Emmanuel Appadocca; or, Blighted Life. A tale of the Boucaneers. ... Reprinted from the original edition, 1854. Together with a short sketch of the author's life

Front matter

CMMANUCL ftPPADOCCA The "Eureka" Warehouse ■ 15, FREDERICK STREET, FGRT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD. Alexander Miller, IMPORTER OF ,', German, PLAIN AND FANCY ;: m&mm MILLINERY, Gent's Ready-Made Clothing HATS, CAPS, &c, &e. I Europe jfovelti^ A:o bi [ded to the LL ASSORTED STOCK As they ;■ EMMANUEL APPADOCCA; or, BLIGHTED LIFE. A TALE OF THE BOUCANEERS. BY MAXWELL PHILIP. *«0. 2> fi-hrep, tJtjs en rupavfiKStv t6fs\w SovXaov iifiap «75e s, wr wpatro-eiikcikus, ZtTovTep €s5 ttot' ' avTiffT]Kw(ras 8e ff( ipdilpei $fuv tij ttjiirdpoiis tisirpa^las. EURIPIDES. COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME (Reprinted from the original edition, 1854.) TOGETHER AMTH A SHORT SKETCH OF THE AUTHOR'S LIFE. TRINIDAD : MOLE, BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS, 3, ABERCROMBY STREET, PORT-OF-SPAIN. MDCCCXCIII. To HARRY DANIELS, Esq., 4, ESSEX COURT, TEMPLE.

Dear Friend, I DEDICATE TO YOU THE FIRST -BORN OF MY BRAIN?. Receive this trifling mark of esteem in the spirit in avhich it is made, and accept the willing homage that i render to— oh, most rare possession ! — a good and true HEART. MAXWELL PHILIP.

Preface

This work has been written at a moment when the feelings of the Author are roused up to a high pitch of indignant excitement, by a statement of the cruel manner in which the slave holders of America deal with their slave-children. Not being able to imagine that even that dissolver of natural bonds — slavery — can shade over the hideous ness of begetting children for the purpose of turning them out into the fields to labour at the lash's sting, he has ventured to sketch out the line of conduct, which a high-spirited and sensitive person would probably follow, if he found himself picking cotton under the spurring encouragement of " Jimboes" or " Quimboes" on his own father's plantation. The machinery, or ground-work of the story is based on truth — the known history of the Boucaneers. It is scarcely necessary to tell the reader that the other parts are fiction.

The scenes are laid principally in the Island of Trinidad. This is done entirely from natural predilection, for Trinidad is the Author's native isle, whose green woods, smiling sky, beautiful flowers, and romantic gulf, together with a thousand sweet and melting associations, eternally play on his willing memory, and make him cherish ever the fond hope, that when the spark us life shall have been ex tinguished, his bones may be deposited on the rising ground that looks over the sea, and that already contains the being who, in death, as well as she was iu life, was the object of his deep love and high veneration. 4, Elm Court, Temple February, 1854. Ulirjjd llfefodl ISjulip. The author of " Emmanuel Appadocca," the late Hon. Michel Maxwell Philip, was born at Cooper Grange Estate, Naparima, on the 12th October, 1829.

From an early age he shewed a keen desire to learn, and made rapid progress in the little school at San Fernando, where he received the rudiments of his education. His great abilities and application were such that his friends decided he should have the benefit of a European training, and when he reached the age of fourteen, he was sent to St. Mary's Catholic College, Blairs, on the banks of the Scottish Dee, where his progress in his studies was rapid in the extreme. At the end of six years, however, he returned to Trinidad, and as a Clerk entered the office of Mr. Henry Hart Anderson, Solicitor. Here he did not remain more than a few months, leaving Mr. Anderson's office to read law with the Solicitor- General, the Hon. G. Garcia, father of the present Attorney-General. Mr. Philip always entertained the highest respect for Mr. Garcia whom in after years, when writing to him from England, he used to quaintly address as " Illustrious Preceptor."

