Chap. XIII
Containing what happened to the Residue of the Ship’s Company during the Author’s Absence; and the rest of their Adventures ’till their Departure from this Country.
You know, continued he, that when you went away, we were building a Bark to carry us off. At first, every Man wrought hard at it, but as fast as the Work advanc’d, the Zeal of our People slacken’d. The greatest part of the Company were afraid she was too small, besides that they began insensibly to be reconcil’d to these Southern Coasts, where scarce a Day pass’d but they made some new Discovery of Use for the Support of Life. It was five Months before the little Vessel was rigg’d. How rigg’d? said I, and pray whence had you wherewithal? The Captain, reply’d he, had been very sparing of the greatest part of his Provisions; he had still a Quantity of Bacon, Butter, Oil, Salt, Biscuit, and Candles left, besides what we were able to pick up here for the Sustenance of the Body. When, all was ready, he summon’d the Crew, and order’d all that had a mind to go with him to be in a Readiness. I don’t desire, said he, to force any Man; but for my own part, I’ll venture a Passage in the Bark, and tho’ the Voyage is dangerous, ’tis to be hop’d, that he who has preserv’d us hitherto will take care of us for time to come. Several came to a Determination on the Spot, the others knew not what to resolve on: At length, we agreed to the Number of sixteen of us, to remain together in this Country after having had a Promise from the others upon Oath to use their Interest and Intreaties with the King of Portugal to take Pity of us, and to order the first Ship that went off to the Indies, to come and fetch us away. There was great Grief, and many Tears shed at parting. They weigh’d Anchor one Morning at Break of Day, with a moderate Wind at South South West, which together with the Tide carry’d them quite out of Sight in less than two Hours. They set out so well that we envy’d their Happiness, and wish’d to be with ’em, because we could not doubt that if the same good Weather continued, they would be soon at the Cape of Good Hope. The Wind held thus in the same Quarter above two Days, but on the third about Noon it chang’d, and on the 5th and 6th we had very bad Weather, so that we were in some Pain to think how the honest Lads far’d.
Having left the Shore, we went to settle in a Valley about four small Leagues from this Place. The Country which is really very agreeable, is water’d with a Rivulet full of Fish, and abounds with Roots as big as red Beet, which are very good when well boil’d. On the South South West Side there’s a Wood of a considerable Extent, where we have Apples, Pears, Nuts, and other very pleasant Fruits in abundance; and the other Side furnishes us with as many Pease and Beans as we want. Our Captain left us all the Instruments he could spare: We had Fire-Arms, Shot, Powder, Ropes, Hatchets, Spades, Hammers, Saws, Nails, Packthread, Needles, Blades, Pots, Kettles, Caldrons, and other Utensils. With all this Baggage we went to that Place, and built two very commodious Huts, which have the true Air of Peasants Cottages, and we cover’d them so well with Rushes, that we defy the Wind or Rain to hurt them.
We liv’d there about a Year without scarce ever straggling from one another, for we saw nothing on the Right Side or Westward, but barren Hills which no Body had yet thought worth their while to ascend. Three of our Comrades resolv’d one Day to hunt there, and at the same time to see if they could make no new Discovery. It took them up about three Hours to pass the Mountain; from thence they enter’d into a very thick Wood, where they travell’d two Leagues without seeing any Way to get out of it. Whilst they were musing whether to return or go forwards, one of them said that he heard a Noise which he could not tell what to make of, but it very much resembled the Voice of a Man. This was a little surprising to the others, but they advanc’d that Way, and clapping their Ears to the Ground, they found that what he had said was true. Two of them were for going nearer to see what it was, but the other stifly oppos’d it, and affirm’d that what they heard was the Voice of Savages, who would give them no Quarter if they fell into their Hands. He had no sooner spoke, but they saw, a hundred Paces from them on the other Side of some Bushes, a great Villain cover’d with the Skin of a Beast who no doubt spy’d them, and ran probably to tell his Gang that there was a Prey at hand. This at least was what our Companions thought of it, and not judging it proper to stay for their coming, they turn’d back and scamper’d away. They had learnt by Experience the Necessity of observing the Sun or Stars in a Forest which one is not well acquainted with, and they did this to such a Nicety that they got out almost at the very same Place where they enter’d. When they came upon the Hills, they stood still to take a little Breath; for then they were out of that Danger which threaten’d them in the Wood where, tho’ perhaps it was only a Panic Fear, they imagin’d several times that they heard the Noise of Pursuers just at their Heels.
