第2章

类别:其他 作者:Watkin Tench字数:9061更新时间:18/12/18 09:44:19
CHAPTERV。 FromtheArrivaloftheFleetatRiodeJaneiro,tillitsDeparturefortheCapeofGoodHope;withsomeRemarksontheBrazils。 BrazilisacountryveryimperfectlyknowninEurope。ThePortugueze,frompoliticalmotives,havebeensparingintheiraccountsofit。 Whenceourdescriptionsofit,inthegeographicalpublicationsinEngland,aredrawn,Iknownot:thattheyaremiserablyerroneousanddefective,iscertain。 ThecityofSt。Sebastianstandsonthewestsideoftheharbour,inalowunhealthysituation,surroundedonallsidesbyhills,whichstopthefreecirculationofair,andsubjectitsinhabitantstointermittentsandputriddiseases。Itisofconsiderableextent:Mr。CookmakesitaslargeasLiverpool;butLiverpool,in1767,whenMr。Cookwrote,wasnottwo—thirdsofitspresentsize。PerhapsitequalsChester,orExeter,intheshareofgrounditoccupies,andisinfinitelymorepopulousthaneitherofthem。 Thestreetsintersecteachotheratrightangles,aretolerablywellbuilt,andexcellentlypaved,aboundingwithshopsofeverykind,inwhichthewantsofastranger,ifmoneyisnotoneofthem,canhardlyremainunsatisfied。 Aboutthecentreofthecity,andatalittledistancefromthebeach,thePalaceoftheViceroystands,along,lowbuilding,nowiseremarkableinitsexteriorappearance;thoughwithinaresomespaciousandhandsomeapartments。Thechurchesandconventsarenumerous,andrichlydecorated; hardlyanightpasseswithoutsomeofthelatterbeingilluminatedinhonouroftheirpatronsaints,whichhasaverybrillianteffectwhenviewedfromthewater,andwasatfirstmistakenbyusforpublicrejoicings。 AtthecornerofalmosteverystreetstandsalittleimageoftheVirgin,stuckroundwithlightsinanevening,beforewhichpassengersfrequentlystoptoprayandsingveryloudly。Indeed,theheighttowhichreligiouszealiscarriedinthisplace,cannotfailofcreatingastonishmentinastranger。 Thegreatestpartoftheinhabitantsseemtohavenootheroccupation,thanthatofpayingvisitsandgoingtochurch,atwhichtimesyouseethemsallyforthrichlydressed,enchapeaubras,withtheappendagesofabagforthehair,andasmallsword:evenboysofsixyearsoldareseenparadingabout,furnishedwiththeseindispensablerequisites。Exceptwhenattheirdevotions,itisnoteasytogetasightofthewomen,andwhenobtained,thecomparisonsdrawnbyatraveller,latelyarrivedfromEngland,arelittleflatteringtoPortuguezebeauty。Injustice,however,totheladiesofSt。Sebastian,Imustobserve,thatthecustomofthrowingnosegaysatstrangers,forthepurposeofbringingonanassignation,whichDoctorSolander,andanothergentlemanofMr。Cook’sship,metwithwhenhere,wasneverseenbyanyofusinasingleinstance。Weweresodeplorablyunfortunateastowalkeveryeveningbeforetheirwindowsandbalconies,withoutbeinghonouredwithasinglebouquet,thoughnymphsandflowerswereinequalandgreatabundance。 Amongotherpublicbuildings,Ihadalmostforgottomentionanobservatory,whichstandsnearthemiddleofthetown,andistolerablywellfurnishedwithastronomicalinstruments。Duringourstayhere,someSpanishandPortuguesemathematicianswereendeavouringtodeterminetheboundariesoftheterritoriesbelongingtotheirrespectivecrowns。Unhappily,however,forthecauseofscience,thesegentlemanhavenothithertobeenabletocoincideintheiraccounts,sothatverylittleinformationonthishead,tobedependedupon,couldbegained。Howfarpoliticalmotivesmayhavecausedthisdisagreement,Idonotpresumetodecide;thoughitdeservesnotice,thatthePortugueseaccusetheAbbeedelaCaille,whoobservedherebyorderoftheKingofFrance,ofhavinglaiddownthelongitudeofthisplaceforty—fivemilestoomuchtotheeastward。 Untiltheyear1770,alltheflourinthesettlementwasbroughtfromEurope; butsincethattimetheinhabitantshavemadesorapidaprogressinraisinggrain,astobeabletosupplythemselveswithitabundantly。 