if there has been any such fusion in Madagascar, we may suppose the dark element to have been Papuan rather than African, and Mr. Dahle admits, what the Rev. R. S. Codrington has recently pointed out,* that there is a Melanesian element in Malagasy. Mr. Codrington goes so far as to say that "a very limited view of Malagasy grammar, obtained by one who is familiar with a Melanesian tongue, shows so many points of resemblance that a list of words common to Malagasy and a Melanesian tongue comes to have a secondary value." Mr. Codrington sees so great a likeness, physically as well as in language, between the people of Madagascar and Fiji, for example, that they might be taken as branches of one common ancient stock, who have gone off east and west from the original seat of the race. He thinks, however, the most reasonable supposition is "that the substratum of all the races and languages is that ancient one; but that as generations have come on, and islands have been peopled by successive movements or accidents, the later immigrants have been more mixed with the foreign element which is most conspicuous in the Malays." This opiniont agrees, on the whole, with the conclusions I have myself arrived at as to the Malagasy; but in addition I see in the Hova the result of a still later introduction of a light element, probably Arab, which is not wanting among the Papuans, although its influence with them is not so observable. C. STANILAND WAKE. THE OLDEST INHABITANT OF THE REGENT'S PARK GARDENS. THE oldest inhabitant in the zoological collection in the Regent's Park has died. This interesting individual was a specimen of the black parrot (Coracopsis nigra, L.) from Madagascar. It was presented to the Society by the late Mr. Charles Telfair, a corresponding member, so far back as July, 1830, just two years after the gardens were opened. This bird has therefore lived for fifty-four years in the gardens. How old the parrot was when it arrived we cannot learn beyond the fact that it was represented as an "adult bird." The ancient parrot seemed until very recently to have carried his half-century of years lightly enough, nevertheless, his keeper remarked that he was a little dull of late, although he fed well. One morning, however, the parrot was found dead in his cage, having previously shown no symptoms of illhealth.-Land and Water. * ANNUAL; 1882, p. 26. In a more recent Memoir "On the Languages of Melanesia," Mr. Codrington says: "One who is acquainted with one or two Melanesian languages finds himself at home with the vocabularies and grammars of all the Ocean languages, Melanesian, Polynesian, Indonesian, Malagasy.”—Journal of Anthrop. Inst. Aug. 1884; p. 39. ROBERT DRURY'S "MADAGASCAR:" IS IT A FICTION? "MADAGASCAR: ADAGASCAR: or, Robert Drury's Journal, during Fifteen Years' Captivity on that Island, was first published on the 24th May, 1729, and is," says Mr. William Lee, “in many respects, one of the most interesting accounts that appeared between the date of Robinson Crusoe and the death of Defoe." Madagascar was a centre around which much of our author's genius in fictitious writing turns; and although surrounded by savage human beings, the isolation of the English boy Drury is perfect. Many parts of the book, on religion, and the origin of government, are avowedly the work of an editor; and there are occasional turns of humour resembling Defoe, but the language rarely does so. It is certain that there was a Robert Drury,-that he had been a captive as stated,-that he wrote a large account of his adventures,- that he was seen, questioned, and could give any information required,-after the publication of this book. In the latter part of his life Defoe had many imitators; I think one of them very ably edited Drury's manuscript. Possibly Defoe may have read it and inserted some sentences, but as I am in doubt even of that, I cannot place the book in the list of his works.”—Daniel Defoe; His Life and hitherto unknown Writings; by William Lee; vol. i. p. 448. It is regarding the authenticity of this narrative, rather than the authorship or editing of the work, that I would here make a few remarks, in the hope of eliciting from more qualified persons further light upon the subject. Having lately been occupied in drawing up a Bibliography of works relating to Madagascar, I was naturally attracted by the prominent position which Drury's Journal has hitherto occupied as a standard authority on that island. Ellis, Barbié du Bocage, Macé Descartes, Sibree, Mullens and others, have all taken for Gospel truth the statements as to the manners and customs of the tribes inhabiting the south and west coasts of Madagascar which are to be found in the curious relation