A Voyage to Cacklogallinia | Page 5

inflicted on run-away Slaves) by
my Intercession this was remitted, and he escaped with a Whipping.
I ask'd if his Name was not Cuffey, Mr. _Tenant_'s Negro?
"My Name Cuffey, said he, me no _*Baccararo_ Negro now; me
Freeman. [*Baccararo, the Name Negroes give the Whites.] You no let
cutty my Foot, so me no let cutty your Head; no be sadd, you have
_bumby grande *yam yam_. [*Yam yam, in Negroes Dialect, signifies
victuals.]"
He endeavoured to comfort me under my Afflictions in this barbarous
Dialect; but I was so possess'd with the Notion of my being reserv'd to
be murdered, that I received but little Consolation.
We marched very slowly, both on account of the Heat, and of the
Plunder they had got from some Plantations; for every one had his
Load of Kidds, Turkies, and other Provisions.
About Three in the Afternoon, we reach'd a Village of run-away
Negroes, and we were received by the Inhabitants with all possible
Demonstrations of Joy. The Women sung, danc'd, and clapp'd their
Hands, and the Men brought Mobby (a sort of Drink) and Rum, to
welcome the return'd Party. One of the Negro Men ask'd Cuffey, why
he did not bring my Head, instead of bringing me alive? He gave his
Reason, at which he seem'd satisfied, but said it was dangerous to let a
Baccararo know their Retreat; that he would tell Captain Thomas, and
he must expect his Orders concerning me.
Cuffey said he would go to give Captain Thomas an Account of what
had happen'd in this Sortie, and would carry me with him. As they
spoke in the Negroes English, I understood them perfectly well. My
Friend then went to Captain Thomas, who was the Chief of all the
run-away Blacks, and took me with him. This Chief of theirs was about
Seventy Five Years old, a hale, strong, well-proportion'd Man, about
Six Foot Three Inches high; the Wooll of his Head and his Beard were
white with Age, he sat upon a little Platform rais'd about a Foot from
the Ground, accompanied by Eight or Ten near his own Age, smoaking
Segars, which are Tobacco Leaves roll'd up hollow.

Cuffey, at his Entrance, threw himself on his Face, and clapp'd his
Hands over his Head; then rising, he, with a visible Awe in his
Countenance, drew nearer, and address'd the Captain in the
_Cholomantæan_ Language, in which he gave an Account, as I suppose,
of his Expedition; for when he had done speaking, my Comrades Heads
were brought in, and thrown at the Captain's Feet, who returned but a
short Answer to Cuffey, tho' he presented him with a Segar, made him
sit down, and drank to him in a Calabash of Rum.
After this Ceremony, Captain Thomas address'd himself to me in
perfect good English.
Young Man, _said he,_ I would have you banish all Fear; you are not
fallen into the Hands of barbarous Christians, whose Practice and
Profession are as distant as the Country they came from, is from this
Island, which they have usurp'd from the original Natives. Capt.
_Cuffey_'s returning the Service you once did him, by saving your Life,
which we shall not, after the Example of your Country, take in cold
Blood, may give you a Specimen of our Morals. We believe in, and
fear a God, and whatever you may conclude from the Slaughter of your
Companions, yet we are far from thirsting after the Blood of the Whites;
and it's Necessity alone which obliges us to what bears the face of
Cruelty. Nothing is so dear to Man as Liberty, and we have no way of
avoiding Slavery, of which our Bodies wear the inhuman Marks, but by
a War, in which, if we give no Quarter, the English must blame
themselves; since even, with a shew of Justice, they put to the most
cruel Deaths those among us, who have the Misfortune to fall into their
Hands; and make that a Crime in us (the Desire of Liberty, I mean)
which they look upon as the distinguishing Mark of a great Soul. Your
Wound shall be dress'd; you shall want nothing necessary we have; and
we will see you safe to some Plantation the first Opportunity. All the
Return we expect, is, that you will not discover to the Whites our Place
of Retreat: I don't exact from you an Oath to keep the Secret; for who
will violate his Word, will not be bound down, by calling God for a
Witness. If you betray us, he will punish you; and the Fear of your
being a Villain shall not engage me to put it out of your Power to hurt
us, by taking the Life of one to whom any of us has promised Security.

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