TheprincipalcorncountryliesaroundRioGrande,inthelatitudeof32degsouth,wherewheatflourishessoluxuriantly,astoyieldfromseventytoeightybushelsforone。Coffeealso,whichtheyformerlyreceivedfromPortugal,nowgrowsinsuchplentyastoenablethemtoexportconsiderablequantitiesofit。Butthestaplecommodityofthecountryissugar。Thattheyhavenot,however,learnttheartofmakingpalatablerum,theEnglishtroopsinNewSouthWalescanbeartestimony;alargequantity,veryillflavoured,havingbeenboughtandshippedherefortheuseofthegarrisonofPortJackson。 Itwasin1771thatSt。Salvador,whichhadformorethanacenturybeenthecapitalofBrazil,ceasedtobeso;andthattheseatofGovernmentwasremovedtoSt。Sebastian。Thechangetookplaceonaccountofthecolonialwar,atthattimecarriedonbytheCourtsofLisbonandMadrid。 And,indeed,weretheobjectofsecurityalonetodeterminetheseatofGovernment,IknowbutfewplacesbettersituatedinthatrespectthantheoneIamdescribing;thenaturalstrengthofthecountry,joinedtothedifficultieswhichwouldattendanattackonthefortifications,beingsuchastorenderitveryformidable。 ItmaybepresumedthatthePortugueseGovernmentiswellapprizedofthiscircumstanceandofthelittlerisquetheyruninbeingdeprivedofsoimportantapossession,elseitwillnotbeeasytopenetratethereasonswhichinducethemtotreatthetroopswhocomposethegarrisonwithsuchcruelnegligence。Theirregimentswereorderedoutwithapromiseofbeingrelieved,andsentbacktoEuropeattheendofthreeyears,inconformitytowhichtheysettledalltheirdomesticarrangements。 ButthefaithofGovernmenthasbeenbroken,andattheexpirationoftwentyyears,allthatislefttotheremnantoftheseunfortunatemen,istosufferinsubmissivesilence。IwasoneeveningwalkingwithaPortugueseofficer,whenthissubjectwasstarted,andonmytellinghim,thatsuchabreachofpublichonourtoEnglishtroopswouldbecomeasubjectofparliamentaryenquiry,heseizedmyhandwithgreateagerness,\"Ah,Sir!\" exclaimedhe,\"yoursisafreecountry——we\"!————Hisemotionsspokewhathistonguerefused。 AsIammentioningthearmy,Icannothelpobserving,thatIsawnothingheretoconfirmtheremarkofMr。Cook,thattheinhabitantsoftheplace,whenevertheymeetanofficerofthegarrison,bowtohimwiththegreatestobsequiousness;andbyomittingsuchaceremony,wouldsubjectthemselvestobeknockeddown,thoughtheotherseldomdeignstoreturnthecompliment。 Theinterchangeofcivilitiesisgeneralbetweenthem,andseemsbynomeansextorted。Thepeoplewhocouldsubmittosuchinsolentsuperiority,would,indeed,deservetobetreatedasslaves。 Thepoliceofthecityisverygood。Soldierspatrolethestreetsfrequently,andriotsareseldomheardof。Thedreadfulcustomofstabbing,frommotivesofprivateresentment,isnearlyatanend,sincethechurchhasceasedtoaffordanasylumtomurderers。Inotherrespects,theprogressofimprovementappearsslow,andfetteredbyobstaclesalmostinsurmountable,whosebanefulinfluencewillcontinue,untilamoreenlightenedsystemofpolicyshallbeadopted。Frommorningtonighttheearsofastrangeraregreetedbythetinklingoftheconventbells,andhiseyessalutedbyprocessionsofdevotees,whoseadorationandlevityseemtokeepequalpace,andsucceedeachotherinturns。\"Doyouwanttomakeyoursonsickofsoldiering?ShewhimtheTrainbandsofLondononafield—day。\" LethimwhowouldwishtogivehissonadistastetoPopery,pointouttohimthesloth,theignorance,andthebigotryofthisplace。 Beingnearlyreadytodepartbythe1stofSeptember,asmanyofficersaspossiblewentonthatdaytothepalacetotakeleaveofhisExcellency,theViceroyoftheBrazils,towhomwehadbeenpreviouslyintroduced; whoonthis,andeveryotheroccasion,waspleasedtohonouruswiththemostdistinguishedmarksofregardandattention。Somepart,indeed,ofthenumerousindulgenciesweexperiencedduringourstayhere,mustdoubtlessbeattributedtothehighrespectinwhichthePortugueseheldGovernorPhillip,whowasformanyyearsacaptainintheirnavy,andcommandedashipofwaronthisstation:inconsequenceofwhich,manyprivilegeswereextendedtous,veryunusualtobegrantedtostrangers。 