THE MURDEROUS PROWESSES
« The murderous prowesses » (Translated from my original French version : “LES PROUESSES MEUTRIÈRES.”)
(a) This poem is on the subject of runaway slaves who were relentlessly hunted like beasts in Mauritian forests. Sometimes a pack of dogs would be set loose upon the slaves, who, in spite of their prowess, were thus mercilessly savaged before being killed or captured.
(b) On this subject, reference may be made in particular to the following articles by J. L. Chan Low :
[1] “Récit de marrons. Adoucissements des peines ?” “5-PLUS DIMANCHE” newspaper, Mauritius, 28 April, 1996, (page 19).
[2] “Récit de marrons. Les détachements.” “5-PLUS DIMANCHE” newspaper, 5 May, 1996, (page 19).
[3] “Récit de marrons. Les Mutins de la Liberté.” “5-PLUS DIMANCHE” newspaper, 7 July, 1996, (page 19).
(c) Also see :
[1] “Récits de marrons. Répression du marronage : Le code légal,” in “5-PLUS DIMANCHE” newspaper, Mauritius, of 21 April, 1996, (page 19). (This article by J. L. Chan Low makes reference, among others, to : Abbé Alexandre Gui Pingré : “JOURNAL DE VOYAGE” [1761]).
[2] “Amédée Nagapen explore le marronnage.” “Le MAURICIEN” newspaper, Mauritius, 22 May, 1999, (page 7).
[3] Nitt Chitamun :“The rape of the soul.” Supplement of “L’EXPRESS” newspaper, Mauritius, 7 July, 2000, (page V)
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THE MURDEROUS PROWESSES
1s stanza
Runaway slaves would hide in the wood. Slave owners would launch hunting parties, together with dogs, to hunt down the runaways
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Far away, in the heart of a thick wood having hidden,
The poor runaway slave finally had gone to earth;
From far off rise the howls : terrible barks :
God ! How, then, would end these horrible fights !
2nd
What a life ! What a life in these places !
What an unbearable terror in these days !
Gnaw\'d at by hunger, shear\'d by fright,
The runaway only sees terror everywhere.
3rd
The runaway would run from place to place to avoid capture.
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From wood to wood, from mountain to mountain,
From clearing to clearing, from plain to plain,
Everywhere a pitiless manhunt be unleash\'d :
The whole perfidious land was erect’d as a jail.
4th
The Africans were captured from their villages and brought to Mauritius to work in cane fields.
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How far away be Mama Africa :
Oh, would one see her again one day ?
Hither, everywhere, at every corner,
Doth confront us a tragic end.
5th
Murderers : slave owners. They hunted the runaways in the forests.
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The murderers now organise themselves as a militia
So as to perpetuate here their cruel ordeals;
What pitiless cruelty in this sanguinary race !
What an insatiable folly, a rapacious obsession !
6th
The poor runaway had, fleeing these forlorn huts,
Only claim’d his most elementary and sacred right;
But, a ferocious \"punishment\" comes from these bases :
What a splendid example will make this savage fiend !
7th
For a bloody hand, for an exquisite cadaver,
One pays well in ringing coins;
Very few will resist these juicy temptations :
Great manhunts will they run in the thick forest.
8th
Barks : hunting parties came along with dogs. The cornered runaway would hide as well as he could. Bloody end : he would be wounded or killed in the capture.
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Hark ! The howls, the barks, get nearer,
To reach the poor, trembling runaway,
Barricad\'d here, in his last stronghold :
God, what a bloody end in view !
9th
Dogs were unleashed to pin down the runaway. Hunters : the slave owners.
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Unleash\'d, the fat, plump dogs jump !
With their tongues hanging, their mouths half-open,
From the right, the left, everywhere, they spring up !
The \"hunters\" have made their big discovery.
10th
The criminals : the slave owners. Hide : they hide so that the runaway does not see them. They release the dogs to pin down the runaway.
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Like their dogs, the \"hunters\" too salivate.....
To the \"hunters,\" too, these feelings occur.....
Out of breath, but smiling, the criminals hide :
Their last hounds triumphantly they unleash.
11th
A struggle starts between the dogs and the cornered runaway. The latter might have an axe with which to fight off the dogs.
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What a horrendous scene ! What a final combat !
How desperately the poor runaway fights back !
Cover\'d with sweat, shining from perspiration,
His axe he seizes, and refuses all capitulation.
12th
A good half a dozen of dogs, of ferocious beasts,
Muscular hounds, plump, with terribly point\'d teeth,
Now converge here, at the climax of these manhunts :
In the neighbouring village, they await the great feasts.
13th
Whereas to the runaway was denied the least supper,
The dogs, for their part, feast on a sumptuous dinner;
They nourish, fatten the voracious beasts
To maul even the head of the runaway.
