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Файл:The Crater; or, Vulcan’s Peak A Tale of the Pacific
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THE CRATER; OR, VULCAN’S PEAK: A TALE OF THE PACIFIC
tance. Glad enough was that chief to grant what was demanded of him, and he came himself, at the head of fi ve hundred
men, to aid his friend in fi nishing this task. Even this strong
body of labourers was busy two months longer, before the governor pronounced the great end accomplished. Then he dismissed his neighbours with such gifts and pay as sent away everybody contented. Many persons thought the experiment of
bringing so many savages to the Reef somewhat hazardous;
but no harm ever came of it. On the contrary, the intercourse
had a good effect, by making the two people better acquainted
with each other. The governor had a great faculty in the management of those wild beings. He not only kept them in goodhumour, but what was far more diffi cult, he made them work.
They were converted into a sort of Irish for his colony. It is
true, one civilized man could do more than three of the Kannakas, but the number of the last was so large that they accomplished a great deal during their stay.
Nor would the governor have ventured to let such dangerous neighbours into the group, had there not been still more
imposing mysteries connected with the Peak, into which they
were not initiated. Even young Ooroony wag kept in ignorance of what was to be found on that dreaded island. He saw
vessels going and coming, knew that the governor often went
there, saw strange faces appearing occasionally on the Reef,
that were understood to belong to the unknown land, and
probably to a people who were much more powerful than
those who were in direct communication with the natives.
The governor induced his Kannakas to work by interesting
them in the explosions of the blasts, merely to enjoy the plea-
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JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
sure of seeing a cart-load of rock torn from its bed. One of
these men would work at a drill all day, and then carry off
the fragments to be placed in the walls, after he had had his
sport in this operation of blasting. They seemed never to tire of
the fun, and it was greatly questioned if half as much labour
could have been got out of them at any other work, as at this.
A good deal of attention was paid to rendering the soil of
the colony garden fertile, as well as deep. In its shallowest
places it exceeded a foot in depth, and in the deepest, spots
where natural fi ssures had aided the drill, it required four or
fi ve feet of materials to form the level. These deep places were
all marked, and were reserved for the support of trees. Not only
was sand freely mixed with the mud, or muck, but sea-weed in
large quantities was laid near the surface, and fi nally covered
with the soil. In this manner was a foundation made that could
not fail to sustain a garden luxuriant in its products, aided by
the genial heat and plentiful rains of the climate. Shrubs, fl owers, grass, and ornamental trees, however, were all the governor aimed at in these public grounds; the plain of the crater
furnishing fruit and vegetables in an abundance, as yet far
exceeding the wants of the whole colony. The great danger,
indeed, that the governor most apprehended, was that the benefi cent products of the region would render his people indolent; an idle, nation becoming, almost infallibly, vicious as well
as ignorant. It was with a view to keep the colony on the advance, and to maintain a spirit of improvement that so much
attention was so early bestowed on what might otherwise be
regarded as purely intellectual pursuits which, by creating
new wants, might induce their subjects to devise the means of
supplying them.
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THE CRATER; OR, VULCAN’S PEAK: A TALE OF THE PACIFIC
The governor judged right; for tastes are commonly acquired by imitation, and when thus acquired, they take
the strongest hold of those who cultivate them. The effect
produced by the Colony Garden, or public grounds, was such
as twenty-fold to return the cost and labour bestowed on it.
The sight of such an improvement set both men and women to
work throughout the group, and not a dwelling was erected in
the town, that the drill did not open the rock, and mud and
sand form a garden. Nor did the governor himself confi ne his
horticultural improvements to the gardens mentioned. Before
he sent away his legion of fi ve hundred, several hundred blasts
were made in isolated spots on the Reef; places where the natural formation favoured such a project; and holes were formed
that would receive a boat-load of soil each. In these places trees
were set out, principally cocoa-nuts, and such other plants as
were natural to the situation, due care being taken to see that
each had suffi cient nourishment.
The result of all this industry was to produce a great
change in the state of things at the Reef. In addition to
the buildings erected, and to the gardens made and planted,
within the town itself, the whole surface of the island was
more or less altered. Verdure soon made its appearance in
places where, hitherto, nothing but naked rock had been seen,
and trees began to cast their shades over the young and delicious grasses. As for the town itself, it was certainly no great
matter; containing about twenty dwellings, and otherwise
being of very modest pretensions. Those who dwelt there
were principally such mechanics as found it convenient to
be at the centre of the settlement, some half a dozen persons
463
JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
employed about the warehouses of the merchants, a few offi cials of the government, and the families of those who depended mainly on the sea for their support. Each and all of
these heads of families had drawn their lots, both in the group
and on the Peak, though some had sold their rights the better to get a good start in their particular occupations. The merchants, however, established themselves on the Reef, as a matter of necessity, each causing a warehouse to be constructed
near the water, with tackles and all the usual conveniences
for taking in and delivering goods. Each also had his dwelling near at hand. As these persons had come well provided
for the Indian trade in particular, having large stocks of such
cheap and coarse articles as took with the natives, they were
already driving a profi table business, receiving considerable
quantities of sandal-wood in exchange for their goods.
