. I suppose, therefore, that dread of the pain of - some unknown mode of treatment makes them conceal their real disease, and - name some other, of which they know the cure to be unattended with bodily - suffering or long restraint. In the disease I allude to, such a motive - would operate with peculiar force, as one of their chief aversions is the - necessarily being long confined to one certainly not fragrant room. - </p> - <h3> - MARCH 13. - </h3> - <p> - The Reporter of the African Institution asserts, in a late pamphlet, that - in the West Indies the breeding system is to this day discouraged, and - that the planters are still indifferent to the preservation of their - present stock of negroes, from their confidence of getting fresh supplies - from Africa. Certainly the negroes in Jamaica are by no means of this - Reporter’s opinion, but are thoroughly sensible of their intrinsic value - in the eyes of the proprietor. On my arrival, every woman who had a child - held it up to show to me, exclaiming,—“See massa, see! here nice new - neger me bring for work for massa;” and those who had more than one did - not fail to boast of the number, and make it a claim to the greater merit - with me. Last week, an old watchman was brought home from the mountains - almost dead with fever; he would neither move, nor speak, nor notice any - one, for several days. For two nights I sent him soup from my own table; - but he could not even taste it, and always gave it to his daughter. On the - third evening, there happened to be no soup at dinner, and I sent other - food instead; but old Cudjoe had been accustomed to see the soup arrive, - and the disappointment made him fancy himself hungry, and that he could - have eaten the soup if it had been brought as usual: accordingly, when I - visited him the next morning, he bade the doctoress tell me that massa had - send him no soup the night before. This was the first notice that he had - ever taken of me. I promised that some soup should be ordered for him on - purpose that evening. Could he fancy any thing to eat <i>then?</i>—“Milk! - milk!” So milk was sent to him, and he drank two full calabashes of it. I - then tried him with an egg, which he also got down; and at night, by - spoonfuls at a time, he finished the whole bason of soup; but when I next - came to see him, and he wished to thank me, the words in which he thought - he could comprise most gratitude were bidding the doctoress tell me he - would do his best not to die yet; he promised to <i>fight hard</i> for it. - He is now quite out of danger, and seems really to be grateful. When he - was sometimes too weak to speak, on my leaving the room he would drag his - hand to his mouth with difficulty, and kiss it three or four times to bid - me farewell; and once, when the doctoress mentioned his having charged her - to tell me that he owed his recovery to the good food that I had sent him, - he added, “And him kind words too, massa; kind words do neger much good, - much as good food.” In my visits to the old man, I observed a young woman - nursing him with an infant in her arms, which (as they told me) was her - own, by Cudjoe. I therefore supposed her to be his wife: but I found that - she belonged to a <i>brown</i> man in the mountains; and that Cudjoe hired - her from her master, at the rate of thirty pounds a year! - </p> - <p> - I hope this fact will convince the African <i>Reporter</i>, that it is - possible for some of this “oppressed race of human beings”—“of these - our most unfortunate fellow-creatures,”—to enjoy at least <i>some</i> - of the luxuries of civilised society; and I doubt, whether even Mr. - Wilberforce himself, with all his benevolence, would not allow a negro to - be quite rich enough, who can afford to pay thirty pounds a year for the - hire of a kept mistress. - </p> - <h3> - MARCH 14. - </h3> - <p> - Poor Nato’s stock of goodness is quite exhausted; and the day before - yesterday he returned to the hospital with most piteous complaints of - pains and aches, whose existence he could persuade no person to credit. - His pulse was regular, his skin cool, his tongue red and moist, and the - doctor declared nothing whatever to be the matter with him. However, on my - arrival, he began to moan, and groan, and grunt, and all so lamentably, - that every soul in the hospital, sick or well, burst into a fit of - laughter. For my part, I told him that I really believed him to be very - bad; and that, as he met with no sympathy in the hospital, I should remove - him from such unfeeling companions. Accordingly I had a comfortable bed - made for him in a separate house. Here he was plentifully supplied with - provisions: but, in order that he might enjoy perfect repose daring his - illness, the doors were kept locked, and no person allowed to disturb him - with their conversation; while, by the doctor’s orders, he was obliged to - take frequent doses of Bitter-Wood and Assafotida. Shame would not suffer - him to get well all at once; so yesterday he still complained of a pain in - his chest, and begged to be blooded. His request was granted; and the - blood proved to be so pure and well-coloured, that every one exclaimed, - that for a man who had such good blood to part with it so wantonly was a - shame and a folly. The fellow was at length convinced that his tricks - would serve no object; and this morning he begged me to suffer him to - return to his duty, and promised that I should have no more cause to - complain of him. So I consented to consider his cure as completed, and he - set off for the field perfectly satisfied with his release. - </p> - <h3> - MARCH 15. - </h3> - <p> - On opening the Assize-court for the county of Cornwall on March 4., Mr. - Stewart, the Custos of Trelawny, and Presiding Judge, said, in his charge - to the jury, he wished to direct their attention in a peculiar manner to - the infringement of slave-laws in the island, in consequence of charges - having been brought forward in England of slave laws not being enforced in - this country, and being in fact perfect dead letters. The charge was - unfounded; but it became proper, in consequence, for the bench to call in - a strong manner on the grand jury to be particularly vigilant and - attentive to the discharge of this part of their duty. The bench at the - same time adverted to another subject connected with the above. Many out - of the country, and <i>some in it</i>, had thought proper to interfere - with our system, and by their insidious practices and dangerous doctrines - to call the peace of the island into question, and to promote disorder and - confusion. The jury were therefore enjoined, in every such case, to - investigate it thoroughly, and to bring the parties concerned before the - country, and not to suffer the systems of the island, as established by - the laws of the land, to be overset or endangered. It was their bounden - duty to watch over and support the established laws, and to act against - those who dared to infringe them; and that, otherwise, it was imperiously - called for on the principle of self-preservation. Every country had its - peculiar laws, on the due maintenance of which depended the public safety - and welfare. I read all this with the most perfect unconsciousness; when, - lo and behold! I have been assured, from a variety of quarters, that all - this was levelled at myself! It is I (it seems) who am “calling the peace - of the island in question;” who am “promoting disorder and confusion;” and - who am “infringing the established laws!” I should never have guessed it! - By “insidious practices” is meant (as I am told) my overindulgence to my - negroes; and my endeavouring to obtain either redress or pardon for those - belonging to other estates, who occasionally appeal to me for protection: - while “dangerous doctrines” alludes to my being of opinion, that the - evidence of negroes ought at least to be <i>heard</i> against white - persons; the jury always making proportionable abatements of belief, from - bearing in mind the bad habits of most negroes, their general want of - probity and good faith in every respect, and their total ignorance of the - nature of religious obligations. At the same time, these defects may be - counterbalanced by the respectable character of the particular negro; by - the strength of corroborating circumstances; and, finally, by the - irresistible conviction which his evidence may leave upon the minds of the - jury. They are not obliged to <i>believe</i> a negro witness, but I - maintain that he ought to be <i>heard</i>, and then let the jury give - their verdict according to their conscience. But this, in the opinion of - the bench at Montego Bay, it seems, is “dangerous doctrine!” At least, the - venom of my doctrines is circumscribed within very narrow limits; for as I - have made a point of never stirring off my own estate, nobody could - possibly be corrupted by them, except those who were at the trouble of - walking into my house for the express purpose of being corrupted. - </p> - <p> - At all events, if I <i>really</i> am the person to whom Mr. Stewart - alluded, I must consider his speech as the most flattering compliment that - I ever received. If my presence in the island has made the bench of a - whole country think it necessary to exact from the jury a more severe - vigilance than usual in all causes relating to the protection of negroes, - I cannot but own myself most richly rewarded for all my pains and expense - in coming hither, for every risk of the voyage, and for every possible - sacrifice of my pleasures. There is nothing earthly that is too much to - give for the power of producing an effect so beneficial; and I would set - off for Constantinople to-morrow, could I only be convinced that my - arrival would make the Mufti redress the complaints of the lower orders of - Turks with more scrupulous justice, and the Bashaws relax the fetters of - their slaves as much as their safety would permit. But I cannot flatter - myself with having done either the one or the other in Jamaica; and if Mr. - Stewart <i>really</i> alluded to me in his charge, I am certainly greatly - obliged to him; but he has paid me much too high a compliment;—God - grant that I may live to deserve it! - </p> - <h3> - MARCH 16. - </h3> - <p> - Hercules, the poor paralytic runaway, has neither moved nor spoken since - his being brought into the hospital. For the two last days he refused all - sustenance; blisters, rubbing with mustard, &c. were tried without - producing the least sensation; and in the course of last night he expired - without a groan. - </p> - <p> - Another offender, by name Charles Fox, is also under the doctor’s hands, - suffering under the effects of his own transgressions. Having been - Pickle’s shipmate, he professed the strongest attachment to him, and was - perpetually at his house; till Pickle’s wife made her husband aware that - love for herself was the real object of his shipmate’s visits. Finding her - story disbelieved, she hid Pickle behind the bed, when he had an - opportunity of hearing the solicitations of his perfidious Pylades; and, - rushing from his concealment, he gave Fox so complete a thrashing, that he - was obliged to come to the hospital. Here is another proof that negroes, - “our unfortunate fellow-creatures,” are not without some of the luxuries - of civilised life; old men of sixty keeping mistresses, and young ones - seducing their friends’ wives; why, what would the Reporter of the African - Institution have? - </p> - <p> - It is only to be wished, that the negroes would content themselves with - these fashionable peccadilloes; but, unluckily, there are some palates - among them which require higher seasoned vices; and besides their - occasional amusements of poisoning, stabbing, thieving, &c., a plan - has just been discovered in the adjoining parish of St. Elizabeth’s, for - giving themselves a grand fête by murdering all the whites in the island. - The focus of this meditated insurrection was on Martin’s Penn, the - property of Lord Balcarras, where the overseer is an old man of the - mildest character, and the negroes had always been treated with peculiar - indulgence. Above a thousand persons were engaged in the plot, three - hundred of whom had been regularly sworn to assist in it with all the - usual accompanying ceremonies of drinking human blood, eating earth from - graves, &c. Luckily, the plot was discovered time enough to prevent - any mischief; and yesterday the ringleaders were to be tried at Black - River. - </p> - <h3> - MARCH 17. (Sunday.) - </h3> - <p> - The Cornwall Chronicle informs us, that, at the Montego Bay assizes, a man - was tried on the Monday, for assaulting, while drunk, an officer who had - served with great distinction, and calling him a coward; for which offence - he was sentenced to a month’s imprisonment and fine of £100; and on the - Tuesday the same man brought an action against another person for calling - him a “drunken liar,” for which he was awarded £1000 for damages! A plain - man would have supposed two such verdicts to be rather incompatible; but - one lives to learn. - </p> - <p> - I remember to have read the case of a French nobleman, who was accused of - impotence by his wife before the Parliament of Paris, and by a farmer’s - daughter for seduction and getting her with child before the Parliament of - Rouen; he thought himself perfectly sure of gaining either the one cause - or the other: but, however, he was condemned in both. Certainly the poor - Frenchman had no luck in matters of justice. - </p> - <p> - To make the matter better, in the present instance, the man was a - clergyman; and his cause of quarrel against the officer was the latter’s - refusal to give him a puncheon of rum to christen all his negroes in a - lump. - </p> - <h3> - MARCH 22. - </h3> - <p> - Mr. Plummer came over from St. James’s to-day, and told me, that the - “insidious practices and dangerous doctrines” in Mr. Stewart’s speech were - intended for the Methodists, and that only the charge to the grand jury - respecting “additional vigilance” was in allusion to myself; but he added - that it was the report at Montego Bay, that, in consequence of my - over-indulgence to my negroes, a song had been made at Cornwall, declaring - that I was come over to set them all free, and that this was now - circulating through the neighbouring parishes. If there be any such song - (which I do not believe), I certainly never heard it. However, my agent - here says, that he has reason to believe that my negroes really have - spread the report that I intend to set <i>them</i> free in a few years; - and this merely out of vanity, in order to give themselves and their - master the greater credit upon other estates. As to the truth of an - assertion, that is a point which never enters into negro consideration. - </p> - <p> - The two ringleaders of the proposed rebellion have been condemned at Black - River, the one to be hanged, the other to transportation. The plot was - discovered by the overseer of Lyndhurst Penn (a Frenchman from St. - Domingo) observing an uncommon concourse of stranger negroes to a child’s - funeral, on which occasion a hog was roasted by the father. He stole - softly down to the feasting hut, and listened behind a hedge to the - conversation of the supposed mourners; when he heard the whole conspiracy - detailed. It appears that above two hundred and fifty had been sworn in - regularly, all of them Africans; not a Creole was among them. But there - was a <i>black</i> ascertained to have stolen over into the island from - St. Domingo, and a <i>brown</i> Anabaptist missionary, both of whom had - been very active in promoting the plot. They had elected a King of the - Eboes, who had two Captains under him; and their intention was to effect a - complete massacre of all the whites on the island; for which laudable - design His Majesty thought Christmas the very fittest season in the year, - but his Captains were more impatient, and were for striking the blow - immediately. The next morning information was given against them: one of - the Captains escaped to the woods; but the other, and the King of the - Eboes, were seized and brought to justice. On their trial they were - perfectly cool and unconcerned, and did not even profess to deny the facts - with which they were charged. - </p> - <p> - Indeed, proofs were too strong to admit of denial; among others, a copy of - the following song was found upon the King, which the overseer had heard - him sing at the funeral feast, while the other negroes joined in the - chorus:— - </p> - <h3> - SONG OF THE KING OF THE EBOES. - </h3> - <p class="indent15"> - Oh me good friend, Mr. Wilberforce, make we free! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - God Almighty thank ye! God Almighty thank ye! - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - God Almighty, make we free! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Buckra in this country no make we free: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - What Negro for to do? What Negro for to do? - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Take force by force! Take force by force! - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - CHORUS. - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - To be sure! to be sure! to be sure! - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p> - The Eboe King said, that he certainly had made use of this song, and what - harm was there in his doing so? He had sung no songs but such as his brown - priest had assured him were approved of by John the Baptist. “And who, - then, was John the Baptist?” He did not very well know; only he had been - told by his brown priest, that John the Baptist was a friend to the - negroes, and had got his head in a pan! - </p> - <p> - As to the Captain, he only said in his defence, that if the court would - forgive him this once, he would not do so again, as he found the whites - did not like their plans which, it seems, till that moment they had never - suspected! They had all along imagined, no doubt, that the whites would - find as much amusement in having their throats cut, as the blacks would - find in cutting them. I remember hearing a sportsman, who was defending - the humanity of hunting, maintain, that it being as much the nature of a - hare to run away as of a dog to run after her, consequently the hare must - receive as much pleasure from being coursed, as the dog from coursing. - </p> - <h3> - MARCH 23. - </h3> - <p> - Two negroes upon Amity estate quarrelled the other day about some trifle, - when the one bit the other’s nose off completely. Soon after his accident, - the overseer meeting the sufferer—“Why, Sambo,” he exclaimed, - “where’s your nose?” - </p> - <p> - “I can’t tell, massa,” answered Sambo; “I looked every where about, but I - could not find it.” - </p> - <h3> - MARCH 24. (Sunday.) - </h3> - <p> - Every Sunday since my return from Kingston I have read prayers to such of - the negroes as chose to attend, preparatory to the intended visitations of - the minister, Dr. Pope. About twenty or thirty of the most respectable - among them generally attended, and behaved with great attention and - propriety. I read the Litany, and made them repeat the responses. I - explained the Commandments and the Lord’s Prayer to them, teaching them to - say each sentence of the latter after me, as I read it slowly, in hopes of - impressing it upon their memory. Then came “the good Samaritan,” or some - such apologue; and, lastly, I related to them a portion of the life of - Christ, and explained to them the object of his death and sufferings. The - latter part of my service always seemed to interest them greatly; but, - indeed, they behaved throughout with much attention. Unluckily, the head - driver, who was one of the most zealous of my disciples, never could - repeat the responses of the Litany without an appeal to myself, and always - made a point of saying—“Good Lord, deliver us; yes, sir!” and made - me a low bow: and one day when I was describing the wonderful precocity of - Christ’s understanding, as evidenced by his interview with the doctors in - the temple, while but a child, the head driver thought fit to interrupt me - with—“Beg massa pardon, but want know one ting as puzzle me. Massa - say ‘the child,’ and me want know, massa, one ting much; was Jesus Christ - a boy or a girl?” Like my friend the Moravian, at Mesopotamia, I cannot - boast of any increased audience; and if the negroes will not come to hear - massa, I have little hope of their giving up their time to hear Dr. Pope, - who inspires them with no interest, and can exert no authority. Indeed, I - am afraid that I am indebted for the chief part of my present auditory to - my quality of massa rather than that of priest; and when I ask any of them - why they did not come to prayers on the preceding Sunday, their excuse is - always coupled with an assurance, that they wished very much to come, - “because they wish to do <i>any thing</i> to oblige massa.” - </p> - <h3> - MARCH 25. - </h3> - <p> - The negroes certainly are perverse beings. They had been praying for a - sight of their master year after year; they were in raptures at my - arrival; I have suffered no one to be punished, and shown them every - possible indulgence during my residence amongst them; and one and all they - declare themselves perfectly happy and well treated. Yet, previous to my - arrival, they made thirty-three hogsheads a week; in a fortnight after my - landing, their product dwindled to twenty-three; daring this last week - they have managed to make but thirteen. Still they are not ungrateful; - they are only selfish: they love me very well, but they love themselves a - great deal better; and, to do them justice, I verily believe that every - negro on the estate is extremely anxious that all should do their full - duty, except himself. My censure, although accompanied with the certainty - of their not being punished, is by no means a matter of indifference. If I - express myself to be displeased, the whole property is in an uproar; every - body is finding fault with every body; nobody that does not represent the - shame of neglecting my work, and the ingratitude of vexing me by their - ill-conduct; and then each individual—having said so much, and said - it so strongly, that he is convinced of its having its full effect in - making the others do their duty—thinks himself quite safe and snug - in skulking away from his own. - </p> - <h3> - MARCH 26. - </h3> - <p> - Young Hill was told at the Bay this morning, that I make a part of the - Eboe King’s song! According to this report, “good King George and good Mr. - Wilberforce” are stated to have “given me a paper” to set the negroes free - (i. e. an order), but that the white people of Jamaica will not suffer me - to show the paper, and I am now going home to say so, and “to resume my - chair, which I have left during my absence to be filled by the Regent.” - </p> - <p> - Since I heard the report of a rebellious song issuing from Cornwall, I - have listened more attentively to the negro chaunts; but they seem, as far - as I can make out, to relate entirely to their own private situation, and - to have nothing to do with the negro state in general. Their favourite, - “We varry well off,” is still screamed about the estate by the children; - but among the grown people its nose has been put out of joint by the - following stanzas, which were explained to me this morning. For several - days past they had been dinned into my ears so incessantly, that at length - I became quite curious to know their import, which I learned from Phillis, - who is the family minstrel. It will be evident from this specimen, that - the Cornwall bards are greatly inferior to those of Black River, who have - actually advanced so far as to make an attempt at rhyme and metre. - </p> - <h3> - NEGRO SONG AT CORNWALL. - </h3> - <p class="indent10"> - Hey-ho-day! me no care a dammee! (i. e. a damn,) - </p> - <p class="indent10"> - Me acquire a house, (i. e. I have a solid foundation to - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - build on,) - </p> - <p class="indent10"> - Since massa come see we—oh! - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent10"> - Hey-ho-day! neger now quite eerie, (i. e. hearty,) - </p> - <p class="indent10"> - For once me see massa—hey-ho-day! - </p> - <p class="indent10"> - When massa go, me no care a dammee, - </p> - <p class="indent10"> - For how them usy we—hey-ho-day! - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p> - An Alligator, crossing the morass at Bellisle, an estate but a few miles - distant from Cornwall, fell into a water-trench, from which he struggled - in vain to extricate himself, and was taken alive; so that, according to - the vulgar expression, he may literally be said to “have put his foot in - it.” Fontenelle says, that when Copernicus published his system, he - foresaw the contradictions which he should have to undergo—“Et il se - tira d’affaire très-habilement. Le jour qu’on lui présentoit le premier - exemplaire, scavez-vous ce qu’il fit? Il mourut;” which was precisely the - resource resorted to by the alligator. He died on the second morning of - his captivity, and his proprietor, Mr. Storer, was obliging enough to - order the skin to be stuffed, and to make me a present of him. Neptune was - despatched to bring him (or rather her, for nineteen eggs were found - within her) over to Cornwall; and at dinner to-day we were alarmed with a - general hubbub. It proved to be occasioned by Neptune’s arrival (if Thames - or Achelous had been despatched on this errand, it would have been more - appropriate) with the alligator on his head. In a few minutes every thing - on the estate that was alive, without feathers, and with only two legs, - flocked into the room, and requested to take a bird’s-eye view of the - monster; for as to coming near her, <i>that</i> they were much too - cowardly to venture. It was in vain that I represented to them, that being - dead it was utterly impossible that the animal could hurt them: they - allowed the impossibility, but still kept at a respectful distance; and - when at length I succeeded in persuading them to approach it, upon some - one accidentally moving the alligator’s tail, they all, with one accord, - set up a loud scream, and men, women, and children tumbled out of the room - over one another, to the irreparable ruin of some of my glasses and - decanters, and the extreme trepidation of the whole side-board. - </p> - <p> - <br /><br /> - </p> - <hr /> - <p> - <br /><br /> - </p> - <p> - The negro-husband, who stabbed his rival in a fit of jealousy, has been - tried at Montego Bay, and acquitted. On the other hand, the King of the - Eboes has been hung at Black Hiver, and died, declaring that he left - enough of his countrymen to prosecute the design in hand, and revenge his - death upon the whites. Such threats of a rescue were held out, that it was - judged advisable to put the militia under arms, till the execution should - have taken place; and also to remove the King’s Captain to the gaol at - Savannah la Mar, till means can be found for transporting him from the - island. - </p> - <h3> - MARCH 27. - </h3> - <p> - The Eboe Captain has effected his escape by burning down the prison door. - It is supposed that he has fled towards the fastnesses in the interior of - the mountains, where I am assured that many settlements of run-away slaves - have been formed, and with which the inhabited part of the island has no - communication. However, the chief of the Accompong Maroons, Captain Roe, - is gone in pursuit of him, and has promised to bring him in, alive or - dead. The latter is the only reasonable expectation, as the fugitive is - represented as a complete desperado. - </p> - <p> - <br /><br /> - </p> - <hr /> - <p> - <br /><br /> - </p> - <p> - The negroes have at least given me one proof of their not being entirely - selfish. When they heard that the boat was come to convey my baggage to - the ship at Black River, they collected all their poultry, and brought it - to my agent, desiring him to add it to my sea-stores. Of course I refused - to let them be received, and they were evidently much disappointed, till I - consented to accept the fowls and ducks, and then gave them back to them - again, telling them to consider them as a present from my own hen-house, - and to distinguish them by the name of “massa’s poultry.” - </p> - <h3> - MARCH 28. - </h3> - <p> - I have been positively assured, that an attempt was made to persuade the - grand jury at Montego Bay, to present me for over-indulgence to my own - negroes! It is a great pity that so reasonable an attempt should not have - succeeded.—The rebel captain who broke out of prison, has been found - concealed in the hut of a notorious Obeah-man, and has been lodged a - second time in the gaol of Savannah la Mar. - </p> - <h3> - MARCH 29. - </h3> - <p> - About two months ago, a runaway cooper, belonging to Shrewsbury estate, by - name Edward, applied to me to intercede for his not being punished on his - return home. As soon as he got the paper requested, he gave up all idea of - returning to the estate, and instead of it went about the country stealing - every thing upon which he could lay his hands; and whenever his - proceedings were enquired into by the magistrates, he stated himself to be - on the road to his trustee, and produced my letter as a proof of it. At - length some one had the curiosity to open the letter, and found that it - had been written two months before. - </p> - <h3> - MARCH 30. - </h3> - <p> - This was the day appointed for the first “Royal play-day,” when I bade - farewell to my negroes. I expected to be besieged with petitions and - complaints, as they must either make them on this occasion or not at all. - I was, therefore, most agreeably surprised to find, that although they had - opportunities of addressing me from nine in the morning till twelve at - night, the only favours asked me were by a poor old man, who wanted an - iron cooking pot, and by Adam, who begged me to order a little daughter of - his to be instructed in needle-work: and as to complaints, not a murmur of - such a thing was heard; they all expressed themselves to be quite - satisfied, and seemed to think that they could never say enough to mark - their gratitude for my kindness, and their anxiety for my getting safe to - England. We began our festival by the head driver’s drinking the health of - H. R. H. the Duchess of York, whom the negroes cheered with such a shout - as might have “rent hell’s concave.” - </p> - <p> - Then we had a christening of such persons as had been absent on the former - occasion, one of whom was Adam, the reputed Obeah-man. In the number was a - new-born child, whom we called Shakspeare, and whom Afra, the Eboe mother, - had very earnestly begged me to make a Christian, as well as a daughter of - hers, about four or five years old; at the same time that she declined - being christened herself! In the same manner Cubina’s wife, although her - father and husband were both baptised on the former occasion, objected to - going through the ceremony herself; and the reason which she gave was, - that “she did not like being christened while she was with child, as she - did not know what change it might not produce upon herself and the - infant.” - </p> - <p> - After the christening there was a general distribution of salt-fish by the - trustee; and I also gave every man and woman half a dollar each, and every - child a maccarony (fifteen pence) as a parting present, to show them that - I parted with them in good-humour. While the money was distributing, young - Hill arrived, and finding the house completely crowded, he enquired what - was the matter. “Oh, massa,” said an old woman, “it is only <i>my son</i>, - who is giving the negroes all something.” - </p> - <p> - I also read to them a new code of laws, which I had ordered to be put in - force at Cornwall, for the better security of the negroes. The principal - were, that “a new hospital for the lying-in women, and for those who might - be seriously ill, should be built, and made as comfortable as possible; - while the present one should be reserved for those whom the physicians - might declare to be very slightly indisposed, or not ill at all; the doors - being kept constantly locked, and the sexes placed in separate chambers, - to prevent its being made a place of amusement by the lazy and lying, as - is the case at present.”—“A book register of punishments to be kept, - in which the name, offence, and nature and quantity of punishment - inflicted must be carefully put down; and also a note of the same given to - the negro, in order that if he should think himself unjustly, or too - severely punished, he may show his note to my other attorney on his next - visit, or to myself on my return to Jamaica, and thus get redress if he - has been wronged.”—“No negro is to be struck, or punished in any - way, without the trustee’s express orders: the black driver so offending - to be immediately degraded, and sent to work in the field; and the white - person, for such a breach of my orders, to be discharged upon the spot.”—“No - negro is to be punished till twenty-four hours shall have elapsed between - his committing the fault and suffering for it, in order that nothing - should be done in the heat of passion, but that the trustee should have - time to consider the matter coolly. But to prevent a guilty person from - avoiding punishment by running away, he is to pass those twenty-four hours - in such confinement as the trustee may think most fitting.”—“Any - white person, who can be proved to have had an improper connection with a - woman known publicly to be living as the wife of one of my negroes, is to - be discharged immediately upon complaint being made.” I also gave the head - driver a complete list of the allowances of clothing, food, &c. to - which the negroes were entitled, in order that they might apply to it if - they should have any doubts as to their having received their full - proportion; and my new rules seemed to add greatly to the satisfaction of - the negroes, who were profuse in their expressions of gratitude. - </p> - <p> - The festival concluded with a grander ball than usual, as I sent for music - from Savanna la Mar to play country dances to them; and at twelve o’clock - at night they left me apparently much pleased, only I heard some of them - saying to each other, “When shall we have such a day of pleasure again, - since massa goes to-morrow?” - </p> - <h3> - MARCH 31. (Sunday.) - </h3> - <p> - With their usual levity, the negroes were laughing and talking as gaily as - ever till the very moment of my departure; but when they saw my curricle - actually at the door to convey me away, then their faces grew very long - indeed. In particular, the women called me by every endearing name they - could think of. “My son! my love! my husband! my father!” - </p> - <p> - “You no my massa, you my tata!” said one old woman (upon which another - wishing to go a step beyond her, added, “Iss, massa, iss! It was you”);—————and - when I came down the steps to depart, they crowded about me, kissing my - feet, and clasping my knees, so that it was with difficulty that I could - get into the carriage. And this was done with such marks of truth and - feeling, that I cannot believe the whole to be mere acting and mummery. - </p> - <p> - I dined with Mr. Allwood at Shaftstone, his pen near Blue-fields, and at - half past seven found myself once more on board the Sir Godfrey Webster. - </p> - <p> - To fill up my list of Jamaica delicacies, I must not forget to mention, - that I did my best to procure a Cane-piece Cat roasted in the true African - fashion. The Creole negroes, however, greatly disapproved of my venturing - upon this dish, which they positively denied having tasted themselves; and - when, at length, the Cat was procured, last Saturday, instead of plainly - boiling it with negro-pepper and salt, they made into a high seasoned - stew, which rendered it impossible to judge of its real flavour. However, - I tasted it, as did also several other people, and we were unanimous in - opinion, that it might have been mistaken for a very good game-soup, and - that, when properly dressed, a Cane-piece Cat must be excellent food. - </p> - <p> - One of the best vegetable productions of the island is esteemed to be the - Avogada pear, sometimes called “the vegetable marrow.” It was not the - proper season for them, and with great difficulty I procured a couple, - which were said to be by no means in a state of perfection. Such as they - were, I could find no great merit in them; they were to be eaten cold with - pepper and salt, and seemed to be an insipid kind of melon, with no other - resemblance to marrow than their softness. - </p> - <p> - APRIL 1. (Monday.) - </p> - <p> - At eight this morning we weighed anchor on our return to England. - </p> - <h3> - YARRA. - </h3> - <p class="indent15"> - Poor Yarra comes to bid farewell, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - But Yarra’s lips can never say it! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Her swimming eyes—her bosom’s swell— - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - The debt she owes you, these must pay it. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - She ne’er can speak, though tears can start, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Her grief, that fate so soon removes you; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - But One there is, who reads the heart, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - And well He knows how Yarra loves you! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - See, massa, see this sable boy! - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - When chill disease had nipp’d his flower, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - You came and spoke the word of joy, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - And poured the juice of healing power. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - To visit far Jamaica’s shore - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Had no kind angel deign’d to move you, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - These laughing eyes had laugh’d no more, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Nor Yarra lived to thank and love you, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Then grieve not, massa, that to view - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Our isle you left your British pleasures: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - One tear, which falls in grateful dew, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Is worth the best of Britain’s treasures. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And sure, the thought will bring relief, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - What e’er your fate, wherever rove you, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Your wealth’s not given by pain and grief, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - But hands that know, and hearts that love you. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - May He, who bade you cross the wave, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Through care for Afric’s sons and daughters; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - When round your bark the billows rave, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - In safety guide you through the waters! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - By all you love with smiles be met; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Through life each good man’s tongue approve you: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And though far distant, don’t forget, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - While Yarra lives, she’ll live to love you! - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <h3> - APRIL 3. - </h3> - <p> - The trade-winds which facilitate the passage to Jamaica, effectually - prevent the return of vessels by the same road. The common passage is - through the Gulf of Florida, but there is another between Cuba and St. - Domingo, which is at least 1000 miles nearer. The first, however, affords - almost a certainty of reaching Europe in a given time; while you may keep - tacking in the attempt to make the windward passage (as it is called) for - months together. Last night the wind was so favourable for this attempt, - that the captain determined upon risking it. Accordingly he altered his - course; and had not done so for more than a few hours, when the wind - changed, and became as direct for the Gulf, as till then it had been - contrary. The consequence was, that the Gulf passage was fixed once for - all, and we are now steering towards it with all our might and main. - Besides the distance saved, there was another reason for preferring the - windward passage, if it could have been effected. The Gulf of Florida has - for some time past been infested by a pirate called Captain Mitchell, who, - by all accounts, seems to be of the very worst description. It is not long - ago, since, in company with another vessel of his own stamp, he landed on - the small settlement of St. Andrews, plundered it completely, and on his - departure carried off the governor, whom he kept on board for more than - fourteen days, and then hung him at the yard-arm out of mere wanton - devilry; and indeed he is said to show no more mercy to any of his - prisoners than he did to the poor governor. His companion has been - captured and brought into Kingston, and the conquering vessel is gone in - search of Captain Mitchell. If it does not fall in with him, and <i>we</i> - do, I fear that we shall stand but a bad chance; for he has one hundred - men on board according to report, while we have not above thirty. However, - the captain has harangued them, represented the necessity of their - fighting if attacked, as Captain Mitchell is known to spare no one, high - or low, and has engaged to give every man five guineas apiece, if a gun - should be fired. The sailors promise bravery; whether their promises will - prove to be pie-crust, we must leave to be decided by time and Captain - Mitchell. In the mean while, every sail that appears on the horizon is - concluded to be this terrible pirate, and every thing is immediately put - in readiness for action. - </p> - <p> - This day we passed the Caymana islands; but owing to our having always - either a contrary wind, or no wind at all, it was not till the 12th that - Cuba was visible, nor till the 14th that we reached Cape Florida. - </p> - <h3> - APRIL 15. - </h3> - <p> - At noon this day we found ourselves once more sailing on the Atlantic, and - bade farewell to the Gulf of Florida without having heard any news of the - dreaded Commodore Mitchell. The narrow and dangerous part of this Gulf is - about two hundred miles in length, and fifty in breadth, bordered on one - side by the coast of Florida, and on the other, first by Cuba, and then by - the Bahama Islands, of which the Manilla reef forms the extremity, and - which reef also terminates the Gulf. But on both sides of these two - hundred miles, at the distance of about four or five miles from the main - land, there extends a reef which renders the navigation extremely - dangerous. The reef is broken at intervals by large inlets; and the sudden - and violent squalls of wind to which the Gulf is subject, so frequently - drive vessels into these perilous openings, that it is worth the while of - many of the poorer inhabitants of Florida to establish their habitations - within the reef, and devote themselves and their small vessels entirely to - the occupation of assisting vessels in distress. They are known by the - general name of “wreckers,” and are allowed a certain salvage upon such - ships as they may rescue. As a proof of the violence of the gales which - are occasionally experienced in this Gulf, our captain, about nine years - ago, saw the wind suddenly take a vessel (which had unwisely suffered her - canvass to stand, while the rest of the ships under convoy had taken - theirs down,) and turn her completely over, the sails in the water and the - keel uppermost. It happened about four o’clock in the afternoon: the - captain and the passengers were at dinner in the cabin; but as she went - over very leisurely, they and the crew had time allowed them to escape out - of the windows and port-holes, and sustain themselves upon the rigging, - till boats from the ships near them could arrive to take them off. As she - filled, she gradually sunk, and in a quarter of an hour she had - disappeared totally. - </p> - <h3> - APRIL 17. - </h3> - <h3> - THE FLYING FISH. - </h3> - <p class="indent15"> - Bright ocean-bird, alike who sharing - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Both elements, could sport the air in, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Or swim the sea, your winged fins wearing - </p> - <p class="indent30"> - The rainbow’s hues, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Your fate this day full long shall bear in - </p> - <p class="indent30"> - Her mind the muse, - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - In vain for you had nature blended - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Two regions, and your powers extended; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Now high you rose, now low descended; - </p> - <p class="indent30"> - But folly marred - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Those gifts, the bounteous dame intended - </p> - <p class="indent30"> - To prove your guard. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - A flying fish, could bounds include her? - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - She winged the deep, if birds pursued her; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - She swam the sky, if dolphins viewed her; - </p> - <p class="indent30"> - But now what wish - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Tempts you to watch yon bright deluder, - </p> - <p class="indent30"> - Unthinking fish? - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Alas!—a fly above you viewing, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Gay tints his gilded wings imbuing, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - You mount; and ah! too far pursuing - </p> - <p class="indent30"> - At fancy’s call, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Heedless you strike the sails, where ruin - </p> - <p class="indent30"> - Awaits your fall. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Your fins, too dry, no longer play you, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And soon those fins no more upstay you; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - You drop; and now on deck survey you - </p> - <p class="indent30"> - Jack, Tom, and Bill, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Who up may take, and down may lay you, - </p> - <p class="indent30"> - As suits their will. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Oh! list my tale, fair maids of Britain! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - This subject fain I’d try my wit on, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And show the rock you’re apt to split on: - </p> - <p class="indent30"> - Then cry not—“Pish!”— - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - You’re all (I’m glad the thought I hit on) - </p> - <p class="indent30"> - Just flying fish! - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Beauty, does nature’s hand bestow it? - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - It swells your pride, and plain you show it; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Though wealthy cit, and airy poet - </p> - <p class="indent30"> - Your charms pursue, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Church—physic—law—you he fair, you know it, - </p> - <p class="indent30"> - You’ll none, not you!= . - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Age looks too dry, and youth too blooming: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - The scholar’s face there’s too much gloom in; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - This man’s too dull, that too presuming; - </p> - <p class="indent30"> - His mouth’s too wide!— - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - For mending, Lord! you think there’s room in - </p> - <p class="indent30"> - The best, when tried. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - In each you find some fault to snarl at, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And wilful seek the sun by starlight; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Till some gay glittering rogue in scarlet, - </p> - <p class="indent30"> - Who lures the eye, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Dazzles poor miss, and then the varlet - </p> - <p class="indent30"> - Pretends to fly. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - His flight has piqued, his glitter caught her; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And soon her mammy’s darling daughter, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Whose eyes have made such mighty slaughter, - </p> - <p class="indent30"> - Charm’d by a fop, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Is fairly hit <i>’</i>twixt wind and water, - </p> - <p class="indent30"> - And, miss! you drop! - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Then certain fate of fallen lasses, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - When short-lived bliss more frail than glass is, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - To eyes of all degrees and classes - </p> - <p class="indent30"> - Exposed you stand, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And soon your beauty circling passes - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - From hand to hand. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - In vain your flattering charms display you; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - From home and parents far away, you - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - See former friends with scorn survey you; - </p> - <p class="indent30"> - While fools and brutes - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - May take you up, or down may lay you, - </p> - <p class="indent30"> - As humour suits. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Oh! mark, dear girls, the moral story - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Of one, who breathes but to adore ye! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Let no rash action mar your glory; - </p> - <p class="indent30"> - But when you wish - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - To catch some coxcomb, place before ye - </p> - <p class="indent30"> - The flying fish. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <h3> - APRIL 20. - </h3> - <p> - Two or three years ago, our captain, while his vessel was lying in Black - River Bay, for the purpose of loading, was informed by his sailors, that - their beef and other provisions frequently disappeared in a very - unaccountable manner. However, by setting a strict watch during the night, - he soon managed to clear up the mystery: and a negro, who had made his - escape from the workhouse, and concealed himself on board among the bags - of cotton, was found to be the thief. He was sent back to the workhouse, - of which the chain was still about his neck. But another negro had better - luck in a similar attempt on board of a different vessel. He contrived to - secrete himself in the lower part of it, where the sugar hogsheads are - stored, unknown to any one. As soon as the cargo was completed, the planks - above it were caulked down, and raised no more till their ship reached - Liverpool; when, to the universal astonishment, upon opening the hold, out - walked Mungo, in a wretched condition to be sure, but still at least - alive, and a freeman in Great Britain. During his painful voyage, he had - subsisted entirely upon sugar, of which he had consumed nearly an - hogshead; how he managed for water I could not learn, nor can imagine. - </p> - <h3> - APRIL 23. - </h3> - <p> - The old steward, this morning, told one of the sailors, who complained of - being ill, that he would get well as soon as he should reach England, and - could have plenty of vegetables; “for,” he said, “the man had only got a - <i>stomachick</i> complaint; nothing but just scurvy!” - </p> - <h3> - APRIL 24. - </h3> - <p> - Sea Terms.—The <i>sheets</i>, a term for various ropes; the <i>halyards</i>, - ropes which extend the topsails; the <i>painter</i>, the rope which - fastens the boat to the vessel; the eight points of the compass, south, - south and by east, south-south east, south east and by east, south-east, - east south and by east, east south east, east and by south east. The - knowledge of these points is termed “knowing how to box the compass.” - </p> - <h3> - APRIL 27. - </h3> - <p> - Many years ago, a new species of grass was imported into Jamaica, by Mr. - Vassal, (to whom an estate near my own then belonged), as he said “for the - purpose of feeding his pigs and his bookkeepers.” Its seeds being soon - scattered about by the birds, it has taken possession of the cane-pieces, - whence to eradicate it is an utter impossibility, the roots being as - strong as those of ginger, and insinuating themselves under ground to a - great extent; so that the only means of preventing it from entirely - choking up the canes, is plucking it out with the hand, which is obliged - to be done frequently, and has increased the labour of the plantation at - least one third. This nuisance, which is called “Vassal’s grass,” from its - original introducer, has now completely over-run the parish of - Westmoreland, has begun to show itself in the neighbouring parishes, and - probably in time will get a footing throughout the island. St. Thomas’s in - the East has been inoculated with another self-inflicted plague, under the - name of “the rifle-ant,” which was imported for the purpose of eating up - the ants of the country; and so to be sure they did, but into the bargain - they eat up every thing else which came in their way, a practice in which - they persist to this hour; so that it may be doubted whether in Jamaica - most execrations are bestowed in the course of the day upon Vassal’s - grass, the rifle-ants, Sir Charles Price’s rats, or the Reporter of the - African Society; only that the maledictions uttered against the three - first are necessarily local, while the Reporter of the African Society - comes in for curses from all quarters. - </p> - <p> - APRIL 30. (Tuesday.) - </p> - <p> - A whole calendar month has elapsed since our quitting Jamaica, during - which the wind has been favourable for something less than four-and-twenty - hours; either it has blown precisely from the point on which we wanted to - sail, or has been so faint, that we scarcely made one knot an hour. - However, on Tuesday last, finding ourselves in the latitude of the - “still-vexed Bermoothes,” by way of variety, a sudden squall carried away - both our lower stunsails in the morning; and at nine in the evening there - came on a gale of wind truly tremendous. The ship pitched and rolled every - minute, as if she had been on the point of overturning; the hencoops - floated about the deck, and many of the poultry were found drowned in them - the next morning. Just as the last dead-light was putting up, the sea - embraced the opportunity of the window being open, to whip itself through, - and half filled the after-cabin with water; and in half an hour more a - mountain of waves broke over the vessel, and pouring itself through the - sky-light, paid the same compliment to the fore-cabin, with which it had - already honoured the after one. About four in the morning the storm - abated, and then we relapsed into our good old jog-trot pace of a knot an - hour. Our passengers consist of a Mrs. Walker with her two children, and a - sick surgeon of the name of Ashman. - </p> - <h3> - MAY 5. (Sunday.) - </h3> - <p> - We continue to proceed at such a tortoise-pace, that it has been thought - advisable to put the crew upon an allowance of water. - </p> - <h3> - MAY 7. - </h3> - <p> - A negro song.—“Me take my cutacoo, (i. e. a basket made of matting,) - and follow him to Lucea, and all for love of my bonny man-O—My bonny - man come home, come home! Doctor no do you good. When neger fall into - neger hands, buckra doctor no do him good more. Come home, my gold ring, - come home!” This is the song of a wife, whose husband had been Obeahed by - another woman, in consequence of his rejecting her advances. A negro - riddle: “Pretty Miss Nancy was going to market, and she tore her fine - yellow gown, and there was not a taylor in all the town who could mend it - again.” This is a ripe plantain with a broken skin. The negroes are also - very fond of what they call Nancy stories, part of which is related, and - part sung. The heroine of one of them is an old woman named Mamma Luna, - who having left a pot boiling in her hut, found it robbed on her return. - Her suspicions were divided between two children whom she found at play - near her door, and some negroes who had passed that way to market. The - children denied the theft positively. It was necessary for the negroes, in - order to reach their own estate, to wade through a river at that time - almost dry; and on their return, Mammy Luna (who it should seem, was not - without some skill in witchcraft,) warned them to take care in venturing - across the stream, for that the water would infallibly rise and carry away - the person who had stolen the contents of her pot; but if the thief would - but confess the offence, she engaged that no harm should happen, as she - only wanted to exculpate the innocent, and not to punish the guilty. One - and all denied the charge, and several crossed the river without fear or - danger; but upon the approach of a <i>belly-woman</i> to the bank, she was - observed to hesitate. “My neger, my neger,” said Mammy Luna, “why you - stop? me tink, you savee well, who thief me?” This accusation spirited up - the woman, who instantly marched into the river, singing as she went ( and - the woman’s part is always chanted frequently in chorus, which the negroes - call, “taking up the sing”). - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - “If da me eat Mammy Luna’s pease-O, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Drowny me water, drowny, drowny!” - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p> - “My neger, my neger,” cried the old woman, “me sure now you the thief! me - see the water wet you feet. Come back, my neger, come back.” Still on went - the woman, and still continued her song of - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - “If da me eat Mammy Luna’s pease, &c.” - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p> - “My neger, my neger,” repeated Mammy Luna, “me no want punish you; my pot - smell good, and you belly-woman. Come back, my neger, come back; me see - now water above your knee!” But the woman was obstinate; she continued to - sing and to advance, till she reached the middle of the river’s bed, when - down came a tremendous flood, swept her away, and she never was heard of - more; while Mammy Luna warned the other negroes never to take the property - of another; always to tell the truth; and, at least, if they should be - betrayed into telling a lie, not to persist in it, otherwise they must - expect to perish like their companion. Observe, that a moral is always an - indispensable part of a Nancy story. Another is as follows:—“Two - sisters had always lived together on the best terms; but, on the death of - one of them, the other treated very harshly a little niece, who had been - left to her care, and made her a common drudge to herself and her - daughter. One day the child having broken a water-jug, was turned out of - the house, and ordered not to return till she could bring back as good a - one. As she was going along, weeping, she came to a large cotton-tree, - under which was sitting an old woman without a head. I suppose this - unexpected sight made her gaze rather too earnestly, for the old woman - immediately enquired—‘Well, my piccaniny, what you see?’ ‘Oh, - mammy,’ answered the girl, ‘me no see nothing.’ ‘Good child!’ said again - the old woman; ‘and good will come to you.’ Not far distant was a - cocoa-tree; and here was another old woman, without any more head than the - former one. The same question was asked her, and she failed not to give - the same answer which had already met with so good a reception. Still she - travelled forwards, and began to feel faint through want of food, when, - under a mahogany tree, she not only saw a third old woman, but one who, to - her great satisfaction, had got a head between her shoulders. She stopped, - and made her best courtesy—‘How day, grannie!’ ‘How day, my - piccaniny; what matter, you no look well?’ ‘Grannie, me lilly hungry.’ ‘My - piccaniny, you see that hut, there’s rice in the pot, take it, and yam-yam - me; but if you see one black puss, mind you give him him share.’ The child - hastened to profit by the permission; the ‘one black puss’ failed not to - make its appearance, and was served first to its portion of rice, after - which it departed; and the child had but just finished her meal, when the - mistress of the hut entered, and told her that she might help herself to - three eggs out of the fowl-house, but that she must not take any of the <i>talking</i> - ones: perhaps, too, she might find the black puss there, also; but if she - did, she was to take no notice of her. Unluckily all the eggs seemed to be - as fond of talking as if they had been so many old maids; and the moment - that the child entered the fowl-house, there was a cry of ‘Take <i>me!</i> - Take <i>me!</i>’ from all quarters. However she was punctual in her - obedience; and although the conversable eggs were remarkably fine and - large, she searched about till at length she had collected three little - dirty-looking eggs, that had not a word to say for themselves. The old - woman now dismissed her guest, bidding her to return home without fear; - but not to forget to break one of the eggs under each of the three trees - near which she had seen an old woman that morning. The first egg produced - a water-jug exactly similar to that which she had broken; out of the - second came a whole large sugar estate; and out of the third a splendid - equipage, in which she returned to her aunt, delivered up the jug, related - that an old woman in a red docker (i. e. petticoat) had made her a great - lady, and then departed in triumph to her sugar estate. Stung by envy, the - aunt lost no time in sending her own daughter to search for the same good - fortune which had befallen her cousin. She found the cotton-tree and the - headless old woman, and had the same question addressed to her; but - instead of returning the same answer—‘What me see,’ said she; ‘me - see one old woman without him head!’ Now this reply was doubly offensive; - it was rude, because it reminded the old lady of what might certainly be - considered as a personal defect; and it was dangerous, as, if such a - circumstance were to come to the ears of the buckras, it might bring her - into trouble, women being seldom known to walk and talk without their - heads, indeed, if ever, except by the assistance of Obeah. ‘Bad child!’ - cried the old woman; ‘bad child! and bad will come to you!’ Matters were - no better managed near the cocoa-tree; and even when she reached the - mahogany, although she saw that the old woman had not only got her head - on, but had a red docker besides, she could not prevail on herself to say - more than a short ‘How day?’ without calling her ‘grannie.’ [Among negroes - it is almost tantamount to an affront to address by the name, without - affixing some term of relationship, such as ‘grannie,’ or ‘uncle,’ or - ‘cousin.‘] My Cornwall boy, George, told me one day, that ‘Uncle Sully - wanted to speak to massa.’ ‘Why, is Sully your uncle, George?’ ‘No, massa; - me only call him so for honour.’ However, she received the permission to - eat rice at the cottage, coupled with the injunction of giving a share to - the black puss; an injunction, however, which she totally disregarded, - although she scrupled not to assure her hostess that she had suffered puss - to eat till she could eat no more. The old lady in the red petticoat - seemed to swallow the lie very glibly, and despatched the girl to the - fowl-house for three eggs, as she had before done her cousin; but having - been cautioned against taking the talking eggs, she conceived that these - must needs be the most valuable; and, therefore, made a point of selecting - those three which seemed to be the greatest gossips of the whole poultry - yard. Then, lest their chattering should betray her disobedience, she - thought it best not to return into the hut, and, accordingly, set forward - on her return home; but she had not yet reached the mahogany tree, when - curiosity induced her to break one of the eggs. To her infinite - disappointment it proved to be empty; and she soon found cause to wish - that the second had been empty too; for, on her dashing it against the - ground, out came an enormous yellow snake, which flew at her with dreadful - hissings. Away ran the girl; a fallen bamboo lay in her path; she stumbled - over it, and fell. In her fall the third egg was broken; and the old woman - without the head immediately popping out of it, told her, that if she had - treated her as civilly, and had adhered as closely to the truth as her - cousin had done, she would have obtained the same good fortune; but that - as she had shown her nothing but rudeness, and told her nothing but lies, - she must be contented to carry nothing home but the empty egg-shells. The - old woman then jumped upon the yellow snake, galloped away with incredible - speed, and never showed her red docker in that part of the island any - more.” - </p> - <h3> - APRIL 8. - </h3> - <p> - At breakfast the captain was explaining to me the dangerous consequences - of breaking the wheel-rope: two hours afterwards the wheel-rope broke, and - round swung the vessel. However, as the accident fortunately took place in - the day time, and when the sea was perfectly calm, it was speedily - remedied: but this was “talking of the devil and his imps” with a - vengeance. - </p> - <h3> - APRIL 10. - </h3> - <p> - During the early part of my outward-bound voyage I was extremely afflicted - with sea-sickness; and between eight o’clock on a Monday morning, and - twelve on the following Thursday, I actually brought up almost a thousand - lines, with rhymes at the end of them. Having nothing better to do at - present, I may as well copy them into this book. Composed with such speed, - and under such circumstances, I take it for granted that the verses cannot - be very good; but let them be ever so bad, I defy any one to be more sick - while reading them than the author himself was while writing them. This - strange story was found by me in an old Italian book, called “II Palagio - degli Incanti,” in which it was related as a fact, and stated to be taken - from the “Annals of Portugal,” an historical work. I will not vouch for - the truth of it myself; and, at all events, I earnestly request that no - person who may read these verses will ask me “who the hero really was?” If - he does, I shall only return the same answer which the lady gave her - husband when, being on the point of shipwreck, he requested her to tell - him whether she had really ever wronged his bed? “My dear,” said she, - “sink or swim, that secret shall go to the grave with me.” - </p> - <h3> - THE ISLE OF DEVILS. - </h3> - <h3> - A METRICAL TALE. - </h3> - <p class="indent15"> - “Should I report this now, would they believe me? - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - If I should say, I saw such islanders, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Who, though they were of monstrous shape, yet, note, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Their manners were more gentle-kind, than of - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Our human generation you shall find - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Many; nay, almost any!”— - </p> - <p class="indent30"> - <i>Tempest</i>, Act 3. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <h3> - I. - </h3> - <p class="indent15"> - Speed, Halcyon, speed, and here construct thy nest: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Brood on these waves, and charm the winds to rest! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - No wave should dare to rage, no wind to roar, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Till lands yon blooming maid on Lisbon’s shore. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - That maid, as Venus fair and chaste is she, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - When first to dazzled sky and glorying sea - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - The bursting conch Love’s new-born queen exposed, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - The fairest pearl that ever shell inclosed. - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - While love’s fantastic hand had joyed to braid - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Her locks with weeds and shells like some sea-maid, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - High seated at the stern was Irza seen, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And seemed to rule the tide, as ocean’s queen. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Smooth sailed the bark; the sun shone clear and bright - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - The glittering billows danced along in light; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - While Irza, free from fear, from sorrow free, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Bright as the sun, and buoyant as the sea, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Bade o’er the lute her flying fingers move, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And sang a Spanish lay of Moorish love. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <h3> - ZAYDE AND ZAYDA. - </h3> - <p class="indent15"> - (From Las Guerras Civiles de Granada.’) - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Lo! beneath yon haughty towers, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Where the young and gallant Zayde - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Fondly chides the lingering hours, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Till they bring his lovely maid. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Evening shades are gathering round him; - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Doubting fear his heart alarms; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - But nor doubt nor fear can wound him, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - If he views his lady’s charms. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Hark! the window softly telling, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Zayda comes to bless his sight; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Bright as sun-beams clouds dispelling, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Mild as Cynthia’s trembling light. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - “Dearest, say, to what I’m fated!” - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Cried the Moor, as near he drew: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - “Is the tale my page related, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Loveliest lady, is it true? - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - “To an ancient lord thy beauty - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Does thy tyrant father doom? - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Must my love, the slave of duty, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Waste in age’s arms her bloom? - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - “If my lot be still to languish, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Thine, another’s bride to be, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Let thy lips pronounce my anguish; - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - ‘Twill be bliss to die by thee!” - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Rising sighs her grief discover; - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Fast her tears, while speaking, pour— - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - “Zayde, my Zayde, our loves are over! - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Zayde, my Zayde, we meet no more! - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - “Allah knows, I cherished dearly, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Fondest hopes of being thine! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Allah knows, I grieve sincerely, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - When I those fond hopes resign! - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - “May some lady, happier, fairer, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Blest with every charm and grace, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Whose kind friends would grieve to tear her - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - From all comfort, fill my place: - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - “May all pleasures greet your bridal; - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - May she give you heart for heart! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Never be she from her idol - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Forced, as I am now, to part!” - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - “Rumour did not then deceive me!” - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Wild the Moor in anguish cries: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - “Then <i>’</i>tis true! for wealth you leave me! - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Wealth has charms for Zayda’s eyes! - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - “Blind to beauty, cold to pleasure, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Ozmyn shall my hopes destroy! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Yes; though worthless such a treasure, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - He shall Zayda’s charms enjoy! - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - “Fare thee well! so soon to sever - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Little thought I, when you said, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - “Thine it is, and thine for ever - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - ‘Shall be Zayda’s heart, my Zayde!’” - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <h3> - II. - </h3> - <p class="indent15"> - Scarce moved the zephyr’s wings, while breathed the song, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And waves in silence bore the bark along. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - <i>’</i>Twas Irza sang! Rosalvo at her side - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Gazed on his cherub-love, his destined bride, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Felt at each look his soul in softness melt, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Nor wished to feel more bliss than then he felt. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Gainst the high mast, intent on book and beads, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - A reverend abbot leans, and prays, and reads: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Yet oft with secret glance the pair surveys, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Marks how she looks, and listens what he says. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - An idle task! The terms which speak their love - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Had served for prayer, and passed unblamed above. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - He finds each tender phrase so free from harm, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - So pure each thought, each look so chaste though warm, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Still to his book and beads he turns again, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Pleased to have found his guardian care so vain; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - While oft a blush of shame his pale cheek wears, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - To find his thoughts so much less pure than theirs. - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Oh! they <i>were</i> pure! pure as the moon, whose ray - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Loves on the shrines of virgin-saints to play; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Pure as the falling snow, ere yet its shower - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Bends with its weight its own pale fragile flower. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Not fourteen years were Irza’s; nay, ’tis true, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Most maids at twelve know more than Irza knew: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And scarce two more had spread with silken down - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Her youthful cousin’s cheek of glowing brown. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - His tutor sage (in fact, not show, a saint) - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Had kept his heart and mind secure from taint. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - In liberal arts, in healthful manly sports, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - In studies fit for councils, camps, and courts, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - His moments found their full and best employ, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Nor left one leisure hour for guilty joy. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Since her blue dove-like eyes six springs had seen, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Immured in cloistered shades had Irza been, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - From duties done her sole delight deriven, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And her sole care to please the queen of heaven. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - None e’er approached her, save the pure and good: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Her promised spouse; that monk who near them stood; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Her viceroy uncle, and some guardian nun - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Were all she e’er had seen by moon or sun. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - No amorous forms, by wanton art designed, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Had e’er inflamed her blood, or stained her mind; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - No hint in books, no coarse or doubtful phrase - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - E’er bade her curious thought explore the maze - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - No glowing dream by memory’s pencil drawn - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Had e’er profaned her sleep, and made her blush at dawn. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - With flowers she decked the virgin mother’s shrine, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Nor guessed a wonder made that name divine. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - The very love, which lent her looks such fire, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Ne’er raised one blameful thought, nor loose desire; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Like streams of gold, which in alembic roll, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - The flames she suffered but refined her soul; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Made it more free from stain, more light from dross, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - With brighter lustre, and with softer gloss. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - That, which she bore her bridegroom, well might claim - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - A brother’s love, and bear a sister’s name: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And e’en where now her lips in playful bliss - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Sealed on Rosalvo’s eyes a balmy kiss, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Love’s highest, dearest grace she meant to show, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Nor thought he more could ask, nor she bestow. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <h3> - III - </h3> - <p class="indent20"> - From Goa’s precious sands to Lisbon’s shore. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - The viceroy’s countless wealth that vessel bore: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - In heaps there jewels lay of various dyes, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Ingots of gold, and pearls of wondrous size; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And there (two gems worth all that Cortez won) - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - He placed his angel niece and only son. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Sebastian sought the Moors! With loyal zeal - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Rosalvo cased his youthful limbs in steel; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - To die or conquer by his sovereign’s side - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - He came; and with him came his destined bride. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - E’en now in Lisbon’s court for Irza’s hair - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Virgins the myrtle’s nuptial crown prepare, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And Hymen waves his torch from Cintra’s towers, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Hails the dull bark, and chides the slow-winged hours. - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Seldom in this bad world two hearts we see - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - So blest, and meriting so blest to be; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Then oh! ye winds, gently your pinions move, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And speed in safety home the bark of love. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Brood, Halcyon, brood: thy sea-spell chaunt again, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And keep the mirror of the enchanted main, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Where his white wing the exulting tropic dips, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Calm as their hearts, and smiling as their lips. - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - The charm prevails! Hushed are the waves and still; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - The expanded sails light favouring zephyrs fill. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Wafting with motion scarce perceived; and now - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - In rapture Irza from the vessel’s prow - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Gazed on an isle with verdure gay and bright, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Which seemed (so green it shone in solar light) - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - An emerald set in silver. Long her eyes - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Dwelt on its rocks; and “Oh! dear friend,” she cries, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And clasps Rosalvo’s hand,—“admire with me - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Yon isle, which rising crowns the silent sea! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - How bold those mossy cliffs, which guard the strand, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Like spires, and domes, and towers in fairy-land! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - How green the plains! how balsam-fraught the breeze! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - How bend with golden fruit the loaded trees; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - While, fluttering midst their boughs in joyful notes, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Myriads of birds attune their warbling throats! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Blooms all the ground with flowers! and mark, oh! mark - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - That giant palm, whose foliage broad and dark - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Plays on the sun-clad rock!—Beneath, a cave - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Spreads wide its sparry mouth: while loosely wave - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - A thousand creepers, dyed with thousand stains, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Whose wreaths enrich the trees, and cloathe the plains. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Dear friend, how blest, if passed my life could be - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - In that fair isle, with God alone and thee, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Far from the world, from man and fiend secure, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - No guilt to harm us, and no vice to lure! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Bright round the virgin’s shrine would blush and bloom - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - That world of flowers, which pour such rich perfume; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And sweet yon caves repeat with mellowing swell - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Eve’s closing hymn, when chimed the vesper-bell.” - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - The pilot heard—“Oh! spring of life,” he cried, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - “How bright and beauteous seems the world untried! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - I too, like you, in youth’s romantic bowers - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Dreamt not of wasps in fruit, nor thorns in flowers; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And when on banks of sand the sunbeams shone, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - I deemed each sparkling flint a precious stone. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Ah! noble lady, learn, that isle so fair, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - The fields all roses, and all balm the air, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - That isle is one, where every leaf’s a spell, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Where no good thing e’er dwelt, nor e’er shall dwell. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - No fisher, forced from home by adverse breeze, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Would slake his thirst from yon infernal trees: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - No shipwrecked sailor from the following waves - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Would seek a shelter in those haunted caves. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - There flock the damned! there Satan reigns, and revels! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And thence yon isle is called (( The Isle of Devils!” - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Nor think, on rumour’s faith this tale is given: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Once, hot in youthful blood, when hell nor heaven - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Much claimed my thoughts, (the truth with shame I tell; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Holy St. Francis, guard thy votary well! ) - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - In quest of water near that isle I drew: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - When lo! such monstrous forms appalled my view, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Such shrieks I heard, sounds all so strange and dread, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - That from the strand with shuddering haste I fled, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Plyed as for life my oars, nor backward bent my head. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And though since then hath flown full many a year, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Still sinks my heart, still shake my limbs with fear, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Soon as yon awful island meets mine eye! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Cross we our breasts! say, ‘Ave!’ and pass by!” - </p> - <h3> - IV. - </h3> - <p class="indent20"> - The isle is past. And still in tranquil pride - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Bears the rich bark its treasures o’er the tide. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And now the sun, ere yet his lamp he shrouds, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Stains the pure western sky with crimson clouds: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Now from the sea’s last verge he sheds his rays, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And sinks triumphant in a golden blaze. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Still o’er the heavens reflected splendours flow, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Which make the world of waters gleam and glow: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Wide and more wide each billow shines more bright, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Till all the empurpled ocean floats in light. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Soon as fair Irza marked the evening’s close, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Grave from her seat the young enthusiast rose, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Told o’er her beads, and when the string was said, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - “Ave Maria!” sang the enraptured maid; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Her look so humble, so devout her air, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Each worldly wish appeared so lost in prayer, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - All felt, no thought could to her mind be near, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - That man her form could see, her voice could hear: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Hushed all the ship!—Each sailor checked his glee, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Clasped his hard hands, and bent his trembling knee; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And each (as rose that soft mysterious strain, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Best help in trouble, and sweet balm in pain) - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Gazed on the maid with mingled awe and fear, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Damp on his cheek perceived the unwonted tear, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Then raised to Heaven his eyes in earnest prayer, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And half believed himself already there. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Low too Rosalvo knelt, nor knew, if now - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - For Mary’s grace, or Irza’s, rose his vow. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Scarce e’en the monk forbore to kneel; his child - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Fondly he viewed, and sweetly, gravely smiled, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And blessed that God, as swelled each melting note, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Who gave such heavenly powers to human throat! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Melodious strains, oh! speed your flight above - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - On Neptune’s wings, and reach the ear of Love! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Oh! spread thy starry robe, celestial queen, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - (For much thine aid she needs!) from ills to screen - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Thy virgin-votaress!—Silence holds the deep, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And e’en the helmsman’s eyes are sealed by sleep: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Yet mark yon gathering clouds!—the moon is fled!— - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Mark too that deathlike stillness, deep and dread! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And hark!—from yon black cloud an awful voice - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Pours the wild chaunt, and bids the winds rejoice! - </p> - <h3> - SONG OF THE TEMPEST-FIEND. - </h3> - <p class="indent15"> - I marked her!—the pennants, how gaily they streamed!— - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - How well was she armed for resistance! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - The waves that sustained her, how brightly they beamed - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - In the sun’s setting rays, and the sailors all seemed - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - To forget the storm-spirit’s existence. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - But I marked her!—and now from the clouds I descend! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - My spells to the billows I mutter! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - I clap my black pinions! my wand I extend, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - In darkness the sky and the ocean to blend, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And the winds mark the charms which I utter. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Now more and more rapid in eddies I whirl, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - In my voice while the thunder-clap rumbles: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And now the white mountainous waves, as they curl, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - I joy o’er the deck of the vessel to hurl, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And laugh, as she tosses and tumbles. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - The crew is alarmed; but the tempest prevails, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - No care from my fury delivers! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Ere there’s time for their furling the canvass, the sails - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - From the top to the bottom I split with my nails, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And they stream in the blast, rent in shivers! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - The sky and the ocean, fierce battle they wage; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - The elements all are in action! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - No sailor the storm longer hopes to assuage: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - What clamours, what hurry, what oaths, and what rage! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Oh, brave! what despair, what distraction! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Their heart-strings, they ache, while my ravage they view; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Each knee <i>’</i>gainst its fellow is knocking! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - My eyes, darting lightnings to dazzle the crew, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Burn and blaze; and those lightnings so forked and so blue - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Make the darkness of midnight more shocking. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - The morn to that vessel no succour shall bring! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Now high o’er the main-mast I hover; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Now I plunge from the sky to the deck with a spring, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And I shatter the mast with one flap of my wing; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - It cracks! and it breaks! and goes over! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Hew away, gallant seamen! fatigue never dread; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - You shall all rest to-night from your labours! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - The ocean’s wide mantle shall o’er you be spread, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - The white bones of mariners pillow your head, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And the whale and the shark be your neighbours. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - For I swoop from aloft, and I blaze, and I burn, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - While my spouts the salt billows are drinking: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And I drive <i>’</i>gainst the vessel, and beat down the stern, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And pour in a flood, which shall never return, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And all cry—66 She’s sinking! she’s sinking!”— - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - The barge?—well remembered!—<i>’</i>tis strong, and <i>’</i>tis - large, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And will live in the billows’ commotion; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - But now all my spouts from the clouds I discharge, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And down goes the vessel, and down goes the barge! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Hurrah! I reign lord of the ocean! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - How their shrieks rose in chorus! Now all is at rest; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - The tempest no longer is brewing! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - My dreams by the harm newly done will be blest, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - So I’ll sleep for a while on a thunder-cloud’s breast, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Then rouze to hurl round me fresh ruin. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Hushed is the storm: the heavens no longer frown; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And o’er that spot, where late the bark went down, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - All bright and smiling flows the treacherous wave, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Like sunshine playing on a new-made grave. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Full rose the watery moon: it showed a plank, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - To which, all deadly pale, with tresses dank, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And robes of white, on which the sea had flung - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Loose wreaths of ocean-flowers, unconscious clung - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - A fair frail form:—‘twas Irza!—to the shore - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Each following wave the virgin nearer bore; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And now the mountain surge overwhelmed the land, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Then flying left her on the wished-for strand. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Soon hope and love of life her powers renew; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Swift towards a cliff she speeds, which towers in view, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Nor waits the wave’s return’; and now again - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Safe on the shore, and rescued from the main, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Prostrate she falls, and thanks the Sire of life, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Whose arm hath snatched her from the billowy strife. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - That duty done, she rose, and gazed around: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Mossed are the rocks, and flowers bestrew the ground. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Not distant far, a group of fragrant trees - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Bend with their golden fruit. The ocean-breeze - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Shakes a gigantic palm, which o’er a cave - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Its dark green foliage spreads, and wildly wave - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Their blooming wreaths, all starred with midnight dews, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - A thousand creeping plants of thousand hues. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Then flashed the dreadful truth on Irza’s view! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - That cave—those trees—that giant palm she knew! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Then from her lips for ever fled the smile: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - —“Mother of God!” she shrieked, “the Demon-Isle!”— - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Long on a broken crag she knelt, and prayed, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And wearied every saint for strength and aid; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Then speechless, heedless, senseless lay; when, lo! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Strange mutterings near her roused from torpid woe - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Her soul to fresh alarms. Her head she reared, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And near her face an hideous face appeared; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - But straight <i>’</i>twas gone!—In trembling haste she rose, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And saw a ring of monstrous dwarfs inclose - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Her rugged couch. Not Teniers’ hand could paint - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Forms more grotesque to scare the tempted saint, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Than here, as on they pressed in circling throng, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - With gnashing teeth seemed for her blood to long, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And grinned, and glared, and gloated! Quicker grew - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Her breath! Death hemmed her round! As yet, ’tis true, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Far off they kept; but soon, more daring grown, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - More near they crept, oft sharpening on some stone - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Their long crookt claws; and still, as on they came, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - They screeched and chattered; and their eyes of flame, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Twinkling and goggling, told, what pleasure grim - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - ‘Twould give to rack and rend her limb from limb: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - —“Heaven take my soul!” she cried,—when, hark! a - </p> - <p class="indent30"> - moan, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - So full, so sad, so strange—not shriek—not groan— - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Something scarce earthly—breathed above her head— - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - ‘Twas heard, and instant every imp was fled. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - What was that sound? What pitying saint from high - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Had stooped to save her? Now to heaven her eye - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Grateful she raised. Almighty powers!—a form, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Gigantic as the palm, black as the storm, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - All shagged with hair, wild, strange in shape and show, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Towered on the loftiest cliff, and gazed below. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - On her he gazed, and gazed so fixed, so hard, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Like knights of bronze some hero’s tomb who guard. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Bright wreaths of scarlet plumes his temples crowned, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And round his ankles, arms, and wrists were wound - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Unnumbered glassy strings of crystals bright, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Corals, and shells, and berries red and white. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - On her he gazed, and floods of sable fires - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Rolled his huge eyes, and spoke his fierce desires, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - As on his club, a torn-up lime, he leaned.— - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - “Help, Heaven!” thought Irza, “‘tis the master-fiend!” - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Not long he paused: he now with one quick bound - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Sprang from the cliff, and lighted on the ground. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Back fled the maid in terror; but her fear - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Was needless. Humbly, slowly crept he near, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Then kissed the earth, his club before her laid, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And of his neck her footstool would have made: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - But from his touch she shrank. He raised his head, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And saw her limbs convulsed, her face all dread, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And felt the cause his presence! Sad and slow - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - He rose, resumed his club, and turn’d to go. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Reproachful was his look, but still <i>’</i>twas kind; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - He climb’d the rock, but oft he gazed behind; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - He reach’d the cave; one look below he threw; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Plaintive again he moan’d, and with slow steps withdrew. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - She is alone; she breathes again!—Fly, fly!— - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Ah! wretched girl, too late! with frenzied eye, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - (Scarce gone the master-fiend) his imps she sees, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Pour from the rocks, and drop from all the trees - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - With yell, and squeak, and many a horrid sound, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And form a living fence to hedge her round: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - —“Now then,” she cried, 4 c all’s over!—oh! farewell, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Farewell, Rosalvo!” On her knee she fell, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And told her beads with trembling hands. Yet still - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - On came the throng; and soon, with wanton skill - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - (Lured by its coral glow and cross of gold), - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - One snatch’d her chaplet, nor forsook his hold, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Though hard she struggled: while more bold, more fierce - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Another seized her arm, and dared to pierce - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - With his sharp teeth its snow. The pure blood stream’d - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Fast from the wound, and loud the virgin scream’d; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And strait again was heard that sad strange moan, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And instant all the dwarfs again were flown. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Scarce conscious that she lived, scarce knowing why, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Half grieved, half grateful, Irza raised her eye: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Still on the rock (not dared he down to spring) - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Dark and majestic stood the demon-king; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Then lowly knelt, and raised his arm to wave - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - An orange bough, and court her to his cave. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Lost are her friends; no help, no hope is nigh; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - What can she do, and whither can she fly? - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - To him already twice her life she owes, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And but his presence now restrains her foes. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - On wings of flame the sun had left the main; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And peeping from the trees, the imps too plain - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Shot darts of rage from their green orbs of sight: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - She heard their gibberings, and she mark’d their spite; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And, while they eyed her form, their care she saw - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - To grind their teeth, and whet each cruel claw. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Demons alike, the monarch-demon’s breast - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Appear’d least fierce; of ills she chose the best, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Sought, where profaned her coral rosary lay, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Then slowly mounted where he show’d the way. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Cautious he led her tow’rds his lone abode, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And clear’d each stone that might impede her road. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - With pain she trod: she reach’d the cave; but there - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - No more their weight her wearied limbs could bear. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Exhausted, fainting, anguish, terror, thirst, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Fatigue o’erpower’d her frame: her heart must burst, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Her eyes grow dim! Sunk on the rock she lies, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And sinking, prays she never more may rise. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Long in this deathlike swoon she lay: at length - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Exhausted nature show’d forth all its strength, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And call’d her back to life. Her opening eyes - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Beheld a grotto vast in depth and size, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Whose high straight sides forbade all hopes of flight: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - The fractured roof gave ample space for light, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Through which in gorgeous guise the day-star shone - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - On many a lucid shell and brilliant stone. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Through pendent spars and crystals as it falls, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Each beam with rainbow hues adorns the walls, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Gilds all the roof, emblazes all the ground, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And scatters light, and warmth, and splendour round. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Gently on pillowing furs reposed her head; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - With many a verdant rush her couch was spread; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - A gourd with blushing fruits was near her placed, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Whose scent and colour woo’d alike her taste; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And round her strewn there bloom’d unnumber’d flowers - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Charming her sense with aromatic powers. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - One only object chill’d her blood with ear: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Far off removed (but still, alas! too near), - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Scarce breathing, lest a breath her sleep might break, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - There stood the fiend, and watch’d to see her wake. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - In sooth, if credit outward show might crave, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Than Irza, ne’er had nymph an humbler slave. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - He watched her every glance; her frown he fear’d; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And if his pains to meet her wish appear’d, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - All pains seem’d far o’er-paid, all cares appeased, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And so she found but pleasure, he was pleased. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - One power he claim’d, but claim’d that power alone: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Still, when he left her side, a mass of stone - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Barr’d up the grotto, nor allow’d her feet - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - To pass the limits of her bright retreat. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - But when in quest of food not forced to stray, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - In Irza’s sight he wore the livelong day, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And show’d her living springs and noontide shades, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Spice-breathing groves, and flower-enamell’d glades. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - For her he still selects the sweetest roots, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - The coolest waters, and the loveliest fruits; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - To deck her charms the softest furs he brings, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And plucks their plumage from flamingo wings; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Bids blooming shrubs, to shade her, bend in bowers, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And strews her couch with fragrant herbs and flowers - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - While many an ivy-twisted grate restrains - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - The splendid tenants of the etherial plains. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Then, when she sought her lonesome grot at eve, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And waved her hand, and warn’d him take his leave, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Her will was his: he breathed his plaintive moan, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Gazed one last look, then gently roll’d the stone. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Perhaps, such constant care and worship paid, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - More fit for angel than for mortal maid, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - At length had won her, with more grateful mind - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - To view his gifts, and pay respect so kind; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - But, as her giant-gaoler she esteem’d - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Some prince of subterraneous fire, she deem’d - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - His favours snares, his presents only given - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - To shake her faith, and steal her soul from heaven. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Still then her loathing heart remain’d the same, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Joy’d when he went, and shudder’d when he came; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And when to share his fruits by hunger press’d, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Ever she bless’d them first, and cross’d her breast. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Days creep—months roll—no change! no hope! and oh! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Rosalvo lost, what hope can life bestow? - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Death, only death, she feels, can end her woes; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Nor doubts death soon will bring that wish’d-for close; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - For now her frame, her mind, confess disease; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Painful and faint she moves; her tottering knees - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Scarce bear her weight; and oft, by humour moved, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Her sickening soul now loathes what late it loved. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - It comes! the moment comes! Her frame is rent - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - By sharper pangs; her nerves, too strongly bent, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Seem on the point to break; her forehead burns; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Her curdling blood is fire, is ice by turns; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Her heart-strings crack!—“This hour is sure her last!’ - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Fainting she sinks, and hopes “that hour is pass’d!” - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Wake, Irza, wake to grief most strange and deep! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Still must thou live, and only live to weep! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Oh, lift thine aching head, thy languid eyes, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And mark what hideous stranger near thee lies. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - “Guard me, all blessed saints!”—A monster child - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Press’d her green couch; and, as it grimly smiled, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Its shaggy limbs, and eyes of sable fire, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Betray’d the crime, and claim’d its hellish sire! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - “Lost! lost! My soul is lost!” the affrighted maid, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - (Ah, now a maid no more!) distracted, said, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And wrung her hands. Those words she scarce could say; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Yet would have pray’d, but fear’d’t was sin to pray! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - That only veil which ne’er admits a stain, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - The veil of ignorance, was rent in twain: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - In spite of virtue, cloisters, horror, youth, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - She knows, and feels, and shudders at the truth. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - That night accursed!—In death-like swoon she slept— - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Then near her couch if that dark demon crept— - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Oh! where was then her guardian angel’s aid? - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And would not heavenly Mary save her maid? - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Deprived of sense—betray’d by place and time— - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Then was she doom’d to share the unconscious crime? - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Debased, deflower’d, and stamp’d a wretch for life, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - A monster’s mother, and a demon’s wife? - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Oh! at that thought her soul what passions tear! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - How then she beats her breast, how rends her hair, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And bids, with golden ringlets scatter’d round, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Stream all the air, and glitter all the ground! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Sighs, sobs, and shrieks the place of words supply; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And still she mourns to live, and prays to die, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Till heart denies to groan, and eyes to flow; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Then, on her couch of rushes sinking low, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Languid and lost she lies, in silent, senseless woe. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - What lifts her burning head? why opes her eye? - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - What makes her blood run back? A faint shrill cry! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Too well, alas! that cry was understood: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - The monster pined for want, and claim’d its food. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Then in her heart what rival passions strove! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - How shrinks disgust, how yearns maternal love! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Now to its life her feelings she prefers; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Now Nature wakes, and makes her own—“<i>’</i>Tis hers!” - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Loathing its sight, she melts to hear its cries, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And, while she yields the breast, averts her eyes. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Not so the demon-sire: the child he raised, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - He kiss’d it—danced it—nursed it—knelt, and gazed, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Till joyful tears gush’d forth, and dimm’d his sight: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Scarce Irza’s self was view’d with more delight. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - He held it tow’rds her—horror seem’d to thrill - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Her frame. He sigh’d, and clasp’d it closer still. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Once, and but once, his features wrath express’d: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - He saw her shudder, as it drain’d her breast; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And, while reproach half mingled with his moan, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Snatch’d it from her’s, and press’d it to his own. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Three months had pass’d; still lived the monster-brat: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Its sire had sought the wood; alone she sat: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - She sheds no tears—no tears are left to shed; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Unmoisten’d burn her eyes—her heart seems dead— - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Her form seems marble. Lo! from far the sound - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Of music steals, and fills the caves around. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - She starts!—scarce breathing—trembling;—“Oh! for - </p> - <p class="indent30"> - wings!”— - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - But hark! for nearer now the minstrel sings. . - </p> - <h3> - SONG. - </h3> - <h3> - 1. - </h3> - <p class="indent15"> - When summer smiled on Goa’s bowers - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - They seem’d so fair; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - All light the skies, all bloom the flowers, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - All balm the air! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - The mock-bird swell’d his amorous lay, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Soft, sweet, and clear; . - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And all was beauteous, all was gay, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - For she was near. - </p> - <h3> - 2. - </h3> - <p class="indent15"> - But now the skies in vain are bright - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - With Summer’s glow; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - The pea-dove’s call to Love’s delight - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Augments my woé; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And blushing roses vainly bloom; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Their charms are fled, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And all is sadness, all is gloom, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - For she is dead! - </p> - <h3> - 3. - </h3> - <p class="indent15"> - Now o’er thy head, my virgin love, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Rolls Ocean’s wave; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - But fond regret, in myrtle grove, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Hath dug thy grave. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Sweet flowers, around her vacant urn - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Your wreaths I’ll twine, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And pray such flowers, ere Spring’s return, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - May garland mine! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - “He! he!”—That love-lorn dirge—that heavenly - </p> - <p class="indent30"> - tongue— - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - That air, she taught him; ’t was Rosalvo sung! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Rosalvo, whom the waves, which wreck’d their bark, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Had borne, like her, for purpose sad and dark, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - To that strange isle; though far remote the beach - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - From Irza’s grot, which Fate ordain’d him reach; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - But now at length his curious search explores - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - These rude and slippery crags and distant shores; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And while he treads his dangerous path, the strains - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Which Irza taught him soothe her lover’s pains. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - She hears his steps, and hears them soon more near; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And loud she cries—“Rosalvo! Hear! oh, hear! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - ‘Tis Irza calls!” and now more quick, more nigh, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Down the steep rock she hears those footsteps fly. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Again she calls. He comes! He searches round; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - He seeks the gate, and soon the gate is found. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Alas! ’t is found in vain! the marble guard - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Seem’d rooted as the rock, whose mouth it barr’d. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Yet still, with labouring nerves, to move the stone - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - He struggles. Now he stops; and, hark! A groan! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - But one; then all was hush’d! A sickening chill - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Seized Irza’s heart, and seem’d her veins to thrill. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Fain had she call’d her youthful bridegroom’s name; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Her tongue Fear’s numbing fingers seem’d to lame. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Footsteps!—more near they drew:—slow rolled the - </p> - <p class="indent30"> - stone— - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - The infernal gaoler came, but came alone. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - With anxious glance his eye explored the cell; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - But when it fix’d on her’s, abash’d it fell. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - He knelt, and seem’d to fear her frown. He bore - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - His club.‘T was splash’d with brains! ’t was wet with - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - gore! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - She fear’d—she guess’d—she rush’d—she ran—she - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - flew,— - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Nor dared the fiend her frantic course pursue. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - “Rosalvo! speak! Rosalvo!” Shrill, yet sweet, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - She wakes the echoes. What obstructs her feet? - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - ‘T is he, the young, the good, the kind, the fair! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - As some frail lily, which the passing share * - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Or wanton boy hath wounded, droops its head, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Its whiteness wither’d, and its fragrance fled, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Low lay the youth, and from his temple’s wound - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - With precious streams bedew’d the ensanguin’d ground. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Then reason fled its seat! She shrieks! she raves! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And fills with hideous yells the ocean caves; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Rends her bright locks, and laughs to see them fly, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And bids them seek Rosalvo in the sky. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - To dig his grave she fiercely ploughs the ground, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Loud shrieks his name, nor feels the flints that wound - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Her bosom’s globes, and stain their snow with gore, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - As wild she dashes down, and beats in rage the floor. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Now fail her strength, her spirits; mute she sits, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Silent and sad; then laughs and sings by fits. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - A statue now she seems, or one just dead, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Her looks all gloom, her eyes two balls of lead: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Then simply smiles, and chaunts, with idiot glee, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - “Ave Maria! Benedicite!” - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Till, Nature’s powers revived by rest, again - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - The fury passions riot in her brain, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And all is rage, revenge, and helpless, hopeless pain. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Days, weeks, months pass. Time came with slow relief; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - But still at length it came. No more her grief - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Disturbs her brain: she knows “that groan was his!” - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And fully feels herself the wretch she is. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - She rises: towards the grotto’s mouth she goes, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Nor dares the fiend her wandering steps oppose. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - She seeks the spot on which Rosalvo fell, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - On which he died! She knows that spot too well! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - But, lo! no corse was there! All smooth and green - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - A velvet turf o’erstrewn with flowers was seen, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And fenced with roses. “Oh! whose pious care - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Hath deck’d this grave? Hear, gracious Heaven, his - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - prayer, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - When most he needs!” While thus in doubt she stands, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - She marks the fiend’s approach. His ebon hands - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Sustain’d a gourd of flowers of various hue; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - He pour’d them, kiss’d the turf, and straight withdrew - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Hither each morn his blooming gifts he bore, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Smooth’d the green sod, and strew’d it o’er and o’er. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Hither, each morn, came Irza; on those flowers - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - She wept, she pray’d, she sang away her hours. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - So mourns the nightingale on poplar spray *, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Her callow brood by shepherds borne away, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Weeps all the night, and from her green retreat - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Fills the wide groves with warblings sad as sweet. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And still fresh woes succeed. She feels again - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Mysterious pangs, nor doubts her cause of pain. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Too sure, while lost in maniac state she lay, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Her sense, her wits, her feeling all away, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - The fiend once more had seized the unguarded hour - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - To force her weakness, and abuse his ower. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - “Qualis populeâ,” &c.—Virgil. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Again Lucina came. That new-born cry, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Shuddering, again she heard; her fearful eye - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Wander’d around awhile, nor dared to stay. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - “There, there he lies! my child!” With fresh essay - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Once more she turn’d. But when at length her sight - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Dwelt on its face, her wonder—her delight— - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Can ne’er by tongue be told, by fancy guess’d! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Frantic she caught, she kiss’d, and lull’d him on her breast. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Oh! who can paint how Irza loved that child! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Grieved when he moan’d, and smiled whene’er he smiled! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - His dimpled arm soft on the rushes lay; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Through his fine skin the blood was seen to play; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - That skin than down of swans more smooth and white; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Nor e’er shone summer sky so blue and bright, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - As shone the eyes of that same cherub elf; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - In small the model of her beauteous self. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - The scant gold locks which gilt his ivory brow, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Were sun-beams gleaming on a globe of snow; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And on his coral lips the red which stood, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Shamed the first rose, whose milk was Paphia’s blood. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - By fairy-thefts since nurses were beguiled, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Never stole fairy yet a lovelier child! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - In Nature’s costlier charms no babe array’d, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - At length a mother’s fears and throes repaid: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Not when Lucina first in myrtle grove, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - To Beauty’s kiss presented new-born Love; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And while, with wond’ring eyes, the immortal boy - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Imbibed new light, and pour’d ecstatic joy: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - He kiss’d and drain’d by turns her fragrant breast, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Till amorous ring-doves coo’d the god to rest. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Mothers may love as much, but never more, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Nor e’er did mother love so well before, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - As Irza loved that child! Her sable lord - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Mark’d well that love; and now, to health restored, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - He felt her child to home would chain her feet, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Nor roll’d the stone to close her lone retreat. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Still, when he went, he with him bore away - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - That fav’rite babe, nor fear’d she far would stray. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Arm’d with his club, she now might safely rove - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Through verdant vale, or weep in shadowy grove; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - For soon the dwarfs were used to bear her sight, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Knew that dread club, nor dared indulge their spite. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Still from afar off looks of rage they cast, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And shrilly squeal’d and clamour’d as she pass’d; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - But by their flight when near she came, ’t was seen, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - They own’d allegiance, and confess’d their queen. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - One morn her savage lord, in quest of food, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Forsook tho cave, and sought th’ adjacent wood; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And as her darling boy he with him bore, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Irza, unwatch’d, might pace the sounding shore. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Listless and slow she moved, and climb’d with pain - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - A tow’ring cliff, which beetled o’er the main. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Now three full years had flown, since Irza’s eye - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Had dwelt on human form, and since reply - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - From human tongue had blest her ear.‘Tis true, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Throned on a rock, which spread before her view - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - The sea’s wide-stretching plains, she once descried - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - A gallant vessel plough the neighbouring tide. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - By cries to draw it near she long essay’d, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And oft a palm-bough waved in sign for aid: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - But all her cries and all her signs were vain; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - On sail’d the bark, nor e’er return’d again! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - On that same rock she sat, and eyed the wave, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And wish’d she there had found her wat’ry grave! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Fain had she sought one then, plunged from the steep. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And buried all her sufferings in the deep; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - But faith alike and reason bade her shun - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - That wish, nor break a thread which God had spun. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Hark!—was it fancy?—hark again!—the shores - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Echo the sound of fast approaching oars. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Oh! how she gazed!—a barge (by friars <i>’</i>twas mann’d) - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Cut the smooth waves, and sought the rocky strand. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Soon (while his wither’d hands a crosier hold, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - All rich with gems, and rough with sculptured gold), - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Landing alone, a reverend monk appear’d:— - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - His jewell’d cross—his flowing silver beard— - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - “‘Tis he!—‘tis he!”—swift down the steep she flies, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Falls at the stranger’s feet, and frantic cries, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Down her pale cheek while tears imploring roll, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - “Help, father abbot! save me! save my soul!” - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - ‘Twas he indeed! that bark which ne’er return’d, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Well on the cliff* her fair wild form discern’d, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - But deem’d some island-fiend had spread a snare - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - To lure them with a form so wild and fair. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Yet oft in Lisbon would those seamen tell, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - How angled for their souls the prince of hell; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And warmly paint, their leisure to beguile, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - The fallen angel of th’ enchanted isle. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - At length this wonder reach’d the abbot’s ear, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And prompt affection made the wonder clear:— - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - “<i>’</i>Twas Irza! shipwreck’d Irza! none but she - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - So heav’nly fair, so lonely lost could be!” - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Straight he prepares anew that sea to brave, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Which once already seem’d to yawn his grave; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Nor ask, how chanced it that he reach’d the shore: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - It was through a miracle and nothing more. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Whether on monkish frock as safe rode he, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - As night-hags skim in sieves o’er Norway’s sea; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Or like Arion plough’d the wat’ry plain, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Horsed on some monster of the astonish’d main, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Some shark, some whale, some kraken, some sea-cow— - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - St. Francis saved him, and it boots not how. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And now again the saint his priest survey’d, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - From waves and winds imploring heavenly aid; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Resolved for Irza’s sake to brave the worst - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Which fate could offer on that isle accurst. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Far off his ship was anchor’d; on that strand - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Not India’s wealth could make a layman land! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Therefore with none but monks he mann’d his barge, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Which bore of beads and bells a sacred charge; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Whole heaps of relics lent by Cintra’s nuns, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And holy water (blest at Rome) by tons! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - His toils were all o’erpaid! he saw again - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - His fav’rite child, and kindly soothed her pain; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And while her tale he heard, oft dropp’d a tear, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And sign’d his beard-swept breast in awe and fear: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Then bade her speed the friendly bark to gain, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And fly the infernal monarch’s green domain; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Nor yield her tyrant time to cast a spell, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And rouse to cross her flight the powers of hell. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Then first from Irza’s cheek the glow of red, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - By hope of rescue raised, grew faint, and fled; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Trembling she nam’d her cherub-boy, confess’d - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - A mother’s fondness fill’d his mother’s breast; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Described how fair he look’d, how sweet he smiled, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And fear’d her flight might quite destroy her child. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Then rose the abbot’s ire—ee Oh, guilty care!” - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Frowning, he cried, and shook his hoary hair: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - “Fair is the imp? and shall he therefore breathe - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - To win new subjects for the realms beneath? - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - The fiends most dangerous are those spirits bright, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Who toil for hell, and show like sons of light; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And still when Satan spreads his subtlest snares, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - The baits are azure eyes, the lines are golden hairs. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Name thou the brat no more! To Cintra’s walls - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Fly, where thy footsteps mild repentance calls. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - I’ll hear no plaint! kneel not! I’m deaf to prayer! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Swift, brethren, to the barge this maniac bear; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Speed! speed!—no tears!—no struggling!—no delay - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Row, brethren, row, and waft us swift away!” - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - The monks obeyed. Then, then in Irza’s soul - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - What various passions raged, and mock’d control! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Now how she mourn’d, now how she wept for joy, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - How loathed the sire, and how adored the boy! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - The barge is gain’d; they row. When, lo! from high - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Her ear again receives that well-known cry, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - That sad, strange moan! she starts, and lifts her eye. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - There, on a rock which fenced the strand, once more - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - She saw her demon-husband stand: he bore - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Her beauteous babe; and, while he view’d the barge, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Keen anguish seem’d each feature to enlarge, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And shake each giant limb. With piteous air - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - His arms he spread, his hands he clasp’d in prayer; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Knelt, wept, and while his eye-balls seem’d to burn, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Oft show’d the child, and woo’d her to return. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - His suit the monks disdain; the barge recedes; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - More humbly now he kneels, more earnest pleads. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - But when he found no tears their course delay, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And still the boat pursued its watery way; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Then, ’gainst his grief and rage no longer proof, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - He gnash’d his teeth, he stamp’d his iron hoof, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Whirl’d the boy wildly round and round his head, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Hash’d it against the rocks, and howling fled. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Loud shrieks the mother! changed to stone she stands, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And silent lifts to heav’n her clay-cold hands: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Then, sinking down, stretch’d on the deck she lies, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Hid her pale face, and closed her aching eyes. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - But hark! why shout the monks?—C£ Again,” they said, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - “Again the demon comes!” with desperate dread - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Starts the poor wretch, and lifts her anguish’d head. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Yes! there the infant-murderer stood once more, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - But now far different were the looks he wore. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - No bending knee, no suppliant glance was seen, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Proud was his port, and stern and fierce his mien. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - His blood-stain’d eye-balls glared with vengeful ire; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - His spreading nostrils seem’d to snort out fire. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Swiftly from crag to crag he following sprung, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - While round his neck his shaggy offspring clung; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And now, like some dark tow’r, erect he stood, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Where the last rock hung frowning o’er the flood:— - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - “Look! look!” he seem’d to say, with action wild, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - “Look, mother, look! this babe is still your child! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - With him as me all social bonds you break, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Scorn’d and detested for his father’s sake: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - My love, my service only wrought disdain, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And nature fed his heart from yours in vain! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Then go, Ingrate, far o’er the ocean go, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Consign your friend, your child to endless woe! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Renounce us! hate us! pleased, your course pursue, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And break their hearts who lived alone for you!” - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - His eyes, which flash’d red fire—his arms spread wide, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Her child raised high to heaven—too plain implied, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Such were his thoughts, though nature speech denied. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And now with eager glance the deep he view’d, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And now the barge with savage howl pursued; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Then to his lips his infant wildly press’d, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And fondly, fiercely, clasp’d it to his breast: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Three piteous moans, three hideous yells he gave, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Plunged headlong from the rock, and made the sea his - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - grave. - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Where, screen’d by orange groves and myrtle bowers, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Saint-favour’d Cintra rears her gothic towers; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - A nun there dwells, most holy, sad, and fair, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Her only business penance, fasts, and prayer; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Her only joy with flowers the shrines to dress, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Weep with the suff’ring, and relieve distress. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - A poor lay-sister she; yet golden rain - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Showers from her hand to glad each barren plain: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - In other eyes she lights up joy, but ne’er - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Those eyes of hers were seen a smile to wear: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - From other breasts she plucks the thorn of grief, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - But feels, her own admits of no relief. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Where age and sickness count the hours by groans, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Uncalled, she comes to hear and hush their moans. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - There, ever humble, watchful, patient, kind, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - No nauseous task, no servile care declined, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - O’er the sick couch, all day, all night she hangs, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Till health or death relieves the sufferer’s pangs. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - No thanks she takes, no praise from man receives, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Her duty done, the rest to God she leaves; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - But only when her care redeems a life, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Parting she says—“Pray for a demon’s wife!” - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - With blessings still, whene’er that nun they view, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - The young, the aged her sainted steps pursue, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And cry, with bended knee and suppliant air, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - ee Sister of mercy, name us in thy prayer!” - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - With beads the night, in gracious acts the day, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - So wore her youth, so wears her age away. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Now cease, my lay! thy mournful task is o’er; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Irza, farewell! I wake thy lute no more. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - “Was such her fate? and did her days thus creep - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - So sad, so slow, till came the long last sleep? - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And did for this her hands with roses twine - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - The Saviour’s altars and the Virgin’s shrine? - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Pure, beauteous, rich, did all these blessings tend, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - But from the world in prime of life to send - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - This gifted maid, in prayer to waste her hours, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And weep a fancied crime in cloister’d bowers?” - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Oh, blind to fate! perhaps that fancied crime - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Which bade her quit the world in youthful prime, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Snatch’d her from paths, where beauty, wealth, and fame - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Had proved but snares to load her soul with shame, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And spared her pangs from wilful guilt which flow, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - The only serious ills that man can know! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Ah! what avails it, since they ne’er can last, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - If gay or sad our span of days be past? - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Pray, mortals, pray, in sickness or in pain, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Not long nor blest to live, but pure from stain. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - A life of pleasure, and a life of woe, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - When both are past, the difference who can show? - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - But all can tell, how wide apart in price - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - A life of virtue, and a life of vice. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Then still, sad Irza, tread your thorny way, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Since life must end, and merits ne’er decay. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Wounded past hope, still prize the pleasure pure, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - To heal those hearts which yet can hope a cure; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Nor doubt, the soul which joys in noble deeds - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Shall reap a rich reward when most it needs. - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - When comes that day to conscious guilt so dread, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Angels unseen shall bathe your burning head: - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - The prayers of orphans fan with balmy breath, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And widow’s blessings drown the threats of death; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Each sigh your pity hush’d shall swelling rise - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - In loud hosannas when you mount the skies; - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - And every tear on earth to sorrow given, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Be precious pearls to wreathe your brows in heaven! - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <h3> - APRIL 17. - </h3> - <p class="indent20"> - Piansi i riposi di quest’ umil vita, - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - E sospirai la mia perduta pace!” - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p> - I regret the loss of our dead calm and our crawling pace of a knot and a - half an hour; for during the last four days we have had nothing but gales - and squalls, mountainous waves, the vessel rolling and pitching - incessantly, and the sea perpetually pouring in at the windows and down - through the hatchway. Into the bargain, we are now sufficiently towards - the north to find the weather perishingly cold, and we have neither wood - nor coals enough on board to allow a fire for the cabin. - </p> - <p> - But, among all our inconveniences, that which is the most intolerable - undoubtedly arises from the sick apothecary. It seems that his complaint - is the consequence of dram-drinking, which has affected his liver. Since - his coming on board, he has continued to indulge his taste; and growing - worse (as might be expected), he has now thought proper to put himself in - a state of salivation: the consequence is, that what with the mercury and - what with the man, aided by the concomitant effluvia of our cargo of - sugar, rum, and coffee, for a combination of villanous smells, Falstaff’s - buck-basket was nothing to the cabin of the Sir Godfrey Webster. I could - almost fancy myself Slawken-bergius’s Don Diego just returned from the - Promontory of Noses, and that I had exchanged my snub for a proboscis; so - much do all my other senses appear to be absorbed in that of smelling, and - so completely do I seem to myself to be nose all over. As to the poor - apothecary, his mercury annoys us without any signs as yet of its - benefiting himself. He grows worse daily, and I greatly doubt his ever - reaching England. - </p> - <h3> - APRIL 19. (Sunday.) - </h3> - <p> - I have not been able to ascertain exactly the negro notions concerning the - <i>Duppy</i>; indeed, I believe that his character and qualities vary in - different parts of the country. At first, I thought that the term Duppy - meant neither more nor less than a ghost; but sometimes he is spoken of as - “the Duppy,” as if there were but one, and then he seems to answer to the - devil. Sometimes he is a kind of malicious spirit, who haunts - burying-grounds (like the Arabian gouls), and delights in playing tricks - to those who may pass that way. On other occasions, he seems to be a - supernatural attendant on the practitioners of Obeah, in the shape of some - animal, as familiar imps are supposed to belong to our English witches; - and this latter is the part assigned to him in the following - “Nancy-story:”— - </p> - <p> - “Sarah Winyan was scarcely ten years old, when her mother died, and - bequeathed to her considerable property. Her father was already dead; and - the guardianship of the child devolved upon his sister, who had always - resided in the same house, and who was her only surviving relation. Her - mother, indeed, had left two sons by a former husband, but they lived at - some distance in the wood, and seldom came to see their mother; chiefly - from a rooted aversion to this aunt; who, although from interested motives - she stooped to flatter her sister-in-law, was haughty, ill-natured, and - even suspected of Obeahism, from the occasional visits of an enormous - black dog, whom she called Tiger, and whom she never failed to feed and - caress with marked distinction. In case of Sarah’s death, the aunt, in - right of her brother, was the heiress of his property. She was determined - to remove this obstacle to her wishes; and after treating her for some - time with harshness and even cruelty, she one night took occasion to - quarrel with her for some trifling fault, and fairly turned her out of - doors. The poor girl seated herself on a stone near the house, and - endeavoured to beguile the time by singing— - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - ‘Ho-day, poor me, O! - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Poor me, Sarah Winyan, O! - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - They call me neger, neger! - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - They call me Sarah Winyan, O!’ - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p> - “But her song was soon interrupted by a loud rushing among the bushes; and - the growling which accompanied it announced the approach of the dreaded - Tiger. She endeavoured to secure herself against his attacks by climbing a - tree: but it seems that Tiger had not been suspected of Obeahism without - reason; for he immediately growled out an assurance to the girl, that come - down she must and should! Her aunt, he said, had made her over to him by - contract, and had turned her out of doors that night for the express - purpose of giving him an opportunity of carrying her away. If she would - descend from the tree, and follow him willingly to his own den to wait - upon him, he engaged to do her no harm; but if she refused to do this, he - threatened to gnaw down the tree without loss of time, and tear her into a - thousand pieces. His long sharp teeth, which he gnashed occasionally - during the above speech, appeared perfectly adequate to the execution of - his menaces, and Sarah judged it most prudent to obey his commands. But as - she followed Tiger into the wood, she took care to resume her song of - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent30"> - ‘Ho-day, poor me, O!’ - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p> - in hopes that some one passing near them might hear her name, and come to - her rescue. Tiger, however, was aware of this, and positively forbad her - singing. However, she contrived every now and then to loiter behind; and - when she thought him out of hearing, her - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent30"> - ‘Ho-day! poor me, O!’ - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p> - began again; although she was compelled to sing in so low a voice, through - fear of her four-footed master, that she had but faint hopes of its - reaching any ear but her own. Such was, indeed, the event, and Tiger - conveyed her to his den without molestation. In the meanwhile, her two - half-brothers had heard of their mother’s death, and soon arrived at the - house to enquire what was become of Sarah. The aunt received them with - every appearance of welcome; told them that grief for the loss of her only - surviving parent had already carried her niece to the grave, which she - showed them in her garden; and acted her part so well, that the youths - departed perfectly satisfied of the decease of their sister. But while - passing through the wood on their return, they heard some one singing, but - in so low a tone that it was impossible to distinguish the words. As this - part of the wood was the most unfrequented, they were surprised to find - any one concealed there. Curiosity induced them to draw nearer, and they - soon could make out the - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent30"> - ‘Ho-day! poor me, O! - </p> - <p class="indent30"> - Poor me, Sarah Winyan, O!’ - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p> - “There needed no more to induce them to hasten onwards; and upon advancing - deeper into the thicket, they found themselves at the mouth of a large - cavern in a rock. A fire was burning within it; and by its light they - perceived their sister seated on a heap of stones, and weeping, while she - chanted her melancholy ditty in a low voice, and supported on her lap the - head of the formidable Tiger. This was a precaution which he always took - when inclined to sleep, lest she should escape; and she had taken - advantage of his slumbers to resume her song in as low a tone as her fears - of waking him would allow. She saw her brothers at the mouth of the cave: - the youngest fortunately had a gun with him, and he made signs that Sarah - should disengage herself from Tiger if possible. It was long before she - could summon up courage enough to make the attempt; but at length, with - fear and trembling, and moving with the utmost caution, she managed to - slip a log of wood between her knees and the frightful head, and at length - drew herself away without waking him. She then crept softly out of the - cavern, while the youngest brother crept as softly into it: the monster’s - head still reposed upon the block of wood; in a moment it was blown into a - thousand pieces; and the brothers, afterwards cutting the body into four - parts, laid one in each quarter of the wood.” - </p> - <p> - From that time only were dogs brought into subjection to men; and the - inhabitants of Jamaica would never have been able to subdue those - ferocious animals, if Tiger had not been killed and quartered by Sarah - Winyan’s brothers. As to the aunt, she received the punishment which she - merited, but I cannot remember what it was exactly. Probably, the brothers - killed and quartered <i>her</i> as well as her four-footed ally; or, - perhaps, she was turned into a wild beast, and supplied the vacancy left - by Tiger, as was the case with the celebrated Zingha, queen of Angola; - who, although she embraced Christianity on her death-bed, and died - according to the most orthodox forms of the Romish religion, still had - conducted herself in such a manner while alive, that shortly after her - decease, the kingdom being ravaged by a hyena, her subjects could not be - persuaded but that the soul of this most Christian queen had transmigrated - into the body of the hyena. Yet this was surely doing the hyena great - injustice; for she, at least, had never been in the habit of composing - ointments by pounding little children in a mortar with her own hands; an - amusement which Zingha had introduced at the court of Angola. It took - surprisingly; shortly, no woman thought her toilette completed, unless she - had used some of this ointment. Pounding children became all the rage; and - ladies who aspired to be the leaders of fashion, pounded their own. - </p> - <h3> - APRIL 20. - </h3> - <p class="indent20"> - EPIGRAM.—(From the French.) - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - “Whose can that little monster be? - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - Its parents really claim one’s pity!” - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - “Madam, that child belongs to me.”— - </p> - <p class="indent20"> - “Well, I protest, she’s vastly pretty!” - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <h3> - APRIL 21. - </h3> - <p> - The weather gets no better, the apothecary gets no worse, and both are as - foul and as disagreeable as they can well be. As to the man, it is - wonderful that he is still alive, for he has swallowed nothing for the - last three weeks except drams and laudanum. He drinks, and he stinks, and - he does nothing else earthly or celestial. The quantity of spirits which - he pours down his throat incessantly should, of itself, be sufficient to - finish him; but he seems to have accustomed himself to drams, as - Mithridates used himself to poisons, till his stomach is completely proof - against them; or like the Scythian princess, who was fed upon ratsbane pap - from her infancy, for the express purpose of one day or other poisoning - Alexander in her embraces; and who arrived at such perfection, that - although the venom did no harm to her own constitution, she killed a - condemned criminal with a single kiss. The consequence was, that hemp fell - fifty per cent, and Jack Ketch’s nose was put out of joint completely; for - the devil a culprit of any pretensions to taste could be found in all - Scythia, who could be prevailed upon to be executed except by her royal - highness’s own lips. I am afraid this story is not strictly historical, - and that we should look for it in vain in Quintus Curtius. - </p> - <h3> - APRIL 23. - </h3> - <p> - A gale of wind began to show itself on Monday night; it has continued to - blow ever since with increasing violence, and is now become very serious. - The captain says that he never experienced weather so severe at this - season: this is only my usual luck. Certainly nothing can be more - disagreeable than a ship on these occasions. The sea breaks over the - vessel every minute, and it is really something awful to see the waves - raised into the air by the force of the gale, hovering for a while over - the ship, and then coming down upon us swop, to inundate every thing below - deck as well as upon it. The wind is piercingly cold; the floors and walls - are perpetually streaming. But a fire is quite out of the question; and, - indeed, at one time to-day, our eating appeared to be out of the question - too; for at four o’clock the cook sent us word, that the sea put the - kitchen-fire out as fast as he could light it; that he was almost frozen, - having been for the last eight hours up to his waist in water; and that we - must make up our minds to get no dinner to-day. However, the steward - coaxed him, and encouraged him, and poured spirits down his throat, and at - last a dinner of some kind was put upon the table; but it had not been - there ten minutes, before a tremendous sea poured itself down the - companion stairs and through the hatchway, set every thing on the table - afloat, deluged the cabin, ducked most of the company, and drove us all - into the other room. I was lucky enough to escape with only a sprinkling; - but Mrs. Walker was soaked through from head to foot. We can only cross - the cabin by creeping along by the sides as if we were so many cats. - Walking the deck, even for the sailors, is absolutely out of the question; - and the little cabin-boy has so fairly given up the attempt, that he goes - crawling about upon all fours. Even our Spanish mastiff, Flora, finds it - impossible to keep her four legs upon deck. Every five minutes up they all - go, away rolls the dog over and over; and when she gets up again, shakes - her ears, and howls in a tone of the most piteous astonishment. - </p> - <h3> - APRIL 24. - </h3> - <p> - Though the gale was itself sufficiently serious, its effects at first were - ludicrous enough; but yesterday it produced a consequence truly shocking - and alarming. Edward Sadler, the second mate, was at breakfast in the - steerage: the boatswain had been cutting some beef with a large - case-knife, which he had afterwards put down upon the chest on which they - were sitting: a sudden heel of the ship threw them all to the other side - of the cabin: the knife fell with its haft against the ladder; and poor - Edward falling against it, at least three inches of the blade were forced - into his right side. The wound was dressed without the loss of a moment; - but, from its depth, the jaggedness of the weapon with which it was made, - and from a pain which immediately afterwards seized the poor fellow in his - chest, the apothecary thinks that his recovery is very improbable: he says - that the liver is certainly perforated, and so probably are the lungs. If - the latter have escaped, it must have been only by the breadth of a hair. - Every one in the ship is distressed beyond measure at this accident, for - the young man is a universal favourite. He is but just one and twenty, - good-looking, with manners much superior to his station; and so unusually - steady, as well as active, that if Providence grants him life, he cannot - fail to raise himself in his profession. - </p> - <h3> - APRIL 25. - </h3> - <p> - Edward complains no longer of the pain in his chest; he sleeps well, eats - enough, has no fever, and every symptom is so favourable, that Dr. Ashman - encourages us to hope that he has received no material injury. Our - ship-carpenter has always appeared to be the sulkiest and surliest of - sea-bears: yet, on the day of Edward’s accident, he passed every minute - that he could command by the side of his sofa, kneeling, and praying, and - watching him as if he had been his son; and every now and then wiping away - his “own tears” with the dirtiest of all possible pocket-handkerchiefs. So - that what Goldsmith said of Dr. Johnson may be applied to this old man: - “He has nothing of a bear but his skin.” After tearing every sail in the - ship into shivers, and being as disagreeable as ever it could be, the gale - has at length abated. Yesterday it was a storm, and we were going to - Ireland, Lisbon, Brest—in short, every where except to England; - to-day, it is a dead calm, and we are going nowhere at all. - </p> - <h3> - APRIL 26. (Sunday.) - </h3> - <p> - The gale has returned with increased violence, and we are once more at our - old trade of dead lights; however, for this time, the wind, at least, is - in our favour. - </p> - <h3> - APRIL 28. - </h3> - <p> - The wounded mate is so much recovered as to come upon deck for a few hours - to-day, and may now be considered as completely out of danger; although - Dr. Ashman is positive (from his difficulty of breathing at first, and the - subsequent pain in his chest) that his lungs must actually have been - wounded, however slightly. We are now nearly abreast of Scilly; we fell in - with several Scilly boats to-day, from whom we obtained a very acceptable - supply of fish, vegetables, and newspapers. - </p> - <h3> - APRIL 29. - </h3> - <p> - <i>An African Nancy-Story</i>.—The headman (i. e. the king) of a - large district in Africa, in one of his tours, visited a young nobleman, - to whom he lost a considerable sum at play. On his departure he loaded his - host with caresses, and insisted on his coming in person to receive - payment at court; but his pretended kindness had not deceived the nurse of - the young man. She told him, that the headman was certainly incensed - against him for having conquered him at play, and meant to do him some - injury; that having been so positively ordered to come to court, he could - not avoid obeying; but she advised him to take the river-road, where, at a - particular hour, he would find the king’s youngest and favourite daughter - bathing; and she instructed him how to behave. The youth reached the - river, and concealed himself, till he saw the princess enter the stream - alone; but when she thought fit to regain the bank, she found herself - extremely embarrassed.—‘Ho-day! what is become of my clothes? - ho-day! who has stolen my clothes? ho-day! if any one will bring me back - my clothes, I promise that no harm shall happen to him this day—O!’—This - was the cue for which the youth had been instructed to wait. ‘Here are - your clothes, missy!’ said he, stepping from his concealment: ‘a rogue had - stolen them, while you were bathing; but I took them from him, and have - brought them back.’—‘Well, young man, I will keep my promise to you. - You are going to court, I know; and I know also, that the headman will - chop off your head, unless at first sight you can tell him which of his - three daughters is the youngest. Now I am she; and in order that you may - not mistake, I will take care to make a sign; and then do not you fail to - pitch upon me.’ The young man assured her, that, having once seen her, he - never could possibly mistake her for any other, and then set forwards with - a lightened heart. The headman received him very graciously, feasted him - with magnificence, and told him that he would present him to his three - daughters, only that there was a slight rule respecting them to which he - must conform. Whoever could not point out which was the youngest, must - immediately lose his head. The young man kissed the ground in obedience, - the door opened, and in walked three little black dogs. Now, then, the - necessity of the precaution taken by the princess was evident; the youth - looked at the dogs earnestly; something induced the headman to turn away - his eyes for a moment, and in that moment one of the dogs lifted up its - fore paw. - </p> - <p> - ‘This,’ cried the youth—‘this is your youngest daughter;’—and - instantly the dogs vanished, and three young women appeared in their - stead. The headman was equally surprised and incensed; but concealing his - rage, he professed the more pleasure at that discovery; because, in - consequence, the law of that country obliged him to give his youngest - daughter in marriage to the person who should recognise her; and he - charged his future son-in-law to return in a week, when he should receive - his bride. But his feigned caresses could no longer deceive the young man: - as it was evident that the headman practised Obeah, he did not dare to - disobey him; and knew that to escape by flight would be unavailing. It - was, therefore, with melancholy forebodings that he set out for court on - the appointed day; and (according to the advice of his old nurse) he - failed not to take the road which led by the river. The princess came - again to bathe; her clothes again vanished; she had again recourse to her - ‘Ho-day! what is become of my clothes?’ and on hearing the same promise of - protection, the youth again made his appearance. ‘Here are your clothes, - missy,’ said he; ‘the wind had blown them away to a great distance; I - found them hanging upon the bushes, and have brought them back to you.’ - Probably the princess thought it rather singular, that whenever her - petticoats were missing, the same person should always happen to be in the - way to find them: however, as she was remarkably handsome, she kept her - thoughts to herself, swallowed the story like so much butter, and assured - him of her protection. ‘My father,’ said she, ‘will again ask you which is - the youngest daughter; and as he suspects me of having assisted you - before, he threatens to chop off <i>my</i> head instead of yours, should I - disobey him a second time. He will, therefore, watch me too closely to - allow of my making any sign to you; but still I will contrive something to - distinguish me from my sisters; and do you examine us narrowly till you - find it.’ As she had foretold, the headman no sooner saw his destined - son-in-law enter, than he told him that he should immediately receive his - bride; but that if he did not immediately point her out, the laws of the - kingdom sentenced him to lose his head. Upon which the door opened, and in - walked three large black cats, so exactly similar in every respect, that - it was utterly impossible to distinguish one from the other. The youth was - at length on the point of giving up the attempt in despair, when it struck - him, that each of the cats had a slight thread passed round its neck; and - that while the threads of two were scarlet, that of the third was blue. ‘<i>This</i> - is your youngest daughter;’ cried he, snatching up the cat with the blue - thread. The headman was utterly at a loss to conceive by what means he had - made the discovery; but could not deny the fact, for there stood the - princesses in their own shape. He therefore affected to be greatly - pleased, gave him his bride, and made a great feast, which was followed by - a ball; but in the midst of it the princess whispered her lover to follow - her silently into the garden. Here she told him, that an old Obeah woman, - who had been her father’s nurse, had warned him, that if his youngest - daughter should live to see the day after her wedding, he would lose his - power and his life together; that she, therefore, was sure of his - intending to destroy both herself and her bridegroom that night in their - sleep; but that, being aware of all these circumstances, she had watched - him so narrowly as to get possession of some of his magical secrets, which - might possibly enable her to counteract his cruel designs. She then - gathered a rose, picked up a pebble, filled a small phial with water from - a rivulet; and thus provided, she and her lover betook themselves to - flight upon a couple of the swiftest steeds in her father’s stables. It - was midnight before the headman missed them: his rage was excessive; and - immediately mounting his great horse, Dandy, he set forwards in pursuit of - the lovers. Now Dandy galloped at the rate of ten miles a minute. The - princess was soon aware of her pursuer: without loss of time she pulled - the rose to pieces, scattered the leaves behind her, and had the - satisfaction of seeing them instantly grow up into a wood of briars, so - strong and so thickly planted, that Dandy vainly attempted to force his - way through them. But, alas! this fence was but of a very perishable - nature. In the time that it would have taken to wither its parent - rose-leaves, the briars withered away; and Dandy was soon able to trample - them down, while he continued his pursuit. Now, then, the pebble was - thrown in his passage; it burst into forty pieces, and every piece in a - minute became a rock as lofty as the Andes. But the Andes themselves would - have offered no insurmountable obstacles to Dandy, who bounded from - precipice to precipice; and the lovers and the headman could once more - clearly distinguish each other by the first beams of the rising sun. The - headman roared, and threatened, and brandished a monstrous sabre; Dandy - tore up the ground as he ran, neighed louder than thunder, and gained upon - the fugitives every moment. Despair left the princess no choice, and she - violently dashed her phial upon the ground. Instantly the water which it - contained swelled itself into a tremendous torrent, which carried away - every thing before it,—rocks, trees, and houses; and ‘the horse and - his rider’ were carried away among the rest.—‘Hic finis Priami - fatorum!’ There was an end of the headman and Dandy! The princess then - returned to court, where she raised a strong party for herself; seized her - two sisters, who were no better than their father, and had assisted him in - his witchcraft; and having put them and all their partisans to death by a - summary mode of proceeding, she established herself and her husband on the - throne as headman and head-woman. It was from this time that <i>all</i> - the kings of Africa have been uniformly mild and benevolent sovereigns. - Till then they were all tyrants, and tyrants they would all still have - continued, if this virtuous princess had not changed the face of things by - drowning her father, strangling her two sisters, and chopping off the - heads of two or three dozen of her nearest and dearest relations. - </p> - <p> - It seems to be an indispensable requisite for a Nancy-story, that it - should contain a witch, or a duppy, or, in short, some marvellous - personage or other. It is a kind of “pièce à machines” But the creole - slaves are very fond of another species of tale, which they call - “Neger-tricks,” and which bear the same relation to a Nancy-story which a - farce does to a tragedy. The following is a specimen:—<i>A - Neger-trick</i>.—“A man who had two wives divided his - provision-grounds into two parts, and proposed that each of the women - should cultivate one half. They were ready to do their proper share, but - insisted that the husband should at least take his third of the work. - However, when they were to set out, the man was taken so ill, that he - found it impossible to move; he quite roared with pain, and complained - bitterly of a large lump which had formed itself on his cheek during the - night. The wives did what they could to relieve him, but in vain they - boiled a negro-pot for him, but he was too ill to swallow a morsel: and at - length they were obliged to leave him, and go to take care of the - provision-grounds. As soon as they were gone, the husband became perfectly - well, emptied the contents of the pot with great appetite, and enjoyed - himself in ease and indolence till evening, when he saw his wives - returning; and immediately he became worse than ever. One of the women was - quite shocked to see the size to which the lump had increased during her - absence: she begged to examine it; but although she barely touched it with - the tip of her finger as gingerly as possible, it was so tender that the - fellow screamed with agony. Unluckily, the other woman’s manners were by - no means so delicate; and seizing him forcibly by the head to examine it, - she undesignedly happened to hit him a great knock on the jaw, and, lo and - behold! out flew a large lime, which he had crammed into it. Upon which - both his wives fell upon him like two furies; beat him out of the house; - and whenever afterwards he begged them to go to the provision-grounds, - they told him that he had got no lime in his mouth <i>then</i>, and - obliged him from that time forwards to do the whole work himself.” - </p> - <p> - A negro was brought to England; and the first point shown him being the - chalky cliffs of Dover, “O ki!” he said; “me know now what makes the - buckras all so white!” - </p> - <h3> - MAY 29. - </h3> - <p> - We once more saw the “Lizard,” the first point of England; and, indeed, it - was full time that we should. Besides that our provisions were nearly - exhausted by the length of the voyage, our crew was in a great measure - composed of fellows of the most worthless description; and the captain - lately discovered that some of them had contrived to break a secret - passage into the hold, where they had broached the rum-casks, and had - already passed several nights in drinking, with lighted candles: a single - spark would have been sufficient to blow us all up to the moon! - </p> - <h3> - JUNE 1. (Saturday.) - </h3> - <p> - We took our river pilot on board; and on Wednesday, the 5th, we reached - Gravesend. I went on shore at nine in the morning; and here I conclude my - <i>Jamaica Journal</i>. - </p> - <p> - <br /><br /> - </p> - <hr /> - <p> - <a name="link2H_4_0005" id="link2H_4_0005"> </a> - </p> - <div style="height: 4em;"> - <br /><br /><br /><br /> - </div> - <h2> - 1817. - </h2> - <h3> - NOVEMBER 5. (WEDNESDAY.) - </h3> - <p> - I left London, and embarked for Jamaica on board the same vessel, - commanded by the same captain, which conveyed me thither in 1815. We did - not reach the Downs till Sunday, the 9th, after experiencing in our - passage a severe gale of wind, which broke the bowsprit of a vessel in our - sight, but did no mischief to ourselves. On arriving in the Downs, we - found all the flags lowered half way down the masts, which is a signal of - mourning; and we now learnt, that, in a few hours after giving birth to a - still-born son, the Princess Charlotte of Wales had expired at half-past - two on Thursday morning. - </p> - <h3> - NOVEMBER 16. (SUNDAY.) - </h3> - <p> - “Peaceful slumbering on the ocean.” Here we are still in the Downs, and no - symptoms of a probable removal. Indeed, when we weighed our anchor at - Gravesend, it gave us a broad hint that there was no occasion as yet for - giving ourselves the trouble; for, before it could be got on board, the - cable was suffered to slip, and down again went the anchor, carrying along - with it one of the men who happened to be standing upon it at the moment, - and who in consequence went plump to the bottom. Luckily, the fellow could - swim; so in a few minutes he was on board again, and no harm done. - </p> - <h3> - NOVEMBER 19. - </h3> - <p> - We resumed our voyage with fine weather, but wind so perverse, that we did - not arrive in sight of Portsmouth till the evening of the 21st. A pilot - came on board, and conveyed us into Spithead. - </p> - <h3> - NOVEMBER 22. - </h3> - <p> - This morning we quitted Portsmouth, and this evening we returned to it. - The Needle rocks were already in sight, when the wind failed completely. - There was no getting through the passage, and the dread of a gale would - not admit of our remaining in so dangerous a roadstead. So we had nothing - for it but to follow Mad Bess’s example, and “return to the place whence - we came.” We are now anchored upon the Motherbank, about two miles from - Ryde in the Isle of Wight. - </p> - <h3> - NOVEMBER 30. (Sunday.) - </h3> - <p> - Edward, the young man who was so dangerously wounded on our return from my - former voyage to Jamaica, is now chief mate of the vessel, and feels no - other inconvenience from his accident, except a slight difficulty in - raising his left arm above his head. - </p> - <h3> - DECEMBER 1. (Monday.) - </h3> - <p> - Here we are, still riding at anchor, with no better consolation than that - of Klopstock’s halfdevil Abadonna; the consciousness that others are - deeper damned than ourselves. Another ship belonging to the same - proprietor left the West India Docks three weeks before us, and here she - is still rocking cheek by jowl alongside of us, - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - “One writ with us in sour misfortune’s book.” - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <h3> - DECEMBER 3. - </h3> - <p> - A tolerably fair breeze at length enabled us to set sail once more. - </p> - <h3> - DECEMBER 24. (Wednesday.) - </h3> - <p> - I had often heard talk of “a hell upon earth,” and now I have a perfect - idea of “a hell upon water.” It must be precisely our vessel during the - last three weeks. At twelve at noon upon the 4th, we passed Plymouth, and - were actually in sight of the Lizard point, when the wind suddenly became - completely foul, and drove us back into the Channel. It continued to - strengthen gradually but rapidly; and by the time that night arrived, we - had a violent gale, which blew incessantly till the middle of Sunday, the - 7th, when we were glad to find ourselves once more in sight of Plymouth, - and took advantage of a temporary abatement of the wind to seek refuge in - the Sound. Here, however, we soon found that we had but little reason to - rejoice at the change of our situation. The Sound was already crowded with - vessels of all descriptions; and as we arrived so late, the only mooring - still unoccupied, placed us so near the rocks on one side, and another - vessel astern, that the captain confessed that he should feel considerable - anxiety if the gale should return with its former violence. So, of course, - about eleven at night, the gale <i>did</i> return; not, indeed, with its - former violence, but with its violence increased tenfold; and once we were - in very imminent danger from our ship’s swinging round by a sudden squall, - and narrowly escaping coming in contact with the ship astern, which had - not, it seems, allowed itself sufficient cable. Luckily, we just missed - her; and our cables (for both our anchors were down) being new and good, - we rode out the storm without driving, or meeting with any accident - whatever. The next day was squally; and in spite of the Breakwater, the - rocking of the ship from the violent agitation of the waves by the late - stormy weather was almost insupportable. However, on the 9th, the wind - took a more favourable turn, though in so slight a degree, that the pilot - expressed great doubts whether it would last long to do us any service. - But the captain felt his situation in Plymouth Sound so uneasy, that he - resolved at least to make the attempt; and so we crept once more into the - Channel. In a few hours the breeze strengthened; about midnight we passed - the lights upon the Lizard, and the next morning England was at length out - of sight. This cessation of ill luck soon proved to be only “<i>reculer - ‘pour mieux sauter</i>” The gale, it seems, had only stopped to take - breath: about four in the afternoon of Wednesday, the wind began to rise - again; and from that time till the middle of the 23d it blew a complete - storm day and night, with only an occasional intermission of two or three - hours at a time. Every one in the ship declared that they had never before - experienced so obstinate a persecution of severe weather: every rag of - sail was obliged to be taken down; the sea was blown up into mountains, - and poured itself over the deck repeatedly. The noise was dreadful; and as - it lasted incessantly, to sleep was impossible; and I passed ten nights, - one after another, without closing my eyes; so that the pain in the nerves - of them at length became almost intolerable, and I began to be seriously - afraid of going blind. In truth, the captain could not well have pitched - upon a set of passengers worse calculated to undergo the trial of a - passage so rough. As for myself, my brain is so weak, that the - continuation of any violent noise makes me absolutely light-headed; and a - pop-gun going off suddenly is quite sufficient at any time to set every - nerve shaking, from the crown of my head to the sole of my foot. Then we - had a young lady who was ready to die of seasickness, and an old one who - was little better through fright; and I had an Italian servant into the - bargain, who was as sick as the young lady, and as frightened as the old - one. The poor fellow had never been on board a ship before; and with every - crack which the vessel gave, he thought that to be sure, she was splitting - right in half. The sailors, too, appeared to be quite knocked up from the - unremitting fatigue to which they were subjected by the perseverance of - this dreadful weather. Several of them were ill; and one poor fellow - actually died, and was committed to the ocean. To make matters still - worse, during the first week the wind was as foul as it could blow; and we - passed it in running backwards and forwards, without advancing a step - towards our object; till at length every drop of my very small stock of - patience was exhausted, and I could no longer resist suggesting our - returning to port, rather than continue buffeting about in the chops of - the Channel, so much to the damage of the ship, and all contained in her. - A change of wind, however, gave a complete answer to this proposal. On - Thursday it became favourable as to the prosecution of our voyage, but its - fury continued unabated till the evening of the 23d. It then gradually - died away, and left us becalmed before the island of Madeira; where we are - now rolling backwards and forwards, in sight of its capital, Funchal, on - the 24th of December, being seven immortal weeks since my departure from - Gravesend. The evening sun is now very brilliant, and shines full upon the - island, the rocks of which are finely broken; the height of the mountains - cause their tops to be lost in the clouds; the sides are covered with - plantations of vines and forests of cedars; and the white edifices of - Funchal, built upon the very edge of the shore, have a truly picturesque - appearance. We are now riding between the island and an isolated group of - inaccessible rocks called “the Deserters;” * and the effect of the scene - altogether is beautiful in the extreme. - </p> - <p> - * The Dezertas. - </p> - <h3> - DECEMBER 25. (Christmas-day.) - </h3> - <p> - A light breeze sprang up in the night, and this morning Madeira was no - longer visible. - </p> - <h3> - DECEMBER 31. (Wednesday.) - </h3> - <p> - We are now in the latitudes commonly known by the name of “the Horse - Latitudes.” During the union of America and Great Britain, great numbers - of horses used to be exported from the latter; and the winds in these - latitudes are so capricious, squally, and troublesome in every respect,—now - a gale, and then a dead calm—now a fair wind, and the next moment a - foul one,—that more horses used to die in this portion of the - passage than during all the remainder of it. These latitudes from thence - obtained their present appellation, and extend from 29° to 25° or 24 1/2°. - </p> - <p> - <br /><br /> - </p> - <hr /> - <p> - <a name="link2H_4_0006" id="link2H_4_0006"> </a> - </p> - <div style="height: 4em;"> - <br /><br /><br /><br /> - </div> - <h2> - 1818.—JANUARY 1. - </h2> - <h3> - (Thursday.) - </h3> - <p> - On this day, on my former voyage, I landed at Black River. Now we are - still at some distance from the line, and are told that we cannot expect - to reach Jamaica in less than three weeks, even with favourable breezes; - and our breezes at present are <i>not</i> favourable. Nothing but light - winds, or else dead calms; two knots an hour, and obliged to be thankful - even for that! A-weel! this is weary work! - </p> - <h3> - JANUARY 17. (Saturday.) - </h3> - <p> - On Saturday, the 3d, we managed to crawl over the line, and had no sooner - got to the other side of it, than we were completely becalmed; and even - when we resumed our progress, it was at such a pace that a careless - observer might have been pardoned for mistaking our manner of moving for a - downright standing still. Day after day produced nothing better for us - than baffling winds, so light that we scarcely made two miles an hour, and - so variable that the sails could be scarcely set in one direction before - it became necessary to shift them to another; while the monotony of our - voyage was only broken by an occasional thunderstorm, the catching a stray - dolphin now and then, watching a shoal of flying fish, or guessing at the - complexion of the corsairs on board some vessel in the offing: for the - Caribbean Sea is now dabbed all over like a painter’s pallette with - corsairs of all colours,—black from St. Domingo, brown from - Carthagena, white from North America, and pea-green from the Cape de Verd - Islands. On the afternoon of the 4th, one of them was at no very great - distance from us; she hoisted English colours on seeing ours; but there - was little doubt, from her peculiar construction and general appearance, - that she was a privateer from Carthagena. She set her head towards us, and - seemed to be doing her best to come to a nearer acquaintance; but the same - calm which hindered us from bravely running away from her, hindered her - also from reaching us, although at nightfall she seemed to have gained - upon us. In the night we had a violent thunder-storm, and the next morning - she was not to be seen. Still we continued to creep and to crawl, - grumbling and growling, till on Sunday, the 11th, the long-looked-for wind - came at last. The trade wind began to blow with all its might and main - right in the vessel’s poop, and sent us forward at the rate of 200 miles a - day. We passed between Deseada and Antigua in the night of the 15th; and, - on the 16th, the rising sun showed us the island mountain of Montserrat; - the sight of which was scarcely less agreeable to our eyes from its - romantic beauty, than welcome from its giving us the assurance that our - long-winded voyage is at length drawing towards its termination. - </p> - <h3> - JANUARY 19. - </h3> - <p> - Yesterday morning a miniature shark chose to swallow the bait laid for - dolphins, and in consequence soon made his appearance upon deck. It was a - very young one, not above three feet long. I ordered a slice of him to be - broiled at dinner, but he was by no means so good as a dolphin; but still - there was nothing in the taste so unpalatable as to prevent the flesh from - being very acceptable in the absence of more delicate food. In the - evening, a bird, about the size of a large pigeon, flew on board, and was - knocked down by the mate with his hat. It was sulky, and would not be - persuaded to eat any thing that was offered, so he was suffered to escape - this morning. It was beautifully shaped, with a swallow-tail, wings of an - extraordinary spread in comparison with the smallness of the body, a long - sharp bill, black and polished like a piece of jet, and eyes remarkably - large and brilliant. The head, back, and outside of the wings were of a - brownish slate colour, and the rest of his feathers of the most dazzling - whiteness. It is called a crab-catcher. - </p> - <h3> - JANUARY 24. (Saturday.) - </h3> - <p> - Our favourable breeze lasted till Tuesday, the 20th; when, having brought - us half way between St. Domingo and Jamaica, it died away, and we dragged - on at the rate of two or three miles an hour till Thursday afternoon, - which placed us at the mouth of Black River. If we had arrived one hour - earlier, we could have immediately entered the harbour; but, with our - usual good fortune, we were just too late for the daylight. We therefore - did not drop anchor till two o’clock on Friday, before the town of Black - River; and on Saturday morning, at four o’clock, I embarked in the ship’s - cutter for Savannah la Mar. Every one assured us that we could not fail to - have a favourable seabreeze the whole way, and that we should be on land - by eight: instead of which, what little wind there was veered round from - one point of the compass to the other with the most indefatigable caprice; - and we were not on shore till eleven. Here I found Mr. T. Hill, who - luckily had his phaëton ready, in which he immediately conveyed me once - more to my own estate. The accounts of the general behaviour of my negroes - is reasonably good, and they all express themselves satisfied with their - situation and their superintendents. Yet, among upwards of three hundred - and thirty negroes, and with a greater number of females than men, in - spite of all indulgences and inducements, not more than twelve or thirteen - children have been added annually to the list of the births. On the other - hand, this last season has been generally unhealthy all over the island, - and more particularly so in my parish; so that I have lost several - negroes, some of them young, strong, and valuable labourers in every - respect; and in consequence, my sum total is rather diminished than - increased since my last visit. I had been so positively assured that the - custom of plunging negro infants, immediately upon their being born, into - a tub of cold water, infallibly preserved them from the danger of tetanus, - that, on leaving Jamaica, I had ordered this practice to be adopted - uniformly. The negro mothers, however, took a prejudice against it into - their heads, and have been so obstinate in their opposition, that it was - thought unadvisable to attempt the enforcing this regulation. From this - and other causes I have lost several infants; but I am told, that on other - estates in the neighbourhood they have been still more unfortunate in - regard to their children; and one was named to me, on which sixteen were - carried off in the course of three days. - </p> - <h3> - JANUARY 26. (Monday.) - </h3> - <p> - The joy of the negroes on my return was quite sufficiently vociferous, and - they were allowed today for a holiday. They set themselves to singing and - dancing yesterday, in order to lose no time; and to show their gratitude - for the indulgence, not one of the five pen-keepers chose to go to their - watch last night; the consequence was that the cattle made their escape, - and got into one of my very best cane-pieces. The alarm was given; my own - servants and some of the head people had grace enough to run down to the - scene of action; but the greatest part remained quietly in the - negro-houses, beating the gumby-drum, and singing their joy for my arrival - with the whole strength of their lungs, but without thinking it in the - least necessary to move so much as a finger-joint in my service. The - cattle were at length replaced in their pen, but not till the cane-piece - had been ruined irretrievably. Such is negro gratitude, and such my reward - for all that I have suffered on ship-board. To be sure, as yet there could - not be a more ill-starred expedition than my present one. - </p> - <p> - I only learned, yesterday, that before making the island of Madeira an - Algerine corsair was actually in sight, and near enough to discern the - turbans of the crew; but we lost each other through the violence of the - gale. - </p> - <h3> - JANUARY 29. - </h3> - <p> - There is a popular negro song, the burden of which is,— - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Take him to the Gulley! Take him to the Gulley! - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - But bringee back the frock and board.”— - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - “Oh! massa, massa! me no deadee yet!”— - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - “Take him to the Gulley! Take him to the Gulley!” - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - “Carry him along!” - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p> - This alludes to a transaction which took place some thirty years ago, on - an estate in this neighbourhood, called Spring-Garden; the owner of which - (I think the name was Bedward) is quoted as the cruellest proprietor that - ever disgraced Jamaica. It was his constant practice, whenever a sick - negro was pronounced incurable, to order the poor wretch to be carried to - a solitary vale upon his estate, called the Gulley, where he was thrown - down, and abandoned to his fate; which fate was generally to be half - devoured by the john-crows, before death had put an end to his sufferings. - By this proceeding the avaricious owner avoided the expence of maintaining - the slave during his last illness; and in order that he might be as little - a loser as possible, he always enjoined the negro bearers of the dying man - to strip him naked before leaving the Gulley, and not to forget to bring - back his frock and the board on which he had been carried down. One poor - creature, while in the act of being removed, screamed out most piteously - “that he was not dead yet;” and implored not to be left to perish in the - Gulley in a manner so horrible. His cries had no effect upon his master, - but operated so forcibly on the less marble hearts of his fellow-slaves, - that in the night some of them removed him back to the negro village - privately, and nursed him there with so much care, that he recovered, and - left the estate unquestioned and undiscovered. Unluckily, one day the - master was passing through Kingston, when, on turning the corner of a - street suddenly, he found himself face to face with the negro, whom he had - supposed long ago to have been picked to the bones in the Gulley of - Spring-Garden. He immediately seized him, claimed him as his slave, and - ordered his attendants to convey him to his house; but the fellow’s cries - attracted a crowd round them, before he could be dragged away. He related - his melancholy story, and the singular manner in which he had recovered - his life and liberty; and the public indignation was so forcibly excited - by the shocking tale, that Mr. Bedward was glad to save himself from being - torn to pieces by a precipitate retreat from Kingston, and never ventured - to advance his claim to the negro a second time. - </p> - <h3> - JANUARY 30. - </h3> - <p> - A man has been tried, at Kingston, for cruel treatment of a Sambo female - slave, called Amey. She had no friends to support her cause, nor any other - evidence to prove her assertions, than the apparent truth of her - statement, and the marks of having been branded in five different places. - The result was, that the master received a most severe reprimand for his - inhuman conduct, and was sentenced to close confinement for six months, - while the slave, in consequence of her sufferings, was restored to the - full enjoyment of her freedom. - </p> - <p> - It appears to me that nothing could afford so much relief to the negroes, - under the existing system of Jamaica, as the substituting the labour of - animals for that of slaves in agriculture, whereever such a measure is - practicable. On leaving the island, I impressed this wish of mine upon the - minds of my agents with all my power; but the only result has been the - creating a very considerable additional expense in the purchase of - ploughs, oxen, and farming implements; the awkwardness, and still more the - obstinacy, of the few negroes, whose services were indispensable, was not - to be overcome: they broke plough after plough, and ruined beast after - beast, till the attempt was abandoned in despair. However, it was made - without the most essential ingredient for success, the superintendence of - an English ploughman; and such of the ploughs as were of cast-iron could - not be repaired when once broken, and therefore ought not to have been - adopted; but I am told, that in several other parts of the island the - plough has been introduced, and completely successful. Another of my - farming speculations answered no better: this was to improve the breed of - cattle in the county, for which purpose Lord Holland and myself sent over - four of the finest bulls that could be procured in England. One of them - got a trifling hurt in its passage from the vessel to land; but the - remaining three were deposited in their respective pens without the least - apparent damage. They were taken all possible care of, houses appropriated - to shelter them from the sun and rain, and, in short, no means of - preserving their health was neglected. Yet, shortly after their arrival in - Jamaica, they evidently began to decline; their blood was converted into - urine; they paid no sort of attention to the cows, who were confined in - the same paddock; and at the end of a fortnight not one was in existence, - two having died upon the same day. The injured one, having been bled the - most copiously in consequence of its hurt, was that which survived the - longest. - </p> - <h3> - JANUARY 31. - </h3> - <p> - Some days ago, a negro woman, who has lost four children, and has always - been a most affectionate mother, brought the fifth, a remarkably fine - infant, into the hospital. She complained of its having caught cold, a - fever, and so on; but nothing administered was of use, and its manner of - breathing made the doctor enquire, whether the child had not had a fall? - The mother denied this most positively, and her fondness for the infant - admitted no doubt of her veracity. Still the child grew worse and worse; - still the question about the fall was repeated, and as constantly denied; - until luckily being made in the presence of a new-comer, the latter - immediately exclaimed, “that to her certain knowledge the infant had - really had a fall, for that the mother having fastened it behind her back, - the knot of the handkerchief had slipped, and the baby had fallen upon the - floor.”—“It is false,” answered the mother: “the child did not fall; - for when the knot slipped, I had time to catch it by the foot, and so I - saved it from falling, just as its head struck against the ground.” Fear - of being blamed as having occasioned the baby’s illness through her own - carelessness had induced her to adopt this equivocation, and its life had - nearly been the sacrifice of her duplicity. A proper mode of treatment was - now adopted without loss of time; their beneficial effect was immediately - visible, and the poor little negro is now recovering rapidly. But - certainly there is no folly and imprudence like unto negro folly and - imprudence. One of my best disposed and most sensible Eboes has had a - violent fever lately, but was so nearly well as to be put upon a course of - bark. On Wednesday morning a son of his died of dirt-eating,—a - practice which neither severity nor indulgence could induce him to - discontinue. The boy was buried that night according to African customs, - accompanied with dancing, singing, drinking, eating, and riot of all - kinds; and the father, although the kindest-hearted negro on my estate, - and remarkably fond of his children, danced and drank to such an excess, - that I found him on the following morning in a raging fever, and worse - than he was when he first entered the hospital. I had warned him against - the consequences of the funeral, reminded him of the dangerous malady from - which he was but just recovering, and he had promised solemnly to be upon - his guard; and such was the manner in which he performed his promise. - </p> - <h3> - FEBRUARY 1. (Sunday.) - </h3> - <p> - During my former visit to Jamaica I had interceded in behalf of a negro - belonging to Greenwich estate, named Aberdeen, who had run away - repeatedly, but who attributed his misconduct to the decay of his health, - which rendered him unable to work as well as formerly, and to the fear of - consequent punishment for not having performed the tasks assigned to him. - The fellow while he spoke to me had tears running down his cheeks, looked - feeble and ill, and indeed seemed to be quite heart-broken. On my speaking - to the attorney, he readily promised to enquire into the truth of the - man’s statement, and to take care that he should be only allotted such - labour as his strength might be fully equal to. This morning he came over - to see me, and so altered, that I could scarcely believe him to be the - same man. He was cleanly dressed, walked with his head erect, and his eyes - sparkled, and his mouth grinned from ear to ear, while he told me, that - during my absence every thing had gone well with him, nobody had “put upon - him;” he had been tasked no more than suited his strength; as much as he - was able to do, he had done willingly, and had never run away. Even his - asthma was better in consequence of the depression being removed from his - spirits. So, he said, as soon as he heard of my return, he thought it his - duty to come over and show himself to me, and tell me that he was well, - and contented, and behaving properly; for that “to be sure, if massa no - speak that good word for me to trustee, me no livee now; me good, massa!” - Gratitude made him absolutely eloquent: his whole manner, and the strong - expression of his countenance, put his sincerity out of all doubt, and I - never saw a man seem to feel more truly thankful. All negroes, therefore, - are not absolutely without some remembrance of kindness shown them; and - indeed I ought not in justice to my own people to allow myself to forget, - that when I sent a reward to those who had roused themselves to drive the - cattle out of my canes the other night, there was considerable difficulty - in persuading them to accept the money: they sent me word, “that as they - were all well treated on the estate, it was their business to take care - that no mischief was done to it, and that they did not deserve to be - rewarded for having merely done their duty by me.” Nor was it till after - they had received repeated orders from me, that their delicacy could be - overcome, and themselves persuaded to pocket the affront and the <i>maccaroni</i>. - </p> - <h3> - FEBRUARY 2. - </h3> - <p> - One of the deadliest poisons used by the negroes (and a great variety is - perfectly well known to most of them) is prepared from the root of the - cassava. - </p> - <p> - Its juice being expressed and allowed to ferment, a small worm is - generated, the substance of which being received into the stomach is of a - nature the most pernicious. A small portion of this worm is concealed - under one of the thumb-nails, which are suffered to grow long for this - purpose; then when the negro has contrived to persuade his intended victim - to eat or drink with him, he takes an opportunity, while handing to him a - dish or cup, to let the worm fall, which never fails to destroy the person - who swallows it. Another means of destruction is to be found (as I am - assured) in almost every negro garden throughout the island: it is the - arsenic bean, neither useful for food nor ornamental in its appearance; - nor can the negroes, when questioned, give any reason for affording it a - place in their gardens; yet there it is always to be seen. The alligator’s - liver also possesses deleterious properties; and the gall is said to be - still more dangerous. - </p> - <h3> - FEBRUARY 3. - </h3> - <p> - On Friday I was made to observe, in the hospital, a remarkably fine young - negro, about twenty-two years of age, stout and strong, and whom every one - praised for his numerous good qualities, and particularly for his - affection for his mother, and the services which he rendered her. He - complained of a little fever, and a slight pain in his side. On Saturday - he left the hospital, and intended to go to his provision grounds, among - the mountains, on Sunday morning; but, as he complained of a pain in his - head, his mother prevented his going, and obliged him to return to the - hospital in the evening. On Monday he was seized with fainting fits, lost - his speech and power of motion, and this morning I was awaked by the - shrieks and lamentations of the poor mother, who, on coming to the - hospital to enquire for her son, found, that in spite of all possible care - and exertions on the part of his medical attendants, he had just expired. - Whether it be the climate not agreeing with their African blood (genuine - or inherited), or whether it be from some defect in their general - formation, certainly negroes seem to hold their lives upon a very - precarious tenure. Nicholas, John Fuller, and others of my best and most - favoured workmen, the very servants, too, in my own house, are perpetually - falling ill with little fevers, or colds, or pains in the head or limbs. - However, the season is universally allowed to have been peculiarly - unhealthy for negroes; and, indeed, even for white people, the deaths on - board the shipping having been unusually numerous this year. As to the - barracks, which are scarcely a couple of miles distant from my estate, - there the yellow fever has established itself, and, as I hear, is - committing terrible ravages, particularly among the wives of the soldiers.—This - morning several negro-mothers, belonging to Friendship and Greenwich, came - to complain to their attorney (who happened to be at my house) that the - overseer obliged them to wean their children too soon. Some of these - children were above twenty-two months old, and none under eighteen; but, - in order to retain the leisure and other indulgences annexed to the - condition of nursing-mothers, the female negroes, by their own good-will, - would never wean their offspring at all. Of course their demands were - rejected, and they went home in high discontent; one of them, indeed, not - scrupling to declare aloud, and with a peculiar emphasis and manner, that - if the child should be put into the weaning-house against her will, the - attorney would see it dead in less than a week. - </p> - <h3> - FEBRUARY 4. - </h3> - <p> - The violent gale of wind which persecuted us with so much pertinacity on - our leaving the English Channel is supposed to have been the tail of a - tremendous hurricane, which has utterly laid waste Barbados and several - other islands. No less than sixteen of the ships which sailed at the same - time with us are reported to have perished upon the passage; so that I - ought to consider it at least as a negative piece of good luck to have - reached Jamaica myself, no bones broke, though sore peppered but I am - still trembling in uncertainty for the fate of the vessel which is - bringing out all my Irish supplies, and the non-arrival of which would be - a misfortune to me of serious magnitude. - </p> - <p> - The negroes are so obstinate and so wilful in their general character, - that if they do not receive the precise articles to which they have been - accustomed, and which they expect as their right, no compensation, however - ample, can satisfy them. Thus, at every Christmas it would go near to - create a rebellion if they did not receive a certain proportion of salt - fish; but if, in the intervening months, accident should prevent their - receiving their usual allowance of herrings, the giving them salt fish to - the amount of double the value would be considered by them as an act of - the grossest injustice. - </p> - <h3> - FEBRUARY 5. - </h3> - <p> - On Saturday, about eight in the evening, a large centipede dropped from - the ceiling upon my dinner-table, and was immediately cut in two exact - halves by one of the guests. As it is reported in Jamaica that these - reptiles, when thus divided, will re-unite again, or if separated will - reproduce their missing members, and continue to live as stoutly as ever, - I put both parts into a plate, under a glass cover. On Sunday they - continued to move about their prison with considerable agility, although - the tail was evidently much more lively and full of motion than the head: - perhaps the centipede was a female. On Monday the head was dead, but the - tail continued to run about, and evidently endeavoured to to make its - escape, although it appeared not to know very well how to set about it, - nor to be perfectly determined as to which way it wanted to go: it only - seemed to have Cymon’s reason for wishing to take a walk, and “would - rather go any where, than stay with any body.” On Wednesday, at twelve - o’clock, its vivacity was a little abated, but only a little; the wound - was skinned over, and I was waiting anxiously to know whether it would - subsist without its numskull till a good old age, or would put forth an - entirely spick and span new head and shoulders; when, on going to look at - the plate on Thursday morning, lo and behold! the dead head and the living - tail had disappeared together. I suppose some of the negro servants had - thrown them away through ignorance, but they deny, one and all, having so - much as touched the plate, most stoutly; and as a paper case, pierced in - several places, had been substituted for the glass cover, some persons are - of opinion that the tail made its escape through one of these air-holes, - and carried its head away with it in its forceps. Be this as it may, gone - they both are, and I am disappointed beyond measure at being deprived of - this opportunity of reading the last volume of “The Life and Adventures of - a Centipede’s Tail.” I have proclaimed a reward for the bringing me - another, but I am told that these reptiles are only found by accident; and - that, very possibly, one may not be procured previous to my leaving the - island. - </p> - <h3> - FEBRUARY 6. - </h3> - <p> - Mr. Lutford, the proprietor of a considerable estate in the parish of - Clarendon, had frequently accused a particular negro of purloining coffee. - About six months ago the slave was sent for, and charged with a fresh - offence of the same nature, when he confessed the having taken a small - quantity; upon which his master ordered him to fix his eyes on a - particular cotton tree, and then, without any further ceremony, shot him - through the head. His mistress was the coroner’s natural daughter, and the - coroner himself was similarly connected with the custos of Clarendon. In - consequence of this family compact, no inquest was held, no enquiry was - made; the whole business was allowed to be slurred over, and the murder - would have remained unpunished if accident had not brought some rumours - respecting it to the governor’s ear. An investigation was ordered to take - place without delay; but Mr. Lutford received sufficient warning to get on - shipboard, and escape to America; and the displacing of the custos of - Clarendon, for neglecting his official duty, was the only means by which - the governor could express his abhorrence of the act. - </p> - <h3> - FEBRUARY 8. (Sunday.) - </h3> - <p> - My estate is greatly plagued by a negress named Catalina; she is either - mad, or has long pretended to be so, never works, and always steals. About - a week before my arrival she was found in the trash-house, which she had - pitched upon as the very fittest place possible for her kitchen; and there - she was sitting, very quietly and comfortably, boiling her pot over an - immense fire, and surrounded on all sides by dry canes, inflammable as - tinder. This vagary was of too dangerous a nature to allow of her being - longer left at liberty, and she was put into the hospital. But her husband - was by no means pleased with her detention, as he never failed to - appropriate to himself a share of her plunder, and when discovered, the - blame of the robbery was laid upon his wife, in a fit of insanity. So, - while the general joy at my first arrival drew the hospital attendants - from their post, he took the opportunity to carry off his wife, and - conceal her. The consequence was, that this morning complaints poured upon - me of gardens robbed by Catalina, who had carried off as much as she - could, dug up and destroyed the rest, and had shown as little conscience - in providing herself with poultry as in helping herself to vegetables. I - immediately despatched one of the negro-governors with a party in pursuit - of her, who succeeded in lodging her once more in the hospital; where she - must remain till I can get her sent to the asylum at Kingston, the only - hospital for lunatics in the whole island. - </p> - <p> - FEBRUARY 12. (Thursday.) - </p> - <p> - On my former visit to Jamaica, I found on my estate a poor woman nearly - one hundred years old, and stone blind. She was too infirm to walk; but - two young negroes brought her on their backs to the steps of my house, in - order, as she said, that she might at least touch massa, although she - could not see him. When she had kissed my hand, “that was enough,” she - said; “now me hab once kiss a massa’s hand, me willing to die to-morrow, - me no care.” She had a woman appropriated to her service, and was shown - the greatest care and attention; however, she did not live many months - after my departure. There was also a mulatto, about thirty years of age, - named Bob, who had been almost deprived of the use of his limbs by the - horrible cocoa-bay, and had never done the least work since he was - fifteen. He was so gentle and humble, and so fearful, from the - consciousness of his total inability of soliciting my notice, that I could - not help pitying the poor fellow; and whenever he came in my way I always - sought to encourage him by little presents, and other trifling marks of - favour. His thus unexpectedly meeting with distinguishing kindness, where - he expected to be treated as a worthless incumbrance, made a strong - impression on his mind. Soon after my departure his malady assumed a more - active appearance but during the last stages of its progress the only fear - which he expressed was, that he should not live till last Christmas, when - my return was expected to a certainty. In the mean while he endeavoured to - find out a means of being of some little use to me, although his weak - constitution would not allow of his being of much. Some of his relations - being in opulent circumstances, they furnished him with a horse, for he - was too weak to walk for more than a few minutes at a time; and, mounted - upon this, he passed all his time in traversing the estate, watching the - corn that it might not be stolen, warning the pen-keepers if any of the - cattle had found their way into the cane-pieces, and doing many other such - little pieces of service to the property; so that, as the negroes said, - “if he had been a white man he might have been taken for an overseer.” At - length Christmas arrived; it was known that I was on the sea; Bob, too, - was still alive; but still there was nothing to be heard of me. His - perpetual question to all who came to visit him was, How was the wind? and - he was constantly praying to the wind and the ocean to bring massa’s - vessel soon to Savanna la Mar, that he might but see him once more, and - thank him, before he died. At length I landed; and when, on the day of my - arrival on my estate, I expressed my surprise at the nonappearance of - several of the negroes, who had appeared to be most attached to me, and I - had expected to find most forward in greeting me, I was told that a - messenger had been sent to call them, and that their absence was - occasioned by their attendance at poor Bob’s funeral. Several of his - relations, who nursed him on his death-bed, have assured me, that the last - audible words which he uttered were—“Are there still no news of - massa?” - </p> - <h3> - FEBRUARY 13. - </h3> - <p> - Talk of Lucretia! commend me to a she-turkey! The hawk of Jamaica is an - absolute Don Giovanni; and he never loses an opportunity of being - extremely rude indeed to these feathered fair ones; not even scrupling to - use the last violence, and that without the least ceremony, not so much as - saying, “With your leave,” or “By your leave,” or using any of the forms - which common civility expects upon such occasions. The poor timid things - are too much frightened by the sudden attack of this Tarquin with a beak - and claws, to make any resistance; but they no sooner recover from their - flutter sufficiently to be aware of what has happened, than they feel so - extremely shocked, that they always make a point of dying; nor was a - female turkey ever known to survive the loss of her honour above three - days. - </p> - <h3> - FEBRUARY 14. - </h3> - <p> - I think that I really may now venture to hope that my plans for the - management of my estate have succeeded beyond even my most sanguine - expectations. I have now passed three weeks with my negroes, the doors of - my house open all day long, and full liberty allowed to every person to - come and speak to me without witnesses or restraint; yet not one man or - woman has come to me with a single complaint. On the contrary, all my - enquiries have been answered by an assurance, that during the two years of - my absence my regulations were adhered to most implicitly, and that, - “except for the pleasure of seeing massa,” there was no more difference in - treatment than if I had remained upon the estate. Many of them have come - to tell me instances of kindness which they have received from one or - other of their superintendents; others, to describe some severe fit of - illness, in which they must have died but for the care taken of them in - the hospital; some, who were weakly and low-spirited on my former visit, - to show me how much they are improved in health, and tell me “how they - keep up heart now, because since massa come upon the property nobody put - upon them, and all go well;” and some, who had formerly complained of one - trifle or other, to take back their complaints, and say, that they wanted - no change, and were willing to be employed in any way that might be - thought most for the good of the estate; but although I have now at least - <i>seen</i> every one of them, and have conversed with numbers, I have not - yet been able to find one person who had so much as even an imaginary - grievance to lay before me. Yet I find, that it has been found necessary - to punish with the lash, although only in a very few instances; but then - this only took place on the commission of absolute <i>crimes</i>, and in - cases where its necessity and justice were so universally felt, not only - by others, but by the sufferers themselves, that instead of complaining, - they seem only to be afraid of their offence coming to my knowledge; to - prevent which, they affect to be more satisfied and happy than all the - rest, and now when I see a mouth grinning from ear to ear with a more than - ordinary expansion of jaw, I never fail to find, on enquiry, that its - proprietor is one of those who have been punished during my absence. I - then take care to give them an opportunity of making a complaint, if they - should have any to make; but no, not a word comes; “every thing has gone - on perfectly well, and just as it ought to have done.” Upon this, I drop a - slight hint of the offence in question; and instantly away goes the grin, - and down falls the negro to kiss my feet, confess his fault, and “beg - massa forgib, and them never do so bad thing more to fret massa, and them - beg massa pardon, hard, quite hard!” But not one of them has denied the - justice of his punishment, or complained of undue severity on the part of - his superintendents. On the other hand, although the lash has thus been in - a manner utterly abolished, except in cases where a much severer - punishment would have been inflicted by the police, and although they are - aware of this unwillingness to chastise, my trustee acknowledges that - during my absence the negroes have been quiet and tractable, and have not - only laboured as well as they used to do, but have done much more work - than the negroes on an adjoining property, where there are forty more - negroes, and where, moreover, a considerable sum is paid for hired - assistance. Having now waited three weeks to see how they would conduct - themselves, and found no cause of dissatisfaction since the neglect of the - watchman to guard the cattle (and which they one and all attributed to - their joy at seeing me again), I thought it time to distribute the - presents which I had brought with me for them from England. During my - absence I had ordered a new and additional hospital to be built, intended - entirely for the use of lying-in women, nursing mothers, and cases of a - serious nature, for which purpose it is to be provided with every possible - comfort; while the old hospital is to be reserved for those who have - little or nothing the matter with them, but who obstinately insist upon - their being too ill to work, in defiance of the opinion of all their - medical attendants. The new hospital is not quite finished; but wishing to - connect it as much as possible with pleasurable associations, I took - occasion of the distribution of presents to open it for the first time. - Accordingly, the negroes were summoned to the new hospital this morning; - the rooms were sprinkled with Madeira for good luck; and the toast of - “Health to the new hospital, and shame to the old lazy house!” was drunk - by the trustee, the doctoresses, the governors, &c., and received by - the whole congregation of negroes with loud cheering; after which, every - man received a blue jacket lined with flannel, every woman a flaming red - stuff petticoat, and every child a frock of white cotton. They then fell - to dancing and singing, and drinking rum and sugar, which they kept up - till a much later hour than would be at all approved of by the bench of - bishops; for it is now Sunday morning, and they are still dancing and - singing louder than ever. - </p> - <h3> - FEBRUARY 15. (Sunday.) - </h3> - <p> - To-day divine service was performed at Savanna la Mar for the first time - these five weeks. The rector has been indisposed lately with the lumbago: - he has no curate; and thus during five whole weeks there was a total - cessation of public worship. I had told several of my female acquaintance - that it was long since they had been to church; that I was afraid of their - forgetting “all about and about it,” and that if there should be no - service for a week longer I should think it my duty to come and hear them - say their Catechism myself. Luckily the rector recovered, and saved me the - trouble of hearing them; but the long privation of public prayer did not - seem to have created any very great demand for the article, as I have - seldom witnessed a more meagre congregation. It was literally “two or - three gathered together,” and it seemed as if five or six would be too - many, and forfeit the promise. I cannot discover that the negroes have any - external forms of worship, nor any priests in Jamaica, unless their Obeah - men should be considered as such; but still I cannot think that they ought - to be considered as totally devoid of all natural religion. There is no - phrase so common on their lips as “God bless you!” and “God preserve you!” - and “God will bless you wherever you go!” Phrases which they pronounce - with every-appearance of sincerity, and as if they came from the very - bottom of their hearts. “God-A’mity! God-A’mity!” is their constant - exclamation in pain and in sorrow; and with this perpetual recurrence to - the Supreme Being, it must be difficult to insist upon their being - atheists. But they have even got a step further than the belief in a God; - they also allow the existence of an evil principle. One of them complained - to me the other day, that when he went to the field his companions had - told him “that he might go to hell, for he was not worthy to work with - them;” and one of his adversaries in return accused him of being so lazy, - “that instead of being a slave upon Cornwall estate, he was only fit to be - the slave of the devil.” Then surely they could not be afraid of duppies - (or ghosts) without some idea of a future state; and indeed nothing is - more firmly impressed upon the mind of the Africans, than that after death - they shall go back to Africa, and pass an eternity in revelling and - feasting with their ancestors. The proprietor of a neighbouring estate - lately used all his influence to persuade his foster-sister to be - christened; but it was all in vain: she had imbibed strong African - prejudices from her mother, and frankly declared that she found nothing in - the Christian system so alluring to her taste as the post-obit balls and - banquets promised by the religion of Africa. I confess, that this - prejudice appears to me to be so strongly rooted, that in spite of the - curates expected from the hands of the bishop of London, I am sadly - afraid, that “the pulpit drum ecclesiastic” will find it a hard matter to - overpower the gumby; and that the joys of the Christian paradise will be - seen to kick the beam, when they are weighed against the pleasures of - eating fat hog, drinking raw rum, and dancing for centuries to the jam-jam - and kitty-katty. In the negro festivals in this life, the chief point lies - in making as much noise as possible, and the Africans and Creoles dispute - it with the greatest pertinacity. I am just informed that at the dance - last night the Eboes obtained a decided triumph, for they roared and - screamed and shouted and thumped their drums with so much effect, that the - Creoles were fairly rendered deaf with the noise of their rivals, and dumb - with their own, and obliged to leave off singing altogether. - </p> - <h3> - FEBRUARY 16. - </h3> - <p> - On my arrival I found that idle rogue Nato, as usual, an inmate of the - hospital, where he regularly passes at least nine months out of the - twelve. He was with infinite difficulty persuaded, at the end of a - fortnight, to employ himself about the carriage-horses for a couple of - days; but on the third he returned to the hospital, although the medical - attendants, one and all, declared nothing to be the matter with him, and - the doctors even refused to insert his name in the sick list. Still he - persisted in declaring himself to be too ill to do a single stroke of - work: so on Thursday I put him into one of the sick rooms by himself, and - desired him to get well with the doors locked, which he would find to the - full as easy as with the doors open; at the same time assuring him, that - he should never come out, till he should be sufficiently recovered to cut - canes in the field. He held good all Friday; but Saturday being a - holy-day, he declared himself to be in a perfect state of health, and - desired to be released. However, I was determined to make him suffer a - little for his lying and obstinacy, and would not suffer the doors to be - opened for him till this morning, when he quitted the hospital, saluted on - all sides by loud huzzas in congratulation of his amended health, and - which followed him during his whole progress to the cane-piece. I was - informed that a lad, named Epsom, who used to be perpetually running away, - had been stationary for the last two years. So on Wednesday last, as he - happened to come in my way, I gave him all proper commendation for having - got rid of his bad habits; and to make the praise better worth his having, - I added a maccarony: he was gratified in the extreme, thanked me a - thousand times, promised most solemnly never to behave ill again, and ran - away that very night. However, he returned on Saturday morning, and was - brought to me all rags, tears, and penitence, wondering “how he could have - had such <i>bad manners</i> as to make massa fret.” - </p> - <h3> - FEBRUARY 17. - </h3> - <p> - Some of the free people of colour possess slaves, cattle, and other - property left them by their fathers, and are in good circumstances; but - few of them are industrious enough to increase their possessions by any - honest exertions of their own. As to the free blacks, they are almost - uniformly lazy and improvident, most of them half-starved, and only - anxious to live from hand to mouth. Some lounge about the highways with - pedlar-boxes, stocked with various worthless baubles; others keep - miserable stalls provided with rancid butter, damaged salt-pork, and other - such articles: and these they are always willing to exchange for stolen - rum and sugar, which they secretly tempt the negroes to pilfer from their - proprietors; but few of them ever make the exertion of earning their - livelihood creditably. Even those who profess to be tailors, carpenters, - or coopers, are for the most part careless, drunken, and dissipated, and - never take pains sufficient to attain any dexterity in their trade. As to - a free negro hiring himself out for plantation labour, no instance of such - a thing was ever known in Jamaica, and probably no price, however great, - would be considered by them as a sufficient temptation. - </p> - <h3> - FEBRUARY 18. - </h3> - <p> - The Africans and Creoles certainly do hate each other with a cordiality - which would have appeared highly gratifying to Dr. Johnson in his “Love of - Good Haters.” Yesterday, in the field, a girl who had taken some slight - offence at something said to her by a young boy, immediately struck him - with the bill, with which she was cutting canes. Luckily, his loose - wrapper saved him from the blow; and, on his running away, she threw the - bill after him in his flight with all the fury and malice of a fiend. This - same vixen, during my former visit, had been punished for fixing her teeth - in the hand of one of the other girls, and nearly biting her thumb off; - and on hearing of this fresh instance of devilism, I asked her mother, - “how she came to have so bad a daughter, when all her sons were so mild - and good?”—“Oh, massa,” answered she, “the girl’s father was a - Guineaman.” - </p> - <h3> - FEBRUARY 19. - </h3> - <p> - Neptune came this morning to request that the name of his son, Oscar, - might be changed for that of Julius, which (it seems) had been that of his - own father. The child, he said, had always been weakly, and he was - persuaded, that its ill-health proceeded from his deceased grandfather’s - being displeased, because it had not been called after him. The other day, - too, a woman, who had a child sick in the hospital, begged me to change - its name for any other which might please me best: she cared not what; but - she was sure that it would never do well, so long as it should be called - Lucia. Perhaps this prejudice respecting the power of names produces in - some measure their unwillingness to be christened. They find no change - produced in them, except the alteration of their name, and hence they - conclude that this name contains in it some secret power; while, on the - other hand, they conceive that the ghosts of their ancestors cannot fail - to be offended at their abandoning an appellation, either hereditary in - the family, or given by themselves. It is another negro-prejudice that the - eructation of the breath of a sucking child has something in it venomous; - and frequently nursing mothers, on showing the doctor a swelled breast, - will very gravely and positively attribute it to the infant’s having - broken wind while hanging at the nipple. - </p> - <h3> - FEBRUARY 20. - </h3> - <p> - I asked one of my negro servants this morning whether old Luke was a - relation of his. “Yes,” he said.—“Is he your uncle, or your cousin?”—“No, - massa.”—“What then?”