Shipwreck of the French Frigate Medusa. 66 THE CAT O'NINE TAILS. [VOL. 4 By your Honour's command, an example I stand A whip having nine lashes, used for I am hamper'd and stript, and if I am whipt the punishment of delinquents in the army and navy, is called a cat of nine tails. A sailor on board bis Majesty's ship the Tartar, in 1747, when tied up to receive this punishment, addressed the following lines to his commander, who had an antipathy to a Cat : I must own 'tis no more than my due. Merry Tom by such trash avoided the lash, And if fate and you please, so may I. Why! your Honour's aversion is mine: He was pardoned. SHIPWRECK OF THE MEDUSA. From the London Literary Gazette, June, 1818. NARRATIVE OF A VOYAGE TO SENEGAL IN 1816, &c.; COMPRISING AN ACCOUNT OF THE THE fatal wreck of the Medusa, three survived when a vessel came to and a series of horrors almost un- their rescue. The boats soon forsook the paralleled in the history of human suf- Raft, which became the theatre of the ferings which ensued thereafter, are gen- desperation and wickedness and misery erally known through the medium of so well known to the public. Only fifthe newspapers, which at the time were teen souls remained at the end of thirfilled with the circumstances of that teen days, the rest being either swept dreadful story. We should therefore off by the sea, destroyed in contests for have abstained from our present subject, sustenance, or thrown overboard by had not this new edition brought to their stronger companions, in order to light some curious facts relative to the leave a larger supply of support for the interior of Western Africa, and the survivors. Hell itself could not display French establishment at Senegal, and furnished topics of scarcely inferior interest to those which have already attracted such universal regard. more diabolical passions than were manifested, or deeper guilt than was executed on this little floating theatre of desolation. Five died of fatigue shortly By the treaties of 1814-15, the French after arriving at Senegal. Of the boats, settlements from Cape Blanco to the two reached port in safety; the others Gambia were restored to that country, and the Medusa and three other vessels sailed to take possession of the cession in June 1816. On the 2d of July the Medusa stranded with 400 souls on attention. board. The recital of the ignorance From the long-boat 63 of the most and misconduct which led to this catas- resolute were landed with arms to the trophe, are in, the French style,but suffi- north of Cape Merick, 80 or 90 leageus ciently natural to convey an afflicting from the settlement, which they picture of the consternation which en- marched to seek along the sea-coast. sued. On the 5th, the Frigate having The crews of the great boat, the Senebroken in two, about 150 persons em- gal port boat, the smallest boat, and barked on board a raft which had been 25 men from the long-boat, debarked prepared; 35 were put on board the about half way nearer St. Louis, where barge; 42 in another boat; 28 in the they arrived on the 13th, after endurcaptain's barge; 88 in the long-boat; ing much hardship during the five days 15 in the smallest boat; and 25 in an they wandered over the barren desart. eight-oared boat, which was to be left But the adventures of two of the sixtyfor the service of the port at Senegal. three before mentioned, form the most Seventeen poor wretches were left to curious recital of this calamitous extheir fate in the wreck, of whom only pedition. They had about 90 leagues were forced by the weather to make the land, and it is the adventures of their crews which form the newer portion of this volume to which we shall turn our VOL. 4.] Shipwreck of the Medusa. 67 to traverse of the burning waste of brought to the same camp by another Zaara. Having met with some Moors, party, and in the evening they arrived they took them for guides, and the at the camp of King Zaide, who was main body, after long marches and the however absent, having gone to the cruellest privations, reached Senegal on coast to look after the wreck. the 23d. Some, however, perished for Of the customs and appearance of want; while others, having strayed this tribe-"They observed that the from the mass, were carried up the children imperiously command their country to the Moorish camp, where fathers and mothers; but especially the one officer remained a month; and two latter, who never oppose their inclinaothers, the naturalist Kummer, and a tions.