Part 1
The Travels of Mathew Dudgeon, Gentleman.
A True Relation of the Travels and Perilous Adventures of Mathew Dudgeon, Gentleman:
Wherein is truly set down the Manner of his Taking, the Long Time of his Slavery in Algiers, and Means of his Delivery.
_Written by Himself, and now for the first time printed._
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London: Longmans, Green, and Co. New York: 15 East 16^{th} Street. 1894.
THE STORY OF GABRIELLA DI CAPELLINI THE STORY OF PABLO FRAXADO Y RIBADENEYRA THE STORY OF YOUSEF IBN ALI. EL MELEK EN ASSAD, OR EVIL IS REWARDED BY EVIL. THE STORY OF MOHAMMED BEN KHOSROES, OR EVIL IS REWARDED BY EVIL. THE STORY OF ABOU ALI, OR GOOD DEEDS ARE REWARDED BY GOD. THE STORY OF GHERIB AND BÄIDA. THE STORY OF WOLFRAM VON RABENBACH THE STORY OF HELIODORA. THE STORY OF UMEIMEH.
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I am descended from a family of position, which has held from time immemorial a considerable estate in the neighbourhood of Portsmouth; and perhaps it was the accident of living so near to the sea that gave me a taste for seafaring life. Often have I wandered down as a child to where the old sea-dogs were sunning themselves with their pipes, and there have listened with all the strength of my little ears to their tales of the foreign countries they had seen, the wonders of the sea and land, the birds, the beasts, fishes, and monsters hardly to be described, and of their perils and adventures; some, I fear me, not strictly veracious, but none the less entertaining for all that.
Being a younger son of a younger son, I was bound to seek some profession; and it was only natural that when asked by an indulgent father what I would choose to be, I answered him that I should like to be apprenticed to the sea. Now, my father had a brother, a Turkey merchant in London, married, but childless, and to him I was accordingly sent. He lived next to his office and warehouse in a commodious mansion situated in the Barbican, and, greatly to my disgust, I was kept to my desk at his office learning the business of a merchant, in order that I might take charge of some of his ventures as supercargo when sufficiently acquainted with the business, in place of going to sea at once and witnessing the marvels I had been told of by the old tars of the Hard. Of my early apprenticeship, however, it is not my intention to discourse here, and I will merely say that I made many voyages for my uncle both to the East and the West Indies, gaining much experience, going through many perilous adventures, twice being shipwrecked, and winning the esteem and confidence of my uncle by the skill and ability I showed in the conduct of his affairs. At the age of twenty-nine, I married a wife, and settled in a house at Southwark, and soon after my uncle died leaving me a large portion of his property together with his business. After my marriage I had settled at home, but after my uncle’s death, when I became for the first time master of myself, the old longing came over me, and laying out about two thousand pounds in goods that my experience had taught me were suitable, I embarked them in the Antelope, Captain Manwaring, who was an old friend of my uncle’s, his ship then lying in the Thames bound for Smyrna, with several other merchants, and goods to great value on board. The parting with my wife was exceeding painful, as indeed it would be to any man of right feelings. My wife, poor creature, held up bravely until the last moment, though I knew that her heart was full of forebodings at the departure for so long a period of her dear husband; and the more so, since I had never yet left her; and the stories I had related to her of my previous voyages and perils had filled her soul with perhaps unnecessary alarm; but little Tom, our child, jumped and crowed in her arms, delighted at the confusion and bustle around. I kissed her, and bade her be of good cheer, but she only sobbed the louder until little Tom, struck by her sorrowful mien, paused in his merriment and gazed so wistfully in her face that she fell to kissing and hugging him, and forgot half her pain. Seizing this opportune moment, I motioned to the boatmen to cast off, at the same time swinging myself aboard the vessel, and we parted before she could look up. The wind favoured us very much, blowing fair from the north, which was of service to us, both in getting out of the river, wherein the tide also helped us, and in sailing down the channel; but I went into my cabin, and thinking of my wife, her sorrow, and the many calm delights of my dear home, fell into a troubled sleep, wherein I dreamed that Tom was grown into a big man handsome as his father, and the delight of his aged parents. Nothing worthy of recounting occurred for the first week; the wind continued fair, having