Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-04-17
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From DiCken4' Household WOr
How to be Idolized.

The Hyperboe of being " idolized" was nev-
er, perhaps, made literal truth in so striking a
manner, as is shown In the following story for
which we are indebted to a French author.
In 1918, the good ship Dido, left Mauritius,
on her voyage to Sumatra. She had cargo of
French manufactures on board, which her cap
tain was to barter for coffee and spice with the
nabobs of the Lunda Isles. After few days.
sail, the vessel was becalmed and both passen-
gers and crew were put on short allowance of
provisions and water.
Preserved meats, fruits, chocolate, fine flour
and live stock, were all exhausted, with the ex-
ception Of one solitary patriarchal cock who
perched on the main yard was mourning his de-
vastated harem, like Mourad Bey after the bat.
lie of the Pyramids.
The ships cook, Neptune, Madagascar ne
gro, received orders one morning, to prepare this
bird for dinner and once more the denlzens of
the state-c cabin snuffed Up the delicious odor of
roast fowl The captain took nap, in order to
cheat his appetite until dinner time; and the
chief mate hovered like guardian angel round
the caboose, watching lest any audacious spoil
er should lay violent hands on the precious
dainty.
Suddenly cry of terror and despair, issued
from the cooks cabin, and Neptune himself rush
ed out, the picture of alright, with both his
hands twisted convulsively, in the sooty wool
that covered his head What was the matter?
Alas in an i'll starred hour the cook had sum-
bered at his post, and the fowl was burnt to a
cinder.
A fit OF rage, ,exasperated by hunger and trop-
cal sun, is fearful thing. The mate, uttering
dreadful imprecation, seized large knife and
rushed at Neptune. At that moment one Of the
passengers, named Louis Bergaz, interposed to
ward off the blow. The negro was saved, but
his preserver received the point of the steel in
his wrist, and his blood flowed freely. With
much difficulty the other passengers succeeded
in preventing him. in his turn, from attacking
the mate; but, at length peace was restored
the aggressor having apologized for his violence
AS to poor Neptune, he fell on his knees, ant
kissed and embraced the feet of his protector.
In day or two the breeze sprang up and the
DtdO speedily reached Sumatra. Four years
afterwards, it happened one day, that Louis Ber
gaz was dining at the public table of an Eng
Iish boarding house at Batavia. Amongst the
guests were two learned men who had been sen
out by the British Government to inspect the
countries lying near the equator. During din
r ner, the name of Bergaz happening to be pro
=, nounced distinctly by one of his acquaintance
e at the opposite side of the table, the oldest o
the saua1s looked up from his plate, and asket
0 quickly,
J, "Who owns the name of Bergaz?'
n 81 do"
f "Curious enough" said the sauant, "you beal
d the same name as god Of Madagascar"
J, Have they god called Bergaz?" asket
j. Louis, smiling.
: "Yes. And if you like, after dinner, l vii
= show you an article OH the subject, which pub
r shed in an English scientific Journal"
n Louis thanked him, and afterwards, read a
folows:--
d "The population of Madagascar consists of
of mixture of Africans, Arabs, and the aborlgins
1t inhabitants. These latter occupy the kingdor
= of the Anas and are governed by queen TIL
d Malagasys differ widely from the Ethiopian rae
5, both in their physical and moral characteristics
g They are hospable and humane, but extremel
- warlike, because successful foray furnshC
a them with slaves. It is mistake to suppos
er that the Malagasys worship the devil, and tn;
re they have at Teintingua tree consecrated
IS the Evil One. They have but one temple, de-
d, cated to the god Bergaz beer, source, or we
er in the Chaldean, and gaz, light, in the Malaga
er sy tongue.) To this divinity they are ardent
d, devoted, and at stated periods offer him the sa
le ri6ce of cock, as the ancient Greeks did
If Esculapius. So true it is that the language
le and supersttions of all lands and ages are lin
n. ed together by mysterious bonds, which Meth
h. time nor distance can destroy"
e, Louis Bergaz thought the latter philosophic
at reflections very striking.
Id "You can scarcely imagine" said his compa
- ion, g how important these remote analogit
We traced out by US with so much labor and fatigI
ht are to the advancement of science"
ne Bergaz bowed, and was silent
k The cares of a busy commercial life So
he caused him to forget the philosopher and his oV
b. idol namesake.
e. After the lapse of about two years, Berg
set out to purchase ebony at Cape St. Maria,