The Project Gutenberg EBook of In New Granada, by W.H.G. KingstonThis eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and withalmost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away orre-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License includedwith this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.orgTitle: In New Granada Heroes and PatriotsAuthor: W.H.G. KingstonRelease Date: May 9, 2007 [EBook #21401]Language: EnglishCharacter set encoding: ISO-8859-1*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK IN NEW GRANADA ***Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England
W.H.G. Kingston"In New Granada"
Chapter One.
Introductory—My father’s historyEnters the navy as a surgeonLearnsSpanishAppointed to the “Zebra,” in the PacificTakes Dicky Duff underhis chargeA shooting expedition on shoreCaptured by Spaniards oncoast of Guatemala with Dicky and Paul LoroCarried to PanamaMeets anold friend, who takes him to GuayaquilVisit Loja to inspect PeruvianbarkMeets Dr CazallaAccompanies him to PopayanHe marries MissCazalla, who becomes my mother; and Richard Duffield marries her niece, an
In New Granada, by W.H.G. KingstonW.H.G. Kingston1
heiressThey both settle at Popayan.
The circumstances which led my father, Dr Andrew Sinclair, to settle in New Granadathe land of mybirthare of so romantic a character, that I cannot better preface an account of my own adventures in thatcountry than by narrating them.My grandfather, Duncan Sinclair, after whom I was named, was a member of an old Covenanter family inDumfriesshire, and was the parent of six sons,all of whom, with the exception of the eldest, who inheritedthe estate, had to seek their fortune in the world. My father was his fourth son. Having gone through a medicalcourse at the University of Edinburgh, where he gained not only a knowledge of his profession, but of sciencegenerally, he entered the Royal Navy as an assistant-surgeon, and was ultimately promoted to the rank of surgeon. Among his many other talents, he possessed that of acquiring foreign languages, and he spokeFrench and Spanish remarkably well; though at the time he learned the latterfrom a wounded Spanishprisoner, whose life was saved by his skillhe little thought how useful it would prove to him. After visitingmany parts of the world, adding greatly to his store of information, he was appointed to the
Zebra
sloop-of-war of eighteen guns, which soon after sailed for the Pacific.Among the youngsters on board was a midshipman named Richard Duffield,generally known, however, asDicky Duff. He was the orphan son of an old messmate, who had been killed in action. The brave lieutenantslast thoughts, as he lay mortally wounded in the cockpit, the guns still thundering overhead, were about hisson.The boys mother is dead, and when I am gone hell not have a friend in the world. Doctor, will you look after him? I know you will!Dont let any doubt about that trouble you. Ill act a fathers part towards your boy as well as I amable,” was the answer.My father faithfully fulfilled his promise; and when the boy was old enough, he got him placed on thequarter-deck, and generally managed to take him to sea with himself. Richard Duffield was grateful for thekindness shown him, and became much attached to his protector, with whom he had many tastes in common.My father, whenever he had an opportunity, was in the habit of going on shore with his gun, to obtainspecimens of the birds and beasts of the country; while he also frequently brought off a bag of game for thebenefit of the commander and his own messmates. On such occasions he was generally accompanied byDicky Duff, who had become as good a sportsman as himself.On one occasion, when the
Zebra
was off the coast of Guatemala in Central America, my father, havingobtained a boat from the commander, left the ship, taking with him Dicky Duff, and their constant attendant,Paul Lobo, an African seaman, and a crew of six men. No inhabitants appearing, the boat was hauled up onthe beach, and the crew amused themselves at leap-frog and other games, while my father and his twoattendants proceeded some way inland. Having had very good sport, and filled their bags, my father sent back the midshipman and Paul to the boat with the game, while he continued shooting, hoping to obtain some morebirds.He had been thus employed for some time, and was thinking of returning, when the sound of several shotsreached his ears. These were followed by a regular volley, and he had too much reason to fear that theinhabitants had attacked the boat. Instead, therefore, of returning to her, he made his way directly towards theshore. Emerging from the forest, which reached almost to the water’s edge, he saw the boat at somedistance off, with a party of men on the beach firing at her. His hope was that Dicky and Paul had already goton board before the boat shoved off. The distance was considerable, but still he hoped to be able to swim toIn New Granada, by W.H.G. KingstonIntroductory—My father’s historyEnters the navy as a surgeonLearnsSpanishAppointed to the “Zebra,” in the 2