gone over somewhat to the west. Ever and anon we spoke homeward-bound ships. Ah, how my heart rebelled within me and a longing seized me to return! How at such times the picture of my poor wife sitting alone with her little son would fill my thoughts, and how a wondrous melancholy seized me: all this I will not relate, it would but tire the reader, and ’tis but a common feeling to those that depart for a long time from home. We put in at Porto where some of our merchants had goods to unload, and took the opportunity to get fresh victuals and water; and then setting sail again, in a day or two we had passed the mighty Rock of Gibraltar. But here the wind, which had hitherto been favourable, was against us, and we made but slow way. It was the third day after we had passed Gibraltar that we saw a ship to windward of us, crowding all the sail she could carry. We began to misdoubt that she was an Algerian corsair, or piratical vessel, and our captain, swearing a great oath, ordered the helm to be put over, and the decks to be cleared and prepared for our defence. We had a long eight, and three four-pounders, with of course small arms; these were all loaded, and every man had his place appointed to him, while we watched anxiously betwixt hope and fear until we should be satisfied by their colours. Some imagined her to be French by the make of the ship, while others urged us to be of good cheer, for they knew her for a Dutchman from Hamborough. Our distrust, however, made us seek a Spanish port, till at last French colours came out, which we answered with our English ensign, and she fired a gun as a command to us to strike our sail. Our captain, however, who was well acquainted with such tricks of pirates, would not trust appearances, and now began an all-absorbing race, in which as we feared, the lives of some and the liberties of all were at stake. Unfortunately, it was yet early in the day, and we had no hope of darkness presently prevailing to favour our escape if they should prove to be the faster sailors. For some time, indeed, the distance between us appeared to remain about the same, but it soon became apparent, notwithstanding our great desire to the contrary, that the stranger vessel was gaining upon us. At half a league’s distance they discovered themselves to be Turks by hoisting of their bloody ensign, which they put up instead of the white, and we perceived a puff of smoke presently followed by the noise of a ball rushing over our heads. What a terrible sound was this! Many of the merchants fell to praying, and even I felt some inclination to duck my head as it came hurtling by. I observed a fellow who before had suffered from some disease in his legs and hands, much like unto the gout, which made him unserviceable all the time of the voyage, when he saw the danger he began to skip about, and handle the guns as if nothing had ever ailed him. Again came another shot which ploughed up the water close upon our starboard quarter, and yet another which cut our mainmast in two. With astounding quickness our men cut away the wreck, but, alas! we had lost all chance of escape, and about noon the pirate came up with us, saluting us as she did so with a broadside. Upon this we turned about and bore down straight upon him, greatly to his astonishment as I afterwards found, causing him to fear that we were an armed vessel and not merely the peaceful trader he had taken us for. But what was the use of arms, or of mine and the crew’s bravery? Fight we did, for above an hour, and it was furious and bloody while it lasted; some when their limbs were all bruised, their bones shattered, and their bodies torn by splinters, did obstinately continue to handle and manage the guns. Broadside after broadside they poured into us, the air was thick with smoke, and for the yells of these fiends and the roar of the cannon we could scarce hear the captain’s orders. We had drawn together, and as a puff of wind blew the smoke aside for an instant we perceived some of the enemy lashing the two vessels together. In a moment they were down upon us, springing from the shrouds, pouring over the bows, leaping and vaulting like cats. Inch by inch we disputed their way, but at last perceiving that we had no hope of escaping from them, and that our vessel was in a sinking condition, we called for quarter, which the Turks were glad to grant, for they had lost many men; and moreover, they wished to take us for slavery and ransom. One thing occurred during the fight which I did then look upon as of evil omen: at a broadside which we both fired at the same instant, one of their shot met one of ours in mid-air, and in the encounter split in two pieces, one of which flew back upon our captain and killed him. Truly it was a marvellous chance that he should thus be slain by one of his own shot!