But Maxwell Philip was not satisfied with the prospect of being merely a legal clerk or even reaching the status of solicitor, and in 1851 he again crossed the Atlantic and in London studied law with the earnestness which had characterized his collegiate career. It was during this period, though one of the busiest of a bus}' life, he found time to devote himself to literary work and in the year (1854) in which he was called to the Bar by the Society of the Middle Temple, he wrote and published " Emmanuel Appadocca." Mr. Philip did not return to his native isle immediately but spent several months tiavelling through many of the principal historical portions of Europe. In 1855 he returned to Trinidad and at once began to practice. His tall, commanding presence, his sonorous voice, deliberate, well rounded sentences, his talents, evident knowledge and skill in argument, immediately attracted attention and his fame as a lawyer spread throughout the Island ; his clients became numerous and it was not long before he became one of the most prominent members of a bar, which was distinguished throughout the West Indies for its talents and ability.

Mr. Philip's qualities soon attracted the notice of the Govern ment and in consequence he was appointed to act for considerable periods as Inspector of Schools. Later, Governor Sir Arthur Gordon gave him a seat, as an unofficial member, in the Legislative Council, Then when the Hon. G. Garcia retired from the Solicitor-General- VI ship Mr. Philip was appointed to act in his stead as the head of the office in which he had made his debut as a law student. During Mr. Longden'b Governorship Mr. Philip was permanently appointed Soli citor-General. As Attorney -General he acted on the following occasions : From 10th June 1873 to 20th July 1874 ; 9th July to 2nd Nov. 18S6 ; 28th June to 21th Oct. 1878 ; 9th May 1881 to 2nd Jan. 1882 ; 2nd July to 2nd Nov. 1883 ; 1885 to January. Ic86 ; February to May 1886.

Mr. Philip's aid was also requisitioned by the Government in other than legal matters. He was Chairman of the Road Commission appointed by Sip. William Robinson and he was a member of the old Board of Education, the College Council, the Board of Health, the Trade and Taxes Commission and the Franchise Commission of 1888. It was always a matter of surprise that Mr. Philip should never have been promoted to a higher office in the Government, and at one time it was hoped that he would be the successor of Mr. Justice Court when he retired from the Bench, but Mr. Philip's claims, established by eighteen years' service were overlooked. Once, and once only, was promotion offered him, but the Chief Justiceship of the Gold Coast which waited his acceptance, offered no charms to Mr. Philip who prefered residence in his native land to the dignity of a seat on the Bench of another Colony.

With regard to Mr. Philip's career as a lawyer before he joined the ranks of the public service, it may be said that on all occasions he shewed himself an able advocate in both civil and criminal courts, but some of his greatest triumphs were obtained in the latter in most difficult cases on the side of the defence. For many years Mr. Philip was the only lawyer in the colony — having survived the others — inti mately acquainted with the old Spanish laws of Trinidad, and he was consequently regarded as an authority upon all matters relating to Spanish jurisprudence. In 1867, Mr. Philip was elected Mayor of Port-of-Spain and for three years occupied theoffice, during which he carried out some much needed reforms and initiated many improvements in the town. He took an active part at the public meeting which met for the purpose of calling upon the Government to restore the salary of Archbishop Spaccapietra, and also to induce the British Government to recognize that prelate as the Archbishop of Port-of-Spain.

Although a staunch adherent of the Roman CatholicChurch, itis pleasant to beable to record of Mr. Philip that he could also meet with cordiality the clergy of other churches. The late Charles Kingsley during his visit to the Island was invited by Mr. Philip to be present at a meeeting of the Friends of Popular Education over which he was to preside. Canon Kingsley accepted the invitation and his letter is still preserved among the Philip family papers. Mr. Philip's name is associated with a great number of Ordin ances now standing on the Statute Book. The Arima Railway Ordin ance was drawn tip and passed by him and the Tramway Ordinance he drafted, advocated, and carried through the Legislature in the face of the almost fierce, certainly vigorous, opposition of the Chief Justice Sir Joseph Needham.

