by Daniel Defoe
Notwithstanding this, I say, for he lived as fine as any of their Noblemen, he
could not so far forget his native Country, as to be contented to dwell in a
strange Land, where there was to him a Famine of God's Word and Sacraments, the
Want of which made all other things to be of little Value to him; therefore, as
he made it his daily and fervent Prayer to God, in his good time, to restore him
to both, so at length he, with one Stephen Rutland, who had lived with him two
Years before, resolved to make their Escape, and, about the Year 1673, meditated
all secret Ways to compass it. They had before taken up a Way of Peddling about
the Country, and buying Tobacco, Pepper, Garlick, Combs, and all sorts of
Iron-Ware, and carried them into those Parts of the Country where they wanted
them; and now, to promote their Design, as they went with their Commodities from
Place to Place, they discoursed with the Country People, for they could now
speak their Language well, concerning the Ways and Inhabitants where the Isle
was thinnest and fullest inhabited; where and how the Watches lay from one
Country to another; and what Commodities were proper for them to carry into all
Parts; pretending, that they would furnish themselves with such Wares as the
respective Places wanted. None doubted but what they did was upon the Account of
Trade, because Mr. Knox was so well seated, and could not be supposed to leave
such an Estate, was by travelling Northward, because that Part of the Land was
least inhabited; and so furnishing themselves with such Wares as were vendible
in those Parts, they set forth, and steered their Course towards the North Part
of the Island, knowing very little of the Ways, which were generally intricate
and perplexed, because they have no publick Roads, but a Multitude of little
Paths from one Town to another, and those often changing; and for White Men to
enquire about the Ways, was very dangerous, because the People would presently
suspect their Design.
At this Time they travelled from Canda Uda, as far as the Country of
Neurecalava, which is in the furthermost Parts of the King's Dominions, and
about three Days Journey from their Dwelling. They were very thankful to
Providence that they had passed all Difficulties so far; but yet durst not go
any further, because they had no Wares left to Traffick with; and it being the
first time they had been absent so long from home, they feared the Townsmen
would come after them to seek for them, and so they returned home, and went
eight or ten times into those Parts with their Wares, till they became well
acquainted both with the People and the Paths.
In these Parts Mr. Knox met his black Boy, whom he had turned away divers Years
before. He had now got a Wife and Children, and was very poor; but being
acquainted with these Quarters, he not only took Directions of him, but agreed
with him for a good Reward, to conduct him and his Companion to the Dutch. He
gladly undertook it, and a Time was appointed between them; but Mr. Knox being
disabled by a grievous Pain which seized him on his right Side, and held him
five Days, that he could not travel, this Appointment proved in vain; for tho'
he went as soon as he was well, his Guide was gone into another Country about
his Business, and they durst not at that time venture to run away without him.
These Attempts took up eight or nine Years, various Accidents hindring their
Designs, but most commonly the dry Weather, because they fear'd, in the Woods,
they should be starv'd with Thirst, all the Country being in such a Condition
almost four or five Years together for Lack of Rain.
On September 22. 1679, they set forth again, furnished with Knives and small
Axes, for their Defence, because they could carry them privately, and send all
Sorts of Wares to sell, as formerly, and all necessary Provisions, the Moon
being twenty seven Days old, that they might have Light to run away by, to try
what Success God Almighty would now give them, in seeking their Liberty. Their
first Stage was to Anarodgburro, in the Way to which lay a Wilderness, called
Parraoth Mocolane, full of wild Elephants, Tygers, and Bears; and because 'tis
the utmost Confines of the King's Dominions, there is always a Watch kept.
