Part 16
The sixth _Moorzack_ belongs to the _Squeenzibs_ or Female Children of the Prince; it is built of a curious red Marble, with Veins of white running thro' it, and is twenty eight Foot square, the inside Wall and Floor being of white Marble; it has a hundred and nineteen _Boozes_ of Silver standing on Pedestals of a blewish grey Marble; it has eight Silver Lamps disposed two in a Corner, besides one in the middle that burns continually.
All these here taken Notice of, belong to those of the King's own Blood, but as it may seem a little too tedious to be particular in the Description of them all, we shall only observe who the great Persons are, who are distinguished by having _Moorzacks_ assigned to them alone, or to their Families.
First, There is one appointed for the burying Place of the _Baamzan_ or chief Priest; one to the _Baulumzu_ or Treasurer; one to the _Jocybauthaux_ or chief Councellor; one to the _Moorenzep_ or Head General;--one to the _Caffa_ or Secretary;--one to the _Paremzebs_, which are a few People so called by Way of Title, and are their chief Nobility;--one to their Wives, whom they call _Tepshoyes_;--one to the _Morepzus_ or Generals of the Elephants;--one to the _Hammons_ or Governors of Towns;--one to the _Hoyzepa_ or Head Teacher of the Elephants;--one to the _Sancof_ or Head Doctor.
There is also one particularly kept for such as not being otherwise intitled to this Honour, shall perform some brave Action in the War--there is one belonging to the _Zanshaw_ or Master of the King's Musick--One to the _Divatzabowes_ or Concubines of the King--One to the _Panpuzams_ or Male Children of the King's Concubines--One to the _Parrasquas_ or Male Children of the High Priest--One to the _Gauzets_ or Wives of the chief General--One to the _Matotzas_ or Wives of the Governors of Towns--One to the _Hoydenebs_ or Wives of the Treasurer--One to the _Okenzegs_ or Wives of the chief Councellor.
But when I mention a _Moorzack_ to belong to the Treasurer, or to the General, it must not be understood to be for the Use of him and his Heirs, but the next Person who succeeds in his Post is to be buried there, and his Heirs are no Ways intitled, unless they happen to succeed him in his Post.
These are all built of Marble of different Colours, some larger, and some less, some square, others quite round, some having a small Spire at Top, and others without; yet the Ornaments within are as rich in many of them, as in those belonging to the King or Prince--As for Example, in the _Moorzack_ of the _Baamzan_ or high Priest, of the _Baumlozn_ or Treasurer, of the _Morewzep_ or General, and of the _Caffa_ or Secretary, the _Boozes_ are all Gold; in others there are some of Gold and some of Silver, and considering what a great Number there are of them, these Monuments contain a vast Wealth.
When the King, Prince, or any other Person who is intitled to a Place in one of these Monuments dies, the Corps is immediately stripp'd naked, (let it be Man or Woman) after which, it is laid upon a Bier, and a thin Piece of Purple Silk being thrown over it, it is carried to be lain in State for some Days to a certain House, or Hall, built for that Purpose, a little Way without the City.--This Building consists of one large Room, sixty Foot in Length, and twenty six broad, being thirty Foot high, and flat at Top; the Stone is a curious white Marble, it is illuminated within with a great Number of Silver Lamps; in the middle stands a white Marble Table, supported by six Marble Pedestals about three Foot high, on which is laid the Body.