-The Moors are, in every reM. Rogery, were forced to wander spect, much superior to the negroes: with the Moors for a considerable braver than they are, they reduce them period ere they could rejoin their com- to slavery, and employ them in the panions. The first horde which the hardest labour. They are in general former met was commanded by Prince tall and well made, and their faces are Fune Fahdime Muhammed, son of very handsome, and full of expression." Liralie Zaide, King of the Trazas, of whom a portrait is prefixed to the volume. The naturalist was astonished at the care bestowed on their cattle. "The horses and camels were in a separate place, and the whole flock was on the borders of a salt pond; behind them, the slaves had formed a line of fires of great extent, to drive away the mosquitoes and other insects, which torment these animals: they were all remarkably beautiful. There seemed, however to be two distinct races of Moors; one of a noble aspect, and the other smaller, with different features. "They hunt lions, tigers, leopards, and all other ferocious animals, which abound in this part of Africa. Their commerce is in furs or skins, and ostrich feathers: they manufacture the leather called basil, in French basane, which they prepare very well; they make this leather into pocket-books. "The manner of cleaning them is re- "But their chief commerce, which is markable. Upon an order of the Prince, very extensive, is in salt, which they the men, charged with this employment, carry to Tombuctoo, and to Sego, large take the strongest oxen by the horns, and very populous cities, situated in and throw them down on the sand with the interior of Africa. Sego (adds our astonishing ease; the slaves then take author) is built on both sides of the the animal, and clear its whole body river Niger, and Tombuctoo not far from the insects, which, notwithstanding from its banks, the former about 500, the fires that surround the flocks get and the latter about 600 leagues east among the hair of the cattle, which they of the island of Goree. The Marabous torment cruelly. After this first opera- (priests) who are almost all traders, fretion, they are washed with care, par- quently extend their journeys into ticularly the cows, which are then Upper Egypt." milked. These various operations generally employ the slaves, and even the masters, till eleven o'clock at night." We should have been glad if this information had been somewhat more precise, and the sources whence it was derived, particularly stated. 66 The poor traveller was stripped of every thing during his first sleep; and King Zaide was of a lofty stature, tormented while awake to give accounts had an open countenance, and three of the French revolution, intelligence large teeth in the upper jaw, on the left of which had penetrated even to the side, which projected at least two lines Desert. Children of five or six years over the under lip, which the Moors of age wrote Arabic perfectly well, and consider as a great beauty. He was in the characters of this language the armed with a large sabre, a poniard, stranger traced on the sand the history and a pair of pistols; his soldiers had he was so often required to unfold. zagayes, or lances, and little sabres in On the second day M. Rogery was the Turkish fashion. 68 African Customs-The Lunatic. [VOL. 4 "The population of St. Louis, situ- ed with the richest colours, sporting on ated on an island formed by the river its foliage, such as rollers with a skySenegal, amounts to about 10,000 souls, blue plumage, senegallis of a crimson the majority of whom are Mahometans. colour, soui-mangas shining with gold It is placed on a bank of scorching sand, and azure; if advancing under the and little cultivation is to be seen. On vault, we find flowers of dazzling whitethe Isle of Sor, to the East, cotton and ness hanging on every side; and if in indigo grow naturally, and together the centre of this retreat, an old man with mangoes and mimosas, the mag- and his family, a young mother and her nificent baobab, or adansoia, the ele- children, meet the eye: what a crowd phant of the vegetable kingdom, is found. of delicious ideas is aroused at this moThis tree often serves the negroes for a ment!-The leaves, when dried, are dwelling, the construction of which converted into the powder lalo, with costs no further trouble than cutting an which the natives season almost all their opening in the side to serve as a door, food. They employ the roots medicinand taking out the very soft pith which ally inwardly, and its gummy bark for fills the inside of the trunk. The tree, disorders in the breast, they make far from being injured by this operation, cataplasms of the parenchyma of the seems even to derive more vigour from trunk for cutaneous diseases,—they use the fire which is lighted in it for the the pulp of its fruit as an astringent purpose of drying the sap by carbon- beverage,-they regale themselves with izing it. In this state it almost always its almonds,-they smoke the calyx of happens that the bark, instead of forming its flowers instead of tobacco,-and a ridge at the edge of the wound, as often by dividing into two parts the happens with some trees in Europe, globulous capsules, and leaving the continues to grow, and at length covers long woody stalk fixed to one of the the whole inside of the tree, generally halves, which become dry and hard, without any wrinkles, and thus presents they make a large spoon or ladle." the astonishing spectacle of an immense Thus does one astonishing tree serve tree recompleted in its organization, for residence, food, drink, medicine, but having