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ANEW
C O U N
O F
A C
Vv
GUINEA
»
And the Slave-Trade,
A.
CONTAINING,
I. The Hiftory of the late Conquefl of the
Kingdom of Whidaw by the King of Dahome v
The Author’s Journey to the Conqueror’s
Camp -5 where he faw feveral Captives facri-
ficed, (Ac.
II. The Manner how the Negroes become
Slaves. The Numbers of them yearly ex¬
ported from Guinea to America . The Law-
fulnefs of that Trade. The Mutinies among
them on board the Ships where the Author
has been, (Ac .
III. A Relation of the Author’s being taken
by Pirates, and the many Dangers he un¬
derwent.
By Captain William Snelgrave.
With a new and correft Map of the Coaft of Guinea.
L 0 N D O N:
Printed for J. Wren, at the Bible and Crown , in
S aiijh u ry « Cm rt , .Fleet- Street* 1754.
fcllSTOR'OM-
MEDtOM-
/ "s / '
B R >$>'
*
--
c
TOT II E
MERCHANTS
O F
LONDON,
Trading to the Coaft of Guinea.
Gentlemen,
SOME of you having
been pleafed to perufe
the following Sheets in Ma-
nufcript, and been fo kind,
as to exprefs your Approba¬
tion of them, it hath incou-
raged me to make them pub-
lick ; and I take the Liberty
to add refs them to the Mer-
A 2 chants
DEDICATION.
chants trading to the Coaft
of Guinea, as being the beft
Judges of the Truth of what
is here related.
As it has been my good
Fortune to be known for
many Y ears to moft of you,
and to have received Fa¬
vours from feveral among ft
You, fo I beg leave to fub-
fcribe my felf, with the
greateft Refpect and E-
fteem, Gentlemen,
Your moft obliged
humble Servant ,
W. SNELGRAV E.
RE FACE.
HE beft part of the follow¬
ing Sheets were writ feve-
ral Tears ago , more parti¬
cularly the Account of my being
taken by Pirates , in the Tear 1719:
And being now induced to publijh
the Hiftory of the Conquefl of the
Kingdom o/'Dahome, I have added
the other , which is as remarkable
in its kind.
I am fenfble that ObjeElions may
be made to the Account I have given
of the Dahomes, by fuch of my Rea¬
ders as are not acquainted, either by
Travelling or Reading , with the
Manners and Cuftoms of feveral
barbarous brutifh Nations , that
have been and are fill on the Globe.
PREFACE.
As to human Sacrifices , they are
no new thing in the World ; fior it
is recorded of the Mexicans in par¬
ticular, that they annually fiacri-
ficed to their Gods , a great num¬
ber of their Enemies takett in War.
Mens eating of their own Species,
feems to be the mo ft incredible and
flooding ; but this is praBiJed by
others at prefient (befides the Da-
homes) on the Coaft of Guinea;
efpe dally by a People called Acquas,
on the River of old Caliabar, and
amongfi the Camarones adjoin¬
ing , where I have formerly been ,
and of which there are fome Wit-
nejjes now in London : Captain
Arthur Lone and others , having fieen
the fame as well as m yfiif-
As to the S tory in general of the
King of Dahome, there are fome
Gentlemen now in Town, that know
a great part of it - namely, Jere¬
miah
PREFACE.
miah Tinker Efq\ Governor Wil-
fon, and others-, who have formerly
refided at Whidaw, for the Royal
African Company : Befides feveral
that have been there in the Service
%
of private Merchants: As alfo
Charles Dunbar Efq\ of Antegoa,
who bought the Negroe-Woman of
me there , whofe Story is fo remark¬
able , on account of her being thrown
as a Sacrifice into the Sea-, and her
wonderful Prefervation afterwards ,
the Truth of which fhe has ofte.?i
confirmed.
As to the Relation ofi my being
taken by Pirates , there are feveral
in and about Town, that fuffered
by them , at the fame time and place
with my ■ felf. And Mr. James Bleau ,
who was then my Surgeon , lives now
at Woodlord, in good Repute and
Efieem with the Gentlemen of that
V illage and Neighbourhood.
A 4 I pall
4
PREFACE.
1 (hall fay nothing with relation
to the floor t Account I have given of
the manner how the Negroes become
Slaves, and of the Management of
them when on Shipboard , it being
defigned at firft only for a Friend's
SatisfaElion , who had objeEled a-
gainft the lawfulnefs of that ‘Trade.
As I love Freedom my felf fo I
readily leave the Reader to judge
and believe as hepleafes , concerning
what is here related : My principal
motive for publifbing thefe Sheets ,
being the P 'erjuafon of fome Friends ,
who had perujed them in Manu-
fcr ipt , and thought they might prove
acceptable to the Publick.
INTRO-
INTRODUCTION
@
THAT Part of Africa commonly
called Guinea , is of a large Ex¬
tent, beginning at Cape Ferd , in
14 Degrees 30 Minutes North Latitude,
and extending to the South and Eaft, as far
astheCoaftof Angola ; the River Congo, in
6 Degrees South Latitude, being the far-
theft place where the Englijh carry on.
their Trade,
In this Country of Guinea , the Englifj
have trafficked a great many Years : But
efpecially, fince the Conclufion of the laft
French War, it has been fo improved, that
whereas in the Year 1712, there went
only 33 Ships from England to that Coaft,
in 1726, it was proved before the Com-
mifioners of Trade, that there had been
there the Year before above 200 Sail, to
the great increafe of Navigation^ and the
ad-
I NT RODUCTION.
advantage of our Plantations in Ame¬
rica.
Such as are unacquainted with this
Country, may reafonably fuppofe we
fhould have gained by this time a perfedt
account of the Inland-Parts ; yet perhaps
we know the leaft of it of any Country
the Englijh have fo long traded to, for
reafons I {hall give hereafter. But as I
defign only to inform the Reader, (for his
better undemanding the following Sheets)
in a curfory manner, of thofe parts of the
Coaft of Guinea , that I have been perfo-
nally acquainted with : So, as I go along,
I {hall intermix my Reafons with the Ac¬
count.
I have traded along this Coaft for near
yoo Leagues, from a River called Sher-
terow , in the Latitude of 7 Degrees 30
Minutes North, to Gape Lopez Gonfalvezi
in 1 Degree South, near the Coaft of An¬
gola : Now in fo large an Extent, we meet
with very different People and Trade,
The
INTRODUCTION.
The firft part I (hall mention, is about
250 Leagues in length, from the above-
mentioned River of Sherberow , round Cape
Palmas , to the River Ancober near Axim *
This is commonly called the Windward
Coafl , on which there is no Settlement
or Fadtory of any European Nation;
but the Trade is carried on in this man-
nen
As foon as the Natives perceive a Ship
on their Coaft, they make a fmoke on
the Sea-Shore, as a Signal for the Ship
to come to an Anchor, that they may
come and trade with the People on board
! As foon as we are at an Anchor, they
: come to us in fmall Boats, called Cannoes ,
I being made of a Angle Tree, and bring
their Commodities with them.
Along the greateft part of this Coaft, the
! Europeans have been cautious of ventur¬
is ing on Shore amongft the Natives, they
being very barbarous and uncivilized, as
feveral have experienced to their coft,
In
INTRODUCTION.
In thofe few places where I have been on
Shore my felf, I could never obtain a fatif-
fadtory account from the Natives of the
Inland Parts. Nor did I ever meet with
a white Man that had been, or durft ven¬
ture himfelf, up in the Country ; and be¬
lieve, if any had attempted it, the Na¬
tives would have dedroyed them, out of
a Jealoufy that they defigned to make
difcoveries to their prejudice.
However, the Trade on this part of
the Coad, has been exceedingly improved
within thefe 20 years pad. It confids in
Negroes, Elephants Teeth, and other Com¬
modities; which the Natives freely bring
on board our Ships, except when any Af¬
front has been offered them ; which, to
the great Scandal both of Englifh and
French , has too often been done, namely
by their forcibly carrying away the Trad¬
ers, under fome flight pretence of having
received an Injury from them. And this
has put a dop to the Trade of the parti¬
cular place where it has happened for a
long time; and innocent People, who
have
INTRODUCTION.
have come there to trade in fmall Yeffels,
have fuffered for their Countrymens Vil-
lany: Several in my time having been
furprized by the Natives, and the People
deftroyed out of revenge.
From the aforementioned River of
Ancober to Acra, is about 50 Leagues.
This part is commonly called the Gold-
Coafi , and thereon are many Englifi and
Dutch Factories, under each of which is
a Negroe < Town , proteded by them. The
Reader may reafonably fuppofe, that here
we might have a perfed account of the
Inland parts 5 but we can have no fnch
thing. For the Policy of the Natives does
not fuffer white Men to go up any great
way into the Country. Moreover, the
Inland People are very jealous of thofe
Negroes, who are under the Protedion of
the Fadories ; fo that the account I have
received from both when at peace (which
has brought fome of the former to the
Sea fide) has feemed fo fabulous and con-
tradidory, that it could not be depended
upon 5
2
INTRODUCTION.
upon ; for the Negroes are very apt to
impofe on us. However, in this part cal¬
led the Gold Coajl , the Natives near the
Sea fide are much civilized, by their
converfing with the 'Europeans , at their
Settlements; and by going on board fo
many Ships to trade, as frequent this part
of the CoafL Here we can venture on
Shore amongft the Natives, without any
hazard; for Vis to be noted, a large part
of the Gold Coait is not in Subjection to
them.
From Aera (where ftands the la ft of
the European Settlements, on this part of
the Coait,) to Jaqueen , is about 60 Leagues.
In this Traft there are no Factories but at
two places, namely at Whidaw , and Ja¬
queen. And tho" they have been fo long
fettled by the Europerm , yet till the late
Conqueft of them by the King of Dahom ^
we could learn but little of the Inland
parts ; no white Men having been per¬
mitted to go beyond the Kingdom of Ar~
dr a , which is about 50 Miles from the
Sea fide. But, as I have related in the
2 follow®
introduction.
following Sheets what I faw and heard
| when I was there ; fo I omit farther men¬
tion of it here*
From Jaqueen to the Bay of Bennin 3
and fo round to the Callabars , Carrier ones >
and Cape Lopez , is above 300 Leagues*
: in which long Trait there is no Settle-
1 ment of any European Nation; fo of
courfe the Natives are for the mod part
barbarous and uncivilized. 1 have* in my
| younger years* traded to many places ia
this Trail* efpecially at Old Callabar>
where* in the year 1704, I faw a fadln-
ftance of Barbarity. The King of the
place, called Jabrue , being fallen fick, he
caufed, by the advice of his Prieds, a
young Child about ten Months old, to
be facrificed to his God, for his recovery.
1 faw the Child after it was killed, hung
up on the Bough of a Tree, with a live
Cock tied near it, as an addition to the
Ceremony.
i
The lad Voyage I went to this place,
was in the year 1713* when I commanded
the
INTRODUCTION, .
the Ship Anney belonging to Metfieurs
Bradley , Virginia Merchants; where I had
the good fortune to fave a Child from
being Sacrificed, as the other poor Infant
had been. And tho* kis a long ftory, and
therefore may not fo well fuit an Intro¬
duction, yet on account of the Angular
Circum fiances wherewith it was attend¬
ed, I believe the Reader may be pleafed
with it.
The chief King, or Lord of the Coun¬
try (for there are feveral petty Princes on
that River) called Ac qua , came on board,
fometime after my arrival, to fee the Ship,
and hear our Mufick. Being highly
pleafed with his Entertainment, he kindly
invited me on Shore; fo 1 promifed to
wait on him in a few days. Accordingly
I went; but as I knew his People to be
fierce brutiih Cannibals, I took, by way
of precaution, ten of my Sailors as a
Guard, with my Gunner to command
them. They were all well armed with
Mufquets and Pifiols, which thofe fa-
vage People I knew were much afraid of
Upon
INTRODUCTION.
Upon my landing at the Water fide, I
was received by fome per fons, whom the
King had appointed to conduct me about
a quarter of a mile up, where I found
him fitting on a Stool, under fome fhady
Trees ; another being placed by his fide,
which I was defired to fit on. The King
did not fpeak one word, or moved in the
leaft, till I was fat down ; but then he
bid me welcome, enquiring after my
health ; as I did after his, having firft
paid my refpeds to him, by bowing and
taking off my Hat. There were many of
his Courtiers prefent, and Iobferved above
50 of his Guard, flood at a little diflance.
They were armed with Bows and Ar¬
rows, a Sword by their fide, and a bar¬
bed Lance in their Hands. My people
ranged themfelves oppolite to them, at
the diflance of about twenty paces.
After having prefented the King with
fome things, which, tho5 trifling to us, he
feemed highly delighted with ; acciden¬
tally turning my Head about, I law a little
a Negroe*
INTRODUCTION.
Negroe-Child tied by the Leg to a Stake
driven in the Ground, the flies and other
vermin crawling on him, and two Priefts
ftanding by. Being furprized at this fight,
I afked the King, cc What was the reafon
of the Child's being tied in that man-
a ner ?” He replied, ££ It was to be facrifi.
“ ced that night to his God Egbo, for his
profperity,” Moved at the hearing of
this, I called (too haftily I mu ft own) to one
of my People, to take the Child from the
Ground, in order to preferve him. He
had no fooner done it, but one of the
King’s Guard advanced towards him, in
a threatning pofture with his Lance ; and
fearing he would run him through, I
Immediately took out of my Pocket a fmall
PiftoL the fight which, the King
rofe from his Stool in a fright. But I bid
the Linguift tell him, “ I would offer no
4C injury to him or his, provided he or-
C£ dered his Guard not to attack mine:”
Which he readily doing, and all things
being quiet, I expoftulated with him,
cc for his breaking the Laws of Hofpita-
u lity, in permitting one of his Guard to
<£ threaten
INTRODUCTION.
Cc threaten my Man with his Lance.**
To this the King replied, I had not
4C done well in ordering him to feize the
“ Child, it. being his Property/' This I
acknowledged, <c excufing it on the ac«
<s count of my Religion, which, tho’ it
<c does not allow of forcibly taking away
€£ what belongs to another, yet exprefly
forbids fo horrid a Thing, as the put-
%c ting a poor innocent Child to death.
*c And that this would, infiead of BieL
<c frngs, certainly bring on him the Wrath
xc of the moft high God, whom we white
a Men adored.” I alfo obferved to him,
<c That the grand Law of human Nature
C£ was. To do to others as we defir cl to be
done unto and many other Argu¬
ments 1 ufed, too long to repeat here. Ac
the fame time I offered to pay him for the
Child, which the King readily accepted :
And on my afking, what he defired for
it? to my furprize he only afked a bunch
of fky coloured Beads, worth about half
a Crown Sterling, I expeded he would
have demanded at ieaft ten times that Va¬
lue,; for the Negroes, from the King to
a 2 the
INTRODUCTION.
the Trader, are generally very ready, on
any extraordinary occafion, to make their
Advantage of us.
After this was over, I ftaid about an
hour with the King, treating him with
European Liquors and Vidtuals, which I
had carried on Shore for that purpofe ;
but I took care not to drink any of his
Palm Wine, (which is a Liquor drawn
from a Tree, and which they can artfully
poifon) under pretence, it did not agree
with me. But my People did not fpare
it, drinking plentifully of it with his
Guards; and eating likewife heartily of
their Vidtuals.
After this 1 took my leave, and the
King expreffed himfelf well pleafed with
my Vifit; promifing to come onboard
again, before I went out of the River.
As we were returning in our Boat, I
told the Gunner, i( That when we came
£t on board, he fliould pitch on fome mo-
Cf flier ly Woman, to take care of this poor
2 a Child.5'1
INTRODUCTION \
ic Child/' To which he anfwered, ct He
€C had already one in his Eye,”
It happened, the day before I went on
Shore to fee the King, I had purchafed the
Mother of the Child (tho* I knew it not
then) from one of his People ; and at that
time my Surgeon obferving to me, fhe
had much Milk in her Breads, I enquired
of the Perfon that brought her on boards
whether fhe had a Child when he bought
her from the Inland Trader ? To which
he anfwered in the negative.
But now on my coming on board, no
fooner was the Child handed into the Ship,
but this poor Woman efpying it, run
with great eagernefs, and fnatched him
out of the white Man's Arms that held
him. I think there never was a more mov¬
ing fight than on this occafion, between
the Mother and her little Son, (who was
a fine Boy about 18 Months old; for kis
to be noted, the Negroe-Women generally
fuckle their Children till they are above
two years old) efpecialiy when the Lin-
guift
Introduction.
guift told her, cc I had faved her Child
6C from being facrificed/1 Having at that
time above 300 Negroes on board my
Ship, no fooner was the Story known
among ft them, but they exprefled their
Thankfulnefs to me, by clapping their
Hands, and finging a Song in my praife*
This affair proved of great fervice to us,
for it gave them a good Notion of white
Men 5 fo that we had no Mutiny in our
Ship, during the whole Voyage.
I went from the River of Old Callebar ,
to the Ifland of Ant ego a, where our Car¬
gos was fold; and upon mv telling one
Mr. Studeley this remarkable fiery, he
bought the Mother and her Son, and was
a kind Mafter to them.
1 could give a farther account of fome
more extraordinary things, that have hap¬
pened in the many Voyages i have made
to this Coaft ; but am afraid of being te¬
dious to the Reader: So I fhall conclude
with obferving, that Mynheer Bofmans
Account
I NTRODUCriON.
Account of the Coaft of Guinea, is the mod
perfed Hiftory we have of that Country;
and do readily confefs, that whatever he
^mentions, as far as my Obfervations have
reach’d, I have found to be true. To
this Book therefore I refer the Reader,
*
who is curious to know, the Manners ,
Cujioms , Trade , &c. of the Negroes along
the Sea-CoafL
E R R A T A.
PAge 67. Line t .for eight read eighty, p. 71 . 1. 6. Ja~
queens r. Dahomes. p. 123. 1. 14. and in other places*
'Teftefoie r. Teftefole. p. 190. 1. 4. to r. from. p. 221,
]. 23. at r. in. Ibid. 1. 24. in r. at. 230. 1. 15. juft on
Coekly/fs Anchor, r. juft heaving up their Anchor.
A NEW
ACCOUNT
Of fome Parts of
G U I N E A,
And the Slave-Trade,
BOOK I.
Containing an Account of the De¬
ft ruBion of the Kingdom ofW hi-
daw, or Fid a; the Authors
Journey to the King of Dahome’r
Camp\ with fever al other re¬
markable Particulars*
O R the better undemanding of the
following Relation, it is neceflary
to prefix fome Account of the
late State of the Country of Whidaw, be¬
ll fore
(
i A new Account of Guinea^
fore the terrible Deftrudion and Defola-
tion thereof, in the Month of March
1726-7.
Defcnp- The Reader then is to obferve, That
tion of ...
IVhida'W. the Sea-coaft of this Kingdom lies in 6
Sa^ee‘ Degrees 40 Minutes North Latitude. Sa-
bee , the chief Town of the County is
fituate about feven Miles from the Sea
iide. In this Town the King allowed the
Europeans convenient Houfes for their Fac¬
tories ; and by him we were proteded in
our Perfons and Goods, and, when our
Bufmefs was nniflfd, were permitted to
go away in Safety. The Road where
Ships anchored, was a free Port for all
Eui*opean Nations trading to thofe Parts
for Negroes . And this Trade was fo very
confiderable, that it is computed, while
it was in a flourishing State, there were
above twenty thoufand Negroes yearly ex¬
ported from thence, and the neighbouring
Places, by the Engtifi b, French , Dutch , and
Portuguefe . As this was the principal
Part of all the Guinea Coaft for the Slave
Trade, the frequent Intercourfe that Na¬
tion had for many Years carried on with
4 the
and the Slave Trade •
the white People (a) had rendered them fo
civilized, that it was a Pleafure to deal
with them.
The greateft Inconvenience we were
expofed to, was the Thievery of the com¬
mon People, which it was hardly poffible
to guard intirely againft ; fo bold and
dextrous were they at it: Tho’ if taken
in the Fad:, they became our Slaves.
The Cuftom of the Country . allows p0iyga«;
Polygamy to an excefiive degree; it be-my-
ing ufual for a great Man to have fome
hundreds of Wives and Concubines, and
meaner Men in proportion ; whereby the
Land was become fo flock’d with People,
that the whole Country appeared full of
Towns and Villages : And being a very
rich Soil, and well cultivated by the In¬
habitants, it looked like an intire Garden.
Trade having likewife flourished for a
long time, had greatly enriched the Peo¬
ple; which, with the Fertility of their
Country, had unhappily made them fo
proud, effeminate, and luxurious, that
(a) So they call the Europeans 4 in Oppofition to the
Negroes,
B 2 tho"
A new Account of Guinea,
cbo* they could have brought at lead: one
hundred thoufand Men into the Field* yet
fo great were their Fears, that they were
driven out of their principal City, by two
hundred of their Enemies ; and at laft loft
their whole Country, to a Nation they for¬
merly had contemned. And thoJ this may
appear to the Reader very incredible, yet
it will fufficiently be illuftrated by the
following Account.
The King of Whidaw came to the
Crown when about fourteen Years old, fo
that the Government was for many Years
in the hands of the great Men of the
Country 5 who liked it fo well, that tho5
he was paft thirty Years of Age when
this Calamity happened, yet they had to
this time fought ah ways to keep him
from a Knowledge of governing. This
fuited indeed with his Temper, for he was
indolent and lafcivious, having in his
Court feveral thoufands of Women, by
whom he was ferved in all capacities 5
for no Men-fervants were allowed to be
there. Being thus foften’d by his Plea-
fares, he grew intirely negligent of his Af¬
fairs,
s
and the Slave Trade .
fairs, which at laft produced fuch a Weak-
nefs in the Government, that it ended in
its Ruin. For the great Men played the
petty Tyrants, often falling out, and pur-
fuing their particular Interefts, without
regarding the Good of their King or
Country. By this means the common
People were divided, and fuch Parties
arofe among them, as, added to their
Fears, rendered them a Prey to their
Neighbours; fo that tho’ they were able
to have repelled any Force which could
have been brought againft them by the
neighbouring Countries, they rather chofe
to abandon the Land, than join heartily
againft the common Enemy; who brought
at this time on them fuch a terrible De¬
flation by the Sword, Fire and Famine*
as hardly ever befel any Country.
This common Enemy was the King The King
of Dahome , a far inland Prince, who for^ D,a~ ^
fome Years part had rendered himfelfvaiion.
famous, by many Vidories gained over
his Neighbours. He fent an Ambaffador
to the King of JVbidaw, requefting to have
an open Traffick to the Sea fide, and of-
B 3 fering
6
His Con-
qjiefts*
A new Account of Guinea^
fering to pay him his ufual Cuftoms or
Negroes exported : which being refufed,
he from that time refolved to refent it,
when Opportunity offered. This the King
of JVhidaw was fo far from apprehend¬
ing, that in an Audience I had of him*
foon after the Ambaffador’s Departure,
he told me ; if the King of Dahome
fhould offer to invade him, he would not
ufe him when taken according to their
Cuftom, that is, cut off his Head, but
would keep him for a Slave to do the vileft
Offices.
And here tis neceffary to make a ihort
Digreffion concerning the King of Da-
homes Conquefts. Being a politick and
couragious Prince, he had fuch Succefs
againfl his Neighbours, in a few Years,
that he conquered towards the Sea Coaft,
as far as the Kingdom of Ardra , which
is the next inland Country adjoining to
Whidaw ; and then refolved to remain
quiet for fome time, in order to fettle his
Conquefts. But an Accident foon called
him again to Arms, for the King of Ar¬
dra having much injured his own Brother,
° ‘ * : v ' named
7
and the Slave Trade.
named Hujfar ; the latter fent privately to
the King of Dahome , and offered him a
large Sum of Money to revenge him for
the many Affronts he had receiv’d from
the King his Brother* This the politick
Prince foon liften’d to ; and the King of
Ardra having difcovered the Matter, fent
to the Whidaws , reprefenting to them, it
was their common Intereft to oppofe this
Conqueror ; but they mo ft imprudently
refufed to lend him their Afliftance. So
being obliged to encounter alone the King
of Dahome , he met him with all the For¬
ces he could raife, which was about fifty
thoufand Men of his own People, and
after a three Days Engagement, his Army
was totally defeated, and himfelf taken
Prifoner. Soon after which he was be¬
headed in the Conqueror’s Prefence ac*?
cording to the barbarous Cuftom of thefe
black Princes.
There was at that time in the Country Bullfinch
of Ardra a white Gentleman, named1"'
Bullfinch Lambe , who was detained Frifo-
ner by the King on this occafion: Hav¬
ing been fent by the Governour of the
B 4 African
A new Account of Guinea^
African Company's Settlement at Jaqueen ,
on fome Bufinefs to the King of Ardra>
this Prince detained him, under pretence
the Company owed him for one hundred
Slaves, formerly fent down to their Fac¬
tory ; and he fent word to the Governour,
if he did not forthwith pay him this Debt,
he would make Mr. Lambe a Slave.
Which the Governour refufing to do, he
remained a Prifoner about two Years,
being ufed very hardly 'till he was taken
in this War by the King of Dahome ; Be¬
ing brought into the King's Prefence
(who had never before feen a white Man)
he was treated very kindly by his Majefty,
and had, in a fhort time after, a Houlhold
appointed for him with many Servants,
and the King bellowed on him fome of
his near Relations for Wives. Having
remained with this Prince near three Years,
2
he was at his own earned: Defire, dif-
mifs’d with a noble Prefent of Gold and
Slaves, in order to go for Europe: And
his Majefty by a Meflenger, to the Towns
and Villages h© palled through, in his way
fo Jaqueen on the Sea fide, ordered the
Inha-
9
and the Slave Trade .
! Inhabitants to fhew him all poffible Re-
ifped, and provide nobly for his Enter¬
tainment.
After this Gentleman's Departure, the whi^
King of Da home refolved to invade the
Country of Whidaw ; which, as I have
been told, Mr. Lambe had diffuaded him
from ; reprefenting the great number of
the Inhabitants, who were much ufed to
Fire-Arms. Moreover, that the white
People refident and trading there, would
no doubt a ffift them for their own In-
tereft : So that there was no probability
of Succefs. But this politick Prince find¬
ing by his Spies, how much the great
Men and People were divided, and that
the King was only a Cypher in the Go¬
vernment ; he marched againfi; therm
The firft part of the Country he invaded
was the northernmoft, of which a great
Lord named Appragah was hereditary Go-
vernour, who forthwith lent to his King
for Affiftance: But through the Intereft
of his Enemies at Court, who wilhed his
Deftrudion, he was refufed: So having
made a little Refinance, he fubmitted to
the
io A new Account of Guinea,
the Kins: of Dahome , who received him
Cv
very kindly.
The Conqueft at Appragah gave the
King an eafy Entrance into the Heart of
the Country ; but he was obliged to halt
there by a river, which runs about half
a Mile to the northward of the principal
Town of the Whidaws , called Sab.ee, the
Refidence of their King, Here the King
of Dahome encamped for fome time, not
Imagining he could have found fo eafy a
Paffage and Conqueft as he met with
afterwards. For the Pafs of the River
was of that Nature, it might have been
defended againft his whole Army, by five
hundred refolute Men ; but inftead of
guarding it, thefe cowardly luxurious Peo¬
ple, thinking the fame of their numbers
lufficient to deter the Dahomes from at¬
tempting it, kept no fet Guard. They
only went every Morning and Evening to
the River fide, to make Fetiche as they call
* *
k, that is, to offer Sacrifice to their prin¬
cipal God, which was a particular harm-
Jefs Snake they adored, and prayed to on
this occafion, to keep their Enemies from
coming over the River. And
and the Slave Trade. ? 1
,8 And as worfliiping a Snake may feem Snakes
5 r * • worfhip-
/ery extravagant to inch as are unacquain-ped„
id with the Religion of the Negroes , I
nail inform the Reader of the Reafons
I i v ,
iven for it by the People of Whidaw.
This fort of Snake is peculiar to their
Country* being of a very Angular Makej
or they are very big in the middle, round-
ng on the Rack like a Hog, but very fmall
it the Head and Tail, which renders their
Motion very flow. Their Colour is yel-
ow and white, with brown Streaks; and
lo harmlefs, that if they are accidentally
i rode on (for it is a capital Crime to do
j.t wilfully) and they bite, no bad Effeft
bnfues; which is one Reafon they give
for their worfhipping of them. More¬
over, there is a conftant Tradition amongft
ahem, that whenever any Calamity threa¬
tens their Country, by imploring the
Snake’s Afliflance, they are always delive¬
red from it. However this fell out for.
imerly, it now flood them in no ftead ;
^neither were the Snakes themfelves fpared
after the Conqueft. For they being in
j great Numbers, and a kind of domeftick
- Animals,
A nsw Account of Guinea*
Animals, the Conquerors found many of
them in the Houfes, which they treated
in this manner: They held them up by
the middle, and fpoke to them in this
manner : Jf you are Gods, /peak and fave
your Jehes: Which the poor Snakes not
being able to do, the Dahomes cut their
Heads off ripped them open, broiled
them on the Coals, and eat them. It is
very flrange, the Conquerors fhould fo
far contemn the Gods of this Country,
fince they are fo barbarous and favage
themfelv.es, as to offer human Sacrifices
whenever they gain a Vi&ory over their
Enemies ; an Eye-Witnefs to which I
was, as hereafter (hall he related.
But to return to the King of Dahome .
He was fo politick as to fend to the Eu¬
ropeans, then refiding at IVhidaw, to af-
fure them, if they flood neuter, and were
not found in Arms they fhould receive no
Damage in their Perfons or Goods, in
cafe he proved Conqueror; and that he
would eafe their Trade, and remove di¬
vers Impofitions laid on it by the King
of Whidaw : On the contrary, if they
4 ' appeared
and the Slave Trade,
tppeared againft him, they muft expert
pis Refentment. But they were in a Di~
i;mma; for tho* the King of Whidaw
id not defire otherwife, yet they would
ladly have retired from Sabee to two
lud- walled Forts, belonging to the Eng-
fh and French African Companies , which
sire within three Miles of the Sea fide.
However, finding it would have been
Irefented by the King as a Difcourage »
iment to his People, they were obliged
to remain in the Town, never fufpeding
sthe Inhabitants would have run away in
ithe cowardly manner they did y or that
ithey {hould fliare the Fate of War with
them.
The Pafs of the River being, as I have
related above, wholly left to the Care
of the Snakes, whom the Enemy little
feared ; and they having obferved for fe~
jveral Days, that the Whidaws kept no
fet Guard there, it encouraged the King
f of Dahomes General to fend two hundred
I of his Soldiers to ford the River : Which
j having done without Oppofition, and
• being bold Fellows, they marched towards
the
A new Account of Guinea,
the Town of Sake, founding their mufical
Inftruments. This was about three a
Clock in the Afternoon, and the Out-
o-uards of tne Town were almofi ah aileep ,
but being roufed by the Node 61 the Ene-
my’s Mufick and Shouts, they fled into
the Town, reporting, that all the Da-
home Army was got over the River:
Which foon reaching the King’s Ear, he
immediately fled, witn all his People,
making no Reflftance. I was informed
by the white People, then in the Englijh
and French Forts, that about five a Clock
the fame Afternoon, they faw fuch Num¬
bers of People flying from all Parts of
the Country towards the Sea fide, that it
was very furprizing : For the Fields were
covered with them many Miles round, and
their black Colour made them the more
confpicuous in a clear funfhiny Day, on
a fine flat champaign Country. The King,'
with a great number of his Subjects fled
to an I (land on the Sea Coaft, which was
parted from the main Land by a River,
having ferried over in Canoes ; but a
great many that could not have the fame
Benefit,"
and the Slave Trade. j J
Senefit, being hurried on by their Fears,
vere drowned in the Rivers, in attempti¬
ng to fwim to the Iflands lying near
Popoe ; which was the next neighbouring
Country to their own, on the Sea Coail
:o the Weft ward ; and where they might
lave been fecure from their Enemies,
lad they efcaped. Moreover, many thou-
lands of thefe poor People that fheltered
[hemfelves up and down the Country
among the Bullies, perifhed afterwards by
Sword and Famine.
But now to return to the Dahome Sol¬
diers: When they firft came to Sabee , it
feems they marched diredly to the King's
Court, where not finding him, they fee it
ion Fire; and then fent their General
jword of what had happened ; who brought
the whole Army over the River that
?Evening. Fie was in fuch a Surprize at
ibis good Fortune, that he could hardly
believe what he faw; and the white
Gentlemen were as much amazed, to fee
lithe great Cowardice of thefe People, who
ihad vapoured fo highly, and as ignore ini-
foully quitted the Town without oppofing
their
A new Account of G uinea,
their Enemies in the leafl, leaving them
indrely in the Power of the Conquerors,
with all their own Riches. Mr. Duport , who
was then the African Company's Gover-
nour, told me, that when the Dahome Sol¬
diers, who had never feen white Men be¬
fore, came to his Houfe, they flood in
amaze, and would not venture near him, till
he beckon’d and held out his Hand to them.
Whereupon they laid hold on him, and
finding him a Man like themfelves in all
Refpedls, except Colour, foon laid afide
their Reverence ; and taking from him
what he had valuable in his Pockets,
made him Prifoner, with about forty
other white Men, Englijh , French , Dutch
and Portuguefe , who were ferved in the
fame manner. Amongft them was Je¬
remiah Pinker Efq; who had juft before:
refigned the African Company's Affairs to>
Mr. Duport , and defigned, if this Acci¬
dent had not prevented him, to have em¬
barked in a few Days for England. But:
Segnor Pereira the Portuguefe Governour,,
had the good Fortune to efcape fromi
Sabee, to the French Fort. He told me*
hadi
r i - . ■"■■'.y , .
and the Slave "Trade .
he was in great fear of being fmothered in
the Prefs of the flying People* whom he
could hardly keep off with his Dagger,
from the Hammock he was carried in on
Mens Shoulders, The Day after the tak¬
ing of the Town of Sabee , the white Men
taken Prifoners, were fent into the Coun¬
try to the King of Dahome , who lay then
encamped with another Army, about
forty Miles off in the Kingdom of Ardra ;
fome Hammocks being provided for the
principal white People amongft them,
which is the ufual way of travelling in
this Country for Gentlemen either white
or black.
Mr. Duport further told me, that as
foon as they came into the Camp, they
were feparated according to their Nations,
being delivered to, and put under the
Care of, feveral principal black Gentlemen,
At fir ft they were badly accommo¬
dated ; for it was fome Days before he
could obtain an Audience of the King;
which when he did, he greatly com¬
plained of the Ufage he had met with in
all Refpe&s, On this his Majefty faid^
C * « He
A new Account of Guinea,
a He was very forry for what had hap*
££ pen’d, for he had given Orders to his
<£ Captains, in cafe they met with Sue-
c< cefs, to ufe the white Men well ; but
S£ he hoped they would excufe what had
<l! befallen them, which was to be attri-
buted to the Fate of War: Confeffing,
a he was much furprized when he was
u firft informed, fo many white People
ic were made Prifoners, and foon after
sc brought to his Camp. That in the
« Confufion of Things he had not regard-
ed them fo much as he ought but for
the future, they fhould have better
ce Treatment/' Which accordingly they
found ; but could never recover any thing
taken from them, that being put on the
fcore of the Fate of Wan However, a
few Days after, they were fet at Liberty
without any Ranfom, and fent down to
( the Englijh and French Forts. The prin¬
cipal Gentlemen amongft them were
prefented with Slaves, and his Majefty
affured them, as foon as he had fettled
his Conqueft, he would make Trade
fburifh, and have a particular Regard
to their Interefts. The
19
and the Slave Trade.
The latter end of March , in the Year
1726-7, I arrived with the Katharine Gal¬
ley in the Road of Whidaw , where I land¬
ed, and went to the Englijh Fort, which
is about three Miles from the Sea fide,
and likewifc to the French Fort near
adjoining. The white People that had
been taken Prifoners, being returned to
thofe Places but a few Days before, gave
me a full account of the great Calamity
fallen on the Country, about three Weeks
before my Arrival ; which gave me much
Concern, I having traded there feveral
Voyages. It was a lamentable Story to
hear, and a difmal Sight to fee, the De»
folation of fo fine a Country, lately ex¬
ceeding populous, now deftroyed in fuch
a manner by Fire and Sword. The Car¬
nage of the Inhabitants was, above all, a
mod moving Spectacle, the Fields being
ftrewed with their Bones, Moreover the
Concern for the Intereft of my Voyage
affected me not a little. But knowing
it highly neceffary to keep up my Spirits
in fo hoc a Country, I refolved (humbly
relying on Providence) not to be wanting
C 2 in
20
A new Account ofG uinea,
in my Endeavours) for the Intereft I had
under my Care; and I met with far
greater Succefs than any way I could
have reafonably expe&ed, confidering the
melancholy Profpedt 1 had then of Af¬
fairs, which (hall be related hereafter.
Having flayed three Days on Shore
with the Englijh and French , who, I found,
were in as great a Doubt as my felf how
to a it in their Affairs; I came to a Refo-
lution to go for the Port or Road of Ja-
queen , which lies about feven Leagues to
the Eaflward of Whidaw ; and has about
thirty Miles of Sea-Coaft. This Place
has always been the Sea Port to the King¬
dom of Ardra , and tributary to it ; hav¬
ing a hereditary Governour, who paid his
Tribute in Loaves of Salt, there being
great Quantities made here.
As loon as the King of Dabome had
conquered Ardra , the Lord of this Place
fent his Submiffion, offering the ufual
S-/
Tribute he ufed to pay the conquered
King; which was readily accepted. This
(hews the Policy of the King of Dabome;
for tho* he had made a terrible Deftrudi-
on
2 1
and the Slave Trade .
on of the Inhabitants of the inland Coun¬
tries he had conquered from Time to
Time; yet he knew his Intereft too well,
to deftroy the People of this Country in
the fame manner; for having now ob¬
tained his Defires, in gaining a free Pa f-
iage to the Sea-Side, he judged the Ja*
queens would be very ufeful to him, be-
caufe they underftood Trade, and now
by their means, he fhould never want
a fupply of Arms and Gunpowder, to
carry on his defigned Conquefis. More¬
over thefe People had ever been Rivals
to the Whidaws in Trade, and had an
inveterate Hatred againft them, becaufe
they had drawn almofi: the whole trade
from the Jaqueens , to their own Country.