When they intend to remove it to the _Hoynabs_ or burying Place, they exactly observe the Setting of the Sun; at which Time comes the chief Priest, attended by all those who have a Right to be buried in these Places (for no others must assist upon these Occasions) and drawing out a sharp Instrument, which they call a _Mockdoo_, and which serves the Use of a Knife, he opens the Body of the deceas'd, takes out the Heart, and delivers it into the Hands of the nearest Relation, who stands ready for that Purpose, at the Priest's right Hand; when this is done, the Body is carried to the lower End of the Hall, where a Fire is prepared in a Hole, five Foot deep in the Ground, and about as many broad; the Body is put into the said Fire, where it is consumed; then the Heart is again delivered into the Hands of the Priest, who places it in a little Stone-Pot, and puts it into the Fire, where it remains till it is dried to a Powder; then the Ashes of the Body being dried up, are put into the _Booze_, as is also the Heart; after which, they proceed to the _Hoynatz_, the nearest Relation carrying the _Booze_. When they arrive at the _Moorzack_, which upon this Occasion is all illuminated, the _Booze_ is again delivered into the Hands of the Priest, who going into the _Moorzack_ alone, shuts the Door after him, he remains a Quarter of an Hour, places the _Booze_ upon the Pedestal prepared for it, and then returns, which makes an End of the whole Ceremony.
All this is done without a Word; nor is there any Sign of Sorrow or Lamentation amongst the Kindred, of the deceas'd, nor is it the Custom ever to speak of him, or name him at all after he is dead.
Thus we have given an Account of the Order and Ceremonies of their Funerals, and of the Magnificence of their Monuments, which make a most glorious Shew at a Distance, nor are they less beautiful when near, the Materials of which they are built being very fine, and their Scituation delightful.
But as to their Religion we can give but imperfect Accounts, for they scarce know what it is themselves; they never ask'd the Molotto one Word concerning his Religion, and when he enquired of theirs, they had very little to say about it, but told such an incoherent Story, that he could make neither Head nor Tail of it. There is a Mosque or Temple about half a Mile out of the City, of which they give a fabulous Account, as that it was built in one Night, but no Man could tell how, or by whom; but their general Opinion was, that it was built by _Hios_ God of the Sea, and at certain Times they used to flock, and pay a Kind of Devotion there, but they could not tell why or wherefore. However by the best Observations our Molotto could make, it appear'd to him as if they had several Worships amongst them, for he took Notice that some paid their Devotions to a little Image, not unlike a Wolf, which they kept in their Houses, and which are so common, that the poorer Sort of People make them of Bits of Wood, of about four or five Inches long, and sell them about the Streets.
They bear no Sort of Hatred or Antipathy to Christians, as Christians, as we see the _Turks_ and most of the Sects of _Mahomet_ do; but the Truth on't is, they do not know what a Christian is, yet (as we observed before) they are bred up in a Notion that white Men are all a Kind of Monsters, and they hate and detest them, as we do Toads or other poisonous Creatures, not for their Religion, but their Colour. In Respect to one another they observe the Laws of Society very well, and perhaps there is less Fraud and fewer Acts of Injustice committed amongst them, than in any Christian Country we can name. So that our Molotto who was now in a Manner naturaliz'd amongst them, and whose Complexion was black enough not to appear odious and terrible to them, was as well used as the rest of the _Passaus_ or Guards, or any other Person of equal Rank with him.
It is certain he once flattered himself with the Hopes of being placed in a better Condition of Life amongst them, or being set at full Liberty, by Way of Recompence, for his instructing them in some useful Things, which proved of publick Advantage to them, but he had long laid aside those vain Thoughts, for he found the _Accabo_ had no Notion of Generosity, or Gratitude: He, therefore, with a Kind of Philosophy, seem'd to confine his Wishes to that melancholy quiet Life he was obliged to lead within the Limits of the _Moorzacks_, till an Accident fell out, which quite changed his Sentiments in this Respect, and which proves how natural the Love of Liberty is to Man.
