Twenty Years in the Philippines. Translated from the French

Front matter

LA GIRONIERES TWENTY YEARS IN THE PHILIPPINES. *** An Advertisement having appeared, announcing the publication of an abridged Edition of M. de La Gironiere's " Twenty Years in the Philippines," Messrs. Vizetelly are authorised by M. de La Gironiere to publish the following letter : — . Dear Sir, I am informed that some London publishing firm announces the publication of a translation of my work, " Twenty Years in the Philippines," and that advantage is to be taken (under the new International Copyright Law) of some slight informality, existing only with respect to a small portion of the first edition. When I issued this edition of my little volume I attached but slight importance to its contents, for I did not then anticipate the success it has subsequently obtained. Tbe French press and other European channels of criticism having been pleased to take up my work very favourably, I naturally wished for an edition to be printed in the English language.

Having agreed with you the terms of this publication, I have taken every possible pains in preparing the copy for translation, in order that this edition may tbe better justify the extraordinary favour with which my work has been received. I have, con- A LETTER FROM THE AUTHOR. sequently, revised, and greatly augmented it. I have had prepared for engraving, under my eyes, from my sketches and other authen tic sources, the most characteristic scenes of the manners and customs of the inhabitants, as well as the principal views, the animals, vegetable productions, &c, of the country. In fact, I believe I have perfected my work, and rendered it worthy of the English public, to whom you have undertaken to introduce me. The translation you are about to issue is necessarily the only one that can have benefited by these revisions and additions.

I therefore beg you will acquaint the publishers who have announced some other translation with the arrangements that I have personally entered into with you, and the annoyance that will be caused me by the appearance of their necessarily incomplete translation. If, notwithstanding this remonstrance, they should still persist in carrying out their project, I beg you will take everv means in your power to make known to the English public, that such translation is published in spite of my formal objection to the same ; and also that I protest against it on the double ground of its being prejudicial to my reputation and to my personal in terests; for which reasons I beg the public will await the translation you are about to issue with my sanction, and which is the only complete version of " Twenty Years in the Philippines."

Chapter I

A Family Sketch— My Youthful Days— I Study for the Medical Profession — Obtain a Naval Surgeon's Diploma — Early Voyages — Sail for Manilla in the Cultivateur — Adventurous Habits — Cholera and Massacre at Manilla and Cavite— Captain Drouant's Rescue — Personal Dangers and Timely Escapes — How Business may make Friends of one's Enemies — An Unprincipled Captain — Tranquillity restored at Manilla — Pleasures of the Chase — The Cultivateur sails without me — First Embarrassments . 17

Chapter II

Description of Manilla — The two Towns — Gaiety of Binondoc — Dances — Gaming — Beauty of the Women — Their Fascinating Costume — Male Costume — The Military Town — Personal Adventures — My First Patient — His Generous Confidence — Commencement of my Practice — The Artificial Eye — Brilliant Success — The Charming Widow — Auspicious Introduction — My Marriage — Treachery and Fate of Iturbide — Our Loss of Fortune — Beturn to France postponed VI CONTENTS. PiUje

Chapter III

Continued Prosperity in Practice — Attempted Political Revolution — Desperate Street Engagement — Subjugation of the Insurgents — The Emperor of a Day — Dreadful Executions — Illness and Insanity of my Wife — Her Recovery and Relapse — Removal to the Country — Beneficial Results — Dangerous Neighbours — Repentant Banditti — Fortunate Escape — The Anonymous Friend — A Confiding Wife — Her Final Recovery, and our Domestic Happiness restored 47

Chapter IV

Hunting the Stag— Indian Mode of Chasing the Wild Buffalo : its Ferocity— Dangerous Sport— Capture of a Buffalo — Narrow Escape of an Indian Hunter— Return to Manilla — Injustice of the Governor— My Resignation of Office— I Purchase Property at Jala-Jala — Retire from Manilla to take Possession of ray Domains— Chinese Legend— Festival of St. Nicholas— Quinaboutasan— Description of Jala-Jala— Interview with a Bandit Chief— Formation of Guard— Preparations for Building- Visit to Manilla, and Return to Jala-Jala— Completion of my House— Reception of my Wife by the Natives— The Government of the Philippines— Character of the Tagaloc Indians- Unmerited Chastisement— A Curate Appointed— Our Labours at Civilisation — My' Hall of Justice — Buffalo Hunting Expedition fi„

