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what appeared to be an altar； on the left hand was a pulpit； and on
the right a stall higher than any of the rest； where was a figure
whom I could scarcely see。
'I can't pretend to describe what I saw exactly； for my head； which
was at first rather flurried； had become more so from the efforts
which I had made to get through the crowd； also from certain
singing； which proceeded from I know not where； and； above all；
from the bursts of an organ； which were occasionally so loud that I
thought the roof； which was painted with wondrous colours； would
come toppling down on those below。 So there stood I … a poor
English servant … in that outlandish place； in the midst of that
foreign crowd； looking at that outlandish sight； hearing those
outlandish sounds； and occasionally glancing at our party； which；
by this time； I distinguished at the opposite side to where I
stood； but much nearer the place where the red figures sat。 Yes；
there stood our poor governor and the sweet young ladies； and I
thought they never looked so handsome before； and close by them
were the sharking priests； and not far from them was that idiotical
parson Platitude； winking and grinning； and occasionally lifting up
his hands as if in ecstasy at what he saw and heard； so that he
drew upon himself the notice of the congregation。
'And now an individual mounted the pulpit； and began to preach in a
language which I did not understand； but which I believe to be
Latin； addressing himself seemingly to the figure in the stall； and
when he had ceased； there was more singing； more organ…playing； and
then two men in robes brought forth two things which they held up；
and then the people bowed their heads； and our poor governor bowed
his head； and the sweet young ladies bowed their heads； and the
sharking priests； whilst the idiotical parson Platitude tried to
fling himself down； and then there were various evolutions
withinside the pale； and the scarlet figures got up and sat down；
and this kind of thing continued for some time。 At length the
figure which I had seen in the principal stall came forth and
advanced towards the people； an awful figure he was； a huge old man
with a sugar…loaf hat； with a sulphur…coloured dress； and holding a
crook in his hand like that of a shepherd； and as he advanced the
people fell on their knees； our poor old governor amongst them； the
sweet young ladies； the sharking priests； the idiotical parson
Platitude； all fell on their knees； and somebody or other tried to
pull me on my knees； but by this time I had become outrageous； all
that my poor brother used to tell me of the superstitions of the
high Barbary shore rushed into my mind； and I thought they were
acting them over here； above all； the idea that the sweet young
ladies； to say nothing of my poor old governor； were； after the
conclusion of all this mummery； going to deliver themselves up body
and soul into the power of that horrid…looking old man； maddened
me； and； rushing forward into the open space； I confronted the
horrible…looking old figure with the sugar…loaf hat； the sulphur…
coloured garments； and shepherd's crook； and shaking my fist at his
nose； I bellowed out in English …
'〃I don't care for you； old Mumbo Jumbo； though you have fetish！〃
'I can scarcely tell you what occurred for some time。 I have a dim
recollection that hands were laid upon me； and that I struck out
violently left and right。 On coming to myself； I was seated on a
stone bench in a large room； something like a guard…room； in the
custody of certain fellows dressed like Merry…andrews； they were
bluff； good…looking； wholesome fellows； very different from the
sallow Italians： they were looking at me attentively； and
occasionally talking to each other in a language which sounded very
like the cracking of walnuts in the mouth； very different from
cooing Italian。 At last one of them asked me in Italian what had
ailed me； to which I replied； in an incoherent manner； something
about Mumbo Jumbo； whereupon the fellow； one of the bluffest of the
lot； a jovial rosy…faced rascal； lifted up his right hand； placing
it in such a manner that the lips were between the fore…finger and
thumb； then lifting up his right foot and drawing back his head； he
sucked in his breath with a hissing sound； as if to imitate one
drinking a hearty draught； and then slapped me on the shoulder；
saying something which sounded like goot wine； goot companion；
whereupon they all laughed； exclaiming； ya； ya； goot companion。
And now hurried into the room our poor old governor； with the red…
haired priest。 The first asked what could have induced me to
behave in such a manner in such a place； to which I replied that I
was not going to bow down to Mumbo Jumbo； whatever other people
might do。 Whereupon my master said he believed I was mad； and the
priest said he believed I was drunk； to which I answered that I was
neither so mad nor drunk but I could distinguish how the wind lay。
Whereupon they left me； and in a little time I was told by the
bluff…looking Merry…andrews I was at liberty to depart。 I believe
the priest； in order to please my governor； interceded for me in
high quarters。
'But one good resulted from this affair； there was no presentation
of our family to the Holy Father； for old Mumbo was so frightened
by my outrageous looks that he was laid up for a week； as I was
afterwards informed。
'I went home； and had scarcely been there half an hour when I was
sent for by the governor； who again referred to the scene in
church； said that he could not tolerate such scandalous behaviour；
and that unless I promised to be more circumspect in future； he
should be compelled to discharge me。 I said that if he was
scandalised at my behaviour in the church； I was more scandalised
at all I saw going on in the family； which was governed by two
rascally priests； who； not content with plundering him； appeared
bent on hurrying the souls of us all to destruction； and that with
respect to discharging me； he could do so that moment； as I wished
to go。 I believe his own reason told him that I was right； for he
made no direct answer； but； after looking on the ground for some
time； he told me to leave him。 As he did not tell me to leave the
house； I went to my room； intending to lie down for an hour or two；
but scarcely was I there when the door opened； and in came the red…
haired priest。 He showed himself； as he always did； perfectly
civil； asked me how I was； took a chair and sat down。 After a hem
or two he entered into a long conversation on the excellence of
what he called the Catholic religion； told me that he hoped I would
not set myself against the light； and likewise against my interest；
for that the family were about to embrace the Catholic religion；
and would make it worth my while to follow their example。 I told
him that the family might do what they pleased； but that I would
never forsake the religion of my country for any consideration
whatever； that I was nothing but a poor servant； but I was not to
be bought by base gold。 〃I admire your honourable feelings；〃 said
he； 〃you shall have no gold； and as I see you are a fellow of
spirit； and do not like being a servant； for which I commend you； I
can promise you something better。 I have a good deal of influence
in this place； and if you will not set your face against the light；
but embrace the Catholic religion； I will undertake to make your
fortune。 You remember those fine fellows to…day who took you into
custody； they are the guards of his Holiness。 I have no doubt that
I have interest enough to procure your enrolment amongst them。〃
〃What；〃 said I； 〃become swashbuckler to Mumbo Jumbo up here！ May I
。 。 。〃 … and here I swore … 〃if I do。 The mere possibility of one
of their children being swashbuckler to Mumbo Jumbo on the high
Barbary shore has always been a source of heart…breaking to my poor
parents。 What； then； would they not undergo； if they knew for
certain that their other child was swashbuckler to Mumbo Jumbo up
here？〃 Thereupon he asked me； even as you did some time ago； what
I meant by Mumbo Jumbo。 And I told him all I had heard about the
Mumbo Jumbo of the high Barbary shore； telling him that I had no
doubt that the old fellow up here was his brother； or nearly
related to him。 The man with the red hair listened with the
greatest attention to all I said； and when I had concluded； he got
up； nodded to me； and moved to the door； ere he reached the door I
saw his shoulders shaking； and as he closed it behind him I heard
him distinctly laughing； to the tune of … he！ he！ he！
'But now matters began to mend。 That same evening my young master
unexpectedly arrived。 I believe he soon perceived that something
extraordinary had been going on in