For, the Pleafantnefs thereof, with the
good Government in former Times, had
induced the Europeans to carry on the far
greater part of the Trade, at their prin¬
cipal Town of Sabee,
It was on the third of April 1727, we
anchored in the Road of jaqueen ; and
foon after I fent on Shore my Surgeon,
to the Lord of that Place, to fettle an
C 3 Agree-
22
A new Account of Guinea,
Agreement with him, before I landed my
felf; for I had never been at this Place,
and had a Hint given me not to truft
him, before all the Particulars I demanded
were agreed to by him for he had for¬
merly plaid bafe Tricks with fome Eu¬
ropeans, who jhad not taken fuch a Pre¬
caution. In the Evening my Surgeon fent
me a Letter, informing me, he had ob¬
tained all I defined ; For the Performance
of which the Lord of the Place had taken
his Fetiche or Oath, in prefence of a
French and Dutch Gentleman: On this
Allurance I landed the next Day, and
went up to the Town of Jaqueen , which
lies about three Miles from the Sea fide,
where I was received very kindly, the Pro-
miles and Agreement made with my Sur¬
geon being renewed, and a Houfe ap¬
pointed me to keep Fadory in.
The next Day a Mefienger came from
the King of Dahome , whofe Name was
But fence. He fpoke very good Englijh ,
and told me, His Majefty having heard
c£ there was an Englifh Ship arrived in the
•c Road of Whidawr he had ordered him
7 3
and the Slave Trade.
« to go there and invite the Captain to
« come up to his Camp; (which wa§
« about forty Miles di redly within the
« Land in the Country of Ardra) but being
« told there I was gone for Jaqueen, he
« had followed me to make the King’s De-
“ lire known to me : Affuring me in his
“ Majefty’s Name, I Ihould be intirely
“ fafe in all Refpeds, and kindly ufed.”
To this I anfwered, “ I would con-
fider his Majefty’s kind Invitation, and
« he Ihould know my Refolution nexc
« Day.” But perceiving I had fome Dif-
truft in my Mind, he reprefented to me,
“ That if I did not go, it would highly
« offend the King; that he feared I
t* Ihould not be permitted to trade, be-
C« ftdes Other bad Confequences might
“ follow.” This black Meflenger, as
mentioned above, fpoke very good Eng-
UJh, having learnt it when a Boy in the
Englijh Fadory at Whidaw : He belonged
to Mr. Lambe , and was with him at the
time he was taken Prifoner by the King
of Ardra. They both fell into the King
of Dahome' s Power, as related above,
C 4 where
A new Account of Guinea,
where he learnt the Country Language 5
and in this refpefl: I had as capable an
Interpreter as I could defire. So, upon con-
fidering the matter, finding the Intereft of
my Voyage depended on my going to the
- Camp to wait on the King, I refolved to
t0 undertake it, thoJ the many Barbarities I
had been told his People had been guilty of,
gave me fome Concern. However, foon
after, I had further Encouragement, by
others offering to accompany me. For
a Dutch Captain’s Curiofity prompted him
to it, whofe Ship had been deftroyed juft
before by the Portuguefe : Moreover the
Dutch chief Fadtor propofed to fend one
of his Writers with large Prefents to the
Conqueror j likewife the Lord of Jaqueen
offered to fend his own Brother, to pay
his Duty, with great Prefents to the
King ; not having done it before. So
having prepared all Things for our Jour¬
ney, which took us up three Days, we
let out in the following manner.
The eighth of April, at nine a Clock
in the Morning, being accompanied with
the aforefaid Perfons, we went to the Side
of
and the Slave Trade.
of the River that runs on the Back part of
the Town of Jaqueen, having in our Re¬
tinue One hundred black Servants. We
ferried over the River in Canoes, which
are a fort of Boats, made of large Trees
hollowed. The People of the Town at¬
tended us in great numbers to the water
fide, praying for our fuccefs: For they
were under terrible apprehenfions for our
fafety, amongft fuch barbarous People as
we were going to : Efpecially they were
highly concerned for the Duke, their
Lord’s Brother, who was a Perfon en¬
dowed with the moft amiable qualities I
ever met with amongft Perfons of his
Colour.
Being landed on the other fide of the Ri¬
ver, we fet out on our Journey, the pro¬
per fervants of each perfon attending in
their feveral places. I had fix Ham¬
mock-men, who relieved one another by
turns ; two at a time being only required
to carry the Pole which it is faftened to.
II had likewife a fmall Horfe to ride on,
iwhen I was weary with lying in the
Hammock. The other Gentlemen were
accom-
25
26
A new Account of Guinea,
accommodated in the fame manner. Our
travelling was at the rate of about four
miles an hours for we made frequent
Stops for our Baggage- carriers, there be¬
ing no Carts nor good Horfes at Jaqueen ;
the few Horfes that are there being but
little bigger than our Afles. The Coun¬
try, as we travelled along, appeared beau¬
tiful and pleafant, and the Roads good ,
but defolated by the War, for we faw the
femains of abundance of Towns and Vil¬
lages, with a great quantity of the late In¬
habitants bones ftrewed about the Fields.
Noon time being paft, we dined under
fome Cocoe*trees, on the cold Provifion
we carried with us s and in the Evening
being come to a few forry Hovels, we j
put up therefor the night, and lay on the
ground on mats, (the huts not being big j
enough to hang our hammocks up in)i|
and the greateft part of our Attendants; I,
were obliged to lye in the open Air. I
The next day about feven a clock iml,
the morning, we fet out again, and by!
nine came within half a mile of the*
I .
King’s Camp. Here we halted, and*.
judge!
7
and the Slave Trade.
dge we had then travelled about forty
ales from Jaqueen. Soon after a MelTen-
;r came from his Majefty to compliment
id welcome usj and being told it was
roper to prepare our felves, we took our
: ft apparel out of our trunks, and drefs’d
Jr lelves under the covert of an old wall }
id foon after we advanced within a little
ay of the Camp, where we were defired
) wait for a great Man who was to re¬
ave us. The King, it feems, to do us
le more honour, fent the principal per¬
il of his Court (whom the Negroes dif-
nguifti’d to us by the Title of the Greaf
aptain) to receive us ; which he did in
very extraordinary manner. For he
ime in the midft of five hundred Sol-
ers, who had Fire-arms, drawn Swords,
fields, and Banners in their hands, uf-
g fo many odd and ridiculous Cefte-
onies, (as they appeared to us) that at
ft we could not judge, whether they
eant us well or ill : For the Great Cap-
in, with fome of his Officers, ap-
oached us, with their Swords drawn,
mriftfing them over our heads, then
3 pointing
2 8 A new Account of Guinea*
pointing them to our Breafts, and flcip-
ping and jumping about us, like fo many
monkies, fhowing as many tricks and
poftures, as that animal generally does.
At laft, after fome time fpent in this
manner, the Great Man fettled into a
fedate temper s Then he gave us his hand,,
welcoming us in the King’s Name, andl
drank to us in Palm Wine, which is a:
Juice drawn from the Palm-tree, which
is very common in that Country. We
returned the Compliment, drinking the
Kings health both in Wine and Beer we
had brought with us, which he feemed tc
be well pleafed with : and all Ceremonies
being ended, he defired us to go with him
towards the Camp ; and accordingly w<
proceeded, the Soldiers guarding us, ano
the mufical Inftruments making a difma;
noife.
In about half an hour's time we arrivec
at the Camp, which was near a very greas
ruin'd Town, late the principal place c
the Kingdom of Ardra . Here the Arm
lav in tents, which, according to the N't
** x
groe- Cuftom, were made of fmall Bougri
* . c
29
and the Slave Trade .
fTrees, and covered with Thatch, very
luich refembling Bee-hives, but each
ig enough to hold ten or twelve Sol-
iers, who crept in at a hole on one fide,
ad lay heads and points together. Upon
ur entring the Camp, we were con-
tided to fome large Trees, where Chairs*
ir»>
aken from the WhidawsJ were brought
)r us to fit on, under the Shade of the
"rees. Immediately fuch Numbers of
’eople flock'd about us, that if the Officers
:ad not ordered the Soldiers to keep the
ie Multitude off, we ffiould have been
ii danger of being fmothered. For tho®
here had been forty white men taken at
Vhidaw, who were all brought up pri¬
mers to this Camp, and afterwards re-
safed, as related above, yet thoufands of
eople, who came finee out of the far
iland Countries, had never feen a
vhite man before us.
Having refted our felves about two
tours, under the Shade of the Trees, and
teheld divers Feats of Activity, perform-
d by the Soldiers to divert us, we were
onduded to a thatch’d Houfe, that had
been
A new Account ofG uinea*
been prepared for us ; and tho* we were
obliged to (loop at our going in at the Door,
yet there was height enough within to
hang our Hammocks up to fleep in, which
was no little Satisfaction to us, for our
Bones were hardly recovered, from tne
former night's Lodging on the Ground*
After we had flowed our Baggage in the
Tent, the great Man took his leave of us^
but left a Guard to prevent any of the
People from difturbing us, and he went
to the King to give his Majefty an Ac¬
count of our Arrival.
By this time Noon was come, fo we
fee down to dinner on cold Ham and
Fowls, which we had brought with us.
Our Tent flood in the middle of a large
Court palifadoed round. We were fur-
prized, that no People came into the
place to fee us, they having crouded fon
much at firft, on our coming into the
Camp: But I was told the King hav¬
ing been inform'd how we were incom¬
moded , had given fir id Orders, no one,
on pain of Death, fhould, without leave;
of the Captain of our Guard, come to fee:
and the Slave Trade.
us. This was pleafing news ; for by this
we found his Majefty was duly obeyed,
and alfo had our fafety at heart. But we
were plagued with a Vermin that greatly
annoyed us ; and that was fuch an infinite
number of Flies, that tho’ we had feveral
Servants with Flappers, to keep them off
pur Victuals, yet it was hardly poffible
to put a bit of Meat into our Mouths,
(without fome of thofe Vermin with it.
IThefe Flies, it fee ms, were bred by a
beat number of dead Mens Heads, which
were piled on Stages, not far from our
rent, tho’ we did not know fo much at
:hat time.
After we had dined, a Meffenger came
:o us, about three o’ clock in the after¬
noon, from the Great Captain, defiring
ts to go to the King’s Gate; accordingly
■ve went, and in our way faw two large
Stages, on which were heaped a great
lumber of dead Men’s Heads, that afford-
id no pleafing fight or fmell. Our In-
erpreter told us, they were the Heads of
'our thoufand of the Windows. , who had
been facrificed by the Dahomes to their
God,
St
A new Account of Guinea*
God, about three weeks before,^ as an
Acknowledgment of the great Conqueft
they had obtain’d. t|
When we came to the King’s Gate,
as they call’d it, we found it only an
Entrance into a large Court, which was
palifadoed round; there being feveral
mud- wall’d Houfes in it. Here we were
defired to fit down on Stools brought to
us ; and an Officer prefented us, in the
King’s name, with Cows, Sheep, Goats,
and other Provifion ; with this Compli¬
ment, that as his Majefly was then in a
Camp, it was not in his power to provide
for uS better at this time. Having re¬
turned thanks for this unexpected favour,
we went out of the Court, and were fur-
prized with a fight, at the Gate, of forty
flout Men ranked in file, with Fufees on
their Shoulders, and broad Swords in their
Hands ; who had about their necks firings
of dead Mens Teeth, reaching as low as
their middle, both behind and before, in
luch Quantities, as might furnifh all the
Barber-Surgeons Shops in Europe. Being
furprized at this extraordinary appearance,
I a Iked
33,
and the Slave Trade,
I afkedthe Linguifl, Why they weredreft
in this manner ? To which he replied,
They were the King’s Heroes , or Wor-
thies , who had killed a great many Peo¬
ple with their own hands, and were al¬
lowed, as a mark of their great Valour,
to firing and wear their Enemies Teeth
about their Necks; and, I might obferve,
fome of them had been more fuccefsful
than others, by the different quantities
they had on : For that it was made death
by their Law, for any of thofe Gentle¬
men to firing a Tooth, without firft
making due Proof, before the proper Of¬
ficers, that it belonged to an Enemy flain
with their own hand in Battle. Having
viewed this flrange Sight, I bid the Lin-
guifl tell them, “ They appeared to be a
« Company of brave Gentlemen, and that
«< I was their humble Servant.’* This
Compliment pleafed them, and they re¬
turned it, faying, <£ They had a great
a Efteem forwhite Men.5'
After this was pafs’d, we returned to
our Tent, and fupped; then hung up
our Hammocks, and lay in them til!
D Mom-
34
A new Account of Guinea,
Morning. I took notice, that the Lord
of Jaqueens Brother, who came from
thence with us, was entertained at the
Tent of the Great Captain ; and on my
inquiring the reafon, I was anfwered, It
was in refpedt to us, that we might not
be crouded in bur Tent.
Next Morning, at nine a Clock, an
Officer came from the King to acquaint
us, we fhould have an Audience forth¬
with. Accordingly we prepared our
felves ; and then going to the King’s Gate,
were foon after introduced into his Pre¬
fence. His Majefty was in a large Court
palifadoed round, fitting (contrary to the
Cuftqm of the Country) on a fine gilt
Chair, which he had taken from the
King of Whidaw . There were held over
his Plead, by Women, three large Um¬
brellas, to (hade him from the Sun : And
four other Women flood behind the Chair
of State, with Fufils on their Shoulders.
I obferved, the Women were finely drefs’d
from the middle downward, (the Cuftom
of the Country being not to cover the
Body upward, of either Sex) moreover
and the Slave Trade .
they had on their Arms, many large Ma-
i Helloes, or Rings of Gold of great
| Value, and round their Necks, and in
i their Hair, abundance of their Country
Jewels, which arc a fort of Beads of
: divers Colours, brought from a far in¬
land Country, where they are dug out of
! the Earth, and in the fame Efteem with
: the Negroes , as Diamonds amongft the
i Europeans.
The King had a Gown on, flowered
i with Gold, which reached as low as his
Ancles ; an European embroidered Hat
on his Head $ with Sandals on his Feet,
We being brought within ten Yards of the
Chair of State, were defired to ftand ftill :
The King then ordered the Linguift to
bid us welcome 3 on which we paid his
Majefty the refpedl of our Hats, bowing
our Heads at the fame time very low, as
the Interpreter dire&ed us. Then I or¬
dered the Linguift to acquaint the King,
€C That on his Majefty ’s fending, to de-
*c lire me to come up to his Camp, I
forthwith refolved on the Journey*
££ that I might have the pleafure of fee-
D 2 ing
36 A new Account of Guinea,
“ ing fo great and good a King, as I
“ heard he was; relying intirely on the
“ Promifes his Meffenger had made me
€< in his Majefty’s Name.” The King
feemed well pleafed with what I faid,
and affured us of his Protection and kind
ufage. Then Chairs being brought, we
were defired to fit down, and the King
drank our Healths ; and then Liquor be¬
ing brought us by his Order, we drank
his Majefty’s. After this the Interpreter
told us, Cc It was the King’s Defire we
“ fhould ftay foine time with him, to fee
the Method of paying the Soldiers
<£ for Captives taken in War, and the
££ Heads of the (lain.
It fo happen’d, that in the Evening of
the Day we came into the Camp, there
were brought above eighteen hundred
Captives, from a Country called Tuft'oe ,
at the diftance of fix days Journey. The
occafion of warring on them, the Lin-
guift thus related, <c That at the time
EC his King was wholly employed in
64 contriving the Deftruftion of the
Whidaws , thefe People had prefumed
fC to
37
and the Slave Trade .
■£t to attack five hundred of his Sol-
tc diets, fent by his Majefly as a Guard
*c to twelve of his Wives, who were
££ going with a large quantity of Goods
a and fine things, carried by Slaves, to
££ the Country of Dahome. The Guard
t£ being routed, and the Women (lain,
<c the Taffies pofiefs’d themfelves of
££ the Goods ; for which Outrage, as
££ foon as the Conqueft of Whidaw was
t£ compleated, the King fent part of his
s£ Army againft them, to revenge him
*c for their Villany; in which they had
££ all defirable Succefs.” It was neceffary
ro mention this Affair, for the better
jLinderftanding of what follows, it being fo
very remarkable.
The King, at the time we were pre-
fent, ordered the Captives of T uffoe to be
brought into the Court : Which being ac¬
cordingly done, he chofe himfeif a great
number out of them, to be facrificed to
his Fetiche or Guardian Angel ; the others
being kept for Slaves for his own ufe ;
or to be fold to the Europeans. There
were proper Officers, who received the
D 3 Captives
co
8 A new Account of Guinea,
Captives from the Soldiers hands, and paid
them the Value of twenty Shillings Ster¬
ling for every Man, in Cowries, (which
is a Shell brought from the Eaft Indies ,
and carried in large quantities to Whidaw
by the Europeans, being the current Money
of all the neighbouring Countries far and
near) and ten Shillings for a Woman,
Boy, or Girl There were likewife brought
by the Soldiers fome thoufands of dead
Peoples Heads into the Court; every Sol¬
dier, as he had Succefs, bringing in his
hand one, two, three, or more Heads
hanging in a String ; and as the proper
Officers received them, they paid the Sol- -
diers five Shillings for each Head: Then
feveral People carried them away, in or¬
der to be thrown on a great Heap of
other Heads, that lay near the Camp;
the Linguift telling us his Majefly defigns
to build a Monument with them, and
the Pleads of other Enemies formerly
conquered and killed.
I obierved, there were a great many of
the principal Men of the Court and Ar¬
my prefent, all proftrated on the Ground ;
none
and the Slave Trade .
none being permitted to go nearer, than
within twenty foot of the King’s Chair ;
and whatfcever they had to fay to his Ma-
jedy, fird kiffing the Ground, they whif*
pered into the Ear of an old Woman,
who went to the King; and having re¬
ceived his anfvver, (he returned with it
to them. His Majefty likewife fhowcd
his Liberality to his Courtiers and Offi¬
cers, in prefenting them with at lead two
hundred Captives. As foon as any per-
fon had a Slave prefented to them, a pro¬
per Officer made Proclamation of it,
which was immediately echoed by the
Populace, who were waiting in great
numbers at the King’s Gate for the Sa¬
crifices.
After the Bufinefs of the Captives was
difpatch’d, there came into the Court two
Fellows, with a large Tub, that had in
it at lead fix Gallons of Frumenty, or
fuch like duff, which they fee on the
Ground; and then falling on their Knees,
they took with their Hands the Victuals
out of the Tub, and threw it fo fail into
their Mouths, that tho’ there was fuch a
D 4 quant i
4-0 A new Account of Guinea,
quantity of it, they difpatchxl it in a few
Minutes. The Linguift told us, this was
their daily Practice ; but that thefe Gor¬
mandizers lived not many Years, and
then others took up their Trade ; which
is only in order to divert the King.
After this we faw feveral other things,
full as ridiculous as this, which would
be tedious for me to relate, as well as
to the Reader to perufe 3 fo having been
near three Hours in the Court, expofed
to the great heat of the Sun, from which
we had nothing but Umbrellas to defend
us, we defired his Majefty’s Leave, to re-
tire to our Tent, which was readily
granted 3 accordingly we paid our Duty
in a compliment to the King, and went
away.
Sometime after this, we fat down to
Dinner in our Tent, being accompanied
with a great number of Flies, as formerly
mentioned. Juft as we had dined, the
Duke, Brother to the Lord of Jaqueen. ,
came to us in fo great a fright, that af¬
ter lie had tat down, he could not fpeak
for lome time : And thoT he was at other
times.
and the Slave Trade.
times, of a comely black colour, yet now
bis Countenance was changed to tawny *
For as he was coming to our Tent, he
faw a great number of poor People going
to be lacrificed ; whofe Lamentations had
made fuch an Impreffion, that it had oc-
cafioned this great diforder in him. For
People of tne Sea-Coafl abhor fuch
things; Specially the eating their Bodies
afterwards, as the Dahomes do. And ’tis
not to be imagined, what fervice the re¬
port of this did them, when they firfl
invaciul the Countries bordering on the
Sea-Coaft: On which I fhall make a fliort
Digreffion, to inform the Reader.
Difcourfing afterwards with fome of
the principal People of Ardra and Whi-
dtnVy who had efcaped the Conqueror’s
Sword, and telling them, W'hat a Re¬
proach and Diigrace it was to the latter
Nation to quit their Country to the Da¬
homes in fo cowardly a manner as they
had done ; they anfwered, It was not pof-
fible to refill fuch Cannibals, the very
Report of which had extremely intimi¬
dated their whole Nation. Whereupon
X ob-
A new Account of Guinea,
I obferved to them, It was all one to a
dead Carcafe, whether it was eaten by
their own kind, or by the Vultures, (of
which there are great numbers in the
Country) on which they fhrugged up their
Shoulders, faying, <c The thoughts of be-
“ ing eaten by their own Species, were far
II more terrible to them, than the Appre-
henfions of being killed.
But to return again to the Duke, I en¬
deavoured to allay his Fears, by reprefent-
jng to him, we had the King’s Promifefor
our Safety ; and that facrihcing their Ene¬
mies being the ufual cuftom of the Coun¬
try on any Conqueft, he ought not to be
fo much furprized at it. But he replied,
As to his own Safety he was very doubt¬
ful of it, the King not having yet admitted
him to an Audience ; fo he requeued he
might remain in our Tent, as thinking
himfelf fafer with us, and accordingly we
granted his requeft. Then fending for
our Linguift, we defired to know, Whe¬
ther the Dutch Captain and my felf might
be admitted to fee the manner of the Sa¬
crifices : (As for the Dutch Writer, he
chofe
43
and the Slave Trade .
chofe to remain in the Tent with the
Duke) The Interpreter anfwered, He
would go to the chief Feticheer , or Prieft,
i and know, whether he would be pleafed
to give us leave. Soon after he returned,
i and informed us, Leave was granted : So Human
we went with him, about a quarter of a Sacrifices
mile from the Camp. There we found
great numbers of People gathered toge¬
ther ; and our Guard made way for us
! through the Croud, till we came near
: four fmall Stages, which were ereded
’ about five foot from the ground. We
flood clofe to them, and obferved the
Ceremony, which was performed in the
following manner.
The firft Vi dim we faw, was brought
to the fide of the Stage. It was a comely
old Man, between fifty and fixty Years of
Age. His hands were tied behind him;
and in his behaviour, he fhowed a brave
and undaunted Mind, nothing like Fear
appearing in him. As he flood up¬
right by the Stage, a Feticheer , or Priefp
laid his Hand on his Head, faying fome
words of Confecration^ which lafted
about
44
A new Account of Guinea,
about two Minutes. Then he gave the
fign of Execution, to a Man that flood
behind the Vidcim with a broad Sword,
who immediately (truck him on the nape
of the Neck, with fuch force, that the
Head was fevered at one Blow, from the
Body ; whereupon the Rabble gave a
great Shout. The Head was caft on the
Stage, and the Body, after having lain a
little while on the Ground, that the Blood
might drain from it, was carried away by
Slaves, and thrown in a place adjoining to
the Camp. The Linguift told us, the
Head of the Vidim was for the King;
the Blood for the Fetiche , or God; and ,
the Body for the common People. We
law many other Perfons facrificed in this
lamentable manner, and obferved, That
the Men went to the (Ide of the Stages,
bold and unconcerned ; but the Cries of
the poor Women and Children were very
moving, and much affedted the Dutch
Captain and My felf, tho? in a different
manner : For he expreffcd his Fears to
me, That the Priefts might take it into
their Heads, to ferveusin the fame man-
ner5
and the Slave Trade .
ner, if they lliould fancy white People
would be more acceptable to their God,
than perfons of their own colour. This
notion railed fome fear in me, but recol-
' leding my felf, I told him, “ As the
“ King was fo greatly reverenced and
“ feared, I was in good hopes nothing
“ would be attempted on us; and that
“ we ought to put a good face on the
“ matter, and withdraw from fo terrible
“ a Sight, the firft opportunity.” Soon
after, a principal Man of the Court
came and food by us, and bid the Inter-
: preter afk us, “ How we liked the Sight?”
I To which we replied, “ Not at all : for
1 “ our God had expreily forbid us ufing
“ Mankind in fo cruel a manner : That
“ our Curiofity had drawn us to come
“ and fee it; which if we had not done,
“ we could never have believed it.” Then
I allied the Linguift, Whether this Gen-
I tleman was accounted a generous good
i humoured Man ? To which the Linguift
i replying in the a formative, I ventured to
! put this Queftion to him, “ That if his
| “ Fate had brought him into the fame
6 “ Mif-
/I new Account of Guinea,
<< Misfortune, as thefe poor Captives were
<* now in, how he fhould iike it ? He
«« readily anfwered. Not at all. On this
<£ I obferved to hirn, that toe grand Law
« both of Whites and Blacks, with all
<£ their Fellow Creatures was; Tdo do to
' ' others no otherwife, than as they defined. to
« be done unto : And that our God had en-
« joined this to us on pain of vety fevere
“ Punhhments.” To which he anfwered,
This was the Cuftom of his Country 5
and fo he left us.
Prefentlv after this Gentleman’s depar¬
ture, there came to us a Colonel of the
Army, whom we had feen at Jaqueen ,
the day before we fetout on our Journey
This perfon feemed very friendly and glad
to fee us, and ready to refolve any Que-
ftions we put to him. Amongft the reft,
I told him, “ That I wondered they
“ ftiould facrifice fo many People, of
« whom they might otherwife make
“ good advantage, by felling them. He
replied, “ It had ever been the Cuftom of
“ their Nation, after any Conqueft, to
« offer to their God a certain number of
“ Cap--
and the Slave Trade .
Captives, which were always chofe out
from among the Prifoners, by the King
himfelf: For they firmly believed3
fhould this be omitted, no more Sue *
cels would attend them. And he ar-
gued for the Neceffity and Ufefulnefs
of their doing it, from the large Con¬
quers they had made within a few
Years, without any Defeat/*' Then I
fked him, <c Why fo many old Men were
facrificed in particular? Fie anfwered*
It was bed to put them to death; for
being grown wife by their Age and long
; Experience, if they were preferved,
! they would be ever plotting againft their
: Mafters, and fo difturb the Country;
c for they never would be eafy under
Slavery, having been the chief Men in
their own Land. Moreover, if they
fhould be fpared, no European would buy
c them, on account of their Age.” I then
)bferved to him, That I had feen feveral
landfome young People facrificed, whom
was fore the Europeans would gladly have
)ought. Fie replied, <f They were de~
figned to attend in the other World the
u King’s
A new Account oj Guinea,
“ King's Wives, whom the Tuff'oes their
“ Countrymen had flain.” By which An-
fwer I found they have a Notion of a
future State, tho’ a very rude one. And
this put me upon alking him, What Opi¬
nions they held concerning their God ?
To which he gave a very confufed and
imperfedt Anfwer ; fo that all I could ga¬
ther from his Difcourfe was, That they
efteemed him as an invifible Guardian
Angel, fubordinate to another God ; ad¬
ding, “ Perhaps that God might be
“ ours, who had communicated fo many
“ extraordinary Things to white Men;
“ as he had been informed by Mr. Lambe :
“ But as that God had not been pleafed
“ to make himfelf known to them, they
“ muft be fatisfied with this they wor-
“ fhipped.”
By this time the Mob being grown thin,
on the fide where we ftood, I told the
Linguift, we would return to our Tent;
and 1 invited the Colonel to go along with
us, which he readily promifed. Accor¬
dingly our Guard having made way for
ns, we left this horrible Place and Sight,
and the Slave Tirade.
not having received the leafl Affront, tho5
we were near two Hours by the Stages.
At our return we underflood, the King
had fent the Duke word, he fhould have
i an Audience that Evening ; whereupon I
; endeavoured to cheer him up by telling
him, “ That we had been civilly ufed at
“ the Sacrifices, and that nothing could
<c more conduce to his Reputation, than
“ his appearing before the King, in his
<c ufual fprightly Carriage and Behaviour,”
which was indeed natural to him. On
this he went from us to the Great Cap¬
tain's Tent, in order to prepare himfelf
; to go to the Audience. But the Colonel
: remained with us, drinking merrily of
{European Liquors, and in the Evening he
afked us, “ Whether we would take a
“ walk, and fee that Quarter of the Camp
<c where his Tent flood ?” This we rea¬
dily agreed to, and in our way pafl by the
Iplace where the facrificed Bodies were
I thrown. There were two great heaps of
them, confiding, as they faid, of four
hundred Perfons, and who had been
chofe out by the King that very Morning,
E After
49
5o A new Account of Guinea*
After w£ had been at the Colonel’s
Tent, where we were treated with Palm
Wine, we returned to our own, being
accompanied by him, and we defired
him to (lay to Supper. While we were
eating, feveral Servants came with Difhes
of Flelh and Fi(h, drefs'd after the Coun¬
try manner, and the Interpreter told us,
they were fent by a Mulatto Portuguese
Gentleman, who had been taken in the
Ardra War. The King had ever iince
detained him Pri loner, allowing him a
handfome Maintenance, and had given
him a Wife much whiter than himfelf,
who was born in the inland Country.
Soon after the Victuals were brought,
the Gentleman came himfelf, with his
Wife, to fee us; and after palling a hand¬
fome Compliment, they fat down to Sup¬
per with us. We were very glad of this new
Acquaintance, the Dutch IF ritcr fpeak-
ing good Portuguese , and my felf under-
(landing a little ; fo that now we judged,
we fhould not be obliged to trull incirely
to our Linguift, this Perfon talking the
Language of the Country fluently. I was
i much
and the Slave Trade .
much furprized to fee his Wife fo white,
equal to our Englijh Women, only of not
fo lively a Colour. She had woolly Hair5
like the blacked of the Natives, with the
fame Features. Her Hufband told us,
(he was born in a far inland Country, of
black Parents, who had never feen a
white Man, nor fhe before Mr. Lambei
whom he enquired affedtionately after,
aying, “ That when he returned, accor-
c ding to his Promife to the King, his
c Majedy had promifed to grant him his
s Liberty/5 Then, on his Importunity, we
U'omifed him a Vifit at his Houfe ; and
bon after, he and his Wife, with the
Zolonel, took their leaves, widiing us a
pod Night.
The next day, early in the morning, the
)uke came to our Tent, and told us, he had,
i the night pad, a long Audience of the
Ling, who treated him in a kind manner ;
\> that his Apprehenfions of being kill'd and
aten were quite vanifhed : but he told us
rith the utmod Horrour, that the facrifi-
id Bodies had been taken away in the
. „ . n / , Cannibals!,
light by the common People^
E
who
had
52
A new Account of Guinea,
had boiled and feafted on them, as holy
Food. This Story induced us to fend for
our Linguift, and take a walk to the place
where we had feen the Carcafes the
evening before; and, to our great Surprize,
we found they were all gone. There¬
upon afking the Interpreter, what was
become of them ? he replied frniling, the
Vultures had eaten them up). I told him,
tC That was very extraordinary indeed,
cc to fwaliow Bones and all;” there be¬
ing nothing remaining on the Place, but
a great quantity of Blood. So he con-
feffed, the Feticheers , or Priefts, had
divided the Carcafes among ft the People,
who had eat them in the manner the Duke
had told us. And tho’ no doubt this will!
appear incredible to many Perfons, yet P
defire they will only make this one Refledti-
on, That thofe who could be fo cruel as to:
facrifice their fellow-Creatures, might
probably carry their Barbarity a Degree
further.
However, as I relate nothing for mat¬
ter of Fadp but what I was an Eye-wit-:
nefs 10 3 fo 1 (hall leave the Reader to give
what
53
and the Slave Trade •
what credit hepleafes thereto. But as a
further confirmation of their being Can¬
nibals, I fhall relate what I afterwards
learn’d from one Mr. Robert More , who was
a perfon of great Integrity, and at that
time Surgeon of the Italian Galley , This
Ship came to JVhidaw whilft I was at
Jaqueen , and Captain John Dagge , the
Commander, being indifpofed, fent More
to the King of Dahome* s Camp, with
Prefen ts for his Majefiy. There he faw
many ft range things, efpecially human
Flefh fold publickly in the great Market¬
place. As I was not in the Market dur¬
ing the time I was in the Camp, I faw no
fuch thing : But I don't doubt but that I
ftiould have feen the fame, had I gone
into that place, for there were many old
and maimed Captiv es brought from Tujce ,
; (befides thofe facrificed) which no Euro-
i peans would have bought.
But to return from this Digreffion : On
our return to the Tent, we fent our Lin-
guifi: to the great Captain, to defire he
wrould procure us an Audience from the
King, to treat of Bulinefs: But he fent
E 3 us
54
A new Account of Guinea,
us word, Thar as his Majefty was very
much engaged, we could not be heard
that day ; there being forne Embaffadors
come from the inland Countries., who
were to have an Audience forthwith. On
this I fent again to the Great Captain,
defiling he would pleafe to be mindful of
us, on the ftrft Opportunity ; and he was
unexpectedly fo that Afternoon.
Having then nothing to do but fit in
our Tent, and make Memorandums of
what we heard and faw ; we afked the
Linguift, <£ Whether we might, without
“ Offence, go to fee the Mulatto Tortu~
u guefe Gentleman?0 Thereupon he con tub
ted with a principal Perfon belonging to the
Court, who often came by the King's Or¬
der to us, to enquire if we wanted any
thing; And he approving of it, we pre¬
pared to go, but .fir ft had this Caution
given us ; that there being two Embaffa-
dors in the Camp from the King of Whi-
daw , to offer his Subjection, if we fhould
meet with any of their People in the
Street, we fhould not hold any Conference
with them. Which having promifed5
we
/
and the Slave Trade .
we went to the cPortuguefe Gentleman's
Houfe, who received us very kindly, think¬
ing he could not make us welcome enough 5
and as we could underftand him, we fent
our Interpreter away, under pretence of
an Errand to the Duke. After he was
gone, the fir ft thing we deli red of this
Gentleman, was, to give us feme hints,
how We fhould behave, when we came
to treat of Buftn&fs with the King; which
fie readily did, fpeaking fo highly of the
King’s Policy and Generofity, that we
were much furprized, tho* afterwards we
experienced the full of what he told us.
This Perfon had in the Court of his Houfe
two pretty Horfes, each about thirteen
hands high, which were every way
much better than thofe we had feen at
Jaquecn . Upon our afking him, from
whence he had them, he replied, “ They
a came from the Kingdom of J-oei
££ which lies towards the North-Eaft,
many days Journey off, beyond a great
<c and famous Lake, which is the Foun-
«c tain of feveral large Rivers, that
^ empty themfelves into the Bay of Gut-
E 4 * “ nea*
A new) Account of Guinea,
" nea . And he further added, that feVe-
cc ral fugitive Princes, whofe Fathers the
cc King of Dabome had conquered and be-
£C headed, fled to the King of this Coun-
<c try for Protection, and at lafl: prevailed
cc with him to make War on the King
<£ of Dabome , which he did foon after
tc the latter had conquered Ardra. The
“ King of J -oe fent, under the Com-
<£ mand of a General, a great Army of
te Horfe, confiding of many Thoufands,
C£ (for they never ufe Infantry) where-
“ with he invaded the Dahomes in their
€‘ own Country: On this fudden and un-
“ expeCted Invafion, the King of Dabome
<c marched immediately from Ardra into
<£ his own Kingdom, and made Head
C£ againfl: the J^oes. But as he had none but
£C Infantry, whofe Arms were Guns and
“ Swords, he was hard put to it : For the
Country being open and without Inclo-
fores, the Horfemen, who were armed
<£ with Bows and Arrows Javelins and cut-
<£ ting Swords, had certainly conquer'd, if
•c the unufual noife of the Dahomes Fire-
Arms had not fo frightned the Horfes,
ec that
<c
57
and the Slave Trade.
that their Riders could never make a
home-Charge on the Enemies Foot.
“ However, the Difpute having lafted, at
“ times, four days, and the King of Da-
“ home finding his Soldiers fo fatigued,
“ that they could hold out but a little
“ longer, he contrived this Stratagem:
“ he had great quantities of Brandy
“ by him, formerly bought at Whidaw,
“ which is a principal Commodity the
“ French Ships bring there, to exchange
“ for Negroes. So the King refolved to
“ retreat in the Night with his Army,
“ and leave the Liquor as a Bait for the
“ Enemy, with great quantities of valu-
“ able Goods, which were in ftore, in a
“ large Town near the Camp. When
“ Day came, the J-oes thinking the Da-
“ homes were fled, fell to plundering and
deftroying the Town, and drinking
“ greedily of the Brandy: And as they
“ feldom had tailed of that Liquor
“ before, it fo intoxicated them, that
“ they fell afleep in great numbers on the
“ Ground. The King of Dahome being
“ informed of this by his Spies, returned
“ with
A new Account of Guinea,
(i with the utmoft fpeed, and attacking
u them while they were in this Diforder,
<c routed them > but the greater part of
« the J-oes efcaped with the help of their
« Horfes, and fled out of the Country :
fit However, their Lois was lo great, that
«« the others efteemed it a eompleat Vic-
« tory. The Portuguefe Gentleman ad-
«.< (}ed that at the time of this Rout, he
tc took the two Horfes we had feen in his
tt Yard, and a great many more were
it feiZed at the fame time by the Dahnnii
<f Soldiers. He faid further, (but enjoin-
a ccj us Secrecv) That tho’ the Dahomes
« were exceeding proud of this Viftory,
a they were ftill much afraid of a lecond
a Invafion, an Army of Horfes being
c< very terrible to themt And that the
«« Ring had lately fent great Prefents to
« the King of J-oe, to prevent his attack-
v jncT him a fecond time. However, in
e‘ cafe he did it, and they Ihould not be
v able to withftand them, they comforted
u themfelves with this Thought, that
a they might fave their Perfons, by flying
“ to the Sea Coaft, to which the J*oes
“ durft
and the Slave Trade. 59
<c durft not follow them. For as their
“ national Fetiche was the Sea, they were
u prohibited by their Priefts from ever
“ feeing it, under no lefs a Penalty than
<c Death ; which they made the People
c< believe, would by their God, if they
<c were fo prefumptuous, be inflided on
ec them.” This laft Story feemed no¬
thing ftrange to us, who had convert
ed with the Coaft Negroes ; for they
have all their particular Fetiches after the
fame manner j fome being prohibited eat¬
ing Fowls that have white Feathers $
others, on the contrary, are to eat none
that have black : Some are to eat no
Sheep, others no Goats. And abundance
of fuch other fuperftitious Obfervances
they have, which are moft religioully
kept, being affigned them by the Priefi,
the Day they have their name given
them.