It is worthy of being mentioned, that the governor and
council early passed a sort of navigation act, the effect of
which was to secure the carrying trade to the colony. The motive, however, was more to keep the natives within safe limits,
than to monopolize the profi ts of the seas. By the provisions of
this law, no canoe could pass from Betto’s group to either of
the islands of the colony, without express permission from
the governor. In order to carry on the trade, the parties met
on specifi ed days at Ooroony’s village, and there made their
exchanges; vessels being sent from the Reef to bring away
the sandal-wood. With a view to the fi nal transportation of
the last to a market, Saunders had been instructed to purchase
a suitable vessel, which was to return with the Rancocus,
freighted with such heavy and cheap implements as were most
464
THE CRATER; OR, VULCAN’S PEAK: A TALE OF THE PACIFIC
wanted in the colony, including cows and mares in particular.
Physical force, in the shape of domestic animals, was greatly
wanted; and it was perhaps the most costly of all the supplies
introduced into the settlements. Of horned cattle there were
already about fi ve-and-twenty head in the colony – enough to
make sure of the breed; but they were either cows, steers too
young to be yet of much use, and calves. Nothing was killed, of
course; but so much time must, pass before the increase would
give the succour wanted, that the governor went to unusual expense and trouble to make additions to the herd from abroad.
As for the horses, but three had been brought over, two of
which were mares. The last had foaled twice; and there were
four colts, all doing well, but wanting age to be useful. All
the stock of this character was kept on the Peak, in order to
secure it from invaders; and the old animals, even to the cows,
were lightly worked there, doing a vast deal that would otherwise remain undone. It was so obviously advantageous to
increase the amount of this sort of force, that Saunders had
strict orders to purchase the vessel mentioned, and to bring
over as many beasts as he could conveniently and safely
stow. With this object in view, he was directed to call in, on
the western side of Cape Horn, and to make his purchases in
South America. The horned cattle might not be so good, coming from such a quarter, but the dangers of doubling the Cape
would be avoided.
While making these general and desultory statements
touching the progress of the colony, it may be well to say
a word of Rancocus Island. The establishments necessary
there, to carry on the mills, lime and brick kilns, and the stone-
465
JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
quarry, induced the governor to erect a small work, in which
the persons employed in that out-colony might take refuge, in
the event of an invasion. This was done accordingly; and two
pieces of artillery were regularly mounted on it. Nor was
the duty of fortifying neglected elsewhere. As for the Peak, it
was not deemed necessary to do more than improve a little
upon nature; the colony being now too numerous to suppose
that it could not defend the cove against any enemy likely to
land there, should the entrance of that secret haven be detected. On the Reef, however, it was a very different matter.
That place was as accessible as the other was secure. The construction of so many stout stone edifi ces contributed largely to
the defence of the town; but the governor saw the necessity of
providing the means of commanding the approaches by water. Four distinct passages, each corresponding to a cardinal point of the compass, led from the crater out to sea. As
the south passage terminated at the bridge, it was suffi ciently
commanded by the Colony House. But all the others were
wider, more easy of approach, and less under the control of
the adjacent islands. But the Summit had points whence each
might be raked by guns properly planted, and batteries were
accordingly constructed on these points; the twelve-pounder
being used for their armaments. Each battery had two guns;
and when all was completed, it was the opinion of the governor that the post was suffi ciently well fortifi ed. In order, however, to give additional security, the crater was tabooed to all
the Kannakas; not one of whom was permitted ever to enter it,
or even to go near it.
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THE CRATER; OR, VULCAN’S PEAK: A TALE OF THE PACIFIC
But defence, and building, and making soil, did not altogether occupy the attention of the colonists during these important twelve months. Both the brothers of the governor got
married; the oldest, or the attorney-general, to the oldest sister of John Pennock, and the youngest to a sister of the Rev.
