CONCLUSION OF CAPTAIN KNOX'S HISTORY.

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CHAPTER XVIII.

CONCLUSION OF CAPTAIN KNOX'S HISTORY-OUR OWN STORY RESUMED-ADVENTURES AT GOA AND SURAT, AND ACCOUNT

OF OUR TRADE WITH THE MERCHANTS IN THESE LATITUDES.

His dead father being thus removed out of his sight, but his ague continuing, he was reduced very low, partly by sorrow, and partly by his disease, All the comfort he had was to go into the woods and fields with a book, either the Practice of Piety, or Mr. Rogers's Seven Treatises, which were the only two books he had, and meditate and read, and sometimes pray; in which his anguish made him often invert Elijah's petition, that he might die, because his life was a burthen to him. God, though he was pleased to prolong his life, yet he found a way to lighten his grief, by removing his ague, and granting him a desire, which, above all things, was acceptable to him. He had read his two books over so often, that he had both almost by heart; and though they were both pious and good writings, yet he longed for the truth from the original fountain, and thought it his greatest unhappiness, that he had not a Bible, and did believe that he should never see one again; but, contrary to his expectation, God brought him one after this manner. As he was fishing one day, with nis black boy, to catch some fish to relieve his hunger, an old man passed by them, and asked his boy, whether his master could read? and when the boy had answered, yes, he told him,—that he had gotten a book from the Portuguese, when they left Columbo; and, if his master pleased, he would sell it him. The boy told his master, who bade him go and see what book it was. The boy having served the English some time, knew the book, and, as soon as he had got it into his hand, came running to him, calling out before he came to him, It is the Bible! The words startled him, and he flung down his angle to meet him, and, finding it true, was mightily rejoiced to see it; but he was afraid he should not have enough to purchase it, though he was resolved to part with all the money he had, which was but one pagoda, to buy it;

but his black boy, persuading him to slight it, and leave it to him to buy it, he at length obtained it for a knit cap.

This accident he could not but look upon as a great miracle, -that God should bestow upon him such an extraordinary blessing, and bring him a Bible in his own native language, in such a remote part of the world, where his name was not known, and where it was never heard of that an Englishman had ever been before. The enjoyment of this mercy was a great comfort to him in captivity; and though he wanted no bodily convenience that the country did afford; for the king, immediately after his father's death, had sent an express order to the people of the towns, that they should be kind to him, and give him good victuals; and, after he had been some time in the country, and understood the language, he got him good conveniences, as, a house and gardens; and falling to husbandry, God so prospered him, that he had plenty, not only for himself, but to lend others; which being, according to the custom of the country, at fifty per cent. a-year, much enriched him; he had also goats, which served him for mutton, and hogs and hens: 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, garlic, 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 not 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 that

THE SON OF CAPTAIN KNOX ATTEMPTS HIS ESCAPE. 223

he (Mr Knox), who was so well seated, could not be supposed to leave such an estate, 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 islands, knowing very little of the ways, which were generally intricate and perplexed, because they have no public roads, but a multitude of little paths from one town to another, and those often changing; and for white men to inquire 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 farthermost 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 farther, because they had no wares left to traffic 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 companions to the Dutch. He gladly undertook, 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 though 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 hindering their designs, but most commonly the dry weather, because they feared, in the woods, they should be starved 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, tigers, and bears; and because it is the utmost confines of the king's dominions, there is always a watch kept.

In the middle of their way they heard that the governor'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 the 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 flesh, which was sold only in those lower parts. Their way lay necessarily through the governor's yard at Collinilla, who dwells there on purpose to examine all that go and come. This greatly distressed 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 showing him their wares, told him they came to get dried flesh to carry back with them. The governor 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 governor 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 governor, to give him orders to set a secure guard at the watches, that no suspicious persons might pass; which, though it was only intended to prevent the flight of the relations of certain nobles whom the king had clapped up, yet they feared they might wonder to see white men here,

JOURNEY THROUGH WOODS AND ESCAPE TO AREPA. 225

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, though they knew there was none to be had; but their real business was to search the way down to the Dutch, which they stayed three days to do: but finding, that in the way to Jafnapatan, which is one of the Dutch ports, there was a watch which could hardly be passed, and other inconveniences not surmountable, they resolved to go back, 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, and two great tallipat leaves for tents, with jaggory, sweetmeats, tobacco, betel, 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 got a good way into the wood, it began to rain; wherefore they erected their tents, made a fire, and refreshed 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 anybody 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

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