Our vessel was in so evil a plight that the Turks quickly removed our cargo into their own; and when they saw the rich lading, they readily pardoned us the injury we had done them. Their prisoners were loaded with chains and also taken aboard their vessel, the dead and badly wounded were left on board ours, which was then sunk. In searching us for valuables, they found in my pocket a small case of instruments which I, who had some knowledge of surgery, usually carried by me; for in my former voyages I had found the necessity of this and had attended some lectures under the celebrated Dr. Harvey. Belike for this reason I was not fettered like the rest, but inasmuch as they were in want of a surgeon, I was set to heal those wounds I had been so anxious to make. We were as civilly treated by the Turks as we could expect, but they were very inquisitive to find our several conditions and what they might hope to receive from us in the matter of ransom, either from the property we had in our own country or from the kindness of friends. I gave myself out for a poor supercargo in charge of goods for my master, a tale which they, poor fools, believed; at least, for that time. In my quality of surgeon they gave me plenty to do. I myself had a nasty cut upon the side of the head, but my wound was not a serious one: the ruffian’s scimitar had glanced from my skull, which, luckily, is of good thickness; and beyond the blow, which somewhat dazed me at the time, I had merely lost blood, which in this climate is sometimes beneficial, so that despite the foul air and filthy state of the ship, I was soon in a fair way of recovery. I confess it did my heart good to see the number of Turks that had been laid low by our brave crew, besides many we had sent to their paradise if they could find it; nevertheless as surgeon I did my best for them. The Turks were mightily pleased with my address, and even he who wounded me swore, that if it were not that he hated doing a thing by halves, he was almost glad that he had not killed me. They agreed that I had a pretty talent for fighting, and some of them begged me to forswear my religion and become one of them. On the one side they put before me the glory of their profession, the riches I might get, and the honour in which I should be held; on the other, they showed me how, if I would not become a renegado, I should be held in slavery, perhaps sent to the galleys, and, since I was a poor man, I could not hope to be ransomed. All this and more I steadfastly refused: how could I forsake the religion in which I had been brought up, and which I knew to be the true one, to become a follower of their false prophet Mahomet? And, moreover, I foresaw that if I fixed myself thus in their country, I should never dare to purchase my freedom as I hoped to do, and should have more difficulty in compassing my escape.
When they saw that I was determined, they ceased to importune me any more. I was, as I have said, left unfettered, nevertheless I was not allowed to communicate with my companions, save once in the day when I was permitted to dress their wounds; and thus shut out as it were from all my kind, I had the more leisure to think over my former estate and to curse that greed of riches that would not be satisfied with what I had got, but still would crave for more, as also that insatiable love of adventure that had brought me to this present pass. In bitterness of heart I would retire to some quiet corner of the vessel and there con over the pleasant images of my past life. I would bethink me how I had first met that sweet girl that was to become my wife; how I would visit her mother, and commend her cakes and ale--hypocrite that I was!--how I would relate my various adventures with that modest spirit which is so inseparable from me, and furtively watch the flush of surprise and pleasure that mantled in her innocent cheek. Nor did I fail to note how awkwardly she would arrange the things, desiring to gain time and linger in the room; how ever and anon she would fetch her breath at some marvellous or hairbreadth escape, how her colour would come and go, her breast heave; in short, how she would discover every mark of deep and tender sympathy. Again I would bethink me of that anxious time when she began to accompany her parents, a welcome guest, to the houses of the neighbouring gentry, the centre of an admiring circle. Yet still she used to blush when I appeared, and her face would brighten; but withal, so blind was I, that in place of seeing and rejoicing in these marks of my success, I only saw the wretched cringing crowd of sparks about her, and paled with awful fear that her inexperienced heart might be carried off by one of those experienced and faithless liars. With pictures such as these I well-nigh lashed myself at times to desperation, and had serious thoughts of casting myself headlong into the sea, and so ending my miserable life.