Wewereallowedthelibertyofmakingshortexcursionsintothecountry,andontheseoccasions,aswellaswhenwalkinginthecity,themortifyingcustomofhavinganofficerofthegarrisonattendinguswasdispensedwithonourleavingournamesandranks,atthetimeoflanding,withtheadjutantofordersatthepalace。Ithappened,however,sometimes,thatthepresenceofamilitarymanwasnecessarytopreventimpositionintheshopkeepers,whofrequentlymadeapracticeofaskingmorefortheirgoodsthantheworthofthem。Inwhichcaseanofficer,whenappliedto,alwaystoldustheusualpriceofthecommoditywiththegreatestreadiness,andadjustedthetermsofthepurchase。 OnthemorningofthefourthofSeptemberweleftRiodeJaneiro,amplyfurnishedwiththegoodthingswhichitshappysoilandclimesoabundantlyproduce。Thefuturevoyagermaywithsecuritydependonthisplaceforlayinginmanypartsofhisstock。Amongthesemaybeenumeratedsugar,coffee,rum,portwine,rice,tapioca,andtobacco,besidesverybeautifulwoodforthepurposesofhouseholdfurniture。 Poultryisnotremarkablycheap,butmaybeprocuredinanyquantity; asmayhopsatalowrate。Themarketsarewellsuppliedwithbutcher’smeat,andvegetablesofeverysortaretobeprocuredatapricenexttonothing; theyamsareparticularlyexcellent。Orangesaboundsomuch,astobesoldforsixpenceahundred;andlimesaretobehadontermsequallymoderate。 Bananas,cocoanuts,andguavas,arecommon;butthefewpineapplesbroughttomarketarenotremarkableeitherforflavour,orcheapness。 Besidestheinducementstolayoutmoneyalreadymentioned,thenaturalistmayaddtohiscollectionbyanalmostendlessvarietyofbeautifulbirdsandcuriousinsects,whicharetobeboughtatareasonableprice,wellpreserved,andneatlyassorted。 Ishallclosemyaccountofthisplacebyinformingstrangers,whomaycomehere,thatthePortuguesereckontheirmoneyinrees,animaginarycoin,twentyofwhichmakeasmallcopperpiececalleda’vintin’,andsixteenoftheselasta’petack’。Everypieceismarkedwiththenumberofreesitisworth,sothatamistakecanhardlyhappen。Englishsilvercoinhaslostitsreputationhere,anddollarswillbefoundpreferabletoanyothermoney。 CHAPTERVI。 ThePassagefromtheBrazilstotheCapeofGoodHope; withanAccountoftheTransactionsoftheFleetthere。 OurpassagefromRiodeJaneirototheCapeofGoodHopewasequallyprosperouswiththatwhichhadprecededit。Westeeredawaytothesouth—east,andlostsightoftheAmericancoastthedayafterourdeparture。 Fromthistimeuntilthe13thofOctober,whenwemadetheCape,nothingremarkableoccurred,exceptthelossofaconvictintheshipIwasonboard,whounfortunatelyfellintothesea,andperishedinspiteofoureffortstosavehim,bycuttingadriftalifebuoyandhoistingoutaboat。 Duringthepassage,aslightdysenteryprevailedinsomeoftheships,butwasinnoinstancemortal。WewereatfirstinclinedtoimputeittothewaterwetookonboardattheBrazils,butastheeffectwasverypartial,someothercausewasmoreprobablytheoccasionofit。 Atseveno’clockintheeveningofthe13thofOctober,wecastanchorinTableBay,andfoundmanyshipsofdifferentnationsintheharbour。 LittlecanbeaddedtothemanyaccountsalreadypublishedoftheCapeofGoodHope,though,ifanopiniononthesubjectmightberisqued,thedescriptionstheycontainaretooflattering。WhencontrastedwithRiodeJaneiro,itcertainlysuffersinthecomparison。Indeedwearrivedatatimeequallyunfavourableforjudgingoftheproduceofthesoilandthetemperofitscultivators,whohadsufferedconsiderablyfromadearththathadhappenedtheprecedingseason,andcreatedageneralscarcity。 Norwasthechagrinofthesedeprivationslessenedbythenewsdailyarrivingoftheconvulsionsthatshooktherepublic,whichcouldnotfailtomakeanimpressionevenonBatavianphlegm。 