He was so encouraged by this Indulgence which was shew’d him, that he thought he might go where he pleased, and that the Restriction which was laid upon him, was as good as taken off; wherefore, he was tempted by his Curiosity one Day to walk out of the City, and was seen by a great many People. The Day following the Accabo or King, with a stern Countenance, ask’d him if he had been out of the City? He was so terrified at his Looks, knowing also, that he had been commanded not to take that Liberty, that he was not able to answer: The King’s Son who was present, smilingly ask’d him, why he did not speak? This recovered him a little from his Astonishment, so that he had the Courage to own he had; then the King with a more pleasing Aspect, desired to know of him, whether he had been to see his Moorzacks, or Tombs, he answered no; tho’ he had a great Desire of seeing them, because he had heard much Talk of them. So the Thing pass’d over without any farther Reprimand for this Time.
The next Day in the Afternoon, the King rid out on an Elephant in the Manner before described, ordering the Molotto to attend him, and went to visit the Moorzacks, or Monuments of his Ancestors, which are situated about three or four Miles from the City: The Magnificence and Beauty of these Tombs, are almost incredible, considering that it is in a Country of Barbarians that they are made; the Molotto was greatly surprized at their extraordinary Grandeur; the King took Notice of his Astonishment, and was not displeased at it, and enquiring of him how he liked them, the Molotto answered, he had never seen any Thing equal to them, in all his Life, and that he believed Strangers would travel from all Parts of the World to see them, did they but know such Things were there. The King then enquired of him concerning the Tombs of the white Men, and ask’d several Questions about the Ceremonies used in Funerals in all the Countries he had been in; the Molotto gave him the best Account he could, still extolling the Beauty of these Monuments above those of all the World. The King then enquired of him whether he knew how Gunpowder was made, he answered no; that it was made by the white Men, and that he was but little acquainted with their Ways. He answer’d in this Manner, knowing that if he should speak with Respect of white Men, it might do him some Prejudice, because of the Aversion he found they had towards them. Upon the whole, the King appeared pleased with the Conversation of this Day, and the Molotto fancied he should grow into Favour.
But two or three Days after, an Accident happened which put him again into a Fright, going out to walk as usual, he ventured as far as the Moorzacks, or Tombs, for he took a singular Pleasure in the Sight of them. It happened in the mean Time that they wanted him, he was not to be found in the King’s House, or about the City; upon which, there were several Persons sent in Search of him different Ways, one of them found him among the Moorzacks, or Tombs, and brought him home, he was dismally frightened, when he understood the King’s Displeasure; wherefore, as soon as he came into his Presence, he fell down upon his Face, as is practiced by those with whom he is displeased. The King ask’d him in an angry Tone where he had been? he answered at the Moorzacks, or Tombs; then the King enquired of those that had been sent in Search of him, whether it was true, they assured him they had found him there; upon hearing of which, he seemed to be immediately pacified, and said to him (Korah) which signifies properly to rise, but is never said, except when he forgives. Then the King ask’d him, if he would not attempt to run away, provided he should appoint him to live constantly among the Guards, who were maintained for watching those Monuments? he answered no; and that he should be pleased to pass the Remainder of his Days in so delightful a Place, without ever having a Wish for seeing his own Country again.
For this Time he was dismiss’d, but next Day being call’d up before the King, he was told that he must go to the Moorzacks, or Tombs, there to wait and do Duty as one of the Guards; there was a Bamzau or Priest sent along with him, who was to instruct him in his Duty there. On the Way as he went, the Bamzau or Priest told him, that he must live constantly among the Monuments, and that he would have Meat, Drink, and Lodging provided for him without any Trouble, that he must not take the Liberty of coming to the City, or going beyond the Bounds prescribed, which the Rest of the Guards whom they call Passaus would shew him; that he must be obliged to watch every second Night, to take Care that the Lamps which burnt in the Tombs were supplied with Oil, and never went out, and to keep the Tombs from any Filth or Nastiness.
When they arrived at the Place, the Bamzau or Priest commanded all the Passaus or Guards to be called together, acquainting them that the King had sent this Molotto amongst them to do the same Duty, and ordered one whom he called out from amongst the Rest, to return to the King with him, it being the King’s Pleasure that the Molotto should supply his Place. This was readily obeyed, and they departed together.
The Passaus or Guards received him civilly enough, they immediately began Acquaintance with him, explaining to him all the Particulars of their Duty, and shewed him the Bounds within which he was to confine himself; telling him if he pass’d those Limits, they must be obliged to kill him. This Order seemed a little too severe, but he fancied it was only said to terrify him, least he should take it into his Head to attempt an Escape; he flattered himself so for two Reasons, First, because of the Indulgence which had been shewn him when he ventured to exceed his Orders in going out of the City; and secondly he took Notice that the Bamzau or Priest spoke to the Passaus or Guards apart, which he fancied was instructing them to keep him in Ignorance as to the Truth of their Orders; they brought some boiled Rice and Oil cold, and told him he must watch that Night, because it was the Turn of the Person in whose Place he was come; in order to which, they brought him a Watch-Coat made of Hair, which they work very curiously with Needles, so that the whole Coat is of one entire Piece without a Seam; it hangs from the Shoulders down to the Ground, but has no Sleeves, so that it is more like a Cloak than a Coat.