We were very sure when they came back that they had been in a Fright, for they look’d as if they had been hag-ridden, and were all over in a Muck-Sweat as if they had been dipp’d in Water, but we little thought what was the Matter. We were prodigiously alarm’d at so unexpected a Narrative, and really knew not what to do, whether to keep our old Quarters, or to abandon Bag and Baggage, and encamp on the other Side of the River. For my part, I was for fortifying our present Post. I had been in three or four Campaignes heretofore, and had learnt the Art of guarding against an Enemy, so that my Companions agreed to do as I thought fit. In the Evening we only posted Centinels to prevent a Surprize.
Next Morning at Day-Break, I mark’d out a Square about our two Huts, each Side whereof I was 35 Geometrical Paces in length, after which we broke Ground, and began with a Breast-Work 4 Foot high to shelter us from any Attacks that might be made that Way. Then we rais’d and widen’d our Works in such a manner that the Rampart was 20 Foot in the Base, and 6 in Height, besides a Parapet above that of 5 Foot. The Ditch form’d by the Earth we cast up for this Purpose was very broad and deep. In the Front opposite to the Mountain, I left a Slope of 6 Foot only, which I cover’d also with a small Half-Moon and secur’d with a Traverse. All this was finish’d in 7 Weeks. Mean time, we heard no Talk of any Enemy, and sometimes could not help rallying those who had put us into such a Ferment.
At first every Body was afraid to stir out for Provisions, and now they did it without any Scruple, but it did not hold so long. Two of our Men going out one Day at Sun-rise for Plunder; had not the good Luck to come back again; perhaps they were so imprudent as to expose themselves more than others had done, at least they had talk’d of doing so more than once. The Loss of them made us very uneasy, and we thereupon encompass’d our Fortress with Palisadoes.
While we were at this Work, we perceiv’d a Company of Men coming down the Mountain very fast, which put us into the greater Consternation, because three of our Comrades were then gone a hunting, so that we were but eleven in Number. I order’d my Men to charge their Muskets, and not to discover themselves ’till the Enemy was come to the Ditch, where they were to be saluted with at least five Discharges. When the Drolls were at hand, we saw very plain that they were Savages. They seem’d to be about threescore and ten, all lusty well-made Fellows cover’d with Skins down to their Legs, and laden with Bows and Arrows. A great many of ’em had Clubs 5 or 6 Foot long. ’Tis probable that the Knaves had spy’d us before they came in a Body, for they did not seem in the least surpriz’d at the Work we had made. Not one of our Men discover’d himself. I had planted a great Branch full of Leaves before me, thro’ which I could observe the Enemy without being seen. ’Tis probable that they thought to have surpriz’d us, because they came without making the least Noise to the Brink of the Ditch, and there they stopp’d, not knowing what Course to take to come at the Place; but I did not think proper to give them time to examine Things too closely, so that I order’d five of my Men to fire upon ’em, and to charge again with all Expedition that they might be entertain’d with a continual Fire. They perform’d their Part so well that three of the Savages fell upon the Spot.
This terrify’d them, because they knew not what to think of their Comrades sudden Fall. Indeed they saw the Fire and Smoak of our Arms, but I very much question whether they discover’d the Men that gave Fire. They must conclude it to be Lightning, or some Devil that struck them, at least we imagin’d so by the horrid Cries they all made looking towards Heaven. I said to my Comrades, Let us make an Advantage of the Terror of those Miscreants; let the other five give Fire. This Discharge with the Fire I made fetch’d down two more which increas’d their Astonishment. Then we shew’d ourselves all at once crying out like Madmen, at which time the five first gave Fire again, and kill’d two more upon the Spot. We should have dispatch’d ’em all after this manner, but they were not such Fools as to stay any longer. Seven of the strongest took each a dead Man upon his Shoulders, and fled with as much Precipitation as if they had been pursued by an Army.
The three Men of our Company that were absent, were not so far on the other Side but they heard us fire very plainly. They imagin’d there must be something more than ordinary in the matter, because they knew we would not have wasted our Gunpowder without a great Necessity. They lay hid for some time in a Thicket, with as much Game as they could carry, and in the Evening they advanc’d, and glad they were when they first saw the Centinel walking on the Breast-Work, where he was posted on Purpose to give them the Signal that there was no Danger.