By this time it was part Noon, fo we
took our leave of the Portuguefe , and
went to our Tent to Dinner. TheAu-
About three a Clock that Afternoon, a AudfencT
Meflenger came from the great Captain, of the
0 g 3 King of
tO Dahom},
6o
A new Account of Guinea,
to inform us, the King had appointed
immediately to give us an Audience. This
was an agreeable Surprize to us, for now
we had hopes of being quickly difpatch’d,
fo we prepared our felves, and went to
the King's Gate, our Prefents for his Ma-
jefty being carried before us.
On our coming into the Court, where
we had feen the King at our former Au¬
dience, we were delired to flay a little,
till the Prefents were carried into the
Houfe, that hisMajefty might view them.
Soon after we were introduced intoafmall
Court, at the further end of which the
King was fitting crofs-legg’d on a Carpet
of Silk, fpread on the Ground : He was
himfelf richly drefs’d, and had but few
Attendants. When we approached him,
his Majefty enquired in a very kind man¬
ner, How we did ■? ordering we fhould be
placed near him ; and accordingly fine
Mats were fpread on the Ground for us
to fit on. Tho’ fitting in that Pofture
was not very eafy to us, yet we put a good
Face on the matter, underffanding by the
Linguiit, that it was their Cuftom.
As
/
and the Slave Trade . 6 1
As foon as we were placed, the King or¬
dered the Interpreter to afk me, What I
had to defire of him? To which I an-
fwered, a That as my Bufinefs was to
<c trade, fo I relied on his Majefty’s Good-
<c nefs, to give me a quick difpatch, and
C£ fill my Ship with Negroes ; by which
££ means I {hould return into my own
“ Country in a (hort time; where I
£c {hould- make known how great and
<c powerful a King I had feen.’" To
this the King replied by the Linguift,
£C That my defire (hould be fulfilled :
cc But the firft Bufinefs to be fettled was
tc his Cuftoms.” Thereupon I dcfired
his Majefty to let me know what he ex¬
pected ? There was a Perfon then prefent
(I believe on purpofe) whofe name was
Zunglar , a cunning Fellow, who had for¬
merly been the King’s Agent for feveral
Years at JVhidaw ; where I had feen him
in my former Voyages* To him I was
referred to talk about the Affair. So
Zunglar told me, a his Mafier being re-
“ folved to encourage Trade, tho’ he was
4£ a Conqueror, yet he would not impofe .
“ a
62
A new Account oj Guinea,
*< a greater Cuftom than ufed to be paid
‘‘ to the King of Whidaw'.’ I anfwered,
“ As his Majefty was a far greater Prince,
«< fo I hoped he would not take fo much.
This Zunglar not replying readily to, and
the King obferving it, (for the Linguift
told him every word that pafs d be¬
tween us) His Majefty himfelf replied,
“ That as he was the greater Prince, he
« might reafonably expect the more Cuf-
« tom ; but as I was the firft Englijh Cap-
« tain he had feen, he would treat me as
« a young Wife or Bride, who mull be
“ denied nothing at firft.” Being ' fur-
prized at this turn of Expreflion, I told
the Linguift, “ I was afraid he impofed
« on me, and interpreted the King’s words
« in too favourable a manner.” His Ma¬
jefty obferving I fpoke with fome Sharp-
nefs, a Iked him what I faid ? Which the
Linguift having told him, his Majefty
fmiled, and exprefled himfelf again to the
lame purpofe: Adding, “ I fhould find
“ his Adtions anfwerable to his Words.”
Being greatly encouraged by the King’s
gracious Exprefiions towards me, I took
63
and the Slave Trade.
the Liberty to reprefent to his Majefty,
“ That the beft way to make Trade flou-
“ rifti, was to impofe eafy Cuftoms, and
“ to protect us from the Thievery of the
“ Natives, and the Impofitions of great
“ Men ; which the King of Whidaw not
“ doing, had greatly hurt the Trade. For
“ the ill ufage the Europeans had met
“ with of late from him and his People,
“ had caufed them to fend fewer Ships
“ than formerly they did. And tho’
“ a large Cuftom might feem at firll
“ for his Majefty ’s Advantage, yet it would
5t foon be found, that a great number of
“ Ships would thereby be hindred from
“ coming to trade ; fo that in this refpetft
“ he would lofe far more in General,
than he would gain by that Particular/’
The King took what I faid in good
part, telling me, <c I fliould name my
“ own Cuftom," which I at firft declined :
But being preft to do it a fecond time, I
told the Linguift to afk his Majefty,
“ Whether he would be pleafed to take
“ one half of what we ufed to pay at
Whidaw To this the King readily
agreed 3
A new Account of Guinea,
agreed ; adding, £< He defigned to make
« Trade flourilh; and I might depend
« upon it, he would prevent all Impofi-
“ tions, and Thievery, and protedt the
« Europeans that came to his Country,
« faying, that his God had made him
“ the Inftrument to punilh the King of
“ Whidaw , and his People, for the many
“ Villanies they had been guilty of to-
« wards both Whites and Blacks : That
“ the Embaffadors now in his Camp from
“ the faid King, had informed him of
« me and my Chara&er, and that by the
“ account they had given him of my
<« former dealings in their Country, he
« could put much Confidence in me.”
Then his Majefly having alked me di¬
vers Queftions concerning our former ill
ufage in the Country of Whidaw, to which
I anfwered as I thought proper; I took
this Opportunity of pleading for the com¬
mon People of that Kingdom ; reprefent-
ing, “ It was the great Men amongft
tc them that had encouraged their thiev-
“ ing, in which they {hared: But if his
Majefty would be pleafed to receive
“ them
and the Slave Trade, 65
se them to Mercy, and reftore them to
a their Country, on paying a certain
€C Tribute, they would be of great ad-
€* vantage to him; becaufe they were
a very induftrious in cultivating the Land,
sc and many of them underftood Trade
“ exceeding well, which his own People
€£ were little verfed in. Moreover it was
“ a Maxim amongft the white Princes,
u that the number of ufeful Subjects was
their greateft Glory and Strength ; and
sc if his Majefty thought the fame, he
« had an opportunity of adding many
5C hundreds of thoufands to his former
« Vaffals.” To this the King replied,
€C He was fenfible of the truth of what I
« alledged, but that the Conqueft of
£c Whidaw could not be fecured, till he
« had the King's Head; and he had ai-
« ready offered the People to reftore
them to their Country, as foon as they
4t fhould fend him alive or dead to his
« Camp." I did not think proper, on
hearing this, to fay any thing more on
the matter, or obferve to his Majefty,
how wrong a Policy it was, to oblige
F Sybjefis
66
Account
oi Bull'
finch
Lambe *
A new Account of Guinea*
Subjects to adfc fo villanous a part to¬
wards their Sovereign* For as the Cub-
tom of thefe black Princes was little
known to us, I was afraid of giving of¬
fence: So I only anfwered, C£ That as
“ the King of Whidaw was on an Ifland
a; by Popoe , with many thoufands of his
ce People, the reft that were difperfed up
ce and down the Country in the Bufhes,
<c could not poffibly perform what his
£C Majefty required of them : For if they
were ever fo ready to do it, yet having
no Cannoes to ferry over to the Ifland?t
a it was not in their Power to take the
King from thence ; and that I believed
if he did not receive them to Mercy
cc quickly, the far greater part of them
“ would perilh by Famine/7'
After this his Majefty fell into a variety
of Difcourfe, and amongft other things
complained of Mr, Lambe , (who, as I
have related in the beginning of this
Book, had been taken Prifoner in the
Ardra War,) faying, <c That tho’ he had
iC given him, at his leaving the Court,
three hundred and twenty ounces of
' c Gold,
fv Uj '
and the Slave Trade .
ic Gold, with eight^Slavesy and made him
promife with a folemn Oath to return
agai n in a reafonable time, yet twelve
Moons had now pafs’d, and he had
*c heard nothing from him : Adding, He
had fent a black Perfon with him,
<s whole name was ’Tom, one who had
££ been made a Prifonerat the fame time,
being a Jaqueen-man, who fpoke good
EngliJJj ; and this Man he had ordered
<c to return again with Mr, Lambe, that
<s he might be informed, whether what
that Gentleman had reported concern -
<; ing our King, Cuftoms, and manner of
Living w7as true/' To this I replied,
€c That I had no perfonal Knowledge of
gc Mr. Lambe, but had been informed,
u before I left England, that he went
se from Whidaw to Barbadoes, which is
<c a Plantation where the Englijh employ
“ their Slaves in making Sugar, and
which is at a great diflance from our
«c own Country But 1 hoped he would
€C prove an honeft Man, and return again
“ to his Majefty, according to his Pro-
-s mife and Oath/’
F 2
To
68
Account
of the
black
Man.
A new Account of Guinea,
To this the King replied, <c Tho’ he
C£ proved not as good as his Word, other
white Men fhould not fare the worfe
<c on that account ; for as to what he had
t£ given Lambe , he valued it not a Rufh;
<£ but if he returned quickly, and came
<£ with never fo large a Ship, (he fhould
<c be inftantly filled with Slaves, with
14 which he might do what he thought
<c proper.
It may not be improper here to give
a fhort account of the black Man the King
mentioned to me, becaufe he was in
England laft year, and the Affair was
brought before the Lords of Trade, by
whom I was examined about him.
Mr. Lambe carried this Perfon to Bar-
badoes , and feveral other Places, but at
laft left him with a Gentleman in Mary¬
land, Afterwards Mr. Lambe trafficked
for fome Years, from one place to ano¬
ther in the Plantations ; and coming to
the Ifland of Antegoay where I had been
in the year 1728, and told the foregoing
ftory to fome Gentlemen, and how kindly
the King of Dahcrne had exprefs'd himfelf
with
and the Slave Trade .
with regard to the faid Mr, Lambe , being
by them informed of it, this induced him
to return to Maryland ; and the Gentle¬
man who had Tom in his Cuftody was fo
good, as to deliver him again to Mr,
Lambe. , who came with him to London ,
the beginning of the year 173 r,
Mr. Lambe , foon after his arrival, came
to fee me at my houfe, enquiring par¬
ticularly about what I had related at An¬
te go a, which I confirmed to him. Then
he defired my Advice about his going
back to the King of Dahome. To this
I frankly anfwered, “ It was my opinion,
“ he had mifs’d the opportunity, by not
€C returning in a reafonable time, accor-
€e ding to his promife $ feveral years be-
ing now pafsd iince he came from
€€ thence, and the State of Affairs much
altered for the worfe : Befides, he
“ might juftly fear the King’s refentment,
<c as Mr, Tejlefole had experienced lately
4C to his coft, for abufing his Goodnefs 5
‘c for tho? he was Governour for the
a African Company at Whidaw , yet he
had been put to death in a cruel
“ manner. F 3 Oi
70
A new Account of Guinea^
On this he left me; and the next news
1 heard, was, That Mr. Lamb'e had de»
livered a Letter to his Majedy King
George as from the King of Dahome7
which being referred to the Lords of
Trade, the Merchants trading to the
Goad of Guinea were fent for; and I be¬
ing ordered to attend, informed their
Lordfhips of what I knew of the matter.
The report from the Lords of Trade
was to this Purpofe, <c That the Letter
c< in their opinion was not genuine, but
that the black Man ought to be taken
care of, and returned to his King
Accordingly he was put into the hands -
of the African Company, who took care
of him for many Months; but he grow-
ing impatient, applied to their Graces
the Dukes of Richmond and Montague ?
who procured him a Paffage on board
his Majefty’sShip th Aiger Captain Berke -
ley, then bound to the Coaft of Guinea .
Moreover, their Lordfhips having (hew¬
ed him great Kindnefs, mod generoufly
lent by him feveral rare Prefents to his
King, which, no doubt, will make a good
impreffion
&
and the Slave Trade .
impreffion on him in favour of our Na¬
tion i and I have lately heard,, that on
his being put on Shore at Whidaw , he
was forthwith lent to the King, who was
then in his own Country of Dahorne , and
was received gracioufly by him : That his
Majefty fent down handfome Prefents for
Captain Berkeley , but before the Meffen-
gers got to Whidaw , he was failed, not
having patience to wait fo many days^
as the return from fo far inland a place
required,,
I had not made this Digreffion, but only
to fet this Affair in a true light | and unde¬
ceive thofe that may read this Book, and
were fo far im poled upon, as to fuppofe
the Black Man to have been an Embaffador
from the King of Dahome , to his Majefty
King George . I met with feveral that be¬
lieved fo, till I fatisfied them of the contra¬
ry ; for the jeft was carried on fo far, that
feveral Plays were ailed on his Account,
and it was advertifed in the News-Papers,
that they were for the Entertainment of
Prince rldomo Oroonoko Tomoy &c . thefe
jingling Names being invented to carry
on the Fraud the better. This
A new Account of Guinea,
This black Perfon was born at Jaqueen ,
and being from a Boy converfant with the
Englijh trading there, learned fo well
our Language, that he was employed
by them, when grown up, as an Inter¬
preter.
He happen'd to be at Ardra on fome
bufmefs, at the time that Country was
conquered, and fo became Prifoner to the
King of Dahomh But ?tis time to have
done with this Story, and go on where I
left off
After this Difcourfe concerning Mr.
hambe was over, I acquainted the King,
that I daily expefted another Ship be¬
longing to my Owner, (who had five large
Ships that ufed the Whidaw Trade in
particular) and I hoped his Majefty would
not take more Cuftotn from the Com¬
manders of them, than he had been
pleafed to take of me. To which he
anfwered with a Smile, u That it was a
particular Grace to my felf. However
when any of them came, they £hould
cc be ufed kindly in that matter, and the
H Captains might flay at jaqueen and
5 <c tVhidaew
73
and the Slave Trade .
Whidaw as they thought fit, for that
€C he now was Lord of both places/* And
then his Majefty aflced me, <c Whether
€C I would chufe the Slaves that were
now in the Camp, or have them firft
£C fent down to JaqueenT To which I
anfwered, €c I chofe the latter ; defiring
cc the King would now pleafe to fix the
u Price, with other matters,” Accor¬
dingly Thunglar was called again, to in¬
form his Majefty, what were the laft
Prices the Europeans had paid for Negroes
at Whidaw , before the Conqueft: But on
my reprefenting, That the Price had been
raifed there, much above what had been
cuftomary, on account of the War; the
King moderated it himfelf, and I writ
down with my Pencil, in his prefence,
every thing agreed on : Amongft which
one was. That I fhould have three Males
to one Female, and take none but what
I liked. The reafon of my mentioning
this, is to explain more fully what hap¬
pened to me afterwards, on account of
thefe two Articles.
Aker
74 A new Account of Guinea,
After this was done, the Duke, Bro¬
ther to the Lord of Jaqueen, was fent for,
and the King recommended me to the
care of them both, declaring, <f If I fuf-
{c fered by their People, either in Perfon or
« Goods, he and his Brother fhould anfwer
for it: Moreover, if any Perfon ftole my
“ Goods, and could be taken, his Majefty
<c ordered, they fhould be impaled alive
« on the Sea fide, for an Example to the
« Porters, and others that bring our Mer-
« cha’ndife from thence to the Town.
By this time it was near nine a clock
at night, and the Linguift was ordered
by the King to tell us, his time of wa idl¬
ing was come; fo we rofe up in order
to take our leaves, humbly thanking his
Majefty for all his Favours, and for his
great Goodnefs towards us, in giving us
fo long an Audience ; defiring he would
be pleafed to permit us to return next
day to Jaqueen: adding, I hoped God
would give him many Days, for the good
of his own People, and of the Europeans
that fhould come to his Country. The
King thanked us for our good Willies,
faying.
and the Slave Trade .
faying, he would difpatch us the next
ky, and then we paid our Refpedts, and
fo parted.
As we were almoft five hours fo near
the King, I had a good opportunity of
taking an exadt View of him. He was
middle*dized, and full bodied; and, as
near as I could judge, about forty five
years old ; His Face was pitted with the
Small Pox ; neverthelefs, there was fome-
thing in his Countenance very taking, and
withal majefticL Upon the whole, 1
found him the moil extraordinary Man
of his Colour, that I had ever converfed
with, having feen nothing in him that
appeared barbarous, except the facrificing
of his Enemies; which the Portuguese
Gentleman told me, he believed was done
out of Policy; neither did he eat human
Flefh himfelf.
Being made eafy in all refpedts by this
Audience, we returned to our Tent, and
fpent the evening cheerfully, the Mulatto
Portuguese , with feveral Courtiers fupping
with us. The next morning we were
fent for again to the King’s Gate, and the
Officers
A new Account of Guinea*
Officers told us, cc It being the King's
u Fetiche- day , his Majefty could not fee
us ; but that he had ordered them to
Cc prefent us with fomething in his name ;
cc .adding, I might depend on what had
££ been promifed me, and that we were
at Liberty to go for Jaqueen when we
C£ pleafed:'” Our black Servants had like*
wife handiom Clothes given them to wear
about their middle; (according to the
euftom of the Negroes, who never cover
more than that part) with a fmall fum
of Money to each of them, which made
them very jocund, and almoft forget the
fear they had been put in at the fight of
the Sacrifices.
This being over, our fervants carried
the Prefents to our Tent, which confifted
of Slaves, Cows, Goats and Sheep, with
other Provifions: And then we went to
the ereat Captain's Tent, to take our
leave of him. There we found the Duk«,
who told us, he could not have his Au¬
dience of leave from the King till the
Evening ; and earneftly defired us not to
go without him ; for that he would cer¬
tainly
/
(
and the Slave Trade. .
tainly accompany us the next Morning
to Jaqueen . Tho? the Dutch Gentlemen
and my felf were very defirous of going
before, yet we could not in honour leave
the Duke; fo we confented to day for
him, and went to our Tent to Dinner.
In the Afternoon, the Languid came
and told us, that the remainder of the
Army, who had been plundering the
Country of Duffoe, were returning; and
alked us, whether we would go and fee
them pafs by the King's Gate ? We went
accordingly to that place, and foon after
they appeared, marching in a much more
regular Order than I had ever feen before,
even amongft the Gold Coajl Negroes ;
who were always efteemed amongft the
Europeans that ufed the Coaft of Guinea ,
the heft Soldiers of all the Blacks. I ob-
j ferved, this Army confided of about three
thoufand regular Troops, attended by a
Rabble of ten thoufand at lead, who car-
i ried Baggage, Provifions, dead Peoples
Heads, ,&c. The feveral Companies of
Soldiers had their proper Colours, and
Officers, being armed with Mufqucts and
cutting;
0
77
/
A new Account of Guinea,
cutting Swords; and with Shields. As
they palled by the Kings Gate, every
Soldier proftrated himfelf, and killed the
Ground 5 then rofe with fuch agility, as
was very furprizing. The place before
the King's Gate was four times as large
as Tower Hill 3 there they performed their
Exercifes, in the fight of innumerable
Spe&ators, and fired at lead twenty rounds
with their fmall Arms, in lefs than two
hours time: Then, by the Generals Or¬
der, the Soldiers retired to the part of the
Camp they belonged to. This fight was
well worth feeing even by us Europeans.
I took notice, that abundance of Boys
followed the Soldiers, and carried their
Shields 3 and afked the Linguift, a What
u was the occafion of it? He told me, That
Cl the King allowed every common Soldier
a Boy at the publick charge, in order to
a be trained up in Hardfhips from their
fc Youth 3 and that the greateft part of the
prefent Army confided of Soldiers, bred
C£ up in this manner, and under this Efta-
(£ blifhment/’ By which I judged, it was
no wonder the King had made fo large Con-
>i
and the Slave Trade,
quefts, with fuch regular Troops, and
his Policy together.
After this Sight was over, we went
[again to the great Captain’s, whofe eldeft
i Son had been General in the Expedition
j againft the Titffoes. The Mulatto Portu-
\guefe Gentleman being then prefenr, ad-
ivifed us to go and pay our Compliments
sto this Commander. Accordingly we
went, and were received by him with
great Civility ; and having prefented him
with fome Trifles, wherewith he was
i highly delighted, we returned to his Fa¬
ther’s Tent. After a fhort lfay, telling
I him we were afraid we Ihould not fet out
for Jaqueen the next day, he allured us
we Ihould certainly go the next morning
; early s and that he would accompany us
.part of the way : which Promife was
[highly plealing to us, for we were quite
hired of the Camp: Moreover my Bufl-
nefs very much required my prefence at
yaqueen, in order to begin trading. I
obferved in the Great Captain’s Tent two
black Gentlemen, who had long Gowns
on, with a Cloth wreathed about their
Heads,,
A new Account of Guinea,
Heads, like a Turkijh Turban t, and San-'
dais on their Feet. This being a Drefs
I had never feen before amongft the Ne¬
groes, I inquired of the Linguift, who
they were ? He replied, <! Fhey were
“ Malayes, which is a Nation far inland,
« bordering on the Moors-, and thatthefe
“ People were equal to the white Men
“ in one thing, namely in writing: That
« at this time there was about forty of
“ them in the Camp, who had been ta-
“ ken at feveral times in war, as they
“ traded from one Country to another:
“ and that the King treated them kindly,
“ for they had the Art of dying Goat and
“ Sheep-fkins with divers Colours, whichi
“ they made into Cartouch-boxes for the:
“ Soldiers; and alfo into Bags toJiokf
<< loofe powder, and for many other ufes.”
I was defirous of difeourfing with thefe:
People, but the Linguift declined it, fay¬
ing, “ It would give offence to the Greao
“ Captain:” So we went from hence to:
take our leave of the Mulatto Portuguefi
Gentleman, and afterwards to our Tent
to fupper, and flept all night in out
Hammocks. Next.
and the Slave Trade. 8 f
Next Morning we rofe early, and pre¬
pared for our journey. As foon as all
our things were in order, we fent the
Duke word, that we waited for him*
The Meflenger returned forthwith, and
defired us to go to the great Captain’s
Tent, where we Ihould find the Duke
and his People all ready for going. Ac¬
cordingly we went, but the Ceremony of
taking leave of feveral great Men, who
came to wifli us a good Journey, detained
us till nine a clock in the Morning: And
then we fee out ; the mufical Infiruments
of the Negroes making a great noife at our
Departure. The great Captain, accor¬
ding to his Promife, accompanied us for
an hour on the Road, and then took his
leave under a Salute of Fire-Arms from
his Soldiers, and our Servants. Our
Hammock-men had no need of being
prefs’d to make hafie, and travel fafi: : For
the Imprefiion made on their Minds by
the facrificing the poor People of Tuffoe ,
ftill fo much affe&ed them, that they
ran full fpeed with us, even beyond their
Strength ; fo that by five a clock in the
G Even-
66
The Ao-
thor’s re¬
turn to
Jaqueen,
A new Account of Guinea!
Evening, they brought us into Jaqueen
Town, where the People received us with
much joy, having been under great ap¬
prehensions for our Safety, becaufe we
flayed longer than was expeded.
The next day, being the 15th of April
1727, I paid the King of Dahomes Offi¬
cers the Cuftom agreed on ; and in two
days after, a great many Slaves came to
Town, being fent by his Majefty for me
to chufe fuch as I liked of them : Which
having done, I offered to pay the Lord
of Jaqueen his ufual Duties, but he in¬
filled on a larger Cuftom than my Surgeon
had agreed for with him at our firft com-,
ing: So I refufed to pay it, and put him
in mind of the Injundion the King of Da-
home had fent him by his Brother. This
put him in a Paffion, and he afked me
fternly, Whether I defigned to bring War
on him, by informing the Conqueror of
what he demanded? This being a tender
Point, and hoping Time and Patience
might bring him to do me Juftice, I took
my leave of him: For I had been told, it
was not poffible, no more than prudent,
and the Slave Trade .
to engage any one to go with a Complaint
to the King of Dahome $ for the Meflfen-
ger would certainly be murdered on the
Road by the Jaqueens. Moreover, I was
informed* they and their Lord had lent
their beloved Wives and bed: EffeCls to an
Ifland, which is about thirty Miles to
the E a ft ward of Jaqueeji on the Sea- Coaft,
and under the Protection of the King of
Appahy whofe Country extends as far as
the Bay of Bennin. And as they durft
not truft intirely to the Conqueror’s Faith
and Promiles, fo the Men were always
ready to fly there themfelves, on the lead
appearance of Hoftility : There they
could be in fafety* the Dahomes not hav¬
ing Cannoes to follow them, or if they
had, none amongft them underftanding
the Management of them.
A few days after the Lord of Jaqueen
had refufed to take his ufual CuftomSj
another difficulty arofe; for the Porters
refufed to bring up my Goods from the
Sea fide, except I would pay them double
the price I did at my firft coming. There¬
upon I fent my Complaint to their Lord*
G 2 who
A new Account of Guinea,
who acknowledged it was a great Impo¬
sition, but he Sent me word, “ It was not
u in his Power to oblige thofe fort of
People to do me Juftice; for by the
£< branding of the Dutch Ship, they had
got fo many Goods, that it had made
*£ them rich and proud ; and fhould he go
<e about to force them to bring up my
€< Goods at the ufua! rates, they would
<£ forthwith quit the Country, and fly to
Appah Being in thefe melancholy
Circumftances, impofed on by all hands,
and without hopes of redrefs, an accident
relieved me very unexpectedly. For a
few days after this, the Lord of the place
fent for me ; and going to him, he told
me, <c He had juft then received Advice*
tc that an Englijh Ship was arrived in the
Road of Whidaw ; and he defired I
C€ would fend my Boat there, to perfuade
the Captain to come to Jaqueen.” I
anfwered, 4t I did not doubt but that Ship
8f was the Italian Galley, Captain Dagge ,
i€ who was known to him \ for I had
*e expe&ed him fome time, his Ship be-
longing to the fame Gentleman as
“ mine
§5
and the Slave Trade.
ie mine did : But fince I had received
“ hich bad ufage from him and his Peo-
“ pie, he could not expedt I would be fo
“ imprudent as to advife the Captain,
“ who was in the fame Interefl with me
“ to come and receive the like Treat-
“ ment : Adding, If I fent my Boat, it
“ Should be to defire Captain Dagge to
“ fiay at Wbidaw , and fend a Meflenger
st to the King of Dahome, to reprefent
“ the ufage I had met with from him ;
“ tho’, to let him fee how loth I was to
“ give any Offence that way, I fhould
“ entirely forget what w'as part, if he
“ would make me eafy.” This immedi¬
ately brought him to do me Juflice : He
took his ufual Cufiom that very day, and
the following went himfelf to the Sea
fide, to the Towns where the Porters
lived, and perfuaded them to carry my
Goods at the ufual rates.
Soon after this I received a Letter from
Captain Dagge , defiring I would let him
know how Affairs flood at Jaqueen. Hav¬
ing informed him of all matters, he con¬
cluded, it would be for our Owner’s In-
G 3 tereft
70 A new Account of Guinea,
tereft if he flayed at Whidawy where he
had great Succefs ; for that People being
in a flarving Condition, and obliged to
fell their Servants and Children for Money
and Goods, to buy Food from their Neigh¬
bours of Popoe ; his Ship was foon filled
with Negroes , and he had the good fortune
to fail from the Coafl three days before
me. Not long after the Arrival of Cap¬
tain Dagge , I was taken ill of a Fever;
my Surgeon, a very eminent Man for
Trade as well as his Profeffion, died in a
few days after my being taken ill; and
the rainy Seafon coming on, my white
People both on board and on Shore grew
fickly; and to add to my Misfortunes,
the King of Dabome s Traders began to
grow troublefome and impofing. Indeed
I had one Comfort in this Diftrefs ;
namely, that tho’ I was two days together
without a white Man in the Factory with
me, (occafioned by the Sicknefs) yet I had
nothing Hole from me, which I believe
was owing to the fevere Charge given by
the King to the Lord of Jaqueen and his
Brother, to take care of me and my Goods.
But
and the Slave Trade ,
i But as to the King of Dahomes Traders,
when I objected to them my Agreement
fj with their Mader, producing the Writ*
i ing I had made in his Prefence* and calling
the Linguid to witnefs, that I was not to
I take any Slaves but fuch as I liked ; yet
itfignified nothing : For tho* the Interpre*
:ter was fo honed as to own it, yet he was
as impofing as any other, pretending the
King’s Orders for what they did. Nay*
I began at lad not to think my felf fafe,
| one of the Traders being fo infolent as to
iprefent his Fufil at me, for refufing to
stake his bad Slaves. For tho2 they came
>; to trade, yet they were always armed with
Sword and Dagger, and a Boy carried
! their Gun for them. Thefe People were
; far different from the Traders we ufed to
ideal with at Whidaw : For thefe came al¬
ways in a moded manner to deal with us*
and tho’ fometimes I owed them Goods
f on my Notes for ten days together, be-
caufe the badnefs of the Sea prevented
our landing them; yet they {hewed no
Uneafinefs about it: Whereas, on the
contrary, thefe Dahome Traders would
G 4 come
71
A new Account of Guinea,
come ten times a day with their Notes;
tho* they were fenfible the Sea was fo
great on the Shore, that we could land
no Goods. And when I expoftulated
with them, about the needlefs trouble
they gave me and themfelves, in coming
fo often to me to read their Notes ; it not
being in my Power to pay them, ’till I
could get goods landed ; they angrily re¬
plied, “ They did not like a bit of Paper
€£ for their Slaves, becaufe the writing
u might vanifh from it; orelfethe Notes
« might be loft, and then they fhould
lofe their Payment.” Upon that I
ufed to ftiew them my Book, telling them
their Notes were entered therein, and
fhould they lofe them by any Accident,
yet I would pay them by my Book ; And
as to the writing it would never go off
the Paper ; but this did no ways fatisfy
them.
About this timefeveral Portuguese Ships
arrived in the Road of JVhidaw> and flay’d
there, on a profpedt of the Country’s be¬
ing fettled again ; for the King of Dahome
had permitted a great number of the
common
Sg
and the Slave Trade .
: common People to return, and they be-
] gan to build them Houfes near the Englijh
, and French Forts. But fome time after it
i appeared, that it was only done to deceive
; the Europeans . However the King of
i Dahome being dehrous of the Portuguese
Gold, which they bring to purchafe Ne-
\ groe§ with, his Majefty fent a great many
Slaves down to Whidaw , which made
Trade dull with us at Jaqueen. For tho*
i formerly great Numbers came to this
i place, from other Nations now deftroyed
I by the Dahomes , there remains at prefent
j only one Country called Lucamee , lying
! towards the North-Eaft, forth zpfaqueem
i to trade to. Which Nation, by means
t of a wide River, has efcaped being made
a Conqueft to the barbarous and cruel
Dahomes . As I was in this melancholy
Rate, one day, my old Acquaintance the
Captain (who had been fo civil to me at
the Camp) came to vifit me ; and the
Linguift not being in the way, I made
ufe of a little black Boy, who fpoke pretty
good Englijh, and was entertained by me
in the Fadtory as a Servant, to be my
r Inter-
74
A new Account of Guinea,
Interpreter; ordering him to tell the
Captain my Grievances, for which he
feemed concerned. He told me he was a
warlike Perfon, and fo had no Knowledge
of the Affairs of the Traders; but he was
confident the Jaqueens were not tolerated
in fuch things by the King. Then
I bid the little Boy further inform him,
That the Traders very much impofed
upon the military Gentlemen of his
Country, in felling them Mulkets bought
out of the French Factory, for the fake
of a fmali Prefent. Thefe being made in
imitation of Englijh Arms, were fent to
the King, as if bought from me, by
which means a bad repute was brought
on our Arms; becaufe the French Guns
fplit in firing, and hurt the Soldiers ; which
is owing to their not being proved as ours
are, with a good load of Gunpowder, be¬
fore they are put into a Stock and fin idl¬
ed, I obferved, this very much moved
him, fo I made him a Prefent of fome
things, with a promife of a greater Re¬
ward, if he would go to the King, and let
his Majefty know my Complaints. So
having
and the Slave ‘Trade.
[
having conddered the matter a little while,
she agreed to go, charging the little Boy
to keep the thing fecret, on pain of be¬
ing put to cruel Torments if he divulged
it; and I foon after experienced the good
iEffedts of his Journey.
The People of Jaqueen , as I mentioned
before, were in very uneafy Circumdan-
:ces. The King of Dahome being informed
of it, refolved to fend the great Captain
to their Lord, to fettle all things to their
Satisfaction. The Captain my Friend
being got to the Camp before the Great
Captain fet out, and acquainting the King
with my Complaints, it much incenfed
him againd the Traders, and he caufed
the great Captain to go forthwith to Ja~
queen , to fettle all matters. He made
fuch hade, that he brought the fird news
of his coming himfelf ; and becaufe he
had a great Retinue, on the fird report of
his arrival, the Inhabitants of Jaqueen were
going to dy to Appah ; believing he was
come in a hodile manner : But he foon
made them eafy, ordering the far greater
part of his People to remain on the other
fide
A new Account of Guinea,
fide of the River, which runs on the
back part of the Town ; and he came
only with one hundred Attendants into
the place. Upon the firft notice of his
coming, the Duke, Brother to the Lord
of Jaqueen , went to receive him ; and all
the white Gentlemen in the Town, both
Merchants and Commanders of Ships,
aflembled at the Door of the Dutch Fac¬
tory, to falute him as he pafs'd by that
Houfe. He was conducted to the Dukes
Court, with all the Honours the place could
poffibly afford* His Retinue was lodged
near my Fadory, which proved a great
difturbance to me ; for they made a dif-
mal noife with their mufical Inftruments,
both night and day; but on my coim-
plaining of it, they were afterwards re¬
moved.
It feems the Great Captain, at his firft
coming into the Town, had given orders
to fome of his Officers, to feize all the
Dahome Traders. But by means of fome
Friend they had in their Retinue, notice
was given them; whereupon feveral of
them fled. However, about ten were
feized,
93
and the Slave Trade .
feized, and immediately fent in Irons to
the King : And the Duke, brother to the
Lord of Jaqueen , told me afterwards,,
<c That when the Great Captain began
sc to talk of Bufinefs with him, the firll
se Quell ion he afked, was, Whether the
“ Traders had ufed me ill? To which he
“ replied in the affirmative; Adding, He
ss was in my Fadtory, when one of them
“ prefen ted his Piece at me, becaufe I
u refufed to buy the bad Slaves brought
€£ by him/' The great Captain upon that
afked him, <c Why he fuffered me to be
fo ufed? To which the Duke anfwered,
<£ That not only he himfelf, but his Bro~
cc ther, had been treated by them with
4C great Infolence; and that they were
afraid to refent it, for fear they ffiould
(< reprefent their Adlions in a bad Light
to the King,” On this account the
Great Captain faid, they had talked enough
upon that Point.
We underftood afterwards5 that this
; great Man, at his return to the King,
acquainting him with the Mifbehaviour of
the Traders, his Majefty ordered the Per-
fan
A new Account of Guinea,
fon who preferred his Piece at me, to be
beheaded, with another, who had highly
in ful tecl me at the fame time: And the
others were kept in bonds, fed only with
Bread and Water ; and whenever it rained,
they were put out into the Prifon Court,
and expofed till it had done raining. By
this 1 found, that the Traders and the \
Linguift had fhamefully belied the King;
however, in Prudence I did not think fit
to complain of the Interpreter, but only
chid him in private; at which he was foj
frighted, that he left me, when the great
Captain returned to their King.
The next day after this Great Man’s:
arrival, all the white Gentlemen in the"
place went to wait on him at the Duke’si:
Houfe, carrying him Prefents ; and I went:'
amongft the reft. Upon my taking leave, ,
I invited him to dine with me at my Fac¬
tory the next day. Fie came accordingly
with many Attendants, one of whom he:
admitted with the Duke, to fit at Table
with us. Fie feemed to be much pleafed
with the Victuals, efpecially with a Ham j
and was much furprized when l told him,
79
,
and the Slave ' "Trade .
ic was part of a Hog that had been killed
\ fix Months ago. I was fo much diverted
| t0 fee him handle a Fork, which it feems
\ had never ufed before, that I could
; hardly keep my Countenance, fo auk-
| wardly did he manage it. Among ft; other
jdifhes there was brought to the Table a
I'Pye of minced meat. Of this he eat
greedily, afking me, u How it was pre¬
pared ?5' I told him the manner; ad-
cc ding it was done by my Wife, and be-
u ing put up in earthen Pans, it would
<£ keep in fo hot a Country as this was,
<c for fix Months at leaft” He then afk-
me, How many Wives I had ? <c I told him
u we were allowed by our Laws but one;
on which he fell a laughing, faying,
“ He had five hundred, and wifhed fifty
cc of them could prepare fuch meat for
C£ him as mine had done/’ After this
the Servants brought Bananas , with other
Fruit of the Country, on Delft Plates.
Thefe Plates he was much taken with.
7
and defired I would give him that he eat
on, with the Knife, Fork, and Napkin
he ufed, I told him he was welcome to
all
96
A new Account of Guinea,
all on the Table: Of which the Linguift
had no fooner informed him, buthefpoke
to his Servants, and they immediately
fwept all away, fo fuddenly, that they had
like to have broke all the Plates, but they
luckily efcaped. I put on a good Face on
the matter, tho’ I was fomething fur-
prized to be fo foon taken at my word,
with the manner of it ; fo I faid to him,
« I would prefent him further with fome
*< Mugs and Cups, which I called for."
