The Clay Dreaming

by Ed Hillyer

  A hunter may lose the trail, yet, not having to cover its own tracks, still gains on its prey.

  Brippoki takes up Thara’s offer of tea with an avidity little short of desperation. Even boiled and stewed with select leaves, the brackish water near camp afflicts his bowels, but at least counters the lack of salt, which makes him costive.

  Gulping liquid makes a man drowsy – and tiredness could kill. He takes only tiny sips. Of late, it is the best he can do to keep his mouth cool and moist, his thirst never properly slaked. One, two full cups are emptied before he finally relaxes.

  ‘The next section of manuscript begins with a list of shipping,’ said Sarah, returning to the task. Unusually businesslike and formal, she opened her notebooks almost immediately.

  ‘At first I assumed it another record of those vessels on which Druce served,’ she said, ‘but given the context…’ With barely a pause, Sarah glanced across at Brippoki. ‘That is, thinking it over, I think it refers to ships calling in at the Bay of Islands while he was there.’

  She seemed to have got away with saying the name, this time.

  ‘He was living among the Maori, and had taken a wife, his consort…the Princess Aetockoe,’ she said; her eyes averted, in shadow.

  Brippoki repeatedly fingered a woven string, worn as a band around his waist – ‘exhibiting’ his charm. He stank ferociously, of fish-oil. Secured with a sort of gum, a variety of objects dangled from his hair: several small bones; what looked like a dog’s tooth; a scrap of gauze. A short twig peeped from behind one ear, much as a clerk kept his stylus. His dark skin was coated with grease, and daubs of red and white as before, adornments of which he seemed inordinately proud.

  Beneath such questionable finery, however, Sarah could not help but be aware of his decline. Complexion sallow, his eyes, formerly so bright, had become dull. His cheek, once full, had become sunken and drawn. Since his return he had refused whatever foodstuffs she provided, and, like some silly mother, she worried he would waste away entirely.

  He appeared distracted, barely looking her way.

  ‘So,’ she said, finally, ‘here it is… Druce quits New Zealand on board the General Wellesley with Captain Dalrymple…’

  Captain Dalrymple so earnestly requested that I go with him to the North Cape, and he promised me at the same time that he would not take me from the Island let the weather be ever so bad. I went with him and satisfied him in his ideas.

  He then put to sea in order to land me in the place I came from. That night we received a very heavy storm, which prevented him. Next morning he endeavoured to gain the Island, but, the storm still lashing, it was impossible. I was then obliged to take my passage with him to India. As soon as I found I was driven from the Island by bad weather, I endeavoured to console my consort of her grief, which was useless for some days.

  The Captain used us with every kindness till we came to an island three thousand miles distant from New Zealand, where he proposed to me to remain to procure him a second cargo of sandalwood and to stay there till he returned, which proposals I refused. From this moment he took most bitter censure against me and in a few days afterwards turned me and my wife out of the cabin, telling us we must seek an abode for ourselves among the lascars of which the ship’s company consisted.

  Sarah paused.

  ‘You know what a lascar is?’ she asked.

  ‘Yellowpella!’ said Brippoki.

  He sat on the carpet a few feet distant, winding a curl of hair around his fingers, and sipping slowly at his tea.

  ‘Yes,’ she said. ‘An oriental, an oriental sailor.’

  I had no bed, for the bed that I and my wife had, belonged to Captain D. My laying was on the timber with which I loaded her. In this miserable condition we existed till we came to Malacca. The voyage was prodigiously long (we was on the voyage from New Zealand to Malacca 9 months). The provisions all being exhausted necessity compelled us to eat the vermin, the Captain showing the example. The vermin being entirely dispersed, a silent motion in the ship was made to devour one another. There being a great many Englishmen on board as passengers, they secretly and firmly joined together to devour the black people.

  ‘HOLO!’ cried Brippoki, and started from his sitting position. His face assumed a look of absolute horror.