In the Middle of the Way, they heard that the Governour's Officers of these
Parts were out to gather up the King's Revenues and Duties, to send them up to
the City; which put them into no small Fear, lest finding them, they should send
them back again: Whereupon they withdrew to the Western Parts of Ecpoulpot, and
sat down to Knitting, till they heard they Officers were gone. As soon as they
were departed, they went onwards of their Journey, having got a good Parcel of
Cotton Yarn to knit Caps with, and having kept their Wares, as they pretended,
to exchange for dried Fish, which was sold only in those lower Parts. Their Way
lay necessarily thro' the Governour's Yard at Collinilla, who dwells there on
Purpose to examine all that go and come. This greatly distress'd them, because
he would easily suspect they were out of their Bounds, being Captives; however,
they went resolutely to his House, and meeting him, presented him with a small
Parcel of Tobacco and Betel; and shewing him their Wares, told him, they came to
get dried Flesh to carry back with them. The Governour did not suspect them, but
told them, he was sorry they came in so dry a Time, when no Deer could be
catched, but if some Rain fell, he would soon supply them. This Answer pleased
them, and they seemed contented to stay; and accordingly abiding with him two or
three Days, and no Rain falling, they presented the Governour with five or six
Charges of Gunpowder, which is a Rarity among them; and leaving a Bundle at his
House, they desired him to shoot them some Deer, while they made a Step to
Anarodgburro. Here also they were put in a great Fright, by the coming of
certain Soldiers from the King to the Governour, to give him Orders to set a
secure Guard at the Watches, that no suspicious Persons might pass; which, tho'
it was only intended to prevent the Flight of the Relations of certain Nobles
whom the King had clapt up; yet they feared they might wonder to see white Men
here, and so send them back again: But God so ordered it, that they were very
kind to them, and left them to their Business, and so they got safe to
Anarodgburro . Their Pretence was dried Flesh, tho' they knew there was none to
be had; but their real Business was to search the Way down to the Dutch, which
they staid three Days to do: But finding, that in the Way to Jasnapatan, which
is one of the Dutch Ports, there was a Watch which could hardly be pass'd, and
other Inconveniencies not surmountable, they resolved to go back, and and take
the River Malwatogah, which they had before judged would be a probable Guide to
lead them to the Sea; and that they might not be pursued, left Anarodgburro just
at Night, when the People never travel for fear of wild Beasts. On Sunday, Oct.
12. being stored with all things needful for their Journey, viz. Ten Days
Provision, a Basin to boil their Provision in, two Calabashes to fetch Water in, <
br />
and two great Tallipat Leaves for Tents, with Jaggory, Sweet-meats, Tobacco,
Betell, Tinder-Boxes, and a Deer-Skin for Shoes, to keep their Feet from Thorns,
because to them they chiefly trusted. Being come to the River, they struck into
the Woods, and kept by the Side of it; yet not going on the Sand, lest their
Footsteps should be discerned, unless forced, and then going backwards.
Being gotten a good Way into the Wood, it began to rain, wherefore they erected
their Tents, made a Fire, and refresh'd themselves against the Rising of the
Moon, which was then eighteen Days old; and having tied Deer-Skins about their
Feet, and eased themselves of their Wares, they proceeded in their Journey. When
they had travelled three or four Hours with Difficulty, because the Moon gave
but little Light among the thick Trees, they found an Elephant in their Way
before them, and because they could not scare him away, they were forced to stay
till Morning; and so they kindled a Fire, and took a Pipe of Tobacco. By the
Light they could not discern that ever any Body had been there, nothing being to
be seen but Woods, and so they were in great Hopes that they were past all
Danger, being beyond all Inhabitants; but they were mistaken; for the River
winding Northward, brought them into the midst of a Parcel of Towns, called
Tissea Wava, where being in Danger of being seen, they were under a mighty
Terror for had the People found them, they would have beat them, and sent them
up to the King) and to avoid it, they crept into an hollow Tree, and sat there
in Mud and Wet, till it began to grow dark, and then betaking themselves to
their Legs, travell'd till the Darkness of Night stopt them. They heard Voices
behind them, and feared 'twas somebody in Pursuit of them; but at length
discerning it was only an Hallooing to keep the wild Beasts out of the Corn,
they pitched their Tents by the River, and having boiled Rice, and roasted Meat
for their Suppers, and satisfied their Hungers, they committed themselves to
God's Keeping, and laid them down to Sleep.