Our apprehension that the Rascals would return stronger, and more resolute, made us finish our Palisadoes with all Speed; and for want of a Breastwork we fortify’d the Rampart with Fraises. Besides, it was resolv’d that some of our Men should go by Turns to the Downs to fetch two small Pieces of Cannon which our Captain left behind him. It cost a great deal of Time and Pains to draw them to our Fort. Then we provided a Quantity of little Flints, of which our Brook was full, in order to put into the Cartridges. In the mean time, we did not hear the least Word of the Enemy for 8 Months together, so, that we scarce thought any more of the Scoundrels ’till one Sunday at Noon, when the Centinel alarm’d us, just as we were at Dinner. Upon this I ran out to see what was the matter, and God knows I was not a little astonish’d to see the Mountain cover’d with a Swarm of our Enemies advancing like hungry Wolves to devour us. To speak the real Truth, the stoutest Hearts among us trembled for Fear, for we did not doubt but the Rascals came resolv’d either to conquer or die, and that they had taken all the necessary Precautions for executing their Design. They advanc’d very quietly; I was of the same Opinion as at the first time, that it was advisable for us to conceal ourselves, and not to fire ’till they came upon the Glacis, but Le Grand thought on the contrary, that the best Way would be to intimidate them before they came too near, and to make use of our Cannon, since we had them at hand. Accordingly, as soon as we saw them advanc’d within 3 or 400 Paces of our Fort, one Piece was discharg’d: Whether it did any Execution or no, we could not see, but they stopp’d short, whereupon we discharg’d the other Piece which carry’d off several of their Men, as we were told by some of our Comrades who being to the Windward, protested they saw it very plain. However, this did not terrify them, on the contrary they renew’d their March, and came on apace. They were at least 400 resolute Men, a Number far superior to ours. As soon as they were within Reach, we fir’d upon them briskly, but they were not dismay’d, and notwithstanding the Number of Men they lost, they came up even to our Palisadoes, where some stoop’d, and others leaping on their Backs threw themselves over with great Agility and terrible Fury: In the mean time our Cannon, which were charg’d with Stones, did Wonders, and yet for all this, if they had but attack’d us in several Places at a time, instead of attacking us in one only, we should have been infallibly ruin’d. Our Chevaux de Frise were also of great Service to us, because for want of proper Instruments to pluck them up, they broke but two of them. This however made a Gap which gave an Opportunity to one of the boldest of them to climb even to our Breast-work, and others were preparing to follow; but three of our Men falling desperately upon them, put them to the Sword, and made them tumble from Top to Bottom. In fine, three or four of the best Men they had, being Eye-Witnesses of this smart Rencounter gave way, upon which they all fled, and after a Fight of three Hours, quitted the Field with, much more Rapidity than they came to it.
We were overjoy’d at this Deliverance, which we had Reason to think a happy one. Next Day when we went out to see what Slaughter we had made, we found 72 dead, and 13 Wretches gasping for Life, whom we instantly dispatch’d with the But-Ends of our Musquets, and after having made a great Pit, we cast them all into it, for fear the Stench of their Carcases might infect the Air. The only wounded Man we had was one that was polled upon the Breast-work, who was shot in the Thigh with an Arrow, but was soon after cur’d.
After this Skirmish we doubled our Diligence or our Preservation; we were still in Dread of our conquer’d Enemy, because we apprehended that in time they would be wiser; but we never saw them afterwards, nor heard any thing of ’em any more than of our two Comrades, whom to be sure the Villains murder’d and devour’d.
Now you mention eating, said I, methinks ’tis time to talk of laying the Cloth. If you’ll be rul’d by me, we will dine first, and then see what we have to say to one another more. Since that time, said Normand, nothing happen’d worth your Notice. Are you all living still? I ask’d him. No verily, said he, four died two Years ago, and there’s another very ill, but perhaps the Sight of you will contribute to his Recovery; at least I am persuaded, that both he and others will be transported to see you. I beg let us go to them, we have time enough before us, else the poor Fellows will not know what’s become of us. Tho’ we were not yet recover’d of the Fatigues of the preceding Days, yet after having taken a Bit without Loss of Time, we travell’d away.