He also proposed and carried the motion (in an extremely able speech) by which the projected annexation of the island of Tobago to Trinidad received the assent of the Trinidad Legislative Council. In 1887, after thirty-two years of public life, Mr. Philip's once robust health showed symptoms of breaking down. He, however, refused to give up his duties even temporarily, but while on a visit to the Islands, which he described so exquisitely in the story here presented to the reader, he was suddenly overtaken by an illness from which Le never recovered. He was conveyed to his residence at Maraval and there after some weeks he died on the 30th of June, 1888, aged 59 years. In appearance Mr. Maxwell Philip was of tall, commanding presence and carried himself with dignity ; he was a highly accomplished man, the master of several languages ; his eloquence was proverbial throughout the island and in many of the West Indian Colonies He was exceptionally clever at repartee and some very good stories are told of him in this respect.

On one occasion he was arguing a question before one of our local judges who was credited with being of a somewhat hasty temperament. The judge expressed himself as having formed his opinion upon the point Mr. Philip was laying before him and told him so. Mr. Philip still insisted upon his view when the judge hastily and abruptly asked him to pass on to the next point. The Barrister replied, it had been said : " Fools rush in where angels fear to tread" — " Come, come," interrupted the judge — " I never said that you were a fool, Mr. Philip." " Neither, your Honour," said Mr. Philip in his gravest and most sonorous tones, as he bowed towards the Bench, " Neither, your Honour, was I so imprudent as to in any way intimate that your Honour was an angel." Another good story is told of him which is so characteristic that it would be a pity to allow it to be lost.

Some papers wifh reference to the disputed ownership of the bed of the Dry River — a problem which has waited a quarter of a century for solution had been sent to him as Solicitor-General. A new Governor came to the colony and the question having cropped up again His Excellency sent for the papers. The Governor, in looking through them, found that Mr. Philip had had them three years and had apparently done nothing with them. Upon this the Head of the Executive wrote a sharp minute calling upon the Hon. the Solicitor- General to explain why he had been three years considering the question. Such a question would from the majority of Public Officers have elicited the minutest explanations of the why and wherefore, but Mr. Philip simply wrote in effect as follows : " I have no doubt His Excellency will agree with me that three years is not too long a period for the consideration of such an important question as the ownership of the Dry River."

This answer completely silenced His Excellency. In concluding this brief sketch of the life of the late Mr. Maxwell Philip we cannot find a better tribute to pay his memory than that uttered by Sir William Robinson at the meeting of the Legislative Council which followed Mr. Philip's demise His Excellency said : " Gentlemen, — Mr. Garcia having taken his seat as Acting Solicitor General, I desire to ask you whether you concur with me in the pro priety of placing on record some expression of our opinion as to the great loss which this Council has sustained in consequence of the death of the Hon. Michel Maxwell Philip. Mr. Philip was a man of whom Trinidad might well be proud. He was not only a remarkable man in Trinidad, but was a remarkable man in the West Indies, and would have been a remarkable man anywhere.

Most of you Gentlemen, knew him for a far longer period than I did, and you, therefore will be more able than I am to speak in regard to his great gifts and to appreciate them. He certainly was possessed of a most wonderful memory, and he had to the full extent, what is called, " the Heaven born gift of Eloquence." In his well rounded periods and his well studied phrases we could always recognize great depth of knowledge on the matter of which he spoke, and in addition to that, he possessed special knowledge not only in regard to men and matters, but in regard to the history of this Colony, and the old standing customs and the laws that governed it. Now that Mr. Philip has left us, quite apart from the regret that I feel, I may say that I look back with a great deal of pleasure upou the intimate, I may say friendly relations which existed between us.

He would come to me once every week, and he never left my room without my feeling that I had been interested, amused, and not unfrequently instructed, as the sweet singer says, with " the sweet food of sweetly uttered knowledge." For two years and nine months Mr. Philip acted as Solicitor- General under me and on one occasion as Attorney-General, and as Her Majesty's representative, I say it without hesitation, and I say it with pride and with gratitude, that I found him not only a safe and wise Counsellor but trusty and loyal adviser. What I have said I feel Gentlemen, is quite insufficient and quite inadequate, but I trust you who hear it and all who read what I have said, will believe that, my only desire is to pay a humble tribute to the memory of one of Trinidad's greatest sons. Stricken as he was a few months an-o with a fatal illness, "death came" to him "with friendly care" and mercifully released him from what possibly might have been a pro longed illness of pain and suffering.