The next Morning, to prevent the worst, they got up early, and hasten'd on their
Journey; and tho' they were now got out of all Danger of the tame Chiangulays,
they were in great Danger of the wild ones, of whom those Woods were full; and
though they saw their Tents, yet they were all gone, since the Rains had fallen,
from the River into the Woods; and so God kept them from that Danger, for had
they met the wild Men, they had been shot.
Thus they travelled from Morning to Night several Days, thro' Bushes and Thorns,
which made their Arms and Shoulders, which were naked, all of a Gore Blood. They
often met with Bears, Hogs, Deer, and wild Buffloes, but they all run away as
soon as they saw them. The River was exceeding full of Alligators. In the
Evening they used to pitch their Tents, and make great Fires both before and
behind them, to affright the wild Beasts, and tho' they heard the Voices of all
sorts, they saw none.
On Thursday at Noon they cross'd the River Coronda Oya, which parts the Country
of the Malabars from the King's, and on Friday about Nine or Ten in the Morning,
came among the Inhabitants, of whom they were as much afraid as of the
Chiangulays before; for tho' the Wanniounay, or Prince of this People, payeth
Tribute to the Dutch out of Fear, yet he is better affected to the King of
Candi, and if he had took them, would have sent them up to their old Master; but
not knowing any Way to escape, they kept on their Journey by the River Side by
Day, because the Woods were not to be travell'd by Night, for Thorns and wild
Beasts, who came down then to the River to drink. In all the Malabars Country
they met with only two Bramans, who treated them civilly, and for their Money
one of them conducted them till they came into the Territories of the Dutch, and
out of all Danger from the King of Candi, which did not a little rejoice them;
but yet they were in no small Trouble how to find the Way out of the Woods, till
a Malabar for the Lucre of a Knife, conducted them to a Dutch Town, where they
found Guides to conduct them from Town to Town, till they came to the Fort
called Arepa, where they arrived Saturday, October 18. 1679, and there
thankfully ador'd God's wonderful Providence, in thus compleating their
Deliverance from a long Captivity of Nineteen Years and six Months.
I come now back to my own History, which draws near a Conclusion, as to the
Travels I took in this Part of the World. We were now at Sea, and we stood away
to the North for a while, to try if we could get a Market for our Spice, for we
were very rich in Nutmegs, but we ill knew what to do with them; we durst not go
upon the English Coast, or, to speak more properly, among the English Factories
to Trade; not that we were afraid to fight any two Ships they had; and besides
that, we knew, that as they had no Letters of Mart or of Reprisals from the
Government, so it was none of their Business to act offensively, no not tho' we
were Pyrates. Indeed if we had made any Attempt upon them, they might have
justify'd themselves in joining together to resist, and assisting one another to
defend themselves; but to go out of their Business to attack a Pyrate Ship of
almost fifty Guns, as we were, it was plain, that it was none of their Business,
and consequently it was none of our Concern, so we did not trouble our selves
about it; but, on the other Hand, it was none of our Business to be seen among
them, and to have the News of us carried from one Factory to another: So that
whatever Design we might be upon at another Time, we should be sure to be
prevented and discovered: Much less had we any Occasion to be seen among the
Dutch Factories, upon the Coast of Malabar; for, being fully loaden with the
Spices which we had in the Sense of their Trade plundered them of, it would soon
have told them what we were, and all that we had been doing, and they would, no
doubt, have concerned themselves all manner of Ways to have fallen upon us.
