The Travels and Adventures of James Massey

by Simon Tyssot de Patot

You know, continued he, that when you went away, we were building a Bark to carry us off. At first, every Man wrought hard at it, but as fast as the Work advanc'd, the Zeal of our People slacken'd. The greatest part of the Company were afraid she was too small, besides that they began insensibly to be reconcil'd to these Southern Coasts, where scarce a Day pass'd but they made some new Discovery of Use for the Support of Life. It was five Months before the little Vessel was rigg'd. How rigg'd? said I, and pray whence had you wherewithal? The Captain, reply'd he, had been very sparing of the greatest part of his Provisions; he had still a Quantity of Bacon, Butter, Oil, Salt, Biscuit, and Candles left, besides what we were able to pick up here for the Sustenance of the Body. When, all was ready, he summon'd the Crew, and order'd all that had a mind to go with him to be in a Readiness. I don't desire, said he, to force any Man; but for my own part, I'll venture a Passage in the Bark, and tho' the Voyage is dangerous, 'tis to be hop'd, that he who has preserv'd us hitherto will take care of us for time to come. Several came to a Determination on the Spot, the others knew not what to resolve on: At length, we agreed to the Number of sixteen of us, to remain together in this Country after having had a Promise from the others upon Oath to use their Interest and Intreaties with the King of Portugal to take Pity of us, and to order the first Ship that went off to the Indies, to come and fetch us away. There was great Grief, and many Tears shed at parting. They weigh'd Anchor one Morning at Break of Day, with a moderate Wind at South South West, which together with the Tide carry'd them quite out of Sight in less than two Hours. They set out so well that we envy'd their Happiness, and wish'd to be with 'em, because we could not doubt that if the same good Weather continued, they would be soon at the Cape of Good Hope. The Wind held thus in the same Quarter above two Days, but on the third about Noon it chang'd, and on the 5th and 6th we had very bad Weather, so that we were in some Pain to think how the honest Lads far'd.

Having left the Shore, we went to settle in a Valley about four small Leagues from this Place. The Country which is really very agreeable, is water'd with a Rivulet full of Fish, and abounds with Roots as big as red Beet, which are very good when well boil'd. On the South South West Side there's a Wood of a considerable Extent, where we have Apples, Pears, Nuts, and other very pleasant Fruits in abundance; and the other Side furnishes us with as many Pease and Beans as we want. Our Captain left us all the Instruments he could spare: We had Fire-Arms, Shot, Powder, Ropes, Hatchets, Spades, Hammers, Saws, Nails, Packthread, Needles, Blades, Pots, Kettles, Caldrons, and other Utensils. With all this Baggage we went to that Place, and built two very commodious Huts, which have the true Air of Peasants Cottages, and we cover'd them so well with Rushes, that we defy the Wind or Rain to hurt them.

We liv'd there about a Year without scarce ever straggling from one another, for we saw nothing on the Right Side or Westward, but barren Hills which no Body had yet thought worth their while to ascend. Three of our Comrades resolv'd one Day to hunt there, and at the same time to see if they could make no new Discovery. It took them up about three Hours to pass the Mountain; from thence they enter'd into a very thick Wood, where they travell'd two Leagues without seeing any Way to get out of it. Whilst they were musing whether to return or go forwards, one of them said that he heard a Noise which he could not tell what to make of, but it very much resembled the Voice of a Man. This was a little surprising to the others, but they advanc'd that Way, and clapping their Ears to the Ground, they found that what he had said was true. Two of them were for going nearer to see what it was, but the other stifly oppos'd it, and affirm'd that what they heard was the Voice of Savages, who would give them no Quarter if they fell into their Hands. He had no sooner spoke, but they saw, a hundred Paces from them on the other Side of some Bushes, a great Villain cover'd with the Skin of a Beast who no doubt spy'd them, and ran probably to tell his Gang that there was a Prey at hand. This at least was what our Companions thought of it, and not judging it proper to stay for their coming, they turn'd back and scamper'd away. They had learnt by Experience the Necessity of observing the Sun or Stars in a Forest which one is not well acquainted with, and they did this to such a Nicety that they got out almost at the very same Place where they enter'd. When they came upon the Hills, they stood still to take a little Breath; for then they were out of that Danger which threaten'd them in the Wood where, tho' perhaps it was only a Panic Fear, they imagin'd several times that they heard the Noise of Pursuers just at their Heels.

We were very sure when they came back that they had been in a Fright, for they look'd as if they had been hag-ridden, and were all over in a Muck-Sweat as if they had been dipp'd in Water, but we little thought what was the Matter. We were prodigiously alarm'd at so unexpected a Narrative, and really knew not what to do, whether to keep our old Quarters, or to abandon Bag and Baggage, and encamp on the other Side of the River. For my part, I was for fortifying our present Post. I had been in three or four Campaignes heretofore, and had learnt the Art of guarding against an Enemy, so that my Companions agreed to do as I thought fit. In the Evening we only posted Centinels to prevent a Surprize.

Next Morning at Day-Break, I mark'd out a Square about our two Huts, each Side whereof I was 35 Geometrical Paces in length, after which we broke Ground, and began with a Breast-Work 4 Foot high to shelter us from any Attacks that might be made that Way. Then we rais'd and widen'd our Works in such a manner that the Rampart was 20 Foot in the Base, and 6 in Height, besides a Parapet above that of 5 Foot. The Ditch form'd by the Earth we cast up for this Purpose was very broad and deep. In the Front opposite to the Mountain, I left a Slope of 6 Foot only, which I cover'd also with a small Half-Moon and secur'd with a Traverse. All this was finish'd in 7 Weeks. Mean time, we heard no Talk of any Enemy, and sometimes could not help rallying those who had put us into such a Ferment.