The Sun being set, which is the Time they enter upon the Watch, every two Men began to fix their Pohalick, over against the Door of the Moorzack they were to watch; but to understand this Matter, it will be necessary to explain what a Pohalick is,—A Pohalick is a Kind of a Tent, contrived to shelter them from the Inclemencies of the Weather, for the Nights are sometimes very cold there, especially if it rains; wherefore, they take four Poles of about eight Foot long, which, instead of fixing in the Ground, are plac’d in four Stone-Sockets, placed on Purpose, opposite to each Moorzack, for that Use, with Cross-Poles reaching from one to the other; but instead of Canvass they hang over it a Covering of Palmatu Leaves sewen together; the two oldest Standers have their Post opposite to the King’s Moorzack, the Rest are posted according to their Seniority, for they are exact Observers of the Rules of Precedence; the youngest also in each Pohalick, fetches Wood for Fire, which is also absolutely necessary, as well to keep off the Musketoos which would be, otherwise, very troublesome, as to correct the Damps. As soon as the Sun rises, he also takes down the Pohalick, sweeps up the Ashes very clean, which remain of the Fire, and carries them away, that the Place may appear perfectly neat. It is his Duty also to go to the Bankoos (so they call the Steward of the Moorzacks) for the Provision of the Day, which he is afterwards to dress both for himself and his Comrade.
This Part of the Duty was not disagreeable to the Molotto, for having no Books to read, he would have grown melancholly for Want of something to divert his Time, had he been entirely idle; their Allowance of Provision was sufficient, and very good in its Kind. On Sundays and Tuesdays it was Flesh, either Beef, Mutton, or Goat, and Rice for Bread. On Wednesdays, Kaja (we have already told what that is) Mondays and Fridays, Fish and Plantanes. Thursdays and Saturdays Plantanes, Rice, and Oil. Their Fish was excellent in its Kind, but they usually dress’d it without taking out the Guts, and which they eat with it instead of Sauce, but the Molotto corrected this Part of their Cookery, and having gutted the Fish before he broiled it, he found his Comrades very well pleas’d, and they always managed it so after.
While he pass’d his Life here pleasantly enough, one Day the Accabo, or King, sent a Guard to fetch him to the City; he was extreamly frightened at this unexpected Turn, and enquired of those that conducted him, into the Meaning of it, but they could give him no Account of it, but hurried him along very quick; when they arriv’d at the City, they did not carry him before the Accabo, or King, as he expected, but conducted him strait to the Haulob, or Prison, where he had been before confined. He had not been there above two Hours when his old Friend Morasab came to make him a Visit, whose Opinion he ask’d concerning his Confinement, Morasab told him, he judged it to be for no other Reason, than because there had been a Schabew, or Ship, seen that Morning at a great Distance off the Coast, that there were Men on the Hills then watching of her, and others lying in Wait to surprize any that should attempt to come on Shore. While they were in Discourse, the Kasboo or Jaylor came in with some boiled Rice and Fish, and confirmed what Morasab had told him, and cheared him up by assuring him, that no Harm was intended him, that he was only confined to prevent his making his Escape. The Molotto knowing that every Thing he should say, would be told again the King, because any Person may speak to him with the utmost Freedom at any Time, except when he is sitting in Judgment, told the Kasboo, that he had given over all Thoughts of visiting his native Country more, having neither Wife nor Children; nor was he desirous of seeing any other Part of that Country, having taken a firm Resolution to obey the Orders very punctually of never going beyond the Limits of the Moorzacks; the Kasboo told him, that if he had any Value for his Life, it would be best for him to do so, for if he should at any Time be catch’d attempting any Escape, he would be served just as the white Men had been, the Molotto answered he should deserve it, since the King had been so gracious to him, not only to give him his Life, but to appoint him to live in a Place which he liked above any Thing he had ever seen.
All this Discourse was reported that Night to the King, the Consequence of which was, that he was sent for the next Morning; the first Question the King ask’d him was, whether that Shabew or Ship which had appear’d in Sight, was the same in which he came? He answered, he could not tell, unless he was to see it, (but that could not be done now, for she was gone off without coming to an Anchor, or sending her Boat on Shore.) The King then ask’d him, whether he had a Desire to return back to the Moorzacks? He answered, it was what he longed for of all Things, and repeated the same Things concerning the Pleasure he took in that Place, which he had done before to the Kasboo; he found this tickled the King’s Vanity, and put him into good Humour, wherefore, he commanded him to be conducted back, whither he arrived with a much lighter Heart than he left it, having the Satisfaction also of seeing his Comrades mighty well pleas’d at his safe Return amongst them.