Chapter V

Description of my House at Jala-Jala— Storms, Gales, and Earthquakes-Reforming the Banditti— Card-playing— Tagal Cock-fighting— Skirmishes with Robbers— Courage of my Wife— CONTENTS. VII Page Our Domestic Happiness — Visits from Europeans — Their Astonishment at our Civilisation — Visit to a Sick Friend at Manilla — Tour through the Provinces of the Rocos and Pangasinan Indians — My Reception by the Tinguians — Their Appearance and Habits — Manners and Customs — Indian Fett at Laganguilan y Madalag — Horrible Ceremonies to Cele brate a Victory — Songs and Dances — Our Night-watch — We Explore our Cabin — Discovery of a Secret Well — A Tomb of the Tinguian Indians 95

Chapter VI

Visit to Manabo — Conversation with my Guide — Religion of the Tinguians — Their Marriage Ceremony — Funereal Bites — Mode of Warfare — I take leave of the Tinguians — Journey to the Igorrots — Description of them — Their Dwellings — A Fortunate Escape — Alila and the Bandits — Recollections of Home — A Majestic Fig-tree — Superstition of Alila — Interview with an Igorrot — The Human Hand — Nocturnal Adventure — Consternation of Alila — Probable Origin ofthe Tinguians and Igorrots 117 CHAPTEE VII. I return to Jala- Jala — An Excursion on the Lake — Relempago' s Narrative — Be-organisation of my Government — A Letter from my Brother Henry — His Arrival — He joins me in the Management of my Plantations — Cajoui, the Bandit : Anten-Anten — Indian Superstition — A Combat with the Bandit — His Death — A Piratical Descent— My Lieutenant is Wounded— 1 extract the Ball, and cure him CONTENTS. VIII Pan

Chapter VIII

Death of my Brother Robert— Our Party at Jala-Jala — Illness aud Last Moments of my Friend Bermigan — Recovery and Departure for France of Lafond — Joachim Balthazard : his Eccentricity — Tremendous Gale of Wind — Narrow Escape in Crossing the Lake— Safe Return to Jala -Jala — Destruction of my House and the Village by a Typhoon — Rendezvous with a Bandit — Ineffectual Attempts to Reform Him — His Death — Journey to Tapuzi — Its Inaccessibility — Government of the Tapuzians — Morality and Religious Character of their Chief — Their Curiosity at beholding a White Man — Former Wickedness and Divine Punishment —We bid adieu to the Tapuzians, and return to Jala-Jala 162

Chapter IX

Suppression of War between two Indian Towns — Flourishing Condition of Jala-Jala — Hospitality to Strangers — Field Sports — Bat and Lizard Shooting — Visit to, and Description of, the Isle of Socolme — Adventure with a Cayman — Cormorants — We visit Los Banos — Monkey Shooting — Expedition to, and Description of, the Grotto of San-Mateo — Magnificent aspect of the Interior 181

Chapter X

Dumont d'Urville— Rear-Admiral Laplace : Desertion of Sailors from his Ship — I recover them for him — Origin of the Inhabitants of the Philippine Islands — Their General Disposition — Hospitality and Respect for Old Age — Tagal Marriage Ceremony — Indian Legal Eloquence — Explanation of the Matrimonial Speeches — The Caymans, or Alligators — Instances of CONTENTS. IX Page their Ferocity— Imprudence and Death of my Shepherd- Method of Entrapping the Monster which had devoured him — We Attack and eventually Capture it — Its Dimensions — We Dissect and Examine the Contents of its Stomach — Boa-Con strictors—Their large size — Attack of a Boa- Constrictor on a Wild Boar — We Kill and Skin it — Unsuccessful Attempt to Capture a Boa-Constrictor alive — A Man Devoured — Dangerous Venomous Reptiles 201

Chapter XI

The Prosperity and Happiness of my Life at Jala-Jala — Destructiveness of the Locusts — Agriculture in the Philippines — My Herds of Oxen, Buffaloes, and Horses — My Wife presents me with a Daughter, who dies — The Admiration of the Indian Women for my Wife — Birth of my Son — Continued Prosperity — Death of my Brother Henry — My Friendship with Malvilain — His Marriage with my eldest Sister — His Premature Death — I take my Wife to Manilla — Melancholy Adieus — We Return to Jala-Jala — Death of my Wife — My friend Vidie — I determine to Return to France 228