It happened that the _Hamman_ or Governor of the Town of _Saeni_, a Place about twenty Leagues to the Eastward of _Magadoxa_, in the same Kingdom of _Zanguebar_, having committed some Violences, by which he got the ill Will of the People, they rose against him, and kill'd him. This News was no sooner brought to _Magadoxa_, than the _Accabo_, tho' he keeps no Army or Guards, except the _Passaus_ to watch the _Moorzacks_, immediately rais'd a Body of two thousand Men, arm'd with Bows and Arrows, and march'd in Person at the Head of them, to suppress the Rebels. The second Days March, Advice was brought him that the _Schabew_ or Ship had been seen near a little Town call'd _Bandan_, ten Leagues Eastward of _Saeni_, and thirty of _Magadoxa_: Upon which Intelligence, he forthwith commanded six Men to march back to the _Moorzacks_ as expeditiously as they could, in order to fetch our Molotto, and with him to join the Army as soon as they could. They found him upon his Duty, and commanded him to march away immediately, with his Bow and Arrows, which were the Arms that belonged to him, as a _Passau_ or Guard of the Moorzacks, so that he seem'd to march as a Soldier more than a Prisoner.
After two Days hard March they came up with the Army which had made a Halt, at some Distance from the Town of _Saeni_, and the _Accabo_ having sent out a Detachment to lie in Ambuscade near the Town, they took some Prisoners, who being brought in, declared that all the Inhabitants had abandoned the Town upon the News of the King's Approach, and were fled away for Fear. At the same Time they gave such Instances of the Tyranny of the late _Hamman_ or Governor, and of the Necessity they were under of doing as they did, that the King appeared satisfied with their Behaviour; and to lay aside all Resentment, ordered several of them to go and find out the Rest, and give them Notice, that they might return to their Habitations, for that all was pardon'd, and that he would send them a better Governor. And, as if all had been over, the next Day he began to move with his Army back towards _Magadoxa_, but marched extreamly slow; towards Night, they came near a great Wood, into which he commanded his whole Army to enter, in order to lie that Night; the next Morning he gave Orders that no Man upon Pain of Death should go out of the Wood.
In the mean Time the scattered Inhabitants of _Saeni_ having heard the good News, were returning to their Habitations; but no sooner was it dark that Night, but the _Accabo_ gave Orders for a March, and making all the Expedition they could, they silently enter'd the Town of _Saeni_ before Morning, while the Inhabitants newly return'd were all asleep; however, they were alarm'd, and running into the Streets, the _Accabo_ commanded his Men to fall upon them, who killed a great Number of them, whilst a great many favoured by the Darkness of the Night, had the good Luck to make their Escape; but of those that could not escape by Flight, there were only forty three made Prisoners, all the Rest being kill'd.
Our Molotto happen'd to fall into Discourse with one of these Prisoners, who lamenting the hard Fate, of his poor Townsmen, and giving him an Account of their Flight from the City, and their Return back, told him, that as they went near the Sea-side, about ten Leagues from thence, and a League or two from _Bandon_, they saw a _Schabew_ or Ship, and so described him the Way to the Place where she lay; the Molotto perceiv'd it was directly East of the Place they were then at, _viz._ _Saeni_, he ask'd several Questions concerning the Size of the Ship, the Prisoner answer'd him to the best of his Understanding; and in his Manner of describing her, gave the Molotto to understand, that her Yards and Topmasts were down, which was a Sign she designed to lye there some Time; he then desired to know of him when he had seen her last, he answered him two Days before.
It immediately came into his Head that Providence had now given him the Means of making his Escape, and that in all Probability if he miss'd this, he never would have an Opportunity more; he knew that nothing could hinder him from making off by Night, and that in all Probability, he would be gone several Hours before he should be miss'd; so that he flattered himself, that those who should be sent in Pursuit of him would never overtake him, tho' they should hit the right Way, and he thought it might very well happen they should be out there too.
All that Day he pass'd betwixt Hope and Fear, sometimes he was terrified at the dismal Apprehensions of losing his Way himself, or of the Ship's being sail'd off, in either of which Cases there was nothing for him but certain Destruction, for he could have no Chance of concealing himself in the Country as a Native might do.--On the other Side, he spirited himself up with an Assurance that the Ship could not be yet sail'd, having her Yards and Topmasts down but two Days before; and again, that he knew so well how the Place bore, that there could be no Danger of his losing his Way; so that that Day he did nothing but mark out the Way with his Eye, that he intended to go, at his first setting out.