Of Mr. Philip I think it may be said, although the phrase is very hackneyed, still it is nevertheless true, that " Take him for all in all, we shaii never look upon his like again." I propose that, the Hon. Mr. Fowleb, Mr. Garcia, Mr. Fin layson, and Mr. Fitt, be a committee to prepare a resolution of con dolence to be presented by this Council to Mr. Philip's nearest relations." Alfred Richards & Co. 5 ]}f|nnt|<uioto anil fpriu)s|bfo wholesale and retail dealers in )luif ffiup, Itfcifuiiici, fs|ciniriih Every article sold by us is Toilet Perfumery, et from the Grocers & Oilmen Sundries must respectable Houses both UJmes iii Europe and <-:-:• lU(A\l)^. * „,;!„, 1 Pl?yS'eiai?s' i» .j-,,, .Aituu preseriptio9S offered for sale AN1, byus,and FAMILY RECIPES CarefuUy Compounded by id Prices COMPETENT LICENSED DRUGGISTS to Stilt All.

At all hours, day and night — (night bell), -L ©y its? tfie pureAf ©rugx*>. No. 34a, TCTNO STREET, i>r J?ORT-OF-SI»AITSr, rri«i>n>^vi>. "JOHANNIS." fit MINb OF Natural liiMt lUakro t : t i JOHANNIS" "JOHANNIS WATER is of Exceptional Purity and Excellence." THE LANCET. SPRINGS : ZOLLHAUS, GERMANY. LONDON ADDRESS : 25, Regent Street, Waterloo Place, s.w, ; OR, BLIGHTED LIFE. A TALK OF THE BOUCANREB9.

Chapter I

" Plots have I laid ; inductions dangerous." — Richard III. Between the north-west coast of Venezuela and the Island of Trinidad there lies an extensive expanse of water, known as the Gulf of Paria : — a name which it has derived from the neighbouring Spanish coast. At first sight this gulf presents to the eye the appearance of a vast lake. On the north, east, and south, it is bordered by the dark mountains of Trinidad : while, on the opposite side the cloud-capt Andes, which terminate in that direction, rear their towering heads, and present a lofty western boundary. The gulf, thus narrowly surrounded on all sides, communicates with the great Atlantic ocean only by two narrow outlets, which are situated at its northern and southern extremities, and are respectively named " the Dragon's " and the " Serpent's Mouth."

It is by these narrow straits, as the reader will have already gathered, that Trinidad is separated from the mainland of South America. Shielded as they are by these elevated boundaries, the waters of the gulf are ever calm and placid. The hurricanes which periodically ravage the adjacent regions, never sweep their quiet surface : and ships from the ports of the neighbouring colonies usually avail themselves of the protection afforded by this sheltered haven, and safely ride away the tempestu ous months on its smooth expanse. scenery around this gulf is extremely picturesque and beautiful. Small green islands are dispersed here and there, and seem to float gaily on the bosom of the slumbering waters ; the forest clothed mountains that beetle from above, cast their lengthy shadows far and wide, and the diving birds that continually ply the wing over the reflecting surface, throw into the scene some of the choicest features of romantic beauty.

It was here, that, on a lovely morning in the month of March, two skiffs might barely be seen floating quietly far. far away at sea. It was as yet early : the gray mist of the tropical morning was just melting away before the rays of the rising sun, that was fast ascending from behind the mountains in the east ; a thin haze, never theless, was still left surrounding every object. Scarcely a ripple as yet marked the gulf, and in the quiet of the hour might be heard the waking haloos of the mariners on board their ships in the harbour of Port-of-Spain, as they summoned each other to the labours of the day. The two skiffs were at a great distance from land. In the haze it was difficult on a hasty glance to distinguish them from the sea ; but, on closer observation, they might be discovered to be a small fishing boat, such as those which are generally seen on the gulf, and a curial, or Indian canoe.