Chapter XII

My friend Adolphe Barrot visits me at Jala-Jala — The Bamboo Cane — The Cocoa-Nut Tree — The Banana — Majestic Forests of Gigantic Trees — The Leeches — A Tropical Storm in a Forest — An Indian Bridge — "Bernard the Hermit" — We arrive at Binangonan-de- Lampon — The Ajetas — Veneration of the Ajetas for their Dead — Poison used by the Ajetas — I carry away a Skeleton — We Embark on the Pacific in an old Canoe, reach Maoban, and ultimately arrive at Jala-Jala .... CONTENTS. X Page

Chapter XIII

I Determine not again to Separate from my Son— I take him to Manilla— The Effects of the Wound I received among the Ajetas— My Recovery— Kindness of the Spanish and other Inhabitants of Manilla— Illness of my Son— I return with him to Jala-Jala— Sorrowful Remembrances — The Death of my poor B0y — His Interment — My frantic Grief and Despair — I Determine to Quit the Philippines— I am Called to Manilla by Madame Dolores Seneris — My Final Departure from Jala- Jala — I Arrive at Manilla, where I resume Practice as a Surgeon—I Embark for France— Discontent — My Travels through Europe — I Marry again— Death of my Mother and my Second Wife — Conclusion 283 Statistics of the Philippine Islands. — Mechanical and Agricultural Products — I. The Soil of the Island of Luzon, and the Sources of its Fertility — II.

Rice — III. Indigo — IV. Tobacco —V. Abaca, or Vegetable Silk— VI. Coffee— VIL Cacao — VIII. Cotton— IX. Pepper— X. Wheat— XI. Sugar Cane— XII. Bamboo— XIII. The Buffalo 305 Agricultural Implements. — I. The Indian Plough— II. Yoke for the Buffaloes— III. Lilit, or the Indian Sickle— IV. The Comb Harrow— V. Guiligen, or Hand-Mill— VI. The Mortar. 334 Appendix — I. Testimony of M. Gabriel Lafond 337 II. Testimony of H. Hamilton Lindsay, Esq. . . . 340 Account of a Visit to the Cave of San Matteo, in the neighbourhood of Manilla 342 III. Testimony of M. Dumont d'Urville 356 IV. Testimony of Admiral Laplace 362 V. Testimony of M. Mallat LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. Pag. Frontispiece, a Native Woman carried off bt a Cayman. Title Page, Portrait of the Author. Nantes 17 Saving the Life of Captain Drouant .... 22 Mouth of the Bat op Manilla 32 Spanish Metis, or Half-Breeds . . . . . 36 Chinese Metis, or Half-Breeds . . . . . 37 Spanish Metis of the Superior Class .... 47 Bridge of Manilla 50 Stag Hunting in the Marigondon Mountains . . 62 Passage-boat on the River Pasig 70 Tagal Indians pounding Rice 82 Father Miguel 86 Shooting a Buffalo 93 Horns of the Buffalo 93 TnE House at Jala-Jala 95 Herd of Wild Buffaloes ....... 98 Tagal Cock-fighting 101 Tagal Indians 103 Ilocos Indians 106 The Brain Feast 112 Guinan Indians LIST of illustrations.

XII Page Weapons of the Tinguian Indians . . • ' • • 123 Birangas Indians— Inhabitants of Boulacan . . 138 Fishing Raft 139 The House of La Planche 162 Church of Pandacan, in the Environs of Manilla . 178 Hunting Party at Jala- Jala 181 Cascade near Jala-Jala 185 View at San-Mateo l95 Portrait of Dumont d'Urville ....... 204 A Tagal Indian Dwelling 208 Young Tagal Indian and his Betrothed ... 209 Attacking a Cayman 219 Boa-Constrictor and Wild Boar 222 Attacking a Boa-Constrictor 224 Rice Stacking in the Philippines 228 The Locust 230 View on the River Pasig 239 Ajetas Indians 245 La Gironiere in Hunting Dress 247 The Cocoa-Nut 250 The Banana 251 Traversing an Indian Forest 254 Fruit of the Palm Tree 256 Inhabitants of Binangonan de Lampon .... 265 View of Manilla from the Environs .... 283 The Indian Plough 334 Yoke for the Buffaloes 335 Lilit, or the Indian Sickle 335 The Comb Harrow 335 A Guiligen, or Hand-Mill 336 The Mortar .336

Preface

. On hearing a recital of some adventures which had occurred to me during my long voyages, many of my friends have frequently begged of me to publish a narrative of them, which might perhaps be interesting. " Nothing can be more easy for you," they said, " as you have always kept a journal since your departure from France." I hesitated, however, to follow their advice, or to yield to their wishes, when I was one day surprised to see my name in one of the feuilletons of the " Constitutiomiel." M. Alexandra Dumas was publishing, under the title of " The Thousand-and- One Phantoms^' a romance, one of the principal personages of which, in a voyage to the Philippine Islands, must have known me when I was residing at Jala-Jala, in the colony that I founded there.

