by Daniel Defoe
Provisions, especially of Water; or our Vessel, were equal to such a Run as that
is, of near 2000 Miles, without any Land to touch at in the Way.
These Men too had all along had a great Mind to a Voyage for the main Land of
Africk, where they said we should have a fair Cast for our Lives, and might be
sure to make our selves rich which Way soever we went, if we were but able to
make our Way through, whether by Sea or by Land.
Besides, as the Case stood with us, we had not much Choice for our Way; for if
we had resolv'd for the East, we were at the wrong Season of the Year, and must
have staid till April or May before we had gone to Sea. At length, as we had the
Wind at S. E. and E. S. E. and fine promising Weather, we came all into the
first Proposal, and resolved for the Coast of Africa; nor were we long in
disputing as to our Coasting the Island, which we were upon; for we were now on
the wrong Side of the Island for the Voyage we intended; So we stood away to the
North, and having rounded the Cape, we hall'd away Southward under the Lee of
the Island, thinking to reach the West Point of Land, which, as I observed
before, runs out so far towards the Coast of Africa, as would have shorten'd our
Run almost 100 Leagues. But when we had sailed about thirty Leagues, we found
the Winds variable under the Shore, and right against us; so we concluded to
stand over directly, for then we had the Wind fair, and our Vessel was but very
ill fitted to lye near the Wind, or any Way indeed but just afore it.
Having resolv'd upon it therefore, we put in to the Shore, to furnish our selves
again with fresh Water and other Provisions, and about the latter End of March,
with more Courage than Discretion, more Resolution than Judgment, we launch'd
for the main Coast of Africa.
As for me, I had no Anxieties about it; so that we had but a View of reaching
some Land or other, I cared not what or where it was to be, having at this time
no Views of what was before me, nor much Thought of what might, or might not
befal me; but with as little Consideration as any one can be supposed to have at
my Age, I consented to every thing that was proposed, however hazardous the
thing it self, however improbable the Success.
The Voyage, as it was undertaken with a great deal of Ignorance and Desperation,
so really it was not carry'd on with much Resolution or Judgment; for we knew no
more of the Course we were to steer, than this, that it was any where about the
West, within two or three Points N. or S. and as we had no Compass with us, but
a little Brass Pocket Compass, which one of our Men had more by Accident than
otherwise, so we could not be very exact in our Course.
However, as it pleased God that the Wind continued fair at S. E. and by E. we
found that N. W. by W. which was right afore it, was as good a Course for us as
any we could go, and thus we went on.
The Voyage was much longer than we expected; our Vessel also, which had no Sail
that was proportion'd to her, made but very little Way in the Sea, and sail'd
heavily. We had indeed no great Adventures happen'd in this Voyage, being out of
the Way of every thing that could offer to divert us; and as for seeing any
Vessel, we had not the least Occasion to hail any thing in all the Voyage; for
we saw not one Vessel small or great, the Sea we were upon being entirely out of
the way of all Commerce; for the People of Madagascar knew no more of the Shores
of Africa than we did, only that there was a Country of Lions, as they call it,
that Way.
We had been eight or nine Days under Sail, with a fair Wind, when, to our great
Joy one of our Men cry'd out, Land. We had great Reason to be glad of the
Discovery; for we had not Water enough left for above two or three Days more,
tho' at a short Allowance. However, tho' it was early in the Morning when we
discover'd it, we made it near Night before we reach'd it, the Wind slackening
almost to a Calm, and our Ship being, as I said, a very dull Sailer.
We were sadly baulk'd upon our coming to the Land, when we found, that instead
of the main Land of Africk, it was only a little Island, with no Inhabitants
upon it, at least, none that we could find; nor any Cattel, except a few Goats,
of which we killed three only. However, they served us for fresh Meat, and we
found very good Water; and it was fifteen Days more before we reach'd the Main,
which, however, at last we arriv'd at; and which was most essential to us, we
came to it just as all our Provisions were spent. Indeed we may say they were
spent first; for we had but a Pint of Water a Day to each Man for the last two
Days. But to our great Joy, we saw the Land, tho' at a great Distance, the
Evening before, and by a pleasant Gale in the Night, were, by Morning, within
two Leagues of the Shore.