Mr. Hornblower. It was in this simple colony, as it ever has
been, and ever will be in civilized society, that, in forming
matrimonial connections, like looks for like. There was no
person, or family at the Reef which could be said to belong to
the highest social class of America, if, indeed, any one could
rank as high as a class immediately next to the highest; yet, distinctions existed which were maintained usefully, and without
a thought of doing them away. The notion that money alone
makes those divisions into castes which are everywhere to
be found, and which will probably continue to be found as
long as society itself exists, is a very vulgar and fallacious notion. It comes from the diffi culty of appreciating those tastes
and qualities which, not possessing ourselves, are so many
unknown and mysterious infl uences. In marrying Sarah Pennock, John Woolston was slightly conscious of making a little
sacrifi ce in these particulars, but she was a very pretty, modest girl, of a suitable age, and the circle to choose from, it will
be remembered, was very limited. In America that connection might not have taken place; but, at the crater, it was all
well enough, and it turned out to be a very happy union. Had
the sacrifi ce of habits and tastes been greater, this might not
have been the fact, for it is certain that our happiness depends
more on the subordinate qualities and our cherished usages,
than on principles themselves. It is diffi cult to suppose that
467
JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
any refi ned woman, for instance, can ever thoroughly overcome her disgust for a man who habitually blows his nose with
his fi ngers, or that one bred a gentleman can absolutely overlook, even in a wife, the want of the thousand and one little
lady-like habits, which render the sex perhaps more attractive
than do their personal charms.
Several other marriages took place, the scarcity of subjects making it somewhat hazardous to delay: when Hobson’s
choice is placed before one, deliberation is of no great use.
It was generally understood that the Rancocus was to bring out
very few immigrants, though permission had been granted to
Capt. Saunders to take letters to certain friends of some already settled in the colony, with the understanding that those
friends were to be received, should they determine to come.
That point, however, was soon to be decided, for just a year and
one week after the Rancocus had sailed from Betto’s group,
the news reached the Reef that the good ship was coming into
the northern roads, and preparing to anchor. The governor
immediately went on board the Anne, taking Betts with him,
and made sail for the point in question, with a view to bring
the vessel through the passage to the Reef. The governor and
Betts were the only two who, as it was believed, could carry so
large a vessel through; though later soundings showed it was
only necessary to keep clear of the points and the shores, in
order to bring in a craft of any draught of water.
When the Anne ran out into the roads, there she found
the Rancocus at anchor, sure enough. On nearing her, Capt.
Saunders appeared on her poop, and in answer to a hail, gave
the welcome answer of «all well». Those comprehensive words
468
THE CRATER; OR, VULCAN’S PEAK: A TALE OF THE PACIFIC
removed a great deal of anxiety from the mind of the governor;
absence being, in one sense, the parent of uncertainty, and uncertainty of uneasiness. Everything about the ship, however,
looked well, and to the surprise of those in the Anne, many
heads belonging to others beside the crew were to be seen
above the rail. A sail was in sight, moreover, standing in, and
this vessel Capt. Saunders stated was the brig Henlopen, purchased on government account, and loaded with stock, and
other property for the colony.
On going on board the Rancocus it was ascertained that, in
all, one hundred and eleven new immigrants had been brought
out! The circle of the affections had been set at work, and one
friend had induced another to enter into the adventure, until it was found that less than the number mentioned could
not be gotten rid of. That which could not be cured was to be
endured, and the governor’s dissatisfaction was a good deal
appeased when he learned that the new-comers were of excellent materials; beings without exception, young, healthful,
moral, and all possessed of more or less substance, in the way of
worldly goods. This accession to the colony brought its population up to rather more than fi ve hundred souls, of which
number, however, near a hundred and fi fty were children, or,
under the age of fourteen years.
Glad enough were the new-comers to land at a little settlement which had been made on the island which lay abreast of
the roads, and where, indeed, there was a very convenient
harbour, did vessels choose to use it. The roads, however, had
excellent anchorage, and were perfectly protected against
the prevailing winds of that region. Only once, indeed, since
469
JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
the place was inhabited, had the wind been known to blow
on shore at that point; and then only during a brief squall.
In general, the place was every way favourable for the arrival
and departure of shipping, the trades making a leading breeze
both in going and coming – as, indeed, they did all the way to
and from the Reef. A long-headed emigrant, of the name of
Dunks, had foreseen the probable, future, importance of this
outer harbour, and had made such an arrangement with
the council, as to obtain leave for himself and three or four of
his connections to exchange the land they had drawn, against
an equal quantity in this part of the group. The arrangement
was made, and this little, out-lying colony had now been established an entire season. As the spot was a good deal exposed to
an invasion, a stone dwelling had been erected, that was capable of accommodating the whole party, and pickets were
placed around it in such a way as to prove an ample defence
against any attempt to carry the work by assault. The governor had lent them a fi eld-piece, and it was thought the whole
disposition was favourable to the security of the colony, since
no less than eleven combatants could be mustered here to
repel invasion.
The immigrants, as usual, found everything charming,
when their feet touched terra fi rma. The crops did look well,
and the island being covered with mud, the sand had done
wonders for the vegetation. It is true that trees were wanting,
though the pickets, or palisades, being of willow, had all sprouted, and promised soon to enclose the dwelling in a grove. Some
fi fty acres had been tilled, more or less thoroughly, and timothy was already growing that was breast-high. Clover looked
470
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