The Sun had been set a long while when we came to our Journey’s End, but the Sky was clear; and the Moon almost at Full. I could not help laughing when we came about 100 Paces from the Fort, to hear one cry, Who goes there? and to hear Normand say, A Friend. Yet this was not all; you were but two when you went, said the Centinel, but I see more. Officers! Guard! At these Words, Le Grand came out with a Gun in his Hand to take a View of us. I was very well pleas’d with this good Guard, especially at that time when I was come from a Country where they knew not what a Guard meant. Normand stepp’d before us, and discover’d who we were, at which they came upon us all at once, and had like to have smother’d us with Embraces. Here we were oblig’d to give another Narrative of our Adventures, and to hear ourselves bitterly reproach’d for not having improv’d our Fortunes.
Le Grand said, why Friends, do you seek for Treasures and Empires? What need have we of any thing but plain Food and Raiment? You were in a Place where you enjoy’d these two Advantages at once, where all Persons are upon a Level, except here and there a few to whom the others pay a small voluntary Deference on Account of their Virtues, and the Care they take to administer Justice. You were also familiar with the King, who nourish’d you with the Fat of a plentiful fruitful Country, a Land of Blessing and Peace, from whence Soldiers are banish’d as much as Hangmen, and where humane Blood is sacred and safe from the Rage and Tyranny of great Men? I pray, what would you have more? Go where you please, you will never find so much again elsewhere. But ’tis the Foible of most Men, they seldom are contented with what they enjoy, and in whatsoever State and Place they are, they always think that to be happy they must change it.
All this moralizing, reply’d La Foret, is to no Purpose, we are come away, and we will not go back again were we to want Bread elsewhere. He is in the right, said I, when Errors are committed, ’tis needless to think any more of ’em, unless it be to be a Warning to us at another Time. If ever such good Luck should happen to us again, perhaps we shall know better how to improve it.
Next Day we went to fetch the remainder of the Baggage which we had left near the River, and came hither with it, designing to live and die here with the rest of our Company.
I was mightily pleas’d to see the good Order which Le Grand kept in this Fort with Respect to Manners. The least immodest Word was forbid on Pain of public Correction. He read Prayers every Morning and Evening at which they all attended, for tho’ they were for most part Catholics, yet they liv’d together as if they had been all of one Religion. They all profess’d to love God and their Neighbour, as much as themselves; every one took his Turn to go and fetch in Provisions, to dress the Victuals, to mount the Guard, and so of the rest, while others walk’d Abroad for the Air, or employed themselves in what they pleas’d. It was an easy Matter for us to accommodate ourselves to the Maxims of this petty Republick. The sick Person I found there was cur’d, so that our Company consisted of 12 Persons.
We liv’d 27 Months together without any considerable Accident among us, but then one of our Comrades died, whose Name was Gascagnet, a Native of the Cevennes. He had been sadly afflicted with an Asthma for several Years, which had made him as lean as a Rake. When he was dead, I begg’d Leave to open him, which was readily granted. For this Operation I made use of some sorry Rasors and Scissors which my Comrades had sav’d. I found his Lungs contracted, and dry as a Spunge. The Trachian Artery or Pipe of the Lungs was hard, inflexible, and wide enough to put an Egg into it. The Liver was green, one of its Parts was gritty, and the other which seem’d perfectly ulcerated, stuck to his Kidneys. I found 4 Stones as big as Prune-Stones in the Bladder of the Gall, which was as yellow as Wax. As to the Heart, it seem’d in as good Order to outward Appearance as one could wish, but when I open’d it, I found a Hole in the Septum Medium of the Size of a Silver Penny, edg’d with a Membrane which without doubt was form’d there to hinder its closing up.
I confess that this surpriz’d me, but after a little Consideration I guess’d that the Deceased having always labour’d under a Difficulty of Breathing, and his Lungs by consequence wanting to be sufficiently cool’d, Nature was willing to provide a Remedy, as it does, tho’ by other Means, for Infants in their Mother’s Womb, and which indeed do not breathe at all, inasmuch as the Blood is circulated in them in a very different Manner from what it is when they are born. For, whereas in this Case, the Blood which is contain’d in the Veins, and push’d from the Extremities of the Body towards the Heart, which it enters thro’ the Vena Cava, discharges itself into the right Cavity from whence it passes into the Arterious Vein, afterwards into the Arteria Venosa, and from thence into the left Cavity of the Heart, from whence it is push’d to the Extremities of the Animal by the Aorta, which communicates by its Branches with those of the Vena Cava; in the other case on the contrary, the Blood which issues from the Right Cavity passes immediately from the Trunk of the Arterious Vein into the Aorta, at the same time that it also flows immediately from the Vena Cava into the Trunk of the Veinous Artery, which from thence enters and dilates it self in the Left Cavity of the Heart.