the form of an enormous household utensil, and luxuries of hollow cylinder, or rather of a vast several kinds. But we have copied arborescent wall bent into a circular enough to shew, that besides the apform, and having its sides sufficiently palling narrative of the wreck of the wide asunder to let you enter into the Medusa, and of the conduct of the space which it encloses. If casting our human serpents which issued from her, eyes on the immense dome of verdure readers will find much to gratify them which forms the summit of this rural in the perusal of the other portions,espepace, we see a swarm of birds adorn- cially in the Notes, of this publication. N EXTRACTS FROM A LAWYER'S PORT-FOLIO. [BY THE AUTHOR OF LEGENDS OF LAMPIDOSA.] THE LUNATIC. From the European Magazine. very near my journey's end, when the O part of our laws implies a more stage-coach driver admitted a stranger becoming consciousness of the fal- to fill a seat which had been vacated. lability of human judgment, than the The other three passengers were busily cautious and deliberate procedure re- engaged in a discussion on lawful and quired in ascertaining mental disease, unlawful duels, and referring occasion. and surrendering a supposed lunatic to ally to a pamphlet printed in 1632, on the custody of his kindred. A remark occasion of the Battle awarded in the able instance of this kind fell under my preceding year in the Court of Chivalry, own observation.-I was on my way to on an Appeal of Treason by Lord Rea visit an uncle resident on the remotest against Mr. Ramsay. Then followed coast of Cornwall, and believed myself an attempt to trace the Writ of Appeal VOL. 4.] The Lunatic. 69 9 and Wager of Battle from the practice strong staff, not unlike the batoon of of Turkey, and its prevalence in Eng- the champions he had been describing. land till the third year of Henry VII. Not another word was hazarded; and But our new companion, whose dress when the mail-coach stopped, I mountwas very little superior to a disbanded ed the horse provided for me with great seaman, suddenly joined the conversa- readiness, to escape from the sight of tion: "Gentlemen," he began, in a our unknown companion. I shall be stern voice," modern philosophers nev- pardoned, I believe, if I confess, that er read, therefore they are always mak during my ride through the solitary lane ing discoveries.-Did Blackstone see which led to my uncle's old manorany barbarity in this mode of satisfying house, I cast several suspicious glances justice, or did the Archbishop of Tole- at the shadows which a few shaggy elms do disdain to witness such a combat in threw over my path. The first kind the most religious court of Europe?" salutations of a hospitable relative were This extraordinary combination of au- hardly finished, when his porter came to thorities made one of the party smile, announce a stranger, who desired inthough his professional petulance was stant admission on the most urgent bu stirred by the implied comparison be siness. It was late, the manor-house tween our English oracle and an old was lonely, and situated near a coast Spanish bigot. To waive any farther noted for desperate pirates and contradisputes on the wisdom or antiquity of band adventurers. But my good old trial by single combat, he began to de- uncle, who held that office "the like of scribe the dresses worn on such occa- which," as has been merrily said, "is sions in our third Henry's days. "Sir," known to no other land," was too proud interposed our legislator in a blue jack- of his authority, and too conscious that et," the pike, dagger, long sword, and he held it with pure hands, to entertain short-sword, which you speak of, were any fears.-Yet he allowed me to acappointed only for Rea and Ramsay. company him to what he called his jusIn Henry's time, such combatants fought tice-room, where, with much surprise with weapons of small length, with and some apprehension, I saw the dark heads, bands, and feet bare; or with man. He looked at me first as if recogniebon staves or batoons, having hard zing my features, and endeavouring to sand bags fastened at the ends. And examine their import; then addressing each might have a four-cornered shield my uncle with more courtesy than his without any iron, and a frock of red rude apparel promised, he requested a cloth reaching to the elbow and knee. private audience. A glance of intelliBut the Apellant's head was ever cover- gence which we had time to exchange, ed, and the Defendant's rayed or shav- induced my old kinsman to support en thus."-As he spoke, the describer me when I professed myself his insuddenly raised his hat, and discovered dispensable clerk. After mysteriously a bead of most extraordinary character. closing the door, and advancing so It reminded us of those fine busts found near us as to make me regret that my among the ruins caused by a volcano, travelling pistols were out of my reach, scorched and bruised, but not deprived he announced, in a low and singularly of their noble symmetry and expression. solemn tone, that he came to lay a His skin was darkened as if burning capital charge against two seamen of lava had passed over it, except on the his Majesty's ship, the "Of upper part of his head, which appeared felony or murder ?" said my uncle, and to have been lately shaven, and was I prepared pen and paper to fulfil my now bordered by a fringe of the same assumed office of his clerk.