I had almoft forgot to relate another
Circumflance, full as odd as this. When
we firft fat down to dinner, fome of his
principal Servants who flood behind his;-
Chair, would every now and then fnatchi
off his Plate, a Slice of Ham or Fowl;;
and obferving he did not rebuke them for
it, I bid the Linguift tell him, ‘c HisSer-
“ vants fhould not want for Victuals af-
“ ter we had dined ; for it was not the
“ white Peoples cuftom, to let their
“ Guefts Attendants go home hungry;’
fo he ordered them to be quiet for the
future.
Afte:
97
and the Slave Trade.
After dinner we drank both our Kings
healths, and he grew very merry, prefer¬
ring Punch to other Liquors. When he
took his leave of me in the Evening, he
expiefs d great Satisfaction at his Enter¬
tainment : Moreover he told me, “ He
“ defign’d to go and fee the Sea the next
“ day, (which was about three Miles
“ off) and as he had never yet feen it,
“ nor a Ship, he fhould be glad of my
“ Company.” But I was obliged to ex-
cufe my felf, on account of my late
Illnefs, from which I was not perfectly
recovered. So I told him, “ I would
“ order my Officer in the Tent, to enter-
“ tain him in the belt manner he could •
and if he would be pleafed to go on
“ board my Ship to fee her, all poffible
“ Care fhould be taken of him.
I muft now leave this great Man for a
while, and give an Account of a remark¬
able thing that happen’d whillt he was at
the Sea fide. For the right underftand-
ing of it, the Reader is to know, That
a few days before the great Captain came
to Jaqueen , the Linguift brought me two
H Female
A new Account of Guinea,
Female Negroes , faying, <£ The King de-
u fired, I would buy them, and promife
*£ I would not let them be redeemed by
££ any one that fhould offer to do it:”
After I had viewed thefe Women, one of
which was turned of fifty, and the other
about twenty Years old, I told the Lan¬
guid, <£ The firfc was pad her Labour,
<£ and not for my purpofe; but I would
££ buy the other.” He replied, C£ He
<c could not part them 3 adding, It would
<£ highly oblige the King if I took them
Cc both But fufpeding he made ufe of
the King's Name, to get rid of an old
Woman, Irefufed it, and he carried them
away. I little fufpeded then what would
happen to this poor Creature, which I
fhall prefently relate.
The great Captain, as he had told me,
went the next day to the Sea fide, accom¬
panied by abundance of People who came
from the inland Country, which indeed
they daily did in great Numbers, to fee
fo rare a fight, now the ways were open
to them. There lay then at Anchor, in
the Road of Jaqueen , the Katherine Gal-
ley
5
and the Slave Trade .
3 ley which I commanded, being a fine
l Ship of near three hundred Tuns bur-
i then ; and two Po'rtuguefe Veflels. This
i fight exceedingly furprized him, as
| well as did the Sea, which came rol¬
ling and roaring with its Billows on the
I Shore ; fo that he flood for fome time
1 fixed as if he had been a Statue, till he
heard the Guns fired from the Katherine ,
| wmerewith 1 had ordered him to be fa™
. luted, on a fignal made from our Tent.
! Being by the Noife of the Guns roufed
out of his Aftonifhment, my Officer then
invited him to go to the Tent to dinner,
which he readily accepted. Whilfl he
l was at dinner, he could not fit Hill three
minutes together, his Curiofity ftill
prompting him to go and look on the Sea
and Ships.
As the Water near the Shore is very
: {hallow, our Boats cannot approach nearer
than within two Cables length, fo that
i we are obliged to make ufe of Cannoes ,
i which draw much Ids Water than our
Boats, to land our Goods : And alfo the
frefh Water for the Ship’s ufe, is rafted
H 2 in
IOO
A new Account of Guinea,
in Cafks by Ropes from the Boats. The
great Man was fo pleafed with the fight,
that he went too near the Sea to fee it ; in
which inflant a Wave coming with great
force, reached him fo, that with the fur-
prize he fell on his back ; by which
Accident fome fait Water got into his
Stomach. His Servants feeing him fall,
immediately run to his Afiiftance ; and
taking him up, carried him to our Tent,
where he drank half a pint of Brandy, to
qualify the fait Water he had fwallowed
down. Tho: he had met with this mif-
chance, he Ray'd at the Tent till the
Evening, and then left the place with
reluctance, to come to Town 5 fo much
delighted was he with this fight. It was
about nine a clock at night when he re¬
turned to Jaqueen , being ufhefd in with
the hideous noife of their mufical Inftru-
ments, and the Acclamations of the
People.
Soon after, one of his principal Servants,,
together with the Linguift, came to me,,
faying, ££ The Great Man had fent them:
££ to return me thanks for the kind Enter-
c£ tainmentij
1 01
and the Slave Trade .
c* tainment he had received at my Tent *
“ that he defigned to fet out next day
“ for the King’s Camp, and fhould be
“ glad to fee me before he went.”
The Servant being gone, the Linguift
told me in private, “ That the oldeft
:t Woman whom I had refufed to buy,
had that day been facrificed to the Sea
by order of the great Captain. For
fhe had highly offended the King,
and as I would not take her, his Ma-
:t jelly had ordered her to be deftroyed
:t this way, in the room of another Victim
:c that was defigned for the fame Purpofe.”
1 afked him, What Crimes fire had com¬
mitted ? He replied haftily, “ Did I think
he knew the King’s Secrets? adding.
:t She had lived a long time in the Court,
with good Repute til! now.” 1 then
wilh’d in my mind I had bought her;
but only laid to the Linguift, !£ I won-
“ dered he Ihould have a hand in fuch
:< Cruelty, having been bred up amongft
u white People. To which he anfwer-
ed, “ Great Mens Commands were not
“ to be difputed, efpeciaily there being
H 3 “ no
i o 2 A new Account of Guinea,
a no one but himfelf of the Dahomes ,
“ that durftgo off in aCannoe with her/'’
Whereupon he told me the following
Story ; £C The Woman’s Hands being tied
<c behind her, and her Feet acrofs, fhe
£C was put into the Cannoe , and carried
<c off about half a Mile from the
<£ Shore : And then he ordered the Row-
“ ers to throw her over board ; which
u they had no fooner done, but he faw
<c fome Sharks (voracious Fifhes very
“ common in thofe Seas) tear her to pie-
« ces in an inftant.” On hearing this
Account I pitied the Fate of this poor
Creature, for I intirely credited the Story,
knowing full well the Barbarity of thofe
people. But the next day I was greatly
furprized, with a Letter from my chief
Mate, informing me, that the Woman
was on board our Ship : Which happened
in this manner. It fee ms, neither my
People at the Tent, nor thofe in our
Boats, which lay at the Moorings near the
Shore, knew any thing of the real occa-
fion of the Cannoe’s going off. For the
Woman was put very privately into the
* ■ * Cannoe,;.
and the Slave Tirade.
/
Cannoe. They only thought the Linguift:
was gone, with a deiign to fee fome of
the Ships. When he came on fhore
again,one of our Boats went juft then from
the Moorings, in order to go on board our
Ship. Being got about half way, the
Officer in the Boat fpied fomething float-
ing on the Sea, which at his coming
nearer, he perceived to be a human Body
lying on its back; and now and then
fpurting Water out at the Mouth. This
Blowing it was ftill living, he ordered it
to be taken into the Boat, being hound
in the fame manner as the Linguift had
told me. Immediately they untied this
poor Woman, chafed her Limbs, and
rolled her Body about, whereupon (he
difcharged a good quantity of fait W; ater out
of her Mouth. Then they carried her on
board the Ship, not knowing in the lead:
theoccafion of her being in the Sea, and
extremely wondering (lie had efcaped the
Sharks, who are ufually fo voracious, that
when a dead Perfon is thrown overboard,
or a living one falls into the Sea by Acci¬
dent, they are in an inftant torn to pieces
H 4 by
10 1
104 ^ new Account of Guinea,
by thofe voracious Animals. So that this
poor Creature feemed to have a miracu¬
lous Efcape 5 and the knowledge of the
greedinefs of thefe Sharks, I fuppofe, in¬
duced the Linguift to tell me, that he
actually faw her torn to pieces; verily
believing it would fo happen, which his
Fears would not let him flay to fee, on
account of the great fvvell the Billows of
the Sea had at that time.
Upon my receiving the abovementi-
oned account from the Mate, tho’ pleas’d
with the fafety of the poor Woman, yet
it filled me with Apprehenfions, if the
King of Dahome fhould come to know
it: For he might pretend, his Fetiche, or
God, being dilappointed of this Sacri¬
fice by us, would revenge it on me, or
at leaft oblige me to make up the Affair
with large Prefents. So having confider-
ed of the matter, I writ to the chief Mate,
to charge our People to keep the thing
fecret; it being of the utmoft Confe-
quence to us all to do it : Which they
accordingly did. Some time after, going
on board the Ship, I examined this Wo-
6 man
and the Slave Trade.
man by the Linguift, but fhe would never
confels the reafon of the King’s difplea-
fure againft her; alledging (he knew not
that die had in any refpedt offended him.
However, I found by the Linguift, that
he fufpeded, it was on account of her
affifting fome of the King’s Women in
their Amours.
This Woman being a fenfible Perfon,
did us good fervice in the Voyage. For
fhe was known to feveral of the Negroes
on board, and by her talking to and ad-
vifing them, made them eafy in their
Minds : She obferved to them, amongft
other things, £c That as we had fhown
<c iuch Kindnefs to her, firft in having her
££ Life, and fince in taking care of her,
<£ who might be reckoned an ufelefs Per-
££ fon to us, on account of her Age; fo
4£ they had all the reafon in the World
Ce to believe we were much better people
cc than their own Countrymen ; and that
f£ the ftrange Stories they had been for-
££ merly told of white People, muft be
<c falfe.” The female Negroes , who ufed
always to be the mo ft troublefome to usy
on
105
0.6 A new Account of Guinea,
on account of the noife and clamour they
made, were kept in fuch Order and De¬
corum by this Woman, that I had never
the like in any Voyage before : And when
I came to Antegoa , Charles Dunbar Efq;
Surveyor General of Barbadoes , and the
Leeward IJlands , on my Recommenda¬
tion, bought her, and I was not a little
pleafed fhe had got fo generous and good
a Matter.
But to return again to the great Cap¬
tain : When he was ready to depart from
Jaqueen , all the Europeans in the Place
waited on him to the fide of the River,
that runs on the back part of the Town.'
Upon taking leave I told him, a I wanted
a but eighty Negroes to compleatmy Car-
cc go/’ and he promifed he would ac¬
quaint the King with it; and I might
be fure his Majefty would fend them down
to me forthwith. However, this did not
happen according to my Bxpedtation 5 for
I underftood afterwards the King had no
Slaves by him for fale, tho’ he had great
numbers of captive Negroes , which tilled
his Grounds, and did other Work. For,
it
and the Slave Trade .
it feems, after they are once inrolled for
that Service, his Majefty never fells them,
unlefs they are guilty of very great
Crimes. <
After the great Captain’s departure, I
was obliged to wait a long while for a dsf-
patch ; at laft the defiled Time came, and
the King’s Factors that brought the Ne¬
groes behaved themfelves fo well towards
me, that I had no reafon to complain of
them. The principal amongft them told
me, <c The King was much furprized,
£C that I had not been difpatch’d before;
<c and that his Majefty had punifhed thofe
cc feverely, who had been the occafion
u of my long ftay at ^aquem : That if
££ my Affairs would admit of my going
4C to the Camp, the King was defirous
<c to fee me again there, to difcourfe, and
cc fettle Matters, for the mutual In te reft
a of himfelf, and the Europeans trading
££ to his Country ; for when I was with
££ him before, the great Flurry of Affairs
££ his Majefty had then on his Hands, did
<£ not allow him fufficient time to talk of
Bufin'efs.” I defired the Gentleman to
return
io8 A new Account of Guinea,
i
return the King my due Acknowledg¬
ments for all his Favours; ££ and that I
<£ fhould have been very glad and ready
to have waited again on his Majefty at
££ the Camp: But the bad (late of health
I was then in, did not allow it; of
s£ which himfelf being an Eye-Witnefs,
*£ I defired he would be pleafed to in-
€£ form the King of it : Adding, I fhould
e£ not fail, on my arrival into England 2
“ to tel! my Countrymen who trade to
C£ this place, how great and generous a
c: Prince 1 had been entertained by; hop-
t£ ing (if God blefs’d me) to return again
u in a twelvemonth at far theft/' So'
having made the Traders feme frnall Pre¬
fers, they took their Leaves, returning
many thanks for what I had given them.
As foon as I had finifhed my Affairs
with thefe People, I waited on the Lord
of J aqueen , and told him, ££ That hav-
££ ing compleated my Ship's Cargoe of
C£ Negroes , I defign’d to go on board in
££ two days time, defiring he would be
4£ pleafed to pay me the ballance of an
<c account that was between us.” This
j
he
and the Slave Trade .
he readily promifed, but never performed
it. Moreover, the next day, having paid
his Brother the reft of theCuftoms, and my
Servants their Wages, my Store-houfe
was foon after plundered in a violent man¬
ner : But, by good fortune, there were in
it, only things of fmall value. I com¬
plained of this Ufage, but had oo Redrefs.
However, I did not think proper to threa¬
ten, as I had formerly done, “ That I
would inform the King of Dahcme of
“ its” but quietly putting up the Affronr,
1 went to the Sea fide the next day, where
I was obliged to lie all night in our Tent,
becaufe the Sea ran high on the Shore ;
but the next morning it being calmer, I
got on board to my great Satisfaction, hav¬
ing, through the goodnefs of Providence,
compleated my Affairs, much beyond my
Expedition, confidering I had fo melan¬
choly a Profped, when I nrft came to this
Country.
Thefirft of July 1727, we failed from
the Road of Jaqueen , having on board
above 600 Negroes . I had a tedious Paf-
fage to the Weft- Indies of feventeen Weeks,
which
109
no A new Account of Guinea,
_ i
which obliged us to flop at feveral places
for Water and Provifion. But at length
we arrived at Antegoa , where the Cargo
of Negroes (who had flood' very well)
came to a good Market : And having lain
there for a Cargo of Sugars, we failed
from thence the latter end of February y
and got fafe into the River of Thames 3
the 25th of April 1728, having been fix-
teen Months on this remarkable Voyage,
A
and the Slave Trade .
in
%
A
SUPPLEMENT,
Containing an Account of what happened to
the King and People cyrWhidaw5 and
the DahomeSj fince I came away from
thence , to the Pi me of my return thither
in the Month ^February 1729-30. All
which 1 was informed op by fome white
Gentlemen of good Credit , who refided at
Jaqueen all the Pi me I was abfent .
UPON ray coming to England \
being in a bad State of Health,
1 deiired leave of my Owner to
ftay at home a Seafon, which he was
pleaded to grant me ; and appointed Cap¬
tain John Dagge to command the Ship I
had been in. He made a fuccefsful Voy¬
age, and returned with her in the Month
6 of
1 1 2
A new Account of Guinea,
of Angujl 1729 : As I was by that time
very well recovered, my Owner was pleaf-
ed to fend me again to the Coaft of Gui¬
nea in the Katherine Galley . Having
therefore fpent fome time on the Wind¬
ward and Gold Coaft , 1 proceeded for Whi-
daw» In my way to that place I ftop’d at
Great Pofioe , which lies a few Leagues*
to the Windward of JVhidaw . Being in
formed there, that the late King of Whu
daw was near that place, with C apt ah ,
Ojjue , one of his principal Cabociers 0
Lords, on two barren fandy Iflands, with
many other People, I fent my firft Mato
on Shore with a Prefen t to each of them
He returned at night, with fome of the
King’s People, who brought me a Goa,
from him : Saying, l< Their Mailer be:
€C ing in a poor Condition, had nothin:.
“ better tofendmeA And they having
bought fome few things, I fent then
on Shore again. After they were gone, m;
Mate gave me the following account
“ That the King and Captain Ojjue , ha<
with them many Thoufands of People
<c who lived in a miferable manner, thi
Ifland
and the Slave-Trade.
I ilands they were on being fo barren, that
they produced nothing: But by means of
the River which feparated them from the
Continent, they were very well fecured
from the Dahomes Power ; who not un¬
demanding the Management of Cannoes ,
could not invade them. Moreover, they
had planted feveral great Guns, which
fecured the Pafles, fo that they were in
no fear of the Enemies. But then, on
the other hand, they could not fow Corn,
or other Pulfe in that barren place, but
were fupplied with what they wanted by
their Neighbours of Great and Little Po -
foe. However, this conftantly decreafed
their Numbers, they being obliged to fell
their Wives, Children, and Servants for
Provifions and other neceflaries, becaufe
they had no Money left.
From Great Pofoe 1 went to the Road
of Whidaw , where being informed there
was little Trade, I proceeded for Jaqueent
which is feven Leagues to the Eaftward
of it ; and anchored in that road the 20th
of February 1729-30: At my going on
Shore there, the King of Dahomes Agent
I came
ii4 A new Account of Guinea,
came to fee me ; and upon my en¬
quiring after his Mailer's welfare, he
told me, “ He would fend a Meffenger
4C to inform his Majefty of my Arrival :
<c But as the King was then in his own
“ Country, far inland, it wTould be at
leaft twenty days before he could have
“ an Anfwer ” At his taking leave, he
promifed to let me know his Mailer's
Pleafure on the return of the Meffenger.
Accordingly he came to fee me again,
about three weeks after his former vilit,
and told me, ££ The King was very glad
to hear of my being once more arrived
C£ at Jaqueen ; but as he was then far
within Land, tho’ he was defirous of
« feeing me again, yet he could not in
ct reafon require it : His Mailer being
gc fenfible, fuch a long Journey would be
££ neither fafe for my Health* nor fuit-
£e able to my Bufinefs; but in cafe the
cc King came to Ardra, whilll I was at Ja-
ct queen, which is but two days journey
off, and where I had formerly been
€C with his Majefty, he fhould be very
§c glad to fee me there once more.7’ How¬
ever.
and the Slave Trade .
ever, this not happening, I had not the
Fortune to fee the King a fecond time.
I now come to relate what I heard from
feveral white Gentlemen refiding at Ja -
queen , ever fince my former Voyage, com
cerning the Whidaws and the Dahomes .
The King of JVbidaw , with abundance
of his People, having fled to the Iilands
formerly mentioned, the King of Daborni
was difappointed in his defign of deffroy-
ing him, as he had always intended. So
that he contented himfelf with keeping
Poffeflion of the Country of Whidaw , by
an Army encamp’d at Sabee , which had
been the principal place of the Kingdom,
till deffroyed by him. But in time this
Army being much diminished, it incou-
raged Captain Ojfue to leave the Iflands,
and fettle himfelf, with many of his Peo¬
ple, near the French Fort, which is about
four Miles from Sabee ; believing the great
Guns therein would be a fufficient Protec¬
tion from the cDahomesi in cafe they fhould
offer to difturb him. This Fort had a dry
Ditch, with mud Walls made of the Earth
that was dug out of it; and was a fquar©
n6 A new Account of Guinea,
pkce with Towers at each Corner, on
which were mounted leveral Cannons,
and their Lodgings, Storehoufes, and even
their Magazine of Gunpowder, were co¬
vered with Rufhes, according to the
Cuftom of that Country; which occa-
fioned a terrible Misfortune, as fhall be
immediately related.
The King of Dahome being informed
of Captain OJfue s return into his Coun¬
try, refolved to fend an Army to drive
him out ; which the other having no¬
tice of, retired with many of his People
into thte French Fort: OJfue little thinking;;
at that time, that the Governor was the
occafion of his Enemies coming in or¬
der to betray them.
The next day after he and his People
Were received into the Fort, the Dahome
Army came down, and being informed!
the French had given them Protedion3
contrary to a fecret Promife their King
had received from the Governor, they,
aflaulted the Fort. But having nothing
but fmall Arms to make their Attack, ii
would have availed little, had not the
Thatch:
and the Slave Trade * uj
Thatch of the Houfes within the Fort
taken Fire, This Accident alarmed the
white Men, who knowing there was a
great quantity of Gunpowder in their
Magazine, and no poftibility of flopping
the Fire, fled to the Englijh Fort, which
was within Mufquet-Shot of their own,
and fo faved themfelves : But the black
People not being fo fenfible of their Dan¬
ger, fuffered very much by the blowing
up of the Magazine, there being above
one thoufand of them killed, befides many
wounded by this Accident. However
in the Confufion, and under cover of the
Smoke, Captain Office , and feveral of his
People, efcaped to the Englijh Fort*
Where Governor Wilfon , who then re-
fided there for the African Company,
generoufly gave them Protection \ and to
prevent Accidents, ordered immediately
all the Houfes in the Fort to be un¬
thatch’d, and by firing on the Dahomes
with his Cannon, killed feveral, and kept
the reft at a diftance.
The Dahomes having taken the French
Fort, fheltered themfelves therein ; and
I 3 the
1 1 B A new Account of Guinea^
the next morning fent a principal Man
amongft them to Governor Wilfon% to
know the reafon why he had fired on their
Army. To which he anfwered, <c That
they having come down out of the
Country in a hoftile manner, without
<£ giving him the lead notice, and attack-
44 ed his Neighbours th z French, he looked
u on it as the common Caufe of all the
“ Europeans fettled there, who were
£< bound to affift one another/' To this
the Dahomes replied, “ That when they
cc came down, they had no defign to at-
<£ tack the French Fort, for the King had
*e no quarrel with the white Men: But the
** Governor having taken Captain Offue
and his People into the French Fort,
*£ contrary to his Promife, it obliged them
€-e to ad as they had done. At the fame
time they told the Governor to his Face,
£e That he had firft fent to their King by
P a French Surgeon, then refiding with
€£ their Matter, to perfuade his Majefty to
€c fend an Army down, to deftroy Cap-
feC tain Offue and his Peoples promifing
€£ at
/
and the Slave Trade. ri
«■ at the fame time he would give them
noProte&ion. ’’This the French Gover¬
nor denied, but all that were prefent be¬
lieved it to be too true ; and by this means
he let the Dahomes fee, that white Men
(whom they had before a high opinion
of) could be the bafeft of Villains, when
their InterefL tempted them thereto. For
it was much fufpeded, that the Cover-
nour had contrived the whole Affair, in
order to fqueeze a large Sum of Money
from Captain Offue to proted him, and for
fome other infamous Views. However, he
met afterwards with a fuitable Reward,
being killed by the Whidaws, , whom he
had fo much injured.
As foon as the King of Dahome was
informed of the taking of the French
Fort, he fent this Meffage to the French
Governor; <c that he had brought this
“ Misfortune on hirnfelf by his Perfidy,
“ for he had no quarrel to his Nation ;
iC therefore he would order his Soldiers
a to repair the Fort, which had been
a greatly damaged by the Powder: Or if
4S he did not defire this, he might depart
I 4 “ with
150 A new Accpunt of Guinea,
“ with all the Frenchmen to his own
“ Country.” After this, the Ships that
lay then in the Road of Whidcm had good
Trade for Women and Children, which
the Dahomes had taken of Captain OJJue’ $
People, but there were few Men taken ;
many of them being loft when the Ma¬
gazine blew up: and the reft having fled
to the Ifland which their King was in.
I come now to relate a great Misfor¬
tune which befel the Dahomes, fome
Months after they had taken the French
Fort. For the better underftanding of it,
the Reader is to know, that the King of
Dahom'e having conquered feveral Coun¬
tries within a few Years, and depopula¬
ted them; the King of Wecmefs Sons,
with other Princes, (whofe Fathers this
Conqueror had taken in War, and be¬
headed) fled to a far Inland Potent Na¬
tion called the J-oes. The King of Whidaw
having, after Offue’ s Defeat, found means
to fend Meflengers to the King of this
Country, they, and the others that had
fled to him for Protection, did af laft,
through their earneft Sollrcitations, ob-
tain
and the Slave Trade.
tain an Army to march againft the
King of Dahome, whom they all look’d
upon as a moft cruel Deftroyer of Man¬
kind. This Nation of J-oe fight all on
Horfeback, and living a great way on the
North towards Nubia, they can at no
other time march to the Southward, but
when the Seafon for Forage, and the dry
Weather lets in. The King of Dahome had
notice of their coming, a few days before
they reached his Country ; and he having
formerly experienced how terrible fuch
Numbers of Horfe had been to his Army,
which confifts of none but foot Soldiers -
he refolved to bury his Riches, burn his
Towns, and then fly into the Woods and
Thickets with his People; which is a
common thing among!!: the Negroes, for
the weaker fide to do, when at War; for
i they have no fortified Towns as in Eu¬
rope: So they that are Mailers of theFicld
icommand the Country far and near.
The King of Dahome having thus in
time provided for his Safety by Flight,
;the j-oes were difappointed : But one
dppragah and his People, formerly fub-
I Zl
122 A new Account of Guinea,
jedt to the King of Whidaw , but now un¬
der the Dominion of the Dahomes , did
not efcape fo well. For not moving fo
foon by two days as they did, the J-oes
came up with him and his People, and
took abundance of them, with all Appra -
gati s Riches ; and he himfelf was hardly put
to it to efcape, with a few of his Servants.
After this the J-oes marched on in queft
of the Dahomes , but finding they were got
into the thick Woods and Rufhes, they
incamped near them; making frequent
Affaults, and often taking fome of the
Dahomes Prifoners. At laft, they fo di-
ilreffed them, that for want of other Pro-
vifion, they were obliged to eat many oi
their own Slaves, Yet the Dahomes pa¬
tiently endured thefe Calamities, know¬
ing the. J-oes would be obliged to retin
in a little time, on account of the raim
-
Seafon that was approaching, and foi.
want of Forage : Accordingly they wen
obliged to retire foon after ; and the Da
homes then returned to their own Cour?
a v - ' ' * S '
try, and rebuilt their Towns again.
During thefe Misfortunes of the Do
4 home. <
/
and the Slave Trade.
homes , which lafted feveral Months, va¬
rious Reports came to Whidaw. Some¬
times it was faid, “ That the King of
“ Dahofne was killed:” But that was again
contradided : And it was reported, “ he had
“ loft fo many of his People, that he never
“ could be again in a Condition to dilturb
“ his Neighbours;” and this was fo cur¬
rently believed that no one doubted of it.
About this time, which was in the
beginning of July 1729, Governor Wil-
fon departed from Whidaw , in order to
return to England. He left in his room
one Mr. Teftefole , who had refided there
1 many Years, but was no ways equal to
him in Prudence and Condud, as his un¬
happy Fate will afterwards fliow. For
tho’ this Perfon had been often at the
King of Dahome' s Camp, where he was
always ufed with great Civility, yet now
: believing that King was fo far reduced,
that the People of Whidaw had nothing
more to fear from him ; lie too haftily
I advifed their King, to leave the barren
Hlands wherein he had fled with his Peo¬
ple, and come and' take again Pofleffion
of his Country, Here-
124 ^ new Account of Guinea,
Hereupon the King of Whidaw refolved
to return ; and, to provide againft the
worft, he defired his Neighbours of Popoe
to lend him fome of their Forces; which
they readily did. For thefe People, with
all the Coajl-Negroes, mortally hate the
Dahomes, on account of their Cruelty, and
their Barbarity in eating human Flefh,
And, befides that the Popoes are little
afraid of the Dahomes Power, becaufe they
live in Iflands, they now affifted the Whir
daws out of Policy ; thinking, if they
were reinftated in their Country, Trade
would foon revive, which had been fq
long interrupted on account of the War.
So they fent them fome thoufands of their
People ; and at their Arrival the King of;
Whidaw joined them with his Forces.
Tho’ he was a very fat unwieldy Man,
yet he marched at the head of his Army,
which confifted of about fifteen thoufand
Men. including the Popoes, and incamped
in his own Country for fome time, neat
the Englijh and French forts. This the
Dahomes knew nothing of ; for they hac
fo mean an opinion of the Whtdaws, thaj
I
and the Slave Trade,
they never thought they would attempt
to fettle again in their own Country :
Neither had they,fince the departure of the
J-oes} fent any of their People to the Sea
fide, having been employed in repairing
their Towns, and about other Affairs.
Thefe being near finiihed, the King
of Dahome fent fome of his Traders
down with Slaves, to the Englijh and
French Forts: But his People were much
furprifed to fee fuch an Army of Whidaw%
incamped near them. So they returned
in great hafte to inform their King, who
upon the receipt of this News, was greatly
embaraffed $ for he had loft many of his
beft Soldiers whilft the J - ces remained in
his Country, and kept him fo long in the
Bufhes. Moreover, hisMajefty had lately
fent an Army into the inland Country,
to take Slaves: For as I have formerly
obferved, he drives no regular Trade in
Slaves, but only fells fuch as he takes in
his Wars.
Being in this State of Perplexity (when
he had not a fufficient Number of Sol-
\
diers
126 A new Accou?^t of Guinea^
diers to encounter the Whidaws and Po-
poes together, and, on the other hand,
could not bear to fee himfelf braved by
fuch a cowardly Race as the Whidaws ,)
his Policy extricated him out of this Dif¬
ficulty. He ordered a great number of
Women to be armed like Soldiers, and
appointed Officers to each Company,
with Colours, Drums and Umbrellas, ac¬
cording to the Negroe Fafhion. Then
ordering the Army to march, the Women
Soldiers were placed in the Rear, to pre¬
vent Difcovery. When they came in fight
of the Whidaw Army, the latter were
much furprized to fee fuch Numbers of
Dahome Soldiers, as they fuppofed them
all to be, marching againft them: For
they had much depended on the former
Reports, that they were fo far reduced, as
not to be able (at lead: fo foon) to have
made Head againft them. At this unex¬
pected fight the Whidaws were divided:
Some were for retiring back to the
Iflands 5 but others who were commanded!
by Captain Office , with the Popoes , were:
for fighting. During this Difpute, the:
Dahome.
and the Slave Trade * 127
Dahome Army marched on boldly, and
Captain OJfue , with the Popoe General,
as bravely advanced to meet them ; and
attacked their right Wing fo brifkly, that
they drove them for fome time before
them. But the Whidaws who were with
the King, at that inftant cowardly fled 5
tho’his Majefty ufed his utmoft endeavours
and Intreaties to Hop them, and at lad
wounded feveral with his Lance, to
oblige them to fecond Captain Offue9 s
People: But all in vain. This being ob~
ferved by the left Wing of the Dahomes ,
they fell on the Rear of OJfue s Soldiers,
and foon obliged them and the Popoes , to
: fly in their turn ; which the King of
; Whidaw perceiving, and being fo very
unwieldy and fat, he had no other way
i to fave his Life, but to fly into the dry
' Ditch of the Englijh Fort; where, by the
1 help of two of his Sons, his Majefty got
| over the Wall, and fo efcaped the fury
1 of his Enemies : But many of his People
J were killed, and others taken,
I Mr. Tejiefole , the Governor, was at a
great lofs how to aft on this occafion*
For
228 A new Account of Guinea,
For he forefaw the Dahomes would de¬
mand the King, and infift on his being
delivered to them, as foon as they fhoukh
know he was in the Fort. Which if he:
refufed to do, he was fenfible, they could
oblige him in time to do it, by ftarving;
him. Moreover, he could not but fuftain a
great lofs by the Interruption of Trade.
So the Governor perfuaded the King tc
leave the Fort that Night, and he hap¬
pily efcaped to his barren Iflands again, t
However, the King of Dahome was after¬
wards fully informed of all this, and like-
wife that the Governor had been the prin¬
cipal occafion of the Whidaws endeavour¬
ing to regain their Country: Which he
highly refented.
The Dahomes , after this, retired fron
about the Forts, and, leaving a fmall Ar
my at Sabee , returned to their own Coum
try; where many Banditti of other Naj
tions reforting to them, their King, in ;
few Months, found his Strength and Powe:
as much increafed,as when he fled from thu
J-oes. But the Countriesbeing laid waft;!
far and near by his former Wars, the
hi
/
and the Slave Trade .
he has large Territories of many hundred
Miles, and as fine a Country under his
Dominion, as any in the Southern Parts
of Africa ; yet he is only a great King in
name for want of Subjeds, by reafon of
his having deftroyed info cruel a manner
the Inhabitants of all the Places he has
conquered. This has obliged many hun¬
dred thoufands to fly from his Arms,
into foreign Countries j that are by Situa¬
tion fecured from his rambling Bands,
either by great Rivers, Mountains or
Lakes.
He has aded fince as impolitick a pare
in another matter. For he gave his word
to a great number of the former Inhabi¬
tants, If they would return again into
their own Country, they fhould quietly
enjoy it, upon paying a certain Tribute.
On this many thoufands returned into the
Kingdom of Ardra , where they built
Houles, fowed Corn, and planted Pota¬
toes j but no fooner were thefe poor Peo¬
ple fettled, than the Dahomes furprized
them, and killed or took captive all that
could not efcape from them. The King
K having
CO
o A new Account of Guinea,
having thus broken his promife, I be¬
lieve no others will ever venture to truft
him: And the Country, in ail Probability,
will remain uninhabited, during his Life:
Moreover, by this means the Trade at
Whidaw is almoft ruined; for the far in¬
land People having now no Markets to
carry their Slaves to, as formerly, and
the Dahomes ufing no Trade but that of
War, few Negroes are now brought down
to be fold to the 'Europeans .
Whether it was the badnefs of Trade,
occafioned by the Dahomes adting in this
manner, or any thing elfe, that enraged
Mr. T eftefole againft them ; he was fo im¬
prudent, that on all Opportunities he
ufed their People ill, when they came to
the Englifi Fort : And at lad: whipped
one of their principal Men at the Flag-
Staff; and upon his complaining of this
great Indignity, Dejlefole rafhly replied,
He would ferve his King in the fame man¬
ner if he was in his Power. All this be¬
ing afterwards reported to his Majefty,
it highly offended him : And he faid,
<£ Surely this Man muff be full of Malice
£C againft
and the Slave Trade.
againft us, elfe he could never have fo
“ Suddenly forgot our former Kindneffes
“ to him.”
The King upon this ordered his People
to watch for an Opportunity to furprize
the Governor, and make him Prifoner ;
and his Imprudence foon made him fall
into their Hands in the following man¬
ner. There was a French Captain who
had a Fadory, at fome diftance from the
Fnglijh Fort: This Gentleman had been
drinking with the Governor all night, and
when the day came, he perfuaded Mr.
Fejlefole to go and drink Coffee with him
at his Fadory. The Dabomes , who were
on the Watch, feeing him go to the
Frenchmans Ploufe, went and furrounded
it, demanding to have the Governor de¬
livered to them. This the Captain ac
firft refufed, but they threatning to burn
his Fadory; he told them, He would
forthwith bring him out. So he went
into the IToufe, and advifed Mr. ’Teflejole
to make his Efcape ; which he refilling
to do, the Captain put him by force into
a large Chert, and lock’d him in : Then
K 2 he
1 3 2 A new Account of Guinea,
be went our, and told the Dahomes, cc He
tc could not find the Governor, and that
<c he believed he had efcaped.” This fo
enraged them, that they fired a Piftol at
the Captain, which (hot him in the Arm,
and thereupon broke into his Houfe,
where they at laft found the unfortunate
Man in the Cheft ; whom they took our,
tied his Hands and Legs, and putting him
into a Hammock, fent him away to their
King, who was at that time encamp’d up:
into the Country, four days journey off*.
This unhappy Gentleman flattered
himfelf, that the former Kindnefs the
King had fhown for him, would now
lave him; but his Majefty was fo highh
offended, that he would not vouchfafe to
fee him ; fo that he gave himfelf up foi
loft. However, a few days after this hi
was fent down to Sabee, about Tour Mile
from the Fort, where he was given to ur
derftand, “ If he would wuite to the Pen
“ fon that commanded in his Ablenci
•'< for feveral things, which they namei
£t for his Random, that on their beir
-£i fent he fhould have his Liberty.
Th
and the Slave Trade, * -? ?
This he readily complied with, and
they inftantly allowed him more Free¬
dom, permitting two of his own Negroe
Servants to wait on him ; fo that he began
to be eafy in his Mind: But the Scene foon
changed ; for on their receiving the Things
he had writ for, and which were of acon-
fiderable Value, thefe cruel bale Villains
feized his Per ron, and made his Body fa ft
to Stakes drove in the Ground : Where,
fpreading him on his Belly, they with
fharp Knives cut open his Arms, Back,
Thighs and Legs in feveral places, and
filled the Wounds with a mixture of
Limejuice, Salt and Pepper mixed toge¬
ther; which put him to inexpreffible
Torment. However, they foon after put
i him out of his pain, by cutting off his
Head. Then they cut his Body in pie-
1 ces, broiled them on the Coals, and eat
I them.
Thus this poor Gentleman loft his
I Life in a terrible manner. And tho’ the
King of Dahome has fince denied to fome
' white People, “ That he gave Orders to
“ have him put to death His Majefty
K 3 faying,
'\
*3+
A new Account oj Guinea^
faying, by way of Excufe, <c He only told
“ fome of his principal People to carry him
€c to Sabee, and there do with him what
« they thought fit, not fufpedting they
would have ufed a white Gentleman in
« fuch a manner Yet it is not to be doubt¬
ed but they knew their Mafter’s Mind too
well in this Affair. For his Majefty pu-
nifihed none of thofe that were Adtors in
this cruel Tragedy; thoJ it was earneftly
infiffed on. Nay fome of them that eat
part of his Fleffi, have been fince io au¬
dacious, as to tell feveral Portuguefe Gen¬
tlemen, that talked with them about it,
That Englijh Beef was very good.”
After Mr. Tejiejole s unhappy Fate, two
white Men running away from the Eng-
lifo Fort, one of them went to the King
of cDahome , and informed him, C£ There
« were but four white People left in the
«c place, fo that he might eafily take it.”
