benito cereno-第16章

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ro　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　Luys　Galgo；　a　sailor　about　sixty　years　of　age；　and　formerly　of　the　king's　navy；　was　one　of　those　who　sought　to　convey　tokens　to　Captain　Amasa　Delano；　but　his　intent；　though　undiscovered；　being　suspected；　he　was；　on　a　pretence；　made　to　retire　out　of　sight；　and　at　last　into　the　hold；　and　there　was　made　away　with。　This　the　Negroes　have　since　said；。。。　that　one　of　the　ship…boys　feeling；　from　Captain　Amasa　Delano's　presence；　some　hopes　of　release；　and　not　having　enough　prudence；　dropped　some　chance…word　respecting　his　expectations；　which　being　overheard　and　understood　by　a　slave…boy　with　whom　he　was　eating　at　the　time；　the　latter　struck　him　on　the　head　with　a　knife；　inflicting　a　bad　wound；　but　of　which　the　boy　is　now　healing；　that　likewise；　not　long　before　the　ship　was　brought　to　anchor；　one　of　the　seamen；　steering　at　the　time；　endangered　himself　by　letting　the　blacks　remark　a　certain　unconscious　hopeful　expression　in　his　countenance；　arising　from　some　cause　similar　to　the　above；　but　this　sailor；　by　his　heedful　after　conduct；　escaped；。。。　that　these　statements　are　made　to　show　the　court　that　from　the　beginning　to　the　end　of　the　revolt；　it　was　impossible　for　the　deponent　and　his　men　to　act　otherwise　than　they　did；。。。　…that　the　third　clerk；　Hermenegildo　Gandix；　who　before　had　been　forced　to　live　among　the　seamen；　wearing　a　seaman's　habit；　and　in　all　respects　appearing　to　be　one　for　the　time；　he；　Gandix；　was　killed　by　a　musket…ball　fired　through　a　mistake　from　the　American　boats　before　boarding；　having　in　his　fright　ran　up　the　mizzen…rigging；　calling　to　the　boats…　〃don't　board；〃　lest　upon　their　boarding　the　Negroes　should　kill　him；　that　this　inducing　the　Americans　to　believe　he　some　way　favoured　the　cause　of　the　Negroes；　they　fired　two　balls　at　him；　so　that　he　fell　wounded　from　the　rigging；　and　was　drowned　in　the　sea；。。。　…that　the　young　Don　Joaquin；　Marques　de　Aramboalaza；　like　Hermenegildo　Gandix；　the　third　clerk；　was　degraded　to　the　office　and　appearance　of　a　common　seaman；　that　upon　one　occasion；　when　Don　Joaquin　shrank；　the　Negro　Babo　commanded　the　Ashantee　Lecbe　to　take　tar　and　heat　it；　and　pour　it　upon　Don　Joaquin's　hands；。。。　…that　Don　Joaquin　was　killed　owing　to　another　mistake　of　the　Americans；　but　one　impossible　to　be　avoided；　as　upon　the　approach　of　the　boats；　Don　Joaquin；　with　a　hatchet　tied　edge　out　and　upright　to　his　hand；　was　made　by　the　Negroes　to　appear　on　the　bulwarks；　whereupon；　seen　with　arms　in　his　hands　and　in　a　questionable　attitude；　he　was　shot　for　a　renegade　seaman；。。。　…that　on　the　person　of　Don　Joaquin　was　found　secreted　a　jewel；　which；　by　papers　that　were　discovered；　proved　to　have　been　meant　for　the　shrine　of　our　Lady　of　Mercy　in　Lima；　a　votive　offering；　beforehand　prepared　and　guarded；　to　attest　his　gratitude；　when　he　should　have　landed　in　Peru；　his　last　destination；　for　the　safe　conclusion　of　his　entire　voyage　from　Spain；。。。　…that　the　jewel；　with　the　other　effects　of　the　late　Don　Joaquin；　is　in　the　custody　of　the　brethren　of　the　Hospital　de　Sacerdotes；　awaiting　the　decision　of　the　honourable　court；。。。　…that；　owing　to　the　condition　of　the　deponent；　as　well　as　the　haste　in　which　the　boats　departed　for　the　attack；　the　Americans　were　not　forewarned　that　there　were；　among　the　apparent　crew；　a　passenger　and　one　of　the　clerks　disguised　by　the　Negro　Babo；。。。　…that；　beside　the　Negroes　killed　in　the　action；　some　were　killed　after　the　capture　and　re…anchoring　at　night；　when　shackled　to　the　ring…bolts　on　deck；　that　these　deaths　were　committed　by　the　sailors；　ere　they　could　be　prevented。　That　so　soon　as　informed　of　it；　Captain　Amasa　Delano　used　all　his　authority；　and；　in　particular　with　his　own　hand；　struck　down　Martinez　Gola；　who；　having　found　a　razor　in　the　pocket　of　an　old　jacket　of　his；　which　one　of　the　shackled　Negroes　had　on；　was　aiming　it　at　the　Negro's　throat；　that　the　noble　Captain　Amasa　Delano　also　wrenched　from　the　hand　of　Bartholomew　Barlo；　a　dagger　secreted　at　the　time　of　the　massacre　of　the　whites；　with　which　he　was　in　the　act　of　stabbing　a　shackled　Negro；　who；　the　same　day；　with　another　Negro；　had　thrown　him　down　and　jumped　upon　him；。。。　that；　for　all　the　events；　befalling　through　so　long　a　time；　during　which　the　ship　was　in　the　hands　of　the　Negro　Babo；　he　cannot　here　give　account；　but　that；　what　he　has　said　is　the　most　substantial　of　what　occurs　to　him　at　present；　and　is　the　truth　under　the　oath　which　he　has　taken；　which　declaration　he　affirmed　and　ratified；　after　hearing　it　read　to　him。　　　　　He　said　that　he　is　twenty…nine　years　of　age；　and　broken　in　body　and　mind；　that　when　finally　dismissed　by　the　court；　he　shall　not　return　home　to　Chili；　but　betake　himself　to　the　monastery　on　Mount　Agonia　without；　and　signed　with　his　honour；　and　crossed　himself；　and；　for　the　time；　departed　as　he　came；　in　his　litter；　with　the　monk　Infelez；　to　the　Hospital　de　Sacerdotes。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　BENITO　CERENO。　　　　　DOCTOR　ROZAS。

　　　　If　the　deposition　of　Benito　Cereno　has　served　as　the　key　to　fit　into　the　lock　of　the　complications　which　preceded　it；　then；　as　a　vault　whose　door　has　been　flung　back；　the