Asaconsiderablequantityofflour,andtheprincipalpartofthelivestock,whichwastostoreourintendedsettlement,weremeanttobeprocuredhere,GovernorPhilliplostnotimeinwaitingonMynheerVanGraaffe,theDutchGovernor,torequestpermission(accordingtothecustomoftheplace)topurchaseallthatwestoodinneedof。Howfarthedemandextended,Iknownot,norMynheerVanGraaffe’sreasonsforcomplyingwithitinpartonly。Tothisgentleman’spoliticalsentimentsIconfessmyselfastranger;thoughIshoulddohispolitenessandliberalityathisowntableaninjustice,wereInottotakethispublicopportunityofacknowledgingthem; norcanIresisttheopportunitywhichpresentsitself,toinformmyreaders,inhonorofM。VanGraaffe’shumanity,thathehasmaderepeatedeffortstorecovertheunfortunateremainsofthecrewoftheGrosvenorIndiaman,whichwaswreckedaboutfiveyearsagoonthecoastofCaffraria。 ThisinformationwasgivenmebyColonelGordon,commandantoftheDutchtroopsattheCape,whoseknowledgeoftheinteriorpartsofthiscountrysurpassesthatofanyotherman。AndIamsorrytosaythattheColoneladded,theseunhappypeoplewereirrecoverablylosttotheworldandtheirfriends,bybeingdetainedamongtheCaffres,themostsavagesetofbrutesonearth。 HisExcellencyresidesattheGovernmenthouse,intheEastIndiaCompany’sgarden。Thislastisofconsiderableextent,andisplantedchieflywithvegetablesfortheDutchIndiamenwhichmayhappentotouchattheport。 Someofthewalksareextremelypleasantfromtheshadetheyafford,andthewholegardenisveryneatlykept。Theregularlinesintersectingeachotheratrightangles,inwhichitislaidout,will,nevertheless,affordbutlittlegratificationtoanEnglishman,whohasbeenusedtocontemplatethenaturalstylewhichdistinguishesthepleasuregroundsofhisowncountry。Attheheadofthecentrewalksstandsamenagerie,onwhich,aswellasthegarden,manypompouseulogiumshavebeenpassed,thoughinmyownjudgment,consideringthelocaladvantagespossessedbytheCompany,itispoorlyfurnishedbothwithanimalsandbirds;atyger,azebra,somefineostriches,acassowary,andthelovelycrown—fowl,areamongthemostremarkable。 Thetableland,whichstandsatthebackofthetown,isablackdrearylookingmountain,apparentlyflatattop,andofmorethanelevenhundredyardsinheight。Thegustsofwindwhichblowfromitareviolenttoanexcess,andhaveaveryunpleasanteffect,byraisingthedustinsuchclouds,astorenderstirringoutofdoorsnexttoimpossible。Norcananyprecautionpreventtheinhabitantsfrombeingannoyedbyit,asmuchwithindoorsaswithout。 Atlengththewished—forday,onwhichthenexteffortforreachingtheplaceofourdestinationwastobemade,appeared。Themorningwascalm,butthelandwindgettingupaboutnoon,onthe12thofNovemberweweighedanchor,andsoonleftfarbehindeverysceneofcivilizationandhumanizedmanners,toexplorearemoteandbarbarousland;andplantinitthosehappyarts,whichaloneconstitutethepre—eminenceanddignityofothercountries。 TheliveanimalswetookonboardonthepublicaccountfromtheCape,forstockingourprojectedcolony,were,twobulls,threecows,threehorses,forty—foursheep,andthirty—twohogs,besidesgoats,andaverylargequantityofpoultryofeverykind。Aconsiderableadditiontothiswasmadebytheprivatestocksoftheofficers,whowere,however,underanecessityofcircumscribingtheiroriginalintentionsonthisheadverymuch,fromtheexcessivedearnessofmanyofthearticles。Itwillreadilybebelieved,thatfewofthemilitaryfounditconvenienttopurchasesheep,whenhaytofeedthemcostssixteenshillingsahundredweight。 Theboarding—housesonshore,towhichstrangershaverecourse,aremorereasonablethanmightbeexpected。Foradollarandahalfperdaywewerewelllodged,andpartookofatabletolerablysuppliedintheFrenchstyle。Shouldatraveller’sstockoftearunshort,itisathousandchancestoonethathewillbeabletoreplenishithereatacheaperratethaninEngland。Hemayprocureplentyofarrackandwhitewine;alsoraisins,anddriedfruitsofothersorts。