There were three men in the fishing-boat : two who were rowers, and one that was sitting at its stern and was apparently the master. He was of mixed blood : of that degree known as that of mulatto, and seemingly of Spanish extraction, but his two men were blacks. The men were resting on their oars, the master was occupied in deep sea fishing, and the boat floated passively on the water. In the Indian canoe there seemed also but three men : one sat at the stern, the other two crouched in the centre, their paddles were carelessly rested on the sides of the light vessel, and the canoe, like the fishing-boat, was permitted to float unsteered on the gulf. The two skiffs were not far from each other, and as the haze cleared away, the master of the fishing-boat, in the musing calm attendant on quiet fishing, observed to his men, as he dreamingly looked on the canoe — " Those fellows are Guaragons ; I daresay they paddled from home in the canoe the whole of last night, aud they are now taking their breakfast to get up to town before the breeze rises.'- " Yes, sa," briskly rejoined one of the boatmen : " dey wok all night, all nakid as dey be dey ; dey no 'fraid rein, dey no 'fraid sun, but when dey begin dey wok — wok so — night and day, you see paddle go phshah — phshah — phshah," here the speaker screwed up his little features to the utmost, in order to express the energy with which the Indians are supposed to paddle, while, at the same time, he endeavoured to imitate the sound of the paddle itself, as it dashes the water.

" Awh !" he exclaimed, with emphasis, after this display, " dey no get dis Jack Jimmy," pointing to himself ,v foo do dat — no : — oohn — oohn, and he shook his head energetically. master smiled both at the humour of his man and the horror which he appeared to entertain for the work and exposure of the Indians. " And den, wha dey eat," he continued, " ripe plaintin ! dey eat ripe plaintin so brofost, ripe plantin so dinna — awh ! me no know how dey get fat, but dey always berry fat." The strange little man continued in this vein to make his remarks about the Indians, and the master attended to his line until the morning was considerably advanced, and the sun had already risen to a great height. " Now, my boys," said the last mentioned individual, " I think it is time for us to go, we have not had much luck to-day.-' With this he began leisurely to draw in his line, gazing listlessly on the Indian canoe while he did so, — " but these fellows are taking a long time to eat their ripe plaintains this morning, Jack Jimmy," he observed.

" Me tink so foo true, sa," replied the individual answering to that name. " An da big In j an in de tern a de canoe da look pan awee berry hard — berry hard — he bin da lookjpan awee all demannin so," and then looking anxiously on the canoe, he continued, " an me no da seeparrat, me no da see monkey, me no da see notting pan de side a de canoe, an you neber see Injan ya widout parrat an monkey." Having delivered himself of this sage opinion, he looked at the canoe again, long and anxiously, shook his head, and moved restlessly on his thwart. " What is the matter with you, Jack Jimmy," inquired the master, " you seem to be displeased with these Indians ?" Jack Jimmy made no answer, but gave expression to a sound like "horn!" Then began to look into the bottom of the boat, while he beat time apparently to his own ruminations with his chubby great toe.

" But what is the matter with you, man ?" again inquired the master. " Massa — massa — me — me-me-me no like close, close so to Injans pan big salt water, so, no." The first part of the sentence Jack Jimmy pronounced moodily, but he shot out the latter part with such rapidity and earnestness, that the gravity of the master could hold out no longer, and he laughed heartily at his man. " Bah ! you fool," said he, when the fit was over : " what do you expect these Indians will do to tis ?" Jack Jimmy, much piqued at being laughed at, raised his shoulders, and answered stoically — " Me no know ; but me tink we better go." " Yes : we are not doing anything here, and there does not seem much prospect of having better luck," said the master, "let us go." He then took up his paddle from the bottom of the boat, and put it over the stern to steer it. 1a EMMANUEL APrADOCCA, The men began to row, and the little boat began to move through the water.

The Indian canoe, which had remained all the time as passive on the water as the fishing-boat, was now also pot in motion, by two paddles, and seemed to be steered in the same direction as the fishing boat. Jack Jimmy saw this, opened his eyes, and cried, in a voice that began to tremble, — " Dey da come, too." The master looked round, and saw in truth that the canoe was following in their wake. The three persons now became somewhat uneasy, and anxious, about the intentions of their mysterious follower. After a time, however, when they saw it was not gaining ground upon them, nor seemed to be propelled with any intention of coming up to them, these feelings were considerably diminished, and they pulled calmly along, while the canoe followed at the same distance from the little boat. When the fishing-boat had reached to within a mile of the ships which lay in the harbour of Port-of-Spain, the master was challenged by a brisk " Haloo " from the man at the stern of the canoe.