We never scrupled going ashore at the first Place we came at, tho' had we had
Patience, we might have found a very fine River a little farther North. However,
we kept our Frigate on Float by the Help of two great Poles which we fasten'd
into the Ground to More her, like Piles; and the little weak Ropes, which, as I
said, we had made of Matting, served us well enough to make the Vessel fast.
As soon as we had viewed the Country a little, got fresh Water, and furnished
our selves with some Victuals, which we found very scarce here, we went on board
again with our Stores. All we got for Provision, was some Fowls that we killed,
and a kind of wild Buffloe, or Bull, very small, but good Meat: I say, having
got these things on Board, we resolved to fail on along the Coast, which lay
away N. N. E. till we found some Creek or River that we might run up into the
Country, or some Town or People; for we had Reason enough to know the Place was
inhabited, because we several times saw Fires in the Night, and Smoke in the
Day, every way at a Distance from us.
At length we came to a very large Bay, and in it several little Creeks or Rivers
emptying themselves into the Sea, and we run boldly into the first Creek we came
at; where seeing some Hutts and wild People about them, on the Shore, we run our
Vessel into a little Cove on the North Side of the Creek, and held up a long
Pole with a white Bit of Cloath on it, for a Signal of Peace to them. We found
they understood us presently, for they came flocking to us both Men, Women, and
Children, most of them of both Sexes stark naked. At first they stood wondering
and staring at us, as if we had been Monsters, and as if they had been frighted;
but we found they inclined to be familiar with us afterwards. The first thing we
did to try them, was, we held up our Hands to our Mouths, as if we were to
drink, signifying that we wanted Water. This they understood presently, and
three of their Women and two Boys ran away up the Land, and came back in about
Half a Quarter of an Hour, with several Pots made of Earth pretty enough, and
bak'd, I suppose, in the Sun; these they brought us full of Water, and set them
down near the Sea-shore, and there left them, going back a little, that we might
fetch them, which we did.
Sometime after this, they brough
t us Roots and Herbs, and some Fruits which I
cannot remember, and gave us; but as we had nothing to give them, we found them
not so free as the People in Madagascar were. However, our Cutler went to Work,
and as he had saved some Iron out of the Wreck of the Ship, he made Abundance of
Toys, Birds, Dogs, Pins, Hooks, and Rings, and we helped to file them, and make
them bright for him; and when we gave them some of these, they brought us all
the Sorts of Provisions they had, such as Goats, Hogs, and Cows, and we got
Victuals enough.
We were now landed upon the Continent of Africa, the most desolate, desart, and
unhospitable Country in the World, even Greenland and Nova Zembla it self not
excepted; with this Difference only, that even the worst Part of it we found
inhabited; tho' taking the Nature and Quality of some of the Inhabitants, it
might have been much better to us if there had been none.
And, to add to the Exclamation I am making on the Nature of the Place, it was
here, that we took one of the rashest and wildest, and most desperate
Resolutions that ever was taken by Man, or any Number of Men, in the World; this
was, to travel over Land through the Heart of the Country, from the Coast of
Mozambique, on the East-Ocean to the Coast of Angola or Guinea, on the Western
or Atlantick Ocean, a Continent of Land of at least 1800 Miles; in which Journey
we had excessive Heats to support, unpassable Desarts to go over, no Carriages,
Camels or Beasts of any kind to carry our Baggage, innumerable Numbers of wild
and ravenous Beasts to encounter with, such as Lions, Leopards, Tigers, Lizards,
and Elephants; we had the Equinoctial Line to pass under, and consequently were
in the very Center of the Torrid Zone; we had Nations of Savages to encounter
with, barbarous and brutish to the last Degree, Hunger and Thirst to struggle
with; and, in one Word, Terrors enough to have daunted the stoutest Hearts that
ever were placed in Cases of Flesh and Blood.