Ifhedislikestoliveataboarding—house,hewillfindthemarketswellstored,andthepriceofbutcher’smeatandvegetablesfarfromexcessive。 Justbeforethesignalforweighingwasmade,aship,underAmericancolours,enteredtheroad,boundfromBoston,fromwhenceshehadsailedonehundredandfortydays,onatradingvoyagetotheEastIndies。 Inherroute,shehadbeenluckyenoughtopickupseveraloftheinferiorofficersandcrewoftheHarcourtEast—Indiaman,whichshiphadbeenwreckedononeoftheCapedeVerdIslands。Themaster,whoappearedtobeamanofsomeinformation,onbeingtoldthedestinationofourfleet,gaveitashisopinion,thatifareceptioncouldbesecured,emigrationswouldtakeplacetoNewSouthWales,notonlyfromtheoldcontinent,butthenewone,wherethespiritofadventureandthirstfornoveltywereexcessive。 CHAPTERVII。 ThePassagefromtheCapeofGoodHopetoBotanyBay。 Wehadhardlyclearedthelandwhenasouth—eastwindsetin,and,exceptatshortintervals,continuedtoblowuntilthe19thofthemonth; whenwewereinthelatitudeof37deg40minsouth,andbythetime—keeper,inlongitude11deg30mineast,sothatourdistancefromBotanyBayhadincreasednearlyanhundredleaguessinceleavingtheCape。 Asnoappearanceofachangeinourfavourseemedlikelytotakeplace,GovernorPhillipatthistimesignifiedhisintentionofshiftinghispennantfromtheSiriustothe’Supply’,andproceedingonhisvoyagewithoutwaitingfortherestofthefleet,whichwasformedintwodivisions。Thefirstconsistingofthreetransports,knowntobethebestsailors,wasputunderthecommandofaLieutenantofthenavy;andtheremainingthree,withthevictuallers,leftinchargeofCaptainHunter,ofhisMajesty’sshipSirius。Inthelastdivisionwasthevessel,inwhichtheauthorofthisnarrativeserved。Variouscausespreventedtheseparationfromtakingplaceuntilthe25th,whenseveralsawyers,carpenters,blacksmiths,andothermechanics,wereshiftedfromdifferentshipsintothe’Supply’,inordertofacilitatehisExcellency’sintentionofforwardingthenecessarybuildingstobeerectedatBotanyBay,bythetimetherestofthefleetmightbeexpectedtoarrive。LieutenantGovernorRoss,andtheStaffofthemarinebattalion,alsoremovedfromtheSiriusintotheScarboroughtransport,oneoftheshipsofthefirstdivision,inordertoaffordeveryassistancewhichthepublicservicemightreceive,bytheirbeingearlyonthespotonwhichourfutureoperationsweretobeconducted。 Fromthistimeasuccessionoffairwindsandpleasantweathercorrespondedtooureagerdesires,andonthe7thofJanuary,1788,thelongwishedforshoreofVanDiemengratifiedoursight。Wemadethelandattwoo’clockintheafternoon,theveryhourweexpectedtoseeitfromthelunarobservationsofCaptainHunter,whoseaccuracy,asanastronomer,andconductasanofficer,hadinspireduswithequalgratitudeandadmiration。 Aftersolongaconfinement,onaservicesopeculiarlydisgustingandtroublesome,itcannotbematterofsurprisethatwewereoverjoyedatthenearprospectofachangeofscene。Bysunsetwehadpassedbetweentherocks,whichCaptainFurneauxnamedtheMewstoneandSwilly。 TheformerbearsaverycloseresemblancetothelittleislandnearPlymouth,whenceittookitsname:itslatitudeis43deg48minsouth,longitude146deg25mineastofGreenwich。 Inrunningalongshore,wecastmanyananxiouseyetowardstheland,onwhichsomuchofourfuturedestinydepended。Ourdistance,joinedtothehazinessoftheatmosphere,preventedus,however,frombeingabletodiscovermuch。Withourbestglasseswecouldseenothingbuthillsofamoderateheight,cloathedwithtrees,towhichsomelittlepatchesofwhitesandstonegavetheappearanceofbeingcoveredwithsnow。 Manyfireswereobservedonthehillsintheevening。 AsnopersonintheshipIwasonboardhadbeenonthiscoastbefore,weconsultedalittlechart,publishedbySteele,oftheMinories,London,andfoundit,ingeneral,verycorrect;itwouldbemoreso,werenottheMewstonelaiddownattoogreatadistancefromtheland,andoneobjectmadeoftheEddystoneandSwilly,when,infact,theyaredistinct。