DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70300#0069
ISLE OF PINES.
5S
and their eggs, and a beast about the size of a goat, and
almost such like creature, which brought two young ones at
a time, and that twice a year, of which the low lands and
woods were very full, being a very harmless creature and
tame, so that we could easily take and kill them: fish, also,
especially shell-fish (which we could best come by) we had
great store of, so that in effect as to food, we wanted nothing;
and thus, and by such like helps, we continued six months,
without any disturbance or want.
Idleness, and fulness of every thing, and nothing to do,
I began to think of increasing our family; therefore, agreeing
amongst ourselves, we soon found our wishes realised—the
first year produced us one boy and three girls, and when out
of their mother’s arms, they were laid down on the moss to
sleep, and no further care taken of them. And having now
no thought,of ever returning home, as we had resolved and
sworn, one to the other, never to part, or leave one another,
or the place ; and in the course of time, having by my
several wives, forty-seven children, boys and girls, but most
girls, and growing up apace. My negro had twelve children,
my master’s daughter had fifteen children, as she was most
fond of me and I of her ; my tallest wife had thirteen chil-
dren, and the second, seven children, in all forty-seven.
Thus we lived for twenty-two years, as happy as at first; then
my negro died suddenly, but I could not perceive any thing
that ailed her. Most of my children being grown up, and
as fast as we married them, I sent them and placed them over
the river by themselves, because we would not pester one
another.
“ Thus having lived to the sixtieth year 6f my age, and
the fortieth of my coming thither, at which time I sent for
all of them to bring their children, and there were in number
descended from me by these four women, of my children,
grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, five hundred and
sixty-five of both sorts, I took off the males of one family,
and married them to the females of another, not letting any
5S
and their eggs, and a beast about the size of a goat, and
almost such like creature, which brought two young ones at
a time, and that twice a year, of which the low lands and
woods were very full, being a very harmless creature and
tame, so that we could easily take and kill them: fish, also,
especially shell-fish (which we could best come by) we had
great store of, so that in effect as to food, we wanted nothing;
and thus, and by such like helps, we continued six months,
without any disturbance or want.
Idleness, and fulness of every thing, and nothing to do,
I began to think of increasing our family; therefore, agreeing
amongst ourselves, we soon found our wishes realised—the
first year produced us one boy and three girls, and when out
of their mother’s arms, they were laid down on the moss to
sleep, and no further care taken of them. And having now
no thought,of ever returning home, as we had resolved and
sworn, one to the other, never to part, or leave one another,
or the place ; and in the course of time, having by my
several wives, forty-seven children, boys and girls, but most
girls, and growing up apace. My negro had twelve children,
my master’s daughter had fifteen children, as she was most
fond of me and I of her ; my tallest wife had thirteen chil-
dren, and the second, seven children, in all forty-seven.
Thus we lived for twenty-two years, as happy as at first; then
my negro died suddenly, but I could not perceive any thing
that ailed her. Most of my children being grown up, and
as fast as we married them, I sent them and placed them over
the river by themselves, because we would not pester one
another.
“ Thus having lived to the sixtieth year 6f my age, and
the fortieth of my coming thither, at which time I sent for
all of them to bring their children, and there were in number
descended from me by these four women, of my children,
grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, five hundred and
sixty-five of both sorts, I took off the males of one family,
and married them to the females of another, not letting any