of Robert Drury. I have not seen a copy of the first edition, but a copy of the second is now before me, belonging to the London Library. The title of this is : "Madagascar: or Robert Drury's Journal, during Fifteen Years' Captivity on that Island. Containing I. His Voyage to the East Indies, and short Stay there. II. An Account of the Shipwreck of the Degrave on the Island of MADAGASCAR; the Murder of Captain Younge and his Ship's Company, except Admiral BEMBO'S son, and some few Others, who escaped the Hands of the barbarous Natives. III. His being taken into Captivity, hard Usage, Marriage, and Variety of Fortune. IV. His Travels through the Island, and Description of it; as to its Situation, Product, Manufactures, Commodities, &c. V. The Nature of the People, their Customs, Wars, Religion, and Policy: As also, The Conferences between the Author and some of their Chiefs, concerning the Christians and Their Religion. VI. His Redemption from thence by Captain MACKETT, Commander of the Prince of Wales, in the East India Company's Service. His Arrival to England, and Second Voyage thither. VII. A Vocabulary of the Madagascar Language. The Whole is a Faithful Narrative of Matters of Fact, interspersed with a Variety of surprising Incidents, and illustrated with a Sheet Map of Madagascar, and Cuts. Written by Himself; digested into Order, and now published at the Request of his Friends. The Second Edition. LONDON: Printed, and Sold by J. Brotherton, in Cornhill; T. Worrall at the Judge's Head in Fleet street; and J. Jackson near St. James' Gate, Pall-Mall. MDCCXXXI. Price bound Six Shillings." Now nine years previously, in 1720, Defoe had written The Life, Adventures and Pyracies of the famous Captain Singleton; and in 1719 had appeared, by the same author, The King of the Pirates; Being an Account of the famous Enterprizes of Captain Avery, the Mock King of Madagascar. With his Rambles and Piracies; wherein all the Sham accounts formerly published of him are detected. In two Letters from himself; one during his Stay at Madagascar, and one since his Escape from thence. All these works, like Robinson Crusoe, were written as autobiographies, and amongst the publishers for whom they were printed, there always appears the name of "J. Brotherton in Cornhill."* It may be remarked that the scene of a portion of In the first edition of Drury's Journal now before me, and dated 1729, Brotherton's name does not appear, but those of W. Meadows, J. Marshall, and J. Worrall are given. It is also said that the book is to be had of "the Author, at Old Tom's Coffee-house in Birchin Lane." By the way, the 'certificate' by Wm. Mackett is dated May 7, 1728. but the date on the title-page is MDCCXXIX.-ED. (J.S.) Capt. Singleton's adventures is laid also in Madagascar. According to Mr. Lee, "Defoe must have felt that, in writing a preface, his task was needless, as a recommendation. His brief and simple address is therefore intended to aid the little artifice that he had merely edited Crusoe's own narrative" (p. 292). To add to such an artifice (supposing Robert Drury's Journal to be fictitious), the editor, whoever he may be, inserts a 'certificate' before his preface, as follows:-"This is to certify, That Robert Drury, Fifteen Years a Slave in Madagascar, now living in London, was redeem'd from thence and brought into England, his Native Country, by Myself. I esteem him an honest, industrious Man, of good Reputation, and do firmly believe that the Account he gives of his Strange and Surprising Adventures is Genuine and Authentick. May 7, 1728.WM. MACKETT." Let us compare the two prefaces, viz. that of Crusoe with that of Drury : "IF ever the Story of any private Man's Adventures in the World were worth making Publick, and were acceptable when Publish'd, the Editor of this Account thinks this will be so. The Wonders of this Man's Life exceed all that (he thinks) is to be found extant; the Life of one Man being scarce capable of a greater Variety. The Story is told with so much Modesty, with Seriousness, and with a religious Application of Events to the Uses to which wise Men always apply them, (viz.), to the Instruction of others by this Example, and to justify and honour the Wisdom of Providence in all the variety of our Circumstances, let them happen how they will. The Editor believes the thing to be a just History of Fact; neither is there any appearance of Fiction in it; and however thinks, because all such things are dispatch'd that the Improvement of it, as well to the Diversion as to the Instruction of the Reader, will be the same, and as such, he thinks, without further Compliment to the World, he does them a great Service in the Publication." DRURY. "AT the