--"Of comcrisp black hair which formed the thick pleting one, and conspiring to commit curl of his eye-brows, and met near bis the other," replied the informer in chin. Blackstone and Beccaria were the same low tone, with a mixed wholly forgotten while we looked on expression of fear and horror in his this formidable countenance, and ob- countenance. The Justice required. served that its possessor had also a him to relate particulars, and they seem 70 The Lunatic. [VOL. 4 ed distinctly told. He stated, that the boatswain's figure and his companion's boatswain and another person belonging dress, were singularly precise and forto an English ship of war, had convey- cible. My uncle called for supper, and ed him in their boat, after dining with seating him by his fire-side, with the their captain and his officers, to an ob- frank kindness of an old English squire, scure cove on the coast near Naples, endeavoured to fix his attention on where he had been imprisoned several other subjects. We talked of political days, and at last released, or, to speak occurrences, of the general state of Itamore properly, abandoned without mo- ly, and the victory then recent at Maida. ney, and almost without clothes, on a A slight shivering of his lips and eyedesolate spot, from whence he was con- lids indicated that this last subject veyed in a delirious fever by his valet. touched some tender nerve, and he sudThis last particular deserved enquiry. denly asked me if I had seen Calabria. How did his valet discover his master's "My nephew is an idle Templar," situation, and what induced him to said the Justice, answering for me," and visit a part of the Neapolitan coast so has more ambition to be lined with good desolate and undistinguished, in quest capon than at a cannon's mouth." Our of him? Our informer answered, that guest's imagination probably caught the man himself might be questioned some unintended reference in this alluon that subject. To my remark, that sion to Shakspeare, and he replied, with only the fact of robbery could be sub- a fierce gesture, "He is right, and I stantiated, as murder did not appear to have now no honour to be jealous of. have been designed, be replied, " Both Gentlemen, I understand the purpose were committed, but not within the let- of all this. You persuade yourselves ter of our laws." Being urged to ex- that an outrage which did not end in plain this ambiguous sentence, he re- the actual loss of my life and property, mained several minutes in a silence is not worth a public and difficult inwhich implied such deep and melancho- vestigation: you wish to soothe me ly recollection, that neither our curiosity into forgetfulness and forgiveness, and nor our suspicions emboldened us to I thank you for the attempt. You interrupt it. My honest uncle spoke know not what a blessing it would be to first." Child," he said, laying his forget, and I have sought for it in many hand on the young man's shoulder, ways, but these men haunt me still, and with a kindness which almost always I must accuse them. Remember, gencreated the confidence it expressed, tlemen, I did not say how much of my "there is something in this business life and property they spared, nor how more than you have communicated, or little."-We could make no answer to less than you imagine. If these men a speech which with all its obscure inproposed an outrage against your life, coherence, was solemn. Almost conwhy did they leave the opportunity and vinced that his visitor was insane, my the work unfinished; and if they never uncle soothed him with an assurance attempted it, why is the murderous de- that he would expedite the progress of sign imputed to them ?"-Still he made justice, and had begun to offer him a no reply, and my uncle enquired the chamber under his roof till morning, extent of the robbery he had suffered. when another stranger with three atten"Only a few pieces of gold," he dants claimed admission. They were answered," and my valet tells me they brought into the room where we still sat were restored."-We looked at each with the accuser, who started from his other with sufficient agreement in our place at their entrance, and held up the thoughts that the charge was wholly formidable batoon I have mentioned due to a disordered imagination; and once before. Sir Frederick Cornwall, hoping to detect its incoherence still as I chuse to call our new visitor, premore broadly, we required him to re- sented himself with very engaging popeat it, while I made minutes. But liteness, and entreated pardon for his he made no variation in names or dates; relative's intrusion. I accompanied bis descriptions of the secret cove, of the him into another apartment, and heard |