PREFACE.

. It must be evident that the lively romancist has ranked me in the category of his Thousand-and-One Phantoms ; but, to prove to the public that I am really in existence, I have resolved to take up the pen, under an impression, that facts of the most scrupulous veracity, and which can be attested by some hundreds of persons, might possess some interest, and be read without ennui, by those especially who are desirous of learning the customs of the savage tribes amongst whom I have resided. TWENTY YEARS IN THE PHILIPPINES

Chapter I

A Family Sketch— My Youthful Days— I Study for the Medical Profession- Obtain a Naval Surgeon's Diploma — Early Voyages — Sail for Manilla in the Cultivateur — Adventurous Habits — Cholera and Massacre at Manilla and Cavite — Captain Drouant's Rescue — Personal Dangers and Timely Escapes — How Business may make Friends of one's Enemies — An Unprincipled Captain — Tranquillity restored at Manilla — Pleasures of the Chase — The Cultivateur sails without me — First Embarrassments. TlsY father was born at Nantes, and held the rank of captain ■"■*■ in the regiment of Auvergne. The Pvevolution caused him the loss of his commission and his fortune, and left him, as sole remaining resource, a little property called La Planche. r, belonging to my mother, and situate about two leagues from Nantes, in the parish of Vertoux.

At the commencement of the Empire he wished to enter the service again; but at that period his name was an obstacle, and he failed in every attempt to obtain even the rank of lieutenant. With scarcely the means of existence, he retired to La Planche with his family. There he lived for some years, suffering the grief and the many annoyances caused by the sudden change from opulence to want, and by the impossi bility of supplying all the requirements of his numerous family. A short illness terminated his distressed existence, and his mortal remains were deposited in the cemetery of Vertoux. My mother, a pattern of courage and devotedness, remained a widow, with six children, two girls and four boys ; she continued to reside in the country, imparting to us the first elements of instruction. The free life of the fields, and the athletic exercises to which my elder brothers and I accustomed ourselves, tended to make me hardy, and rendered me capable of enduring every kind of fatigue and privation.

This country life, with its liberty, and I may well say its happiness, passed too quickly away ; and the period soon came when my education compelled me to pursue my daily studies in a school at Nantes. I had four leagues to walk, but I trudged the distance light-heartedly. and at night, when I returned home, I ever found awaiting me the kind solicitude of our dear mother, and the attentive cares of two sisters whom I tenderly loved. It was decided that I should enter the medical profession. I studied several years at the Hotel-Dieu of Nantes, and I passed my examination for naval surgeon at an age when many a young man is shut up within the four walls of a college, still prosecuting his studies. EARLY VOYAGES — SAIL FOR MANILLA. 19 It would be difficult to form any idea of my joy when I saw myself in possession of my surgeon's diploma.

Thence forward I regarded myself as an important being, about to take my place among reasonable and industrious men ; and what perhaps rendered me still more joyous was, that I could eam my own livelihood, and contribute to the comfort of my mother and my sisters. I was also seized with a strong desire to travel abroad, and make myself acquainted with foreign countries. Twenty-four hours after my nomination as surgeon I went and offered my services to a ship-owner who was about freighting a vessel to the East Indies. We were not long in arranging terms, and, at forty francs per month, I engaged myself for the voyage. Within twelve months afterwards I returned home. Who can depict the sweet emotions which, as a young man, I felt on again beholding my native land? I stayed a month on shore, surrounded by the affectionate attentions of my mother and sisters.

Despite their assiduities I was seized with ennui. I made a second and a third voyage ; then, after having rounded the Cape of Good Hope half-a-dozen times, I undertook one which separated me from my country during twenty years. On the 9th October, 1819, I embarked on board the Cul tivateur, an old half-rotten three-masted vessel, commanded by an equally old captain, who, long ashore, had given up navi gating for many years. An old captain with an old ship ! Such were the conditions in which I undertook this voyage. I ought, however, to add, that I obtained an increase of pay. We touched at Bourbon ; we ran along the entire coast of Sumatra, a part of Java, the isles of Sonde, and that of Banca; and at last, towards the end of May, eight months after our departure from Nantes, we arrived in the magnificent bay of Manilla.