The King replied, <c He had no quarrel il
<c with th e, Englijh Nation; for what had I
been done to the late Governor, he by •
*£ his Imprudence had brought on himfelf ::
u And he hoped, the African Company;
“ would:
and the Slave Trade .
<c would fend a fitter Perfon to command
cc the Fort for the future/'
Sometime after this the King of Da-
home confidering he fhould certainly be
invaded again by the J-oes, as foon as the
Seafon permitted them to march, and
dreading very much their power, he fent
EmbalTadors with large Prefents to their
King, together with one of his handfomeft
Daughters. Thefe were civilly received,
and had the good fortune to fucceed in their
Negotiations. For they fo gained feme
great Men about the King, by prefenting
them with large pieces of Coral (which
the J -oes eileem above all things) that
by their means an advantagious Peace
was obtained for their Mailer, and they
were civilly difmifled with handfome
Rewards. For a Confirmation of the
Peace, the King of J-oe fent, a little
while after, one of his Daughters to the
King of Dahome for a Wife; and ihe was
received with great Joy by the King and
his People.
At my going on Shore at Jaqueen , the
latter end of February 1729-30: I was
K 4 informed
136 A new .Account of Guinea,
informed of all that I have here related;
and tho’ I found Trade very dull, yet all
the white Gentlemen redding at that
place, were full of Expectations, That,
now a Peace was concluded between the
J-oes and the Dahomes , we fhould foon
have a great many Negroes brought down
for Sale. But tho* I was there above two
Months, Trade did not mend in the lead:
And I am afraid it will not for many
Years, becaufe of the great DeftruCtion
of the Inhabitants of the neighbouring
Countries, who ufed to carry on a regular
Trade with the far inland People: Nei«
ther will thofe that had the good fortune
to efcape the Dahomes Cruelty, dare to
return during the Life of the prelent Con¬
queror, whole Perfidioufnefs and Trea¬
chery they have often experienced.
I fhal! conclude this firft Book with an
account of a Misfortune that befel me by
Fire, whilft I was at Jaqueen. The re¬
lation, if I miftake not, may be acceptable
to the Reader, and give him a true no¬
tion of the Buildings, and fome other
JYLuters amongft the Negroes .
r37
and the Slave Trade .
The Houfes in that Country are built
i with mud-Walls, one Story high. The
I Rafters that fupport the Roof are made
j of Bamboes , which is a light fpungy
Wood. On thefe they lay a great quan~
! tity of Thatch, which in the dry Seafon
i of the Year is like Tinder: Yet the Na-
: tives are fo carelefs, that many Fires hap.
pen in that Seafon ; there having been no
! lefs than five during the two Months I was
there, in which fome thoufands of their
Houfes were burnt down. This carelef-
nefs of the Negroes, I judge, chiefly pro¬
ceeds from the little regard they have for
their Furniture. For it is very mean, ex¬
cept amongft fome of the principal Peo¬
ple, confiding of Matts to fleep on,
earthen Pots to boil their Victuals in ;
with a few other things of fmall value.
Moreover, the Walls of their Houfes be¬
ing made of Clay, the Fire does them
rather good than hurt, as it bakes them
harder. And to new cover them it cods
but little. So that the Europea?is that
have Factories in the Town oi Jaqueen^ are
often great Sufferers by thefe frequent
Fires,
1 38 A new Account of Guinea*
Fires, cccafioned generally by the ftupid
Careleffnels of the Negroes, which pro¬
ceeds from the Reafons juft now men¬
tioned.
I thought our Factory pretty fafe from
it, for we lived in a large Court belonging
to the Duke, who was the only Brother
of the Lord of the Place by the fame Mo¬
ther, and his chief Minifter. ThisHoufe
joined to the Apartments of the Duke’s
Women, which it being a capital Crime
for the Natives to go into, fo it would
have been very imprudent for any white
Man to have attempted it: Yet the Fire,
obliged us to fave our felves that way, as
I (hall juft now relate. The other fide of
the Court we lived in, opened into the
Fields; and juft by our Door a narrow
Street began, where the Lord of Jaqueen s
Feticheer or Prieft lived with his Family.
Two Fires having happened in the
Town, within a few days one of the
other, in which fome Fortuguefe fuffered
a great Lofs in their Goods, I exprefs’d
my apprehenfions of the like Danger. But
the Duke affured me, u It was never
“ known,
1 39
and the Slave Trade .
<€ known, that either his Brother's Houles,
<c or his own had been burn’d. For they
<c having abundance of Servants, if any
1 €i Fire began near them, their People, by
1 <c unthatching the Houfes, foon put a
| u flop to it. Moreover, all the Inhabi-
u tants who lived near the Court, were
1 <c very careful of Fire ; becaufe it was
! <c death by their Law. to all the Family
! u where it began."’ Thefe Reafons made
me more eafy than I had been for fome
time. But on the fifteenth of March , be^
I ing Sunday, what I long feared came to
C
pais.
My hired black Servants sliced me
| leave after Dinner, to go to the Bu¬
rial of one of their acquaintance ; and fe-
veral of my white People did the fame,
being deiirous to fee the Cuftoms of the
Blacks on this occalion : In which indeed
they are very ridiculous and expenfive,
drinking as much Brandy and other Li¬
quors, as the Circumftances of thedeceaf-
ed Perfon will allow. I granted them all
their requeft ; and by that means there
remained only two white Men with me
in the Fadtory. The
140 A new Account of Guinea^
The Fire began about two a clock that
afternoon, in the Feticheers Houfe, juft
oppofite to our Door, which immedi¬
ately taking Fire, prevented our Efcape
that way. However in the firft Surprize,
1 gave my Box of Books and Accounts to
one of my young Men, who ventured
through the Door-way with them, tho’
lie was fcorched by the Flames ; and fo
i luckily laved them. My next care was
to lave our Gold, which I kept in a large
[Dutch Chett, thinking it fafer there than
in a Portmanteau, or a Imail Box, which
our black Servants might have been temp- .
ted to run away with. But, in the hurry,
I could not find the Key of the Cheft, to
take the Money out; and the Fire having
taken hold of the Thatch of the room
wherein it flood, I and the other white
Man then remaining with me, took it up,
and carried it into the Apartments be¬
longing to the Duke’s Women : Where
we met him and his Brother with many
People, going to endeavour to flop the
Fire, by unthatching the adjoining Houles ;
but the Flames were got to fuch a head5
that
and the Slave Trade . 1 4. t
that they were foon forced to fly before
them. My Man and I having carried the
i Che A through feveral windings and turn-
1 ings in the Duke’s Houfes, we began to
! be quite tired, (for it was very heavy)
' when, juA in the nick of time, five black
I People came running towards us, and the
1 way was fo narrow they could not eafily
| pafs by us. One of thefe Men I knew,
! who fpoke good Englijh , “ fo I defired
1 “ him and the others to fave the CheA,
1 cc for which I would well reward them/'
’ He anfwered, “ They durA not affiA me ;
€C being obliged, on no lefs a Penalty than
6C the lofsof theirHeads, to go and fave the
££ Duke's Goods." By good fortune I
had my Cane then hanging on my Wrifi,
which I ufed to fuch purpofe, that two
of them immediately took up the CheA ;
whereupon I let the other three pafs by :
So, with the help of the two Men I had
obliged to affiA us, we got the CheA at
lafi over a Wall ten foot high, into the
Street, and fo to the Dutch Faftory in
fafety. But we had the Misfortune to
lofe in our Factory a large quantity of
Goods,
*
n
1 4.2 A new Account of Guinea,
Goods, with all my Neceffaries, except
what was in the Chef}, All the Duke s
houfes, and the greatefl part of his Fur¬
niture was deftroyed ; but his Brother's
were preferved, by unthatching the Houfes
that flood next his Court. I think, for
the time this Fire lafted, which was but
about an hour, nothing could be fiercer
or quicker ; and had it happened in the
night, we fhould certainly have been
burnt; for we could never have found
our way out, amongil fo many Turnings
and Windings, as were in the Dukes A-
partments.
When the hurry was pretty well over,
the Lord of Jaqueen inquired after me,
being under fome concern about me ; for
he did not fee me as he palled along in his
Brother's Rooms : As foon as he was in¬
formed of my Safety, he fent a Meffenger
to enquire, “ How I did, after fo fevere
4£ a Misfortune ?”
It is remarkable, we could never learn
how this Fire happened, for tho' I often
prefs’d the Duke to make an inquiry after
it, yet he always declined it ; which I believe
2 was
and the Slave Trade.
H
was on account of his Brother’s Feticheer ,
in whofe Family the Fire began. How¬
ever, they were fo wife as not to let them
repair their Houfes, but obliged them to
build further from the Court which be¬
longed to the Duke.
Adjoining to the Feticheer % Houfe that
was burnt, there was a large fauare Court,
I adorned with many handfome Trees thac
grew round it. In the middle of this
place itood the Lord of Jaqueen’s Fetiche.
It was made in the fafhion of a large
Hay-cock, and covered over with Thatch :
|On the top of this was placed a dead Man’s
Scull, before which Offerings were made
•for the Duke’s Health and Prefervation.
.This Fetiche efcaped being burned, tho?
all the Houfes adjoining to the Court
Iwherein it flood were confumU This
was cryed up by the People as a great
Miracle 5 faying, “ Their Lord’s God had
taken care to preferve his own Houfe
Tho' by what I could judge it was impof-
I fible this Fetiche fhould be bunfd, be-
icaufe it was at a confiderable diflance
from the Fire, and guarded by fo many
Trees
144 ^ new Account of Guinea, ^
Trees full of Branches, and Leaves. But
it was in vain to argue againft their fu-
perftitious Notion.
After this Misfortune, I fent my Peo¬
ple on board to get them more neceffa-
ries ; during which time I remained in
the Dutch Fadory. On their return a-
fhore, I was obliged, tho’ much againft
my will, to take a new-built houfe be¬
longing to the Duke, but finding no one
durft let me one (which it feems had
been forbidden for the fake of the Duke’s
Advantage) I complied. But what I fear¬
ed came to pals, for we all got Fevers inn
a few days after we had been in this;
Houfe.
About ten days after this, another ter¬
rible Fire happened, which began in a
Portuguefe Fadory, and in this manner. A
Negroe Cook frying fome Fifh in Palm- Oyl,
the Oyl took lire ; and he imprudently,
throwing Water thereon, the Flame of the
Oyl ran up the fide of the Wall, (for the
Negroe Houfes have no Chimneys) and inn
ftantly fired the Thatch. Whereuponi
the Wind then blowing very frefh, n
fpreac
and the Slave Tirade.
fprcad in a moment and confumed, in two
hours time, one third of the Town, in
which flood feveral thoufands of their little
Houfes : However, this did not come near
our Fadory.
Soon after this, my People grew fo bad^
that I was obliged to fend them on board
the Ship, and have others afhore in their
room : In a little while after, the Houfe
we had been burnt out of, being repaired^
we removed into it; and by this means
had the Opportunity of feeing daily thou¬
fands of People bring Bumboes and Thatch,
to repair the Duke’s Houfes with ; it be¬
ing the Cuflorn of the Country fo to do,
when either their Lord or his Brother
wants it. But the noife of the Peoples
Mufick, and antick dancing, on this oc-
cafion, gave me much Dillurbance: More¬
over, Trade continuing flill very dull, it
gave me no little concern ; and having
got rid of my Fever for a few days, it re¬
turned again. Being in thefe unhappy
Circumflances, I received advice, that two
of my Owner’s Ships were arrived in the
Road of Jaqueen . Whereupon I left my
L Fadory3
*45
A new Account of Guinea,
Fadory, and went on board my Ships
and there, the Commanders of the other
two and I agreed, <c It would be for our
Owner’s Intereft that I fliould go di~
redly for England.'* So, delivering to
one of them what Negroes I had on Board,
and receiving what Elephants Teeth, and
Gold they had, I left the Road of Jaqueen
the firft day of May ; And having had a
fine Paffage, in which I intirely loft my
Fever, and recovered my Strength a little,
I arrived fafe in the River of Thames the
13 th of July 1730.
and the Slave Trade,
ADDITIONS
To the foregoing Account.
AS the Publication of this Book has
been deferred till the Winter Sea-
fon, it may not be unacceptable to the
Reader, to have a farther Account of the
King of Dahome , according to the lateft
Advices come from thofe Parts.
I ended the firft Book with an account
of that King's having concluded a Peace
with the mo ft powerful of his Enemies,
the King of J-oe. This put the Europe¬
ans then refiding at Jaqueen in great
hopes, that thofe Countries would be
fettled, and Trade flourifh again 3 tho* at
my departure from that Place, in May
1730, I faw but little profpeft of it: And
indeed it has been quite ruined fince, by
the Deftru&ion of the Country of Ja-
queen} on the 2 2d of March 1731-2,
L 2
For
148 A new Account of Guinea,
For the King of Dahome being a reftlefs
ambitious Prince, inftead of endeavouring
(after the concluding of the Peace with
they -oes) to fettle his conquered Coun¬
tries, he marched far Inland againft a
Nation called the Taboos .
Thefe People valiantly defended them-
felves for many Months, having retired
amongft their Mountains and Woods,
where they were befieged by the Dahomes.
The rainy Seafon coming on, the Da¬
home Soldiers were delirous of returning
to their own Country, but the King was
highly incenfed at it, and put feveral of
the principal Officers to death, only for
mentioning it to him. This caufed great
Murmu rings in the Army, which were
increafed by their Sufferings from the
Rains; fo that feme of his Captains de¬
le ned him with many Soldiers, amongft
whom was one of his Sons, who fled
with four thoufand Men to the King of
Weemey .
Finding himfelf in thefe Circumftances,,
he refolved to make one grand Effort oni
the Taboos , in which he prevailed ; but:
thef
and the Slave Trade.
tho’ he beat them out of their Faftnefles
$
he gain’d little by it, they making a brave
Retreat, in which his wearied Soldiers
could not purfue them ; and loon after he
returned to his own Country, with the
lofs of moll of his Forces and of his Re¬
putation.
At this the People of Jaqueen were not
a little pleafed ; for they always flood in
fear of him, but now began to entertain
Hopes, he might at laft be deflroyed.
There refided at that Place, a Dutch
Gentleman named Mynheer Hertcg. This
Perfon carried on a confiderable Trade
with the help of his black Servants, into
feveral diftant Countries, by means of a
River that runs from Jaqueen into the
Bay of Bennin. Having gained a great
influence over the King of Jaqueen , they
often confulted together, fending private
Meflages by the Traders to the King of
Weemey , and other neighbouring Princes,
to ftir them up againfl the King of Da-
home, , and withal lupplied them with Am¬
munition. Of this the King of Dahomi:
having received Intelligence, and alfo that
k 3 the
*49
A nemo Account of Guinea,
the People of Jaqueen were going to build
a Fortification by the Dire&ions of the
Europeans refiding there; he refolved to
attack them, in order to be revenged.
The better to deceive them, he gave
out, that he intended a fecond Expedi¬
tion far inland : And to blind the Jaqueen
Spies, he gave Order to his General to
march towards the inland Parts, but in the
Night the Army wheeled about, and with
great Expedition (tho* there were above
fifteen thoufand men in this Army) they
came by the way of Whidaw to Jaqueen ,
without being difcovered, till they were
juft entring the Town.
As the People of Jaqueen flood always
in dread of the King of Dahome , (as I
have juft now mention'd) they kept in
readinefs a great many Cannoes in the River
that runs on the back part of the Town,
to fave themfelves, in cafe they fliould be
attacked and defeated. But being now
furprized, they had little time to provide
for their own Safety : However, the King
and many of his principal People efcaped
in the Cannoes, to an Ifland he had for¬
tified
and the Slave Trade .
dfied againftftich an Accident, and which
^ies in the middle of the River towards
Appah . By that means he efcaped the
fury of the Dahomes y but he loft all his
Riches, and, to add to his Misfortune,
his Mother, (that was highly reverenced
by him and his People) was taken Prifoner
by the Enemy, and carried to the King
of Dahomey and what became of her af¬
terwards is unknown.
Mynheer Hertogy the Dutch Chief was
at dinner, when the Dahomes entered the
Town: And knowing how obnoxious he
had made himfelf to their King, he im¬
mediately lied, being defended by four
hundred of his People from the Enemy,
till he got into a Cannoe^ and then they
fhifted for themfelves. Pie loft every
thing in the Fadtory, which at that time
was full of European Goods to a very great
Value. This Gentleman efcaped to Ap¬
pah y which lies on the Sea Coaft, about
ten Leagues to the eaftward of Jaqueen «
Pie was kindly received by the King and
People, who have a great averfion for the
Dahomes ,
L 4 In
x5 2
A new Account of Guinea,
In the Town of Jaqueen the Conque-
rors met with a great deal of Plunder the
Inhabitants not having had time to carry
any thing away. But not fatisfied with
this, they made, according to their bar¬
barous Cuftom, a terrible Carnage of the
People; and to compleat the Deftrudion
of the Country, fet all the Towns and
Villages on fire.
There were at this time in Jaqueen
feveral Europeans , who fared little better
than the Natives; their Factories being
plundered of every thing. Amongft the
reft there was Captain Robert More Com¬
mander of the Squirrel Galley , belonging
to the late Humphrey Morrice Efq$ This
Gentleman being taken Prifoner with the
white Men in his Factory, (as the French
and Portuguefe alfo were in theirs) was
obliged to travel with them to the King
of Dahome , who then refided at Ardra ,
about fifty Miles within Land. And they
were not fo much as provided with Ham¬
mocks, or any other Carriages, but for¬
ced to walk on foot in the fcorching Sun*
which had like to have kill’d them.
3
Upon
and the Slave Trade. 1 5 3
Upon their appearing before the King,
Captain More complained of his hard
ufage; telling his Majefty, “ They had
“ had no Vi&uals nor any Refrelhment
“ fmce they had been taken Prifoners *
The King thereupon rofe up, and went
into an inner room ; whence coming out
again with a Hatchet in his Hand, the
fight of it fo frightned fome of the Por-
tuguefe , that they fell on their Knees to
implore his Mercy ; imagining their Heads
were going to be cut off. But Captain
More feverely upbraiding them for their
cowardly Behaviour, fodifgraceful to white
Men, they rofe up: And had foon after
the pleafureof feeing a fmall Calk of Beef
opened with it, and feveral pieces ordered
to be drefs’d for them. This Calk of
Beef, it feems, was found by the Soldiers
in the Captain’s Fadtory, and fent up with
other Plunder, to the King, the day
! before.
Then they were diftributed according
to their different Nations, and put under
the care of feveral great Men. Captain
More and his People were delivered to
Allegee ,
*54
A new Account oj Guinea^
Alleges the Englijh Cabocier; (as he was
termed) that is, the Perfon appointed to
Trade with them in particular. This
black Gentleman treated them with great
Civility ; but they had the Mortification,
a few days after, to hear, he was feized
and beheaded ; tho’ they could never learn
the Caufe.
It teems the King of Dahome is grown
exceedingly cruel towards his People, be¬
ing always fufpicious, that Plots and Con-
fpiracies are carrying on againii him . So
that he frequently cuts off feme of his
great Men on bare Surmifes. This, ad¬
ded to the many Difappointments he has
met with from the J-oes, has fo foured his
Temper, that he is likewife greatly altered
towards the Europeans , as Captain More
experienced. For this Gentleman had
been at his Camp formerly, and was
known to him foon after the Conqueft of
Whidaw, as I have related in the former
part of this Book.
Befides, both King and People continue
as favage as ever, tho they have con-
verfed for feveral Years paft with white
„ Men.
and the Slave Trade .
Men* For one day the Council having
begged a Captive, his Majefty readily
gave them one,, whom they killed and
j feafted on.
But to return to Captain More. He
land the other Europeans having conti¬
nued a good while Prifoners, Mr. Dearth
the African Company's Governor of the
Fort at Whidaw , came to Ardra , and in*
terceded with the King for them : Re«
: prefenting, <c As they had been at Ja~
“ queen only on account of Trade, it was
sc very unjuft to detain them." With thefe
and many other Arguments, he at Jaft
I obtained their Freedom: And a Guard
was ordered to fee Captain More fait down
to Jaqueen. But he refle&ing on the
hard ufage he had received at that place
from the Soldiers, when at firft taken
Prifoner ; and that they ftill were en¬
camped there, he chofe to go by the way
iof Whidaw : From whence he got on
board a French Ship, and borrowed their
Boat, which carried him to his own Ship5
that lay in the Road of Jaqueen ,
From
i y6
A new Account of Guinea,
From this and the foregoing Account
the Reader may obferve, that now all the
Countries near the Sea fide, which the
King of Dahome could poffibly get at, arc
not only conquered, but alfo turned into
Defolation, with the Inland Parts, in fo
terrible a manner, that there is no Prof--
ped of Trade's reviving there again for
many Years, or at leaft lb long as the Con*
queror lives. What little there is, is car¬
ried on chiefly at Appah, a place fecuredl
from him by a Morafs and a River.
‘The End of BOOK I.
BOO
and the Slave Trade.
*57
BOOK n.
The manner how the Negroes become
Slaves. The Numbers of them
yearly exported from Guinea to
America. The Lawfulnefs of
that Trade. Mutinies among
them on board the Ships where
the Author has been., &c.
BEFORE I give a particular Re¬
lation of the feveral Mutinies a-
mong the Negroe Slaves, where¬
of I have been a Witnefs, and which is
to be the chief Subjedt of this prefent
Book, it will be very proper to prefix a
! fhort account of the Manner bow the Ne¬
groes become Slaves; what Numbers of
. them are yearly exported from Guinea',
and
i j 8 A new Account of Guinea,
and then offer a few words in Juftification
of that Trade*
The man¬
ner how
ihe Ne¬
groes be¬
come
Slaves.
As for the Manner how thofe People
become Slaves ; it may be reduced under
thefe feveral Heads.
i. k has been the Cuftom among the
Negroes , timeout of Mind, and is fo to this
day, for them to make Slaves of all the:
Captives they take in War. Now, be¬
fore they had an Opportunity of felling
them to the white People, they were often
obliged to kill great Multitudes, when
they had taken more than they -could well
employ in their own Plantations, for fear
they fhoiild rebel, and endanger their
Matters Safety.
2 dly. Mott Crimes amongft them are
punifhed by Muldts and Fines ; and ii
the Offender has not wherewithal to pay
his Fine, he is fold for a Slave : This is
the Pradtice of the inland People, as welij
as of thofe on the Sea fide.
^dlyr Debtors who refufe to pay theii
Debts, or are infolvent, are likewife liable
to be made Slaves 5 but their Friends ma;
.redeem them : And if they are not able o.
willing
and the Slave Trade .
willing to do it, then they are generally fold
for the Benefit of their Creditors. But few
of thefe come into the hands of the Euro¬
pean^ being kept by their Countrymen for
their own ufe.
4 thly. I have been told, That it is com¬
mon for fome inland People, to fell their
Children for Slaves, tho’ they are under
no Neceffity for fo doing j which I am
inclined to believe. But I never obferved,
.hat me People near the Sea Coaft prac-
:ife this, unlefs compelled thereto by ex-
:reme Want and Famine, as the People
)f Whidaw have lately been. ■ .
Now, by thefe means it is that fo many Number
>f the Negroes become Slaves, and more^SgT
fpecially by being taken Captives in War.
)f thefe the Number is fo great, that I
jiay fafely affirm, without any Exagge-
ntion, that the Europeans of all Nations,
nat trade to the Coafl of Guinea , have,
i fome Years, exported at lead; feventy
iioufand. And tho’ this may no doubt
thought at firft hearing a prodigious
rumber; yet when ’tis confidered how
: eat the Extent of this Coaft is, namely
from
160 A new Account of Guinea,
.Lawful-
Kefs of
T Fade.
from Cape Verd to Angola, which is aboui
four thoufand Miles in length ; and tha
Polygamy is allowed in general among!
them, by which means the Countries an
full of People, I hope it will not b
thought improbable that fo many an
yearly exported from thence.
Several Objections have often bee:
raifed againft the Lawfulnefs of thi
Trade, which I (hall not here undertak
to refute. I (hall only obferve in genera
That tho’ to traffick in human Creature:
may at firft fight appear barbarous, ir
human, and unnatural ; yet the Tradei
herein have as much to plead in the:
own Excufe, as can be faid for fora
other Branches of Trade, namely, the^
‘vantage of it : And that not only in n
gard of the Merchants, but allb of tl
Slaves themfelves, as will plainly appe
from thefe following Reafons.
Firft, It is evident, that abundance
Captives, taken in War, would be inh
manly deftroyed, was there not an C
portunity of difpofing of them to i
Europeans, So that at leaft many Lives ;
and ihe Slave 'Trade. 1 6 r
faved, and great Numbers of ufeful Per-*
fons kept in being.
Secondly, When they are carried to the
Plantations, they generally live much bet¬
ter there, than they ever did in their
own Country; for as the Planters pay a
great price for them, ’tis their intereif to
take care of them.
Thirdly, By this means the Englifh
Plantations have been fo much improved*
that tis almoft incredible* what great
Advantages have accrued to the Nation
thereby; efpecially to the Sugar IJJands,
which lying in a Climate near as hot as the
Coaft of Guinea^ the Negroes are fitter to cul¬
tivate the Lands there, than white People.
▲
Then as to the Criminals amongft the
Negroes , they are by this means effectually
tranfported, never to return again ; a Be¬
nefit which we very much want here.
In a word, from this Trade proceed
Benefits, far outweighing all, either real
or pretended Mifchiefs and Inconvenien-
cies. And, let the worft that can, be faid
of it, it will be found* like all other earthly
Advantages, tempered with a mixture of
Good and Evil, IVL I
1 62 A new Account of Guinea,
Mutinies | come now to give an Account of the
Negroes, C Mutinies that have happened on board the
“I the Ships where I have been.
bhips r
where the Thefe Mutinies are generally occa-
hasbeen. fioned by the Sailors ill ufage of thefe poor
People, when on board the Ships where¬
in they are tran [ported to our Plantations.
Wherever therefore I have commanded,
it has been my principal Care, to have the
Negroes on board my Ship kindly ufed ; and
I have always ftridly charged my white
People to treat them with Humanity and
Tendernefs : In which I have ufually found
my Account, both in keeping them from
mutinying, and preferving them in health.
And whereas it may feem ftrange to
ihofe that are unacquainted with the me¬
thod of managing them, how we can
carry fo many hundreds together in a fmall
Ship, and keep them in order; I [hall juft
mention what is generally pradifed.
When we purchafe grown People, I ac¬
quaint them by the Interpreter, “ Thaq
' tc now they are become my Property, I
el think fit to let them know what they
u- are bought for, that they may be eafy
“ in
and the Slave Trade. i&3
c( in their Minds : (For thefe poor People
are generally under terrible Apprehend-
ons upon their being bought by white
Men, many being afraid that we defign
to eat them ; which, I have been told, is
a dory much credited by the inland Ne¬
groes-,) cc So after informing them, That
€c they are bought to till the Ground in
our Country, with fevera! other Mat-
tersj I then acquaint them, how they
sc are to behave themfelves on board, to-
“ wards the white Men 5 that if any one
u abufes them, they are to complain to
cc the Linguift, who is to inform me of
a it, and I will do them Juftice: But if
they make a Difturbance* or offer to
<c ftrike a white Man, they muff expedt
<c to be feverely punifhed.”
When we purchafe the Negroes , wTe
couple the fturdy Men together with Irons ;
but we fuffer the Women and Children to
go freely about : And foon after we have
fail'd from the Coaft, we undo all the
Mens Irons.
They are fed twice a day, ' and are
allowed in fair Weather to come on Deck
M 2 at
A new Account c/G uinea,
at feven a clock in the Morning, and to
remain there, if they think proper, till
Sun fetting. Every Monday Morning they
are ferved with Pipes and Tobacco, which
they are very fond of. The Men Negroes
lodge feparate from the Women and Chil¬
dren s and the places where they all lye
are cleaned every day, fome white Men
being appointed to fee them do it.
It would be tedious to the Reader as
well as to my felf, fhould I relate all the
Particulars of our Management of them,
and the Care we take to keep them in
health and order 3 wherefore I fhall con¬
clude with this remark, That if a Com¬
mander is himfelf well inclined, and has
good Officers to execute his Orders, the
Negroes on board may be eafily governed ;
and many Difficulties (which unavoidably
arife amongft fuch Numbers) got over
with a little trouble.
The firft Mutiny I faw among the Ne¬
groes, happened during my firft Voyage^
in the Year 1704. It was on board the
Eagle Galley of London , commanded by
my Father, with whom I was as Purfera
We
i65
and the Slave Trade.
We had bought our Negroes in the River
of Old Callabar in the Bay of Guinea. At
the time of their mutinying we were
in that River, having four hundred of
them on board, and not above ten white
Men who were able to do Service : For
feveral of our Ship’s Company were dead,
and many more fick; befides, two of our
Boats weie juft then gone with twelve
Feople on Shoie to fetch Wood, which
lay in fight of the Ship. All thefe Cir-
cumftances put the Negroes on confulting
how to mutiny, which they did at four
a clock in the Afternoon, juft as they went
to Supper. But as we had always care¬
fully examined the Mens Irons, both
Morning and Evening, none had got them
offj which in a great meafure contributed
to our Prefervation. Three white Men
flood on the Watch with Cutlaces in their
Hands. One of them who was on the
Forecaftle, a flout fellow, feeing fome
of the Men Negroes take hold of the
chief Mate, in order to throw him over
board, he laid on them fo heartily with
the flat fide of his Cutlace, that they foon
^ 3 quitted
1 66 A new Account of Guinea,
quitted the Mate, who efeaped from
them, and run on the Quarter Deck to
get Arms. I was then fick with an Ague,
and lying on a Couch in the great Cabbin,
the Fit being juft come on. However,
I no fooner heard the Outcry, T’hat the
Slaves were mutinying , but I took two
Piftols, and run on the Deck with them *,
where meeting with my Father and the
chief Mate, I delivered a Piftol to each
of them. Whereupon they went forward
on the Booms, calling to the Negroe Men
that were on the Forecaftle 5 but they
did not regard their Threats, being bufy ,
with the Gentry, (who had difengaged
the chief Mate,) and they would have
certainly killed him with his own Cutlace,
could they have got it from him 3 but
they could not break the Line wherewith
the Handle was faftened to his Wrifh
And fo, tho* they had feized him, yet
they could not make ufe of his Cutlace.
Being thus difappointed, they endeavoured
to throw him overboard, but he held fo
faft by one of them that they could not
do it. My Father feeing this flout Man
r
and the Slave Trade. i 6j
in fomuch Danger, ventured amongft the
Negroes , to fave him ; and fired his Piftol
over their Heads, thinking to frighten
them. But a lufty Slave {truck him with
a Billet fo hard, that he was almoft {tun¬
ned. The Slave was going to repeat the
Blow, when a young Lad about feventeen
years old, whom we had been kind to,,
interpofed his Arm, and received the
Blow, by which his Arm-bone was frac¬
tured. At the fame inftant the Mate fired
his Piftol, and (hot the Negroe that had
ft ruck my Father. At the fight of this
the Mutiny ceafed, and all the Men- ne¬
groes on the Forecaftle threw themfelves
fiat on their Faces, crying out for Mercy,
Upon examining into the matter, wre
found, there were not above twenty Men
Slaves concerned in this Mutiny 3 and the
two Ringleaders were miffing, having, it
leans, jumped overboard as foon as they
found their Project defeated, and were
drowned. This was all the Lofs we Suf¬
fered on this occafion ; For the Negroe
that was {hot by the Mate, the Surgeon,
beyond all Expectation, cured, And I
M 4 had
1 63 A new Account ofG uinea,
had the good Fortune to lofe my Ague*
by the fright and hurry I was put into.
Moreover, the young Man, who had
received the Blow on his Arm to fave my
Father, was cured by the Surgeon in our
Pa flag e to Virginia . At our Arrival in
that place we gave him his Freedom ; and a
worthy Gentleman, one Colonel Cartery
took him into his Service, till he became
well enough acquainted in the Country
to provide for himfelf.
I have been feveral Voyages, when
there has been no Attempt made by our
Negroes to mutiny; which, 1 believe5
was owing chiefly, to their being kindly
ufed, and to my Officers Care in keeping
a good Watch. But fometimes we meet
with flout ftubborn People amongflthem,
who are never to be made eafy ; and thefe
are generally fome of the Cormantines , a
Nation of the Gold Coaft . I went in the
year 1721, in the Henry of London , a
Voyage to that part of the Coaft , and
bought a good many of thefe People. We
were obliged to fecure them very well in
Irons, and watch them narrowly: Yet
I
and the Slave Trade.
they neverthelefs mutinied, tho’ they had
*
little profpedt of fucceeding. I lay at that
time near a place called Mumfort on the
i Gold-Coaft , having near five hundred Ne¬
groes on board, three hundred of which
were Men. Our Ship’s Company con-
fifted of fifty white People, all in health :
And I had very good Officers ; fo that I
was very eafy in all refpe&s.
This Mutiny began at Midnight (the
Moon then ffiining very bright) in this
manner. Two Men that flood Centry
at the Fore-hatch way, where the Men
Slaves came up to go to the houfe of Of¬
fice, permitted four to go to that place;
but neglected to lay the Gratings again,
as they fhould have done: Whereupon
four more Negroes came on Deck, who
had got their Irons off, and the four in
the houfe of Office having done the fame,
; all the eight fell on the two Gentries,
* who immediately called out for help. The
1 Negroes endeavoured to get their Cutlaces
from them, but the Lineyards (that is the
Lines by which the handlesof the Cutlaces
were faftned to the Mens Wrifts) were fo
twifled
0 A new Account of Guinea*
twifted in the Scuffle, that they could not
get them off before we came to their Al-
ffflance. The Negroes perceiving feveral
white Men coming towards them, with
Arms in their hands, quitted the Gentries,
and jumped over the Ship’s fide into the Sea.
I being by this time come forward on
the Deck, my firft care was to fecure the
Gratings, to prevent any more Negroesi
from coming up ; and then I ordered Peo¬
ple to get into the Boat, and fave thofe
that had jumped over-board, which they
luckily did: For they found them alii
clinging to the Cables the Ship was
moored by.
After we had fecured thefe People, I
called the Linguifts, and ordered them;
to bid the Men-Negroes between Decks
be quiet j (for there was a great noiie
amongft them.) On their being blent, 1
afked, <c What had induced them to mu-
C£ tiny ? They anfwered, I was a greai
ct Rogue to buy them, in order to carry
them away from their own Country
£C and that they were refolved to regain
cc their Liberty if pofiibleA I replied:
c “ Thai
and the Slave Trade . j j |;
c That they had forfeited their Freedom
fc before I bought them, either by Crimes*
i c or by being taken in War, according to
r:c the Cuftom of their Country ; and they
being now my Property, 1 was refolved
:c to let them feel my Refentmenr, if
they abufed my Kindnefs : Afking at the
fame time, Whether they had been ill
:c ufed by the white Men, or had wanted
£C for any thing the Ship afforded ?” To
this they replied, <c They had nothing to
" complain off' Then I obferved to them,
a That if they fhould gain their Point
u and efcape to the Shore, it would be
u no Advantage to them, becaufe their
“ Countrymen would catch them, and
fell them to other Ships.” This ferved
my purpofe, and they feemed to be con¬
vinced of their Fault, begging, “ I would
forgive them, and promifing for the
r- future to be obedient, and never mu-
a tiny again, if I would not punifh them
<c this time.” This I readily granted, and
;fo they went to lleep. When Day-light
i came we called the Men Negroes up on
I Deckp and examining their Irons, found
them
ij2 A new Account of Guinea,
them all fecure. So this Affair happi
ended, which I was very glad of ; for the:
People are the ftouteft and moft fenfibo
Negroes on the Coaft : Neither are they :
weak as to imagine as others do, that w
buy them to eat them ; being fatisfied v
carry them to work in our Plantation
as they do in their own Country.
However, a few days after this, v?
difcovered they were plotting again, ar
preparing to mutiny. For fome of tl
Ringleaders propofed to one of our Lin
guifts, If he could procure them an A:
they would cut the Cables the Ship rid t
in the night ; and fo on her driving (2
they imagined) afhore, they fhould g<
out of our hands, and then would becorr
his Servants as long as they lived.
For the better underftanding of this
muft obferve here, that thefe Linguifl
are Natives and Freemen of the Countr
whom we hire on account of their fpeaK
ing good Englijh , during the time we re
main trading on the Coaft 5 and they at
like wife Brokers between us and theblac
Merchants.
Thj:
and the Slave Trade *
| This Linguift was fo honed as to ac-
iliiaint me with what had been propofed
D him ; and advifed me to keep a dried
/atch over the Slaves: For fho’ he had
prefented to them the fame as I had
one on their mutinying before, That
ey would be all catch’d again, and fold
other Ships, in cafe they could carry
jieir Point, and get on Shore; yet it had
p effed upon them.
This gave me a good deal of Uneafi-
:fs. For I knew feveral Voyages had
roved unfuccefsful by Mutinies ; as they
fcafioned either the total lofs of the Ship
lid the white Mens Lives ; or at lead by
:ndring it abfolutely neceffary to kill or
bund a great number of the Slaves, in
ider to prevent a total Dedrudion.
*73
•i
oreover, I knew many of thefe Cor man -
le Negroes defpifed Punishment, and
en Death it felf: It having often hap-
ned at Barbadoes and other Iflands, that
their being any ways hardly dealt with,
break them of their Scubbornnefs in
:ufing to work, twenty or more have
ng’d themfelves at a time in a Plantati¬
on,
A new Account of Guinea,
on. However, about a Month after th
a fad Accident happened, that broug
our Slaves to be more orderly, and p
them in a better Temper: And it w
this. On our going from Mumfort
Annamaboe, which is the principal part <
the Gold Coafl , I met there with anotb
of my Owner s Ships, called the Ehz
heth . One Captain Ti hompfon that cor
rnanded her was dead 5 as alfo his chi
Mate : Moreover the Ship had afterwa:
been taken at Cape on the windwc
Coaft, by Roberts the Pirate, with whc
feveral of the Sailors belonging to her h
entered. However, fome of the Pirates b
hindered the Cargoe’s being plundered, a
obtained that the Ship fhould be refto:
to the fecond Mate : Telling him, 6i TH
sC did it out of refpeft to the generous Cl
rafter his Owner bore, in doing gc:
u to poor Sailors.’*
When I met with this Veffel I had
moft difpofed of my Ship s Cargoe ; t
the Elizabeth being under my Direfti
I acquainted the fecond Mate, who tl
commanded her, That I thought it
1
and the Slave Trade.
our Owner’s Intereft, to take the Slaves
from on board him, being about 120, into
my Ship ; and then go off the Coaft 5 and
that I would deliver him at the fame time
the Remains of my Cargoe, for him to
difpofe of with his own after I was failed.