Yet, fearless of all these, we resolved to adventure, and accordingly made such
Preparation for our Journey, as the Place we were in would allow us, and such as
our little Experience of the Country seem'd to dictate to us.
It had been some time already that we had been used to tread bare-footed upon
the Rocks, the Gravel, the Grass and the Sand on the Shore; but as we found the
worst thing for our Feet was, the walking or travelling on the dry burning
Sands, within the Country; so we provided our selves with a sort of Shoes made
of the Skins of Wild Beasts, with the Hair inward, and being dryed in the Sun,
the Out-side were thick and hard, and would last a great while. In short, as I
called them, so I think the Term very proper still, we made us Gloves for our
Feet, and we found them very convenient and very comfortable.
We conversed with some of the Natives of the Country who were friendly enough.
What Tongue they spoke, I do not yet pretend to know. We talked as far as we
could make them understand us, not only about our Provisions, but also about our
Undertaking; and ask'd them what Country lay that Way, pointing West with our
Hands. They told us but little to our Purpose, only we thought by all their
Discourse, that there were People to be found of one Sort or other every where;
that there were many great Rivers, many Lions and Tygers, Elephants, and furious
wild Cats (which in the End we found to be Civet Cats) and the like.
When we ask'd them, if any one had ever travelled that Way, they told us Yes,
some had gone to where the Sun sleeps, meaning to the West; but they could not
tell us who they were. When we ask'd for some to guide us, they shrunk up their
Shoulders as Frenchmen do when they are afraid to undertake a thing. When we
ask'd them about the Lions and wild Creatures they laught, and let us know they
would do us no Hurt, and directed us to a good way indeed to deal with them, and
that was to make some Fire, which would always fright them away, and so indeed
we found it.
Upon these Encouragements we resolved upon our Journey, and many Considerations
put us upon it, which, had the thing it self been practicable, we were not so
much to blame for, as it might otherwise be supposed; I'll name some of them,
not to make the Account too tedious.
First, We were perfectly destitute of Means to work about our own Deliverance
any other way; we were on shore in a Place perfectly remote from all European
Navigation; so that we could never think of being relieved, and fetch'd off by
any of our own Country-men in that Part of the World. Secondly, If we had
adventured to have sailed on along the Coast of Mozambique, and the desolate
Shores of Africa to the North, till we came to the Red Sea, all we could hope
for there, was to be taken by the Arabs, and be sold for Slaves to the Turks,
which to all of us was little better than Death. We could not build any thing of
a Vessel that would carry us over the great Arabian Sea to India, nor could we
reach the Cape de Bona Speranza, the Winds being too variable, and the Sea in
that Latitude too tempestuous; but we all knew, if we could cross this Continent
of Land, we might reach some of the great Rivers that run into the Atlantick
Ocean, and that on the Banks of any of those Rivers we might there build us
Canoes which would carry us down, if it were Thousands of Miles; so that we
could want nothing but Food, of which we were assured we might kill sufficient
with our Guns: And, to add to the Satisfaction of our Deliverance, we concluded
we might every one of us get a Quantity of Gold, which, if we came safe, would
infinitely recompence us for our Toil.
I cannot say, that in all our Consultations I ever began to enter into the
Weight and Merit of any Enterprize we went upon till now. My View before was, as
I thought, very good, viz. that we should get into the Arabian Gulph, or the
Mouth of the Red Sea, and waiting for some Vessel passing, or repassing there,
of which there is Plenty, have seized upon the first we came at, by Force, and
not only have enriched our selves with her Cargo, but have carried our selves to
what Part of the World we had pleased: But when they came to talk to me of a
March of 2 or 3000 Miles on Foot, of Wandering in Desarts, among Lions and
Tygers, I confess my Blood run chill, and I used all the Arguments I could to
perswade them against it.