The Cultivateur anchored near the little town of Cavite. I obtained leave to reside on shore, and took lodgings in Cavite, which is situate about five or six leagues from Manilla. To make up for my long inactivity on board ship, I eagerly engaged in my favourite exercises, exploring the country in all directions with my gun upon my shoulder. Taking for a guide the first Indian whom I met, I made long excursions, less occupied in shooting than in admiring the magnificent scenery. I knew a little Spanish, and soon acquired a few Tagaloc words. Whether it was for excitement's sake, or from a vague desire of braving danger, I know not, but I was particularly fond of wandering in remote places, said to be frequented by robbers. With these I occasionally fell in, but the sight of my gun kept them in check.

I may say, with truth, that at that period of my life I had so little sense of danger, that I was always ready to put myself forward when there was an enemy to fight or a peril to be encountered. I had only resided a short time at Cavite when that terrible scourge, the cholera, broke out at Manilla, in Sep tember, 1820, and quickly ravaged the whole island. Within a few days of its first appearance the epidemic spread rapidly ; the Indians succumbed by thousands ; at all hours of the day and of the night the streets were crowded with the dead-carts. Next to the fright occasioned by the epidemic, quickly suc ceeded rage and despair. The Indians said, one to another, that the strangers poisoned the rivers and the fountains, in order to destroy the native population and possess themselves of the Philippines.

On the 9th October, 1820, the anniversary of my departure FRIGHTFUL MASSACRE AT MANILLA AND CAVITE. 21 from France, a dreadful massacre commenced at Manilla and at Cavite. Poor Dibard, the captain of the Cultivateur, was one of the first victims. Almost all the French who resided at Manilla were slain, and their houses pillaged and destroyed. The carnage only ceased when there were no longer any victims. One eye-witness escaped this butchery, namely, M. Gautrin, a captain of the merchant service, who, at the moment I am writing, happens to be residing in Paris. He saved his life by his courage and his muscular strength. After seeing one of his friends mercilessly cut to pieces, he preci pitated himself into the midst of the assassins, with no other means of defence than his fists. He succeeded in fighting his way through the crowd, but shortly afterwards fell exhausted, having received three sabre-cuts upon his head, and a lance thrust in his body.

Fortunately, some soldiers happened to pass by at the time, who picked him up and carried him to a guard-house, where his wounds were quickly attended to. I myself was dodged about Cavite, but I contrived to escape, and to reach a pirogue, into which I jumped, and took refuge on board the Cultivateur. I had scarcely been there ten minutes when I was requested to attend the mate of an American vessel, who had just been stabbed on board his ship by some custom-house guards. When I had finished dressing the wound, several officers, belonging to the different French vessels lying in the bay, acquainted me that one of their brethren, Captain Drouant, of Marseilles, was still ashore, and that there might yet be time to save him. There was not a moment to lose ; night was approaching, and it was necessary to profit by the last half-hour of daylight.

I set off in a cutter, and, on nearing the land, I directed my men to keep the boat afloat, in order to prevent a surprise on the part of the Indians, but yet to hug the shore sufficiently close to land promptly, in case the captain or myself signaled them. I then quickly set about searching for Drouant. On reaching a small square, called Puerta Baga, I observed a group of three or four hundred Indians. I had a presentiment that it was in that direction I ought to prosecute my search. I approached, and beheld the unfortunate Drouant, pale as a corpse. A furious Indian was on the point of plung ing his kreese into his breast. I threw myself between the captain and the poignard, violently pushing on either side the murderer and his victim, so as to separate them. " Run!" I cried in French ; " a boat awaits you."

So great was the stupe faction of the Indians that the captain escaped unpursued. It was now time for me to get out of the dangerous situ ation in which I was involved. Four hundred Indians sur rounded me ; the only way of dealing with them was by audacity. I said in Tagaloc to the Indian who had attempted to stab the captain: "You are a scoundrel." The Indian sprang towards me ; he raised his arm : I struck him on the head with a cane which I held in my hand ; he waited iu astonishment for a moment, and then returned towards his companions to excite them. Daggers were drawn on every side ; the crowd formed a circle around me, which gradually concentrated. Mysterious influence of the white man over his coloured brother ! Of all these four hundred Indians, not one dared attack me the first ; they all wished to strike together.