I observ’d nothing extraordinary in the Intestines. The Ureters and Kidneys were full of Gravel, so that no wonder the poor Man was always complaining, and that he died in the flower of his Age when he was but 34 Years old. We bury’d him in the Counterscarp.
’Twas scarce six Weeks after, that we had a horrid Earthquake, which was follow’d with as furious a Tempest as I ever saw in my Life. The Mountain to the West of our Fort, rent in twain from Top to Bottom, and at the same time there gush’d out a Torrent of muddy Water with extraordinary Impetuosity. By good Luck it did not come down directly upon us, otherwise our Works would have run a very great Risque. This Inundation lasted ’till next Day. All our Valley was under Water, and we were three Days without being able to get Abroad. When the bad Weather was over, and our Meadows dry, we ascended the Mountain to see part of the Damage done by it. We found that the Cleft made in the Mountain was at least 120 Foot wide below, and above 50 towards the Top. There was a Fountain near the Top of it, which after this was never more seen, and I was the first who observ’d that it was gone. This surpriz’d us all, but what astonish’d us more, was that half of the Forest which was below on the other Side, was swallow’d up, and that instead of Trees which were there before, there appear’d a very great Lake. These prodigious Events gave us Occasion to admire the Works of Providence.
Le Grand was sorry for the Loss of this Fountain, because we often went that Way to divert ourselves, and were very fond of its Water, which was wonderfully fine and clear. He could not comprehend what Relation this Fountain had with the cleaving of the Rock, and the others were even more astonish’d at it than he. Don’t you see, said I, that there could not have been such a Gap in this great Body, unless the Particles of which ’tis compos’d had met together, and that consequently the Channels thro’ which the Water pass’d that form’d the Fountain were stopp’d up, just in the same manner as the Pores of a Spunge close in Proportion as ’tis squeez’d. I am not sure whether you don’t banter, said one of ’em, one would think so by your Looks, tho’ what you say seems probable enough. No doubt I banter, said I, for there’s a Natural and Physical Reason for what you admire, which they are not ignorant of who have the least Notion of Philosophy. We know nothing of Philosophy, said Le Grand, but if you think we are capable of understanding you, it will be a Pleasure to us to philosophize with us concerning our Fountain. I will, said I, with all my Heart, because we have nothing else to do now, provided you won’t think me a Pedant.
The Globe we inhabit, said I, is compos’d of an infinite Number of various Particles, the chief of which are Terrestrial and Aqueous. This compound Body turns in 24 Hours round its proper Center. What, said Le Grand, does the Earth turn round? Yes, yes, reply’d La Foret, I heard him explain this PhÅnomenon before so clearly, that there’s no room to doubt of it. Let him explain it ever so clearly, said Le Grand, I will never believe any thing contrary to my Senses and the Holy Scriptures, in which there are a great many plain Passages that positively contradict what you advance. That your Senses often deceive you is very easy to prove, continued I, and as to the Scriptures, ’tis certain that the Design of the Holy Ghost was never to make us Mathematicians and Philosophers, or else he would have taken care to explain those Passages of Genesis concerning the Creation, which puzzle a great many People, and which a Priest of the Country where La Foret and I have been, observ’d that he had heard talk of. Nor would he have fail’d to have told us the true Proportion of the Circumference of a Circle to its Diameter, when he treats of the Sea of Copper which Solomon caus’d to be plac’d in his stately Temple, and which is pretended according to the Vulgar Opinion to be from 30 to 10, or from 21 to 7, whereas it is as from 22 to 7, or at least there does not want much of it, as is demonstrable from the Mathematics. God, in order to render himself intelligible, condescends to talk with us in our own Jargon, and accommodates himself to our Phrase; for when he speaks after his own Manner, ’tis impossible for us to understand him, and what he says is mysterious beyond our Penetration. Now all this is easy to be comprehended, and is liable to no Objection.
Granting therefore that the Earth turns, the Parts of it which are in greatest Agitation must be those which are farthest from its Centre, as is easy to prove from several curious Experiments. This being so, the Water which besides the Motion of the whole Body wherewith it is carry’d, has a particular one that renders it liquid, must by consequence lead the Van. Then comes the Air which is another Liquid compos’d of Parts much more subtle, and more agitated than those of the Water, which also makes it go before it, and form a sort of Down round the terrestrial Globe, which composes our Atmosphere, and extends about 2 Leagues distance round the Surface of the Earth; and ’tis in this Atmosphere, by the Way, in which are form’d Rain, Snow, Lightning, Thunder, and all the Meteors in general.
