Chapter I: Front Matter

BEYOND THE BLACK WATERS

┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ │
│ Transcriber’s Notes │
│ │
│ │
│ Punctuation has been standardized. │
│ │
│ The text frequently shows quotations within quotations, all │
│ set off by double quotes. The inner quotations have been │
│ changed to single quotes for improved readability. │
│ │
│ Characters in small caps have been replaced by all caps. │
│ │
│ Non-printable characteristics have been given the following │
│ transliteration: │
│ Italic text: --> _text_ │
│ empasized text within italics --> |text| │
│ bold text: --> =text=. │
│ │
│ This book was written in a period when many words had │
│ not become standardized in their spelling. Words may have │
│ multiple spelling variations or inconsistent hyphenation in │
│ the text. These have been left unchanged unless indicated │
│ with a Transcriber’s Note. │
│ │
│ The symbol ‘‡’ indicates the description in parenthesis has │
│ been added to an illustration. This may be needed if there │
│ is no caption or if the caption does not describe the image │
│ adequately. │
│ │
│ Footnotes are identified in the text with a number in │
│ brackets [2] and have been accumulated in a single section │
│ at the end of the text. │
│ │
│ Transcriber’s Notes are used when making corrections to the │
│ text or to provide additional information for the modern │
│ reader. These notes are identified in the text by a ♦ symbol, │
│ and are accumulated in a single section at the end of the │
│ book. │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Illustration: “_‘I would tell you everything,’ said Oscar, ‘were
not your peace dearer to me than my own.’_”

_Page 117._

BEYOND THE BLACK WATERS

By A. L. O. E.

Illustration: _Oscar gave in the letter with a hand that did
not tremble._

_Page 173._

T. NELSON AND SONS

London, Edinburgh, and New York

BEYOND THE BLACK WATERS

_A Tale_

BY

A. L. O. E.,

Author of “Pictures of St. Peter in an English Home,”
“Driven into Exile,” “Harold’s Bride,”
“War and Peace,”
&c. &c.

Illustration: (‡ decoration)

London
THOMAS NELSON AND SONS
35 Paternoster Row

EDINBURGH, AND NEW YORK

1890

Preface.

The title of this work would probably convey no definite idea to the minds of most Europeans; it might be considered as merely a figurative expression. It is otherwise with the native of Hindostan. The Black Waters are to him those that cut off from happiness and home the criminals of that vast region to which he belongs. Beyond the Black Waters lie the Andaman Islands, where, at the present time, about _thirteen thousand_ convicts of both sexes――thieves, murderers, and murderesses――endure the punishment of exile, the due reward of their crimes.

A kind of mysterious pall seems to hang over the isles beyond the Black Waters. The convicts are under Government protection and Government control; nor can there be communication with them (at any rate with those confined in jail) without Government permission. The criminals are not treated harshly; the place of their exile is fruitful and fair. Nature smiles upon the Andaman Islands; it is man, guilty man, who seems to have forgotten how to smile.

To turn to a brighter part of the background of my tale: the stories of the Karens, their traditions, and of the remarkable man who stands amongst them conspicuous as a lighthouse at night, are no invention of mine. These belong to fact and not to fiction. If I would fain awaken pity for the sinners, I would also kindle admiration for the saints, and a keener and more practical interest in England and America for missionary labours in the lands of the East.

Contents.

I. NEWLY ARRIVED.

II. THE PRODIGY.

III. DEAD OR ALIVE?

IV. THE MYSTERIOUS CLOUD.

V. ANCIENT TRADITIONS.

VI. MODERN THEORIES.

VII. EXPECTED AND WELCOMED.

VIII. A REFUSAL.

IX. QUIET CONVERSE.

X. THE SCORPION’S STING.

XI. A PRESCRIPTION.

XII. CONJECTURES.

XIII. THE EXPEDITION.

XIV. A DISCOVERY.

XV. MOUNT AND AWAY.

XVI. THE LONE VILLAGE.

XVII. IN THE FOREST.

XVIII. RESCUED.

XIX. THE PREACHER.

XX. DARK MEMORIES.

XXI. CONFESSION.

XXII. HOME AGAIN.

XXIII. AN ORDEAL.

XXIV. CHRISTMAS.

XXV. FAREWELL.

XXVI. PRISON LIFE.

XXVII. ADVENTURES OF AN OWL.

XXVIII. UNWILLING WITNESSES.

XXIX. THE SENTENCE.

XXX. CONSOLATION.

XXXI. THE VOYAGE.

XXXII. CONCLUSION.

APPENDIX.

BEYOND THE BLACK WATERS.