  Witnessing his reaction, Sarah was mindful to move swiftly on.

  The horrid act was to have been committed at 12. But the providential God prevented it by sending us a gale of wind at 8 o’clock the same night, which carried us to an island called Sulo in three days. The wind being fair cheered every soul that they felt not hunger. I have to say with truth that me and my consort, during a long famine in this ship, felt but very little of it for we was generally in good while the rest was in torture and pain.

  ‘They not eat blackpellas?’ enquired Brippoki, between hisses.

  ‘No,’ said Sarah.

  He recovered his seat, appearing mollified; gently rocking the while. Sarah was glad of it, for stormier waters lay ahead.

  The ship being supplied at Sulo with every necessary she wanted, I then went to Malacca in her, Mr Cummings on board, who was a gentleman passenger. He went on shore and reported my case to the Governor, and all the illtreatment I had received from Captain D. The Governor immediately sent for me. It being late in the evening when I landed, the Governor was then gone on a party of pleasure with the officers of Malacca so that I could not see him that night. When the Captain heard the Governor had sent for me on shore he ordered the people to weigh the anchor and get the ship under way. He then went to Penang, carrying my consort with him, for she was aboard.

  In the morning I waited on the Governor at his usual hour of doing business, where I was received in the most hospitable manner. The Governor took me wholly under his care and told me to console my mind regarding my wife, for it was in his power to restore my wife to me and make me amends for all the ill-treatment Captain D. had gave me. I was immediately clothed with the best and furnished with money and like necessaries I wanted. I wholly lived at the Governor’s house. The Governor as soon as possible wrote to Penang respecting my consort, where he found she was bartered away by Captain D. to Captain Ross. The Governor wrote several times but receiving an impertinent answer every time he was fully determined to put the law in force against any person who should have detained her. He then wrote a letter to the Governor of Penang respecting me. I then went to Penang.

  When I came to the Governor of Penang, he told me to content myself that I should have my wife the next day. I left the Governor and returned to Captain Barrett, who had brought me there, and consulted him what I should do concerning my consort. He told me I had best go to Captain Ross who then had my wife in possession, and if he were a gentleman that considered his character, he would deliver up my wife without further hesitation. I immediately went to a tavern and got my dinner and then went to the house of Captain Ross. When I came there he was not at home, but his servant pointing him out to me in a distance from the house among a body of gentlemen I advanced towards them.

  He knew me, but I knew him not.

  As soon as he saw me he left the company and come and met me. In as polite a manner as I could I asked him if he would oblige me by pointing out Captain Ross among those gentlemen. In a very rough manner he asked me my business with Captain Ross. I told him. He then acknowledged his person to me. I solicited him in a most humble manner my wife.

  He hesitated awhile, asking me by what authority she was my wife. I told him by being ignorant enough to suffer the face God had given me to be disfigured, and losing my blood and suffering pain. According to the rules of her country she was mine.

  He told me she was out with his wife and child and neither of them would be home that night, but if I would come in the morning at 8 o’clock, and if she was willing to come with me, I should have her accordingly. I came. He presented my wife to me, after an absence of three months. She was deeply affected, which occasioned her a flood of tears. He accosted
me in a very rude manner, telling me not to make her cry, and asked me, as it was the last morning, would I permit her to breakfast with his wife, for she being so careful of the child his wife was very fond of her. To which, I consented. He never had the kindness to invite me, though at that time I did not want it.

  During the breakfast time while I was waiting he conveyed my wife with his own into a room and locked the door. After I tired my patience with waiting I went up one pair of stairs to where I had left them at breakfast. I told Captain Ross I thought their breakfast was long. He replied with a half-laugh (as all rogues do) that they had done breakfast some time, and, pointing to the door of the room that was locked, told me that the New Zealand woman was in that room with his wife. And if I liked to call her, I might, and if she liked to come out, she might. But not to enter that room, for there was deposited all his riches. If I broke the door, he would have me hanged.

