We were now under sail again, but I was the most disconsolate creature
alive for want of my man Friday, and would have been very glad to have
gone back to the island, to have taken one of the rest from thence for my
occasion, but it could not be: so we went on. We had one prisoner, as I
have said, and it was a long time before we could make him understand
anything; but in time our men taught him some English, and he began to be
a little tractable. Afterwards, we inquired what country he came from;
but could make nothing of what he said; for his speech was so odd, all
gutturals, and he spoke in the throat in such a hollow, odd manner, that
we could never form a word after him; and we were all of opinion that
they might speak that language as well if they were gagged as otherwise;
nor could we perceive that they had any occasion either for teeth,
tongue, lips, or palate, but formed their words just as a hunting-horn
forms a tune with an open throat. He told us, however, some time after,
when we had taught him to speak a little English, that they were going
with their kings to fight a great battle. When he said kings, we asked
him how many kings? He said they were five nation (we could not make him
understand the plural S), and that they all joined to go against two
nation. We asked him what made them come up to us? He said, "To makee
te great wonder look." Here it is to be observed that all those natives,
as also those of Africa when they learn English, always add two e's at
the end of the words where we use one; and they place the accent upon
them, as makee, takee, and the like; nay, I could hardly make Friday
leave it off, though at last he did.
And now I name the poor fellow once more, I must take my last leave of
him. Poor honest Friday! We buried him with all the decency and
solemnity possible, by putting him into a coffin, and throwing him into
the sea; and I caused them to fire eleven guns for him. So ended the
life of the most grateful, faithful, honest, and most affectionate
servant that ever man had.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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