first Appearance of this Treatise, I make no Doubt of its being taken for such another Romance as Robinson Cruso; but whoever expects to find here the fine Inventions of a prolifick Brain will be deceiv'd; for so far as every Body concern'd in the Publication knows, it is nothing else but a plain, honest Narrative of Matter of Fact. The Original was wrote by Robert Drury, which consisting of eight Quires in Folio, each of near an hundred Pages, it was necessary to contract it, and put it in a more agreeable Method: But he constantly attended the Transcriber, and also the Printer, so that the utmost Care has been taken to be well inform'd of every dubious, strange, and intricate Circumstance. And as to the large Proportion of Credit which we give him, it will be found not to arise from an implicit Faith, for every Thing he might think proper relate; but from the strong Proof the Matters related receive by concurring Testimony, and the Nature of the Thing." to Cruso. Among the ministers educated at Newington Green, where Defoe was educated, Mr. Lee mentions a Mr. Timothy Cruso. + The italics in these places are Capt. Oliver's, and are not in the first edition.-ED. (J.S.) CRUSOE (2nd Volume). "THE Success the former Part of this Work has met with in the World, has yet been no other than is acknowledged to be due to the Surprizing Variety of the Subject, and to the agreeable Manner of the Performance. All the Endeavours of curious People to reproach it with being a Romance, to search it for Errors in Geography, Inconsistency in the Relation, and Contradictions in the Fact, have proved abortive, and as impotent as malicious. The just Application of every Incident, the religious and useful Inferences drawn from every Part, are so many Testimonies to the good Design of making it publick; and must legitimate all the Part that may be call'd Invention or Parable in the Story. The Second Part, if the Editor's opinion may pass, is (contrary to the Usage of Second Parts.) every Way as entertaining as the First, contains as strange and surprizing Incidents, and as great a Variety of them; nor is the Application less serious, or suitable; and doubtless will, to the sober, as well as ingenious Reader, be every way as profitable and diverting; and this makes the abridging this Work as scandalous, as it is knavish and ridiculous, seeing while to shorten the Book, that they may seem reduce the Value, they strip it of all those Reflections, as well religious as moral, which are not only the greatest Beauties of the Work, but are calculated for the infinite Advantage of the Reader. By this they leave the Work naked of its brightest Ornaments; and if they would, at the same Time pretend, that the Author has supply'd the Story out of his Invention, they take from it the Improvement, which alone recommends that Invention to wise and good Men." to DRURY. "The Account here given of the Religion of these People, may be thought by some to be invented by the Transcriber to serve an End, or Inclination of his own; but so far is this from being the Case, that the most to-be-suspected Part of the Account of this Religion is Fact, as related by Drury; . . . and were more strongly confirm'd with Additions of the same Nature, on strictly examining and interrogating the Author; whose Character and Circumstances are also to be consider'd, as that he was but 14 Years of Age when he embark'd on this unfortunate Voyage, his being educated at a Grammar-School and in the Religion of the Establish'd Church; that ever since he came home he has firmly adher'd to the same, even to Bigotry; so that it wou'd be a Weakness to imagine he was able or willing to invent_any such Thing, which might favour Freethinking, or Natural Religion, in Opposition to Reveal'd; since they were Matters he scarce ever troubl'd himself to enquire after. And in all those Places where Religion is touch'd on, or the Original of Government, the Transcriber is only answerable for putting some Reflections in the Author's Mouth, which as it is the only Artifice here us'd, he makes no Scruple to own, and confess that he cou'd not pass such remarkable and agreeable Topicks without making proper Applications, and taking useful Instructions" from them; yet the Love of these Subjects has not induc'd the Transcriber to alter any Facts, or add any Fiction of his own; Mr. Drury must answer for every Occurrence, the Character of every Person, his Conversation or Business with them." In both prefaces we find the religious "Reflections" and "Applications" recommended for the "Instruction" of the reader; and the "Thing" in both instances is insisted upon as a just * Here again, the italics are not in the original edition.—ED. (J.S.) |