  I went away dishearted.

  I then went to the Master of the Court, whose name was MacAvoy. He knew me by the marks in my face, and he told me he would have nothing to do with it, that the business was settled.

  I went away to the Governor and informed him of the whole business. The Governor made no delay, but immediately sent for my wife and ordered Captain Ross to quit that island. My wife being questioned at the Governor’s respecting Captain Ross, she informed him that he had told her that he was the Governor of that island, and meant to buy a ship on purpose to take her back.

  I was then returned to Malacca with my consort with me, where I remained till a passage was provided for me and my consort in the Sir Edward Pellew, commanded by Captain Stephens. I then took my passage for Bengal, where the case was tried before the Governor General, Right Honourable Lord Minto. I arrived in June 1809. Everything was arranged, and allowed 180 rupees per month from thence, I was put under the care of Squire Leyden, who was aide de camp to the Governor General and also was one of the twelve Masters of the Grand Lodge of London.

  I was with this man three long months, where I became well acquainted with most of the signs of the Freemasonical arts, by having a free commerce to his own library. By his free will and permission he put into my hands one day a book which he privately kept locked up, and told me that it possessed the full power which Freemasons was in possession of, at the same time pointing out to me sundry places which was not to be read by one single person. This book thoroughly convinced me of all the Ideas that I had formed within my own breast for several years, my father being one. I was fully resolved to find out the meaning of it. No man on earth was able to instruct another with more wisdom, which he took every opportunity of his leisure time during the three months I was with him.

  I then took my passage by the order of Lord Minto in a ship named the Union, commanded by Captain Lutterel, owner Mr Lone. We sailed with express order for New Zealand, my wife being pregnant. There was another woman put onboard who said she was a midwife, to take care of my consort whenever she was ill. We left the land of Bengal in the evening. The next day we see a fleet to windward, which we supposed to be a French frigate who had got English prizes. We kept them in sight the whole day. Dark coming on, we lost sight of them. The next morning the frigate was close to us. The Captain, taking her for a French frigate, ran away from her till she came so close that the shot brought her to, and when the boat came alongside it proved to be His Majesty’s Ship Cornelia, commanded by Captain Edgehill. He immediately jumped in the boat and came on board the Union, where I introduced my consort. The honourable Captain seemed highly pleased and expressed the highest wishes to serve me and my consort with anything he had on board. It being due time, he honoured us with his company to breakfast. After breakfast he insisted that he would accompany us with his ship till my consort should be safe over her trouble, assuring us at the same time that the surgeon of his ship was well used in midwifery, for he attended several ladies in Bengal. He then gave orders to the Captain of the Union to keep close under his lee, and if my consort was to be taken bad in the night a gun was to be fired, and by day a signal hoisted at the Mizen peak. This was September 5th, 1809.

  Well he might remember the dates.

  My consort was taken bad on the 9th, early in the morning between 5 and 6. The signal was momently hoisted to Captain Edgehill’s orders but by some neglect of the quartermaster on board of the frigate the signal was not seen for some time. I went to the Frenchwoman who was on board the Union and told her my consort wanted immediate assistance. She went into the cabin to my wife. I went on deck. In a few minutes I was called by Mr Lone, telling me that my wife was dying. I went to the cabin door where I found the terrified Frenchwoman with the door in her hand screaming out in shock, telling me that my wife was dead, in which I pushed her out of the cabin and shut the door.

  This Mr Lone was as bad as the Frenchwoman. He was no better than a notorious rogue, and she proved to be a common prostitute for leaving my wife in the distressed manner she was in. By the ordinance of Providence I delivered my wife of a fine girl during of which time the…

  Sarah blushed. ‘The word as it is written is “buste”,’ she said. ‘B-u-s-t-e. I leave it to your imagination.

