-
Articles/Ads
Article TRAVELS BY A FREEMASON. Page 1 of 5 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Travels By A Freemason.
TEAVELS BX A EEEEMASON .
CHAPTER III . —BRAZIL . ( Continued from page 289 . )
.. To qualify myself for intercourse with the natives of Brazil did not occupy any length of time . Mr . Darkle ' s negroes were apt instructors , and I a quick learner . Many of the negroes in Rio Janeiro are
entirely , or half , free ; that is , they have either earned enough money to purchase their freedom , or they hire it from their masters at so much a day , working on their own account , as porters or rowers , and paying their owners a stipulated sum out of their earnings . They thus enjoy as much liberty as if they were freemen , and are exempted from much of the ill-usage that falls to the lot of plantation workers .
Before I had been long in Bio an important event took place that produced great effect on my after life , owing to my enrolment in that glorious Brotherhood of which I am a member . Passing down the harbour in Mr . Darkle's boat , to board a merchant ship that lay by the outer forts , and to bring her captain , who was a free negro , to a consultation with my master , I found the wind was blowing fitfully from the Bio side of the bay , dashing down furiously through gullies
in the mountains , but leaving all the water that was under the lee of projecting land almost undisturbed . A large felucca , with lateen sails , was gliding slowly on the same course as our boat , and almost abreast of us . She was steering towards Fort Villegagnon , the largest one at the mouth of the harbour , which occupies part of an island , the rest of which affords standing-room for two or three houses . This fort is the place where slaves are taken for punishment .
Suddenly , a negro sprang up from the stern sheets of this felucca , and stretching his hands towards us , with an air of piteous entreaty , sobbing and moaning , poured forth words rendered inarticulate by his woe ; above all , to my surprise , he appealed to us by a sign whose power I instantly recognised , as also did one of the negroes in my boat . " Pull alongside , pull alongside , and rescue him , " I cried ; " they are taking him to be flogged !"
Our swift boat flew towards the felucca with inconceivable speed . Then a white man sprang up in the felucca , and hurled the negro who had summoned us to the bottom of the boat . He shook his hand at us , armed with some paper , —probably a warrant for the punishment , —in a menacing manner , as if to dare us to come alongside .
" Mind your own business , Senor Ingleze ! " shouted he . " Do you dare to interfere with our law and customs ? Cursed officious spawn ! If your negroes don't cease rowing this instant they shall be all flogged to death !" Disregarding his execrations we dashed steadily towards the felucca . At this moment the two boats came abreast of a gully ,- —a squall sweeping down , caught the wails of the chase , and away it
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Travels By A Freemason.
TEAVELS BX A EEEEMASON .
CHAPTER III . —BRAZIL . ( Continued from page 289 . )
.. To qualify myself for intercourse with the natives of Brazil did not occupy any length of time . Mr . Darkle ' s negroes were apt instructors , and I a quick learner . Many of the negroes in Rio Janeiro are
entirely , or half , free ; that is , they have either earned enough money to purchase their freedom , or they hire it from their masters at so much a day , working on their own account , as porters or rowers , and paying their owners a stipulated sum out of their earnings . They thus enjoy as much liberty as if they were freemen , and are exempted from much of the ill-usage that falls to the lot of plantation workers .
Before I had been long in Bio an important event took place that produced great effect on my after life , owing to my enrolment in that glorious Brotherhood of which I am a member . Passing down the harbour in Mr . Darkle's boat , to board a merchant ship that lay by the outer forts , and to bring her captain , who was a free negro , to a consultation with my master , I found the wind was blowing fitfully from the Bio side of the bay , dashing down furiously through gullies
in the mountains , but leaving all the water that was under the lee of projecting land almost undisturbed . A large felucca , with lateen sails , was gliding slowly on the same course as our boat , and almost abreast of us . She was steering towards Fort Villegagnon , the largest one at the mouth of the harbour , which occupies part of an island , the rest of which affords standing-room for two or three houses . This fort is the place where slaves are taken for punishment .
Suddenly , a negro sprang up from the stern sheets of this felucca , and stretching his hands towards us , with an air of piteous entreaty , sobbing and moaning , poured forth words rendered inarticulate by his woe ; above all , to my surprise , he appealed to us by a sign whose power I instantly recognised , as also did one of the negroes in my boat . " Pull alongside , pull alongside , and rescue him , " I cried ; " they are taking him to be flogged !"
Our swift boat flew towards the felucca with inconceivable speed . Then a white man sprang up in the felucca , and hurled the negro who had summoned us to the bottom of the boat . He shook his hand at us , armed with some paper , —probably a warrant for the punishment , —in a menacing manner , as if to dare us to come alongside .
" Mind your own business , Senor Ingleze ! " shouted he . " Do you dare to interfere with our law and customs ? Cursed officious spawn ! If your negroes don't cease rowing this instant they shall be all flogged to death !" Disregarding his execrations we dashed steadily towards the felucca . At this moment the two boats came abreast of a gully ,- —a squall sweeping down , caught the wails of the chase , and away it