Suddenly a native soldier, armed with a musket, broke through the crowd; he struck down my adversary, took away his dagger, and holding his musket by the bayonet end, he swung it round and round his head, thus enlarging the circle at first, and then dispersing a portion of my enemies. " Fly, sir !" said my liberator ; " now I.A GIRONIEIIF. SAVES THE LIFE OF CAPTAIN DROL'AXT.— Page 22. A FRIEND IN NEED — A TIMELY WARNING. that I am here, no one will touch a hair of your head." In fact the crowd divided, and left me a free passage. I was saved, without knowing by whom, or for what reason, until the native soldier called after me : "You attended my wife who was sick, and you never asked payment of me. I now settle my debt." As Captain Drouant had doubtless gone off in the cutter, it was impossible for me to return on board the Cultivateur.

I directed my steps towards my lodgings, creeping along the walls, and taking advantage of the obscurity, when, on turning the corner of a street, I fell into the midst of a band of dock yard workmen, armed with axes, and about to proceed to the at tack of the French vessels then in harbour. Here again I owed my preservation to an acquaintance, to whom I had rendered some service in the practice of my profession. A Metis, or half-breed, who had quickly pushed me into the entry of a house, and covered me with his body, said : " Stir not, Doctor Pablo !"* When the crowd had dispersed, my protector advised me to conceal myself, and, above all, net to go on board ; he then started off to rejoin his comrades. But all was not yet over. I had scarcely entered my lodgings when I heard a knocking at the door.

" Doctor Pablo," said a voice, which was not unknown to me. I opened, and I saw, as pale as death, a Chinese, who kept a tea-store on the ground-floor of the same house. " What's the matter, Yang-Po ?" " Save yourself, Doctor !" " And wherefore ?"' " Because the Indians will attack you this very night ; they have decided upon it !" • Pablo signifies Paul, my Christian name. I was always callwl tints at Manilla and at Cavite. "Is it not your apprehension on account of your shop, Yang-Po ?" " Oh, no ! do not treat this matter lightly. If you remain here you are doomed ; you have struck an Indian, and his friends cry aloud for vengeance." The fears of Yang-Po were, I saw, too well-founded ; but what could I do '? To shut my door and await was the safest plan. " Thank you," said I to the Chinese ; " thank you for your kind advice, but I shall remain here."

" Remain here, Signor Doctor ! Can you think of so doing ?" " Now, Yang-Po, a service : go and say to these Indians that I have, at their service, a brace of pistols and a double barreled gun, which I know how to use." The Chinese departed sighing deeply, from a notion that the attack upon the Doctor might end in the pillage of his wares. I barricaded my door with the furniture of the room ; I then loaded my weapons, and put out the lights. It was now eight o'clock in the evening. The least noise made me think that the moment had arrived when Providence alone could save me. I was so fatigued that, despite the anxiety natural to my position, I had frequently to struggle against an inclination to sleep. Towards eleven o'clock some one knocked at my door. I seized my pistols, and listened attentively.

At a second summons, I approached the door on tip-toe. " Who's there ?" I demanded. A voice replied to me : " We come to save you. Lose not an instant. Get out on the roof, and climb over to the other side, where we will await you, in the street of the Campanario." Then two or three persons descended the stairs rapidly. I had ESCAPE FROM THE INDIANS. 25 recognised the voice of a Metis, whose good feelings on my behalf were beyond doubt. There was now no time to be lost, for at the moment I got out of a window which served to light the staircase, and led on to the roof, the Indians had arrived hi front of the house, and in a few minutes were breaking and plundering the little I possessed. I quickly traversed the roof, and descended into the street of the Cam panario, where my new preservers awaited me.

They conducted me to their dwelling : there, a profound sleep caused me quickly to forget the dangers I had passed through. The following day my friends prepared a small pirogue to convey me on board the Cultivateur, where, apparently, I should be in greater security than on shore. I was about to embark when one of my preservers handed me a letter which he had just received. It was addressed to me, and bore the signatures of all the captains whose vessels were lying in the harbour, and it informed me that, seeing themselves exposed every moment to an attack by the Indians, they were decided to raise anchor and seek a wider offing ; but that two among them, Drouant and Perroux, had been compelled to leave on shore a portion of their possessions, and all their sails and fresh water. They entreated me to lend them my assistance, and had arranged that a skiff should be placed at my command.