The only Way we had for it was to stand away for Goa, and Trade, if we could,
for our Spices with the Portuguese Factory there. Accordingly we sailed almost
thither, for we had made Land two Days before, and, being in the Latitude of
Goa, were standing in fair for Marmagoon, on the Head of Salsat, at the going up
to Goa, when I called to the Man at the Helm to bring the Ship to, and bid the
Pilot go away N. N. W. till we came out of Sight of the Shore; when William and
I called a Council as we used to do upon Emergences, what Course we should take
to trade there, and not be discovered; and we concluded, at length, that we
would not go thither at all; but that William, with such trusty Fellows only as
could be depended upon, should go in the Sloop to Surat, which was still farther
Northward, and trade there as Merchants, with such of the English Factory as
they could find to be for their Turn.
To carry this with the more Caution, and so as not to be suspected, we agreed to
take out all her Guns, and to put such Men into her, and no other, as would
promise us not to desire or o
ffer to go on Shore, or to enter into any Talk or
Conversation with any that might come on board: And to finish the Disguise to
our Mind, William documented two of our Men, one a Surgeon, as he himself was,
and the other a ready-witted Fellow, an old Sailor, that had been a Pilot upon
the Coast of New-England, and was an excellent Mimick; these two William dressed
up like two Quakers, and made them talk like such. The old Pilot he made go
Captain of the Sloop, and the Surgeon for Doctor, as he was, and himself
Super-Cargo: In this Figure, and the Sloop all plain, no curled Work upon her,
indeed she had not much before, and no Guns to be seen, away he went for Surat.
I should indeed have observed, that we went, some Days before we parted, to a
small sandy Island, close under the Shore, where there was a good Cove of deep
Water, like a Road, and out of Sight of any of the Factories, which are here
very thick upon the Coast. Here we shifted the Loading of the Sloop, and put
into her such Things only as we had a mind to dispose of there, which was indeed
little but Nutmegs and Cloves, but chiefly the former; and from thence William
and his two Quakers, with about eighteen Men in the Sloop, went away to Surat,
and came to an Anchor at a Distance from the Factory.
William used such Caution, that he found Means to go on Shore himself, and the
Doctor, as he called him, in a Boat, which came on board them to sell Fish,
rowed with only Indians of the Country, which Boat he afterwards hired to carry
him on board again. It was not long that they were on Shore, but that they found
Means to get Acquaintance with some Englishmen, who, though they lived there,
and perhaps, were the Company's Servants at first, yet appeared then to be
Traders for themselves, in whatever Coast-Business especially came in their Way,
and the Doctor was made the first to pick Acquaintance; so he recommended his
Friend, the Super-Cargo, till, by Degrees, the Merchants were as fond of the
Bargain as our Men were of the Merchants, only that the Cargo was a little too
much for them.
However, this did not prove a Difficulty long with them; for the next Day they
brought two more Merchants, English also, into their Bargain; and, as William
could perceive by their Discourse, they resolved, if they bought them, to carry
them to the Gulph of Persia, upon their own Accounts; William took the Hint,
and, as he told me afterwards, concluded we might carry them there as well as
they; but this was not William's present Business; he had here no less than
three and thirty Ton of Nuts, and eighteen Ton of Cloves. There was a good
Quantity of Mace among the Nutmegs; but we did not stand to make much Allowance.
In short, they bargained, and the Merchants, who would gladly have bought Sloop
and all, gave William Directions, and two Men for Pilots, to go to a Creek about
six Leagues from the Factory, where they brought Boats, and unloaded the whole
Cargo, and paid William very honestly for it. The whole Parcel amounting, in
Money, to about thirty five thousand Pieces of Eight, besides some Goods of
Value, which William was content to take, and two large Diamonds worth about
three Hundred Pounds Sterling.
When they paid the Money, William invited them on board the Sloop, where they
came, and the merry old Quaker diverted them exceedingly with his Talk, and
Thee'd 'em, and Thou'd 'em, till he made 'em so drunk, that they could not go on
Shore for that Night.
They would fain have known who our People were, and whence they came, but not a
Man in the Sloop would answer them to any Question they ask'd, but in such a
Manner as let them think themselves banter'd and jested with. However, in
Discourse, William said, they were able Men for any Cargo we could have brought
them, and that they would have bought twice as much Spice if we had had it. He