Hold, said Le Grand, according to your Philosophy the Bodies that have the least Motion must be the nearest to the Center of our Globe: Now the Aqueous Parts move faster than the Terrestrial, therefore the Water must consequently cover the whole Surface of the Earth, and we should have a perpetual Flood, which is not the Case.
The Objection is good, said I, and ’tis certainly true, that if God by his Almighty Power should level the Mountains, and lay all the Hills in general even with the Valleys, there would be no Appearance of dry Land. ’Tis an Argument which perhaps might very well be made use of also to favour the Notion of the universal Deluge, were it not that the Scripture speaks of Mountains before and after. But you ought to consider that Nature cannot always have its free Course, by reason of Obstacles which hinder it. The Water of a River ought according to the Laws which are prescrib’d it, to follow the Course of its Channel, yet it often happens that an impetuous Wind stops it, and drives it back even to its Source. The Mountains and Rocks form’d by Providence are Barriers which the Ocean cannot go over, just as Liquor which is in a Vessel cannot surpass the Brims, but bring the Brims lower, as I said just now of Mountains, and you will see it quickly run over.
I return therefore to my Subject, and say that there being no Vacuum in the World; No Vacuum in the World! said Le Grand, interrupting me. Alas! I submit, said I. No, reply’d he, I am in the wrong to interrupt you so often: Go on, I beg; you did well to check me, for I am sensible I should have talk’d idly; from this time I won’t speak a Word more. The Moment, continued I, that any Particles of Air or Fire more subtile and agitated than others rise, an equivalent Portion of others must necessarily descend at the same time to supply their Place. Now you must know that most Mountains are hollow towards the Bottom as you see this is now ’tis open, and for as much as the Earth is porous, and full of Crevices and Channels, it happens that the Sea forces into those Passages, and fills those hollow Mountains to the same height as the Ocean.
I understand you, said Le Grand, you need say no more, you mean that the Sea being as high as the highest Mountains, which all the World acknowledges, and is easy to perceive when one is upon the Coast, the Air which presses the Water upon the Ocean, forces it to pass thro’ the low Conduits of the Earth, and to rise to the Top of the Rocks, from whence it runs out by Streams, which form the Fountains or Springs, just as the Liquor which is pour’d into a Vessel where there’s a Pipe or an Arm, rises in that Arm to the same Height as it is in the Vessel, and there runs out of it if there be the least Hole. This is reasoning exactly like a Philosopher, said I, your Conclusion is very good, ’tis pity that your Principles are bad. For ’tis not true, that the Sea is so high as the Shore, if it were, we should soon be drown’d; so that ’tis a vulgar Error, the Reason of which is very well known to those who have only learnt the first Elements of Opticks. But the Case is thus.
When the Water comes to the Foot of those hollow Mountains, ’tis heated by the Sun-Beams, and rises in Vapours to the Roofs, which when collected like the Water of a boiling Pot against the Lid, form Drops, and those Drops, Streams which run out at the first Out-let they meet with, and form what we call Springs, as several Springs form a Brook, and several Brooks a River, which carries back to the Sea the Water that came from it, and by consequence only circulates it like the Blood in the Veins of a living Animal.
There! said La Foret, what d’ye say to that? yet this is nothing. The Explanation as clear as it is, depends on the Knowlege of other Things which I have heard him relate elsewhere, and which you must needs be acquainted with in order to understand the Matter throughly. Be that as it will, reply’d Le Grand, I think all this is very good, and I wish that our Doctor would entertain us in the same Manner on the Formation of Meteors, which must needs be a most diverting Subject. I had rather, said I, give you some Notion of the Mathematics, of which I have learnt something. ’Tis a Science which perhaps may be of Service to you if ever we go from hence, at least it will help to pass away the Time. They all consented to my Proposal with Joy, only Le Grand, who was fond of the Sciences, shook his Head. You have put in a Clause for Natural Philosophy, said he, which is not displeasing to me at all; I dearly love to treat of the Works of Nature, nevertheless we must not require too much at the Hands of our Matters: Be so good only before we conclude this agreeable Conversation, to tell us what your Opinion is with regard to the Deluge; for in the Manner you talk’d just now, I fancy you are of the Vulgar Opinion: Tell us freely whether you think it was Universal or Partial.