But they were all positive, and I might as well have held my Tongue; so I
submitted, and told them, I would keep to our first Law, to be governed by the
Majority, and we resolved upon our Journey. The first thing we did, was to take
an Observation, and see whereabouts in the World we were, which we did, and
found we were in the Latitude of 12 Degrees, 35 Minutes South of the Line. The
next thing was to look on the Charts, and see the Coast of the Country we aimed
at, which we found to be from 8 to 11 Degrees South Latitude, if we went for the
Coast of Angola, or in 12 to 19 Degrees North Latitude, if we made for the River
Niger, and the Coast of Guiney.
Our Aim was for the Coast of Angola, which by the Charts we had, lying ve
ry near
the same Latitude we were then in, our Course thither was due West; and as we
were assured we should meet with Rivers, we doubted not, but that by their Help
we might ease our Journey, especially if we could find Means to cross the great
Lake, or Inland Sea, which the Natives call Coalmucoa, out of which it is said
the River Nile has its Source or Beginning; but we reckoned without our Host, as
you will see in the Sequel of our Story.
The next thing we had to consider was, how to carry our Baggage, which we were
first of all determined not to travel without; neither indeed was it possible
for us to do so, for even our Ammunition which was absolutely necessary to us,
and on which our Subsistence, I mean for Food, as well as our Safety; and
particularly our Defence against wild Beasts, and wild Men depended: I say, even
our Ammunition was a Load too heavy for us to carry in a Country where the Heat
were such, that we should be Load enough for our selves.
We enquired in the Country, and found there was no Beast of Burthen known among
them; that is to say, neither Horses or Mules or Asses, Camels or Dromedaries;
the only Creature they had, was a kind of Buffloe, or tame Bull, such a one as
we had killed; and that some of these they had brought so to their Hand, that
they taught them to go and come with their Voices, as they called them to them,
or sent them from them; that they made them carry Burthens, and particularly,
that they would swim over Rivers and Lakes upon them, the Creatures swimming
very high and strong in the Water.
But we understood nothing of the Management or Guiding such a Creature, or how
to bind a Burthen upon them; and this last Part of our Consultation puzzled us
extremely: At last I proposed a Method for them, which after some Consideration,
they found very convenient; and this was to quarrel with some of the Negro
Natives, take ten or twelve of them Prisoners, and binding them as Slaves, cause
them to travel with us, and make them carry our Baggage; which I alledged would
be convenient and useful many ways, as well to shew us the Way, as to converse
with other Natives for us.
This Counsel was not accepted at first, but the Natives soon gave them Reason to
approve it; and also gave them an Opportunity to put it in Practice; for as our
little Traffick with the Natives was hitherto upon the Faith of their first
Kindness, we found some Knavery among them at last; for having bought some
Cattel of them for our Toys, which, as I said, our Cutler had contrived, one of
our Men differing with his Chapman, truly they huff'd him in their Manner, and
keeping the things he had offered them for the Cattel, made their Fellows drive
away the Cattel before his Face, and laugh at him; our Man crying out loud of
this Violence, and calling to some of us, who were not far off, the Negro he was
dealing with threw a Lance at him, which came so true, that if he had not with
great Agility jumped aside, and held up his Hand also to turn the Lance as it
came, it had struck through his Body, and, as it was, it wounded him in the Arm;
at which the Man enraged took up his Fuzee, and shot the Negro through the
Heart.
The others that were near him, and all those that were with us at a Distance,
were so terribly frighted; first, at the Flash of Fire; secondly, at the Noise:
And thirdly, at seeing their Countryman killed, that they stood like Men stupid
and amazed, at first, for some time: But after they were a little recovered from
their Fright, one of them, at a good Distance from us, set up a sudden screaming
Noise, which, it seems, is the Noise they make when they go to Fight; and all
the rest understanding what he meant, answered him, and run together to the
Place where he was, and we not knowing what it meant, stood still looking upon
one another like a Parcel of Fools.