As soon as all was silent that Night, and his Comrades (who were a Kind of Guards upon him) were all asleep, he ventured to set out, nor did he meet with any Frights or Interruptions at the Beginning, getting clear of the Army without being questioned, or so much as seen or heard of any; for as they knew nothing of military Discipline, they have no Centinels in the Night. He marched all Night with all his Might, for indeed it was for Life; in the Morning when the Day was clear, he saw a little Town about two Miles from him, he judg'd this to be the Town of _Bandon_, by the Description which the Prisoner gave him of it; he guessed now that he was near the Sea, and that it was nothing but the high Land before him, which hindered him from the Sight of it; he therefore set his best Foot forwards, to gain the Top of one of the Hills before him; when he reached the Top, he had a fair View of the Ocean, and looking stedfastly every Way, he fancied he saw something like a Ship Eastward, but it was so far off, it was scarce discernable, however, it revived his Heart, and he now thought himself safe; he also perceived a pretty large River, at some Distance below him, in the Valleys, which he must of Necessity pass, because it lay directly in his Way, but as he was expert at Swimming, this gave him no great Dread, therefore he made the best of his Way towards the said River; when he arrived at the Banks, he perceived it was so rapid, that he apprehended (he being a little weakened with the Fatigue of his Journey) the Current would be too strong for him, and carry him into the Sea; he thought therefore, there was no Way for him to get over, but to walk up further in the Country, to find a Place where the Course of the River was crooked, which always breaks the Rapidity of the Stream, and where he might cross with less Danger.
While he was considering on this Matter, he chanced to look about, and turning his Eyes upwards towards the Hill from whence he was newly descended, and which was now betwixt two and three Miles Distance from him, he saw six Men on the Top thereof; they seemed to stand still and look about them for a while, but suddenly they started forwards, and with great Precipitation made directly towards him; he could think no less than that they were some sent in Pursuit of him, and that their standing still at first, was to no other Purpose, than to try if they could see him, and that their discovering him, was the Occasion of their running so suddenly down the Hill afterwards. The Fear of the cruel Death he should suffer, in Case he should be taken, hinder'd all further Consideration, so that without any more examining them, he plunged himself into the River, the Current was very strong, however, he made Shift to stem it better than he expected; and when he got over near the other Side, Providence so order'd it, that he was forced into a Part of the River, where there was an eddy Water, which drove him upon the Bank, so that in about the Space of half an Hour or a little more, he landed safely on the other Side.
He was a little spent with his Swimming, when sitting down to take a little Breath, he saw a Sight which terrified him as much as an Army of Enemies at his Heels could have done; it was a monstruous Aligator lying near the Bank-side, it appeared like some prodigious Oak in the Water, and he has declared and given it under his Hand, that it seemed to him large enough to swallow an Ox. At the same Time he beheld his Pursuers, who were now arrived pretty near the opposite Bank, he started up, and wing'd with Fear, flew rather than run, and there being some shrubby low Wood near the River, he had Presence of Mind enough to make his Way through them, knowing that if the Monster should follow him, it could not pass that Way, because the Thickness of the Wood would hinder it, besides it must presently lose Sight of him, and indeed it is likely, that he owed his Escape to this lucky Thought; he run on with greater Swiftness than at his first setting out, (for his Fear had supplied him with new Spirits,) but not without often looking back, which gave him the Comfort of knowing that the Monster and his Pursuers were both out of Sight: When he had continued this Pace about two Hours, he came to a Valley betwixt two rising Grounds, which lay open to the Sea, where he was joyfully surprized with a full View of the Ship lying at an Anchor, not above a Mile from the Shore, he hastened immediately towards the Edge of the Water, and made a Signal to them, by waving his Cap over his Head, for he thought it to no Purpose to hollow or call, because they were at too great a Distance to hear him. He continued this Action a considerable Time, and began to grow impatient and uneasy to the last Degree, because he saw them return no Signal in Answer to him, whereby he might understand that they saw him, or intended to succour him; but he was soon relieved from this Fright also, by the sudden Appearance of the Boat which was coming round the Point of Land very near him, she being employed for some Time in rowing along Shore, in order to discover if the Country was inhabited.