As Salvation is not at all concern’d in the Question, said I, which way soever it be determin’d, I came without any Scruple into the Opinion of one of the Regents of my College, who publickly declared, that it was impossible for all the Water in the World to cover the whole Earth to such a Height as the Scripture seems to mention. But is not God Omnipotent, said Le Grand, and besides, is it not said that the Flood-Gates of Heaven were open’d? Undoubtedly, said I, but the Divines don’t pretend to make this a Miracle; if they did, I should not have one Word to say. I don’t deny but he who created the Universe can create new Bodies of Water when he will, but I affirm that if he made new Waters for that Purpose, he afterwards annihilated them. And as for the Flood-Gates of Heaven, ’tis a poetical and metaphorical Expression us’d by the Author to dignify his Subject.
How comes it to pass, said another, that as there is a Region of Fire, there might not as well be a Region of Water, which Providence might make use of upon Occasion, as an inexhaustible Magazine, either to moisten the Earth in a Time of Drought, or to lay certain Countries under Water? That, reply’d Le Grand, is a meer Trifle. The first is a Fiction of the ancient Philosophers: The second a Chimæra of Children, which nevertheless I have heard urg’d by Persons of Sense. For in short, where should a watery Region be plac’d? If above the Firmament, it would have no Correspondence with the Earth; if under, ’tis impossible we should see the Fix’d Stars, because the least Mist deprives us of the Light of the Sun. But without going so much out of the way for a Remedy, let it only be consider’d, that when it has rain’d 8 or 10 Days together in any one Place, there is a Flood; now, suppose it only to rain every where with the same Violence for forty Days together, and then the Thing does not seem to me to be attended with so much Difficulty.
You don’t consider, said I to him, when there is a great deal of Rain in one Place, there’s too great a Drought in another, and that what the Sun exhales in one Part the Clouds carry to another. If it were to rain every where with so much Violence, the whole Ocean as it were must first of all be exhal’d in Vapours, in which Case all that fell would but barely suffice to fill the low Places from whence the Water was drawn to form the Clouds, so that it would require a great many more to cover the whole Globe to the Height of 15 Cubits above the Alpes and the Peak of Teneriff; Mountains that are perhaps two Leagues high; which you plainly see is impossible.
Mean time, another Difficulty occurs with respect to the Size of the Ark. My Master, who taught me Mathematics, had the Curiosity to take the Dimensions of this great Vessel, and to calculate the Contents of it; then he examin’d Pliny, and consulted all the Books of Voyages in order to make out an exact List of all the various Animals that we have any Knowlege of at this Time. Finally, he computed how much Provision would be necessary for a Year’s Subsistence of all those Creatures, and 8 Persons; but when he had collected all this together, he found the Bulk to be so great, that the Vessel could not be big enough by far to contain it, not to mention the Animals which we never heard of, and which are undoubtedly very numerous.
But, said Le Grand, have we a right Notion of the Measures mention’d by Moses? Yes, said I, the Cubit we read of in the Scripture was a Foot and half long, and that you may not think we talk at random, you must know that the Ancients perceiving that Men are not alike tall and stout, and that consequently their Limbs must be in Proportion very different from one another, agreed, instead of making use of their Elbows for their common Measures in Traffic, to take four Barley-Corns laid flat one by another for the Measure of a Finger’s Breadth, four of which made a Hand’s Breadth, or three Inches, and twelve Inches or sixteen Fingers Breadths a Foot: One and half of these Feet made a Cubit, and five Feet the Geometrical Pace, whereas the ordinary Pace is but two Foot and half. The Rod was twelve Foot. The Furlong consisted of a hundred and twenty five Foot, and the Italian Mile of eight Furlongs, from whence you perceive that the first Measures that were invented by Mankind, came afterwards to the Greeks, Romans, and several other Nations. This being so, ’tis natural to conclude that the Deluge related by Moses was not universal with regard to the Earth, but only with regard to Man, The World was then in its Infancy, and its Inhabitants had not had Time enough to multiply and spread. God said that Part of it which was inhabited under Water, it was not necessary for him to drown all the other Parts, accordingly it was enough for Noah to preserve only the Species of Cattle which were in those Countries, in which case the Ark was sufficient to hold more, and consequently all the other Difficulties vanish. For as to the Expression of the whole World, ’tis very common for the Sacred Writers to make use of it to signify a Part of it; witness the Passage where ’tis said with respect to Joseph and Mary, that all the World should be enroll’d, which every Body knows cannot be understood of more than those Countries which were under the Government of the Roman Emperor.