14th
Hidden hunter : the slave owner.
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Breathing like a beast, the runaway brandishes his axe :
From far glimpses he a hidden \"hunter\" --- a coward !
Sniff\'d out, the runaway decides to fight to death,
If it be thus in this wood that should end his sad fate.
15th
A chilling hiss : the runaway hitting an attacking dog with his axe.
“These dogs at least do have some courage” : sarcastic towards the slave owners.
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Hark ! His axe fends the air with a chilling hiss :
AHOOOO ! This beast now be ready for burial !
Other beasts surge forward, dance in the gore :
These dogs at least do have some courage.
16th
Macabre waltz : the fight between the dogs and the runaway
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Here in this macabre waltz, this bloody tango,
Some dogs will stumble, will die howling;
Blood will squirt out from their cuts :
On these shredd\'d bodies, what lacerations !
17th
These beasts : the dogs. Split heads : split by the axe of the runaway. “Hunters” : the slave owners. Dementia : the slave owners still want to capture the runaway.
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One by one will they all perish, these beasts :
In the reddish clearing will lie the split heads;
Suddenly on the forest hath descend\'d stark silence :
Ah, the \"hunters\" still swim in their dementia.....
18th
There were tariffs paid for the cut-off hands of captured runaways.
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However, worn out, bloodied, the runaway is afraid :
He knows that for his cadaver doth exist a tariff :
Oh, yes, one legislates also for bodies and hands :
How they know legislating, these \"civilis\'d” “humans\" !
19th
The runaway hath reduc\'d finally to silence the dogs :
But, he will never see again his brethren;
The hiding \"hunters\" take aim silently :
The corner\'d runaway will not escape his burial.
20th
Final solution : the killing or capture of the runaway. Firing squad : the armed slave owners.
Detonations : gun shots. Tasty steaks : bloodied pieces of the runaway on leaves.
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For the final solution be the “justiciers” ready :
The firing squad, too. FIRE AT WILL !
Deafening detonations fend the forest :
‘Pon the leaves, rare and tasty steaks.
21st
Gentlemen, hunters : sarcastic ; the slave owners.
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“Gentlemen,” \"hunters,\" you be not despicable :
Among the bloodied dogs the vile runaway falls :
In a pool of blood, the martyr finally perishes :
In blood, his and that of the dogs, he dies.
22nd
“Gentlemen,” \"hunters,\" you were the first to fire :
You be not executioners, only \"justiciers;\"
Since he was disturbing you, this sinister fellow,
Admirably, LAWFULLY, have you shot him.
23rd
Regulations authorised the slave owners to hunt down the runaways.
Braised beef, steaks, fish : sarcastic.
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The regulations, YOUR REGULATIONS, authoris\'d you :
Like a dog, here, on the dogs, did the martyr die;
Go gobble down yonder, then, your brais\'d beef !
Enjoy yon rare steaks, yon breadcrumb\'d fish !
24th
Justice : sarcastic. Anonymous graves : of runaways.
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“Justice” hath been done. One is well reassur\'d.
\'Twill be more secure here, at this place.
But, hither and thither, anonymous graves
That, centuries later, shalt sing hymns.
25th
Some will endeavour : some people might defend the slave owners.
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To lament the \"hunters\" will some endeavour :
To defend these murderers, history will take pleasure;
The poor runaway will be treat\'d as a good-for-nothing
By those that will bite into their bloody steaks.
26th
Retribution : this poem. Hunters : slave owners.
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In the forest, anonymous graves, hither and thither :
But, what an irrepressible retribution hither !...
From these anonymous graves rises an accusation
To challenge the \"hunters\" and their speeches.
27th
Obscene markets : where slaves were publicly sold to slave owners. Lords : slave owners.
Plaintiffs : those who denounce slavery. Slavicide : killing of slaves.
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From the African villages to the creaking ships,
From the obscene markets where strutt\'d the lords,
This voice of those who denounce, this voice of plaintiffs,
Pointing towards the abominable SLAVICIDE, the slaughter.
28th
Upsetting verses : this poem.
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Centuries later, these tales of colonisers, these upsetting verses,
This indictment of criminals, these terrible, defying writings,
These overwhelming words, so full of bloody accounts,
The lie will give to the scholarly pretences of \"civilisers.\"
29th
There will be historians for colonisers :
There will be poets for runaways;
Historians will explain and justify :
Poets will accuse and denounce.
30th
Well, as it bloody pleases them, let them say,
The colonisers, let them say what they wish !
And they will unleash themselves again,
These \"hunters\" yearning for tombs.
31st
These writings will skirt valleys, hills and seas :
To their cakes and snacks a bitter taste
Henceforth will find the \"hunters\" and colonisers,
The ones that pride themselves on their \"civilising gifts !\"
*****
(END)