She then went into the inner room, which I presumed was her bed-room, as
there were but two rooms in the cabin. As she went out, I could not
help wondering at her. On examination, I felt assured that she was more
than six feet high, and her shoulders as broad and her arms as nervous
as a man's of that stature. Her chest was very expanded, but bosom she
had none. In fact, she was a man in woman's clothing, and I began to
doubt her sex. Her features were not bad, had they been of smaller
dimensions, but her nose was too large, although it was straight; her
eyes were grand, but they were surmounted with such coarse eyebrows; her
mouth was well shaped, and her teeth were good and regular, but it was
the mouth of an ogress; her walk was commanding and firm; every action
denoted energy and muscle; and certainly, from the conversation I have
already made known, her mind was quite as masculine as her body--she was
a splendid monster. In a minute she returned, bringing me a good check
shirt and a pair of duck trousers, which I thankfully accepted.
"I've plenty more for those who please me," said she, carelessly; "when
you've put them on, come out to me, and I'll show you the plantation."
In a minute or two I joined her, and she led me round the
tobacco-fields, then to the maize or Indian corn grounds, pointing out
and explaining everything. She also showed me the cows, store pigs, and
poultry. Wishing to please her, I asked many questions, and pretended
to take an interest in all I saw. This pleased her much, and once or
twice she smiled--but such a smile! After an hour's ramble we returned,
and found the two servants very busy, one husking maize, and the other
in the shed where the tobacco was dried. I asked some questions of her
about the tobacco--how many casks or bales she made a year? She replied
that she made it in bales, and sold it by weight.
"It must be heavy carriage from here to James Town?" said I.
"Yes, indeed, if it went that way it never would arrive, I imagine,"
replied she; "but I have a sloop in the river below, which carries it
round."
"When is the time it is harvested and fit to be carried round?" inquired
I.
"It is now turning fast," said she; "all that you see hanging in the
drying sheds has been already drawn; in three or four weeks it will be
housed, and then we begin to pack: in about two months from this the
sloop will take it round."
"But is it not expensive keeping a sloop on purpose, with men to have
her in charge?" inquired I, to hear what she would say.
"The sloop lies at anchor, without a soul on board," said she. "No one
ever comes up this river. I believe Captain Smith, who made the
settlement, did so once. There is another river, about twenty miles
further down, which is occasionally frequented by buccaneers, I am
told--indeed, I know it, for my husband had more to do with them than
perhaps was good for his soul, but this little river is never visited."
"Then your servants take her round?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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