CHAPTER LII.
MATTHEW LAYS OUT A SCHEME FOR STAYING FIVE YEARS IN THE WILDERNESS.
"What a plague it is, master," says Matthew presently--"what a plague itis for a man who has no learning to get a good notion in his mind. Heream I like a young blackbird who feels he has the makings of a sweet songin his head, and yet can do no more than squeak out of tune."
"Nay, then," says I, "do as the blackbird does--strive to sing, and Iwarrant the tune will come in time."
"Well, master," says he, "to begin with, do you think these Ingas, ifthey gathered together and made head against the Portugals, mightrecover themselves some little corner of their territory, where theycould live in peace like Christians, and trade with other nations?"
"The difficulty is," says I, "to get them to combine steadfastly for anylength of time, for, according to their own showing, they are dividedinto a hundred tribes, each more or less hostile to the other."
"Why," says he, "that is but the outcome of their misfortunes, for nomen are so snappish as those who suffer continual persecution. Do thinkhow ill-tempered and cross-grained a wife will be who has a tyrant for ahusband, and how buxom and cheerful she is whose spouse is kind. Thesepoor fellows are fighting for their lives. The Portugals will not tradewith them, or suffer others to trade, so that they get no comfort, andare forced to seek subsistence in the woods; then if one finds a goodcover of game he must hold it against others in order that he mayexist."
"All that is very true," says I; "but how can their case be remedied?"
"By such economy as is practiced among people who have not half theirresources. What would become of our peasants, master, if they lived onlyon what they could find in the woods? Now if these Ingas pitched upon afertile and healthy valley beyond the range of the Portugals, they mightenclose fields and breed creatures for their food; they might till theground and grow proper fruits and grain, so that they would no longerhave to go far afield for game and fight their brethren to hold it."
"And how would you have them till the ground when they have no ironplowshares?"
"As for that, master," says he, "I have seen the earth tilled with astick in Cornwall; but these might make plowshares of gold if they wereso minded."
I laughed at this notion, but bade him go on, seeing this objection wasbut a trifle.
"Well, master," says he, "I take it, they must have more comfort by thisway of living than they now can get; and other tribes, seeing theirstate, would willingly enough come to partake their contentment. Therewould still be much lacking to their estate; but by laying their planscarefully, and preparing themselves with arms and leaders, they might inthe end take some port from the Portugals, where the country about wouldgive them protection against assault, and so come about to open tradewith any nation who wished to take their commodity in exchange for whatthe Ingas need."
"Hold, Matthew," says I, "what commodity have these Ingas to disposeof?"
"Lord love you, master," says he, "they have that which no other nationever yet refused--gold! The Ingas, with their knowledge of thesemountains, can easily produce you gold by the bushel; while thePortugals, with pain, get it by the thimbleful. And look you, master,once the traders know where they can get gold cheap, they will takemeans to prevent the Portugals again closing that port. The project mayseem wild at the first glance, as many another achievement has looked inthe beginning, but is it impossible?"
"It is not impossible," says I; "but the Ingas must be taught."
"To be sure, master. And they are willing enough to learn. All they needis a leader, as appears clearly from their seeking our help against thePortugals."
"Ay," says I, "but where is this teacher to be found?"
"Not a great way off, master. In a word," says he, "you are the man whomay save thousands from destruction by the Portugals, and raise up thesepoor Ingas from misery and despair to happiness and prosperity."
This proposal did fairly take away my breath, and ere it came again forme to speak, Matthew continues: "When I tell the Ingas that you refuseto save yourself by the means they suggest, because they could not holdthe town and would suffer disaster, they must needs regard you withrespect and admiration, for the virtues they do most prize are sagacityand generosity. Thus will they be well disposed to listen to a schemefor their surer advantage, especially when they know that you will notleave them untill they are in a condition to maintain the independenceof the state you have set up."
"And how long do you reckon it will take to carry out your project,Matthew?" says I.
"Why, master, I count we may do a good deal in four or five years."
"Five years!" says I, with a gasp.
"Ay, master; but that's not half the time it would take to get down theOronoque. And what are five years when you are happily and profitablyoccupied? Will it be a great joy to you to know that you are redeemingthese poor folks?"
"Ay, to be sure," says I; "but Lady Biddy?" For she had been in my mindall this time.
"Why, master, I mistake her ladyship if she is the sort to sit down andcry for farthingales in the midst of wild woods. No, I do rather countupon her entering cheerfully into this business, and teaching the women,as you teach the men, with good result for her pains, and the blessingof every wife and mother that wears a tawny skin."
"Ay," says I, "they could not fail to be happier for her tenderness."
"No, master, nor she for having such a scope for her tenderness. There'smany a thing I might teach 'em for I have earned wages as a blacksmithand a carpenter in my time. And if lords, as I have heard, do live toget drunk, to hunt, and go gallanting, then may you live here like thebest of 'em; for," says he, dropping into his customary vein of humor,"you may have a score of sweethearts, and not a man to say you nay; huntwithout fear of trespassing on another lord's preserves; and 'twill beodd if amongst the blessings of civilization we can not make up somesort of liquor to get drunk on."
The Admirable Lady Biddy Fane Page 52