—“He and my father were shipmates, massa.” - </p> - <h3> - FEBRUARY 23. - </h3> - <p> - The law-charges in Jamaica have lately been regulated by the House of - Assembly; and by all accounts (except that of the lawyers) it was full - time that something should be done on the subject. A case was mentioned to - me this morning of an estate litigated between several parties. At length - a decision was given: the estate was sold for £16,000; but the lawyer’s - claim must always be the first discharged, and as this amounted to more - than £16,000 the lawyer found himself in possession of the estate. This - was the fable of Æsop’s oyster put in action with a vengeance. - </p> - <h3> - FEBRUARY 25. - </h3> - <p> - A negro, named Adam, has long been the terror of my whole estate. He was - accused of being an Obeah-man, and persons notorious for the practice of - Obeah had been found concealed from justice in his house, who were - afterwards convicted and transported. He was strongly suspected of having - poisoned more than twelve negroes, men and women; and having been - displaced by my former trustee from being principal governor, in revenge - he put poison into his water jar. Luckily he was observed by one of the - house servants, who impeached him, and prevented the intended mischief. - For this offence he ought to have been given up to justice; but being - brother of the trustee’s mistress she found means to get him off, after - undergoing a long confinement in the stocks. I found him, on my arrival, - living in a state of utter excommunication; I tried what reasoning with - him could effect, reconciled him to his companions, treated him with - marked kindness, and he promised solemnly to behave well during my - absence. However, instead of attributing my lenity to a wish to reform - him, his pride and confidence in his own talents and powers of deception - made him attribute the indulgence shown him to his having obtained an - influence over my mind. This he determined to employ to his own purposes - upon my return; so he set about forming a conspiracy against Sully, the - present chief governor, and boasted on various estates in the - neighbourhood that on my arrival he would take care to get Sully broke, - and himself substituted in his place. In the meanwhile he quarrelled and - fought to the right and to the left; and on my arrival I found the whole - estate in an uproar about Adam. No less than three charges of assault, - with intent to kill, were preferred against him. In a fit of jealousy he - had endeavoured to strangle Marlborough with the thong of a whip, and had - nearly effected his purpose before he could be dragged away: he had - knocked Nato down in some trifling dispute, and while the man was - senseless had thrown him into the river to drown him; and having taken - offence at a poor weak creature called Old Rachael, on meeting her by - accident he struck her to the ground, beat her with a supplejack, stamped - upon her belly, and begged her to be assured of his intention (as he - eloquently worded it) “to kick her guts out.” The breeding mothers also - accused him of having been the cause of the poisoning a particular spring, - from which they were in the habit of fetching water for their children, as - Adam on that morning had been seen near the spring without having any - business there, and he had been heard to caution his little daughter - against drinking water from it that day, although he stoutly denied both - circumstances. Into the bargain, my head blacksmith being perfectly well - at five o’clock, was found by his son dead in his bed at eight; and it was - known that he had lately had a dispute with Adam, who on that day had made - it up with him, and had invited him to drink, although it was not certain - that his offer had been accepted. He had, moreover, threatened the lives - of many of the best negroes. Two of the cooks declared, that he had - severally directed them to dress Sully’s food apart, and had given them - powders to mix with it. The first to whom he applied refused positively; - the second he treated with liquor, and when she had drunk, he gave her the - poison, with instructions how to use it. Being a timid creature, she did - not dare to object, so threw away the powder privately, and pretended that - it had been administered; but finding no effect produced by it, Adam gave - her a second powder, at the same time bidding her remember the liquor - which she had swallowed, and which he assured her would effect her own - destruction through the force of Obeah, unless she prevented it by - sacrificing his enemy in her stead. The poor creature still threw away the - powder, but the strength of imagination brought upon her a serious malady, - and it was not till after several weeks that she recovered from the - effects of her fears. The terror thus produced was universal throughout - the estate, and Sully and several other principal negroes requested me to - remove them to my property in St. Thomas’s, as their lives were not safe - while breathing the same air with Adam. However, it appeared a more - salutary measure to remove Adam himself; but all the poisoning charges - either went no further than strong suspicion, or (any more than the - assaults) were not liable by the laws of Jamaica to be punished, except by - flogging or temporary imprisonment, which would only have returned him to - the estate with increased resentment against those to whom he should - ascribe his sufferings, however deserved. - </p> - <p> - However, on searching his house, a musket with a plentiful accompaniment - of powder and ball was found concealed, as also a considerable quantity of - materials for the practice of Obeah: the possession of either of the above - articles (if the musket is without the consent of the proprietor) - authorises the magistrates to pronounce a sentence of transportation. In - consequence of this discovery, Adam was immediately committed to gaol; a - slave court was summoned, and to-day a sentence of transportation from the - island was pronounced, after a trial of three hours. As to the man’s - guilt, of that the jury entertained no doubt after the first half hour’s - evidence; and the only difficulty was to restrain the verdict to - transportation. We produced nothing which could possibly affect the man’s - life; for although perhaps no offender ever better de served hanging; yet - I confess my being weak-minded enough to entertain doubts whether hanging - or other capital punishment ought to be inflicted for any offence - whatever: I am at least certain, that if offenders waited till they were - hanged by me, they would remain unhanged till they were all so many old - Parrs. However, although I did my best to prevent Adam from being hanged, - it was no easy matter to prevent his hanging himself. The Obeah ceremonies - always commence with what is called, by the negroes, “the Myal dance.” - This is intended to remove any doubt of the chief Obeah-man’s supernatural - powers; and in the course of it, he undertakes to show his art by killing - one of the persons present, whom he pitches upon for that purpose. He - sprinkles various powders over the devoted victim, blows upon him, and - dances round him, obliges him to drink a liquor prepared for the occasion, - and finally the sorcerer and his assistants seize him and whirl him - rapidly round and round till the man loses his senses, and falls on the - ground to all appearance and the belief of the spectators a perfect - corpse. The chief Myal-man then utters loud shrieks, rushes out of the - house with wild and frantic gestures, and conceals himself in some - neighbouring wood. At the end of two or three hours he returns with a - large bundle of herbs, from some of which he squeezes the juice into the - mouth of the dead person; with others he anoints his eyes and stains the - tips of his fingers, accompanying the ceremony with a great variety of - grotesque actions, and chanting all the while something between a song and - a howl, while the assistants hand in hand dance slowly round them in a - circle, stamping the ground loudly with their feet to keep time with his - chant. A considerable time elapses before the desired effect is produced, - but at length the corpse gradually recovers animation, rises from the - ground perfectly recovered, and the Myal dance concludes. After this proof - of his power, those who wish to be revenged upon their enemies apply to - the sorcerer for some of the same powder, which produced apparent death - upon their companion, and as they never employ the means used for his - recovery, of course the powder once administered never fails to be - lastingly fatal. It must be superfluous to mention that the Myal-man on - this second occasion substitutes a poison for a narcotic. Now, among other - suspicious articles found in Adam’s hut, there was a string of beads of - various sizes, shapes, and colours, arranged in a form peculiar to the - performance of the Obeah-man in the Myal dance. Their use was so well - known, that Adam on his trial did not even attempt to deny that they could - serve for no purpose but the practice of Obeah; but he endeavoured to - refute their being his own property, and with this view he began to - narrate the means by which he had become possessed of them. He said that - they belonged to Fox (a negro who was lately transported), from whom he - had taken them at a Myal dance held on the estate of Dean’s Valley; but as - the assistants at one of these dances are by law condemned to death - equally with the principal performer, the court had the humanity to - interrupt his confession of having been present on such an occasion, and - thus saved him from criminating himself so deeply as to render a capital - punishment inevitable. I understand that he was quite unabashed and at his - ease the whole time; upon hearing his sentence, he only said very coolly, - “Well! I ca’n’t help it!” turned himself round, and walked out of court. - That nothing might be wanting, this fellow had even a decided talent for - hypocrisy. When on my arrival he gave me a letter filled with the grossest - lies respecting the trustee, and every creditable negro on the estate, he - took care to sign it by the name which he had lately received in baptism; - and in his defence at the bar to prove his probity of character and purity - of manners, he informed the court that for some time past he had been - learning to read, for the sole purpose of learning the Lord’s Prayer. The - nick-name by which he was generally known among the negroes in this part - of the country, was Buonaparte, and he always appeared to exult in the - appellation. Once condemned, the marshal is bound under a heavy penalty to - see him shipped from off the island before the expiration of six weeks, - and probably he will be sent to Cuba. He is a fine-looking man between - thirty and forty, square built, and of great bodily strength, and his - countenance equally expresses intelligence and malignity. The sum allowed - me for him is one hundred pounds currency, which is scarcely a third of - his worth as a labourer, but which is the highest value which a jury is - permitted to mention. - </p> - <h3> - MARCH 1. (Sunday.) - </h3> - <p> - Last night the negroes of Friendship took it into their ingenious heads to - pay me a compliment of an extremely inconvenient nature. They thought, - that it would be highly proper to treat me with a nightly serenade just by - way of showing their <i>enjoyment</i> on my return; and accordingly a - large body of them arrived at my doors about midnight, dressed out in - their best clothes, and accompanied with drums, rattles, and their whole - orchestra of abominable instruments, determined to pass the whole night in - singing and dancing under my windows. Luckily, my negro-governors heard - what was going forwards, and knowing my taste a little better than my - visiters, they hastened to assure them of my being in bed and asleep, and - with much difficulty persuaded them to remove into my village. Here they - contented themselves with making a noise for the greatest part of the - night; and the next morning, after coming up to see me at breakfast, they - went away quietly. One of them only remained to enquire particularly after - Lady H———-, as her mother had been her nurse, and she - was very particular in her enquiries as to her health, her children, their - ages and names. When she went away, I gave her a plentiful provision of - bread, butter, plantains, and cold ham from the breakfast table; part of - which she sat down to eat, intending, as she said, to carry the rest to - her piccaninny at home. But in half an hour after she made her appearance - again, saying she was come to take leave of me, and hoped I would give her - a <i>bit</i> to buy tobacco. I gave her a maccaroni, which occasioned a - great squall of delight. Oh! since I had given her so much, she would not - buy tobacco but a fowl; and then, when I returned, she would bring me a - chicken from it for my dinner; that is, if she could keep the other - negroes from stealing it from her, a piece of extraordinary good luck of - which she seemed to entertain but slender hopes. At length off she set; - but she had scarcely gone above ten yards from the house, when she turned - back, and was soon at my writing-table once more, with a “Well! here me - come to massa again!” So then she said, that she had meant to eat part of - the provisions which I had given her, and carry home the rest to her boy; - but that really it was so good, she could not help going on eating and - eating, till she had eaten the whole, and now she wanted another bit of - cold ham to carry home to her child, and then she should go away perfectly - contented. I ordered Cubina to give her a great hunch of it, and Mrs. - Phillis at length took her departure for good and all. - </p> - <h3> - MARCH 4. (Wednesday.) - </h3> - <p> - I set out to visit my estate in St. Thomas’s in the East, called Hordley. - It is at the very furthest extremity of the island, and never was there a - journey like unto my journey. Something disagreeable happened at every - step; my accidents commenced before I had accomplished ten miles from my - own house; for in passing along a narrow shelf of rock, which overhangs - the sea near Bluefields, a pair of young blood-horses in my carriage took - fright at the roaring of the waves which dashed violently against them, - and twice nearly overturned me. On the second occasion one of them - actually fell down into the water, while the off-wheel of the curricle - flew up into the air, and thus it remained suspended, balancing backwards - and forwards, like Mahomet’s coffin. Luckily, time was allowed the horse - to recover his legs, down came the wheel once more on terra firma, and on - we went again. We slept at Cashew (an estate near Lacovia), and the next - morning at daylight proceeded to climb the Bogr, a mountain so difficult, - that every one had pronounced the attempt to be hopeless with horses so - young as mine; but those horses were my only ones, and therefore I was - obliged to make the trial. The road is bordered by tremendous precipices - for about twelve miles; the path is so narrow, that a servant must always - be sent on before to make any carts which may be descending stop in - recesses hollowed out for this express purpose; and the cartmen are - obliged to sound their shells repeatedly, in order to give each other - timely warning. The chief danger, however, proceeds from the steepness of - the road, which in some places will not permit the waggons to stop, - however well their conductors may be inclined; then down they come drawn - by twelve or fourteen, or sometimes sixteen oxen, sweeping every thing - before them, and any carriage unlucky enough to find itself in their - course must infallibly be dashed over the precipice. To-day, it really - appeared as if all the estates in the island had agreed to send their - produce by this particular road; the shells formed a complete chorus, and - sounded incessantly during our whole passage of the mountain; and at one - time there was a very numerous accumulation of carts and oxen in - consequence of my carriage coming to a complete stop. As we were - ascending,—“It is very well,” said a gentleman who was travelling - with me, (Mr. Hill) “that we did not come by this road three months - sooner. I remember about that time travelling it on horseback, and an - enormous tree had fallen over the path, which made me say to myself as I - passed under it, ‘Now, how would a chaise with a canopy get along here? - The tree hangs so low that the carriage never could pass, and it would - certainly have to go all the way home again.’ Of course, the obstacle must - now be removed; but if I remember right, this must have been the very - spot.... and as I hope to live, yonder is the very tree still!”—And - so it proved; although three months had elapsed, the impediment had been - suffered to remain in unmolested possession of the road, and to pass my - carriage under it proved an absolute impossibility. After much discussion, - and many fruitless attempts, we at length succeeded in unscrewing the - wheels, lifting off the body, which we carried along, and then built the - curricle up again on the opposite side of the tree. However, by one means - or other (after leaving a knocked-up saddle-horse at a coffee plantation, - to the owner of which I was a perfect stranger, but who very obligingly - offered to take charge of the animal) we found ourselves at the bottom of - the mountain; but the fatal tree, and the delay occasioned by taking - unavoidable shelter from tremendous storms of rain, had lost us so much - time, that night surprised us when we were still eight miles distant from - our destined inn. The night was dark as night could be; no moon, no stars, - nor any light except the flashing of myriads of fire-flies, which, - flapping in the faces of the young horses, frightened them, and made them - rear. The road, too, was full of water-trenches, precipices, and deep and - dangerous holes. As to the ground, it was quite invisible, and we had no - means of proceeding with any chance of safety except by making some of the - servants lead the horses, while others went before us to explore the way, - while they cried out at every moment,—“Take care; a little to the - left, or you will slip into that water-trench—a little to the right, - or you will tumble over that precipice.”—Into the bargain there was - neither inn nor gentleman’s house within reach; and thus we proceeded - crawling along at a foot’s pace for five eternal miles, when we at length - stopped to beg a shelter for the night at a small estate called Porous. By - this time it was midnight; all the family was gone to bed; the gates were - all locked; and before we could obtain admittance a full hour elapsed, - during which I sat in an open carriage, perspiration streaming down from - my head to my feet through vexation, impatience and fatigue, while the - night-dew fell heavy and the night-breeze blew keen; which (as I had - frequently been assured) was the very best recipe possible for getting a - Jamaica fever. On such I counted both for myself and my white servant, - when I at length laid myself down in a bed at Porous; but to my equal - surprise and satisfaction we both rose the next morning without feeling - the slightest inconvenience from our risks of the preceding day, and in - the evening of Friday, the 5th, I reached Miss Cole’s hotel at the Spanish - Town. One of my young horses, however, was so completely knocked up by the - fatigue of crossing the mountain, that I could get no further than - Kingston (only fourteen miles) this next day. In consequence of the delay, - I was enabled to visit the Kingston theatre; the exterior is rather - picturesque; within it has no particular recommendations; the scenery and - dresses were shabby, the actors wretched, and the stage ill lighted; the - performance was for the benefit of the chief actress, who had but little - reason to be satisfied with the number of her audience; and I may reckon - it among my other misfortunes on this ill-starred expedition, that it was - my destiny to sit out the tragedy of “Adelgitha,” whom the author meant - only to be killed in the last act, but whom the actors murdered in all - five. The heroine was the only one who spoke tolerably, but she was old - enough and fat enough for the Widow Cheshire; Guiscard did not know ten - words of his part; the tyrant was really comical enough; and Lothair was - played by a young Jamaica Jew about fifteen years of age, and who is - dignified here with the name of “the Creole Roscius.” His voice was just - breaking, which made him “pipe and whistle in the sound,” his action was - awkward, and altogether he was but a sorry specimen of theatrical talent: - however, his <i>forte</i> is said to lie in broad farce, which perhaps may - account for his being no better in tragedy. On Sunday, the 8th, I resumed - my journey, but my horses were so completely knocked up, that I was - obliged to hire an additional pair to convey me to Miss Hetley’s inn on - the other side of the Yallacks River, which is nineteen miles from - Kingston. This river, as well as that of Morant (which I passed about ten - miles further) both in breadth and strength sets all bridges at defiance, - and in the rainy season it is sometimes impassable for several weeks. On - this occasion there was but little water in either, and I arrived without - difficulty at Port Morant, where I found horses sent by my trustee to - convey me to Hordley. The road led up to the mountains, and was one of the - steepest, roughest, and most fatiguing that I ever travelled, in spite of - its picturesque beauties. At length I reached my estate, jaded and wearied - to death; here I expected to find a perfect paradise, and I found a - perfect hell. Report had assured me, that Hordley was the best managed - estate in the island, and as far as the soil was concerned, report - appeared to have said true; but my trustee had also assured me, that my - negroes were the most contented and best disposed, and here there was a - lamentable incorrectness in the account. I found them in a perfect uproar; - complaints of all kinds stunned me from all quarters: all the blacks - accused all the whites, and all the whites accused all the blacks, and as - far as I could make out, both parties were extremely in the right. There - was no attachment to the soil to be found <i>here</i>; the negroes - declared, one and all, that if I went away and left them to groan under - the same system of oppression without appeal or hope of redress, they - would follow my carriage and establish themselves at Cornwall. I had soon - discovered enough to be certain, that although they told me plenty of - falsehoods, many of their complaints were but too well founded; and yet - how to protect them for the future or satisfy them for the present was no - easy matter to decide. Trusting to these fallacious reports of the - Arcadian state of happiness upon Hordley, I supposed, that I should have - nothing to do there but grant a few indulgences, and establish the - regulations already adopted with success on Cornwall; distribute a little - money, and allow a couple of play-days for dancing; and under this - persuasion I had made it quite impossible for me to remain above a week at - Hordley, which I conceived to be fully sufficient for the above purpose. - As to grievances to be redressed, I was totally unprepared for any such - necessity; yet now they poured in upon me incessantly, each more serious - than the former; and before twenty-four hours were elapsed I had been - assured, that in order to produce any sort of tranquillity upon the - estate, I must begin by displacing the trustee, the physician, the four - white book-keepers, and the four black governors, all of whom I was - modestly required to remove and provide better substitutes in the space of - five days and a morning. What with the general clamour, the assertions and - denials, the tears and the passion, the odious falsehoods, and the still - more odious truths, and (worst of all to me) my own vexation and - disappointment at finding things so different from my expectations, at - first nearly turned my brain; and I felt strongly tempted to set off as - fast as I could, and leave all these black devils and white ones to tear - one another to pieces, an amusement in which they appeared to be perfectly - ready to indulge themselves. It was, however, considerable relief to me to - find, upon examination, that no act of personal ill-treatment was alleged - against the trustee himself, who was allowed to be sufficiently humane in - his own nature, and was only complained of for allowing the negroes to be - maltreated by the book-keepers, and other inferior agents, with absolute - impunity. Being an excellent planter, he confined his attention entirely - to the cultivation of the soil, and when the negroes came to complain of - some act of cruelty or oppression committed by the book-keepers or the - black governors, he refused to listen to them, and left their complaints - unenquired into, and consequently unredressed. The result was, that the - negroes were worse off, than if he had been a cruel man himself; for his - cruelty would have given them only one tyrant, whereas his indolence left - them at the mercy of eight. Still they said, that they would be well - contented to have him continue their trustee, provided that I would - appoint some protector, to whom they might appeal in cases of injustice - and ill-usage. The trustee declaring himself well satisfied that some such - appointment should take place, a neighbouring gentleman (whose humanity to - his own negroes had established him in high favour with mine) was selected - for this purpose. I next ordered one of the book-keepers (of the atrocious - brutality of whose conduct the trustee himself upon examination allowed - that there could be no doubt) to quit the estate in two hours under pain - of prosecution; away went the man, and when I arose the next morning, - another book-keeper had taken himself off of his own accord, and that in - so much haste that he left all his clothes behind him. My next step was to - displace the chief black governor, a man deservedly odious to the negroes, - and whom a gross and insolent lie told to myself enabled me to punish - without seeming to displace him in compliance with their complaints - against him; and these sources of discontent being removed, I read to them - my regulations for allowing them new holidays, additional allowances of - salt-fish, rum, and sugar, with a variety of other indulgences and - measures taken for protection, &c. All which, assisted by a couple of - dances and distribution of money on the day of my departure had so good an - effect upon their tempers, that I left them in as good humour apparently, - as I found them in bad. But to leave them was no such easy matter; the - weather had been bad from the moment of my commencing my journey, but from - the moment of my reaching Hordley, it became abominable. The rain poured - down in cataracts incessantly; the old crazy house stands on the top of a - hill, and the north wind howled round it night and day, shaking it from - top to bottom, and threatening to become a hurricane. The storm was - provided with a very suitable accompaniment of thunder and lightning; and - to complete the business, down came the mountain torrents, and swelled - Plantain Garden River to such a degree, that it broke down the dam-head, - stopped the mill, and all work was at a stand-still for two days and - nights. But the worst of all was that this same river lay between me and - Kingston; bridge there was none, and it soon became utterly impassable. - Thus it continued for four days; on the fifth (the day which I had - appointed for my departure, and on which I gave the negroes a parting - holiday) the water appeared to be somewhat abated at a ford about four - miles distant; for as to crossing at my own, that was quite out of the - question for a week at least. A negro was despatched on horseback to - ascertain the height of the water; his report was very unfavourable. - However, as at worst I could but return, and had no better means of - employing my time, I resolved to make the experiment. About forty of the - youngest and strongest negroes left their dancing and drinking, and ran on - foot to see me safe over the water. The few hours which had elapsed since - my messenger’s examination, had operated very favourably towards the - reduction of the water, although it was still very high. But a servant - going before to ascertain the least dangerous passage, and the negroes - rushing all into the river to break the force of the stream, and support - the carriage on both sides, we were enabled to struggle to the opposite - bank, and were landed in safety with loud cheering from my sable - attendants, who then left me, many with tears running down their cheeks, - and all with thanks for the protection which I had shown them, and earnest - entreaties that I would come to visit them another time. Whether my visit - will have been productive of essential service to them must remain a - doubt; the trustee at least promised me most solemnly that my regulations - for their happiness and security should be obeyed, and that the slave-laws - (of which I had detected beyond a doubt some very flagrant violations) - should be carried into effect for the future with the most scrupulous - exactness. If he breaks his promise, and I discover it, I have pledged - myself most solemnly to remove him, however great may be his merits as a - planter; if he contrives to keep me in ignorance of his proceedings - (which, however, from the precautions which I have now taken, I trust, - will be no easy matter), and the state of the negroes should continue - after my departure to be what it was before my arrival, then I can only - console myself with thinking, that the guilt is his, not mine; and that it - is on <i>his</i> head that the curse of the sufferers and the vengeance of - heaven will fall, not on my own. I have been told that this estate of mine - is one of the most beautiful in the island. It may be so for anything that - I can tell of the matter. The badness of the weather and the disquietude - of my mind during the whole of my short stay, made every thing look gloomy - and hideous; and when I once found myself again beyond my own limits, I - felt my spirits lighter by a hundred weight. Of all the points which had - displeased me at Hordley, none had made me more angry for the time, than - the lie told me by the chief governor, which occasioned my displacing him. - This fellow, who for the credit of our family (no doubt) had got himself - christened by the name of John Lewis, had the impudence to walk into my - parlour just as I was preparing to go to bed, and inform me, that he could - not get the business of the estate done. Why not? He could get nobody to - come to the night-work at the mill, which he supposed was the consequence - of my indulging the negroes so much. Indeed! and where were the people who - ought to come to their night-work? in the negro village? No; they were in - the hospital, and refused to come out to work. Upon which I blazed up like - a barrel of gunpowder, and volleying out in a breath all the curses that I - ever heard in my life, I asked him, whether any person really had been - insolent enough to select a whole night party from the sick people in the - hospital, not one of whom ought to stir out of it till well? There stood - the fellow, trembling and stammering, and unable to get out an answer, - while I stamped up and down the piazza, storming and swearing, banging all - the doors till the house seemed ready to tumble about our ears, and doing - my best to out-herod Herod, till at last I ordered the man to begone that - instant, and get the work done properly. He did not wait to be told twice, - and was off in a twinkling. In a quarter of an hour I sent for him again, - and enquired whether he had succeeded in getting the proper people to work - at the mill? Upon which he had the assurance to answer, that all the - people were there, and that it was not of their not being at the mill that - he had meant to complain. Of what was it then? “Of their not being in the - field.” When? “Yesterday. He could not get the negroes to come to work, - and so there had been none done all day.” And who refused to come? “All - the people.” But who? “All.” But who, who, who?—their names, their - names, their names? “He could not remember them all.” Name one—well?—speak - then, speak! “There was Beck.” And who else? “There was Sally, who used to - be called Whan-ica.” And who else? “There was.... there was Beck.” But who - else? “Beck... and Sally”... But who else? who else? “Little Edward had - gone out of the hospital, and had not come to work.” Well! Beck and Sally, - and little Edward; who else? “Beck, and little Edward, and Sally.” - </p> - <p> - But who else: I say, who else? “He could not remember any body else.” Then - to be sure I was in such an imperial passion, as would have done honour to - “her majesty the queen Dolallolla.” - </p> - <p> - Why, you most impudent of all impudent fellows that ever told a lie, have - you really presumed to disturb me at this time of night, prevent my going - to bed, tell me that you can’t get the business done, and that none of the - people would come to work, and make such a disturbance, and all because - two old women and a little boy missed coming into the field yesterday! - Down dropped the fellow in a moment upon his marrow bones: “Oh, me good - massa,” cried he (and out came the truth, which I knew well enough before - he told me), “me no come of my own head; me <i>ordered</i> to come; but me - never tell massa lie more, so me pray him forgib me!” But his obeying any - person on my own estate in preference to me, and suffering himself to be - converted into an instrument of my annoyance, was not to be easily - overlooked; so I turned him out of the house with a flea in his ear as big - as a camel; and the next morning degraded him to the rank of a common - field negro. The trustee pleaded hard for his being permitted to return to - the waggons, from whence he had been taken, and where he would be useful. - But I was obdurate. Then came his wife to beg for him, and then his - mother, and then his cousin, and then his cousin’s cousin: still I was - firm; till on the day of my departure, the new chief governor came to me - in the name of the whole estate, and bested me to allow John Lewis to - return to the command of the waggons, “for that all the negroes said, that - it would be <i>too sad a thing</i> for them to see a man who had held the - highest place among them, degraded quite to be a common field negro.” - There was something in this appeal which argued so good a feeling, that I - did not think it right to resist any longer; so I hinted that if the - trustee should ask it again as a favour to himself, I might perhaps - relent; and the proper application being thus made, John Lewis was allowed - to quit the field, but with a positive injunction against his ever being - employed again in any office of authority over the negroes. I found - baptism in high vogue upon Hordley, but I am sorry to say, that I could - not discover much effect produced upon their minds by having been made - Christians, except in one particular: whenever one of them told me a - monstrous lie (and they told me whole dozens), he never failed to conclude - his story by saying—“And now, massa, you know, I’ve been christened; - and if you do not believe what I say, I’m ready to buss the booh to the - truth of it.” The whole advantages to be derived by negroes from becoming - Christians, seemed to consist with them in two points; being a superior - species of magic itself, it preserved them from black Obeah; and by - enabling them to take an oath upon the ‘Bible to the truth of any lie - which it might suit them to tell, they believed that it would give them - the power of humbugging the white people with perfect ease and - convenience. They had observed the importance attached by the whites to - such an attestation, and the conviction which it always appeared to carry - with it; as to the crime or penalty of perjury, of that they were totally - ignorant, or at least indifferent; therefore they were perfectly ready to - “buss the book,” which they considered as a piece of buckra superstition, - mighty useful to the negroes, and valued taking their oath upon the Bible - to a lie, no more than Mrs. Mincing did the oath which she took in the - Blue Garret “upon an odd volume of Messalina’s Poems.” Although I set out - from Hordley at two o’clock, it was past seven before I reached an estate - called “The Retreat,” which was only twelve miles off, so abominable was - the road. Here I stopped for the night, which I passed at supper with the - musquitoes,—“not where I ate, but where I was eaten.” Morant River - had been swelled by the late heavy rains to a tremendous height, and its - numerous quicksands render the passage in such a state extremely - dangerous, However, a negro having been sent early to explore it, and - having returned with a favourable report, we proceeded to encounter it. A - Hordley negro, well acquainted with these perilous rivers, had accompanied - me for the express purpose of pointing out the most practicable fords; but - for some time his efforts to find a safe one were unavailing, his horse at - the end of a minute or two plunging into a quicksand or some deep hole, - among the waters thrown up from which he totally disappeared for a moment, - and then was seen to struggle out again with such an effort and leap, as - were quite beyond the capability of any carriage’s attempting. However, at - the end of half an hour he was fortunate to find a place, where he could - cross (up to his horse’s belly in the water, to be sure), but at least - without tumbling into holes and quicksands; and here we set out, conscious - that our whole chance of reaching the opposite shore consisted in keeping - precisely the path which he had gone already, and determined to stick as - close as possible to his horse’s tail. But no sooner were we fairly in the - water, than my young horses found themselves unable to resist the strength - and rapidity of the torrent, which was rolling down huge stones as big as - rocks from the mountain; and to my utter consternation, I perceived the - curricle carried down the stream, and the distance from my guide (who, by - swimming his horse, had reached the destined landing-place in safety) - growing wider and wider with every moment. We were now driving at all - hazards; every moment I expected to see a horse or a wheel sink down into - some deep hole, the chaise overturned, and ourselves either swallowed up - in a quicksand, or dashed to pieces against the stones, which were rolling - around us. I never remember to have felt myself so completely convinced of - approaching destruction, and I roared out with all my might and main:—“We - are carried away! all is over!” although, to be sure, I might as well have - held my tongue, seeing that all my roaring could not do the least possible - good. However, my horses, although too weak to resist the current, were - fortunately strong enough to keep their legs; while they drifted down the - stream, they struggled along in an oblique direction, which gradually - (though but slowly) brought us nearer to the opposite shore; and after - several minutes passed in most painful anxiety, a desperate plunge out of - the water enabled them to <i>jump</i> the carriage upon terra firma on the - same side with my guide, although at a considerable distance from the spot - where he had landed. The Yallack’s River was less dangerous; but even this - too had been sufficiently swelled to make the crossing it no easy matter; - so that what with one obstacle and another, when I reached Kingston at six - o’clock with my bones and my vehicle unbroken, I was almost as much - surprised as satisfied. I dined with the curate of Kingston (Rev. G. - Hill), where I met the admiral upon this station, Sir Home Popham, and a - large party. At Kingston I was obliged to send back a horse, which had - been lent me in aid of my own; another had been dropped at “the Retreat a - third could get no farther than the mountains; and my companion’s three - horses had found themselves unable even to reach Spanish Town, and I had - thus been obliged to leave them and theirs behind upon the road. On the - morning of our departure from Cornwall, when my Italian servant saw the - quantity of horses, mules, servants, and carriages collected for the - journey, he clapped his hands together in exultation, and exclaimed,—“They - will certainly take us for the king of England!” But now when after - leaving one horse in one place and another horse in another, on the - morning of Monday the 16th, he beheld my whole caravan reduced to one pair - of chaise horses and a couple of miserable mules, he cast a rueful look - upon my diminished cavalry and sighed to himself,—“I verily believe, - we shall return home on foot after all!” I reached Spanish Town in time to - dine with the chief justice (Mr. Jackson), and intended to remain two or - three days longer; but the fatality, which had persecuted me from the very - commencement of this abominable journey, was not exhausted yet. On Tuesday - morning, my landlady just hinted, that “she thought it right to let me - know, that to be sure there <i>was</i> a gentleman unwell in the house; - but she supposed, that I should not care about it: however, if I - particularly disliked the neighbourhood of a sick person, she would - procure me lodgings.” I asked, “What was the complaint?” - </p> - <p> - “Oh! he was a little sick, that was all.” To which I only could answer, - that, “in that case I hoped he would get better,” and thought no more - about it. However, when I went to visit the governor, I found, that this - “little sickness” of my landlady’s was neither more nor less than the - yellow fever; of which the gentleman in question was now dying, of which a - lady had died only two days before, and of which another European, newly - arrived, had fallen ill in this very same hotel only a fortnight before, - and had died, after throwing himself out of an upper window in a fit of - delirium. Under all these circumstances, I thought it to the full as - prudent not to prolong my residence in Spanish Town; and accordingly, on - Wednesday the 18th, I resumed my journey homewards. I travelled the north - side of the island, which was the road used by me on my return two years - ago. I have nothing to add to my former account of it, except that there - need not be better inns anywhere than the Wellington hotel at Rio Bueno, - and Judy James’s at Montego Bay, which latter is now, in my opinion, by - far the prettiest town in Jamaica. Indeed, all the inns upon this road are - excellent, with the solitary exception of the Black-heath Tavern, which I - stopped at by a mistake instead of that of Montague. At this most - miserable of all inns that ever entrapped an unwary traveller, there was - literally nothing to be procured for love or money: no corn for the - horses; no wine without sending six miles for a bottle; no food but a - miserable starved fowl, so tough that the very negroes could not eat it; - and a couple of eggs, one of which was addled: there was but one pair of - sheets in the whole house, and neither candles, nor oranges, nor pepper, - nor vinegar, nor bread, nor