This he readily complied with, but told
me, “ He feared his Ship’s Companv
“ would mutiny, and oppofe my taking
“ the Slaves from him:” And indeed, they
came at that inftant in a Body on the
jQuarter-deck ; where one fpoke for the
reft, telling me plainly, “ they would not
“ allow the Slaves to be taken out by me.”
jl found by this they had loft all refpecft
ifor their prefent Commander, who indeed
.was a weak Man. However, I calmly
'afked the reafon, “ Why they offered to
‘‘ oppofe my taking the Slaves?” To
which they anfwered, “ I had no bufinefs
•;< with them.” O11 this I defiled the
(Captain to fend to his Scrutore, for the
iBook of Inftrudlions Captain i Thompfon
<had received from our Owner ; and he
tread to them, at my requeft, that Parr,,
■in which their former Captain, or his
Succeffor
I7J
A new Account of Guinea,
Succeffor (in cafe of Death) was to fol¬
low my Orders. Hereupon they all cried
out, <£ they Ihould remain a great while
« longer on the Coaft to purchafe more::
« Slaves, if I took thefe from them, whichi
*£ they were refolved to oppofe." I an—
fwered, ce That fuch of the Ship's Com¬
te pany as delired it, I would receive on;
« board my own j where they Ihould:
« have the fame Wages they had at pre-»
« lent on board the Elizabeth , and I would
« fend fome of my own People to fupply,
« their Places." This fo reafonable an
Offer was refuted, one of the Men whc
was the Ship's Cooper telling me, thai
the Slaves had been on board a longtime,:
and they had great Friendlhip with them:
therefore they would keep them. I alked
him, cc Whether he had ever been on the
Coaft of Guinea before ? He replied no;
Then I told him, Ct I fuppofed he had not by
« his way of talking, and advifed him no;
“ to rely on the Friendlhip of the Slaves
<c which he might have reafon to repen
44 of when too late." And fis remark
able this very perfon was killed by then
and the Slave Trade. \ 7
the next Night, as fhall be prefently re¬
lated.
So finding that reafoning with thefe
Men was to no Purpofe, I told them,
u When I came with my Boats to fetch
cs the Slaves, they fttould find me as re-
folute to chaftife fuch of them as ftiould
dare to oppofe me, as I had been con-
c£ defcending to convince them by argu-
€C ing calmly.” So I took my leave of
their Captain, telling him, <c I would
€£ come next Morning to finifh the Af~
fair.” >
But that very Night, which was near
a month after the Mutiny on board of us
at Mumfort , the Moon ftiining now very
bright, as it did then, we heard, about
ten a Clock, two or three Mufquets fired
on board the Elizabeth . Upon that I or¬
dered all our Boats to be manned, and
having fecured every thing in our Ship,
to prevent our Slaves from mutinying, 1
went my felf in our Pinnace, (the
other Boats following me) on board the
Elizabeth . In our way we faw two Ne¬
groes fwimming from her, but. before we
N could
/
A new Account of Guinea*
could reach them with our Boats, fome
Sharks rofe from the bottom, and tore
them in Pieces. We came prefently along
the fide of the Ship, where we found two
Men-Negroes holding by a Rope, with
their Heads juft above water* they were
afraid, it feems, to fwim from the Ship's
fide, having feen their Companions de»
voured juft before by the Sharks. Thefe
two Slaves we took into our Boat, and
then went into the Ship, where we found
the Negroes very quiet, and all under
Deck ; but the Ship’s Company was on
the Quarter-deck, in a great Confufion,
faying, c€ The Cooper, who had been
<c placed centry at the Fore-hatch way,
Cl over the Men-Negroes, was, they be-
a lieved, kill'd by them/ I was furprized
to hear this, wondring that thefe cowardly
fellows, who had fo vigoroufly oppofed
my taking the Slaves out, a few hours
before, had not Courage enough to ven¬
ture forward, to fave their Ship-mate*
but had fecured themfelves by fhutting
the Quarter-deck-door, where they all
flood with Arms in their Hands, So I
went
and the Slave 'Trade,
l79
went to the fore-part of the Ship with
fome of my People, and there we found
the Cooper lying on his back quite dead,
his Scull being cleft afunder with a
Hatchet that lay by him. At the light of
this I called for the Linguift, and bid him
alk the Negroes between Decks, “ Who
“ had killed the white Man ?” They an-
fwered, “ They knew nothing of the
<£ matter ; for there had been no deligra
“ of mutinying amongft them Which
upon Examination we found true; for
above one hundred of the Negroes then
on board, being bought to Windward,
did not underliand a word of the Gold-
Coajl Language, and fo had not been in
the Plot. But this Mutiny was contrived
by a few Cormantee-Negroes , who had been
purchafed about two or three days before.
At lali, one of the two Men-Negroes we
had taken up along the Ship fide, im¬
peached his Companion, and he readily
confelfed he had kill'd the Cooper, with
no other View, but that he and his Coun¬
trymen might efcape undifcovered by
fwimming on Shore. For on their coming
N a
coming
upon
1 8o A new Account of Guinea^
upon Deck, they obferved, that all the
white Men let to watch were afleep; and
having found the Cook's Hatchet by the
Fire-place, he took it up, not defigning
then to do any Mifchief with it ; but
palling by the Cooper, who was centry,
and he beginning to awake, the Negroe
ralhly ftruck him on the head with it,
and then jump’d overboard. Upon this
frank Confeffion, the white Men would
have cut him to Pieces ; but I preven¬
ted it, and carried him to my own
Ship. Early the next morning, I went
on board the Elizabeth with my Boats,
and fent away all the Negroes then in
her, into my own Ship : not one of the
other Ship's Company offering to oppofe
it. Two of them, the Carpenter and
Steward, defired to go with me, which
I readily granted ; and by way of Security
for the future Succefs of the Voyage, I
put my chief Mate, and four of my under
Officers (with their own Confent,) on
board the Elizabeth \ and they arrived,
about five Months after this, at 'Jamaica ,
having difpofed of moft part of the Cargoe.
After
and the Slave Trade . 1 8 1
After having fent the Slaves out of the
Elizabeth , as I have juft now mentioned,
I went on board my own Ship ; and there
being then in the Road of Anamaboe , eight
fail of Ships befides us, I fent an Officer
in my Boat to the Commanders of them,
<c To defire their Company on board my
u Ship, becaufe I had an Affair of great
Confequence to communicate to them/'
Soon after, moft of them were pleafed to
come ; and I having acquainted them with
the whole Matter, and they having alfo
heard the Negroe’s Confeffion, tc That he
had killed the white Man f ' They unani-
moufly advifed me to put him to death ;
arguing, €C That Blood required Blood,
“ by all Laws both divine and human ;
c< efpecially as there was in this Cafe the
u cleared; Proof, namely the Murderer s
Confeffion : Moreover this would in
“ all probability prevent future Mifchiefs ;
iC for by publickly executing this Perfon
“ at the Ship's Fore-yard Arm, the Ne-
groes on board their Ships would fee it ;
*c and as they were very much difpofed to
f mutiny, it might prevent them from
N 3 “ at-
A new Account of Guinea*
Ci attempting it.” Thefe Reafons, with
my being in the fame Circumftances, made
me comply.
Accordingly we acquainted the Ne*^
groe, that he was to die in an hour's time
for murdering the white Man. He an-
fvvered, <c He mu ft confefs it was a ra(h
u A£tion in him to kill him ; but he de«
fired me to confider, that if I put him
££ to death, I fhould lofe all the Money I
had paid for him.” To this I bid the
Interpreter reply, “ That tho* I knew it
u was cuftomary in his Country to com-
<c mute for Murder by a Sum of Money,
*£ yet it was not fo with us $ and he
<c ftiould find that I had no regard to my
££ Profit in this refped : For as foon as
€£ an Hour-Glafs, juft then turned, was
u run out, he (hould be put to death f*
At which I obferved he (hewed no Con-r
cern,
Hereupon the other Commanders went
on board their refpedive Ships, in order
to have all their Negroes upon Deck at
the time of Execution, and to inform them
of the oscafion of it. The Hour-Glafs
being
and the Slave Trade.
being run out, the Murderer was carried
on the Ship’s Forecaftle, where he had a
Rope fattened under his Arms, in order
to be hoifted up to the Fore-yard Arm,
to be ihot to death. This fome of his
Countrymen obferving, told him, (as the
Linguift informed me afterwards) “ That
“ they would not have him be frightened ;
“ for it was plain I did not delign to put
“ him to death, otherwife the Rope would
“ have been put about his neck, to hang
“ him.” For it feems they had no thought
of his being Ihot ; judging he was only to
be hoifted up to the Yard-arm, in order
to fcare him : But they immediately faw
the contrary; for as foon as he was
hoifted up, ten white Men who were
placed behind the Barricado on the Quar¬
ter-deck, fired their Mufquets, and in-
ftantly killed him. This ftruck a fudden
Damp upon our Negroe-Men, who
thought, that, on account of my Profit,
I would not have executed him.
The Body being let down upon the
Deck, the Head was cut off, and thrown
overboard. This laft part was done, to
N 4 let
A new Account of Guinea,
let our Negroes fee, that all who offended
thus, fliould be ferved in the fame man¬
ner. For many of the Blacks believe,
that if they are put to death and not dif-
membred, they {hall return again to
their own Country, after they are thrown
overboard. But neither the Perfon that
was executed, nor his Countrymen of
Cormantee (as I underflood afterwards,)
were fo weak as to believe any fuch thing ;
tho" many I had on board from other
Countries had that Opinion.
When the Execution was over, I or¬
dered the Linguift to acquaint the Men-
Negroes, cC That now they might judge,
u no one that killed a white Man fhould
££ befpared:’5 And I thought proper now
to acquaint them once for all, u That if
cc they attempted to mutiny again, I
fhould be obliged to punifh the Ring-
ct leaders with death, in order to prevent
further Mifchief.” Upon this they all
promifed to be obedient, and I affured
them they fhouid be kindly ufed, if they
kept their Promife : which they faithfully
did. For we failed, two days after, from,
Anamabo®
and the Slave Trade* 1 8 5
Anamaboe for Jamaica , and tho they
were on board near four Months, from
our going off the Coaft, till they were
fold at that Ifland, they never gave us the
ieaft reafon to be jealous of them 5 which
doubtlefs was owing to the Execution of
the white Man’s Murderer.
Thefe three Mutinies, I have here re¬
lated, are all that ever happened where
I was prefent, tho" I have gone many
Voyages to the Coaft of Guinea . But I
have heard of feveral, that have ended in
a very tragical manner. However to
avoid being tedious, I (hall relate only one,
which is very remarkable, and happen’d
on board the Ferrers Galley of London Capt*
Meffervy who by his over-care, and too
great Kindnefs to the Negroes on board his
Ship, was deftroyed by them, and the
Voyage at laft came to nothing. I met
this Gentleman at Anamaboe on the Coaft
of Guinea , in January 1722. At his
coming on board my Ship, he informed
me of his good fortune, in that he had
purchafed near 300 Negroes in a few
Pays, at a place called Cetre-Grue , on
tho
1 86 A new Account of Guinea*
the windward part of the Coaft of Gui¬
nea 5 which happened in this manner.
It feems the Inhabitants of this place,,,
which lies near the Sea-fide, had been
often mifufed by fome inland People* who ■<
for a long time had treated them in a vil¬
lainous manner, whenever they went to
their Towns with Salt, or any other Com¬
modities to fell For knowing the Peo¬
ple of Cetre-Crue , did in a great meafure
depend on them for their Food, which
is Rice, they took their Commodities, and
gave them juft what quantity of Rice
they pleafed, in exchange. The Cetre -
Crues having long complained of this In-*
jury, without redrefs, refolved to bear it
no longer, but to revenge themfelves by
Arms. And they were crowned with
Succefs, deftroying and taking all the In¬
habitants of the principal Town where
they ufed to go and buy Rice.
Captain Mejfervy happened to anchor
near Cetre-Crue juft at that time, and had
the opportunity of purchaftng a great many
of the Captives at an eafy rate. For the
Conquerors were glad to get fomething
for
and the Slave Trade.
"or them at that inftant, fince if a Ship
lad not been in the Road, they would
lave been obliged to have killed moft of
die Men-Captives, for their own Secu»
yty- . ’ *
After the Captain had told me this
ftory, he delired me to fpare him fome
Rice, having heard, I had purchafed a
great many Tuns to the Windward;
Iwhere he had bought little, not expedi¬
ting to meet with fo many Slaves. This
requeft I could not comply with, having
provided no more than was necelfary for
i my felf, and for another of my Owner’s
! Ships, which I quickly expeded. And
I undemanding from him, that hehadne-
i ver been on the Coaft of Guinea before,
I took the liberty to obferve to him*
<e That as he had on board fo many Ne~
cc groes of one Town and Language, it
€( required the utmofl: Care and Ma-
“ nagement to keep them from mutiny-
cC ing; and that I was forry he had lb
u little Rice for them : For I had expen-
*c enced that the Windward Slaves are ai-
cc ways very fond of ir, it being their
^ <€ ufuat
s 8 8 A new Account of Guinea,
“ ufual Food in their own Country,!
« and he might certainly expedt diflatii
« factions and Uneafinefs amongft then
ct for want of a fufficient quantity.”
This he took kindly, and having alkeo
xny Advice about other Matters, took hi
leave, inviting me to come next day tc
fee him. I went accordingly on boarc:
his Ship, about three a clock in the after¬
noon, At four a clock the Negroes went
to Supper, and Captain Mejfervy defirec
me to excufe him for a quarter of an
hour, whilft he went forward to fee the
Men-Negroes ferved with Viftuals. 1
obferved from the Quarter-Deck, that he:
himfelf put Pepper and Palm Oyl amongft
the Rice they were going to eat. When:
he came back to me, I could not forbear
oblerving to him, “ How imprudent it
“ was in him to do fo : For tho’ it was
“ proper for a Commander fometimes
“ to go forward, and obferve how things
“ were managed ; yet he ought to take a
“ proper time, and have a good many of
(t his white People in Arms when he
“ ivent^
and the Slave Trade .
went; or elfe the having him fo much
; in their Power, might incourage the
!: Slaves to mutiny : For he might depend
upon it, they always aim at the chief
Perfon in the Ship, whom they foon
diftinguifh by the refpedt fhown him by
the reft of the People/"
He thanked me for this Advice, but
id not feem to relifli it; faying, S€ He
thought the old Proverb good, thac
5 The Mafters Eye makes the Horfe fat T
Ve then fell into other Difcourfe, and
imong other things he told me, cc He
1 defigned to go away in a few days
accordingly he failed three days after for
Jamaica. Some Months after I went for
nat place, where at my arrival I found
is Ship, and had the following melan-
holy account of his Death, which hap¬
pened about ten days after he left the
foaft of Guinea in this manner*
Being on the Forecaftle of the Ship,
onongft the Men-Negroes, when they
fere eating their Victuals, they laid hold
:ln him, and beat out his Brains with the
little
190
A new Account of Guinea*
little Tubs, out of which they eat thi
boiled Rice. This Mutiny having be
plotted amongft all the grown Negfc
on board, they runfro the fore-paft of t
Ship in a body, and endeavoured to fo;i
the Barricado on the Quarter-Deck, i
regarding the Mufquets or Half Pik
that were preiented to their Breafts
the white Men, through the Loop-hoi
Sp that at laft the chief Mate was oblig
to order one of the Quarter-deck Gi
laden with Partridge-Shot, to be fin
amongft them ; which occafioned a t
rible Deftru&ion : For there were m
eighty Negroes kill’d and drowned, ma
jumping overboard when the Gun v
fired. This indeed put an end to i
Mutiny, but moft of the Slaves that
mained alive grew fo fullen, that feve
of them were ftarved to death, obi
nately refufing to take any Suftenano
And after the Ship was arrived at j
maicay they attempted twice to mutii
before the Sale of them began. T
with their former Milbehaviour comi
and the Slave Trade.
to be publickly known, none of the Plan¬
ners cared to buy them, tho’ offered at a low
Price. So that this proved a very unfuccefs-
iful Voyage, for the Ship was detained
many Months at Jamaica on that account,
iand at laft was loft there in a Hurricane.
I
The End of BOOK II.
«
191
BOOK
4 -
and the Slave Trade.
Containing an Account of the Au¬
thor's being taken by Pirates , on
the North part of the Co aft of
Guinea, in the Bird Galley of
London, belonging to the late
Humphrey Morrice Efig, who was
foie Owner of the faid Ship. In -
terfperfed with feveral Infiances
of the Author s many Deliver¬
ances , and narrow Ef capes from
Death , during the time he was
detain d Prifoner by the Pirates.
N the beginning of November , in the
Year 1718, the late Humphrey Mor¬
rice Efq; Merchant of London, ap¬
pointed me Commander of the Bird Gal¬
ley, and gave me Orders to go to Holland,
194 A new Account of Guinea,
to take on board a Cargoe for the Coaft
of Africa1 Having fo done, we were un¬
fortunately detained by contrary Winds,
at Hefaoet-Sluys, till the 10th day of
December , when a violent Storm arofe,
and in the night following forc'd our
Ship on Shore, with feveral others.
The Ship, by the Strength of the Wind,
and height of the Tide, was carried
with a great force againft the Dike,
or Bank that fecures the Land from be¬
ing overflowed on fuch high Tides, which
frighten'd the Inhabitants thereabouts not
a little. Moreover, the Waves made
her work fo much on the Ground where;:
fhe was ftranded, that when the Tide;;
had left her, we found fhe fet feven foot::
deep abaft in the Strand; but had the:
Satisfaction to find, on Examination, the;
Ship had received no damage in her bot¬
tom. Having unloaded, and hired many
Boors or Pea fan ts, to dig a Trench ofl
near 300 Foot in length to the low water
mark, we waited forne time for a high:
Tide ; and then getting the Ship off, car¬
ried her into Eelvoet- Slays Peer.
Having:
and the Slave Trade.
I
Having refitted and loaded again, we
proceeded on our Voyage the latter end
of January j but the Wind changing by
the time we were off the Hie of Wight %
and rifing to a great Storm weflerly, we
were forced into Spit he ad ; where having
lain fome time, we failed again with a
fair Wind, which carried us above 70
Leagues to the weftward of the Lizard .
Here a fevere Storm of Wind coming up
at Southwell, obliged us to lye by, under
a reef'd Mainfail 3 and it increafed to fuch
a violent Degree, that we expedted to be
fwallowed up every Minute, by the great
Sea which ran Mountains high; but it
pleafed God, that after 24 Hours, it be¬
gan to abate, and we received no other
damage, than the lofs of the Lyon from
the Ship's Cut-water, which was walhed
away by the Sea.
The Wind (after this Storm) remain¬
ing contrary a long time, with frequent
hard Gales, obliged us at laft to go for
Ktngfale in Ireland: Where having lain a
few days, and repaired the Ship's Head,
with other things that were out of Order,
O 2 we
*95
A new Account of G uinea,
we failed from that place, with a nor¬
therly Wind, the 10th day of March
2718-19, and had a fhort and tine Paffage
to the River Sieraleon ; on the North
Coaft of Guinea , in the Latitude of 8 Deg.
Min. where we arrived the firft day
of April 1719: We met with nothing
remarkable in our Paffage, except, that
near the Canary IJlands , we were chafed
by a Ship w7hom w7e judged to be a Sal-
lec-Rover but our Ship outfailing her,
they foon gave over the Chafe.
There were, at the time of our unfor¬
tunate Arrival in the above mentioned
River, three Pirate Ships, who had then.!
taken ten Englijh Ships in that place.
As it is neceffary for illuftrating this
Story, to give an Account how thefe
three Ships came to meet there, I mufti
obferve, That the firft of them which
arrived in the River, was called the Rif!
ing Sun , one Cocklyn Commander, whc
had not with him above 25 Men. Thefe
having been with one Captain Moody , t
famous Pirate, feme Months before, in
a Brigantine , which railed very well, ant
2 tool
and the Slave Trade,
took the Rifing Sun, they were marooned
by him, (as they call it) that is forced
on board that Ship, and deprived of their
fhare of the Plunder, taken formerly by
the Brigantine. Thefe People being ob¬
liged to go away in her, with little Provifi-
on and Ammunition, chofe Cocklyn for their
Commander, and made for the River Siera-
leon-, where arriving, they furprized in his
Sloop, one Segnor Jofepb, a black Gentle¬
man, who had been formerly in England,
and was a Perfon of good account in this
Country. This Man’s Ranfom procured
the Pirates a fufficient fupply of Provi-
fion and Ammunition. Moreover, feve-
ral Brijiol and other Ships arriving foon
after, w'ere likewife taken ; and many of
their People entring with the Pirates, they
had, when I fell into their hands, near 80
Men in all.
The Crue of the Brigantine , who,
with their Captain Moody, had thus for¬
ced their Companions away in the Rifing
Sun, foon after repenting of that Add-
on, it bred great Difcontents among them 5
fo that they quarrelled with their Cap-
O 3 cab
*97
198 A new Account of Guinea5
tain and fome others, whom they thought
the chief Promoters of it; and at laft
forced him, with twelve others, into an
open Boat, which they had taken a few
days before, from the Spaniards of the
Canary IJlands ; and as they never were
heard of afterwards, doubtlefs they pe-
rifhed in the Ocean. After this, they
chafe one Le Boufe a Frenchman for their
Commander, who carried them to the
River Sieraleon} where they arrived about
a Month after their parting with the
Rijtng Sun .
At the firft Appearance, of this Brigan¬
tine, Cocklyn and his Crew were under a
great Surprize ; but when they underflood
how Moody and fome others had been
ferved by them, they cheerfully joined
their Brethren in Iniquity.
On the fame day alfo arrived one Cap¬
tain Davis , who had been pirating in a
Sloop, and had taken a large Ship at the
Cape de Verd Iflands. He coming into
Sieraleon with her, it put the other two
Pirates into fome fear, believing at firft
it was a Man of War : But upon difco-
2 wring
199
and the Slave Trade.
vering her black Flag at the Main- top-
maft-head, which Pirate Ships ufually
hoift to terrify Merchant-Men j they were
cafy in their Minds, and a little time after,
fainted one another with their Cannon.
This Davis was a generous Man, and
kept, his Crew, which confided of near
150 Men, in good order; neither had he
conforted or agreed to join with the others,
when I was taken by Cccklyn ; which
proved a great Misfortune to me, as will
appear afterwards. For I found Cocklyn
and his Crew, to be a fet of the bafefl and
moft cruel Villains that ever were. And
indeed they told me, after I was taken,
£< That they chofe him for their Com-
<c mander, on account of his Brutality
<c and Ignorance; having refolved never
tc to have again a Gentleman-like Com-
u mander, as, they faid. Moody was/'
Upon mentioning this, I think it ne-
ceffary to obferve in this place, that the
Captain of a Pirate Ship, is chiefly cho-
fen to fight the Veffels they may meet with,
Befides him, they chufe another principal
Officer, whom they call % uarter-mafter ,
O 4 who
200
A new Account of Guinea*
who has the general Infpedion of all Af¬
fairs, and often controuls the Captain’s
Orders: This Perfon is alfo to be the
fix ft Man in boarding any Ship they fhall
attack ; or go in the Boat on any defpe-
rate Enterprize. Befides the Captain and
Quart er-majler , the Pirates had all other
Officers as is ufual on board Men of
War.
I come now to give an account how
1 was taken by them. The day that I
made the Land, when I was within three
Leagues of the River’s Mouth, it became
calm in the Afternoon. Seeing a Smoke
on Shore, I fent for my fir ft Mate Mr.-
Simon Jones , who had been formerly at
Sieraleon , where I had not ; <c bidding
hitn take the Pinnace, and go where
€C the Smoke was, to enquire of the Na-
€C tives, how Affairs flood up the River.”
<5 But he replied, fc it would be to little
€C purpofe, for no People lived there : As
€£ to the Smoke we faw, he believed - it
might be made by fome Travellers
€C who were roafting of Oyft^rs on the
f .Shore 3 and would be gone before he
“ could
201
and the Slave Trade.
“ could get a Mile from the Ship. More-
“ over, as Night drew on, it would be
“ difficult for him to find the Ship again."
Thinking this anfwer reafonable, I did
not prefs him further ; tho’ I underftood
afterwards, there was a Town where the
Smoke appeared. But I did not then in
the leaft fufpect Mr. Jones would have
proved fuch a Villain as he did after¬
wards.
About five a Clock in the Afternoon, a
fmall Breeze arifing from the Sea, and the
Tide of Flood fetting ftrong, we flood for
the River’s Mouth. At Sun-fetting we per¬
ceived a Ship at Anchor, a great way up
the River; which was the Pirate that took
us foon after. The other two Pirate
Ships, with their Prizes, were hid from
our fight by a Point of Land.
It becoming calm about feven a Clock,
and growing dark, we anchor’d in the
: River’s Mouth ; foon after which I went
i to Supper, with the Officers that uffially
eat with me. About eight a Clock the
Officer of the Watch upon Deck, fent
me word, u He heard the rowing of a
Boat/3
teU *< -<
A new Account of Guinea,
“ Boat.” Whereupon we all immedi¬
ately went upon Deck ; and the night being
ygj-y darkj I ordered Tanthorns and Can—
dies to be got ready, fuppofing the Boat
might come from the Shore with fome
white Gentlemen, that lived there as
free Merchants ; or elfe from the Ship we.
had feen up the River a little while before:
we came to an Anchor. I ordered alfo„
by way of Precaution, the firA Mate to
go into the Steerage, to put all things in
order, and to fend me forthwith twenty
Men on the Quarter-deck with fire Arms
and Cutlaces, which I thought he went
about.
As it was dark, I could not yet fee the
Boat, but heard the noife of the rowing
very piain : Whereupon I ordered the fe-
cond Mate to hail the Boat, to which the
People in it anfwered, “ They belongec
cc to the Two Friends, Captain Eliot of
Beirbadoesi’ At this, one of the Orti-
cers who flood by me, faid, “ Ho
« knew the Captain very well, and tha
<c he commanded a Veffel of that name.
I replied, “ It might be foj but ]
“ woulc
and the Slave Trade.
<c would not truft any Boat in fuch a
“ place;” and ordered him to haften the
firft Mate, with the People and Arms
upon Deck, as I had juft before ordered.
By this time our Lanthorns and Candles
were brought up, and I ordered the
Boat to be hailed again : To which the
People in it anfwered, “ They were from
“ America And at the fame time fired
a volly of fmall Shot at the Ship, tho’
they were then above Piftol fhot from us ;
which fhowed the Boldnefs of thefe Vil¬
lains: For there was in the Boat only
twelve of them, as I underftood after¬
wards, who knew nothing of the Strength
of our Ship; which was indeed confider-
able, we having 16 Guns, and 45 Men
on board. But as they told me after we
were taken, “ They judged we were 4
fmall V eftel of little force. IVloreover,
“ they depended on the fame good for-
“ tune as in the other Ships they had
“ taken ; having met with no refiftance :
“ For the People were generally glad of
“ an opportunity of entring with them
Which laft was but too true.
When
204 A new Account of Guinea,
When they firft began to fire, I called
aloud to the firft Mate, to fire at the Boat
out of the Steerage Port-holes; which
not being done, and the people I had or¬
dered upon Deck with fmall Arms not
appearing, I was extremely furprized;,
and the more, when an Officer came and
told me, <c The People would not take:
u Arms.” 1 went thereupon down in tot]
the Steerage, where I faw a great many
of them looking at one another. Little
thinking that my firft Mate had prevent¬
ed them from taking Arms, I afked them
with fome Roughnefs, “ Why they had
€£ not obeyed my Orders ?” Calling upon
fome brifk Fellows by name, that had
gone a former Voyage with me, to de¬
fend the Ship; faying, “ It would be
*c the greateft Reproach in the World tc
<c us all, if we fhould be taken by a Boat.’
Some of them replied, cc They would
“ have taken Arms, but the Cheft they j
were kept in could not be found.’
The reafon of which will be related here-
after.
and the Slave Trade .
By this time the Boat was along the
Ship’s Side, and there being no body to
oppofe them, the Pirates immediately
boarded us; and coming on the Quar¬
ter-deck, fired their Pieces feveral times
down into the Steerage, and {hot a Sailor
in the Reins, of which Wound he died
afterwards. They likewife threw feveral
Granado-ftiells, which burft amongft us,
fo that ’tis a great wonder feveral of us
were not killed by them, or by their
Shot.
At laft fome of our People bethought
themfelves to call out for Quarter ; which
the Pirates granting, the Quarter-mafter
came down into the Steerage, enquiring,
“ Where the Captain was?” I told him,
“ I had been fo till now.” Upon that he
alked me, “ How 1 durft order my Peo-
“ pie to fire at their Boat out of the
“ Steerage ? faying, that they had heard
“ me repeat it feveral times.” I anfwer-
ed, “ I thought it my Duty to defend
“ the Ship, if my People would have
“ fought.” Upon that he prefented a
Piftol to my Breaft, which I had but juft
time
2o6 A new Account of Guinea,
time to parry before it went off ; fo that
the Bullet pad between my Side and Arm.,
The Rogue finding he had not fhot me2
he turned the But-end of the Piftol, and
crave me fuch a Blow on the Head as
c?
ftunned me ; fo that 1 fell upon my
Knees ; but immediately recovering my
felf, I forthwith jumped out of the Steer¬
age upon the Quarter-deck, where the
Pirate Boatfwain was.
He was a bloody Villain, having a few
days before killed a poor Sailor, becaufehe;
did not do fomething fo foon as he had or¬
dered him. This cruel Monfter was ask¬
ing fome of my People, £< Where their
Captain was.’* So at my coming upon
Deck, one of them, pointing to me, laid,
<c There he is.” Tho* the night was very
dark, yet there being four Lan thorns
with Candles, he had a full fight of me :
Whereupon lifting up his broad Sword,
he fwore, “ No Quarter fhould be given
cc to any Captain that offered to defend
€C his Ship,” aiming at the fame time a*
full ftroke at my Head. To avoid it I
ftooped fo low, that the Quarter-deck
Rail
and the Slave ’Trade.
Rail received the Blow ; and was cut in
at leaft an inch deep: Which happily
laved my Head from being cleft alunder:
And the Sword breaking at the lame
time, with the force of the Blow on the
Rail, it prevented his cutting me to
pieces.
By good Fortune his Piftols, that hung
at his Girdle, were ail difcharged ; other-
wife he would doubtlefs have fhot me.
But he took one of them, and with the
But-end endeavoured to beat out my
Brains, which fome of my People that
were then on the Quarter-deck obferv-
ing, cried out aloud, “ For God’s fake
don t kill out Captain, for we never
“ were with a better Man.” This turned
the Rage of him and two other Pirates
on my People, and faved my Life : But
they cruelly ufed my poor Men, cutting
and beating them unmercifully. One of
them had his Chin almofl cut off ; and
another received fuch a Wound on his
Head, that he fell on the Deck as dead ;
but afterwards, by the care of our Sur¬
geon he recovered.
All
208 A new Account ofG uinea5
Ali this happen’d in a few Minutest
and the Quarter-mafter then coming up
ordered the Pirates to tie our PeopleV
Plands, and told me, “ That when they
<£ boarded us, they let their Boat gc
<c adrift, and that I muft fend an Officer
<£ with fome of my People in our Boat tc
*£ look for theirs/’ Whereupon my firf
Mate, Mr. Simon Jones , who flood by
offered to go : And the Quarter-made
telling him, <c Pie muff return quickly
ce ctherwife he fhould judge that thej
££ were run away with the Boat, in or
Cc der to go on Shore ; and if they die
€£ fo he would cut me to pieces Mr
Jones replied, £C He would not flay abov
<£ a quarter of an Hour, but return who
<£ ther he found the Boat or not.” flap
pily for me he foon found her, and
returned (tho5 it was very dark) in lei!
time than he had promifed.
Then the Quarter- mafter took me b
the hand, and told me, ££ My Life wa;
c£ fafe provided none of my People com;
plained againft me/’ I replied, <£ I wa;
€C fare none of them could/’
Th; ■
%
and the Slave Trade .
The Pirates next, loaded all their final!
Arms, and fired feveral Vollies for Joy
they had taken us: Which their Com¬
rades on board their Ship hearing, it be¬
ing then very near us, tho’ we could not
fee it for the darknefs of the Night, they
concluded we had made Refiftance, and
deftroyed their People.
It will be proper to obferve here, that
foon after we had anchored in the Mouth
of the River Sieraleon , it became calm ;
and the Tide of Ebb beginning to come
down, the Pirates cut their Cable, and
let their Ship drive down with the Tide
towards us, from the place where we had
feen her at anchor ; having fometime
before fent their Boat againft the Tide of
Flood, to difcover us. The Ship being
by that means come near us, and feeing
our Lights, without afking any Quefti-
ons, gave us a Broad-fide with their greac
Guns \ verily believing we had deftroyed
their Boat and People, This put the
Pirates on board us into Confufioo, which
I obferving, afked the Quarter-mailer?
*c Why he did not call with the fpeak-
P “ Inz
209
aio A new Account of Guinea,
“ ing Trumpet, and tell their Ship they
€£ had taken us Upon that he afked me::
angrily, Whether I was afraid of go-
“ ing to the Devil by a great Shot ? For*
as to his part, he hoped he fhould be
lent to Hell one of thefe days by ai
cc Cannon Ball/' I anfwered, cc I hoped
<e that would not be my Road/' How¬
ever, he followed my Advice, and in¬
formed their Ship, u They had taken a
u brave Prize, with all manner of good
cc Liquors and frefh Provifions onboard/'
Juft after this, Cocklyn , the Pirate Cap¬
tain, ordered them to drefs a quantity ol
thefe Victuals* fo they took many Geefe
Turkeys, Fowls and Ducks, making ous
People cut their Heads off, and pull the
great Feathers out of their Wings: But
they would not ftay till the other Fea¬
thers were pick'd off. All thefe they
put into our great Furnace, which woulc
boil Victuals for 500 Negroes, together
with feveral Wejlphalia Hams, and a large
Sow with Pig, which they only bdw- j
died, leaving the Hair on. This ftrange
medley filled the Furnace, and the
4 Cook
and the Slave Trade . 2it
Cook was ordered to boil them out of
Hand.
As foon as the Pirate-fhip had done
firing, I afked the Quarter-maftef $ leave*
for our Surgeon to drefs my poor People
that had been wounded ; and I likewife
went into the Steerage, to have my Arm
drefs 'd, it being very much bruifed by the
Blow given me by the Pirate-Boatfwaim
Juft after that, a perfon came to me from
the Quarter-mafter, defiring to know*
What a Clock it was by my Watch ?**
Which judging to be a civil way of de¬
manding it, I fent it him immediately:
defiring the MdTenger to tell him, it
was a very good going Gold Watch*
When it was delivered to the Quarter-
mafter, he held it up by the Chain, and
prefently laid it down on the Deck, giv¬
ing it a kick with his Foot; faying, “ Ic
c< was a pretty Foot~b&ll : On which, one
of the Pirates caught it up, faying, <£ He
€c would put it in the common Cheft to
M be fold at the Maft.
I would not mention fuch trifling Cir-
eumftancesj but that I judge they ferve to
P 2 {hew
2i2 A new Account of Guinea,
fhew the Humours and Temper of theft
fort of People.
By this time I was loudly called upon
to go on board the Pirate-fhip. As foon
as I came upon Deck, they hurried me
over our Ship's fide into the Boat; but
when we arrived along the fide of
the Pirate-Veffel, I told them, “ I was
a difabled in my Arm, and fo defired
€t their help to get me into their Ship
Which was readily done. Then I was
ordered to go on the Quarter-deck to
their Commander, who faluted me in this
manner. “ I am forry you have met
“ with bad ufage after Quarter given,
“ but tis the Fortune of War ibme-
c< times. I expert you will anfwer truly
“ to all fuch Queftions as I fhall afk you ;
“ otherwife you fhall be cut to pieces;
“ but if you tell the Truth, and your
“ Men make no Complaints againft you,
“ you fhall be kindly ufed ; and this fhall
“ be the beft Voyage you ever made in
“ your Life, as you fhall find by whac
“ fhall be given you.” I thanked him
for his good Intentions, telling him, “ I
“ was
Ov,
and the. Slavs Trade.
" was content to ftand on the footing he
{C had propofed to me:"
Having anfwered all bis Queftions, one
of which was, “ How our Ship failed
“ both large, and on a wind ?” I replying,
“ Very well:” He then threw up his
Hat, faying, <e She would make a
“ fine Pirate Man of War.” When I
heard that, I mud own I could not but
be concern’d for having anfwered fo truly
in that particular: But then confidering,
that fome of my People would no doubt
have told them the fame ; and moreover,
my Journal, when they look’d into it, would
have made it plainly appear, which
might have proved my Deftrudion, I fa-
tisfied my Mind with thefe Refiedions.
As, in this whole Affair, I greatly ex¬
perienced the Providence of Almighty
God, i in his Goodnefs delivering me
from the hands of thefe Villains, and
from many Dangers; fo the fame good
Providence gave me fuch a prefence of
Mind, that when I believed I was upon
the point of being killed, fuch Terrors
did not arife, as I had formerly experi-
? 3 enced4
A new Account of Guinea*
enced, when in danger of Ship wrack
And tho* I fared very hard, and endured
great Fatigues during the time I was
there Prifoner; yet praifed be God, I
enjoyed my Health : Submitting with that
Refignation to the Will of the Almighty,
as a Man ought to do in fuch fevere
Misfortunes.