Upon this all my Companions retir’d with Resolution to dive as far as possible into the Mathematics, and to improve by my Lectures. Accordingly we began next Day with Euclid’s Elements. Tho’ that Author had not gone thro’ my Hands in several Years, I had taken so much Care to revolve the principal Contents of his six first Books often in my Mind that I seldom hesitated in the Demonstrations I made from him. From thence we proceeded to Geometry in which indeed I was not so expert, besides that in order to go through a regular Course of it, we wanted Books and Instruments, which there was no Appearance of recovering where we were; and in fine we concluded with Fortification. I should have been glad also to have taught them a little of Algebra, but Le Grand was the only Person that seem’d inclinable to apply to it, which indeed was but now and then, and he was quite discourag’d from proceeding, as soon as we came to the Cubic Equations.
We spent several Years in these fine Sciences, insomuch that there were no smooth sandy Places but what were full of Geometrical Figures, especially in the Downs and upon the Shore, to which we often went for the Air. We were there one Day when the Rolling-in of the Tide gave us an Occasion to discourse of the Flux and Reflux of the Ocean, during which we were extremely surpriz’d to see to the West as far as our Eye-sight could reach, a Body which we had not discover’d before. We were at first divided in our Opinions what it should be; some thought that as the Water was low, it was the Point of some Rock, others would have it to be a little Cloud. Normand affirm’d he had seen the same Thing before, and the rest asserted ’twas a Ship. To be certain of the matter I fix’d two Arrows in the Ground, which form’d a right Line with this Body, and placing myself behind them, I observ’d immediately that it mov’d, and that consequently it could not be a Rock. We then were very attentive to observe whether the Figure of it did not change as Clouds do commonly, which spread, increase, or vanish by degrees; but not perceiving any Alteration for half an Hour, only that it was a little bigger if any thing, we concluded that it must absolutely be a Ship, which was sent by Providence to deliver us from our tedious Solitude.
The Wind blew a little fresh, and as it was not yet Noon, we had Hopes of its coming up with us before Night, since it coasted along the Shore. La Foret, who was more afraid than any of us that so rare and unexpected a Conveniency should escape us, was of Opinion that four of us should go aboard our Long-Boat, which we had carefully laid up near twelve Years ago in the Hut that we built at our Arrival, and had not made use of since, and venture out with nothing but our Oars in order to meet the Ship, for fear she should put off from the Coast before they who navigated her knew we were here, and that consequently we should never have such another Opportunity if we neglected this. His Opinion was approv’d of, the Boat was tackled out, and La Foret with three others went aboard her. Tho’ they had but two Oars, they tugg’d so hard that in a very little time we lost Sight of ’em. Mean time the great Ship drew near, and we began to distinguish the Sails when we observ’d the Sun approach the Horizon. We had at least a League and half to travel to the first Lodge that we had made between our Fort and the Sea, and the Moon rose late. These Considerations made us think of retiring to it, which we did, and found there some Remains of Provision that we had brought thither in the Morning, which were a very seasonable Relief to us.
Tho’ we were fatigued, it was impossible for us to close our Eyes, and there was not one Man of us but was mortally uneasy. In the Morning before Day we return’d the directest Way we could find towards the Shore. At our Arrival we were overjoy’d to see the great Ship lying at Anchor a little lower about a League at Sea, and two Long-Boats at the same time coming Ashore, so that we advanc’d to meet them at Landing. The Captain of the Vessel not knowing who they were that came aboard him detain’d two of ’em, and made use of their Comrades as Guides to eight Men whom he sent off in the Ship-Boat to know who we were. Immediately we were order’d to go and fetch our Baggage, and to return with it as soon as possible, because the Ground there not being very fit for Anchorage, if the least foul Weather had happen’d it would have been dangerous. Six of the Ship’s Crew went along with us. When we came to our Fort, we took what we thought the best of every thing, and left the rest for the Savages, if ever they thought fit to return. Notwithstanding all our Haste ’twas Night before we came to the Ship. La Foret had already inform’d the Captain of the Nature of the Country which we were going to leave, or rather had taken care to give him as disadvantageous a Character of it as he could; so that having no great mind to see it, he immediately set sail, and gave us Cause to thank God for delivering us from that miserable Place, where 18 Years ago we had the Misfortune to be cast Ashore.