The pirates lingered about in these waters, sometimes avoiding ships that seemed of greater strength than themselves, at others chasing those that appeared to be mere traders. Several of these they took, though none of any great value, being mostly laden with oil, wine, wood, and such-like commodities of great bulk and little use to the Turks; but they got some Christian provisions, welcome enough to me that was not used to their diet of dried bread and a small bean called lentil, or rice and poor John, and a dish they greatly favour which they call pillaw. One day, however, they had the good luck to take a rich galleon laden with silver for the King of Spain, after a hard and desperate fight in which their ship received so great hurt that the pirate captain, satisfied with what he had already got, determined forthwith to return to Algiers. We had not sailed a few hours when we encountered a Spanish man-of-war that laboured to come up to speak with us; but the pirates had no longer any stomach for fighting, and so, hoisting all the sail they could carry, they made away as fast as they could go. Seeing this, I stealthily made fast a cord to a great sail that lay bundled up at the poop, and as dusk was coming on dropped it overboard so as to drag and deaden our way, which played to some purpose; but greatly to my disappointment I observed when it grew dark that the Spaniard had lost sight of us, and saw by his lights that he was sailing away, not knowing that we had altered our course, for we showed no lights. Then finding that there was no hopes of our capture, and fearing that the sail might be seen in the water, I cut it adrift; for I knew that should I be found out, I should most certainly be slain, and perhaps tortured; though I was yet to learn how horribly they put to death those that do offend them.
The next morning we anchored in the Bay of Algiers, where some officers, of the Dey, or King of that country, came on board to take note of what prize we had gotten. Among these was a renegado, an Italian, that had amassed great wealth by his apostasy. This man was a trader in slaves, and knew well how to make his advantage: therefore taking us captives aside as though he would not be overheard by the Turks, he pretended that his conscience smote him for having abjured the Christian faith, and held out hopes to us that he would attempt to escape to his own country, and rescue with him as many slaves as he was able. To this end he begged us to tell him of our conditions, and which among us had men of substance and worth among our friends, in order that he might communicate with them and so save them and assist the poorer sort to escape, whether by ransom or otherwise. There were some sixty of us, English, Spaniards, French, Italians, and a few Greeks, mostly of the poorer sort, and some of them were caught by his deceitful words; but I began to suspect him, and privately warned my countrymen, so that we all gave ourselves out for poor men and unable to provide a ransom, as unknowing of friends of worth. Whereupon he purchased all those who had told him of their wealth, and made their lot as slaves harder than the worst Turk would do in order to urge them the more to pay their ransom. Me too he suspected, but being in doubt, he would not bid a sufficient sum for me, and I therefore was taken ashore like the rest with a chain about my neck to be sold as if I were a horse or a dog. There was a vast crowd all round the landing place; some brought there by their curiosity, others would-be buyers, and others again, the relations of those we had slain in fight, who strove to come near in order that they might wreak their vengeance upon us: and indeed, it had gone hard with us had not these wretches been driven back by our masters. Nevertheless, one among them made a slash at one of us that had chanced to slay his brother at the taking of our vessel, and sliced off a part of his cheek, which he snatched up and greedily ate, all bleeding and raw as it was, declaring that it was the sweetest morsel he had ever tasted. In this guise we were led up to the market-place, with nothing on us save a cloth about our middle, when several grave Turks examined us, as we are accustomed to examine horses in our country, and one that thought to make profit by my skill in surgery, which had been extolled to him, bought me for two hundred pieces of eight. In this way, for a time, I escaped the hard labour of my fellow captives, for in place of being put to building, carrying of burdens, or to the galleys as were they, I was sent about the town curing such as were sick, in which I had indifferent success; but that not satisfying the greed of my master, he would have me work in his garden also.