But to return to my Narrative, which
the Remembrance of my part Dangers
hath interrupted.
As foon as I had done anfwering the
Captain’s Queflions, a tall Man, with
four Piftols in his Girdle, and a broad
Sword in his Hand, came to me on the
Quarter-deck, telling me, f< His name
sc was "James Griffin, and that we had
cc been School-fellows/’ Tho* I remem-
bred him very well 5 yet having formerly
heard, it had proved fatal to fome who
had been taken by Pirates, to own any
Knowledge of them \ I replied, <c I could
€C not remember any fuch Perfon by
tc name/’ Upon that he mentioned fome
boyifh Pranks that had formerly pafs’d
between us. But I Hill denying any
Know-
2
arid the Slave Trade.
Knowledge of him, he told me, “ He
fuppofed I took him to be one of the
ec Pirate’s Crew, becaufe I faw him armed
u in that manner 5 but that he was a
<<r forc’d Man, and had been lately chief
<€ Mate to Captain "James Creichton of
** Briftol j who was then, with his Ship,
6C in the Pofleffion of the Pirates in the
“ River, and had not been deftroyed by
cc them, at his earned: intreaty : That fince
cc his being forced, they had obliged him
€C to adt as Matter of the Pirate-finp^
a and the reafon of his being fo armed,
“ was to prevent their impofing on him ;
ic for there was hardly any amongft the
ec Crew of Pirates belonging to Captain
« Cocklyn , but what were cruel Villains j
« mifufing much better Men than them-
« felves, only for having the Misfortune
“ to fall into their Hands, as I had al-
u ready experienced, and might find
<c hereafters but he would himfelf take
“ care of me that night, in which would
« be my greateft Danger ; becaufe many
"€ of their People would foon get drunk
ec with the good Liquors found in my
Ship/" P 4 This
2 1 6 A new Account of Guinea,
This generous Declaration was very
acceptable to me, and I then readily own¬
ed my former acquaintance with him.
Then he turned to Captain Cocklyn,
and defired a Bowl of Punch might be
made. Which being done, the Captain
defired Mr. Griffin my Schoolfellow to
{how me the way to the great Cabbin*
and he followed himfeif.
There was not in the Cabbin either
Chair, or any thing elfe to fit upon ; for
they always kept a clear Ship ready for
an Engagement: So a Carpet was fpread
on the Deck, upon which we fat down
^rofs-legg’d. Captain Cocklyn drank my
Health, defiring, “ I would not be call
“ down at my Misfortune, for one of
cc the Boat's Crew who had taken us had
told him, My Ship's Company ingene-
“ ral fpoke well of me; and they had
Goods enough left in the Ships they
had taken to make a Man of me.”
Then he drank feveral other Healths,
amongft which was that of the Preten¬
der , by the name of King James the
'ihirdy and thereby I found they were
and the Slave Trade.
doubly on the fide of the Gallows, both
as Traitors and Pirates.
It being by this time Midnight, my
Schoolfellow defired the Captain, “ To
have a Hammock hung up for me to
fleep in 5 for it feems every one lay
rough, as they called it, that is, on the
Deck? the Captain himfelf not being al¬
lowed a Bed. This being granted, and
foon after done, I took leave of the Cap¬
tain, and got into the Hammock, tho’ I
could not fleep in my melancholy Cir-
cumftances. Moreover, the execrable
Oaths and Blafphemies I heard among
the Ship’s Company, fhock’d me to fuch
a degree, that in Hell it felf I thought
there could not be worfe 5 for tho’ many
Seafaring Men are given to fwearing and
taking God’s Name in vain, yet I could
not have imagined, human Nature could
ever fo far degenerate, as to talk in the
manner thofe abandoned Wretches did.
After I was got into the Plammock
Mr. Griffin, according to his Promife
walked by me, with his broad Sword in
his Hand, to protedt me from Infulcs.
4 Some
2 1 8 A new Account of Guinea,
Some time after, it being about two a'
dock in the morning, the Pirate Boat*
Jwain (that attempted to kill me when
taken) came on board very drunk, and
being told 1 was in a Hammock, became
with his Cudace near me. My generous
Schoolfellow alked him what he wanted ?
he anfwered, “ To ilice my Liver, for I
“ was a vile Dog, for ordering my Peo-
«« pie to fire on their Boat ; neither would
« I deliver my Watch when the Quar-
« termajler firft demanded it.” Upon
hearing that, I told Mr. Griffin , “ The
« iaft was falfe, for I had immediate^
“ fent it by a Meffenger, who only aiked,
ct what a clock it was? fuppofing the
“ Quarter-mafter expe&ed it”. Then
Griffin bid the Boatfwain keep his Difi-
tance, or elfe he would cleave his head
afunder with his Broad Sword. Ne-
verthelefs, that bloody-minded Villain
came on to kill me ; but Mr. Griffin ftruck
at him with his Sword, from which he
had a narrow Efcape, and then ran away:
Sol lay unmolefted till day light. By that
time the Fumes of the Liquor being gone
off
21 $
and the Slave Trade .
off by Sleep amonft moft of the Pirates,
Mr. Griffin complained to the Quarter-
tn after and Company, of the cruel Inten¬
tion of the Boatfwain towards me; re-
prefenting, u They ought to obferve
cc ftridtly that Maxim eftablifhed among ft
cc them, not to permit any ill ufage to
cc their Prifoners after Quarter given/
At the hearing of this, many of them
voted for his being whipp'd, tho' he was
a great Favourite of feveral others. But
tho' I wiftftd him hang’d in my Mind
yet I thought it prudent to plead for him \
faying, t£ I believed it was his being io
<c Liquor that was the caufe of his tiling
“ me in that manner/' So he received a
general Order, not to give me the leaft
Offence afterwards: Yet did that vile
Wretch attempt once more to kill me, as
fhall be related in its due place.
I come now to relate, How Mr. Simon
Jojies , my firft Mate, and ten of my Men
entred with the Pirates. The Morning
after we were taken, he came to me, and
laid, “ His Circumftances were bad at
£C home : Moreover, he had a Wife whom
he
220
A new Account of Guinea!
iC he could not love; and for thefe Rea-
te fons he had entred with the Pirates, and
cc figned their Articles.” I was greatly
furprized at this Declaration, and told
him, “ I was very forry to hear it, for I be-
€C lievfti he would repent when too late ; and
C£ as he had taken this Refolution rafhly,
€C without communicating it to me, all
cc I could fay now would be to no Pur-
*c pofe ; neither would it be proper for
me, for the future, to have any Dif-
cc courfe with him in private.” I faw
this poor Man afterwards defpifed by his
Brethren in Iniquity ; and have fince been
informed, he died a few Months after
they leu the River Sieraleon . However,
I mu ft do him the Juftice to own, He
never fhewed any Difrefped: to me ; and
the ten People he perfuaded to enter with
him, remained very civil to me, and of
their own accord, always manned the
fide for me, whenever I went on board
the Ship they belonged to.
Several of thefe unhappy People foon
after repented, and defired me to intercede
for them, that they might be cleared
again ;
and the Slave Trade.
\ again ; for they durft not themfelves men¬
tion it to the Quarter-mafter, it being
death by their Articles: But it was too
nice a matter for me to deal in; and
therefore I refufed them.
Some days after this, one of thele poor
1 Men, whofe name was Thomas Wilder s
difcovered things to me, of which I only
ij had a fufpicion before. After curling
j Mr- Jones for perfuading him to enter
! with the Pirates, he laid to me, “ That
1 “ feveral times in the Night-watch, be-
<! fore we came to Sieraleon, he had heard
“ him fay, That he hoped we Jhould meet
“ with Pirates when we came to that River s
“ which he then thought to be fpoken
“ only in jeft; but now he found it too
“ true”. As I feemed not to believe this
he called another of our People, who
: confirmed what he had told me. “ Then
“ I afked them the Reafon why the
“ Cheft of Arms was put out of the place
“ where it ufually flood at the Steerage;
“ and where it was hid in the time we
“ were taken?" They anfwered, “ l
“ might remember, that the Morning
“ we
221
2
A neiv Account of Guinea,
ct we made Land, I ordered the Steerage
« to be clean’d; to do which all the:
« Cherts there were carried between
“ Decks; and after the Steerage was,
« clean’d, all the Cherts were brought
« back again in their places, except the
“ Chert of Arms, which was left behind I
“ by the Mate’s Order; That when I
<c called to the People in the Steerage to
“ fire on the Pirate-boat, fuppofing Mr.
“ Jones had delivered them Arms accor-
“ din1’ to my Order, many of the Men
« would have broken the Chert open, but
« he prevented them, by declaring, This
“ was an opportunity he had wijhed for ;
“ and that if they fired a Mufquet, they
<* would he all cut to pieces. And they
farther allured me, that to induce them
to enter with the Pirates, he had declared
to them, ‘That I had promifed him tc
enter my feifi Putting ail this together;
with what leveral of the Pirates told me
afterwards, namely, That he had been the
chief occafion of their keeping my Ship , u
was a wonder that I efcaped fo well, hav¬
ing fuch a bafe Wretch for my principa l!
Officer. .
and the Slave Trade.
O O r*
Bat to refume the thread of my Story,
As foon as the Fumes of the Liquor were
gone out of. the Pirates Heads, they all
went on board the Prize, as they called
my Ship, about eight a clock in the
morning, it being the fecond day of April
Mr. Jones, who had been my firft Mate*
went with them ; and he having con*
firmed them in their intention of keeping
the Ship for their own ufe, all hands went
to work to clear the Ship, by throwing
over board Bales of Woollen Goods 5 Cafes
of India Goods ; with many other things
of great Value: So that before night they
had deftroyed between three and four
thoufand Pounds worth of the Cargoe.
For they had little regard to thefe things.
Money and Neceffaries being what they
chiefly wanted. The fight of this much
grieved me, but I was obliged in prudence
to be filent. For my Schoolfellow told
1 me, I was ftill under the difpleafure of
many of them, on account of my order¬
ing my People to fire on their Boat when
they took me.
There
224 ^ new ^ccouni °f Guinea^
There were then refiding at Sieraleon ,
feveral Englijhmen who traded on their
own accounts ; And among the reft, one
Captain Henry Glynn , who was fince Go¬
vernor for the Royal African Company at
Gambia , and died there. This Gentle¬
man was an honeft generous Perfon, and
of fo much Integrity, that tho? he had
fuffered by the Pirates when they firft
landed, yet he would never accept of
any Goods from them, which they had
often prefs’d him to receive for his own
ufe. This Conduit, with an engaging
deportment, fo gained him the Good-will
of the Pirates, that they were ready to
oblige him in whatever he requefted.
Captain Glynn and my felf having for¬
merly been acquainted, as foon as he heard
of my being taken, he engaged Captain,
Davis and Le Boofe , the Commanders of
the two other Pirate Ships, who were:
then on Shore at his Houfe, to come om
board with him to fee me. I was very
agreeably furprized with his coming thac
Afternoon, and both the Pirate Captains
that came with him faluted me civilly.
Captain
and the Slave Trade.
Captain Davis told me, “ He knew me,”
tho' I never could recoiled where I had
feen him ; and I found, he did not care to
tell, where he had feen me.
Soon after this, Captain Cocklyn with his
Quarter-mailer and others, came from the
Prize on board their old Ship, to compli¬
ment Captain Davis and the reft that
came with him. After the Compliments
were over, Captain Davis generoully fa id,
48 He was alhamed to hear how I had
“ been ufedby them. That they fhould
ts remember, their Reafons for going a pi-
“ rating were to revenge themfelves on
“ bafe Merchants, and cruel Commanders
“ of Ships. That as for the Owner of
! <e the Prize, he had not his Fellow in
<£ London for Generality and Goodnefs to
1 “ poor Sailors, as he had formerly heard
<c from others, and now from Captain
u Glynn: That as for my part, no one of
‘c my People, even thofe that had entered
1 t( with them, gave me the leaft ill Cha-
1 u racter : But by their refped fince fhewti
: “ me, it was plain they loved me. That
1 *[ he indeed had heard the occafion of
Q !£ my
2 25
2 26 A new Account of Guinea,
gc my ill ufage, and of the ill-will fome
€c ftill bore me, was, becaufe I had or-
a dered my People to defend the Ship:
€i Which he blamed them exceedingly
€ fori faying. If he had had the good
C€ fortune to have taken me, and I had
u defended my Ship againft him, he
a fhould have doubly valued me for it:
That as he was not in Partnerfhip with
them, he would fay no more at prefent 5
but that he hoped they would now ufe
u me kindly, and give me fome Necei*
u faries, with what remained undeftroyed
«« of my private Adventure.*' This was:
by no means relilhed by this pack of Mif-
creantsi for in their Hearts they hated
Captain Davis , becaufe he kept his Ship’s
Company in good order, tho* they were :
almoft double their Number; and being
a brave generous Man, they dreaded his.
Relentment. However Cocklyn , and the:
chief of his People putting a good face on
the matter, invited him and Captain;
Glynn on board the Prize; and they two;
defiring I might accompany them, it was:
readily granted.
Soonn
and the Slave Trade.
Soon after we were on board, we all
went into the great Cabin, where we found
nothing but Deftrudtion. Two Scrutores
I had there were broke to Pieces* and all
the fine Goods and Necefiaries in them
were all gone. Moreover two large Chefts
that had Books in them were empty ; and
I was afterwards informed, they had been
all thrown overboard ; for one of the Pi¬
rates, upon opening them, fwore, “ There
sc was Jaw-work enough (as he called it)
ce to ferve a Nation, and propofed they
might be caft into the Sea 3 for he
cc feared, there might be feme Books
€£ amongft them, that might breed Mif-
€c chief enough 3 and prevent fome of
*c their Comrades from going on in their
€€ Voyage to Hell, whither they were all
sc bound/' Upon which the Books were
all flung out of the Cabin-windows into
the River.
After the Company were all fat down
in the Cabin, they were treated with al!
forts of Liquors, and other things, that
had once been mine : By this meant the
chief Pirates being put into a good hu~
Q z moot,
228 A new Account of Guinea,
mour, my Friend captain Glynn took the
opportunity of begging of the Quarter-
matter feveral Neceflaries for me : Which
being readily granted, they were tied up
in Bundles, and Captain Glynn defigned
to take them on Shore with him to his
Houfe for me. But an unlucky accident
happened, which made me lofe them all
again.
For fome of Captain Davis1 s People
coming on board at that time ; one of
them, a pert young fellow of eighteen,
broke a Cheft open to plunder it. The
Quarter-matter hearing of it, goes out of
the Cabin, and alks the reafon of his fo
doing; the young Man replied, “ As
<c they were all Pirates, he thought he
did what was right/' On that the
Quarter matter ftrikes at him with his
broad Sword, but the young Man running
away, efcaped the Blow, and fled for pro¬
tection into the great Cabin to his Ma¬
tter Captain Davis . The Quarter-matter
purfues him in a great Paffion ; and there
not being room amongft fo many of us,
to make a ftroke at him, he made a thruft
with
229
and the Slavs Trade.
with his Sword, and flit the Ball of one of
the young Man’s Thumbs, and flightiv
wounded at the fame time Captain Davis
on the back of one of his Hands. Davis
upon that was all on Fire, and vowed Re¬
venge, faying, “ That tho’ his Man had
“ offended, he ought to have been firft
“ acquainted with it j for no other Perfon
“ had a right to punifli him in his Pre-
“ fence and immediately goes on board
his own Ship. Where telling the Story
to his Ship’s Company, they all refolved
forthwith to revenge this great injury
done to one of their Comrades, and the
Indignity (hown their Captain. Upon
that they flip one of their Cables, and
begun to heave on the other, in order to
come and board Cocklyn’s Ship, and de¬
fray fuch a fet of vile Fellows, as they
called him and his Crew. When Captain
Davis went from the Prize, Cocklyn foon
followed, and went on board his own
Ship, to get all things in a readinels to
defend himfelf. Captain Glynn and my
felf only remained behind, and hoped
quickiy to have feen hot work between
Q. 3 them j
3° A new Account of Guinea^
them; but Cocklyn having confulted his
People, and judging they fhould be no
ways able to cope with Captain Davis9
haftily came on board the Prize again,
and dehred Captain Glynn to go on board
Davis with him, in order to make up
matters. My Friend would have refufed
this unpleafant Office, if he durft ; but
on his not readily complying, Cocklyn grew
enraged. I fearing the confequences, per-
fuaded him to go: Which Cocklyn was
fo well pleafed with, that he often fpoke
of it afterwards to my advantage.
By the time they came on board Davis 7
his Ship was juft .
and thos Captain Glynn was a well-fpoken
ingenious Man, he found it very difficult
to compromife the Matter: Which at
laft was done on thefe Terms ; “ That
*c Captain Davis and his Ship’s Com-
£c pany, fhould have their fhare of Li-
quors and Neceflaries on board the
Prize; and. That the Qua r ter- m after,
ic who had wounded the young Man be-
longing to Davis , fliould before all
his Crew acknowledge his fault, and
~ Pardon for the fame/’ Night
and the Slave Trade.
Night now approaching, Captain Glynn
was obliged to go on Shore, without cal¬
ling upon me for the Things he had beg¬
ged, intending to come next day for
them. Being thus left on board the
Prize, with only three or four of the Pi¬
rates, amongft whom the bloody-minded
Boatfwain (formerly mentioned) was one *
and there being no Boat along the fide at
that time, I refolved to flay wrhere I was
all night, and not hail their Pirate-Ship
to fend their Boat for me.
The Pirate-Carpenter was then lying
on my Bed in the State-room ; fo 1 fat
fome time by my felf in the Cabin, hav¬
ing a Candle by me on a Table. When
he awoke, he civilly defired me to go and
take fome reft; faying? He feared I
“ had not had any fince I was taken/' I
returned him thanks, faying, “ I would
<< fit up till eight a clock Whereupon
he came and fat down by me on the Lock¬
ers, abaft in the Cabin.
The Boatfwain came down foon after
this, and being a little in Liquor, began
to abufe me. On that the Carpenter told
Q 4 him.
$32 A new Account of Guinea,
him, “ He was abafe Villain,” and turned
him out of the Cabin. Soon after, a
puff of Wind coming in at one of the
Cabin Windows, put our Candle out$
and the Carpenter and I rifing up toge¬
ther, to blow the Candle in again, (but
not: being able to do it) we accidentally
fhifted places in the dark, he feating him-
felf juft over againft the Cabin Door,
where I fat before: And having no Tin¬
der-box, we were at a great lofs how to
light the Candle again.
While we were confidering how to do
it, the Boatfwain came into the Steerage,
and finding the Candle out, began to fwear
and rant, faying, €c I had put it out
€C purpofely, with defign to go into the
Powder-room undifcovered, and blow
u the Ship up/' But the Carpenter called
to him, and told him, It was done by
c£ accident, and that I flill fat by him on
«€ the Locker/5 So he came to the Ca¬
bin Door, and by the Star-light that came
in at the Windows, perceived us fitting $
but could not diftinguifh our Faces.
Thinking I fat flill in the Place where
he
233
and the Slave Trade,
he had feen me before, he prefented a
Piftol, and drew the Trigger, fvvearing,
“ At that inftant, he would blow my
“ Brains out.” By good fortune the Piftol
did not go off, but only flafhd in the
Pan : By the Light of which the Carpen¬
ter obferving that he fliould have been
fhot inftead of me, it fo provoked him,
that he run in the dark to the Boatfwain ;
and having wrenched the Piftol out of his
hand, he beat him, with that and his
Fift, to fuch a Degree, that he almoft
killed him.
The noife that was made in this Fray
being heard on board the Pirate-ffiip that
lay clofe to us, a Boat was fent from her;
and they being informed of the Truth of
the matter, the Officer that was in her,
thought fit to carry away this wicked
Villain, who had three times attempted
to murder me.
After this I flept foundly, having been
much fatigued ; but I was awaked early in
the Morning by a great number of Captain
Davis' s Crew, who came on board to take
part of the Liquors and Necellaries, ac-
A new Account of Guinea,
cording to Agreement. It was very fur-
prizing to fee the Actions of thefe People.
They and Cocklyri s Crew (for Le Boofes
were not yet admitted) made fuch Wafte
and Deftru&ion, that I am fure a nume¬
rous fet of fuch Villains would in a fhort
time, have ruined a great City. They
hoifted upon Deck a great many half
Hogfheads of Claret , and French Brandy s
knock’d their Heads out, and dipped Canns
and Bowls into them to drink out of :
And in their Wantonnefs threw full Buc¬
kets of each fort upon one another. As
foon as they had emptied what was on
the Deck, they hoifted up more: And in
the evening waflied the Decks with what
remained in the Calks. As to bottled
Liquor of many forts, they made fuch
havock of it, that in a few days they had
not one Bottle left: For they would not
give themfelves the trouble of drawing
the Cork out, but nick’d the Bottles, as
they called it, that is, ftruck their necks
off with a Cutlace ; by which means one
in three was generally broke : Neither
was there any Calk-liquor left in a ihorc
time, but a little French Brandy. As
and the Slave Trade.
As to Eatables, fuch as Cheefe, But¬
ter, Sugar, and many other things, they
were as foon gone. For the Pirates being
all in a drunken Fit, which held as long
as the Liquor lafted, no care was taken
by any one to prevent this Dettrudtion :
Which they repented of when too late.
As for my things, which the Quarter-
matter had given me at Captain Glynns
Requeft, and which were accordingly
bundled up ; a company of drunken Pi¬
rates coming into the Cabin, and Hum¬
bling over forne Goods that lay on the
Floor, they took them, with three of
my Bundles, and threw them overboard ;
fwearing, “ They had like to have broken
“ their Necks by thofe things lying in
€5 their way.35
I had then but one Bundle left, in
which was a black Suit of Cloaths, and
other things which this Gang hadfpared.
They being gone out of the Cabin, a
Pirate, who was tolerably fober, came
in foon after, and feeing my Bundle,
faid, <c He would fee what was in it f5
which in prudence I did not oppofe. He
them
*
A new Account of Guinea,
then took out my black Cloth Cloaths,
a good Hat and Wig, and fome other
Things. Whereupon I told him, “ Cap-
“ tain Cocklyn s Quarter-mafter had given
“ them to me ; and I hoped he would not
a deprive me of them ; for they were of
ic no fervice to him in fo hot a Country,
C£ but would be of great ufe to me, as I
w (hould foon return to England '!* I had
hardly done fpeaking, when he lifted up
his broad Sword, and gave me a Blow on
the Shoulder with the flat fide of it;
whifpering at the fame time thefe Words
in my Ear, £C I give you this Caution,
€C never to difpute the Will of a Pirate :
cc For, fuppofing I had cleft your Sculi
afunder for your Impudence, what
would you have got by it but Deftrudti-
on? Indeed you may flatter your felf,
I fhould have been put to death for kil~
ling a Prifoner in cold Blood; but afiure
your felf my F riends would have brought
ct me off on fuch an Occafion.” I gave
him thanks for his Admonition, and foon
after he put on the Clothes, which in lefs
than half an hour after, I faw him take
off
and the Slave Trade.
off «md throw overboard. For Home of
the Pirates feeing him drefs’d in that
manner, had thrown feveral Buckets of
Claret upon him. This Perfon’s true
name was Francis Kennedy. He was af¬
terwards bang’d at Execution-Dock, but he
told me at the time he put ray Cloachs
on, that his name was Sun-, alking me,
“ If I did not know his Father, who was
“ then Commander of a Ship that ufed the
“ Barbadoes Trade; and that if ever the
<£ old Dog fell in his way, he would kill
“ him.” To which I anfwered, “ I
ce knew no fuch Perfon.”
When night came on, I had nothing
left of what had been bundled up, but a
Hat and Wig. I muft own, that when¬
ever they plundered me, no Affront was
offered to my Perfon ; but feveral brought
me Liquor, and Slices of Ham broiled,
i a Bifcuit being my Plate; faying, “ They
“ pitied my Condition.” The Hat and
Wig I had left, being hung on Pins in
i the Cabin, a perfon half drunk came in
about eight a clock at night, and put
them on; telling me, “ He was a great
“ Merchant
238
A new Account of Guinea,
«c Merchant on Shore, and that his name
« was Hogbin But fuppofmg him tobeai
Pirate, I faid little to him. By this times
there was a great Quietnefs in the Ship,,
moft of the Pirates being dead drunk.
After a little Conversation, as Mr. Hogbin
was going out of the Cabin with roy
Hat and Wig on, he met Cocklyns Quar-
mafter $ who knowing him not to be one.
of the Crew, afked him, “ How he came;
€C by the things he had on ?” To which the
Fellow not returning a diredt anfwers
the Quarter-matter beat him very Severely,
for taking things he had no Right to:
Then coming to me, he afkcd in a kind!
manner, 6C Plow I had fared in the hurly
« burly of that Day ?” When I told him2
« I had loft all the Neceffaries he had
fc given me the Day before,” he exprefs’d
much concern, and faid, a He would
« take care the next day to recover what
a he could for me.” But he did not
prove fo good as his word.
The next day, which was the third;
fxnce my being taken, LeBoofes Crew were
permitted to come on board the Prize ::
Where
and the Slave Trade.
Where they finiihed what was left of
Liquors and Necefiaries ; afting in the
fame deftrudive manner as their vile Bre¬
thren in Iniquity had done before.
Being quite weary of fuch Company,
and undemanding, the three Pirate Cap-
tains were on Shore a t my Friend Cap¬
tain Glynn s Houfe, I afked leave of the
Quarter-mailer to go to them ; which he
readily granted. On this I got into a Can-
noe, and as we rowed towards the Shore,
we had like to have been overfet, through
the drunkennefs of one of the Pirates that
was with us. If Providence had not pre¬
vented this Accident, we fhould undoubt¬
edly have all been loft; for the Tide ran
very ftrong, and feveral voracious Sharks
were then near us.
When I came to Captain Glynn s% he
; and the Pirate Captains received me in
i a very civil manner; and upon my telling
l them, <€ Plow I had loft all my Necef-
u faries that had been given me;” die
Captains promifed, That the next day they
would do what they could, to recover
feme ©f them again for me. Then I
4 begged
239
240
A new Account of Guinea,
begged a Shirt of my Friend Captain
Glynn for I had been three days without
Ihifting, which is very uneafy in fo hot
a Country, where people fweat fo much.
Being greatly refreftfd with that clean
Shirt, and having flayed all night with
him, where I had more reft than I before
had for a good while ; next day I went
on board, in company with the Pirate-
Captains. Captain Davis defired Cocklyn
to order all his People on the Quarter¬
deck, and made a Speech to them in my
behalf ; which they relifhing better than
that he had formerly made, It was re-
folved to give me the Ship they defigned
to leave, in order to go into the Prize,
with the Remains of my Cargoe that was
undeftroyed. And there being a large
quantity of Goods likewife remaining in
feveral Prizes, they concluded to give me
them alfo: Which, with my own, were
worth feveral thoufand Pounds. One of
the leading Pirates propofed to the reft,
*c That they fhould take me along with
them down the Coaft of Guinea % where
“ 1 might exchange the Goods for Gold:
4 “ And!
and the Slave Trade .
cc And if in order to make a quick Sale,
*c I fold them at prime coif, I fhould get
u Money enough by them: That, no
<c doubt, as they went down the Coaft,
cc they fhould take fome French and For -
“ tuguefe Veffels, and then they might
<c give me as many of their beff Slaves,
<c as would fill the Ship : That then he
would advife me to go for the liland of
£C St. Fhomas in the Weft Indies , a Free-
port belonging to the Danes, and fell
cc them there, with the Veffel : And af-
£C ter rewarding my People in a handfom
<£ manner, I might return with a large
fum of Money to London , and bid the
C£ Merchants defiance;"
This propofal was unanimoufly ap¬
proved of by them : But it flruck me with
a hidden damp, apprehending it would
be fatal to me. So I began to inftnuate
£t It would not be proper for me to ac-
<c cept of fuch a quantity of other Peo-
<c pies Goods, as they had fo generoufly
£C voted for me :** And going on to give
my reafons, I was immediately interrup¬
ted by feveral of the Pirates, who began
R
241
to
A new Accoimt of Guinea,
to be very angry, that I did not readily ac¬
cept of what had been propofed, fo much
lor my advantage, as they thought 5 for
many of them were fo ignorant, as to
think their Gift would have been legal.
On this, Captain 4 Davis faid, “ I know
this Man, and can eafily guefs his
wt thoughts concerning this matter; for
he thinks, if he fhould adl in the
'c manner you have propofed, he {hall
“ ever after iofe his Reputation. Now
C£ I am for allowing every body to go to
tc the Devil in their own way; fo defire
“ you will give him the remains of his'
u own Cargoe, with what is left of his
£C private Adventure, and let him do with
it what he thinks fitting/'
This was readily granted, and they ad-
vifed me to take Le Booje s Brigantine,
which he had then juft quitted, (having
fitted one of the Prizes for a Pirate- Chip
for him and his Crew) and carry her along
the fide of my Ship, in order to fave the
Goods then left undeflroyed in her ; al¬
lowing me fome of my own People to
do it* By this means we faved a confi-
derable
and the Slave Trade .
derable part of the Cargoe, but of my
private Adventure not above thirty Pounds
Sterling: for that chiefly confiding in
Neceflaries and Liquors, with fine Goods,
was foon dedroyed by them : One indance
of which out of many I dial! give. The
Pirates took feveral Pieces of fmtjlolland,
and opening them, fpread them on the
Deck ; and being almod drunk, laydown
on them : Then others came and threw
Buckets of Claret upon them, which
roufing them up, and the Hollands being
thereby darned, they flung the Pieces
overboard.
Captain Davis likewife further ob¬
tained for me, that I might lye on board
the Two Friends Captain Elliot of Barba ~
does-, whom they had taken and forced
to be their Store Ship; and that I might
go on Shore when I pleafed, to my Friend
Captain Glynns houfe, on condition I
fhouid return whenever they fent lor me.
And now, the Tide being turned, they
were as kind to me, as they had been at
fird fevere. So we got the Brigantine
along the fide of the Prize, and as Bale-
R 2 goods
244 ^ new Account of G uinea,
goods and Cafes came to hand, we got
them into her; only now and then we
loft fame, by the ill-nature of two or
three leading Pirates : For if we could
not receive the Goods fo faff as they ex¬
pected, with the few People I had of my
own then with me, they would let them
drop overboard.
The fame they did by a quantity of
Irijh Beef, the firfl day after I was taken ;
for they defpifed it, having found fo much
Enghjh , in the feveral Prizes they had
met with in the River. This fight moved
me to intreat Captain Cocklyn to give me
the Irijh Beef they were going to throw
overboard ; for the ufe of my poor Peo¬
ple that had not entered with them. But
I being then under the high Difpleafure
of him and his Crew, he brutifhly re¬
plied, “ There is Horfe-beans enough in
“ the Prize to ferve you and your Peo-
“ pie fix Months/’ To which I an-
fwered, “ It was coarfe diet.” But find¬
ing this put him into a paffion, 1 held my
Tongue, and the Beef was all call into
the Sea.
In
and the Slave Trade.
In this place I think it proper to ac¬
quaint the Reader, What danger all the
Prifoners were in by a falfe Report brought
on board the Prize Ships that afternoon.
For it was confidently averred by fome
Negroes, <£ That one of their Crew was
murdered, by two Captains, whole
“ names were Rennet and Tbompfon , who
85 had been obliged to fly into the Woods
" from the rage of the Pirates.” And
they added, “ That thefe two Gentlemen
“ coming to the Houfe of one Mr. Jones,
“ (who lived a great way up the River)
“ to feek for Provifions, they there met
“ with the perfon whom they had killed.”
Upon this report the Pirates refolved to
revenge themfelves on us who were their
prifoners : “ Which obliged me to argue
" with them, and obferve how great a
“ cruelty it would be, to punifli us who
<£ were wholly innocent, for the faults
“ of others.” Moreover I faid, “ The
“ report might be falfe, it coming from
“ the Shore-Negroes; and I hoped at
“ leaft they would defer their refentmene
“ againft us, till they had a more certain
R 3 “ account
A new Account of Guinea,
u account of the matter/’ This calmed
their Rage a little, when, to our great
joy, the Perfon that was reported to be
killed, came on board foon after; and
told his Comrades, that he had met with
Captain Bennet and T hompfon at Mr. Jones s
Houfe, who threatned him ; from which
the report arole that they had killed him ;
but that they had not otherwife mifufed
him : So on this their Paffion was entirely
calmed.
As I have mentioned thefe two Cap¬
tains, Bennet and Thompfon , I Hhall give
an account of their Misfortunes, which
I had afterwards from their own Mouths.
Captain John Bennet , being bound from
Antegoa to the Coaft of Guinea ^ was taken
at Cape de Verd Iflands by Davis . Who,
after plundering him, reftored him his
Ship; and he went into the River Siera -
leon , where Captain "Thompfon was arrived
before him, Upon Cocklyn the Pirate’s
comine into the River, they carried their
Ships a good way up, to a place called
Brenf s-ljland. , being the Settlement of the
Royal African Company \ ; where one Mr..
Plunht]
and the Slave Trade .
Plunket was Governour. Having got their
Ships very near the Shore, they made a
Battery thereon, and having landed Am¬
munition, refolved with their People to de¬
fend themfelves to the utmoft : thinking at
that time they would remain faithfuL Le
Boofe being arrived in his Brigantine, and
hearing that feveral Ships were tip the Ri¬
ver, he refolved to have one of them for his
ufe; fo he went tip to attack them, and
they bravely defended themfelves againft
him: But, foon after, Cccklyn coming with
his Ship to the affiftance of Le Boofe , their
People begun to fauiter ; and thefe gallant
Captains were, for faving their Lives,
obliged, with Mr. Plunket , and feveral of
their Officers, to fly into the Woods-
Where, for many Weeks, they remained,
having nothing to fubfift on but Rice,
with now and then fome Oyfters, which
they got by night from the Pviver fide :
neither durft they appear near the place
where the Pirates were (as long as they
remained there) for they had vowed to
cut them to pieces, if ever they fell into
their hands. Moreover, their Ships were
R 4 burn*-,
247
248 A new Account of Guinea*
burnt, and Le Boofe took for his own life*
one Captain Lamb's Ship, which at that
time lay farther up the River, I thought
proper to relate this, in order to fet the
ftory in a better light, tho’ it happen'd
fome W eeks before 1 was taken.
But now, to return to my Subject. I was
relating, how we were employed in faving
what Goods we could. This took us up
lour days ; and I fiept every night on board
their Lender commanded by Captain Elliot ,
who was very kind to me, and had a
great afcendant over the leading Pirates *
fo that he had feldom the Company of
the common fort, having orders to drive
them away, whenever they came on
board him. And I have often been amaz¬
ed, to hear and fee what he has done to
fome of them when they were impudent;
beating them, and faying, tc He was fare
S{ he fliould fee them bang’d in due time
at Execution- dock!' However, by this
means we were generally very eafy on
board him, which was no little fatisfadli-
pn to me in my Circumflances.
About
and the Slave Trade.
About this time the Quarter-mader
who took me, fell fick of a Fever ; which
increafing, he fent to /peak with me;
And having defired all prefent, except
my felf to withdraw, he told me, “ That
“ at the time I was taken, he defigned to
“ have killed me, when he prefen ted the
“ Piftol to my bread: ; begging I would
‘ forgive him for his cruel Intention;”
Which 1 readily doing, he further fa id.
“ I hat he had been a moll wicked
“ Wretch, having been guilty of all man-
‘‘ ner of abominable Crimes ; and that now
“ believing he fliould die, his Confcience
“ fadly tormented him, fearing he fhould
‘e be pun iihed, as he deferved, in Hell-fire,
<c which fo often in their vile difcourfe he
“ had made light of.” Upon hearing
that, “ I exhorted him to fincere Repen-
“ tance ; telling him, the Chridian Reli-
“ gion adiired us of God’s Mercies, if we
“ are truly penitent ; and I indanced the
“ goodnefs of God to my felf, in that he
“ was gracioufly pleafed to preferve me
“ the night I was taken, from being mur-
?! dered by hijn and others ; which great
“ Mercies
249
25°
A new Account of Guinea,
« Mercies 1 believed were fhown me,
« becaufe I put my Hope and Truft in
“ Almighty God ; and exhorted him to
« do the fame.” But he replied, with a
fad countenance. “ O, Sir, my heart is
“ hardened ; however, I will endeavour
“ to follow your good counfel”. As he
was going on, exprefling his forrow for
his former courfe of Life, fome of the
Pirates broke in upon us, to alk him,
“ How he did ?” So he called his Boy, and,
as a mark of his Good-will towards me,
ordered him to take the Key of his Cheft,
and let me take out what Necelfaries I
would. Accordingly I took that oppor¬
tunity of providing my felf with Shirts,
Stockings, and feveral other things. As
I was taking them out, a Pirate coming
from the Deck, and knowing nothing of
the Quarter-mafter’s order, called out
aloud ; “ fee how that Dog is thieving
“ there: He does it as cleverly as any
Rogue of us all.” But being told, “ It
“ vvas with the Quarter-mafter’s leave,’
he came and helped me to bundle the
things up, and I lent them on board the
‘Tender,
25*
and the Slave Trade.
