But however, we failed not to send out a hundred people several ways to search for him. A party of about forty went that way he took, among whom was Tuscan, who was perfectly reconciled to Byam. They had not gone very far into the wood, but they smelt an unusual smell, as of a dead body, for stinks must be very noisome that can be distinguished among such a quantity of natural sweets as every inch of that land produces. So that they concluded they should find him dead, or somebody that was so. They passed on towards it, as loathsome as it was, and made such rustling among the leaves that lie thick on the ground by continual falling that Caesar heard he was approached; and though he had, during the space of these eight days, endeavoured to rise, but found he wanted strength, yet looking up and seeing his pursuers, he rose and reeled to a neighbouring tree, against which he fixed his back. And being within a dozen yards of those that advanced and saw him, he called out to them, and bid them approach no nearer if they would be safe, so that they stood still, and hardly believing their eyes that would persuade them that it was Caesar that spoke to them, so much was he altered. They asked him, what he had done with his wife? for they smelt a stink that almost struck them dead. He, pointing to the dead body, sighing, cried, Behold her there. They put off the flowers that covered her with their sticks, and found she was killed, and cried out, O monster! that hast murdered thy wife. Then asking him, why he did so cruel a deed, he replied, he had no leisure to answer impertinent questions. You may go back, continued he, and tell the faithless governor, he may thank fortune that I am breathing my last, and that my arm is too feeble to obey my heart in what it had designed him. But his tongue faltering and trembling, he could scarce end what he was saying. The English taking advantage of his weakness, cried, Let us take him alive by all means. He heard them; and, as if he had revived from a fainting or a dream, he cried out, No, gentlemen, you are deceived, you will find no more Caesars to be whipped, no more find a faith in me. Feeble as you think me, I have strength yet left to secure me from a second indignity. They swore all anew, and he only shook his head, and beheld them with scorn. Then they cried out, Who will venture on this single man? Will nobody? They stood all silent while Caesar replied, Fatal will be the attempt to the first adventurer, let him assure himself, and, at that word, held up his knife in a menacing posture. Look ye, ye faithless crew, said he, it is not life I seek, nor am I afraid of dying, and, at that word, cut a piece of flesh from his own throat, and threw it at them, yet still I would live if I could till I had perfected my revenge. But oh! it cannot be. I feel life gliding from my eyes and heart, and, if I make not haste, I shall fall a victim to the shameful whip. At that, he ripped up his own belly, and took his bowels and pulled them out with what strength he could, while some, on their knees imploring, besought him to hold his hand. But when they saw him tottering, they cried out, Will none venture on him? A bold English cried, Yes, if he were the Devil (taking courage when he saw him almost dead), and, swearing a horrid oath for his farewell to the world, he rushed on. Caesar with his armed hand met him so fairly, as stuck him to the heart, and he fell dead at his feet. Tuscan seeing that, cried out, I love thee, O Caesar! and therefore will not let thee die, if possible. And, running to him, took him in his arms, but, at the same time, warding a blow that Caesar made at his bosom, he received it quite through his arm, and Caesar having not the strength to pluck the knife forth, though he attempted it, Tuscan neither pulled it out himself nor suffered it to be pulled out, but came down with it sticking in his arm, and the reason he gave for it was, because the air should not get into the wound. They put their hands across, and carried Caesar between six of them, fainted as he was and they thought dead or just dying; and they brought him to Parham, and laid him on a couch, and had the chirurgeon immediately to him, who dressed his wounds and sewed up his belly, and used means to bring him to life, which they effected. We ran all to see him; and, if before we thought him so beautiful a sight, he was now so altered that his face was like a death’s head blacked over, nothing but teeth and eye-holes. For some days we suffered nobody to speak to him, but caused cordials to be poured down his throat, which sustained his life, and in six or seven days he recovered his senses. For you must know, that wounds are almost to a miracle cured in the Indies, unless wounds in the legs which rarely ever cure.

When he was well enough to speak, we talked to him, and asked him some questions about his wife, and the reasons why he killed her. And he then told us what I have related of that resolution and of his parting, and he besought us, we would let him die, and was extremely afflicted to think it was possible he might live.