her; so, leaving his gun and ammunition, with the game he had shot, under a tree, he plunged into the water.He had got some distance from the shore when he found that he was discovered, by seeing a shot strike thewater not far from him. On looking round, what was his dismay to perceive Dicky and Paul in the hands of theSpaniards! He could not desert them, and consequently he at once turned and swam back, hoping that byexplaining their object in visiting the shore he might obtain their release. But no sooner did he land than theSpaniards rushed down and seized him. In vain he expostulated. “He and his companions belonged to aship of war, and they wished to be able to boast that they had made three prisoners.” They told him,however, that if he would make signals to the boat to return, they would give him and his youngercompanions their liberty. On his refusing to act so treacherously, they became very angry, and bound hishands behind him, as well as those of Dicky and Paul. The seamen at once pulled back to the ship, when thecaptain sent a flag of truce on shore to try and recover his surgeon and midshipman; but the Spaniards refusedto give them up.After being kept prisoners for some time, they were sent down to Panama. Here, though strictly guarded, theywere not ill-treated; and when it became known that my father was a surgeon, many persons, of all ranks,applied to him for advice. He was thus the means of effecting several cures, by which he obtained numerousfriends. Indeed, he might here have established a good practice, and have comfortably supported himself andhis companions; but he was anxious, for Dicky’s sake especially, to return with him to the ship. Therewas no place, however, nearer than Cartagena, at which it was customary to exchange prisoners; and how toget to it, was the difficulty.He had been kept a prisoner for some months, when, passing through the streets, he met his old acquaintance,Don Tomaso Serrano, from whom, while Don Tomaso was a prisoner on board his ship, he had learnedSpanish. They immediately recognised each other, and expressed their pleasure at meeting. Don Tomaso, onhearing what had befallen my father, told him that he was in command of a man-of-war schooner, and wasabout to proceed in her to the southward. “Although I cannot obtain your liberty,” he said,“I have sufficient influence to get leave for you and your companions to come on board my vessel andproceed with me as far as Guayaquil. I have friends there, whom I hope to interest in your favour; and by theirinfluence you will, I hope, be able to obtain permission to land and travel across the country to Honda, fromwhence you can make your way down the river to Cartagena. It is a round-about route, but it may prove theshortest in the end. You will have an opportunity, too, of seeing a beautiful region; and you cannot fail, I amsure, to be hospitably treated wherever you go.”My father at once closed with Don Tomaso’s offer, and was allowed to go on board the schooner,accompanied by Dicky and Paul. Having obtained a considerable sum of money, he was able to dress both of them, as well as himself, in Spanish costume, so that they did not attract attention; and as both he and Paulspoke Spanish perfectly, they were generally taken for natives. Though still prisoners, the party were treatedwith the greatest kindness, and enjoyed as much liberty as they could desire.Heavy weather coming on, the schooner ran into the port of Buenaventura. Beyond the bay, opening into it, isa lagoon of considerable extent. On one side is the town, a great part of which is built on piles at thewater’s edge. The place has but little to recommend it; indeed, there are scarcely a dozen houses of anysize, while the rest of the buildings have a miserable appearance both without and within. Above the townstands the church,—a building of no architectural pretensions, and greatly resembling a barn.Buenaventura is the port of a considerable district, embracing the valley of the Cauca. The climate, however,owing to the constant damp and heat, which produce intermittent fevers, prevents foreigners from residinghere; indeed, it rains nearly every day in the year.Most of my father’s time on shore was occupied inIn New Granada, by W.H.G. KingstonIntroductory—My father’s historyEnters the navy as a surgeonLearnsSpanishAppointed to the “Zebra,” in the 3
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