" Haloo, there!" cried the man in a commanding voice, "haloo. there— stop !" The master paid no attention to this order, but pretended that he did not hear it, or did not consider it addressed to him, and he remained silent ; but Jack Jimmy had not so much command over himself. " Wha," cried he, " wha eber yierry Injan peak plain — plain so ? hen !" and he shook his head mysteriously. " But wha," following out his reflections, " dey want we so tap foo — tell dem we no da sell fish, ya ; let dem come sho." " Will you stop, there — ho ?" again cried the man from the stern of the pursuing canoe. " We cannot stop," replied the master, " if you wish to buy fish, come ashore. Pull boys," addressing himself to his men ; " those seem to be strange customers." Jack Jimmy and the other boatman bent on their oars.

" As soon as the little fishing-boat was put in a more rapid movement, ten Indians simultaneously sprung as if it were by magic from the bottom of the canoe, and ranged themselves at its sides, paddle in hand. " Wha, look dey! " cried Jack Jimmy, pointing tremblingly to the canoe, "pull," addressing himself to his companion, "pull, me tell you : " and he himself drew his oar with all the energy and vigour which fear alone can impart. " Pull, me tell you," continued he, every moment, to exhort his companion ; " pull, me tell you." Under these efforts the little shell boat skipped like a feather over the water : but it was no match for the canoe, propelled as it was by the vigorous paddles of twelve stout men. Like an arrow from au Indian bow, or like the noiseless course of a serpent, through the lake it drew on the little fishing-boat.

Jack Jimmy and his companion exerted themselves to the utmost ; the master too, plied his paddle strongly and con tinuously, but nearer and nearer the canoe approached. When at last it came opposite the pursued, the man at the stern dexterously threw his pacVlle on the other side, a rapid movement was made through the water, and the head of the canoe was at once athwart the little fishing-boat. Jack Jimmy could bear it no longer ; as soon as the boat was boarded, with a convulsive spring, he plunged into the gulf : while the syllables of his interjected " Uaramighty " bubbled up after him as he disappeared. But the first impulse of the master was to draw his knife from the side of the boat, where it was stuck in a chink of the boards, and with a deep-mouthed " carajo " was going to plunge it into the nearest Indian, but his arm was no sooner raised than it was paralyzed by a blow dealt him with his paddle by a man at the stern, and the knife fell from his grasp into the water.

" Fool," cried the man who had thus struck him, " what is the use of your resistance : do you not see we number more than you ? Get into this canoe immediately, you and your man, aud see if you can save that strange creature that is capering in the water there ; " and he pointed to Jack Jimmy, who had now come again to the surface, and in the extremity of his fear, with his mouth wide open, and his white eye-balls glaring, was swimming most furiously out to sea. The sight was too ridiculous even for the occasion ; the whole of the Indians burst into a fit of laughter at poor Jack Jimmy, who was fatiguing himself at such a rate that his strength would probably not have lasted more than two minutes. " Paddle to that poor fellow," said the man at the stern, and the order was obeyed. But Jack Jimmy would not be taken ; he dived several times to escape, to the no small amusement of the Indians : his strength however began to fail, and he was at last captured.

They took him into the canoe, when he was almost exhausted, and he was laid at the bottom of it, where he kept his eyes closed and stretched himself stiffly out, to pretend that he was dead. The Indians seemed highly amused by him. At last, however, he ventured to open his eyes, when, seeing some cutlasses and pikes that lay by his side at the bottom of the canoe., he closed them abruptly again and cried, " Oh La-a-r-rd. me dead ! " When Jack Jimmy had been saved from drowning, the master and the other rower were transhipped into the canoe. Tho master, shrewder than his men, thought he observed, in addition to the circumstance of speaking English, other marks in the Indians which resembled disguise. They seemed more assured aud less savage than Indians generally are ; besides, they had thick beards and mustachioes which the savages never wear ; and, above all, their arms, instead of being rude bows and arrows, or at best rusty fowling pieces, were beautiful rifles, cutlasses and pikes.