第 19 节
作者:乐乐陶陶      更新:2022-06-15 11:13      字数:9321
  if he varied in the least; that; conscious that many of the Negroes would be turbulent; the Negro Babo appointed the four aged Negroes; who were caulkers; to keep what domestic order they could on the decks; that again and again he harangued the Spaniards and his companions; informing them of his intent; and of his devices; and of the invented story that this deponent was to tell; charging them lest any of them varied from that story; that these arrangements were made and matured during the interval of two or three hours; between their first sighting the ship and the arrival on board of Captain Amasa Delano; that this happened at about half…past seven in the morning; Captain Amasa Delano coming in his boat; and all gladly receiving him; that the deponent; as well as he could force himself; acting then the part of principal owner; and a free captain of the ship; told Captain Amasa Delano; when called upon; that he came from Buenos Ayres; bound to Lima; with three hundred Negroes; that off Cape Horn; and in a subsequent fever; many Negroes had died; that also; by similar casualties; all the sea officers and the greatest part of the crew had died。
  'And so the deposition goes on; circumstantially recounting the fictitious story dictated to the deponent by Babo; and through the deponent imposed upon Captain Delano; and also recounting the friendly offers of Captain Delano; with other things; but all of which is here omitted。 After the fictitious; strange story; etc。; the deposition proceeds:'
  …That the generous Captain Amasa Delano remained on board all the day; till he left the ship anchored at six o'clock in the evening; deponent speaking to him always of his pretended misfortunes; under the fore…mentioned principles; without having had it in his power to tell a single word; or give him the least hint; that he might know the truth and state of things; because the Negro Babo; performing the office of an officious servant with all the appearance of submission of the humble slave; did not leave the deponent one moment; that this was in order to observe the deponent's actions and words; for the Negro Babo understands well the Spanish; and besides; there were thereabout some others who were constantly on the watch; and likewise understood the Spanish;。。。 that upon one occasion; while deponent was standing on the deck conversing with Amasa Delano; by a secret sign the Negro Babo drew him (the deponent) aside; the act appearing as if originating with the deponent; that then; he being drawn aside; the Negro Babo proposed to him to gain from Amasa Delano full particulars about his ship; and crew; and arms; that the deponent asked 〃For what?〃 that the Negro Babo answered he might conceive; that; grieved at the prospect of what might overtake the generous Captain Amasa Delano; the deponent at first refused to ask the desired questions; and used every argument to induce the Negro Babo to give up this new design; that the Negro Babo showed the point of his dagger; that; after the information had been obtained; the Negro Babo again drew him aside; telling him that that very night he (the deponent) would be captain of two ships instead of one; for that; great part of the American's ship's crew being to be absent fishing; the six Ashantees; without any one else; would easily take it; that at this time he said other things to the same purpose; that no entreaties availed; that before Amasa Delano's coming on board; no hint had been given touching the capture of the American ship; that to prevent this project the deponent was powerless;。。。 …that in some things his memory is confused; he cannot distinctly recall every event;。。。 …that as soon as they had cast anchor at six of the clock in the evening; as has before been stated; the American captain took leave to return to his vessel; that upon a sudden impulse; which the deponent believes to have come from God and his angels; he; after the farewell had been said; followed the generous Captain Amasa Delano as far as the gunwale; where he stayed; under the pretence of taking leave; until Amasa Delano should have been seated in his boat; that on shoving off; the deponent sprang from the gunwale; into the boat; and fell into it; he knows not how; God guarding him; that…
  'Here; in the original; follows the account of what further happened at the escape; and how the 〃San Dominick〃 was retaken; and of the passage to the coast; including in the recital many expressions of 〃eternal gratitude〃 to the 〃generous Captain Amasa Delano。〃 The deposition then proceeds with recapitulatory remarks; and a partial renumeration of the Negroes; making record of their individual part in the past events; with a view to furnishing; according to command of the court; the data whereon to found the criminal sentences to be pronounced。 From this portion is the following:'
  …That he believes that all the Negroes; though not in the first place knowing to the design of revolt; when it was accomplished; approved it。。。。 That the Negro; Jose; eighteen years old; and in the personal service of Don Alexandro; was the one who communicated the information to the Negro Babo; about the state of things in the cabin; before the revolt; that this is known; because; in the preceding midnight; lie used to come from his berth; which was under his master's; in the cabin; to the deck where the ringleader and his associates were; and had secret conversations with the Negro Babo; in which he was several times seen by the mate; that; one night; the mate drove him away twice;。。。 that this same Negro Jose; was the one who; without being commanded to do so by the Negro Babo; as Lecbe and Martinqui were; stabbed his master; Don Alexandro; after he had been dragged half…lifeless to the deck;。。。 that the mulatto steward; Francesco; was of the first band of revolters; that he was; in all things; the creature and tool of the Negro Babo; that; to make his court; he; just before a repast in the cabin; proposed; to the Negro Babo; poisoning a dish for the generous Captain Amasa Delano; this is known and believed; because the Negroes have said it; but that the Negro Babo; having another design; forbade Francesco;。。。 that the Ashantee Lecbe was one of the worst of them; for that; on the day the ship was retaken; he assisted in the defence of her; with a hatchet in each hand; with one of which he wounded; in the breast; the chief mate of Amasa Delano; in the first act of boarding; this all knew; that; in sight of the deponent; Lecbe struck; with a hatchet; Don Francisco Masa when; by the Negro Babo's orders; he was carrying him to throw him overboard; alive; beside participating in the murder; before mentioned; of Don Alexandro Aranda; and others of the cabin…passengers; that; owing to the fury with which the Ashantees fought in the engagement with the boats; but this Lecbe and Yan survived; that Yan was bad as Lecbe; that Yan was the man who; by Babo's command; willingly prepared the skeleton of Don Alexandro; in a way the Negroes afterwards told the deponent; but which he; so long as reason is left him; can never divulge; that Yan and Lecbe were the two who; in a calm by night; riveted the skeleton to the bow; this also the Negroes told him; that the Negro Babo was he who traced the inscription below it; that the Negro Babo was the plotter from first to last; he ordered every murder; and was the helm and keel of the revolt; that Atufal was his lieutenant in all; but Atufal; with his own hand; committed no murder; nor did the Negro Babo;。。。 that Atufal was shot; being killed in the fight with the boats; ere boarding;。。。 that the Negresses; of age; were knowing to the revolt; and testified themselves satisfied at the death of their master; Don Alexandro; that; had the Negroes not restrained them; they would have tortured to death; instead of simply killing; the Spaniards slain by command of the Negro Babo; that the Negresses used their utmost influence to have the deponent made away with; that; in the various acts of murder; they sang songs and danced… not gaily; but solemnly; and before the engagement with the boats; as well as during the action; they sang melancholy songs to the Negroes; and that this melancholy tone was more inflaming than a different one would have been; and was so intended; that all this is believed; because the Negroes have said it。     …That of the thirty…six men of the crew… exclusive of the passengers (all of whom are now dead); which the deponent had knowledge of… six only remained alive; with four cabin…boys and ship…boys; not included with the crew;。。。。 …that the Negroes broke an arm of one of the cabin…boys and gave him strokes with hatchets。
  'Then follow various random disclosures referring to various periods of time。 The following are extracted:'
  …That during the presence of Captain Amasa Delano on board; some attempts were made by the sailors; and one by Hermenegildo Gandix; to convey hints to him of the true state of affairs; but that these attempts were ineffectual; owing to fear of incurring death; and furthermore owing to the devices which offered contradictions to the true state of affairs; as well as owing to the generosity and piety of Amasa Delano; incapable of sounding such wickedness;。。。 that