At first every Body was afraid to stir out for Provisions, and now they did it without any Scruple, but it did not hold so long. Two of our Men going out one Day at Sun-rise for Plunder; had not the good Luck to come back again; perhaps they were so imprudent as to expose themselves more than others had done, at least they had talk'd of doing so more than once. The Loss of them made us very uneasy, and we thereupon encompass'd our Fortress with Palisadoes.

While we were at this Work, we perceiv'd a Company of Men coming down the Mountain very fast, which put us into the greater Consternation, because three of our Comrades were then gone a hunting, so that we were but eleven in Number. I order'd my Men to charge their Muskets, and not to discover themselves 'till the Enemy was come to the Ditch, where they were to be saluted with at least five Discharges. When the Drolls were at hand, we saw very plain that they were Savages. They seem'd to be about threescore and ten, all lusty well-made Fellows cover'd with Skins down to their Legs, and laden with Bows and Arrows. A great many of 'em had Clubs 5 or 6 Foot long. 'Tis probable that the Knaves had spy'd us before they came in a Body, for they did not seem in the least surpriz'd at the Work we had made. Not one of our Men discover'd himself. I had planted a great Branch full of Leaves before me, thro' which I could observe the Enemy without being seen. 'Tis probable that they thought to have surpriz'd us, because they came without making the least Noise to the Brink of the Ditch, and there they stopp'd, not knowing what Course to take to come at the Place; but I did not think proper to give them time to examine Things too closely, so that I order'd five of my Men to fire upon 'em, and to charge again with all Expedition that they might be entertain'd with a continual Fire. They perform'd their Part so well that three of the Savages fell upon the Spot.

This terrify'd them, because they knew not what to think of their Comrades sudden Fall. Indeed they saw the Fire and Smoak of our Arms, but I very much question whether they discover'd the Men that gave Fire. They must conclude it to be Lightning, or some Devil that struck them, at least we imagin'd so by the horrid Cries they all made looking towards Heaven. I said to my Comrades, Let us make an Advantage of the Terror of those Miscreants; let the other five give Fire. This Discharge with the Fire I made fetch'd down two more which increas'd their Astonishment. Then we shew'd ourselves all at once crying out like Madmen, at which time the five first gave Fire again, and kill'd two more upon the Spot. We should have dispatch'd 'em all after this manner, but they were not such Fools as to stay any longer. Seven of the strongest took each a dead Man upon his Shoulders, and fled with as much Precipitation as if they had been pursued by an Army.

The three Men of our Company that were absent, were not so far on the other Side but they heard us fire very plainly. They imagin'd there must be something more than ordinary in the matter, because they knew we would not have wasted our Gunpowder without a great Necessity. They lay hid for some time in a Thicket, with as much Game as they could carry, and in the Evening they advanc'd, and glad they were when they first saw the Centinel walking on the Breast-Work, where he was posted on Purpose to give them the Signal that there was no Danger.

Our apprehension that the Rascals would return stronger, and more resolute, made us finish our Palisadoes with all Speed; and for want of a Breastwork we fortify'd the Rampart with Fraises. Besides, it was resolv'd that some of our Men should go by Turns to the Downs to fetch two small Pieces of Cannon which our Captain left behind him. It cost a great deal of Time and Pains to draw them to our Fort. Then we provided a Quantity of little Flints, of which our Brook was full, in order to put into the Cartridges. In the mean time, we did not hear the least Word of the Enemy for 8 Months together, so, that we scarce thought any more of the Scoundrels 'till one Sunday at Noon, when the Centinel alarm'd us, just as we were at Dinner. Upon this I ran out to see what was the matter, and God knows I was not a little astonish'd to see the Mountain cover'd with a Swarm of our Enemies advancing like hungry Wolves to devour us. To speak the real Truth, the stoutest Hearts among us trembled for Fear, for we did not doubt but the Rascals came resolv'd either to conquer or die, and that they had taken all the necessary Precautions for executing their Design. They advanc'd very quietly; I was of the same Opinion as at the first time, that it was advisable for us to conceal ourselves, and not to fire 'till they came upon the Glacis, but Le Grand thought on the contrary, that the best Way would be to intimidate them before they came too near, and to make use of our Cannon, since we had them at hand. Accordingly, as soon as we saw them advanc'd within 3 or 400 Paces of our Fort, one Piece was discharg'd: Whether it did any Execution or no, we could not see, but they stopp'd short, whereupon we discharg'd the other Piece which carry'd off several of their Men, as we were told by some of our Comrades who being to the Windward, protested they saw it very plain. However, this did not terrify them, on the contrary they renew'd their March, and came on apace. They were at least 400 resolute Men, a Number far superior to ours. As soon as they were within Reach, we fir'd upon them briskly, but they were not dismay'd, and notwithstanding the Number of Men they lost, they came up even to our Palisadoes, where some stoop'd, and others leaping on their Backs threw themselves over with great Agility and terrible Fury: In the mean time our Cannon, which were charg'd with Stones, did Wonders, and yet for all this, if they had but attack'd us in several Places at a time, instead of attacking us in one only, we should have been infallibly ruin'd. Our Chevaux de Frise were also of great Service to us, because for want of proper Instruments to pluck them up, they broke but two of them. This however made a Gap which gave an Opportunity to one of the boldest of them to climb even to our Breast-work, and others were preparing to follow; but three of our Men falling desperately upon them, put them to the Sword, and made them tumble from Top to Bottom. In fine, three or four of the best Men they had, being Eye-Witnesses of this smart Rencounter gave way, upon which they all fled, and after a Fight of three Hours, quitted the Field with, much more Rapidity than they came to it.