Tender . Thefe were the firft NecelTaries
which I could call my own? lince my
Misfortune*
The Quarter-mafter that evening fal¬
ling into a Delirium, died before morn¬
ing in terrible Agonies ; curfing his Maker
in fo fhocking a manner, that it made a
great Imp re (lion on feveral new entered
Men : and they afterwards came privately
to me, begging, “ that I would advife
them how to get off from fo vile a
c€ Courfe of Life, which led them into
cc Deftrudion both of Body and Soui
Some of them propofed to fly into the
£C Woods, and remain there till their
Ships were gone, if I would promife
ec to protect them afterwards; but this
“ being too nice a matter for me to
meddle with at that Jundure, I de-
^ dined it; Exhorting them in general
€C Not to be guilty of Murder, or any
6C other Cruelty to thofe they fhould
<£ take. For if ever they ihould, by a
£C general confent, refolve to embrace
“ the King’s Pardon, it would be a great
Advantage to them, to have the unfor-
s£ tunate
252 A new Account of Guinea,
“ tunate People they had taken give them
<c a good Character in that refpedt”
Having mentioned the King’s Pardon, I
fhall here relate what I before omitted, with
relation to his late Majefty’s Proclama¬
tion, for a Pardon to Pirates, that Jhould
Jurrender themfelves at any of the Britilh
Plantations, by the firft of July 1719.
This Proclamation I had on board, with
a Declaration of War againft Spain. The
Quarter- matter finding them amongft my
Papers, and not being able to read, he
brought them to me, the next day after
I was taken, and “ bid me read them
« aloud to all then prefent which I
did : But there being Rewards offered in
the Proclamation, to thofe that ffiould
take or deflroy Pirates ; fo much for a
Captain ; and in proportion for the other
Officers and common Pirates ; this put
them into fuch a Rage, that I began to
apprehend my felf in fome Danger. But
Captain Cocklyn ordering filence to be
made, bid me read the other Paper, which
was The Declaration ofWaragainJl Spain.
When I had read it, fome of them faid,
“ They
and the Slave Trade.
They wifiied they h ad known ic before
“ ^ey left the Weft Indies." From
thence I took occafion to obferve to them
*1 hat if they tnought fit to embrace
his Majefty’s moft gracious Pardon,
there was not only time enough for
“ them to return to the Weft Indies, (there
“ being ftill three Months to come of the
“ time limited in the Proclamation) but
“ now that War was declared againft
“ Spain, they would have an opportunity
of inricning themlelves in a legal way,
“ by g°ing a privateering, which many
“ of them had privately done.” This
feemed to be relifhed by many: but feve-
ral old Buccaneers , who had been guilty
of Murder and other barbarous Crimes,
being no ways inclined to it, they ufed
the King’s Proclamation with great con¬
tempt, and tore it in pieces. I thought
my felf well off, that no Refentment or
ill-ufage was lliown me on this occafion.
Amongft the feveral Pirates, that came
to confuit me, “ How they fhould get
“ off.” There was one Ambrofe Curtis ,
who was in a bad date of Health, and
generally
254
/
A new Account of Guinea,
generally walked the Deck in a Silk
Night-gown. This perfon finding me
fhy in anfwering his Queftions, he told
me, “ Tho’ I had forgot him, yet he
« had not me; for he was eleven years
“ ago at Sea with my Father, who had
“ ufed him fcverely for being an unlucky
“ Boy; That I might remember, my
11 Father died in Vi irghua, and I com-
« manded the Ship afterwards, and
<£ brought her home to having
been very kind to him, except in one
“ thing, which was, That he having
*£ confefied to me, he was a Servant, and
« run away from his Matter, I refufed to
“ pay him his Wages, till he brought a
“ perfon who gave me Security that I
« fhould not pay them twice ; and then
“ he had his Wages to a farthing : Ad-
< < ding, “ he had told this to feveral lead-
“ ing Pirates, who had perfuaded him to
“ revenge himfelf on me ; but as I had!
been kind to him, and in his Conlcience
ec he believed I was in the rignt, to demand
“ Security when I paid him his Wages,
“ fo he bore no ill-will to me on that
255
and the Slave Trade .
^ account; and when my neceffaries came
to be fold at the Maftl he would buy
4C fome of them for me;” in which he
proved as good as his word.
But as to his Queftions about getting off,
I replied as I had done to others ; Affur-
“ ing him, if ever it came to be in my
£C power to ferve him, I would not fpare
“ for Money nor Pains to do it:” But
this poor fellow died, before the Pirates
left Sieraleon.
I hope the Reader will pardon me for
mentioning feveral things, which are not
fo coherent as I could wi(h ; as alfo fe¬
veral little Incidents. The reafon why I
mention them is, becaufe I think they
difplay the true humours and ways of
thefe Mifcreants.
Among ft my Adventure of Goods, I had
in a Box three fecond-hand embroidered
Coats. One day the three Pirate Cap¬
tains, coming on board the Prize together,
enquired for them, faying, “ They under-
“ flood by my Book fuch Clothes were in
“ my Ship.” I told them, “ They were
“ in a Box under the bed place in the
“ State-.
A new Account of Guinea^
« State-room. So they ordered them to
<c be taken out, and immediately put
“ them on.” But the longeft Coat fal¬
ling to Cocklyris (hare, who was a very
fhort Man, it almoft reached as low as
his Ancles. This very much difpleafed
him, and he would fain have changed
with Le Boofe> or Davis : But they re-
fufed, telling him, t£ As they were going
« on Shore amonglt the Negroe-Ladiesy
u who did not know the white Mens
6C fashions, it was no matter. Moreover,
« as his Coat was Scarlet embroidered
€£ with Silver, they believed he would
« have the preference of them, (whofe
<c Coats were not fo fhowy) in the opini-
on of their Miftreffes.” This making
him eafy, they all went on Shore toge¬
ther.
It is a Rule amongft the Pirates, not
to allow Women to be on board their
Ships, when in the Harbour. And ifi
they fliould take a Prize at Sea, that has;
any Women on board, no one dares, on:
pain of death, to force them againft thein
Inclinations. This being a good political
Rule
and the Slave-Trade.
Rule to prevent disturbances amongft
them, it is ftri&ly obferved. So now being
in a Harbour, they went on Shore to the
Negroe-women, who were very fond of
their Company, for the fake of the great
Prefents they gave them. Nay, fome white
Men that lived there, did not fcruple to
lend their black Wives to the Pirates
purely on account of the great Rewards
they gave. ■
The Pirate Captains having taken thefe
Cloaths without leave from the Quarter-
mafter, it gave great Offence to all the
Crew; who alledg’d, “ If they fuffered
“ fuch things, the Captains would for
“ the future alfume a Power, to take
“ whatever they liked for themfelves.”
So, upon their returning on board next
Morning, the Coats were taken from
them, and put into the common Chert,
to be fold at the Mart. And it having
been reported, “ That I had a hand in
“ advifing the Captains to put on thefe
“ Coats,” it gained me the ill-will in
particular of one Williams , who was
Quarter-mafter of Le Boofes Ship. He
258 A new Account of Guinea,
feeing me in the 'Tender & Boat, going on
board a French Ship lately taken, where
he then was, he fwore, ct That if I came
“ there, he would cut me to pieces, for
u the advice I had given the Captains.”
But Captain Elliot , who was then in the
Boat, whifpered me, faying, Cc Don't be
afraid of him, for it is his ufual way of
talking. But be fure call him Captain, as
<c foon as you get on board." It feems
this Villain had been Commander o f a
Pirate Sloop; who, with a Brigantine,
two years before, took Captain Laurence
Prince in the Whidaw Galley near Ja¬
maica ; and being now Quarter-mafter,
which he did not like, he loved to have
the Title of Captain given him. So when
I came into the French Ship, I adreffed
my felf to him, faying, u Captain W il-
C£ Hams , pray hear me upon the Point you
*£ are fo offended at." Upon that he gave
me a flight Blow on the Shoulder, with
the flat of his Cutlace, fwearing at the
fame time, “ he had not the heart to
hurt me J When I had told him how the
affair had really happen’d, which he had
been
and the Slave Trade .
been fo angry about, he gave me a Keg of
Wine, and was my Friend ever after.
The French Ship juft now mentioned,
fell into their hands about a fortnight af¬
ter I was taken by them, in this manner.
It was not bound to Sieraleon , but having
not had an Obfervation for feveral days,
becaufe the Sun was near their Zenith, they
made land unexpectedly ; and not know¬
ing certainly whereabouts they were, but
feeing feveral Ships in the River at an
Anchor, they came boldly towards them,
I was then on board Captain Cocklyn s
old Ship; for they had not quite fitted
mine for their ufe, not having at that
time any Guns mounted ; fo I faw the
great fear andconfufion that wasamongft
them. My Mate, who had entered with
them, faid, cc He believed, by the Ship's
coming in fo boldly, it was the Laun-
<c cejion Man of War of forty Guns,
u whom we had left in Holland . For he
“ had heard me fay, fhe was to follow
iC us to the Coaft of Guinea
Happy would it have been for us and
many more, if it had been fo. For had
S z that.
a6o
A new Account ofG uinea,
that, or even a fmaller Ship of twenty
Guns, with the King’s Commiffion, come
in at that time, or any other, whilft I
was in their hands, I am perfuaded they
would have eafily deftroyed them. For
the new-entered-men had little Courage ;
and the far greater part both of old and
new Pirates, were fo much in drink, that
there could have been no Order or Con¬
duit amongft them in an Engagement.
So that it would have been very eafy to
have fubdued them, and prevented that
terrible Deftruition, which happened to
above one hundred Sail of Ships, that
fell afterwards into their Hands, in their
going down the Coaft o {Guinea: Toge-
ther with thofe Damages that happened
a good while after in the Eajl Indies , by
fome of this Gang; and the great Ravage
made by Roberts (who rofe out of Davis si;
Afhes) the fecond time? on the Coaft of
Guinea , till he was happily deftroyed by;
Sir Cbaloner Ogle in the Swallow Man of
War. But the reafon why no timely
care was taken to prevent fo great a De-
ft tuition, is not proper for me to men¬
tion in this place. As
and the Slave Trade .
As I had no bufinefs to be on board
fhe Pirate Ship in time of Adion, I afked
Captain Cocklyris leave to go on board
their 'Tender, which he readily granted.
Juft as I was going, feveral of my Peo¬
ple who had entered with him, laid,
(c They would go along with me, for
“ they had never feen a Gun fired in an-
“ ger.” Cocklyn hearing that, told them,
“ That now they fhould learn to fmell
“ Gunpowder, and caned them hear-
“ tiiy.
So I went on board Captain Elliot,
where I foon faw the French Ship taken.
For coming fo unexpededly into the Pi¬
rates hands, they made no Refiftance :
And becaufe the Captain did not ftrike
on their firft firing, they put a Rope about
his Neck, and hoifted him up and down
feveral times to the Main-yard-arm, till
he was almoft dead. Captain Le Boofe
coming at that inftant, luckily faved his
Life: And highly refenting this their
cruel ufage to his Countryman, he pro-
hefted, “ he would remain no longer in
“ Partnership with l'uch barbarous Vil-
S 3 “ lains,”
261
262 A new Account of Guinea,
iC lains.” So, to pacify him, they left
the Frenchmen with the Ship in his care 5
and after the Cargoe was deftroyed, they
cut the Ship's Mafts by the board, and
run her on Shore, for fhe was very old,
and not fit for their purpofe.
After the affair of the French Ship was
over, I was employed for feveral days, in
landing out of the Brigantine the Goods
that had been given me, out of my own
Ship’s Cargoe, and carrying them to my
Friend Captain Glynn’s Houfe $ in which
both he and I worked very hard. For my
own People that did not enter with the
Pirates, were mofily obliged to work on
board the Prize, in fitting her for them ;
and the Natives who ferved Captain
Glynn at his Houfe, were grown fo in-
folent by the large quantity of Goods
given them by the Pirates, that they
would do nothing but what they pleafed*
However, at laft, with much trouble we
got them houfed.
By this time, which was about the
goth of April , the Ship they had taken
from me was compleatly fitted, and the
3 next
I
26
a?td the Slave Trade .
next day was appointed to name her, to
which Ceremony I was invited. When
I came on board, the Pirate Captains told
me, u It was not out of Difrefpedt they
*c had fent for me, but to partake of the
“ good Cheer provided on this occafion
So they defired I would be chearful, and go
with them into the great Cabin. When
I came there, Bumpers of Punch were
put into our Hands, and on Captain Cock-
lyns faying aloud, God blefs the Windham
Galley, we drank our Liquor, broke the
Glaffes, and the Guns fired.
The Ship being Galley-built, with only
two flufh Decks, the Cover of the Scuttle
of the Powder-room was in the great
Cabin, and happened at that time to be
open. One of the aftermofi: Guns blow¬
ing at the Touch- hole, fet fire to fome
Cartouch-boxes, that had Cartridges in
them for fmall Arms, the Shot and Fire
of which flew about us, and made a great
{mother. When it was over, Captain
'Davis obferved, there had been great
Danger to us from the Scuttle’s being
open j there being under, in a Room,
S 4 above
A new Account of Guinea,
above twenty thoufand weight of Gun¬
powder. Cocklyn replied, “ He wiihed
“ it had taken fire, for it would have
“ been a noble blaft, to have gone to
“ Hell with.
Then all going upon Deck, three Prizes
that remained undeftroyed, were ordered
to be burned ; upon hearing that, I pri¬
vately reprefented to Captain Davis,
c< How hard it would be upon us who
“ were Prifoners, to remain in that Coun-
try, without Neceffaries, and without
<c Food to fubfift on : Befides, there was
“ no manner of Profpeft of our getting
£c away quickly : That to the many Obli-
“ gations 1 owed him, I hoped he would
“ add one more, and, by his Intereft, at
“ leaft fave one of the Veflels, for us
“ to return to England in : That as he
“ had feveral times hinted to me, how
“ much he difliked that courfe of Life,
“ hoping he fhould have an opportunity
“ of leaving it in a lliort time ; fo I wiihed
“ he would put it in my power, to re-
C£ port to his Advantage, the good deed
“ I then requefted of him ; for, in my
6 “ Opinion,
9
and the Slave Trade.
Opinion, npxt to Murder and Cruelty,
“ too often pradifed by Pirates, nothing
“ could make them more odious to the
“ World, than their defraying, out of
“ mere Wantonnefs, fo many Ships and
“ Cargoes, as had been done by Cocklyn and
“ Le Boofe’s Crews; in which I knew he
“ had no hand : And ifhe would be pleafed
“ to procure my entire Liberty, ac the
<c fame time that he pleaded for one of
“ the Veflels for us, it would be a double
“ Obligation on me to Gratitude, in cafe
“ it ever fell in my power tofervehim.”
This he readily promifed, and by his
Management the Ships were faved from
being burned, and they made a Bonfire
only of the old RifmgSmi, being the Ship
they had quitted for mine : And now ob¬
taining, through Captain Davis s means,
my intire Liberty, 1 went on Shore to my
friend Captain Glynns Houfe again.
Two days after this Captain Elliot fent
his Boat for me, defiring I would forth¬
with come on board his Ship, becaufe he
wanted very much to fpeak with me. I
had too many obligations to this Gentle¬
man
A new Account of Guinea,
man to refufe going, (tho* I had a fort of
an averfion.) Upon coming on board, he
privately reprefented to me, u That I
u knew he had been obliged againft his
«c will by the Pirates, to receive into his
€C Ship a great quantity of other Peoples
« Goods y for which he might hereafter
a be called to an account ; therefore he
^ defired I would give him a Certificate,
£C teftifying the Truth of it.” Knowing
this to be true, I readily complied -y for
he was a very honeft Man, as appeared
foon after. For the Pirates compelling
him to go out of the River with them, as
their Tender , he took the firft opportu¬
nity of getting from them, which he
did in a Tornado, or fudden Guft of Wind,
that arofe in the Night ; and having the
good fortune to fucceed in his attempt, he
made a good Voyage for his Owners,
with Slaves to Barbadoes ; where he fell
fick and died.
While 1 was in his Ship, the three Pi¬
rate Captains called along the fide. Not
expetting to fee me there, they feemed
very glad of it; and invited me to go and
267
and the Slave Trade .
fup with them on board Captain Davis .
This I declined, being defirous of going
on Shore to Captain Glynn s* But Cap¬
tain Davis infilling on it, I thought it
prudent to comply ; that I might not lofe
that Gentleman’s Good-will, who had
been fo kind to me.
After we had been fome time on board
his Ship, Supper was brought up about
eight a clock in the Evenings and the
Mufick was ordered to play, amongft
which was a Trumpeter, that had been
forced to enter out of one of the Prizes.
About the middle of Supper, we heard
upon Deck an outcry of Fire, and in-
ftantly a Perfon came to us, and faid,
“ The Main-hatch-way was all in a
€C Flame { ' fo we all went upon Deck.
At that time, befides the Pirates Ship s
Crew, who were moflly drunk, there was
on board at leal! fifty Prifoners ; and fe¬
ver a 1 Boats along the fide, into which
many People jumped, and put off. I be¬
ing then on the Quarter-deck, with the
Captains, obferved this to them; but
they all in confufion faid, We know
<f OPf
268 A new Account of Guinea,
“ not what to do in the matter:” Upon
that I told them, “ If the fober People
“ were allowed to go away with the
“ Boats, no one would endeavour to fave
“ the Ship ; and we that were left fhould
“ be loft, (for the other Ships were above
“ a Mile from us, and the Tide of Flood
“ then run fo ftrong, that their Boats could
<c not row againft it to fave us:) So I
propofed to them, “ to fire the Quarter-
“ deck Guns at the Boats that had juft put
“ off, to oblige them to come on board
<c again;” which being inftantly done, it
fo frightned the People in them, that they
forthwith came back; and all that were
able, and not drunk, lent their helping
hand to put out the Fire ; which by this
time was come to a great head in the
Ship’s hold.
After this I went down into the Steer¬
age, where I faw one Goulding, who was
Gunner’s Mate, and a brifk a&ive Fel¬
low, put his head up the After-hatch¬
way, calling for Blankets and Water;
“ which if not brought immediately, (he
“ faid) the Bulk-head of the Powder-
“ room
and the Slave Trade.
room would be fired, and the Ship foon
“ blown up.” Obferving the Stupidity
of the People about me, who flood look¬
ing on one another, I caught up feveral
Blankets and Rugs which lay fcattered
about, and flung them to him, and fo
did others by my example. Then I run
out of the Steerage upon Deck, where
meeting with fome People that were fb-
ber, I got them to go over the fide, and
draw up Buckets of Water; And others
handing them to Gouldmg, who had by
this time placed the Blankets and Rugs
againfl the Bulk-head of the Powder-
Room, he flung this Water on them, and
thereby prevented the Flames from catch¬
ing the Powder, and confequently from
blowing up the Ship, which muft other-
wife have happened: For there was then
on board at lead: thirty thoufand pounds
of Gunpowder, which had been taken
out of feveral Prizes, it being a Commo¬
dity much in requefl amongfl: the Ne¬
groes.
There was flill great Confufion amongfl
us, occafioned bv the darknefs of the
Night,
2 jo A new Account of Guinea,
Night, and the many drunken People,
who were not fenfible of the great Dan¬
ger we were in : Moreover, the People in
the Hold gave us as yet no Hopes of their
getting the Maflery of the Fire. So I
went again on the Quarter-deck, and
confidered with my felf, if the fire could
not be conquered, as I could not fwim, I
fhould have no chance of being faved:
and even thofe that could, would, I knew,
be expofed to be torn to pieces by vora¬
cious Sharks, which abound in that Ri¬
ver: So I took one of the Quarter-deck
Gratings, and lowered it by a Rope over
the Ship’s-fide, defigning to get on that,
if I {hould be forced to quit the Ship, For
tho* the Boats had been once obliged to
come back, yet it being a dark Night,
fome People, unperceived, had flipped
again away with them, and were quite
gone away.
Whilft I flood mufing with my fe If
on the Quarter-deck, I heard a loud fhout
upon the Main-deck, with a Huzza,
4 4 For a brave blajl to go to Hell with,”
which was repeated feveral times. This
not
and the Slave Trade.
not only much furprized me, but alfo
many of the new entered Pirates; who
were ftruck with a Pannick Fright, be¬
lieving the Ship was juft blowing up; fo
that feveral of them came running on the
Quarter-deck, and accidentally threw me
down, it being very dark. As foon as I
got upon my Legs again, I heard thefe
poor wretches fay, in a lamentable Voice,
one to another; “ Oh! that we could be
*s fo foolifh as to enter into this vile courle
‘£ of Life ! The Ship will be immediately
“ blown up, and we (hall fuffer for our
“ V illanies in Hell Fire.” So that when
the old harden’d Rogues on the Main-
deck, wifti’d for a blaft to go to Hell
with, the other poor wretches were at
the fame time under the greateft Confter-
nation at the thoughts of it.
The Apprehenfion of the Ship’s being
juft ready to blow up, was fo univerfal,
that above fifty People got on the Bolt-
fprit, and Sprit-fail-yard, thinking they
fibould have there a better chance for their
Lives: But they much deceived them-
felves, for had fo great a quantity of
Powder
271
A new Account of Guinea,
Powder as was at that time on board,
been fired, it would have blown them up
to Atoms,
There was one “Taylor , Matter of this
Pirate Ship, as brilk and couragious a
Man as ever I faw ; (who afterwards
commanded the Caffandra, an Englijh Eajl
India Ship, and carried her to New Spain ,
where he and his Crew feparated.) This
Perlon, with fifteen more, fpared no
pains to extinguilh the Fire in the Hold ;
and tho’ they were fcalded in a fad man¬
ner by the Flames, yet they never Ihrunk
till it was conquered; which was not till
near ten a clock at night, when they came
upon Deck, declaring the Danger was
over: So the Surgeons were called to
drefs their burns. This was joyful News
to us all on Deck, for we little expected
to efcape.
I (hall now relate how this Fire hap¬
pened, from which our Deliverance was
a! mod: miraculous. About half an hour
after eight a clock in the evening, a Ne-
groe Man went into the Hold, to pump
fome Rum out of a Calk ; and impru¬
dently
find the Slave Trade.
• {
dently holding his Candle too near the
Bung-hole, a Spark fell into the Hogf-
head, and fet the Rum on fire. This
immediately fired another Cafk of the
fame Liquor, whofe Bung had been,
through carelefsnefs, left open : And both
the Heads of the Hogfheads immediately
flying out, with a report equal to that
01 a fmall Cannon, the fire run about
the Hold. There were twenty Calks of
Rum, with as many Barrels of Pitch and
Tar, very near the place where the Rum
lay that was fired ; yet it pleafed God
none of thefe took fire, otherwife it would
have been impoflible for us to efcape.
After this was over, 1 was obliged to
flay on board till Morning, all the Boats
being run away with. In that time
Golding , the Gunner’s Mate, told the Pi¬
rate’s Crew feveral things to my Advan¬
tage: “ How I had handed the Blankets
££ to him, and ordered Water to be thrown
<£ on them ; which faved the Bulk-head,
ci where the Powder lay, from being fired.,
€£ and confequenrly the Ship from being
blown upe” So now I was more than
T ever
274 A new Account of Guinea,
ever in their favour : For feveral of them
defined me to come on board the Wind¬
ham Galley, the day Things were fold
there at the Mart, and then they would
be kind to me. Like wife Captain Davis
prefs’d me to come, afking me, <c Whe-
€£ ther the Gold Watch that was taken
u from me was a good one?’’ To which
cc lanfwering, ££ It was very good, at that
time/’ He then faid, ££ He would buy
cc it for his own ufe at any rate.”
While he and I were talking thus, one
of the Mates came half drunk, on the
Quarter-deck, faying to him ; tc I pro-
pofe in behalf of the Ship s Company,
fi£ that this Man fhall be obliged to go
C£ down the Coaft of Guinea with us ;
££ for I am told we cannot have a better
£C Pilot/ This was a great furprize to
me ; but my generous Friend Davis foon
put me out of pain. For he told him,
££ They wanted no Pilot :M and the fellow
ft ill infilling on my going, Captain Davis
caned him off the Quarter-deck, and I
heard no more of it: For foon after I went
on Shore to my Friend Captain Glynns
Houfe, Two
mid the Slave Trade ,
Two days after tbis^ a fmall Veffel
came into the River, and was taken by
them : It was called the Difpatch Captain
Wilfon , belonging to the Royal African
Company . Mr . Simon Jones, formerly my
firfl; Mate, who had entered with the
Pirates, (as I have before related) told
them, on this occafion, tc That he had
u once commanded a Ship, wrhich was
“ hired and freighted by the African
u Company; and that he had been very
fi£ unjuftly ufed by them; fo he defired
€C the Difpatch might be burned, that he
££ might be revenged of them/’ This
being immediately confented to, and forth¬
with ordered to be executed, one John
Stubbs^ a witty brifk fellow, food up,
and defired to be heard firfi; faying,
Cl Pray, Gentlemen, hold a little, and I
€C will prove to you, if this Ship is burnt,
ic you will thereby greatly ferve the Com-
u party9 % Intereft/' This drawing every
one’s attention, they bid him go on :
Then he faid, u The Vefiel has been out
<£ thefe two years on her Voyage, being
£€ old and crazy, and almoft eaten to
T 2 ££ pieces
A new Account of Guinea,
“ pieces by the Worms; befides, her
“ Stores are worth little; and as to her
cc Cargoe, it confifts only of a little Red-
wood and Melegett e-pepper ; fo if file
fiiould be burned, the Company will
*£ lofe little; but the poor People that
u now belong to her, and have been fo
a long a Voyage, will lofe all their Wa«
“ ges, which, I am fure, is three times
£c the Value of the Veflel, and of her
C£ trifling Cargoe; fo that the Company
will be highly obliged to you for de~
<c ftroying her:' The reft of the Crew
being convinced by thefe Reafons, the
Veflel was fpared, and delivered again to
Captain Wilfon and his People, who af¬
terwards came fafe to England in it.
The 29th of April y fuch of the Pirates
as were my Friends, fent me word on
Shore, u That the Sale of Neceflfaries
cc was to begin that day in the afternoon*
€C in the IVindham- G alley. Captain Cock-
lyn” So I went on board in a large
Cannoe , belonging to two Men that lived
afhore, who went at the fame time with
me. At the Sale, Several of the Pirates
5 bought
and the Slave Trade. 1 7 7
bought many Neceffari.es that had beep
mine, and gave them to me. Likewife,
Mr. James Griffin , my Schoolfellow, was fo
civil as to beg from thofe that were not fo
kind to me, as he hoped they would have
been. The two white Men that went
with me in the Cannoe, minded their own
bufineis fo well, that they got leveral great
Bundles of Clothes and Goods, which
they put into the Cannoe with mine.
By this time feveral Pirates being half
drunk with Brandy, looked over the fide,
and feeing fomany Bundles in the Cannoe'
which they fuppofed to be all mine, they
fwore, “ 1 was infatiable, and that it
would be a good deed to throw therm
“ overboard.” This my kind School¬
fellow hearing, he came and told me of
it ; advifing me, to go immediately on
Shore; which I accordingly did; and it
proved very happy for me. For foon
after my Watch was put up to fale and
many bidding for it, fome of them out
of Spite to Captain Davis, it was run up
to one hundred Pounds, which he paid
down. One of the Pirates being greatly
T 3 vexed
ii
278 new Account of Guinea,
vexed at it, faid, <c He believed the
“ Cafes of the Watch were not good
Gold V and calling for a Touch-done,
he tried them on it. The Touch looking
of a copper if!: Colour, (as indeed all Gold-
cafes of Watches do on the touch, by
reafon of the quantity of Alloy put in to
harden them) this pretence ferved the
turn of this Villain ; who thereupon ex¬
claimed againft me, faying, “ I was a
“ greater Rogue than any of them, who
u openly profefled Piracy ; flnce I was fo
“ fly, as to bring a bafe Metal Watch, and
endeavour to put it off for a gold one.” .
This Speech procured me the Anger
of many, who knew no better ; they be¬
lieving ev-ery word of what he faid to be
true. And tho’ Captain Davis laugh’d at
ir, vet feveral fwore, cc If I had not been
* j
u gone on Shore, they would have whip-
*£ ped me:” And as their Drunkennefsin-
creafed, they talked of fending for me to
be pUnifhed for fo great a Villany, as
they called ir. But my Schoolfellow,
apprehending they would really offer me
feme Violence, was fo kind as to fend me
word
2?9
and the Slave Trade .
word of what had pafs'd, by a white Man
living on Shore, who was then on board ;
advifing me to go into the Woods, for
they fhould fail quickly out of the River.
The next morning early, which was
the laft day of April as I was juft going
to follow his advice, I was agreeably fur-
prized with the arrival of one Mr. James
Bleau , my Surgeon, whom they defigned
to take by force with them. This honeft
Man had been very much caft down at if,
and had often defired me to intercede for
his liberty. Accordingly I had done it,
reprefenting, “ That he grieved himfelf
€C fo much, that if he did not die quickly,
a yet he would be of no ufe to them
But this had no effedt. However, at
laft, a fortunate accident cleared him,
when he leaft expefted it ; for that very
evening, after I was come on Shore, the
Surgeon of the French Ship entered with
them 5 whereupon they gave Mr. Bleau
his Liberty the next morning.
Mr. Bleau brought us the agreeable
News, that the three Pirate Ships, with
their Tender , were under fail, going out
T 4 of
A new Account of Guinea,
of the River. This gave us all on Shore
the hiaheft Satisfaction ; for I had been
then in their hands a Month, and many
others much longer. Mr. Bleau , whom
I have here mentioned, lives now at
Woodford-Row on Epping-Foreft \ where
he follows his Buiinefs.
I {hall now inform the Reader, what
became of my kind Schoolfellow Griffin^
and my generous Friend Davis . The
firft took an opportunity of getting out
of the hands of the Pirates, by taking
away a Boat from the Stern of the Ship
he was in, when oft the Road of Anna v
maboe , on the Coaft of Guinea . He was
driven on Shore there, unperceived in the
night time 5 and from thence went to
Gape Goaf CaJlJe , belonging to the Royal
African Company ; from which place he
went Paflfenger to Barbadoes , in an Englijh
Ship, where he was taken with a violent
Fever and died.
As to Davis, having difcovered, a few
days after they left the River Sierraleon , a
Confpiraey, to deprive him of his Com¬
mand, which was carried on by one Thy-
lor}
and the Slave Trade. 2 8 j
hr, that was Matter of the Ship under
him, he timely prevented it : But he and
fome others left their Ship, and went on
board the Windam Galley, Captain Cock-
lyn, by whom he found Taylor had been
let on to difplace him. This caufing him
to leave their Partnerfhip, he took a few
days after one Captain Plumb in the Prin-
ccjs of London, whole fecond Mate Ro¬
berts, fo famous afterwards for his Vil¬
lages, entered with him; and Davis’s
Crew, after plundering the Ship, reftored
her to Captain Plumb again. After this.
Captain Davis went for the Ifland Prin-
cefs, belonging to the Portuguefe , which
lies in the Bay of Guinea. Here the Pi-
rates gave out, f‘ They were a King’s
“ Ship;” but the People foon difcovered
what they were by their Iavifhnefs, in
purchafing frefh Provifions with Goods
but the Governour winked at ir, oA ac¬
count of the great Gains he, and others
of the chief of his People made by them.
But at laft fome putting him in mind,
“ That if this Affair fhould come to the
“ King of Portugal’s ear, it might proye
“ his
A new Account of Guinea,
“ his ruin;’’ he plotted how to dettroy
Davis and his Crew, in order to colour
over what he had fo bafely permitted, in
allowing them a free trade, after difcover-
jng they were Pirates.
Captain Davis being one day on Shore
with the Governor, he told him, “ They
« defigned to fail from the Ifland in three
“ days, and that he would come, and take
his leave of him the day before.” Ac¬
cordingly he went on a Sunday morning,
taking with him his firft Surgeon, the
Trumpeter, and fome others, befides the
Boat’s Crew. At their coming into the
Governor’s Houfe, they faw no body to
receive them ; fo they went on, till they
came into a long Gallery fronting the
Street. Here the Governor’s Major Do-
mo prefently came to them, faying, “ His
« Matter was at his Country-Houfe, but
« he had fent a Meffenger to him, when
« they faw Captain Davis coming on
“ Shore ; and no doubt he would foon
« be in Town.” But the Surgeon ob-
ferving, that many People had got toge¬
ther in the Street, with Arms in their
hands.
and the Slave Trade . 283
hands, he faid to his Captain, “ I am
£f fore we foall fee no Governor to day/'
and advifed him immediately to go away.
So Davis and the Surgeon went out of
the Houfe 5 whereupon the Major-Domo
called to the People in the Street, to fire
at them. The Surgeon and two more
were kill’d on the Spot, and the Trum¬
peter was wounded in the Arm, who
feeing two Capuchin Friers (from whom
1 had this Account at the Ifland Princefs )
fled to them. One of them took him in
his Arms to fave him, but a Portuguefe
came, and foot him dead without any
regard to the Frier’s Protection. Captain
Davisy tho’ he had four Shots in divers
parts of his Body, yet continued running
towards the Boat: But being clofely pur-
fued, a fifth Shot made him fall, and the
Portuguefe being amazed at his great
Strength and Courage, cut his Throat,
that they might be fore of him.
The Boat’s Crew hearing the firing,
put off in good time at fome diflance
from the Shore; and feeing the Portu¬
guefe advancing to fire at them, they rowed
on
A new Account of Guinea,
on board their Ship; where relating what
had happened, as they fuppofed, to their
Captain, and to the reft left on Shore, it fet
the Pirates all in a flame ; and they diredly
chofe Roberts for their Commander, vow¬
ing a fevere revenge on the Portuguefe.
The Water was fo fhallow, that they
could not get their Ship near the Town y
fo they prepared a Raft, on which they
mounted feveral pieces of Cannon, with
which they fired at the place : But the
Inhabitants having quitted it, and all the
Houfes being of Timber, they did little
damage to the Town. Neither durft
they land to burn the Place, for fear of
the great Number of People, whom they
perceived in theBufhes with fmall Arms:
So, they returned to their Ship, and the
next day failed out of the Harbour.
Thus fell Captain Davis, who (al¬
lowing for the Courfe of Life he had
been unhappily engaged in) was a moft
generous humane Perfon. And thus Ro¬
berts arofe, who proved the reverfe of
him, and did afterwards a great deal of
mifchief in the Weft Indies , and on the
Coaft
and the Slave Trade.
Coaft of Guinea ; till he and his Crew
were happily fupprefs’d by Sir Chaknet
Qgle, in the Swallow Man of War, and
in the Engagement, Roberts , and feveral
of his People were killed. But as there
is An Account of the Pirates publifhed, in
which the principal Addons of Roberts
are related, I lhall fay nothing more of
nim nere ; but go on to relate what is
not mentioned in the aforefaid Book.
As foon as it was commonly known,
that the Pirates were failed from Sierraleon ,
Captain Bennet and Phompfon, with fe-
veral others that had been obliged to keep
in the Woods, as I have formerly related
came to Captain Glynns, Houfe. There
we all confulted about preparing the
Briftol Snow, which the Pirates had jfoared
at my Intreaty, fo as to make it fit for
us to return to England in. There was
with us one Captain David Creichton, in
the Elizabeth of London , laden with dyimj
Wood ; whom the Pirates had taken not
long before me. Flim they plundered, and
would have deftroyed, but by the Intereft
of Mr. James Griffin, who had been chief
Mate
2 8 6 A new Account of Guinea,
Mate with the Captain’s Brother, the
Ship was fpared. In this Ship Captain
Creichton took as many People as he pofi*
fibly could, in order to fpare our Provi-
fions, and failed a few days after the Pi¬
rates left the River Sierraleon, for London :
We that were left behind, fent notice by
him to our Owners of the great Misfor¬
tunes that had befallen us.
Then applying our felves to fit the
Brijlol-Snow, whom a worthy Perfon, one
Captain John Morris, commanded, we
found we fhould be in very great want
of Provifions, confidering how many poor
People defired to go home with us. Upon
that Captain Glynn lent a fmall Sloop be¬
longing to him, to fetch Provifions from
the River Sherberow, where the deftroy-
ing Pirates had not been. From ther.ce
{lie returned in a few days, with a good
quantity ; and one Captain Nisbet having
found under his Ship’s Ballaft in the Hold,
feveral Calks of Beef ; which had not
come to the knowledge of the Pirates
(otherwife it would no doubt have been
deltroyed, as moll part of his Cargoe was)
)
and the Slave Trade .
he was fo kind as to fpare me as much of
this Beefas he poffibly could ; and I drew
a Bill on my Owner for the value of it.
Moreover, we found in the French
Ship that had been taken, and afterwards
run on Shore by the Pirates, a large quan¬
tity of good Bifcuit, fo that now we were
fufficiently provided in all refpeds.
Laftly, knowing that large quantities
of Goods had been given by the Pirates,
to all the white Men reliding on Shore
upon their own accounts, we all went in
a Body to demand them. Meffieurs Mead
and Pearce , who were in Partnerfhip,
very readily and honourably delivered up
all they were poffeffed of: But others
did not follow their Example; for they
only (hewed us what Goods they thought
proper, of which I allowed them one
third part for falvage.
So I (hipp’d what I had recovered from
them, with the other Goods the Pirates
had given me formerly out of Captain
Morris % Veflel ; and then we embarked in
her,being above fixty Paffengers, befides fix
Mailers of Ships, whole Veflels had been
deftroyed.
287
288 A new Account of Guinea,
deftroyed, or fitted for the ufe of the Pi-
v» ^ v,
rates. We left the River Sierraleon the
10th day of May , and, after a tedious Paf-
fage, occafioned by the Ship’s bad failing,
we came fafe to Brijiol , the firft of Au-
gufi 1719.
On my landing at the Key, Mr. Ca fa-
major ^ Merchant of that City, came to me,
and delivered me a Letter from my Owner,
the late Humphrey Morrice Efq; who had
received mine by Captain Creichton , with
the account of my Misfortune, a few days
before we arrived at BriJioL Mr. Morrice ,
in his Letter, was pleafed to comfort me
under fo fevere a Trial, as I had undergone,*
a {Turing me, He would immediately
“ give rne the Command of another Ship?
“ (which accordingly he moft generoufly
‘c did foon after) and that he had ordered
u Mr. Cafamajor , his Correfpondent, to
<c fupply me with Money, to diftribute
cc amongft my poor Sailors, who had re-
eC turned with me to Btijlol ; in order to
cc enable them to go to their feveral Ha-
€C bitations,” which was in feveral Parts
of England .
Laus DEO
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