even so much as sugar, white or brown. Yams - there were, which prevented my servants from going to bed quite empty, and - I contented myself with the far-fetched bottle of wine and the solitary - egg, which I eat by the light of a lamp filled with stinking oil. The one - pair of sheets I seized upon to my own share, and my servants made - themselves as good beds as they could upon the floor with great coats and - travelling mantles. It was on Wednesday night, that after the fatigue of - crossing Mount Diablo, “myself I unfatigued” in this delectable retreat, - which seemed to have been established upon principles diametrically - opposite to those of Shenstone’s. On Thursday I slept at Rio Bueno, on - Friday at Montego Bay, passed Saturday at Anchovy estate (Mr. Plummer’s), - and was very glad, on Sunday the 22d, to find myself once more quietly - established at Cornwall, fully determined to leave it no more, till I - leave it on my return to England. The lady, who had died so lately at - Kingston, had arrived not long before in a vessel, both the crew and - passengers of which landed (to all appearance) in perfect health after a - favourable passage from England. Of course, they soon dispersed in - different directions; yet almost all of them were attacked nearly at the - same period by the fever, which seemed to have a particular commission to - search out such persons as had arrived by that particular ship, at however - remote a distance they might be from each other. - </p> - <h3> - MARCH 29. (Sunday.) - </h3> - <p> - This morning (without either fault or accident) a young, strong, healthy - woman miscarried of an eight months’ child; and this is the third time - that she has met with a similar misfortune. No other symptom of - child-bearing has been given in the course of this year, nor are there - above eight women upon the breeding list out of more than one hundred and - fifty females. Yet they are all well clothed and well fed, contented in - mind, even by their own account, over-worked at no time, and when upon the - breeding list are exempted from labour of every kind. In spite of all - this, and their being treated with all possible care and indulgence, - rewarded for bringing children, and therefore anxious themselves to have - them, how they manage it so ill I know not, but somehow or other certainly - the children do not come. - </p> - <h3> - MARCH 31. - </h3> - <p> - During the whole three weeks of my absence, only two negroes have been - complained of for committing fault. The first was a domestic quarrel - between two Africans; Hazard stole Frank’s calabash of sugar, which Frank - had previously stolen out of my boiling-house. So Frank broke Hazard’s - head, which in my opinion settled the matter so properly, that I declined - spoiling it by any interference of my own. The other complaint was more - serious. Toby, being ordered to load the cart with canes, answered “I - wo’nt”—and Toby was as good as his word; in consequence of which the - mill stopped for want of canes, and the boilinghouse stopped for want of - liquor. I found on my return that for this offence Toby had received six - lashes, which Toby did not mind three straws. But as his fault amounted to - an act of downright rebellion, I thought that it ought not by any means to - be passed over so lightly, and that Toby ought to be <i>made</i> to mind. - I took no notice for some days; but the Easter holidays had been deferred - till my return, and only began here on Friday last. On that day, as soon - as the head governor had blown the shell, and dismissed the negroes till - Monday morning, he requested the pleasure of Mr. Toby’s company to the - hospital, where he locked him up in a room by himself. All Saturday and - Sunday the estate rang with laughing, dancing, singing, and huzzaing. - Salt-fish was given away in the morning; the children played at ninepins - for jackets and petticoats in the evening; rum and sugar was denied to no - one. The gumbys thundered; the kitty-katties clattered; all was noise and - festivity; and all this while, “<i>qualis morens Philomela</i>,” sat - solitary Toby gazing at his four white walls! Toby had not minded the - lashes; but the loss of his amusement, and the disgrace of his exclusion - from the fête operated on his mind so forcibly, that when on the Monday - morning his door was unlocked, and the chief governor called him to his - work, not a word would he deign to utter; let who would speak, there he - sat motionless, silent, and sulky. However, upon my going down to him - myself, his voice thought proper to return, and he began at once to - complain of his seclusion and justify his conduct. But he no sooner opened - his lips than the whole hospital opened theirs to censure his folly, - asking him how he could presume to justify himself when he knew that he - had done wrong? and advising him to humble himself and beg my pardon; and - their clamours were so loud and so general (Mrs. Sappho, his wife, being - one of the loudest, who not only “gave it him on both sides of his ears,” - but enforced her arguments by a knock on the pate now and then), that they - fairly drove the evil spirit out of him; he confessed his fault with great - penitence, engaged solemnly never to commit such another, and set off to - his work full of gratitude for my granting him forgiveness. I am more and - more convinced every day, that the best and easiest mode of governing - negroes (and governed by some mode or other they must be) is not by the - detestable lash, but by confinement, solitary or otherwise; they cannot - bear it, and the memory of it seems to make a lasting impression upon - their minds; while the lash makes none but upon their skins, and lasts no - longer than the mark. The order at my hospital is, that no negro should be - denied admittance; even if no symptoms of illness appear, he is allowed - one day to rest, and take physic, if he choose it. On the second morning, - if the physician declares the man to be shamming, and the plea of illness - is still alleged against going to work, then the negro is locked up in a - room with others similarly circumstanced, where care is taken to supply - him with food, water, physic, &c., and no restraint is imposed except - that of not going out. Here he is suffered to remain unmolested as long as - he pleases, and he is only allowed to leave the hospital upon his own - declaration that he is well enough to go to work; when the door is opened, - and he walks away unreproached and unpunished, however evident his - deception may have been. Before I adopted this regulation, the number of - patients used to vary from thirty to forty-five, not more than a dozen of - whom perhaps had anything the matter with them: the number at this moment - is but fourteen, and all are sores, burns, or complaints the reality of - which speaks for itself. Some few persevering tricksters will still submit - to be locked up for a day or two; but their patience never fails to be - wearied out by the fourth morning, and I have not yet met with an instance - of a patient who had once been locked up with a fictitious illness, - returning to the hospital except with a real one. In general, they offer - to take a day’s rest and physic, promising to go out to work the next day, - and on these occasions they have uniformly kept their word. Indeed, my - hospital is now in such good order, that the physician told the trustee - the other day that “mine gave him less trouble than any hospital in the - parish.” - </p> - <p> - My boilers, too, who used to make sugar the colour of mahogany, are now - making excellent; and certainly, if appearances may be trusted, and things - will but last, I may flatter myself with the complete success of my system - of management, as far as the time elapsed is sufficient to warrant an - opinion. I only wish from my soul that I were but half as certain of the - good treatment and good behaviour of the negroes at Hordley. - </p> - <h3> - APRIL 1. (Wednesday.) - </h3> - <p> - Jug-Betty having had two leathern purses full of silver coin stolen out of - her trunk, her cousin Punch told her to have patience till Sunday, and he - thought that by that time he should be able to find it for her. Upon which - she very naturally suspected her cousin Punch of having stolen the money - himself, and brought him to day to make her charge against him. However, - he stuck firmly to a denial, and as several days had been suffered to - elapse since the theft, there could be no doubt of his having concealed - the money, and therefore no utility in searching his person or his house. - I found great fault with the persons in authority for not having taken - such a measure without a moment’s delay; but the trustee informed me that - it frequently produced very serious consequences, many instances having - occurred of the disgrace of their house being searched having offended - negroes so much to the heart, as to occasion their committing suicide: so - that it was a proceeding which was seldom ventured upon without urgent - necessity. It was now too late to take it, at all events; the man - confessed, indeed, that he had quitted his work, and gone down to the - negro-village on the day of the robbery, which rendered his guilt highly - probable, but he could be brought to confess no more; and as to his saying - that he thought he could find the money by Sunday, he explained <i>that</i> - into an intention of “going to consult a brown woman at the bay, who was a - fortune-teller, and who when any thing was stolen, could always point out - the thief by <i>cutting the cards</i>.” This was all that we could extract - from him, and we were obliged to dismiss him. However, the fright of his - examination was not without good consequences: one of the stolen purses - had belonged to a sister of Jug-Betty’s, not long deceased; and on her - return home, <i>this</i> purse (with its contents untouched) was found - lying on the sister’s grave in her garden. Perhaps, the thief had taken it - without knowing the owner; and on finding that it had belonged to a dead - person, he had surrendered it through apprehension of being haunted by her - <i>duppy</i>. - </p> - <h3> - APRIL 5. (Sunday.) - </h3> - <p> - Clearing their grounds by fire is a very expeditious proceeding, - consequently in much practice among the negroes; but in this tindery - country it is extremely dangerous, and forbidden by the law. As I returned - home to-day from church, I observed a large smoke at no great distance, - and Cubina told me, he supposed that the negroes of the neighbouring - estate of Amity were clearing their grounds. “Then they are doing a very - wrong thing,” said I; “I hope they will fire nothing else but their - grounds, for with so strong a breeze a great deal of mischief might be - done.” However, in half an hour it proved that the smoke in question arose - from my own negro-grounds, that the fire had spread itself, and I could - see from my window the flames and smoke pouring themselves upwards in - large volumes, while the crackling of the dry bushes and brush-wood was - something perfectly terrific. The alarm was instantly given, and whites - and blacks all hurried to the scene of action. Luckily, the breeze set the - contrary way from the plantations; a morass interposed itself between the - blazing ground and one of my best cane-pieces: the flames were suffered to - burn till they reached the brink of the water, and then the negroes - managed to extinguish them without much difficulty. Thus we escaped - without injury, but I own I was heartily frightened. - </p> - <h3> - APRIL 8. - </h3> - <p> - This morning I was awaked by a violent coughing in the hospital; and as - soon as I heard any of the servants moving, I despatched a negro to ask, - “whether any body was bad in the hospital?” He returned and told me, “No, - massa; nobody bad there; for Alick is better, and Nelson is dead.” Nelson - was one of my best labourers, and had come into the hospital for a - glandular swelling. Early this morning he was seized with a violent fit of - coughing, burst a large artery, and was immediately suffocated in his - blood! This is the sixth death in the course of the first three months of - the year, and we have not as yet a single birth for a set-off. Say what - one will to the negroes, and treat them as well as one can, obstinate - devils, they will die! - </p> - <h3> - APRIL 9. - </h3> - <p> - I had mentioned to Mr. Shand my having found a woman at Hordley, who had - been crippled for life, in consequence of her having been kicked in the - womb by one of the book-keepers. He writes to me on this subject:—“I - trust that conduct so savage occurs rarely in <i>any</i> country. I can - only say, that in my long experience nothing of the kind has ever fallen - under my observation.” Mr. S. then ought to consider <i>me</i> as having - been in high luck. I have not passed six months in Jamaica, and I have - already found on one of my estates a woman who had been kicked in the womb - by a white book-keeper, by which she was crippled herself, and on another - of my estates another woman who had been kicked in the womb by another - white book-keeper, by which he had crippled the child. The name of the - first man and woman were Lory and Jeannette; those of the second were - Full-wood and Martia: and thus, as my two estates are at the two - extremities of the island, I am entitled to say, from my own knowledge - (i.e, speaking <i>lite-rally</i>, observe), that “white book-keepers kick - black women in the belly <i>from one end of Jamaica to the other</i>.” - </p> - <h3> - APRIL 15. (Wednesday.) - </h3> - <p> - About noon to-day a well-disposed healthy lad of seventeen years of age - was employed in unhaltering the first pair of oxen of one of the waggons, - in doing which he entangled his right leg in the rope. At that moment the - oxen set off full gallop, and dragged the boy along with them round the - whole inclosure, before the other negroes could succeed in stopping them. - However, when the prisoner was extricated, although his flesh appeared to - have been terribly lacerated, no bones were broken, and he was even able - to walk to the hospital without support. He was blooded instantly, and two - physicians were sent for by express. At two o’clock he was still in - perfect possession of his senses, and only complained of the soreness of - his wounds: but in half an hour after he became apoplectic; sank into a - state of utter insensibility, during which a dreadful rattling in his - throat was the only sign of still existing life, and before six in the - evening all was over with him! - </p> - <h3> - APRIL 17. - </h3> - <p> - Pickle had accused his brother-in-law, Edward the Eboe, of having given - him a pleurisy by the practice of Obeah. During my last visit I had - convinced him that the charge was unjust (or at least he had declared - himself to be convinced), and about six weeks ago they came together to - assure me, that ever since they had lived upon the best terms possible. - Unluckily, Pickle’s wife miscarried lately, and for the third time; - previously to which Edward had said, that his wife would remain sole - heiress of the father’s property. This was enough to set the suspicious - brains of these foolish people at work; and to-day Pickle and his - father-in-law, old Damon, came to assure me, that in order to prevent a - child coming to claim its share of the grandfather’s property, Edward had - practised Obeah to make his sister-in-law miscarry; the only proof of - which adduced was the above expression, and the woman’s having miscarried - “just according to Edward’s very words!” To reason with such very absurd - persons was out of the case. I found too, that the two sisters were - quarrelling perpetually, and always on the point of tearing each other’s - eyes out. Therefore, as domestic peace “in a house so disunited” was out - of the question, I ordered the two families to separate instantly, and to - live at the two extremities of the negro village; at the same time - forbidding all intercourse between them whatsoever: a plan, which was - received with approbation by all parties; and Edward moved his property - out of the old man’s house into another without loss of time. Among other - charges of Obeah, Pickle declared, that his house having been robbed, - Edward had told him that Nato was the offender; and in order to prove it - beyond the power of doubt, he had made him look at something round, “just - like massa’s watch,” out of which he had taken a sentee (a something) - which looked like an egg; this he gave to Pickle, at the same time - instructing him to throw it at night against the door of Nato’s house; - which he had no sooner done and broken the egg, than the very next day - Nato’s wife Philippa “began to bawl, and halloo, and went mad.” Now that - Philippa had bawled and hallooed enough was certainly true; but it was - also true that she had confessed her madness to have been a trick for the - purpose of exciting my compassion, and inducing me to feed her from my own - table. Yet was this simple fellow persuaded that he had made her go mad by - the help of his broken egg, and his old fool of a father-in-law was goose - enough to encourage him in the persuasion. - </p> - <h3> - APRIL 19. (Sunday.) - </h3> - <p> - “And massa,” said Bridget, the doctoress, this morning, “my old mother a - lilly so-so to-day; and him tank massa much for the good supper massa send - last night; and him like it so well.—Laud! massa, the old lady was - just thinking what him could yam (eat) and him no fancy nothing; and him - could no yam salt, and him just wishing for something fresh, when at that - very moment Cu-bina come to him from massa with a stewed pig’s head so - fresh: it seemed just as if massa had got it from the Almighty’s hands - himself.” - </p> - <h3> - APRIL 22. - </h3> - <p> - Naturalists and physicians, philosophers and philanthropists, may argue - and decide as they please; but certainly, as far as mere observation - admits of my judging, there does seem to be a very great difference - between the brain of a black person and a white one. I should think that - Voltaire would call a negro’s reason “<i>une raison très particulière</i>.” - Somehow or other, they never can manage to do anything <i>quite</i> as it - should be done. If they correct themselves in one respect to-day they are - sure of making a blunder in some other manner to-morrow. Cubina is now - twenty-five, and has all his life been employed about the stable; he goes - out with my carriage twice every day; yet he has never yet been able to - succeed in putting on the harness properly. Before we get to one of the - plantation gates we are certain of being obliged to stop, and put - something or other to rights: and I once remember having laboured for more - than half an hour to make him understand that the Christmas holidays came - at Christmas; when asked the question, he always hesitated, and answered, - at hap-hazard, “July” or “October.” Yet, Cubina is far superior in - intellect to most of the negroes who have fallen under my observation. The - girl too, whose business it is to open the house each morning, has in vain - been desired to unclose all the jalousies: she never fails to leave three - or four closed, and when she is scolded for doing so, she takes care to - open those three the next morning, and leaves three shut on the opposite - side. Indeed, the attempt to make them correct a fault is quite fruitless: - they never can do the same thing a second time in the same manner; and if - the cook having succeeded in dressing a dish well is desired to dress just - such another, she is certain of doing something which makes it quite - different. One day I desired, that there might be always a piece of salt - meat at dinner, in order that I might be certain of always having enough - to send to the sick in the hospital. In consequence, there was nothing at - dinner but salt meat. I complained that there was not a single fresh dish, - and the next day, there was nothing but fresh. Sometimes there is scarcely - anything served up, and the cook seems to have forgotten the dinner - altogether: she is told of it; and the next day she slaughters without - mercy pigs, sheep, fowls, ducks, turkeys, and everything that she can lay - her murderous hands upon, till the table absolutely groans under the load - of her labours. For above a month Cubina and I had perpetual quarrels - about the cats being shut into the gallery at nights, where they threw - down plates, glasses, and crockery of all kinds, and made such a clatter - that to get a wink of sleep was quite out of the question. Cubina, before - he went to rest, hunted under all the beds and sofas, and laid about him - with a long whip for half an hour together; but in half an hour after his - departure the cats were at work again. He was then told, that although he - had turned them out, he must certainly have left some window open: he - promised to pay particular attention to this point, but that night the - uproar was worse than ever; yet he protested that he had carefully turned - out all the cats, locked all the doors, and shut all the windows. He was - told, that if he had really turned out all the cats, the cats must have - got in again, and therefore that he must have left some one window open at - least. “No,” he said, “he had not left one; but a pane in one of the - windows had been broken two months before, and it was there that the cats - got in whenever they pleased.” Yet he had continued to turn the cats out - of the door with the greatest care, although he was perfectly conscious - that they could always walk in again at the window in five minutes after. - But the most curious of Cubina’s modes of proceeding is, when it is - necessary for him to attack the pigeon-house. He steals up the ladder as - slily and as softly as foot can fall; he opens the door, and steals in his - head with the utmost caution; on which, to his never-failing surprise and - disappointment, all the pigeons make their escape through the open holes; - he has now no resource but entering the dove-cot, and remaining there with - unwearied patience for the accidental return of the birds, which nine - times out of ten does not take place till too late for dinner, and Cubina - returns empty-handed. Having observed this proceeding constantly repeated - during a fortnight, I took pity upon his embarrassment, and ordered two - wooden sliders to be fitted to the holes. Cubina was delighted with this - exquisite invention, and failed not the next morning to close all the - holes on the right with one of the sliders; he then stepped boldly into - the dove-cot, when to his utter confusion the pigeons flew away through - the holes on the left. Here then he discovered where the fault lay, so he - lost no time in closing the remaining aperture with the second slider, and - the pigeons were thus prevented from returning at all. Cubina waited long - with exemplary patience, but without success, so he abandoned the new - invention in despair, made no farther use of the sliders, and continues to - steal up the ladder as he did before. A few days ago, Nicholas, a mulatto - carpenter, was ordered to make a box for the conveyance of four jars of - sweetmeats, of which he took previous measure; yet first he made a box so - small that it would scarcely hold a single jar, and then another so large - that it would have held twenty; and when at length he produced one of a - proper size, he brought it nailed up for travelling (although it was - completely empty), and nailed up so effectually too, that on being - directed to open it that the jars might be packed, he split the cover to - pieces in the attempt to take it off. Yet, among all my negroes, Nicholas - and Cubina are not equalled for adroitness and intelligence by more than - twenty. Judge then what must be the remaining three hundred! - </p> - <h3> - APRIL 23. - </h3> - <p> - In my medical capacity, like a true quack I sometimes perform cures so - unexpected, that I stand like Katterfelto, “with my hair standing on end - at my own wonders.” Last night, Alexander, the second governor, who has - been seriously ill for some days, sent me word, that he was suffering - cruelly from a pain in his head, and could get no sleep. I knew not how to - relieve him; but having frequently observed a violent passion for perfumes - in the house negroes, for want of something else I gave the doctoress some - oil of lavender, and told her to rub two or three drops upon his nostrils. - This morning, he told me that “to be sure what I had sent him was a grand - medicine indeed,” for it had no sooner touched his nose than he felt - some-thing cold run up to his forehead, over his head, and all the way - down his neck to the back-bone; instantly, the headach left him, he fell - fast asleep, nor had the pain returned in the morning. But I am afraid, - that even this wonderful oil would fail of curing a complaint which was - made to me a few days ago. A poor old creature, named Quasheba, made her - appearance at my breakfast table, and told me, “that she was almost - eighty, had been rather weakly for some time past, and somehow she did not - feel as she was by any means right.” - </p> - <p> - “Had she seen the doctor? Did she want physic?” - </p> - <p> - “No, she had taken too much physic already, and the doctor would do her no - good; she did not want to see the doctor.” - </p> - <p> - “But what then was her complaint?” - </p> - <p> - “Oh! she had no particular complaint; only she was old and weakly, and did - not find herself by any means so well as she used to be, and so she came - just to tell massa, and see what he could do to make her quite right - again, that was all.” In short, she <i>only</i> wanted me to make her - young again! - </p> - <h3> - APRIL 24. - </h3> - <p> - Mr. Forbes is dead. When I was last in Jamaica, he had just been poisoned - with corrosive sublimate by a female slave, who was executed in - consequence. He never was well afterwards; but as he lived intemperately, - the whole blame of his death must not be laid upon the poison. - </p> - <h3> - APRIL 30. - </h3> - <p> - A free mulatto of the name of Rolph had frequently been mentioned to me by - different magistrates, as remarkable for the numerous complaints brought - against him for cruel treatment of his negroes. He was described to me as - the son of a white ploughman, who at his death left his son six or seven - slaves, with whom he resides in the heart of the mountains, where the - remoteness of the situation secures him from observation or control. His - slaves, indeed, every now and then contrive to escape, and come down to - Savannah la Mar to lodge their complaints; but the magistrates, hitherto, - had never been able to get a legal hold upon him. However, a few days ago, - he entered the house of a Mrs. Edgins, when she was from home, and - behaving in an outrageous manner to her slaves, he was desired by the - head-man to go away. Highly incensed, he answered, “that if the fellow - dared to speak another word, it should be the last that he should ever - utter.” The negro dared to make a rejoinder; upon which Rolph aimed a blow - at him with a stick, which missed his intended victim, but struck another - slave who was interposing to prevent a scuffle, and killed him upon the - spot. The murder was committed in the presence of several negroes; but - negroes are not allowed to give evidence, and as no free person was - present, there are not only doubts whether the murderer will be punished, - but whether he can even be put upon his trial. - </p> - <h3> - MAY 1. (Friday.) - </h3> - <p> - This morning I signed the manumission of Nicholas Cameron, the best of my - mulatto carpenters. He had been so often on the very point of getting his - liberty, and still the cup was dashed from his lips, that I had promised - to set him free, whenever he could procure an able negro as his - substitute; although being a good workman, a single negro was by no means - an adequate price in exchange. On my arrival this year I found that he had - agreed to pay £150 for a female negro, and the woman was approved of by my - trustee. But on enquiry it appeared that she had a child, from which she - was unwilling to separate, and that her owner refused to sell the child, - except at a most unreasonable price. Here then was an insurmountable - objection to my accepting her, and Nicholas was told to his great - mortification, that he must look out for another substitute. The woman, on - her part, was determined to belong to Cornwall estate and no other: so she - told her owner, that if he attempted to sell her elsewhere she would make - away with herself, and on his ordering her to prepare for a removal to a - neighbouring proprietor’s, she disappeared, and concealed herself so well, - that for some time she was believed to have put her threats of suicide - into execution. The idea of losing his £150 frightened her master so - completely, that he declared himself ready to let me have the child at a - fair price, as well as the mother, if she ever should be found; and her - friends having conveyed this assurance to her, she thought proper to - emerge from her hiding-place, and the bargain was arranged finally. The - titles, however, were not yet made out, and as the time of my departure - for Hordley was arrived, these were ordered to be got ready against my - return, when the negroes were to be delivered over to me, and Nicholas was - to be set free. In the meanwhile, the child was sent by her mistress (a - free mulatto) to hide some stolen ducks upon a distant property, and on - her return blabbed out the errand: in consequence the mistress was - committed to prison for theft; and no sooner was she released, than she - revenged herself upon the poor girl by giving her thirty lashes with the - cattle-whip, inflicted with all the severity of vindictive malice. This - treatment of a child of such tender years reduced her to such a state, as - made the magistrates think it right to send her for protection to the - workhouse, until the conduct of the mistress should have been enquired - into. In the meanwhile, as the result of the enquiry might be the setting - the girl at liberty, the joint title for her and her mother could not be - made out, and thus poor Nicholas’s manumission was at a stand-still again. - The magistrates at length decided, that although the chastisement had been - severe, yet (according to the medical report) it was not such as to - authorise the sending the mistress to be tried at the assizes. She was - accordingly dismissed from farther investigation, and the girl was once - more considered as belonging to me, as soon as the title could be made - out. But the fatality which had so often prevented Nicholas from obtaining - his freedom, was not weary yet. On the very morning, when he was to sign - the title, a person whose signature was indispensable, was thrown out of - his chaise, the wheel of which passed over his head, and he was rendered - incapable of transacting business for several weeks. Yesterday, the titles - were at length brought to me complete, and this morning put Nicholas in - possession of the object, in the pursuit of which he has experienced such - repeated disappointments. The conduct of the poor child’s mulatto mistress - in this case was most unpardonable, and is only one of numerous instances - of a similar description, which have been mentioned to me. Indeed, I have - every reason to believe, that nothing can be uniformly more wretched, than - the life of the slaves of free people of colour in Jamaica; nor would any - thing contribute more to the relief of the black population, than the - prohibiting by law any mulatto to become the owner of a slave for the - future. Why should not rich people of colour be served by poor people of - colour, hiring them as domestics? It seldom happens that mulattoes are in - possession of plantations; but when a white man dies, who happens to - possess twenty negroes, he will divide them among his brown family, - leaving (we may say) five to each of his four children. These are too few - to be employed in plantation work; they are, therefore, ordered to - maintain their owner by some means or other, and which means are - frequently not the most honest, the most frequent being the travelling - about as higglers, and exchanging the trumpery contents of their packs and - boxes with plantation negroes for stolen rum and sugar. I confess I cannot - see why, on such bequest being made, the law should not order the negroes - to be sold, and the produce of the sale paid to the mulatto heirs, but - absolutely prohibiting the mulattoes from becoming proprietors of the - negroes themselves. Every man of humanity must wish that slavery, even in - its best and most mitigated form, had never found a legal sanction, and - must regret that its system is now so incorporated with the welfare of - Great Britain as well as of Jamaica, as to make its extirpation an - absolute impossibility, without the certainty of producing worse mischiefs - than the one which we annihilate. But certainly there can be no sort of - occasion for continuing in the colonies the existence of <i>do-mestic - slavery</i>, which neither contributes to the security of the colonies - themselves, nor to the opulence of the mother-country, the revenue of - which derived from colonial duties would suffer no defalcation whatever, - even if neither whites nor blacks in the West Indies were suffered to - employ slaves, except in plantation labour. - </p> - <h3> - MAY 2. - </h3> - <p> - I gave my negroes a farewell holiday, on which occasion each grown person - received a present of half-a-dollar, and every child a maccaroni. In - return, they endeavoured to express their sorrow for my departure, by - eating and drinking, dancing and singing, with more vehemence and - perseverance than on any former occasion. As in all probability many years - will elapse without my making them another visit, if indeed I should ever - return at all, I have at least exerted myself while here to do everything - which appeared likely to contribute to their welfare and security during - my absence. In particular, my attorney has made out a list of all such - offences as are most usually committed on plantations, to which - proportionate punishments have been affixed by myself. From this code of - internal regulations the overseer is not to be allowed to deviate, and the - attorney has pledged himself in the most solemn manner to adhere strictly - to the system laid down for him. By this scheme, the negroes will no - longer be punished according to the momentary caprice of their - superintendent, but by known and fixed laws, the one no more than the - other, and without respect to partiality or prejudice. Hitherto, in - everything which had not been previously deter mined by the public law, - with a penalty attached to the breach of it, the negro has been left - entirely at the mercy of the overseer, who if he was a humane man punished - him slightly, and if a tyrant, heavily; nay, very often the quantity of - punishment depended upon the time of day when the offence was made known. - If accused in the morning, when the overseer was in cold blood and in good - humour, a night’s confinement in the stocks might be deemed sufficient; - whereas if the charge was brought when the superior had taken his full - proportion of grog or sangaree, the very same offence would be visited - with thirty-nine lashes. I have, moreover, taken care to settle all - disputes respecting property, having caused all negroes having claims upon - others to bring them before my tribunal previous to my departure, and - determined that from that time forth no such claims should be enquired - into, but considered as definitively settled by my authority. It would - have done the Lord Chancellor’s heart good to see how many suits I - determined in the course of a week, and with what expedition I made a - clear court of chancery. But perhaps the most astonishing part of the - whole business was, that after judgment was pronounced, the losers as well - as the gainers declared themselves perfectly satisfied with the justice of - the sentence. I must acknowledge, however, that the negro principle that - “massa can do no wrong,” was of some little assistance to me on this - occasion. “Oh! quite just, me good, massa! what massa say, quite just! me - no say nothing more; me good, massa!” Then they thanked me “for massa’s - goodness in giving them so long talk!” and went away to tell all the - others “how just massa had been in taking away what they wanted to keep, - or not giving them what they asked for.” It must be owned that this is not - the usual mode of proceeding after the loss of a chancery suit in England. - But to do the negroes mere justice, I must say, that I could not have - wished to find a more tractable set of people on almost every occasion. - Some lazy and obstinate persons, of course, there must inevitably be in so - great a number; but in general I found them excellently disposed, and - being once thoroughly convinced of my real good-will towards them, they - were willing to take it for granted, that my regulations must be right and - beneficial, even in cases where they were in opposition to individual - interests and popular prejudices. My attorney had mentioned to me several - points, which he thought it advisable to have altered, but which he had - vainly endeavoured to accomplish. Thus the negroes were in the practice of - bequeathing their houses and grounds, by which means some of them were - become owners of several houses and numerous gardens in the village, while - others with large families were either inadequately provided for, or not - provided for at all. I made it public, that from henceforth no negro - should possess more than one house, with a sufficient portion of ground - for his family, and on the following Sunday the overseer by my order - looked over the village, took from those who had too much to give to those - who had too little, and made an entire new distribution according to the - most strict Agrarian law. Those who lost by this measure, came the next - day to complain to me; when I avowed its having been done by my order, and - explained the propriety of the proceeding; after which they declared - themselves contented, and I never heard another murmur on the subject. - Again, mothers being allowed certain indulgences while suckling, persist - in it for two years and upwards, to the great detriment both of themselves - and their children: complaint of this being made to me, I sent for the - mothers, and told them that every child must be sent to the weaning-house - on the first day of the fifteenth month, but that their indulgences should - be continued to the mothers for two months longer, although the children - would be no longer with them. All who had children of that age immediately - gave them up; the rest promised to do so, when they should be old enough $ - and they all thanked me for the continuance of their indulgences, which - they considered as a boon newly granted them. On my return from Hordley, I - was told that the negroes suffered their pigs to infest the works and - grounds in the immediate vicinity of the house in such numbers, that they - were become a perfect nuisance; nor could any remonstrance prevail on them - to confine the animals within the village. An order was in consequence - issued on a Saturday, that the first four pigs found rambling at large - after two days should be put to death without mercy; and accordingly on - Monday morning, at the negro breakfast hour, the head governor made his - appearance before the house, armed cap-a-pee, with a lance in his hand, - and an enormous cutlass by his side. The news of this tremendous - apparition spread through the estate like wildfire. Instantly all was in - an uproar; the negroes came pouring down from all quarters; in an instant - the whole air was rent with noises of all kinds and creatures; men, women, - and children shouting and bellowing, geese cackling, dogs barking, turkeys - gobbling; and, look where you would, there was a negro running along as - fast as he could, and dragging a pig along with him by one of the hind - legs, while the pigs were all astonishment at this sudden attack, and - called upon heaven and earth for commiseration and protection,— - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - “With many a doleful grunt and piteous squeak, - </p> - <p class="indent15"> - Poor pigs! as if their pretty hearts would break!” - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p> - From thenceforth not a pig except my own was to be seen about the place; - yet instead of complaining of this restraint, several of the negroes came - to assure me, that I might depend on the animals not being suffered to - stray beyond the village for the future, and to thank me for having given - them the warning two days before. What other negroes may be, I will not - pretend to guess; but I am certain that there cannot be more tractable or - better disposed persons (take them for all in all) than my negroes of - Cornwall. I only wish, that in my future dealings with white persons, - whether <i>in</i> Jamaica or out of it, I could but meet with half so much - gratitude, affection, and good-will. - </p> - <h3> - THE END. - </h3> - <div style="height: 6em;"> - <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> - </div> - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Journal of a West India Proprietor, by -Matthew Gregory Lewis - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JOURNAL OF A WEST INDIA PROPRIETOR *** - -***** This file should be named 54500-h.htm or 54500-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/4/5/0/54500/ - -Produced by David Widger from page images generously -provided by the Internet Archive - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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