  …Lone stood at the cabin door crying out if my wife or child died he would have me hanged. As soon as the trouble was over, and everything safe, necessity compelled me to put the child into the hands of the terrified Frenchwoman, which she handled very tenderly and dressed it while I put my wife to bed.

  By this time they perceived the signal on board the frigate. The doctor and Captain momently came on board. When Captain Edgehill asked how long the signal had been hoisted, he was greatly incensed against all who had the morning watch aboard his ship. But finding everything was safe he advised me to let the doctor see my wife, after which he very kindly entreated me to go on board H.M.S. Cornelia, to which I readily consented, accompanied by Mr Lone. After having partaken of a cold collation we then returned to our ships, and straight read our course for New Zealand, in the South Seas.

  Druce’s princess recovered and delivered of their baby girl, they regained the coastline of Australia – almost home.

  Sarah knew and dreaded what was coming.

  After the passage of three months we came to an anchor in the Derwent, one of His Majesty’s settlements in the South Seas, where we found Commodore Bligh in great distress on board His Majesty’s Ship Porpoise. He detained our ship to supply his wants. This was the cause of my missing the passage to New Zealand with my consort.

  After the stay of three months at the River Derwent Governor Macquarie arrived at Port Jackson, when he gave a moment’s order for all vessels to repair for headquarters. The letters were then broken open that Lord Minto sent with me from Bengal, concerning New Zealand. The Governor then assured me that nothing should be lost to dispatch me to New Zealand. I then took leave of the Governor and returned to my lodgings, when on my road I met Mr Riley, a gentleman who was secretary to the late Governor Patterson of Port Jackson, who informed me that Colonel Paterson wanted me. I went to the Colonel, where I was introduced to three rich merchants who invited me to dine with them. My wife was with me, and in good health at that time.

  After dinner Mr Riley asked me if I had any objection to join with him and those three merchants in procuring cargoes from New Zealand. The next day I was sent for by Governor Macquarie, who informed me he had sanctioned my entering into a bond with Mr Riley, Williams, Cant, and Simeon Lord. I then went to the house of Simeon Lord, where articles were drawn up. In a few days after my wife took sick with the dysentery, and in fourteen days was a corpse.

  Brippoki froze in mid-rocking motion. He would not look at Sarah, but appeared to listen closely for whatever was to happen next.

  I went to Mr Riley to tell him of the death of her, but when I knocked at the door Mr Riley was bad so that I could not see him. I then went to the other three gentlemen, and told them I wanted some money to put my wife in the ground. But as soon as they found my wife was dead they told me
there was no prospect of New Zealand, and they would have no more to do with it.

  I then went to Mr Wells, a gentleman who know me. I told him how the concern has used me. He assisted me with every expense of the funeral, on conditions that I would send him flax from New Zealand, which he knew I could supply him with any quantity. As soon as the Princess was interred, I acquainted the Governor with the treatment I received from the gentleman that took me out of his hands, and that Mr Riley the chief merchant held my articles, so that I could not recover the money due to me from the concern, which was one thousand pounds. By breaking the said articles the Governor was highly displeased with the conduct of Mr Riley, Cant and Williams, and Simeon Lord, but he told me he was so busy with the affairs of the colony that he could not do anything for me. I then returned to my lodgings.

  I cannot express the state of my mind at that time. I only say that sorrow upon sorrow crushed me to the earth, nay to the mortification of my very soul.

  In a few days after came the true account of the ship Boyd being totally destroyed at New Zealand. This news drove all the merchants of that colony in such fear, that it was beyond hope of my obtaining a passage to New Zealand at that time.

  I then entered on board His Majesty’s Ship Porpoise, where I arrived in England, 1810. The war was hot, so that no account was took of me, nor New Zealand, at that time.

  Sarah hated leaving Druce at such low ebb, since it stranded them likewise.

  Aetockoe was dead.

  Sarah and Brippoki sat for a considerable while, together but apart.

  Brippoki stood. Eyes flicking past hers, he shyly excused himself. ‘Go now,’ he said.