So great was his Joy at this Sight, and such was his Eagerness of speaking with them, knowing by their Dress they were _Europeans_, that he had not Patience to wait for their coming to him, but he ran hastily into the Water to meet them; when he waded up to the Neck, he set himself afloat and swam to the Boat, they proved to be _Dutchmen_; however, they took him in, and observing the extream Satisfaction and Joy which appeared in his Countenance, they were very desirous of knowing who he was, and whence he came, they spoke to him in _Dutch_, and tho' he knew but little of that Language, yet he made a Shift to let them understand that he spoke _English_; there were two or three amongst them that understood our Language, and one of them spoke it very well; when he knew this, he gave them to understand in few Words that he was a Christian, that he had been a Prisoner or Slave in that Country for sixteen Years, that he had now made his Escape, and was pursued by six Barbarians who were once come in Sight of him.
As they had Arms in their Boat, they had a Mind to stay a-while and see whether these Barbarians would appear, for they had not beheld a human Creature since they had lain there, and were of Opinion that the Country was not inhabited, (tho' the Ship had been seen from the Hills by the Natives) so they lay upon their Oars.
In about half an Hour five Men appear'd arm'd with Bows and Arrows, and running a great Pace, they came to the Water-side, and beheld the Boat, which was but a little Distance from them; the _Dutchmen_ fired two Musquets, upon which they dispersed and fled hastily away, but a little while after two of them came back again, and throwing down their Bows and Arrows, upon the Shore-side, plung'd into the Sea, and seem'd to direct their Way towards the Boat; the _Dutchmen_ were surpriz'd what they could mean, but however, as nothing was to be fear'd from two naked Men, they lay still to see what it would come to: In fine, the two Barbarians swam to the Boat, and speaking to the Molotto, begg'd to be taken in, and to go along with them, for that they should certainly be put to some cruel Death if they went back, for not having taken him and brought him back with them.
The _Dutchmen_ were willing to receive them, knowing they would be worth Money to be sold for Slaves. When they got into the Boat, they gave an Account of losing one of their Company in swimming over the River, where they first had Sight of the Molotto, who was devoured by an Alligator, in all Probability the same the Molotto had seen, and that the other three would travel as far as they could from their own Country, in order to save their Lives; but for their Parts, they chose rather to put themselves on the Mercy of the white Men, than run the Hazard of being taken, or starved in passing thro' Countries they did not know.
When he came on Board the Ship, he related to the Captain the whole Story of his Adventures, who finding he had been a Sea-faring Man, and that he understood Navigation pretty well, put him upon the Foot of an able Seaman.
They remain'd here about three Weeks, the Winds continuing contrary till then, in which Time they laid in Water and Wood, and diverted themselves with Fishing; after this they sail'd for _Batavia_ in the _East-Indies_, where having unladed and taken in a Cargoe of _India_ Goods, they sail'd home for _Holland_; the Molotto made two or three Voyages with them, but in the Year 1724, he being in _Holland_, and having a great Desire to see his old Captain, he embark'd on the 28th of _March_ in _Holland_, and pass'd into _England_, he found out his Captain who was alive, and who being overjoy'd to see him, prov'd very generous to him, and prevail'd with him to give in Writing the Particulars of all his Adventures, from whose Copy the foregoing Narrative is faithfully taken.
As to the Molotto he return'd back to _Holland_, and sails still in the Service of the _Dutch East-India_ Company, unless he is lately dead.
OF Capt. _BELLAMY_.