# The History and Travels of Hector Maclean, Late Sailor/Number I/Section I

THE History and Travels OF Hector Maclean, Sailor.
SECTION I. IWas born in the Isle of Tirrie, and Shire of Argyle, in 1728; and when eight Years of Age, my Brother, with three other Merchants, who had a coasting Boat among them, loaded with Beef, Blankets, Linen, Skins, &c. took me along, at my Desire, to lead a Horse to the Port; where being arrived, I went unperceived aboard of the Boat, and hid myself in a Barrel, to give my Father the Slip; and the Boat sailing off, I was carried to a Port to the Isle of Mull, twelve Leagues from Tirrie, before it was known to the Merchants that I was aboard, I having got myself a very sound Sleep in my Concealment during the Passage. My Father, in the mean Time, was almost distracted for me, as he could not find me any where, till my Brother sent Word Home that I was aboard: And it being inconvenient to return me Home, they proceeded on their Voyage, and carried me to the Port of Greenock, where they delivered their Cargo, and ​had their Vessel again loaded with such Goods from Glasgow as were most wanted in the Highlands of Scotland. My Brother ordered me to abide in the Boat, but my Curiosity to see the Town of Greenock, prevailed upon me to disobey his Command; so I stole out unperceived, and wandered though the Town till Night, staring at every Thing, as I had never seen any Buildings or Curiosities before; nor could I find the Way back to the Key where I left the Boat, till they were obliged, after a long Search, to sail off without me. Not one Word of English did I then understand, or could speak; so Night coming on, I went into a House for Shelter, the Good Wife of which was so cruel and unhospitable, that clapping one of her Hands below my Houghs, and the other under the Nape of my Neck, she whip'd me up and carried me to the Middle of the Street, where she left me crying. In this poor Condition, a Man of more Humanity took Pity upon me, and carried me to his House, and made my Quarters good, after a very warm Dispute with his Wife, who strongly opposed it. I could perceive them both in a great Passion, and as I did not understand any Thing of their Quarrel, I was under dreadful Apprehensions of being murdered by them. However, I was, in Spite of my Hostess, sheltered under her Roof all Night; nor did my Landlord stop his Kindness here, but next Day got me provided for in a Country House near Greenock, where I was to herd three Cows and a Horse: Here I was used very well, and now I began to understand some Words of English. And being sent by my Landlady one Day to sell some Cream, ​which I carried to Greenock in a Timber Stoup, with a Spoon; and being ignorant of what I was to do, or that I was to have Money for it, I invited every Body to taste till it was all spent, then returning Home, told my Mistress every Body liked it; she perceived my Ignorance, and was so far from chiding me on Account of my bad Market, that she laughed very heartily at the Joke, but never sent me to sell her Cream any more.
Here I staid till after Harvest, when coming up to Glasgow in a Lighter, where I was entertained for what little Services I could then do; and wandering through that pretty Town, admiring every Thing I saw, I was asked by a Gentleman's Servant, if I would go along with him? I agreed, and taking me to an Inn where his Master was, I got some Punch to drink, which by the Fatigue of the Day and Heat of the Fire lull me asleep; and I was carried before the Servant on Horseback in that Condition to Auchinrooch, in the Parish of Campsie and Shire of Stirling, where I staid three Years, and was happy beyond Expression. This being a fine Family, I cannot here mention it without the warmest Wishes for their Successors Happiness; for I am informed, that both my kind Master and his Lady Mother are dead, who, when in Life, were a Blessing to all around them.
When I parted with this good Family it was after Harvest, and with a Promise to return in the Spring; so I went to Glasgow again, genteelly cloathed, and my Master, with his own Hands, ​tied up my Wages in my Shirt. Now I had a confused Speech, for I spoke a Mixture of Languages, Earse and English; and here I providentially went into a Public House, where my own Brother, with his three Partners, who first brought me from the Island of Tirrie, were sitting. My Brother did not know me, but what was strange, one of his Partners did; and after stedfastly looking upon my Brother, I felt some very uncommon Emotions, which at last made me fly to him: We were both in Transports for some Time; and my Brother, who was in the Belief that I had fallen out of the Boat at Greenock, and had perished, insisted upon my going Home to my Father, whom he had made believe that he had left me with a Gentleman, tho' he was of Opinion himself I had perished at Greenock, as is just now said; I returned Home in my Brother's Vessel, and was put to School, where I was taught to read and write. But my wandering Inclination grew upon me still; nor could I be prevailed upon to stay at Home from the Sea: So I left my Father's House, and went aboard of Capt. M'Cun, belonging to Greenock, who was Commander of the Little Marion, who came to an Anchor at Icolmkill, near Tirrie, by Stress of Weather: He carried me up to Greenock, and was glad of me, as he intended I should have continued aboard of his Ship: However, not liking his Terms, I agreed with Captain Grey of the Mattie, belonging also to Glasgow, and the same Company, then bound to Virginia. I staid aboard this Ship four Years, and was in all fifteen Years in the Company's Service. And the Occurrences which happened to fall under my Knowledge during ​this Period, with Description of what I have seen in different Countries, together with the Customs and Manners of their Inhabitants, strange Land and Water Animals, &c. shall be the Subject of the next and following Sections.
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
Public domainPublic domainfalsefalse